Prison mental health services: results of a national survey of standards, resources, administrative structure, and litigation

The formation of adequate mental health systems within prisons has accelerated as a result of successful class action lawsuits. Our recent national survey questioned all state correctional departments about the existence of standards in each system, compliance with such standards, prevalence of class action lawsuits involving the issue of providing adequate mental health services for inmates, issues related to consent decrees, available mental health resources within the correctional system, and the administrative structure of the mental health system. Our purpose was to identify those factors correlated with certified class action lawsuits involving issues related to mental health services. Twenty-one states were involved in such litigation. Only the presence of psychiatric hospitals operated by the department of corrections correlated with the presence of certified class action lawsuits involving mental health services. Prison systems larger than 15,000 inmates were at higher risk for such litigation. Smaller systems having psychiatric hospitals run by the state mental health agency appeared to be at less risk for such litigation.     

The decision to leave an abusive relationship: The testing of an alternative methodological approach

Most studies that consider the factors influencing the decision to leave an abusive relationship rely on retrospective, self-report data. In addition to the biased samples that are frequently obtained in such investigations, the methodological shortcomings of survey research limit its explanatory power, particularly when applied to such sensitive topics as family violence. This report introduces an alternative method for studying the decision to leave an abusive relationship. Forty-five men and 68 women were studied using an experimental computer game of an abuse-like relationship. The tendency to leave this relationship was measured under four differing conditions of severity and frequency of abuse. A logit analysis revealed that the frequency of abuse was more consequential to women's decisions to leave, while severity of abuse was more salient for men. In addition, the hypothesized model, including frequency of abuse, severity of abuse, and locus of control, fits well for women but not for men. The implications of these findings, as well as the validity and future application of experimental games, are discussed.     

The use of human skin in the fabrication of a bite mark template: two case reports

Comparison of a suspected biter's dental arches with the patterned injury of a bite mark is especially difficult when the bite occurs in an anatomic location with a small radius of curvature or with complex or compound curves. The authors present two case reports in which human skin was used as a template for the reproduction of a bite. In one case the victim's skin was used; in the other, the skin of a anatomically similar person was used. The use of inked dental casts, photography, and transparent overlays significantly reduced the errors common to analysis of bite marks in these highly curved areas.     

欧盟的困境、变化及其影响

2005年,欧盟进入一个经济、社会及国家矛盾多发期,面临多重困境,包括经济发展迟滞,移民问题突出,一体化失去方向,民众对政府和欧盟缺乏信心等。未来几年内欧盟在深化一体化方面将难有作为,但某些领域的政府间合作会有所加强;从中长期看,欧盟的“解构”难以逆转,并朝着“多速”和“层次化”的一体化方向发展。欧盟的困境及其演变不可避免地会产生一系列影响,尤其在对外经济、地缘政治及大国关系方面。     

我国土地资源开发利用中存在的问题及法律对策

土地作为一种自然资源,在现代社会其稀缺性表现的特别突出.对此,如果我们不加以认真的对待和解决,将会成为制约我国经济社会发展的瓶颈,影响我国未来社会的可持续发展.因此,我们需要建立健全土地资源管理法律保障机制,完善土地行政综合管理体制,大力发展循环经济模式,促进土地资源的永续利用.     

马来西亚的哇扬戏

哇扬戏是马来西亚有名的传统民间戏剧,它在剧目、表演、人物和故事等方面都既有自己的特点,又与泰国和印尼的皮影戏有共同之处。探讨东南亚影戏之间的异同,也可以看出一些文化交流的规律。     

论包拯的司法伦理形象及其启示

作为中国历史上最著名的司法官员之一,包拯曾经树立了一个伟大的司法伦理形象;对包拯的司法形象进行分析研究,可以给我们今天的司法伦理建设以有益的启示.