Sex Offender Registration: Some Observations on ‘Megan’s Law’ and the Sex Offenders Act 1997

“Megan’s Law” in the United States and Part 1 of the Sex Offenders Act 1997 in the United Kingdom, make provision for the creation of a register which will record the names and addresses of all persons convicted or cautioned for a sexual offence. Arguments expounded in favour of the legislation include the supposedly high recidivism among sex offenders, the inadequacy of supervision provisions, and the resulting need to ‘track’ the dangerous offender for public protection. In practice, however, there are a plethora of obstacles, such as cost and inadequate policing resources, which may impede its effectiveness in aiding law enforcement and reduce it to symbolic significance only. In addition, there are an array of ethical objections to the legislation, such as it breaches civil liberties and constitutes ‘double jeopardy’, which may prevent meaningful imposition.

Article 6 ECHR, Civil Rights and the Enduring Role of the Common Law

This article examines the role that the common law has played in Human Rights Act 1998 case law on the protection of 'civil rights' within the meaning of Article 6 ECHR. Focusing on Article 6 ECHR's 'disclosure' and 'full jurisdiction' requirements, it highlights an increasingly nuanced relationship between the ECHR and common law in cases under and outside the Human Rights Act 1998. Although the general pattern within the case law has been one of domestic court fidelity to the ECHR - something that is wholly consistent with section 2 of the Human Rights Act 1998 - the article notes areas in which the courts have been reluctant to adapt common law principles, as well as instances of common law protections exceeding those available under Article 6 ECHR. The article suggests that such lines of reasoning reveal a robustness within the common law that brings a multi-dimensional quality to the Human Rights Act 1998. It also suggests that such robustness can be analysed with reference to 'common law constitutionalism' and a corresponding imagery of 'dialogue' between the domestic courts and European Court of Human Rights.

Military Service Pensions for public and civil servants in independent Ireland

In 1924 the Cumann na nGaedheal government introduced the first Military Service Pensions Act to provide monetary compensation for those who fought for Irish independence between 1916 and 1923. Pensioners who were in receipt of remuneration from the state as civil and public servants had a portion of their pension deducted commensurate with their state income. This controversial provision was criticised by all political parties as representing a mean-spirited attitude towards veterans of the independence campaign and treating civil and public servants differently from those in private employment. It was eventually modified in the 1940s and abolished in the 1950s. This article provides a case study that highlights the parsimonious attitude of Irish governments towards veterans of the independence campaign and shows how the treatment of public and civil servants reflected tensions between the government and the civil service in the early years of the state.

Improving Feasibility of Point to Point Operations Through Civil Aerial Refuelling

Re-imagining of the aerial transportation system has become increasingly important as the need for significant environmental and economic efficiency gains has become ever more prevalent. A number of studies have highlighted the benefits of the adoption of air to air refuelling within civil aviation. However, it also opens up the potential for increased flexibility in operations through smaller aircraft, shifting emphasis away from the traditional hub and spoke method of operation towards the more flexible Point to Point operations. It is proposed here that one technology can act as an enabler for the other, realising benefits that neither can realise as a standalone. The impact of an air-toair refuelling enabled point to point system is discussed, and the affect on economic and environmental cost metrics relative to traditional operations evaluated. An idealised airport configuration study shows the difference in fuel burn for point to point networks to vary from -23% to 28% from that of Hub and Spoke depending on the configuration. The sensitive natures of the concepts are further explored in a second study based on real airport configurations. The complex effect of the choice of a Point to Point or Hub and Spoke system on fuel burn, operating cost and revenue potential is highlighted. Fuel burn savings of 15% can be experienced with AAR over traditional refuelling operations, with point to point networks increasing the available seat miles (by approximately 20%) without a proportional increase in operating cost or fuel.

