Legal Process Research Articles

Ecg signal watermarking using QR decomposition.

This study introduces a novel watermarking technique for electrocardiogram (ECG) signals. Watermarking embeds critical information within the ECG signal, enabling data origin authentication, ownership verification, and ensuring the integrity of research data in domains like telemedicine, medical databases, insurance, and legal proceedings. Drawing inspiration from image watermarking, the proposed method transforms the ECG signal into a two-dimensional format for QR decomposition. The watermark is then embedded within the first row of the resulting R matrix. Three implementation scenarios are proposed: one in the spatial domain and two in the transform domain utilizing discrete wavelet transform (DWT) for improved watermark imperceptibility. Evaluation on real ECG signals from MIT-BIH Arrhythmia database and comparison to existing methods demonstrate that the proposed method achieves: (1) higher Peak Signal-to-Noise Ratio (PSNR) indicating minimal alterations to the watermarked signal, (2) lower bit error rates (BER) in robustness tests against external modifications such as AWGN noise (additive white Gaussian noise), line noise and down-sampling, and (3) lower computational complexity. These findings emphasize the effectiveness of the proposed QR decomposition-based watermarking method, achieving a balance between robustness and imperceptibility. The proposed approach has the potential to improve the security and authenticity of ECG data in healthcare and legal contexts, while its lower computational complexity enhances its practical applicability.

The Scale of Application of Electronic Documentary Communications as the Most Important Indicator for Assessing the Digitalization of Judicial Activities

The only way to speed up and ensure the quality of transmission and receipt of information between courts, participants in legal proceedings, bodies of the Judicial Department system and other entities is the use of modern information technologies. The system-structural, cultural, historical, sociological, statistical methods of scientific knowledge contributed to the implementation of the research objectives. The author defines the differences between the concepts of “documented information” and “documented communications”. The factors influencing the development of electronic documentary communications in the activities of courts have been established. Improving regulatory support is the leading of these factors. At the same time, interaction with the Federal Archival Agency in matters of creating legislation on office work in the Russian Federation was identified as a promising direction. Standardization and simplification of departmental normative regulation in modern conditions can be carried out by creating a single instruction for courts of general jurisdiction on judicial workflow, which should have a high degree of operational electronic component, taking into account the procedural features of the activities of various courts. Based on the proven experience of pilot courts and the use of available resources of the State Autonomous System “Pravosudie”, it seems appropriate to create a permanent system for monitoring the work of the apparatus of the courts in connection with the conduct of electronic documentary communications. The authorized federal subject, the Judicial Department, is entitled to administer this system. As a result of the study, the scientific basis for the practical implementation of the idea of replacing paper judicial documentary communications with electronic ones is determined – this is the cumulation of knowledge and methods of various knowledge systems – jurisprudence, information technology, document science and archival science.

A Comprehensive Guide to Legal Obligations and Registration Procedures for Businesses and Individuals: Ensuring Compliance, Credibility, and Protection

Enterprises and individuals needed to navigate legal requirements and registration procedures to comply with regulations, uphold their integrity, and safeguard their interests. This study thoroughly examined the legal obligations and processes for registration in different countries. The research emphasised the significance of complying with tax, employment, and industry requirements and the difficulties associated with efficient company registration. Compliance was not just a requirement dictated by the law; it also served as a strategic benefit that improved operational effectiveness and fostered trust. The analysis consolidated existing research, highlighted significant obstacles, and provided pragmatic suggestions for safeguarding legal rights, enhancing corporate oversight, and mitigating risks. The need to continuously adapt to regulatory changes and use new technology to simplify compliance operations was emphasised. The results emphasised the need to remain knowledgeable and proactive in legal administration to attain enduring success in a rapidly changing global setting. Keywords: Legal compliance, Registration procedures, Corporate Governance, Tax regulations, Employment law.

Legal Transformation for the Achievement of SDGs: Integration of Multidisciplinary Approaches towards 2030

This research aims to investigate and analyze the transformation of law in an effort to achieve Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through the integration of a multidisciplinary approach. Along with dynamic global changes, the challenges in achieving the SDGs require innovative and adaptive legal strategies. This dissertation focuses on two main problem formulations: first, how the integration of multidisciplinary approaches in legal reform can support the achievement of SDGs; second, how the evaluation and monitoring of legal policies implemented can ensure the achievement of SDGs targets. Through literature review and case analysis, this research reveals that incorporating various disciplines-such as economics, sociology, environmental science, and politics-in the legal policy-making process is key to creating comprehensive and responsive regulations. A multidisciplinary approach not only broadens perspectives in the legal field, but also ensures that the resulting policies are able to address the complexity of sustainable development issues. The research further proposes that an effective evaluation and monitoring system is an essential element to ensure legal policies can be optimally implemented and contribute to the achievement of the SDGs. Suggested measures include the development of relevant performance indicators, stakeholder engagement, and the use of information technology to increase transparency and accountability. With this approach, it is expected that legal reform can adapt to changing conditions and make a positive contribution to the achievement of sustainable development goals, creating a more inclusive and sustainable future for all. This research makes important theoretical and practical contributions to the development of legal policies that are in line with the global agenda for sustainable development.

