Potential Offenders Research Articles

Visión criminológica del delito Online Grooming

La literatura científica identifica tres tipologías de individuos que perpetran el online grooming: hipersexualizados, adaptativos e íntimos. El presente estudio tiene como objetivo explorar el perfil del potencial delincuente que perpetra este delito y sus diferentes tipologías. Para ello, se comparó una muestra conjunta de 258 casos de grooming: por un lado, 243 son casos de online grooming en Estados Unidos y, por otro lado, 15 son casos de online grooming en España. Los resultados indican que el online grooming es perpetrado, mayoritariamente, por un hombre de entre veintiuno y treinta años de edad, motivado sexual o afectivamente. El efecto de la prolongación del tiempo entre el contacto y la proposición sexual en relación con las estrategias empleadas por los agresores, refleja los tipos diferenciados de groomers que se encuentran en este fenómeno: íntimos, adaptativos e hipersexualizados.

Activities, Access Control, and Crime: a Quasi-Experimental Study regarding Entry Gates at Train Stations in the Netherlands

This article discusses a unique “natural experiment,” the introduction of entry gates at Dutch train stations and the potential effects of this on crime in the areas around these stations. A quasi-experimental study was carried out to show that introducing entry gates correlated with a drop in crime in these areas. After entry gates had been introduced, potential offenders could only enter train stations with a valid ticket, which meant that they would be less likely to enter or leave these stations and more likely to choose other places to hang around in or for entering and leaving trains. A dataset was created in which the crime rates around train stations were registered for each month in the years 2013 through 2018. The changing numbers of travelers at each station were also taken into account, as this variable probably correlates with the amount of crime. A two-way fixed-effects model was run on data for about 260 train stations, with and without entry gates, using the relative crime rate per thousand travelers as the dependent variable. Based on this relative crime rate, the use of entry gates was found to coincide with a decrease of 9% in crime, compared to a situation without entry gates. This study can inform policymakers about the potential effects of entry gates in particular and about situational crime prevention in general. Moreover, it illustrates how implementing measures at various locations at different moments enables the effectiveness of such measures to be tested more precisely and with more confidence.

Evaluation of a school-based sexual abuse prevention program for female children with intellectual disabilities in rural Pakistan- A feasibility study

BackgroundChild sexual abuse is one of the most pervasive threats to children's wellbeing worldwide. Globally, around 7% to 19% of children have been estimated to be a victim of child sexual abuse. In Pakistan, around 18 thousand instances of child sexual abuse were reported in the last five years. AimsCurrent study aimed to evaluate the preliminary effect, acceptability and feasibility of a sexual abuse prevention program for children with intellectual disabilities, in a rural public school of Pakistan. MethodA non-randomized (pre-post) evaluation of the acceptability, feasibility and impact of the adapted sexual abuse prevention program on a range of knowledge and skills-based outcomes of 15 female children with mild intellectual disability was undertaken. Participants were exposed to a 5-session based program incorporating common sexual abuse prevention concepts, e.g. knowledge of private body parts, body ownership, discriminating between safe and threatening situations, refusing to sexual lures, escaping the situation and reporting the potential offender. Structured assessments were conducted with children before and after intervention delivery. ResultsThe school-based sexual abuse prevention program was shown to be acceptable, feasible and efficacious in improving sexual abuse prevention knowledge and skills of female children with a mild intellectual disability enrolled in a public school of rural Pakistan. ConclusionsThe program offers a promising framework for school-based sexual abuse prevention in Pakistan.

