Red Tape,Rule Burden,and Legitimate Performance Trade-Offs: Results from a Vignette Experiment

Abstract

Goals in the public sector are complex and managers can face situations in which pursuing one legitimate goal necessitates performance trade-offs in other areas. This study tests how knowledge of legitimate performance trade-offs shapes the perception of red tape. Using a vignette experimental design and a sample of university students, between group t-tests and regression analyses suggest that, when evaluating increased rule burden, individuals that are provided with information about how objectively burdensome rules serve alternative values such as equity and effectiveness associate them with lower levels of red tape. A series of Monte Carlo simulations suggest that this effect is substantial.     

DNA Recovery From Tape-Lifting Kits: Methodology and Practice

In the case of suspicious deaths, the technique of 1:1 taping is often used in Belgium. It consists of affixing a large number of adhesive tapes to the body of the victim. It is conventionally aimed at obtaining microtraces (e.g., fibers, hair) and is usually not used for DNA analysis. However, in some cases, DNA analysis of certain areas of interest identified on the 1:1 taping material can offer a last resort solution. The four-step method that is described in this article involves the selection of areas of interest on the body (Step 1), the selection of the corresponding tapes (Step 2), the decontamination of the tapes (Step 3), the selection of areas of interest on the tapes, for DNA sampling (Step 4). The method is illustrated by its successful application in four murder cases. In each case, DNA profiles of good quality could be identified, including profiles of persons different from the victim.     

紫外导数光谱法鉴别透明胶带

通过对200余种透明胶带紫外导数光谱分析,确定了最佳分析条件,验证了分析方法的重现性和稳定性。分析了不同胶带紫外导数光谱产生变化的原因,证明紫外导数光谱法是一种快速、简单、可靠、实用的鉴别透明胶带来源的方法。     

新型手印提取器的研究

现场勘查中,技术人员对用粉末刷显的手印、灰尘加层手印拍照提取后,再用新型手印提取器提取效果更好。手印提取器使胶带与客体接触面积变小、压力均匀,从而避免在提取过程中产生气泡；同时,胶带具有粘性的一面与另一胶带紧密相粘,通过转动,能制成透明的手印检材,可直接通过印相放大、复印,或通过反差较大的衬底做背景进行比对鉴定。实践证明,运用手印提取器提取的手印具有高质量、手印特征反映好、保存时间长,而且在使用中方便简捷,提取速度快等优点。     

论隐性采访所取得的采访资料的证据资格

新闻记者隐瞒自己的身份或意图 ,以“偷拍偷录”的手段进行隐性采访是否合法 ?以此种手段获得采访资料在法律上是否具有作为证据的资格 ?本文针对上述问题进行了详细的分析 ,指出了新闻记者“偷拍偷录”行为的非法性及以此种手段获得的采访资料是一种以非法手段私录的视听资料 ,但只要它与案件的事实具有关联性 ,就应当具有证据资格。     

显现胶带上微尘手印的方法研究

利用硫氰酸钾与浓硫酸反应生成硫氰酸气体 ,遇到灰尘中的铁离子反应生成棕红色的硫氰酸铁 ,并对所选择的显现试剂及显现时间进行定量分析 ,结果发现不同的试剂量以及不同的显现时间影响胶带上微尘手印的显现效果。由此可以得出结论 ,选取适当的显现试剂量及显现时间用硫氰酸气熏法对胶带上微尘手印显现 ,显出棕红色的手印纹线 ,具有鉴定价值     

Experimental results on data analysis algorithms for extracting and interpreting edge feature data for duct tape and textile physical fit examinations

A physical fit is an important observation that can result from the forensic analysis of trace evidence as it conveys a high degree of association between two items. However, physical fit examinations can be time-consuming, and potential bias from analysts may affect judgment. To overcome these shortcomings, a data analysis algorithm using mutual information and a decision tree has been developed to support practitioners in interpreting the evidence. We created these tools using data obtained from physical fit examinations of duct tape and textiles analyzed in previous studies, along with the reasoning behind the analysts' decisions. The relative feature importance is described by material type, enhancing the knowledge base in this field. Compared with the human analysis, the algorithms provided accuracies above 90%, with an improved rate of true positives for most duct tape subsets. Conversely, false positives were observed in high-quality scissor cut (HQ-HT-S) duct tape and textiles. As such, it is advised to use these algorithms in tandem with human analysis. Furthermore, the study evaluated the accuracy of physical fits when only partial sample lengths are available. The results of this investigation indicated that acceptable accuracies for correctly identifying true fits and non-fits occurred when at least 35% of a sample length was present. However, lower accuracies were observed for samples prone to stretching or distortion. Therefore, the models described here can provide a valuable supplementary tool but should not be the sole means of evaluating samples.     

Nondestructive Biological Evidence Collection with Alternative Swabs and Adhesive Lifters

In forensic science, biological material is typically collected from evidence via wet/dry double swabbing with cotton swabs, which is effective but can visibly damage an item's surface. When an item's appearance must be maintained, dry swabbing and tape‐lifting may be employed as collection techniques that are visually nondestructive to substrates' surfaces. This study examined the efficacy of alternative swab matrices and adhesive lifters when collecting blood and fingerprints from glass, painted drywall, 100% cotton, and copy paper. Data were evaluated by determining the percent profile and quality score for each STR profile generated. Hydraflock^® swabs, BVDA Gellifters^®, and Scenesafe FAST? tape performed as well as or better than cotton swabs when collecting fingerprints from painted drywall and 100% cotton. Collection success was also dependent on the type of biological material sampled and the substrate on which it was deposited. These results demonstrated that alternative swabs and adhesive lifters can be effective for nondestructive DNA collection from various substrates.     

The Effectiveness of Trace DNA Profiling—A Comparison Between a U.S. and a U.K. Law Enforcement Jurisdiction

Recovery, profiling, and speculative searching of trace DNA (not attributable to a body fluid/cell type) over a twelve‐month period in a U.S. Crime Laboratory and U.K. police force are compared. Results show greater numbers of U.S. firearm‐related items submitted for analysis compared with the U.K., where greatest numbers were submitted from burglary or vehicle offenses. U.S. multiple recovery techniques (double swabbing) occurred mainly during laboratory examination, whereas the majority of U.K. multiple recovery techniques occurred at the scene. No statistical difference was observed for useful profiles from single or multiple recovery. Database loading of interpretable profiles was most successful for U.K. items related to burglary or vehicle offenses. Database associations (matches) represented 7.0% of all U.S. items and 13.1% of all U.K. items. The U.K. strategy for burglary and vehicle examination demonstrated that careful selection of both items and sampling techniques is crucial to obtaining the observed results.     

掺杂Cd的水溶性荧光ZnSe/MPA量子点显现胶带手印方法

目的探索水溶性荧光量子点溶液——掺杂镉的硒化锌（ZnxCd（1-x）Se）对胶带手印的显现方法。方法以巯基丙酸（MPA）为修饰剂合成了掺杂Cd的水溶性荧光ZnSe/MPA量子点,利用它显现水浸胶带及粘连胶带上的油汗指印,并在365nm下拍照成像。结果良好的显现出水浸胶带上的指印以及粘连胶带上的指印。与常规方法相比,优势更为明显。结论水溶性荧光量子点ZnxCd（1-x）Se溶液显出的指印纹线细腻流畅,在法庭科学领域具有很好的应用前景。