Towards standardised cross-sectoral agreements for data depositing and data access in Trusted Research Environments: streamlined contracting to advance public benefit research.

Objective Trusted Research Environments (TREs) rely on Data Contributor Agreements (DCAs) and Data Access Agreements (DAAs) to bind organisations to terms and conditions in place to protect data. Our objective is to develop and drive adoption of DCA and DAA standardised templates which are optimised for data science in TREs. This is intended to reduce delays arising from the legal review process yet must not compromise on the safeguards needed for trustworthy data science. ApproachA template DAA and DCA have been developed by the Pan-UK Data Governance Steering Group of the UK Health Data Research Alliance, underpinned by a core set of principles, and informed by a benchmarking exercise of existing DCAs/DAAs and meaningful involvement of public members and stakeholders. ResultsPrinciples for TRE data contribution and data access in TREs have been mapped to core DCA and DAA terms for UK-based TREs and assigned to Five Safes’ categories. Flexibility will be ensured by including terms specific to TREs or specific data/data owners in customisable annexes to the agreements. Public views obtained through public involvement and engagement (PIE) activities have been formative in the development of the outputs. Conclusions By providing a familiar structure and terms, the templates should build trust among data owners and the UK public and provide clarity to all parties on their data protection obligations. ImplicationsThis familiar structure and terms are intended to accelerate data research by enabling faster ingress of data into TREs and approval of projects, enabling more timely research.

Adaptive Governance: Empowering Data Sharing for Public Health Impact - Insights from North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services

Objective and ApproachAt the 2022 IPDLN Conference, we presented work led by the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHSS), in partnership with university-based researchers, to build legal and ethical processes for routine data sharing. This session provides significant updates on the methods, results, and implications of these efforts–namely, that NCDHHS implemented an enterprise-wide data governance process and a legal framework that has enabled timely, impactful use of cross-sector data. We relied on Participatory Action Research and Deliberative Dialogue methods to engage a diverse range of partners in a data landscape overview and the co-creation of new data sharing processes that better enables the enterprise to adapt to a changing world. ResultsFour key actions were taken as a result of the participatory research process: NCDHHS developed a data strategy, created a data sharing guidebook, staffed their Data Office, and implemented a new legal framework. In addition to describing how these actions support data use across a large US state health and human services agency, we provide three use cases demonstrating the impact of this work. ConclusionsEstablishing routine data sharing presents legal, technical, and cultural challenges, particularly in large agencies. Through a collaborative, participatory approach, the NCDHHS successfully established enterprise-wide data governance and a legal framework to support data-driven policymaking and, ultimately, improve health outcomes for residents. ImplicationsThis research presents a successful, actionable, and replicable framework for developing and implementing processes to support intradepartmental data access, linkage, and use.

Linking trial data to ICES: incorporating a prompt in a research ethics protocol submission platform in Southwestern Ontario

IntroductionThe linkage of trial data with large administrative databases can enable long-term passive follow-up of participants at a significantly lower cost than direct participant follow-up in a study. Nonetheless, many researchers are unaware of this opportunity and/or the regulatory requirements to facilitate linkage. ApproachIn 2017, Western University Canada’s Office of Human Research Ethics (OHRE) incorporated a prompt into its online protocol submission platform, asking researchers if they have considered linking their trial data with ICES. ICES is a not-for-profit research and analytics institute in Ontario, Canada with a repository of over 100 data holdings comprised of record-level, coded and linkable health and health-related data. If a researcher selects ‘yes’ to this prompt, they are provided with additional information about ICES, identifiers required for linkage, and language to be included in letters of consent. ResultsThe incorporation of a prompt into the ethics protocol submission platform allowed the OHRE to identify protocols interested in linking trial data with ICES. Over the past 5 years, an average of 2.6% of protocols submitted to the Health Sciences Research Ethics Board included an intent to link data with ICES. The OHRE verified that these protocols had carefully considered regulatory requirements, which helped to streamline the ethical, privacy, and legal processes required for linkage. ConclusionIncorporating a prompt into ethics protocol submission platforms can help to streamline regulatory processes and promote awareness about opportunities to link trial data with large administrative databases.