Revisiting the Penalty of Illicit Enrichment Crime in Ethiopia: Lessons from Hong Kong and Rwanda’s Legal Experiences

The crime of illicit enrichment has been widely accepted as a useful mechanism for curbing corruption and established in many international and regional anti-corruption instruments such as United Nations Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC), African Union Convention on Preventing and Combating Corruption (AUCPCC), and Inter-American Convention Against Corruption (IACAC).These conventions encourage states parties to criminalize it as part of efforts to fight against corruption crimes. Accordingly, the crime of illicit enrichment is prescribed under Article 21 of the Corruption Crimes Proclamation No. 881/2015 of the Ethiopia. This provision is designed to combat and prevent corrupt practice in public and private sectors. The main objective of this paper is to comparatively analyze the rationality and appropriateness of the penalty provided for illicit enrichment crime in Ethiopian Corruption Crimes Proclamation in comparison with Hong Kong and Rwanda’s legal regimes in order to draw some best lessons and way forwards for the identified problems. The paper found that the Ethiopia Corruption Crimes Proclamation fails to set a minimum limit of penalty and entails severe punishment in terms of imprisonment and fine that can convey a meaningful message to potential offenders. Thus, the penalty provided for crime of illicit enrichment is designed in a manner in which the person who commits such crime has the chance to be less punished. In effect, this provision is not only inconsistent with the purpose of criminal law and major sentencing principles, but it also degenerating public confidence in the justice system. Therefore, Ethiopia needs to take a lesson from the experiences of the Hong Kong and Rwanda in incorporating severe and setting minimum limit of penalty for crime of illicit enrichment that can convey a meaningful message to potential offenders. And also, the lawmaker’s should amend and redesign the provision with the appropriate penalty. Keywords: Corruption, Corruption Crimes Proclamation, Illicit Enrichment crime, Penalty, Punishment DOI: 10.7176/JLPG/103-01 Publication date: November 30 th 2020

UNIQUE CASE OF ISOPROPYL POISONING INDUCING THYROTOXICOSIS AND ATRIAL FIBRILLATION

SESSION TITLE: Medical Student/Resident Cardiovascular Disease Posters SESSION TYPE: Med Student/Res Case Rep Postr PRESENTED ON: October 18-21, 2020 INTRODUCTION: Atrial fibrillation is the most common sustained rhythm disorder observed in clinical practice leading to serious clinical consequences such as hemodynamic impairment and ischemic stroke. A few common risk factors are older age, heart failure and smoking. However, drugs and toxins may induce the onset or worsen pre-existing Atrial fibrillation. Our case discusses isopropyl alcohol use inducing renal failure and severe thyrotoxicosis which led to uncontrolled atrial tachycardia CASE PRESENTATION: 59-year-old male presented due to the sensation of his AICD delivering shocks. He presented with history of Systolic Congestive Heart Failure status post AICD placement, Atrial flutter status post ablation, Atrial Fibrillation on Xarelto, Chronic Respiratory Failure on home oxygen. He endorsed the AICD delivered shocks while attempting to climb stairs and a sensation of unsteadiness. On physical exam he became confused, JVD was present with bilateral lower extremity swelling with cellulitis. Vital signs were significant for hypotension 90/53 and tachycardia of 140. Labs revealed leukocytosis 17K, high anion gap metabolic acidosis, elevated BNP 1900k and severe hypocalcemia. He was admitted to ICU for emergent CVVHD and IV antibiotics for cellulitis. EKG revealed atrial fibrillation with rapid ventricular rate. Amiodarone continuous infusion was started but held due to propagating hypotension and Esmolol was attempted. AICD interrogation revealed no shocks being transmitted. The following day labs revealed TSH <0.005 and T4 of 1.67 After CVVHD, mentation improved, the patient admitted to buying methadone off the street and mixing it with rubbing alcohol as well as cough syrup to ingest. CVVHD was discontinued after two days due to marked improvement of renal failure. Although the patient remained in atrial tachycardia for 5 days after presentation eventually controlled with methimazole treatment and Amiodarone. The acute kidney failure and electrolyte abnormalities were likely due to isopropyl ingestion perpetuating severe thyrotoxicosis causing persistent atrial tachycardia which is a unique presentation DISCUSSION: Isopropyl alcohol is a solvent, antiseptic, and disinfectant also known as rubbing alcohol. Isopropyl alcohol metabolizes to acetone which is a central nervous system depressant. The side effects of poisoning are respiratory sedation, hypotension and may induce arrhythmia. CONCLUSIONS: There has not been a case that discusses the effects of this toxin causing thyroxicosis potentiating uncontrolled Atrial Fibrillation. Initially the electrolyte abnormalities and renal failure were suspected to be caused by sepsis from cellulitis or acute tubular necrosis. Toxin induced Atrial fibrillation may play a role in only a minority of the patients nevertheless the ability to recognize potential clinical offenders is significant for early diagnosis and treatment, leading to improved morbidity. Reference #1: Reddy, Taha, Kundumadam, Khanc "Atrial fibrillation and hyperthyroidism: A literature review” Indian Heart J. 2017 Jul-Aug Reference #2: Shetty Tumkur, Bhat, Chacko "An unusual cause of cardiac arrest in a hospitalized patient” J Pharmacol Pharmacother. 2013 Jan-Mar DISCLOSURES: No relevant relationships by Siddharth Bhesania, source=Web Response No relevant relationships by Adnan Raza, source=Web Response No relevant relationships by Jean Singh, source=Web Response

