O processo de tomada de decisão sentencial: análise de fatores implicados na concretização do Direito penal

Tese apresentada à Universidade Fernando Pessoa como parte dos requisitos para obtenção do grau de Doutor em Ciências Sociais, especialidade em PsicologiaEste trabalho pretende analisar o sentenciar de juízes e juízas em Portugal, enquanto agentes sociais atuantes em contexto real, procurando perceber melhor como a sua discricionariedade técnica se concretiza. A investigação das ciências sociais, tem apresentado dificuldade em encontrar um modelo de tomada de decisão que esgote ou explique de forma consensual o processo de sentenciar, e revelado a existência de uma série de aspetos que o influenciam. Estas influências, frequentemente associadas a fenómenos de discriminação e disparidade ao nível das sentenças, podem prender-se com várias faces do processo, designadamente com quem sentencia, com quem delinquiu e com o próprio contexto do tribunal. Com o propósito de explorar este processo decisório realizámos três estudos, dois qualitativos e um quantitativo. No primeiro, fizemos a análise de conteúdo de 93 leituras de acórdãos, especificamente no que diz respeito aos conteúdos verbalizados, para além da leitura daquele documento. No segundo, analisámos as respostas de 49 juízes/as dos tribunais criminais de Porto, Coimbra e Lisboa ao ‘Questionário de Análise da Tomada de Decisões Judiciais’, desenvolvido por Castro-Rodrigues e Sacau. No terceiro, procedemos à análise de conteúdo de entrevistas a juízes e juízas que agregavam as temáticas surgidas nos estudos anteriores, permitindo a sua exploração de forma mais aprofundada. Globalmente, os resultados mostraram que os/as juízes/as apresentam diferenças nas suas escolhas com base na sua abordagem à interpretação da lei, e detetaram uma série de ‘áreas sensíveis’ passíveis de maior discórdia e subjetivação, entre as quais, as regras da experiência, as situações que diminuem ou aumentam a gravidade dos atos, a avaliação de arrependimento e da postura dos/as arguidos/as em tribunal, as considerações respeitantes a aspetos sociais e psicológicos de quem delinquiu, assim como situações que podem estar na base da criminalidade, quer enquanto causa, quer enquanto motivação. Vários destes elementos substanciam-se em áreas do sentenciar onde as avaliações e considerações efetuadas demonstram lacunas em termos sociais e psicológicos, o que apela à necessidade de formação intencional e de apoio técnico nestas matérias.This research intends to analyse the reality of sentencing by judges in Portugal, as social agents acting in real professional context, with the intention of better understanding how judicial discretion is implemented. Research in the social sciences areas, has presented difficulties in finding a consensual decision making model that fully addresses and explains the sentencing process, and such research also has demonstrated the existence of several influences over the decision-making process. Such influences, which frequently are associated to discrimination and sentence disparities, may relate to different elements of the sentencing process, namely the judge, the defendant and even the context of the court. For the purpose of exploring this decisional process we developed three studies, two qualitative and one quantitative. In the first we carried out a content analysis of 93 sentence pronouncements, looking at the content beyond the reading of the sentence. In the second we analysed the responses of 49 judges from the criminal courts of Porto, Lisbon and Coimbra to the “Judicial Decision-Making Analysis Questionnaire”, developed by Castro-Rodrigues e Sacau. In the third, we analysed the judges’ answers to an interview that aimed to aggregate and explore the themes that arose from the first two studies. On the whole, the results demonstrated that judges differ considerably in their choices based on the way they approach the interpretation of law, and revealed a number of ‘sensitive themes’ prone to disagreement and subjectivity, such as, the rules of experience, the circunstances that mitigate and aggravate the seriousness of the offense, the assessment of defendant’s repentance and behavior in court, the considerations regarding social and psychological aspects of the defendant, as well as situations that might be in the basis of criminality, either as a cause, or as a motivation. Several of these elements substantiate sentencing areas where the considerations and judgements reveal some gaps in terms of social and psychological knowledge, which call for more intentional training and technical support on those themes.Ce travail veut analyser les sentences rendues par des juges, dans le contexte portugais, tandis que des agentes sociaux en actuation effective et en situation réelle, cherchant meilleur comprendre comme la discrétionairité technique de qui fait les jugements, se concrétise. La recherche en sciences sociales, a montrée des difficultés pour trouver un modèle de prise de décision capable d’épuiser le processus sententielle ou de l'expliquer de façon consensuelle, et en même temps ont démontre l'existence d'une série d'influences auxquelles ce processus est sujet. Ces influences, souvent associées à des phénomènes de discrimination et disparités sententielles, peuvent être associées à plusieurs aspects du processus, notamment à ceux qui prononcent le jugement, ceux qui sont jugés et au propre contexte du tribunal. Avec l’objectif d’explorer ce procès de décisions, on a réalisé trois études, deux qualitatives et une quantitative. Dans la première, on a fait une analyse du contenu de 93 moments de lecture des décisions de justice, spécifiquement dans ce qui concerne les contenus verbalises qui sont au-delà de la lecture de ce type de document. Dans la deuxième, on a analysé les réponses des 49 juges des tribunaux criminels de Porto, Coimbra et Lisbonne au “Questionnaire d'Analyse de Prise de Décisions Judiciaires”, élaboré par Castro-Rodrigues et Sacau. Dans la troisième étude, on a analysé les réponses des entrevues aux juges qui visait à agréger et explorer de façon plus approfondie les thématiques qu’on a trouvé dans les deux études précédentes. Généralement les résultats ont démontré que les juges présentent des différences dans l’interprétation de la loi et ont aussi montré une série de “matières sensibles” passibles d’une plus grande discorde et subjectivité parmi lesquelles les règles de l’expérience, les situations qui atténuent ou font grandir l’importance des actions, l’évaluation du regret et l’attitude des accusés, au tribunal, les considérations dans ce qui concerne à leurs problèmes sociaux et psychologiques si bien que d’autres problèmes qui peuvent être la cause ou la motivation de leurs crimes. Plusieurs de ces éléments à l'appui certains domaines du processus sententielle où les considérations et les évaluations effectuées montrent lacunes en termes des savoirs sociaux et psychologiques, ce qui en rend nécessaire la formation et le support des techniques spécialisés

