Open University cognitive psychologist Graham Pike describes how his interest in facial compositing has led to a collaboration resulting in a computer based tool, called Efit V. This tool might transform the process of identifying police suspects. It is being developed to allow law enforcement agencies to produce images of criminal suspects at very short notice at crime scenes revolutionising the process of identification. To find out more, follow the research links.

This free course is made up of four extracts related to social care, social work and the law in England and Wales. The extracts are stand-alone sections but follow on from each other to make up this course. You will be introduced to five main themes that shape practice in the field of social care and social work. The aim of this course is to enhance your understanding of the relationship between social work practice and the law.

The law and aspects of the legal system have a massive impact on the lives of social workers, from defining policy and procedure to the actual process of day-to-day working. This album presents an encompassing and engrossing look at the interaction between legal and social teams, and how different professions and groups interact to ensure equality and representation for all members of society. Not only do these discussions offer an insight into the justification and implementation of policy, they also provide illumination onto the realities and experience of working with vulnerable and disadvantaged people. This material forms part of The Open University course K269 Social care, social work and the law (England and Wales).

This animation looks at the law in relation to what is right or wrong. 

In this free course, Software and the law, you'll look at the laws relevant to software and its use, taking a global perspective.

A major part of this course is devoted to intellectual-property law, the issue of who owns software and digital content and how that ownership can be protected using instruments like copyright and patents. We also cover how contracts are used to formalise the relationship between purchasers and suppliers of software. Finally, we look at some of the laws that apply to information technology and software to ensure that organisations meet their responsibility of care towards employees, customers, and the general public.

This free course gives an overview of the law of expert evidence, including practice and procedure, the duties and liabilities of experts, the question of how non-experts can adjudicate between the views of experts, and the increasing mathematisation of scientific evidence. The various issues are finally brought together in a case study of one of the most notorious miscarriages of justice in recent years.
This OpenLearn course is an adapted extract from the Open University course W250 Evidence law.

Is religious doctrine still a given when it comes to rights and ethics? This video investigates that question.

Recognising differences is one way law and religion can complement eachother, says Professor Iain Benson. 

Religious beliefs towards dress, sexuality and property versus secular law is discussed by Professor Julian Rivers.