The Influence of Conformity and Moral Concerns on the Level of Optimal Sanctions: Some Comparative-Statics Results

Widespread evidence indicates that social and moral concerns are relevant for potential offenders’ choices regarding norm violation. This article examines a stylization of conformity and moral concerns in a very simple optimal law enforcement framework to explore how these influences shape socially optimal sanction levels. I derive some comparative-statics results and explain that findings depend critically on the extent to which expected sanctions are socially costly.

STUDY OF UKRAINIAN AND WORLD EXPERIENCE IN THE FIELD OF WATER BODIES' CRIMINAL LAW PROTECTION

The this work purpose is to study present Ukrainian and world experience in the criminal law protection field of water bodies in order to develop recommendations for improving the ways of their protection and rational use. For the analysis of Ukrainian and world norms and laws, an overview and analytical approach was used. The databases Google Scholar, PubMed, ResearchGate were searched for relevant keywords. Methods of mathematical statistical data processing are used to study criminal offenses against water resources on the example of Ukraine and to forecasting them. The rules for collecting wastewater into sewerage systems operating in Ukraine are not strict enough and do not establish clear restrictions for the discharge of wastewater containing active pharmaceutical ingredients. To achieve the result specified in the rules, it is enough to use ineffective cleaning methods. Along with the classical methods of protecting water bodies from contamination by toxic substances, such as environmental engineering, legal mechanisms should be applied to prevent offenses related to water resources. A special place is occupied by the criminal-legal impact on persons guilty of causing harm to environmental objects. However, in Ukraine there is a persistent negative trend regarding the protection of natural waters. The forecast showed that the number of recorded crimes against the environment continues to grow (by at least 4.3 %), and against water resources – by almost a quarter a year (21.8 %). So in Ukraine, legal protection in general and criminal law, in particular, is weak protection against the commission of criminal offenses against the country's water resources by potential offenders. The study of criminal offenses against water resources and their forecasting was carried out on the example of Ukraine, therefore it is recommended to study these issues for other countries of different levels of development. The originality and significance of the study lies in the generalization and analysis of statistical data on criminal offenses against the environment in general, and water bodies in particular, as well as in predicting criminal offenses for the next three years. The study made it possible to identify weaknesses in the legislative and criminal law protection of water bodies in Ukraine, which should become the beginning for improving the ways of their protection and rational use.

The impact of publication on freshwater pearl mussel conservation: To conceal or to reveal the location of threatened habitats?