Australian Non-Resident Fathers’ Relationship and Ongoing Engagement with Their Children: A Critical Focus on Power

Non-resident fathers are rarely researched from a critical perspective. Becoming a non-resident father often results in major dislocation, presenting challenges and hindrances to a meaningful relationship with children. Dislocation is increased by the involvement of the family court, legal issues, false abuse allegations, and ex-partners. Changing family configurations may marginalize non-resident fathers, with their own perspectives, voices, and lack of power remaining largely unmapped. This paper identifies what hinders non-resident fathers’ relationships with their children from a critical and Australian perspective. In-depth interviews using open-ended questions with 19 non-resident fathers were used to collect data, followed by a five-step critical thematic analysis to focus on the locus of power. Non-resident fathers’ perceptions included a lack of agency and decision-making power; the mother, legal obstacles, and agencies hindered their desired relationships with children. Hindrances were magnified by descriptions of false allegations and IPV from the ex-partner and/or her agents, resulting in a sense of marginalization, silencing, and disempowerment. Australian non-resident fathers in this study identified that desired relationships with their children were hindered by the roles of legal and welfare services, policing, and their ex-partners. The highlighting of these issues points to ways that non-resident fathers with similar experiences of a lack of agency and decision-making power might be better supported by more streamlined and balanced legal processes.

Implications of Digitalization and AI in the Justice System: A Glance at the Socio-legal Angle

This research paper critically explores the digital transformation of justice systems, applying the theoretical frameworks of “Law and Society” and “Legal Realism” to analyze the socio-legal implications of this shift. As digital technologies increasingly permeate the judicial landscape, they bring opportunities and challenges. The “Law and Society” theory, which views law as a social phenomenon shaped by cultural, economic, and political factors, is crucial for understanding how digital tools can redefine accessibility and inclusivity within the legal system. Conversely, “Legal Realism” focuses on the practical outcomes of legal processes, emphasizing the importance of assessing the real-world effectiveness of these digital tools. This paper discusses the potential benefits and significant challenges posed by digital justice systems, such as disparities in technological adoption and the risk of exacerbating existing inequalities. This study highlights the operational efficiencies gained and the barriers encountered by examining digital initiatives across various jurisdictions. It provides a nuanced view of how digitalization can bridge and widen legal access gaps, emphasizing the need for a balanced approach that considers both technological advancements and their socio-legal impacts. This analysis aims to contribute to the discourse on modernizing justice systems in a way that is equitable, effective, and reflective of contemporary societal needs.

La impugnación de paternidad mediante acto de nulidad de reconocimiento voluntario en ámbito civil, por la causal de engaño

This article highlights the importance of amending Articles 248 and 250 of the Ecuadorian Civil Code regarding the contestation of paternity due to deception. It emphasizes the need to ensure a fair legal process that protects the child's right to know their true father and ensures justice for all parties involved. The objective of the research was to determine the legal consequence of contesting paternity through the nullification of voluntary recognition in the civil sphere on the grounds of deception. A mixed-methods approach was used, with a descriptive-explanatory-propositional scope and a non-experimental, cross-sectional research design. Empirical, theoretical, and statistical methods were employed for data processing. As a result, a proposal to amend Articles 248 and 250 of the Civil Code was formulated to facilitate the contestation of paternity through the nullification of voluntary recognition in the civil sphere on the grounds of deception. This proposal was subjected to expert review for validation, yielding optimal consistency, indicating its validity and feasibility for implementation.

Los beneficios penitenciarios Vs el Principio de Celeridad. Una visión desde la realidad ecuatoriana

In Ecuador, once, as a result of a due criminal process, a person is found responsible for a criminal act, the penalty of deprivation of liberty is generally imposed, which involves the Ecuadorian penitentiary system. In this, respect for procedural speed, as a constitutional and legally conceived principle, plays a transcendental role. This is because the effectiveness of these processes and the fulfillment of the purposes of the sentence depend on it. Therefore, motivating this research, this topic is proposed as a general objective: Identify the impact caused by the legal process to grant prison benefits, which includes the certification of the commission with respect to the evaluation of people deprived of liberty to obtain benefits such as pardons, repatriations and semi-open and open regimes, granted by the Comprehensive Care Service for Adult Persons Deprived of Liberty and Adolescent Offenders (SNAI). To this end, a qualitative methodological approach is applied, with scientific methods such as historical-logical, exegetical and analytical-synthetic, managing to expose the procedural reality of the Ecuadorian penitentiary system regarding penitentiary benefits and their processing.

