Electronic evidence: A proposal to reform the presumption of reliability and hearsay

There is a general concern amongst judges, lawyers and legal scholars that evidence in digital format is not to be trusted, given that it can be altered and manipulated with ease. Some jurists have called for a UN Convention on matters relating to the authentication and admissibility of electronic evidence. It is debatable whether such a Convention is necessary, but guidance of an international nature might be welcome, providing that any such guidance remains guidance, and does not ossify into legal requirements that fail to take into account the dynamic and constantly developing changes in information technology. In any event, the accuracy of the presumption in England & Wales that a computer is in order at the material time is highly debatable, and it is suggested that this presumption ought to be reformed.     

Policing and Crime Act 2017: Changes to pre-charge bail and the impact on digital forensic analysis

Following the enactment of the Police and Crime Act 2017, subsequent amendments to the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 have seen a ‘cap’ placed on the length of time a suspect can be released on bail; a process commonly referred to as ‘police bail’ or ‘pre-charge bail’. Whilst designed to instil consistency and certainty into bail processes to prevent individuals being subject to lengthy periods of regulation and uncertainty, it places additional pressures on forensic services. With a focus on digital forensics, examination of digital media is a complex and time-consuming process, with existing backlogs well documented. The need for timely completion of investigations to adhere to pre-charge bail rules places additional stress on an already stretched service. This comment submission provides an initial analysis of new pre-charge bail regulations, assessing their impact on digital forensic services.     

Wiping the Slate Clean: Reforming Scots Law's Approach to Evidence of the Accused's Bad Character

This paper discusses the Scottish Law Commission (SLC)'s Report on Similar Fact Evidence and the Moorov Doctrine, which proposes revolutionary changes to the way in which Scots law deals with evidence of the accused's bad character, including his previous convictions. The article sets these proposals in context by explaining the existing Scots law, and comparing it to the English provisions on bad character evidence contained in the Criminal Justice Act 2003. This comparison reveals similarities between the responses of the two jurisdictions. It is remarkable that the SLC did not consider English law to be a viable model for reform, choosing instead to propose legislation which would simply deem certain pieces of bad character evidence relevant in criminal trials. The second part of the paper explains why these proposals should not be implemented.     

被告人口供证据规则之完善

我国刑事诉讼法中有关被告人口供的规定过于抽象,操作性差,缺乏完备的证据规则,难以保障口供发挥应有的作用。因此,必须建立有关证据能力方面的任意性和非法证据排除规则以及有关证明力方面的补强规则,完善我国被告人口供证据规则。     

A Challenge for Police-Community Relations: Rethinking Stop and Search in England and Wales

This article presents research carried out as part of a government research programme looking at how police tactic of 'stop and search' in England and Wales. For many years, figures which have shown a higher rate of stop and search of minority ethnic groups, particularly black people, have provoked much controversy, and have been seen by many as a manifestation of police racism. This article reviews the way in which stop and search impacts on public confidence, with particular reference to those from minority ethnic groups. It goes on to explore its role within policing, including an examination of its effectiveness against crime and the evidence for racism in police practice. Following from this, it considers how stop and search can be used in a way that minimises negative impacts on the community and maximises its effectiveness against crime.     

论“刑讯逼供”的解释与认定——以“两个《证据规定》”的适用为中心

为遏制刑讯逼供,我国构建了非法证据排除规则,但非法证据排除规则正确适用的前提,是对"刑讯逼供"一词作出准确而允当的解释。"刑讯逼供"本系我国立法上之用语,国际上更为通用的是"酷刑"一语,而目前,对"酷刑"最权威的定义,来自联合国《反酷刑公约》,根据条约神圣的原则,依据《反酷刑公约》对酷刑的定义来解释刑讯逼供,基本是可行的。在司法适用上,解释和认定刑讯逼供,还应当注意根据具体个案进行具体判断。对于药物和催眠审讯,药物审讯应当认定为刑讯逼供,催眠审讯在征得犯罪嫌疑人同意的前提下可用,但不得作为定案根据。营救式刑讯逼供的合法性也应当予以否定。     

论国际刑事法院证据规则的混合模式——以大陆法系和英美法系证据规则比较为视角

国际刑事法院诉讼规则是一种混合模式,证据规则也不例外.而这种混合模式融合了大陆法系证据采纳的宽泛规定和普通法系证据收集、出示和审查中的对抗制因素.这种混合模式有其特定的成因,而大陆法系和普通法系对这一混合模式则存在不同的看法,本文从比较视角对这一问题进行了分析,并指出了其对我国证据立法的启示.     

The Quest for a Satisfactory Definition of Terrorism: R v Gul

The UK Supreme Court judgment in R v Gul presented a unique opportunity for a judicial appraisal of the definition of terrorism contained in section 1 of the Terrorism Act 2000. While the applicant was ultimately unsuccessful in his challenge, the Supreme Court's rejection of the state's argument that reliance on prosecutorial discretion could mitigate certain absurd applications of the section 1 definition of terrorism, eg the labelling of acts of UK or other military forces as terrorist, has potentially wide‐raging implications for the UK's counter‐terrorism measures. In addition, the powerful obiter dictum arguing in favour of a reform of this definition and a ‘root‐and‐branch’ review of counter‐terrorism legislation is a strong rebuke of recent high profile misapplications of such powers.     

