Rehabilitation and resettlement: a study of prolific offender case management in Birmingham, United Kingdom

In 2004, the U.K. Home Office launched the Prolific and other Priority Offenders strategy in England and Wales. This includes a rehabilitative programme with the most prolific offenders case managed throughout their involvement in the criminal justice system. The strategy is a coordinated response by local partnerships, with the aim to reduce reoffending and overall crime rates. This article is based on a review of work in Birmingham to integrate the requirements of the new strategy into existing structures and offender management programmes. Although many of the management structures and referral processes needed for the new strategy were already well developed, there were concerns over communication and clarity of roles. Consistent identification of prolific offenders across all police areas was required. Once targeted, offenders needed equality of access to services. A clear exit strategy was also needed with clear rehabilitation and resettlement criteria for offenders leaving the Prolific and other Priority Offenders strategy.     

The pathological features and circumstances of death of lethal crush/traumatic asphyxia in adults--a 25-year study

A 25-year retrospective study of cases of crush/traumatic asphyxia autopsied at Forensic Science SA, Adelaide, Australia from 1980 to 2004 was undertaken. A total of 79 cases of crush asphyxia was found consisting of 63 males (80%) and 16 females (20%). The age range of the males was 19-86 years (mean=41.8 years) and of the females was 19-75 years (mean=38.6 years). In 18 cases the exact circumstances of death were unclear, leaving 61 cases in which details of the fatal episode were available. Major categories included vehicle crashes (N=37), industrial accidents (N=9), farm accidents (N=6) and entrapment beneath vehicles (N=5). Forty of the 79 victims (51%) had only very minor bruises and abrasions; 28 (35%) had evidence of chest compression with rib and sternal fractures and large areas of soft tissue bruising of the chest; 7 cases (9%) had other significant injuries or findings that had contributed to death. All of these victims had signs of crush asphyxia in the form of intense purple congestion and swelling of the face and neck, and/or petechial hemorrhages of the skin of the face and/or conjunctivae. The pattern of pathological findings of crush asphyxia was not influenced by the presence or absence of concomitant serious or lethal injuries. In 4 cases (5%) where the circumstances of the lethal episode were those of crush asphyxia there were no characteristic pathological findings. This study has shown that a high percentage of crush asphyxias may be caused by vehicle accidents. It has also demonstrated that on occasion fatal crush asphyxia may have to be a diagnosis of exclusion, made only when there are characteristic death scene findings, and no evidence of lethal natural diseases or injuries at autopsy, with negative toxicological screening.     

The influence of the type of accelerant, type of burned material, time of burning and availability of air on the possibility of detection of accelerants traces

The presented research consisted in a series of field experiments and laboratory analyses of obtained samples. Their aim was to investigate how different factors influence the possibility of identification of accelerant traces in conditions that are as similar as possible to those of real fires. The studied factors were: type of burned material, type of accelerant, length of time between lighting and extinguishing of fire and the air availability level. The obtained results show that, among investigated factors, the type of burned material has the greatest influence. The other factors, with regard to their influence, could be ranked in descending order as follows: 'other' (hard to determine and regulate factors), type of accelerant, time of burning and air availability. 'Other' factors include arrangement of the burned material and dispersion of the accelerant.     

Statistical sampling in a legislative framework for peer review of medicare services

This article discusses problems addressed in developing an efficient way of identifying levels of inappropriate professional practice in delivery of Medicare services, using statistical sampling within a legislative peer-review scheme. An efficient alternative to the current sampling methodology is proposed.     

Metal objects mapping after small charge explosions. A study on AISI 304Cu steel with two different grain sizes

Evidence of exposure of a metal component to a small charge explosion can be detected by observing microstructural modifications; they may be present even if the piece does not show noticeable overall plastic deformations. Particularly, if an austenitic stainless steel (or another metal having a face-centered cubic structure and a low stacking fault energy) is exposed to an explosive shock wave, high-speed deformation induces primarily mechanical twinning, whereas, in nonexplosive events, a lower velocity plastic deformation first induces slip. The occurrence of mechanical twins can be detected even if the surface is damaged or oxidized in successive events. In the present research, optical metallography (OM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) were used to detect microstructural modifications caused on AISI 304Cu steel disks by small-charge explosions. Spherical charges of 54.5 or 109 g TNT equivalent mass were used at explosive-to-target distances from 6.5 to 81.5 cm, achieving peak pressures from 160 to 0.5 MPa. Explosions induced limited or no macro-deformation. Two alloy grain sizes were tested. Surface OM and SEM evidenced partial surface melting, zones with recrystallization phenomena, and intense mechanical twinning, which was also detected by STM and X-ray diffraction. In the samples' interior, only twins were seen, up to some distance from the explosion impinged surface and again, at the shortest charge-to-sample distances, in a thin layer around the reflecting surface. For forensic science locating purposes after explosions, the maximum charge-to-target distance at which the phenomena disappear was singled out for each charge or grain size and related to the critical resolved shear stress for twinning.     

A versatile technique for the investigation of gunshot residue patterns on fabrics and other surfaces: m-XRF

With heavy-metal-free ammunitions becoming more and more popular, it is necessary to find methods to visualize patterns of those elements in gunshot residues (GSRs) that are not accessible by chemographic coloring tests. The recently introduced millimeter-X-ray fluorescence analysis (m-XRF) spectrometer Spectro Midex M offers an easy way to record mappings of GSRs containing such elements in order to determine shooting distances as well as the general composition of these particles. A motorized stage enables samples of a maximum size of 20 x 20 cm to be investigated, like fabric, clothes, adhesive tapes (Filmolux films), and polyvinylalcohol gloves of shooter's hands. Human tissues can be measured using a Peltier-cooled specimen holder that is mounted onto the stage. As the spot size of the exiting X-rays lies in the millimeter range, which is adequate for the assessment of the residue patterns for shooting distance determination, a significant reduction in measurement time is achieved compared with mu-XRF methods. Test shots with heavy-metal-free ammunitions were performed on different target materials, like pork skin and fabric, and the elemental distributions of Ti, K, and Ga were determined. In order to show the capability of the spectrometer for conventional lead ammunitions as well, a shot series of 5-100 cm shooting distance and an adhesive tape of a shooter's hand were investigated analogously. A comparison of several methods applied in GSR investigation shows the advantages of the m-XRF method.     

Choking on toilet paper: an unusual case of suicide and a review of the literature on suicide by smothering, strangulation, and choking

While reports of suicide by smothering and strangulation are common, suicide by choking is far more rare. In addition to the act being difficult to carry out, suspected cases are not easily distinguished from accidental or homicidal deaths. Here, we present a case of suicide by choking on toilet paper in a patient with a long history of schizophrenia. The case was ruled a suicide based on the patient having been witnessed in a previous unsuccessful attempt of the same act.