Police perceptions of ADHD in youth interviewees

Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in witness-victim/suspect interviews holds strong relevance for policing. Four purpose-written vignettes were used to test the extent to which ADHD interviewee behaviour impacts on the work of 46 experienced Australian detectives and their ability to identify ADHD as a likely diagnosis. Detectives reported frequently encountering ADHD-type interviewees in their work; perceiving such interviewees to be at a very significant risk of future contact with the criminal justice system; and perceiving ADHD-type behaviour to exert a highly significant impact on interviewing time efficiency as well as quality. Detectives gave highly significant ratings of ADHD as a likely explanation of vignettes describing ADHD-type behaviour for witness-victims as well as suspects. However, they could not identify ADHD as the most likely explanation over and above other possibilities. Implications are discussed in terms of a rationale for future research targeting police awareness and training needs in ADHD.     

Perspectives on Regional Differences and Intimate Partner Violence in Canada: A Qualitative Examination

Few studies have examined the impact of intimate partner violence (IPV) within rural and northern communities. The current study addressed gaps within the literature by gathering perspectives from community service providers and academic researchers in order to increase understanding about the unique needs of IPV survivors within geographically diverse regions. Interviews were conducted with ten participants from Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Alberta, and Northwest Territories. Interviews focused on the unique needs of IPV survivors within each region, gaps that exist in meeting those needs, as well as questions pertaining to a larger research study entitled, Rural and Northern Community Response to Intimate Partner Violence. Results revealed several core themes relating to the unique challenges faced by IPV survivors within each region, as well as barriers to accessing services within rural and remote communities. Results also highlighted important considerations for future researchers, such as challenges that can arise when conducting research within geographically remote locations. Findings may help inform future development and implementation of services for IPV survivors residing in geographically diverse locations across Canada.     

More than meets the eye: the role of psychopathic traits in attention to distress

ABSTRACT

Although psychopathic traits have long been associated with predation and violence, it is unclear how individuals high in psychopathic traits choose victims. Victim selection and violence perpetration may be facilitated by attention to, or unawareness of, distressful facial expressions. Using a novel eye-tracking paradigm, the present study aimed to identify whether psychopathic traits are associated with unconscious attentional biases to expressions of distress. A sample of 138 undergraduates (23 males, 115 females, M_age?=?20.4) viewed 80 paired images portraying a neutral, and authentic expression of either fear, pain, embarrassment, startle, or sadness. Psychopathic traits did not predict initial orientation to distressing over neutral expressions. However, callous-affective traits negatively predicted attentional maintenance to expressions of embarrassment and pain, whereas criminal tendencies and erratic lifestyle positively predicted attentional maintenance to embarrassment and pain, respectively. Findings offer insight into perceptual processing of others’ distress, with implications for violence and victim selection.     

Translating Behavioral Science into Practice: A Framework to Determine Science Quality and Applicability for Police Organizations

Policy on officer‐involved shootings is critically reviewed and errors in applying scientific knowledge identified. Identifying and evaluating the most relevant science to a field‐based problem is challenging. Law enforcement administrators with a clear understanding of valid science and application are in a better position to utilize scientific knowledge for the benefit of their organizations and officers. A recommended framework is proposed for considering the validity of science and its application. Valid science emerges via hypothesis testing, replication, extension and marked by peer review, known error rates, and general acceptance in its field of origin. Valid application of behavioral science requires an understanding of the methodology employed, measures used, and participants recruited to determine whether the science is ready for application. Fostering a science–practitioner partnership and an organizational culture that embraces quality, empirically based policy, and practices improves science‐to‐practice translation.     

Providing Public Servants What They Need: Revealing the “Unseen” through Data Visualization

Electronic media has enabled new forms of communication with the potential to provide more effective means of conveying evidence to public servants. This article explores what is known about the use of these new capacities in public affairs to visualize the results of research. The authors first explore the value of visual engagement for increasing comprehension. Then, they examine what is known of studies of the effectiveness of visualization and offer basic design principles that underpin effective visualization. Finally, two original public affairs examples are presented to illustrate what is possible.     

