LSD Use as a barrier to public safety employment: A review of the medical findings

Conclusions In a review of available literature on the topic of adverse effects of the use of hallucinogenics, the authors found some remarkable evidence. First, there is not evidence that these drugs are physically or emotionally addictive. In fact, users generally discontinue use because of the impact of altering states of consciousness. Few have the desire to experience these effects beyond satisfying their curiosity about the drugs. There seem to be some specific personality factors that predispose individuals to experiment with psychedelic drugs, and certainly, specific personality types are prone to be associated with negative side effects in both the short and long-term. In light of the considerable amount of research which supports the premise that LSD is not as dangerous as once assumed, perhaps restrictive hiring policies should be reviewed and reevaluated in the case of the one-time user. If an individual passes all testing, and personal history shows stability, disqualifying a candidate for prior LSD use does not appear to be supportable by research finding. Again, this report is not meant to diminish the negative effect of hallucinogens on a small portion of our society. The intent is to point out that the medical literature does not support the contention that one-time hallucinogen use carries with it any undesirable long-term consequences. The importance of considering an individual within the context of testing and background can not be minimized.     

Seen but not heard: Native people in four Canadian inner cities

This essay provides an overview of research on Native people in the inner core of four cities. This research was funded by the Aboriginal Justice Directorate, Department of Justice as part of the Aboriginal Justice Initiative. The objective of the research was to elicit information along a number of dimensions including: background, coming to the city, life in the city, experiences with the criminal justice system, and aspirations for the future. The information was used to compare east/west differences in Aboriginal incarceration levels, to explore urban and rural/reserve offences, and social stratification within the inner-city population. The findings revealed that social stratification exists in the inner-city Native population and that the more marginal the position, the greater the involvement with the criminal justice system. The findings also showed the relationship between childhood and adult experiences. East/west variation in Native incarceration levels can be explained by the findings that more people in the west belonged to the most marginal group in terms of education, employment, skills, and childhood disruption and violence. The findings argue for policy and program attention to be directed to those whose needs are greatest. When ‘broad brush’ solutions are applied, those with the most and least needs are treated equally. This essay is an overview of research contained in a three part volume,Seen but not Heard: Native people in the Inner City. Ottawa: Justice Canada. The views expressed are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Justice Canada or of the people involved in the project.     

Applying the Skill-Deficit Concept of Deviance to Juvenile Delinquents

Many theories have been advanced to account for juvenile delinquency. Most theories provide convincing partial explanations for some phenomena, but not others. Furthermore, most theories of delinquency offer only vague guidelines for treatment. The social learning school of psychology has developed a skill-deficit conception of deviance which has implications for treatment. In order to determine the applicability of this approach, a sample of 411 adjudicated male delinquents was obtained. They were assessed along a number of dimensions, and were found to be deficient as a group in all the skill areas measured. Implications for delinquency theory are discussed, as are treatment recommendations.     

The wisdom of solomon

The results of the analyses of items common to two separate surveys, one with judges/commissioners and one with mental health professionals, regarding the standards to be used in determining child custody in a divorce are reported. Although there were more areas of agreement between the two groups, group differences did emerge on a few items. Mental health professionals tended to give significantly greater emphasis to the quality of the relationship between parent and child, whereas the judiciary tended to give more emphasis to the legal/biological status of the parent-child relationship and to traditional family roles and structures. The implications of the findings are discussed.     

Fragmented pathways to care: the experiences of suicidal men

Using qualitative methods, this study examined how, and under what circumstances, suicidal men used mental health services. In particular, the analyses focused on fragmented pathways to care. Fifteen men with a history of suicidal and aggressive behaviors and a diagnosis of borderline personality disorder and/or antisocial personality disorder participated in semistructured interviews that consisted of questions about their mental health status and experiences with mental health and addiction services. Interviews were taped and transcribed. An iterative, inductive qualitative analytic process was used. Men followed a cyclical pattern wherein negative experiences with health care providers were said to be followed by avoidance of health care settings, crisis, and then by involuntary service utilization. Men identified five health care provider and three personal practices, and two types of episodes they believed to contribute to their fragmented pathways to care. Implementation of specialized interventions, and providing patients with more information and more opportunity to participate in decisions, may improve interactions between patients and providers and improve patients' mental health status.     

Fatal dog maulings associated with infant swings

We present three cases of fatal dog maulings of infants placed in mobile infant swings, a phenomenon not previously described in the literature. In each case, the victim was left in a mobile swing, unsupervised by an adult, and the attacking dog was a family pet. Case 1 involved an 18-day-old male infant attacked by a pit bull; Case 2 involved a 3-month-old male infant attacked by a Chow Chow and/or a Dachshund, and Case 3 involved an 18-day-old female infant attacked by a Labrador-pit bull mix. These cases not only underscore the importance of not leaving young children unattended in the presence of pet dogs, but also raise the possibility that mobile swings may trigger a predatory response in dogs and thus may represent an additional risk factor for dog attack.     

Violent Sex Offenses: How are They Best Measured from Official Records?

In the United States, sexually violent predator (SVP) commitment statutes generally require assessment of an offender's risk of subsequent sexual violence. Current actuarial methods for predicting sexual reoffending were actually designed to predict something else—charges or convictions for offenses deemed sexual based on information obtained from police “rapsheets” alone. This study examined the referral and past offenses of 177 sex offenders. Results showed that police rapsheets (and data based on them) underestimated the number and severity of sexually motivated violent offenses for which sex offenders were actually apprehended. Rapsheet violent offenses seemed a more accurate index of the conduct addressed by SVP legislation than were rapsheet sex offenses. We suggest that, when evaluating sex offenders for SVP status, actuarial instruments designed to predict violent recidivism (as measured by rapsheet violent reoffenses) might be preferable to those designed to predict sexual recidivism (as measured by rapsheet sexual reoffenses).