Technocracy,democracy, and public policy: An evaluation of public participation in retrospective regulatory review

Retrospective review of existing regulations is an increasingly common aspect of the regulatory policy cycle. As with prospective regulatory policymaking, public participation is a central feature of many retrospective review initiatives. Despite its theoretical and practical significance, participation in retrospective review has received little scholarly attention. This paper presents the first systematic assessment of participation in United States retrospective regulatory review. Utilizing content analysis of an original dataset of government documents and public input produced pursuant to Executive Orders 13563, 13579, and 13610, the paper analyzes participatory institutional design, the level and composition of participants, and participation processes. The results suggest that retrospective review participation processes largely reflected the modes of stakeholder outreach and engagement employed in prospective regulatory policymaking, but resulted in comparatively low levels of participation. Consistent with the purposes enumerated in the executive orders, participation processes facilitated information exchange and were relatively representative of and responsive to stakeholders.     

Adaptation of the Narcissistic Personality Inventory among a Portuguese sample of incarcerated juvenile offenders

The aim of the present study was to assess the psychometric properties of the Narcissistic Personality Inventory (NPI) and two of its short forms (NPI-16 and NPI-13) among a Portuguese sample of male incarcerated juvenile offenders (N?=?221). Of these, only the NPI-13 short version demonstrated a good fit in terms of its factor structure. The NPI-13 also showed promising psychometric properties in terms of its internal consistency, convergent validity, discriminant validity, and criterion-related validity. Statistically significant associations were found with age of crime onset, crime seriousness, conduct disorder symptoms, alcohol abuse, and cannabis use. These findings justify the use of the NPI-13, especially its Entitlement/Exploitativeness dimension, among incarcerated male youths.     

Dynamic risk and protective factors

ABSTRACT

This paper reviews the literature regarding the identification and measurement of risk factors considered imminent precipitants of subsequent criminal conduct (i.e. dynamic risk factors). This paper also frames these risk factors against the so-called protective factors that are presumed to mitigate risk. Commonality among recent dynamic risk and protective measures reflects general agreement regarding viable candidate variables. Empirical studies suggest such factors yield incremental predictive validity and should inform case-formulaic understanding of criminal conduct and pathways to desistance, although this is not common practice. As well, definitional and measurement considerations are not well advanced and speak to the need for further conceptual clarity.     

The harms of human trafficking: demonstrating the applicability and value of a new framework for systematic,empirical analysis

This article uses human trafficking in Belgium to test a newly developed framework for assessing the harms of crime that has been applied previously to cocaine trafficking in the same country. We chose this criminal activity because of its policy relevance and to address apparent needs for systematic, evidence-based analysis. The framework uses quantitative and qualitative evidence to assess harms to individuals, private-sector entities, and others and to establish crime control priorities. The assessment process models the activity, evaluates the severity and incidence of harms, ranks priorities, and considers causality. We highlight three findings. First, trafficking victims can experience catastrophic harms, but the overall dimensions of human trafficking in Belgium appear to be modest. Second, the evidence suggests significant recent declines in the degree of exploitation and use of violence. Third, most harms to individual victims result directly from the activity, which sets it apart from other forms of trafficking.     

基于360度考评的监狱心理测评系统探祈

矫正质量评估是对服刑人员的悔改程度和达到“守法公民”状态程度的评价和测量。服刑人员的心理测评是指运用心理测评的方法对服刑人员认知、情绪、人格和行为等进行系统的数量化评定。两者相互区别，不可混淆，同时又相辅相成。基于360度考评的监狱心理测评系统将心理测评、人员素质测评、绩效考评的方法有效融合在一起，实现了考评主体的多元化，考评对象的多样化，以及考评内容的丰富化，可为实现将心理矫治作为服刑人员教育和改造的第四大手段提供重要的理论基础。     

计算机基础教学考核方法探析

计算机基础教学的目的是培养学生的基本信息素养和信息能力,使学生成为既熟悉本专业知识又掌握计算机应用技术的复合型人才.随着现代信息技术的发展,应用网络技术进行计算机教学已是信息化时代的必然要求.那么在网络环境下,作为一种评价教育过程的主要手段的考核方法如何设定和实施,成为计算机基础教学中大家不断思考的问题,本文将就这一问题进行探索研究.     

公务员分类分等绩效考核指标群组分析研究

公务员分类分等绩效考核指标体系在构建愿景、层级维度、权重设计等方面正在不断完善,指标设计价值理念注重针对性和实用性,内容设计注重可量度性,结构设计注重统一性和特色性。指标设计存在的困境在于指标的重复性增加和量化过度,而且影响指标的效力因素也使指标的效度和信度降低。公务员绩效考核指标群组分析是指根据不同的指标标准,将具体的指标分为不同的类型,使其形成指标聚类,并在此基础之上展开细化分析的方法。这种方法可以对指标的均衡选取、权重分配、层次和聚类、效度和信度以及关联度分析提供有益指导。     

依托“四位一体”热线 破解民主评议“三难”

民主评议政风行风是伴随纠风工作的产生而发展起来的,经过20多年的发展,已经成为党和政府倾听民声的重要渠道、维护民利的重要手段、行风建设的重要平台、人民群众有序参与民主政治的成功实践。但与此同时,民主评议的过程中不同程度地出现了随意评、孤立评、消极评的现象。近年来,江苏省如东县通过不断的实践探索,依托声、屏、网、报＂四位一体＂政风行风热线这一平台,拓展民主评议的工作载体,大力推进民主评议科学化、规范化、标准化建设,有效地破解了民主评议工作中的这一难点问题,提升了评议工作的社会效应、畅通了群众诉求的表达渠道、促进了政风行风的好转。     

环境影响评价的正当性解析——以公众参与机制为例

环境影响评价必须有公众参与才能为其提供正当性,但现有的制度安排未能解决公众参与的实质正当性问题,公众参与环节往往流于形式。通过研究公众的范围选择、公众参与的方式以及听证主持人和专家的独立性等问题,提出当前需要改进的建议。