Fatal cocaine interactions: a review of cocaine-related deaths in Bexar County, Texas

Although cocaine is a widely abused illicit substance that is known to cause death, deaths due to its use appear to occur in a minority of those who use it. This report was designed to review drug-related deaths due to cocaine, and the concomitant use of other drugs/medications. A retrospective review of drug deaths at the Bexar County Medical Examiner's Office in San Antonio, Texas, was undertaken for cases where cocaine was one of the drugs implicated in causing death. Analysis was performed comparing the concentrations of cocaine and benzoylecgonine present and the absence or presence of other drugs. The data obtained showed that cocaine was toxic over a large range with deaths occurring at concentrations ranging from 0.01 to 78 mg/L. Analyses also indicated an increased lethality when cocaine is used in combination with ethanol, heroin, opiates, and antidepressant/antipsychotic medications, which is consistent with previous reports and research. Antihistamine data showed that there may be relationship between increased toxicity and co-ingestion, although more research is necessary.     

Postmortem atropine concentrations in resuscitation cases

The medications used during resuscitation are often in and of themselves toxic. Several reports have been published regarding toxicities of these drugs, including lidocaine, procainamide, and atropine. But how does a forensic pathologist or toxicologist differentiate a possible intoxication from therapeutic or resuscitory use especially given that the concentrations of such drugs, when used in the setting of resuscitation, have not been studied? Concentrations of a well-known resuscitation medication, atropine, were assessed in cases where it was administered before death during attempted resuscitation in an effort to address this deficiency. A review of deaths occurring in 2009 was undertaken to identify cases where drugs known to be used during resuscitation were present on toxicological analysis. Autopsy reports and medical records were examined to determine how much atropine was administered, the timing and route of administration, the time the sample was drawn (antemortem and postmortem), the source of the sample, and the ultimate cause of death. Eighty-nine cases were identified in which atropine was given before death during attempted resuscitation and was detected in the blood on postmortem toxicological screening; 11 cases were identified in which atropine was administered before death yet was not detected on the postmortem toxicological screening. Mean age was 41 years, and there were 65 males and 35 females. The overall median dose of atropine given was 3 mg, the median difference between the time of last administration of the atropine to the time of death (or draw for antemortem samples) was 15 minutes, and the median atropine concentration was 0.1 mg/L. Analysis failed to reveal significant differences in the atropine concentration based on the route of administration (intravenous or intraosseus), the cause of death, or the time since administration (within the first 2 hours). Analysis did reveal a difference between the atropine concentrations in peripheral versus central blood sources and with prolonged postmortem interval (>24 hours) suggesting postmortem redistribution.     

Perceived Injustice Predicts Intention to Litigate: Findings from a Spinal Cord Injury Sample

The current study examined the association between perceived injustice (assessed by the Injustice Experiences Questionnaire) and intent to litigate in a sample of individuals who had recently suffered a spinal cord injury and were currently on an inpatient rehabilitation unit. Higher perception of injustice was associated with reported interest in litigation. In logistic regression analyses, perceived injustice uniquely differentiated between individuals who foresaw involvement in litigation versus those who did not, with the blame/unfairness factor of the Injustice Experiences Questionnaire emerging as more significant than the severity/irreparability of loss factor. Both anticipated litigation and higher perception of injustice were associated with greater attribution of responsibility for injury to other person(s) and reduced forgiveness across a number of domains. Finally, a receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was conducted to identify IEQ score most associated with anticipated litigation. This study is the first to examine perception of injustice in a spinal cord injury sample or the association between perceived injustice and litigation intent. Results support the possibility that psychological appraisals of injury may have significant legal ramifications.     

A novel approach for fingerprinting mummified hands

Abstract:  Fingerprinting has long been used as a method for identifying bodies and, since first discovered, many advances have been made in both fingerprint acquisition and interpretation. However, in the field of forensic pathology, the attainment of fingerprints from mummified bodies has remained difficult. The most common technique historically used to obtain fingerprints in these cases usually employs the amputation of the fingers combined with soaking and/or injecting the fingers with various solutions in order to enhance the fingerprints. A novel approach to fingerprinting mummified fingers is presented which involves removal and rehydration of the fingerpads (including the epidermal, dermal, and adipose tissues) followed by inking and rolling, using a gloved finger for support. The technique presented produces a superior quality of print without amputation of the finger, yielding excellent results and assisting in obtaining positive identification.