Dubio Pro Reo Research Articles

IN DUBIO PRO REO: Analysis of criminal liability in borderline personality disorder in domestic violence

This work aims to analyze volition and behavior in Criminal Law and its application in cases of domestic violence, identifying how forms of domestic violence can affect the characteristics of the person with borderline personality disorder along with volition, which can affect the assessment of criminal liability in cases of domestic violence in accordance with the principle of in dubio pro reo. A qualitative literary review was used in the databases Periódicos CAPES, Google Scholar, Scielo (dated from 2000 to 2023); in specialized literature and on the official Planalto website. The emotional instability of the person with BPD along with aspects of affective relationships can lead to aggressive situations within the domestic environment, such as psychological and physical violence that can be marked by impulsivity, as well as intentional, which lead to doubts regarding their judgment, of so that they must be evaluated in the concrete. Therefore, when in doubt about imputability, semi-imputability applies; doubt about semi-imputability, non-imputability applies. It is noted that psychological violence has the nature of semi-imputability, due to the intentional aspects of relational maintenance and physical violence may contain the assumption of non-imputability, linked to impulsiveness and intense anger.

Tinjauan Yuridis Terhadap Putusan Bebas Pelaku Pemerkosaan Anak di Lubuk Basung

J.E. Sahetapy argued that crime is a product of culture, evolving to become more modern and complex. Children, as future leaders, require guaranteed rights and protection as regulated in Indonesia's laws, including the Criminal Code and the Child Protection Law. However, violations like sexual violence by those closest to them, such as parents, persist. This research examines cases of sexual violence against children by biological parents, focusing on Supreme Court decisions. Using normative juridical methods and a statutory approach, the study analyzes the legal aspects of these cases. Findings reveal that despite evidence, defendants were acquitted due to the judge's doubts about witness statements and existing evidence, applying the in dubio pro reo principle. This decision has sparked debate for potentially setting a harmful precedent and hindering child protection enforcement. The study underscores the need for more responsive and appropriate legal implementation to achieve justice and optimal protection for child victims of sexual violence.

In Dubio Pro Reo: The Impact of Certainty and Uncertainty on the Identities and Beliefs of an Organized Crime Member

ABSTRACT This study scrutinizes the influence of certainty and uncertainty on identity and beliefs. While certainty is often perceived as positive and uncertainty as negative for an individual, this research reveals that they can operate in more nuanced ways. The focus here is understanding their effects on individuals with interconnected yet conflicting identities and beliefs. Through a case study of Antonio – a member of organized crime who also embraces identities as an artist and a migrant – narratives emerge that illustrate how these forces act upon him. Rather than merely describing how certainty and uncertainty shape involvement in organized crime, the study highlights the complexities they introduce to an individual’s various identities and beliefs systems, and reveals their alignment with specific contextual and communicative needs. This study thus holds significant implications for comprehending how attitudes toward certainty and uncertainty influence identity and belief development in a world typified by both stability and change, and how a criminal identity might intersect with other identities based on the processing of these certainties and uncertainties.

Professional liability subsequent to the Cartabia Reform: implications for pathologists.

The Cartabia Reform modifies the standard used by the Public Prosecutor for the submission of requests for filing or referral for trial. The standard has shifted to the "reasonable prediction of conviction" by moving the principle of in dubio pro reo to the investigation phase. The scope of the legislative amendment is focused on protecting the rights of investigated individuals, who are too often brought to trial without adequate supporting evidence. The implications that this reform has on legal proceedings concerning the criminal liability of healthcare professionals, including pathologists, is discussed.

Presumption of Innocence and Trial by Jury

The paper examines the Anglo-Saxon and continental approaches to understanding the principle of the presumption of innocence. It is concluded that in Russia this principle was established and implemented in the spirit of continental legal logic. The effect of the presumption of innocence and the provisions arising from it (the principle of in dubio pro reo, the rule that the accused is not obliged to prove his innocence, etc.) when considering a criminal case by a Russian court with the participation of jurors is examined. The features of evidence in this form of legal proceedings, the relationship of the presumption of innocence with the right of jurors to find the defendant innocent if it is fully proven that they committed a criminal act (criminal law nullification) are considered. The conclusion is substantiated that it is in a trial with a jury that the presumption of innocence is most fully realized; it contains additional guarantees of its strict observance.

