Police-Newsletter No. 48, January 2003
The Police Newsletter is a joint venture product of TC TeamConsult, Genf/Zürich, and the Chair of Criminology (Crime Policy and Police Science) at the University of Bochum (Professor Dr. Thomas Feltes). The Html version of the Newsletter is available under www.Polizei-Newsletter.de. All Newsletter issues published until now can also be looked up there and you can subscribe or unsubscribe the German, French, Spanish or English version.
1. Anti-Gang-Program does not reduce crime
2. Biometrics Catalogue
3. The relevance of other than preventive aspects for the prison population
4. Police and Private Security Companies as Partners
5. Anti-Violence Partnership for Homicide Victims
6. Inexperienced and less-educated police officers use increased levels of police force
7. Future of Biological Monitoring
8. Academic as director of Home Office Research Development and Statistics (RDS) – and was elected as President of the European Society of Criminology (ESC)
13. Organized Crime in the Netherlands
1. Anti-Gang-Program does not reduce crime
Contrary to earlier studies, this longitudinal study failed to replicate findings of lower rates of gang membership and self-reported delinquency that had been found in cross-sectional evaluations of the G.R.E.A.T. program (Gang Resistance Education and Training). Beneficial effects emerged gradually over time so that there was more prosocial change in the attitudes of G.R.E.A.T. students. Nevertheless, law enforcement officers can be effective providers of school-based prevention programs. F.-A. Esbensen u.a.: How great is G.R.E.A.T.? Results from a longitudinal quasi-experiment design. In: Criminology & Public Policy, 1, 1, 2001, S.87-118
TF
2. Biometrics Catalogue
At www.biometricscatalog.org a survey on available biometric products is offered; for details about this topic go to www.biometrics.org or http://homepage.ntlworld.com/avanti/whitepaper.htm; the biometric-based possibilities in prosecution are discussed in several US documents. At www.nlectc.org/pdffiles/tbfall2000.pdf (10 pages, with pictures) the up-to-date development (Laser, non-lethal weapons, bomb robots, facial recognition etc.) presented. At www.nicic.org/pubs/1999/015687.pdf a Management Information System for managing prisoners' data is presented. For Crime Mapping go to: www.ojp.usdoj.gov/nij/pubs-sum/178919.htm.
TF
3. The relevance of other than preventive aspects for the prison population
Institutional punishment practices are not entirely determined by the functional necessity of preventing crimes. As a study in the US could show, states with higher revenues have higher prison populations; there were also more people in prison in states with higher unemployment rates and where there is a higher percentage of black in the population. States that are more generous with welfare payments had lower prison populations, and prison populations were higher in states where a higher percentage of the population was conservative, and where more people believe in a literal interpretation of the Bible. Source: D.F. Greenberg, V. West: State prison populations and their growth, 1971-1991. Criminology 39, 3, 2001, p. 615-654
TF
4. Police and Private Security Companies as Partners
The Bureau of Justice Assistance of the US Ministry of Justice has set up a programme titled "Operation Cooperation“ in order to encourage cooperation between prosecution authorities and private security companies. A video film was made for this purpose; it is distributed by the Ministry of Justice. The American Society for Industrial Security (www.asisonline.org) offers on its homepage a 20-page brochure, intended to complete the video film. The brochure comprises e.g. guide lines for the cooperation as well as examples of existing cooperation. For a pdf-file go to: www.asisonline.org/opcoop.pdf. Source: NCJRS Catalog No.64, S. 8.
TF
5. Anti-Violence Partnership for Homicide Victims
The aim of the “Anti-Violence Partnership of Philadelphia“ (http://www.avpphila.org/) is to help direct and indirect homicide victims. The website offers material, models and a good link list concerning other prevention and anti-trauma activities against violence: http://www.avpphila.org/links.html
TF
6. Inexperienced and less-educated police officers use increased levels of police force
Using data collected as part of an observational study, the authors could show that male, nonwhite, poor, and younger suspects were all treated more forcefully, irrespective of their behavior. Encounters involving inexperienced and less-educated officers resulted in increased levels of police force. Source: W. Terrill, S. Mastrofski: Situational and Officer-Based Determinants of Police Coercion. In: Justice Quarterly 19, 2, 2002, S. 215-248
TF
7. Future of Biological Monitoring
The US administration has earmarked 6.6 billion US$ for the development of a data network for biological monitoring, i.e. a network of all health data collected by health insurances, hospitals, welfare offices etc. (e.g. to localize the concentration of illnesses). This allows, for the first time, an uninterrupted monitoring if all data (even from ticket machines, e.g., and check cards) come together. At present it is already possible to identify 87 p.c. of all US citizens doubtlessly by means of three data (date of birth, sex, postal code) – this may be a hint to all those who believe in "anonymous" interviews… Source: Trendletter 8/2002, S. 2 www.trendletter.de
TF
8. Academic as director of Home Office Research Development and Statistics (RDS) – and was elected as President of the European Society of Criminology (ESC)
Paul Wiles is currently Director of Home Office Research Development and Statistics (RDS). Prior to joining the Home Office, Wiles was Professor of Criminology at the University of Sheffield, and formerly Dean of the Faculty of Law and Director of the Centre for Criminology and Socio-Legal Studies. He also worked at the Institute of Criminology at the University of Cambridge and the London School of Economics, and was a consultant with major consultancy companies. Source: ESC-Newsletter, November 2002.
TF
On http://www.nfp40.ch , 29 finished projects of the Swiss National Research Programm “Violence in Everyday Life and Organised Crime” (NFP 40) are presented. You will find information on the following themes: Violence in public space and racism; domestic violence; violence and youth; sexual violence; basics of research on violence; organised crime and its theoretical aspects; organised crime and its forms of appearance. The website is very clearly arranged. The themes are presented in German as well as in French.
TW
Based on questioning data from seven countries a study of the Wissenschaftszentrum Berlin investigates the origin of trust in fellow-men. Those citizens are trustful who hardly consider society conflict-burdened and safe. As well informal social contacts cause trust. And finally, the successful are show more trust than the losers. Source: J. Delhey, K. Newton: Who Trusts? The Origin of Social Trust in Seven Nations. WZB-Forschung FS III 02-402; http://skylla.wz-berlin.de/pdf/2002/iii02-402.pdf (in English only). These results coincide with a US study investigating the connection between trust and civil engagement (called "social capital") on the one hand and homicide on the other hand. The more this social capital is common in a community, the less are homicide rates. Source: R. Rosenfeld, S.F. Messner, E.P. Baumer: Social Capital and Homicide. Social Forces 80, 1, 2001, S. 283-310.
TF
Although science is still maintaining the thesis that more police has no (positive) effect on crime rates, this is again put into question. An analysis of data from 1980 to 1998 collected in 57 „counties“ in Florida demonstrated a connection between increasing police force and decreasing crime rates (which was, frankly speaking, not very distinct). Source: T.V. Kovandzic, J.J. Sloan: Police levels and crime rates revisited: A county-level analysis from Florida (1980-1998). In: Journal of Criminal Justice 30, 1, 2002, S. 65-76.
TF
13. Organized Crime in the Netherlands
In 1994 the Dutch Parliamentary Committee of Inquiry into Criminal Investigation Methods concluded that an accurate description of organized crime in the Netherlands was lacking. Therefore, the Committee of Inquiry appointed an external research group to examine the nature, seriousness and extent of organized crime in the Netherlands. After publication of the report in 1996, the Minister of Justice promised the Parliament to report periodically on the nature of organized crime in the Netherlands. Consequently, the Research and Documentation Center (WODC) started the 'WODC-organized crime monitor', an ongoing systematic analysis of closed police investigations of criminal groups. The aim of this research project is to increase the learning capacity of the criminal justice system and to construct a sound basis for preventive and repressive policy. This second report (2002) elaborates on the findings of the first report from 1999. Data have been collected on another 40 major police investigations and, once again, use has been made of public and confidential reports and interviews. E.R. Kleemans, M.E.I. Brienen & H.G. van de Bunt: Georganiseerde criminaliteit in Nederland. Tweede rapportage op basis van de WODC-monitor (Organized crime in the Netherlands. Second report of the WODC-organized crime monitor) Den Haag, WODC/Boom, 2002 available at www.minjust.nl/b_organ/wodc/publicaties/overige/pdf/ob198.pdf (in Dutch language only). (Thanks to Dr. Edward Kleemans, WODC).
TF
BKA Scripts online?
Evidently some volumes of the BKA scripts are available in the internet, e.g. the 2000 issue on case analysis and profiling at http://www.bka.de/pub/veroeff/band/band52/001_312.pdf
TF
The International Society of Criminology is organizing a World Congress, to be held in Rio during 10-15 August 2003. One section of the Congress will be devoted to police research and policy. Persons interested in attending the Congress and making a presentation should immediately contact Wesley G. Skogan, organizer of the policing panels, at: kogan@northwestern.edu. For conference information and registration materials check: www.consulex.com.br/Produtos/principal.htm. The best web page for information about the International Society is: http://perso.wanadoo.fr/societe.internationale.de.criminologie. The deadline for having your panel and name listed in the preliminary program that will be used for publicity purposes is January 2003. Much can be arranged after that, until very close to the beginning of the Congress, but people's names and paper titles may not make it into the printed program if they are submitted at a later date.
TF
Police Newsletter No. 49, February 2003
The Police Newsletter is a joint venture product of TC TeamConsult, Genf/Zürich (CH) und Freiburg i.Br. (D), and the Chair of Criminology (Crime Policy and Police Science) at the University of Bochum (Professor Dr. Thomas Feltes). The Html version of the Newsletter is available at www.Polizei-Newsletter.de . All Newsletter issues published until now can also be looked up there and the German, French, Spanish or English version can be subscribed or unsubscribed.
1. One year juvenile reconviction rates – July 2000 cohort in Great Britain
The Home Office's success in its fight to reduce crime will be judged on outcomes, which have been defined in agreement with the Treasury. They are recorded in the Home Office's Public Service Agreement (PSA) and contain a number of targets. PSA 10 requires, by 2004, a five-percent reduction, from a predicted rate based on 1997 date, in the reconviction rate of juvenile offenders within 12 months of original conviction, reprimand or final warning. The predicted rate is based on the criminal history and characteristics of offenders convicted or cautioned in the first half of 1997. The data used was extracted from the Police National Computer (PNC). For the first half of 1997 11,562 offenders' records were successfully extracted. A sample of 11,056 offenders was extracted for the July 2000 cohort. The adjusted predicted rate derived from 1997 data is 30.9 per cent. The overall raw reconviction rate for the July 2000 data is 26.4 per cent. The reduction in reconviction rate is 14.6 per cent in relative terms. This has exceeded the PSA target of 5 per cent. Considering the change in police recording practice referred to above, the improvement would have been 11 to 12 per cent. Source: Debbie Jennings (Home Office): One Year Juvenile Reconviction Rates, July 2000 cohort; Research Development and Statistics Directorate, June 2002.
MG
2. New online contributions concerning Community Policing in USA and China, Learning, and Police Academy Reform
From now on, the online part of the Police Newsletter (www.polizei-newsletter.de/...) offers a voluminous text by Kam C. Wong, Professor of Criminal Justice at the University of Wisconsin (Oshkosh) concerning Community Policing in Comparative context: P.R. China vs. U.S.A., furthermore the contribution „Wenn Lernen zum Erlebnis wird...“ by Jochen-Thomas Werner, Niedersächsische Fachhochschule für Verwaltung und Rechtspflege, Fachbereich Polizei, Abt. Hann. Münden (jochen.werner@fh-hann-muenden.polizei.niedersachsen.de and a text about Police Academy reform by the same author: http://www.polizei-newsletter.de/pdf-files.htm.
