The impeachment of witnesses and defendants with their prior convictions is an antiquated practice that warrants critical examination. Many of the premises for allowing the prior convictions of testifying defendants and other witnesses to be admitted at trial have been demonstrated to be flawed, perpetuating systemic racial biases while undermining defendants' constitutional rights to testify and present evidence. This video series delves into this practice and its consequences.
Videos:
- The Dilemma of the Defendant with a Prior Record Lessons from the Wrongfully Convicted (Professor John H. Blume)
- Convicted by the Past How Criminal Records Affect Jury Trials (Professor Valerie P. Hans)
- Prior Conviction Impeachment and Race (Panel discussion with Professors Asees Bhasin, Montré Denise Carodine, and Jasmine Gonzales Rose)
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These videos are hosted on TalentLMS, a learning management system, where you will also find additional resources created for defense lawyers. We encourage you to read the brief guide below on navigating TalentLMS prior to signing up for an account.
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