Personality traits of convicted male batterers

The purpose of this investigation is to determine if select psychological variables are associated with abusive behavior of convicted male batterers. The sample included a treatment group of 75 court-referred abusers who were individually administered the Taylor-Johnson Temperament Analysis (T-JTA) instrument. Explored were: (1) the relationships among personality variables and sociological and demographic characteristics, (2) possible behavioral disorders in our study group of spouse abusers, (3) whether major bipolar personality variables could distinguish our study group from the general population. Results revealed the Taylor-Johnson behavioral disorder types were not useful in identifying distinctions among our spouse abusers. However, a two-factor rotation (Internal/Emotional Balance and Social Interaction) produced results which should be of interest to programs treating batterers as well as provide a suggestive lead for future research. Battering men were found to have a restless proclivity for interaction that will be competitive and conflict-oriented in style. Their impulsiveness further suggests that their interactions will be negative in terms of evocation.     

Alternatives to Custody for High-Risk Young Offenders: The Multisystemic Therapy Approach

This article describes the implementation of randomised trials in Ontario, Canada, of a community-based, therapeutic intervention for youths who would be candidates for custodial sentences because of the severity or persistence of their criminal behaviour. Many recognise the need to reduce custody stays but the realisation of that goal requires the creation of community-based programs which judges believe will not put the public at risk. Reviews of the empirical literature indicated that Multisystemic Therapy could be a cost-effective, individualised, community-based alternative to custody that reduces long and short-term recidivism of high-risk youths.     

Safety, Health Care, and Bonding Within an Ecobehavioral Approach to Treating and Preventing Child Abuse and Neglect

This paper describes Project SafeCare, an ecobehavioral research and treatment project with families reported or at risk for child abuse or neglect. Preliminary demographic data are reviewed along with indirect assessment data. Four case studies are described to exemplify the effects of training provided to families. The implications for the current assessment data, treatment, and outcome are discussed.     

Adolescents with Psychopathic Characteristics in a Substance Abusing Cohort: Treatment Process and Outcomes

Psychopathy is a condition with important consequences both for individuals who experience it and for the communities in which they live. Although the assessment of psychopathy among adolescents remains controversial, some evidence suggests that the affective and behavioral traits of adult psychopathy begin to emerge in childhood (B. B. Lahey & A. Kazdin, 1990) and continue across the lifespan (A. E. Forth, S. D. Hart, & R. D. Hare, 1990). The present study used the Psychopathy Checklist: Youth Version (PCL:YV; A. E. Forth, S. D. Kosson, & R. D. Hare, in press) to retrospectively assess psychopathic characteristics, treatment process, and outcomes of 64 individuals referred for treatment to a substance abuse program for adjudicated adolescents. This study focused on the relationship between psychopathic characteristics and treatment process and outcome variables, including attrition rates, quality of participation, substance use throughout treatment, clinical improvement, and 12-month recidivism rates. Psychopathic characteristics were negatively related to treatment process and outcome variables, including attrition, participation, substance use, and clinical improvement. Psychopathic characteristics were positively related to the number of arrests in the 12 months following treatment completion. Implications for treatment and future research with adolescents displaying psychopathic characteristics are discussed.     

Post-Release Substance Abuse Treatment for Criminal Offenders: A Cost-Effectiveness Analysis

This study conducted a cost-effectiveness analysis of Delaware's CREST Outreach Center, a work release therapeutic community (TC) and aftercare program for criminal offenders. Treatment effectiveness was assessed using the number of days reincarcerated during an 18-month, post-release follow-up period. The 6-month CREST program cost $1937 for the average participant, and led to 30 fewer days incarcerated (29% less) than the average participant in a standard work release program. This implies that the CREST program reduced incarceration for criminal offenders at an average cost of $65 per day. The additional investment of $935 per client to provide aftercare services led to 49 fewer days incarcerated (43% less) than CREST work release-only participants. This suggests that by adding an aftercare component to the CREST work release program, a day of incarceration is avoided at an average cost of $19 per day. These findings have implications for future investments in post-release substance abuse treatment for criminal offenders. However, the results must be interpreted with caution given potential selection bias in the groups that participated in the CREST work release and aftercare programs. Selection bias and the policy implications of this research are noted and discussed.     

论医疗事故罪中“严重损害就诊人身体健康”之认定

认定医疗事故罪"严重损害就诊人身体健康"的具体内涵应遵循医学依据而非刑法学依据,同时应把握"二维"标准首先,是<条例>和新<标准>中的一级乙等和二、三级医疗事故;其次,事故参与度必须在50%以上(不含50%).     

当前我国强制戒毒工作存在的问题及对策

当前我国面临的禁毒斗争形势依然十分严峻,一个庞大的吸毒群体给禁吸强戒工作提出了新的挑战,也成为禁吸强戒工作的紧迫任务。但在我国强制戒毒工作中还存在一些问题,如《强制戒毒办法》中的某些缺陷,戒毒所警力配备、经费、戒毒科研等问题。解决好这些问题,是禁吸戒毒工作的重要任务。     

Change in Self-Esteem and Physical Aggression During Treatment for Partner Violent Men

The role of low self-esteem in aggressive behavior has been questioned by theorists who claim that inflated, rather than deflated, self-esteem is associated with violence, and that societal efforts to increase self-esteem may actually increase, rather than decrease, violent behavior. This conjecture was tested in two treatment samples of partner violent men, one (n = 61) that received a behavioral intervention, and one (n = 107) that received a workshop program designed to enhance compassion for self and others. Both samples reported significant reductions in relationship violence perpetration and significant increases in self-esteem from pre- to post-treatment. In both samples, change in self-esteem was inversely correlated with change in physical aggression. Follow-up data from victims were available for one of the samples, and revealed that self-esteem and its enhancement during treatment did not significantly predict relationship violence during the year after treatment. These results indicate that self-esteem enhancement during treatment for partner violent men is correlated with violence reduction, and does not increase the risk for subsequent relationship aggression.     

The positive effects of cognitive–behavioral programs for offenders: A meta-analysis of factors associated with effective treatment

A meta-analysis of 58 experimental and quasi-experimental studies of the effects of cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) on the recidivism of adult and juvenile offenders confirmed prior positive findings and explored a range of potential moderators to identify factors associated with variation in treatment effects. With method variables controlled, the factors independently associated with larger recidivism reductions were treatment of higher risk offenders, high quality treatment implementation, and a CBT program that included anger control and interpersonal problem solving but not victim impact or behavior modification components. With these factors accounted for, there was no difference in the effectiveness of different brand name CBT programs or generic forms of CBT.

台湾地区毒品戒治与再犯之研究（节选）

反毒、禁毒的刑事政策归纳其中不外“断绝供给、减少需求”也就是“缉毒、戒毒、拒毒”等三大重点。目前 ,台湾地区参与戒毒工作的有医疗、宗教、矫正机关及观护等四大体系。《毒品危害防制条例》于 1998年 5月 2 2日公告施行以来 ,“缉毒”与“拒毒”已有成效 ,使得药物、毒品滥用之情形获得控制 ,毒品犯占整体犯罪人口之比例减缓增长 ,但“戒毒”却无进展。可见戒治与计划之成效有待加以检讨 ,以达到对毒品及药物成瘾者累犯、再犯严重情形之有效控制。