Abstract The freshwater pearl mussel, Margaritifera margaritifera, is a threatened species. One of the threats faced by this species is direct extermination by poachers, and therefore some researchers conceal information on the locations of pearl mussel habitats. For example, some researchers do not publish the names of the rivers where pearl mussels occur, whereas other researchers do. Concealing the names of rivers containing pearl mussels makes them unknown not only to potential offenders but also to administrators, nature conservation practitioners, and ordinary citizens. As a result, no protection measures are undertaken, which is all the more regrettable as damage to pearl mussel habitats can occur accidentally. Concealing details of the location of pearl mussel habitats in publications has an adverse impact on the work of specialists, as they do not have access to enough information to study and analyse the biology and distribution of these molluscs. One river with pearl mussels in the Gulf of Finland was initially described anonymously (as ‘River B’). Unfortunately, the river was subject to severe human impact, and the largest aggregation of pearl mussels was almost exterminated in the process of constructing a new electric supply line. Concealing information on pearl mussel habitats in the Russian section of the Baltic Sea basin was also shown to have been a poor decision. Although the threat from potential poachers was insignificant because of the low commercial value of pearl mussels, the authorities remained uninformed about the existence of valuable habitats. The question of whether the locations of pearl mussel habitats should be concealed or revealed in scientific publications does not have an unambiguous answer and should be considered on a case‐to‐case basis; however, the cases for which disclosure is reasonable seem to be more numerous.

Stop and Risk: Policing, Data, and the Digital Age of Discrimination

Predictive policing is the newest innovation in the field of law enforcement. Predictive policing programs use algorithms to analyze existing crime data in an attempt to make predictions about future crimes: What crimes are likely to be committed, where crimes are likely to be committed, and a list of potential victims and offenders. Proponents of predictive policing champion the practice as an effective, proactive form of law enforcement that is free from bias due to its data-driven nature. However, as a matter of justice policy, predictive policing is just as discriminatory as traditional police practices, such as stop and frisk: Both are relatively ineffective; both have the potential to disproportionately target minorities; both are challenging forms of surveillance that create several important ethical and legal issues; and both are presented as objective, impartial, and equitable. This article has three primary goals: Highlight the potential and problematic similarities between stop and frisk and predictive policing; present the problems associated with predictive policing, including its questionable effectiveness, biased foundation, and faulty legal and ethical footing; and discuss the ways in which discriminatory criminal justice programs, such as stop and frisk and predictive policing, are presented to the public as objective, non-discriminatory policies.

Optimal law enforcement with sophisticated and naïve offenders

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

Can “Focused Deterrence” Produce More Effective Ethics Codes? An Experimental Study

The current study draws from the literature on “direct deterrence” programs as a framework for preventing corporate crime. Direct deterrence programs focus on reducing crime by communicating the likelihood and severity of sanctions to potential offenders. We believe a similar strategy may be useful when designing ethics codes. Ethics codes are the most commonly applied aspect of corporate internal compliance programs, yet evidence supporting their effectiveness is mixed and rigorous evaluation of their impact rare. Here, we employed an experimental design to examine how the content of ethics codes impact ethical decisions. Results suggest that the presence of an ethics code can increase compliance, but that supervisors also play a critical role. Implications for research and internal compliance programs are discussed.

Empirical Testing of an Integrated Criminological Theory: The Case of Deductive Convenience for White-Collar Offenders

ABSTRACT This paper presents the integrated theory of convenience with its dimensions and structural model. Convenience statements derive from the structural model. The research suggests that offenders will find crime more convenient than non-offenders will. One hundred and eleven business students were either potential offenders or non-offenders based on their responses in survey research. Business students who found it understandable that top executives and others in privileged positions commit white-collar crime are likely offenders, while students who did not find it understandable are likely non-offenders. The empirical test illustrates that assumed offenders find more motive convenience, opportunity convenience, as well as behavioral convenience by crime when compared to assumed non-offenders.

Crime and Punishment in Times of Pandemics

How should we think about crime deterrence in times of pandemics? The economic analysis of crime tells us that potential offenders will compare the costs and the benefits from crime and from innocence and then choose whichever option that is more profitable. We must therefore ask ourselves how this comparison is affected by the outbreak of a pandemic and the policy changes which may accompany it, such as governmental restrictions, social distancing, and economic crises. Using insights from law and economics, this article investigates how the various components in the cost-benefit analysis of crime might change during a pandemic, focusing on COVID-19 as a test case. Building on classical theoretical models, existing empirical evidence, and behavioral aspects, the analysis reveals that there are many potentially countervailing effects on crime deterrence. The article thus highlights the need to carefully consider which aspects are applicable given the circumstances of the pandemic, as whether crime deterrence will increase or decrease should depend on the strength of the effects at play.

