Successful Restitution as a Predictor of Juvenile Recidivism

Abstract This is an evaluative study of a juvenile probationary project in which youth are ordered to pay restitution as a term of probation and, to assure them means of compliance, the juvenile court arranges for and supplies their employment. Demographic variables (age and sex) and court-related variables (plea, length of probation, amount of restitution ordered, and amount and proportion actually paid) are examined in relation to one another and, most important, in relation to recidivism as measured by subsequent law violations for which the offender was investigated, and subsequent law violations that resulted in formal charges against the youth. The data demonstrate that recidivism is related to severity of the initial offense, but more important, it is related to the youth's success in achieving the restitution goal. Successful compliance with the restitution order, when success is measured by amount of restitution paid relative to the amount ordered by the court, is significantly related to revocation of probation, time given to pay, amount ordered to be paid, and subsequent offenses charged. Indeed, the proportion of restitution paid is the most important predictor of recidivism. The data reinforce the dominant legislative position that an offender's ability to pay must be taken into account in ordering restitution.     

Organization and education among Salvadoran political prisoners

During twelve years of war, the Salvadoran government imprisoned thousands of activists. Confronting massive violations of their human rights, prisoners struggled against prison authorities to resist the abuses to which they were subjected. They also educated themselves mutually, applying the principles of popular education widespread in the Salvadoran popular movement, which emphasized close integration between pedagogy and politics both in the content of education and in the political process. In opposing oppressive confinement and in mutually educating themselves, prisoners continued the political struggle they had been waging outside. Human rights movements working to protect them against violations of their rights used a rhetoric which presented them as helpless victims, but the prisoners' own testimonies reveal that they were active protagonists opposing injustice even in prison.     

Mediation mythology

Conclusion TheInterim Guidelines for Selecting Mediators promote a mythology that is broader and already more effective than the specific screening device created by the guidelines is likely to be. That mythology has been quite successful in generating support for the institutionalization of mediation and the establishment of both a market and an occupation in the practice of mediation.The guidelines may prove successful, however, in furthering that mythology — and thus the professionalization of mediation — by appearing to create techniques to insure that mediators fulfill the mythological requirements of the role: passivity, informality, neutrality, and efficiency. If the guidelines become widely adopted, they will also restrict access to the occupation by defining occupational prerogatives that will debar some persons from sharing in them. Furthermore, if licensing does eventually follow, the guidelines will have gone a long way toward providing authoritative, legal consequences to private, and I would suggest, mistaken determinations of what constitutes good and ethical mediation practice. Susan S. Silbey is Professor of Sociology at Wellesley College, Wellesley, Massachusetts 02181.     

Correlation of age and ossification of the medial clavicular epiphysis using computed tomography

OBJECT: The aim of this study was the examination of relationship between the age and the ossification of medial epiphysis of the clavicle referred to CT examination. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Concerning the epiphyseal ossification of the clavicle CT's of 100 patients (50 male and 50 female) between 16 and 25 years (10 patients for each year) were analyzed by three viewers. RESULTS: In the legal relevant age segment (16-25a) we saw a turnover from stage 3 to stage 4 at the age of 21 years. The calculated empiric distribution function showed 95% of stage 4 over 21 years while 75% of the patients with stage 3 were under 21 years. A reconstruction kernel suitable for osseous structures should be used, images should be viewed or presented in a bone window. CONCLUSION: According to these results it can be concluded that a person with stage 4 is probably 21 years or older, while a stage 3 leads to an estimated age under 21 years. On the other hand, a confidence level of 99.67% is not reached. Therefore, CT of the medial epiphysis of the clavicle will only be suitable for age estimation around the age of 21 years, if this relevant statistic obstacle is defeated. Bearing this in mind, further studies are needed to evaluate slice thickness as the most critical parameter.