Search

• Alcohol use problem is a risk factor for re-offense of DUI. • Alcohol treatment reduces risk of DUI recidivism during intervention. • We examined the lasting effect of alcohol treatment on DUI recidivism. • Two-year recidivism rate remained lower after 12-month treatment. Alcohol use problems are prevalent among recidivists of driving under the influence of alcohol (DUI). This 2-year postintervention follow-up study explored the preventive effects of 12- or 6-month alcohol treatment in relation to reoffense among repeat DUI offenders who participated in a community-based joint legal–medical intervention program. A total of 259 repeat DUI offenders with alcohol use problems were referred from a Prosecutors' Office to a psychiatric hospital to receive alcohol treatment. We divided these participants into two groups on the basis of treatment duration (6- and 12-month groups) and collected their official DUI offense records for 2 years after the intervention. A Cox proportional hazards model was used to examine the hazard ratio of each treatment duration in relation to reoffense. The reoffense rates were compared with a group of DUI offenders (n = 4097) who did not participate in the intervention program (i.e., a nonintervention group). The baseline characteristics were similar between the two treatment groups. The 2-year reoffense rates for the 12-month treatment, 6-month treatment, and nonintervention groups were 12%, 19%, and 21%, respectively. The hazard ratio for reoffense was lower for the 12-month group than for the 6-month group (hazard ratio: 0.45; 95% confidence interval: 0.21–0.96). Survival analysis revealed that compared with the non-intervention group, reoffense was significantly reduced in the 12-month group but not in the 6-month group. The 12-month joint legal–medical intervention program for alcohol treatment yielded superior outcomes to the corresponding 6-month program in terms of preventing DUI reoffense for 2 years postintervention. This research is, however, subject to the limitation that we lacked the information of factors that might affect the reoffense risk, such as motivation level, readiness to change, personality traits, and familial support. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is empirical evidence that sexual recidivism rates have been dropping for several decades, but it remains unclear whether this drop is an artifact of changing research methodologies over the years. The current study, therefore, examines whether the sexual recidivism drop is robust while accounting for various methodological factors. The study is based on a systematic review and a quantitative meta-analysis of 468 empirical studies published between 1940 and 2019 that reported sexual recidivism rates. A total of 626 estimations (n = 388,994) of sexual recidivism were retrieved for the study period and of those, 238 were independent observations (n = 196,651). A series of sensitivity analyses were conducted using a meta-regression approach. A series of meta-regression analyses show that, even after accounting for various methodological factors (e.g., study settings, follow-up length, recidivism criteria), there has been a sexual recidivism rate drop of about 45–60% since the 1970s. The study findings confirm the presence of a sexual recidivism drop while recognizing that sexual recidivism rates are sensitive to methodological details. • Sexual recidivism rates reported between 1940 and 2019 were analyzed. • When these rates are pooled and weighted, between 9 and 14% of perpetrators are sexual recidivists. • More recent estimates suggest that about 6% of perpetrators are sexual recidivists. • Sexual recidivism rates have dropped between 45 and 60% since the 1970s. • The sexual recidivism drop does not appear to be the result of changing methodologies over time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The first investigation into drug driving recidivism in Australia. • Of those detected between Dec 2007 and Jun 2020, 25% were recidivists. • Of recidivists, 30% offended 3 times or more. • Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol was most commonly found among one-time offenders. • Methamphetamine was most common among recidivists. Introduction : While research has reported on overall prevalence rates of drug driving, the extent of recidivist offending has yet to be explored. The objective of this research was to examine recidivistic behaviors detected through Roadside Drug Testing (RDT) in Queensland (between December 2007 and June 2020), with a focus on: Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), 3,4-Methylenedioxymethylamphetamine (MDMA), and methamphetamine (MA). Method : Data were provided by the Queensland Police Service, and contained information on positive drug detections that were confirmed via laboratory analysis. Results : The analyses revealed 50,442 unique offenders with a total of 67,727 offenses, as 25% (N = 12,490) of all offenders had been apprehended more than once (ranging from 2 to 11 offences). MA use was more common among recidivist offenders, whereas THC was more common for those with one offense. On average, the days between offenses decreased with increases in offense number. Conclusions : The findings provide evidence for the extent of drug driving recidivism on Queensland roads. To deter recidivists and the greater motorist population from drug driving, there is need for greater resources dedicated to RDT to increase both the perceived and real likelihood of detection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Developmental victimology theory suggests that developmental features of risk and impact stemming from various types of victimization depend on the age of the child or adolescent. A next step is studying the developmental victimization trajectories of individuals involved in sexual crimes by focusing on traumatic events occurring during childhood and adolescence respectively. Building on the developmental victimology perspective, the study's specific aims encompass two key objectives: 1) exploring the diverse trajectories of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) within a sample of individuals involved in sexual crimes, and 2) assessing whether these ACEs trajectories influence the emergence of distinct high-risk behaviors. 252 individuals convicted of sexual crimes were selected from a federal penitentiary in Quebec, Canada. Semi-structured interviews with a computerized questionnaire produced data on numerous aspects of the participant's life history, criminal career, and victimization experiences that were analyzed via latent class modeling. Four classes (no ACEs trajectory, poly exposure and victimization trajectory, childhood exposure trajectory, and poly victimization trajectory) were identified. Consistent with hypotheses, developmental ACEs trajectories are heterogeneous and associated with the criminal careers, adolescent problematic behaviors, substance use disorders, and violence history among individuals involved in sexual offending. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper provides an explanation for escalating prices and fines based on a unified analytical framework that nests monopoly pricing and optimal law enforcement. We show that escalation emerges as an optimal outcome if the principal (i) lacks commitment ability, and (ii) gives less than full weight to agent benefits. Escalation is driven by decreasing transfers for non-active agents rather than increasing transfers for active agents. Some forward-looking agents then strategically delay their activity, which drives a wedge between the optimal static transfer and the benefit of an indifferent agent. This wedge is the source of escalation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to test the effectiveness of a brief motivational enhancing intervention (MEI) as an add-on to supervision-as-usual (SAU) in reducing time to treatment initiation in offenders with substance use disorders (SUDs) under probation supervision. We also tested the effectiveness in enhancing treatment retention and abstinence of primary substance rates. The study was designed as a multi-site, cluster randomized trial (CRT) in six addiction probation offices. We randomized 73 probation officers (37 to intervention, 36 to control) and followed 220 substance-abusing repeat offenders during their supervision (111 intervention, 109 control). Individualized SAU was compared with supervision with MEI. We report time to treatment initiation, treatment retention rate during the 12 months follow-up, and primary substance abstinence rate in the 30 days before follow-up. Results show that time to treatment initiation (χ2(1) = 1.817, p = .178), and the proportion of treatment retention (OR = 1.980, p = .213) and primary substance abstinence (OR = 0.945, p = .886) did not significantly differ between offenders that received SAU plus MEI and those that received SAU at 12 months follow-up. Our findings provide no evidence that supervision plus a brief manual-base MEI is more effective than SAU. