Psychopathy and Nonverbal Indicators of Deception in Offenders

The current study examined psychopathy and nonverbal indicators of deception in an incarcerated sample. Nonverbal behaviors were coded from videotapes of 45 male offenders telling true and fabricated stories about crimes. Interpersonal features of psychopathy were associated with inflated views of lying ability, verbosity, and increases in blinking, illustrator use, and speech hesitations. While lying, the more psychopathic offenders spoke faster and demonstrated increases in blinking and head movements. Indicators of deception in offenders were somewhat different from those typically observed in non-offender populations. These findings indicate that personality factors may have an impact on nonverbal indicators of deception in criminal justice settings where the detection of deception is of utmost concern.     

＂刑法危机＂的症结何在——就犯罪圈、刑罚量问题的些许感想

本文从新近的一种人格刑法的有力主张入手,首先给出了对于当下刑事法网是"厉而不严"而非"又严又厉"的基本判断,在此基础上,认为破除刑法危机、实现刑法机制的良性运转应该以"严而不厉"为基本保障,从而主张在刑罚轻缓化的同时,还必要强调刑法调控范围的适度扩张即犯罪化,并且,为这样的一种主张与时下的"宽严相济的刑事政策"在刑事立法意义上找到了某种契合。     

Visual detection of trace nitroaromatic explosive residue using photoluminescent metallole-containing polymers

The detection of trace explosives is important for forensic, military, and homeland security applications. Detection of widely used nitroaromatic explosives (trinitrotoluene [TNT], 2,4-dinitrotoluene [DNT], picric acid [PA]) was carried out using photoluminescent metallole-containing polymers. The method of detection is through the quenching of fluorescence of thin films of the polymer, prepared by spray coating organic solutions of the polymer, by the explosive analyte. Visual quenching of luminescence (lambda(em) approximately 400-510 nm) in the presence of the explosive is seen immediately upon illumination with near-UV light (lambda(ex)=360 nm). Detection limits were observed to be as low as 5 ng for TNT, 20 ng for DNT, and 5 ng for PA. In addition, experiments with normal production line explosives and their components show that this technology is also able to detect composition B, Pyrodex, and nitromethane. This method offers a convenient and sensitive method of detection of trace nitroaromatic explosive residue.     

The Intergenerational Cycle of Criminality—Association with Psychopathy*

Abstract: Preventive interventions early in life are likely to lower the risk of intergenerational transmission of criminal behavior. We investigated if psychopathy among homicidal offenders is associated with criminal offending among the offenders’ offspring. The basic sample consisted of consecutive Finnish homicide offenders (during 1995–2004) who had been subjected to a forensic psychiatric examination and rated for a file‐based PCL‐R, and their offspring. Criminal behavior among both genders of the offspring was more common than in the general population. In general, the offspring’s crimes against others (e.g., threat, intimidation, deprivation of freedom, breach of domicile) were associated with their parent’s psychopathy. A grandfather’s major mental disorder was associated with a high rate of crime committed by the offspring. Especially, the sons of male psychopathic homicidal offenders had the highest rate of committing crimes, which was often expressed as vandalism. However, both genders of offspring seem to require special preventive programs to ameliorate these problems.     

1,2,4‐Triazine‐Based Chromogenic Reagents for the Detection of Microtraces of Various Metals Left on Human Skin*

Abstract: This article extends the application of 1,2,4‐triazine‐based chromogenic reagents to the detection of nonferrous metal traces left on contact with canvas and human skin. The possibility of detection of iron traces resulting from contact with objects made of stainless steel was investigated as well. Additionally, the ability of triazines to form chromatic complexes with Zn²⁺, Ni²⁺, Co²⁺, Cu²⁺, Cr³⁺, and Al³⁺ ions was studied spectrophotometrically. Molar absorption coefficients, ranging from 8.8 to 29.9 × 10³/M/cm, provide high sensitivity of 1,2,4‐triazines toward nonferrous ions, thus, enabling the detection at concentrations as low as a few μM. The method was sensitive enough to detect traces resulting from a 1‐min contact with a stainless steel made object, which is commonly considered as a corrosion‐resistant material. The amounts of metal ions transferred to the skin after a 2‐min contact with objects made of brass, zinc, and copper were sufficient to develop chromatic imprints.     

