Some implications of non-reporting and self-reporting of crime on criminal justice research

Conclusions There are reasonable grounds for assuming that unreported crime is extensive. Inasmuch as questionnaires are the major source of data for self-reported crime and delinquency and Clark and Tifft have seriously challenged the validity of this data source, it seems these areas lack a valid and unequivocal basis for assessing theory. It seems rather pointless to pursue etiological studies until new, valid, and reliable sources of data are available for theory construction and testing. The contention that interdisciplinary research is needed in Criminology is strengthened by the Clark and Tifft study, which offers an instance of fruitful interdisciplinary collaboration. Other recognized examples of significant interdisciplinary effort include the works of Pasmanick,et.al.,²³ Srole,et. al.,²⁴ and Lindner,et. al. ²⁵ Students of crime and delinquency must break through the parochialism of unitary and doctrinaire commitment to their own disciplines. In particular, sociologists must learn increasingly to utilize and embrace, at least on the micro-level, the potentials offered by other sciences, especially the life sciences. An alternative to this proposal would be a largescale consecutive birth study; then, perhaps in a quarter of a century, we might have the data necessary to formulate tentative etiological conclusions.     

Using military forces under international auspices and democratic accountability

This article reports on a research project that deals with howto ensure democratic accountability when military forces areused under the auspices of international institutions. The internationalcommunity has developed a range of ways in which military forcescan be used. States have also decided that in some cases militaryforces can be deployed to pacify intra-state as well as inter-stateconflicts. States have developed a mixed system to deal withthe issues of democratic accountability. Although military operationsare conducted under the auspices of international institutions,states maintain control over decisions to deploy their troops. Democraticcontrol and accountability have been maintained through national institutionsand procedures. International authorization, preferably by theUN Security Council, is important to establish internationaland domestic legitimacy, but it is not the essential mechanismfor ensuring democratic accountability.     

The ‘White Working class’ in South Africa

In general, the analysis of classes in the literature on South Africa beginsfrom the political and ideological levels and not from the concept of the mode of production. The effect of this is to obscure the nature of the class structure and changes in it and leads to a neglect of shifts in class alliances in the class struggle. In this paper, concepts of the ‘white working class’ commonly found in the literature are critically analysed and an alternative conceptualization which begins from the mode of production is outlined. The paper ends with a brief analysis of changes in the relationship between the white working class and the state.     

Threats and assaults against psychiatrists

In this article, the authors review the literature on surveys pertaining to threats and assaults on psychiatrists and report the results of a questionnaire sent to Oregon psychiatrists. Although the responding psychiatrists were experienced clinicians, they appear to have had relatively little life experience with aggression. Assaults and threats were frequent in their careers, occurred across a variety of clinical settings, and involved a wide range of patients. The authors discuss specific strategies for psychiatrists to minimize the effects of patient threats and assaults and suggest ways in which organized psychiatry can help with the danger and sequelae of patient violence.