司法鉴定若干问题的法律思考

司法鉴定是由专门机构和人员对诉讼中涉及到的专门性问题进行鉴别判断并作出结论的一项准司法活动。我国在司法鉴定领域存在着鉴定机构设置和管理混乱无序,鉴定从业人员水平能力不一,鉴定程序缺少透明度,对鉴定结论司法审查力度不大等问题。笔者拟从法律角度对上述问题进行分析并提出若干立法建议。     

证人拒绝作证制度的传统与现代化

由于证人与被证明人之间的某种特定关系,如夫妻关系、律师与当事人的关系、医生与病人的关系等等,要求其作证不仅损害天伦或职业道德,而且其证言可靠性也大打折扣。对此,中国古代便形成了一套完整的以"亲亲相容隐"为核心的亲属之间的举证制度。欧美一些国家在证据制度中也确立了证人拒绝作证制度。证人拒绝作证制度作为一项重要的证据法律制度,对于有效地保护公民人权,捍卫传统的伦理道德无疑有着积极的意义和不可低估的作用。     

论侦查假设在犯罪现场重建中的运用

犯罪现场重建是侦查主体运用与犯罪有关的现场信息再现犯罪事件和行为的过程。从逻辑思维的角度来看,犯罪现场重建也是一个收集相关事实并在此基础上大胆假设、小心求证的认识过程。收集和分析犯罪信息是形成侦查假设的基础;而提出侦查假设是对犯罪现场重建结论的初步推断;验证与修正侦查假设则是对犯罪现场重建结论的完善。     

Using the likelihood ratio in bloodstain pattern analysis

There is an apparent paradox that the likelihood ratio (LR) approach is an appropriate measure of the weight of evidence when forensic findings have to be evaluated in court, while it is typically not used by bloodstain pattern analysis (BPA) experts. This commentary evaluates how the scope and methods of BPA relate to several types of evaluative propositions and methods to which LRs are applicable. As a result of this evaluation, we show how specificities in scope (BPA being about activities rather than source identification), gaps in the underlying science base, and the reliance on a wide range of methods render the use of LRs in BPA more complex than in some other forensic disciplines. Three directions are identified for BPA research and training, which would facilitate and widen the use of LRs: research in the underlying physics; the development of a culture of data sharing; and the development of training material on the required statistical background. An example of how recent fluid dynamics research in BPA can lead to the use of LR is provided. We conclude that an LR framework is fully applicable to BPA, provided methodic efforts and significant developments occur along the three outlined directions.     

论完善拒不执行判决、裁定罪

拒不执行判决、裁定罪在犯罪构成要件及罪数形态等方面均存在不完善之处,为更好地维护司法权威,应扩大犯罪主体,重新确定客观方面,澄清保护客体,并对共同犯罪等问题作实事求是的评价.     

不负责任的法庭陈述权——英美法被告人未经宣誓陈述权制度介评

被告人未经宣誓陈述制度是英关法的一种特有制度。在英关法中,未经宣誓陈述不是证据但却有证据效力。英关法废止被告人未经宣誓陈述制度的做法,反映了被告人在法庭上有真实陈述的义务。大陆法及我国在理论上认为被告人陈述案件事实是一种权利行为,无如实陈述的真实义务,这违背了证据客观性和真实性的要求。     

论科学证据、专家证言、鉴定意见三者的关系

与科学证据有关的法律概念主要有大陆法的鉴定意见,以及英美法国家的专家证言。鉴定意见与专家证言之间,由于具有不同的证据法原理,不具有可比性。在英美法国家,科学证据应是专家证言的下位概念;在大陆法国家,科学证据与鉴定意见之间的关系,与鉴定的法律定位密切相关,要具体国家具体分析。明确这一点,有利于厘清我国科学证据的相关法律定位及其与鉴定意见之间的关系。     

An anthropological perspective on asylum cases

Over a lengthy period of time, the author has acted as an expert witness for people seeking asylum in the United States from West Africa. The author has noted changes in the manner in which courts have treated these asylum seekers from the relatively easy process of the Clinton years to the much more hostile culture of the Bush ones. The author wishes to discuss the manner in which an anthropologist can use knowledge about the culture of the person seeking asylum and that of the political party in power to translate the motives of the asylum seeker in a favorable light. The author provides a number of examples of this process and of the changing culture of political administrations.     

Ageism in the courtroom: mock juror perceptions of elder neglect

The present study explored ageism in a civil court context. In two experiments, male and female undergraduates (Experiment 1; N?=?215) and community members (Experiment 2; N?=?203) read an institutional elder neglect trial summary in which a nursing home was sued for failure to provide the necessary care for an elderly female resident. The trial varied as to who provided witness testimony: the live victim, a recorded deposition from the victim, the victim’s middle-aged niece (Experiments 1, 2), the victim’s elderly floor-mate (Experiment 1), or no testimony was provided (Experiment 2). Across both experiments, higher ageism was negatively associated with pro-victim ratings (e.g. victim memory). Ageism indirectly decreased the likelihood of ruling for the plaintiff through ratings of sympathy for the victim and victim memory (Experiment 1), and defendant responsibility (Experiment 2). Trial ratings did not differ based on whether victim testimony was presented live or via recorded deposition (Experiments 1, 2). The results suggest that jurors’ ageist attitudes may engender negative perceptions of an elderly victim, which can affect the outcome of neglect cases. We discuss the potential for these findings to inform legal proceedings and protection of elderly individuals.     

浅析测谎技术在毒品犯罪案件侦查中的运用

测谎结果能否作为证据使用,在学界一直是一个争论不休的问题.但是,测谎技术在侦查中作为一种强有力的侦查手段,却毋庸置疑.将测谎技术运用到毒品犯罪案件侦查中,提出使用方法的假设和促进测谎信息的证据化转换的方法,可以较好地解决毒品犯罪案件侦查实践中的一些难题,从而更好地应对毒品犯罪手段.