Selected Federal Research Grants for the Fiscal Year 1987

Selected Federal Research Grants for the Fiscal Year 1987     

Death penalty attitudes and the tendency to convict or acquit

Three studies examined whether attitudes toward the death penalty were related to conviction or acquittal proneness. They were not, even in a case where it was clear that the prosecution was asking for death. Two questions asked whether attitudes toward the death penalty were related to changes in the threshold of guilt or in the amount of evidence required to find guilt when death as compared to life imprisonment was the potential sentence. They were so related, but answers to such questions were unrelated to verdicts in a death case. In one study, strong opponents of the death penalty were no different from others in attitudes toward attorneys and witnesses, in recollection of the facts of a trial, or in their subjective impressions about the trial. The basis of any attitude-behavior relation in this area is questioned.     

Use of laser microdissection greatly improves the recovery of DNA from sperm on microscope slides

Traditionally, sperms are isolated from vaginal cell mixtures by preferential extraction methods. Although these methods work well when there is a reasonable amount of DNA present, they are problematic when there are limited amounts (ca. 250 pg). In particular, the analysis of sperm from microscope slides has proven difficult. Here, we describe the use of laser capture microdissection (LM) for the isolation of spermatozoa from microscope slides containing sperms and vaginal cells. Such slides are frequently an important source of evidential material during the forensic investigation of rape and other sexual assaults. Low copy number (LCN) PCR was used to compare profiles of sperm DNA prepared using LM and preferential lysis. LM was found to outperform preferential lysis in 15 out of 16 samples. The application of LM to the processing of actual casework slides, and in particular the potential use of LM for the analysis of old cases, is discussed. Finally, 77 post-coital slides were processed in order to accurately assess the robustness of the technique. There was a significant association between the quality of the male profile recovered and time since intercourse that was independent of the number of sperms analysed, suggesting that the DNA was degraded even though the spermhead was intact.     

An investigation into the applicability of the Ward and Siegert Pathways Model of child sexual abuse with Internet offenders

Abstract

This study examined the applicability of the Ward and Siegert (Psychology, Crime & Law, 8, 319–351, 2002) Pathways Model of Sexual Offending to a sample of Internet offenders. The Pathways Model identifies five etiological pathways, each with primary psychological deficits that interact to create a vulnerability to sexual offending behavior. The applicability of this model was tested on a sample of 72 cases drawn from a community sample in England and Wales, via the analysis of primary and associated psychometric indicators of pathway membership. Sixty per cent of men in the sample were found to display dysfunctional psychological mechanisms (43 cases). Two pathways were found to be particularly prominent: the intimacy deficits pathway and the emotional dysregulation pathway. The implications for future treatment and the appropriateness of current treatment programs for this population are examined in the light of these findings.     

If Violence Is Domestic, Does It Really Count?

Estimates of the prevalence of marital violence have been found to vary dramatically from survey to survey. This paper addresses one potential explanation for this difference which involves the focus and format of different surveys. We examine the extent to which survey respondents are willing to report marital violence in a context which focuses on criminal behaviors as opposed to a family violence context. In a very basic way, this answers a question as to whether individuals are willing to define acts of marital violence as criminal. Methodologically, it is a measurement issue which seriously affects the ability to compare findings across samples. National Youth Survey data are used to compare rates of generalized spousal assault and victimization reported in a crime context with rates of marital assault and victimization reported in a family violence context. Results indicate that 40 to 83% of all marital assaults and victimizations reported in the marital violence section are not reported in a format which focuses on criminal assault and victimization.