Factors Associated With Legal Decisions of Nonfatal Strangulation Cases With Forensic Evidence

This study examines the influence of offender, victim, and case characteristics along with available forensic evidence on legal outcomes of nonfatal strangulation (NFS) cases. Research points to the importance of NFS forensic evidence collection to corroborate the attack during legal proceedings. However, little is known regarding the factors associated with legal decisions for NFS cases with forensic evidence. Law enforcement reports, forensic medical examinations, and legal outcomes for 63 NFS cases in Florida were analyzed. Findings have implications for the criminal justice system, as forensic medical exams can be used to collect valuable evidence to support prosecution outcomes.

Contested Victimhood: (Un)Courting Victims of Terrorism in the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict

Despite the growing number of victims of terrorism globally, research is scant about a class of victims who, in theory, epitomize Nils Christie’s concept of the “Ideal Victim,” deemed worthy of public sympathy and social support. The difficult experiences of terrorism victims in Israel, particularly in military court proceedings as documented through interviews, court transcripts, and observations, highlight how the politicization of terrorism exacerbates secondary victimization for terror victims and their families. We postulate that, in addition to the adversarial legal system constraints victims experience in legal proceedings, victim identity in Israel is culturally eschewed in favor of a national(ist) meta-narrative that valorizes strength and self-reliance. A militarized Israeli society asserting its superior might is a symbolic rejection of a helpless victim status, historically forced upon Jews facing persecution and terror. We conclude that terror victims’ treatment mirrors a given society’s image of itself.

Pendaftaran Tanah Sistematis Lengkap Tanah tanpa Sertifikat sebagai Upaya untuk Mempercepat Reforma Agraria di Wilayah Kantor Pertanahan Kabupaten Tapin

To achieve nationwide land registration in Indonesia, despite regulatory support, systematic challenges persist in expediting the process known as Complete Systematic Land Registration (PTSL). These hurdles may impede the fulfillment of the mandate outlined in Article 19(1) of Law No. 5 of 1960. The research conducted is of a normative legal nature, focusing on legal norms, aligning with Peter Mahmud Marzuki's definition of legal research as inherently normative. The findings on Complete Systematic Land Registration in the Tapin Regency Land Office Area indicate that unregistered land owners face uncertainty and lack legal protection until their land is officially registered. Although Indonesia's land registration publication system allows for objections or lawsuits, legal certainty and protection are only guaranteed post-registration. The government aims to enhance certainty and protection through the PTSL program, emphasizing the importance of land certificates. However, despite serving as legal evidence of ownership, these certificates are not absolute in legal proceedings and can be subject to civil, criminal, or administrative challenges due to Indonesia's adversarial land registration system.

Conspiracy! Or, when bad things happen to good litigants in person

Abstract This paper considers the relationship between litigants in person (LiPs) and conspiracy theories and seeks to answer two questions: how, and why, do some LiPs come to be conspiracy theorists? The majority of LiPs, of course, do not become conspiracy-minded. There is also no evidence that LiPs are more likely than anyone else in legal proceedings to be conspiracists, only, perhaps, that it is more obvious when they are. But there continue to be individuals who have conspiracist explanations for difficulties or failures they experience throughout legal proceedings. And while it is widely held that some LiPs hold eccentric beliefs about the law, there has been little attempt to understand how and why LiPs may come to acquire or articulate these beliefs. This is presumably because it has not been considered important to interrogate the views of people already often assumed to be ‘difficult’ or eccentric. This paper contends, however, that trying to understand how and why these conspiracist beliefs are acquired matters very much. This is because conspiracy theories can give us a critical insight into how negative experiences of litigation can result in a loss of faith or trust in legal institutions.

The role of critical remote sensing in environmental justice struggles

Since the 1970s, remote sensing has been used to monitor the environment, address national security concerns, and manage Earth resources within a market framework. However, environmental organizations can also utilize remote sensing data infrastructure to support oppositional narratives, legal processes, and direct action. We present a framework for the socio-technical practice of remote sensing in alliance with those communities and organizations that are struggling for environmental justice on the global commodity frontiers. Positioned at the intersection of critical geography and political ecology, we examine the ways that critical remote sensing has been adopted in five major types of environmental conflict: struggles opposing fossil fuel exploitation, timber extraction, intensive food production, water management practices, and the effects of mining. We present a baseline inventory of remote sensing resources that are useful to the five conflict types and are freely accessible online. A global perspective on the planetary environmental crisis is essential, and we suggest that remote sensing practitioners can, through workshops or online tutorials, help environmental justice organizations towards independent use of remote sensing data. The local communities should then determine whether remote sensing products can contribute to their struggles.