O processo de tomada de decisão sentencial: análise de fatores implicados na concretização do Direito penal

Tese apresentada à Universidade Fernando Pessoa como parte dos requisitos para obtenção do grau de Doutor em Ciências Sociais, especialidade em PsicologiaEste trabalho pretende analisar o sentenciar de juízes e juízas em Portugal, enquanto agentes sociais atuantes em contexto real, procurando perceber melhor como a sua discricionariedade técnica se concretiza. A investigação das ciências sociais, tem apresentado dificuldade em encontrar um modelo de tomada de decisão que esgote ou explique de forma consensual o processo de sentenciar, e revelado a existência de uma série de aspetos que o influenciam. Estas influências, frequentemente associadas a fenómenos de discriminação e disparidade ao nível das sentenças, podem prender-se com várias faces do processo, designadamente com quem sentencia, com quem delinquiu e com o próprio contexto do tribunal. Com o propósito de explorar este processo decisório realizámos três estudos, dois qualitativos e um quantitativo. No primeiro, fizemos a análise de conteúdo de 93 leituras de acórdãos, especificamente no que diz respeito aos conteúdos verbalizados, para além da leitura daquele documento. No segundo, analisámos as respostas de 49 juízes/as dos tribunais criminais de Porto, Coimbra e Lisboa ao ‘Questionário de Análise da Tomada de Decisões Judiciais’, desenvolvido por Castro-Rodrigues e Sacau. No terceiro, procedemos à análise de conteúdo de entrevistas a juízes e juízas que agregavam as temáticas surgidas nos estudos anteriores, permitindo a sua exploração de forma mais aprofundada. Globalmente, os resultados mostraram que os/as juízes/as apresentam diferenças nas suas escolhas com base na sua abordagem à interpretação da lei, e detetaram uma série de ‘áreas sensíveis’ passíveis de maior discórdia e subjetivação, entre as quais, as regras da experiência, as situações que diminuem ou aumentam a gravidade dos atos, a avaliação de arrependimento e da postura dos/as arguidos/as em tribunal, as considerações respeitantes a aspetos sociais e psicológicos de quem delinquiu, assim como situações que podem estar na base da criminalidade, quer enquanto causa, quer enquanto motivação. Vários destes elementos substanciam-se em áreas do sentenciar onde as avaliações e considerações efetuadas demonstram lacunas em termos sociais e psicológicos, o que apela à necessidade de formação intencional e de apoio técnico nestas matérias.This research intends to analyse the reality of sentencing by judges in Portugal, as social agents acting in real professional context, with the intention of better understanding how judicial discretion is implemented. Research in the social sciences areas, has presented difficulties in finding a consensual decision making model that fully addresses and explains the sentencing process, and such research also has demonstrated the existence of several influences over the decision-making process. Such influences, which frequently are associated to discrimination and sentence disparities, may relate to different elements of the sentencing process, namely the judge, the defendant and even the context of the court. For the purpose of exploring this decisional process we developed three studies, two qualitative and one quantitative. In the first we carried out a content analysis of 93 sentence pronouncements, looking at the content beyond the reading of the sentence. In the second we analysed the responses of 49 judges from the criminal courts of Porto, Lisbon and Coimbra to the “Judicial Decision-Making Analysis Questionnaire”, developed by Castro-Rodrigues e Sacau. In the third, we analysed the judges’ answers to an interview that aimed to aggregate and explore the themes that arose from the first two studies. On the whole, the results demonstrated that judges differ considerably in their choices based on the way they approach the interpretation of law, and revealed a number of ‘sensitive themes’ prone to disagreement and subjectivity, such as, the rules of experience, the circunstances that mitigate and aggravate the seriousness of the offense, the assessment of defendant’s repentance and behavior in court, the considerations regarding social and psychological aspects of the defendant, as well as situations that might be in the basis of criminality, either as a cause, or as a motivation. Several of these elements substantiate sentencing areas where the considerations and judgements reveal some gaps in terms of social and psychological knowledge, which call for more intentional training and technical support on those themes.Ce travail veut analyser les sentences rendues par des juges, dans le contexte portugais, tandis que des agentes sociaux en actuation effective et en situation réelle, cherchant meilleur comprendre comme la discrétionairité technique de qui fait les jugements, se concrétise. La recherche en sciences sociales, a montrée des difficultés pour trouver un modèle de prise de décision capable d’épuiser le processus sententielle ou de l'expliquer de façon consensuelle, et en même temps ont démontre l'existence d'une série d'influences auxquelles ce processus est sujet. Ces influences, souvent associées à des phénomènes de discrimination et disparités sententielles, peuvent être associées à plusieurs aspects du processus, notamment à ceux qui prononcent le jugement, ceux qui sont jugés et au propre contexte du tribunal. Avec l’objectif d’explorer ce procès de décisions, on a réalisé trois études, deux qualitatives et une quantitative. Dans la première, on a fait une analyse du contenu de 93 moments de lecture des décisions de justice, spécifiquement dans ce qui concerne les contenus verbalises qui sont au-delà de la lecture de ce type de document. Dans la deuxième, on a analysé les réponses des 49 juges des tribunaux criminels de Porto, Coimbra et Lisbonne au “Questionnaire d'Analyse de Prise de Décisions Judiciaires”, élaboré par Castro-Rodrigues et Sacau. Dans la troisième étude, on a analysé les réponses des entrevues aux juges qui visait à agréger et explorer de façon plus approfondie les thématiques qu’on a trouvé dans les deux études précédentes. Généralement les résultats ont démontré que les juges présentent des différences dans l’interprétation de la loi et ont aussi montré une série de “matières sensibles” passibles d’une plus grande discorde et subjectivité parmi lesquelles les règles de l’expérience, les situations qui atténuent ou font grandir l’importance des actions, l’évaluation du regret et l’attitude des accusés, au tribunal, les considérations dans ce qui concerne à leurs problèmes sociaux et psychologiques si bien que d’autres problèmes qui peuvent être la cause ou la motivation de leurs crimes. Plusieurs de ces éléments à l'appui certains domaines du processus sententielle où les considérations et les évaluations effectuées montrent lacunes en termes des savoirs sociaux et psychologiques, ce qui en rend nécessaire la formation et le support des techniques spécialisés

