Survey of forensic pathologists

A survey of board-certified forensic pathologists (from a list of board-certified forensic pathologists supplied by the American Board of Pathology) was conducted to determine their current practice situations. The purpose of the survey was to provide information useful to the public in general and to those organizations that represent forensic pathologists in particular to better understand and meet the needs of the forensic pathology community. A total of 773 surveys were mailed, and 18 were returned as undeliverable. There were 337 replies (45%). Responses were as follows: In terms of age, 7% were in their 30s; 32% were in their 40s; 29% were in their 50s; 19% were in their 60s; and 13% were 70 years of age or older. In terms of gender, 79% were male and 21% were female. For pathology practice status, 72% worked more than 30 hours per week; 11% between 5 and 30 hours per week; 5% less than 5 hours per week; and 12% no longer practice pathology. For percentage of pathology practice that is forensic pathology, 69% of respondents were more than 80%; 6% were 50%-80%; 5% were 25%-50%; 8% were 5%-25%; and 12% were less than 5%. In terms of forensic pathology practice setting, 54% were employed by medical examiner or coroner systems; 13% worked under contract to medical examiner or coroner systems; 27% worked in private practice or consultation; and 6% responded as "other."     

Crimes of the State: The Persecution and Protection of Refugees

When refugees arrive at the borders and on the shores of the Global North they are increasingly criminalised and subject to a range of law and order type rhetoric and practices. This paper outlines an alternative criminological engagement with the condition of refugeehood that shifts the focus from the refugee to the practices of the state. First, it splices definitions of state crime with the highly legalistic refugee definition to offer alternative conceptualisations of persecution in the determination of who is accorded the legal status of refugee. Second, it applies state crime frameworks to the increasingly restrictive and punitive refugee policies of countries in the Global North. It concludes by locating theorisations of state crime within the broader project of reconceptualising notions of sovereignty.Sharon Pickering BA(Melb), MA(Soton), PhD(Melb) lectures in Criminal Justice and Criminology at Monash University Australia. She has worked with refugees and written on forced migration issues for the past five years including her recent book Refugees and State Crime (2005 Institute of Criminology Monograph Series/Federation Press).     

Expanding forensic science through forensic intelligence

Research and Development (‘R&D’) in forensic science currently focuses on innovative technologies improving the efficiency of existing forensic processes, from the detection of marks and traces at the scene, to their presentation in Court. R&D approached from this perspective provides no response to doubts raised by recent criminological studies, which question the effective contribution of forensic science to crime reduction, and to policing in general.Traces (i.e. forensic case data), as remnants of criminal activity are collected and used in various forms of crime monitoring and investigation. The aforementioned doubts therefore need to be addressed by expressing how information is conveyed by traces in these processes. Modelling from this standpoint expands the scope of forensic science and provides new R&D opportunities. Twelve propositions for R&D are stated in order to pave the way.     

Geographic forensic medicine and forensic sciences

The necessity of learning more about the criminality and the culture of persons from overseas is upon us. As forensic scientists, we have to take a lead in presenting information to our colleagues that would facilitate their investigations. In this paper, we look at many of the different cultures that have been presented to American authorities, and the activities of the Milton Helpern International Center for the Forensic Sciences are discussed.     

Computer-assisted systems for forensic pathology and forensic toxicology

A computer software, R?ttsBASE (RB), was developed for all forensic pathology units in Sweden and introduced in 1992. Simultaneously, a corresponding software, ToxBASE (TB), was developed for the Department of Forensic Toxicology, where all forensic toxicology in Sweden is managed. Both of the databases were created using dBASE IV, and the programming was carried out according to specifications from the staff at the forensic toxicology and forensic pathology units. since the development or RB and TB was coordinated, the systems can run together smoothly. The purpose of both systems was to automate the offices and to enable compilation of detailed statistics. Installation of Novell Netware and ISDN-connections (Integrated Service Digital Network) has enabled rapid communication between the units and easy compilation of nationwide statistics of forensic pathology and forensic toxicology. the systems offer a wide spectrum of reports and include a simple module for evaluation of the importance of the forensic efforts for th whole death investigation. The configuration of the softwares has also enabled processing of a large amount of related toxicological and autopsy data that in turn has yielded a base for compilation of toxicology interpretation lists. This article includes a summary of the features of the software and a discussion of its benefits and limitations.     

论法医专家顾问和法医鉴定结论的质证

根据证据学的观点提出法医鉴定结论是一种科学证据，指出无论是民事诉讼还是刑事诉讼中，对其进行质证对维护司法公正的必要性和重要性。由于法医鉴定结论的专业性，对其质证时，当事或控辩双方，以及法院聘请法医专家顾问。协助对法医鉴定结论的质证具有重要的意义。     

文本·实践·语境:公诉证据标准的现代性诊断

公诉证据标准与其他配套制度机制一同维护着公诉权的合法性与有效性。一方面,在理论上,公诉证据标准并非一个独立的论题;另一方面,在比较法上,当今中外刑诉制度中的公诉证据标准也没有高下之分,均必须遵从公诉权的合法性与有效性之逻辑。西方法治国家的公诉证据标准辅证了这一制度逻辑。反观我国,当前承担公诉权合法性功能的配套制度机制尚不健全,导致公诉权的合法性只能依赖于较高程度的公诉证据标准和较强程度的犯罪控制能力。在此意义上,理论界对我国现行公诉证据标准过高的批评,似乎未中要害,急于降低我国当前的公诉证据标准,不仅缺乏程序制度基础,而且会挫动公诉权的有效性,并最终损及公诉权的合法性。     

论法医专家顾问和法医鉴定结论的质证

根据证据学的观点提出法医鉴定结论是一种科学证据,指出无论是民事诉讼还是刑事诉讼中,对其进行质证对维护司法公正的必要性和重要性。由于法医鉴定结论的专业性,对其质证时,当事或控辩双方,以及法院聘请法医专家顾问,协助对法医鉴定结论的质证具有重要的意义。     

中国法医学会物证专业委员会法医DNA分析的若干建议

中国法医学会法医物证学专业委员会与国际法医遗传学会中文专委会于2006年10月在成都召开学术会议。我们的讨论强调有必要将国际法医遗传学会的信息及时传递到中国。因此,按照国际法医遗传学会的指南,我们推荐混合斑分析,法医DNA数据库及新遗传标记选择标准供同行参考。     

Nonhuman forensic genetics

Forensic genetics is the application of genetics to human and nonhuman material for the resolution (and prevention) of legal conflicts. Nonhuman DNA applications are increasing, from the ancillary role in criminalistics to the control of protected species and their products, microbial identification in bioterrorism or medical malpractice. We review this growing applications’ scope and identify the major current difficulties, mainly resulting from the lack of standards and genetic databases as well as the poor or absent taxonomic definition of many major groups.     

Clinical forensic medicine

This article discusses the merits of participation by medical examiners in the area of clinical forensic medicine. The present connotation that we deal after the fact should be abandoned with enhanced involvement in assisting the living. The paper focuses on a broad range of categories where forensic scientists by virtue of their training and experience could be most helpful in the application of medical knowledge to the solution of questions of law.