bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Age Differences in Affective Well‐Being: Context Matters
Authors: Charles Susan Turk , Piazza Jennifer R.
Published: July 2009

The study of emotion across the adult lifespan requires an understanding of how life circumstances change with age. With this knowledge, we can predict when age is related to increases in affective well‐being and when age no longer confers such benefits. In the current paper, we review research that finds age‐related stability and even increases in affective well‐being, as well as age‐related strengths in several emotion regulation strategies. We introduce the theory of Strength and Vulnerability Integration to predict age‐related patterns in emotional experience across the adult lifespan, and to identify situations when age will no longer be related to improved emotion‐related outcomes. We suggest that only by understanding the context of daily life can we predict when and how age is related to affective well‐being.
How Should We Study Generational ‘Changes’—Or Should We? A Critical Examination of the Evidence for ‘Generation Me’
Authors: Donnellan M. Brent , Trzesniewski Kali H.
Published: July 2009

In this essay, we discuss some of the issues that are involved when making inferences about birth cohorts and we describe some of our work that has caused us to question the strength of the evidence for so‐called ‘Generation Me’ effects. In particular, we describe our analyses from the Monitoring the Future project using self‐esteem and respond to criticisms of our work. At this point, we believe that there is insufficient evidence to support the conclusion that the personalities and self‐beliefs of today’s young people are dramatically different from previous generations of American youth.
Are Large Physiological Reactions to Acute Psychological Stress Always Bad for Health?
Authors: Carroll Douglas , Lovallo William R. , Phillips Anna C.
Published: July 2009

How we react physiologically to stress has long been considered to have implications for our health. There is now persuasive evidence that individuals who show large cardiovascular reactions to stress are at increased risk of developing cardiovascular disease, particularly hypertension. By implication, low reactivity is protective or benign. However, there is recent evidence that low reactivity may predict elevated risk for a range of adverse health outcomes, such as depression, obesity, poor self‐reported health and compromised immunity. In addition, low cortisol and cardiovascular reactivity may be a characteristic of individuals with addictions to tobacco and alcohol, as well as those at risk of addiction and those who relapse from abstinence. Our ideas about reactivity may have to be revised in the light of such findings.
Hygiene and Biosecurity: The Language and Politics of Risk in an Era of Emerging Infectious Diseases
Authors: Brown Brian , Nerlich Brigitte , Crawford Paul , Koteyko Nelya , Carter Ronald
Published: July 2009

Infectious diseases, such as methicillin‐resistant Staphylococcus aureus and avian influenza, have recently been high on the agenda of policy makers and the public. Although hygiene and biosecurity are preferred options for disease management, policy makers have become increasingly aware of the critical role that communication assumes in protecting people during outbreaks and epidemics. This article makes the case for a language‐based approach to understanding the public perception of disease. Health language research carried out by the authors, based on metaphor analysis and corpus linguistics, has shown that concepts of journeys, pathways, thresholds, boundaries and barriers have emerged as principal framing devices used by stakeholders to advocate a hygiene based risk and disease management. These framings provide a common ground for debate, but lead to quite different perceptions and practices. This in turn might be a barrier to global disease management in a modern world.
Radiation therapy for intractable bleeding in extremity arteriovenous malformation: Considerations on a clinical case
Authors: Goda JS , Kapoor R , Yadav BS , Sharma SC
Published: July 2009

Arteriovenous malformations are rare clinicopathological entities with varied distribution and a constellation of symptoms. In the extremities they are usually associated with dermatological manifestations, such as angiodermatitis with a potential risk of torrential haemorrhage. Surgical resection is a morbid procedure. Transcatheter embolization and sclerotherapy is an attractive alternative to surgical resection. However, proper case selection is a prerequisite and may not be possible in all the cases. The case reported here is a paradigm of a complex and extensive vascular malformation with torrential haemorrhage where a unique therapeutic approach of radiation therapy was used as an alternative to morbid surgery after embolization and sclerotherapy failure.
Clinical application of multidetector CT angiography and perfusion imaging in acute stroke
Authors: Doss AX
Published: July 2009

This article illustrates clinical application of 64 Detector CT Angiography and Perfusion of the Brain in the triage of acute stroke in patients with a view to thrombolytic therapy. CTA and perfusion of the Brain is less expensive and relatively widely available compared to Magnetic Resonance Imaging. This technique is likely to be widely used in the triage of the acute stroke patient in the near future.
Radiotherapy management of patients diagnosed with glioma in Victoria (1998–2000): A retrospective cohort study
Authors: Dally M , Rosenthal M , Drummond K , Murphy M , Cher L , Ashley D , Thursfield V , Giles G
Published: July 2009

