Bayesian approach

Bayesian approach

Bayesian approach

Introduction

Bayesian approach has received support as well as criticism for its use in courtrooms. Basically, Bayesian inference in statistics is a methodology in which this inference is employed for updating the probability estimation for a hypothesis. This hypothesis is used as additional evidence. This method is used is statistics as well as mathematics. It also has wide applications in various fields such as law, medicine and engineering. This approach is also employed by courtrooms whereby a juror tries to logically gather all evidences that may or may be against the defendant or could also be in his favor. The purpose of using this approach is to reach an understanding of whether this approach would meet the typical requirement of a courtroom, which is declaring the defendant guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. It is the Bayes theorem that is used for a successful application for the evidences that have been given out. It is done in stages starting from one to the other (LEE, 2007, pp 17-18).

The benefits that arise out of using this approach are that it allows a juror an unbiased method and mechanisms that are based on a rational approach. This rational mechanism may be used for combining the evidence for or against the defendant. It seems to be a method that would certainly assist the process of law in determining whether the defendant is guilty or not. However, the situation seems far away from reality. This is because Bayes theorem has gained a lot of criticism. This is especially true with regards to its usage by the jurors. Critics have argued that introducing the use of this theorem implies that the jury would be plunged into a situation where they would have to deliberate unnecessarily into various theories and other complexities that would not help serve the purpose of a jury trial and on the other hand, will be diverting the court from its original mission and objectives (Kopparapu, 2001, pp 190-20).

Discussion

The past few years have seen a rise in criticism of the Bayesian approach especially with regards to its usage in the courtrooms. The fact that this method though reliable mathematically has been considered as being unreliable scientifically. Hence, using an approach that is not considered as being correct scientifically is sure to raise concerns among the public. This has been the case as various critics are now questioning the rationality of using this approach especially in courtrooms where there is a strong need to follow methods that are more reliable and free of errors. An approach that lacks reliability scientifically is regarded by many as not being suitable to be used in sensitive places like the courtrooms. This also goes on to suggest that the process of justice would only be obstructed in case the court relies on a methodology that cannot be proved scientifically. Regardless to say, this method also serves in making the courtrooms delve into unnecessary accounts of methods that would only consume its time and result in ...