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There is a high prevalence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) carriers in prison in several developed countries, but the situation in Japan has not been well reported. This study aimed to determine the state of HCV infection among criminals in Japan. We enrolled 533 criminals in rehabilitation facilities (354 men and 179 women) who underwent a medical check-up from April 2014 to March 2022. Their records of blood tests, medical history, and drug injection use were retrospectively analyzed. The HCV-antibody positive rate was 11.1 % (59/533), with rates of 8.2 % (29/354) in men and 16.8 % (30/179 in women. Approximately half of the HCV-infected residents had a history of drug injection, and this rate did not vary by age or by sex. Although an opportunity to treat HCV infection with medical assistance from government was provided to all residents who were positive for HCV RNA, 26.5 % of them abandoned the treatment. In spite of the generous economical support to treat HCV infection by the government and the free access system in Japan, eliminating HCV in criminals appears to be difficult. The reason for this problem might be the criminals' negligent attitude to life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines the use of high-powered performance-based incentives for civil servants, focusing on drug-related cases registered by the Russian police. Using an event study approach and bunching analysis, I show that the incentives arising from the performance evaluation system of police officers can significantly influence their behavior. Specifically, I find evidence suggesting that this impact can result in the manipulation of drug quantities seized by the police, moving offenders from below to above the punishment threshold. Further negative consequences of the strong performance-based incentives are inequality in the enforcement of law, prolonged sentences, and increased probability of pretrial detention. Thus, I determine that police officers are more likely to manipulate the drug quantities seized from men. I also find that the manipulation increases the probability of pretrial detention by 9% and adds one more year of incarceration, which is a 67% increase on the average sentence length without manipulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The impact of incarceration on health is well known. Yet, most studies measure incarceration alone and miss additional exposure to the criminal legal system over time. We evaluated adult criminal legal sanctions - inclusive of arrests, charges, probation, incarceration - from ages 18-35 and inequities by juvenile sanctions and race.Methods: Using the National Longitudinal Survey on Youth 1997, a nationally representative data set of adolescents followed into their mid-thirties (1997-2017), we calculated the mean cumulative count, or the average number of criminal legal events per person per study visit, stratified by juvenile sanctions and race.Results: Of 7024 participants, 1679 experienced 3,075 encounters. There were seven arrests, 30 charges, nine probation encounters, and 13 incarceration events /100 participants by age 35. Juvenile sanctions were most common for Black individuals. Among those experiencing juvenile sanctions, Black and White individuals had similar numbers of encounters, but Black individuals had more arrests and incarceration stays. For those without juvenile encounters, Black individuals had more encounters than White individuals.Conclusions: Research on health effects of criminal legal sanctions must consider encounters beyond incarceration and focus on life course trajectories and racial inequities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There are high rates of substance use disorder (SUD) among people released from carceral settings and, upon release, many of these people also face unstable housing situations, posing challenges to connecting with resources to facilitate SUD recovery. Recovery homes provide a temporary sober living environment for those seeking both SUD recovery and transition back to the community after carceral release. However, successful recovery home placement for this population can prove difficult, and there is a need for research to identify ways to overcome them. The current qualitative study seeks to understand barriers to recovery home access for people leaving carceral settings and identify potential best practices for overcoming these barriers from the perspective of recovery home directors. The study conducted semi-structured interviews at two data collection points with eight recovery home directors from sites participating in a housing linkage and placement intervention pilot. The research team used qualitative software to identify and organize directors' experiences and practices in housing and supporting this population. Recovery home directors identified significant barriers to linkage from carceral settings, including difficulties communicating and coordinating placement with potential residents while still incarcerated. Interviews also revealed approaches recovery home directors take to improve recovery home placement, such as sharing information and resources with carceral settings prior to release and helping residents avoid reincarceration by managing relationships with court agents and parole. Recovery resident directors have considerable insight into the most significant placement challenges faced by recovery homes upon carceral release as well as experience with potential solutions for overcoming them. Directors can be the key to direct seamless support and continuity of care for criminal legal system involved individuals through coordination with jails, prisons, and other community resources. Directors can also play a significant role in the successful completion of probation and parole by helping residents avoid further issues with the legal system. These directors view working cooperatively with residents as an effective approach to ensuring clients adhere to court orders and are successful in recovery and reentry. • Recovery home directors play a vital role between jail/prison and recovery housing. • Recovery home directors work strategically with parole and probation agents. • Recovery home directors help create a space for residents to focus on recovery. • Recovery home directors support successful reentry and substance use recovery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Psychopathy has long been of interest to scientists and policy makers largely due to its connection to criminality. Theoretically, psychopathic individuals may be less likely to commit crime to the extent they feel more wedded to conventional morals. Hence, we proposed that integrity (i.e., the steadfast adherence to a strict moral code) should moderate the relation between psychopathic traits and criminality. Participants (N = 309) completed questionnaires assessing psychopathic traits, integrity, and criminality. As expected, across a series of analyses, we found that high integrity weakened the relation between psychopathic traits and criminality; in fact, at certain high levels of integrity, the relation was nonsignificant. Broadly, in addition to elucidating some benefits of integrity, the data suggest how it could be possible to maintain psychopathic traits – which could have some benefits to society – but weaken their links to criminality. • Psychopathy was positively related to criminality. • High integrity weakened this relationship. • At certain high levels of integrity, this relationship was null. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While randomized-controlled trials have shown that heroin-assisted treatment (HAT) is superior to methadone maintenance alone in treatment of refractory clients, little is known about client factors associated with retention in HAT in routine care. This retrospective cohort study assessed predictors of retention in first treatment episode among a consecutive cohort of clients admitted to HAT in Denmark from 2010 to 2018, who could be matched to the Danish population register and for whom a Short Form Health Survey (SF-36) was available at admission (N = 432). The study derived predictors from client self-reports at intake and administrative data available in national registers. Cox proportional hazards regression modelled retention in treatment. The one-year retention rate was 69.63 % (95 % CI 65.06 %–73.74 %), and the median time in treatment was 2.45 years (95 % CI, 1.83–3.12). Bivariate analyses showed that retention was lower for clients who had recent cocaine or benzodiazepine use and among those who had experienced an overdose in the year prior to enrollment in HAT. Age below 40, recent illegal activity, poorer emotional wellbeing, previous residential treatment experience, and previous intensive outpatient treatment were also predictors of dropout from HAT. This observational study found that retention in HAT in routine care was similar to rates observed in randomized-controlled trials conducted in other countries. The results suggest that addressing polysubstance use as part of the HAT program may promote long-term retention, as may directing resources to certain subgroups identified at intake, including clients under 40 years and those who report recent criminal activity, emotional problems, or overdoses. The findings that previous residential treatment and intensive outpatient treatment were associated with dropout were unexpected. • High one-year retention in HAT in a routine care setting, similar to RCTs. • History of emotional problems, criminal activity, or overdoses increases dropout risk. • Addressing polysubstance use directly may improve retention in HAT. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The past decade has witnessed an escalation of using criminal enforcement to enhance environmental compliance in China. The purpose of this study is to examine the deterrent effects of criminal enforcement on environmental crimes. To this end, we explore a unique environmental supervision and compliance dataset of Chinese facilities. Our empirical analysis shows that criminal enforcement significantly enhances firms' environmental performance. The preferred specifications suggest that presence of criminal charges in a city is associated with a 12% reduction in the number of environmental violations. This result is robust to different specifications and alternative measures. Our findings further show that the deterrent effect is more pronounced in inland cities and those "non-key" environmental protection cities. It suggests that criminal enforcement has significant complementary effects in enhancing compliance in areas where administrative enforcement is insufficient. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Violent crime may impact the perpetrator in many ways, such as experiencing the negative emotions of shame and/or guilt. These emotions may subsequently play a role in adjusting to life after the crime has taken place, which is an area that has been relatively under-researched. The review aimed to identify and synthesise all available literature on the experience of offence-related shame and/or guilt in violent offenders, and to describe and characterise the methodological standard of research evidence whilst suggesting areas for further research. A systematic review of relevant databases was conducted using predefined search terms related to 'shame' and/or 'guilt' and 'violent offenders'. A mixed methods systematic review of sample characteristics, methodologies and measures was conducted to describe and compare findings across quantitative and qualitative studies. The review yielded nine papers. Offence-related shame and/or guilt was prevalent among violent populations. Results highlight the complexity and importance of the two emotions for offender rehabilitation. The findings support the need for further investigation to improve the methodological rigor within this area, such as the use of, and development of validated measures of offence-related shame and/or guilt to encourage a more reformed understanding of offence-related shame and/or guilt, for violent offenders. The review considers several implications for research and practice. • Shame and/or guilt are complex emotions and hold important insights into offender rehabilitation. • Approaches should focus on enhancing adaptive guilt, whilst reducing maladaptive shame. • Future research should aim to improve the methodological rigor when exploring shame and/or guilt as offence-related emotions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The growing threat of sexual extortion ("sextortion") has garnered significant attention in the news and by law enforcement agencies around the world. Foundational knowledge of prevalence and risk factors, however, is still nascent. The present study surveyed 16,693 respondents, distributed equally across 10 different countries, to assess prevalence of victimization and perpetration of threatening to disseminate intimate images. Weighted by gender, age, region, and population, 14.5% of respondents indicated at least one experience of victimization, while 4.8% of respondents indicated perpetration of the same. Demographic risk factors for perpetration and victimization were also assessed. Consistent with findings from other studies, men (15.7%) were 1.17 times more likely to report being victimized compared to women (13.2%), and 1.43 times more likely to report perpetration. LGBTQ+ respondents were 2.07 times more likely to report victimization compared to non-LGBTQ+ respondents, and 2.51 times more likely to report offending behaviors. Age was significantly associated, with younger participants more likely to report both victimization and perpetration experiences. The most common type of perpetrator, as reported by victims, was a former or current partner. Despite the strong likelihood of under-reporting given the topic area, the study found that experiencing threats to distribute intimate content is a relatively commonplace occurrence, impacting 1 in 7 adults. Implications for potential mitigation are discussed. • There is a dearth of literature on the prevalence of sextortion. • In a survey of 16,693 respondents, 14.5% reported victimization and 4.8% reported perpetration. • LGBTQ+, men, and younger respondents were more likely to report both victimization and perpetration. • Sextortion was least prevalent in the European countries surveyed. • Perpetrators of sextortion are most often current or former intimate partners. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is uncertainty about whether criminal legal involvement (CLI) impacts the effectiveness of medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD). We aimed to determine whether CLI modifies the association between buprenorphine-naloxone (BUP-NX) vs. extended-release naltrexone (XR-NTX) and MOUD treatment outcomes. We conducted a secondary analysis of X:BOT, a 24-week multi-center randomized controlled trial comparing treatment outcomes between BUP-NX (n = 287) and XR-NTX (n = 283) in the general population. We used baseline Additional Severity-Index Lite responses to identify patients with recent CLI (n = 342), defined as active CLI and/or CLI in the past 30 days, and lifetime incarceration (n = 328). We explored recent CLI and lifetime incarceration as potential effect modifiers of BUP-NX vs. XR-NTX effectiveness on relapse, induction, and overdose. We conducted both intention-to-treat and per-protocol analyses for each outcome. In intention-to-treat analyses, recent CLI modified the effect of BUP-NX vs. XR-NTX on odds of successful induction (p = 0.03) and hazard of overdose (p = 0.04), but it did not modify the effect on hazard of relapse (p = 0.23). All participants experienced lower odds of successful induction with XR-NTX compared to BUP-NX, but the relative likelihood of successful induction with BUP-NX was lower than XR-NTX among individuals with recent CLI (OR: 0.25, 95 % CI: 0.13–0.47, p < 0.001) compared to those without recent CLI (OR: 0.04, 95 % CI: 0.01–0.19, p < 0.001). Participants with recent CLI experienced similar hazard of overdose with XR-NTX and BUP-NX (HR: 1.12, 95 % CI: 0.42–3.01, p = 0.82), whereas those without recent CLI experienced greater hazard of overdose with XR-NTX compared to BUP-NX (HR: 12.60, 95 % CI: 1.62–98.03, p = 0.02). In per-protocol analyses, recent CLI did not modify the effect of MOUD on hazard of overdose (p = 0.10) or relapse (p = 0.41). Lifetime incarceration did not modify any outcome. Compared to individuals without recent CLI, individuals with recent CLI experienced decreased relative effectiveness of BUP-NX compared to XR-NTX for induction and overdose outcomes. This highlights the importance of considering the impact of recent CLI on opioid use disorder treatment outcomes. Future research should explore the mechanisms through which recent CLI modifies MOUD effectiveness and aim to improve MOUD effectiveness for individuals with recent CLI. • Criminal legal context impacts medication for opioid use disorder outcomes. • Recent criminal legal involvement decreased relative BUP-NX vs XR-NTX effectiveness. • Recent criminal legal involvement modified induction and overdose, but not relapse. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Childhood self-harm is rare but increasing in frequency. Little is known about risk factors specifically for self-harm in preteen children.Methods: We examined self-harm thoughts and behaviours in children aged 3-14 years in association with parental and community-level risk factors, using a large general population-based record linkage sample (n = 74,479).Results: Parental factors were strongly associated with childhood self-harm, with over three-quarters of children with self-harm having a parent with a history of mental disorder and/or criminal offending. Community-level factors (socioeconomic deprivation, remote or regional location, and neighbourhood crime rate) were not associated with childhood self-harm after adjustment for confounding factors.Limitations: Measures of self-harm thoughts and behaviours derived from administrative data likely underestimate the prevalence of self-harm in the population.Conclusions: Intergenerational transmission of risk factors is likely an important contributor to childhood self-harm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The repercussions of Russia's invasion of Ukraine are reverberating around the world. The multilateral and coordinated response of the international community to Russia's unprovoked war in Ukraine was immediate and has been waged on multiple fronts. While the world's major powers are focused on the best strategies to face the ongoing conflict, international humanitarian law and human rights law are violated every day in Ukraine. Innocent civilians are tortured, killed, or obliged to leave their city or country to avoid the worst atrocities, while civilian buildings and infrastructure are destroyed. This article examines the most relevant decisions adopted at the international level and identifies possible solutions to prosecute and punish international crimes perpetrated in Ukraine. International (criminal) law and cooperation between states and international organizations will play a crucial role in the fight against impunity for those responsible for the worst atrocities against the Ukrainian population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Traffic offenses can predict a person's likelihood of being at fault for a crash. • Versatile offenders pose the highest risk to road safety. • People who drive while unlicensed are a particular group of concern. • People who commit serious, criminal-type, traffic offenses are at risk. Introduction: The aim of this study was to determine whether drivers who had received more traffic infringements were more likely to be at fault for the crash in which they were killed. Method: The current dataset was derived from the crash and traffic history records provided by the Queensland Department of Transport and Main Roads and Coroner's Court for every driver, with available records, who was killed in a crash in Queensland, Australia, between 2011 and 2019 (N = 1,136). The most common traffic offenses in the current sample were speeding, disobeying road rules, driving under the influence of drugs and alcohol, and unlicensed driving. Logistic regression models were used to compute odds ratios for the number of overall offenses, the number of specific offense types, and for specific offending profiles that were derived from the literature. Age, gender, and crash type were each controlled for by entering them into the initial blocks of the regression models. Results: After accounting for the variance associated with age, gender, and crash type, only the overall number of offenses and the number of unlicensed driving offenses predicted a significant change in a drivers' likelihood of being at fault for the crash that killed them. Furthermore, drivers who were identified as having versatile (i.e., multiple offenses from different categories) or criminal-type offense profiles (i.e., offenses that were considered to approximate criminal offenses) were each significantly more likely to be at fault for a fatal crash. Practical Applications: This study provided an important contribution by demonstrating how a more nuanced approach to understanding how a driver's traffic history might be used to identify drivers who are more at risk of being involved in a crash (i.e., for which they were at fault). The implications of these findings are discussed with recommendations and consideration for future research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Most research examining the consumption of online child sexual abuse material (CSAM) has focused on offenders' demographic and psychological characteristics. While such research may assist in the development of therapeutic interventions with known offenders, it has little to offer the development of interventions for the vast majority of offenders who are never caught. To learn more about the offending strategies of CSAM offenders, in order to inform prevention efforts to deter, disrupt, and divert individuals from their pursuit of CSAM. Seventy-five male CSAM offenders, who were living in the community and were voluntarily participating in a treatment programme. Participants completed a detailed self-report questionnaire focussing on their pathways to offending and their online behaviour. Most participants reported that they did not initially seek out CSAM but that they first encountered it inadvertently or became curious after viewing legal pornography. Their involvement in CSAM subsequently progressed over time and their offending generally became more serious. The most notable feature of participants' online behaviour was the relative lack of sophisticated technical expertise. Opportunity and other situational factors emerged as mediators of offending frequency. Offending patterns were affected by participants' psychological states (e.g., depression, anger, stress), offline relationships and commitments (e.g., arguments with spouse, loss of job), and online experiences (e.g., blocked sites, viruses, warning messages). Findings suggest that many offenders are receptive to change and may be potentially diverted from their offending pathway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Adults with developmental language disorder (DLD) have poor language abilities which may be a barrier to equitable interactions in the criminal justice system. • The current study found that, in a mock interrogation following a simulated crime, peer jurors were more likely to judge adult suspects with DLD as guilty than adult suspects with typical language. • Adult suspects with DLD who were innocent had a particularly challenging time convincing peers that they were not guilty, while adults with TL who were truly guilty were quite adept at wrongly convincing peers that they were innocent. • Lower expressive language abilities of accused suspects were associated with higher rates of guilty verdicts. • Although overall peer jurors were particularly poor at judging guilty and not guilty status, they were overconfident in the accuracy of their judgments. This study examined if there were differences in the guilty and not guilty judgments of adults with developmental language disorder (DLD) and those with typical language (TL) functioning. Twenty-four adults (12 DLD, 12 TL) were assigned to either the guilty or not guilty conditions. Those in the guilty condition engaged in a mock crime while those in the not guilty condition were informed that a crime had been committed. Peer jurors were presented with video interrogations of the DLD (6 guilty, 6 not guilty) and TL (6 guilty, 6 not guilty) participants and were asked to make categorical judgments of guilty and not guilty and to indicate confidence in their judgments. In general, peer jurors were not accurate in their judgments of the accused, and were more likely to judge individuals with DLD as guilty relative to accused individuals with TL. Peer jurors were particularly poor at judging innocent adults with DLD as not guilty and guilty adults with TL as guilty. Despite this, peer jurors were more confident than not in their guilty and not guilty determinations. Peer jurors are confident in their judgments of the guilt of the accused when they should not be, particularly in the case of accused adults with DLD. Implications are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We compare the correlates of "white collar" offending—defined in various ways—to conventional offending. Analyses are based on the 1997 and 2004 Survey of Inmates in State and Federal Correctional Facilities. We find that offenders who committed embezzlement or fraud in violation of federal statutes are very different from conventional offenders. On the other hand, those who committed fraud in violation of state statutes and those who committed occupational crimes are not much different. Regardless of the offense, the higher the socioeconomic status of the offender, the more they differ from conventional offenders. Our results suggest that commonly cited causal factors in conventional offending may not explain the behavior of high-status offenders, federal fraudsters, or embezzlers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The different forms of intimate partner violence (IPV) are a widespread problem in most societies with broad consequences for the victims, who are frequently women in case of more severe IPV. Corresponding perpetrators are mainly male and there are various, sometimes competing, etiological theories as to why men become violent toward their partners. On the one hand, family-related adverse childhood experiences (ACE) and on the other, traditional and anti-feminist gender role conceptions are repeatedly mentioned in this context. The present study therefore attempted to combine these two theoretical approaches and to examine their validity empirically using a mediation analysis on a German sample of 81 self-reported offenders. For physical and sexual IPV, it was demonstrated for the first time that the effect of ACE on perpetration in adulthood was mediated by anti-feminist sex role notions. However, this did not apply to psychologically aggressive behavior in romantic relationships. These findings suggest that violent experiences in childhood and adolescence generate anti-feminist beliefs that remain stable over time, despite progressive emancipation, and that these appear to be a major etiological factor for future IPV. Preventative potentials derived from these new findings are discussed. • Adverse childhood experiences predict anti-feminist sex role notions in adulthood. • These beliefs predict physical and sexual violence against female partners. • Indirect mediation effects for these forms of intimate partner violence were found. • The results show the compatibility of two central etiological theories for IPV. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Individuals involved with the criminal justice system face challenges in receiving and maintaining substance use disorder (SUD) treatment and support. Although telephone monitoring (TM) could reduce these barriers, data on TM for community-dwelling individuals involved with the criminal justice system and research on individuals who drop out of TM are scarce. We examined the factors associated with dropping out early from the Voice Bridges Project, which provides TM for individuals on probation for drug-related convictions through community mental health centers in Japan. Participants (n = 546) were individuals aged ≥20 years with methamphetamine-related convictions who were on probation. Univariate analyses examine the associations between one-year follow-up status and baseline variables, and multivariate Cox proportional hazards regression analyses identify the risk and protective factors associated with dropping out. Stratified analyses report results based on sex and halfway-house residency. The one-year dropout rate was 43.6 % (n = 238). Multivariate analysis identified two risk factors for dropping out—halfway-house residency and suicide attempts in the past year, and two protective factors—higher education and the current use of SUD services. Sex-stratified analyses showed that halfway-house residency was a risk factor for both men and women. Attempted suicide was a risk factor for women. Conversely, higher education and current use of SUD services were protective factors for men. Our results identify unique risk factors for women, such as a recent history of suicide attempts, and distinctive protective factors for men, including higher education and current use of SUD services, emphasizing the importance of sex-specific approaches. Furthermore, the study reveals that irrespective of sex, vulnerable individuals, such as halfway-house residents, are at a higher risk of dropping out from TM. • Dropout rate for telephone monitoring (TM) in those with drug convictions was 43.6 %. • Halfway-house residency increased the dropout risk for both men and women from TM. • Attempted suicide was a risk factor for dropout of TM only for women. • Higher education and use of substance-use disorder services were protective factors only for men. • The importance of sex-specific approaches for continued support using TM is stressed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates the intersection of race, gender, and criminality in the language surrounding mental health and illness. Applying computational methods of word embeddings to full text data from major American newspapers between 2000 and 2023, I show that the landscape of mental health is broadly racialized as black, challenging the notion of mental illness as a predominantly white phenomenon. Cultural ideas about mental illness are gendered such that women are medicalized and men are criminalized, yet certain terms blur the boundary between illness and criminality. I highlight how stereotypes embedded in mental health language perpetuate stigma around men's mental health and justify social control with notable implications for black men. I conclude with recommendations for the mental health movement by advocating for more inclusive discussions around men's mental health and revised person-centric language. • Race and gender stereotypes are embedded in mental health language. • Word embeddings uncover these stereotypes via linguistic associations. • Mental health is broadly racialized as black. • Women's mental health experiences are medicalized, and men's are criminalized. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Criminal expertise plays a crucial role in the choices offenders make when committing a crime, including their modus operandi. However, our knowledge about criminal decision making online remains limited. Drawing on insights from cyber security, we conceptualize the cybercrime commission process as the sequence of phases of the cyber kill chain that offenders go through. We assume that offenders who follow the sequence consecutively use the most efficient hacking method. Building upon the expertise paradigm, we hypothesize that participants with greater hacking experience and IT skills undertake more efficient hacks. To test this hypothesis, we analyzed data from 69 computer security and software engineering students who were invited to hack a vulnerable website in a computer lab equipped with monitoring software, which allowed to collect objective behavioral measures. Additionally, we collected individual measures regarding hacking expertise through an online questionnaire. After quantitatively measuring efficiency using sequence analysis, a regression model showed that the expertise paradigm may also apply to hackers. We discuss the implications of our novel research for the study of offender decision-making processes more broadly. • Sixty-nine IT security and computer engineering students were recruited for a hacking challenge. • Monitoring software was installed in a computer lab to collect objective data on participants' hacking behavior. • Sequence analysis allowed to measure participants' hacking efficiency. • In their hacking attempts, participants did not follow the cyber kill chain sequentially, but rather chaotically. • Participants' objective IT skills were positively associated with hacking efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Research is equivocal about how the social relationship between victims and offenders is linked to the emotional, social, and physical consequences of violence. This study examines the association of victim-offender relationship with the adverse outcomes reported by injured and uninjured victims of violence.Methods: The study analyzed 16,723 violent victimizations recorded by the National Crime Victimization Survey from 2008 to 2018. Multivariable quasi-Poisson models estimated the associations between the victim-offender relationship and victims' emotional distress, social distress, and physical and emotional symptoms. These models also estimated a statistical interaction between victim-offender relationship and violent injury to examine how this association differed for injured and uninjured victims. The analyses occurred during 2020 and 2021.Results: Uninjured victims were more likely to report emotional distress (risk ratio=1.41, 95% CI=1.33, 1.50), social distress (risk ratio=3.12, 95% CI=2.78, 3.51), more physical symptoms (symptom frequency ratio=1.68, 95% CI=1.51, 1.87), and more emotional symptoms (symptom frequency ratio=1.13, 95% CI=1.08, 1.18) in family member/intimate partner violence than in stranger violence. Victims also reported worse outcomes after acquaintance violence than after stranger violence. For injured victims, these differences narrowed-but were still significant-in emotional and social distress models. However, the number of emotional and physical symptoms reported by injured victims did not significantly vary across victim-offender relationships.Conclusions: Relational closeness between victims and offenders is a risk factor for adverse outcomes after violent victimization, and it is more strongly associated with these outcomes for uninjured victims than for injured victims. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/purpose: Malpractice claims place heavy economic and emotional burdens on both dentists and patients. Recently, medical malpractice lawsuits are decreasing in prevalence but increasing in severity. The percentage of dental malpractice payments is also growing among the health profession. The present study aimed to explore criminal convictions in dental malpractice litigation and to analyze the factors affecting the judgment in dental disputes in Taiwan.Methods: The keywords "dentist," "professional negligence," "medical malpractice," and "professional liability" were used to search Taiwan's Law and Regulations Retrieving System for criminal dental malpractice cases in all district courts from January 1, 2000 to June 30, 2021. The eligible judgments were summarized and analyzed.Results: Overall, 425 cases were identified, with 28 dental disputes included in the final analysis. The dentists lost in 10 cases (35.7%). The average claim time was 36.75 ± 16.34 months. Taipei and Taichung dealt with more lawsuit cases (n = 8). Local clinics were the most common institution of the defendants (75%) and had the highest number of convictions (n = 9). Implant dentistry was the most common specialty involved. Expert testimony of the Medical Review Committee (MRC) had a high K coefficient of agreement with court judgments regarding professional negligence (p < 0.001).Conclusion: The overall criminal conviction rate was 35.7%. Implant therapy and local clinics had the highest rate of lawsuits and a considerably higher conviction rate. All guilty dentists were fined or given probation. The court judgments were highly consistent with the expert testimony of the MRC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• We analyze a historical network of criminal collaboration across 24 Italian-American Mafia families. • Ties were more prevalent among mafiosi with similar centrality-based status than among status-dissimilar