This study aimed to describe the radiotherapy (RT) management and subsequent outcome in a cohort of patients with newly diagnosed glioma. Treatment details were obtained via a questionnaire completed by neurosurgeons, radiation and medical oncologists who treated patients diagnosed with glioma in Victoria during 1998–2000. Patients were identified by using the population‐based Victorian Cancer Registry. Over the study period, data on 828 patients were obtained, of whom 612 (74%) were referred for consideration of RT. Radiotherapy was given to 496 patients as part of their initial treatment and to an additional 10 patients at the time of tumour recurrence or progression. The median age was 72 (16–85) years. Median overall survival (OS) was 9.2 (standard error (SE) 0.6) months for the entire group. Median OS was 29.1 (SE 8.0) and 7.4 (SE 0.4) months for all patients with histological confirmation of World Health Organization Grades III (anaplastic astrocytoma) and IV (glioblastoma multiforme) histology, respectively. A total of 47 different RT dose fractionation schedules were identified. This is the largest survey detailing management of glioma with RT, published to date. A marked variation in dose fractionation schemes was evident. While current best practice involves the use of chemotherapy in conjunction with RT for glioblastoma multiforme, advances in patient care may be undermined by this variation in the use of RT. Clinical trials relevant to an ageing population and evidence‐based national clinical guidelines are required to define best practice.
Anastomosis between the hepatic artery and the extrahepatic collateral or between extrahepatic collaterals: Observation on angiography
Authors: Miyayama S , Yamashiro M , Okuda M , Aburano H , Shigenari N , Morinaga K , Matsui O
Published: July 2009

Transcatheter arterial chemoembolisation for hepatocellular carcinoma is widely carried out not only through the hepatic artery but also through the extrahepatic collateral pathways. Anatomically, there are many anastomoses between the hepatic artery and the extrahepatic collateral as well as among the extrahepatic collaterals. However, these anastomoses may not be shown on angiography because the anastomosing braches are too small. These anastomoses may not only interfere with effective control of hepatocellular carcinoma by transcatheter arterial chemoembolisation but also cause unexpected procedure‐related complications. Therefore, radiologists should have sufficient knowledge of these underlying anastomoses. In this report, we present our angiographic images.
Retrospective review of prognostic factors, including 1p19q deletion, in low‐grade oligodendrogliomas and a review of recent published works
Authors: Capelle L , Oei P , Teoh H , Hamilton D , Palmer D , Low I , Campbell G
Published: July 2009

The purpose of the present study was to investigate potential prognostic factors in low‐grade oligodendrogliomas (LGOs), particularly 1p19q deletion, due to its proven prognostic significance in anaplastic oligodendrogliomas. We carried out a retrospective review of patients with a histological diagnosis of LGO between 1990 and 2000 in Auckland and Wellington, New Zealand. All cases underwent central histopathological review and FISH testing for 1p19q status. Univariate analysis of potential prognostic factors including 1p19q status, age, tumour size, tumour crossing midline, tumour enhancement, extent of surgery and seizures at diagnosis was carried out. Thirty‐one patients were eligible and FISH testing was successful in 28 specimens (90%). Twenty‐three specimens (82%) had 1p19q deletion; four (14%) had no 1p19q deletion; and one (4%) had 1p deletion alone. At a median follow‐up of 87 months (0–147 months), median survival had not been reached and no significant difference in overall survival (OS) based on 1p19q status was detected (1p19q deletion OS 56%; 1p19q intact OS 0%; 1p deletion alone 100% (P = 0.38)). None of the other prognostic factors investigated reached statistical significance. We confirmed the high incidence (82%) of combined 1p19q deletion in LGOs and the feasibility of successful FISH testing in paraffin embedded specimens up to 10‐years‐old. Analysis of potential prognostic factors was limited by the lack of events during the follow‐lup period.
Experience converting an RT department to full CT simulation: Technical issues identified during commissioning of a wide‐bore scanner
Authors: Ebert MA , Kenny J , Greer PB
Published: July 2009

The advent of CT scanners with larger bore sizes have offered the potential for radiotherapy departments to undertake the majority or all treatment planning simulation via CT. Wide‐bore scanners can present some unique issues when being commissioned for clinical use. During the process of converting a radiotherapy department to full CT simulation, several issues regarding images produced by a wide‐bore scanner were identified. These were investigated by using electron density and image resolution phantoms. It was found that the reconstruction algorithm used by the scanner of interest for extended field of view (FOV) imaging, combined with the extended X‐ray source‐to‐detector distance, influenced the resolution and quality of images. The reconstruction technique influenced the relationship between electron density and CT number with distance from the scanner axis, leading to image artefacts. A variation of 400 CT units is seen for cortical bone across the scanner FOV, with smaller variations for water and breast tissue. It is anticipated that this variation will impact on tissue delineation, and subsequent dose calculation would become questionable should beams pass through large areas of artefact. Image resolutions of 0.5 and 0.3 line‐pairs per millimetre (lp/mm) were achievable in the primary and extended FOV regions respectively. Several aspects of image production with a wide‐bore scanner that can influence imaging for radiotherapy treatment planning have been highlighted. Departments should be mindful of these issues when using a GE Lightspeed wide‐bore scanner and should consider how scanner settings should be optimised for the use of images in treatment planning.
Musculoskeletal CPD revision: Cases from the New Zealand Bone & Soft Tissue Tumour Registry
Authors: Chard K , Dray M , Eaton P , Pinto C
Published: July 2009

