Effect of time and relationships on victim–offender dialogue completion in felony cases

Victim–offender dialogues (VODs) often take place in organizational contexts, the stakeholders of which may very well be interested in measures of program effectiveness such as completion rates. When reported, completion rates typically ranged from 40 to 60%. At the time of this study, Ohio’s VOD program was completing just 25% of initiated cases and program stakeholders were unsure as to the cause(s). An archived data analysis was performed on a sample (n?=?212) of the Office of Victim Services (OVS) completed and will-not-proceed files. One hypothesis and two research questions make use of archived data to explore this felony VOD context. The amount of time between the date the crime occurred and the date on which the dialogue file was initiated was not a significant predictor of dialogue completion. However, both victim-offender’s pre-crime relationship and dialogue file initiator were found to significantly impact dialogue completion rates. These results are considered in light of social exchange and uncertainty reduction theories.     

基于单车事故车速鉴定的取证技术

车速鉴定正成为道路交通事故司法鉴定的重要项目。单车事故由于其特殊性往往简单化处理。单车事故主要类型包括碰撞护栏、侧翻与坠崖等。单车事故车速鉴定原理主要是基于能量守恒定律。在分析三类事故常用鉴定计算公式基础上,对其取证要点进行了探究,包括护栏变形、车辆变形、圆周运动半径、坠车飞行距离等测量。并指出其他事故现场痕迹物证要素的测量对于车速鉴定可以起到辅助佐证的作用。     

Quantifying Uncertainty in Estimations of the Total Weight of Drugs in Groups of Complex Matrices: Using the Welch–Satterthwaite Equation

In this paper, a method is described to quantify estimations of the total amount of drugs in groups of seized items, including quantification of the precision. Previous work on this topic was based on the assumptions of normally distributed measurements and grouping of items with a common relative standard deviation. In practice, these assumptions are often violated, for example, for data with point masses at 0, or if certain items in a group have a very high standard deviation. The method described in this paper is based on work by Welch and Satterthwaite and does not assume constant relative standard deviations. Case examples are described for which the method is applied, and simulation studies are carried out for which both methods are applied. In the cases, both methods perform reasonably well. If the assumption of common relative standard deviations clearly does not apply, it is advised to use the method described.     

The Development and Application of Random Match Probabilities to Firearm and Toolmark Identification

The field of firearms and toolmark analysis has encountered deep scrutiny of late, stemming from a handful of voices, primarily in the law and statistical communities. While strong scrutiny is a healthy and necessary part of any scientific endeavor, much of the current criticism leveled at firearm and toolmark analysis is, at best, misinformed and, at worst, punditry. One of the most persistent criticisms stems from the view that as the field lacks quantified random match probability data (or at least a firm statistical model) with which to calculate the probability of a false match, all expert testimony concerning firearm and toolmark identification or source attribution is unreliable and should be ruled inadmissible. However, this critique does not stem from the hard work of actually obtaining data and performing the scientific research required to support or reject current findings in the literature. Although there are sound reasons (described herein) why there is currently no unifying probabilistic model for the comparison of striated and impressed toolmarks as there is in the field of forensic DNA profiling, much statistical research has been, and continues to be, done to aid the criminal justice system. This research has thus far shown that error rate estimates for the field are very low, especially when compared to other forms of judicial error. The first purpose of this paper is to point out the logical fallacies in the arguments of a small group of pundits, who advocate a particular viewpoint but cloak it as fact and research. The second purpose is to give a balanced review of the literature regarding random match probability models and statistical applications that have been carried out in forensic firearm and toolmark analysis.     

