NCJ Number
69932
Date Published
1977
Length
240 pages
Annotation
Search and seizure trends, diminished capacity, Pitchess motions and the destruction of records, prejudicial publicity in criminal cases, hearsay rules, and the art of objecting are discussed as defense strategies.
Abstract
Intended for an audience of defense attorneys and law students, this series of five audiocassettes contains the proceedings of a 1977 Statewide Criminal Law Seminar, held in San Francisco, Calif. The main topics discussed by the speakers include trends in the application of the exclusionary rule to an increasing number of search and seizure cases, some practical hints on how to use diminished capacity (as distinguished from insanity) defense strategies, and Pitchess motions (discovery motions by defense attorneys seeking police internal affairs information on citizens' complaints regarding police use of excessive force and other abuses) and the destruction of records. Other topics covered are publicity in criminal cases, and the art of objecting as a defense strategy in the courtroom. A syllabus containing background information on each topic, including citation of relevant court cases, is provided with the cassettes. For individual tapes, see NCJ 69933-69938.