mafiosi. • Informal centrality-based status mattered more for collaboration than did a mafioso's formal position in the organization. • Knowledge of "on-the-ground" patterns of interaction is vital for understanding the structure of organizations. While criminal organizations often feature hierarchical positions, scholars debate the extent to which networks of informal collaboration among criminals reflect such hierarchies. This research uses historical data on collaboration involving more than 700 criminals across 24 Italian-American Mafia families and applies network regression models and simulations to determine whether mafiosi of similar centrality-based status were more likely to be criminal associates than mafiosi of dissimilar status. Rather than forming vertical collaborations linking mafia members into a centralized, hierarchical network structure, we find that mafiosi collaborated disproportionately more with colleagues of similar status. While network centrality predicted tie formation, formal rank in an organizational chart generally did not. Knowledge simply of a covert organization's formal structure may not translate to understanding "on-the-ground" collaborations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Analysis of offender fingerprints from evidence types in crimes against property. • Offender fingerprints are frequently seen in common entry points such as doors. • Porous and non-porous fingerprints are found to be similar in both property settings. • Offender fingerprints are generally located on the forward portion of a vehicle. • Vehicular body and glass component show equal likelihood of offender fingerprints. The Forensic Institute of the Republic of North Macedonia data set of 1,982 offender fingerprint identifications contributing to a conviction for crimes against property, was evaluated and analysed using contingency table statistical analysis techniques, chi-square test, fisher's exact test and post hoc analysis. The data set was based on the forensic and court information available from 2005 to 2015 and pertained to the location, property type and evidence type. Interpretation of the data identified glass components, doors, windows, points of entry, cardboard and other packaging to be the most likely areas for locating offender fingerprints in non-residential and residential properties. In vehicle-based crimes, the front area (both left- and right-hand side) was the most likely to yield offender fingerprints. This study reinforced the types of evidential items at property based crime scenes yielding offender fingerprints. In addition, the study seeks to provide recommendations for future data collection to enhance the data analysis and interpretation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: We examined if abortion-related knowledge among women with criminal legal system involvement differed in three U.S. cities in states with varying abortion policies.Study Design: Respondents were self-identified women with criminal legal system involvement. Data come from a cross-sectional baseline survey of 381 women in three U.S. cities: Oakland, California, Kansas City, Kansas/Missouri, and Birmingham, Alabama. The primary outcome, high abortion-related knowledge, was based on a 10-item scale dichotomized into low vs. high abortion-related knowledge. We used descriptive statistics, bivariable associations, and logistic regression to assess the association between high abortion-related knowledge, city of residence, and other possible related factors.Results: Respondents in Kansas City, KS/MO and Birmingham, AL had lower odds of high abortion-related knowledge compared to respondents in Oakland, CA (OR: 0.19, 95% CI: 0.10 - 0.38 and OR: 0.17, 95% CI: 0.11-0.28, respectively). In adjusted analysis, the association remained after controlling for race/ethnicity, insurance status, and community supervision past year.Conclusions: Findings underscore the need for communicating clear and accurate information about abortion care, especially in states where laws and ongoing political challenges make it difficult to access both reliable information and services.Implications: Efforts to disseminate accurate information regarding abortion care, particularly among marginalized people, should utilize multiple venues in addition to traditional healthcare information sources. Reproductive justice advocates should connect with jails and probation offices to reach people with criminal legal system involvement and foster increased knowledge of reproductive rights and services. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Les données et recommandations actuelles relatives à la prise en charge des auteurs de violences sexuelles concernent essentiellement les adultes de sexe masculin. Il existe à ce jour peu de structures spécialisées et de professionnels formés à la prise en charge des adolescents auteurs de violences sexuelles (AAVS). Or, une meilleure connaissance des dispositifs de soin proposés aux AAVS permettrait une meilleure prise en charge par les professionnels de santé. Cet article a pour but de présenter les principaux modèles de prise en charge pédopsychiatriques des AAVS proposés en France. Une revue narrative de la littérature sur la prise en charge pédopsychiatrique proposée aux AAVS âgés de dix à dix-neuf ans en France, incluant des articles publiés entre 2006 et 2019, a été menée. Cette revue de la littérature permet de constater que les dispositifs existants sont rares et hétérogènes (prises en charge individuelles, groupales, familiales, avec un éventuel recours aux traitements médicamenteux). Il n'existe pas d'harmonisation des pratiques ni de recommandations au niveau national. Cependant, un travail autour de la gestion émotionnelle et des relations interpersonnelles semble être un axe de travail commun à ces approches. Il serait intéressant de réaliser une comparaison des différents dispositifs pédopsychiatriques existants afin d'harmoniser les pratiques, de mieux former les professionnels de santé, de potentialiser l'efficience du suivi et de promouvoir la santé psychique et sexuelle des AAVS. Le recours à des prises en charge multimodales semble ainsi une voie prometteuse. Most of data and current recommendations relating to the treatment of sex offenders in France concern adults, and particularly adult males. To date, there are very few specialized structures and health professionals trained in the care of juvenile sex offenders. We assume that a better knowledge of the care models offered to this specific population would allow health professionals to provide and to think better care. The aim of this article is to describe the main care models existing in France. A narrative review of the French literature was conducted, investigating the child psychiatric care offered to juvenile sex offenders aged from ten to nineteen years old. We included articles published between 2006 and 2019. This review of the literature shows that the existing care models in France remain rare and heterogenous. Indeed, they consist in individual, group or family psychotherapy carried out under different conditions, involving in some cases the use of drug treatments such as antidepressants or antiandrogens. Therefore, this review shows that there are neither consensus on practices that should be used, nor recommendations at the national level. However, working on emotional regulation and interpersonal relationships seems to be a common goal of these care models proposed to juvenile sex offenders. We suggest a comparison of the different care models, so as to standardize practices, to ensure better training of health professionals and to promote juvenile sex offenders' psychological and sexual health. The use of multimodal approaches should be encouraged as a basis for improving the care of juvenile sex offenders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In 2017, Veterans Health Administration (VA) launched a social marketing and training campaign to address harassment of women veterans at VA health care facilities. We assessed women veterans' experiences of harassment, reported perpetrators of harassment, and perceptions of VA in 2017 (before campaign launch) and 2018 (1 year after campaign implementation). We administered surveys to women veterans attending primary care appointments (2017, n = 1,300; 2018, n = 1,711). Participants reported whether they experienced sexual harassment (e.g., catcalls) and gender harassment (e.g., questioning women's veteran status) from patients and/or staff at VA in the past 6 months. They also indicated whether they felt welcome, felt safe, and believed the VA is working to address harassment. We compared variables in 2017 versus 2018 with χ2 analyses, adjusting for facility-level clustering. There were no significant differences in percentages of participants reporting sexual harassment (20% vs. 17%) or gender harassment (11% vs. 11%) in 2017 versus 2018. Men veterans were the most frequently named perpetrators, but participants also reported harassment from staff. Participant beliefs that VA is working to address harassment significantly improved from 2017 to 2018 (52% vs. 57%; p =.05). One year after campaign launch, women veterans continued to experience harassment while accessing VA health care services. Findings confirm that ongoing efforts to