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Driving under the influence of alcohol or other substances is a serious public health concern. Previous research has shown that psychiatric comorbidity is more prevalent for repeat offenders than the general population, and that first-time offenders exhibit elevated rates of psychiatric comorbidity, but few studies have directly compared first-time and repeat DUI offenders. The current study compares psychiatric comorbidity among repeat and first-time DUI offenders. First-time and repeat DUI offenders completed the screener module of the Computerized Assessment and Referral System (CARS), adapted from the Composite International Diagnostic Interview (CIDI: Kessler & Ustun, 2004), to measure potential psychiatric comorbidity. For 16 of 19 psychiatric disorders, repeat DUI offenders were more likely to screen positive during their lifetime compared with first-time DUI offenders. Similarly, repeat DUI offenders were more likely to screen positive during the past year for 11 of 16 assessed psychiatric disorders. Overall, repeat DUI offenders screened positive for an average of 6.3 disorders during their lifetime, compared to first-time offenders who screened positive for an average of 3.7 disorders. Repeat DUI offenders also screened positive for more past-year disorders (M = 3.3) than first-time offenders (M = 1.9). Compared to first-time offenders, repeat DUI offenders evidence more severe and pervasive psychiatric comorbidity. Further research is necessary to determine whether psychiatric comorbidity among first-time offenders directly predicts re-offense. If so, screening for mental health issues among first-offenders could provide valuable information about how best to allocate resources for these offenders. • This study compares psychiatric comorbidity in first-time and repeat DUI offenders. • Repeat DUI offenders were more likely to screen positive for 16 of 19 disorders. • Repeat DUI offenders were more likely to experience symptoms of multiple disorders. • First-time DUI offenders also experienced extensive psychiatric problems. • Number of positive screens was more predictive of repeat DUI than specific screens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Risk assessment tools are increasingly being used to guide decisions about supervision and treatment of domestic violence perpetrators. However, earlier review studies showed that the predictive validity of most of these tools is limited, and is reflected in small average effect sizes. The present study aimed to meta-analytically examine the predictive validity of domestic violence risk assessment tools, and to identify tool characteristics that positively moderate the predictive validity. A literature search yielded 50 independent studies (N = 68,855) examining the predictive validity of 39 different tools, of which 205 effect sizes could be extracted. Overall, a significant discriminative accuracy was found (AUC = 0.647), indicating a moderate predictive accuracy. Tools specifically developed for assessing the risk of domestic violence performed as well as risk predictions based on victim ratings and tools designed for predicting general/violent criminal recidivism. Actuarial instruments (AUC = 0.657) outperformed Structured Clinical Judgment (SCJ) tools (AUC = 0.580) in predicting domestic violence. The onset of domestic violence (AUC = 0.744) could be better predicted than recurrence of domestic violence (AUC = 0.643), which is a promising finding for early detection and prevention of domestic violence. Suggestions for the improvement of risk assessment strategies are presented. • The predictive value of domestic violence risk tools was meta-analytically examined. • Overall, a moderate predictive accuracy was found (AUC = 0.647). • Different approaches to assessment all showed similar predictive accuracies. • Actuarial instruments outperformed Structured Clinical Judgment tools. • Domestic violence onset is better predictable than domestic violence recurrence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Dynamics of mild and serious offenders and potential criminals. • Analysed using techniques from mathematical epidemiology. • Both forward and backward bifurcation can occur. • Interesting and unusual stability patterns and stability threshold values. We set up and analyse a mathematical model, the Serious Crime Model, which describes the interaction of mild and serious offenders and potential criminals. However we get more complete results for a simpler version of this model, the Mild Crime Model, with no serious offenders. For the full Serious Crime Model there are two key parameters R 0 1 and R 0 2 corresponding to the basic reproduction number in the mathematics of infectious diseases, which determine the behaviour of the system. For the Simpler Mild Crime Model there is just one such parameter R 0 1. Both forward and backward bifurcation can occur for this second model with two subcritical non-trivial equilibria possible for R 0 1 < 1 in the backwards case. For backwards bifurcation there is another threshold value R 0 * such that the upper non-trivial equilibrium is unstable for R 0 1 < R 0 * and stable for R 0 1 > R 0 *. For forwards bifurcation there is a second additional threshold value R 0 * * such that the stability of the unique non-trivial equilibrium switches from unstable to stable as R 0 1 passes through R 0 * *. At the end we return to the full Serious Crime Model and discuss the behaviour of this model. The results are meaningful and interesting because in all of the other epidemiological and sociological models of which we are aware, analogous thresholds to R 0 * and R 0 * * do not exist. For forwards bifurcation the unique non-trivial equilibrium, and for backwards bifurcation with two subcritical endemic equilibria the higher non-trivial equilibrium, are also usually always locally asymptotically stable. So our models exhibit unusual and interesting behaviour. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research aims to explore the factors associated with a lethal outcome in cases of intimate partner violence. We used four hypotheses – offender characteristics, victim vulnerabilities, environmental context, and crime escalation – to theoretically frame this study. The sample used in this study consists of 1485 cases of attempted or completed intimate partner homicide that occurred in the province of Quebec, Canada. Bivariate analysis as well as sequential binary regressions and conjunctive analysis of case configurations were computed. Findings showed that all four of these hypotheses were valid in explaining the lethal outcome of IPV, and they interacted with each other in complex ways. Results also revealed that the overall theoretical pattern held true, but there were some specific differences. From a theoretical standpoint, this study offers an initial empirical examination of the role and interplay of different theoretical approaches in explaining cases of completed intimate partner homicide. • offender characteristics, victim vulnerabilities, environmental context, and crime escalation hypotheses are valid for IPH • Men were significantly more likely to use a firearm. • women were more likely to use physical violence to assault a same-sex or vulnerable partner. • Individuals who are less likely to have a criminal career exhibit a lower propensity to use physical violence during IPH. • Same-sex couples or ex-couples were more likely to be involved in IPH regardless of the offender's sex. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sexual abuse of children remains a widespread problem with well-documented, adverse consequences. Often, abuse ending is contingent on a disclosure made by the victim, but victims delay disclosure if they tell someone at all. The factors associated with (non)disclosure are complex and interrelated. In this paper, we propose a new theoretical framework (Mimicry Deception Theory; MDT) to explore various aspects of the grooming process, using a qualitative content analysis of US court appeal cases (N = 25). Specifically, we focus on how MDT components contribute to the likelihood of a CSA disclosure. MDT is made up of five components: Victim Selection, Community Integration, Complexity of Deception, Resource Extraction, and Detectability. These five components allow us to look at several characteristics of abuse in tandem and examine how they interact to impact various outcomes, such as (non)disclosure. We provide a detailed codebook for this framework, that can be used to systematically extract relevant information from large amounts of data. Through the application of this framework, we were able to identify several factors that may play a role in delayed or non-disclosure. Further, we found repeat offenders were likely to use the exact same methods of access, grooming, and remaining undetected across victims. Implications for prevention, as well as clinical interventions with perpetrators as well as victims are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Numerous crucial factors and parameters influence the dynamic process of the spread of crime. Various integer-order differential models have been proposed to capture crime spread. Most of these introduced dynamic systems have not considered the history of the criminal and the impact of crime on society. To address these shortcomings, a fractional-order crime transmission model is proposed in this manuscript considering five different classes v i z law-abiding citizens, non-incarcerated criminals, incarcerated criminals, prison-released and recidivists. The primary focus of the proposed model is to study the effect of recidivism in society and decide the adequate imprisonment for repeat offenders. The existence, uniqueness, non-negativity and boundedness of the solution of the proposed model are examined. The local stability of the equilibrium points is also analysed using Routh–Hurwitz Criteria with Matignon conditions. Further, the threshold condition for the uniform asymptotic stability of the system is evaluated by the Lyapunov stability method. Moreover, the long-term impact of the imprisonment of criminals on society is also examined in the current study. The numerical