A parameter study regarding the IBIS correlator

The electronic system IBIS has been used by numerous agencies worldwide as the standard tool to compare firearm markings on bullets and fired cartridges. There is a general interest among users concerning the likelihood with which the IBIS correlator may locate hits in its databases. Test results of the performance under different test conditions have been published in various papers. Experience has also been gained with the IBIS system from years of practical usage. All of these findings are difficult to compare with each other. No systematic presentation exists that actually shows the parameters upon which the success rate of the IBIS correlator depends. There has also been no mention of what values these parameters take on during each test. This paper first generally defines the success and error rates of the IBIS correlator. The parameters used will be discussed. Results of previously published tests will be re-examined based on this methodology. An illustrative form of presentation for the success rate of an electronic comparison system will also be suggested. It will be shown that the success rate of the IBIS correlator highly depends on the quality of the firearms-generated markings. It increases with the number of considered mark types, the number of available signatures per firearm, and the number of items inspected in the hit list. The success rate decreases with the database size. The paper will conclude with a series of practical recommendations for the setting up and successful operation of an electronic collection of ballistic evidence.     

Parsimony in the Study of Tolerance and Intolerance

In replying to Mondak and Sanders, I introduce the notion of ``Kelvinist tolerance,' or an absolute absence of any intolerance whatsoever. I contend that while we can imagine such an extreme level of tolerence, in our empirical world it occurs about as frequently as the absolute zero of the Kelvin scale of temperature. Consequently, I reject the assertion of Mondak and Sanders that special statistical approaches are essential for analyzing tolerance, arguing instead in favor of parsimony in both conceptualization and analytical strategies.     

基层金融机构在执行《反洗钱法》中的两个误区和建议

《中华人民共和国反洗钱法》自2007年1月1日起颁布施行已经进入第六个年头。这部法律的出台对于我国预防洗钱活动的发生;维护金融秩序稳定;遏制洗钱犯罪及相关犯罪,起到了积极和重要的作用。文章将对基层金融机构在贯彻落实这部法律中存在的问题和误区进行剖析,提出自己的意见和建议。     

被害人辨认错误及其防范

被害人辨认错误是导致刑事错案发生的主要原因之一。被害人“身临其境”和“身受其害”的当事人身份，决定了被害人体验案件事实和辨认犯罪嫌疑人存在局限性，容易出现某些“诚实”的错误。分析被害人辨认错误的成因，进一步完善辨认规则，健全辨认程序，有助于提高被害人辨认的准确性和可信性，防范错误辨认，保护被害人权利。     

预防侦查错误视角下公安刑事鉴定制度的反思与完善

刑事鉴定对于公安机关侦查破案发挥着日趋重要的作用,公安机关在侦查线索的寻找、侦查方向的确定乃至侦查终结的定案证据等方面都极为依赖刑事鉴定.然而,因公安刑事鉴定制度本身存在某些缺陷而容易产生诸多鉴定问题,进而导致侦查错误的发生,以致酿成了一系列刑事冤案.完善现行的公安刑事鉴定制度首先亟需解决公安机关内设鉴定机构的组织管理制度问题,即应确保内设鉴定机构的相对独立,同时应明确对刑事鉴定技术的采用标准.诚然,完善公安刑事鉴定制度并不能完全杜绝侦查错误的发生,但是可以减少侦查错误发生的概率.     

Statistical analysis tools of mixture DNA samples: When the same software provides different results

The high complexity of the genetic analysis of crime scene samples is mainly related to the unknown number of contributors, low DNA quantity and quality, and associated stochastic effects. The difficulty and subjectivity of interpreting casework samples was the motto for the development of software to mitigate these conditions and allow the quantification of the genetic evidence. Currently, there are several tools for statistical analysis of mixture samples based on either qualitative or quantitative models. The first considers the electropherograms’ qualitative information, while the latter also considers the associated quantitative information. This work’s main goal was to evaluate the effect that parameters’ settings variation may have on the LR computation, specifically the drop-in frequency parameter. For that, a qualitative – LRmix Studio – and two quantitative software – STRmix™ and EuroForMix – were considered and an intra-software analysis was performed, using as input real casework samples. The drop-in frequency variation showed an impact, leading to differences higher than four units (log₁₀ scale) for some pairs of samples. In addition, for some cases, no comparisons were performed either because the tool computed a null LR value or displayed an error message. Thus, this work reinforces the importance of proper parameters’ modeling and estimation in forensic casework evaluation.     

刑事司法错误与司法惯性——试论惯性在司法中的消极作用

受传统观念和环境因素的共同影响,司法人员的思维过程和行为方式表现出遵循原有办案思路和排斥先进司法理念的态势。在当前的司法实践中,司法惯性已成为导致刑事司法错误的根本原因。司法惯性主要源于司法人员的思维定势和司法机关相互制约机制的弱化,为确保司法程序的正当性,必须克服司法惯性对刑事司法的消极影响。     

美国刑事诉讼中的无害错误规则及其启示

在美国刑事诉讼中,原审法院的错误可以被分为两类:宪法性错误与制定法错误.对所有的制定法错误以及部分宪法性错误,审查法院可以适用无害错误规则进行审查与处理,从而在认定错误无害时,维持原审判决.在直接上诉程序中,对宪法性错误与制定法错误进行审查的标准,分别是Chapman标准与Kotteakos标准.对人身保护令程序中的审查标准,美国联邦法院目前尚没有形成共识.美国法院通过适用无害错误规则,更加强调探求刑事案件的事实真相,更为重视案件的实体正义.我国应当借鉴美国的经验,在刑事诉讼法中明确确立无害错误规则.     

非法持有毒品罪若干问题研究

非法持有毒品罪是我国刑法规定的有关毒品犯罪的重要罪名。人们对非法‘特有”的内涵与外延、行为人认识错误的法律认定、非法持有毒品罪的数量标准、非法持有毒品罪的罪数形态、共同犯罪等问题研究的还不够深入。加强对这些问题的系统研究，可为司法实践提供一定的借鉴。     

李立三“左”倾错误的成因与红一方面军的抗争

20世纪30年代初李立三的“左”倾冒险错误，同共产国际的影响密切相关。共产国际和斯大林为李立三的“左”倾冒险错误提供了理论依据，后来又严厉批评了李立三的“左”倾冒险错误。红一方面军则由开始对李立三的“左”倾冒险行动持怀疑态度，进而抵制和在实际中纠正。在红一方面军中纠正李立三“左”倾错误上，毛泽东和总前委召开的罗坊会议起了最为关键的作用。