The USSR and its Diplomatic Partners, 1917-91

After its break with established diplomatic partners in 1917 the Soviet government moved slowly to reconstruct its relations with the outside world. Over the period up to 1991, the largest number of exchanges took place with Finland, and after the Second World War, with Bulgaria and the GDR. But the major capitalist countries steadily became more prominent, and the USA was the USSR's most important diplomatic partner during the 1970s. Similarly, the CMEA states were the USSR's main partners after the Second World War, but by the late 1980s it was NATO member states that predominated. Patterns of this kind are consistent with theories that have suggested the gradual 'socialization' of revolutionary states as they necessarily engage in patterns of interaction with the international community.     

Investigation into the usefulness of DNA profiling of earprints

DNA profiling of biological trace evidence has been used for many years. The application of this technique specifically to the DNA profiling of earprints has not to date been thoroughly investigated. This report presents the results of 60 earprints collected from three healthy adult volunteers under controlled laboratory conditions. DNA profile analysis revealed that high levels of non-donor alleles are observed when earprints are collected for DNA profiling. The source of these non-donor alleles is investigated and the impact that their presence within the profile may have on the use of this technique is discussed.     

SOME EXPLANATIONS FOR DISPARITIES IN LIFESAVING INVESTMENTS1

Recent cost-effectiveness studies have uncovered substantial disparities in lifesaving investments between federal agencies. An examination of OSHA and NHTSA policies suggests that such disparities are not necessarily the result of arbitrary or inadvertent decision making. The disparities may reflect both conscious social judgments about priorities in lifesaving policy and systematic patterns of political and bureaucratic behavior. The hypotheses advanced in this paper suggest that, while these cost-effectiveness studies ignore important social values, they are also useful in exposing systematic imperfections in political and regulatory decision making.     

Influences of an interviewer's behaviors in child sexual abuse investigations

The content of an investigatory interview is one of several factors which may influence the data gathered in the course of a sexual abuse investigation. This article focuses on the impact of an interviewer's behaviors upon the information presented by the alleged victim. Behavioral aspects of the interview which may influence the child's information include inappropriate interactional patterns, emotional reactions of the interviewer, and/or changes in continuity of specific behaviors. Recommendations are made to assist investigators in avoiding these interviewing pitfalls and, thereby, minimizing contamination of the child's data.     

The offender in the community: Implications of the experience in the United States for the new Czech Republic

This paper reviews America's community corrections history in order to draw relevant penal policy implications for the Czech Republic in their transition to democracy. The review reveals the implementation of numerous community-based correctional programs that have resulted in mixed results, at best. The paper concludes that if the Czech Republic is to advance a new and professional, effective penal system, they must address five critical areas: dealing with the Romany underclass, establishing intermediate sanctions, promoting a professional correctional work force, confronting the media coverage of crime, and managing the politics of crime policy. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

An attributional examination of retributive versus utilitarian philosophies of punishment

Two basic goals of punishment—retribution and utility—and the means to those goals, including isolation, rehabilitation, and the creation of fear, were first examined. The objectives of punishment were then related to attributions regarding the cause of a transgression. It was documented that punishment goals are mediated by the expectancies and affects that are elicited by causal beliefs. It also was argued that the purposes of punishment are more state-like than trait-like, for they change as a function of the reason for a transgression. Data from three laboratory experiments, as well as a field study regarding reactions to O. J. Simpson for his alleged crimes, were presented in support of the above beliefs. In addition, the morality of retribution versus utilitarianism was discussed in the context of the caning of Michael Fay in Singapore. It is suggested that rehabilitation may be the most moral of the punishment means.