This case report has been selected from the New Zealand Bone & Soft Tissue Tumour Registry to highlight some key concepts and findings in musculoskeletal imaging with radiological‐pathological correlation. The case is presented in a question and answer format, with clinical information and selected images in one section, followed by the diagnosis, discussion and teaching points.
A comparison of conformal and intensity modulated treatment planning techniques for early prostate cancer
Authors: Vaarkamp J , Malde R , Dixit S , Hamilton CS
Published: July 2009

The aim of this article was to quantify improvements in external beam treatment plans for early prostate cancer, going from standard four‐field conformal radiotherapy (CRT4) to multi‐segment, inverse‐planned intensity‐modulated radiotherapy (IMRTinv). We selected 18 low‐, medium‐ and high‐risk early prostate cancer patients requiring external beam radiotherapy and generated standard CRT4 plans. We compared this with five‐field conformal radiotherapy (CRT5) plans with beam angles 45°, 100°, 180°, 260° and 315°, five‐field plans combining an open beam and rectal shielding segment (forward‐planned IMRT (IMRTfor)) and a five‐field inverse‐planned multi‐segment solution (IMRTinv) with planning target volume and bladder dose volume histogram characteristics similar to IMRTfor. The CRT5 plans showed significant rectal sparing compared with CRT4 producing 10–22% reductions in rectal volume receiving 95, 85, 67 and 55% prescription dose (V95, V85, V67 and V55) depending on patient risk group and conforming better to the planning target volume. The IMRTfor plans showed a concave dose distribution, further reducing rectal V95, V85, V67 and V55 between 6 and 50%. We did not find further reductions in rectal doses with IMRTinv compared with IMRTfor. The benefit of IMRT over CRT was achieved by increasing the number of beams, changing beam weights and adding a rectal shielding segment to each beam.
Atrial septal defects: Magnetic resonance and computed tomography appearances
Authors: Hoey ETD , Gopalan D , Ganesh V , Agrawal SKB , Screaton NJ
Published: July 2009

Atrial septal defects are associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Echocardiography is the first‐line imaging modality, but MR and CT imaging can provide complimentary information, especially for the detection of associated anomalies and for assessing changes in the pulmonary vasculature. The aim of this pictorial essay is to review the spectrum of atrial septal defects, with particular reference to their cross‐sectional imaging appearances and issues pertaining to management.
Metabonomics – a new approach in ophthalmology
Authors: Midelfart Anna
Published: July 2009

Metabonomics is a new technology providing broad information about dynamic metabolic responses in living systems to pathophysiological stimuli or genetic modification. Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy is one of the most powerful methods in metabonomics; it is utilized to establish the metabolic profiles of biofluids, and is practically the only method capable of examining intact tissue samples. Experience with the application of metabonomics in eye research is still limited, yet this method provides the possibility of exploring metabolic processes in the eye in vivo. This article presents a brief background to the usefulness of metabonomics, and the possible applications of an NMR‐based technique in eye research and clinical practice.
The Detention of Juvenile Status Offenders
Authors: Leeman Wayne A.
Published: July 2009

The author is now director of Milieu Therapy, Lakeside Children's Center, Milwaukee, WI. This article was written while the author was Professor of Economics, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO.
Theoretical Foundations for the Design and Placement of Community‐Based Treatment Facilities for Juveniles
Authors: Jensen Eric L. , O'Connor‐Clift Patricia
Published: July 2009

With deinstitutionalization and community‐based treatment of delinquents becoming more common, the need for facilities compatible with re‐integration efforts is crucial. In line with the increasing local needs for dealing with juvenile offenders in the community, this paper advocates the use of delinquency theory as the conceptual foundation for the architectural design and placement of community‐based alternatives to incarceration. In addition, we present guidelines for the site selection, community acceptance and physical design of a model community‐based treatment facility for minor offenders, which are based on a theoretical integration of social control theory and the labeling approach.
A Case for Public Service Work
Authors: Beger Randall R. , White Paul R.
Published: July 2009

The authors wish to acknowledge the contributions of the following persons: the Honorable Harris H. Agnew, Associate Circuit Judge, Seventeenth Judicial Circuit, Winnebago County, Ill.; Robert L. Bingham, MSS, Supervisor, Juvenile Probation Division; and Richard Sink, Director, Winnebago County, Illinois Public Service Work Program.
Interpreting Meaning in Juvenile Court: The Use of Local Wisdom
Authors: Hackler Jim
Published: July 2009

