Spatio-Temporal Interaction of Urban Crime

Over the past decade, a renewed interest in the analysis of crime hot-spots has emerged in the social and behavioral sciences. Spurred by improvements in computing power, data visualization and geographic information systems, numerous innovative approaches have materialized for identifying areas of elevated crime in urban environments. Unfortunately, many hot-spot analysis techniques treat the spatial and temporal aspects of crime as distinct entities, thus ignoring the necessary interaction of space and time to produce criminal opportunities. The purpose of this paper is to explore the utility of statistical measures for identifying and comparing the spatio-temporal footprints of robbery, burglary and assault. Functional and visual comparisons for spatio-temporal clusters are analyzed across a range of space–time values using a comprehensive database of crime events for Cincinnati, Ohio. Empirical results suggest that robbery, burglary and assault have dramatically different spatio-temporal signatures.

Human rights and forensic psychology

Objectives. Human rights serve to orientate practitioners to the necessary conditions for a minimally worthwhile life for service users, the prerequisites for a life of dignity and a chance at happiness, and the opportunity to incorporate into their life plans cherished values and goals. In this introduction to the special section paper, I discuss the basic concept of human rights and outline their relevance for clinical practice with offenders. Method. I explore the core values associated with human rights and suggest that one of their primary functions is to protect the internal and external conditions of individuals' agency and their pursuit of better lives. Conclusion. I briefly outline the three articles comprising this special section of LCP on human rights that address issues of risk, therapeutic jurisprudence, and the rights of detained persons.     

Search orders and computers

Legal and practical context: On the execution of a Search Order, the Supervising Solicitorensures that fair play is observed by the claimant's searchparty in circumstances which are always stressful and oftenemotional. With the rise of computer imaging orders, the lengthof time taken at the defendant's premises has increased andit frequently falls to the supervising solicitor to undertakeany post-execution search and review of the computer evidence.It all adds to the expense. This article offers suggestionsto ensure that the parties' positions are safe-guarded but theimpact of computer evidence is properly managed. Key points: The article sets out the history of the role of the supervisingsolicitor in the execution of a Search Order and how that rolehas evolved. The article then looks at the increased importanceof securing evidence held on computers during the Search Orderand the resultant impact. Suggestions are made as to the futuredrafting and conduct of Search Orders to ensure that the evidenceand the interests of the parties are safe-guarded but with aneye to controlling costs. The claimant's solicitors do not havethe luxury of time to debate these issues when preparing forits application. It is hoped this article provides the key points. Conclusions: The article brings to light many issues which ought to be consideredprior to the making of a Search Order. The suggestions offeredrely on the court taking a pro-active role and the claimantconducting proper due diligence.