Prisons or Problem-Solving: Does the Public Support Specialty Courts?

ABSTRACT

Recently, “problem-solving” courts have been developed as an alternative to imprisonment. They are often called “specialty” courts because they process and divert into treatment programs offenders who are seen as different from the general criminal population, such as those with mental health or drug problems, those who are homeless or veterans, and those who engage in domestic violence. Based on a 2017 national survey of 1,000 respondents, the current study examines overall public support for rehabilitation as a goal of corrections and then focuses specifically on support for different types of specialty courts. The analysis reveals that the American public endorses not only the rehabilitative ideal but also the use of problem-solving courts. Further, with only minimal variation, strong support for these courts appears to exist regardless of political orientation and sociodemographic characteristics.     

Applying Moral Foundations Theory to the Explanation of Capital Jurors’ Sentencing Decisions

Abstract

This study applies moral foundations theory to capital juror decision making. We hypothesized that binding moral foundations would predict death qualification and punitive sentencing decisions, whereas individualizing moral foundations would be associated with juror disqualification and a leniency effect. Additionally, we considered whether moral foundations can explain differences in death penalty application between conservatives and liberals. Respondents from two independent samples participated in a mock-juror task in which the circumstances of a hypothetical defendant’s case varied. Results revealed moral foundations were strong predictors of death qualification. The binding and individualizing foundations were related to sentencing decisions in the expected ways. Supporting our contention that moral foundations operate differently across different types of cases, heterogeneity in the effects of moral foundations was observed. Finally, we found support for the hypothesis that the relationship between sentencing decisions and conservatism would be attenuated by moral foundations.     

浅论构建和谐社会的思想出发点

思想是行动的先导,面对构建社会主义和谐社会这样一个崭新课题,我们只有从正确的思想出发点出发进行思考,才能正确应对我国经济社会发展出现的新趋势新特点,妥善处理影响和谐社会建设的各种复杂问题和因素,不断提高构建社会主义和谐社会的能力,推进构建社会主义和谐社会的进程。第一,坚持以实事求是为思想出发点。当前,国际形势复杂多变,我国正处在抓住和用好重要战略机遇期、实现全面建设小康社会宏伟目标的关键时期,我国经济社会发展面临的矛盾和问题更加复杂、突出,我们必须在观察、处理问题和制定路线方针政策时,坚持从社会建设的客观实…     

Congressional Vote Options

Numerous accounts reveal that congressional leaders often secure “hip‐pocket votes” or “if you need me” pledges from rank‐and‐file legislators. These are essentially options on votes. Leaders exercise sufficient options—pay legislators to convert to favorable votes—when those options will yield victory. Otherwise, they release the options. A model shows that this optimal strategy for leaders produces many small victories, few small losses, and losses that are, on average, larger than victories. We find precisely these patterns, hence strong evidence for vote options, in Congressional Quarterly key votes from 1975 through 2001 and in non‐key votes from the 106th Congress (1999–2000).     

乡镇政府公共品供给能力及其评估指标体系

构建乡镇政府公共品供给能力的评估指标体系,是科学评估乡镇政府公共品供给能力的前提。本文首先界定乡镇政府公共品供给能力的内涵和构成,然后逐一讨论关于构建我国乡镇政府公共品供给能力评估指标体系的原则、目标、指标体系、评估标准和权重等问题,最后构建一个评估乡镇政府公共品供给能力指标体系的总表。     

我国大陆与台湾地区搜查要件之分析研究——比较法视野的考量

集侦查行为与强制处分于一身的性质决定了搜查制度的设计必定无法避免控制犯罪与保障人权之间的冲突,而矛盾冲突的解决之道在于谋求调和而非片面牺牲,要在尽可能的范围内谋求并存的方案,并且,在迫不得已时容许最小限度的牺牲。虽然我国宪法已明确昭示“国家尊重和保障人权”,然     

论我国侦查程序中法官角色的重塑

侦查程序的正当化系现代法治国家刑事诉讼文明的重要标志,而法官的应然作用对侦查程序的正当化起关键性作用。我国侦查程序中法官应然角色作用缺失,形成种种弊端,严重违背程序正义理念的要求,亟待予以重新塑造,以充分保障人权,促进我国刑事诉讼文明、民主的进程。     

外资改组国有企业的法律规制问题研究

外资改组国有企业虽然在一定程度上可以达到引进先进科学技术和管理经验的目的 ,但是若监管不利 ,往往会造成国有资产的大量流失 ,为此笔者建议应将这一行为置于法律控制之下 ,制定一部统一的《外资改组国有企业法》 ,设立专门行政管理机构 ,明确外资进入的行业及领域 ,加强对外商投资方向的导向作用 ,坚持公开、公平、公正、诚实信用及透明原则 ,加强国有资产的评估和管理 ,保护国家、债权人、企业职工及外国投资者的合法权益。     

试论邓小平对政治合法性的维护及其启示

合法性是关系到党和国家政权生死存亡的根本问题。“文革”结束后,维护党和国家政权的合法性问题凸现出来,邓小平正确处理了毛泽东的意识形态遗产,开始重建法理权威,并通过促进经济发展和反腐败树立政府形象的方法维护了政治的合法性。新时期我们仍面临着合法性维护的问题,邓小平的实践为整个现代化进程中的合法性维护提供了诸多有益启示。