测谎结论的证据资格及其规范

现行三大诉讼法均未明确规定将测谎结论作为证据种类单列,诉讼法学界对此也存有争议。首先通过对否定测谎结论作为证据的观点进行反证分析后认为:测谎结论具有证据的客观真实性和关联性,可作为诉讼证据使用;再将测谎结论与司法精神病鉴定进行对比分析后认为,测谎结论可归于证据种类中鉴定意见一类。最后,建议对测谎技术作如下规范:一是制定行业标准,严格规范测谎员的资格认证;二是加强对测谎鉴定机构的监管。     

Effect of aggregation on the estimation of trend in mortality

There are three approaches to analyzing and forecasting age‐specific mortality: (1) analyze age‐specific data directly, (2) analyze each cause‐specific mortality series separately and add the results, (3) analyze cause‐specific mortality series jointly and add the results. We show that if linear models are used for cause‐specific mortality, then the three approaches often give close results even when cause‐specific series are correlated. This result holds for cross‐correlations arising from random misclassification of deaths by cause, and also for certain patterns of systematic misclassification. It need not hold, if one or more causes serve as “leading indicators”; for the remaining causes, or if outside information is incorporated into forecasting either through expert judgment or formal statistical modeling. Under highly nonlinear models or in the presence of modeling error the result may also fail. The results are illustrated with U.S. age‐specific mortality data from 1968–1985. In some cases the aggregate forecasts appear to be the more credible ones.     

Expert Systems

Summary

Expert systems are computer programs which embody the expertise of a human expert in order to consult and advise on a specific problem. It is now becoming feasible to apply expert systems technology to problems in the human services. This article describes what expert systems technology is and how it may be applied in human service practice. Finally, some of the promises and pitfalls of this new technology are addressed.     

Child Custody Evaluations in Cases Involving Sexual Abuse: A View from the Bench

SUMMARY

Psychological evaluation and testimony play a critical role in child sexual abuse cases, especially in custody and visitation cases. While the evaluation generally cannot determine whether sexual abuse has occurred, it can provide useful information to assist the court in deciding matters of custody and access in the face of the allegations. Judges need to know the standard of practice for the development of expert opinion in order to be able to evaluate testimony offered by custody evaluators. The informed judge can develop useful input by outlining expectations within the order for evaluation and actively regulating the gate for admission of expert testimony. Elements of a model order for custody evaluations addressing allegations of sexual abuse are proposed.     

Countertransference Bias: Self-Examination,Not Cross-Examination

ABSTRACT

In reply to T. Tippins (2007, this issue), we take issue with his claim that recognition of the biasing impact of custody evaluators' countertransference opens the door to “evidentially legitimate” fishing expeditions through evaluators' private lives on cross-examination. We clarify the distinction between self-examination for counter-transference bias as a heuristic for improving the sensitivity and objectivity of expert testimony and its use as substantive evidence. We argue that countertransference bias is a highly personal, emotionally charged kind of bias, unlike the cognitive biases more frequently discussed in the child custody literature. We conclude that recognition of the insidious emotional influences that threaten our objectivity in working with families in high conflict divorce is an important ethical responsibility.     

抽象体系的危机与吉登斯的制度性风险研究

现代风险的本质是一种制度性风险。抽象体系作为现代社会运行的基础,是吉登斯理解和分析现代制度性风险的核心概念,而现代性断裂的理论假设、现实主义的风险认知取向以及制度与结构的研究视角是理解吉登斯制度性风险理论的3个基本维度。吉登斯通过抽象体系的危机对现代风险进行了深刻剖析,具体表现为符号系统的异化产生了文化风险,专家系统的失信导致了技术风险与政治风险。吉登斯作为一个制度主义者,认为反思性的制度建构是突破现代风险困境的出路。     

司法鉴定之中立性问题研究

“中立”,作为实现司法公正的基本理念从古罗马时代至今未有改变。有所缺憾的是,与中立理念在诉讼中的应有地位相比,诉讼法学界和司法实务部门并没有充分认识到中立的重要价值,对其理解过于狭窄,现有制度对诉讼中立性的保障或体现也有所不足,影响了实体公正与程序公正的实现。因此,笔者从广义的中立观出发,以司法鉴定制度作为切入点,对其中有违中立性的问题进行探讨,并提出了自己的管见,以求教于各位同仁。     

刑事诉讼证人出庭制度的再思考

证人出庭作证对当事人（特别是被告人）权益的保护、增强诉讼活动的透明度、保障司法公正具有十分重大的意义。如果证人不出庭,特别是重要、关键证人不出庭作证,这将直接影响到刑事案件的庭审质量和审判结果。但是,目前的司法实践中,证人出庭作证难已成为严重困扰我国刑事审判的一个重要问题。通过界定证人的范围,剖析证人不出庭的原因及危害,以期构建一种更加完美的证人出庭作证制度。     

试谈谈Forensic Linguistics

ForensicLinguistics是近年来新兴的一门边缘学科，受到语言学家、律师，公安、检察和法院等部门越来越大的关注。本文旨在通过对它的初探以引起更广泛的关注和更深入的研究。在前言部分，作者对该学科的中文译名提出了自己的看法并明确了法语言学的研究对象。文章的第一部分主要介绍了这门学科兴起的背景。第二部分讨论了该学科的应用范围及主要研究方法，着重对声音辨认和作者鉴别中存在的问题作了分析。文章最后提出了解决问题的意见。     

钻井工程师助手系统的开发应用

本文介绍一种适用于钻并现场工程人员的软件系统—钻井工程师助手,对系统的结构、功能及特点等问题进行了简要的讨论。