Lawyer Monthly - January 2022 Edition

is less common that such understanding is applied to an investigation and evaluation of a civilian’s actions and intent. Potentially, a prosecutorial team or defense firm could benefit from an objective understanding of human performance factors, ensuring their victims and clients receive the justice and effective service they deserve. HFA can provide not only an affordable and important dimension to many cases, but may also become a routine component of strategy development, effective counsel, and practice. How do you impart the necessary information about human factors and behaviour to jurors and counsel? With juries, I typically explain the relevant factors, and then provide an example that most people will have experienced or understand. I also help counsel understand how inaccurate witness statements, faulty law enforcement conclusions, unsupported medical opinions, and other human factors may have influenced their case. What challenges do you often face as part of this work? Outside of some civil proceedings, HFA appears to be less common in describing the intent and process of civilian acts of self-defense, intent, and error. Often, the greatest challenges involve providing awareness of the “science” that influences human perception and action. How much of your work is done before going to trial? Does this differ from most expert witnesses? A significant amount of my work and analysis is completed before trial. Law enforcement investigation conclusions and opposing expert opinions must be analysed and tested, and strategies developed. Generally, with an analysis of the physical conditions associated with an event, I prefer to personally experience them in the testing and report my observations from that perspective. About Bruce Champagne I retired from a full career in law enforcement after completing assignments as a SWAT officer, field trainer, gang detective, defensive tactics and firearms instructor, underwater forensic investigator, and violent crimes detective. Prior to that, I worked as a commercial marine biologist/zoologist, and as a result, use a scientific approach in my investigations and training. My company, Quadrant Operations, LLC, has been helping firms provide effective legal representation since 2012 with training, crime/event reconstruction, law enforcement investigation and operations review, human factors and crime analysis, specialized interviews, deception detection, and expert witness services. Frequently, we also provide analysis of civilian acts of self-defence and law enforcement uses-of-force, crime analysis involving incomplete or incorrect law enforcement investigations, event plausibility, incorrect medical diagnoses through bias and noise, and distorted memory and witness statements. Bruce Champagne, Quadrant Operations LLC 9500 South 500 West, Ste. #213, Sandy, Utah 84070 T: +1 801-750-5452 | E: quadrantoperations@gmail.com | www.brucechampagne.com Facebook: Quadrant Operations, LLC; Analyzing Law Enforcement Uses of Force