To be presented at the 1982 Annual Meetings of Canadian Sociology and Anthropology Association in Ottawa, June 6–9. The author would like to thank the many people working with juveniles in Alberta and elsewhere who provided insights for this paper. The work has been supported by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada, Grant Sumber 410‐79‐0124 and by funds from the Solicitor General's Contributions Grant.
Getting Tough With Juvenile Offenders: Ignoring the Best Interests of the Child
Authors: Skibinski Gregory J. , Koszuth Ann M.
Published: July 2009

Abstract Despite a declining delinquency rate, legislatures and courts are getting tough with juveniles. Such policies are antithetical to the “best interest of the child” philosophy and counter‐productive to treatment. Protecting the child's rights to due process and individualized treatment must be enhanced, not subverted.

The laws which govern the behavior of citizens, companies, institutions, and various other elements in our society are man‐made. “Public policy is whatever governments choose to do or not to do.”1 However, these decisions are not made in a vacuum. They are ultimately made by the confluence of the Executive, Legislative, and Judicial branches of the government that are, and of necessity must be, at least tangentially responsive to perceived public needs. “Courts respond … to societal pressures; they are moved by the same tides of public opinion as are legislatures and executives.”2 The resultant public policies and the programs created to administer them reflect these societal needs and respond to them accordingly.

The evolution of the Children's Code in America, its eventual adoption into law and its subsequent changes over the years mark these shifts in society's view of its children. Throughout this slow and sometimes grudging process, the legal status of children has made numerous gains. Today, children hold a special place in our culture and until recently, the Children's Code was utilized to assist them in maintaining and enhancing that status. However, within the last few years this tide of evolutionary gains has turned into a flood of erosion of due process rights. Yet:
The Early Offender Project: A Community‐Based Program for High Risk Youth
Authors: Sharp Ray , Moore Eugene Arthur
Published: July 2009

Oakland County, Michigan, directly north of Detroit, has a population of approximately one million. It is largely suburban with rural outskirts. Oakland County has a tradition of creative and varied youth services.
The Disposition of Juvenile Records: An Interagency Comparison
Authors: Sagatun Inger J. , Edwards Leonard P.
Published: July 2009

This paper was presented at the Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences' Annual Meetings, St. Louis, Missouri, March, 1987. We also wish to thank the Administrative Office of the Courts of the State of California for their support, and all the agencies that participated in the survey.
Succession Problems Arising From Artificial Insemination, Surrogate Motherhood and Test Tube Babies: A Proposed Solution
Authors: Smith Gregory D.
Published: July 2009

Recent advances in medical technology have created possible conflicts with estate succession. Three specific medical advances that confuse succession statutes are artificial insemination, surrogate motherhood, and “test tube babies.” These medical break‐throughs have raised a burning question in the area of intestate succession: From whom will the child inherit, the natural parent,1 the artificial parent (donor),2 or both? This article will: 1) define the medical advances causing confusion in interpreting succession statutes; 2) discuss the current law of succession as it applies to each medical advance; and 3) propose a model statute to avoid the succession problems which currently exist.
Returning to Delinquency: Factors Effecting the Survivorship of Juvenile Shoplifters
Authors: Winfree L. Thomas , Sellers Christine S. , Duncan Patricia Michelle , Kelly Gabrielle , Williams Larry E. , Clinton Lawrence
Published: July 2009

This article examines a program designed to provide a family court with a means of lessening the probability that youths on probation for shoplifting will return to criminal behavior.

A single staff member within the family court screened possible participants, all of whom were defined as first‐time shoplifting offenders and had been assigned to formal or informal probation. Each individual was invited to participate in a four‐hour clinic, during which time the realities and possible consequences of shoplifting were explained. If they were able to successfully complete six months of supervised probation, then only the administrative record remained; the conviction itself was expunged. Over a period of nine months, a total of 154 juveniles were invited; however, only 100 actually took part in all facets of the program. A total of 30 clinic attendees and 14 nonparticipants were excluded from the present analysis, owing to missing data, or the fact that at the time of follow‐up, they were legally classified as adults. The prior and subsequent court contacts of 110 subjects are reviewed. While less than 3% of either group had subsequent shoplifting arrests, nearly 26% of the program group and 35% of the nonparticipants were rearrested. Factors associated with long‐term success and failure are examined. Possible reasons for these observations are discussed, with specific grounding in the shoplifting literature and the concepts of juvenile diversion and “net‐widening.”
Attrition From Court‐Referred Family Therapy in Three Rural Community Mental Health Centers
Authors: Empey Dallas B. , Gordon Donald A.
Published: July 2009

