The development and initial testing of the AIM2 framework to assess risk and strengths in young people who sexually offend

Abstract

This paper describes the AIM2 assessment framework and the process of its development and initial testing. AIM2 is used to assess areas of concerns and strengths of young people. Some preliminary analysis is described, including the correlation of assessment items, their ability to discriminate between cases, their inter-rater reliability and a small-scale recidivist study. These analyses were used to develop AIM2. Results from the recidivist study identified a particular set of concern and strength factors associated with recidivism in the sample. We conclude that the inclusion of strengths-related items are important to consider as protective factors when assessing the risk of further sexually abusive behaviours. Limitations and future directions of AIM2 are also discussed.     

Comprehensive Performance Assessment and Public Services Improvement in England? A Case Study of the Benefits Administration Service in Local Government

The purpose of this paper is to independently evaluate the impact of the Comprehensive Performance Assessment regime on one particular public service, namely the provision of council tax and housing benefits distributed by local authorities throughout the course of the regime. This service was assessed in every iteration of the CPA methodologies and it included one of the few key performance indicators (KPIs) where the definition of the performance indicator, the means of collection and the public reporting of its results, remained the same throughout the CPA period between 2002 and 2008.

The findings show that there were considerable and consistent improvements in benefits administration nationally within England and across all of its regions. The paper then investigates a series of propositions. Whether there was any significant variations in the performance of larger as opposed to smaller authorities, or between predominantly rural authority areas and urban authorities or between authorities with different party political control. Finding no significant differences the research suggests implementation of the CPA regime itself appears to have had a catalytic effect upon the performance of the benefit administration services within local authorities throughout this period. The paper therefore concludes with a brief discussion as to whether the findings support the theoretical position of proponents of neo-institutionalism isomorphism or more traditional rational actor theories of public choice.     

Meeting the Information Needs of Older People: A Challenge for Local Governance

The challenge of the ageing population is not just to provide more services but to employ new strategies. One of these is the need to rethink the provision of information to older people and their carers. This paper makes four points. First, that information and access to information have become more critical issues. Second, that older people may place a much higher value on information than other citizen groups but their access is poor for a range of reasons. Third, that the processes by which older people seek information may be empowering. Finally, effective partnerships with creative older people can be a catalyst to changing governance cultures which is a vital step in modernising local government. The paper draws upon examples from the author's experience of working alongside older people under the umbrella of the Better Life in Later Life project in Newcastle upon Tyne.     

新媒介环境下加强高校思想政治工作的策略

随着社会经济的快速发展和科学技术的迅猛进步,新媒介在高校得到了迅速发展和普及。高校在开展思想政治工作时,既要利用新媒介优势把握机遇,又要认识到新媒介对大学生产生的负面影响,在提升教育者的媒介素养和教育理念,完善校园新媒介平台建设与信息处理机制,加强大学生新媒介素养教育三个方面作出努力,以增强思想政治工作的实效性和影响力。     

政府绩效管理中的“第三方评估”模式及其完善

第三方评估作为一种必要而有效的外部制衡机制,弥补了传统的政府自我评估的缺陷,在促进服务型政府建设方面发挥了不可替代的促进作用。十余年来,各地创新出高校专家评估模式、专业公司评估模式、社会代表评估模式、民众参与评估模式这四种第三方评估模式。高校专家评估模式和专业公司评估模式中,第三方具备适用理性,独立性、专业性、权威性等特征鲜明,评估结果公正、客观,但普及实施中制约因素多。社会代表评估模式和民众参与评估模式中,第三方虽不能完全具备适用理性,但有党政权力的推动,已经实现广泛的制度化实施。完善各种第三方评估模式,基本思路是提高第三方的专业性和权威性,同时积极创建有利于第三方独立发展的行政和社会环境。     

Types of knowledge utilization of regulatory impact assessments: Evidence from Swiss policymaking

Ex ante policy appraisals, such as Regulatory Impact Assessments (RIAs), are promoted because they are expected to inform decisionmakers and, thus, to lead to better quality regulation. Such instrumental use is not the only possible use of RIAs. Ex ante policy appraisal can affect the policy process in various ways. However, a consolidated theory on the conditions for utilization of RIAs in the policy process has yet to be developed. In order to explore these conditions, we analyze three case studies of Swiss decisionmaking processes and apply concepts from knowledge utilization literature. In conclusion, we find that policy arenas matter more than the institutional context and design of RIA procedures. In line with previous literature, political use seems to be a prevalent type of utilization. Yet we find that, under specific conditions, RIAs also provide a basis for the optimization of policy designs (instrumental use), help improve interagency relations (policy‐process use), and may change how a policy issue is understood (conceptual use).     

ADVOCATING FOR COMPREHENSIVE ASSESSMENTS IN DOMESTIC VIOLENCE CASES

Many jurisdictions handle domestic violence cases on a one‐size‐fits‐all basis, with a presumption in favor of a finding of child neglect and removal when children are exposed to domestic violence. Such a standard fails to recognize that not all domestic violence is the same and not all families are equally affected. The impact of domestic violence depends on several factors such as the different types of domestic violence the frequency and intensity of the violence, the frequency and extent of the child's exposure, and each family member's unique experiences and characteristics. This view takes the position that parents’ capacity to participate in counseling and services promoting the health and safety of their children varies, as does the appropriateness of children being removed from the home as a result of exposure to domestic violence. Therefore, this Note proposes that states develop a standard for both courts and child protective agencies that carefully examines each domestic violence case using an individualized factual analysis and attempt to mitigate the effects of a child's exposure to domestic violence by means other than a presumption for or against removal (temporary or permanent) in every case.     

论情绪的刑法评价

情绪对刑事责任的影响主要表现为强烈情绪对刑事责任能力的影响和引发情绪的被害人过错对犯罪动机的影响。对情绪进行刑法评价的考察因素主要有:刺激因素的范围与真实性、情绪的强度以及情绪行为的指向与持续性。在刑事立法上,可采取两种方式对情绪加以评价:总括式立法,在刑事责任能力条款中增设情绪犯罪责任的规定;分散式立法,在具体制度和犯罪中规定情绪犯罪的责任。我国刑法可采取总括式立法对情绪加以评价。     

条约制度的建立对传统法律变迁的影响——以地政管理制度为例

近代国门大开之后,中国融入国家交往的条约制度之中。通过双方的谈判与协商,确定各自享有的权利与承担的义务是条约制度的基本原则。谈判与协商这种互动的活动使得双方的法律意识与原则彼此产生影响。由于处于战败国的弱势地位,中国所签订的条约为不平等条约,中国方面更多地接受外来的影响。随着这些影响的日益加深,西方法律原则与制度大量地引入传统社会,法律制度开始向近代转化。条约制度的建立与传统社会法律变迁有着密切的关系。地政管理制度是这种关系的最好说明。     

Refugee status determination in Australia: breaking the rules?

This article looks at the asylum regime in Australia. In particular, it evaluates the procedures that are used to assess claims for asylum and the extent to which they meet international refugee and human rights standards. The article discusses four key issues in the adjudication programme: the appointment of decision-makers to tribunals that hear refugee applications, the accessibility of the review process by asylum seekers, questions relating to the efficiency of the procedures used and the mandatory detention system. It is argued that whereas Australia is party to the main international treaties that seek to protect refugees and asylum seekers, its asylum law and policy is in many ways inconsistent with international norms. To conclude, the author proposes the observance of human rights and refugee standards by asylum states. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.