Labour market discrimination against indigenous people in Peru

In this article, the component of the gross wage differential that can be explained by productivity‐enhancing attributes and that which is due to unexplained factors and labour market discrimination are empirically determined. Individual data from the 1991 Living Standards Measurements Survey of Peru are used to analyse labour market earnings and to decompose the gross earnings differential. A large portion of the indigenous/non‐indigenous wage gap is unexplained by human capital and other observable differences.     

Book notes

Development in States of War. Edited by Deborah Eade. Oxford: Oxfam, 1996. Pp.109. £8.95. ISBN 0855983442

Yearbook of International Co‐operation and Development: 1998/99. Edited by Helge Ole Bergesen, Georg Parmann and 0ystein B. Thommessen. London: Earthscan for The Fridtjof Nansen Institute, 1998. £45. Pp.348. ISBN 1 85383 526 9     

Book reviews

Amir Taheri, Holy Terror: The Inside Story of Islamic Terrorism. London: Century Hutchinson; Bethesda, MD: Adler & Adler, 1987. Pp.313. £12.95/$19.95 (hardback); £3.95 (paperback).

Robert O. Slater and Michael Stohl (eds.), Current Perspectives on International Terrorism. London: Macmillan Press; New York: St. Martin's Press, 1988. Pp. 288. £29.50/$39.95 (hardback); £13.95 (paperback).

Juliet Lodge (ed.), The Threat of Terrorism. Brighton: Wheatsheaf Books; Boulder, CO.Westview Press, 1988. Pp. 280. £35/$33.50 (hardback); £12.95 (paperback).

Edward F. Mickolus with Peter A. Flemming (compilers), Terrorism, 1980–1987: A Selectively Annotated Bibliography. Westport, CT: Greenwood Press, 1988. Pp. 314. £49.50/$55.     

Health and social care staff responses to working with people with a learning disability who display sexual offending type behaviours

Abstract

This study found that 59% of social care staff were currently supporting a client with a learning disability who had offended or displayed an offending type behaviour. The range of behaviours was similar to that displayed by clients in a secure health facility and included rape, sexual assault and exposure. Only 22.9% of social care staff had received training in this area, while none of the health staff had. Both groups expressed low levels of confidence in supporting this client group. The areas of difficulty were common to both groups and included personal attitudes and attitudes of others to the behaviour, and concerns over risk, responsibility and safety. In respect of attitudes, social care staff were found to be significantly more likely to hold negative attitudes towards the person's behaviour, while health staff were significantly more likely to feel negatively towards the person. Health staff were significantly more likely to identify training as a means of further support, while social care staff identified professional input. Both groups identified the need for theoretical training about working with this client group. Despite this no significant differences were found between those who had and had not received training and confidence, attitudes and the need for further support.     

A qualitative investigation of treatment components for families of youth who have sexually offended

ABSTRACT

Traditional treatment approaches for youth who commit sexual crimes are generally understudied and lack consideration for youths’ evolving context and development. A holistic model is important in service delivery, whereby multiple socio-ecological risk and protective factors are targeted in treatment. Family treatment, a key component of holistic practices, has not been well-defined for families of youth who have committed sexual crimes. Better understanding of the practical techniques used in service agencies can inform family services for youth. Using an inductive grounded theory approach, this qualitative study interviews service providers (N?=?19) to understand components of family treatment. Findings suggest components including problem solving, communication skills, and working through the pain meet certain goals of restructuring and uniting families. The therapeutic relationship was a component that meets all goals of family treatment and helps families and youth overcome stigma of sexual offending. Findings have implications for developing and testing models of family treatment for sexually abusive youth.     

Violent Couples: Coping and Communication Skills

Twelve married couples court-ordered to attend a violence reduction treatment program completed self-report measures of anger, social problem-solving skills, and strategies employed for dealing with high-conflict situations. They were subsequently videotaped while discussing 3 different scenarios. Three raters independently coded the videotapes for the use of effective and ineffective communication strategies used by the participants. Aggregate reliability estimates were acceptable. No gender-based differences were found on the self-report measures or the communication skill ratings. When couples discussed low-conflict situations use of effective skills exceeded use of ineffective skills, and when couples discussed high-conflict problems use of ineffective skills exceeded use of effective skills. Implications for treatment of spousal assault are presented.     

A National Survey of Juvenile Risk Assessment

Juvenile courts in the United State are using risk assessment to measure relative levels of risk posed by delinquent offenders. Risk assessment aids in decisions about restrictiveness, supervision and the type and intensity of treatment needed. The current study surveyed all states in an effort to define the current state-of-the-art in juvenile risk assessment. The results indicate most states have some semblance of risk assessment of juvenile offenders, but a minority of states have formal risk assessment instruments. The predominate risk factors measured in the 50 states include measures of offense severity, past history of offenses, age of the offender, psychological measures, use of community resources, substance abuse, prior institutionalization, family problems, peer group association and absconding. This qualitative research provides an overview of the scope and sophistication of juvenile risk assessment and may provide models for states wishing to implement risk assessment.