TF
3. Bavarian Police tests biometric border control by means of facial recognition
In two pilot projects the Bavarian Police is testing the automatic recognition of license plates and automatic facial recognition which had already been integrated into the passport reading-devices in use. The system developed by ZN Vision Technologies in Bochum (www.zn-ag.com ) checks the authenticity of passports and compares the live picture of the passport owner to the his/her passport photo scanned by the system. The system immediately finds out if the live photo corresponds to the passport photo. As this facial recognition works without storing data, it is up to national regulations for the protection of personal data and international guidelines on passport control. Furthermore ZN is working out an expertise about the efficiency of biometric Identification). The German parliament has charged a group of experts to analyze and evaluate the possibility of integrating biometrical characteristics into German identification documents and to submit the results by March 2003. Source: press information, www.zn-ag.com
KK
Viruses are a serious threat – if they are really dangerous. Unfortunately lots of bogus massages are spread via internet. They cause problems and wrong reactions of those who suppose to be affected. Before sending virus-warning mails to friends and colleagues, you should have a look in the HOAX list maintained by the Technische Universität Berlin, e.g. This will spare you and others many a shock. furthermore, the homepage contains a news concerning the topic „Nigeria-Connection“. Pretendedl persecuted people or surviving dependents ask for the recipient's banking data in order to "park" huge amounts of money. Links: http://www.tu-berlin.de/www/software/hoaxlist.shtml, http://www.tu-berlin.de/www/software/hoax/419subjects.shtml. As well Norton and other anti-virus-software distributors offer this information to all interested people, not only to subscribers of their software; see http://www.symantec.com/avcenter/
ML
5. Teens and Young Adults Have the Highest Rates of Violent Victimization.
"Age Patterns in Violent Victimization, 1976-2000" (2 pp.) (NCJ 190104) examines data from the National Crime Victimization Survey (NCVS) and the FBI's Supplementary Homicide Reports on trends in violent crime by age in the United States. Access full text at: http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/bjs/abstract/apvv00.htm An other study showed a strong association between victimization experience and offending and other problem behaviours. Among females, victimization had a stronger effect on depression, among males, on offending. Source: McGee, Z.T., S.R. Baker: Impact of violence on problem behaviour among adolescents. In: Journal of Contemporary Criminal Justice, 18, 1, 2002, p. 74-93
TF
6. Eyewitness accuracy rates
An empirical study showed that identification of perpetrators from target-present lineups occurred at a higher rate from simultaneous than sequential lineups. But correct rejection rates were significantly higher for sequential than simultaneous lineups. Source: Steblay, N., J. Dysart, S. Fulero et al.: Eyewitness accuracy rates in sequential and simultaneous lineup presentations: A meta-analytic comparison. In: Law and Human Behavior 25, 5, 2001, p. 459-473
TF
7. Once again: The Impact of Police Training on freshman and police leaders
A empirical study showed (once again), that police academy training had a positive effect on attitudes of police students, but fails to influence their over long time. The influence dissipated as students were assigned to their respective police agencies. In fact, the field-training had a negative effect on students' attitudes relative to community policing. Pre-academy attitudes and the informal culture of the police agency were more powerful forces in shaping the attitudes and beliefs of new officers than formal academy or field training. Source: Haarr, R. N.: The making of a community policing officer: The impact of basic training and occupational socialisation on police recruits. In: Police Quarterly 4, 4, 2001, p. 402-433. Contrary to that result, another study could show, that academic training has a positive effect on police chiefs and police leaders: Those who received better performance and leadership ratings tended to be educated, groomed for leadership, and promoted from within, and to work in a union environment. Chiefs with poor ratings had no college credit. Education was the only significant predictor of whether police chiefs were rated as sad or poor performance. Source: Police Quarterly 4, 4, 2001, p. 469-483.
TF
8. Prevention as a means of employment
In Frankfurt/Main, so-called “prevention assistants” are instructed to remark evident risks in public space and to inform responsible authorities. Also, they should give fist aid and inform about advisory centres. Thus, the project is a contribution to both more security in the cities and a better perspective for long-term unemployed people. Source: Forum Kriminalprävention 4/2002
TW
9. „Frankfurter Schule“ online
The description of the archives of the “Frankfurter Schule” on the homepage of the municipal and university library have been revised, illustrations have been added as well as information about life and work of the members of the “Frankfurter Schule”. For a survey go to http://www.stub.uni-frankfurt.de/archiv.htm
TF
10. New Drug Policy Alliance
The Lindesmith Center and Drug Policy Foundation merged with the objective of building a national drug policy reform movement, and has changed its name to Drug Policy Alliance. Drug Policy Alliance is the nation's leading organization working to end the war on drugs and promote new drug policies based on common sense, science, public health and human rights. www.drugpolicy.org
TF
This study provides data on the nature and characteristics of traffic stops, as collected in the 1999 Police-Public Contact Survey. Tables present detailed demographic characteristics of the 19.3 million drivers stopped by police in 1999. Drivers stopped one time over a 12-month period and drivers stopped two or more times are compared across categories of gender, age, and race/ethnicity. The report also examines driver responses regarding the traffic stop, speeding, searches conducted by police, arrest, and use of force. http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/bjs/abstract/cdsp99.htm
TF
12. Studies on the correlation between possession of firearms and violence
Again an empirical study proved that there is a direct connection between weapons, possessing weapons and violent crimes. However, it is more complex than considered before. True – during robberies with firearms less people are hurt than in connection with other weapons; in general, the possession of firearms causes injuries more serious and more fatal incidents because the physical and psychological scruples to act violently is reduced. Source: W. Wells, J. Horney: Weapon Effects and Individual Intent to do Harm: Influences on the Escalation of Violence. In: Criminology 40, 2, 2002, S. 265-296. M. Killias und H. Haas as well take up this topic for a study among 24,314 Swiss recruits: Waffen – Wieviele haben sie, wie gefährlich sind sie? In: Crimiscope 16+17, 2001
TF
13. Network against Child Prostitution
Ecpat (End Child Prostitution, Child Pornography and the Trafficking of Children for sexual purposes) is a worldwide network of 450 organisations (28 of them in Germany) and was founded in 1990. The main office is situated in Bangkok. They consider themselves a children's rights organisation mainly acting as lobbyist. For more details go to: http://www.ecpat.com/eng/index.asp
TF
Polizei-Newsletter Nr. 50, März 2003
The Police Newsletter is a joint venture product of TC TeamConsult, Genf/Zürich and Freiburg i.Br.(D), and the Chair of Criminology (Crime Policy and Police Science) at the University of Bochum (Professor Dr. Thomas Feltes). The Html version of the Newsletter is available under www.Polizei-Newsletter.de. All Newsletter issues published until now can also be looked up there and you can subscribe or unsubscribe the German, French, Spanish or English version.
We are glad to submit the 50th issue of the Police Newsletter today. After starting the project in April 1999, we soon were surprised by the positive reaction/resonance. Since last year an English, French, and Spanish version of the Police Newsletter, and there are nearly 4,000 subscribers all over the world – apart from those reading the PNL online or via one of the numerous Police intranets. Even other newsletters adopt part of our news. We are glad about this and promise to provide you continuously with up-to-date, interesting and sometimes amusing news concerning Police and Police science. We thank you and we are going to provide, on the German site of the PNL, a document listing all PNL issues for your research and filing. If you are not in a position to download (as intranet user, e.g.) you can order documents by e-mail (mail@polizei-newsletter.de), indicating whether a word-, pdf- or zip file is requested.
The Police Newsletter Team
2. Information and Manuscripts of Deutsches Jugendinstitut online
3. Visual Management
4. International Punishing Court of Justice – the Arguing Goes on
7. Younger Police Officers: More Arrests, More Complaints
8. Berlin CRIME Study on Chronic Recidivism in Individual Human Development
9. Coaching – a Topic for Police?
10. Security News
11. Police Officers, Stress and Social Alcohol Consumption
12. International Conference on Complaints Against the Police in Belfast
13. Who Threatens World Peace?
14. Trust in Institutions: Even Worldwide, Police Ranks First
The British RDS has published a guide on Funding and Implementing Crime Reduction Initiatives. The note gives criteria for aspects like problem identification and analysis, development of interventions, implementation of projects and project evaluation. For detailed information see http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/whatsnew1.html .
TW
2. Information and Manuscripts of Deutsches Jugendinstitut online
At www.dji.de, research and annual reports of the Deutsche Jugendinstitut in Munich are available online, and the DJI bulletin can be subscribed free of charge.
TF
3. Visual Management
For long, Japanese management consultant have been known for taking always a camera with them on their walks through the companies they are advising. Now this "Visual Management“ is applied by leaders: They constantly carry a (small digital) camera with them and take photos of everything that can better be explained to the employees by photos than by talking – and this is almost everything. The photos are arranged and made subject of a workshop. Culture and climate, conflicts and problems are recorded, independant from prejudice. Visual Management was developed by a management consultant: www.visual-turn.com, but it may as well be interesting for the Police. Source: Trendletter 8/2002, S. 6
TF
4. International Punishing Court of Justice – the Arguing Goes on
Last year the USA caused irritation by withdrawing their ratification of the International Punishing Court of Justice. For information about the present situation see http:// www.iccnow.org/index.html, about the International Court of Justice and ist work (incl. the statute of Rome) as well as maps showing the ratifying and signing states and information about the judges' election.
TF
Using criminal conviction data from the Offenders Index, a new British study on offending behaviour investigates „criminal pathways“, based on a five-year age band comparison – in contrast to the conventional approach of “summarising a ‘life-time’ of crime”. By this means, gender and age profiles of certain types of offending behaviour can be identified. The chances of a reconviction and shifts in crime patterns can be assessed. Central points of the study: The set of male offenders born in 1953 shows a greater diversity of patterns of offending behaviour then the set of female offenders does. Furthermore, for the males, each type of offending had a distinct age profile, whereas the types of offending for females showed much less variation with age. At www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/rfpubs1.html you will find a more detailed report.
TW
Children showing an intense stimulation seeking seem curious and hardly anxious, as they prefer to turn to new things, activities or creatures in their surroundings. They want to check everything. A long-term study found out that an intense stimulation seeking in the early childhood is correlated to high intelligence in the child's further development (12 IQ-points). Scientists suppose that children intensely seeking for stimulation create an environment rich in stimulation, which, in turn, promotes the children's cognitive development. Source: A. Raine, C. Reynolds, P.H. Venables, S.A. Mednick: Stimulation seeking and Intelligence: A Prospective Longitudinal Study. In: Journal of Personality and Social Psychology 2002, Vol. 82, No. 4, 663-674.
MG
7. Younger Police Officers: More Arrests, More Complaints
The study examines the factors influencing citizens' complaints about excessive use of force by police officers. Professional training (!) and specialization have no influence. However, age and sex have an influence have an influence on the amount of complaints, as well as the number of arrests made by police officers: Younger male police officers carry out more arrests, and there are more complaints against them. Source: S.G. Brandl, M.S. Stroshine, J. Frank: Who are the complaint-prone officers? An examination of the relationship between police officers attributes, arrest activity, assignment, and citizens' complaints about excessive force. In: Journal of Criminal Justice 29, 6, 2001, S. 521-529. A Dutch study proved that there is a direct connection between the "burn–out syndrome“ and the use of force reported by police officers themselves and observed unbiassed. Source: N. Kop, M.C. Euwema: Occupational stress and the use of force by Dutch police officers. In: Criminal Justice and Behavior 28, 5, 2001, S. 631-652
TF
8. Berlin CRIME Study on Chronic Recidivism in Individual Human Development
The Berlin Institute for forensic psychiatry is examining, under the direction of Prof. Dahle, the long-term development of delinquent and criminal behavioural pattern during the lifetime of male (partly former) offenders. The study is based on a random test of 397 former prisoners, who first were examined in 1976 in a unselected random test. The project tries to make clear the background of different courses of criminal activities. Furthermore prognosis methods concerning recidivism in different development phases of offenders are developed and tested. A second aim is the examination of preconditions and efficiency of therapeutic interventions on persons with differing biographic and delinquent development. pdf document for download at: http://www.forensik-berlin.de/.