simulations of the model for a range of fractional orders are obtained using power series expansion method to strengthen the theoretical results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Objectives Relationships between the health insurance status and healthcare use among justice-involved youths transitioning into adulthood is an underexplored topic, even if transition to adulthood is a crucial time period for healthcare outcomes. To fill in these knowledge gaps, this study had two aims: (1) to examine trajectories of health insurance coverage and healthcare use among serious juvenile offenders transitioning into adulthood; and (2) to explore associations between the lack of health insurance, healthcare use and reincarceration. Study design We conducted a secondary analysis on the data of the US longitudinal Pathways to Desistance study between ages 20 and 23 years (2000–2010). Methods Participant data on health insurance coverage, healthcare use, reincarceration and sociodemographic variables (n = 1215) were extracted and analysed using descriptive statistics, generalized linear regressions and cross-lagged panel models. Results About half of the young offenders had no health insurance coverage or intermittent coverage between the age of 20 and 23 years. Emergency services were used (≥17.4%), notably more by insured participants and were increasingly used over time. Being uninsured at the age of 20 years was associated with reincarceration at the age of 23 years (b = −0.052, p = 0.014, odd-ratio = 0.95), but incarceration at the age of 20 years did not predict the insurance status at the age of 23 years (b = 0.009, p = 0.792). Conclusions Serious juvenile offenders, especially if uninsured, faced major barriers to accessing health care and often reported an inappropriate healthcare use. This likely led to reincarceration. The lack of continuity of care and of access to health care may, therefore, increase health disparities, and efforts are needed to mitigate detrimental outcomes, by effective in and out of detention coordination of health insurance coverage and among health services. Highlights • Justice-involved youths experience healthcare challenges. • These challenges include being uninsured or lack of/inadequate healthcare use. • A lack of health insurance may lead to detrimental outcomes such as reincarceration. • Transition into adulthood is a risky period for healthcare access and use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose Previous research conceptualized murderers as highly callous and self-gratifying individuals, offending as a result of psychopathic tendencies. The current exploration sought to verify whether murderers differ on psychopathy and criminal social identity from recidivistic and first time incarcerated offenders. Methods The study compared an opportunistic sample of murderers ( n = 94), recidivists ( n = 266), and first time offenders ( n = 118) on criminal social identity (3 factors: cognitive centrality, in-group affect, and in-group ties) and psychopathy (4 factors: callous affect, interpersonal manipulation, erratic lifestyle, antisocial behavior). Results Recidivists scored significantly higher on cognitive centrality and in-group ties than murderers. Recidivists scored significantly higher than first time incarcerated offenders or murderers on the erratic lifestyle and interpersonal manipulation factors of psychopathy. Additionally, recidivists scored significantly higher on antisocial behavior compared to first time offenders. All three groups of prisoners did not differ in terms of callous affect. Conclusion Contrary to previous research and media portrayals of homicide perpetration being rooted in psychopathic tendencies such as callous affect, the present findings found no support for such a conceptualization of the crime. Moreover, unsurprisingly, it appears murderers have less developed criminal cognitions than other offending groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Empirical analysis of practitioner perspectives in Japan using Q method. • Identification of 3 groups: recovery supporters, moral guardians, crime bureaucrats. • Commonalities around the theme of 'autonomous drug-free lives'. • Competing interpretations about why this matters and the journey to this. • Conflicts may result in erosion of cooperation and differences in implementation. In Japan, responses to people with drug dependency problems and who frequently re-enter the criminal justice system have undergone significant change in recent years, resulting in a heavier emphasis placed on non-criminal justice interventions and greater diversification of practitioners. To better understand how different practitioners are negotiating and adapting to their changing environments, this paper examines the goals of practitioners who work with individuals who are on probation, parole or have received a suspended sentence for an illegal drug offence. Q methodology was utilised, with participation of 89 practitioners from across the fields of criminal justice, health, social welfare, and local government. Participants ranked 64 goals in drug policy according to their perceived importance in a Q-sort activity, before reflecting on their decision-making during a post-sort questionnaire. Principal components analysis was conducted, along with an iterative and holistic approach that considered the Q-sort and questionnaire data as a whole, to extract and interpret groups of practitioners that shared similar perspectives. Three groups of practitioner perspectives were identified, termed as recovery supporters, moral guardians , and crime bureaucrats. Overall, there are a number of commonalities which revolve around facilitating 'autonomous drug-free lives', but groups are distinguished in important ways, not least in terms of goals relating to the nature and role of criminal justice and treatment services. Although the notion of 'autonomous drug-free lives' binds together different perspectives, there are competing interpretations about why this matters and the preferred 'journey' to this social state. These findings show that the embracing of more welfare and health-based approaches in drug policy in Japan is also being largely reflected in practitioner perspectives, but the conflicts that exist have the potential to erode multi-agency co-operation and lead to variation in policy implementation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For several decades policy makers worldwide have experimented with testimonials as a strategy to promote road safety supportive views in a wide variety of target populations such as recidivists and students. In its basic format, a (relative of) a victim or an offender brings a personal testimonial of what it is to experience a traffic accident. The underlying idea is that such a testimonial will emotionally affect participants, thereby stimulating them to cognitively reflect upon their own behavior and responsibility as a road user. Unfortunately, empirical literature on the effectiveness of this strategy is rather scarce and inconsistent. This study investigated the effect of a large-scale program with victim testimonials for high schools in Belgium on five socio-cognitive and behavioral variables drawn from the Theory of Planned Behavior (i.e., attitude, subjective norm, perceived behavioral control, behavioral intention and behavior). Moreover, this study investigated program effects on participants’ cognitive and emotional estate and whether this influences the program’s impact on socio-cognitive and behavioral variables. Our test sample included 1362 students, who were assigned to a baseline – follow-up group and a post-test – follow-up group. We questioned both groups, a first time (just before or after session attendance) on paper, and a second time (two months after session attendance) online. Results indicate the program had, both immediate and two months after attendance, small to medium positive effects on most socio-cognitive and behavioral variables. However, effects depended on participants’ demographic profile, their baseline values on the socio-cognitive and behavioral variables, and the degree to which they were cognitively/emotionally affected by the program. We discuss the practical implications of these findings and formulate recommendations for the development of future interventions based on victim testimonials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates criminal nomadism—an individual's propensity to engage in continuous or intermittent interurban travel as a way to cope with the consequences of their criminal lifestyle and/or as a strategy to adapt to the reality of being a "career criminal." The criminal-career itinerary across Canada of 448 men convicted of sex offenses was reconstructed through individual interviews and analysis of detailed criminal records. Five distinct components of criminal nomadism (i.e., trips, nodes, paths, range, and mesolevel activity space), inspired by crime pattern theory, are suggested and analyzed. Results show that criminal nomadism is the reality of young and educated Whites who have a prolific criminal career interspersed with long incarceration sentences. Nomadic offenders did not wander freely and randomly, but rather seemed to be looking for opportunities and privacy. Sex-offending variables did not make a significant contribution to predictions, suggesting that criminal nomadism is more a general offending phenomenon than something specific to sex offending. This study provides supporting evidence that an extensive criminal career is generally associated with a geographically scattered and nomadic lifestyle. Implications for public policies and future studies are discussed. • This study explores criminal nomadism in a sample of 448 men convicted of sex crimes. • Criminal nomadism is defined as an offender's propensity to engage in interurban travel. • For each participant, the criminal-career itinerary across Canada was reconstructed. • Results suggest a link between an extensive criminal career and a nomadic lifestyle. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Observers who are angered by rule violations and punish violators often play a critical role in enforcement. Hence a key question is: when will noncompliance provoke anger, and when will it be excused? This paper develops a theory of rule compliance as the outcome of a two-person Bayesian game. The core of the model is its description of what constitutes an excuse. Noncompliance is excused when a “reasonable person” in similar circumstances would also have failed to comply. Phenomena explained include the role of “legitimacy” in enforcement; corruption traps; graduated sanctions for repeat offenders; and tolerance of self-interestedness in markets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Recurrent admission to a hospital or trauma centre for separate incidents of traumatic injury is known as trauma recidivism. Although use of alcohol is a known risk factor for injury and associated with trauma recidivism, the scale of alcohol-related trauma recidivism has not been well described. The purpose of this review was to search the published literature for studies that evaluated the prevalence of alcohol use among trauma recidivists. Our primary objective was to determine the proportion of trauma recidivism related to alcohol use. The association between alcohol and trauma recidivism was evaluated as a secondary objective.Methods: Four electronic databases (MEDLINE, Embase, CINAHL, Web of Science) were searched from inception until December 2015 for all articles that might provide evidence on the proportion of trauma recidivism related to use of alcohol. After removal of duplicates, the search strategy yielded 2470 records for screening. Only primary studies that reported on repeated admissions to a hospital or trauma centre for traumatic injuries specifically related to alcohol use were included. Descriptive statistics were used to assess study characteristics and the prevalence of trauma recidivism related to alcohol use. An aggregate weighted estimate of alcohol-related trauma recidivism was calculated.Results: A total of 12 studies met all inclusion criteria. Studies were published between 1989 and 2014. Overall, there were 3386 trauma recidivists among included studies. The proportion of trauma recidivists with evidence of alcohol use on admission ranged from 26.7% to 76.9% (median 46.4%). The aggregated sample produced a weighted estimate of 41.0% (1388/3386) for alcohol-related trauma recidivism. In four studies, the association between alcohol and trauma recidivism was examined; all four found a positive association between alcohol use and repeated admission for traumatic injury. Studies varied considerably in design, trauma populations, periods for evaluating recidivism, definitions for positive alcohol on admission, and methods used to determine alcohol use.Conclusion: Evidence from current literature suggests that 41.0% of trauma recidivism is related to use of alcohol. Due to methodological limitations among the studies included for review, this may underestimate the actual prevalence of alcohol-related trauma recidivism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Traffic law enforcement sanctions can impact on road user behaviour through general and specific deterrence mechanisms. The manner in which specific deterrence can influence recidivist behaviour can be conceptualised in different ways. While any reduction in speeding will have road safety benefits, the ways in which a ‘reduction’ is determined deserves greater methodological attention and has implications for countermeasure evaluation more generally. The primary aim of this research was to assess the specific deterrent impact of penalty increases for speeding offences in Queensland, Australia, in 2003 on two cohorts of drivers detected for speeding prior to and after the penalty changes were investigated. Since the literature is relatively silent on how to assess recidivism in the speeding context, the secondary research aim was to contribute to the literature regarding ways to conceptualise and measure specific deterrence in the speeding context. We propose a novel way of operationalising four measures which reflect different ways in which a specific deterrence effect could be conceptualised: (1) the proportion of offenders who re-offended in the follow up period; (2) the overall frequency of re-offending in the follow up period; (3) the length of delay to re-offence among those who re-offended; and (4) the average number of re-offences during the follow up period among those who re-offended. Consistent with expectations, results suggested an absolute deterrent effect of penalty changes, as evidenced by significant reductions in the proportion of drivers who re-offended and the overall frequency of re-offending, although effect sizes were small. Contrary to expectations, however, there was no evidence of a marginal specific deterrent effect among those who re-offended, with a significant reduction in the length of time to re-offence and no significant change in the average number of offences committed. Additional exploratory analyses investigating potential influences of the severity of the index offence, offence history, and method of detection revealed mixed results. Access to additional data from various sources suggested that the main findings were not influenced by changes in speed enforcement activity, public awareness of penalty changes, or driving exposure during the study period. Study limitations and recommendations for future research are discussed with a view to promoting more extensive evaluations of penalty changes and better understanding of how such changes may impact on motorists’ perceptions of enforcement and sanctions, as well as on recidivist behaviour. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Drunk drivers are a menace to themselves and to other road users, as drunk driving significantly increases the risk of involvement in road accidents and the probability of severe or fatal injuries. Although injuries and fatalities related to road accidents have decreased in recent decades, the prevalence of drunk driving among drivers killed in road accidents has remained stable, at around 25% or more during the past 10 years. Understanding drunk driving, and in particular, recidivism, is essential for designing effective countermeasures, and accordingly, the present study aims at identifying the differences between non-drunk drivers, drunk driving non-recidivists and drunk driving recidivists with respect to their demographic and socio-economic characteristics, road accident involvement and other traffic and non-traffic-related law violations. This study is based on register-data from Statistics Denmark and includes information from 2008 to 2012 for the entire population, aged 18 or older, of Denmark. The results from univariate and multivariate statistical analyses reveal a five year prevalence of 17% for drunk driving recidivism, and a significant relation between recidivism and the drunk drivers’ gender, age, income, education, receipt of an early retirement pension, household type, and residential area. Moreover, recidivists are found to have a higher involvement in alcohol-related road accidents, as well as other traffic and, in particular, non-traffic-related offences. These findings indicate that drunk driving recidivism is more likely to occur among persons who are in situations of socio-economic disadvantage and marginalisation. Thus, to increase their effectiveness, preventive measures aiming to reduce drunk driving should also address issues related to the general life situations of the drunk driving recidivists that contribute to an increased risk of drunk driving recidivism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: History shows that one of the most important institutions to a society is its criminal justice system. The current study offers an analysis of the criminal justice system’s effectiveness in identifying, apprehending, convicting, and punishing high-level/persistent offenders. Methods: Data were drawn from all four waves of the Add Health study. Survey-corrected univariate statistics and logistic regression models were estimated to provide population parameter estimates of the frequency of arrest and punishment for a group of persistent offenders compared to non-persistent offenders. Results: Findings indicated persistent offenders (as identified by self-reported crime) were much more likely to be arrested (63% vs. 26%), accounted for more arrests ( =1.71 vs. =.53), were more likely to be convicted (39% vs. 11%), were more likely to be placed on probation (38% vs. 12%), and were more likely to be sent to jail (43% vs. 13%) compared to non-persistent offenders. These differences remained when levels of psychopathy, age, race, and sex were controlled in the logistic regression models. Conclusions: These findings suggest the criminal justice system does a good job of identifying and punishing offenders who break the law more frequently. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Purpose: It is assumed that juvenile sex offenders (JSO) are tomorrow's adult sex offenders (ASO) and ASO were previously JSO. The current study tests these two assumptions using prospective longitudinal data. Methods: Using data from the 1984 Dutch Birth Cohort study, the study examines the criminal career of JSO and the continuity of sex offending into early adulthood. Results: The study findings show much heterogeneity in the criminal careers of JSO suggesting several criminal career outcomes in adulthood. Put differently, the vast majority of JSO do not become ASO while adult sex offending does not require juvenile sex offending. Against the backdrop of this principle, the study found a small group of JSO recidivist at-risk of persisting into adulthood and a group of chronic juvenile offenders who are at-risk of escalating their offending to sex crimes in adulthood. Conclusions: For the most part, JSO and ASO are two distinct phenomenon. The vast majority of JSO desist from sex offending while the vast majority of ASO started sexually offending in adulthood. As the frequency of general nonsexual offending increases during adolescence, so is the risk of becoming ASO. This group of youth warrants closer scrutiny for prevention programs. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to determine if there was a difference in hospital outcomes between trauma recidivists (RCID) and nonrecidivists (NRCID). METHODS: Outcomes of RCID and NRCID were compared. A recidivist was defined as a patient with a history of hospital evaluation for injury within the prior 5 years. Patients with good functional status had a Glasgow Outcome Score of 4 to 5. RESULTS: Of the 2,127 patients admitted, 466 (22%)wereRCID.NRCIDweremore likely to have Injury Severity Score.25 (12%vs 8.6%; P=.04) thanRCID. Eighty-eight percent of RCIDwere dischargedwith a good functional status compared with 83%of RCID (P=.02). NRCID were more likely to be admitted to a critical care unit (43% vs 36%; P =.01), but there was no significant difference in hospital mortality. CONCLUSION: RCID were less severely injured and had better hospital outcomes than NRCID. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Taiwan has deemed driving under the influence of alcohol (DUI) to be criminal, and offenders are subjected to fines and jail penalties without being offered alcohol-related treatment, although alcohol use problems are prevalent in this population. We followed the recidivism records of DUI repeat offenders for one year after they had received a newly established legal-medical joint intervention program for alcohol treatment and examined factors related to postintervention recidivism. In this study, 231 DUI repeat offenders with alcohol use problems screened out by the Alcohol Use Disorder Identification Test were referred from the prosecutors' office to one psychiatric hospital for SBIRT-based alcohol treatment. We divided the participants into two groups based on the official recidivism records within the year following the end of treatment. The study used a Cox proportional hazards model to examine the hazard ratio of the baseline clinical characteristics and intervention duration for post-treatment recidivism. The study used generalized estimation equation models to examine changes in psychological symptoms and drinking behaviors over time. We found that participants who recidivated in the next year after intervention did not differ from those without recidivism records in all measurements except for the length of duration they stayed in treatment. Survival analysis determined that participants who had received the intervention for >4 months showed significantly lower rates of one-year postintervention recidivism rates The study participants showed improved psychological symptoms and drinking behaviors during the follow-up period. In conclusion, adequate duration of alcohol treatment is a significant factor associated with a lower risk of postintervention recidivism. The results provide some insight into the design of a collaborative program between legal and medical systems to reduce DUI recidivism and improve mental health of DUI repeat offenders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To comprehensively review the literature on the number and shape of latent group-based trajectories of violence, aggression, and delinquency. Materials and Methods: A systematic and exhaustive search of several academic databases (e.g., Criminal Justice Abstracts, Web of Knowledge, EBSCO Host, PsychInfo, PubMed) was conducted. Google Scholar searches were conducted to locate articles that are currently “in press.” Results: This narrative meta-review identified 105 studies that used latent trajectory modeling to describe the number and shape of violence, aggression, and delinquency trajectories. The number of trajectory groups ranges from 2-7 groups. However, most studies report between 3 and 4 groups, loosely including life-course persistent or chronic offenders, a group of escalators or desistors, and one group that does not exhibit violent, aggressive, or delinquent behavior. Conclusions: There is substantial variability in the number and shape of trajectory groups across samples, measurement, developmental phase of the life-course captured, length of observation, and geographical context. However, the studies are largely consistent with Moffitt''s taxonomy. Future research should extend trajectory modeling beyond description to examine theoretically relevant risk and protective factors for violence, aggression, and delinquency, investigate empirically relevant outcomes associated with violence, aggression, and delinquency, and focus on policy-relevant research. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Objectives: This study tested specific intervention responsivity to brief intervention in driving while impaired by alcohol and/or drugs recidivists based upon their demographic, substance use, and initial readiness to change characteristics. Methods: A nonclinical community-based sample of 184 male and female recidivists was randomly assigned to receive one of two 30-minute interventions: brief motivational interviewing (n = 92) or an information–advice session (n = 92). Dependent variables were change at the 6- and 12-month follow-ups from baseline in percentage of risky drinking days and blood assay biomarkers of alcohol misuse. Independent variables were age, gender, education, past convictions for impaired driving, and baseline alcohol and drug misuse severity and readiness to change. Results: Recidivists who were younger, male, and exhibited more negative consequences and ambivalence towards their problem drinking improved more on alcohol-related outcomes, irrespective of intervention type. Conclusions: The results do not convincingly indicate specific intervention responsivity based upon participant characteristics but provide preliminary guidance about which recidivists are most apt to benefit from these brief approaches. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Background: Mopeds have less stringent licensing laws than automobiles. Moped operators in motorized vehicle collisions (MVCs) exhibit significantly higher rates of driving while intoxicated (DWI) and higher blood alcohol levels than automobile or motorcycle operators. This study evaluates the public safety issue of DWI recidivism among moped operators. Methods: Moped operators evaluated after MVCs were identified from 2007 to 2009. Demographics, hospital data, and Department of Motor Vehicles records were reviewed. Results: Sixty-five moped operators were evaluated. Thirty-two (49%) had a positive blood alcohol level, 29 (45%) had a previous DWI, and 21 (72%) of those were repeat offenders. Twenty-five (38%) had a revoked license at the time of injury. Of these, 19 (76%) incurred multiple revocations. Twenty-two (34%) showed prior charges of driving with a revoked license (DWRL), with 15 (68%) incurring multiple DWRL charges. Conclusions: Moped operators are often intoxicated at the time of injury and represent a public safety hazard. The majority are recidivists with multiple alcohol-related traffic charges. Current laws allow repeat offenders the sustained opportunity to operate motorized vehicles. Re-evaluation of current moped laws is needed to keep habitual offenders off the road. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Background: This project examined the ability of the popular DUI/DWI offender assessment instrument, the Driver Risk Inventory (), to identify short-term DUI recidivists in a sample of Floridian DUI offenders who were charged with DUI between January 1st, 2008 and December 31st, 2009. The DRI provides a number of behavioral risk scales, DSM-IV substance abuse and dependence classifications, as well as measurement of demographic and criminal history characteristics. Methods: Cox proportional hazards models were used to identify the demographic, criminal history, and behavioral characteristics most closely associated with the risk of rapid DUI recidivism. Follow-up analyses including ROC curves were used to further examine the ability of the DRI to identify short-term DUI recidivists. Results: In the final model controlling for all variables, the DRI driver risk scale was the single strongest predictor of rapid DUI recidivism. The DSM-IV substance abuse and dependence classifications were also significant predictors of DUI recidivism. A number of the DRI risk scales and the DSM-IV classifications exhibited significant predictive validity and exhibited sensitivity in identifying recidivists similar to other popular DUI offender assessment instruments. Conclusions: The DRI provides useful identification of DUI recidivists in a sample able to capture only the most rapid DUI recidivists. The results of this research warrant further examination of the DRI''s ability to identify DUI recidivists using longer intervals of time between DUI arrests. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Recent studies have examined alcohol-related consequences in college students as an independent outcome variable, rather than as a result of heavy drinking. The present study examined the patterns of consequences experienced by first-year college students (n =169). Specifically, the number of distinct consequences and the frequency of repeated consequences were evaluated as well as the combination of the two. Results revealed that 80% of participants reported experiencing multiple consequences, with over 34% of students reporting 6 or more unique consequences over the course of their freshmen year. In addition, nearly 50% of the sample reported experiencing 3 or more consequences repeatedly. Further, 23% of the sample reported experiencing 5 or more repeated consequences and 6 or more multiple consequences. These individuals experienced 38% of the multiple consequences and 54% of the repeated consequences reported by the entire sample, suggesting individuals who endorsed experiencing multiple consequences repeatedly also experienced a disproportionate number of the total consequences reported by the sample. The findings suggest there are specific high-risk patterns of alcohol-related consequences and demonstrate a need for further examination of additional variables that predict consequences. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Purpose: Despite the surge in scholarly activity investigating the criminal career, relatively less attention has been devoted to the issue of criminal desistance versus persistence (until recently). The present study contributed to our understanding of this process by exploring the suitability of General Strain Theory (GST) for predicting changes in criminal activity across time. Methods: Data from a longitudinal study of males in South Florida are examined using robust regression analyses. Results: The core GST relationship, that changes in strain should predict changes in criminal activity, was supported, even after controlling for important adult social roles such as marriage, labor force participation, and education. While no support for the proposition that changes in self-esteem and social support moderate the strain-criminal desistance association was evinced, evidence was found that angry disposition, a measure of negative emotionality, moderated the association between change in chronic stressors and change in criminal activity. Conclusions: While exploratory in nature, these findings demonstrate the utility of employing GST principles in studies of criminal desistance. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Mentally disordered prisoners in Germany are subject to special legal regulations, which can be traced back to the 1933 “Dangerous Habitual Offenders and their Detention and Rehabilitation Act”. There are no special diversion programs in Germany but diversion does in fact happen via legal regulations that are based on the construct of legal responsibility. Diversion refers to the removal of offenders from the criminal justice system at any stage of the procedure and court proceedings. In recent years the number of occupied beds in forensic psychiatric hospitals has continued to rise. At the same time the number of people in prisons has slightly decreased while there has been a slight increase in the number of available beds in general psychiatry. Germany experienced public and media concern about the risk posed by conditionally released mentally ill offenders and other perceived inadequacies in the criminal justice system. Therefore the way in which prisoners or forensic patients are supervised after they have been discharged was reformed in 2007 in order to assure a more efficient control of their conduct after their release from custody by means of mandatory treatment and monitoring. Special outpatient clinics were to assist discharged patients in complying with the conditions of probation and parole. However organisational structures for these specialised outpatient institutions vary within Germany because of its federal administration. This results in regional differences in conditions of treatment and probably in differences in quality as well, but surveys about the effects, efficacy or effectiveness of forensic outpatient treatment in Germany are scarce. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Aim: This paper presents qualitative data from an in-depth interview study of 40 repeat drink drivers in Perth Western Australia to inform countermeasures for these high risk offenders. Background: Licence sanctions are effective countermeasures for most drink drivers but the small group of repeat offenders are less responsive. Many choose to drive whilst unlicensed as the probability of detection is low and the social and economic costs of not driving can be high. This undermines other drink drive countermeasures. Results: Most respondents who had had their licence suspended admitted to driving whilst under suspension. Employment and social factors were key themes emerging in respondents’ accounts of driving whilst under licence suspension. Conclusions: Whilst a range of enforcement countermeasures are needed to deter drunk and unlicensed driving, this study suggests that where possible we aim to keep offenders within the system that consists of formal laws and informal social controls, rather than apply penalties in ways that undermine adherence to the law by increasing unlicensed driving. Allowing for interlock installation early in the driving suspension period, and allowing fines to offset cost of interlock installation and monitoring, may maximise community benefit and reduce unlicensed driving. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Background: Bipolar disorder (BD) is more prevalent among people with substance use disorders (SUD) than the general population. SUD among recidivist driving under the influence (DUI) populations are extremely prevalent; not surprisingly, recent evidence suggests that rates of BD also are elevated among DUI offenders. Studies of BD patients with SUD have found high prevalence of other psychiatric disorders and relatively low rate of treatment engagement. This study examines both the prevalence of other mental disorders and treatment status among a cohort of DUI offenders with BD and SUD. Methods: A consecutively selected cohort (N =729) of repeat DUI offenders attending a two-week inpatient treatment program completed a standardized diagnostic interview (the Composite International Diagnostic Interview: CIDI). The CIDI generated DSM-IV diagnoses. Results: This study yielded three main results for this repeat DUI offender sample: (1) BD is associated with significantly higher lifetime prevalence of alcohol, drug, and non-substance psychiatric disorders (e.g., PTSD); (2) approximately one quarter of BD participants have not discussed their mania with a professional; and (3) only half of the BD participants in this cohort have had mania treatment they consider effective and even fewer have had any treatment during the past twelve months. Limitations: Participants were predominantly Caucasian males attending treatment as a sentencing option in a single Massachusetts DUI program. Conclusion: These findings suggest that clinicians in DUI treatment settings should consider both evaluating for BD and initiating therapy. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Driving under the influence is a devastating problem in the United States, killing almost 17,000 people in 2005. The present article describes a cognitive treatment program aimed at repeat drinking and driving offenders. Sixty-three participants were court mandated to the four-month outpatient treatment program. Before entering and after completing treatment, participants were administered self-report instruments measuring alcohol problems, readiness to change, self-esteem/efficacy, and criminal thinking patterns. Additionally, arrest histories were examined. Findings suggested that participants were characterized not only by repeated arrests, but elevated blood alcohol content and high levels of self-reported alcohol dependency and problem-drinking behaviors. The majority of clients expressed a readiness to change their drinking and driving behaviors with 87 percent graduating from the program. A DUI recidivism rate of 13 percent was found for graduates of the program at a twenty-one month follow-up. The results demonstrate that the treatment program is a valuable tool in the battle to reduce criminal recidivism. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Repeat offenders are commonly given more severe sentences than first-time offenders for the same violations. Though this practice makes intuitive sense, the theory behind escalating penalties is disputed in both legal and economic theories. Here we investigate folk intuitions concerning the moral and intentional status of actions performed by people with positive versus negative prior records. We hypothesized that prior record would modulate both moral judgment and mental state reasoning. Subjects first engaged in an economic game with fair (positive prior record) and unfair (negative prior record) competitors and then read descriptions of their competitors’ actions that resulted in either positive or negative outcomes. The descriptions left the competitors’ mental states unstated. We found that subjects judged actions producing negative outcomes as more “intentional” and more “blameworthy” when performed by unfair competitors. Although explicit mental state evaluation was not required, moral judgments in this case were accompanied by increased activation in brain regions associated with mental state reasoning, including predominantly the right temporo-parietal junction (RTPJ). The magnitude of RTPJ activation was correlated with individual subjects’ behavioural responses to unfair play in the game. These results thus provide insight for both legal theory and moral psychology. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Bénézech organised sexual homicide into two distinct categories — psychopathic and psychotic — but warned that this taxonomy has only an indicative value, since certain sexual homicides fall in-between these categories. Therefore forensic experts must determine which of the two components (psychopathic or psychotic) dominate as the risk of recidivism as well as the measures that should be taken are determined by the subjective structure of the perpetrator. Given this need, criminal analysis could benefit greatly from a thorough clinical analysis. The author presents a mixed case of sexual psychotic homicide with criminal nocturnal arson. The difficulties in diagnosing of such a case are discussed. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Individuals who drive under the influence (DUI) of alcohol may be at greater risk for neurocognitive impairment because of their exposure to multiple sources of neurological risk. This could contribute to the persistence of DUI behaviour and influence the effectiveness of remedial interventions. The objectives of this study were to clarify the neurocognitive characteristics of DUI recidivists and the nature of potential impairments, and to explore relationships between these characteristics and the frequency of past DUI convictions. One hundred male recidivists were evaluated for visuospatial constructional abilities and visual memory, verbal fluency, attention skills, cognitive flexibility, spatial planning, and verbal and movement inhibition. Results indicated that a majority of recidivists showed signs of neurocognitive impairment on several dimensions. Impairment was most marked on visuospatial constructional abilities and visual memory. In contrast to previous studies, no participants were found to have impulse control problems. Measures of memory and cognitive efficiency were significantly associated with the frequency of past convictions. Finally, exploratory analyses of two potential sources of impairment, alcohol exposure and head trauma, suggested the role of excessive alcohol use as the most obvious associated factor. Overall, the findings indicate that neurocognitive impairments are a common feature in recidivists and may contribute to DUI persistence. Development of a DUI-specific neurocognitive assessment and greater understanding of how neurocognitive status influences DUI risk could lead to remediation strategies better adapted to the individual characteristics of recidivists. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The criminal career paradigm had essentially ignored investigating offenders in rural areas. To fill this void, a retrospective, cross-sectional design sampled 331 former adult correctional clients from the case archives in a rural midwestern state. Self-report and official records indicated that rural criminal careers were characterized by relatively few arrests, short-lived criminal justice system involvements, and a paucity of violent crime. Although the sample demonstrated relatively benign criminality overall, the most chronic offenders, top 10 percent of the sample, were plagued by overlapping, contemporaneous problems such as alcoholism, substance abuse, mental health difficulties, early onset of antisocial behavior, low educational attainment, and revolving involvement in the criminal justice system. Like rural communities, which were characterized by exceedingly low crime rates, rural career offenders tended to be relatively harmless criminals especially compared to habitual offenders commonly found in the criminological literature. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The present study reports on a group of 132 recidivist offenders' stages of change and self-efficacy levels for changing and controlling both their drinking and drink driving behaviours. The majority of the sample reported being motivated to change their drink driving, but not their drinking behaviours. The sample also indicated high self-efficacy levels for the two behaviours, although a notable finding was that participants reported higher levels of control over their drinking rather than drink driving behaviours. Examination of the self-reported frequency of drink driving revealed that both motivations and self-efficacy levels were predictors of past offences and future intentions to drink and drive. The findings have direct implications for the management of repeat offenders, such as the inclusion of rehabilitation and alcohol treatment programs in sentencing outcomes for individuals who appear resistant to change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The aim of this study was to examine which of the two personality models, PEN or Big Five, differentiates best between Dutch juvenile offenders (n =96) and college students (n =204), between Dutch self-reported recidivists (n =43) and non-recidivists (n =14), and between officially recorded recidivists (n =37) and non-recidivists (n =24). Students (mean age=17.23 years) and offenders (mean age=18.63 years) filled out the Eysenck Personality Questionnaire Revised and the Short Big Five Questionnaire. Occurrence and severity of recidivism were measured by a self-report questionnaire and by official police records. Students were higher than offenders on PEN’s Extraversion and the Big Five dimensions Agreeableness and Openness. PEN’s Extraversion appeared to be higher in officially recorded recidivists compared to non-recidivists. PEN’s Psychoticism, Big Five’s Neuroticism and Agreeableness differentiated self-reported recidivists from non-recidivists. Only PEN’s Psychoticism predicted severity of self-reported recidivism. Proposals for future research in recidivism are formulated. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The aim of this study was to assess any predictive factors for repeated attempted suicide and completed suicide in a 1-year follow-up on a sample of elderly European suicide attempters (60 years and over). From 1990 to 1993, 63 subjects completed the first interview and were recontacted after 1 year. At follow-up, eight subjects (12.7%) had taken their lives and seven (11.1%) had repeated at least one suicide attempt. On comparison of repeaters and non-repeaters, differences emerged in terms of death of the father in childhood and for mean Suicidal Intent Score. At the end of follow-up period, repeaters reported a more frequent desire to repeat suicidal behaviour and judged their mental health and social assistance received to be worse. Suicides and non-repeaters differed especially in relation to death of father during childhood and number of contacts with General Practitioner. Interpretation of the results must take into account the smallness of the test sample, the difficulties in obtaining complete data for the follow-up interview, the lack of a control group and a diagnosis formulated in a hospital consultation setting. The study confirms, however, the high risk of repetition of suicidal behaviour in the elderly. In old age suicidal ideation is often sustained over long periods of time and requests for help are addressed to relatives and GPs. An interesting finding is the more frequent death of the father during childhood among repeaters. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Objective: This study compared recidivism rates for alleged maltreatment perpetrators whose initial report was substantiated and those whose initial report was not substantiated, to determine whether they returned to the child welfare system at differing rates. Method: Statewide administrative child welfare services data over a period of 4 1/2 years was analyzed. The sample included 31,531 perpetrators of intrafamilial maltreatment. Separate analyses were conducted for each type of maltreatment (sexual abuse, physical abuse, and neglect). Results: Bivariate relationships (substantiation status and recidivism) were analyzed using survival curves, and the study found that recidivism patterns differed by type of maltreatment and by substantiation status at the index event. Multivariate analyses using Cox Proportional Hazards models found that bivariate relationships held true even when controlling for neighborhood mean income, ethnicity, and gender. Conclusions: The study's finding that perpetrators whose index event was not substantiated return to the child welfare system at a high rate suggests the need to learn how to discriminate those unsubstantiated alleged perpetrators who are most at risk for recidivism. The finding of frequent cross-type recidivism indicates that intervention should focus on common themes across maltreatment types. