Datasets for "The reliability of sampling to measure the weight of seized powder containing heroin"

Techniques used in forensic analysis have to find an appropriate balance between fairness to the defendant and efficiency and safety for forensic personnel. Safety issues are particularly acute in analyzing large seizures of bags likely containing heroin, possibly laced with fentanyl. National and local law specifies penalties that depend on the weight of seized powder containing heroin. Local custom makes available to the prosecution and the defense a preliminary report showing the presence of heroin and an indication of the powder weight seized. Such a report, even if it involves uncertainty, can be useful to both parties in understanding the likely sentencing range, with a view toward plea bargaining. An earlier methodological paper demonstrates how data from a sample of bags can be used to create a probability distribution for the weight of seized powder. The aim of this paper is to study whether sampling itself creates substantial additional uncertainty. To this end, we apply the above method to four populations with weights known for each item in the population. We draw eight random samples of size five from each population. Applying the proposed method to each sample, the results show that the variation created by drawing these samples is trivial. We conclude that the proposed method, which is convenient and safer for personnel, can be used without prejudice to the defendant. The datasets used in this study are provided here.

在法医分析中，所采用的技术需在保障被告公平与提高法医人员工作效率及安全性之间寻求恰当的平衡。尤其在分析可能含有芬太尼的、疑似海洛因的大批量毒品包裹时，安全问题尤为突出。国家和地方法律根据所查获含有海洛因粉末的重量来规定相应的处罚。地方惯例允许检方和辩方获取一份初步报告，该报告显示海洛因的存在以及查获粉末的重量。即便该报告涉及不确定性，但对于双方了解可能的判决范围，并为进一步的 plea bargaining（认罪协商）提供依据，仍具有实际价值。一篇早期的方法论论文展示了如何利用样本包裹中的数据来构建查获粉末重量的概率分布。本文旨在探讨采样本身是否会产生显著的额外不确定性。为此，我们将上述方法应用于四个已知每件物品重量的群体中。从每个群体中随机抽取五个样本，并应用所提出的方法对每个样本进行分析。结果显示，抽样产生的变异微不足道。我们得出结论，所提出的方法，因其便捷性和对人员安全性的保障，可以无偏地应用于被告。本研究中使用的数据集已在此提供。