Multidisciplinary Program on Oral Testimony (MPORT): Challenges and Innovations for Obtaining Evidence From Human Sources

Oral testimony from human sources is the most frequent and important evidence for preventing,  investigating and prosecuting crimes, but comes with unique challenges: Some sources are afraid or lack motivation to testify; others struggle with memory problems; and still others experience cultural and/or language barriers.

The Multidisciplinary Program on ORal Testimony (MPORT) will address these challenges and empirically test innovations within three work packages (WPs): WP1 will focus on anonymous witnesses and early recording of testimony to address the challenge with uncooperative witnesses.

WP2 will focus on interview protocols that prevent delay between the crime and the testimony and help victims connect memory details from repeated abuse to a particular point in time (particularization).

WP3 will focus on an interview toolkit that facilitates effective communication with sources from diverse cultural backgrounds and the use of interpreters. The MPORT team consists of national and international experts in psychology, law, and criminology. One PhD project will focus on each of the three work packages.

Our research will draw on multiple methods; archival studies, experimental methods, focus groups, and vignette studies.

The examined innovations have immediate practical significance and, thus, the potential to improve clearance rates and successful prosecution for serious crimes like organized crime, gang related crimes, and repeated abuse.