Who are the Unclaimed Dead?

Unclaimed dead are deceased persons with no known next of kin (NoK) or NoK was located but did not claim the deceased. Unclaimed dead in Marion County, Indiana, 2004–2011, are examined. Comparisons are provided of the unclaimed to the claimed dead population and county death patterns. Race, gender, marital status, age, location, manner and cause of death, NoK, and days to disposition are analyzed. The unclaimed dead were disproportionately male, slightly more likely to be Black, younger at death, died from natural causes, had unknown marital status, were equally likely as not to have NoK, did not die in a hospital, and were subject to autopsy. Nearly half the unclaimed had NoK who did not claim the body; the other half had no identifiable NoK. Unclaimed were more likely to have an autopsy and to die from external causes. Most unclaimed were identified by means outside fingerprints or DNA.     

Fingerprint Ridge Density as a Potential Forensic Anthropological Tool for Sex Identification

In cases of partial or poor print recovery and lack of database/suspect print, fingerprint evidence is generally neglected. In light of such constraints, this study was designed to examine whether ridge density can aid in narrowing down the investigation for sex identification. The study was conducted on the right‐hand index digit of 245 males and 246 females belonging to the Punjabis of Delhi region. Five ridge density count areas, namely upper radial, radial, ulnar, upper ulnar, and proximal, were selected and designated. Probability of sex origin was calculated, and stepwise discriminant function analysis was performed to determine the discriminating ability of the selected areas. Females were observed with a significantly higher ridge density than males in all the five areas. Discriminant function analysis and logistic regression exhibited 96.8% and 97.4% accuracy, respectively, in sex identification. Hence, fingerprint ridge density is a potential tool for sex identification, even from partial prints.     

胸腰椎压缩性骨折压缩程度评估方法比较

目的探讨胸腰椎压缩性骨折压缩程度不同评估方法间的差异。方法 1.选取211例胸腰椎压缩性骨折X线片资料,用4种方法以压缩椎体前缘高度分别与其后缘、上一椎体前缘、下一椎体前缘、上下椎体前缘高度均值比较,评估相应压缩程度并比较各方法间的差异。2.选取其中146例,测量压缩椎体相邻上方三个正常椎体高度,比较中位椎体前缘高度分别与其后缘、上一椎体前缘、下一椎体前缘、上下椎体前缘高度均值的差异。结果 1.压缩椎体前缘分别与后缘、上一椎体前缘、上下椎体前缘高度均值评估的压缩程度,两两组间P0.05;但压缩椎体前缘与后缘、下一椎体前缘评估组间P0.05。2.正常中位椎体前缘与后缘、上一椎体前缘、下一椎体前缘高度组间均P0.05,而与上下椎体前缘高度均值组间P0.05,且一致性较好。结论本文不同方法对胸腰椎骨折压缩程度评估存在差异,压缩椎体前缘与上下椎体前缘高度均值比较评估其压缩程度更准确。     

论指纹鉴定证据的法律冲突与抉择

指纹鉴定证据自从诞生就与科学紧密相连着,科学的发展为其开辟了更广阔的道路。在诉讼中,指纹鉴定证据确实发挥着相当的客观性、准确性的价值。但是,指纹鉴定证据并不是绝对真理,基于各种因素,也出现了使用指纹鉴定证据造成错案的情形。因此,如何既发挥其科学性的一面,又克服其不足的地方,这需要借鉴国外的立法与实践经验,确立相应的程序和规则。     

人体损伤程度鉴定的演绎推理模式

人体损伤程度鉴定从属于法医临床学,是源于司法实践的需要,从医学发展而来的一门技术,具有很强的实践性和社会性,其主要功能是为诉讼,特别是为刑事诉讼提供鉴定结论。法律制度层面的设计,从抽象的标准出发,评价诉讼中的具体损伤,决定了其常见的论证模式是演绎推理。     

文件上可见指印鉴定标准制定的探讨

文件上可见指印鉴定标准编制的目的在于规范文件上可见指印的鉴定活动。在总结回顾我国指纹鉴定标准化现状的基础上,结合司法鉴定中指印鉴定的实践,对文件上可见指印鉴定工作中需要标准化的主要内容进行了梳理和较为详细的探讨,旨在为文件上可见指印鉴定标准拟定切实可行的准则提供帮助。     

法医病理司法鉴定纠纷产生的原因及其防范

法医病理司法鉴定在刑事案件、民事纠纷、保险理赔等方面发挥着重要的作用。通过鉴定工作实践,总结出法医病理司法鉴定纠纷产生的各种原因,结合中华人民共和国司法部第107号令《司法鉴定程序通则》第17条规定,在进行司法鉴定前必须签署司法鉴定协议书的实施情况,同时借鉴医疗活动中知情同意的做法,针对性地提出预防法医病理司法鉴定纠纷的对策。     

论面向事故处理的道路交通事故鉴定体系的构建

针对《道路交通安全法》的规定和交通事故处理的需求,结合实际交通事故鉴定经验,应用系统科学理论构建了面向事故处理的道路交通事故鉴定体系,明确了交通事故鉴定的目的和作用,将涉及交通事故的跨学科、跨专业的各类专门性技术鉴定有机统一在交通事故鉴定体系中。     

论检察机关设置专家辅助人制度

司法鉴定制度是我国司法制度的重要组成部分,长期以来,我国刑事司法鉴定领域存在着种种弊端,不仅影响了司法鉴定的公信力,还损害了国家法律的正确统一实施,这与检察机关的监督缺位有着密切的关系。因此在完善司法鉴定制度本身的同时,应该通过建立检察机关专家辅助人制度来加强对刑事司法鉴定的监督。探讨在我国设立检察机关专家辅助人制度具有重要意义。     

行政公益诉讼的范畴研究

行政公益诉讼近年来引起了我国理论界和法治实践的广泛关注,学者们从不同角度进行了探讨。然而,行政公益诉讼的诸多重大问题还是没有得到解决,尤其行政公益诉讼法律制度究竟应当容纳哪些案件、容纳哪些公益范畴,这一问题恰恰是行政公益诉讼中最为实质性的问题,它决定着行政公益诉讼的基本社会价值。正因如此,从行政公益诉讼范畴的确定标准、法律形式、类型等方面对该问题进行较为系统的分析十分必要。行政公益诉讼应当包括人身权益、财产权益、环境权益、发展权益诸范畴;这些范畴可通过行政诉讼法列举、公诉机关认定、审判机关判定、共同诉讼诉求、集团诉讼主张等法律形式予以规定和认可。