Att få ett jobb har betytt mycket : En kvalitativ brukarutvärdering av Krami

In this qualitative user evaluation, users from the Krami-programme in Borlänge have been interviewed on what they consider to have been positive changes in their social situation after participating in the programme. The respondents also point out factors in the programme that have supported these changes. The method consisted of interviews with five men who have undergone the Krami programme. The results show that Krami primarily helps the users to get an employment which results in the repeal of criminogenic factors. This plays an important part in the positive change of the users self-esteem, which tends to lead towards ”unlabeling” of the individual as “criminal”. The study also indicates other factors in the program that the users found helpful in their process of change highlighting the interaction between authorities, the approach of the Krami- staff and also the common rules that the participants has to agree upon. The users also poins out the importance of ones own motivation for changes to take place. 

Hårdare tag i arbetslivet? : Åtgärder mot arbetsrelaterat våld i facklig press 1978–2004

Preventing violence at work: A study of descriptions of safety measures in Swedish trade union journals 1978–2004 The purpose of this study is to examine if perceptions of interventions aimed at violence in the workplace have changed since the 1970s. In the beginning of the study period, structural factors are seen as the dominating explanation for workplace violence. The crime perspective rises in the 1990’s and methods of intervention becomes the control- and justice functions of larger society. The result shows search for accountability to be a salient factor for understanding the development towards an increasing use of penal sanctions.

Australian sentencing : principles and practice

Australian Sentencing: Principles and Practice explains the rules, principles, policies and practices that underpin the manner in which people are punished for criminal behaviour in Australia. As well as dealing with sentencing law today, the book provides an extensive analysis of the wider policy, moral, and political consideration which shape sentencing law. It analyses and evaluates existing standards and practices, and suggests how sentencing law should be reformed so that it operates in a fairer, more efficient and effective manner.

Content: Part A: 1. The nature of sentencing and theories of punishment; 2. Plucking figures from the air: the instinctive synthesis; 3. The objectives that are attainable through sentencing; 4. High Court sentencing jurisprudence; Part B: 5. The principle of proportionality; 6. Aggravating factors; 7. Mitigating considerations; 8. The relevance of a guilty plea to sentence; 9. The relevance of prior criminality; 10. Aboriginality; Part C: 11. The nature of criminal sanctions; 12. Imprisonment; 13. Intermediate sanctions; 14. Discharges and bonds, fines and disqualifications; Part D: 15. The way forward ? strategic sentencing.

Are youth mentoring programs good value-for-money? An evaluation of the Big Brothers Big Sisters Melbourne program

Background : The Big Brothers Big Sisters (BBBS) program matches vulnerable young people with a trained, supervised adult volunteer as mentor. The young people are typically seriously disadvantaged, with multiple psychosocial problems.

Methods : Threshold analysis was undertaken to determine whether investment in the program was a worthwhile use of limited public funds. The potential cost savings were based on US estimates of life-time costs associated with high-risk youth who drop out-of-school and become adult criminals. The intervention was modelled for children aged 10–14 years residing in Melbourne in 2004.

Results : If the program serviced 2,208 of the most vulnerable young people, it would cost AUD 39.5 M. Assuming 50% were high-risk, the associated costs of their adult criminality would be AUD 3.3 billion. To break even, the program would need to avert high-risk behaviours in only 1.3% (14/1,104) of participants.

Conclusion : This indicative evaluation suggests that the BBBS program represents excellent 'value for money'.

Ethical practice from the perspective of the forensic psychologist : commentary on the uses and value of the Australian Psychological Society (2007) code of ethics

Forensic practice in Australia and around the world attracts a high level of public and judicial scrutiny. The way in which the forensic psychologist conducts him or herself in ethically challenging situations is important not only to the reputation of the individual practitioner, but to the profession more widely. This paper outlines some of the ethical issues that commonly arise in forensic psychology practice and discusses these in relation to the recently published Australian Psychological Society (2007) Code of Ethics. Four ethically challenging scenarios are described and discussed in terms of how the Code might be used to offer guidance to psychologists about how they might best respond.

Extradition law in Australia

Extradition law concerns the repatriation of international fugitives to the place of their crime. The Australian Extradition Act (passed over 20 years ago) fails to keep pace with aspects of international criminality, particularly political and fiscal offences. It needs reform. This thesis is about reforming Australia's extradition laws.

