Differences in personality and mental state between suspects and witnesses immediately after being interviewed by the police

Abstract

There is increased recognition that people interviewed by the police are often psychologically vulnerable due to modest intelligence, mental health problems, disturbed mental state, and personality problems. The current study aimed to investigate differences in the mental state and personality between suspects and witnesses. The participants were 78 individuals (47 suspects and 31 witnesses) who had been interviewed by the Icelandic police. They were assessed psychologically immediately after the interview with the police was completed. Significant differences emerged between the two groups with the suspects being more depressed, hopeless, compliant and personality disordered than the witnesses. Four of the suspects claimed to have made a false confession to the police due to their immediate need or psychological problems.     

Problems in expert deception detection and the risk of false confessions: no proof to the contrary in Levine et al. (2014)

Lie-detection research has shown that observers who rely on nonverbal cues or on verbal cues correctly classify on average 54% of truth tellers and liars. In addition, over the years, countless numbers of innocent people have made false confessions and, in analysing the problem, researchers have implicated both a suspect's vulnerability and the persuasive influence of certain police interrogation tactics. Levine et al. (2014) aim to contribute to these vast bodies of literature by reporting two studies purportedly showing that expert interviewers – when they are permitted to question interviewees – can achieve almost perfect accuracy without eliciting false confessions. We argue that theoretical and methodological aspects of these studies undermine the reliability and validity of the data reported, that as a result the studies do not contribute to the scientific literatures on lie detection and false confessions in any meaningful way, and that the results are dangerously misleading.     

Photoshop软件在印章印文比对检验中的应用

利用Photoshop软件的图像处理功能,对印章印文进行重叠比对,旨在为伪造印章印丈的简单比对以及检验鉴定提供一种思路。文中方法具有操作简便,精确性高的特点,可为检验鉴定工作做出初步判断。     

从“伤害原则”看恶意诉讼的本质——以民事诉讼为视角

一般认为,民事纠纷的发生表明了当事人对利益状态的不满或对实体法效力的挑战和质疑,这构成了司法救济介入的逻辑前提。然而,权利的赋予与滥用往往如一对孪生兄弟。在权利得到彰显的时代,“伪纠纷”日益增多。近年来,恶意诉讼已经成为法治进程中正向构建与反向利用之间博弈的重大命题。这一方面对私益形成了滋扰和侵害,另一方面浪费了司法资源并使得司法权威受到了藐视。由于恶意诉讼对多种法益构成了伤害,因此,必须在对其本质做出清晰界定的前提下进行有效的规制。     

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.     

包庇罪若干问题探讨

包庇罪特有的行为方式——作假证明包庇,决定了其行为对象及行为时间的相对确定性:"犯罪的人"只限于犯罪嫌疑人和被告人而不可能包括已决犯,同时"作假证明包庇"也意味着,其行为的时间只可能发生在刑事诉讼程序已经启动生效判决尚未作出前。"包庇"不仅是"作假证明"行为所具有的客观性质,也是行为人主观故意的内容。包庇罪和伪证罪存在着一定的交叉竞合关系。我国刑法规定的包庇罪同人伦关系存在冲突,在新的立法规定出台之前,我们可以充分利用《刑法》总则第13条"但书"的出罪功能及包庇罪和伪证罪的竞合关系来消解和减少这种冲突。     

Fourier-transformed infrared breath testing after ingestion of technical alcohol

The study aim was to evaluate the feasibility of a Fourier-transformed infrared (FT-IR) analyzer for out-of-laboratory use by screening the exhalations of inebriated individuals, and to determine analysis quality using common breath components and solvents. Each of the 35 inebriated participants gave an acceptable sample. Because of the metabolism of 2-propanol, the subjects exhaled high concentrations of acetone in addition to ethanol. Other volatile ingredients of technical ethanol products (methyl ethyl ketone, methyl isobutyl ketone, and 2-propanol) were also detected. The lower limits of quantification for the analyzed components ranged from 1.7 to 12 microg/L in simulated breath samples. The bias was +/-2% for ethanol and -11% for methanol. Within-day and between-day coefficients of variation were <1% for ethanol and <4% for methanol. The bias of ethanol and methanol analyses due to coexisting solvents ranged from -0.8 to +2.2% and from -5.6 to +2.9%, respectively. The FT-IR method proved suitable for use outside the laboratory and fulfilled the quality criteria for analysis of solvents in breath.     

无辜者认罪的成因分析——基于美国司法实践的阐释

作为一种现实中存在的现象,虚假供述尚未引起我国司法人员的注意,而对此美国学者却进行了深入分析。美国学者根据虚假供述成因的不同将虚假供述区分为三类——自愿性虚假供述、强迫顺从虚假供述与强迫内在化虚假供述,并对各类虚假供述的成因进行了具体的分析,美国学者关于虚假供述成因的分析对我国深刺认识心理强制时代的侦查讯问具有很强的启示意义。     

一起通过利用Photoshop辨别印章真伪的检验

随着社会的迅猛发展,Photoshop等图像处理软件的运用普及程度越来越广泛。对基层公安机关而言,Photoshop功能的运用,不仅符合"科技强警"的要求,也为公安技术工作中解决文检的一些实际问题提供了新思路和新方法,特别是针对文检中印章印文检验,具有广泛的应用前景。