What do forensic analysts consider relevant to their decision making?

In response to research demonstrating that irrelevant contextual information can bias forensic science analyses, authorities have increasingly urged laboratories to limit analysts' access to irrelevant and potentially biasing information (Dror and Cole (2010) [3]; National Academy of Sciences (2009) [18]; President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (2016) [22]; UK Forensic Science Regulator (2015) [26]). However, a great challenge in implementing this reform is determining which information is task-relevant and which is task-irrelevant. In the current study, we surveyed 183 forensic analysts to examine what they consider relevant versus irrelevant in their forensic analyses. Results revealed that analysts generally do not regard information regarding the suspect or victim as essential to their analytic tasks. However, there was significant variability among analysts within and between disciplines. Findings suggest that forensic science disciplines need to agree on what they regard as task-relevant before context management procedures can be properly implemented. The lack of consensus about what is relevant information not only leaves room for biasing information, but also reveals foundational gaps in what analysts consider crucial in forensic decision making.     

Three cheers for liberal modesty

ABSTRACT

Many liberals have been immodest in postulating that their own progressive, secular liberalism is the only one that can be justified in public reason. In Liberalism’s Religion, I articulate a more modest theory of liberalism and religion. While I personally endorse progressive secular liberalism, I argue that it is only one of the reasonable conceptions of liberal justice. This liberal modesty has profound, hitherto unnoticed implications for (i) the role of religious arguments in the public sphere, (ii) the legitimacy of religious establishment, and (iii) the justifiability of religious exemptions. In this article, I defend these three claims by providing replies to my critics.     

From discourse to policy: US policy communities’ perceptions of and approaches to climate change and security

ABSTRACT

Increasingly, a diverse set of policy communities, including those with defence, development and environmental mandates, frame climate change as a security threat. Most often this discursive formation labels climate change as a ‘threat multiplier’. This framing, however, is vague, linear and leaves many questions unanswered regarding how institutions can develop and implement policy that addresses the joint challenges of climate change, conflict and security. Utilising a mixed-methods approach, and grounding data collection in US policy communities, this article examines how policy actors and institutions integrate climate-security discourses into policy processes. The objective of this research is to provide direct insight into how the discourses and technical understandings of climate-security transition into policy priorities and implementation realities. This research identified three common approaches to climate-security: (1) A challenge of adaptation and resilience; (2) A potent political argument; and (3) An issue of limited importance and feasibility. These approaches, however, are inconsistent across sectors and within organisations, suggesting a lack of cohesion and considerable challenges in identifying and responding to climate change as a ‘threat multiplier’.     

乡镇政府公共品供给能力及其评估指标体系

构建乡镇政府公共品供给能力的评估指标体系,是科学评估乡镇政府公共品供给能力的前提。本文首先界定乡镇政府公共品供给能力的内涵和构成,然后逐一讨论关于构建我国乡镇政府公共品供给能力评估指标体系的原则、目标、指标体系、评估标准和权重等问题,最后构建一个评估乡镇政府公共品供给能力指标体系的总表。     

乡镇公共服务中的行政合同研究

行政合同在乡镇政府行政管理中的运用,标志着我国基层政府管理方式由单一行政管理手段向法律管理手段的重大转变。引起乡镇政府行为方式转变的深刻原因,一是以取消农业税费为主要内容的农村经济体制改革;二是乡镇公共服务和公益事业发展体制的改革。由于乡镇文化环境及干部的认识和管理水平的限制,在运用行政合同中存在诸多问题,这应当引起足够重视,并加以完善,以推动这场重要变革。     

构建和谐社会要努力搞好社会保障工作

构建和谐社会,需要搞好社会保障工作。共产党对构建和谐社会与搞好社会保障工作进行了理论探索,我们研究社会保障工作实践中的问题,提出解决问题的思路、对策,有助于构建和谐社会。     

涉外劳动纠纷中竞业禁止协议准据法之研究——以微软与Google纠纷案为视角

竞业禁止协议的准据法确定问题,直接决定着涉外民商事关系主体应承担的具体权利、义务和责任,尤其是由于此类协议在一定程度上限制了雇员的择业自由,适用不当极有可能演变为雇主不正当竞争的工具,故此各国立法对其的有效性均采取审慎态度,并按照所奉行的公共政策对其进行法律调整。     

论我国刑事自诉案件中的公诉救济

公诉救济是刑事自诉制度中的一个重要内容 ,目前我国关于这一内容的立法存在着一些缺陷 ,需要扩大自诉转为公诉的案件范围 ,规定自诉转为公诉的程序 ,同时加强对自诉程序的法律监督。     

治安状况评价的价值及其原则

治安状况评价是运用社会评价的原理,依据一定的指标体系和统计调查资料对治安秩序状况进行评估的活动。它是准确把握治安状况的基本方法,是确定治安目标、制定治安对策、进行治安控制的重要基础。治安状况评价不能脱离社会发展水平,应以原有治安秩序为基础和参照物,着重考察治安秩序破坏力与控制力的动态平衡状态,将客观现象与主观感受、整体评价与具体分析相结合进行综合测评。     

简论公安院校学管工作中的柔性管理

柔性管理是相对于刚性管理而提出来的。在公安院校警务化管理中,多重视刚性管理而轻柔性管理。其实,柔性管理思想也有其独特的效用。在公安院校学生管理中应亦刚亦柔,刚柔并济。