A taxonomy of law enforcement decision support systems

The term “decision support system” is a recent one in the vocabulary of computer-based information systems. Because of increasing dependence of law enforcement agencies on computers to manage much of their data and produce in increasing amount of their information, the concept of decision support systems is an important one. This article presents a framework for classifying the data-processing tools used in providing the information necessary to support law enforcement. This raxonomy differentiates between the clerical functions of an electronic data-processing system and the decision-making orientation of a decision support system. DSSs are not in widespread use in law enforcement because they are difficult to understand, priorities for computerization often minimize or do not include applications conducive to DSSs, and the value of these systems is sometimes difficult to see. The framework described will help agencies map the development of their systems, determine what areas conducive to computerization are being emphasized and which are lacking, and recognize the planning considerations necessary for expansion into the DSS area.     

关于蒙牛酸酸乳案的几点思考

2006年蒙牛乳业公司与河南安阳白公主乳业公司(以下简称"白乳业")的商标纠纷是中国知识产权界关注的一个焦点案件.随着内蒙古高级法院维持一审判决的判决公布,在中国诞生了首例法院认定的未注册驰名商标.这一判决虽然在相关产业界却引起了轩然大波,但在中国知识产权界却赢得一片叫好之声1.笔者从事商标代理多年,对本案的两审法院在认定事实和适用法律中有一些思考,愿与大家分享.     

Paradoxes of proof and punishment: Psychological pitfalls in judicial decision making

Purpose . This study focuses on two psychological mechanisms that may inadvertently affect judges' decisions on proof of guilt and on punishment. It involves mechanisms that are clearly in conflict with formal judicial doctrine. One hypothesis, the conviction paradox, asserts that, faced with very serious offences, a judge's standard of proof will be lower than for less serious, but otherwise comparable, offences. A second hypothesis, compensatory punishment, asserts that in cases with relatively weak evidence, judges who nevertheless render a guilty verdict will be inclined to compensate their initial doubt on the matter of guilt by meting out a less severe sentence. Method . The hypotheses are evaluated in an experiment with Dutch judges and justices who serve in criminal courts. This was done using fictitious but highly realistic dossiers of criminal cases. Results . Neither of the two hypotheses was supported in the present study. Conclusions . Findings are discussed in relation to their implications for theory development and future research in the area of legal decision making.     

加强司法所业务建设夯实司法行政基层基础

在全国司法厅(局)长会上,张福森部长代表部党组指出,全系统都要关注、重视基层工作,基层司法行政机关尤其是县区司法局要将工作重点放到抓司法所建设和指导司法所工作上来,扎扎实实地把司法所建设好,做好活跃基层司法行政工作这篇大文章,充分发挥司法所的职能作用。这既明确了今后一个时期明确全国司法所建设工作的指导思想,也根据新形势的要求,确定了司法行政机关尤其是县区司法局的主要任务和工作重点。这必将为进一步加强司法所建设,活跃基层司法行政工作。 部党组作出这样的部署和要求,正是基于对司法所基础地位的充分认识,对从现实工作发展现状和需要作出的正确     

模仿、续写、改写与合理使用

对已有名著进行模仿、续写与改写等后续创作而形成新的作品 ,是常见的文学创作形式 ,古今中外莫不如此。后续创作不同于改编等演绎性创作 ,根据《著作权法》的立法目的、合理使用的认定条件及后续创作本身的特点 ,将原作的人物、场景等作为背景而体现了后续创作者自己的思想和风格的作品后续创作行为 ,属于著作权意义上的合理使用。     

世界主要国家司法体制研究报告

司法制度是国家政治制度的重要组成部分。司法部的有关部门对世界主要国家的司法制度做了大量的研究工作,并结合我国司法制度及基本国情,对各国的司法体制进行对照剖析,总结了国外司法制度的有益经验,为我国的司法体制改革提供了很好的借鉴和参考。从本期开始、“域外司法”栏目将陆续刊登介绍世界主要国家司法体制的系列文章,供读者鉴赏。——编者     

论邓小平的政法队伍素质建设思想

政治队伍素质建设思想是邓小平法律思想的重要内容。邓小平同志不仅充分意识到政法队伍素质建没的重要性,而且对加强政法队伍素质建设的紧迫性亦有深刻认识。他的政法队伍素质建设思想包含法律素质建设、道德素质建设、政治素质建设等三个方面的内容。     

穿越透明的正义——论司法透明度的构建与机制保障

依照现代司法理念，司法必须以公众为基础，反映公众最广泛的信赖，如果司法神秘化，司法过程带有暗箱操作，公众没有知情权，即使司法结果公正，公众也难以认同。中国司法的人民性和司法权的公共性，决定了司法机关司法活动应当向社会公开。司法透明有利于提升当事人的程序主体地位，保障当事人的诉讼权利。同时又是预防司法腐败的有力武器和防止司法黑幕的重要手段。20多年来，中国各级人民法院着力于提高司法透明度工作，在法治框架下，推行公开审判，改革诉讼方式，强化裁判文书说理，加强庭审的实质化等，取得了较大的进展。但除法律规定应当保密的环节以外，司法过程不透明现象在审判工作的各个环节还不同程度地存在，说明中国的司法透明度建设还有很长的路要走。如何正视这些问题，井在认识司法透明度价值的基础上对之以合理的构建和保障，是当前中国人民法院审判工作中的一个重要课题。     

Sentencing rationales, judicial discretion, and the practice of criminal fines in Israel

Much attention has been paid over the last three decades to the examination of the criminal fine, its administration, enforcement policies, and effectiveness. Yet, one research topic has often been overlooked: the link between sentencing rationales, judiciary discretion, and fining policy. The present research, based upon ninety hours of phenomenological semi-structured interviews undertaken in a random sample of forty active Israeli magistrates, six hundred verdicts, and quantitative data regarding the fining policy in Israel, analyzed the degree of harmony/disparity between these variables. The main findings revealed lack of confidence in the ability of the criminal fine to successfully achieve different penal objectives, scarcity of knowledge of actual fining administration procedures, and a high degree of harmony between fining rationales and ideology.     

Psychologists and the judicial system

This article traces the rise, fall, and current ambivalence in the use of social science data and psychological experts by the legal system. Several reasons are discussed for the less than perfect marriage between psychology and the law: normative philosophy of constitutional adjudication; overriding principles of the rules of evidence; irrelevancy to the courts of much of social science research; seduction of psychologists by attorneys who persuade experts to testify as advocates for a particular position rather than as objective scientists. These problems are placed in legal and ethical frame-work and suggestions for remediation of these problems are offered.