Detection of Gunshot Residue on Dark‐Colored Clothing Prior to Chemical Analysis

Detection of gunshot residue (GSR) is an arduous task for investigators. It is often accomplished with chemical tests, which can reveal elements and ions indicating the presence of GSR, but are likely to cause physical alteration to the pattern. In this study, the Spex Forensics Mini‐CrimeScope MCS 400, along with 16 accompanying wavelength filters, was applied to various GSR patterns and target types. Three dark shirt materials, four ammunition calibers, and eight ammunition manufacturers, along with the primer residue of the different manufacturer ammunitions were tested. Results indicate the alternate light source wavelength of 445 nm to be the optimal setting. In addition, target material plays a large role in the preservation of GSR patterns as particles burn. Furthermore, it can be extrapolated that residue, observed from a full round and firing distance of six inches, is mostly composed of unburnt gunpowder residue, not primer residue.     

Open Source Governance—A More Ambitious Cousin of Collaborative Governance

Open source represents a model generally known for its success in software production. The objective of this article is to establish a new strategic approach of using open source development principles for managing collaborative arrangements between citizens and public administration. The identity of open source governance is developed by highlighting how it is different from its main “competitor”—collaborative governance, and from other two popular concepts—open government and e-democracy. The other sections are designed to answer to public managers regarding why and what to adopt from this governance model for public sector services.     

You shouldn't feel that way! Extending the emotional victim effect through the mediating role of expectancy violation

Recent research has shown that the ‘emotional victim effect’ (an emotional victim is more readily believed than a nonemotional victim) is mediated by expectancy violation: people base their judgments about a victim's credibility on their expectations of the victim's suffering. Victims whose behavior is inconsistent with these expectations suffer a loss of credibility. In this article, we further examine the role of expectancy violation and explore possible negative effects of a victim's highly emotional post-crime reaction. Using several mediations, we demonstrate three important contributions to the existing literature. First, we demonstrate that, in the same way as expectancy violation mediates the effect from nonverbal emotional expression on perceived credibility, this mediating effect would also hold for the verbal expression of emotions. Second, we demonstrate that expectancy violation mediates the effect from a victim's verbal emotional expression on the observer's attitude toward the victim. More specifically, we demonstrate that a highly emotional written Victim Impact Statement (VIS) could lead to secondary victimization, dependent on the observer's expectations regarding the effects of the crime. Third, this article is the first to demonstrate that expectancy violation leads to a negative effect on people's acceptance of the VIS in the criminal justice procedure.     

Problems in expert deception detection and the risk of false confessions: no proof to the contrary in Levine et al. (2014)

Lie-detection research has shown that observers who rely on nonverbal cues or on verbal cues correctly classify on average 54% of truth tellers and liars. In addition, over the years, countless numbers of innocent people have made false confessions and, in analysing the problem, researchers have implicated both a suspect's vulnerability and the persuasive influence of certain police interrogation tactics. Levine et al. (2014) aim to contribute to these vast bodies of literature by reporting two studies purportedly showing that expert interviewers – when they are permitted to question interviewees – can achieve almost perfect accuracy without eliciting false confessions. We argue that theoretical and methodological aspects of these studies undermine the reliability and validity of the data reported, that as a result the studies do not contribute to the scientific literatures on lie detection and false confessions in any meaningful way, and that the results are dangerously misleading.     

能动司法与司法判决的公众认同——兼论司法公信力的提高

面对纷繁复杂的矛盾纠纷,法官应该能动司法,追求民意和司法判决的平衡,以提升司法的公信力,实现司法的政治效果、社会效果和法律效果的统一。能动司法有利于提升司法判决的公众认同度和实现法律价值。为进一步促进司法判决的公众认同,在实践中,应推崇走下＂神台＂的法官——倡导亲民式审判;了解道德习惯——探寻民意和司法判决的平衡;注重合理引导——恰当地行使释明权;打开判决过程中的＂暗箱＂——对判决理由据理说明,进而不断提高司法的公信力。     