'Ne Bis In Idem' Principle in Criminal Proceedings – Comparative Analysis with International Instruments and Kosovo Legislation

Criminal procedure law consists of legal principles, such as a fair and impartial trial and within a reasonable time, presumption of innocence, the principle "in dubio pro reo," independence of the court, equality of parties, the principle "ne bis in idem"etc. Among the main principles recognised by International Conventions, the Constitutions of States, and Criminal Procedure Laws is the principle, “The right not to be tried twice for the same offence," or as it is also known, "ne bis in idem." The principle “in bis in idem” is used in Kosovo’s criminal proceedings, and recognition of this principle by international convention, including its recognition by the Law of the European Union, is analysed in this paper. The legislation of Kosovo was established with the influence and assistance of the international community, which had an administration mandate until 17 February 2008, the date on which Kosovo declared its independence and, hence, separated from the former Yugoslavia. The new state is not a member of the UN but is officially recognised by more than 100 countries. In 2010, the International Court of Justice issued the Advisory Opinion which concluded, “The declaration of independence in respect of Kosovo on 17 February 2008 had not violated general international law.” The purpose of this paper is to emphasise the importance of this principle when dealing with criminal cases before regular courts, the legal security that this principle provides to society, and the implementation of international legal instruments in the national law. Methods: The paper uses methods of analysis and synthesis, the descriptive method, as well as the method of doctrinal interpretation of legal norms of criminal proceedings. Results and conclusions: This principle has been accepted by international instruments and by Kosovo’s constitutional and legal system. The application of this principle in the criminal justice system in Kosovo forms legal certainty for citizens and constitutes protection of the rights and legitimate interests of persons involved in criminal proceedings. Kosovo has applied international standards in the implementation of criminal legislation and has directly incorporated international human rights instruments into its constitutional system (International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights adopted by the UN in 1966, ensued by the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms).

COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF CORRUPTION CRIMINAL REGULATIONS BETWEEN THE NEW CRIMINAL LAW AND THE CORRUPTION ACT

The National CC’s (NCC) ratification has completed the mission of establishing a NCC adequately through a legislative process on the development of codified criminal science and practice adapted to the conditions and characteristics of the Indonesian nation and state, which differed from legal politics during the Dutch colonial administration. It can br concluded from the results of the study that the regulation of corruption crimes between the Corruption Law and the NCC is still classified as an extraordinary crime, but there is a slight difference of increase/decrease in the minimum/maximum prison terms and fines. This is motivated by the implementation of the legal principle of proportional criminal responsibility. Then, the existence of Article 630 of the NCC is the implementation of legal preference Lex Generalis Derogate Legi Specialis and Lex Posteriori Derogat Legi Priori principles, when there is a double arrangement between the Corruption Law and the NCC. However, the NCC also applies the In Dubio Pro Reo principle, which means that when considering two regulations that govern the same case, the rule that is more advantageous to the suspect or defendant is used. By taking into account the provisions of Article 632 of the NCC that this Criminal Code shall come into effect 2 (two) years from the date of promulgation, this should be seen as the implementation of the Government's task to socialize this NCC to the whole community before it is enacted.