A tutela preventiva da responsabilidade civil

The contemporary society is characterized by high risks. Today, the prevention of damages is as important as compensation. This is due to the fact that the potentiality of several damages is not in line with compensation, because often compensation proves to be impossible. Civil law should be at the service of the citizens, which explains that the heart of the institution of non-contractual liability has gradually moved towards the victim's protection. It is requested from Tort law an active attitude that seeks to avoid damages, reducing its dimension and frequency. The imputation by risk proves to be necessary and useful in the present context as it demonstrates the ability to model behaviors, functioning as a warning for agents engaged in hazardous activities. Economically, it seeks to prevent socially inefficient behaviors. Strict liability assumes notorious importance as a deterrent and in the dispersion of damage by society. The paradigm of the imputation founded on fault has proved insufficient for the effective protection of the interests of the citizens, particularly if based in an anachronistic vision of the concept of fault. Prevention arises in several areas, especially in environmental liability, producer liability and liability based on infringement of copyright and rights relating to the personality. To overcome the damage as the gauge for compensation does not inevitably mean the recognition of the punitive approach. Prevention should not be confused with reactive/punitive objectives. The deterrence of unlawful conduct is not subordinated to punishment.

Cultura de segurança em proteção civil

This work aims to stress the concept of a security culture in the sense that each one of us is an emergency responder, the first one to respond, and the more prepared we are, with better training and awareness, the better we will perform, this applies even to the relationship between us and the Emergency Responders. All this will lead to a better probability of surviving an accident. If there is an accident, anywhere at any time, each one of us is alone. And the bigger the accident is the longer we stay alone. There is no firefighter, no policeman, no doctor, so it is very important to be competent, in other words, knowing how to react, wanting to react and being able to react. This is a basic requirement to understand the phenomenon, to know the consequences arising from the way we act and that we have to perform according to the situation: before, during and after it occurred. In brief, let’s not make resilience be just a word, let’s make it a concept that belongs to the higher definition of the Security Culture.

Les obligations du franchiseur : étude du droit civil et du guide d'Unidroit sur les accords internationaux de franchise principale

"Mémoire présenté à la Faculté des études supérieures en vue de l'obtention du grade de Maîtrise en droit (LL.M.)". Ce mémoire a été accepté à l'unanimité et classé parmi les 15% des mémoires de la discipline.

L’intérêt de l’enfant : notion polymorphe susceptible d’instrumentalisation ou de détournement : l’exemple de l’avant-projet de Loi modifiant le Code civil et d’autres dispositions législatives en matière d’adoption et d’autorité parentale

L’intérêt de l’enfant est une notion « polymorphe » dont les tenants et aboutissants sont difficiles à cerner. A priori, nous postulions que son caractère polymorphe en permet l’instrumentalisation, les acteurs sociaux cherchant, par la représentation qu’ils s’en font, à défendre leurs intérêts. Notre mémoire prend d’ailleurs à partie l’exemple de l’avant-projet de Loi modifiant le Code civil et d’autres dispositions législatives en matière d’adoption et d’autorité parentale. Dans notre premier titre, il convenait ainsi de dresser l’historique de l’intérêt de l’enfant en tant que notion variablement évolutive, de sa réception en jurisprudence et dans les lois québécoises portant sur l’adoption, à son incorporation en droit commun, à la suite de l’abrogation du concept de puissance paternelle. Nous en avons également identifié les fondements, au travers du droit anglais, du droit international, des Chartes et du droit naturel. Les éléments de définition du concept étant multiples, nous avons enfin cherché à le conceptualiser, à en dégager les bases légales et à effectuer l’analyse doctrinale et jurisprudentielle de ses critères. Puis, afin de démontrer nos prémisses, nous avons examiné, dans notre seconde partie, les discours de quelques 23 intervenants dans le cadre des consultations menées par la Commission des institutions sur l’avant-projet de loi susdit. En somme, alors que les chercheurs universitaires ont une position ne cherchant pas à insister sur une dimension de l’intérêt de l’enfant convergeant vers leur mission, les propos des ordres professionnels, des groupes de pression et des organismes para-gouvernementaux sont, en revanche, à l’effet contraire.

La diffamation sur Internet : actualiser la responsabilité en droit civil et en common law au Canada

