Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

Direct And Indirect Influences Of Defendant Mental Illness On Jury Decision Making, Marie Sabbagh

The Pegasus Review: UCF Undergraduate Research Journal

It is a common misconception that individuals with schizophrenia are significantly more dangerous and violent than individuals free of mental illness. This stigmatization may lead to harsher sentences when people with schizophrenia are involved in criminal activities and sentenced by a jury. This study presented four conditions to which participants were randomly assigned, alone or in a group of three, and were asked to sentence a defendant, either with or without schizophrenia. It was hypothesized that group deliberations would result in more lenient sentences for defendants with schizophrenia as compared to individual deliberations. Furthermore, it was predicted that both group …

Hanging By A Thread: Enhancing The Forensic Value Of Dyed Cotton Trace Evidence Through The Application Of Novel Techniques In Fiber Discrimination, Rachel M. Russo

The Pegasus Review: UCF Undergraduate Research Journal

This thesis examines the capability of current techniques in fiber classification such as UV-visible microspectrophotometry (MSP) (for dye in situ and/or extracted) to discriminate between fibers from sources known to be different. When these methods fail to adequately distinguish the fibers, novel alternative techniques'such as pulsed pumped laser-induced fluorescence spectroscopy (LIF) and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS)'are utilized to provide definitive forensic evidence.

The FBI Dye Extraction Classification and Chromatography Schemes: Forensic Fiber Examination Guidelines provides the methodology used by the majority of crime labs across the United States (Fong, 1984). In the case of cotton fibers'the most frequently encountered fiber …