Audit report on the Black Hawk County Criminal Justice Information System for the year ended June 30, 2016

Audit report on the Black Hawk County Criminal Justice Information System for the year ended June 30, 2016

The Orientation and Onboarding of South Carolina Criminal Justice Academy Instructors

The goal of this research is to enhance what is currently being presented in the Human Resource orientation and to provide an onboarding checklist for the supervisors of newly hired instructors at the South Carolina Criminal Justice Academy. Research supports the overall goal of creating a two day orientation for newly hired instructors at SCCJA.

Criminal Records Summary of Activity by Circuit/County For Period 07/01/2015 Thru 06/30/2016 - Program-ID CRM60

This gives the criminal records summary of activity by circuit/county.

Age of pending criminal cases report for period 7/1/2016 thru 9/30/2016

This gives statistics on the age of pending criminal cases broken down by circuits and counties.

Criminal records summary of activity by circuit/county for period 7/1/2016 Thru 9/30/2016

This gives the criminal records summary of activity by circuit/county.

Financial and Criminal Responsibility for Public Funds – Protection of the Constitutional Fundamental Social Law of Health

Abstract: The implementation of Fundamental Constitutional Health and Social Rights is necessary, appropriate and proportionate, following the demands of the population. Accountability and self-responsibility play a very important role. This requires the development of constitutional principles that protect public funds against corruption and offer a constitutional right to health protection. Financial and criminal liability might provide an incentive to improve the management of public funds and reinforce fundamental constitutional principles, particularly regarding the right to health. Constitutional, administrative and criminal issues, as well as public management and administration and the science of good governance, should be articulated in a single strategy also in the health sector. In Portugal and Brazil, as examples, the Federal Court / Constitutional Court, the Supreme Court / High Court of Justice or the Court of Auditors should be considered together.

Debilidad del control territorial por parte del estado. Estudio de caso: el surgimiento de la banda criminal de “los rastrojos” en el Valle del Cauca (2006-2014)

El propósito de la presente investigación es el de analizar la debilidad que ha tenido el Estado colombiano con respecto a la obtención del control territorial en algunas áreas específicas del departamento del Valle del Cauca, considerando variables fundamentales como la coerción, el capital y la justicia, en su mayoría planteadas por Charles Tilly como elementos básicos de cualquier Estado. Se analizan y explican los periodos de violencia, y la consolidación de grupos al margen de la ley en Colombia y en el departamento del Valle del Cauca, evidenciando la debilidad del Estado en ciertas áreas a lo largo de los años, tomando finalmente como estudio de caso el surgimiento de la banda criminal de “los Rastrojos” posterior a la desmovilización de las AUC, como actor al margen de la ley que disputa el poder y ejerce ilegalmente funciones del Estado.

Avances e inconsistencias en el concepto de reparación integral a raíz de las decisiones de la Corte Interamericana de Derechos Humanos y del Consejo de Estado Colombiano

Resumen El concepto de reparación integral en Colombia está mediado en gran parte por las decisiones de la Corte Interamericana de Derechos Humanos. Ello ha propiciado algunos avances en materia de ampliar el espectro de las reparaciones económicas; en la posibilidad de reabrir investigaciones antes cobijadas por la intangibilidad de la cosa juzgada; en la participación de las víctimas en los procesos penales y disciplinarios, y en algunas formas de reparación simbólica. Sin embargo, en general hay carencia de verdadera voluntad política y de mecanismos jurídicos que posibiliten que la reparación integral sea una realidad.Además, el cruce de decisiones de la Corte Interamericana con las decisiones del Consejo de Estado colombiano, ha originado situaciones absurdas que, aunque teóricamente se ven como un avance, en términos reales son un retroceso frente a los derechos de las víctimas. Ello se debe a la aparente similitud de las competencias de ambos tribunales; a una equivocada lectura del Consejo de Estado sobre los límites y posibilidades reales de su jurisdicción, y finalmente, a que la Corte no ha adoptado criterios claros en relación con las reparaciones económicas y en relación con la coherencia en el cumplimiento de sus sentencias. Palabras clave: reparación, Colombia, Corte Interamericana de Derechos Humanos, Consejo de Estado. Abstract The concept of integral reparation in Colombia is mediated largely by the decisions of the Inter-American Court of Human Rights. This has led to some progress in broadening the spectrum of economic reparations; in the possibility of reopening investigations sheltered by the intangibility for defendants; in the participation of victims in criminal and disciplinary proceedings, besides in some symbolic forms of reparation. However, there is general lack of real political will and legal mechanisms that enable that comprehensive reparation be a reality. Furthermore, crossing inter-American court decisions with the decisions of the Colombian State Council has created absurd situations that, although theoretically are seen as a breakthrough, in real terms are a retreat from the rights of victims. This is due to the apparent similarity in the competencies of both courts; a mistaken reading of the State Council on the limits and real possibilities of their jurisdiction, and finally, the Court has not adopted clear criteria regarding economic reparations and in relation to consistent com­pliance with its sentences.Keywords: repair, Colombia, Interamerican Court of Human rights, State Council.   

