Inquiry into the Scientific Basis for Bitemark Profiling and Arbitrary Distortion Compensation

Abstract: Prediction of dental characteristics from a bitemark (bitemark profiling) and arbitrary photographic distortion compensation are two practices proposed in bitemark analysis. Recent research on the effect of inherent skin tension properties in bitemark analysis suggests that these practices are subject to review. A biting apparatus was used to create 66 bitemarks in human cadaver skin. The bitemarks were photographed, sized 1:1, and evaluated with Adobe Photoshop^®. Metric/angular measurements and hollow volume dental overlays were employed. Distortion produced was calculated and assessed. Results showed distortional ranges were nonuniform both between bites, as well as within each bite. Thus, enlarging/decreasing the photograph uniformly would not correct the distortion that resulted. With regard to bitemark profiling, 38% of the bites created patterns that could be misleading if profiled. Features were present/absent that were inconsistent with the biter’s dentition. Conclusions indicate bitemark profiling and arbitrary distortion compensation may be inadvisable.     

Adherence of forensic odontologists to the ABFO guidelines for victim evidence collection

Certifying boards for different professions have the duty to help establish standards and guidelines for methodologies routinely performed within the discipline. For forensic dentists, this responsibility is placed upon the American Board of Forensic Odontology (ABFO). The purpose of this study was to examine whether board certified and noncertified forensic odontologists adhere to the ABFO Guidelines outlined in the collection of victim bitemark evidence. A questionnaire was developed to assess the compliance and attitudes towards the typical evidence collected, the photographic documentation, and the handling of the bite site injury. The results indicate the majority of the respondents in both representative groups routinely follow the guidelines set forth by the ABFO. The lack of personally photographing the bite injury on a consistent basis is an area of concern for all examiners. The photographic evidence is an instrumental part of the investigation and often cannot be utilized due to improper procedures being followed. The film type utilized, bite site impression techniques, and excision of any tissue samples remain an individual choice and vary significantly among each forensic odontologist.     

Old dogs can learn new tricks--a new application of the ABFO #2 scale

In 1984 at its first Bitemark Workshop, the American Board of Forensic Odontology (ABFO) developed guidelines for the analysis of bitemark evidence. Prior to this, no standards had been established for the evaluation of bitemarks. The development of the ABFO #2 scale in 1987 gave the forensic odontologist a reproducible way to rectify and measure bitemarks that had been documented photographically. Primarily developed for the analysis of bitemark evidence, its use has expanded to encompass myriad forms of evidence. While the ABFO #2 scale can depict horizontal and vertical measurements, it is unable to depict depth accurately. The purpose of this paper is to show its successful application to three dimensions.     

Adherence of forensic odontologists to the ABFO bite mark guidelines for suspect evidence collection

Boards and associations within forensic science have long been accepted as vehicles for the development and dissemination of protocols and recommendations for practice. Recent controversies surrounding bite mark analyses have brought the methods and practices of forensic dentists to the attention of both the courts and the media. In the mid-eighties the American Board of Forensic Odontology developed guidelines for bite mark analysis in response to unfavorable commentaries on the discipline by legal observers. The purpose of this study is to examine the adherence of board certified and noncertified forensic dentists to the guidelines for collection of evidence from bite mark suspects. A questionnaire was employed during an American Academy of Forensic Sciences meeting. Results showed that, in general, when the odontologists collected evidence they did adhere to the guidelines, although collection of salivary samples was not common. Of concern is the large number of odontologists who do not collect their own evidence from suspects. Police officers or other individuals often perform this task and therefore the guidelines must be disseminated to these groups to ensure that the maximum yield is obtained from bite mark evidence. A review of the materials used to collect evidence is also included with details of applications in forensic science.     

关于现行宪法第四次修正的建议

党的十六大报告意蕴深远,思想丰富,体现了与时俱进和开拓创新的精神.它不仅是我们党在新世纪新阶段的政治宣言和行动纲领,而且是推动我国社会主义民主宪政发展的理论基础和行动指南.     

