Is there a “lost world” of criminal investigation?

This article is a critical examination of current investigation textbooks. It argues that they, like urban government textbooks of years ago, are deficient in many ways. For instance it is asserted that in a number of respects current texts present an inaccurate depiction of the criminal investigation process. This comes about in a number of ways. For example, at least by implication, many texts appear to present an inaccurate portrayal of how investigators spend their time. Moreover, they also present a highly simplistic picture of both the inter- and intra-organizational context within which investigators must operate. In addition to these deficiencies, the texts under consideration are also guilty of over-emphasizing the role that criminalistics play in the investigative process, while at the same time under-emphasizing the role of informants. Furthermore, most texts put a heavy emphasis on describing the ideal investigator while ignoring the characteristics that actual investigators exhibit. Finally, it is suggested that because criminal investigation texts do not present typologies or categories of crime, the student is faced with a mass of facts that are difficult to learn and retain.The article concludes by suggesting a different framework for criminal investigation texts, a framework that emphasizes that investigators actually operate in an organizational setting which sets contsraints on their actions and a framework which uses a typology of investigative strategies.     

Allele frequency distributions of four variable number tandem repeat (VNTR) loci in the London area.

Allele frequency distributions of four hypervariable minisatellite loci were obtained from a large sample of individuals in the London area. The sample is subdivided into three major ethnic groups; Caucasian, Afro-Caribbean and Asian, and histograms for these groups are displayed for comparison. The distributions are discussed in relation to mutation rates, heterozygosity and the computer analysis and processing of results.     

Report of a European collaborative exercise comparing DNA typing results using a single locus VNTR probe

A collaborative exercise was carried out in 1989 among 12 European forensic laboratories using the single locus VNTR probe pYNH24, the restriction enzyme HinfI, the same set of human genomic DNA samples, and a standardized DNA size marker. The objectives of the exercise were: (1) to study the degree of variation within and between laboratories, (2) to obtain information on requirements for technical standardization allowing the exchange of typing results and (3) to compare different approaches for the identification of allelic DNA fragments of unknown size. Each laboratory carried out up to 10 independent typing experiments using the same DNA samples. The results were analysed independently by two laboratories using three different methods. The results of the exercise demonstrate the correlation of typing that can be achieved within and between laboratories under conditions of minimal standardization.     

Assessing the public's understanding of constitutional reform: Evidence from Argentina

Constitutional and institutional reform is occurring at an impressive rate throughout the world. To explain the dynamics of reform the scholarly literature has focused almost exclusively on political elites. Analyses of the role played by public opinion in the constitutional reform process have been largely missing. This study takes an initial first step toward understanding the role played by public opinion through an analysis of public understanding of selected constitutional reform issues in Argentina. The evidence indicates that the Argentine public has a fairly sophisticated understanding of the issues involved in constitutional reform. This finding suggests that current elite-based explanations of constitutional and institutional reforms are incomplete. The article also provides a point of departure for future studies of the complex elite-mass interaction that occurs during reform.     

Intellectual property and white-collar crime: report of issues,trends, and problems for future research

This research examines the association between intellectual property (IP) and whitecollar crime (WCC), and identifies future research that might benefit policymakers; federal, state, and local agencies; and the general public. Research methods include a review of literature, a review of information and data in IPR violations and WCC, and inquiry in areas that directly deal with IP laws and enforcement practices, such as law enforcement agencies, IP-based industries and private law firms.