Abstract

Juvenile delinquents are frequently referred to community mental health centers (CMHCs) for family treatment as part of their probation. Whether these court‐referred or court‐ordered delinquents attend regularly enough to benefit from treatment is not known, nor are factors that predict which delinquents drop out. The records of 150 families from three CMHCs in rural southeastern Ohio were reviewed to determine rate of attrition and to identify demographic and situational variables that differentiate families who either drop out of or remain in court‐referred and court‐ordered family therapy. A 37% drop out rate was comparable to that of adult individual, child and adolescent, family, and group psychotherapy. The median number of sessions attended (5) is considered to be far below the minimal “dose” needed to demonstrate positive effects of family therapy. Families who remained in therapy had fathers present more often in therapy sessions. Type of court referral (referred or ordered) and presenting identified patient problems and behaviors in therapy. One of the three CMHCs was more sucessful at retaining the three CMHCs was more successful at retaining families in therapy. Characteristics of this center included frequent communication, coordination, and follow‐up efforts by therapists and juvenile court officials following a family's court referral into therapy. Suggestions are made for juvenile court officials and mental health professionals to increase the probability of retaining these court‐involved families in therapy long enough to effect change in their dysfunctional behavior.
Applying the Skill‐Deficit Concept of Deviance to Juvenile Delinquents
Authors: Veneziano Carol , Veneziano Louis
Published: July 2009

Many theories have been advanced to account for juvenile delinquency. Most theories provide convincing partial explanations for some phenomena, but not others. Furthermore, most theories of delinquency offer only vague guidelines for treatment. The social learning school of psychology has developed a skill‐deficit conception of deviance which has implications for treatment. In order to determine the applicability of this approach, a sample of 411 adjudicated male delinquents was obtained. They were assessed along a number of dimensions, and were found to be deficient as a group in all the skill areas measured. Implications for delinquency theory are discussed, as are treatment recommendations.
Deinstitutionalization, Street Children, and the Coming AIDS Epidemic in the Adolescent Population
Authors: Kearon William G.
Published: July 2009

The debate about the deinstitutionalization of status offenders has persisted for over a decade. Those in favor of deinstitutionalization maintain that coerced treatment in secure institutions has not proven beneficial to status offenders and locking‐up juveniles for noncriminal behavior violates their liberty interests. Those against deinstitutionalization argue it is not possible to treat someone who is not there (runaways) and while juveniles have the same liberty interests as adults, there are occasions for legitimate state restriction of those liberty interests. It is manifest that the advent of AIDS is such an occasion.

Deinstitutionalization has allowed thousands upon thousands of juveniles to live on the streets of our cities. These children have no skills, no lawful means of supporting themselves, and thus are at the mercy of those who prey upon the powerless. The lifestyle of these children (high drug usage, prostitution, and promiscuity) places them directly in the path of AIDS. Their exposure and vulnerability to the disease are vast. Street children constitute a large reservoir of AIDS which could be the source of an AIDS epidemic in the overall adolescent population. Society will pay a horrific price unless there is concerted action now by providers of health care and social services to develop a strategy to contain AIDS within the street‐child population, and to prevent the spread of AIDS from them to the overall adolescent population.
The Family of the Juvenile Delinquent
Authors: Wood Katherine M.
Published: July 2009

Juvenile delinquency has historically been responded to by “de‐familization” of the young offender; that is, removal to a training school or other institutional setting. The trend over the past two decades toward deinstitutionalization has meant that delinquent youngsters, who are now remaining in the context of their own communities and families, have been “re‐familized.” This poses a major challenge for the juvenile justice system and community, who are stuck with the family but are not sure what to do about it.

Little objective and systematic information is available concerning families of delinquents, either as an aggregate group or in individual cases. It is hypothesized that the families are as heterogeneous as are delinquent youngsters, but the juvenile justice system tends to scapegoat families and assumes they are all necessarily dysfunctional.

A 10‐point continuum of family functioning is proposed. It is suggested that families of delinquent youngsters are found at various points on this continuum: from the extremely impaired or criminogenic family, through the family that has serious problems but has something to offer its youngster if it receives effective help with those problems, to the family of average functioning that can serve as a major rehabilitative resource for the youngster.
The Influence of “Changing Directions” on the Self‐Esteem of a Delinquent Population in a Correctional Setting
Authors: McGuffey Gwen , Broner M. Bennet , Smith T. Allen
Published: July 2009

There is increasing evidence that low self‐esteem is a possible basis for risk‐taking behaviors such as substance abuse, sexual promiscuity, and juvenile delinquency. Thus, it has been hypothesized that by enhancing an adolescent̂s self‐image, a decrease in the incidence of such behaviors can be realized. The present study examines the effect of one secure juvenile facility's treatment program on adolescent self‐esteem. The findings reflect the program's effectiveness with regard to self‐esteem elevation. A follow‐up study, to determine whether this heightened self‐esteem is maintained and/or results in decreased delinquency is forthcoming.
Children of Alcoholism: Implications For Juvenile Justice
Authors: McGaha Johnny E. , Stokes Jack L. , Nielson Jacqueline
Published: July 2009