address and monitor both staff- and patient-perpetrated harassment are essential. Results have implications for future anti-harassment intervention design and implementation and highlight additional opportunities for investigation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Individuals with serious mental illness (SMI) are at increased risk for arrest and incarceration relative to the same-community population without SMI. Publicly-funded inpatient psychiatric hospitals usually feature short lengths of stay and limited opportunities for extended services that might impact criminal justice involvement after discharge. This study examined the influence of an early intervention program for SMI at a high-volume public psychiatric hospital on involvement in the criminal justice system post-discharge. The Early Onset Treatment Program (EOTP) is an extended service intervention program for uninsured patients who are within 5 years of SMI onset. Criminal justice records (number of arrests with conviction, days of incarceration) were obtained for EOTP participants (n = 164) and comparison patients (n = 164) matched on demographics, diagnosis, and discharge date via propensity score matching. Data were zero-inflated and analyzed using hurdle models, controlling for prior arrests. The EOTP group was less likely to be convicted of at least one crime post-discharge (0 arrests vs. > 0, p <.001), and spent fewer days incarcerated (if incarcerated ≥1 day, p <.03). Participation in the EOTP service was linked to reduced likelihood of post-discharge arrest and days incarcerated. Several alternative variables may contribute to this preliminary observation, including length of stay, medication adherence, longer environmental stability, and individual patient characteristics. • Serious mental illness (SMI) places individuals at elevated risk for arrest and incarceration. • Research examining criminal involvement following acute psychiatric care for recent-onset SMI in high-acuity public safety-net hospitals is limited (vs. treatment during incarceration). • Initial results suggest that specialized inpatient programming for individuals with SMI may reduce subsequent criminal justice involvement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper we estimate the impact of higher early preschool access on offending behavior later in time, exploiting a nationwide public preschool expansion that took place in Spain over the 1990s. This is the first study providing evidence on the relationship between preschool and crime using a large-scale, universal-access program rather than targeted initiatives reserved for disadvantaged children. Our identification strategy relies on the staggered implementation of the Spanish preschool expansion across regions and birth cohorts. We link the education data to a unique administrative crime dataset recording the offenses committed in the region of Catalonia over the period 2009–2014. On average, a 1 percentage point increase in preschool access among the age 0–3 population yields 1.6% fewer crime actions during youth and young adulthood. Larger effects on impulsive-crime categories provide suggestive evidence for non-cognitive-skills improvements being important drivers of our results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Offender and victim ethnicity affects victim-blaming. • Participants blamed Arab victims less than Jewish victims. • Participant ethnic and religious identity affects victim-blaming. • Patterns of victim-blaming imply existence of prejudice against minorities. • The results identified two patterns of attribution: fixed and modular. This study examined the effects of ethnicity on victim-blaming in a case of stabbing by addressing victim and offender ethnicity as well as observer ethnicity and religion. Jewish (n = 285), Muslim Arab (n = 249), and Christian Arab (n = 51) students from Israeli universities and colleges read a single stabbing scenario, in which we manipulated victim (Arab/Jewish) and offender ethnicity (African/Arab/Jewish). The results showed that participants blamed a Jewish victim more than an Arab victim. Also, our findings indicated that Christian Arabs expressed significantly higher victim-blaming than Jews. However, victim-blaming among Christian Arabs did not significantly differ from victim-blaming among Muslim Arabs, and victim-blaming among Muslim Arabs did not significantly differ from victim-blaming among Jews. Furthermore, the interactions between observer and victim ethnicity and between observer and offender ethnicity were significant. The discussion addresses the findings in the context of prejudice against members of African and Arab communities, the black sheep effect, and defensive attribution. In addition, the discussion suggests that observer ethnic and religious background may be related to blame-attribution mode: fixed (not affected by victim and offender ethnicity) or modular (affected by victim and offender ethnicity). From the practical standpoint, our findings suggest a need for further education on prejudice against minorities and promoting ethnic diversity among practitioners assisting and treating victims. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent research has demonstrated that psychopathic offenders exhibit dynamic cognitive and behavioral deficits on a variety of lab tasks that differentially activate left hemisphere resources. The Left Hemisphere Activation (LHA) hypothesis is a cognitive perspective that aims to address these deficits by conceptualizing psychopathy as a disorder in which behavior and cognitive processing change dynamically as a function of the differential taxation of left hemisphere resources. This study aimed to investigate whether psychopathic traits are associated with electrophysiological anomalies under conditions that place differential demands on left hemisphere language processing systems. We examined in a sample of 43 incarcerated indivdiuals the evocation of the N320, an event-related potential (ERP) elicited by nontarget stimuli during a phonological/phonetic decision task that has been shown to elicit greater activation and cognitive processing within the left hemisphere than the right hemisphere. Findings for a subsample of 18 offenders low in psychopathic traits were generally consistent with previous findings in healthy individuals, suggesting similar electrophysiological activity during phonological processing. However, psychopathic traits impacted the amplitude of the N320. Higher levels of psychopathic traits were associated with reduced left-lateralization in phonological processing as well as enhanced ERP differentiation between pronounceable and nonpronounceable stimuli. These findings provide physiological evidence of a relationship between psychopathic traits and anomalous language processing at the phonological level of word processing. • Psychopathy has previously been associated with unusual language processing. • This study examines the N320 in psychopathy during a rhyming task. • Psychopathy is associated with reduced lateralization during phonological processing. • Psychopathy is associated with a greater distinction between pronounceable and nonpronounceable stimuli. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Psychological treatments have been increasingly used with justice-involved individuals; however, evidence regarding their effectiveness remains unclear. Thus, new approaches, such as Cognitive-Behavioural (CB) "third wave" therapies, have been implemented with justice-involved individuals. This systematic review describes and assesses the effectiveness of different CB "third wave" therapies, such as Dialectical Behavioural Therapy (DBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Compassion Focused Therapy (CFT), Mindfulness-based Approaches (MBA), Metacognitive Therapy (MCT), and Functional Analytic Psychotherapy (FAP) with justice-involved individuals. The research was conducted in four databases (i.e., B-on, PubMed, Science Direct, and PsycINFO) up to November 2023. Fifty studies were included in the review. DBT was the most assessed, followed by ACT. No studies using FAP and MCT were included. Preliminary evidence for the effectiveness of ACT, DBT, CFT, and MBA with justice-involved populations regarding aggression and violent behaviour reductions was found. However, the studies revealed some methodological shortcomings preventing us from reaching firmer conclusions. More research is needed to understand the impact of CB "third wave" therapies in forensic settings further. • DBT was the most assessed third wave therapy with justice-involved individuals. • Preliminary evidence for the effectiveness of ACT, DBT, CFT, and MBA was found. • Third wave therapies seem to be effective in reducing aggression/violent behaviour. • The studies have some methodological limitations preventing from firm conclusions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to identify key transitional pathways in the criminal justice system from adolescence to adulthood and the risk factors associated with the escalation of criminal justice involvement over time. We retrospectively linked offending records from 1994 to 2022 and mental health records from 2001 to 2022 for a cohort of 1556 adolescents identified through four health surveys in New South