Transfer of Triazine‐iron(II) Chromic Complexes Left by Iron Items on Textile Background and Human Skin

Abstract: The research is focused on the detection and transfer of iron traces left by iron items on clothing and human skin. The method is based on the formation of colored complexes between ferrous ions and five synthesized, mostly new triazines. Iron traces originally were left by iron rings on slightly wetted (artificial sweat) cotton fabrics and subsequently transferred to a separate textile substrate. Prior to the use of trazines the contact spots were treated with a new inorganic reducing agent (Sn²⁺) to reduce Fe³⁺ to Fe²⁺. The method is sensitive to detect iron traces on wetted canvas after 10 min contact with iron items. More spectacular results were obtained for traces left on human palm even after very short contact (10 sec). The new iron‐trace‐transfer method eliminated the contact of triazines solutions with human skin. Transmission visible spectra of Fe(II)–triazine complexes were determined.     

Potency Trends of Δ9‐THC and Other Cannabinoids in Confiscated Cannabis Preparations from 1993 to 2008*

Abstract: The University of Mississippi has a contract with the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) to carry out a variety of research activities dealing with cannabis, including the Potency Monitoring (PM) program, which provides analytical potency data on cannabis preparations confiscated in the United States. This report provides data on 46,211 samples seized and analyzed by gas chromatography‐flame ionization detection (GC‐FID) during 1993–2008. The data showed an upward trend in the mean Δ⁹‐tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ⁹‐THC) content of all confiscated cannabis preparations, which increased from 3.4% in 1993 to 8.8% in 2008. Hashish potencies did not increase consistently during this period; however, the mean yearly potency varied from 2.5–9.2% (1993–2003) to 12.0–29.3% (2004–2008). Hash oil potencies also varied considerably during this period (16.8 ± 16.3%). The increase in cannabis preparation potency is mainly due to the increase in the potency of nondomestic versus domestic samples.     

Partial Agonist Therapy in Schizophrenia: Relevance to Diminished Criminal Responsibility

Abstract: Pathological gambling (PG), classified in the DSM‐IV among impulse control disorders, is defined as inappropriate, persistent gaming for money with serious personal, family, and social consequences. Offenses are frequently committed to obtain money for gambling. Pathological gambling, a planned and structured behavioral disorder, has often been described as a complication of dopamine agonist treatment in patients with Parkinson’s disease. It has never been described in patients with schizophrenia receiving dopamine agonists. We present two patients with schizophrenia, previously treated with antipsychotic drugs without any suggestion of PG, who a short time after starting aripiprazole, a dopamine partial agonist, developed PG and criminal behavior, which totally resolved when aripiprazole was discontinued. Based on recent advances in research on PG and adverse drug reactions to dopamine agonists in Parkinson’s disease, we postulate a link between aripiprazole and PG in both our patients with schizophrenia and raise the question of criminal responsibility.     

限定刑事责任能力评定量表扩展应用的信效度

目的探讨限定刑事责任能力评定量表在责任能力评定中的扩展运用价值。方法采用DCRRS（内容包括现实作案动机,先兆,诱因,时间、地点、对象、工具选择,作案时情绪反应,作案后各种行为表现,生活自理能力、工作学习能力、自知力、现实检验能力损害和自我控制能力等）对108例符合要求的患者进行评定并与专家鉴定结果进行比较。结果DCRRS各条目间及其与总量表分间的相关均具有统计学意义（r=0.145～0.944,P〈0.001）,分半信度为0.868。根据DCRRS参考划界分分组,无、限定和完全责任能力3组间及两两间量表总分均具有显著统计学差异（P〈0.001）。DCRRS与专家鉴定结果一致性较高（Kappa=0.958,P〈0.001）,经判别方程回代具有较高的正确率（97.2%）。结论DCRRS的信效度良好,可作为辅助参考使用。     

刑事司法领域中的民意之解读

民意是客观存在的。信息时代使得民意关注、评价甚至在一定条件下影响司法活动成为可能。刑事司法领域中的民意是公众在对因为某种原因受到社会各界格外关注的刑事案件认知、判断的基础上,根据法律正义的外在社会价值形成的带有普遍倾向和较多道德成分的观点或意见。民意是与案件处理结果有关（直接或潜在）但被国家排斥在刑事诉讼活动之外的一种重要利益的体现。