Project 39A's Interdisciplinary Online Courses On Forensic Science & Mental Health Now Available On FutureLearn

Project 39A is a criminal justice initiative based out of National Law University, Delhi. Its areas of research include forensics, mental health, death penalty, legal aid, and torture. Project 39A engages with these issues within the criminal justice system through rigorous empirical research and legal intervention. Eleos Justice at the Faculty of Law, Monash University, works on issues regarding the death penalty in the Asian region through research, advocay and training.

These courses bring together renowned legal and forensic experts including judges, lawyers, forensic scientists and mental health professionals from India, Australia and the UK. These short, interactive and self paced courses have been created for judges, lawyers, and students of law, forensic science, forensic psychiatry and psychology. The learning process has been made simple and engaging through a series of video lectures, articles, quizzes and case studies.

The course 'Decoding forensics for legal professionals' explores the scientific concepts underlying forensic pathology, medical examination in cases of sexual offences, bite mark evidence and forensic DNA profiling. It also discusses the legal aspects relevant to the submission of such evidence and its examination by courts.

The course 'Forensic Mental Health and Criminal Justice' focuses on the relevance of the accused person's mental health within the criminal justice system and the various stages where it intersects with criminal law. The course covers both the legal and forensic mental health aspects in three broad areas- fitness to stand trial, the defense of insanity, and the role of mental health in capital punishment cases.

Both the courses are inspired by Project 39A's research on forensic science in India and its extensive criminal defense work. While it offers special insights for the Indian audience, it is equally relevant for learners from around the world, as it covers many of the common problems faced in several jurisdictions.