FW
9. Coaching – a Topic for Police?
Leaders need assistance in order to work well. Private business is aware of this and has been offering coaches who care of leaders, train and advise them. Their task is to help the trainees realize and solve problems of the working surroundings themselves. Although this system is anything else but cheap, it is profitable for most companies. This system of individual advice is recommendable especially for leaders who (from reasons whatsoever) lack of feedback in their jobs. For further information and linklists see the homepage of Coach Christopher Rauen, who edited the "Handbuch Coaching": www.rauen.de
TF
10. Security News
For some months ,the Secorvo Security, Karlsruhe, has been issuing monthly news surveys on security. They are available as pdf document at (http://www.secorvo.de/security-news/ ). The news are meant to draw your attention to important events and the latest development in IT security, to quote the most important sources for your research and to provide you with the opinion of independent experts, in order to assist you in evaluating the news. Source: www.sicherheit-im-internet.de
ML
11. Police Officers, Stress and Social Alcohol Consumption
The DIFA Forum (www.difa-forum.de ) founded in 1992 by alcohol-producing companies has examined the alcohol consumption of police officers. As a result they found out that there are two main factors promoting the police officers' disadvantageous alcohol consumption: characteristics of this profession causing stress on the job and a certain culture promoting alcohol consumption. Whereas police officers seem to drink alcohol to bear the stress, Australian scientist think, based on police officers' reports, that drinking is more a matter of companionship. Field service officers drank more than their internal-service colleagues. The results show a well-known contradiction and have severe consequences for intervention strategies aiming at reducing the alcohol consumption of police officers. To make such strategies successful they must, in the opinion of the authors, not only consider the stress factors, but also the importance of the social factors, and they have to be introduced in a way to be accepted within the police culture. For the complete information see the source: DIFA Forum e.V. http://www.difa-forum.de/forschung/home_f.html
ML
12. International Conference on Complaints Against the Police in Belfast
Since the setting-up of the Police Ombudsman's Office in November 2000
There has been considerable local, national and international interest in its activities and progress. The Office hopes to capitalise on this interest by hosting an international Conference on Complaints against the Police, to be held here in Belfast from November 5 -7, 2003. The aim of the Conference is to facilitate the exchange and analysis of information on systems dealing with complaints against the police with a view to improving knowledge bases in this area. Papers and workshops in the following areas would be particularly welcome: Human rights issues, Research on complaints and complainants, Practitioner issues, Police viewpoints, Restorative justice and complaints, Police accountability and civilian oversight of policing. Please send proposals (by 31 May 2003) to: m.ostermeyer@policeombudsman.org see also: www.policeombudsman.org
TF (Danke an HJ Kerner)
13. Who Threatens World Peace?
A group of nuclear scientists feels that the world peace is more threatened by weapon arsenals difficult to survey than by terrorism. Worldwide there are 31,000 nuclear warheads, only 3,000 less than in 1991. 95 p.c. of these warheads are stationed in the United States and Russia, the remaining 5 p.c. in 6 other states. Half of the warheads can be started without delay. The United States are urgently developing new weapons and do not stop their nuclear tests. Source: Trendletter 1, 2003, S. 4; s. www.thebulletin.org
TF
14. Trust in Institutions: Even Worldwide, Police Ranks First
For Germany we know, thanks to regular studies, that the police ranks very high in "trust in institutions" – in most cases immediately after the NGOs like Greenpeace, the Bundesverfassungsgericht (Federal Constitutional Court) and the Churches. As per Gallup inquiries of late 2002, presented by the World Economic Forum in Davos, this is true worldwide: www.worldeconomicforum.org or directly http://www.weforum.org/pdf/AM_2003/Survey.pdf
TF
Police Newsletter No. 51, April 2003
The Police Newsletter is a joint venture product of TC TeamConsult, Genf/Zürich, and the Chair of Criminology (Crime Policy and Police Science) at the University of Bochum (Professor Dr. Thomas Feltes). The Html version of the Newsletter is available at www.Polizei-Newsletter.de. All Newsletter issues published until now can also be looked up there and the German, French, Spanish or English version can be subscribed or unsubscribed.
1. Policing in Immigration Societies
2. German Criminalistic Society Being Founded
3. Evaluation of the Introduction of the Practical-oral Examination in Bavaria
4. Hints For Jail Newcomers
5. Bad Future Chances Make the Young ill
6. Police and Police Research – Two New Volumes
7. Antiquarian Internet Booktrade
8. Police Science Gaining Ground
9. Lombroso Today...
10. Childhood Maltreatment a Risk Factor For Adolescent Delinquency?
11. Annual Drug Report of the Bundeskriminalamt Only Online
13. New Offer of the Berlin Commissioner for Data Security
14. Report on Computer Search in Berlin
1. Policing in Immigration Societies
Rudolf Leiprecht has submitted a study on policing with regard to migration problems. Leiprecht provides general information about immigration into Germany and deals with the topics police and multicultural society, presents various projects and initiatives within the police authorities of the German Länder. Additionally the book contains a detailed list of literature as well as addresses of persons and police departments concerned with the topic. The book comprises 101+103 pages (German and Dutch) and has been published by the Dutch Elsevier Overheid Verlag. In Germany it is distributed by Felix-Verlag, Holzkirchen, (mail@felix-verlag.de, Fax: 08024-7572) at € 21.- (plus postage and packing).
TF
2. German Criminalistic Society Being Founded
Several criminalists from practical work, research and science are founding a Deutsche Gesellschaft für Kriminalistik (DGfK) (German Society of Criminalistics). At www.kriminalistik.info you will find further information as well as contributions concerning the topic (Thanks to R. Ackermann).
TF
3. Evaluation of the Introduction of the Practical-oral Examination in Bavaria
The Bavarian riot police responsible for the training of all Bavarian police recruits has introduced a practical-oral exam instead of the oral one. In various subjects the students are trained by means of role plays and practice-orientated exercises. The candidates have to solve situations of every-day policing. The conventional oral test of the final examination is replaced by a 30-minute test of social and professional competence. Out of 302 candidates interviewed in 2000 (157 of them examined according to the old and 145 according to the new system), only 28 p.c. of the conventionally trained candidates considered the examination to be practice-orientated, as against 79 p.c. of the others trained under the new system. Source: Muff, Albin: Handlungsorientierte Ausbildung und Prüfung, Kriminalistik 2003, S. 55 -57
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4. Hints For Jail Newcomers
David Novak, American former prisoner, offers various books and information about "How to stand the jail" in the internet: www.davrie.com Target group: mainly white collar criminals.
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5. Bad Future Chances Make the Young ill
In 1999 the Zentrum für Sozialpolitik of the University Bremen carried out a study on more than 9,300 persons on behalf of the health insurance company Gmünder Ersatzkasse. It reveals that juveniles with bad hope for a job fall more often ill than others with a better future outlook. There is a direct connection between school education and future perspectives on the one hand, and the subjective and objective feeling of illness and a corresponding behaviour on the other: the lower the educational qualification, the more frequent and intensive illnesses and the more pessimistic they regard their own future. Sorrows about the future evidently not only kill a person's élan and life confidence, but also make ill. You will find a short survey of the results in the online section of the police newsletter: The book can be ordered at book shops at € 9.90: vol. 13 of the GEK-Edition "Young is beautiful? Zukunftsperspektiven, Belastungen und Gesundheit im Jugendalter. Ergebnisbericht zu einer Studie über Belastungen und Probleme, Gesundheitsbeschwerden und Wertorientierungen 14-25-jähriger GEK-Versicherter" von Gerd Marstedt, Rainer Müller, Dieter Hebel und Hardy Müller, ISBN 3-537-44013-8, 200 Seiten, 2000.
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6. Police and Police Research – Two New Volumes
Jo Reichertz und Norbert Schröer (Uni Essen) have edited a volume on the empirical findings of the so-called "hermeneutic police research“ since the beginning in the late 80s. It deals e.g. with the organisation of police investigation, the acting logic in police interrogation and interpreter-aided investigation. Additionally the volume contains (some critical) comments of other police researchers. J. Reichertz, N. Schröer (Hrsg.), Hermeneutische Polizeiforschung, Opladen 2003 (237 S., € 24,90).
Almost at the same time, the volume „Polizei der Gesellschaft. Zur Soziologie der Inneren Sicherheit“, has been edited by Hans-Jürgen Lange (Opladen 2003, 472 Seiten, € 39,90). It comprises about 25 individual contributions and an excellent survey on the state of police research and discussion. The two volumes have been issued by Leske+Budrich-Verlag within the series „Studien zur Inneren Sicherheit“.
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7. Antiquarian Internet Booktrade
At www.zvab.com more than 7.5 million books are offered by 1,200 antiquarian bookshops. Order, sale and invoicing is made via a single website. Super for all those looking for old books or remainders.
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8. Police Science Gaining Ground
Police science seems to gain ground in Germany, too. Several conferences and workshops at the Polizei-Führungsakademie in Münster (the last one in February 2003) as well as seminars and theoretical und empirical research at police universities of applied sciences not only put pressure, but obviously convinced police authorities. Together with the transformation of the Polizei-Führungsakademie into a Deutsche Hochschule der Polizei (with the final master examination which is in accordence with the new system being established in Germany), a permanent and well-founded base is laid for empirical police research the results of which will be of benefit to police practice. A survey presenting, among others, the most important protagonists of the present development as well as their work will be published within soon in the magazine „Die Kriminalpolizei“. Thomas Feltes' contribution „Frischer Wind und Aufbruch zu neuen Ufern? Was gibt es Neues zum Thema Polizeiforschung und Polizeiwissenschaft?“ is available in advance at http://www.thomasfeltes.de/htm/News.htm .
9. Lombroso Today...
Meanwhile RTL has repeated this experiment at the Hessian University of Applied Police Science: in an impressive experiment Hans-Dieter Schwind, em. professor of the University Bochum (now at the University of Osnabrück) presented 13 persons to his students during a lecture. The students' task was to guess who was a criminal, and who a citizen without police record. The result made clear that the outer appearance is not suitable as a basis for a judgement. For more details see the Spiegel report at
http://www.spiegel.de/unispiegel/wunderbar/0,1518,135815,00.html or taz ruhr (critical) at http://www.taz-ruhr.de/5.8.99/7.html (published already in 1999).
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10. Childhood Maltreatment a Risk Factor For Adolescent Delinquency?
Prior research suggests that childhood maltreatment is a risk factor for adolescent delinquency and drug use. However, the results appear to depend on a loose definition of childhood. A study by Ireland, Smith and Thornberry found no relationship between childhood-only maltreatment and adolescent delinquency or drug use; yet they found an influence of maltreatment continuously taking place during adolescence. Source: T. Ireland, C. Smith, T. Thornberry: Developmental Issues in the Impact of Child Maltreatment on Later Delinquency and Drug Use. In: Criminology 40, 2, 2002, S. 359-399
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11. Annual Drug Report of the Bundeskriminalamt Only Online
The annual drug report of the Bundeskriminalamt is no longer distributed in written, it is only available in the internet at www.bka.de under "Kriminalitätslageberichte".
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In England, a new research approach examines ways to seek and appraise relevant studies in a systematic way. The aim is to apply those systematic reviews to government refugee policies and to establish best practise in integration. You can find a feasibility study report at http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/pdfs2/rdsolr1302.pdf .
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13. New Offer of the Berlin Commissioner for Data Security
The offer informs about tasks and activities of the Berlin Commissioner of Data Security and Freedom of Information within the range of freedom of information. More information about national and international developments of freedom of information at:
http://www.informationsfreiheit.de/index.htm
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14. Report on Computer Search in Berlin
A special report of the Berlin Commissioner of Data Security on computer search offers a very good insight into application and results of this instrument after September 11, 2001. In Berlin 58,032 files were computer-checked, resulting in 3,641 hits. After a hand-made review 114 persons were identified matching to the criteria of the computer check and then being investigated conventionally. None of them was a “sleeper”. Source: CILIP 73, 3, 2002, S. 109; link: www.datenschutz-berlin.de/informat/sonderbericht/rasterfahndung.pdf
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Police Newsletter No. 52, May 2003
The Police Newsletter is a joint venture product of TC TeamConsult, Genf/Zürich, and the Chair of Criminology (Crime Policy and Police Science) at the University of Bochum (Professor Dr. Thomas Feltes). The Html version of the Newsletter is available at www.Polizei-Newsletter.de. All Newsletter issues published until now can also be looked up there and the German, French, Spanish or English version can be subscribed or unsubscribed.
1. Victimization and Worry About Crime of Older People
2. Swiss Website About Profiling
3. More Police Officers in England
4. Police Training in Sexual Assault Response Causes a Change in Police Behavior
5. Risk-taking behaviour of youth
6. Virtual Medicine Library
7. Health Damage and Death by Ecstasy
8. Panels Concerning Police Research Worldwide
9. Motivation to Leave the Right-Wing Scene
10. Stalking
11. Collection of Police Research Projects
12. Leadership Academy for Penal Service
13. Reducing Emergency Calls by Installing a Police Service Call
1. Victimization and Worry About Crime of Older People
The British Home Office has published a report on victimization and worry about crime of older people. It shows that the rate of crime against thee over 60-year-olds has remained more or less constant in recent years. It also proves that the risk of victimization is significantly lower for old people than for other age groups. However, older people (especially women) are rather afraid of being victimized, with their worry about crime depending on their state of health. People perceiving their health to be bad, worry more about crime than those perceiving their health to be good. Source: „Statistical Bulletin 08/02 - Crime, Policing and Justice: The experience of older people. Findings from the British Crime Survey, England and Wales“ http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/pdfs2/hosb802.pdf.
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2. Swiss Website About Profiling
A Swiss Ph.D.-candidate operates the „Swiss Criminal Profiling Scientific Research Site“At http://www.criminalprofiling.ch/ general information, information on meeting, manuscripts and links can be found.