En cette ère que plusieurs surnomment le « Web 2.0 », les usagers se sont emparés avec enthousiasme des fonctions liées aux communications et au partage sur Internet, ce médium devenant ainsi une nouvelle plate-forme pour les enjeux liés à la vie privée et à la réputation. La diffamation constitue justement un des problèmes prédominants constatés en lien avec ce contenu électronique, plus particulièrement lorsqu’il est question de contenu généré par les utilisateurs. Face à cet outil permettant une diffusion et une intéractivité sans précédent, comment devons-nous aborder Internet au regard des règles de droit applicables au Canada en matière de diffamation? L’analyse juridique traditionnelle sied-elle aux nouvelles réalités introduites par ce médium? Le bijuridisme canadien nous impose d’étudier parallèlement les régimes de droit civil et de common law et ce, dans une optique comparative afin de comprendre les concepts et le fonctionnement propres à chacune des approches juridiques cohabitant au pays. Cette analyse nous permettra de mettre en lumière les particularités du médium électronique qui se révèlent pertinentes lorsqu’il est question de diffamation et qui font la spécificité des situations et des acteurs en ligne, distinguant ainsi Internet des modes de communications traditionnels que le droit connaît. Cette approche comparative permet de poser un regard critique sur chacun des régimes de droit en vigueur au Canada, considérant la réalité propre à Internet et au contenu généré par les utilisateurs, mais surtout, vise à promouvoir le développement de méthodes d’analyse véritablement ancrées dans le fonctionnement du médium en cause et susceptibles d’évoluer avec celui-ci.

El análisis de las relaciones regionales de Sierra Leona en materia de seguridad bajo el marco de Mano River Union después de la guerra civil, 2002-2007

En 1973 se establece una asociación internacional entre Liberia y Sierra Leona llamada Mano River Union (MRU) con el objetivo de establecer una integración económica subregional, a la cual Guinea se integró en 1980. Tras el final de los conflictos civiles en la región, en el 2004 se lleva a cabo la Inauguración del Foro de Paz de Mano River Union, en el cual se establecieron nuevos parámetros para el funcionamiento del grupo subregional el cual está basado en identificar las amenazas comunes y actuar en conjunto frente a ellas. Dentro de las amenazas que tienen el potencial de debilitar la seguridad de la región y así mismo, debilitar las estructuras estatales, se establecen a los problemas de gobernanza, las amenazas fronterizas y los temas de refugiados como los más importantes a tratar.

Partes, intervinientes y terceros en el recurso de apelación civil

El objetivo de la tesis doctoral es el análisis del recurso de apelación en el proceso civil desde su vertiente subjetiva. El estudio se centra en los sujetos que intervienen en el recurso de apelación, tanto en quienes han sido parte en primera instancia, com en los eventuales intervinientes o, incluso, terceros, es decir, aquellos sujetos que no han actuado en la primera instancia como partes originarias o intervinientes pero pretenden comparecer en apelación com intervinientes adhesivos. De otra parte, se ha analizado la bibliografía científica existente que trata sobre los diferentes aspectos de la teoría general de los recursos civiles, en especial sobre sus condiciones y presupuestos de adminsión. Si bien es cierto que no escasean valiosas obras relativas al objeto de la apelación, se echaban en falta, a mi juicio, estudios que abordasen específicamente y con la debida extebsión los aspectos subjetivos del recurso.

O Registro civil no Brasil

After having done an accurate analysis of the Registry Office in Brazil it was found out that there are some distortions, as the one which makes possible the existence of significant contingent of population - 'the registeredless' ('os sem-registros' ) - people who live on the margins of society. This system is based on private patterns coming from the extrajudicial registry offices performance and through a government official concession, the registry offices have obtained the legal right to take over registration services.The maintenance of this model has been put in question and debates have been taking place all over Brazil. This process, on the other hand, produces data which are collected, processed and disseminated by IBGE (Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatística) and could be the source of very important statistical information if there were not blanks created by the 'subregistration' caused by offical records evasion and/ or by late offical records. The main purpose of this work is to show how deficient is the current system in Brazil, not only by pointing out the problems which still happen nowadays but also by thinking carefully about the difficulties to search for process improvement. In conclusion, there is a latent need to rethink the way the Registry Office system is structured in Brazil. Discussions can act as a stimulus to find out more suitable and definitive solutions for all the Brazilian citizens who are interested in consolidate democracy in Brazil.

