HOW DO DECISION MAKERS DECIDE WHEN WITNESSES ARE TELLING THE TRUTH AND WHAT CAN BE DONE TO IMPROVE THEIR ACCURACY IN MAKING ASSESSMENTS OF WITNESS CREDIBILITY?

Studies involving practical aspects of the administration of justice and issues of forensic science are fraught with difficulties. Without the help, encouragement and assistance from those well versed in the law, they are likely to be relegated to academic obscurity and have no relevance to the most pressing matters involving the day-to-day administration of justice. Equally, without apposite scientific input, such studies are useless. Fortunately, from the inception of this study and to its completion, I had most excellent assistance from both sides of the legal and forensic scientific fence. This assistance is acknowledged in what follows. This study was made possible by a gift to Bond University Centre for Law Governance and Public Policy by the Criminal Lawyers Association of Australia and New Zealand. This is most gratefully acknowledged, as is the personal assistance of Mr Kevin Borick Q.C., who was instrumental in securing funding to allow this study to proceed and for his most helpfu