Executive Particularism and Ministerial Selection in India

Why do political parties in parliamentary systems undertake actions, such as joining a coalition government, that will entail significant costs for their members in subsequent elections? Recent research points to the incentive structures faced by differentially positioned members of a parliamentary party: unlike backbenchers, MPs who hold a ministerial portfolio can use the prerequisites of executive office to shield themselves from the costs of governance. This article tests the theory of executive particularism by examining the electoral fortunes of government ministers in India. Sitting government ministers are found to outperform other candidates; however, tests of causality fail to demonstrate that holding a ministerial portfolio causes this electoral benefit. Instead, it appears that a candidate’s electoral performance enhances the likelihood of being granted a ministerial portfolio in the first place. This finding raises questions about the generalizability of claims that party elites can use ministerial office to shield themselves from the costs of governing.     

Risks and Realities of Working with Alienated Children

Involvement in custody cases that include accusations of parental alienation—whether as an evaluator, expert witness, lawyer, judge, therapist, provider of a specialized intervention, or researcher—incurs both professional and personal risks. Some risks relate to false negative or false positive identifications of parental alienation that can lead to regulatory agency complaints and public condemnation by the parent who feels wronged by the case outcome. Other risks stem from providing services in an emerging area of practice and working with children who overtly oppose repairing the relationship with their rejected parent. These risks include: unfounded accusations of mistreating children; negatively biased commentary and sensationalist attacks in the media and in social media, professional conferences and journals, and in courtroom testimony; harassment, vilification, and invasion of privacy; threats of violence and public humiliation; shunning and rumor spreading by colleagues; and complaints to regulatory agencies. This article examines circumstances, beliefs, and dynamics that give rise to these risks, suggests precautions to reduce the risk of false accusations against professionals, and offers recommendations for dealing with regulatory agencies. Criticisms that a court or service provider has mistreated a child merit careful scrutiny in the context of the case evidence and empirical data. While some interventions for alienated children raise legitimate concerns, others have been maligned by anecdotal complaints that studies show do not represent the experience of most participants.     

An experimental trial of a dog-training program in a juvenile detention center

Journal of Experimental Criminology - This research examines the effect of a dog-training program among juveniles ordered to a county juvenile detention facility in a large, Midwestern city. A...     

Marijuana medicalization and motor vehicle fatalities: a synthetic control group approach

Journal of Experimental Criminology - This paper reports a quasi-experimental evaluation of California’s 1996 medical marijuana law (MML), known as Proposition 215, on statewide motor vehicle...     

网络诈骗犯罪的司法认定难题探解

网络诈骗作为诈骗罪的特殊形式,具有专门的入罪与量刑标准。与传统诈骗相比,网络诈骗的入罪门槛低,量刑相对重,准确认定网络诈骗对于正确定罪量刑,实现刑法的罪责刑相适应原则至关重要。然而现有司法解释并未明确网络诈骗的概念,且理论界和实务界尚未形成统一认识,致使网络诈骗的司法认定成为实践中的疑难问题。正确认定网络诈骗,首先是要厘清普通诈骗与网络诈骗的区别,以解决罪与非罪的问题;然后要厘清网络诈骗与特定网络环境下盗窃、赌博及信用卡诈骗的区别,以解决此罪与彼罪的问题。     

制度差异与制度创新:多元制度互动下的大湾区改革

在一国两制的背景下,香港、澳门与内地之间的制度差异如何影响粤港澳大湾区的发展?学界对此仍关注不足。论文基于制度主义理论,构建了"制度差异-张力-制度创新"的理论框架,以深圳前海自贸区的工程建设管理制度改革为案例,分析了制度差异推动改革创新的机制。研究发现,不同的制度逻辑形塑行动主体的认知与行为,因此多元制度在互动中能够产生张力,进而激发行为主体的能动性,促使其反思、设计新的制度、采取改革行动,最终促成制度创新。中国内地与港澳的制度在"一国两制"方针下得以多元共存,制度差异在粤港澳密切互动中产生的张力是大湾区改革的创新源泉,使大湾区在国家改革与发展大局中发挥重要作用。     

Retaining Confidence

Experts suggest ways to court foreign investment as China marketkeeps its appeal When German chemical giant BASF started its$10-billion petrochemical project in south China in November 2019,it made news as the smart Verbund project was the first large petrochemical project in China solely owned by foreign investors.The company came into the spotlight again recently,being one of the early birds among the foreignfunded enterprises in the country to resume work after a hiatus due to the novel coronavirus.     

中国公益小镇与小镇青年研究——以广东省桂城街道为例

随着中国城镇化的深入推进,特色小镇建设成为一种新的趋势,其中"公益小镇"也逐渐生长起来、壮大起来,为"小镇青年"提供了发挥爱心和热情、施展个性和才能的重要地域空间,使青年在参与公益志愿服务过程中探索出与城镇共同成长的新路径。广东省桂城街道近十年来以"关爱桂城"为抓手探索公益小镇建设路径,为"小镇青年"创造了多样化的发展机遇,主要包括"关爱督导"与小镇青年的发声传递,"创益中心"与小镇青年的理念创新,"社工中心"与小镇青年的制度探索,"义工联"与小镇青年的积极行动,"创熟社区"与小镇青年的传承发展,"授勋典礼"与小镇青年的成长成熟等六个方面。通过充分发挥小镇青年在公益小镇建设中先锋力量的发展模式,对于构建共建共治共享的社会治理格局,推动国家治理体系和治理能力现代化具有重要的借鉴价值。     

互联网对青少年犯罪心理形成的影响及防范措施

互联网的普及应用给人类带来了前所未有的机遇,同时也带来了一系列社会问题。互联网上的不良信息对青少年犯罪心理形成的影响就是其中之一。文章主要分析了互联网上的色情信息、暴力信息以及互联网的虚拟性和隐蔽性对青少年形成性犯罪心理、暴力犯罪心理和诈骗犯罪心理的影响,并提出相关的防范措施,以期对解决这一现实严重问题有所帮助。     

美国未成年人司法制度的发展

本文旨在介绍美国的未成年人司法制度。文中除了介绍其不同于成年人的司法制度之处以外,还特别介绍此制度近期的发展,着重于停止按未成年人司法程序审判(移交成年人法庭)、校园暴力、未成年人团伙及“三击不中”政策等。