中文语境下“Forensic science”界定与诠释

作为美国司法制度的一项有机组成部分,“Forensic Science”已与其诉讼法律文化紧密融为一体。美国诉讼活动中,双方当事人对于某项专门性问题进行举证时,往往需要运用被称为“Forensic Scieilce”的科学实证活动予以证明。在将“Forellsic Science”一词引入国内的同时,必须在中文语境基础上对其进行准确界定与诠释。通过中美诉讼法律文化的比较研究,并对我国现有相关专业术语进行辨析后可以发现,“司法鉴定”一词与“Forensic Science”不仅在内涵、外延上较为吻合,亦符合我国诉讼制度与司法实践的现实要求。同时,采用“司法鉴定”一词,还可以充分反映出“Forensic Science”的本质属性,避免因中文界定的偏差而造成不必要的争议与误解。     

溯因推理新论——法律论证的视角

溯因推理具有显著的特征：或然性（假设性）、逆向性、非单调性、语用性和创新性.溯因推理研究的新进路在于,其发生了语用学的转向以及语用论证（论辩）的转向.在法律方法（法律适用）和法律逻辑的视域,溯因推理的研究及其运用,长期困固于刑事侦查领域中,对于其在司法判决（审判阶段中）作为一种法律论证方法以解决疑难案件的论证则少有使用.以法律论证为视角,用一例只有被害人陈述为直接证据的强奸案件为例,通过对传统证据链模式的分析,提出印证式证据链模式和排除式证据链模式,建立溯因推理的正向溯因推理模式和反向溯因推理模式,并在案件证据所呈现的情境下建构法律语境,展现溯因推理在具体案件中的法律论证,以期能为我国司法判决实现合理性和正当性,提供一种新的论证模式或方法.     

解构香港群体意识形态的文化脉络

意识形态是文化的核心,又离不开文化的形塑.中国传统文化、岭南文化、西方现代文化和商业文化在香港独特的社会历史条件下相互交融的过程,从侧面反映了香港文化的发展历程,又为探讨香港群体意识形态的形成史提供了线索.因此,解构香港群体意识形态的文化脉络,洞察港人观念体系形成的内在规律,有助于内地和香港思想文化的对话与交流.     

If Violence Is Domestic, Does It Really Count?

Estimates of the prevalence of marital violence have been found to vary dramatically from survey to survey. This paper addresses one potential explanation for this difference which involves the focus and format of different surveys. We examine the extent to which survey respondents are willing to report marital violence in a context which focuses on criminal behaviors as opposed to a family violence context. In a very basic way, this answers a question as to whether individuals are willing to define acts of marital violence as criminal. Methodologically, it is a measurement issue which seriously affects the ability to compare findings across samples. National Youth Survey data are used to compare rates of generalized spousal assault and victimization reported in a crime context with rates of marital assault and victimization reported in a family violence context. Results indicate that 40 to 83% of all marital assaults and victimizations reported in the marital violence section are not reported in a format which focuses on criminal assault and victimization.     

权利的语境变迁及其对环境权人宪的影响

环境权概念体现着西方个人权利文化与中华法系和谐文化的合壁,它分为环境伦理权利、环境法律权利、环境现实权利三个层面,这三个层面之间的衔接和循环是环境权的运行之道。环境权的宪法化,是环境立法、执法、司法、守法的逻辑起点。大陆法系主要通过立法手段实现环境权,英美法系则主要通过司法手段促进环境权的发展,在不同语境中环境权宪法化的路径选择与运行之道虽有所不同,但可相互借鉴和移植。     

THE POWER OF DIVERSION: INTERMEDIATE SANCTIONS AND SENTENCING DISPARITY UNDER PRESUMPTIVE GUIDELINES*

Fiscal constraints and shifting political climates in corrections have recently led to a renewed interest in intermediate punishments. Despite their growing prevalence, though, relatively little empirical research has examined the judicial use of alternative sanctions as a sentencing option. By using 3 years of data from the Pennsylvania Commission on Sentencing (PCS), this study investigates little‐researched questions regarding the use of sentencing alternatives among offenders and across contexts. Results indicate that male and minority offenders are the least likely to receive intermediate sanctions, both as a diversionary jail or prison sentence and as a substitute for probation. The probability of receiving an intermediate sanction also varies significantly across judges and court contexts and is related to county‐level funding for these programs, among other factors. Findings are discussed as they relate to contemporary theoretical perspectives on the perceived suitability of intermediate punishments and on the unique role that offender agency plays in the sentencing of these cases. Directions for future research are discussed.