Drug related deaths in the Strathclyde region of Scotland, 1995-1998

The misuse of drugs, both illicit and prescribed has increased dramatically in the west of Scotland over the last few decades. Consequently, the number of drug related deaths has risen as a direct result. Since, discrepancies exist between data collected by the Department of Forensic Medicine and Science, University of Glasgow and official statistics, this project, was funded to investigate all known drug related deaths that occurred within the Strathclyde region of Scotland in an effort to improve the accuracy of statistics and the dissemination of information pertaining to them. Changes in medical treatment, legislation and patterns of drug taking were noted and the effects of these on the year-by-year death tolls evaluated.     

Health care needs assessment of federal prisoners in Canada released

On 7 April 2004, Correctional Services Canada (CSC) released a comprehensive profile of the health needs of federal prisoners in Canada, published in a special supplement to the Canadian Journal of Public Health.     

Using self-report inventories to assess recidivism risk among prisoners about to be released on parole supervision in Sweden

Prison release planning is rarely based on adequate assessment using evidence-based instruments. This study uses well-established self-reports for screening of problem severity and for predicting recidivism, measured as reconvictions during one-year following release, in prisoners about to be conditionally released on probation in Sweden between 2009 and 2010. One Hundred and six prisoners completed the following measures: Karolinska Scales of Personality, Hopkins Symptom Checklist-25, Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test, Drug Use Disorders Identification Test. Results show frequent mental health and substance use problems and high scores on the KSP psychopathy factor. Anxiety and problematic drug use were the two most important factors associated with one-year recidivism. Prior to release, self-reports could be useful for screening of problem severity, and for predicting recidivism.     

Drug-related deaths with evidence of intracorporeal drug concealment at autopsy: five case reports

Intracorporeal concealment of illicit drugs is a rare observation at coronial autopsy examinations. The article reports 5 cases of accidental drug overdoses at the Westmead Coronial Morgue, Sydney New South Wales, over a 6-year period with evidence of intracorporeal drug concealment known as body packing or body stuffing. Three different forms of anatomic concealment of drugs are illustrated, Case 2 involving therapeutic medication in the form of glass ampoules for parenteral injection not previously reported. Three deaths were the result of acute toxicity due to polydrug abuse rather than as a consequence of the body packing behavior and rupture of the drug packaging, with the intracorporeal drug concealments an adjunct finding at the autopsy examinations. The cause of death in Case 3 was the direct result of acute cocaine intoxication due to rupture of drug packages in the rectum and mucosal absorption. The article details forensic sociological aspects of drug concealment and subcultural group human behavior that can assist in providing information for the initiation of investigations.     

Psychopathy among prisoners in England and Wales

Most research into psychopathy among prisoners is based on selected samples. It remains unclear whether prevalences are lower among European populations. This study aimed to measure the prevalence of psychopathy, and the distribution and correlates of psychopathic traits in a representative national sample of prisoners. Psychopathy was measured using the revised Psychopathy Checklist (PCL-R) in a second stage, cross-sectional survey of prisoners in England and Wales in 1997 (n = 496). Poisson regression analysis was carried out to examine independent associations between correlates and PCL-R total and factor scores. The prevalence of categorically diagnosed psychopathy at a cut off of 30 was 7.7% (95%CI 5.2–10.9) in men and 1.9% (95%CI 0.2–6.9) in women. Psychopathic traits were less prevalent among women. They were correlated with younger age, repeated imprisonment, detention in higher security, disciplinary infractions, antisocial, narcissistic, histrionic, and schizoid personality disorders, and substance misuse, but not neurotic disorders or schizophrenia. The study concluded that psychopathy and psychopathic traits are prevalent among male prisoners in England and Wales but lower than in most previous studies using selected samples. However, most correlates with psychopathic traits were similar to other studies. Psychopathy identifies the extreme of a spectrum of social and behavioral problems among prisoners.     

The mortality of released Finnish prisoners; a 7 year follow-up study of the WATTU project

Objective. The aim was to compare the mortality of released prisoners and the general population.Method. The study forms a part of the Health Survey of Finnish Prisoners (the WATTU Project). A sample (N=903), representing all Finnish male prisoners, underwent a thorough health survey in 1985. A 7 year follow-up study was performed by means of gathering register data (deaths, hospital care, diseases leading to working incapacity). A population-based age-selected control group was formed for comparison.Results. During the follow-up, 13.2% of the sample died (natural deaths 5.2%, accidental deaths 4.1%, suicides 2.0%), whereas the corresponding figure in the control group was 3.4%. Overmortality among released prisoners, when compared to the general population, was also found in different death categories.Conclusion. The high somatic and psychiatric morbidity and mortality due to prisoner suicide, when imprisoned, has been reported in many earlier studies. This is probably the first study to confirm the high mortality in different death categories of a representative sample of released prisoners compared to a control group representing the general population. It is important to try to help released prisoners to get a new grip on normal life, especially if they also have somatic or mental health problems. More effort should be made to improve the collaboration between different health care systems.     