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3. More Police Officers in England
The British Home Office has published a detailed survey on the development of the police service strength in England. Whereas there were 2,000 officers less in 2000, the number increased by nearly 4,000 in 2002 (as against the previous year). Source: Home Office Statistical Bulletin 10/02 - Police Service Strength, England and Wales, 31 March 2002 http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/pdfs2/hosb1002.pdf
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4. Police Training in Sexual Assault Response Causes a Change in Police Behavior
A special training of police officers in sexual assault response causes a significant change in their behavior, but has no affect on the individual attitude of the officers.: K.A. Lonsway, S. Welch, L.F. Fitzgerald: Police training in sexual assault response: Process, outcomes, and elements of change. In: Criminal Justice and Behavior 28, 6, 2001, S. 695-730.
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5. Risk-taking behaviour of youth
In the German journal for social work „neue praxis“ you can find an examination of forms of risk-taking behaviour of young people aged between 12 and 22. Within the feature, gender-specific aspects are stressed. Based on empirical studies, different qualities of risk-taking behaviour are worked out. E.g., a difference is made between externalised, rather male forms of behaviour and internalised forms (example: consume of medicaments). Source: Neue Praxis 4/2002, 381-390 (Neuwied, Germany)
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6. Virtual Medicine Library
The Deutsche Institut für Medizinische Dokumentation und Information (DIMDI) provides a virtual medicine library at www.MedPilot.de. Searching and ordering are made via (über) MedPilot, performing simultaneous research in various medical databases by only one search query.
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7. Health Damage and Death by Ecstasy
Patented as an appetite suppressant in 1912, Ecstasy has become a dangerous stimulant. In 2001 alone, 46 people are said to have died from Ecstasy consumption in Germany. Ecstasy enables people to dance for many hours without sleeping, eating and drinking. Everything looks rosy. The latest international studies, however, prove: as soon as the well-being hormones set free within the body are used up, the substance causes sincere depressions in the long run and destroys important brain processes. For the complete contribution see: http://www.orb.de/fernsehen/ard/globus/20020918/extasy.html Between 1997 und 2000, 81 persons died in England and Wales after taking Ecstasy. Fabrizio Schifano et al. analysed the data of the database of the National Programme on Substance Abuse Death. Most of the drug victims were white men at an average age of 27. On 75 of the 81 victims a postmortal toxicological examination was carried out. In 91 percent, the substance MDMA and in 9 percent, MDA was proven. On 93 percent of the examined dead, at least one additional drug was found, e.g. hypnotics, sedatives or opiates; they had been consumed simultaneously or at least 2 days before death. In 7 percent of the cases, death seemed to be due exclusively to ecstasy abuse. More than 50 percent of the drug consumers died on Saturdays or Sundays. Full text at: http://bmj.com/cgi/content/full/326/7380/80
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8. Panels Concerning Police Research Worldwide
A survey on almost 30 different panels offered during the criminological world congress in Rio de Janeiro in August 2003 (http://www.consulex.com.br/Produtos/principal.htm in English, French and Spanish), can be looked up from now on at: http://www.polizei-newsletter.de/pdf-files.htm, „Online-Dokumente“. Programme and other congress workshops see at http://perso.wanadoo.fr/societe.internationale.de.criminologie/
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9. Motivation to Leave the Right-Wing Scene
By end of 2002, 48 persons from the right-wing scene were integrated into the drop-out programme started in July 2001 in North-Rhine Westfalia; 16 of them have ultimately left the scene. As per an edict of Dr. Fritz Behrens, Minister of the Interior, members of the special security service (Staatsschutz) are to contact right-wing offenders in order to present the drop-out offer. It seems especially successful actively to contact followers and activists. Being taken into the programme, the drop-outs are provided with a person looking after them and helping them to manage reintegration and to find new social contacts. Source: Abo-Newsletter of the Ministry of the Interior NRW Düsseldorf, 26.01.2003
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10. Stalking
The department of forensic psychology of the University of Darmstadt is working on the first German research project on general stalking. Victims as well as stalker can fill in online questionnaires. Besides, there are hints for persons affected, links and a list of literature at www.stalkingforschung.de. The first extensive non-juristic German publication on stalking has just been issued by the project leaders Hans-Georg Voß and Jens Hoffmann: a topic issue of the magazine „Polizei & Wissenschaft“ (4/2002). German and European experts report on research and application. The abstracts of this issue can be looked up at http://www.polizeiundwissenschaft-online.de/Archiv/hauptteil_archiv.html.
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11. Collection of Police Research Projects
The BKA (Federal Office of
Criminal Investigation) collection of criminalistic-criminological police
research projects "Forschungsdokumentation FODOK" has been published on the BKA
homepage in the internet and the police extranet (EXTRAPOL), titled
"Forschungsdokumentation
2002 - Projektsammlung
aus der kriminalistisch-kriminologischen Polizeiforschung". The 403-page
manuscript can be looked up at:
www.bka.de/pub/veroeff/band/forschungsdokumentation2002.html
as pdf file. The FODOK was significantly extended by evaluated prevention
projects.
The BKA website also shows short versions of lectures of the autumn conference
in 2002 on white-collar crime and corruption:
www.bka.de/kriminalwissenschaften/herbsttagung2002/ht.html
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12. Leadership Academy for Prison Service
The Leadership Academy for Prison Service in Celle is online. At http://www.fajv.de you will find Information about ist work, and its newsletter can be subscribed or the newsletter issues published up to now can be downloaded at "Archiv".
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13. Reducing Emergency Calls by Installing a Police Service Call
For years, it has been tried in the USA to canalise/control emergency calls by distinguishing "real" emergency calls from requests for information or non-urgent calls. In Germany, too, studies (e.g. in 1996 by Dreher and Feltes) had proved that many calls on the police emergency line 110 were only for information or service, possibly hindering the police from working on real emergencies. Several US towns have installed service lines (e.g. 311 in addition to the well-known 911). Empirical studies confirm that this helps to reduce the amount of emergency calls significantly (by one third) and to optimise service for the citizens. Source: Lorraine Mazerolle et al.: Managing Citizen Calls to the Police: The Impact of Baltimore's 3-1-1 Call System. In: Criminology and Public Policy, 2, 1, 2002, p. 97-124
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Police Newsletter No. 53, June 2003
The Police Newsletter is a joint venture product of TC TeamConsult, Genf/Zürich, and the Chair of Criminology (Crime Policy and Police Science) at the University of Bochum (Professor Dr. Thomas Feltes). The Html version of the Newsletter is available at www.Polizei-Newsletter.de. All Newsletter issues published until now can also be looked up there and the German, French, Spanish or English version can be subscribed or unsubscribed.
1. Evaluation of Curfew Orders Under Electronic Monitoring in Great-Britain
A study of the British Home Office examines the effects of curfew orders with electronic monitoring. From 1st December 1999 to 31st December 2000, this new penalty was imposed in 4,600 cases – 1 percent of all sentences during this period. The most common offence types attracting a curfew order were theft and driving whilst disqualified. The average length of curfew orders was 98 days. An average of 275 pounds per curfewee was saved in comparison to a group of "normally" sentenced persons – i.e. 1.2 million pounds. Criminal justice practitioners, electronic monitoring staff and the curfewees themselves and their families were interviewed about their experience with the new system. PDF file at: http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/pdfs2/rdsolr1502.pdf.
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2. Criminal Victimization in the United States, 2001- Statistical tables, available at: http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/bjs/abstract/cvusst.htm; this electronic only document presents 110 tables with detailed data on major variables measured by the National Crime Victimization Survey (NCVS). Spreadsheet versions of each table are available. In addition, the revised methodology includes spreadsheets used in significant testing.
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3. Main Topic Monitoring
An issue of the magazine „Surveillance & Society“ themed "work" deals with the connexion of surveillance and work. The emphasis of the texts is laid on two topics: "surveillance of work" and "surveillance as work". Both have gained importance during recent years. One of the contributions treats the surveillance of public areas and its impact on policing. http://www.surveillance-and-society.org/journalv1i2.htm
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4. Topic Juvenile Violence
Several contributions of the magazine „Der Bürger im Staat“ (Heft 1, 2003), published by the Landeszentrale für Politische Bildung Baden-Württemberg, deal with up-to-date aspects of juvenile delinquency and violence. All of them are available at: http://www.lpb.bwue.de/aktuell/bis/1_03/sicher_krimi.htm. The contributions go into the following topics: crime development in general (Hans-Jürgen Kerner), fear of crime (Helmut Kury, Joachim Obergfell-Fuchs), child and jevenile delinquency (Werner Maschke), domestic violence (Michael Bock), violence in schools (Thomas Feltes), sexual violence (Rudolf Egg), delinquency of migrants (Kerstin Reich), politically motivated crime (Roland Eckert), sex and crime (Gabriele Schmölzer), town planning and crime (Edwin Kube) and ommunity crime prevention (Dieter Hermann, Christian Laue).
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5. COPS and crime reduction
Over the past eight years, the COPS (Community Oriented Police Services) Office has awarded grants to law enforcement agencies amounting to more than US$ 7 billion. A recent study found out, that the US-COPS hiring and innovative grant programs have resulted in significant reductions in local crime rates in cities with populations greater than 10.000 for both violent and non-violent offences. In such cities, an increase in one dollar of hiring grant funding (funding to employ new police officers) per resident contributed to a corresponding decline of 5.26 violent crimes and 21.63 property crimes per 100.000 residents. Even more successful was of innovative grant funding (project funding) with an decline of 12.93 violent crimes and 45.53 property crimes per one dollar invested. But COPS grants have had no significant effect non violent and property crime rates in cities with less than 10.000 population. Source: Jihong “Solomon” Zhao, Matthew C. Schneider, Quint Thurman: Funding Community Policing to Reduce Crime: Have COPS Grants made a Difference? In: Criminology and Public Policy, 2, 1, 2002, p. 7-32
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6. Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design: CPTED
The CPTED is based on the cognition of social psychology showing a direct connexion between environmental design and human behaviour and perception respectively. Thus, design and utilization of a public area may reduce deviant behaviour on the one hand and encourage desired behaviour on the other, along with the positive side effect of avoiding conflicts and to reduce the fear of crime. Numerous crime prevention projects, e.g. in England, the Netherlands and Italy, based on CPTED principles, prove that at least three branches have to be linked closely for the success of the projects: town planning, criminology and policing. Those initiatives proved to be highly succussful that actively tackled the citizens' security problems. Source: Neue Kriminalpolitik 2002, Heft 4, S. 123 – 126
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7. Policing 2020
The “Tomorrow Project” is an independent charity undertaking a programme of research, consultation and communication about people's loves in Britain in the next 20 years (www.tomorrowproject.net ). In this context, a seminar in April 2001 was held under the title Policing 2020” in Cambridge to discuss long term issues facing police forces. An recently published article summarises the results and tries to identify the future of policing. It is a non-profit organisation with a reputation for accurately researching issues and providing information on wide-ranging subjects in UK society. Source: Michael Moynagh, Richard Worsley, Policing 2020. In: Police Research and Management 5, 4, 2003, p. 1-14
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8. Research of Pharmaceutical Reference Substances
The company Promochem in Wesel offers on its homepage www.lgcpromochem.com the possibility of searching pharmaceutical reference material (more than 11.000 at present), reference substances and biological material.
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9. EU Funds for Projects
The EU framework programme on police and judicial cooperation in criminal matters
(AGIS) provides its annual working programme and the invitation for application in the internet at: http://www.ec-network.net/deutsch/programme/A28.htm; application forms at: http://europa.eu.int/comm/justice_home/jai/prog_de.htm
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10. Shaving and Heart Disease
How often a man shaves may be a marker of his susceptibility to heart disease, according to a new research from the University of Bristol. Men who did not shave every day were more likely to suffer a heart attack (30%) or stroke (70%). They also were less likely to be married, had a lower frequency of orgasm, and were more likely to smoke. The association between infrequent shaving and death is probably due to underlying smoking and social factors, but a small hormonal effect may also exist. The relation with stroke events remains unexplained by smoking or social factors. Quelle: S. Ebrahim u.a., Shaving, Coronary Heart Disease, and Stroke. In: American Journal of Epidemiology 157, 2003, S. 234-238; http://www.bris.ac.uk/Depts/Info-Office/news/archive/shaving.htm bzw. http://aje.oupjournals.org/cgi/content/abstract/157/3/234?etoc
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11. Every-day Violence and Organized Crime in Switzerland – Findings of a National Research Programme
For six years, about 90 researchers have examined the phenomena "Every-day Life Violence" and "Organized Crime" which are so opposing at the first glance, in 30 research projects of the Swiss National Research Programme. They managed to work on unusual questioning and, partly, to produce unexpected results. The studies prove that organized crime actually is no threat for the Swiss economy and society. The most important results and a description of the research process have been published in a book: Mark Pieth u.a., Gewalt im Alltag und organisierte Kriminalität, Haupt-Verlag Bern (www.haupt.ch ), € 24,90. Part of the results are available at: http://www.nfp40.ch.
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12. Adventure Tours for the Rich
You may play James Bond in the desert of Arizona for little less than 4,000 US$ (the course leaders were members of US-Spezialeinheiten) www.incredible-adventures.com or descend in a Russian Gulag for even less money – food of cold-war times inclusive. Even urban combat can be trained – see the video at http://www.incredible-adventures.com/urban-ops1.html . Source: Trendletter 3/2003.
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Police Newsletter No. 54, July 2003
The Police Newsletter is a joint venture product of TC TeamConsult, Genf/Zürich, and Freiburg i. Br. (D), and the Chair of Criminology (Crime Policy and Police Science) at the University of Bochum (Professor Dr. Thomas Feltes). The Html version of the Newsletter is available at www.Polizei-Newsletter.de. All Newsletter issues published until now can also be looked up there and the German, French, Spanish or English version can be subscribed or unsubscribed.
1. Study on Predictability of Homicide and Sexual Crime
The British Home Office has published a study titled „Murder and Serious Sexual Assault. What criminal histories can reveal about future serious offending“ within the series “Police Research Papers”. Unlike other studies, this examination is not meant to predict recidivism in general. This study aims at evaluating the risk of further severe crimes like homicide etc. committed by offenders who are sentenced for the first time because of a severe crime. the authors do not intend to calculate probabilities, but to point out possible risks. The study can be found at: http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/prgpdfs/prs144.pdf
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2. Police Effectiveness and Accountability
When police violate the rule-of-law, they do more harm than good with respect to their collective, as well as personal interests. David Bayley examines in an recent article seven reasons why violating the rule-of-law works against the instrumental interests of the police themselves. Source: David Bayley: Law Enforcement and the Rule of Law: Is there a Tradeoff? In: Criminology and Public Policy, 2, 1, 2002, p. 133-154
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3. Recidivism Data of Sexual Offenders
The British Home Office has published a study of Louise Falshaw u.a., titled „Sexual offenders – measuring reconviction, reoffending and recidivism“. One of its aims is to find out if it is possible to seize sexual offenders' rate of recidivism more exactly. It is difficult to be determined by scientists as official statistics only state cases of reconviction. However, this can only be an approach to the rate of recidivism (i.e. incidents without conviction because of a sexual offence). The authors quote the official sources in Great-Britain and suggest to complete these data by "inofficial" ones – i.e. data found by research. a summery of the study can be downloaded at: http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/pdfs2/r183.pdf.
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4. Connexion Between Sale of Alcohol and Crime
A US study sheds light on the connexion between the social structure of a neighbourhood, the number of alcohol outlets and violent crimes. As a result, the more outlets exist, the higher is violent crimes - even if other influencing factors, e.g. social structure, are taken into account. Source: Gorman, D.M., P.W. Sperr, P.J. Gruenewald, Spatial dynamics of alcohol availability, neighbourhood structure and violent crime. In: Journal of Studies on Alcohol, 62, 5, 2001, S. 628-636.
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5. Report of the CPT (Committee for the prevention of torture) on their Visit to Germany
The report referring to the committee's visit to Germany in 2000, is now available at http://www.cpt.coe.int/en/reports/inf2003-20en.htm. The CPT-homepage also contains the federal government's comment on this report. On the occasion of this fourth visit, the CPT visited a special therapeutically prison Maßregelanstalt) and a juvenile detention centre for the first time. The report comments on the missing stipulations concerning juvenile imprisonment.
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6. Finger versus Mouse
Computers understanding gestures were known only from films up to now (Minority-Report). FingerWorks, a US company, now distributes an electronic mat that identifies gestures without any touch and translates them into instructions for the computer: www.fingerworks.com
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7. Bowling alone, policing together
The essay by Eric Klinenberg considers the advantages and disadvantages of community policing. For the author, this policy delegates traditional social service work to the private sector and asks the police officers to become watch-people and guardians of community life. Furthermore, the elevation of policing into a mode of social integration marks a disturbing trend towards a society in which distrust, suspicion, and fear are organizing principles of politics and culture. Source: Social Justice 28, 3, 2001, p.75-80.
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8. Penal System Archives Bremen online
Now you can online research within the files of the penal system archives at www.strafvollzugsarchiv.de. This is a database of presently approx. 5,800 titles, books (partly in English), essays from periodicals and grey literature and sentences concerning execution of sentences.
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9. Automatic Facial Recognition of long-term ticket owners at the Hanover Zoo
The biggest biometrical application in Europe takes place at the Hanover Zoo: to check the 60,000 long-term ticket owners, the zoo direction applies the biometrical check system ZN-Face of ZN Vision Technologies AG. This system, developed by ZN AG together with Bosch Sicherheitssysteme GmbH, consists of a ticket reading device and automatic ZN facial recognition. It replaces the finger print system at the entrance applied until now. Source: www.zn-ag.com
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10. For the First Time, Number of US Prisoners exceeds 2 Million
In early April 2003, more than 2,1 million people were arrested in the USA, two third of them in state prisons sentenced to more than one year, one third in local jails. The ratio of prisoners has reached a new peak: 700 out of 100.000 inhabitants. http://www.cjcj.org/press/inmate_population.html. The reasons of this dramatic increase in imprisonments mainly hitting black juveniles and adolenscents are strict punishments of drug owners and the „Three-Strikes legislation“, providing life imprisonment on the occasion of the third sentencing.
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11. A report on the collusions between the British forces and the loyalists groups in Northern Ireland
Sir Stevens, now Commissioner of the London Metropolitan Police Service and a most respected police officer in UK, has edited after several years of research a report on the ramifications of the secret services within some of the most violent paramilitary loyalist groups in Ireland. It sheds light on how some rogue members of the army managed to build active networks with militias, how murders of Catholics could have been prevented and some inquiries wilfully obstructed. Public prosecutions office is considering whether criminal charges should be brought. Some parts of the report are accessible under: http://www.met.police.uk/commissioner/MP-Stevens-Enquiry-3.pdf
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12. Is „Three Strikes“ preventive?
In their studies, the Center on Juvenile and Criminal Justice has shown that the Three Strikes policy is not successful as a means of prevention of crime. The CJCJ as an NGO has the aim to reduce reliance on incarceration as a solution to social problems in the USA. One of CJCJ's primary initiatives is reform of the nation's sentencing policies. It has conducted research and established model programs in this target area. In their studies, they see the following deficiencies of Three Strikes: 3 Strikes affects mostly non-violent offenders (65%); It doesn’t decrease the crime rate more than other incarceration practices do; 3 Strikes is not cost-effective: the additional cost to the taxpayer is 500 million $ per year. 3 Strikes is not fairly implemented as most strike-inhanced sentences are given to ethnic minorities and the poor (74%). For more information about CJCJ and about criticism on Three Strikes see http://www.cjcj.org/rsr/index.php
TW
13. Addiction and Drug Report of the Federal Government
It is available for download at (www.bmgs.de) The declining trend of deaths due to the consumption of illegal drugs is constant. After a decline of nearly 10 percent in 2001, there was a new decline by 17.5 percent in 2002, so that the number of 1,513 deaths under drugs was equal to the level of 1990. The addiction to nicotine, alcohol and medicine has reached an alarming extent. Every year, 40,000 people die due to the alcohol consumption in Germany, more than 50,000 alcoholics were treated in special hospitals and addiction centers, more than 1.2 million people are considered to be alcoholiscs – with one third being women. For the addiction to medicine, from which approx. 1.2 million German citizens suffer, the rate of women amounts to two third. A special target group with a highly risky alcohol consumption pattern are juveniles practising „binge drinking". In Germany 16.7 million people smoke cigarettes, more than 110,000 people die from nicotine-caused illnesses – i.e. more than 300 deaths per day. At the age of 13.6 the young start to smoke cigarettes – which is alarming.
TF
14. Police Society for Problem-Based Learning (PSPBL)
Problem-based learning is a recent pedagogy that is student-centred, oriented towards learning rather than teaching, and particularly well designed for those police forces who engage in community policing programs. It claims also to bridge the gap between training and field work much better than any other pedagogy. The pedagogy has its credentials: it was adopted more than a decade ago by Harvard school of medicine and has diffused rapidly since in Faculties of Medicine around the world. There are many academic web sites that propose a wealth of useful resources for PBL trainers - for instance http://www.udel.edu/pbl/ or http://www.udel.edu/pbl/, but until recently none were specialized in policing. This has changed since the Police Society for Problem-Based Learning (PSPBL) was created in 2002 and created the web site http://www.pspbl.com/ entirely dedicated to PBL in policing and the first enthusiastic US experiences with the method.
DW
Police Newsletter No. 55, August 2003
The Police Newsletter is a joint venture product of TC TeamConsult, Genf/Zürich, and Freiburg i. Br. (D), and the Chair of Criminology (Crime Policy and Police Science) at the University of Bochum (Professor Dr. Thomas Feltes). The Html version of the Newsletter is available at www.Polizei-Newsletter.de. All Newsletter issues published until now can also be looked up there and the German, French, Spanish or English version can be subscribed or unsubscribed.
1. Three Times Higher Rate of Homicide in Russia than in the U.S.
Thanks to statistics unpublished up to now, a study proves that not only the present rate of homicide in Russia is significantly higher than in the U.S., but also before the opening towards the West, the rate was at least equal to the U.S. or partially even higher – although quite the opposite was presumed and maintained. Source: W.A. Pridemore: Using newly available homicide data to debunk two myths about violence in an international context. In: Homicide Studies 5, 3, 2001, S. 267-275.
TF
2. Drug Use in Great Britain
The British Home Office has
published three studies treating the problem of illegal drugs use. The first
study estimates the economic and social costs of drug use in England and Wales.
The second study titled "The road to ruin?" discusses the problem of initial
consumption and delinquency of kids and juveniles. One of the study's central
statements is that there is no significant influence of an initial cannabis
consumption of a future crack and heroine use. The third study submits a precise
description of the spreading of drug use, based on the findings of the British
Crime Survey 2001/2002. Special attention is paid to the drug consumption of the
16 to 24 year old. Within this age group, drug consumption is most common. In
comparison to a 1994 study, a significant increase in the use of "hard" drugs,
however, could not be found. The use of special drugs such as amphetamines, LSD,
Magic Mushrooms, methadone and glues within the age group of the 16 to 24 year
old has declined, whereas the consumption of cocaine and exstacy has increased.
Sources: Research Study 249 - The economic and social costs of Class. A drug use
in England and Wales, 2000
http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/pdfs2/hors249.pdf;
Research Study 253 - The road to ruin? Sequences of initiation into drug use and
offending by young people in Britain
http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/pdfs2/hors253.pdf;
Findings 182 - Prevalence of drug use: key findings from the 2001/2002 British
Crime Survey
http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/pdfs2/r182.pdf.
KB
3. Rate of Offences Slightly Increasing in the EU
The rate of recorded crime increased by 1 p.c. in the EU member states in the period between 1996 and 2000. The highest increase was observed in Belgium (17 p.c.), Austria (15 p.c.), Portugal (13 p.c.) and the Netherlands, whereas the rate declined in Ireland, England and Wales, Scotland, and Germany. The increase concentrates on violent offences (14 p.c.), whereas the rate in other ranges (house-breaking, e.g.) is declining. Source: http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk
TW
4. Risk and Protective Factors Among Youth Offenders
This study applies knowledge from resiliency research to test the hypothesis that non-repeat youthful offenders would demonstrate a greater number of protective factors, a smaller number of risk factors, and a smaller number of stressors than would repeat offenders. One result was, that personal characteristics, familial conditions, and peer selection were found to independently differentiate repeat from non-repeat offenders. The study could also show, that school-based prevention programs that occur early and involve the collaboration of students, parents, teachers, and police officers to promote self-efficacy and supportive relations with parents and peers, hold the greatest potential for success. Source: M.B. Carr, T.A. Vandiver: Risk and protective factors among youth offenders. In: Adolescence 36, 143, 2001, p. 409-426.
TF
5. Community Justice in Rwanda
In 2001, the Rwanda passed a law promoting the creation of «Gacaca» jurisdictions, which implement the principles of the traditional local mediation and conflict resolution. Four different levels of competencies (from local to national) will be competent to judge breaches related to the crimes of genocide and crime against humanity, which occurred within the context of the terrible civil war that claimed 1 million lives in 1994. These tribunals will constitute a part of an ancestral heritage of conflict management in still largely homogeny and autarkic communities. 250.000 judges are being trained since 2002 in the method of “gacaca” and are accompanied by an information campaign on conflict treatments. Pilot-projects have been launched six months ago. Richard Friedli, sociologist of religions, gives an overview of the functioning of these tribunals and their main differences with “occidental” justice. See http://www.unifr.ch/spc/UF/septembre02/palabre.html
BBO
6. Policing Protest: Geneva Cantonal Police Chief Resigns
The Cantonal police chief left his functions after use of force by an officer led to a protestor being wounded in the face by a plastic bullet. The weapon used by the police was identified only four days later. Three inquiries have been launched to frame the responsibility of the officer who shot, his superior and, finally, the dysfunctions of the chain of command. The purchase and utilization of the weapon (“weapon of limited lethality”) have reportedly escaped hierarchical and political controls. This resignation occurred two months before the G8 summit due to take place in neighboring France and likely to provoke mass demonstration and protest in the city of Geneva. See the local newspaper dossier: http://www.tribunedegeneve.ch/accueil/dossiers/titre_dossier/article/index.php?Page_ID=5340&article_ID=15101
BBO
7. Changing Values in Europe – Important Changes in Morality Conceptions
In the European countries, important changes took place in the commonly accepted conceptions of sexual, family and civil (bürgerlichen) morality during the passed 20 years. This was revealed by the European study of values, in which the Zentralarchiv für empirische Sozialforschung of the University of Cologne is involved: http://www.uni-koeln.de/pi/i/2003.063.htm .
TF
8. The Effectiveness and Safety of Pepper Spray
Though generally assumed to be safe and effective, the consequences of the use of pepper spray, as with any use of force, can never be predicted with certainty. To expand the scope of knowledge on such a complex subject, this Research for Practice examines two unpublished NIJ-funded studies on the use of pepper spray in real-life arrests and compares them with previous studies. While the research does not and cannot prove that pepper spray will never be a contributing factor in the death of a subject resisting arrest, it seems to confirm that pepper spray is a reasonably safe and effective tool for law enforcement officers to use when confronting uncooperative or combative subjects. Source: http://www.ncjrs.org/pdffiles1/nij/195739.pdf (19 pages).
TF
9. New Police Gun in Germany
The Heckler& Koch Company has developed the police gun P2000 which has been provided by Lower Saxony, Baden-Württemberg and North Rhine Westphalia for their police forces. It is the first weapon the development of which is based on studies of a university of applied police sciences. Size and weight are adopted to the needs of the police without neglecting security and accuracy of fire. (http://www.heckler-koch.de/html/german/behoerden/01_pistols/01_01_index.html); modular parts provide perfect ergonomy for the individual user; universal grooves allow to mount accessories (e.g. tactical lamps, targeting devices); operating devices suitable for left-hand and right-hand users; suitable for various kinds of ammunition, e.g. the new deformations ammunition; reliable function even under extreme conditions. The CD-Rom documenting the research at the University of Applied Police Sciences Villingen-Schwenningen ("Anforderungen an eine moderne Polizeipistole") can be ordered at EUR 10.- from the Zahlstelle (pay-office) of the university (Fax 07720-309-272, email karlschiele@fhpol-vs.de). Contact and further information from wolfgangmallach@yahoo.de
TF
10. International Congress „Moderne Gefahrenabwehrsysteme“
On Oct. 1 and 2 2003, the 2nd International Congress „Modern risk-deterrence systems – Strategies for fire brigades, rescue services and health system" – is held in the Congress-Centrum Hamburg. In view of the international terrorism threat, appropriate risk analyses, precaution and deterrence strategies will be presented and discussed , and prospects for the future are to be developed. This exchange of findings will be continued in intervals of two years, this year the field of maritime security is included for the first time. Further information at http://www.internationaler-kongress.de
KR
11. Study on "Politically motivated Offenders"
The Bureau of Criminal Investigation Baden-Württemberg has published a study titled „Der politisch motivierte Gewalttäter in Baden-Württemberg. Eine tat-/täterorientierte Untersuchung 1999-2001“: http://www.polizei-bw.de/berichte/jbstainteranalyse_01.pdf
TF
12. Third Annual Conference of the European Society of Criminology
will be held in Helsinki from August 27 to August 30, 2003 http://www.eurocrim2003.com/.
13. New Criminal Policy in England – a Critique
The political climate in Great-Britain has dramatically changed in recent years. The Labour Government announced and realized a variety of political measures against crime; even the German government of socialists and environmentalists seem to appreciate them. A book by Roger Matthews and Jock Young (The New Politics of Punishment, Willan Publishing, 2003 www.willanpublishing.co.uk) published in June 2003 comments on the changes, by quality as well as by quantity, in the English criminal policy which took place in the 90ies, and revises them. For a detailed review see at www.polizei-newsletter.de/buecher.htm, the book tips of the police newsletter.
TF
Police Newsletter No. 56, September 2003
The Police Newsletter is a joint venture product of TC TeamConsult, Genf/Zürich, and Freiburg i. Br. (D), and the Chair of Criminology (Crime Policy and Police Science) at the University of Bochum (Professor Dr. Thomas Feltes). The Html version of the Newsletter is available at www.Polizei-Newsletter.de. All Newsletter issues published until now can also be looked up there and the German, French, Spanish or English version can be subscribed or unsubscribed.
1. The impact of EU Enlargement on migration flows
The Home Office Online Report 25/ 03 presents a report about the magnitude of potential migration flows to the UK and Germany after the EU enlargement 2004. The economic and socio – economic situation in the accession countries from the beginning of the 1990s up to the present time is described and compared with the situation in the UK and Germany. Literature attempting to predict the effects of the current EU enlargement on migration flows is critically reviewed. In addition the southern EU Enlargement 1980 (Greece, Portugal, Spain) is analysed and compared with the current one. A quantitative analysis of the effect of the current enlargement on migration to the UK and Germany is presented anyway. http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/pdfs2/rdsolr2503.pdf
KR
2. Final Report of the Anti-Corruption Inquiry Committee of the North Rhine Westphalian Ministry of the Interior
Until June 2003 the independant "Anti-Corruption" inquiry committee examined the communities' practice of placing orders for the construction or extension of incineration plants in North Rhine Westphalia. The committee consisted of prosecutors, white-collar crime specialists of the police, revenue investigators and price checkers of the district governments. They are all highly experienced in the field of economy and corruption proceedings. The representatives of prosecution and tax investigation authorities and police were released from the duty of prosecution. The final report was published on July 9th, 2003 and is available at http://www.im.nrw.de/inn/146.htm#.
TF
3. Study of the Federal Office of Criminal Investigation (BKA) on Aggression and Delinquency Among Juveniles
Friedrich Lösel and Thomas Bliesener conducted an extensive study on this topic in the BKA publications. The book is published by Luchterhand-Verlag Neuwied (2003); the contents, however, can also be found at http://www.bka.de/pub/veroeff/band/index20.html.
TF
4. Relationship between animal abuse and other forms of criminal behaviour
The study examines persons convicted for weapon-related deer spotting, or freeze killing, a specific form of deer poaching involving shining a spotlight on a deer for an easier kill. Two in five freeze killers had been arrested before, more than one in five for a crime of violence. Freeze killers also had almost twice the rate for violent crime and almost three times the rate for property crime as a control group. Findings are consistent with a generality of deviance approach. Source: Green, G.S.: The other criminalities of animal freeze killers: Support for a generality of deviance. In: Society and Animals, 10, 1, 2002, S. 5-30.
TF
5. Special Programme for Reducing Car Theft and Fear of Crime in England
225 of all car thefts in England are conducted in car parks. In 1992, the Home Office introduced a programme to reduce these thefts and, at the same time, the fear of crime (often existing there). The report recently published (108 pages) proves that the programme was successful: Home Office Research Study 266 - Between the lines: an evaluation of the Secured Car Park Award Scheme http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/pdfs2/hors266.pdf (290K)
6. Youth Victimization: Prevalence and Implications
Beyond cases reported to authorities, little knowledge exists on the types, amount, and effects of childhood victimization. Using the National Survey of Adolescents, researchers examined the prevalence of sexual assault, physical assault, physically abusive punishment, and witnessing an act of violence and subsequent effects on mental health, substance use, and delinquent behavior problems. The study found that youth victimization is clearly linked to mental health problems and delinquent behavior. Results are analyzed across gender and race/ethnicity and translated into national estimates. Source: http://www.ncjrs.org/pdffiles1/nij/194972.pdf (19 pages)
TF
7. Online Journal of Justice Studies
The first issue of the Online Journal of Justice Studies has been posted on the web. http://ojjs.icaap.org/ (Thanks to HJ Kerner)
8. Information About Prevention Projects - Worldwide
Information about the „Australian Crime and Violence Prevention Award 2003“: www.aic.gov.au/avpa/; working programme 2003 of the National Council for Crime Prevention Sweden: www.bra.se/web/english/program2003.pdf; report on anti-social behaviour and the British government's next steps for dealing urgently with this problem: http://www.official-documents.co.uk/document/cm57/5778/5778.pdf; report of the Australian Institute of Criminology on the economic and immaterial detriment of crime in Australia: http://www.aic.gov.au/publications/tbp/tbp004.html; additionally two reports on sports, physical activity and anti-social behavoiur in youth: http://www.aic.gov.au/publications/tandi/tandi249.html; studies of the Home Office concerning „alcohol-related violence and disorder“: http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/pdfs2/hors265.pdf; report of the Irish National Crime Committee on public order offences: http://www.gov.ie/crimecouncil/publications3.html. (All information by Wolfgang Kahl, DFK and the Europäischen Netzwerk für Kriminalprävention (EUCPN). This website is launched as a resource for all those interested in European crime prevention policies and practices. It is the ambition of the EUCPN to improve the performance and increase the scope of practice and policy in crime prevention across the European Union and applicant countries by adding value to national efforts http://europa.eu.int/comm/justice_home/eucpn/
TF
9. The Germans' Fears in 2002
The annual report of the R+V insurance companies on the present fear of the Germans is available at: http://www.ruv.de/index.htm?url=/service/intro.htm%3Fhome%3Dyes
TF
10. Analysis of facial movements as a key to better security
Temma Ehrenfeld reports in “Newsweek” June 9, 2003 on page 53 critically about software developed by the U.S. Defense Department and the CIA which is able to recognize liars with their facial movements (“micro expressions”). The software can e.g. used at airports to identify suspicious persons.
KR
11. The Criminal Geography of the Borders of the Hungarian Republic at the Millennium
Kobolka, Ritecz and Sallai present a criminal geography of the Hungarian borders 2000 – 2. The social metamorphosis in the 90ties led to a huge increase of criminality, especially at the borders. The report shows border movements, document falsifications, smuggle etc. at the Hungarian borders. The authors emphasize that the security of the external borders must be guaranteed in view of the accession of the Hungarian Republic to the EU. The original document can be found at the online – page of PNL: www.police-newsletter.com .
KR
12. PNL offers the lectures and presentations of the expert meeting "quality assurance of Prevention Projects" of May 19, 2003, in the internet! One of the topics of the meeting was the so-called "Sherman-Report" introduced by Lawrence Sherman. Besides there are lectures by Michael Walter (Univ. Köln), Wiebke Steffen (LKA Bayern), Dieter Rössner (Univ. Marburg) and Hartmut Rohmer (Direktor LKA NRW), discussing various aspects of crime prevention and its evaluation. Police Newsletter thanks to Prof. Rössner for his approval to publish the contributions in the internet, and to the PFI Neuss for entrusting the documents. The material is available by a linked pdf file at: http://www.polizei-newsletter.de/pdf-files.htm
TF
Police Newsletter No. 57, October 2003
The Police Newsletter is a joint venture product of TC TeamConsult, Genf/Zürich, and Freiburg i. Br. (D), and the Chair of Criminology (Crime Policy and Police Science) at the University of Bochum (Professor Dr. Thomas Feltes). The Html version of the Newsletter is available at www.Polizei-Newsletter.de. All Newsletter issues published until now can also be looked up there and the German, French, Spanish or English version can be subscribed or unsubscribed.
1. First Internet Journal of Criminology
The Internet Journal
of Criminology (IJC) is a free access online journal.
The primary aim of the journal is to publish international, scholarly and
peer-reviewed criminology articles of the highest standard from many areas of
expertise including the criminal justice system, crime reduction, delinquency
and deviant social behaviour. From the initial acceptance of work worthy of
publication, the IJC will publish with the utmost regard to timeliness. In
addition, the journal is dedicated to providing free access to, and downloading
of, every article published on the web site for a period of 12 months. The first
three articles are: Where Do We Go From Here? Researching
Hate Crime by Barbara Perry; Women Inside and Out by Helen Codd and
Anti-Semitism and the Christian Right in post-Miloševic Serbia by Jovan Byford.
http://www.flashmousepublishing.com/index.html
TF
2. Evaluation of the prison-based Sex Offender Treatment Programme (SOTP)
Caroline Friendship, Ruth Mann and Anthony Beech carried out a study about the effectiveness of the SOTP run in prisons in England and Wales. The programme was established in 1992. It is based on a cognitive behavioural model. Some of the findings suggest that the programme has an impact on sexual and violent reconviction for medium risk offenders and it is also successful at reducing reconviction for low risk offenders. An additional treatment is recommended for high risk offenders. The whole report can be found at page http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/pdfs2/r205.pdf.