Tough, tougher, toughest? A new government’s approach to sentencing laws in Victoria

When in opposition, Victoria¹s Liberal/National coalition made a number of commitments to be 'tough on crime'. After winning the 2010 state election, the Government arguably reformed sentencing laws more quickly and more substantially in its first year of office than any other area of policy, with several key initiatives delivered or in train.

The Victorian experience exemplifies fast and forceful responses to perceived risks to community safety by new Australian Governments. While some political leaders have decried the 'law and order auction' approach by political parties, it remains a real tool in political discourse.

Some of these initiatives appear inconsistent with fundamental sentencing principles, and are designed more to address public perceptions which are disconnected from the realities of criminality and incidence of offending. A more appropriate basis for criminal justice policy may require Government to prioritise addressing the causes of offending behavior, rather than penalising consequences.

International legal norms on the right to sexual orientation and gender identity: Australian reforms contextualised

At a time when the international momentum for sexual orientation and gender identity rights is strong it is important that scholars and activists remain vigilant to ensure that the discourses framing sexuality rights do not intentionally, or inadvertently, deepen incursions on the rights of individuals of sexual and bodily diversity. This chapter offers a critical examination of selected Australian case law and legal reform for the putative progress t offers sexual minorities. Identifying the entrenched binary determinism at the heart of the law, this chapter echoes the call of queer criminology, concluding that challenging invisibility is but part of the project. Queer scholars need also remain vigilant about the law’s constitutive power, and its role in producing sexual minorities as objects of pathology, perversion and criminality.

A atitude frente a impunidade do menor infrator: um estudo comparativo

Este trabalho teve por objetivo um estudo comparativo da atitude frente à impunidade penal do menor infrator face a crescente criminal idade juvenil e à perspectiva de redução da idade referente a esta prerrogativa penal, com a justificativa de aumentar a responsabilidade social dos jovens. O trabalho abrange duas partes: Na primeira, é analisado o fenômeno da criminalidade, com relação na ilicitude dos jovens, procurando situar seus condicionantes sócio-econômico-culturais e reportando-se, ainda, a estudos empíricos sobre o tema. Paralelamente, e levado a efeito um estudo de atitudes, embasado no referencial teórico da Sociologia do conhecimento do Peter Berger e Thomas Luckmann. Serviram como respondentes da escala 120 sujeitos, divididos segundo os atributos de sexo, idade, nível de escolaridade e profissão. As seis categorias profissionais compunham dois amplos grupos: humanistas e não humanistas. O instrumento, escala de atitude tipo Likeri, foi construído e aplicado pela pesquisadora, obedecendo a etapas definidas e tratamentos estatísticos, tendo a forma experimental definitiva contado com 18 proposições. A análise de itens e fidedignidade da escala comprovaram a eficácia do instrumento. As hipóteses estatísticas levantadas foram testadas através da análise da variância (no grupo como um todo) e o teste do qui-quadrado (com os sujeitos já agrupados em humanistas e não humanistas), ambos com nível de significância fixado em 0,05. Os resultados da análise da variância demonstraram não haver diferenças significativas na atitude, quanto a sexo, idade e nível de escolaridade. Relação significativa foi encontra da entre profissão e a atitude pesquisada. Pelo teste do qui-quadrado evidenciaram-se diferenças significativas entre humanistas e não humanistas somente em relação ao atributo nível de escolaridade

A autonomia da Perícia Criminal Oficial no âmbito da Polícia Federal: percepções e reflexões dos profissionais do Sistema de Justiça Criminal

Trata-se de uma pesquisa de natureza marcadamente descritiva, com etapas exploratórias, que visa a descrever as percepções e reflexões desveladas pelos sujeitos da pesquisa nas análises temáticas realizadas sobre diversas questões que envolvem o tema da autonomia da Perícia Criminal Oficial, no âmbito da Polícia Federal. Para esse fim, utilizou-se da metodologia da análise de conteúdo, segundo Bardin (1977). Os sujeitos da pesquisa foram escolhidos segundo o critério de acessibilidade e da natureza dos cargos, quais sejam: Delegado da Polícia Federal, Juiz Federal, Perito Criminal Federal e Procurador da República. Face à predominância do cunho qualitativo neste estudo, não há expectativas de generalizações dos resultados obtidos no campo, assim como a seleção desses sujeitos não priorizou pela representatividade quantitativa de cada cargo. O referencial teórico foi construído com o propósito de contextualizar e favorecer a compreensão do leitor sobre como é constituída a realidade em que se insere o objeto de estudo, buscando descrever os termos e conceitos necessários a essa compreensão, tais como: (i) o que é o Sistema de Justiça Criminal e como se deu seu processo de formação no Estado moderno; (ii) como é a estrutura e o fluxo processual básico do modelo brasileiro, com destaque para a posição que ocupam os órgãos ou Instituto de Criminalística; (iii) qual o nível de efetividade desse sistema, no Brasil, e quais os principais problemas que afetam a funcionalidade da Perícia Oficial em sua estrutura; (iv) quais os reflexos do uso dos paradigmas repressivo e preventivo, pelo Estado, no controle da violência, da criminalidade e da impunidade dos criminosos, visando a garantir a manutenção da ordem pública como bem coletivo; (v) que relevância tem o papel da Perícia Oficial para a efetividade do Sistema de Justiça Criminal, segundo o paradigma preventivo; (vi) o que é Criminalística e qual a natureza de sua atividade; e (vii) como se apresenta a atual estrutura administrativa e a rede de clientes da Perícia Oficial. Ao se aproximar do objeto de estudo, o pesquisador buscou descrever como se deu a origem do processo de autonomia da Criminalística, no Brasil, e como esse processo vem sendo desenhado como uma política de segurança pública, destacando as principais medidas administrativas e normativas adotadas no país que favoreceram a sua consolidação, tais como: a aprovação do PNSP (2002), do PNDH I (1996), do PNDH II (2002) e do PNDH III (2009), além da promulgação da Lei nº 12.030/2009, que assegura, de forma específica, a autonomia técnico-científica e funcional da função pericial criminal. Tratamento especial foi dado ao significado e ao alcance que têm as dimensões conceituais do termo “autonomia” para a função pericial. Em que pesem os resultados obtidos, as conclusões revelam que a complexidade do tema, teoria e prática, aguarda continuidade em pesquisas futuras.

Uso das estatísticas criminais e planejamento das atividades policiais: um estudo sobre a percepção dos profissionais de segurança pública do estado do Rio de Janeiro

O presente estudo teve como objetivo analisar o uso das estatísticas criminais no planejamento das atividades policiais no estado do Rio de Janeiro, identificando as possibilidades e as dificuldades para este uso segundo as percepções dos profissionais de segurança pública envolvidos neste processo. Partiu-se da hipótese que embora já haja um movimento para utilização das estatísticas criminais no estado do Rio de Janeiro, na prática a sua utilização nos moldes das abordagens contemporâneas de políticas de segurança pública é prejudicada por resistências culturais dos atores envolvidos e por problemas de natureza estrutural, como insuficiência de recursos materiais e humanos. Tal tese foi defendida tendo por base a triangulação do referencial teórico adotado e das pesquisas documental e de campo desenvolvidas. A pesquisa de campo foi realizada por meio de entrevistas em profundidade com policiais civis, policiais militares, analistas e gestores públicos envolvidos com o uso deste instrumento de análise. Os resultados da investigação permitiram concluir que no estado do Rio de Janeiro já ocorre de fato o uso dos dados estatísticos criminais, marcado principalmente pela implementação do Sistema de Metas para os Indicadores Estratégicos de Criminalidade do Estado. Não obstante, evidenciou que na prática o uso das estatísticas encontra barreiras não só de natureza técnica, como de natureza subjetiva, pois lida com interesses de múltiplos atores envolvidos. Deste modo, tendo com pano de fundo o modelo de processo decisório de Kingdon, chegou-se ao pressuposto de que este tema precisa ser inserido na agenda decisória governamental, com propostas de políticas públicas que garantam as condições concretas (materiais e de recursos humanos) para o uso das estatísticas criminais e ações que visem minimizar as resistências encontradas na prática, com medidas que estimulem a integração entre os diferentes atores inseridos neste processo.

