SCOPE AND CONCEPTUAL ISSUES IN TESTING THE RACE–CRIME INVARIANCE THESIS: BLACK,WHITE, AND HISPANIC COMPARISONS*

Our goal in this article is to contribute conceptually and empirically to assessments of the racial invariance hypothesis, which posits that structural disadvantage predicts violent crime in the same way for all racial and ethnic groups. Conceptually, we elucidate the scope of the racial invariance hypothesis and clarify the criteria used for evaluating it. Empirically, we use 1999–2001 averaged arrest data from California and New York to extend analyses of the invariance hypothesis within the context of the scope and definitional issues raised in our conceptual framing—most notably by including Hispanic comparisons with Blacks and Whites, by examining the invariance assumption for homicide as well as the violent crime index, by using discrete as well as composite disadvantage measures, and by using census place localities as the study unit. The mixed findings we report from our comparisons (across Whites, Blacks, and Hispanics; offense types; and type of disadvantage) suggest caution and uncertainty about the notion that structural sources of violence affect racial/ethnic groups in uniform ways. We conclude that the hypothesis should be regarded as provisional, and its scope remains to be established as to whether it applies only under narrow conditions or is a principle of general applicability.     

Detection of Gamma-Hydroxybutyric Acid in Various Drink Matrices via AccuTOF-DART*

Abstract: A new screening method for detecting gamma-hydroxybutyric acid (GHB) in drink matrices, using the IonSense, Inc. (Saugus, MA) direct analysis in real time (DART) ion source coupled to a JEOL exact mass time-of-flight mass spectrometer (AccuTOF), was validated and compared with the current screening methodology. The DART ion source allows for analysis of samples under ambient conditions with little to no sample preparation. Fifty drink specimens were spiked at levels of 1, 2, 3, and 4 mg/mL GHB, and analyzed on the AccuTOF-DART. Positive detection of GHB occurred for each of the samples at each concentration level, giving 100% accuracy for the samples tested. Twenty-five of the 50 drink specimens were spiked at 1 mg/mL GHB and tested using a color test known as the GHB Color Test #3. Only two of these 25 specimens tested positive for the presence of GHB, giving only 8% accuracy. Implementation of this new methodology as a screening tool for GHB analysis will quickly eliminate negative specimens allowing the examiner to focus analysis time on those that screened positive.     

Suicide by Cop Among Officer-Involved Shooting Cases

Abstract: The frequency and characteristics of suicide by cop cases (SBC) among a large (n = 707) nonrandom sample of North American officer-involved shootings (OIS) were investigated. “Suicide by cop” is when a subject engages in behavior which poses an apparent risk of serious injury or death, with the intent to precipitate the use of deadly force by law enforcement against the subject. Thirty-six percent of the OIS in this sample were found to be SBC with high interrater agreement (intraclass correlation coefficient = 0.93) for category classification. SBC cases were more likely to result in the death or injury of the subjects than regular OIS cases. Most SBC cases were spontaneous, but had clear verbal and behavioral indicators that occurred prior to, and during the event. Findings confirm the trend detected in earlier research that there was a growing incidence of SBC among OIS. SBC individuals had a high likelihood of possessing a weapon (80%), which was a firearm 60% of the time. Half of those with a firearm discharged it at the police during the encounter. Nineteen percent simulated weapon possession to accomplish their suicidal intent. Other findings highlight the histories and commonalities in this high risk group.     