Alcoholism and drug addiction affects the entire family. At least 22 million Americans have been raised in an alcoholic environment. Parental alcoholism and/or addiction can have profound emotional and psychological scars on the children. These homes are often characterized by emotional and or physical insecurity, loneliness, terror and inconsistency. The children from these homes often are extremely insecure have low self‐esteem, and have a variety of emotional problems. Adolescents from addictive homes are over‐represented in juvenile court as status offenders, delinquents and abuse and neglect cases. This article will discuss this issue and implications for the juvenile justice system and personnel working with these youth
Diagnosing Delinquents: The Purposes of a Youth Diagnostic Center
Authors: Lozano Antoinette R. , Mays G. Larry , Winfree L. Thomas
Published: July 2009

This project was designed to explore the population of a unique juvenile training school in New Mexico. The development of juvenile training schools and the problems which arose from their development are presented. Emphasis is placed on the importance and difficulties of evaluation research in juvenile corrections. Finally, recommendations and suggestions are offered based on the results of the analyses
The Definition and Measurement of ‘Gang Status’: Policy Implications for Juvenile Justice
Authors: Winfree L. Thomas , Fuller Kathy , Vigil Teresa , Mays G. Larry
Published: July 2009

In this article, we examine gang membership and gang activity in Dona Ana County, New Mexico. We collected the data through a self‐administered questionnaire completed by 373 randomly selected 9th and 11th grade students attending two high schools and two junior high schools. By the self‐report method, 56 indicated they were currently active in a gang; another 45 had been members of gangs but were no longer involved; and, “wannabes,” or students who at some time had considered joining a gang but did not or could not, totaled 68. The 169 students who indicated some interest in or involvement with gangs represented 45% of the total sample. A more restrictive definition of actual gang membership (i.e., the group must have initiation rites and employ some external symbols of membership, such as “colors,” tattoos, or handsigns) results in a different trichotomization. We employ both the self‐definition and restrictive definition of gang membership in our analysis of their personal biographical characteristics and criminal behavior. Our findings suggest that self‐definition demonstrates clearer ties to self‐reported gang‐related activities than does the more restrictive one. We discuss the policy implications of this finding in the article.
Recommending Juvenile Offenders for Pretrial Release
Authors: Metchik Eric
Published: July 2009

Courthistories of 501 juvenile offenders prosecuted in adult court were followed as part of an effort to develop a point scale recommendation system for a large pretrial services agency. The point scale and two variations used criteria that predicted a warrant (failure to appear for one or more scheduled appearances) more accurately than when other traditional criteria used for adults were applied to this population. The juvenile offenders, although facing trial on charges of high severity, had lower warrant and recidivism rates during court processing than comparable samples of 16‐year‐old adult defendants. Implications are discussed for the efficacy of prosecuting juveniles in the adult system and the feasibility of separate pretrial recommendation systems to enable a higher proportion of reliable defendants to secure release pending trial.
Opponent Process Theory for Substance Abuse Treatment
Authors: Dawson Roger E.
Published: July 2009

This article examines problems and issues of the juvenile justice and drug & alcohol systems in the context of treatment resistant, substance dependent, delinquent youth. The evaluation research on traditional medical model treatment shows high drop‐out and relapse rates along with limited impact on polydrug users. Outdoor challenge programs are reviewed as an alternative within the context of Opponent‐Process Theory and the therapeutic use of stress. These forms of stressful challenge may produce improved self‐esteem and positive affect which may be useful as alternative forms of substance abuse treatment, especially for resistant delinquent youth who have not benefitted from more traditional forms of treatment.
Youth Gangs: A 1990s Perspective
Authors: Cromwell Paul , Taylor Dorothy , Palacios Wilson
Published: July 2009

The juvenile gang in the 1990s differs in many significant ways from the gangs described in the “classical” gang studies of the 1950s and 1960s. Juvenile justice professionals should be aware of the changes in the nature, organization, motivation, and activities of gangs and plan intervention strategies accordingly. One important issue in gang research—one which has great implications for public policy—is defining “gang” and “gang‐related crime.” The existence of a “gang problem” in a community may be more related to the definition of “gang” and “gang‐related” than to the objective issue of whether, or not, a gang problem exists. Further issues relating to the gang of the 1990s involve changing age and sex distribution of gang members, increasing violence by gangs, and deeper involvement with drug distribution. Implications for public policy are discussed.
Chapter 3: The Influence of Juveniles' Race on Police Decision‐Making: An Exploratory Study
Authors: Sutphen Richard , Kurtz P. David , Giddings Martha
Published: July 2009

Previous studies evaluating the effects of juveniles' race on police decision‐making have rendered inconclusive results. Many of these studies have suffered from methodological shortcomings. The present study utilized vignettes to describe police‐juvenile encounters in order to determine police charging practices for black and white youth. The results suggest modest offense‐related race effects. Black youth tend to be charged with more offenses while white youth were released more frequently. A refinement in the research methodology is indicated for further explorations of the critical issue of police bias.
Gender and Race Differences in Delinquent Careers
Authors: Shelden Randall G. , Chesney‐Lind Meda
Published: July 2009