The Impact of Cooperation on Defendants' Rights before the ICC: A Contextual Approach

The present study locates the challenges faced by defendants during cooperation proceedings in the context of the unique structural system of the Court, and the inherent tensions and limitations that characterize the ICC’s functioning. The study is divided into two parts. The first part sets out the institutional and jurisdictional context in which cooperation plays out at the ICC. Chapter 2 addresses the ICC dependence on cooperation from an institutional, a political and a normative dimension, showing that compliance with requests for cooperation is ultimately tied to State political willingness and international political pressure; Chapter 3 delves into the connection between cooperation and the complementary jurisdiction of the Court, criticising the ‘positive approach’ to complementarity endorsed by the Prosecutor in order to enhance states cooperation. The second part of the study addresses the impact that cooperation occurring in the above-explained context has on the right to liberty of defendants and on equality of arms. Chapter 4 and 5 analyse the ICC’s law protecting the selected rights, as well as the practice regarding allegations of violations of these rights brought forward by some defendants. It concludes that, so far, the organs of the Court (i.e., the Prosecutor and the judges) have failed to engage with the structural tensions and limitations of the Court with a view of protecting the rights of suspects and accused.

The United Nations 'quasi-prosecutorial' investigative mechanisms: assessing a new institutional model in the international criminal justice landscape

This work aims to provide a theoretical examination of three recently created bodies of the United Nations mandated to investigate the alleged international crimes committed in Syria (IIIM), Iraq (UNITAD) and Myanmar (IIMM). Established as a compromise solution in the paralysis of international criminal jurisdictions, these essentially overlapping entities have been depicted as a ‘new generation’ of UN investigative mechanisms. While non-judicial in nature, they depart indeed from traditional commissions of inquiry in several respects due to their increased criminal or ‘quasi-prosecutorial’ character. After clarifying their legal basis and different mandating authorities, a comparative institutional analysis is thus carried out in order to ascertain whether these ‘mechanisms’ can be said to effectively represent a new institutional model. Through an in-depth assessment of their mandates, the thesis is also intended to outline both the strengths and the criticalities of these organs. Given their aim to facilitate criminal proceedings by sharing information and case files, it is suggested that more attention shall be paid to the position of the person under investigation. To this end, some proposals are made in order to enhance the mechanisms’ frameworks, especially from the angle of procedural safeguards. As a third aspect, the cooperation with judicial authorities is explored, in order to shed light on the actors involved, the relevant legal instruments and the possible obstacles, in particular from a human rights perspective. Ultimately, drawing from the detected issues, the thesis seeks to identify some lessons learned which could be taken into account in case of creation of new ad hoc investigative mechanisms or of a permanent institution of this kind.

Estudio político-criminal y dogmático sobre los delitos de financiación ilegal de partidos políticos

En el año 2012, el legislador español modificó el artículo 31 bis CP de modo que los partidos políticos quedaban sometidos al régimen de responsabilidad penal previsto para las personas jurídicas, tras haber sido excluidos del mismo en el año 2010. Tres años más tarde, en 2015, fruto del Plan de Regeneración Democrática del Partido Popular, se aprobó la última reforma al sistema de financiación de los partidos políticos, en la que se prohibieron las donaciones procedentes de personas jurídicas o se limitó la cantidad máxima donada por una persona física a 50.000 euros anuales. Ese mismo año 2015, se introdujeron en nuestro ordenamiento jurídico los delitos de financiación ilegal de los partidos políticos. Este conjunto de reformas dibujó un panorama completamente renovado en el ámbito de la financiación ilícita de las formaciones políticas. Así pues, el presente trabajo constituye un estudio omnicomprensivo en el que se busca analizar el fenómeno de la financiación ilegal de los partidos políticos en su conjunto, desde la regulación administrativa de la financiación de las formaciones políticas, hasta los nuevos tipos penales de financiación ilegal y la compleja aplicación del régimen de responsabilidad criminal de las personas jurídicas a las organizaciones partidistas. En este sentido, nuestro fin último ha sido aportar las claves interpretativas necesarias para que los operadores jurídicos puedan hacer frente a los distintos supuestos de financiación ilegal de los partidos políticos.

