Courtroom Preparation and Expert Witness Testimony

COURSE DESCRIPTION:  Every day across the United States, members of the law enforcement community who work in every capacity perform their duties in an exemplary manner.  In the time between arrest and court, however, further preparation is necessary to successfully turn exemplary arrests into solid convictions.

In reality, preparation for court proceedings and establishing a level of subject-matter expertise begins long before the arrest is made.  Thorough, systematic documentation of incidents and investigations must become second nature to today’s officers, and concise, accurate testimony must follow.  Students of this course will learn:

• An easy-to-follow, systematic approach to documentation of criminal arrests and investigations

• A time tested four-step process to articulation for criminal arrests

• The necessary pillars of subject matter expertise and expert witness qualifications

• Effective, professional courtroom etiquette and behavior