How Law Rules: Torture,Terror, and the Normative Judgments of Iraqi Judges

We present a factorial survey experiment conducted with Iraqi judges during the early military occupation of Iraq. Because U.S. soldiers are immune from prosecution in Iraqi courts, there is no opportunity for these judges to express their views regarding highly publicized torture cases. As legally informed representatives of an occupied nation, however, Iraqi judges arguably have a strong claim to a normative voice on this sensitive subject. We are able to give voice to these judges in this study by using a quasi‐experimental method. This method diminishes social desirability bias in judges' responses and allows us to consider a broad range and combination of factors influencing their normative judgments. We examine why and how the U.S. effort to introduce democracy with an indeterminate rule of law produced unintended and inconsistent results in the normative judgments of Iraqi judges. A critical legal perspective anticipates the influences of indeterminacy, power, and fear in our research. More specifically, we anticipated lenient treatment for guards convicted of torture, especially in trouble cases of Coalition soldiers torturing al Qaeda prisoners. However, the results—which include cross‐level, judge‐case interaction effects—were more varied than theoretically expected. The Iraqi judges responded in disparate and polarized ways. Some judges imposed more severe sentences on Coalition guards convicted of torturing al Qaeda suspects, while others imposed more lenient sentences on the same combination of guards and suspects. The cross‐level interactions indicate that the judges who severely sentenced Coalition guards likely feared the contribution of torture tactics to increasing violence in Iraq. The judges who were less fearful of violence were more lenient and accommodating of torture by Coalition forces. The implication is that the less fearful judges were freed by an indeterminate law to advance Coalition goals through lenient punishment of torture. Our analysis suggests that the introduction of democracy and the rule of law in Iraq is a negative case in the international diffusion of American institutions. The results indicate the need for further development of a nuanced critical legal perspective.     

和谐视野下的民行息诉机制研究

民事行政检察息诉工作是检察机关重要的工作内容。开展好民行息诉工作具有十分重大的意义。但我国现存在着重抗诉轻息诉,息诉工作机制单一僵化等系列问题,与构建和谐社会的要求及检察机关高效履职的需要不相适应,迫切需要重构民事行政检察息诉的机制。通过进一步整合办案力量、完善民行检察办案流程和工作机制、改革考核制度,加强与相关部门的配合等具体途径,提高息诉工作的质量效率,促进社会和谐。     

Course and Severity of Maternal Depression: Associations with Family Functioning and Child Adjustment

Number of lifetime episodes, duration of current episode, and severity of maternal depression were investigated in relation to family functioning and child adjustment. Participants were the 151 mother–child pairs in the Sequenced Treatment Alternatives to Relieve Depression (STAR*D) child multi-site study. Mothers were diagnosed with Major Depressive Disorder; children (80 males and 71 females) ranged in age from 7 to 17 years. Measures of child adjustment included psychiatric diagnoses, internalizing and externalizing symptoms, and functional impairment. Measures of family functioning included family cohesion, expressiveness, conflict, organization, and household control; parenting measures assessed maternal acceptance and psychological control. Children of mothers with longer current depressive episodes were more likely to have internalizing and externalizing symptoms, with this association being moderated by child gender. Mothers with more lifetime depressive episodes were less likely to use appropriate control in their homes.

A Multidimensional Approach to Ascertaining Individual Differentiation and Consistency in Serial Sexual Assault: Is It Time to Redefine and Refine?

Whilst investigative use of behavioural evidence to help link and solve serial offences has long been in use, the empirical and theoretical grounds for whether and how to use this evidence effectively have begun to emerge only in recent decades. The present study empirically tested (a) the potential for effectively differentiating between rape offence crime scenes using quantitative and qualitative distinctions within the behavioural dimensions of control, violence, and sexual activity, and (b) the extent to which redefining behavioural consistency more broadly to include dynamic trajectories of behavioural change may be more effective than limiting this definition to behavioural stability. Results confirmed that sexual offences can be successfully differentiated based on the specific degree and subtype of these behavioural dimensions present in each crime scene. The analysis of consistency and behavioural trajectories showed that whilst none of the offenders exhibited complete consistency across behavioural dimensions, a subsample of offenders remained fully consistent in at least one. Furthermore, of those who were not consistent, the vast majority followed an identifiable trajectory of change. Findings are discussed in the context of psychological theories of behavioural consistency as well as practical aspects of advancing the utility of behavioural linkage.     

