A prospective comparative evaluation of a Criminal Justice Liaison and Diversion Service in Belfast

There is continued interest in the planning, development and implementation of services designed to identify, detainees with mental illness and connect them to health and social services. However, currently little is known about how best to configure, organise and deliver these services. The study employed a prospective follow-up design with a comparator group to describe and evaluate a police mental health liaison service based in Belfast. Participants were recruited from two neighbouring police stations, only one of which provided a mental health liaison service. Outcomes including mental health status, drug and alcohol misuse, risk-related behaviour and ‘administrative’ outcomes were assessed at the time of arrest and six months later. The service was successful in identifying and assessing detainees though there appeared to be similar between-group levels of mental health problems over time. Results highlight a need to develop firmer linkages and pathways between criminal justice liaison / diversion services and routine health and social services. 

Gender Studies – Die Niedersächsische Forschungsevaluation und ihre offenen Fragen

Der Anglizismus „Gender Studies“ bezeichnet in Deutschland faktisch Frauenforschung, also Forschung von Frauen über Frauen für Frauen. Es gibt sie seit mehr als drei Jahrzehnten. Die Zahl der Gender - Professuren beträgt mittlerweile ca. 250. Sie binden finanzielle Ressourcen in entsprechender Höhe. Das ist nicht der einzige, aber doch ein Grund, nach dem wissenschaftlichen Output dieser Forschungen zu fragen. In Niedersachsen ist 2013 eine Forschungsevaluation zum Thema Gender Studies durchgeführt worden. Möglicherweise handelt es dabei um die erste und einzige Untersuchung ihrer Art. Der Ergebnisbericht dieser Evaluation wird hier dargestellt und kritisch kommentiert. Das Ergebnis der Kritik lautet, dass gar keine Evaluation des Forschungs-Outputs vorgenommen worden ist, sondern dass es der beauftragten Kommission nur darum ging, die Input-Strukturen zu stärken, indem mehr Stellen, mehr finanzielle Mittel und noch weniger Kontrollen gefordert wurden.

Understanding the seriousness of corporate crime: Some lessons for the new 'corporate manslaughter' offence

The measurement of public attitudes towards the criminal law has become an important area of research in recent years because of the perceived desirability of ensuring that the legal system reflects broader societal values. In particular, studies into public perceptions of crime seriousness have attempted to measure the degree of concordance that exists between law and public opinion in the organization and enforcement of criminal offences. These understandings of perceived crime seriousness are particularly important in relation to high-profile issues where public confidence in the law is central to the legal agenda, such as the enforcement of work-related fatality cases. A need to respond to public concern over this issue was cited as a primary justification for the introduction of the Corporate Manslaughter and Corporate Homicide Act 2007. This article will suggest that, although literature looking at the perceived seriousness of corporate crime and, particularly, health and safety offences is limited in volume and generalist in scope, important lessons can be gleaned from existing literature, and pressing questions are raised that demand further empirical investigation.

Rights, the environment and Part V of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994

Using figures derived from the UK Home Office, this paper analyses and reviews the impact and deployment of Part V of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994 since its enactment. This is done with special reference to its impact on citizenship and the regulation of ‘the environment’ and associated rural spaces. It is argued that, notwithstanding the actual use of the public order clauses in Part V of the Act, its underlying meanings are largely of a symbolic nature. Such symbolism is, however, a powerful indication of the defence of particularist constructions of rural space. It can also open out new conditions of possibility, providing a useful ‘oppressed’ status and media spectacle for a range of protesters and activists.

Circles of support and accountability: criminal justice volunteers as the 'Deliberative public'

This paper provides a review of the role played by volunteers within one particular offender management and reintegration scheme in the United Kingdom. Circles of Support and Accountability (COSA) draw on the expertise of volunteer members of the public to create supportive monitoring frameworks around sex offenders following their release from prison. The paper presents evidence as to the motivations of these volunteers, and argues that they play a crucial role in the success of the scheme, as they provide an instrumentally-useful form of reintegrative social contact to a socially-excluded offender population, and perform a symbolically important role as representatives of the wider community in taking ownership of offender management practices on behalf of the wider society. This is particularly significant in grounding those processes in the communicative practices of the social sphere, providing powerful reasons for intervention that reinforce the work that COSA do.

The status of child offenders under international criminal justice: lessons from Sierra Leone

This article analyses the status of child offenders under international criminal justice. International criminal proceedings, especially those in the African continent, have recently highlighted the significance of children and young people as perpetrators of genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes. It has been suggested by one commentator that there exist international prohibitions on the prosecution of children for international crimes. It will be argued here that this claim is not substantiated in respect either of customary or treaty-based international obligations.

Gender and ethics

Men and women lawyers value ethics differently, according to a study into law students' values.  About 700 final year law students responded to a questionnaire on hypothetical ethical situations which gave a snapshot understanding of the values of Australian students in their last year of law school.