Going beyond the “common suspects”: to be presumed innocent in the era of algorithms, big data and artificial intelligence

AbstractThis article explores the trend of increasing automation in law enforcement and criminal justice settings through three use cases: predictive policing, machine evidence and recidivism algorithms. The focus lies on artificial-intelligence-driven tools and technologies employed, whether at pre-investigation stages or within criminal proceedings, in order to decode human behaviour and facilitate decision-making as to whom to investigate, arrest, prosecute, and eventually punish. In this context, this article first underlines the existence of a persistent dilemma between the goal of increasing the operational efficiency of police and judicial authorities and that of safeguarding fundamental rights of the affected individuals. Subsequently, it shifts the focus onto key principles of criminal procedure and the presumption of innocence in particular. Using Article 6 ECHR and the Directive (EU) 2016/343 as a starting point, it discusses challenges relating to the protective scope of presumption of innocence, the burden of proof rule and the in dubio pro reo principle as core elements of it. Given the transformations law enforcement and criminal proceedings go through in the era of algorithms, big data and artificial intelligence, this article advocates the adoption of specific procedural safeguards that will uphold rule of law requirements, and particularly transparency, fairness and explainability. In doing so, it also takes into account EU legislative initiatives, including the reform of the EU data protection acquis, the E-evidence Proposal, and the Proposal for an EU AI Act. Additionally, it argues in favour of revisiting the protective scope of key fundamental rights, considering, inter alia, the new dimensions suspicion has acquired.

Napredne tehnike u analizama saobraćajnih nezgoda

Modern vehicles in road traffic are equipped with mutually integrated electronic devices used for managing systems. A chip in the airbag module identifies collisions and, at the same time, memorizes key parameters prepared for the analysis of traffic accidents. After the transfer of data, it is possible to make an undoubted temporal-spatial analysis and give answers to all those questions which the previous practice had no answers for and instead relied on the principle of in dubio pro reo. The paper describes the current cognitive methods, presents modern digital forensics devices, its history, organization of digital forensics systems, highlights the formal and factual dilemmas of this novelty, describes the technique and method of data access as well as different perspectives. A list of questions that have not been answered by previous practice is provided, as well as several examples from practice, demonstrating the advantages that digital forensics achieves in relation to the traditional way of working. Applying the results of digital forensics will undoubtedly have a substantial effect on eradicating false accusations, erroneous verdicts, and unnecessary lawsuits. It will completely change the work of traffic-technical experts by eradicating all known weaknesses, reduce the number of lawsuits, and largely shorten the existing ones, which will affect the economy of proceedings in this area.

«ԿԱՍԿԱԾԻ ԴԵՊՔՈՒՄ ՄԵՂՄ ՈՐՈՇՄԱՆ ՕԳՏԻՆ (IN DUBIO MITIUS)» ՄԱՔՍԻՄԻ ԿԻՐԱՌՈՒԹՅՈՒՆՆ ԻՐԱՎԱԿԱՆ ԱՆՈՐՈՇՈՒԹՅՈՒՆՆԵՐԸ ԼՈՒԾԵԼԻՍ / “IN FAVOR OF A SOFT SOLUTION IN CASE OF DOUBT (IN DUBIO MITIUS)” APPLICATION OF THE MAXIM IN RESOLVING LEGAL UNCERTAINTIES

The purpose of this article is to find out whether the legal maxim "in dubio mitius" (in favor of a soft solution in case of doubt) can be used to resolve legal uncertainties. The authors conducted an intersectoral analysis using a comparative method and came to the conclusion that the maxim "in dubio mitius" is used in different branches of law and has different formulations: for example, in constitutional law it is better known as "in dubio pro libertate" (suspicions in favor of freedom/law), in tax law "in dubio pro tributario" (suspicions in favor of the taxpayer) or "in dubio contra fiscum" (doubts to the detriment of the treasury), in criminal proceedings "in dubio pro reo/ favor rei" (doubts in favor of the accused). In some legal systems, for example, in Germany, the approach to considering maxims "in dubio mitius" as a last resort to overcome legal uncertainty is rejected. However, in most legal systems, the Maxim "in dubio mitius" is used as a last resort to resolve legal uncertainty.