The effects of uncertainty and sex in a crisis simulation game

We conducted an experimental test of spiraling behavior, sex differences, and uncertainty in a simulated crisis situation. We investigated the relationship between weapons acquisition and the likelihood of engaging in aggressive behavior, such as going to war. The sample included 100 male and female subjects who participated in a crisis simulation in same‐sex dyads; each student was instructed to role play the leader of a country in conflict with another leader over a nearby island replete with newly discovered oil resources. Participants were randomly assigned to stimulus materials that manipulated the certainty of the information they received about their partner's force structure. In four cycles of decision‐making, each participant made procurement decisions, took an action related to the conflict, including decisions about going to war, completed questionnaires on characteristics such as the hostility and trustworthiness of themselves and their opponents, and wrote messages to the other member of the pair. The results of the study demonstrate a strong relationship between weapons acquisition and hostility. In addition, we found large and robust sex differences, showing that men are much more likely than women to acquire weapons and engage in aggressive behavior at every stage. There was no effect of uncertainty on either arms procurement or aggression.     

监察吏治的实现障碍——以明代监察官职务犯罪为视角的考察

与中国古代官僚制度几乎同生同长的监察制度,到有明一代,已发展成为严密细致、多层次、多元化的制度网络。可以说,一个监察系统,足以折射出明代近三个世纪的官僚政治实况。明代监察制度最为重要的特点是:一方面充分体现了专制皇权统治的高度强化;另一方面亦体现了对监察官自身职务犯罪的全面防范。明代监察法制最具实质性的意义,主要体现在制度预防上,而这一作用的发挥,因受立法上的局限和司法上人为因素的影响而被极大地削弱了,成为明代监察吏治的实现障碍。     

完善我国著作权侵权损害赔偿的计算方法——基于比较法视野的研究启示

著作权侵权损害赔偿的计算方法在各国（地区）立法以及国际条约中均有所体现,但其实质内容却不尽相同。基于此,以我国著作权立法与实践的现状检讨为突破,从宏观意义上的整体制度架构和微观层面上的具体内容规则展开比较研究。是构建理想制度形态的重要路径。我国著作权侵权损害赔偿计算方法的立法修订应在雏固现有整体框架的基础上,平行三种计算方法的适用序位,精心雕琢“实际损失”与“侵权获利”的考量标准,全面构建科学合理的法定赔偿制度。     

自动顶空GC/MS测定血液中乙醇含量不确定度评定

目的评定自动顶空—气相色谱—质谱法(GC/MS)测定血液中乙醇含量的不确定度。方法从分析测量过程着手,依据不确定度评定的指导性文件,分析了不确定度来源,量化不确定度分量,计算检测结果的合成标准不确定度和扩展不确定度。结果血液样本两次测定结果平均值为0.738mg/mL的扩展不确定度为0.084mg/mL。结论血液中乙醇含量的不确定度主要来源于样品检测、乙醇标准溶液和标准曲线。     

企业家导向的理论基础、测量及相关变量

企业家导向是战略管理和企业家精神两个领域的重要构念,在环境日益不确定的今天越来越受到学者的关注和重视。本文回顾了企业家导向的理论基础和内涵演变,着重分析了企业家导向构念测量的视角、维度构成及测量量表,并对既往研究中企业家导向与组织绩效之间的关系机理及情境影响作了总结。文章最后指出今后有必要对企业家导向的单维度、测量方法和情境变量作进一步的研究。     

Involvement of Amphetamines in Sudden and Unexpected Death

Abstract:  In the present study, the effects of amphetamine-class drugs were examined in cases reported to the Victorian coroner from 2001 to 2005 to determine if death can occur from the use of amphetamine-class drugs alone. A total of 169 cases were reviewed where a forensic autopsy detected amphetamine(s) in the blood. Pathology, toxicology, and police reports were analyzed in all cases to ascertain the involvement of amphetamine-class drugs in these deaths. In Victoria, methamphetamine (MA) is the principal abused amphetamine-class followed by methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA). There were six cases in which a cerebral hemorrhage caused death and three cases in which serotonin syndrome was established as being caused by the interaction of MDMA and moclobemide. There were 19 cases in which long-term use of amphetamines was associated with heart disease. There were three cases where amphetamine-class drugs alone were regarded as the cause of death, of which two cases exhibited high levels of MDMA and lesser amounts of MA and/or amphetamine. There were no cases in which significant natural disease was absent and death was regarded as caused by the use of MA. There was no correlation between blood concentration of drug and outcome.