Age estimation of unaccompanied minors. Part II. Dental aspects

Recent years have brought a worldwide increase in cross-border migration due to a globalized economy and ongoing belligerent conflicts. As a result, the percentage of foreigners among the general population has steadily increased not only in Germany, but also in other countries. This trend has triggered a growing demand for forensic medicine to assess the age of adolescents and young adults. The individuals examined here are unaccompanied minors without valid identification documents who do not know their age or else are suspected of not giving their correct age. The mineralization of third molars is the main criterion for dental age estimation of living subjects in the relevant age group. To date insufficient knowledge has been obtained about how ethnic origin can influence tooth mineralization. This, however, constitutes a restraint on the reliability of age estimates and hence on the forensic value of information essential to legal security. A comparative study was conducted to present comparative data on third molar mineralization in a Caucasoid, Mongoloid and African sample. In conclusion, forensic age estimates of living subjects would be more powerful tools if population-specific standards were applied to evaluations of wisdom tooth mineralization. Since the mineralization of third molars is usually completed by the age of 19 or 20 years, this feature cannot be used to ascertain whether a person has attained the forensically relevant age of 21 years. The question was whether determination based on an orthopantomogram of a combination of features relevant to dental age estimation of adults supplies forensically useful information for ascertaining whether a person has attained 21 years of age. The features considered include the DMFT index of all permanent teeth, the DMFT index of all permanent teeth excluding third molars and the DFT index of third molars projecting beyond the occlusal plane. It can be concluded that an evaluation of the variations of the DMFT index does not by itself yield sufficient data to determine with the accuracy required in criminal proceedings whether a person has attained 21 years of age. An additional X-ray examination of the medial clavicular epiphyseal cartilage is, therefore, strongly recommended when assessing whether a person is over 21.     

Age estimation of unaccompanied minors. Part I. General considerations

In recent years many countries have experienced a sharp increase in the demand for forensic age estimates of unaccompanied minors. In many countries the age thresholds of relevance to criminal prosecution lie between 16 and 22 years. In line with recommendations issued by the Study Group on Forensic Age Diagnostics, for determining the age of live subjects a forensic age estimate should combine the results of a physical examination, an X-ray of the hand and a dental examination which records dentition status and evaluates an orthopantomogram. To assess the age of persons who are assumed to be at least 18 years old, an additional radiographic or CT examination of the collar bones is recommended. Forensic age estimates should take account of the ethnic origin and socio-economic status of the person under examination.     

Radiologically determined DMF index variations for forensic age estimation of young adults

The eruption and mineralization of third molars are the main criteria for dental age estimation of living people involved in criminal proceedings. Since the development of third molars is usually completed by the age of 19 or 20 years, this feature cannot be used to ascertain whether a person has attained the forensically relevant age of 21 years. This study examined whether the DMFT index or the third molar DFT index could supply reliable information enabling conclusions to be drawn about whether a person has reached the age of 21. To this end, 650 conventional orthopantomograms of German subjects aged 18 to 30 years were evaluated. The DMF index variations considered were found to be unsuitable for determining whether a person is over 21 because they displayed a weak correlation with age and considerable individual scatter. A high indicative value can only be attributed to a third molar DFT index of 4, although this is rarely observed in the relevant age group. An X-ray examination of the medial clavicular epiphyseal cartilage is, therefore, strongly recommended when assessing whether a person has attained 21 years of age.     

Chapter 2: The Legal Position and Organizational Forms of Forensic Psychiatric Expert Examination

The practical task of forensic psychiatry, which is one of the subdivisions of psychiatry, is to give an expert evaluation, on assignment from investigatory agencies and courts, and to devise and recommend measures for the prevention of socially dangerous acts by the mentally ill. Forensic psychiatric expert examination, like forensic medical, criminal, or any other type of expert examination, aids agencies of justice in establishing the facts in a case. Forensic psychiatric expert examination is called upon to assist the investigator and the court in determining whether an individual is a criminal or a legally irresponsible, mentally ill person; whether a person sentenced to a prison term should, because of mental illness, be released before his time is served; whether the investigator and the court may pursue the interrogation of a witness or victim with mental disorders, and whether the testimony of such persons may be used as court evidence. Such an expert examination is necessary in a civil suit in deciding the question of an individual's competence.     