NEOTROPICAL XENARTHRANS: a data set of occurrence of xenarthran species in the Neotropics

Xenarthrans—anteaters, sloths, and armadillos—have essential functions for ecosystem maintenance, such as insect control and nutrient cycling, playing key roles as ecosystem engineers. Because of habitat loss and fragmentation, hunting pressure, and conflicts with domestic dogs, these species have been threatened locally, regionally, or even across their full distribution ranges. The Neotropics harbor 21 species of armadillos, 10 anteaters, and 6 sloths. Our data set includes the families Chlamyphoridae (13), Dasypodidae (7), Myrmecophagidae (3), Bradypodidae (4), and Megalonychidae (2). We have no occurrence data on Dasypus pilosus (Dasypodidae). Regarding Cyclopedidae, until recently, only one species was recognized, but new genetic studies have revealed that the group is represented by seven species. In this data paper, we compiled a total of 42,528 records of 31 species, represented by occurrence and quantitative data, totaling 24,847 unique georeferenced records. The geographic range is from the southern United States, Mexico, and Caribbean countries at the northern portion of the Neotropics, to the austral distribution in Argentina, Paraguay, Chile, and Uruguay. Regarding anteaters, Myrmecophaga tridactyla has the most records (n = 5,941), and Cyclopes sp. have the fewest (n = 240). The armadillo species with the most data is Dasypus novemcinctus (n = 11,588), and the fewest data are recorded for Calyptophractus retusus (n = 33). With regard to sloth species, Bradypus variegatus has the most records (n = 962), and Bradypus pygmaeus has the fewest (n = 12). Our main objective with Neotropical Xenarthrans is to make occurrence and quantitative data available to facilitate more ecological research, particularly if we integrate the xenarthran data with other data sets of Neotropical Series that will become available very soon (i.e., Neotropical Carnivores, Neotropical Invasive Mammals, and Neotropical Hunters and Dogs). Therefore, studies on trophic cascades, hunting pressure, habitat loss, fragmentation effects, species invasion, and climate change effects will be possible with the Neotropical Xenarthrans data set. Please cite this data paper when using its data in publications. We also request that researchers and teachers inform us of how they are using these data

Characterisation of microbial attack on archaeological bone

As part of an EU funded project to investigate the factors influencing bone preservation in the archaeological record, more than 250 bones from 41 archaeological sites in five countries spanning four climatic regions were studied for diagenetic alteration. Sites were selected to cover a range of environmental conditions and archaeological contexts. Microscopic and physical (mercury intrusion porosimetry) analyses of these bones revealed that the majority (68%) had suffered microbial attack. Furthermore, significant differences were found between animal and human bone in both the state of preservation and the type of microbial attack present. These differences in preservation might result from differences in early taphonomy of the bones. © 2003 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved