The utility of sex offender registration: a research note†

ABSTRACT

Sex offender registries are one of the more hotly debated and polarising topics in criminology. Registries are generally perceived as valuable by the public, legislators, and law enforcement. However, academics and treatment providers have largely remained critical, arguing registries are costly and ineffective. Continued support despite these claims has led some scholars to suggest that proponents are unaware of evidence, indifferent to science, and perhaps driven by emotions. Yet this conclusion denies important facts. First, statistical evidence shows that registrants are at far higher risk of committing a sex crime than the general public. Second, high-quality empirical research suggests that enacting registries is associated with significant decreases in sex offences. Third, there is prima facie evidence that registration has assisted in police investigations and prevented sexual crimes. Recognising these arguments is likely an important step towards improving the quality of debate, science, and policy on registration.     

A human rights-based approach to sex offender management: The key to effective public protection?

Abstract

This paper outlines recent ‘public protection’ legislation in the United States of America as a basis for considering possible outcomes when public concern and political pressures combine without due regard for efficacy and appropriate balance. It highlights concerns about the implications of policy measures developing in this way and questions whether a human-rights based approach should be applied in terms of public protection policy in order to develop more effective public protection.     

Beyond Formal Equality: Closing the Gender Gap in a Changing Labour Market – A Study of Legislative Solutions Adopted in Canada

This article looks at the position of women in the Canadian labour market and at the legislative measures adopted to address their segregation in terms of occupation, wages and working conditions. Federal and provincial legislators have, with relative success, attempted through a series of measures to respond directly to the issue of discrimination against women in the workplace and in the labour market. They have, however, remained relatively insensitive to other factors that make the situation of working women precarious, such as the rise of ‘non-standard’ work. These inequalities are not peculiar to Canada and legislative responses to these questions vary according to specific national realities and legal traditions. A study of the legislative evolution in Canada serves to illustrate some of the challenges faced to redress this gender gap.     

Registered Sex Offenders,Residence, and the Influence of Race

ABSTRACT

The current research assesses the characteristics of neighborhoods where registered sex offenders (RSOs) reside and whether or not race influences the locations of these RSOs. Drawing on data from 2,290 RSOs in five urban counties, analysis focuses on assessing the characteristics of census tracts where Black and White RSOs reside, as well as assessing characteristics of census tracts with high concentrations of RSOs in residence. Findings show that census tracts where sex offenders reside display more social disorganization than communities and the nation as a whole. Census tracts where Black RSOs reside are generally more socially disorganized than those where White RSOs reside. Additionally White RSOs are more likely to reside in census tracts with high concentrations of RSOs.     

《就业促进法》语境下的女大学生就业促进之思考——以龙岩学院为例

女大学生就业难是近几年我国高校普遍面临的社会问题,随着全国招生规模的扩大,这个问题越来越突出,日益受到社会的关注。经济因素、社会因素、教育因素和个体因素导致了女大学生的就业难题。为破解这一难题,政府、社会、学校和女大学生自身都必须付出努力,形成四位一体的促进女大学生平等就业的良好机制和氛围。     

When Identifying Health Disparities as a Problem Is a Problem: Pedagogical Strategies for Examining Racialized Contexts

The current study presents a critical discussion on community responses to health disparity research and the need for utilizing pedagogical strategies to prepare students to understand and address health disparities in racialized contexts. Qualitative research methods were used to examine community responses to media stories on two health disparity research projects, and four themes emerged: naming health disparities is a tool for dividing, structural racism does not exist, naming of health disparities is a political act, and health disparities exist because of individual-level deficiencies. The implications for teaching students about racial health disparities are presented and discussed.     

Intrauterine exposure to environmental toxins: The significance of subtle behavioral effects

Abstract

Recently, there has been an increase in interest in subtle effects associated with exposure to environmental toxins. One methodological problem in research in this area involves assessment of degree of contamination when exposure occurs at low and moderate levels. A second problem lies in determining the clinical or practical significance of subtle toxic effects when they are observed. Both these issues are illustrated by the case of polychlorinated bi‐phenyls (PCBs), a family of environmental toxins found in moderate concentrations in humans who consume Lake Michigan sports fish. Two hundred forty‐two newborns whose mothers had consumed these fish and 71 newborns whose mothers had abstained were examined in the immediate post‐partum period. Degree of exposure was measured by both maternal contaminated fish consumption and cord serum PCB level. An examination of the data suggests that, at the levels of exposure found in this sample, a maternal report may in some instances be more sensitive and reliable than a biochemical analysis. While statistically significant effects on birth size, gestational age, and neonatal behavior were observed, the clinical significance of these effects is not yet known since none of the exposed infants weighed less than 1500 g and criteria for newborn behavioral adequacy have not been established. However, research on other toxic substances suggests that subtle neonatal deficits frequently signal the existence of an ongoing toxic process with clinically significant implications for later development.     

Comment on Harvey Jacobs' “Social conflict over property rights: the end,a new beginning,or a continuing debate?”

Jacobs draws on history, law, politics, and policy to examine the development and response of the private property movement and the social conflict over property rights and public planning. This comment suggests that the debate be broadened beyond the advocates of property rights and planning to include the interests of other members of the community, including minority and low-income households who are often affected by the outcomes. Otherwise, property will continue to be used to exclude people from democracy, rather than include them.     

东南亚新娘现状及其对中国国家安全的影响

随着我国经济社会的发展以及与东南亚国家间人口跨国流动的日益频繁,由于婚姻市场构成的变化、国家之间收入和生活水平的差距、战争、自然灾害和宗教等因素,致使一些东南亚女子因婚姻流入中国的数量也悄然上升,这些东南亚新娘呈现出分布扩散性、流向单向性、类别多样性和数量加速性等四个特点。东南亚新娘本身就是传统安全因素,如非法东南亚新娘入境对边境管理的挑战;同时,她们又与经济安全、社会安全、婚姻安全、人口安全以及卫生安全问题等非传统安全因素紧密相连,一定程度上很有可能会引起社会秩序的某种混乱,导致出现婚姻买卖和人口贩卖走私现象等一系列非传统安全威胁。在中国出生性别比长期失衡的大背景下,需要特别引起注意和研究。     

Beyond East–West: Marginality and National Dignity in Finnish Identity Construction

The popular, stereotype perception of Russian anti-Semitism is marred by a number of misconceptions. It is generally believed that it originated among the peasants, partly as a result of religious bigotry and partly as a reaction against an alleged Jewish exploitation. In actual fact, pogroms almost invariably started in towns and cities, and the main instigators were artisans and merchants and other people who plied the same trade as the Jews, later also professionals such as lawyers. Hence, economic competition rather than exploitation was the most important driving force. This is reflected in the writings of Russian anti-Semites and is also how most contemporary Jews understood their causes behind their ordeals. The Jews could be targeted for persecution because they were a diaspora group and did not enjoy the same protection as the indigenous population. Thus, even though the tsarist regime can be cleared of any suspicion that they deliberately whipped up the pogroms, they contributed to them by failing to give the Jews the same rights as other subjects of the empire.