Book review

Richard Nixon, 1999: victory without war

(New York: Simon and Schuster, 1988; London: Sidgwick and Jackson, 1988)

Anders Stephanson, Kennan and the Art of Foreign Policy. (Harvard University Press, Cambridge, Massachusetts, 1989, pp. xiv + 380, £27.50)

Jacques S. Gansler, Affording Defense. (MIT Press, Cambridge, Massachusetts, 1989, £22.50)

John D. Steinbruner (ed.), Restructuring American Foreign Policy. (The Brookings Institute, Washington, 1989, pp. 260, £8.75 (paperback) & £23.95 (cloth))     

Bullying Perpetration,Moral Disengagement and Need for Popularity: Examining Reciprocal Associations in Adolescence

Journal of Youth and Adolescence - Precursors and consequences of bullying have been widely explored, but much remains unclear about the association of moral and motivational factors. This study...     

Utility of the Revised Level of Service Inventory (LSI-R) in Predicting Recidivism After Long-Term Incarceration

Assessing an inmate’s risk for recidivism may become more challenging as the length of incarceration increases. Although the population of Long-Term Inmates (LTIs) is burgeoning, no risk assessment tools have been specifically validated for this group. Based on a sample of 1,144 inmates released in a state without parole, we examine the utility of the Level of Service Inventory-Revised (LSI-R) in assessing risk of general and violent felony recidivism for LTIs (n = 555). Results indicate that (a) the LSI-R moderately predicts general, but not necessarily violent, recidivism, and (b) this predictive utility is not moderated by LTI status, and is based in part on ostensibly dynamic risk factors. Implications for informing parole decision-making and risk management for LTIs are discussed.

Toward a quantitative typology of burglars: a latent profile analysis of career offenders

Burglary is a serious, costly, and prevalent crime but prior typologies of burglars are mostly speculative and based on qualitative data. Using a sample of 456 adult career criminals, the current study used latent profile analysis to construct a methodologically rigorous quantitative typology. Four classes of burglars emerged: young versatile, vagrant, drug-oriented, and sexual predators. All groups demonstrated significant involvement in varied forms of crime, but the sexual predator group was the most violent and had the most serious criminal careers. Connections to the criminal career literature are offered and suggestions for further empirical study of offender typologies are discussed.     

Researching the powerful: Problems and possibilities of social research

The culture of the powerful has yet to receive the scrutiny required for social science to build up a full picture of social relations. This paper attempts to examine the problems that confront the researcher in the study of powerful groups and institutions in our society. It is based on the author's experience of working on the first piece of independent social science research commissioned by the British Ministry of Defence — an enquiry into the relations between the military and the media at times of armed conflict, with particular reference to the Falklands conflict of 1982. Powerful interests will not provide the opportunity for social scientists to study their workings at first hand. However with the increased involvement of these interests in the sponsorship of research the social scientist is in a position to relate his or her dealings with the powerful as part of the research process. The paper focusses on four aspects of the research process: the commissioning of the project, the negotiation of access to the key figures and documentary material, the research techniques used, and the response to the findings of the study.     

Paraprofessionals in parole and probation services: Selection,training, and program evaluation

The use of paraprofessional personnel in parole and probation services has been increasing dramatically. With decreasing budgets and expanded calls for service, parole and probation agencies have been turning to the paraprofessional employee as a solution. Several variables which can be changed through implementation of a paraprofessional program are identified, including the differences between using indigenous and nonindigenous personnel. Through a survey of past hiring practices, qualifications of those hired, and justification of using a certain type of personnel, factors to be used in the selection of paraprofessionals are delineated. Training programs for paraprofessionals, especially indigenous personnel, are reviewed in conjunction with standard industrial training concepts and practices. Comments are made regarding the necessity of evaluating paraprofessional programs in order to document empirically their effectiveness within the parole and probation organization.