Testing Application of Geographical Information Systems,Forensic Geomorphology and Electrical Resistivity Tomography to Investigate Clandestine Grave Sites in Colombia,South America

Colombian forensic investigators required assistance locating clandestine burials of missing persons related to human right atrocities from 14 years ago. Geoscientific search methods were trialled, including a predictive spatial statistical model, using various input and database information, to select the most likely grave locations in difficult mountainous terrain. Groundwork using forensic geomorphology, near-surface geophysics (ERT) and subsequent probing identified suspect burial positions. One site was in mountainous terrain and the other in former school grounds, both difficult to access and in poor weather conditions. In the mountainous area, a negative resistivity anomaly area was identified and intrusively investigated, found to be a buried rock. In school grounds, after MESP and intelligence were used to identify a burial site, surface depressions were identified, and ERT datasets collected over the highest priority depression; intrusive investigations discovered a hand-dug pit containing animal bones. This approach is suggested for Latin American searches.     

Fast Discrimination of Marijuana using Automated High-throughput Cannabis Sample Preparation and Analysis by Gas Chromatography–Mass Spectrometry

In the United States, federal law and many state laws differentiate between marijuana and industrial hemp through delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) levels, whereby the latter is defined as ≤0.3 percent THC on a dry weight basis. Many traditional cannabis identification methods employed by crime laboratories cannot accurately determine total THC quantities in accordance with federal and state regulations, or do so with increased time, labor, and risks of instrument damage. In order to quickly distinguish positive marijuana samples, a method was developed to identify plant material with a total THC level >1%. This novel, automated dispersive pipette extraction (DPX) method uses tip-based technology and an automated liquid handler to enable fast, hands-free selective isolation of THC and its precursors for downstream gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis. The workflow proceeds with no repetitive manual effort and reduced need for instrument maintenance while enabling crime labs to legally identify marijuana through the detection of total THC above 1%. Recovery of THC using the DPX extraction method was 93% at 30 µg/mL and 78% at 500 µg/mL. Similarly, THCA-A recovery was 100% at 30 µg/mL and 74% at 500 µg/mL. Samples evaluated in a blind study (proficiency, hemp, and nonprobative case samples) were all accurately identified as greater than or less than 1% THC, with samples containing <1% THC being identified as “cannabis” and subjected to more discriminative analysis as needed.     

论公共安全与驾驶路权之博弈——以杭州富家子飙车肇事案为例

近日发生在杭州的富家子飙车肇事案引起了境内外人们的关注。在对此案的关注之余，笔者冷静地思索了公共安全与机动车驾驶路权的冲突问题，认为驾驶路权是占有公共道路资源的一种特权，这种权利的行使必须以不妨害公共利益为前提，否则就必须加以限制．于是建议参照关国的相关立法，呼吁中国尽早修改《道路交通安全法》与《刑法》，增设限制“飙车”的条款，依法封飙车行为进行规范。     

从正当到合法：作为司法裁判依据的群众感觉

司法作为整个社会系统的一部分，其独立具有相对性，同时，司法过程也非完全封闭，具有开放性。在此语境下，群众感觉由于其自身的合理性使得其作为司法裁判依据有了正当性基础并且符合现实需求。关键在于如何转化，使其披上“合法性”外衣。基于现代司法的基本要求，通过立法和司法实现程序性转化是两种可能的选择。     

全面小康建设与大众传媒发展

中国改革开放二十多年 ,大众传媒为国家发展、社会现代化做出了重要贡献。在全面小康社会的建设中 ,它被赋予更加艰巨的任务 ,也面临着全新挑战。新的问题既阻碍着大众传媒优化效应的实现 ,也影响着全面小康的建设。从大众传媒与全面小康的互动关系入手 ,及时妥善地解决这一问题 ,才能获得同依共存、共同发展的双赢格局     

谣言在群体性突发事件中的发生机制

群体性突发事件与人际传播密切相关。谣言作为一种语言形式,反映了当时的民众心理,也触动了社会深层的机制,从这个角度讲,它有时的确会起到社会调节的正面作用,但由谣言而引发的集体行为所带来的社会负面影响也是显而易见的。尽量降低谣言在群体性突发事件中造成的风险,是现代国家和社会管理者的责任。     

论交通肇事后“因逃逸致人死亡”

我国刑法第133条规定,“交通肇事后,因逃逸致人死亡的,处7年以上有期徒刑。”由于立法的不明确,在理解“因逃逸致人死亡”的问题上,众说纷纭,可谓百家争鸣。对于“因逃逸致人死亡”的定性与处罚,不能不加区分地一律适用刑法第133条第3档法定刑,而应根据刑法的具体规定,结合行为人的主客观情况,作出正确的定罪与量刑。     

论一般交通肇事罪的控制模式

对于以过失为主观特征的一般交通肇事犯罪,应当采取相对宽缓的刑事政策。一方面,应当通过修改刑事立法,构建一般交通肇事犯罪案件的刑事和解处理模式;另一方面,应当探索对一般交通肇事犯罪者的社区矫正处遇模式。     

群体性事件研究——兼论公安机关的地位与作用

群体性事件近十几年呈激增的状态,但其发生有深刻的历史背景。从总体上讲,群体性事件主要是人民内部矛盾,其诉求具有一定的合理性。公关机关作为处理群体事件的首要机关,其处置水平对最终处理结果有很大的影响。但群体性事件是多方面因素共同作用的结果,限于公安机关的职能,不能奢求公安机关自己可能一劳永逸地解决群体性事件。