Transitional justice and terrorism: socio-legal reflections on the problem of trials, perpetrator responsibility and accountability

Scholars have only recently begun to link transitional justice frameworks to legal settlements after terror. In the wake of Anders Breivik’s 2011 attacks, Norway has witnessed a series of terror and mass violence events, each followed by extensive legal proceedings. These include the 2019 mosque attack, the 2021 Kongsberg killings, and the 2022 Islamist attack during Oslo Pride week. This article examines these trials as a societal, ongoing process. This research contributes to the field of transitional justice by examining how legal systems grapple with the aftermath of terror in the absence of clear-cut criminal narratives. Focus is given to how we can expand our understanding of the meaning of legal accountability in terror contexts. The central contribution of the article is to problematise the relationship between terror trials as vehicles for perpetrator responsibility, and justice and healing. Starting from the mental health narratives surrounding all the perpetrators, the article suggests that there is a tension between holding terrorists accountable and defining them as patients. To contribute to alternative ways of construing legal accountability, the article puts forward examples of how accountability for terror is being navigated and negotiated in bureaucratic, political, and international legal discourse and practice. The article is part of a special issue honouring the contributions of the late Professor Thomas Mathiesen.

Penerapan Teknologi Sidik Jari dalam Sistem Hukum: Tinjauan terhadap Prinsip – Prinsip Pembuktian

The application of fingerprint technology in the legal system has brought significant changes to the evidentiary process. This technology enables the identification of individuals with high accuracy, which is an important element in law enforcement and dispute resolution. This study explores how fingerprint technology is applied in the Indonesian legal context, reviews relevant evidentiary principles, and analyzes the implications of its use in various legal cases. This research is descriptive analytical, meaning that this research aims to describe certain circumstances or situations of the objects or events being studied without intending to draw conclusions that can be applied generally. The approach used in this research is the normative juridical method. The results show that, although fingerprint technology makes a significant contribution to the effectiveness of evidentiary systems, fingerprint technology has long been used in the legal system as a tool for individual identification. Fingerprints, with their unique characteristics in each person, provide a guarantee of highly accurate identification. This technology is not only used in crime but also in various aspects of government and public services, such as population registration and securing access. The application of fingerprint technology in a modern legal context is becoming increasingly relevant with advances in digital technology that enable fast and efficient data processing. There are challenges related to privacy, data reliability and the integrity of legal processes. This research also proposes recommendations to increase the integration of fingerprint technology in the legal system in accordance with the principles of justice and human rights.

A measure of justice: Citizen legal advocates, lay lawyering, and access to justice in Russia

What can access to justice look like in an authoritarian setting? In Russia, the law allows ordinary citizens who do not have a legal education to act as so-called citizen legal advocates (CLAs) in both criminal cases and cases on administrative offenses (non-criminal infractions). Drawing on qualitative fieldwork among CLAs in training sessions and in court, we show that lay people can enhance access to justice by impacting defendants’ experiences of the legal process itself despite the likely negative legal outcome. Through their multiple roles from legal advisors and coaches to guardians of prisoner welfare, we demonstrate the ways that lay people can contribute to access to justice at every stage of a defendant's journey through the system. Examining the case of lay lawyering in a repressive setting enables us to elicit and zoom in on practices—often obscured in the existing outcome-oriented scholarship—that are meaningful for access to justice in courts and prisons across the democratic/authoritarian divide.

Communication Type In Trial: Ethnography Communication In Indonesian Criminal Courtroom Process

The purpose of this study is to explore and describe the levels of communication that occur during criminal trials, specifically focusing on the indictment, examination, prosecution, and verdict hearings. Employing a qualitative approach, this research utilizes Dell Hymes' ethnography of communication framework to analyze courtroom interactions. Data were collected through interviews with nine informants and observations of trials at the Central Jakarta District Court. The findings reveal that courtroom communication is a complex process involving multiple participants, including law enforcement officials, defendants, witnesses, victims, security personnel, family members, media, and the public. These interactions occur across all trial stages and are classified into four distinct levels of communication: (1) core communication among law enforcement, (2) triangular communication between legal professionals, (3) examination communication involving defendants and witnesses, and (4) broader courtroom communication encompassing all trial participants. The study concludes that these levels of communication are critical in shaping the outcomes of legal proceedings. The findings underscore the importance of effective communication in ensuring fairness and efficiency in trials. The study also highlights areas where improvements in judicial communication practices could enhance the overall integrity of the legal process. The study's implications suggest that enhancing communication strategies among courtroom participants could lead to more equitable and transparent legal proceedings.