KR
3. Police and Crimal Museums of the World
In mid 2003 the book "Polizei- und Kriminalmuseen der Welt" was published by the International Police Association and its International Berufskommission (professional commission) and presents 49 Criminal and Police Museums in Germany, as well as 260 such collections all over the world in English, French and German. It is illustrated black and white and German standard paper size DIN A 5. It costs € 14.- plus packing and postage. The sales earnings, after deducting the costs, are donated to the International Arthur Troop Fund. Orders to and more information from: Friedrich Schwindt, International Police Association, 3rd. International Vicepresident, Kammerrathsfeldstr. 97, 40593 Düsseldorf, Tel: 0049-211-700 0171, Fax: 0049 - 211 - 700 0175 fritz.schwindt@t-online.de
ML
4. North-Rhine Westphalia Chases After Illegal Money
Last year the financial investigators confiscated approx. 115 million Euro, more than double the amount as against 2001. The special investigators secured approx. 58.5 million Euro out of more than 1,200 procedures for victims. Another 56 million Euro remained for the public treasury. Each NRW district police has financial investigators of its own. In 2002, these posts were increased from 77 to 189. The outcome of teh financial investigations can be found on the homepage of the Landeskriminalamt (NRW Office of Criminal Investigation ) at www.lka.nrw.de.
TF
5. FBI Guide to Concealable Weapons online
The hijackers of September 11, 2001 used simple carpet knives to achieve control of the airplanes. in order to prevent hidden or concealed weapons to pass the check points at airports, the FBI published a brochure about concealable weapons for the information of the staffs of airports and authorities. Knives in crucifixes, belt buckles, pendants, sticks – nothing is impossible. Furthermore the brochure shows x-ray pictures of knives together with size scales to facilitate their detection if they are scanned and if they are made from metal or from other materials. The "FBI Guide to Concealable Weapons 2003" at: http://lb.wnd.com/FBI-weapons.pdf. (89 pages, many pictures) Source: netNewsletter 28/03 [ts]
ML, Dank an Axel Behnke
6. "Personal Safety and Use of Firearms by the Police"
This is the title of a book by Clemens Lorei published by „Verlag für Polizeiwissenschaft“ (Frankfurt 2003, 29.- Euro). It deals with various aspects of the use of force by the police in every-day and special situations. For a comprehensive review see: www.polizei-newsletter.de/buecher.htm
TF
7. Reduction of Crime by Monitoring
In Great Britain CCTV is being introduced in areas with a high crime rate. At the same time the know-how about an efficient use of such systems is to be improved. This is to support the government's target to reduce crime and fear of crime significantly by 2004. By now, 17 projects were launched, covering areas like neighbourhoods, railway stations, hospitals and shopping malls. Source: http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/whatsnew1.html
TW
8. Hamburg Criminology
Somewhat hidden in the internet, there is the website of the Hamburg Institut für Sicherheits- und Präventionsforschung e.V., the president of which is Prof.Dr. Rüdiger Lautmann and the vice-presdent Prof. Dr. Fritz Sack. The website http://www.rrz.uni-hamburg.de/isip/ contains a detailed description of the institute's aims as well as some contributions (some of which unfortunately without author's name), its research projects and a list of the club's advisory board. In connection with the website the Hamburg Institut für kriminologische Sozialforschung, part of the social-scientific faculty of the Hamburg University, has to be mentioned: http://www.rrz.uni-hamburg.de/kriminol/welcome.htm
TF
9. MPI (Max-Planck-Institut) Freiburg Interviews Pupils
Dietrich Oberwittler, Tilman Köllisch, Thomas Naplava, Tom Blank, DFG-Projekt: Soziale Probleme und Jugenddelinquenz im sozialökologischen Kontext. (Social problems and juvenile delinquency in social-ecological context) MPI pupils interviews Breisgau / Markgräfler Land 2000 at http://www.iuscrim.mpg.de/forsch/onlinepub/workingpaper8.pdf
Same topic: Tilman Köllisch, Wie ehrlich berichten Jugendliche über ihr delinquentes Verhalten? (How true report juveniles about their delinquency?): http://www.iuscrim.mpg.de/forsch/onlinepub/workingpaper7.pdf and Thomas Naplava: Delinquenz bei einheimischen und immigrierten Jugendlichen im Vergleich (Delinquency of native and immigrated juveniles – a comparison): http://www.iuscrim.mpg.de/forsch/onlinepub/workingpaper5.pdf
TF
10. Cohesion and perceived risk of victimization
Matthew R. Lee and Terri L. Earnest present in Justice Quarterly Vol. 20, No 1, MAR 2003 a cross – national analysis of cohesion and the perceived risk of victimization. Former research showed that the characteristics of a community may be associated with the perceived risk of victimization. The analysis of the authors support the hypothesis that individuals perceiving their community as cohesive express lower levels of perceived risk of victimization in their neighbourhood.
KR
11. Tough sentencing by judges, rather than a rise in crime, has led to the record prison population
The 71% rise in the prison population in the UK between 1991 and 2001 was due to a "misplaced emphasis on toughness rather than effectiveness" as courts sentence more people to prison and for longer terms, according to a report by the Prison Reform Trust. It said the high sentencing rates were influenced by the "increasingly punitive climate of political and media debate about crime and punishment". "The courts will continue to make ever-increasing use of prison unless this climate of opinion changes, and clear and consistent political leadership is needed to make this happen," the report said. It said courts needed to be told to use imprisonment less and where custodial sentences were set, they should be shorter. Source: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/3033052.stm
TF (Danke an Gerd Hoffmann)
12. Evaluation of the crimestopper- project in Great Britain
The Home-Office Online Report 22/03 presents a study initiated by Peter Gresham, Janet Stockdale and Ivon Bartholomew about the crimestopper units existing in Great Britain since 1988. Crimestoppers are provided by the local police offices spread over various regions in whole Britain. The British population has the opportunity to participate in the detection and prevention of crime by calling a national freephone telephone number. A reward from ₤ 50 to ₤ 500 is offered for useful information. The study focuses on the effectiveness of crimestopper units, e.g. according to dealings with the income calls and information, the influence of the calls on the police work, the charged and arrested criminals because of the calls. The report is illustrated with graphical representation. For more information about the study visit page http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/pdfs2/rdsolr2203.pdf.
KR
Police Newsletter No. 58, November 2003
The Police Newsletter is a joint venture product of TC TeamConsult, Genf/Zürich, and Freiburg i. Br. (D), and the Chair of Criminology (Crime Policy and Police Science) at the University of Bochum (Professor Dr. Thomas Feltes). The Html version of the Newsletter is available at www.Polizei-Newsletter.de. All Newsletter issues published until now can also be looked up there and the German, French, Spanish or English version can be subscribed or unsubscribed.
1. Reorganising the Police Training
The professional police education and training in North-Rhine Westphalia is modernized. The police training centres will be managed mutually and thus they will cooperate more effectively and efficiently. Expert teams are researching in five departments, set up curriculums and are appointed adviser in all NRW. The new „Institut für Aus- und Fortbildung der Polizei Nordrhein-Westfalen“ (IAF NRW) is situated in Selm. At the locations Brühl, Linnich and Schloß Holte-Stukenbrock the police officers mainly have practical training, whereas police topics will be taught during their studies at the police academies of applied sciences – as per a press report of the Ministry of the Interior of 10 Sept. 2003 - TF
2. Car Theft – Study of the Kriminologische Forschungsgruppe of the Bavarian Police
The clear-up rates quoted in the PKS (Police Crime Statistics) with reference to car theft significantly vary within Germany – from 56.5 percent in Bavaria(1999) to 11.1 percent in Hamburg. As a tendency, the rate of car theft is inversely proportional: Bavaria 36 , Mecklenburg-Vorpommern 343. The study published now tries to find out the reasons and mainly examines if these differences are possibly due to recording mistakes. In Bavaria 11.5 percent of the reports examined in the study showed mistakes, which, however, do not explain the significant differences. The study also states a correspondence of car thefts reported to insurances companies and PKS. Source: J. Luff, P. Sutterer, Diebstahl von Kraftfahrzeugen. Überprüfung von Fallzahlen und Aufklärungsquoten im Bundesländer übergreifenden Vergleich. München 2003 (Bayer. Landeskriminalamt).
TF
TF
4. Police History and Police Rap in the Internet...
The IPA Deutschland offers some interesting links at http://www.ipa-deutschland.de/lnk/priv.htm, one of them to the collection about Police history by Siegfried Paul from Hamm, another to a site about stress in police action www.polizeieinsatzstress.de and a video showing rapping police officers of Cologne.
TF (thanks to Denis Hart)
5. Police in Mexico
Under the title "Democracy and Public Security in Mexico: an Unsolved Dilemma", Martín Gabriel Barrón Cruz examines the development of Mexican police. The contribution was written in English for the World Congress of Criminology in August 2003 in Rio de Janeiro erstellt. It is available among the online documents of the Police Newsletter. Through the Project on Reforming the Administration of Justice in Mexico the Center for U.S. Mexican Studies at the University of California, San Diego, provides access to information about public security challenges, law enforcement and institutional reform, civic participation and oversight, and best practices and policy alternatives. The project involves the collaboration of dozens of academics, policy practitioners, government officials, and other key experts analyzing policy alternatives for the reform of Mexico's justice system. The project also promotes the professional development of scholars and practitioners devoted to the improvement of Mexico’s justice system through the organization of working groups, seminars, and other activities. S. http://www.usmex.ucsd.edu/justice/about.html
TF
6. Facial Recognition Technology – first results
In England a monitoring system including facial recognition software is applied with success. So it was possible to check 4,300 persons and their faces within 3 hours before a critical football match and to identify 12 persons who were ordered to stay away. Source: NIJ-Journal 249, S. 20. s.a. www.frvt.org
TF
7. How to Handle DNA Evidence
The National Institute of Justice has published several documentations advising police officers how to handle DNA material. Furthermore a data base (CODIS) developed by the FBI for the management of the sentenced criminals' data and DNA analyses is presented. Source: www.fbi.gov/hq/lab/codis/index1.htm and www.ncjrs.org/nij/DNAbro/intro.html .
TF
8. Does CCTV decrease or relocate crime?
Some studies have found that crime was displaced, some have determined that neighboring areas also experienced a celine in crime, another identified both, while still others found evidence of neither. A Home Office report, Crime Prevention Effects of Closed-Circuit Television: A Systematic Review, summarized the findings of 22 British and American CCTV-related studies and could not conclude whether the cameras caused any crime displacement. Source: B.C. Welsh, D. Farrington: Crime Prevention Effects of Closed-Circuit Televisin: A Systematic Review. Home Office Research Study 252. www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/pdfs2/hors252.pdf .
TF
9. SOLIS, FORIS and Other Data Bases
This website allows access to more than 1 million bibliographic references from the fields of social science, social work and politics. Predominantly professional journals in German, books and research literature or research projects are evaluated: http://www.wiso-net.de/sowi.html 1.20 Euro per evidence (research projects and bibliographic references).
TF
Dr. Clifford Stott (Department of Psychology, University of Liverpool) and Dr. Otto Adang (Dutch Police Academy) are responsible for a European study of crowd police relations. The study is concerned with analysing, developing and enhancing strategies of, and cross-national cooperation within, public order policing in European Union (Candidate) Member States. The objectives of the research are to: Advance understanding of the assessment of risk to public order posed by crowd events. More specifically it seeks to understand the factors that promote or impede non-violent behaviour amongst crowd participants and how these interact with police behaviour. Examine how different police strategies in different (Candidate) Member States affect more general levels of aggression among crowd members and the subsequent affect on levels of harmony/conflict between crowds and police. The research aims to study the interaction between law enforcement services and foreign nationals considered to constitute a high level of risk. Data will be collected from both fans and police before during and after our target matches The combination of data from the different perspectives will allow a unique opportunity to systematically analyse and objectively evaluate the impact of policing strategies and tactics upon the behaviour and underlying psychology of English fans.