The Two Subalterns: Perceived Status and Violent Punitiveness

From the mid-twentieth century, state and public conceptions of deviance and crime control have turned increasingly punitive (Hallett 115; Hutchinson 138). In a Western context, criminal justice has long been retributive, prioritising punishment over rehabilitation (Wenzel et al. 26). Within that context, there has been an increase in punitiveness—understood here as a measure of a punishment’s severity—the intention of which has been to help restore the moral imbalance created by offending while also deterring future crime (Wenzel et al. 26). Entangled with the global spread of neoliberal capitalism, punitiveness has become internationally pervasive to a near-hegemonic degree (Sparks qtd. in Jennings et al. 463; Unnever and Cullen 100). The punitive turn has troubling characteristics. Punitive policies can be expensive, and increased incarceration stresses the criminal justice system and leads to prison overcrowding (Hutchinson 135). Further, punitiveness is not only applied unequally across categories such as class, race, and age (Unnever and Cullen 105-06; Wacquant 212) but the effectiveness of punitive policy relative to its costs is contested (Bouffard et al. 466, 477; Hutchinson 139). Despite this, evidence suggests public demand is driving punitive policymaking, but that demand is only weakly related to crime rates (Jennings et al. 463). While discussion of punitiveness in the public sphere often focuses on measures such as boot camps for young offenders, increased incarceration, and longer prison sentences, punitiveness also has a darker side. Our research analysing discussion taking place on a large, regional, crime-focused online forum reveals a startling degree and intensity of violence directed at offenders and related groups. Members of the discussion forum do propose unsurprising measures such as incarceration and boot camps, but also an array of violent alternatives, including beating, shooting, dismemberment, and conversion into animal food. This article draws on our research to explore why discussion of punitiveness can be so intensely violent.

Impact of social distancing during COVID-19 pandemic on crime in Los Angeles and Indianapolis

Governments have implemented social distancing measures to address the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The measures include instructions that individuals maintain social distance when in public, school closures, limitations on gatherings and business operations, and instructions to remain at home. Social distancing may have an impact on the volume and distribution of crime. Crimes such as residential burglary may decrease as a byproduct of increased guardianship over personal space and property. Crimes such as domestic violence may increase because of extended periods of contact between potential offenders and victims. Understanding the impact of social distancing on crime is critical for ensuring the safety of police and government capacity to deal with the evolving crisis. Understanding how social distancing policies impact crime may also provide insights into whether people are complying with public health measures. Examination of the most recently available data from both Los Angeles, CA, and Indianapolis, IN, shows that social distancing has had a statistically significant impact on a few specific crime types. However, the overall effect is notably less than might be expected given the scale of the disruption to social and economic life.

Strategies to Prevent Online Sexual Abuse of Children

Online sexual abuse of children has severe and lasting implications. In addition to there being many avenues to commit sexual offences via technology, there are many ways to intervene. Industry-related prevention and intervention strategies are often targeted at blocking or catching a potential offender. Justice initiatives through punitive measures are targeted towards the perpetrator. Education and awareness campaigns are a means to prevent abuse before it happens or help a victim come forward to seek support and retribution. A systematic review of the literature will endeavour to find research that emphasizes intervention through education and awareness strategies for children and adolescents, including an analysis of the effectiveness of such programs. This protocol follows PRISMA guidelines for systematic reviews and provides details of the literature review and research parameters.