Responsabilidade civil como comunicação de autoria

A vitalidade da responsabilidade civil, apesar de limitações crescentes para cumprir seu papel de reparação de danos e prevenção de ilícitos, indica a necessidade de reflexão sobre as razões para sua justificação. Dentre as várias teorias de justificação encontradas no debate atual, a teoria do discurso da responsabilidade, de Klaus Günther, parece a mais promissora, pois permite enxergar na responsabilidade civil uma função – a função de comunicação de autoria – para além das problemáticas reparação e prevenção, e ao mesmo tempo escapar ao autoritarismo de justificativas fundadas no conteúdo das normas de responsabilização. O objetivo deste texto é analisar e criticar a teoria do discurso da responsabilidade. Como demonstraremos, apesar de seu grande poder explicativo, essa teoria apresenta um problema grave, pois não é capaz de dar conta da realidade das pessoas jurídicas e dos riscos que seu grande poder representa para os indivíduos.

As ações de improbidade administrativa, o foro por prerrogativa de função e o alcance ao agente político

A improbidade administrativa é um fenômeno antigo na história do Brasil, tendo suas raízes estranhadas na própria colonização do país. Nesse sentido, tornou-se indispensável a implementação de medidas para o combate à corrupção lato sensu1, mobilizando as diversas áreas do direito para tal finalidade. A promulgação da Constituição Federal da Republica de 1988 (CRFB/1988) conferiu rigidez constitucional aos meios de coibição à improbidade administrativa, estabelecendo peremptoriamente princípios e normas pertinentes ao tema, evidenciando a importância do controle dos atos praticados pelos agentes públicos. Todavia, ficou a cargo do legislador infraconstitucional regulamentar as ações de improbidade administrativa, o que ocorreu com a promulgação da Lei nº 8429/1992 (Lei de Improbidade Administrativa – LIA). A Lei regulou seus aspectos materiais, quais sejam: seus sujeitos (art. 1º e 2º), atos (art. 9, 10 e 11) e sanções (art. 12); como também seus aspectos procedimentais (art. 17). O tema central do estudo refere-se ao juízo competente para julgamento e processamento dos agentes públicos nas ações de improbidade administrativa, por eles gozarem de foro por prerrogativa de função no julgamento dos crimes comuns (responsabilidade penal) e de responsabilidade (responsabilidade política), e este ser um benefício relacionado exclusivamente com o cargo ocupado pelo agente. Neste sentido, por a ação de improbidade ser essencialmente sancionatória e dotada de aspectos políticos-administrativos, possuindo peculiaridades das duas esferas, muitos questionam a extensão da aplicação do benefício em questão levando em consideração o silêncio da lei. Visto isso, aprofundarei a discussão especificamente no que se refere aos agentes públicos, dividindo-a em dois aspectos: (1) os agentes políticos respondem por improbidade administrativa, visto já responderam no âmbito político-administrativo por crimes de responsabilidade? (2) em caso positivo, aplica-se foro de prerrogativa de função? Essas questões levantadas são alvo de bastante divergência na doutrina e, principalmente, na jurisprudência. Desta forma, o trabalho objetiva analisar se se estenderia a prerrogativa de foro às ações de improbidade administrativa visto que, mesmo constitucionalmente consagrada como ação civil, é uma ação dotada de peculiaridades relevantes, seja pelo forte conteúdo sancionatório, principalmente no que tange às penas previstas que ultrapassam as reparações pecuniárias do direito civil, seja por envolver interesses político e posições hierárquicas. Ultrapassada a questão, ainda busca analisar o ajuizamento destas ações em face dos agentes políticos, tanto em razão de sua possibilidade (visto já responderem por crimes de responsabilidade) quanto ao órgão jurisdicional competente para julgá-los (esbarrando novamente na questão da aplicação ou não da prerrogativa de foro).

Expropriações normativas

Esta dissertação busca investigar as consequências jurídicas das expropriações normativas. Trata-se de um ato regulatório, genérico e abstrato, que subtrai ou minimiza o direito de propriedade, do qual não decorre a transferência formal do domínio para Poder Público. A problemática tem lugar na medida em que essa ablação normativa é levada a efeito, sem o estabelecimento do devido processo legal expropriatório (previsto no art. 5º, inciso XXXIV, da Constituição da República – CRFB), o qual impõe o pagamento de uma prévia e justa indenização ao expropriado. Para este fim, será investigado se os institutos por meio dos quais o Estado intervém na propriedade privada (desapropriação, limitação administrativa, ocupação temporária, requisição administrativa, tombamento) dão conta desse fenômeno, ou se se trata de uma falha da regulação, que produz consequências jurídicas. Ao final, será apresentada uma proposta, de lege ferenda, de disciplina desse fenômeno