第四届全国侦查学术研讨会暨侦查系主任论坛综述

第四届全国侦查学术研讨会暨侦查系主任论坛于 2004年 10月 23日至 25日在北京大学法学院举行。北京大学原党委书记王学珍、公安部刑侦局局长杜航伟、最高人民检察院反贪局马海滨副局长、北京大学法学院副院长陈兴良教授等出席开幕式并讲话。来自北京大学、中国人民大学、中国人民公安大学、西南政法大学、华东政法大学以及全国其他公安政法院校的侦查系主任、专家和学者参加了这次研讨会。随着我国民主与法制的日益健全,对刑事诉讼制度进行改革也已经纳入议事日程。在这种形势下,第四届侦查学术研讨会暨侦查系主任论坛以“侦查中的人权…     

互惠正义:第四次修宪的规范精神

一、宪法与互惠正义 如果把法教义学的态度运用到极致,而不对规范成立的事实结果投以苛求的目光,或者干脆把某种实践性的动机隐入规范解读的价值判断之中,那么在本次修宪中,则可依稀读出某种互惠正义.     

Mobile autopsy teams in the investigation of war crimes in Kosovo 1999.

On request of the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY), the Danish-Swedish forensic teams worked in Kosovo during the summer and the fall of 1999. The teams worked mainly as "mobile teams" at sites with few graves. Only two larger sites were examined. Most of the bodies were buried separately. A few "multiple burial" graves were examined, but no mass graves were encountered. The main purpose of the autopsies was to establish the cause and manner of death. Identification was of less importance, but a majority of the bodies had been identified prior to the autopsy. A total of 308 bodies, mainly males, were examined. The age varied greatly with a mean age of 47 years. The most common cause of death was gun shot wounds and the most common manner of death was homicide.     

第四届“中国—东盟法律合作与发展高层论坛”学术综述

2010年11月10日至14日,由中国法学会和重庆市人民政府主办,中国法学学术交流中心、重庆市法学会和西南政法大学共同承办的第四届＂中国—东盟法律合作与发展高层论坛＂在重庆市召开,200余位来自中国和东盟国家的司法界官员、律师、仲裁员和学者（其中包括10位部级以上官员在内的91名东盟外宾）参加了本届论坛。     

2010年PCT申请情况深度分析

2010年PCT国际专利申请量为162,900件,同比增长4．8％。中国申请增长势头强劲,以56．2％的增幅超过韩国,跻身为PCT申请的第四大来源国。中兴、华为在申请量排名中分列第二位、第四位。除电子通讯领域增幅17．3％外,其他技术领域申请量同比持平或有所下降。相关数据反映出我国对外申请的特点：专利申请质量有所提高、对外申请内部结构不均衡、对外专利申请资助初现成效。     

Federal Employees Health Benefits Program, Medically Underserved Areas for 1999--OPM. Notice of medically underserved areas for 1999

The Office of Personnel Management has completed its annual calculation of the States that qualify as Medically Underserved Areas under the Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) Program for the calendar year 1999. This is necessary to comply with a provision of FEHB law that mandates special consideration for enrollees of certain FEHB plans who receive covered health services in states with critical shortages of primary care physicians. Accordingly, for calendar year 1999, OPM's calculations show that the following States are Medically Underserved Areas under the FEHB Program: Alabama, Idaho, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Mexico, North Dakota, South Carolina, South Dakota, and Wyoming. West Virginia has been removed from the 1998 list, and Idaho and North Dakota have been added.     

认真地反思第四次民法典起草的组织方法

在新中国立法史上,本次民法典起草是最民主的,取得的成果也是最好的;但其在组织方法上存在不足:起草人员的任命程序过于随便;起草委员的构成不合理;起草者普遍过于年高导致实际起草者与被任命的起草者的相对脱离;零成本起草民法典的政策损害草案质量;起草成果出版不全面。应由人大常委会以法令的形式直接任命新的民法典起草委员会;同时任命充足的秘书人员,拨足经费;成立第二民法典起草小组履行对抗者职能等。     

论加强人权司法保障——党的十八届四中全会精神的人权解读

司法是人权救济的最后防线,人权司法保障的强化应当致力于实现四大转变:从人权上升为诉权,以保障知情权、陈述权、辩护辩论权、申请权、申诉权;从人权法律原则细化为人权法律规则,以落实罪刑法定、疑罪从无和非法证据排除制度;从纸上的权利现实化为行动中的权利,以强制执行维护法律权威和保障胜诉权利;从信访过份扩张转变到依法终结涉法涉诉信访,以达致维权的法治化和专业化.