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The standard
of proof for an inquest jury is probable cause. In 1983, the United
States Supreme Court (Illinois v. Gates) defined the requirements to
meet probable cause. Specifically, the decision said
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the
totality of the circumstances are to be used,
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probable
cause is to be viewed as a set of probabilities, and
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a
deficiency in one probability can be compensated by the probability
in another.
The
requirements expressed by the United States Supreme Court have been
implemented for the first time by FactLogic.
FactLogic
helps you decide whether to accuse and justifies this decision, sparing
you and the suspect the consequences of a poor decision. Because FactLogic
determines and quantifies the probability an assertion is true, the accuracy of
your decision can be demonstrated and can be substantiated by the judgments
of others.
If the
official uses FactLogic, he can organize and document the facts,
let jurors evaluate the facts, and prepare for fact-specific
post-trial interviews
of jurors. Since an inquest jury involves a somewhat large number of
jurors, an inquest jury presents a good opportunity to employ statistical
analysis, predict the general verdict should the case be tried, and
reach an accurate and justifiable decision.
Any probability
can be the subject of analysis. However, the following two are particularly
applicable to an inquest jury:
Types
of Analysis
FactLogic
provides the numbers necessary to conduct statistical analysis. Statistical
analysis can help you reach a decision in five ways:
Carefully Define the Probability an Assertion is True. FactLogic defines the probability
an assertion is true by computing the average and computing an interval on both
sides of the average within which you can be 95% confident that the
true probability an assertion is true exists.
Compare
the Probability an Assertion is True to Probable Cause. FactLogic determines
the probability that is exceeded, with 95% certainty, by the mean probability
an assertion is true. Compare this probability to probable cause.
Compare
the Probabilities Assertions are True for Two Suspects. FactLogic determines
if the mean probability an assertion is true of one suspect is greater, with 95%
certainty, than the mean probability an assertion is true of another suspect.
Predict
the General Verdict. FactLogic can use the probabilities from the
grand jurors to predict the general verdict if a True Bill is returned
and if the prosecutor were to try the case.
Accept
an Accusation. This analysis determines the probabilities of erring
by accepting either of two accusatory decisions. They are:
Begin
Begin in the
following way:
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Create The Case. Create your case by entering some case information,
the facts, and one or more assertions to be proved by the facts.
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Select
Inquest Jurors. Select inquest jurors as you will. It is recommended
that they be chosen randomly from the venue or venire.
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Assign Inquest Jurors to the Case. Enter some identification for
each inquest juror, and assign an e-mail address corresponding to the
connected computer assigned to each. FactLogic sends an e-mail message
to each inquest juror (i.e., computer). It contains the address of a
page containing some background case information and the page on which
each inquest juror will enter judgments for each fact.
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