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.     

"小城故事"的演叙、媒介杂糅与魔幻叙事

文学、艺术的创作应与社会史密切相关.书写城镇故事的叙事称之为"小城叙事".在传统的"小城叙事"中,通过语言讲述乡土伦理的"演叙"占据主流.20世纪80年代以后,在"小城叙事"中,"演叙"与工业化冲击下所产生的作品中的"消息"杂糅,而且随着城镇化日益锲入工业化,小城叙事的"消息"性质日益凸显.20世纪90年代末与新世纪之交,当代中国城镇的消费化、媒介化与虚拟化日益严重,仪式性的"演叙"传统变得面目全非,呈现魔幻化的叙事凸显.贾樟柯的系列作品是对当代中国城镇变化历程的清晰展示,在他的《三峡好人》中开始出现了人们直面城镇废墟化的存在主义勇气.     

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.     

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).     

Maltreatment and Family Dysfunction in Childhood and the Subsequent Adjustment of Children and Adults

The adjustment problems associated with sexual abuse, physical abuse, psychological maltreatment, neglect, and witnessing family violence during childhood were examined in three studies. Study 1 demonstrated significant overlap between maltreatment types in parent reports (N = 50) of maltreatment experiences of their child aged 5–12 years. Parental sexual punitiveness, traditionality, family adaptability and family cohesion significantly predicted scores on 4 maltreatment scales and children's externalizing behavior problems. Level of maltreatment predicted internalizing, externalizing, and sexual behavior problems. In Study 2, significant overlap was found between adults' retrospective reports (N = 138) of all 5 types of maltreating behaviors. Parental sexual punitiveness, traditionality, family adaptability, and family cohesion during childhood predicted the level of maltreatment and current psychopathology. Although child maltreatment scores predicted psychopathology, childhood family variables were better predictors of adjustment. Study 3 demonstrated that child maltreatment scores predicted positive aspects of adult adaptive functioning (N = 95).     

公司立法理念的选择——以中西法律传统比较为视角

“法律是什么?”这一问题曾被反反复复地提出,又由严肃的思想家们以形形色色、奇特的甚至反论的方式予以回答。〔1〕然而由于中西社会文明、文化传统、历史发展的不同,法的概念似乎难成定论,法律所内涵的精神也各有不同。在中西公司立法中,法律条文更多地或强调国家强制,或彰显私法自治,不同法律理念的选择正是不同法律文化传统的必然产物。一、中国的礼法文化与公司立法中的国家强制(一)追溯中国法律传统中的礼法文化礼主宰着中国传统文化的命脉。尽管礼源自古老的祭祀仪式,但是在长期的封建统治中,礼成为维系国家秩序的工具。从法的角度说…     

马克思世界历史视野中人的全面发展

世界历史是马克思对资本主义以来人类历史发展趋向的科学概括,人的全面而自由的发展是马克思终其一生所追求的最高价值目标。世界历史的前途是共产主义,而共产主义正是人的全面自由发展的社会,在那里,人的全面发展的逻辑与历史的双重内涵达到了最后的统一。因此,世界历史与人的全面而自由的发展是一个统一的历史进程。