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Assessing the Offending Activity of Criminal Domestic Violence Suspects: Offense Specialization Escalation and De-Escalation Evidence from the…

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PROPOSAL ABSTRACT

Research Goals and Objectives:

Two key dimensions of the criminal career paradigm include specialization and escalation. Although these topics have generated theoretical and empirical debate in the criminal careers area, this line of research has not been integrated into the study of domestic violence, and remains limited in several ways. In this project, we build upon these limitations and explore, using both official records and victim interviews, issues related to specialization and escalation using data from the Spouse Abuse Replication Program (SARP). Specifically, we examine (1) the extent to which offenders participating in the SARP exhibit a specialized proclivity to violence; and (2) tendencies of these individuals to escalate or de-escalate the severity of their attacks against the same victim.

Results

First, regarding the extent to which criminal domestic violence offenders specialize in violent offending, our analysis reveals that the majority of domestic violence offenders with prior official criminal records have been involved in non-violent forms of

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Correlates of Specialization and Escalation in the Criminal Career: Summary Report

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Do offenders specialize in a single crime type or cluster of similar crime types? Do offenders increase the seriousness of their criminal offenses over the course of their criminal careers? Blumstein et al. (1986, 1988) and LeBlanc and Frechette (1989) have suggested that at the onset of the criminal career, offenders will tend to commit a wide variety of offenses. However, as offenders age, and gain more experience in committing criminal acts, they should become more proficient at some crimes and should be increasingly likely to repeat those crimes where they have been more successful. Alternatively, though not to the exclusion of the notion of specialization, some offenders are also expected to increase the severity of the crimes they commit across their criminal careers, ultimately specializing in a more serious type of crime. The reasoning here is similar: offenders who have gained a certain level of expertise in one type of crime (or cluster of similar types of crime) may be

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Transition from Mental Hospital to Community

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Abstract

Making the transition from the hospital to a community setting can be extremely challenging for patients with acute mental health conditions. Transitional services have been created to help patients overcome difficulties associated with this transition. Nurses frequently play an integral role in the success of these services. By providing patients with individualized support during such transitions, nurses act as clinical liaisons and directly contribute to an increase in positive patient and system-level outcomes. This article describes a transitional service called the Bridge Program, designed to help adolescents make a successful transition from the hospital to the community. An overview of the Bridge Program is provided, and the results of an evaluation of this program are presented. Results suggest that the Bridge Program contributes to a decrease in the length of hospital stays and improves continuity of care for patients and their families.

See Also: Hospital-to-community transitions. A bridge program for adolescent mental health patients.

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The Politics of Policing: Ensuring Stakeholder Collaboration in the Federal Reform of Local Law Enforcement Agencies

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I. INTRODUCTION

On November 21, 2006, after obtaining a "no knock" search warrant based on false information, several Atlanta police officers stormed into the home of ninety-two-year-old Kathryn Johnston. Ms. Johnston, who lived alone and feared a home invasion, always locked her door and kept a gun for protection. When the officers burst unannounced into the home, Ms. Johnston fired a single shot but struck no one. Officers at the scene, however, returned fire, striking Ms. Johnston multiple times and fatally wounding her. When a search of the home revealed no drugs, rather than leaving the scene, one of the officers planted in the basement three bags of marijuana seized in an unrelated case. The officer then filed a false incident report stating that someone had purchased drugs at Ms. Johnston's home earlier in the day. To conceal their crimes, the officers suggested to Atlanta homicide investigators that Ms. Johnston's shooting death was justifiable. Fortunately, in later

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Murder Investigation Manual

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1.1 INTRODUCTION

This manual is concerned with the police investigation of the three offences which are included in the Home Office definition of homicide. These are murder, manslaughter and infanticide. The investigation of homicide presents unique challenges to investigators. Some of these challenges arise because homicide is a serious crime, and bringing offenders to justice is a priority for both the public and the police. As a result, there is often a great deal of pressure on Senior Investigating Officers (SIOs) to identify the perpetrator as quickly as possible. Other challenges arise from the range of circumstances in which homicide is committed. This leads to a great deal of variation in the type of information generated in each case, and the way it is distributed at scenes and among witnesses. This means that SIOs can face numerous, different problems in locating and recovering material. SIOs will be better able to address these problems if they have a clear understanding

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Psychology of Compulsory Detention

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The compulsory detention and treatment of patients against their will is unique to psychia try. It is arguably the most stressful event in psychiatric practice, both for the doctor and for the patient, and yet, although much has been written about the details of mental health legislation (Clare, 1980; Fennell, 1995), very little has been said about the psychological impact that this procedure has on either the doctor or the patient (exceptions are Mills, 1962; Rogers et al 1993). This paper will examine the emotional factors involved when a patient is deprived of his or her liberty, and will take as its point of reference the Scottish Mental Health Act. Among psychiatrists there is a spectrum of attitudes towards compulsory detention. At one end there is the position, exemplified by Thomas Szasz, which views psychiatric intervention as an infringement of personal liberty. If,for example, a person wishes to kill himself, that is his right and no one should interfere.

