Upcoming event: Helen Fraser plenary at the Australian Academy of Forensic Sciences

The Australian Academy of Forensic Sciences (AAFS) was founded in 1967, and is said to be “unique in bringing together persons of professional standing from the legal, medical and scientific professions whom have contributed to the advancement or practice of forensic science”.

The Hub is pleased to announce that Helen Fraser will be giving a plenary at the Victorian chapter of AAFS. You can get in touch with Hub members to attend virtually.

Date and Time

March 9, 2023, from 5.30-6.30pm

Title

Enhancing and transcribing indistinct forensic audio: From problems to solutions? 

Abstract

Recent years have seen increasing acknowledgement of problems with enhancing and transcribing indistinct recorded speech used as evidence in criminal trials. This presentation turns to solutions. A key element of any solution is recognition that the problems arise not from how enhancements and transcripts are created, but from how they are evaluated. Prof Fraser will review relevant scientific findings, and consider how these can be harnessed for forensic purposes – then discuss what reforms are needed to ensure the courts are not ‘assisted’ by misleading interpretations of forensic audio.

Suggested reading

Fraser, H., & Kinoshita, Y. 2021. Injustice arising from the unnoticed power of priming: How lawyers and even judges can be misled by unreliable transcripts of indistinct forensic audio. Criminal Law Journal, 45(3), 142-152.

Fraser, H., & Loakes, D. 2020. Acoustic injustice: The experience of listening to indistinct covert recordings presented as evidence in court . Law Text Culture, 24, 405-429.