Correctional officers and prevention of HIV transmission among prisoners

The problem of HIV transmission in prisons in Québec and elsewhere is increasingly urgent and requires the attention of federal and provincial authorities. Prison officers are among the key players who should be kept in mind when preventive measures are being developed. We reprint the executive summary of a study conducted in federal and provincial prisons in Québec. The goal of the study was to identify the factors influencing prison officers, with respect to whether they would agree or refuse to make accessible the tools needed for the prevention of HIV transmission among inmates (i.e., condoms, bleach, tattooing equipment, and needles). Among the factors studied are officers' perceptions and beliefs as well as their attitudes, perceived social norms, emotions, and perceived barriers with respect to making preventive tools accessible.     

Examination of an interventionist-led HIV intervention among criminal justice-involved female prisoners

The purpose of this study was to examine the implementation, adherence and protocol fidelity for the Reducing Risky Relationships for HIV (RRR-HIV) study. The RRR-HIV study is a phase III trial of a randomized intervention to reduce human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) risk behaviors among incarcerated women in four US states: Connecticut, Delaware, Kentucky and Rhode Island. The intervention consists of five interventionist-led prison-based group sessions and a sixth individual community-based session. Data on adherence, implementation, acceptability and fidelity of the intervention were obtained from forms completed after the five prison-based sessions by both the interventionist and participant. Data from the sixth session were collected by the interventionist. Of the 363 women recruited to date, 173 (47.6%) have been randomly allocated to the experimental RRR intervention, of which implementation measures were available for 162 (93.6%). Almost three-quarters of women attended all five sessions, each of which lasted a median of 90 minutes, indicating successful implementation of the protocol across multiple study sites. Interventionists and participants alike reported that all of the topics for each session were discussed, suggesting adherence to the protocol. In addition, protocol interventionists indicated that more than 95% of the women were engaged/involved, interested, and understood the materials presented, indicating high levels of acceptability among the participants and fidelity to the intervention protocols. The majority of participants also answered all of the post-test questions correctly, which is another strong indicator of the fidelity to the intervention. Results suggest that the RRR-HIV study has been successfully implemented across multiple study sites. Adherence to the protocol, as well as protocol fidelity and acceptability, were also strong, which is essential to establish prior to examining outcome data.     

毒品犯罪案件嫌疑人的讯问

近20年来,毒品犯罪在全球迅猛发展,我国受其波及,成为增长率最高的一类刑事犯罪。其犯罪手法隐蔽,侥幸、畏罪心理严重,讯问难度大。须讯问与调查紧密结合,妥善运用讯问策略、方法,才能圆满完成讯问任务。     

Social bases of power and control mechanisms among prisoners in a prison organization

This research examines the social bases of power and control mechanisms among prisoners in a maximum security correctional facility for males. A qualitative research design was employed to assess the forms of power among inmates. The data suggests that the prisoner social world revolves around the interaction of many types of power. The kinds of power exhibited among prisoners were: coercive, referent, providing of resources, legitimate, and expert. Additionally, we offer some discussion on how an understanding of these social bases of power have implications for the prison environment and future research.     

毒品犯罪争议问题研究

从立法层面讲,涉毒犯罪侵害了国家对毒品的管理制度,属于行为犯;从犯罪行为人角度讲,其目的并不是挑战国家对毒品的管理制度,归根结底还是为了谋取利益(不限于经济利益),因此,毒品犯罪属于目的犯,而不是行为犯。否则,单纯的购买、吸食毒品的行为也侵害了国家对毒品的管理制度,却不构成犯罪,对此,现有理论给不出合理的解释。毒品犯罪中,居间行为的推波助澜让毒品更加泛滥,也增加了毒品犯罪的隐秘性,对居间行为的定性及处罚在理论上存在争议。鉴于刑法对毒品犯罪处罚的严厉性,有必要对毒品犯罪的不能犯和未遂犯做出明确区分,以免不当扩大刑法的打击范围。     

The predictive validity of the Depression Hopelessness Suicide screening form for self-harm among prisoners

The Depression Hopelessness Suicide Screening Form (DHS) includes 12 ‘critical items’, which have not been validated for the prospective prediction of self-harm. We conducted a retrospective cohort study (N = 4196) to validate the ability of the DHS critical items to prospectively predict inmates with at least one incident of self-harm during the first six months of imprisonment. While the critical items were highly sensitive (89.5%) at predicting incidents of self-harm, 51.3% of the inmates endorsed at least one item. Five items reflecting more recent and specific risk factors reduced the referral rate to 17.7%, while maintaining high sensitivity (84.2%). While the DHS has high sensitivity to predict inmates at risk of self-harm, treating all items as equally critical results in excessive numbers of false positives that likely exceed the capacity of prison resources for professional assessment and intervention. Referral rules based on recency and specificity of risk factors are proposed.     

