Envisioning Public Child Welfare Agencies as Learning Organizations: Applying Beer's Viable System Model to Title IV-E Program Evaluation

The idea of a learning organization emerges from organizational cybernetics and results in agency staff having the means to use their skills and expertise to meet the needs of the organization's clients. Relevant to Title IV-E training programs, such organizational processes would maximize the use of knowledge and skills the graduates bring back to the agency. This article uses focus group data to explore how Title IV-E graduates perceive the potentialities of their agency as a learning organization. This analysis results in recommendations to improve organizational performance without impinging on existing agency resource constraints.     

How has the Israel National Police perceived its role in counterterrorism and the potential outcomes? A qualitative analysis of annual police reports

Policing terrorism has increased in recent years. Correspondingly, policing scholars and practitioners have begun to consider the potential effects of this responsibility on the performance of the police and their relationship with the public. In this article, we use a qualitative analysis of annual police reports to examine how the Israel National Police perceived its role in counterterrorism and the potential implications. We find different perceptions in different periods and partial acknowledgment of potential outcomes. We consider the views of the police in relation to those of the public, and speculate on the differences between the three examined time periods.     

Victims of Sexual Violence in the Canadian Criminal Courts

The literature on victims of sexual violence in the criminal justice system has overwhelmingly pointed to the negative impact of these encounters. This research project sought to explore various aspects that might contribute to harm by conducting in-depth qualitative interviews and collecting limited quantitative data on 31 victims who had encountered various processes in the justice system. Results indicated a wide range of experiences, indicating that no interactions within the system were universally harmful or helpful. Victim experience was shaped by the attitudes and behaviors of specific people within the system demonstrating the importance each individual plays in their official capacity. In the final analysis however, victim satisfaction with the jail term was key to understanding experiences of harm.     

量刑思维规律下的量刑方法构建

量刑在本质上不是＂刑之量化＂,而是＂刑之裁量＂。这决定了量刑思维不只是形式逻辑思维或辩证逻辑思维,而是二者的有机统一。量刑方法作为量刑思维的表现手段,需遵循量刑思维的以上逻辑规律。传统的经验量刑法虽然是辩证逻辑思维的充分展现,但没有融入现代形式逻辑的现代科技手段;而所谓现代量刑方法虽然使用了现代科技手段,但又只是遵循现代形式逻辑规律,规避了辩证逻辑规律。刑法现代化下的量刑方法构建,应是基于量刑思维的逻辑规律,把传统经验量刑法与各所谓现代量刑方法进行整合,以形成定量与定性相结合的量刑方法。     

论对公安执勤查获不明财产的定性处理

中缅边境某边防派出所警务区民警在巡逻执勤途中查获性质不明人民币现金20万元。对该起特殊事件展开法理分析,有4种处理意见,从依法办事、合法合理的角度出发,在现有法律框架内作出最佳处理,则应由法院以认定无主财物处理最为妥当。     

辅导员专业化发展的质性研究

辅导员队伍专业化建设对培养有中国特色社会主义事业合格建设者和可靠接班人、维护学校和社会稳定、保证高等教育事业持续健康发展具有重要意义。质性研究发现,辅导员专业化建设关涉的主要问题是：专业期待低、工作职责乱、制度和设施跟不上、缺乏专门的学科与课程体系、缺乏研究和创新空间、缺乏科学的学科背景与知识结构。而根据主要问题提出的专业化建设的路径抉择对辅导员队伍建设具有方向性指导意义。     

“飞车抢夺”行为定性探讨

飞车抢夺具有不同于传统抢劫、抢夺的特征,但在司法实践中往往将其定性为抢夺。为了严厉打击飞车抢夺,近年来,我国打击"飞车抢夺"的刑事法律政策,经历了从量刑从重到定性从重的演进,但还是不能有力打击"飞车抢夺"。针对与人身具有紧密连接的物品进行的"飞抢"完全符合"以其他方法抢劫"的主客观要件,应当认定为抢劫罪。     

INFORMAL CONTROL AND ILLICIT DRUG TRADE*

Antidrug legislation and enforcement are meant to reduce the trade in illegal drugs by increasing their price. Yet the unintended consequence is an increase in informal control—including retaliation, negotiation, avoidance, and toleration—among drug users and dealers. Little existing theory or research has explored the connections between informal control and drug trading. This article uses the rational choice and opportunity perspectives to explore the question: How and why does the frequency and seriousness of popular justice—as a whole or for each form—affect the price and rate of drug sales? The proposed theory is grounded on and illustrated with qualitative data obtained from drug dealers. This article concludes by discussing the scholarly and policy implications.