TF (Danke an Otto Adang)
11. Coercive mobility and crime
Todd R. Clear, Dina R. Rose, Elin Waring and Kristen Scully present an examination exploring how incarceration affects crime rates at the neighbourhood level in Justice Quarterly Vol. 20 No.1 MAR 2003. Incarceration is seen as a form of residential mobility that may damage local network structures and undermine informal control. They have found out that there exists an positive relationship between the release rates of one year and the crime rates of a community the following year. In addition they show that low admission rates to prison have an uncertain impact on crime rates, moderate rates reduce crime, and higher rates increase crime.
12. Police Stress online
Stress before, during and after police actions is the topic of the website http://www.polizeieinsatzstress.de/. Beside case histories there are hints on support and contact.
TF
13. Looking for Rare Books?
At http://www.alibris.com/ you may find books, which are no longer available at bookstores or libraries (used and/or new). E.g. a book about J.Edgar Hoover, used, is offered at $ 2,95.
TF
Police-Newsletter No. 59, December 2003
The Police Newsletter is a joint venture product of TC TeamConsult, Genf/Zürich, and the Chair of Criminology (Crime Policy and Police Science) at the University of Bochum (Professor Dr. Thomas Feltes). The Html version of the Newsletter is available under www.Polizei-Newsletter.de. All Newsletter issues published until now can also be looked up there and you can subscribe or unsubscribe the German, French, Spanish or English version.
Contents:
1. Integration: „Mapping the field“
2. Perceived racial and ethnic composition of neighborhood and perceived risk of crime
3. Really criminal? Fight Against Crime in Reality
4. Victim Information and Notification in the US
5. What Does Alcohol Abuse Cost? Connexion Between Alcohol and Crime?
6. Security Risk "Youth"?
7. Protection Vest Deals Out Electroshocks.
8. Deutsche Gesellschaft für Kriminalistik e.V. (German Criminalistic Society)
9. Should we move away from performance targets for the police?
10. Spy Chips in Cars
11. Juvenile Delinquency in Germany – Recent Findings
12. Bremen Long-Time-Analysis on the Criminal Careers of Juveniles
13. Influence of Work Load, Dissatisfaction and Burn-Out of Police Officers on Police Use of Force and Victimization Experience
1. Integration: „Mapping the field“
A report about the integration of immigrants and refugees in the UK from 1996 to 2001 is published by the British Home Office. An overview of the recent and current research is given. The report shows that there exists a lack of data and other factual knowledge about the integration of immigrants and refugees. The authors also give an overview of background literature etc. http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/pdfs2/rdsolr2803.doc. The volume two of the “mapping the field” study discusses general topics, but also education, labour market, health and housing. http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/pdfs2/rdsolr2903.pdf
KR
2. Perceived racial and ethnic composition of neighborhood and perceived risk of crime
Result of a study support a core assumption about the social threat perspective, which presumes the mobilization of social control is influenced by the perception of criminal threat associated with the perceived proximity of others. Crime threat may be ethnically coded and may have more effect on those who are in a minority state than on the dominant majority. Source: Chiricos, T. u.a.: Perceived racial and ethnic composition of neighborhood and perceived risk of crime. In: Social Problems 48, 3, 2001, S. 322-340. TF
3. Really criminal? Fight Against Crime in Reality
This is the title of a great number of contributions on the homepage of the Zweiten Deutschen Fernsehens (German TV Programme). They are worth reading and deal with various criminalistic, criminal-biological, forensic and criminological topics. Available at www.zdf.de, then „Wissen und Entdecken“ , or directly at http://www.zdf.de/ZDFde/inhalt/16/0,1872,1020400,00.html
TF
4. Victim Information and Notification in the US
VINE stands for “Victim Information and Notification Everyday”, allows crime victims across the country to obtain timely and reliable information about criminal cases and the custody status of offenders, 24 hours a day, over the telephone, through the web, or by email. The patented VINE service is available in hundreds of communities in 36 states in the US. Twenty-six state Departments of Correction and two Canadian Provinces use VINE to keep victims informed about offenders held in state prisons. The VINE data network (www.appriss.com/network.html is the nation’s largest privately managed integrated criminal justice information network. It links over 1200 criminal justice agencies in 36 states and covers 58% of the nation’s state and local inmate population. Through the network, Appriss collects offender information in near real time from hundreds of different jail and court management systems across the country. The information is received, processed, and stored for instant access by VINE users at the VINE Data Center in Louisville, Kentucky. The VINE data network processes more than 13 million records every month. One of the nation’s largest and most successful e-government programs, VINE makes it easy for victims and other citizens to obtain information about criminal cases and the custody status of offenders just by making a telephone call. Victims can call in to inquire about the current status of an inmate—Is he still in jail? When will he be released?—and can register to be notified immediately upon a change in the inmate’s status, such as a release or escape. In 2002, VINE handled over 3 million telephone calls from victims. VINE customers use the secure VINEWatch web site to register victims, obtain usage and other status reports, and to print notification letters locally that are then mailed to the victim. http://www.appriss.com/VINE.html ; example from Minnesota:
http://www.dps.state.mn.us/mccvs/VINE/Fact%20sheet.doc; see also http://www.webcheck.ag.state.oh.us/
TF
5. What Does Alcohol Abuse Cost? Connexion Between Alcohol and Crime?
Concerning the costs of alcohol associated illness a study has recently been published: www.rki.de/GBE/GBE.htm It reveals that alcohol abuse in Germany causes costs of approx. 20 milliards Euro per year. Every year, 42.000 people die from the consequences of their alcohol consumption. Source: Konturen (Fachzeitschrift für Sucht und soziale Fragen) 3, 2003, p. 16 f.. The economic costs of alcohol, tobacco and illicit drugs to French society are estimated using a cost of illness framework. The use of alcohol, tobacco and illicit drugs cost more than 200 billion francs (FF) in France in 1997, representing 3,714 FF per capita or 2.7% of the gross domestic product (GDP). Alcohol takes more than half of the social cost of drugs to society. The greatest share of the social cost of alcohol comes from the loss of productivity, due to premature death, morbidity and imprisonment. Illicit drugs generate an expenditure per capita of 227.43 FF. The cost of enforcing the law for illicit drugs occupies 3,911.46 million FF. Source: Philippe Fenoglio, Véronique Parel, Pierre Kopp The Social Cost of Alcohol, Tobacco and Illicit Drugs in France, 1997. In: European Addiction Research 2003;9:18-28. “Alcohol and Crime”: The extent and nature of alcohol-related violence in England and Wales is examined by a recent report by RDS. The report identifies factors associated with a heightened risk of being the victim of an alcohol-related assault and the nature of such incidents. The majority of such incidents did not come to the attention of the police (63%). The report has been posted by RDS and can be downloaded from http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/whatsnew1.html On-line report 35/03 - Alcohol-related assault: findings from the British Crime Survey. TF
6. Security Risk "Youth"?
The Deutschen Jugendinstitut in Munich has launched two projects dealing with the topic of juvenile delinquency (Jugendkriminalität). The „Arbeitsstelle Kinder- und Jugendkriminalitätsprävention“ (workgroup for the prevention of children's and juvenile delinquency) has been working since 1997 and will be until 2007, charged by the Federal Ministry of Family and Youth (www.dji.de/jugendkriminalitaet). The „Kinderpanel Entwicklungsresourcen und –risiken in der Lebenswelt von Kindern“ (workgroup for development resources and risks within the environment of children) will also go into the life conditions of children, also entrusted by this Ministry: www.dji.de, then forschung, projekte, kinderpanel). Source: DJI Bulletin 63, Sommer 2003 TF
7. Protection Vest Deals Out Electroshocks.
An American company is developing a jacket issuing electroshocks when touched (presently for women only). Even a firmly determined offender cannot seize the wearer. The inside is insulated, of course. The jacket is activated by a key and a switch at the sleeves and powered by a 9-volt battery . Source: Trendletter 7, 2003, p. 12; www.no-contact.com (with impressing video films). TF
8. Deutsche Gesellschaft für Kriminalistik e.V. (German Criminalistic Society)
As a result of a several-years discussion within the criminalistic lecturers of the Universities of Applied Sciences of the Länder and the Federation as well as the Lecturers of the Polizei-Führungsakademie, the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Kriminalistik (DGfK) was founded on march 15 2003. The aim of this independent society is to promote criminalistics in the fields of science, practice and professional training. Further information at www.kriminalistik.info or www.kriminalistik.com. TF
9. Should we move away from performance targets for the police? T
he CPB Netherlands Bureau for Economic Policy Research published a report on the value of performance contracts between the national government and the regional police forces. Such contracts establish a direct link between meeting a number of quantitative performance targets and financial incentives. The author concludes that the police may benefit most from informed assessment of police work through customer satisfaction surveys and review committees consisting of people who are familiar with policing. This approach contrasts with fixing a number of targets into a contract. In the case of policing, performance contracts invite a focus on 'meeting the numbers' rather than on improving performance. See http://www.cpb.nl/eng/pub/document/31/ for an abstract and the PDF. TF (thanks to Ben A. Vollaard, Fellow RAND Graduate School, Los Angeles, z.Zt. Centraal Planbureau, The Hague, Holland)
10. Spy Chips in Cars
Put an end to improper parking and dangerous overtaking: "Spy chops" in every car might soon unmask all traffic offenders. As per British media reports, police experts are elaborating plans for the British government allowing these tiny chips in every vehicle all over Europe. The EVI system is said to be able to punish 47 misdemeanours – car theft, driving without insurance etc. The reports say that Britain would have to change the existing traffic-controlling systems only slightly. Car producing companies would be obliged to mount the chips into all new cars, old vehicles would have beupdated. The chip records exceeded speed e.g. and "sneaks" the speeder to a central computer. So every trespasser would be snatched. URL: http://focus.msn.de/G/GN/gn.htm?snr=123722&streamsnr=241
TF (Thanks to Martin Herrnkind)
11. Juvenile Delinquency in Germany – Recent Findings
Recent statistic findings and criminological comments on the development of juvenlie delinquency in Germany were collected by Wolfgang Heinz, Constance, in July 2003 and presented in the internet at http://www.uni-konstanz.de/rtf/kik/Jugendkriminalitaet-2003-7-e.pdf. For more documents by the „Konstanzer Inventar Kriminalitätsentwicklung“ see: http://www.uni-konstanz.de/rtf/kik
TF
12. Bremen Long-Time-Analysis on the Criminal Careers of Juveniles
Long-Time-Analysis are rare and expensive. Now such a study has been executed in Germany. It goes into the criminal (and school and professional) career of the young. In total, 424 juveniles were accompanied between 1988 and 2001 (i.e. during 14 years). 83 percent of this group committed an offence at some time, i.e. only 17 percent did not at the age of 14 to 27. 12% constantly committed some crimes during this period. So delinquency is "scattered into the age of adolescense“ (Schumann), i.e. offences are episodes during this life period and may occur repeatedly in different intervals. The study looks at the conditions of certain courses of the criminal careers and the getting out. Source: Karl F. Schumann (Hrsg.): Berufsbildung, Arbeit und Delinquenz. Bremer Längsschnittstudie zum Übergang von der Schule in den Beruf bei ehemaligen Hauptschülern. Band 1; Juventa-Verlag Weinheim und München 2003, € 25.- , Karl F. Schumann (Hrsg.): Delinquenz im Lebensverlauf, Bremer Längsschnittstudie zum Übergang von der Schule in den Beruf bei ehemaligen Hauptschülern. Band 2, Juventa-Verlag Weinheim und München 2003, € 23.- (both volumes together € 39.-). For a more detailed review of the study see the "Bücherecke" of the Police Newsletter: http://www.polizei-newsletter.de/buecher.htm
13. Influence of Work Load, Dissatisfaction and Burn-Out of Police Officers on Police Use of Force and Victimization
Experience Violent encounters of police and citizens are often explained by high of the police officers. A Swiss study deals with the relation between work load and experience of violence of the police. Officers of the Zurich urban police
(Stadtpolizei) were questioned about their use of force, victimization experience, work load, work satisfaction and burn-out in written. The aim is to evaluate the influence of stress factors on the use of force apart from individual cases and normative connexions. Additionally they analysed files containing investigations against police officers because of violence as well as records against persons threatening or offending police officers. In accordance with international studies, this one shows that the questioned police officers, compared to other, non-social professions show a more distinct cynical, depersonalized attitude towards customers and see themselves as less efficient in their job. Altogether the author states that there is a strong mutual connexion between victimization experience and use of force. On this background he advocates an increased training of de-escalating tactics. Source: Patrik Manzoni, Gewalt zwischen Polizei und Bevölkerung. und Opfererfahrungen. Verlag Rüeger, Zürich-Chur 2003, 29,40
Euro; for the detailed review see the „Bücherecke“ of the Police Newsletter at http://www.polizei-newsletter.de/buecher.htm
TF