Gender,Migration and Multiple Livelihoods: Cases from Eastern and Southern Africa

Focussing on Kenya, Lesotho and South Africa, this study examines the social impact in migrant-labour source areas of dramatically reduced employment prospects in urban areas. It considers the implications for rural livelihoods and the role which gender relations play in making possible, or impeding, people's ability to construct diversified livelihoods. When livelihoods change, gendered rights, responsibilities and power must be renegotiated. Husbands and wives may acknowledge interdependencies and negotiate, or they may disengage. Marriages may break down, or women become reluctant to marry at all, as the material basis of the household is undermined. These outcomes do not represent social breakdown, but residential instability is likely to become more common.     

A Review of: “Media and Conflict: Framing Issues,Making Policy,Shaping Opinions,edited by Eytan Gilboa”

Using survey data from statewide political party convention delegates in four states, I investigate whether and how gender stereotypes influence nomination choice. I examine whether gaining candidate information from different sources differentially influences gender stereotypes and the likelihood of supporting both a female and a male nominee. I argue that information sources outside a candidate's control—delegates' discussions with other delegates—versus sources candidates can control (e.g., campaign contacts and personal contact with the candidate) work against female candidates' nomination. Specifically, when delegates learn about candidates via the most controlled sources, they will be more likely to view the candidates as possessing both masculine and feminine traits and issue competencies. As a result, they should be more likely to support the candidate. In contrast, information from sources outside candidate control functions differently for male and female candidates: These sources confirm delegates' stereotype expectations, negatively affecting perceptions of a female candidate's masculine strengths, which then negatively relate to supporting her nomination. The results generally support these ideas: Delegates receiving information from the most controlled sources form balanced views of the female candidate, but the positive effects of information from these sources on nomination choice are not mediated by stereotypes. In contrast, delegates gaining information from other delegates confirm their stereotypes of the candidate and are then less likely to support her. More broadly, gender stereotypes, particularly those regarding female candidates' masculine traits and feminine issue competencies relative to the candidate's male opponent, directly and positively relate to delegates' likelihood of supporting her.     

人体组织/体液来源的法医学鉴定

生物检材的组织/体液来源鉴定是法医学检验的重要内容之一。法医学组织/体液鉴定的方法较多,无论是基于酶促反应或免疫学检测的传统鉴定方法,还是光谱法或近年来基于mRNA、microRNA或DNA甲基化差异的分子生物学组织鉴定技术,均各有特点。本文就各种法医学组织/体液鉴定方法的特点及其法医学应用价值作一简要综述。     

The use of a tunable light source (Mini-Crimescope MCS-400, SPEX Forensics) in dissecting microscopic detection of cryptic epithelial particles

As skin particles are often deposited by even a single skin contact, the detection of skin debris is important for evidence collection and DNA testing. Unfortunately, even when a dissecting microscope is used by an experienced examiner, epidermal particles are often hard to find and these traces of evidence might escape DNA analysis. Fluorescence is defined as the property of absorbing short-wavelength light and emitting longer-wavelength light. By virtue of the fluorescence characteristics of many target materials, tunable light sources assist in the macroscopic search of crime scenes and items. We combined the dissecting microscope and an alternate light source to examine the fluorescence characteristics of skin and skin particles. In a comparative study, small skin scales were hidden between sand, fibers, and soil probes, and it proved possible to search more successfully with less time and effort. On staged casework exhibits, the efficiency of the screening aid was again tested and the usability of the new procedure shown.     

非法证据的有限排除主义之惑——对《非法证据排除规定》五大理论问题之解读

《关于办理刑事案件排除非法证据若干问题的规定》在对非法证据尤其是非法言词证据的界定、非法证据的证据能力之排除及证明责任的分配、证明标准的设计方面具有开创性的意义。但从该文本在非法实物证据及其排除方面的阙如、对非法言词证据排除在程序设计上的不彻底性等几个方面来看,它所设定的仍是一种对非法证据有保留地排除制度,遵循的其实是非法证据的有限排除主义,因而有进一步完善的必要。