Prisons or Problem-Solving: Does the Public Support Specialty Courts?

ABSTRACT

Recently, “problem-solving” courts have been developed as an alternative to imprisonment. They are often called “specialty” courts because they process and divert into treatment programs offenders who are seen as different from the general criminal population, such as those with mental health or drug problems, those who are homeless or veterans, and those who engage in domestic violence. Based on a 2017 national survey of 1,000 respondents, the current study examines overall public support for rehabilitation as a goal of corrections and then focuses specifically on support for different types of specialty courts. The analysis reveals that the American public endorses not only the rehabilitative ideal but also the use of problem-solving courts. Further, with only minimal variation, strong support for these courts appears to exist regardless of political orientation and sociodemographic characteristics.     

Fear of victimization and health

Fear of victimization may have consequences for subjective well-being. I develop and test a model linking fear of victimization to subjective health. I hypothesize that two processes link fear to subjective health-psychological and behavioral. Specifically, I hypothesize that fear of victimization increases psychological distress, and fear decreases outdoor physical activity, especially walking. High levels of psychological distress and low levels of walking, in turn, are associated with poor self-reported health. I find empirical support for the hypothesized processes in a representative national sample of 2031 adults aged 18 to 90 interviewed by telephone in 1990. The negative association between fear and health is explained largely by psychological distress and walking. However, a significant direct effect remains. I conclude with suggestions for future research linking crime and health, focusing on the need for collecting information on community disorganization. Community context is likely the ultimate exogenous variable-the one that sets in motion the destructive cycle of fear, distress, inactivity, and poor health described here.     

Correlates of Mortality in a U.S. Cohort of Youth, 1980–98: Implications for Social Justice

This paper reports results of a study based on a nationally representative sample of U.S. youth (N = 11,549) that asked two questions: (1) How does family structure affect the likelihood of adolescent death beyond that of race/ethnicity, sex, socioeconomic status, personal behavior, and other structural factors and (2) under what conditions might appeals for social justice be warranted for relative mortality statuses and for absolute gains in mortality? The study found that marital instability increases the likelihood of dying when controlling for a variety of other factors including class, race/ethnicity, sex, and unemployment rate in area of residence. The author argues that this finding lends support to social justice arguments to redistribute resources in such a way as to ensure the likelihood of absolute gains in mortality. The study also found, however, that race/ethnicity/sex also accounted for the likelihood of dying independently of family structure when controlling for socioeconomic and other factors. The author argues that this finding lends support to social justice arguments to redistribute resources on the basis of relative mortality statuses.     

Hearts, as well as Minds: Wellbeing and Illness among Greek Cypriot Refugees

Recently the psycho-social health of refugees has rightly receivedemphasis, but the physical health of long-term refugees warrantssimilar attention. This paper uses qualitative and quantitativedata on informant-reported health outcomes for two Greek Cypriotvillage cohorts, one displaced, the other not displaced. Supplementarydata from a national diabetes prevalence study confirmed a possiblelink between refugee status and greater probability of cardiovascularillness. Depressive illness also seemed higher among the refugeevillage cohort. But it is not only the illness of some of theserefugees, but their surviving this, and the comparative wellnessof others which is important, compared with the ‘demographicshock’ victims of post-socialist Europe, 1989–1995.The paper suggests why the Greek Cypriots have done rather betterin health terms than the post-socialists of Eastern Europe,1989–1995, but argues that refugees in failing statesmay have much worse health outcomes.     

监狱人民警察的心理障碍及其调适

监狱人民警察的心理障碍是由心理征候集合而表现出的心理病变状态.监狱人民警察产生心理障碍的因素包括:工作劳累导致"心累";任务繁重,工作压力大;社会不理解,遭人非议;人际关系紧张、冲突;家庭成员的不理解、埋怨等.监狱人民警察的心理调适,是运用心理学的理论和方法,进行科学地有效调整,使监狱人民警察保持积极向上的健康的心理状态的过程.对监狱人民警察中出现的心理失衡现象,其克服的方法和途径主要有自我心理调适;家庭的心理调适;监狱领导机关对监狱人民警察的心理保健措施.     

浅议健康教育的作用

健康教育是解决当今社会主要卫生问题的首要对策.健康教育对于改变人们不健康折行为和生活方式,提高全民族的健康水平,保障社会劳动生产力,维护社会稳定,都具有非常重要的作用.     

THE POTENTIAL OF THE FAMILY LAW EDUCATION REFORM PROJECT FOR FAMILY LAWYERS1

Family lawyers are major beneficiaries of the reforms set out in the Family Law Education Reform Project (FLER) Report. This commentary from a veteran family law practitioner explores the needs of the family law bar for the training of law students in practical, interdisciplinary, client‐centered lawyering that goes beyond the traditional case method. I trace many of the current innovations evolving in family law practice and how FLER reforms will not only benefit law schools but also have a major impact in the courts and private practice sector.     

试论警察院校学生心理健康教育体系的构建

目前警察院校学生的心理健康问题比较严重,构建心理健康教育体系很有必要。整个心理健康教育体系应由心理健康教育目标、心理健康教育内容和心理健康教育方法等子体系构成。同时,为了保证警察院校学生心理健康教育的顺利进行,还需要建立、健全心理健康教育的领导管理、运作和环境保障机制。     

关于大学生心理健康的思考

大学生心理健康已成为广大心理学专家和高校教育工作者探讨的重要课题。社会因素、文化因素、校园氛围因素及个体有关因素是影响大学生心理健康的主要因素。高校要加强对大学生心理健康的指导,引导大学生正确对待心理健康问题。     

试论刑事附带民事诉讼中的精神损害赔偿

现行法律中关于精神损害赔偿的立法尚存在需要统一和规范的条款,刑事附带民事诉讼中精神损害赔偿制度在不同法律规定之间的冲突限制了该制度的实施。精神损害赔偿制度应是刑事附带民事损害赔偿的一部分。在适用该制度时,应具备损害后果、侵权事实、侵权事实与损害后果之间的因果关系、主观过错等构成要件,在司法实践中的具体适用应考虑当事人双方的具体情况。