Perceived crime seriousness: Consensus and disparity

In this article, the statistical technique for setting up the consensus of perceived crime seriousness in previous studies is critically reviewed. The conventional method, when applied to a data set of crime seriousness, is found to have exaggerated the consensus because, by using a more appropriate model, which assumes perfect agreement in crime severity between subgroups, the consensus is reduced unanimously. By breaking down the population by gender, age, and educational level, sociodemographic differentials in crime seriousness are set up. The disparity is then further examined in details by paired comparisons between a target crime with fourteen other crimes. The three factors are all found to be important in affecting perceived crime seriousness. This conclusion is different from that of previous studies. The scaling method is found to be responsible for the difference. As the Thurstone method used in this study is more responsive and can produce more discriminating results, it is recommended for future research in crime severity. Finally, the implications of the findings on some important issues, like the appropriateness of legal penalty and the construction of a crime index, are discussed.     

Predictors of dating violence among Chinese adolescents: the role of gender-role beliefs and justification of violence

In Chinese societies, violence among adolescent dating partners remains a largely ignored and invisible phenomenon. The goal of this study is to examine the relationships among gender-role beliefs, attitudes justifying dating violence, and the experiences of dating-violence perpetration and victimization among Chinese adolescents. This study has used self-reporting measures to collect data from a probability sample of 976 adolescents (mean age = 15.9) in three Chinese societies: Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Shanghai. Research results reveal a high prevalence of dating violence (including physical violence, sexual violence, and controlling behavior) among Chinese adolescents with dating experience: the perpetration rate is 27.3% and the victimization rate is 39%. Study results demonstrate that adolescents who endorse traditional gender-role beliefs tend to view dating violence as acceptable behavior. Boys' endorsement of traditional gender roles, boys' attitudes justifying boy-on-girl violence, and boys' attitudes against girl-on-boy violence predict boys' actual sexual-violence behavior. Moreover, boys' attitudes justifying boy-on-girl dating violence is the strongest predictor of boys' perpetration of physical and sexual dating violence. This study also shows that boys' hostility is a significant predictor of boys' controlling behavior. Programs for preventing dating violence should include components designed to challenge traditional gender-role beliefs and attitudes justifying dating violence.     

Evaluating the Potential for Unintentional Occupational Exposure to Fentanyl and Fentanyl Analogues Among Medicolegal Death Investigators and Autopsy Technicians

Recent increases in deaths in the United States from synthetic opioids such as fentanyl and fentanyl analogues (fentanyls) have raised concerns about possible occupational exposures to these potent agents. Medicolegal death investigators and autopsy suite staff might perform job tasks involving exposure to fentanyls. The potential for exposure to fentanyls among medicolegal death investigators and autopsy technicians at a state medical examiner's office was evaluated through review of caseload characteristics, injury and illness logs, and procedures and policies and discussions with management and employee representatives. The evaluation showed that this medical examiner's office had low potential for work-related exposure to fentanyls; its standard operating procedures and personal protective equipment requirements should reduce the potential for occupational exposure. Medicolegal death investigation agencies can develop and implement guidance to control exposures and provide workforce education and training to reduce the potential for work-related exposure to fentanyls.     

Going Beyond Globalization and Localization: Articulating a Theory of Justice in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Han-</Emphasis>Chinese Culture

In the paper, I argue that the existing model of cultural-legal transplantation predicates on a binarism of overseas/local culture. Seeing the limitation of such a binary model, I aim to develop a transplantation/osmosis mechanism by elaborating the model of ‘cultural simularity’. I will also use the proposed model to examine how the Euro-American discourses of justice infiltrates/interacts with the Han-Chinese culture.     

A Retrospective Population-Based Study of Hospitalized Injuries Associated with Intimate Partner Violence in Taiwan from 1997 Through 2009

The study used Taiwanese National Health Insurance Research Database to investigate the types of injuries suffered by those patients hospitalized for intimate partner violence and the types of hospital care provided to victims 18 years of age or older from 1997 to 2009. In total, there were 836 cases and 3.57 times more female than male, the average hospital stay length was 9.37 days, and the average hospital costs totaled approximately NT$ 47,563.53. On average, there were approximately 2.86 injuries per abuse victim, and intracranial injuries were the most common injury (28.83 %). Many of the abused patients went to regional hospitals (44.14 %), and the largest percentage of hospitalized patients (50.24 %) was among 25–44-year-olds. In the study period, the hospitalization rate for females was significantly higher than for males; moreover, the overall rate of hospitalization for intimate partner violence increased significantly.     

Genetic polymorphism at three STR loci--CSF1PO, HUMTHO1 and TPOX, and the AMP-FLP locus D1S80 for the Chinese population in Hong Kong

Allele frequencies for three STR loci, namely, CSF1PO, HUMTHO1 and TPOX, and the AMP-FLP locus D1S80 were obtained from a sample of 351 unrelated Chinese in Hong Kong.     

Confession of Law? A Critical Perspective on Production of Child Subject in Hong Kong Law Controlling Child Sexual Abuse

Child protection has been one of the main concerns of Hong Kong Law in twenty-first Century. However, the definition of child and the related presumptions have never been meticulously investigated critically challenged. In the article, I employ the Deleuzean perspective in questioning the structure underlying the formation and production of the concept ‘child’ in law. I will then propose a reform strategy that can avoid certain problems created by the concept while providing more effective protection to the powerless. I will also examine the feasibility of the strategy in Hong Kong.     

When Marx Borrows from Smith: the ESOP in China

The employee stock ownership plan (ESOP), a capitalist practice, was borrowed for the purpose of rescuing and even consolidating socialist state-owned enterprises during the drive in China to reform ownership. More precisely, ESOP was implemented to bail out failing firms, raise funds, increase work motivation, reduce agency costs, and promote industrial democracy. The findings of a case study of three Chinese state-owned enterprises suggest that some short-term goals were basically achieved, but the accomplishment of the other long-term goals was somewhat problematic. Based on our initial findings, recommendations are put forward for future research and practice.     

Population data for the Identifier 15 STR loci in Hong Kong Chinese

Allele frequencies for 15 STR loci, namely D8S1179, D21S11, D7S820, CSF1PO, D3S1358, TH01, D13S317, D16S539, D2S1338, D19S433, vWA, TPOX, D18S51, D5S818 and FGA, which are tested for by PE Applied Biosystem's Identifier kit, were obtained from a sample of 325 unrelated Chinese in Hong Kong.