The Dilemma and Way out of Indubio Pro Reo in Chinese Context: Analysis of Li Huailiang Case

Li Huailiang’s case basically covers three main issues related to the application of the principle of presumption of innocence in China’s criminal judicial practice: First, the interference of media trial dominated by the idea of presumption of guilt to judicial justice; second, the suspect and defendant are presumed guilty in the criminal proceedings; third, the principle of “In dubio pro reo” only stays in the trial stage of the court. For the issue of media trial, it is necessary to regulate the news reports related to law, authorize the judicial organs to restrict the news reporting cases through legislation, and endow the courts with the power to regulate the news reporting activities related to their trial cases. For the problem of extended detention, China’s judicial organs have carried out activities to supervise and inspect extended detention cases for many times. Media trial and extended detention all reflect the far-reaching impact of the idea of presumption of guilt on China’s public concept and judicial practice, as well as the practical problem that it is difficult to implement the principle of “In dubio pro reo” in judicial practice. The reason is inseparable from the thought of suspected crime in Chinese traditional legal culture, the limitations of China’s reference to the criminal legal system of western countries, and the tradition of China’s administrative intervention in justice.

Problems of Criticism of the Communist Poland’s Security Service (SB) Files as Historical Sources

Despite the passage of 20 years since the opening of the archives of the former SB, historians have not developed the principles of criticism of SB files as historical sources, which is conducive to the so-called playing with folders, and consequently the destruction of historical narrative and social life. Among researchers and publicists, an affirmative attitude towards the SB files has been created, causing their criticism to be ignored.
 Researchers ignore the requirement to separate the theoretical-ideological and rhetorical layers of SB operational files. They also neglect to study the credibility of their authors.
 Rafał Łatka gave a justification for the affirmative attitude to the SB files. It has been shown that this justification is logically erroneous, and the affirmative attitude to the SB files is contrary to the rational concept of the historical source and to the examples of the lack of credibility of these files.
 Several ways of creating questionnaires to examine the credibility of SB files were proposed. The first question that was proposed: Was the work of officers and their superiors in the field of interest to the researcher focused on efficiency or on the statistics of results? Further proposals suggest questions about the internal control of the case under investigation.
 It was justified that it is not enough to state the fact of registration of a given person by SB as a collaborator, because it is necessary to demonstrate specific cooperation.
 It was justified that the reliability of a note decreases exponentially as a function of the number of intermediaries between it and the facts.
 The need to ask about the intentions of the officers doing reports, which could be related to their professional careers, the expectations of superiors, the need to demonstrate results, etc., was indicated. The need to investigate deviations of the examined case from the ideal instructional pattern was also indicated.
 Studies of the reliability of files have their ethical aspect. Studies that may threaten good name of the persons concerned should meet the highest methodological standards and be guided by the principle of in dubio pro reo.

Border areas in head and neck pathologies: professional liability in the multidisciplinary approach.

SUMMARYDiscussing border areas in Head and Neck pathologies means addressing diseases’ convergence point of different specialities and professionalisms guided by a common goal: patient health. Starting from the concept of a border, it becomes possible to define the content of a new model of team responsibility: no longer that of the team leader who, as a new Agamemnon, takes on the role of scapegoat when things go wrong, even for errors not directly attributable to his supervision, but that of a primus inter pares, a King Arthur with the Knights of the Round Table, committed like the others, each with his wealth of experience and knowledge, to pursue the same goal. A member of this team assumes the role of spokesperson for diagnostic and therapeutic solutions within a process of acquiring consent that recovers the dimension of verbal and non-verbal communication with the patient. In such a context, in which criminal liability can be challenging to identify based on the principle of in dubio pro reo and civil liability in some countries has already transferred the burden of compensation from the professional to the healthcare facility. In most, no-fault compensation systems appear consistent.

Definitions for Acute-on-Chronic Liver Failure: In Dubio Pro Reo.

Definitions for Acute-on-Chronic Liver Failure: In Dubio Pro Reo.

