Characteristics that predict firesetting in male and female mentally disordered offenders

Few studies have adequately explored the characteristics of male and female mentally disordered firesetters and compared these to those of non-firesetting mentally disordered offenders. Furthermore, there is a paucity of research examining the characteristics which can predict repeat firesetting within this population. The current study aimed to examine similarities and differences in the characteristics of (1) male and female mentally disordered firesetters, (2) male and female mentally disordered firesetters compared to non-firesetting offenders, and (3) one-time and repeat firesetters. Furthermore, the ability of these characteristics to predict offence status (i.e. firesetter or non-firesetter) and repeat firesetting was explored. Information was collected from patient hospital records for 77 (43 firesetters, 34 non-firesetters) mentally disordered offenders; including sociodemographic, family and personal background, psychiatric, and offence history factors. The findings suggest that mentally disordered firesetters are similar to their non-firesetting counterparts on key characteristics; however, firesetters are more likely to have an expressed interest in fire/explosives and a diagnosis of a schizophrenic disorder and female firesetters are more likely to have a higher number of firesetting incidents than males. Furthermore, findings suggest that fire interest is the largest predictor of repeat firesetting. Clinical implications in terms of treatment and risk assessment are discussed.     

Much Ado about nothing? A multilevel analysis of the relationship between voluntary associations' characteristics and their members' generalized trust

The last 20 years of research on the micro-level relationship between involvement in voluntary associations and generalized trust has been characterized by a growing theory–data gap. This gap is especially problematic in terms of including diversity across voluntary associations in empirical analyses. This article aims to bridge this gap by using a hierarchically clustered data set (active members nested in voluntary associations) and multilevel analyses to test several hypotheses drawn from prior studies about the relationship between voluntary associations' characteristics and members' level of generalized trust. Overall, the results indicate that in explaining the variability in individual generalized trust levels, differences among the associations in which individuals are involved could contribute marginally at best. Almost all variance (97.6%) in individual level of generalized trust lies between the individuals and not between the associations. Furthermore, the analyses show no correlations for most tested associational characteristics. As for membership diversity, the most pronounced result runs opposite to expectation—thus providing some support for a membership similarity hypothesis rather than for a diversity hypothesis. The article raises the question whether the search for associational differences that might explain the lack of a general relationship between membership in voluntary associations and individual level of generalized trust is in fact a dead end.     

Distinguishing the viewers,downloaders, and exchangers of Internet child pornography by individual differences: Preliminary findings

The current study assessed the relationship between personality and cognitive differences and the respondents' level of engagement in child pornography (searching for/viewing, downloading, or exchanging). 273 respondents completed the anonymous online survey; 257 respondents (94%) were classified as non-child pornography consumers, and 16 respondents (6%) were classified as Internet child pornography consumers. When only considering the child pornography users, 63% (n = 10) were categorized as searchers/viewers, 18.5% (n = 3) were categorized as downloaders, and 18.5% (n = 3) were categorized as exchangers. When discriminating between child pornography consumers, those individuals who only searched for and viewed child pornography were less extraverted than those individuals who reported exchanging Internet child pornography. Higher scores on extraversion may reflect the offender's ability to socially network on the Internet in order to gain access to child pornography (i.e., exchanging/sharing). Significant correlations also suggested a relationship between child pornography behaviors, conscientiousness, and excitement-seeking. Future research suggestions and limitations are discussed.     

经济法价值在公司法中的体现

近年来,公司法开始由重视个体利益的规范效率向重视社会整体利益的制度效率转轨,经济法价值在公司法中得到了充分体现：制定公司法的目的除为了规范公司的组织和行为外,还要保护公司、股东和债权人的合法权益,维护社会经济秩序;公司法所规定的法人治理结构是实现公司运营效率的保证,它的完善在一定意义上就是社会效率的彰显;公司法中最为典型地体现经济法中社会效率的制度是公司法人人格否认制度;公司法中还存在着经济法的另外一个价值即维护社会公平与实质正义的规定。     

论罪责刑相适应原则

罪责刑相适应原则是从客观主义刑法学派主张的罪刑对称和主观主义刑法学派主张的刑罚个别化演变而来的。这一原则要求在规定和裁量刑罚时 ,既要注重犯罪行为及其造成的实际危害 ,又要注重犯罪人的主观恶性或人身危险性。罪责刑相适应中的“罪行”应当是具体犯罪构成所要求的全部事实 ,而“刑事责任”则是犯罪人在犯罪过程中以及犯罪前后表现出来的、决定其人身危险性的一系列主观情况。要在司法中贯彻这一原则 ,还需要做大量的工作     

家事司法修复家庭关系的经验研究

家事审判改革强调修复家庭关系在家事案件处理中的重要性，但西南地区X法庭家事审判实践的经验研究表明，家事司法修复家庭关系的效度并不彰显。法官将家庭关系修复贯穿于审判的全过程后，依然很难修复夫妻一方离婚意愿强烈的婚姻关系，在面对代际关系冲突时也只能用法定权利义务关系去简化复杂的家庭关系。家事司法在修复家庭关系中能力有限，根本原因在于在当前社会条件下面临多重制约，包括开放社会带来的不稳定性、家庭成员之间的个体意识冲突、现代法律与家庭价值的冲突等。因此，家事审判改革应当在完善心理辅导、多元调解、单位联动等配套机制的同时，积极引导家庭成员树立有利于家庭关系和谐稳定的价值观念，建立能够有效稳定家庭关系的社会机制。