The determination of drugs and their substitutes in human hairs

In recent years it has become possible to detect organic pharmaceuticals and drugs in a few milligrams of a person's hair, using modern analytical methods (RIA, GC/MS, GC), whether this person has taken narcotics and other drugs in past times. With the aid of hair analysis it is possible to examine the drug career of a drug addict for up to 1 year, and sometimes for a longer time. This is mostly of great importance in criminalistics and forensic medicine, in the criminal retrospective examination of addicts.     

The forensic examination of structural fires in Victoria,Australia: Decision-making processes and impact on judicial outcomes

There is a body of published research that has evaluated the contribution of forensic science to the criminal justice system, but many disciplines of forensic science remain unexplored in this regard. The aim of this study was to examine the contribution that forensic fire examination services provide to criminal investigations and court processes in arson cases. Forensic fire examination services differ in a number of ways to the disciplines covered in previous research on the impact of forensic evidence on justice outcomes. Forensic fire examinations involve a combination of scene examination and laboratory analyses, and the results can provide critical evidence of whether an incident that has occurred is a criminal offence (i.e. whether a fire has occurred as the result of an act of arson). Forensic fire examination is also a discipline that has faced challenges and undergone development in recent decades regarding its scientific basis and the issue of contextual bias. In this study, data were collated for 273 structural fires that were examined by the forensic fire services in Victoria, Australia. In this jurisdiction, scene and laboratory forensic services are delivered within short time frames with a focus on providing impartial scientific and investigative services to assist criminal investigations conducted by police. The current dataset was highly skewed in terms of criminal justice outcomes and was not suitable for conducting the planned statistical analyses. Nonetheless, the pattern of findings obtained suggested that the inclusion of forensic evidence which supported the prosecution of arson may be associated with an increased likelihood of suspects being charged and defendants found guilty. Examination of the decision-making process of the forensic fire examiners has provided insight into the variety of evidence that is considered by forensic experts in reaching the important conclusion about the origin and cause of structural fires.     

论专家辅助人意见——以刑事辩护为视角的分析

我国2012年新《刑事诉讼法》首次设立专家辅助人制度，对鉴定意见的质证提供了技术上的支持，对于刑事辩护来说意义重大。从证据法的角度看来，专家辅助人意见具有言词证据、意见证据、弹劾证据的多重属性，因此意见的内容应围绕鉴定意见中的专门性问题，并结合《刑事诉讼法》及相关司法解释对鉴定意见的审查判断规则来提出；而法庭对于鉴定意见的审查也应从准入资格与可靠性两方面进行，以免专家辅助人意见替代鉴定意见来主导审判。     

英美两国对精神病人刑事责任能力评判的演变

司法精神病学是法学的一个分支学科,其诞生和演变与法学的主旋律始终保持一致。精神障碍者刑事责任能力问题是司法精神病学的主要构成部分,英国1843年的麦克·纳顿条例是专门就精神障碍者刑事责任能力问题的法律规定,它对英美法系和大陆法系国家的相关立法都产生了巨大深远的影响。美国最近20多年处理违法精神病人的法律改革对现代诸国的司法精神病学完善具有相当大的影响力,所以研究英美两个国家这一方面的司法精神病学的历史和现状对推动我国司法精神病学的进步意义重大。     

Age determination of an unknown body in early adulthood

The authors report on the estimation of the age of an unidentified deceased adolescent in connection with the body's identification. A physical examination by a forensic physician and an examination by a forensic dentist, including determination of the dental status and an X-ray of the teeth were used to estimate the age. In addition, an X-ray of the left hand as well as an X-ray and MRT scan of the clavicles were carried out by forensic radiologists. Combining the results of the individual examinations, the age of the deceased was estimated to range between 18 and 21 years. In the course of the police investigation it was found out that the deceased was 20 years and 7 months old. This has led to the conclusion that combined use of methods allows the age even of adolescents to be determined with relatively high accuracy and a minimum of time and effort.     