Exercising positive legal responsibility

The subject of this research is the problem of understanding and content of exercising positive legal responsibility in the context of prevention of unlawful acts and stimulation of law-abiding behavior. The author aims to determine the role and functional purpose of law enforcement policy (within the framework of national security), its key trends and vectors, as well as the factors and conditions for implementation of legal responsibility for unlawful behavior and concomitant risks of its excessive application. Legal responsibility is viewed in accordance of its manifestations on the level of objective and subjective law, as well as systemic legal institution that incorporates normative, procedural and organizational subsystems. As a result of the conducted research, the author substantiates the need for prevention of offenses at the stage of emergence of social conflicts. Analysis is conducted on the positive experience of crime prevention in certain Asian countries and the factors of ineffective crime control policies in Russia and other countries. An original perspective on legal responsibility in legal right and law is presented. The author explicates the conceptual ideas of the preventive effect of responsibility at different stages of its materialization with regards to actual and potential offenders. The article takes into account peculiarities of the methods and means of external and internal influence of legal responsibility upon the behavior and consciousness of the subjects of law; outlines merits and flaws of the policy of preventing legal violations from the standpoints of its official objectives and tools; describes the structure of the system of legal responsibility and the advantage of its implementation in preventive activity of the law enforcement agencies and penal system of the Russian Federation.

Why internet users’ perceptions of viewing child exploitation material matter for prevention policies

There are claims that the societal appetite for ‘child exploitation material’ is increasing. Yet, Australia’s policy response does not include initiatives to dissuade potential offenders from deliberately viewing child exploitation material for the first time (onset). To critically examine this issue, this paper draws on Situational Crime Prevention theory. It argues that (a) many first-time child exploitation material viewers fit the Situational Crime Prevention construct of the Opportunistic Offender and (b) suggests that current policy overlooks the kinds of non-instrumental factors that increase the risk of onset for this group, including doubts about the criminality and harmfulness of viewing child exploitation material. The paper then empirically examines social attitudes to child exploitation material viewing by presenting the findings of a survey of 504 Australian internet users. Results indicate that a sizeable minority of the participants were: unaware that it is a crime to view certain types of child exploitation material in Australia; and held doubts about the harmfulness of viewing child exploitation material. These findings are used to reflect on how the presence of these non-instrumental factors among ordinary internet users may affect the offending readiness of the Opportunistic Offender. Policy implications are then briefly discussed.

Reframing financial abuse of parishioners: an analysis of a Church of England disciplinary tribunal hearing regarding Rev. Karl Wray

PurposeTraditional understandings of financial abuse are limited to particular situations and people who have close access to vulnerable adults. This paper aims to add to a debate that intends to push the boundaries of the understanding of financial abuse further. In particular, it seeks to add to the understanding of what financial abuse might look like and who the perpetrators of such abuse can be. In so doing, it seeks to offer greater protection to the vulnerable.Design/methodology/approachFocusing on exploring the minutes of Church of England disciplinary tribunals, held to provide accountability for clergy, this paper considers how the church seeks to represent and construct the victims of financial abuse.FindingsThe paper identifies that the victims of financial abuse are whitewashed out of the tribunal minutes and discovers that the disciplinary tribunal is solely concerned with the financial loss afforded by the church. This discovery offers a new context in which it is possible to explore the competing interest in, what has been regarded as, the “legitimate assets” of older parishioners. It provides an example of how organisations and individuals compete for them.Originality/valueThis paper adds to the debate about the everyday nature of financial abuse and when and where it might take place. It provides an opportunity to reconsider potential offenders and the means by which abuse might be reduced. In exploring how the financial abuse of potentially vulnerable people can be reframed so that it is hidden by process and procedure, this paper offers an insight into the means by which it is possible to promote transparency and greater accountability.

Space between concern and crime

AbstractAmid widespread agreement that public mass violence is generally the result of understandable and often discoverable thoughts and behaviors, the threat assessment model of identifying, assessing, and managing potential offenders has proven an effective safety approach across different offender types. In this article I describe two impediments to the model's efficacy – incomplete national adoption of the model, and the disinclination of some bystanders to report concerning behaviors potentially related to public mass violence. I propose addressing the first of these obstacles by encouraging use of dissemination and implementation science, and the second by extending emerging application of social norms concepts. Each approach leverages the strength of existing (and developing) threat assessment strategies and highlights potentially productive areas for research and policy innovation.