You are a special prosecutor for a Federal Task Force targeting organized crime. The target suspects for the task force are slippery long-time organized crime figures. They have routinely escaped successful prosecution through their nefarious defense attorneys. To prepare new investigators assigned to the task force, you must caution them about mistakes that were made by previous task force members who were tripped up by the organized crime mouthpieces. Your task is to present legal issues that the defendants have used as loopholes in prior cases.
Acting as a special prosecutor for an organized crime task force, the student will present a 3-5 page white paper on new members coming on board as investigators in the task force. The issues related in the bullets below will be incorporated into the paper presented. There are a number of evidence-related resources that are not found in academic journals that may be utilized as references in this assignment. It is critical that when you make a statement of fact in your presentation, that you cite the reference you obtained the information from in the text of the paper and that the reference is included in your reference page. As always, your paper will be submitted in the APA format current edition. No abstract is required because this is a short position paper, but a title page, reference page, and appropriate running header with page numbers are necessary.
- Describe at least two grounds for impeachment of a witness in a criminal trial and the ramifications of the impeachment for the case.
- Articulate the meaning of hearsay. Explain how the Best Evidence Rule impacts hearsay prohibitions.
- Explain at least two types of exceptions to the hearsay rule and why the court recognized their admissibility and truthfulness.
- Detail at least two cautions about using privileged communications as evidence and the problems associated with doing so.
- Compare and contrast the burdens of proof differences between a criminal and civil proceeding.