如何正确看待法医骨龄和刑事责任年龄

骨龄又叫骨骼测定年龄,刑法所规定的“刑事责任年龄”为某一个体的“生活年龄”,二者所代表的含义不同,且存在着较大的差异。司法机关直接利用骨龄作为对犯罪嫌疑人定罪量刑的证据判案时常引发不小争议。故此,实现“骨龄”推断到“生活年龄”推断是法医任重而道远的任务。本文分析了二者的差异及原因,并呼吁尽快出台综合评定其个体“生活年龄”的全新标准或规范。     

食品安全犯罪之刑罚配置——以民生刑法为视角

在民生时代,食品安全犯罪的刑罚应当以民生刑法为指导来进行配置.在刑罚配置强度的确定上,我国食品安全犯罪的刑罚配置以国家刑法为导向,在定性错误的基础上强调重刑,存在诸多弊端;根据民生刑法,应当运用社会控制模式对犯罪进行综合治理,在正确定位的基础上合理配置刑罚,顺应世界刑罚的发展趋势逐步实现刑罚的轻缓化.在刑罚配置种类的完善上,根据民生刑法,应将罚金刑上升为主刑,将货值金额作为罚金刑的适用基准,采用倍比罚金制,提高罚金数额,设定最低数额,对犯罪单位配置较犯罪自然人以及相关责任人员更高的罚金数额;根据民生刑法,应增设与食品安全犯罪相配的资格刑刑种,这是惩罚和预防犯罪的需要,是禁止令的改革方向.     

民刑法中的“一般人”观念及其判断基准

民刑法的制度设计均建立在一定的人性假设之上。尽管在此问题上既有共同点也有差异,但核心之点在于,都是以"一般人"为基准进行的。因此,"一般人"之界定在民刑法中居于隐而不彰的基础地位。"一般人"标准是民刑法中人性假设理论亟待打通的"最后一公里",其本质是一般人应有的"知识与态度",也是一种方法论。该标准具有鲜明的价值取向和公共政策属性,应当根据法律责任的不同性质,确定民刑法中"一般人"的判断标准,尤其应当区分刑罚适用者、犯罪嫌疑人及被侵害者的不同视角,对刑法中的"一般人"标准进行具体判断。     

简论言语识别在文检中的应用

近年来,文件检验技术有了很大的发展,把语言学作为刑事技术手段应用于侦查破案中,为文件检验开拓了新的领域。在办案实践中,充分注意作案人的言语特征,通过对作案人的言语识别,能够在一定程度上为侦查工作提供方向和范围,为认定作案人提供客观依据。本文试以运用语言学知识,然后结合本地区实际和所办的案件探讨了如何从作案者的年龄、职业、文化程度和性别和地域特征等方面,给作案人“画像”。     

刑事强制鉴定制度初探

近年来,随着刑事要案为公众所广泛关注,在某些案件中,司法鉴定成为直接影响被告人刑事责任的重要手段,也被推至舆论的风口浪尖之上。然而学界却少有对强制鉴定构建模式的专门论证。我国应当在法律中规定当事人的鉴定请求权,构建与裁量鉴定并行的强制鉴定制度,确定其适用条件、具体程序及监督体制。     

刑法解释立场的历史考察——主观解释论之提倡

刑法解释经历了从主观解释论到客观解释论的演进过程,现阶段,从世界范围来看,客观解释论正成为一种有力的学说。在不同的历史时期,主观解释论与客观解释论所处的地位并不相同,在经历了罪刑擅断、人治统治的历史之后,人们对立法者充满了无限的期待,体现在刑法解释上就是要求坚持主观解释论。而当法治的进程进一步推进,人们已经不满足于法律的安定性,还要求法律实质上的公平、公正。联系社会发展以揭示法律内涵,遵守成文法不囿于文字本身的刑法解释客观论,遂成为刑法解释论上的特色。从历史的角度看,法治理念、法官素质、刑法实施的时间与刑法解释立场的选择具有密切的关系。我国是经历了几千年的人治统治的国家,法治建设才刚刚起步,法官素质还有待于进一步提高,刑法实施仅十余年,这要求我国在刑法解释上应采主观解释论。     

