The cost benefits of providing community-based correctional services: An evaluation of a statewide parole program in California

This was a cost-benefit study of a statewide program involving multiple community-based services for parolees in California. Program effectiveness was assessed by comparing program costs to incarceration costs avoided due to decreases in recidivism. During the first year following parole release, program participants on average stayed out of prison longer than the comparison population. Participants who completed any of the community-based services stayed out of prison substantially longer. The reductions in re-incarceration yielded a net saving of $21 million in incarceration costs over the study period, after the costs of the program and parole supervision were subtracted, or a 47 percent net return on each program dollar invested. This study did not include potential cost savings to other parties in the justice system. These findings suggest future investments in community-based correctional services might produce substantial financial benefits. A fuller apprehension of the potential benefits would benefit from continuing evaluations, including studies employing a true experimental design.     

The hegemonic narrative and the social construction of deviance: the case of the Black Hand

This essay examines Black Hand crime in the city of Chicago from 1892 to 1931. The Black Hand was a crude method of crime in which Italian immigrants and others were extorted for money. This research argues that much of what we know about Black Hand crime is a media construction. The method of analysis used to conduct this investigation involved the content analysis of 280 newspaper accounts of Black Hand crime. This essay also examines the institutional legacy of the Black Hand phenomenon and argues that the inappropriate linking of Black Hand crime to the Sicilian Mafia led to the development of the alien conspiracy theory, forever linking organized crime in American society to the Italian immigrant. This essay concludes that the media play an important role in defining the societal construction of crime. The findings also support the social constructionist argument that definitions of deviance are subjectively determined.     

MNCV与正中神经损伤后肢体肌力变化的关系

目的初步研究运动神经传导速度(motornerveconductionvelocity,MNCV)检查相关指标与肌力(musclepower,MP)的关系,评测MNCV检查在神经损伤的法医学鉴定中的价值。方法以22例正中神经损伤病例为对象,进行MNCV和MP检查;另将22例健康受试者作为对照组,在同条件下进行检查。MNCV测定指标包括:远、近端潜伏期,远、近端波幅,MNCV值。测定前,由同一操作医师测定患者相应的MP(拇短展肌、拇短屈肌、拇指对掌肌)。结果患病组内,MP与MNCV和远近端波幅值存在显著相关性,而对照组内MP与其他指标无任何相关性;两组间对比,各项指标均存在明显差异。结论正中神经损伤后,手部相应肌肉的MP丧失程度与MNCV改变相关,并且MNCV各项指标发生显著改变。结果表明,MNCV检验可为神经损伤后MP丧失程度的法医学检查及其鉴定提供客观证据。     

The quasi-criminalization of a business sector in China

This study probes the institutional mechanisms and operational processes that have turned the Chinese construction sector into a quasi-criminal domain during the past two decades. On the basis of its exploratory investigation, the paper tries to make a few generalized empirical observations, which centre on the problem of institution-formation and order under the conditions of a systemic transition from command to market environments. This study is part of a major project on state-rebuilding in transitional China.     

Identification and phylogenetic analysis of hepatitis C virus in forensic blood samples obtained from injecting drug users

Injecting drug users (IDUs) are a high-risk group for contracting hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV), and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infections. In Japan, data on the prevalence of those blood-borne viruses among IDUs are very limited. Blood samples were obtained from 12 cadavers of IDUs sent to Nagoya City University for the purpose of judicious autopsy and two alive IDUs with hepatitis C referred to a local hospital at the same period. The viruses were detected by polymerase chain reaction and phylogenetic analysis was performed. Two (16.6%) of the 12 autopsy cases were positive for HCV, but no case was positive for either HBV or HIV. Phylogenetic analysis of the two HCV isolates revealed that one was classified into genotype 1b and another was genotype 2b. Furthermore, nucleotide sequences of two isolates recovered from IDUs with hepatitis C were identical, that indicated the transmission of HCV between them, and those HCV were phylogenetically classified into genotype 2a. The prevalence of HCV infection among IDUs in Japan, despite the case of judicious autopsy, seems to be high, but HIV infection seems to be rare. The transmission of HCV between IDUs was demonstrated, and this indicates that phylogenetic analysis would applicable to also forensic analysis. HCV isolates identified in this study did not phylogenetically segregate, thus multiple transmission route of HCV among IDUs seems be exist in Japan.     

A PREVIOUSLY UNIMAGINABLE RISK POTENTIAL: SEPTEMBER 11 AND THE INSURANCE INDUSTRY

The attacks [of September 11 th] have revealed a previously unimaginable risk potential. ¹     

Disparities between social and economic development in Guangdong

China has achieved almost double‐digit annual economic growth since Deng Xiaoping launched market‐oriented economic reforms and open policies in 1978. Nevertheless, social development in China has lagged behind. This paper is concerned with the disparities between social and economic developmental trends in China, with particular reference to Guangdong Province. Having benefited by the open and reform policies since 1979, Guangdong Province has experienced rapid economic growth, especially in industrialization and urbanization. When compared with the spectacular development in its economy, social advancement in Guangdong has, however, appeared to remain far behind. The vast majority of the people in the province, especially the peasants in rural areas, and those who serve as contracted workers in factories, construction sites, or for the private sector in cities, are not protected by any systematic form of social security. This paper argues that the malpractice of local governments is the major factor leading to these divergent processes of economic and social development.     

NSP-ELISA鉴别FMDV感染与免疫

利用大肠埃希氏菌表达的口蹄疫病毒 (FMDV)非结构蛋白 (NSP) 3ABC多肽作为抗原 ,建立了一种可区分FMDV感染与接种灭活疫苗免疫牛的间接酶联免疫吸附试验 (I ELISA)。通过对 336份正常牛血清、50 8份注射疫苗牛血清、60份人工感染牛血清和 58份豚鼠免疫血清的检测 ,确定了血清抗体阴性与阳性效价的临界值。试验证明 ,该方法简易、快速 ,灵敏度比VIAA AGID高