Abstract Studies of delinquent careers have often tracked only male offenders, and have almost always failed to explore the interaction of race and gender in delinquency. This study tracks a cohort of youth whose first referral to juvenile court was in 1980, and explores the role played by both race and gender in official delinquent careers. Findings reveal that both race and gender play a significant role in official delinquency. Looking first at female delinquency, this research finds that white and nonwhite females do not differ significantly in the types of offenses they commit. Moreover, if girls are “chronic” delinquents, their offenses are most often trivial rather than serious. With males, racial differences emerge in both seriousness and chronic nature of delinquency. Nonwhite males in this cohort are more likely to be referred for personal offenses and less likely to be referred for public order and victimless offenses. Nonwhite males are also significantly more likely to become recidivists, and to have more seriously delinquent careers. This article discusses the implications of these findings, particularly with reference to the “convergence theory” of delinquency, which suggests that race plays a stronger role than gender in female delinquency. Finally, the article considers the policy implications of the current range of definitions of “chronic” delinquency.
Serious and Violent Juvenile Crime: A Comprehensive Strategy
Authors: Wilson John J. , Howell James C.
Published: July 2009

Abstract OJJDP is actively involved in the Department of Justice's “Pulling America's Communities Together” (PACT) program. Developed at the direction of Attorney General Janet Reno, this initiative is designed to provide training, technical assistance and program development resources to participating jurisdictions address violence in their communities. Four jurisdictions have been selected to date: Denver, Omaha, Atlanta, and the District of Columbia. In addition to making its wide range of training and technical assistance resources available to these jurisdictions, OJJDP is helping the sites assess their juvenile justice systems and develop plans to implement the Comprehensive Strategy. To help jurisdictions begin assessing their systems and existing youth violence problems, OJJDP is preparing a juvenile violence fact book, called “The State of Juvenile Justice.” In addition to presenting statistical data on the nature and scope of the problem across America, the fact book will encapsule program and policy positions of major juvenile justice professional associations regarding youth violence. Such knowledge will assist local jurisdictions in developing their own positions, strategies and programs. In addition to NCJFCJ, other groups such as the American Probation and Parole Association, the National Juvenile Detention Association, the American Correctional Association, and the Coalition of Juvenile Justice State Advisory Groups have been invited to participate in development of The State of Juvenile Justice document.
Southeast Asian Refugee Youth: Implications for Juvenile Justice
Authors: Hopkins Julie A. , Weinberg Laurie A. , Clement Mary
Published: July 2009

Abstract Southeast Asian refugees have been arriving in the U.S. in significant numbers since 1975. While they have had a history of a seemingly smooth resettlement and acculturation to this country, the number of Southeast Asian youthful offenders has increased dramatically since 1984. Factors common among refugee youth which have contributed to this rise include: problems of acculturation; role reversal with parents; lack of shared values, parental guidance and school success; and mental health problems often stemming from their history of war, traumatization, and loss before coming to this country. This article will discuss these factors and the implications for the juvenile justice system. The discussion will also highlight culturally appropriate intervention strategies for personnel working with these youth and their families.
The Predisposition Report, Decision‐Making, and Juvenile Court Policy
Authors: Rogers Joseph W. , Williams James D.
Published: July 2009

Abstract With the 1999 approach of the juvenile court's first centennial in this country, it behooves us to pick up the pace of policy reformulation for the entire juvenile justice system. Given the enormity of that task, it would be wise to encourage researchers to begin building a larger, empirical data base to enhance this reformulation. This study contributes to that task by focusing on a key major component, the decision‐making process involving factors leading to institutional placement. Over seventy indicators drawn from the case histories of 162 male delinquents were examined. One half of these youths had been sent to a state training school; the other half consisted of a randomly matched sample of noninstitutionalized court referrals. A set of indicators which add insight into this crucial decision and which show promise for increasing court effectiveness is identified. Among other recommendations, the authors advocate reexamining an under‐used resource – the mounds of closed juvenile cases, including the predisposition reports, subsequent developments, and outcomes.
Successful Restitution as a Predictor of Juvenile Recidivism
Authors: Jacobs Susan , Moore David C.
Published: July 2009

