Exploring the criminal histories of stranger sexual killers

Although sexual homicide is receiving increasing research attention, few studies have examined the criminal histories of sexual killers in any detail. This study examined the criminal histories of 81 British stranger sexual killers to determine whether they were generalist, specialists or both and whether their criminal histories reflected violent, sexual, marginality and over control pathways. Results found most stranger sexual killers were generalist offenders and sexual homicide was part of a varied criminal repertoire and non-sexual crimes predominate. This ‘antisocial orientation’ means future offending may not be limited to sexual violence. Criminal histories reflected the violent, sexual, marginality and over control pathways, but offenders in the violent pathway were more criminally orientated. The clinical and investigative implications of these findings were considered as they suggest knowledge of the criminal histories of stranger sexual killers is an important consideration for criminal justice professionals.     

A qualitative exploration of the experience of restorative approaches in a forensic mental health setting

Restorative justice (RJ) is an intervention gaining worldwide recognition in criminal justice systems and other settings. There is a growing evidence base demonstrating positive outcomes in a number of domains, but we found no previous research focussed upon the use of RJ in a forensic mental health setting. This study used a constructivist grounded theory analysis of semi-structured interviews to explore and develop a deeper understanding of RJ practices interventions in such a setting. Ten participants including RJ facilitators, patients and mental health staff took part in research interviews. Restorative interventions were found to be congruent with models of mental health and offender recovery. Processing emotions, developing thinking and coherent narrative, and immediacy are found to be key components of the intervention. The emergent model highlights the role of containment and a high level of facilitator skill when working with a complex, vulnerable and potentially unstable client group.     

城市“三无”人员遗产处理若干问题探析--以公证实例为分析视角

近年来,国家对低收入群体的保障力度不断增大,作为城市低保对象的"三无"人员的财产也不断增加,但法律、行政法规及司法解释都没有对城市"三无"人员遗产处理作出专门规定,特别是随着我国城镇化进程的加快,"撤村改居"的政策使得农村户籍变为城镇户籍,伴随而来的就是农村五保户向城市"三无"人员的转变,城市"三无"人员死亡后的遗产处理成了新的难题。为了避免出现遗产无人继承而归公的情形,在立法滞后的情况下,公证行业应首先制定相应的指导意见,同时完善立法,明确城市"三无"人员遗产的处理方式,在《继承法》进行修改时应扩大法定继承人的范围,从而有效解决城市"三无"人员遗产处理的问题。     

离岸公司的运用及相关法律问题

出于各种动机 ,我国及国际上注册离岸公司的现象非常普遍 ,由此带来不少弊端。与此相关的我国目前如何监管境内企业境外上市行为 ,我国目前的国民待遇制度及国有资产保护等三个问题值得关注和反思。     

对新《刑法》第18条的理解与运用

本文就我国新刑法第18条中精神病的涵义,精神病患者刑事责任能力评定,精神病的医学鉴定以及对精神病人的监护治疗问题谈个人看法。供执法者和鉴定工作者在处理有关精神疾病案件时参考。     

试论《民法通则》第一百三十二条在医疗损害赔偿中的适用

民事法律中“公平责任”和“公平原则”在内涵上有着本质的区别,《民法通则》第一百三十二条“当事人对造成的损害都没有过错的,可以根据实际情况,由当事人分担民事责任”是“公平原则”在侵权行为法中的具体体现,具体到医疗损害赔偿中应坚持贯彻公平原则。但是目前在医疗损害赔偿案件中,有一种滥用《民法通则》第一百三十二条的现象。笔者针对司法实践中的此种现象,试图说明医疗损害赔偿案件适用《民法通则》第一百三十二条的原则。     

道路交通事故受伤人员后期医疗费评估的法医学探讨

目的　探讨 13 71例交通事故中受伤人员后期医疗费的影响因素 ,并为此类案例后期医疗费的法医学评估积累经验。　方法　设定影响因素参数为“评估时间、是否评残及后期有无手术” ,并行卡方检验。　结果　评估时间在 1月内者为 475例 ,3月内者 1118例 ;评估时间的不同、是否评残及后期有无手术等因素对后期医疗费的影响有显著性意义 (P <0 .0 1)。　结论　后期医疗费的法医学评估是必要的 ,原则上应依据“普及价格”并考虑多种影响因素综合评估     

论我国投资机会均等的法律保障

所谓投资机会均等,是指在同等条件下,投资主体享有相同的投资权利和待遇。投资机会均等直接涉及到对外国投资的待遇标准。在双边投资条约中,采用的标准主要有国民待遇及最惠国待遇两种。欲使投资者享有均等的投资机会,必须加强并不断完善涉外投资立法,给投资者以法律上的支持和保障。而我国投资机会均等的法律规定明显不足,应加以完善。     

论保险合同的无效

保险合同无效是指因法定原因使已成立的保险合同全部或部分不能发生法律效力。保险合同无效的原因及法律后果应同时适用民法通则、合同法和保险法的相关规定。     

Women's views on affirmative action: A new look at preferential treatment

The first part of this paper sketches a profile of women who endorse affirmative action, showing that women who approve of affirmative action identify with a nontraditional image of women and experience discontent when perceiving discrimination on the basis of sex. We also examine the impact of the implementing procedure. Studies conducted with French-Canadian women show that those who fit the above profile readily endorse equal opportunity policies. What about policies that advocate preferential treatment? Early studies indicated that women did not endorse these policies. Recent studies, however, revealed a dramatic change in the pattern of responses. Women who were dissatisfied with their collective situation and identified with a nontraditional image of their group predominantly approved of preferential treatment. What factors triggered this change in attitudes? Are the merit principle and preferential treatment policies truly incompatible? We address these questions in the second part of this paper as well as the implications of this shift in attitudes.