Linking self- and social control with deviance: Illuminating the structure underlying a general theory of crime and its relation to deviant activity

The present paper operationalizes and empirically tests the most recent theoretical speculations of Hirschi and Gottfredson regarding an individual level characteristic of self-control and its relation to earlier specifications of control theory as well as the literature on personality. Linkages are drawn between their broad delineation of self-control and personal disorders of hyperactivity, impulsivity, attention deficits, and minor conduct problems. Psychologists disagree about whether such disorders represent single or multiple traits and whether both behavioral and cognitive measures can appropriately depict personality characteristics. Employing structural equation techniques, support for several propositions derived from Gottfredson and Hirschi's thesis is found: Self-control subsumes several personality disorders and is significantly comprised by early behavioral indicators of aggression and fighting, is inversely related to other elements of the social bond, is moderately stable over a short period of time, and significantly predicts criminal convictions. However, questions remain regarding the ubiquity of self-control, the magnitude and meaning of stability, and the power of this perspective to explain all forms of self-reported delinquency.     

Independence Day as a Cosmopolitan Moment: Teaching International Relations

This essay expands upon a teaching approach that I used in my introductory international relations (IR) course for three semesters prior to September 11, 2001. The vast majority of the curriculum of the course is read through Independence Day , a 1996 blockbuster Hollywood film. Beginning with the film and the concept of world order it arguably provides through a fictional moment of world peace (or hegemony, depending how one interprets the leading role of the U.S. in the film and the significance of the Fourth of July holiday as the world's Independence Day, hence ID4 ) students are able to understand several key concepts in IR theory, as well as the major paradigms of IR thought that I present to them. ID4 presents the viewer with the IR field's two great mythological narratives, realism and idealism, and preserves the notion of the nation-state as the predominant actor and unit of analysis for understanding world history and key events in that history.     

DOES CRIME JUST MOVE AROUND THE CORNER? A CONTROLLED STUDY OF SPATIAL DISPLACEMENT AND DIFFUSION OF CRIME CONTROL BENEFITS*

Recent studies point to the potential theoretical and practical benefits of focusing police resources on crime hot spots. However, many scholars have noted that such approaches risk displacing crime or disorder to other places where programs are not in place. Although much attention has been paid to the idea of displacement, methodological problems associated with measuring it have often been overlooked. We try to fill these gaps in measurement and understanding of displacement and the related phenomenon of diffusion of crime control benefits. Our main focus is on immediate spatial displacement or diffusion of crime to areas near the targeted sites of an intervention. Do focused crime prevention efforts at places simply result in a movement of offenders to areas nearby targeted sites—“do they simply move crime around the corner”? Or, conversely, will a crime prevention effort focusing on specific places lead to improvement in areas nearby—what has come to be termed a diffusion of crime control benefits? Our data are drawn from a controlled study of displacement and diffusion in Jersey City, New Jersey. Two sites with substantial street‐level crime and disorder were targeted and carefully monitored during an experimental period. Two neighboring areas were selected as “catchment areas” from which to assess immediate spatial displacement or diffusion. Intensive police interventions were applied to each target site but not to the catchment areas. More than 6,000 20‐minute social observations were conducted in the target and catchment areas. They were supplemented by interviews and ethnographic field observations. Our findings indicate that, at least for crime markets involving drugs and prostitution, crime does not simply move around the corner. Indeed, this study supports the position that the most likely outcome of such focused crime prevention efforts is a diffusion of crime control benefits to nearby areas.     