Prawnomiędzynarodowa subsumpcja wybranych aspektów napięcia w okolicach cieśniny Ormuz w 2019 roku

The purpose of this article is to conduct an international law analysis of the events that occurred around the Strait of Hormuz in 2019 and related incidents. It mainly focuses on incidents that took place between the United States and Iran. It should be noted that the complexity of the factual situation has a significant impact on the content of the argument. Namely, the article only describes events of key importance from the perspective of international relations. They are supplemented by events of moderate significance that are necessary for conducting an argument from the perspective of international law. The following issues are also considered: the importance of the Strait of Hormuz, relations between the United States and Iran after 1941 and the increased tension observed in their relations since spring 2018. Even though ambiguities of both factual and legal nature speak in favour of the Islamic Republic of Iran, according to the rule in dubio pro reo, it seems that the activities of the Iranian state should be examined in more detail. Consequently, it can be concluded that it is necessary to appoint an independent commission to collect more evidence.

O rozstrzyganiu wątpliwości faktycznych na korzyść strony w art. 81a k.p.a.

Celem artykułu jest przybliżenie pewnych praktycznych i teoretycznych problemów wią-żących się ze stosowaniem reguły rozstrzygania wątpliwości faktycznych na korzyść strony w po-stępowaniu administracyjnym. Analizie poddano pozytywne i negatywne przesłanki zastosowania tej reguły, ze szczególnym uwzględnieniem pozostających i niedających się usunąć wątpliwości. Rozważania podjęto z perspektywy podobnej reguły tyczącej się wątpliwości prawnych (art. 7a k.p.a.) oraz zasady in dubio pro reo z art. 5 § 2 k.p.k., odnosząc się przy tym do dorobku doktryny procesowej i teoretycznej, a także do orzecznictwa sądów administracyjnych i karnych. W zakoń-czeniu podjęto próbę oceny reguły z art. 81a k.p.a.

IP Addresses in the Context of Digital Evidence in the Criminal and Civil Case Law of the Slovak Republic

Use of IP addresses by courts in their decisions is one of the issues with growing importance. This applies especially at the time of the increased use of the internet as a mean to violate legal provisions of both civil and criminal law. This paper focuses predominantly on two issues: (1) the use of IP addresses as digital evidence in criminal and civil proceedings and possible mistakes in courts' approach to this specific evidence, and (2) the anonymisation of IP addresses in cases when IP addresses are to be considered as personal data. This paper analyses the relevant judicial decisions of the Slovak Republic spanning the time period from 2008 to 2019, in which the relevant courts used the IP address as evidence. On this basis, the authors formulate their conclusions on the current state and developing trends in the use of digital evidence in judicial proceedings. The authors demonstrate the common errors that occur in the courts’ decisions as regards the use of IP addresses as evidence in the cases of the IP addresses anonymisation, usage of the in dubio pro reo principle in criminal proceedings, and the relationship between IP addresses and devices and persons.

Jeszcze o związku przeciwobowiązkowości jako kryterium obiektywnego przypisania. Czy należy odrzucić założenia nauki o zwiększeniu ryzyka?

