Responding to youth sexual offending: a field-based practice model that “closes the gap” on sexual recidivism among Indigenous and non-Indigenous males

Abstract

Most studies that have explored the impact of youth sexual offender treatment on recidivism have not assessed whether effectiveness varies for important subgroups. The present study evaluated the impact of treatment provided by the Griffith Youth Forensic Service (GYFS) on 104 adjudicated youth sexual offenders referred between 2006 and 2012. Sexual, violent and “other” offending outcomes were examined, based on Australian Indigenous cultural heritage and whether the youth resided in a remote community, over an average 2.5-year follow-up timeframe. The findings indicated that GYFS treatment was equally effective for Indigenous and non-Indigenous youth for preventing sexual recidivism and, for youth residing in remote and non-remote locations, for preventing sexual, violent and “other” recidivism. Treatment was less effective in preventing violent and “other” recidivism for Indigenous youth. The core components of the GYFS treatment programme therefore appear particularly well suited for reducing sexual recidivism by Indigenous offenders and those residing in remote communities.     

Boosting or Hindering Aid Effectiveness? An Assessment of Systems for Measuring Donor Agency Results

Amid rising criticism of aid effectiveness coupled with tight budgets in many donor countries at a time of economic crisis, donor agencies are under pressure to deliver value for money and to demonstrate development results. In response to these pressures, more and more donor agencies are adopting standard indicators, which allow for results to be aggregated across interventions and countries, in order to report agency‐wide results. This article analyses the reporting practices of eleven bilateral and multilateral donor agencies and assesses the implications of agency‐wide results measurement systems for aid effectiveness. The analysis shows that the data on aggregate results provided by donor agencies is only of limited informational value and does not provide an adequate basis for holding donor agencies to account. Moreover, reporting on agency‐wide results may have a number of adverse effects. Given the various limitations and risks identified in this article, I suggest that donor agencies should explore complementary options or alternatives to standard indicators in order to meet their reporting requirements. Donor agencies are advised to invest more in rigorous impact evaluations and to raise the transparency of individual interventions. © 2016 The Authors. Public Administration and Development published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.     

Can't Get No Satisfaction? The Association Between Community Satisfaction and Population Size for Victoria

Traditionally, the problem of determining the optimal size in local government has been empirically assessed by estimating the relationship between population size and the costs of services (usually measured in terms of per capita expenditure). These studies, however, have proved largely inconclusive. In comparison, an empirical analysis based on the relationship between the size of government and community satisfaction offers a potentially fruitful contribution to the debate regarding the optimal size of local government. However, to date, few studies have followed this approach. We therefore contribute to this literature by exploring the relationship between population size and community satisfaction for Victorian councils. Our findings provide evidence of an inverted ‘U‐shaped’ relationship, which predicts low community satisfaction at very large and very small population sizes.     

Domestic actors and agendas in Chinese aid policy

Abstract

As China's aid has increased, so has scrutiny by the international development and foreign policy community. Despite recognition that foreign aid policy is a result of domestic political contests, the existing literature tends to overlook Chinese debates about the purpose of aid, and how that purpose should be achieved. This paper argues that examining these debates shows that Chinese aid is not a well-considered element of an overarching strategy. Rather, where foreign aid is considered relevant vis-à-vis China's goals, its use is hotly contested. Competing actors' varying agendas, rather than any coherent strategy, underpin inchoate aid projects.     

公务员投诉规范的设立与完善——相对人发起追究公务员责任的路径探析

通过行为规范的形式优化公务员治理结构、增强公务员服务属性,是当前行政法治环境下改善公务员执法状况的重要环节,也是内部行政法的关键问题之一。在公务员行为规范体系中,投诉规范是指由相对人对公务员的违法或不当行为进行投诉,并由公务员所在机关进行处理的一种责任机制。投诉规范开启了由相对人发起追究公务员责任的民主路径,在公务员文明执法的树立、行政风气的改善以及违规责任的追究等方面具有重要意义。而在现行立法与实践状况的基础上,对投诉途径、程序和实效性等事项进行综合分析并提出相关建议,则能对其条款设置的进一步完善提供参考。     

论碳排放权设质依据及立法建议

碳排放权是在碳排放额度上设立的一项新型无形财产权。因其具有交换价值,故能设立担保。物权法定原则的缓和化扫除了设定碳排放权担保的理论障碍。碳排放权的特性和权利质权的构造决定了在碳排放权上设定权利质权比设定抵押权更为适宜。建议立法者在设立碳排放权质权时,采用登记生效模式。与其他权利质权相比,碳排放权质权更易受政策影响,故体现的物上代位性较弱。因此,质权人宜选择其他保全碳排放权质权的方式。     

Principles for design of projects introducing improved wood-burning cooking stoves

Projects introducing improved stoves that save firewood and reduce emissions and indoor smoke address real needs but have often not succeeded as expected. One of the reasons may be that lessons have not been learnt effectively. We reviewed the only available comprehensive list of principles for stove project design. We modified it, and added more principles based on literature and our own experience. Our list consists of 20 principles covering the areas of awareness creation of multiple benefits, stove design and variety, participation of the beneficiaries, production modes, role of subsidies, and the necessity of accurate assessments and reporting.     

Using birthing kits to promote clean birth practices in Ethiopia

This article explores three NGO projects that assemble and distribute clean birthing kits in Ethiopia. It contrasts the government's health strategy that aims to increase skilled birth attendance, with local realities as most women in rural and remote settings give birth at home, often in unhygienic conditions, and without skilled assistance. Many health facilities are also unable to provide hygienic conditions for birthing women. The findings indicate that clean birth kits have assisted the NGOs to effectively promote clean delivery at home or in health facilities, and to encourage antenatal care, and early referral to emergency obstetric and new-born care.     

在华外国人向外引渡的障碍及对策研究简

随着全球化趋势在世界范围内的不断拓展,大批外国人不断涌入我国,同时外国人犯罪的案件数和犯罪人数呈逐年增长趋势,日益成为影响我国公共安全和社会秩序的重要因素.引渡作为国际警务合作中的一项重要制度,在联合打击国际性犯罪、维护国际秩序方面发挥着重要作用,而在引渡制度程序中,向外引渡容易成为被人忽视的领域.一国向外引渡的理论与实践的水平更能体现一国的法制水平和执法效率,也关系到一国的国际执法水平和国际法制形象.     

服务型政府理念下的地方政府创新——基于淮安市政府101%服务的实证研究

建设服务型政府是我国各级政府努力的方向和发展的趋势,但是在更多的地方却停留在理念层次。淮安市政府的101%服务,是在服务型政府理念的具体实施和落实。本文主要从淮安市101%满意服务实践出发,分析了其创新点和成功之处,并结合服务型政府理念和治理理论,对淮安市的101%服务活动进行了理论总结和实证研究。