Subway Train‐Related Fatalities in New York City: Accident versus Suicide*

Abstract: We examined the characteristics of subway train‐related fatalities in New York City between Jan. 1, 2003 and May 31, 2007 in order to determine which factors are useful in differentiating accident from suicide. Subway train‐related deaths with homicide and undetermined manners also are included. During this period, there were 211 subway train‐related fatalities. The manners of death were: suicide (n = 111), accident (n = 76), undetermined (n = 20), and homicide (n = 4). The causes of death were blunt trauma (n = 206) and electrocution (n = 5). Torso transection and extremity amputation were more frequent in suicides. Antidepressant medications were more frequently detected in suicides, whereas cocaine and ethanol were more frequent in accidents. However, autopsy findings should be weighed in the context of the entire evaluation along with other circumstantial and investigative findings. In unwitnessed deaths where additional information is unavailable or discrepant, the most appropriate manner of death usually is undetermined.     

Schneeeinbringung in Gewässer,Zuständigkeit der Wasserrechtsbehörde

Der Begriff "Stoffe" im § 3 Abs 1 Z 1 AWG 2002 umfasst auch Schnee. Die Einbringung von Schnee in ein Gew?sser f?llt daher unter die Ausnahmebestimmung des § 3 Abs 1 Z 1 AWG 2002. Zur Bewilligung einer solchen Einbringung ist die Wasserrechtsbeh?rde zust?ndig.     

Straddling Two Worlds: Reflections of a Retired Criminal Cases Review Commissioner

In this paper, I draw upon the 'systems theory' approach to miscarriages of justice (adopted by Nobles and Schiff) to reflect upon my experience as a member of the Scottish Criminal Cases Review Commission. I demonstrate how the Commission manages the tensions between the rather different 'legal' and 'lay' worlds which it inhabits. More particularly, I argue that the Commission, while heavily constrained by the law and a legal world view, is more independent of the legal 'system' than some commentators would suggest. I substantiate my arguments through describing some of the debates that took place within the Scottish Commission and analysing in depth the judgements of the Scottish appeal court in some of the cases referred to it by the Commission. Much of what I say is applicable in varying degrees to the English Commission and to the current debate in England as to what constitutes a 'miscarriage of justice'.     

Resisting the Long Arm of Criminal Antitrust Laws: Norris v The United States

This note analyses the judgment of the House of Lords in the case Norris v USA , and argues that its ruling on whether mere price-fixing can amount to a common law conspiracy to defraud will have a significant effect on both US and UK criminal anti-cartel enforcement. In particular, the potential negative impact of the judgment on the future viability of the UK Cartel Offence is highlighted.     

Eyewitness Memory of a Supermarket Robbery: A Case Study of Accuracy and Confidence After 3 Months

In this case study, 14 witnesses of an armed robbery were interviewed after 3 months. Security camera recordings were used to assess memory accuracy. Of all information that could be remembered about 84% was correct. Although accurately recalled information had a higher confidence level on average than inaccurately recalled information, the mean accuracy–confidence correlation was rather modest (0.38). These findings indicate that confidence is not a reliable predictor of accuracy. A higher level of self-reported, post-event thinking about the incident was associated with higher confidence levels, while a higher level of self-reported emotional impact was associated with greater accuracy. A potential source of (mis)information, a reconstruction of the robbery broadcasted on TV, did not alter the original memories of the witnesses.     

Is low self-control associated with violence among youths in Turkey?

Self-control theory is tested in relation to violence on a sample of university students in Turkey. The primary findings indicate support for the theory net of the impacts of strain, deterrence, differential association, social bonding, and routine activity theories: The greater the low self-control, the greater the violence. No subdimensions of self-control have consistent significant impacts on violence. Most high-opportunity measures have positive impacts on violence. Interaction effects occur only among subdimensions of self-control and opportunity variables. Social class and age are significant even when low self-control measures were controlled.     

The pluralization of policing and the rise of private policing in China

Policing in China has undergone tremendous change during the economic transformation of the past three decades. This paper describes the plural policing bodies that have existed during pre- and post-reform periods in China. In the pre-reform period the policing bodies were generally public in nature with the public security police playing an important role in providing professional guidance to the other policing bodies. In the post-reform period, there has been a transition from a monopoly of public policing to an integration of public/private policing, with the public security police still playing a leading role in the policing network. Apart from the emergence of private policing (the security service industry), there is also a trend towards privatizing some previously public policing bodies in line with the movement toward strengthening the rule of law and towards privatization in general.     

Is Deterrence Effective? Results of a Meta-Analysis of Punishment

It is supposed that threats of punishment deter potential criminals from committing crimes. The correctness of this theory is, however, questionable. Numerous empirical investigations have come to different results. In this article a meta-analysis is described which tries to find out the reasons for the different findings. First evaluations indicate that the methods of research have an influence on the results and that a possible deterring effect of the penal law can only be covered reasonably with a very differentiating model. Not all criminal acts can be influenced by deterrence. It appears that the most significant deterrent effects can be achieved in cases of minor crime, administrative offences and infringements of informal social norms. In cases of homicide, on the other hand, the meta-analysis does not indicate that the death penalty has a deterrent effect. According to the results, the validity of the deterrence hypothesis must be looked at in a differenciated manner.     

Zur Abgrenzung von Leihe und Miete (Anerkennungszins)

Für die Beurteilung, ob Gebrauchskosten iSd § 981 ABGB vorliegen oder aber ein Entgelt für eine Gebrauchsüberlassung vereinbart wurde, ist ausschlie?lich darauf abzustellen ist, ob die übernommenen Kosten ihrer Natur nach aus dem Gebrauch resultieren. Die übernahme jener Kosten, die den Liegenschaftseigentümer unabh?ngig vom Gebrauch treffen, stellt hingegen Entgelt dar. Ein entgeltliches Rechtsverh?ltnis liegt dann nicht vor, wenn für die überlassene Sache ein "Anerkennungszins" geleistet wird, der gegenüber dem Nutzungswert nicht ins Gewicht f?llt, wobei eine Grenze von etwa 10% des ortsüblichen Entgelts angenommen wird. Die Frage, ob in diesem Sinne Entgeltlichkeit oder Unentgeltlichkeit vorliegt, ist nach den Verh?ltnissen bei Vertragsabschluss zu beurteilen; zu prüfen ist dabei, welcher ortsübliche Hauptmietzins zuzüglich Betriebskosten für das Objekt damals erzielbar gewesen w?re.