Arbitrary Chivalry:

The sparing use of the death penalty seemingly supports the myth of chivalrous treatment of women by the criminal justice system. It is widely believed that the few women who are executed must be "monsters" who deserve their fate. This historical study of the operation of the death penalty in Victoria, Australia, demonstrates that politics rather than law influences the sentencing outcome for women. Public, press, judges and politicians alike use chivalry as a way of proving that the death penalty successfully balances the competing aims of "justice" and "mercy." Chivalry, however, is sometimes dramatically discarded in the face of competing political pressures. Thus, chivalry towards women is inconsistent and inevitably arbitrary. Gender analysis is another useful strategy in undermining claims that the death penalty can ever be made fair.     

Recovery of Trace DNA on Clothing: A Comparison of Mini‐tape Lifting and Three Other Forensic Evidence Collection Techniques

Trace DNA is often found in forensic science investigations. Experience has shown that it is difficult to retrieve a DNA profile when trace DNA is collected from clothing. The aim of this study was to compare four different DNA collection techniques on six different types of clothing in order to determine the best trace DNA recovery method. The classical stain recovery technique using a wet cotton swab was tested against dry swabbing, scraping and a new method, referred to as the mini‐tape lifting technique. Physical contact was simulated with three different “perpetrators” on 18 machine‐washed garments. DNA was collected with the four different DNA recovery methods and subjected to standard PCR‐based DNA profiling. The comparison of STR results showed best results for the mini‐tape lifting and scraping methods independent of the type of clothing. The new mini‐tape lifting technique proved to be an easy and reliable DNA collection method for textiles.     

Forensic Evidence and Criminal Investigations: The Impact of Ballistics Information on the Investigation of Violent Crime in Nine Cities,

We explore the impact of information from ballistics imaging hit reports on the investigation into violent crimes. Ballistics imaging hits link two crimes involving the same firearm by forensically matching tool marks on the fired bullets or cartridge cases. Interview data collected from detectives who received a hit report were used to explore the relationship between the presence of a hit report and outcomes in 65 gun‐related violent crime investigations in nine U.S. police agencies. Findings indicate hit reports rarely contribute to identification, arrest, charging, or sentencing of suspects, because of delays in producing hit reports. On average, hit reports were completed 181.4 days after the focal crime. This delay forces investigations to proceed without the benefit of information from ballistics analysis. Additionally, hit reports rarely contained detailed information that was immediately useful to investigators. Instead, hit reports required additional research by the investigator to unlock useful information.     

Evaluating interviews which search for the truth with suspects: but are investigators’ self-assessments of their own skills truthful ones?

Self-evaluation of one’s own performance has been found in prior research to be an enabler of professional development. The task of evaluation is also a core component of a model of the investigative interviewing of victims, witnesses and suspects, being increasingly used throughout the world. However, it remains the case that there has been little research as to how practitioners approach the task itself. The present study examined the topic through the lens of observing how effectively 30 real-life investigators in the UK undertook evaluation of their interviews, representing almost the entire investigative frontline workforce of a small law enforcement agency in this country. Using an established scale of measurement, both investigators’ and an expert’s ratings of the same sample of interviews were compared across a range of tasks and behaviours. It was found that in almost all the assessed behaviours, requiring of the investigators to provide a self-rating, their scores tended to significantly outstrip those applied to the sample by the expert. Reasons are explored for the investigators’ overstated assessments. Implications for practice are then discussed.     

浅谈毒品犯罪案件的侦查

毒品犯罪案件具有极强的对抗性、隐蔽性、跨区域性等特点,并具有独特的表现形式,因而针对毒品犯罪案件的侦查也具有特殊的要求。毒品犯罪侦查要力求主动、积极,需要比一般刑事案件更多地运用“策略”“计策”且应进行广泛的禁毒合作,才能有效地打击毒品犯罪。毒品案件的侦查对策主要有加强情报信息收集,发挥刑事侦查外线和内线共同作用,采取公开查缉,控制下交付等手段。     

调查研究是推进马克思主义中国化的重要途径——毛泽东在井冈山和中央苏区时期调查研究实践与理论的启示

回顾毛泽东在井冈山和中央苏区时期的调查研究实践和理论,可以看到毛泽东是注重并善于调查研究的楷模,是实现马克思主义中国化的光辉典范。调查研究是推进马克思主义中国化的重要途径,始终贯穿于推进马克思主义中国化的历史进程之中。以毛泽东调查理论为指导,既要重视调查研究,又要善于调查研究,不断提高调查研究的能力和水平。     

论侦查途径的选择

侦查途径的选择,就是在一起案件的若干条侦查途径中选出最佳途径。侦查途径的选择应该遵循及时、高效、可变换、针对性、客观性以及合法性的原则,具体操作时可以从人、事、物三个方面入手去发现、选择侦查途径。在实现破案的过程中,还要根据破案的进程及时调整和转换侦查的途径。     

手机犯罪新趋势探究及侦查对策——以智能手机、3G手机为主要视角

随着科技的不断发展,手机犯罪也呈现出新的趋势。新型手机犯罪侦查应当着手设立手机犯罪监控系统,加强情报信息收集工作;注意侦查方式的转变,加强对证据的收集与利用;加强侦查协作与人员培训。     

论衡量现场勘查质量的标准

现场勘查是在刑事案件发生以后,侦查人员为了发现侦查线索,收集犯罪证据,查明犯罪事实,依照法律规定,运用一定的策略方法和技术手段,对与犯罪有关的场所、物品、人身、尸体等进行勘验、检查,对事主、被害人、知情群众进行的调查访问。文章从法律和事实的角度提出衡量现场勘查质量的标准。前者主要从刑事诉讼法证据理论和现场勘查服务于侦查的角度进行总结阐述;后者主要以刑法的犯罪构成要件为视角进行论述归纳;最后从无罪推定的角度论述提出衡量现场勘查质量标准的现实意义。     

现场勘查指挥中存在的问题及其对策探析

现场勘查工作对刑事案件的侦破起着十分重要的作用,随着法制化进程的不断推进,对现场勘查各环节的规范化要求日益提高。当前各级公安机关都十分重视犯罪现场勘查仪器、设备的投入,然而硬件的完善只能为做好犯罪现场勘查工作提供技术支持,因此加强对犯罪现场勘查的环节控制,提出有针对性的解决对策就显得十分重要。