Abstract This is an evaluative study of a juvenile probationary project in which youth are ordered to pay restitution as a term of probation and, to assure them means of compliance, the juvenile court arranges for and supplies their employment. Demographic variables (age and sex) and court‐related variables (plea, length of probation, amount of restitution ordered, and amount and proportion actually paid) are examined in relation to one another and, most important, in relation to recidivism as measured by subsequent law violations for which the offender was investigated, and subsequent law violations that resulted in formal charges against the youth. The data demonstrate that recidivism is related to severity of the initial offense, but more important, it is related to the youth's success in achieving the restitution goal. Successful compliance with the restitution order, when success is measured by amount of restitution paid relative to the amount ordered by the court, is significantly related to revocation of probation, time given to pay, amount ordered to be paid, and subsequent offenses charged. Indeed, the proportion of restitution paid is the most important predictor of recidivism. The data reinforce the dominant legislative position that an offender's ability to pay must be taken into account in ordering restitution.
Racial Bias in the Criminal Justice System: Shifting the Focus from Outcome to Underlying Causes
Authors: Towberman Donna B.
Published: July 2009

Abstract Over‐representation of minority offenders in all phases of the criminal justice system has been recognized as a problem in the United States. Much controversy surrounds the question of whether the criminal justice system is “racist.” This inquiry goes beyond the traditional emphasis on the symptoms of racial disparity within the system, and asks whether differences exist between racial groups in their exposure to psychosocial factors that are found to relate to delinquency. The purpose of the study was to expose possible personal, familial, and societal causes of racial over‐representation rather than merely place blame on the criminal justice system.

The study examined institutionalized delinquent offenders. Among the findings are ones that indicate that blacks report significantly less access to intermediary treatment resources such as psychiatric and drug treatment facilities, community treatment referrals, and placement in foster homes. Blacks were over‐represented in the more serious offense levels for both current and prior offenses. Whites were over‐represented in mental dysfunction measures of chronic alcohol and drug abuse, suicide attempts, institutionalization in psychiatric or drug treatment facilities, and running away from home. The difference in racial representation raises some critical questions of possible inequality in exposure to environmental factors related to criminal behavior and unequal access and referral to intermediate treatment services prior to incarceration.
A Clinical‐Corrections Approach: The Failure of a Residential Juvenile Delinquency Treatment Center
Authors: Kearney Edmund M.
Published: July 2009

Abstract With the incidence of violent juvenile crime and the increasingly limited funds for residential treatment of the adolescent offender, one court jurisdiction (16th Judicial Circuit, Kane County, Illinois) attempted to develop and administer its own residential treatment facility within the walls of its detention facility. This article documents the problems encountered in this endeavor and provides recommendations for other jurisdictions which might be tempted to try to balance the fiscal and rehabilitative demands of this growing population by administering their own residential treatment facilities. The problems addressed in this article pertain to the following areas of difficulty: developing a therapeutic milieu; attracting, training, and evaluating a competent child care staff; and implementing a consistent philosophy of change designed to drive all decision‐making within the center.
Sharing Data and Information in Juvenile Justice: Legal, Ethical, and Practical Considerations
Authors: Etten Tamryn J. , Petrone Robert F.
Published: July 2009

Decision‐makers in juvenile justice systems often complain they can not get information they need from other juvenile justice agencies to make decisions. This can lead to resentment between juvenile justice agency workers, duplication of data collections efforts, and a breakdown in communication and functioning of the juvenile justice system. This paper reviews the legal, ethical, and practical barriers to information sharing among juvenile justice agencies and suggests practical steps to overcome these barriers. This report reviews documents by private and/or public organizations with an interest in information sharing, state and federal Supreme Court decisions, state and federal statutes, government documents, and law review and journal articles.

The report indicates there are few legal barriers to information sharing between parties with “legitimate interests,” there are ethical issues to both sharing and withholding information, and that practical constraints are the primary reasons why agencies within many jurisdictions don't share information. Namely, information territorialism most often is rooted in habit and long‐standing practice, and/or a lack of established policies and procedures regarding information sharing. The article concludes with a 20 step prescription which could assist a jurisdiction in developing an integrated information system built on information sharing.
Factors Influencing Intake Disposition in a Juvenile Court
Authors: Lee Leona
Published: July 2009

Abstract This study examined whether a juvenile court's practices were consistent with its declared philosophy and whether it accommodated the goals of serving individual justice and protecting societal interests. The results showed that intake disposition was determined primarily by the type of prior disposition rather than by the seriousness of the current offense or by the social background of the juvenile.
A Comparison of the Dispositions of Juvenile Offenders Certified as Adults with Juvenile Offenders Not Certified
Authors: Kinder Kristine , Veneziano Carol , Fichter Michael , Azuma Henry
Published: July 2009

Abstract In recent years, the transfer of juveniles to adult courts has been seen as one way of “getting tough” on juvenile crime. This study examined juvenile cases transferred to adult court, and compared them with a random sample of delinquents adjudicated in juvenile court for conduct that would constitute felonies if committed by an adult. The results indicated that juvenile cases transferred to adult court were far more likely to be pending and unresolved, as compared to the sample from the juvenile justice system. Furthermore, the results did not support the proposition that juveniles transferred to adult court would receive greater punishment than they could expect in juvenile court. Except for a small number of offenders, the prospect of transfer did not appear to provide a deterrent to crime.