中國人格權法的立法展望

人格權法草案的基本內容楊立新2010年全國人大法工委完成侵權責任法的立法工作後,王勝明主任提到2011年完成民事訴訟法的修改工作後,將著手人格權法的立法工作。他希望學者能夠提前考慮解決人格權法立法中的一個重要問題:即如何完善人格權法的內容。2002年民法草案中與人格權相關的法律條文僅有28條,其中除了隱私權、     

论政府信息公开的“例外”

政府信息公开的例外是建立在政府公开信息为原则的基础之上的,它从反向界定和落实政府信息公开制度。确定例外的实质是协调公民知情权与其它重要法益之间的冲突,旨在有效地保障政府信息公开制度的运作。例外通常包括国家秘密、行政需要、商业机密和个人隐私等。行政复议、行政诉讼、特别救济是保障公民合法信息公开申请遭到拒绝的救济途径。     

Exploring strengths-based approaches in the design of a family planning project in Kenya

This practical note explores the contribution that strengths-based approaches (SBA) can make to project design. The note outlines how SBA was understood and applied in the design of a family planning project by Marie Stopes in Kenya under the Australian Africa Community Engagement Scheme (AACES). Fieldwork findings demonstrate how SBA assists in bringing to the fore local initiatives and assets that can be built on by external resources. It further suggests that SBA can create a strong foundation for local partnership, honest appraisal, and learning.

Examen des approches basées sur les points forts dans la conception d'un projet de planning familial

Cette note pratique examine la contribution que les approches basées sur les points forts (ABPF) peuvent apporter à la conception des projets. La note décrit comment l'ABPF a été comprise et appliquée dans le cadre de la conception d'un projet de planning familial par Marie Stopes au Kenya, entrepris au titre du programme australien Africa Community Engagement Scheme (AACES). Les conclusions tirées lors d'une mission sur le terrain montrent la manière dont l'ABPF peut aider à mettre au premier plan des initiatives et atouts qui peuvent être développés par des ressources externes. Il est aussi suggéré que l'ABPF peut donner lieu à une fondation solide pour des partenariats locaux, à une estimation honnête et à l'apprentissage.

Explorando abordagens baseadas nos pontos fortes na criação de um projeto de planejamento familiar

Esta nota prática examina a contribuição que abordagens baseadas nos pontos fortes (SBA) pode dar na criação do projeto. A nota apresenta como o SBA foi compreendido e aplicado na criação de um projeto de planejamento familiar de Marie Stopes, no Quênia, sob o Esquema Australiano de Engajamento da Comunidade da África (AACES). Os resultados do trabalho de campo mostram como o SBA ajuda a colocar em evidência iniciativas locais e bens que podem ser construídos através de recursos externos. Ele sugere ainda que o SBA pode criar uma fundação sólida para parceria local, avaliação honesta e aprendizado.

Un análisis de métodos basados en las fortalezas para la elaboración de un proyecto de planificación familiar

Esta nota práctica analiza los aportes de los métodos basados en las fortalezas (MBF) para la elaboración de proyectos. Se revisa cómo Marie Stopes entendió y aplicó un MBF para elaborar un proyecto de planificación familiar en Kenia, en el marco del Plan para la Participación Comunitaria Australiano-Africana. Las conclusiones derivadas del trabajo de campo demuestran cómo el MBF puede ayudar a situar las iniciativas y los activos locales en primer plano, y a fortalecerlos con recursos externos. También revela que el MBF puede crear una sólida base para las asociaciones locales, las evaluaciones sinceras y el aprendizaje.