对邱兴华杀人案的司法鉴定学反思

关于邱兴华杀人案（下称邱案）的各种学术讨论和争论似乎已经不少，但查阅文献发现，有关邱案的文章，分别是从刑事诉讼法学、刑事证据学、刑事心理学、精神医学角度，法制新闻学以及从人权保护，法治进步等角度对该案进行解读。然而既然这是一个涉及司法鉴定的个案（虽然实际上并没有进行任何实质性鉴定活动），那么从司法鉴定学的角度对与该案有关的几个最基本的问题进行理论阐述，或许能有些许不同的作用。这几个问题包括：精神病概念的辨析，是否患病与是否需要接受刑事处罚之间是什么关系，何时需要启动司法精神医学鉴定？应如何配置我国刑事诉讼中的司法精神医学鉴定启动模式？     

司法精神病鉴定基本问题研究

近年来我国刑事司法实践中曝光的若干典型个案凸显精神病鉴定的混乱状况。实证调研发现,精神病鉴定自身的特征——对象的复杂性、过程的回溯性、知识背景的跨学科性、手段的有限性与结论的主观性,影响到其客观性与可信度。目前精神病鉴定存在的问题主要包括启动难、鉴定过程中医学与法学学科错位、诉讼权利保障机制欠缺、强制医疗制度带有行政化特征以及鉴定体制改革引发的问题。应当在坚持职权主义启动模式的基础上,对部分死刑案件增设强制启动机制,增设申请启动鉴定的上诉途径,细化启动考量标准;司法精神病专家与法律职业群体之间应当重新分工;应当增设被鉴定人由于鉴定导致人身自由被剥夺的法定强制措施以及在专家辅助人的帮助下对鉴定意见的质证权;强制医疗程序应当进行司法化改造并通过社会化途径加强执行能力;在鉴定管理体制上,应当取消现有鉴定主体限于医院的规定,恢复等级化的体系设置并建立鉴定人准入与培养机制。     

Footwear-to-feet examination and analysis: Comparing worn footwear to persons and human remains

Footwear-to-feet examination and analysis refers to the process of examining and analyzing footwear in regard to criminal matters. This examination and analysis has been done to include or exclude an individual as the wearer of the footwear in question and to help associate or disassociate human remains to footwear. This review of the subject describes its investigative applications, the research that underpins the process, and considers its legal admissibility. The process of footwear-to-feet examination and analysis is scientifically valid and has been widely accepted. As a result, law enforcement and forensic scientists should be aware of the use of this process to assist in criminal investigations.     

How to regulate forensic familial DNA searching in Hungary?

Forensic DNA analysis has the potential to provide useful information for criminal justice even in cases where there is no match, neither between the DNA profile generated from the crime scene and the existing DNA profiles in criminal databases, nor between the DNA collected at a crime scene and potential suspects. In contrast to traditional forensic genetic testing, forensic familial DNA searching does not provide evidence, but helps to generate investigative leads and narrow down the range of potential offenders. The aim of this study is to examine, whether there is a need for special regulation of this topic in Hungary.     

期待可能性理论研究诸失误之匡正

期待可能性理论有其一定的理论脉络。在我国,不注意中外刑法理论体系的差别,生搬硬套或者误用期待可能性理论的现象比较严重。如有论者主张无期待可能性是我国刑法中无刑事责任能力人与紧急避险不负刑事责任的原因,有论者主张期待可能性在我国是刑事责任能力的一个要素,有论者认为期待可能性理论属于刑事责任论的内容,有论者认为应以期待可能性理论来完善我国的罪过理论等等。以上诸观点,在现行刑法理论体系之下,都值得匡正。