An integrated exploration of factors associated with psychological distress among older prisoners

This paper compares the contributions of socio-demographic, health, mental health, social and environmental factors in explaining variations in psychological distress among older prisoners in two Australian states. One hundred and seventy-three prisoners (aged 50+ ) from 8 Australian prisons were interviewed using the Kessler Psychological Distress (K10) Scale. Three regression analyses were conducted to compare different models of 14 variables significantly associated with psychological distress. Independent variables most prominently associated with variations in psychological distress among older inmates were self-reported levels of social support, self-reported safety and ease of health care access. Difficulties in the built environment and mental health history were significantly explanatory of variations in older prisoner distress in two of the three models. The findings suggest that modifiable situational factors evident in current prison contexts are reasonably explanatory of variations in prisoner distress among older inmates.     

The prevalence of intellectual disabilities among 12,000 prisoners - a systematic review

There are 9 million prisoners worldwide, but it is uncertain what proportion have intellectual disabilities. Such prisoners have been identified as a vulnerable group at risk of victimization and mental illness. Psychiatric surveys based on interviews of unselected prison populations were sought, involving diagnoses of intellectual disabilities. The search was performed by computer-assisted searches, scanning of relevant reference lists, hand-searching of journals, and correspondence with authors of relevant reports. Prevalence rates of intellectual disabilities by gender and other potentially relevant study characteristics were abstracted from publications, supplemented by information from authors of reports. Ten relevant surveys from four different countries were identified that included a total of 11,969 prisoners (mean age: 29 years; 92% male; 23% violent offenders). No formal calculation of a summary estimate of prevalence was undertaken due to substantial heterogeneity. The results suggest that typically 0.5-1.5% of prisoners were diagnosed with intellectual disabilities (range 0% to 2.8% across studies). We conclude that the number of prisoners with intellectual disabilities is considerable and discuss implications for policy and practice.     

Analysis of the stages of change model of drug and alcohol treatment readiness among prisoners

A classification and regression tree (CART) analysis was applied to data for 237 male participants (M = 31.93 years, SD = 7.64) in a prison-based substance abuse treatment program to study the integrity of the Stages of Change model of treatment readiness. Using the Stages of Change Questionnaire (STOCQ), participants were assigned to Contemplation (102), Action (118), or Maintenance (17) groups. A CART analysis then examined differences in the overall group profiles on the basis of scores on the Psychological Inventory of Criminal Thinking, the Situational Confidence Questionnaire, and the Carlson Psychological Survey. The assumption of discrete stages of change was not supported. Alternative models are suggested: one based on states of change and one on personality characteristics. A focus on equal attention to both cognitive and behavioral aspects of substance abuse treatment readiness is suggested.     

诱惑侦查在毒品犯罪侦查中的合法性判断

诱惑侦查手段在犯罪侦查中存在合法性不足的问题,在实践中的运行处于封闭状态,不符合侦查法治化原则。学界对诱惑侦查合法性界定的"两分法"标准存在缺陷,不能合理地解决诱惑侦查手段在毒品犯罪侦查中的合法性及被告人的刑事责任问题,对诱惑侦查合法性标准实行"三分法",可以较好弥补"两分法"标准的不足。最后以"数量引诱"和"打预谋"侦查方法为例,分析其合法性及其刑事责任。     

Incremental validity of ambulatory assessment of acute dynamic risk in predicting time to recidivism among prisoners on parole

ABSTRACT

This study investigates the incremental validity of changes in ten stress-related acute dynamic risk factors, collected through automated telephony over 30 consecutive days following parole, for predicting time to recidivism during the following year. Before release, the participants completed self-report assessment of some stable risk factors – impulsiveness and history of problematic substance use – as well as an assessment of symptoms of anxiety experienced during the weeks prior to release. Analysis of the baseline assessments showed that impulsiveness and a history of problematic substance use, but not pre-release symptoms of anxiety, were associated with recidivism during the parole year. Growth modelling using a linear mixed model was used to assess whether inmates on parole showed changes in acute dynamic risk factors during the first month following release. Individual growth model slopes and intercept were then extracted and used as covariates in a series of Cox regression analyses to test whether changes in acute dynamic risk factors could provide incremental predictive validity beyond baseline stable risk factors. Changes in five dynamic risk factors were associated with an increased risk of recidivism, of which daily drug use and daily summary score showed incremental predictive improvement beyond impulsiveness and history of problematic drug use.