WINNING THE BATTLES AND THE WARS. An evaluation of comprehensive,community-based delinquency prevention programming

This three-year program evaluation investigated the primary prevention aspects of Youth Assistance (YA), a community-based program of the Oakland County Probate Court providing casework and prevention services. The activities studied included parent education sessions, supervised teen recreation, summer camp scholarships, skill building activities, and a one-to-one mentorship program. The goals of the study were to determine how effectively the program succeeded in mobilizing community volunteers, and to examine whether the incidence of neglect and delinquency had been reduced as a result of children and parents participating in one or more of these primary prevention activities. Ethnographical as well as quasi-experimental approaches were used. The following results are highlighted: YA primary prevention services do serve “at risk” populations in the community; overall, participation in the YA activities had positive effects on the participants, such as improved communication skills, increased respect for authority, and more use of positive discipline techniques; 92% of the primary prevention program participants had no subsequent contact with YA or the Court; the program is cost-effective. The study also confirmed that volunteers are an essential part of the success of a community-based prevention program. The study resulted in a number of specific recommendations which will be implemented over the next few years in order to continuously improve the program.     

Plasma protein and red cell enzyme groups in Galicia (north west Spain)

Galactose-1-phosphate uridyl transferase (GALT), esterase D (EsD), and plasminogen (PLG) phenotypes were determined by isoelectric focusing in thin-layer polyacrylamide gels (PAGIF) in a random sample from Galicia. Haptoglobins (Hp) were determined by conventional electrophoresis. The following gene frequencies were observed: for GALT: GALTN: 0.930; GALTD1: 0.044; GALTD2: 0.025; for EsD: EsD1: 0.874; EsD2: 0.104; EsD3: 0.021; for PLG: PLG1: 0.800; PLG2: 0.199; for Hp: Hp1: 0.426; Hp2: 0.573. Population data results of all electrophoretic markers typed until now in Galician population are also included.     

Cardiac blood pH as a possible indicator of postmortem interval

Postmortem changes in the pH of blood and selected tissues in rats were evaluated at intervals ranging from 2 min to 96 h. Cardiac blood pH was significantly and reproducibly decreased in all groups at all postmortem intervals, independent of the method of sacrifice used. A preliminary study using cardiac blood obtained at autopsy from a limited number (n = 11) of human subjects demonstrated a significant negative correlation (r = -0.908, P less than 0.01) between postmortem interval (range 2 to 20 h) and cardiac blood pH.     

Victims and property victimization in Israel

Property victimization has increased in recent years in Israel. Apartment burglary and car theft have become a major component in the Israeli public's concern about crime. This paper explores the hypothesis that characteristics of the crime target are central to understanding property victimization. The hypothesis is tested with data from the Third National Israeli Victimization Survey. For apartment burglary, it was found that the larger the number of rooms in the apartment, the higher the risk of victimization. For car theft, it was found that newer cars were more likely to be stolen than older cars. The results shed light on the prominence of property characteristics in the offender's decision-making process and target selection. Data for this study were made available through the Social Sciences Data Archive, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem.     

ABO blood grouping of hairs using an avidin-biotin-peroxidase complex technique

Fifty-nine hair specimens obtained from human autopsies and volunteers were used for the determination of ABO blood group substances using the ABC (Avidin-Biotin Complex) technique. Positive staining for A, B and H blood group substances was detected only in the medulla of the hairs. Blood group antigens could not be detected in seven hair specimens because they possessed no medulla. Forty-seven specimens obtained from fresh cadavers and volunteers gave the correct results corresponding to the blood group of the donor, but some specimens from individuals of blood group A2, Le(a + b-) showed weak reaction with anti-A and strong reaction with anti-H. The staining intensity with anti-B and -H in some individuals of blood group AB was stronger than with anti-A serum. Five hair specimens obtained from decomposed bodies were also examined. The blood group antigens could be specifically detected in hairs obtained from two exhumed and one putrid body, but no positive reactions were obtained from two cases of drowning where the bodies had been in the sea for about 6 months. In a blind trial, hair specimens from 28 individuals were also examined. Twenty-two specimens which possessed a medulla gave the correct result. Six specimens gave no result because they possessed no medulla.