Emotions in legal decisions: the construction of objective narratives in Italian criminal trials

Drawing on ethnographic data collected in Italian courts and prosecution offices, this dissertation offers new perspectives on legal decision-making by highlighting the importance of emotions for constructing and evaluating legal narratives. Focusing on criminal cases, it describes and dissects how judges and prosecutors use emotions in reflection and action tied to lay narratives and legal constraints. The analysis shows that legal professionals engage in different types of emotional dynamics when dealing with stories; first, they develop gut feelings, which are either endorsed or kept at distance by means of emotional reflexivity, to comply with legal ideals of objectivity and impartiality. Second, empathy emerges as a crucial tool to direct the interaction with lay people and to interpret legal prerequisites, such as credibility, and intent. Finally, the dissertation shows that lay stories lead legal professionals to become passionate and committed towards the correct application of the law, the restoration of the moral order, and the achievement of justice. In light of the empirical findings, this thesis strives to develop a theoretical understanding of legal decision-making as narrative work that includes emotional dynamics consistent with rational, objective action.

Laser Printer Attribution: Exploring New Features And Beyond.

With a huge amount of printed documents nowadays, identifying their source is useful for criminal investigations and also to authenticate digital copies of a document. In this paper, we propose novel techniques for laser printer attribution. Our solutions do not need very high resolution scanning of the investigated document and explore the multidirectional, multiscale and low-level gradient texture patterns yielded by printing devices. The main contributions of this work are: (1) the description of printed areas using multidirectional and multiscale co-occurring texture patterns; (2) description of texture on low-level gradient areas by a convolution texture gradient filter that emphasizes textures in specific transition areas and (3) the analysis of printer patterns in segments of interest, which we call frames, instead of whole documents or only printed letters. We show by experiments in a well documented dataset that the proposed methods outperform techniques described in the literature and present near-perfect classification accuracy being very promising for deployment in real-world forensic investigations.

Characterization Of Anfo Explosive By High Accuracy Esi(±)-ftms With Forensic Identification On Real Samples By Easi(-)-ms.

Ammonium nitrate fuel oil (ANFO) is an explosive used in many civil applications. In Brazil, ANFO has unfortunately also been used in criminal attacks, mainly in automated teller machine (ATM) explosions. In this paper, we describe a detailed characterization of the ANFO composition and its two main constituents (diesel and a nitrate explosive) using high resolution and accuracy mass spectrometry performed on an FT-ICR-mass spectrometer with electrospray ionization (ESI(±)-FTMS) in both the positive and negative ion modes. Via ESI(-)-MS, an ion marker for ANFO was characterized. Using a direct and simple ambient desorption/ionization technique, i.e., easy ambient sonic-spray ionization mass spectrometry (EASI-MS), in a simpler, lower accuracy but robust single quadrupole mass spectrometer, the ANFO ion marker was directly detected from the surface of banknotes collected from ATM explosion theft.

Química forense: perspectivas sobre novos métodos analíticos aplicados à documentoscopia, balística e drogas de abuso

In this review recent methods developed and applied to solve criminal occurences related to documentoscopy, ballistic and drugs of abuse are discussed. In documentoscopy, aging of ink writings, the sequence of line crossings and counterfeiting of documents are aspects to be solved with reproducible, fast and non-destructive methods. In ballistic, the industries are currently producing ''lead-free'' or ''nontoxic'' handgun ammunitions, so new methods of gunshot residues characterization are being presented. For drugs analysis, easy ambient sonic-spray ionization mass spectrometry (EASI-MS) is shown to provide a relatively simple and selective screening tool to distinguish m-CPP and amphetamines (MDMA) tablets, cocaine and LSD.