Essays in heterogeneous agent macroeconomics

This thesis is comprised of three chapters. The first article studies the determinants of the labor force participation of elderly American males and investigates the factors that may account for the changes in retirement between 1950 and 2000. We develop a life-cycle general equilibrium model with endogenous retirement that embeds Social Security legislation and Medicare. Individuals are ex ante heterogeneous with respect to their preferences for leisure and face uncertainty about labor productivity, health status and out-of-pocket medical expenses. The model is calibrated to the U.S. economy in 2000 and is able to reproduce very closely the retirement behavior of the American population. It reproduces the peaks in the distribution of Social Security applications at ages 62 and 65 and the observed facts that low earners and unhealthy individuals retire earlier. It also matches very closely the increase in retirement from 1950 to 2000. Changes in Social Security policy - which became much more generous - and the introduction of Medicare account for most of the expansion of retirement. In contrast, the isolated impact of the increase in longevity was a delaying of retirement. In the second article, I develop an overlapping generations model of criminal behavior, which extends prior research on crime by taking into account individuals' labor supply decisions and the stigma effect that affects convicted offenders, lowering their likelihood of employment. I use the model to guide a quantitative assessment of the determinants of crime and of a counterfactual experiment in which an income redistribution policy is thought as an alternative to greater law enforcement. The model economy considered in this paper is populated by heterogeneous agents who live for a realistic number of periods, have preferences over consumption and leisure, and differ in terms of their age, their skills as well as their employment shocks. In addition, savings may be precautionary and allow partial insurance against the labor income shocks. Because of the lack of full insurance, this model generates an endogenous distribution of wealth across consumers, enabling us to assess the welfare implications of the redistribution policy experiment. I calibrated the model using the US data for 1980 and then use the model to investigate the changes in criminality between 1980 and 1996. The main results that come out of this study are: 1) Law enforcement policy was the most important factor behind the fall in criminality in the period, while the increase in inequality was the most important single factor promoting crime; 2) Stigmatization is not a free-cost crime control policy; 3) Income redistribution can be a powerful alternative policy to fight crime. Finally, the third article studies the impact of HIV/AIDS on per capita income and education. It explores two channels from HIV/AIDS to income that have not been sufficiently stressed by the literature: the reduction of the incentives to study due to shorter expected longevity and the reduction of productivity of experienced workers. In the model individuals live for three periods, may get infected in the second period and with some probability die of Aids before reaching the third period of their life. Parents care for the welfare of the future generations so that they will maximize lifetime utility of their dynasty. The simulations predict that the most affected countries in Sub-Saharan Africa will be in the future, on average, thirty percent poorer than they would be without AIDS. Schooling will decline in some cases by forty percent. These figures are dramatically reduced with widespread medical treatment, as it increases the survival probability and productivity of infected individuals.

Repercussões sociais da violência contra crianças e adolescentes: deliqüência

This research is responsible for the investigation and problematization of the violence production process in children and teenagers through deviant behaviour, especially the drug s use and traffic, given that the deviant behaviour named juvenile criminality is something built and that can t be disassociated from the social and institutional relations that are ideological and violent, as well as the construction of, social and individual, positive identities can become important instruments for the process of democratization and the effective juvenile citizenship. In relation to the teorical referential, the work was developed from readings beyond the social science camp, without getting far from it, searching for support in other scientific camps and making your bases on Manuel Castells formulations about the power of the identity, and on Nancy Fraser and Axel Honneth in relation to the recognition struggle. In the empiric field, the discourses and graphic representations from twenty four children and teenagers that attend a social project were privileged, and compared to those shown at the documentary and the book Falcão Meninos do Tráfico produced by MV Bill, in relation to the social profile and life trajectory. From the study subjects' perspective, the data suggest that the children and the teenagers conceive violence as a natural thing, either as victims or persecutors. However, the research shows that, despite the subjects of the two studied groups reveled in your discourses the influence of the violent relations in their daily lives, the subjects got recognition during the process of identity construction by the groups with which they maintained the sense of belonging, either it being the family, the community or the school, they were positively influenced and established a positive representation of themselves and didn t show any deviant and violent tendency or behaviour. Therefore, we demonstrate the role of the school for an education for peace, as well as the participation of the family, the community and the stimulation of the juvenile protagonism as transforming practices, capable of awaking the citizenship and avoiding the construction of people that reproduce deviant and violent behaviour