非法证据排除规则研究

非法获取证据的违规乃至犯罪行为在司法实践中屡见不鲜,其发生有多方面的原因。制度上的根源是我国目前尚未建立起配套齐全的非法证据排除规则。本文采用比较研究的方式,在论述中外非法证据排除规则的基础上,提出了构建和完善符合我国国情的非法证据排除规则的建议。     

民事诉讼预决事实效力理论基础之选择

关于预决事实在后诉中的效力理论基础,主要有三种:既判力、争点效和事实证明效理论。我国应当采纳哪种理论,学术界分歧严重。《关于民事诉讼证据的若干规定》《关于适用〈中华人民共和国民事诉讼法〉若干问题的解释》《关于审理环境民事公益诉讼案件适用法律若干问题的解释》《关于审理消费民事公益诉讼案件适用法律若干问题的解释》充分反映出制定主体在上述三种理论间摇摆不定、难以抉择的心态。鉴于三种理论各有所长、各有所短,且无法将各种理论优点集于一身,综合权衡,我国未来立法还是应采纳争点效理论为佳。     

论警察讯问话语及其讯问权的限制——以犯罪嫌疑人人权保障为视角

警察讯问作为侦查行为中的一种重要方式,极易侵犯犯罪嫌疑人的人权,所以各国都对讯问程序设置了一系列规则,包括讯问时间、地点、方式和讯问权的适当限制等等.然而司法实践中的情况并不尽如人意,犯罪嫌疑人的人权没能得到有效的保障.基于此,拟从法律语言中的警察讯问话语角度出发,以犯罪嫌疑人的人权保障为视角,深入探讨警察讯问权的合理限制对保障人权的重要性.     

试论"新的证据"——对《民事诉讼法》第179条第1款的理解

我国《民事诉讼法》第179条规定,当事人以新的证据为由申请再审,人民法院应当再审。《最高人民法院关于民事诉讼证据的若干规定》第44条对《民事诉讼法》第179条第1款规定的“新的证据”界定为原审庭审结束后新发现的证据。“新的证据”应作为再审提起的理由。对“新的证据”的认定应由审判庭进行认定。我国应对再审制度进一步完善,以使司法机关和当事人有章可循。     

The effect of corrosive substances on fingermark recovery: A pilot study

Corrosive substance attacks have become a growing issue within the UK. Although most commonly occurring in gang-related offences, there are high profile instances where this type of attack has been used to attack women to disfigure and destroy livelihoods. Despite the increase in such attacks, there has been very little published research into the recovery of forensic evidence from items used in these crimes. The effect of corrosive substances on the recovery of different types of forensic evidence is unknown, and there is no guidance for laboratories processing exhibits contaminated with corrosive substances regarding optimum treatments. This pilot study focused on establishing the effectiveness of a range of fingermark visualisation processes in recovering fingermarks on surfaces exposed to concentrated sulfuric acid (acid) and potassium hydroxide (alkali). Results indicate that on non-porous surfaces vacuum metal deposition and powder suspensions remain effective, and on porous surfaces fingermarks could still be visualised with physical developer. Alkalis were found to be more detrimental than acid environments in this limited study. The results demonstrate that fingermark recovery is still feasible on surfaces exposed to corrosive substances and provides encouragement that treatment protocols could be developed for this type of exhibit.     

Minor or adult? Introducing decision analysis in forensic age estimation

Nowadays, forensic age estimation takes an important role in worldwide forensic and medico-legal institutes that are solicited by judicial or administrative authorities for providing an expert report on the age of individuals. The authorities’ ultimate issue of interest is often the probability that the person is younger or older than a given age threshold, which is usually the age of majority. Such information is fundamental for deciding whether a person being judged falls under the legal category of an adult. This is a decision that may have important consequences for the individual, depending on the legal framework in which the decision is made. The aim of this paper is to introduce a normative approach for assisting the authority in the decision-making process given knowledge from available findings reported by means of probabilities. The normative approach proposed here has been acknowledged in the forensic framework, and represents a promising structure for reasoning that can support the decision-making process in forensic age estimation. The paper introduces the fundamental elements of decision theory applied to the specific case of age estimation, and provides some examples to illustrate its practical application.     

Digital evidence and the crime scene

Many criminal investigations maintain an element of digital evidence, where it is the role of the first responder in many cases to both identify its presence at any crime scene, and assess its worth. Whilst in some instances the existence and role of a digital device at-scene may be obvious, in others, the first responder will be required to evaluate whether any ‘digital opportunities’ exist which could support their inquiry, and if so, where these are. This work discusses the potential presence of digital evidence at crime scenes, approaches to identifying it and the contexts in which it may exist, focusing on the investigative opportunities that devices may offer. The concept of digital devices acting as ‘digital witnesses’ is proposed, followed by an examination of potential ‘digital crime scene’ scenarios and strategies for processing them.     

论视听资料的证据作用

视听资料证据具有直观性、连续性、稳定性、信息量大、精确度高等特点,能够形象生动地反映案件事实,重现案件过程,已依法成为侦查破案的直接证据。作为一种独特的证明手段,视听资料具有其他证据无可替代的优越性,在国内外法庭诉讼活动中得到愈来愈广泛的应用。     

新律师法实施后律师刑事取证权的保障问题

律师在侦查阶段享有调查取证权在法律上已不是问题,但是律师们基于潜在的职业风险在实践中却不敢使用,这值得我们认真反思;律师的调查取证权具有民间调查的性质,不具有强制性,有关单位和个人并无向律师提供证据和作证的义务,因此律师调查取证仍需经过被调查人的配合或同意,否则难以实施;律师的申请取证权如要得到落实,必须赋予律师取证申请以法律效力,明确法院拥有强制取证的权力,给予律师必要的权利救济等;为了强化辩方的取证能力,化解律师职业风险,应当允许律师聘请私人侦探代为刑事调查取证。     

A Challenge for Police-Community Relations: Rethinking Stop and Search in England and Wales

This article presents research carried out as part of a government research programme looking at how police tactic of 'stop and search' in England and Wales. For many years, figures which have shown a higher rate of stop and search of minority ethnic groups, particularly black people, have provoked much controversy, and have been seen by many as a manifestation of police racism. This article reviews the way in which stop and search impacts on public confidence, with particular reference to those from minority ethnic groups. It goes on to explore its role within policing, including an examination of its effectiveness against crime and the evidence for racism in police practice. Following from this, it considers how stop and search can be used in a way that minimises negative impacts on the community and maximises its effectiveness against crime.