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The "cooling-off period", or inter-murder interval, has been used to differentiate between serial, spree, and mass murderers for decades. The present research examines the utility of this concept by studying the distribution of 2837 inter-murder intervals for 1012 American serial homicide offenders using data from the Consolidated Serial Homicide Offender Database. The distribution is smooth, following a power law in the region of 10–10,000 days. The power law is cut off in the region when inter-murder intervals become comparable with the length of human life. Otherwise there is no characteristic scale in the distribution. The decades long inter-murder intervals are not anomalies, but rare events described by the power-law distribution and therefore should not be looked upon with suspicion. This study found there to be no characteristic spree or serial homicide offender interval, only a monotonous smooth distribution lacking any features. This suggests that there is only a quantitative difference between serial and spree killers which represent merely different aspects of the same phenomenon. • The "cooling-off period", or inter-murder interval, has been used to differentiate between serial, spree, and mass murderers for decades. The present research examines the utility of this concept by studying the distribution of 2837 inter-murder intervals for 1012 American serial homicide offenders using data from the Consolidated Serial Homicide Offender Database. The distribution is smooth, following a power law in the region of 10–10,000 days. The power law is cut off in the region when inter-murder intervals become comparable with the length of human life. Otherwise there is no characteristic scale in the distribution. The decades long inter-murder intervals are not anomalies, but rare events described by the power-law distribution and therefore should not be looked upon with suspicion. This study found there to be no characteristic spree or serial homicide offender interval, only a monotonous smooth distribution lacking any features. This suggests that there is only a quantitative difference between serial and spree killers which represent merely different aspects of the same phenomenon. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Evaluation of the Dutch Alcohol Ignition Interlock Programme. • Long-term effectiveness in terms of post-interlock driving under the influence recidivism. • Retrospective cohort design applying survival and logistic regression analyses. • Results show a 54 % decrease of post-interlock driving under the influence recidivism. This article provides an evaluation of the long-term effectiveness of the Alcohol Ignition Interlock Programme (AIIP) on recidivism. A retrospective cohort design was used to compare the known reoffending behaviour of 1676 AIIP participants with that of 907 persons in a control group, consisting of offenders who committed an AIIP-worthy driving-under-the-influence (DUI) offence that was not reported to the Dutch driving license authority. Persons in the control group were not sanctioned with an AIIP, but had their case settled in the criminal court. Our outcome measure was the percentage of offenders who committed at least one new DUI offence within the follow-up period. Results indicate that the percentage of repeat offenders in the AIIP group was lower than in the control group. Additional analyses indicate that were an AIIP to be imposed alongside a criminal settlement, a recidivism reduction of 4 percentage points (4 % versus 8 %) could be expected. This would translate to a relative decrease of 54 %. Explanations for these findings are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Multiple repetition of self-harm is common and is associated with poor quality of life and with an increased risk of suicide. Treatment outside specialist clinics rarely takes account of what is known about the varied and conflicting reasons for multiple repetition. We aimed to identify ways in which individuals who self-harm make sense of their motivations for repetition. In 2018/2019 we recruited 59 participants from NHS services, support organizations in England and via social media into a Q-methodology study. Participants sorted, ranked and commented on 46 separate functions of self-harm according to whether they agreed or disagreed with them as reasons for their own self-harm. The functions were identified from a range of academic sources and first-person accounts. Principal Component Analysis was used to identify four distinct accounts for repeated self-harm: 1) Managing my mental state, 2) Communicating Distress, 3) Distract from suicidal thoughts or feelings and 4) Producing positive feelings. There were no clear links between account and gender or other respondent characteristic, although those who self-harmed most regularly and frequently ('so many times I've lost count') were mostly in Accounts 1 and 4. This is the first study to use Q methodology to explore reasons for repeated self-harm. The accounts identified can help in personalizing therapy by going beyond models that focus on a single function such as affect regulation or experiential avoidance, while reducing the field to a manageable number of points of view that can be explored in therapy. • The first study to use Q methodology to explore reasons for repeated self-harm. • Q-sort items were drawn from a wide literature including first person accounts. • Four clinically meaningful accounts of functions for repeated self-harm identified. • The accounts are being used within a RCT of psychological therapy for self-harm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To identify changes in drug abuse control measures that would reduce non-drug crime. Method: Policy analysis. Results: Expanding current anti-drug efforts in the conventional triad of enforcement, prevention, and treatment (including drug courts) holds out little hope of reducing non-drug crime. Routine drug law enforcement risks increasing crime by raising drug prices and creating incentives for violence among dealers. Low-arrest crackdowns to break up flagrant markets promise better results. Even good prevention programs have modest effect sizes, and most prevention programs are not based on proven models. The overlap between the population of heavy illicit drug users and the population of frequent non-drug offenders presents a problem and a policy opportunity that current programs largely fail to grasp. Drug treatment, except for opiate substitution, has difficulty recruiting and retaining clients, and weak sanctions systems render treatment mandates largely nominal. Abstinence-mandate programs such as HOPE and Sobriety 24/7 have shown superior results in reducing re-offending and incarceration. Raising alcohol taxes reduces heavy alcohol use and crime due to intoxication without generating any offsetting criminogenic effects. Conclusion: Current drug policies are not optimally designed for the control of non-drug crime. Improvements are within relatively easy reach. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Children with antisocial behaviour show consistent emotion recognition difficulties that are thought to contribute to their aggressive and negative behaviours. Current treatments for antisocial youths are limited in effectiveness but research is beginning to show that emotion recognition training is a viable treatment option. This article considers the role of emotion recognition in antisocial behaviour, the neurobiological factors thought to contribute to emotion recognition impairments and current research showing that training these individuals to recognise emotions in others represents a feasible and potentially successful treatment option. We have outlined a program of research that once implemented will improve our understanding of the causal role of emotion recognition in the development of serious and persistent antisocial behaviour in youth. • There are limited effective treatment options for young people who engage in serious and persistent antisocial behavior. • To improve outcome, treatments need to be tailored to the individual's specific cognitive and emotional needs. • Improving emotion recognition represents a viable option for intervention. • Teaching antisocial youth to recognize emotions in others is associated with a reduction in re-offence severity. • Emotion recognition interventions in high-risk children should be carried out before the onset of a criminal career. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While many scholars have investigated potential predictors of institutional misconduct among adult inmates, few have assessed the determinants of misconduct among incarcerated juvenile delinquents. This lack of research attention to the predictors of institutional misconduct is especially notable among female delinquents. As females have been theorized to have unique pathways to offending, it is pertinent to examine their pathways to institutional misconduct. The current study investigates potential predictors of violent misconduct among a large sample (n = 1061) of state-committed serious female delinquents in a large southern state. Using negative binomial regression models, a large number of variables were examined that describe the youths' background, delinquency history, and commitment offense. While only a few individual-level factors such as poor mental health predicted violent misconduct, a larger number of delinquent history measures such as committing a violent offense and being sentenced to a blended sentence emerged as important predictors of involvement in violent institutional misconduct. Policy implications and limitations of the study are also discussed. • Few studies assess predictors of misconduct among female delinquents. • Predictors of violent misconduct among serious female delinquents were studied. • Many delinquent background characteristics were identified as significant predictors. • Unique risk factors included poor mental health and committing a violent offense. • More attention should be paid to identifying sex-specific misconduct predictors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]