Conviction of the innocent — Lessons from psychological research

HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (January 17, 2012) — More than 280 U.S. citizens have been convicted of serious crimes and have spent years in prison before being exonerated.

Brian Cutler, a professor at the University of Ontario Institute of Technology, will review contemporary psychological research concerning the causes of wrongful conviction with particular emphasis on mistaken eyewitness identification. He will also review procedural reforms aimed at reducing the risk of wrongful conviction.

Dr. Cutler will speak on Wednesday at 7 p.m. in Room 168 of Wilson Hall on the campus of The University of Alabama in Huntsville.

Dr. Cutler is a well-known authority in the field of psychology and the law. He received his undergraduate education at the University of Rochester, MA from SUNY Geneseo, and Ph.D. from the University of Wisconsin.

For the past 24 years has worked in higher education. He has served as a Professor of Psychology and Department Chair at University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Associate Dean, College of Arts & Sciences, Florida International University and Professor of Psychology, Florida International University.  Cutler is presently a Professor of Social Sciences & Humanities at University of Ontario Institute of Technology.

Dr. Cutler has published numerous articles on the science of forensics, and is the author of several books including: Reform of eyewitness identification procedures,Convicting the innocent: Lessons from psychological research,Jury selection,Evaluating eyewitness identification,Eyewitness testimony: Challenging your opponent‚s witness,Mistaken identification: Eyewitnesses, psychology and the law.

For more information,
contact Ray Garner
256.824.6397
(256.UAH.NEWS)
ray.garner@uah.edu