社会危害性在犯罪构成理论中的地位探析

目前在刑法学界存在着社会危害性理论备受指责的现象,有的学者甚至认为应将社会危害性逐出我国的犯罪构成理论。这是不科学的。我们应该运用立体动态思维的方式正确分析犯罪概念、犯罪构成与罪刑法定主义的关系,不但要保留社会危害性的地位,更重要的是将其明确作为一个独立的犯罪成立的条件,这样才是对传统犯罪构成理论批判性的发展。     

青少年社会工作专业化与职业化初探

青少年社会工作是社会工作学科按照服务对象的年龄特征划分的一个重要种类和实施领域,其职业化和专业化的进程是社会工作职业化和专业化的重要组成部分,也关系到青少年社会工作的发展前途。在充分认识其重要性和客观分析其不足的同时,相关部门和人员要切实行动起来,使青少年社会工作职业化和专业化进程迈出坚实的一步。     

Book Reviews

Books reviewed in this article:
Charles Bergquist, Ricardo Peñaranda, and G. Gonzalo Sánchez (eds.), Violence in Colombia 1990––2000. Waging War and Negotiating Peace
H. Kline, State Building and Conflict Resolution in Colombia, 1986–1994
N. Richani, Systems of Violence. The Political Economy of War and Peace in Colombia
Maxwell A. Cameron, and Brian W. Tomlin, The Making of NAFTA: How the Deal Was Done
Ben Fallaw, Cárdenas Compromised: The Failure of Reform in Postrevolutionary Yucatán
Aníbal González, Killer Books: Writing, Violence, and Ethics in Modern Spanish American Narrative
Valerie Boyle (ed.), A South American Adventure: Letters from George Reid, 1867–1870
Caroline Salvin, A Pocket Eden. Guatemalan Journals 1873–1874/Un paraíso. Diarios guatemaltecos 1873–1874     

建立交通管理社区警务体制刍议

随着社会经济的发展 ,原有的交通勤务管理方式的局限性越来越突出 ,改革现有的交通勤务管理模式 ,建立社区警务体制 ,是适应城市社区改革 ,推进交通安全社会化 ,提高管理效能 ,发挥民警主观能动性的需要。对此 ,应合理设置警务管理区 ,确定交通管理社区警务职责 ,规范交通管理社区警务运作模式。     

A Longitudinal Study of Modifying Influences in the Relationship Between Domestic Violence and Child Maltreatment

The increased risk of child maltreatment in the presence of domestic violence is well documented, but much remains unknown about factors that modify this relationship. This study investigates the roles of risk and protective factors in the relationship between domestic violence and being reported to the Department of Social Services for child maltreatment. Consistent with the literature, we find a significant overlap between domestic violence and maltreatment. Young maternal age, low education, low income, and lack of involvement in a religious community add to the risk for maltreatment associated with domestic violence. Separation between the maternal caregiver and her partner significantly reduces the risk for maltreatment when domestic violence is reported. A significant reduction in the risk for maltreatment is also found with higher levels of support from the maternal caregiver reported by the child in the context of domestic violence.     

建国后中国社会结构的两次变迁与中国共产党执政思维的转变

社会的发展变化终究要以一定的社会结构体现出来。自新中国成立以来,中国的社会结构经历了两次重大变迁,而中国共产党执政思维的转变与社会结构的变迁是一个互动的历史过程。在社会分化与社会结构重构的历史条件下,社会各阶层之间关系的状况事关中国社会的长治久安。对此,中国共产党提出了构建社会主义和谐社会的理念,实现了中国共产党执政理念质的飞跃,完成了执政思维的历史性转变。     

论转型社会中的中国农村集体土地权利制度变革——兼评《物权法》的相关规定

当代中国农村集体土地权利制度存在所有权与所有制关系混同、使用权与所有权权能趋同、权利关系与权力关系混同、私法缺位和公法越位以及功能错位等问题,因而在社会转型过程中受到极大的挑战.以土地所有制与土地所有权相分离为原则,对现行集体土地所有制进行股份制改造,在土地价值形态上实行农民集体所有制,变农民为股东,实现公平的价值追求;在土地实物形态上建立"集体法人所有权"制度,变农民集体组织为集体法人组织,实现效率的价值追求,这是当代中国集体土地权利制度改革模式的最优选择.