Effectiveness of cognitive remediation for female inmates: a pilot study

There is considerable evidence that neurocognitive deficits are frequent among incarcerated offenders. However, current correctional programming does not directly seek to remediate deficits in offenders’ neurocognitive deficits. In this pilot project, we sought to treat neurocognitive deficits in incarcerated Portuguese adult women offenders (n?=?28) using cognitive remediation to target cognitive flexibility, memory, and planning. Statistically significant positive changes, with medium to large effect sizes, were discovered across several neurocognitive domains, including attention, speed of processing, verbal learning and memory, cognitive flexibility, and planning. We also found a decrease in the negative emotional states of depression, anxiety, tension/stress, and on disturbed behavior in prison. Cognitive remediation has the potential to enhance the neurocognitive functioning of incarcerated women. Controlled research is needed to establish cognitive remediation fully as an intervention for the treatment of neurocognitive deficits of incarcerated women.     

Animal-related fatalities--part I: characteristic autopsy findings and variable causes of death associated with blunt and sharp trauma

Animals may be responsible for an array of potentially lethal injuries. Blunt force injuries characteristically involve larger animals such as cattle or horses that may kick, crush, or trample a victim causing head and facial injuries. Farm workers in particular are at high risk of lethal injuries involving the head and torso. Significant blunt trauma may be found in vehicle occupants after collisions with large animals such as camels or moose. Rarely, zookeepers may be crushed by particularly massive animals such as elephants. Sharp force injuries usually involve carnivore bites, most often from dogs with a "hole and tear" pattern of wounding. Injuries from animals such as alligators and sharks may have a significant component of crushing. Incised wounds may result in death from exsanguination and air embolism. On occasion, blunt or sharp trauma from animal activity may be confused with postmortem damage or with inflicted injury from an assault.     

Stress-related temporary hearing loss--evaluation of bio-humoral parameters: forensic and criminological applications

The body-alarm reaction results from the activation of hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, which can lead to physio-psychological phenomena such as an exclusion/occlusion of the sense of hearing. One hypothesis to explain this alteration consists in a hydromechanical dysfunction of the internal ear attributable to antidiuretic hormone. In this study, we evaluated the perception of acoustic stimuli administered in stressful conditions in 14 phobic patients and in 20 healthy subjects, in order to assess the influence of stress on perceiving capabilities. We also measured the concentration of salivary cortisol and IL-1β and neurovegetative parameters to objectivise and quantify the physiological reactions. Our results show a worse perception of the frequencies of the human voice under stress; these findings could have a dual value: in the legal field, concerning criminal liability, and on the operative context, regarding the efficiency of verbal communication among law enforcement officers in situations inducing intense emotional stress.     

Conducted Energy Devices (CEDs) and Citizen Injuries: The Shocking Empirical Reality

As one of the contemporary additions to the use of force spectrum, conducted energy devices (CEDs) have been surrounded by controversy. Such concerns have fueled a number of studies, many of which have attempted to examine the relationship between CEDs and citizen injuries. This limited body of research, however, has produced inconsistent results and suffers from a number of documented drawbacks. Drawing on data collected as part of a national multi‐agency use of force project, the current study analyzes nearly 14,000 use‐of‐force incidents across seven agencies, over 2,600 of which involve a CED, to assess the potential impact of CEDs on citizen injuries. In doing so, a series of multivariate statistical models are employed that isolate CED cases and compare them to a number of both hands‐on and weapon‐based tactics. Unlike previous research, which often highlights the beneficial aspects of CEDs in relation to injuries, our findings generally show an increased risk between the use of CEDs and citizen injuries. As such, more research is needed before deriving any conclusions as to the “safeness” of CEDs, especially in relation to the choice between using a CED or an alternative means of dispute resolution (either hands‐on physical force or another weapon).     

国内行政决策成本研究综述

基于对近十年关于行政决策成本文献的梳理,分析了行政决策成本的内容、过高的原因和影响行政决策成本的因素,指出了优化行政决策成本的途径。与此同时,提出了一些有待解决的问题,尤其是理清了行政决策成本与政府行政成本的关系,指出了行政决策成本不仅是政府行政成本的重要组成部分,它本身也作为一个整体存在,影响着政府行政成本。     

县级财政科技投入结构及其动力研究——基于安徽省C县的实证调查

县域财政科技投入主要体现为财政局拨付、科技局统筹管理的分配模式,但农林等其他县直单位同样也存在科技投入。县本级科技支出居主导地位,其他资金主要来自于上级部门的科技专项。科技推广体系呈现以县级科技集群为轴心的向下辐射形态,与企业、各类生产合作社、个人发生复杂的供需互动,相应对各类需求主体也产生不同的效益。以科技考核竞争、“发展一晋升”竞争、建楼面子之争和邻区比对等构成的混合竞争系统,是影响县域财政科技投入的主要动力。     

破解任务繁重与警力紧张矛盾的思考

随着“高铁时代”的到来,铁路公安机关面临的形势任务和警力需求之间的矛盾更加凸显,警力资源结构亟待调整。对此,只有积极致力于警力无增长改善,不断努力探索破解任务繁重与警力紧张之间矛盾的有效途径,从思想理念、用警机制、工作模式、素质建设、综合保障等全方位推进对铁路民警队伍整体的优化,才能从根本上解决这一突出问题。     

试论行政行为道德化的制度建设

行政行为道德化建设需要制度的支撑,行政制度的道德选择是行政行为道德化的保障。行政行为道德化要坚持公正和正义,诚实和信誉,惩恶扬善等价值取向。在行政行为道德化制度建设中,必须深化行政体制和用人制度的改革,建立监督约束机制,完善法制环境。     

权利本位:公安行政的理论逻辑

公安行政的基本法律关系是公安行政权力与公民权利之间的关系。公安行政的基本价值目标就是确立权利本位的范式,实现公安行政权力与公民权利之间的理性、动态的平衡。同时,为了实现权利与权力的平衡,必须把职责本位作为公安行政的价值取向,从而使公安机关真正做到依法行政、执法为民。     

对拒绝或阻碍警察执法行为实施武力控制的探索

拒绝或阻碍警察执法，是警察执法中的突发事件，如果处置得当则化险为夷，克敌制胜。一旦处置不当，则酿成治安或刑事案件，造成严重后果。武力控制手段，是警察执法的重要保障，也是擎务技能的核心内容，更是警察执法的锐利武器。探讨警察在执法中正确运用武力控制手段，对于确保警察执法的安全和法律的实施具有积极的现实意义。