齐奥尔科夫斯基与全球学

俄罗斯自然科学家齐奥尔科夫斯基是宇航学的奠基人,他通过宇航学影响了我们每个人的生活。他的宇宙哲学内涵丰富,既包含了宗教、哲学内容,同时又为人类指出一条通往＂完善、美好未来＂之路——飞向宇宙,是关于整个人类未来的庞大计划。通常认为,齐氏在技术文明理想和准则基础上制订的庞大的改造地球、征服宇宙计划,预言了当今时髦的稳定发展的思想。但是,齐氏提出的改造地球计划是极度反生态的,而且试图通过人类的宇宙扩张解决全球问题,目前看来存在很多问题。因此,摆在人类面前的任务是寻找符合后工业时代的理想和价值的、能够解决人类面临的全球危机的途径。     

宪法学教学中案例运用的探讨

宪法学属于法学基础理论学科,理论性强,学生学习起来困难。宪法学又是学生学习其他部门法的基础,宪法学基本理论掌握不好,会影响其他部门法的学习,因此对宪法学教学方法的探讨显的尤为重要。实践证明,在宪法学教学中,适当选择并注意运用宪法案例(事例),能有效提高课堂的教学效果。     

时间抑或地域——宪法学研究之中国性

学术研究有其存在的历史境域。对一个学科而言,只有在贴合具体的历史境域下讨论该学科的学术研究,讨论该学科的发展方向时才具有意义。从我国历史上看,宪法学研究从清末开始,到现在已有100多年,无论其几经沧海桑田,但它之所以可以沿称到现在,自有它自立的关切方法、问题和理论体系。中国宪法研究的中国性问题,不仅涉及宪法学在中国的时间性差别问题,也涉及其地域性差别问题。     

节约型社会科技法律促进机制研究

科技法律是节约型社会的重要促进因素。节约型社会科技法律促进机制可以分为政府主导型、市场诱导型、综合协调型三种类型。在中国现阶段,可以采取综合协调型节约型社会科技法律促进机制,但又重点依赖政府主导型节约型社会科技法律促进机制来推动节约科技进步与节约型社会建设。根据节约型社会科技法律促进机制类型选择,我们发现中国节约型社会科技法律促进机制目前在科技立法、科技执法、科技司法、科技法律实施监督等方面存在诸多现实困境,必须采取以下措施进一步完善:第一,与时俱进地推进与完善科技立法;第二,循序渐进地改革与强化科技执法;第三,因势利导地改革与完善科技司法;第四,因地制宜地实施与推进法律监督;第五,竭尽所能地强化科技法制宣教。     

现代性：追求与反思的交互

对现代性的探究和追问构成了现代社会学发展的初始动力。面向后现代社会转型的社会学,在现在讨论现代性时日益凸显出强烈的反思精神,就是要面对现代性本身由西方向本土、一元向多元、对立向沟通转变的历史现实。现代性本身的讨论需要从方法和界限多个维度展开,在交互式的关照中进一步确定现代性的意义。     

112例脑弥漫性轴索损伤分析

目的探讨脑弥漫性轴索损伤（diffuse axonal injury,DAI）与脑挫裂伤和原发性脑干损伤的关系。方法分析112例DAI伤者的法医临床学资料和影像学特点,对原发性脑损伤的特征进行比较。结果112例DAI伤者中70.5%为交通事故致伤,多次暴力致伤比较多见（60.7%）,伴脑挫裂伤者80例（71.4%）。CT或MRI发现出血灶者90例。结论DAI多伴有脑皮质挫裂伤和原发性脑损伤,CT或MRI有助于法医学死因分析和伤残程度鉴定。     

对邱兴华杀人案的司法鉴定学反思

关于邱兴华杀人案（下称邱案）的各种学术讨论和争论似乎已经不少，但查阅文献发现，有关邱案的文章，分别是从刑事诉讼法学、刑事证据学、刑事心理学、精神医学角度，法制新闻学以及从人权保护，法治进步等角度对该案进行解读。然而既然这是一个涉及司法鉴定的个案（虽然实际上并没有进行任何实质性鉴定活动），那么从司法鉴定学的角度对与该案有关的几个最基本的问题进行理论阐述，或许能有些许不同的作用。这几个问题包括：精神病概念的辨析，是否患病与是否需要接受刑事处罚之间是什么关系，何时需要启动司法精神医学鉴定？应如何配置我国刑事诉讼中的司法精神医学鉴定启动模式？