Metric forensic anthropology decisions: Reliability and biasability of sectioning-point-based sex estimates

Subjective decisions make human cognitive processes more susceptible to bias and error. Specifically, research indicates that additional context biases forensic anthropologists’ morphological analyses. To address whether metric analyses are also subject to bias, we conducted a pilot study in which 52 experienced osteologists measured a difficult-to-classify human femur, with or without additional contextual information. Using a metric sectioning-point sex-estimation method, participants provided a sex estimate for individual skeletal element(s) and, when given multiple elements, the combined skeletal assemblage. Control group participants (n = 24) measured only the femur. In addition to the femur, bias group participants (n = 28) either measured a female humerus and viewed a female-biasing photograph (n = 14) or measured a male humerus and viewed a male-biasing photograph (n = 14). We explored whether the experts in the different groups would differ in: (1) femoral measurements; (2) femoral sex-estimation conclusions; and (3) final sex-estimation conclusions for the skeletal assemblage. Although the femoral measurements and femoral sex estimates were comparable across groups, the overall sex estimates in the female-biased group were impacted by contextual information—differing from both the control and male-biased groups (p < 0.001). Our results demonstrate that cognitive bias can occur even in metric sex-estimation conclusions. Specifically, this occurred when the metric data and single-element sex estimates were synthesized into an overall estimate. Thus, our results suggest that metric methods are most vulnerable to bias when data are synthesized into an overall conclusion, highlighting the need for bias countermeasures and comprehensive statistical frameworks for synthesizing metric data to mitigate the effects of cognitive bias.     

精神病人合同能力鉴定的相关问题

为了探讨精神病人合同能力鉴定的相关理论 ,解决合同能力鉴定中鉴定标准混乱的问题 ,对合同能力鉴定的法律基础、标准、民事行为能力与民事权利能力的区别 ,民事行为能力的广义、狭义区分进行了论述。提出合同能力鉴定的核心问题是意思表示的真实性 ,主张将合同能力分为有、无两级 ,强调合同能力的分级与民事行为能力的等级存在区别。并提出合同能力鉴定的程式为 :首先判定其行为能力 ,有行为能力相应具有合同能力 ,无行为能力即无合同能力 ,限制民事行为者 ,应根据年龄、智力、精神健康状况、生活关联度 ,再分为有合同能力、无合同能力。     

A SHORT COMMENTARY ON TIMOTHY M. TIPPINS AND JEFFREY P. WITTMANN'S "EMPIRICAL AND ETHICAL PROBLEMS WITH CUSTODY RECOMMENDATIONS

In this commentary, the call for clinical humility and judicial vigilance in custody recommendations is confirmed as valid and the Australian experience, where the child custody report writer has for some years been permitted to express an opinion on the ultimate issue, is considered. The inherent risks are briefly discussed, and the question of who of the judge and the social scientist might be better placed to decide the exquisitely difficult children's issues after family breakdown is touched upon. It suggests that a combination of the expert's opinion and judicial fact finding probably produces a result that is as good as it gets. But a greater danger is highlighted. It is the impact of the adversary system, and whether it is suitable in any event to these sensitive court decisions.     

司法鉴定人制度研究

鉴定人在英美法系国家作为当事人的“专家证人”与证人共存于证人规则框架之下,在大陆法 系国家作为法官的“科学辅助人”被纳入准司法官员的范畴内,两大法系形成了各有利弊的鉴定人制度。我 国的鉴定人制度虽与它们不同,但在基本精神、法律性质等方面仍有相似之处,应在对两大法系鉴定人制度 和我国现行的鉴定人制度综合分析的基础上,根据人大常委会《决定》确立的思路,建构科学、合理、有效的 鉴定人制度。     

辨认结论的证据资格和证明力探讨

辨认结论具有客观性、关联性及合法性,应具有证据资格;辨认结论的证明力应通过辨认结论的可靠性、关联程度等方面进行考量.根据辨识主体的不同,辨认结论应归入证人证言、被害人陈述、犯罪嫌疑人供述与辩解.单一的辨认结论不能作为定案的唯一根据.     

论笔迹“个性”特征

运用个性特征做出鉴定结论 ,必须把握住个性特征的三个基本特性 ,同时 ,要注意确认个性特征的基本方法。个性特征的发展往往可以起到“以一当十”的作用 ,它是笔迹鉴定的关键性特征 ,也是正确定案的基本条件。笔者认为 ,对鉴定所依据的笔迹特征进行探讨是十分必要的。     

浅议民事诉讼中的专家证人制度

专家证人制度是英美法系的法律制度,其功能是弥补法官在专业知识上的缺陷,帮助法庭查明案件中遇到的专业性问题.我国民事诉讼率先引进了类似于专家证人的制度,以补充我国司法鉴定制度的不足.本文试从英美法系专家证人形态入手,分析引进专家证人制度对我国司法鉴定制度带来的影响及其完善的路径.     

司法鉴定若干问题探析

司法鉴定的内涵应界定为:具有法定鉴定资格的人,受司法机关指派或委托, 对诉讼活动中与案件有关的专门技术问题进行审查鉴别、作出科学判断的活动。目前,我国司 法鉴定人制度还需要完善,司法鉴定体制需要从调整公安、检察机关内设鉴定机构,撤消法院 内部鉴定机构,确定鉴定标准和规则,建立鉴定质量保证体系等方面进行改革。     

立法过程中专家咨询制度的多维面相

我国正处于全面建设小康社会的关键时期,利益多元化与利益失衡现象并存。如何有效地回应社会需求,避免立法疏误,提高立法品质,增强立法的正当性是立法主体必须面对的问题。专家咨询制度具有多维面相,从政治民主的角度看是立法民主的表现,从科学决策的角度看是立法科学的保证,从法治的角度看是立法合法的要求,从公共治理的角度看是立法正当的期待。全面认识和把握专家咨询制度的多维面相,有助于充分发挥其在立法过程中的功能和作用。     

指纹鉴定标准及鉴定结论概率化研究

指纹鉴定标准是指纹鉴定理论的核心内容之一.指纹鉴定理论和实践中形成的最低特征数量标准、质量—数量标准、面积—质量量化标准、拓扑学方法和标准、形态学方法和标准等均有其局限性.运用统计学理论和贝叶斯定理建立指纹鉴定结论概率化方法和评价标准,不仅在理论和实践上具有必要性和可行性,而且也可以避免指纹鉴定标准之争,使指纹鉴定从经验走向科学.通过统计每枚指纹平均细节特征数量和每类特征的出现率,可以计算出两枚指纹匹配的概率值,进而对概率结论的可靠性作出分析评断.