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Moral Reasoning and Ethical Theory 

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While moral reasoning can be undertaken on another’s behalf, it is paradigmatically an agent’s first-personal (individual or collective) practical reasoning about what, morally, they ought to do. Philosophical examination of moral reasoning faces both distinctive puzzles – about how we recognize moral considerations and cope with conflicts among them and about how they move us to act – and distinctive opportunities for gleaning insight about what we ought to do from how we reason about what we ought to do.

Part I of this article characterizes moral reasoning more fully, situates it in relation both to first-order accounts of what morality requires of us and to philosophical accounts of the metaphysics of morality, and explains the interest of the topic. Part II then takes up a series of philosophical questions about moral reasoning, so understood and so situated.

1. The Philosophical Importance of Moral Reasoning
1.1 Defining “Moral Reasoning”
1.2 Empirical Challenges to Moral Reasoning

See Also: Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy

Moral Reasoning & Ethical Theories (2446 downloads )

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Boca Adopts Nightclub Security Ordinance Over Bar Owners’ Objection

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It has taken Boca Raton more than a year to nail down a nightclub security ordinance designed to control underage drinking and cut down on alcohol-related violence and misbehavior. While Boca was still working on its proposal, both Palm Beach and Broward counties adopted regulations similar to those the Boca Raton City Council approved Tuesday night. Despite the length of time Boca worked on its ordinance, it didn’t pass without objection from a local bar owner. Michael Tice, operator of Murphy’s downtown, told the board he helped work on the legislation, “and this one is the worst version yet.” He said the law will hurt operators of clubs with a 4COPS (For consumption on premises) license, which is very costly. It also applies to BC or bottle clubs, where people bring alcohol in themselves, said Alexander. Restaurants that serve more food than spirits have SRX licenses, and...

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Bodies from Water

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SUMMARY

1. Immersion artefacts occur in any corpse immersed in water, irrespective of whether death was from drowning or the person was dead on entering the water. Therefore, immersion artefacts do not contribute to proof of death by drowning. However, such artefacts are typically the most striking findings in a body recovered from water.

These immersion artefacts include: 1. goose-skin, or anserina cutis, which is roughening, or pimpling of the skin, 2. skin maceration, or washer-woman's skin, which is swelling and wrinkling of the skin, and 3. adipocere, which is the transformation of the fatty layer beneath the skin into a soap-like material - a process requiring many weeks or months.

2. Corpses in water always lie with the face down and with the head hanging. Buffeting in the water commonly produces post-mortem head injuries, which may be difficult to distinguish from injuries sustained during life. The presence of bleeding usually distinguishes ante-mortem from post-mortem injuries. However,

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North Miami Dumpster Enclosure Permit

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DUMPSTER ENCLOSURES PERMIT INSTRUCTIONS
North Miami’s Code of Ordinances requires all dumpsters to be enclosed. Each enclosure shall:
1) Be constructed on a concrete slab, asphalt surface or impervious pavers.
2) Have walls that are a minimum of 5 ft. and a maximum of 6ft. in height.
3) Shall be constructed of masonry (CBS wall); chain link fencing with vinyl slats (to assure opacity of the enclosure); wood fencing.
4) Have an access gate of sufficient size to remove the container from the enclosure. **Please note that the gate cannot open into a drive lane or across the sidewalk.
5) Have a working lock on the gate. The gate must be closed and secured at all times when the trash is not being emptied.
6) An impervious area shall be provided for the area between the enclosure and the street, alley or other public right of way from which the container will be serviced. The following attached examples A, B, and C, are of acceptable enclosure

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Evaluation of Discrete Vehicle Accident Sounds for use in Accident Reconstruction

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INTRODUCTION

A vehicle accident involves a complex series of events that result in a unique and specific accident scenario. Even small differences in the details of the accident can have dramatic changes in overall accident sequence. The speed, weight, and orientation of the vehicles at impact, for instance, affect where the impact occurs, the impact duration and severity, and the final rest positions of the vehicles. Likewise, the sound that results from a vehicle accident is affected by similar parameters such as the dynamics, position and orientation of the vehicles. The unique circumstances of the accident determine the sound pressure level, the duration of the sound, the directivity of the sound, and the sound’s frequency spectra. Some vehicle accidents involve tire skidding, glass breaking, engine noise, and tearing metal while other vehicle accidents include only some of these sound sources. These sounds depend on many variables and parameters such as the vehicle’s characteristics, the vehicle’s dynamic, and their surrounding environment.