Wales, Australia. Transition probabilities were calculated using the Aalen-Johansen method, and the hazards of transition-specific covariates were estimated. The median age of adolescent entry was 15 years. The cohort was predominantly male (87.5%) and non-Indigenous (65.6%). Among incarcerated adolescents, 76.8% transitioned to adult incarceration. Transition probabilities were the highest among those aged 10–13 years. Among those with mental disorders, psychosis was associated with transitions to adolescent and adult incarceration. Other risk factors for future incarceration include being male, Indigenous, socio-economically disadvantaged, having a history of adolescent incarceration, and being diagnosed with substance use and behavioural disorders. Younger adolescents have higher transition probabilities to more intense criminal justice involvement. Legislative and policy reforms are needed to delay the onset of adolescent criminal justice involvement and ensure age-appropriate rehabilitative strategies to reduce recidivism. • Multi-state modelling can be used to assess criminal justice transitions from adolescence to adulthood. • Younger adolescents have higher probabilities of further incarceration after entry into the criminal justice system. • Adolescent incarceration is associated with adult incarceration and has a leveling effect regardless of age at entry. • Mental disorders increase the risk of incarceration during adolescence and adulthood. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Drugs courts can be praised for the rehabilitative health-treatment response they deliver to people with drugs dependence problems. This is when contrasted with traditional courts that operate on adversarial and retributive justice principles and do little to alleviate cycles of repeat drugs offending. Whilst drugs courts have been met with success and embraced in several jurisdictions worldwide, fundamental points need to be raised on the model that is re-emerging in England and Wales. Indications are it will involve drugs testing and a 'graduated sanctions and incentives system' that comprises short custodial sentences for non-compliance. This essay discusses the newly emerging drugs court model as signposted within different legislative and public policy documents and raises questions relating to the precise model these courts will take; whether they prioritise harm reduction or if 'abstinence' goals will predominate. We question whether people with drugs dependence problems should be sanctioned to short custodial prison sentences if in breach of a drugs court order. And perhaps more fundamentally: do we need drugs courts in the English and Welsh justice system? [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Our knowledge of the severity and reoffending is limited for mentally disordered offenders, and studies generally evaluate without separation between different diagnostic groups. It was aimed to determine the general profile of mentally disordered offenders who are inpatients in a high secure psychiatry unit from Turkiye and to evaluate the factors associated with violence profiles among different diagnostic groups. According to the results the schizophrenia patients committed the most severe crimes, and intellectual disability patients had some different features from schizophrenia and bipolar disorder patients. History of substance misuse in the intellectual disability group (p = 0,045) and comorbid antisocial personality disorder in the bipolar disorder group (p = 0,015) were associated with increased crime severity. Substance misuse history, history of substance use during the crime, and the existence of comorbid antisocial personality disorder were associated with increased offenses in each of the three diagnosis groups. Living alone (p = 0,004) and having a suicide history (p= 0,052) were associated with the high number of offenses in the schizophrenia group. This study is the first study that compares three diagnostic groups to involve a large patient group. We believe that clinicians must evaluate these parameters for the violence risk assessment of patients. • The severity of the offense was highest in the schizophrenia group and lowest in the ID group. • The existence of comorbid substance misuse in the intellectual disability group and the existence of antisocial personality disorder in the BD group was associated with increased severity of offenses. • The existence of comorbid personality disorder, substance misuse in the past or present, and substance use during crime were associated with the increased number of offenses in all three diagnostic groups [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The opioid epidemic has strained the US criminal justice system. Law enforcement frequently encounters persons with substance use disorder (SUD). Law enforcement–led, pre-arrest diversion programs linking individuals with SUD to addiction treatment instead of arrest and prosecution has the potential to reduce crime, overdoses, and other community harms. We implemented a pre-arrest diversion-to-treatment program—the Madison Addiction Recovery Initiative (MARI)—from September 2017 to August 2020, and describe the key components of MARI's effective implementation. Adults who committed an eligible, drug use–related crime were offered a 6-month MARI participation with referral to treatment in lieu of arrest; criminal charges for that crime were "voided" upon the successful MARI completion. Formative evaluation, with stakeholder feedback and team meeting minutes, assessed key factors influencing implementation. Process evaluation consisted of tracking participant referrals, enrollment, and engagement. Police officers, MARI participants, and treatment center staff members were surveyed about program experiences and attitudes. The study used descriptive statistics to describe quantitative survey responses; thematic qualitative analysis identified major themes in qualitative responses. Of 263 participants, 160 initiated program engagement, with 100 successfully completing MARI. Interim evaluations and community partner feedback informed program protocol adjustments to increase participant enrollment, retention and diversity, streamline the referral processes, and transition to telehealth during the COVID-19 pandemic. Rigorous evaluation and community partner feedback are essential components of effective implementation and sustainability of a law enforcement–led pre-arrest diversion-to-treatment program, which has the potential to both reduce crime and overdose, and change the lives of people with SUD. [Display omitted] • A law enforcement-led, pre-arrest program linked adults to addiction treatment. • Offering treatment instead of arrest could be life-changing for those with addiction. • Involvement of diverse community partners was critical to the program's success. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examines the association of criminal legal system involvement and age with substance use and academic related outcomes among students involved in collegiate recovery programs in the US. We examined 435 students in collegiate recovery using a national survey of college students. We computed differences between non-system-involved, system-involved with no incarceration history, and formerly incarcerated participants on relevant substance use and recovery-related outcomes. The results provide evidence that there are significant differences between those system-involved and those who are not. Specifically, we found significant differences across the outcomes of recovery capital, quality of life, hours worked per week, and substance use disorder symptoms, but after controlling for relevant covariates, only the differences between hours worked (non-system involved and system involved < formerly incarcerated) and substance use disorder symptoms (non-system involved < system involved and formerly incarcerated) remained significant. The study contributes to the literature by demonstrating that nearly half of the collegiate students in recovery in this sample have legal system-involvement and a third have been incarcerated. Further, interventions for collegiate recovery programs may need to be adjusted to account for legal system involvement among their members. • Legal system involvement and its relationship with college students in recovery. • Associations between non-justice involved, system involved, and formerly incarcerated. • Students that are formerly incarcerated more likely to work more hours. • Justice involved students more likely to have SUDs that are more severe. • Findings can help guide researchers, college health clinicians, and college administration.. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to investigate how the demographic characteristics of offenders have changed after the COVID-19 pandemic. Specifically, our research focuses on shifts in the nationality, gender distribution, and age profiles of money mules during this period. We utilized arrest reports data provided by the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency in South Korea, including all 1407 individuals arrested for money mules in Seoul from February 1, 2018, to December 31, 2021. Our findings, derived from interrupted time series analyses, show a decrease in the percentage of non-Korean money mules, an increase in the proportion of female individuals engaged in money mule activities, and a rise in the average age of money mules after the outbreak of the pandemic. These insights hold significant implications for developing targeted policy interventions to mitigate potential threats associated with money mule activities. • The demographic characteristics of offenders have changed since the COVID-19 pandemic. • The percentage of foreign (non-Korean) money mules has decreased since the onset of the pandemic. • The proportion of female money mules has increased since the onset of the pandemic. • The average age of money mules has increased since the onset of the pandemic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• We review the pooled prevalence for health disorders among older offenders. • A higher risk for physical health outcomes among older offenders was found. • These were Hypertension, Cardiovascular, Respiratory, and Arthritis diseases. • For only one mental health and very few physical health outcomes relative risk could be calculated. • Much more research with comparison groups and longitudinal designs is needed. A systematic review with meta-analysis was performed to: 1) estimate the prevalence of both mental and physical health problems in older offenders; 2) calculate relative risks for the health conditions in relation to non-offender older adults and; 3) explore the potential confounding role of several variables. We searched five databases up to August 2019. Studies involving offenders older than 50 years old were included. Fifty-five publications met criteria. The pooled prevalence for 18 mental and 28 physical health problems was calculated. In comparison with non-offender older adults, older offenders showed significantly higher risk for Hypertension (RR = 1.16, CI = 1.1, 1.2), Cardiovascular Diseases (RR = 1.24, CI = 1.09, 1.41), Respiratory diseases (RR = 1.75, CI = 1.29, 2.35), and Arthritis (RR = 1.19, CI = 1.12, 1.25). Heterogeneity was significant for all meta-analyses and partially explained by the confounding effect of country, the diagnosis assessment method, and the sample characteristics. Future research should include comparison groups of non-offender older adults and use longitudinal study designs to identify risk factors that can be targeted in preventive programmes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/purpose: Low vitamin D is frequent in hepatitis B virus (HBV)-infected patients and several studies show an inverse association of serum vitamin D level with HBV viral load. However, the causal relationship remains unclear.Methods: HBV carriers receiving regular 6-month surveillance without current antiviral treatment or cirrhosis were invited to participate into this trial. The markers of HBV replication included serum HBV DNA and quantitative HBsAg (qHBsAg) levels. Those with undetectable HBV DNA or sufficient vitamin D levels, cancer or electrolyte imbalance were excluded. The eligible subjects were randomized to receive either vitamin D supplement 2000 IU per day for 2 months (vitamin D group) or none (control group).Results: A total of 196 HBV carriers (93 males and 103 females; mean age 51.9 ± 10.0 years) were screened. Of them, 28 patients had undetectable serum HBV DNA levels, which is defined as spontaneous viral clearance. The vitamin D levels were not different between patients with detectable HBV DNA and those without (p = 0.18). After exclusion, 149 patients were randomized to two groups: 75 in vitamin D group and 74 in control group. After 2 months vitamin D supplement, the serum vitamin D levels were significantly higher in the vitamin D group than the control group (p < 0.001). However, the serum qHBsAg and HBV DNA levels were comparable between these two groups.Conclusion: There is no causal relationship between vitamin D and HBV replication. The role of liver reserve on serum vitamin D levels in patients with chronic HBV infection needs further investigation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A new latent space model for interdependent ego-networks. • Tailored modelling for the analysis of police data. • Valuable strategy to study interactions in illegal markets. • Application to a real-world case of human smuggling. • Evidence from a novel dataset of 21,555 conversations wiretapped by the police. Illegal markets are notoriously difficult to study. Police data offer an increasingly exploited source of evidence. However, their secondary nature poses challenges for researchers. A key issue is that researchers often have to deal with two sets of actors: targeted and non-targeted. This work develops a latent space model for interdependent ego-networks purposely created to deal with the targeted nature of police evidence. By treating targeted offenders as egos and their contacts as alters, the model (a) leverages on the full information available and (b) mirrors the specificity of the data collection strategy. The paper then applies this approach to analyse a real-world example of illegal markets, namely the smuggling of migrants. To this end, we utilise a novel dataset of 21,555 phone conversations wiretapped by the police to study interactions among offenders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research in criminology has shown that the perceived risk of apprehension often differs substantially from the true level. To incorporate this insight, we extend the standard economic model of law enforcement (Becker, 1968) by considering two types of offenders, sophisticates and naïves. Sophisticates always fully take the actual enforcement effort into account, while naïves do so only when the effort is revealed by the authority. Otherwise, naïves rely on their fixed perceptions. When the share of naïves is high, a welfare-maximizing authority chooses a low enforcement effort, which is over-estimated by the naïves. Otherwise, it chooses a high effort, which is then revealed to all potential offenders. In three empirically relevant extensions, we allow for lower efficacy of the effort due to avoidance activities, endogenous fines, and heterogeneity with respect to naïves' perceptions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the literature, several studies have shown that the perpetrator's ethnic origin and acculturation strategy are particularly influential extrajudicial factors, but authors have focused on highly stigmatized groups. The aim of this study was to examine how the participants' judgments were influenced by the acculturation strategy of a Vietnamese aggressor (member of a valued minority group in France), the consequences of the act for the victim, and their level of SDO. It was expected that assimilation, which reflects a strong similarity with the majority group, or separation, reflecting strong dissimilarity, would lead to negative judgments of the assault and its perpetrator and a harsher punishment. After reading a scenario describing a physical assault committed by a Vietnamese man, in which the perpetrator's acculturation strategy and the consequences of the act were manipulated, 196 French students completed a questionnaire. The results confirm our hypothesis. Moreover, they show that when there were serious consequences for the victim, the act was considered to be more serious if the offender had not adopted French culture. However, when the consequences were minor, the act was considered to be more serious and a harsher punishment was recommended if the offender had adopted French culture. We explain how acculturation strategy is an important factor when judging transgressions, and how being too similar or too different to the majority group can increase the perceived threat. The status of SDO is discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Psychosis is known to be associated with an increased risk of violent offending, but the risk of criminal offending of any type is not so well understood, including the nature and extent of any differences in offending risk for men and women with psychosis.Methods: A systematic search of electronic databases from 1970 to March 2020 was conducted to identify studies comparing criminal offending amongst those with psychosis to a general population sample. A meta-analysis was performed, with separate analyses undertaken for men and women.Results: Eight studies, with a total of 15,446 individuals with psychosis and 186,752 controls from general population sources, met our inclusion criteria. The pooled odds ratio for any type of criminal offending for men with psychosis was 2.42 (95% CI = 1.63-3.59), and for women it was 2.81 (95% CI = 2.11-3.76). Substantial between study heterogeneity was identified.Conclusions: Although the pooled odds ratio for all types of offending was not as high as has been found for violence, those with psychotic illness were more than twice as likely to have had contact with the criminal justice system for any type of criminal offence, compared to the general population. Little difference in risk was seen for women compared to men with psychosis. Clinical risk assessments and the development of interventions to reduce risk of contact with the criminal justice system should consider that risk of offending for those with psychosis extends right across the spectrum of offence types. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]