Discovery Analysis for Criminal Defense Investigators – Saint Mary’s University
This course is available exclusively to Saint Mary’s University students.
Use the access code provided by your professor at checkout.
Read more about this course below.
Description
In a criminal case, the prosecution has to share its evidence with the defense before trial. That material is called discovery. Discovery includes police reports, witness statements, 911 and dispatch records, recordings, photos, lab results and phone records. For a defense investigator, discovery is where the investigation starts.
This course teaches you how to work through it. You’ll organize the discovery into one core file, analyze what’s in it, and come out with a thorough list of investigative leads.
You’ll practice on a fictional case. John Johnson is charged with first-degree murder in the death of his girlfriend, Monica Garcia. You’ll build a core file from his discovery, then use it to find the conflicts, gaps and unanswered questions in the case. Each one becomes a task in your investigation plan.
What you’ll learn
- Module 1: Why effective discovery review matters. Why investigators need to read discovery themselves, and where AI tools fit.
- Module 2: Pre-work and mindset. Organizing the file, doing a quick pre-review and agreeing on scope with the defense attorney.
- Module 3: The core work product. Build the witness list, timeline, records log, missing-discovery list, open questions and defense themes you’ll analyze.
- Module 4: Analysis and next steps. Use your core file to spot what doesn’t add up, pull apart key moments in the case, and turn open questions into lines of investigation and a task list.
Self-paced · 365 days of access
