Demythologizing inaccurate perceptions of the insanity defense

Public opinion data show that the most prevalent concern expressed regarding the insanity defense is that it is a loophole through which would-be criminals escape punishment for illegal acts. This article examines the extent to which the public's perceptions of the insanity defense are consistent with newly collected empirical data. Specifically, it compares perceptions of the use, success, and outcomes associated with the insanity defense to data derived from a large-scale study of insanity pleas in eight states. The analysis reveals that the public overestimates the use and success of an insanity defense and underestimates the extent to which insanity acquittees are confined upon acquittal. The role of selective media reporting in the formation of public perceptions is discussed.An earlier version of this paper was presented at the 1992 meetings of the Society for the Study of Social Problems. Special thanks go to John Monahan and Joel Dvoskin for reviewing an earlier draft and to Sharon Steadman for providing editorial comments.     

The contractual nature of budgeting: A transaction cost perspective on the design of budgeting institutions

Viewing budgets as contracts, transaction cost theory focuses on the costs of negotiating and enforcing the myriad political agreements by which policymakers allocate the government's resources. This essay provides an overview of transaction cost theory and its implications for the design of budgeting institutions. It contrasts the behavioral premises (bounded rationality and opportunism) of the transaction cost approach with those of more traditional budgetary theories, and examines whether commitment and agency costs have structured budget actors' institutional choices. Investigation of the usage of key budget instruments- entitlements, multi-year appropriations, and tax expenditures - suggests that Congress has been more discriminating in its institutional choices than is commonly supposed. Sensitivity to the importance of transaction costs would increase the effectiveness of budget reforms.     

The Impact of Social Security Reforms on Female Unemployment Compensation Claimants in Ireland

As a result of Ireland's accession to the EU, a series of social security reforms establishing equality of treatment of females and males with regard to entitlement to and rate and duration of receipt of unemployment compensation was implemented during the period 1973 to 1986. Using modern time series econometrics we estimate their impact on the transitions to and from the female unemployment compensation claimant state. The results indicate that the changes had important implications for the level of take-up of unemployment compensation; and for the level, and responsiveness to the determinants, of its relinquishment.     

Analytical profile of 4-methylthioamphetamine (4-MTA), a new street drug

The analytical properties for a new street drug, 4-methylthioamphetamine (4-MTA), are presented. This new compound was found in tablets sold on the illicit market in the Netherlands and Switzerland in 1997 and 1998. The intermediate 1-(4-methylthiophenyl)–2-nitropropene was also found in a clandestine laboratory in the Netherlands in January 1997.In this study, reference standards were prepared and characterized. The ultraviolet, infrared and nuclear magnetic resonance spectral properties as well as the chromatographic and mass spectrometric (MS) data are reported.