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.     

From discourse to policy: US policy communities’ perceptions of and approaches to climate change and security

ABSTRACT

Increasingly, a diverse set of policy communities, including those with defence, development and environmental mandates, frame climate change as a security threat. Most often this discursive formation labels climate change as a ‘threat multiplier’. This framing, however, is vague, linear and leaves many questions unanswered regarding how institutions can develop and implement policy that addresses the joint challenges of climate change, conflict and security. Utilising a mixed-methods approach, and grounding data collection in US policy communities, this article examines how policy actors and institutions integrate climate-security discourses into policy processes. The objective of this research is to provide direct insight into how the discourses and technical understandings of climate-security transition into policy priorities and implementation realities. This research identified three common approaches to climate-security: (1) A challenge of adaptation and resilience; (2) A potent political argument; and (3) An issue of limited importance and feasibility. These approaches, however, are inconsistent across sectors and within organisations, suggesting a lack of cohesion and considerable challenges in identifying and responding to climate change as a ‘threat multiplier’.     

论我国征收立法中公共利益的规范模式

“公共利益”是启动征收程序的前提性要件。在公共利益的规范模式上,我国物权法应采折衷主义立法例,不应明文禁止商业征收,但应明文规定公共利益的决策和形成机制,并建立相应的行政和司法救济途经。     

建国初期陕西旧有学校的接管与改造

接管旧有的教育是中国新民主主义革命的一项重要任务。建国初期,陕西省完成了接管旧的公立学校、接收私立学校、接办教会学校,为建立陕西省社会主义的新教育奠定了基础。     

对新公共管理的几点反思

新公共管理是公共行政在新形势下的发展，它的一些理论和方法是值得我们借鉴的。但是，新公共管理是否能够成为一门独立的新学科，政府和政府官员是否是利己的，政府是否一定低效以及顾客导向等理论，是值得深入研究的。     

构建和谐社会要努力搞好社会保障工作

构建和谐社会,需要搞好社会保障工作。共产党对构建和谐社会与搞好社会保障工作进行了理论探索,我们研究社会保障工作实践中的问题,提出解决问题的思路、对策,有助于构建和谐社会。     

坚持和发展职代会制度的几点思考

职代会制度是推进企业实行民主管理和民主监督的基本制度。企业改制后,同样应该得到坚持和发展。工会应当适应形势,充实和调整职代会的职能,正确处理与股东大会、董事会、监事会的关系,切实发挥职代会的应有作用。     

艰苦奋斗与全面建设小康社会

在新世纪全面建设小康社会起步时 ,我们要正确认识艰苦奋斗与全面建设小康社会的统一性 ;充分认识艰苦奋斗建设小康的重要性 ;丰富艰苦奋斗新内涵 ,从而把党的伟大事业推向前进     

文艺的德性：审美与伦理的耦合

文艺有着深刻的伦理学内涵,优秀的文艺作品的道德意义就在于它是人性的敞亮与主体性的高扬。缺乏伦理学的视野,就无法全面把握文艺的本真特质。文艺作品不同于道德教科书,文艺所传达的不应是抽象的直白的信条,而应该是活的生活———经过作家审美创造的生活。但文艺毕竟不是超人类的存在,文艺展示自然、社会、人际、心灵,提供测试人生价值和人生态度的光谱,文艺家的主观命意、文艺作品的客观意蕴以及受众的解读与再创造,本身就是一定价值的自觉选择和自然涵纳。伦理道德在文艺作品中必须是符合审美要求的存在,明晰的个性化(典型化)与生动的感性化,是其按照美的规律进行创造的实现机制。     

美国的公共服务改革及其启示

公共服务民营化是美国近年来公共服务改革的核心措施。从美国的经验来看,能否处理好民营化与竞争、民营化与社会公正、民营化与公众安全的关系,以及民营化与政府监管的关系直接关系到公共服务改革的成效。