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Prohibited Persons Notice Form and Power of Attorney for Firearms Relinquishment, Sale or Disposal (Penal Code Section 12021, subd. (d)(2))

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Any person who has been convicted of a felony, a specified misdemeanor, or a specified firearms offense; who is addicted to narcotics; who is the subject of a protective order; or who has been found by a court or mental facility to have certain mental disabilities is prohibited by California law from possessing firearms. Please refer to the accompanying document entitled “State of California Firearms Prohibiting Categories” for a complete list of the firearms prohibitions in state law.

Note: The duration of prohibitions vary. Also, federal law may impose additional and/or more restrictive prohibitions on firearms possession. Therefore, a person who is entitled to possess firearms under state law may nevertheless be prohibited from possessing firearms under federal law. For specific legal advice about the duration of a state prohibition, whether a state prohibition is still in effect, or whether federal law prohibits the possession of firearms, please consult with an attorney who is licensed to practice law in the State of California

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Community Acceptance Of Helicopter Noise: Criteria And Application

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SUMMARY

A study was conducted to define those criteria necessary for civil helicopter operations to be acoustically acceptable to the communities from which they operate and over which they fly. The study involved surveying existing domestic and foreign Federal regulations and guidelines, state and local noise ordinances, results of community noise annoyance studies, and results of individual aircraft noise annoyance studies in order to establish the criteria. The final criteria selected are based on the Day-Night Noise Level, %u, a measure of total noise exposure. weighted sound pressure level (dBA) which has accuracy comparable to other units currently used for aircraft. An Lterion for areas where the ambient noise is below 58 dBA. 2 dBA above the local ambient is recommended for areas where the ambient is above 58 dBA. source (such as aircraft operations) is less than the existing ambient noise energy. Characteristics found important for aircraft noise rating such as tone content, duration, and number of operations have been accounted for....

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Firearm Noise

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6.1 AFFECTED ENVIRONMENT

The main sources of noise within the affected environment on Tinian addressed in this Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) are related to military operations (airfield operations, ground training, construction noise and ground vehicular traffic). Ground training encompasses many types of activities, but live-fire activities are emphasized in analyzing the noise environment because they generate more noise than other ground-based activities. Heavy equipment used during construction activities is the primary source of construction noise. Traffic noise relates to vehicle movements on roadways around the island. The following sections discuss the baseline noise environment to assess the potential effects of noise that may be generated in each geographical area of interest on Tinian should the proposed action be implemented.

6.1.1 Definition of Resource

Sound is the stimulation of auditory organs produced by sound waves transmitted through the air or other medium. Sound waves are small pressure fluctuation waves caused by vibrations. Human hearing generally covers fluctuations between frequencies of

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How Do Forensic Investigators Analyze Ballistic Evidence?

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Firearms & Ballistics

Firearm investigation is a specialty of forensic science focusing on the examination of firearms and related subjects. Closely linked to this is ballistics, which relates to the flight path of projectiles, often associated with forensic science during the investigation of firearms. This area of study examines the path of a bullet from when it leaves the firearm up until it strikes the target. During investigations in which the use of firearms is suspected, a number of artefacts may be collected for examination, including firearms, cartridge cases, bullets, live ammunition, trace materials, and any material damaged by a projectile.

The study of firearms and firearm ballistics is often divided in internal, external and terminal ballistics. Internal ballistics refers to the processes inside the firearm, the minute space of time between the shooter pulling the trigger and the bullet exiting the muzzle of the gun. Following this, external ballistics deals with the bullet’s flight between leaving the firearm and striking a target. Finally,...

Additional Resource: Firearms & Ballistics

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Possession of an Unregistered Firearm 26 U.S.C. § 5861

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6.26.5861 Possession of an Unregistered Firearm (26 U.S.C. § 5861)

Count (No.) of the indictment charges (name of defendant) with possession of an unregistered firearm, namely (describe the firearm; e.g., a shotgun having a barrel of less than 18 inches in length), which is a violation of federal law. In order to find (name) guilty of the offense charged in the indictment, you must find that the government proved each of the following four elements beyond a reasonable doubt.

First: That (name) knowingly possessed a firearm;

Second: That this firearm was a (describe the firearm; e.g., a shotgun having a barrel of less than 18 inches in length);

Third: That (name) knew of the characteristics of the firearm, (that is, that it was (describe the firearm; e.g., a shotgun having a barrel of less than 18 inches in length));

Fourth: That this firearm was (could readily have been put) in operating condition; and

Fifth: That this

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