Self-Reported Delinquency and Alienation: A Study of Juvenile Crime

Based on a probability sample of 7542 from the seventh, ninth, 11th grade students of the Toledo metropolitan area, this study, using self-reported delinquency, investigated the relationship between alienation and deviant behavior. A positive association between alienation (normlessness and societal estrangement) and self-reported delinquency were observed. The degree of association and the direction still maintained when controlled for the age and sex of the students.     

Problems in the Intelligence-Policy Nexus: Rethinking Korea,Tet, and Afghanistan

Accusations of failure by elements of the US intelligence community (IC) have followed in the wake of nearly every war and terrorist bombing since Japan's successful strike on Pearl Harbor in 1941. This article will illustrate how some problems that exist inside the ‘intelligence-policy nexus’ are beyond the control of the IC. By investigating the dynamics and tensions that exist between producers of intelligence (the IC) and the consumers of those products (policy-makers), we review three different types of alleged failure. First, by revisiting the Chinese intervention in Korea, we show that a rarely listed case in the literature is in fact a classic example of producer-based failure generated from within the IC. However, in our study of the Tet Offensive during the Vietnam War (1968), we show that the alleged intelligence failure by producers should be more accurately described as a ‘failure of intelligence’ by consumers. Third, by revisiting the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan (1979), we conclude that there existed neither a producer nor a consumer failure. The Carter Administration made a conscious policy choice to act surprised (when it was not).     

Sickle cell lung disease and sudden death: a retrospective/prospective study of 21 autopsy cases and literature review

Sudden death in the setting of sickle cell lung disease (SCLD), is periodically seen in the practice of medical examiners. The goal of the present study was to identify the most common pathologic findings of SCLD associated with sudden or unexpected death. A retrospective/prospective review of 21 autopsy cases from sickle cell patients between 1990 and 2004 was performed. Review of medical records, autopsy reports, and H&E-stained slides of lung tissue was performed. Oil-Red-O and elastic staining of lung tissue were evaluated. All cases were screened for both acute and chronic forms of SCLD. Patients admitted for sickle cell pain crisis ranged in age from 8 months to 65 years. Fifteen out of 21 cases (71.4%) showed significant pulmonary pathology. The most frequent lung findings included pulmonary edema (47.6%), pulmonary thromboembolism (38.1%), fat emboli (33.3%), pulmonary hypertension, grades I-IV (33.3%), and microvascular occlusive thrombi (28.5%). Our study demonstrates higher-than-expected percentages of acute and chronic sickle cell-related lung injury such as fat embolism (33.3%) and pulmonary hypertension (33.3%), with right ventricular hypertrophy (33.3%). Therefore, we propose a simple and high-yield autopsy algorithm of ancillary procedures that should be applied on all known and suspected autopsy cases of sickle cell disease.     

What drives punitive beliefs?: Demographic characteristics and justifications for sentencing

Punitive attitudes of the general public were the focus of a considerable amount of research. Much of the work focused on the demographic correlates of punitive attitudes and only a limited amount of research focused on how punitive attitudes were justified. That is, what does the public want to get out of punishing criminal offenders? In this research, how a sample of Virginia residents recommended sanctioning five different offenses was examined. Multivariate models were used to assess the relationships between demographic and ideological orientations, punishment justifications, and punitive attitudes. Finally, separate models were estimated for males and females, and African Americans and Whites to explore whether these factors operated differently across groups. The results suggested that in comparison to demographic factors, justifications were relatively strongly linked to punitive attitudes. These effects were similar across subgroups, but there was an interaction suggesting that the relationship between general deterrence and punitive attitudes varied across gender and race. Implications of the study are discussed.     

In-Service training: Outside looking in

This paper describes and explores prominent issues pertaining to in-service training of law enforcement personnel. The overall situation in in-service training is examined, with special coverage being given to state mandates, availability and expense, the nature of programs, and the potential role of non law enforcement personnel in providing in-service training. Some possible solutions to current problems are discussed and general conclusions are offered.     

A 10-year epidemiologic review of homicide cases in children younger than 5 years in Fulton County, GA: 1996-2005

The primary purpose of this study was to present the epidemiologic review of homicide deaths certified by the Fulton County Medical Examiner's Office from January 1, 1996 through December 31, 2005 in children younger than 5 years. The secondary purpose of this study was to determine if the observed cases of homicide deaths among children younger than 5 years in Fulton County are significantly greater than expected when compared with those in the State of Georgia. For purposes of this study, only homicide deaths of Fulton County residents were included. The authors reviewed all homicide cases in children younger than 5 years: infancy (<1 year) and early childhood (1-4 years). χ values were calculated using Epi Info (version 3.4.1; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Ga) to determine differences in homicide among age group, race, and sex variables. In addition, a χ test at the α level of 0.05 was done to determine if the observed cases of homicide deaths among children younger than 5 years in Fulton County were significantly greater than expected when compared with those in the State of Georgia. There were 49 homicide cases in children younger than 5 years identified over this 10-year period. The yearly distribution of these 49 homicide deaths ranged from 1 death in 2003 to 9 deaths in 2004. Most of the patients were male (n=29, 59.2%) and black (n=44, 89.8%). Between infancy and early childhood cases, homicide victims were nearly equally divided between the 2 groups. However, χ values showed that decedents younger than 5 years are more likely to have died of homicide compared with decedents 5 years or older (odds ratio [OR], 1.74; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.29-2.35). Black decedents younger than 5 years are more likely to have died of homicide compared with other races (OR, 3.21; 95% CI, 1.21-9.28). Male and female decedents are equally at risk to have died of homicide (OR, 1.14; 95% CI, 0.61-2.11). The authors also determined that the total homicide risk for children younger than 5 years in Fulton County during the years 1996 to 2005, at the α level of 0.05, is 1.8 relative to the state. Brain injury was the primary cause of death in most cases (n=23, 46.9%). Although this study was unable to collect information on the victim's suspect/offender characteristics, it was noted that only 37% of the cases (n=18) went to trial. Most homicide investigations were under the Atlanta police jurisdiction (n=28, 57.1%). Results from this study may assist local and state government officials in recognizing the epidemiologic characteristics of children at risk to help them allocate limited resources efficiently and implement preventive measures to at-risk populations effectively.