Przedmiot badań: Przedmiotem badań jest jedno z fundamentalnych kryteriów obiektywnego przypisania skutku nazywane w niemieckojęzycznej nauce prawa karnego związkiem przeciw-obowiązkowości (niekiedy: związkiem bezprawności lub związkiem ryzyka). Nauka o obiek­tywnym przypisaniu skutku – pomimo, iż w polskim piśmiennictwie i judykaturze uważana jest wciąż za teorię „nową” – znajduje coraz większe uznanie w orzecznictwie, zwłaszcza Sądu Naj­wyższego. Oznacza to odrzucenie dawnych koncepcji, według których do przypisania skutku przestępnego domniemanemu sprawcy wystarczyło ustalenie związku przyczynowego łączącego zachowanie ze skutkiem. Obecnie przyjmuje się, że dla ustalenia sprawstwa skutku niezbędne jest również (oprócz powiązania ontologicznego) zastosowanie kryteriów normatywnych. Podstawo­wa formuła obiektywnego przypisania skutku odsyła arbitra badającego wypełnienie znamion czynu zabronionego do dwóch grup kryteriów, które dotyczą zarówno oceny wadliwości (przeciw-obowiązkowości) zachowania się, jak i jej związku ze skutkiem. Sposób ustalania tego związku jest w doktrynie sporny. Wymaganiom politycznokryminalnym najlepiej odpowiadają założenia nauki o zwiększeniu ryzyka. Przeciwko tej teorii podnosi się jednak w piśmiennictwie różne, teoretycznoprawne i dogmatycznoprawne zarzuty.
 Cel badań: Przeprowadzona analiza ma na celu zbadanie, czy zarzuty podnoszone wobec nauki o zwiększeniu ryzyka (Risikoerhöhungslehre) są w tym stopniu poważne i uzasadnione, aby nale­żało odrzucić założenia tej teorii. Zwłaszcza, czy w sporze naukowym należy opowiedzieć się za dominującą w piśmiennictwie i orzecznictwie konkurencyjną teorią uniknioności (Vermeidbarke­itstheorie), której konsekwencje z punktu widzenia kryminalnopolitycznego i intuicji społecznej wydają się trudne do zaakceptowania.
 Metoda badawcza: Badania oparte są na analizie piśmiennictwa polskiego i niemieckojęzyczne­go, ze szczególnym uwzględnieniem najnowszych podręczników niemieckojęzycznych. Przegląd podręczników niemieckojęzycznych, w których badanym zagadnieniom poświęca się znacznie więcej uwagi niż w opracowaniach polskich o podobnym charakterze, pozwala na przedstawienie zróżnicowanych poglądów dotyczących analizowanej problematyki – wyrażanych tam w sposób esencjonalny i w pełni klarowny.
 Wnioski: Przeprowadzona analiza wskazuje, iż najcięższe zarzuty podnoszone przez przeciwników nauki o zwiększeniu ryzyka nie są przekonująco ani dostatecznie uzasadnione. Dotyczy to zwłasz­cza argumentu o naruszeniu zasady in dubio pro reo oraz zarzutu przekształcania typów przestępstw naruszających dobra (Verletzungsdelikte) w przestępstwa z narażenia (konkrete Gefährdungsdelikte). Nauka o zwiększeniu ryzyka wymaga jednak – co oczywiste – dalszych badań i pełniejszego okre­ślenia (doprecyzowania) kryteriów formułowanych przez jej zwolenników.

The duty of being a medical conservative. When in doubt, for the patient.

Recently, John Mandrola et al. established the tenets of medical conservativism. We endorse this approach to patient care, and we believe that, in order to have this perspective incorporated into medical reasoning, the foundations for being medical conservatives should be taught since medical school. In this Perspective, through an analogy between medicine’s and criminal law’s approaches to uncertainty, we suggest that the precautionary principle of in dubio pro reo could be adapted to medicine as a decisional strategy for medical conservatives. This principle would represent a cognitive and decisional filter that allows physicians to counterbalance the currently widespread propensity toward interventions with a conservative and precautionary attitude.

Debates sobre la prueba en el litigio ante la Corte Interamericana

En los procesos ante la Corte Interamericana no tiene aplicación el principio de presunción de inocencia, in dubio pro reo, ni el estándar de la prueba más allá de toda duda razonable, los cuales únicamente tienen aplicación respecto del imputado en un proceso penal para establecer su culpabilidad o inocencia. En cambio, ante la Corte Interamericana es suficiente que, mediante la doctrina de la carga dinámica de la prueba y de acuerdo con las reglas de la sana crítica, se llegue a la convicción sobre la veracidad o verosimilitud de los hechos. Este artículo examina y contesta algunas críticas que se imputan alTribunal relacionadas con su estándar de prueba. Al ofrecer dichas respuestas, se presenta una sistematización que articula los criterios utilizados por la Corte y hace entender sus decisiones.