刑事证据制度修改的亮点与难点

证据既是刑事诉讼活动的基础,也是认定案件事实的根据,直接决定了刑事审判的质量。新《刑事诉讼法》对证据一章做了较大调整．增加了新条文、增设了新制度,如何准确地理解和把握该部分的条文变化是理论界和实务界目前首要关注的问题。本文对新《刑事诉讼法》证据部分进行了系统梳理,将证据章修改的“亮点”归纳为不得强迫自证其罪原则入法、非法证据排除规则得以明确、证人出庭与证人保护协调一致．核心精神在于保障人权。同时提出证据章修改的“难点”是证明问题．结合立法过程中产生的争议和质疑对证据规则、证明责任和证明标准问题进行了评述。     

The Strange Death of Blasphemy

Recent years have witnessed a considerable growth in legislation and litigation concerning religion. This article examines the implications of the latest change, namely the abolition of the offences of blasphemy and blasphemous libel by section 79 of the Criminal Justice and Immigration Act 2008. First, the article provides the context by examining what has been lost, analysing the ambit of the offence, focussing on litigation in the twentieth century both in domestic courts and at the European Court of Human Rights. Second, the article seeks to explore why blasphemy has been abolished now, scrutinizing five developments that led to the abolition. The article concludes by examining the extent to which the criminal law continues to protect religious beliefs and believers, contending that while the body of the blasphemy laws is dead, its soul lives on in a plethora of other criminal laws and, more problematically, in non‐legal means of control.     

讯问辅助方法在转化讯问对象拒供动机中的功能

讯问对象的拒供动机是形成“讯问难”的重要因素。讯问对象的拒供动机形成因素主要来自于讯问人员和讯问对象自身两个方面;按照常态和变态心理因素分为现实性拒供动机和心理拒供动机。侦查讯问辅助方法在转化讯问现实性拒供动机的功能在于减弱讯问对象拒供的心理需要,明确或强化其供述需求,提供诱因,创设有利于讯问对象形成供述决意的情境;在转化心理拒供动机中的功能在于利用讯问对象心理病态特征,刺激讯问对象的挫折情绪,突破忍耐极限,导致心理崩溃,从而走向供述。     

非法证据排除规则的实证研究——以法院处理刑讯逼供辩护为例

中国三个地区法院处理刑讯逼供辩护案件处理情况的调研结果表明,非法证据排除规则在司法实践中处于尴尬境地。其中有立法技术方面的原因,也有司法制度和价值观念层面的原因,因此,在完善非法证据排除规则上,不能仅限于证据规则层面的努力,而应该在更广阔的视野中进行改革,以推动相关配套制度的完善。     

The Case for a Rational Reconstruction of Consent in Criminal Law

This article argues for consistency in criminal law and the need for 'rational reconstruction' of the law where necessary to achieve this. It focuses Parliament's failure to respect the need for consistency by passing a statutory definition of consent in the Sexual Offences Act 2003 which appears to apply only to sexual offences. As a result, the law on consent risks being a patchwork of statute and ad hoc case law, without any overarching principle to deal with new situations and different offences. The consequent lack of certainty, accessibility, predictability and fairness is compared to the standards of the European Convention on Human Rights. The statutory definition of consent in the context of the sexual offences is assessed critically as a model which could be used in offences against the person and property offences. The article concludes that until Parliament responds to the need for certainty and consistency by legislating on consent, there can be no rational reconstruction of consent under the Sexual Offences Act 2003.     

法律冲安时的适用标准——以刘家海诉交警部门案为例

法律毕竞是人为制定的规则,法律之间的冲突从某种意义上是不可避免的.司法,作为规则之治的终结者,自然需要对冲突的法律进行选择适用.尽管立法法已经出台,但现实的司法判决表明,法律冲突时的适用标准依然存在问题.刘家海诉交警部门案就是一例.通过将该案的争论焦点渐次展开可以发现,立法法中貌似明确的适用标准起码可以进行三个方面的补充:一是原则考量的引入,二是立法权替代立法机关进行解释,三是社会效果考量的必要.     

The Juvenile Justice Reform Act of 2018: Updating the Federal Approach to Youth Involved,and At‐Risk of Becoming Involved,in the Juvenile Justice System

On December 21, 2018, the Juvenile Justice Reform Act was signed into law, marking the first update in 16 years to the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act of 1974, as amended. The reforms reflect much of the knowledge that has been gained through research and science over the past decade and strengthen the Act’s core protections for youth in the juvenile justice system. The changes also expand the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention’s role in research, and technical assistance, and provide for additional oversight for related programs.