Explores the death penalty as imposed on young black males in the United States and examines the disparity in death penalty rates for homicides with black offenders and white victims. States continue to impose the death penalty rather than viewing youth violence as a failure of the social system. (SLD)

Discusses the issues addressed during the 2001-2002 term of the U.S. Supreme Court, which convened on October 1, 2001: (1) school vouchers; (2) affirmative action; (3) online pornography; and (4) the death penalty. (CMK)

Initial discussion of the definition, types, causes, and effects of child abuse and neglect is followed by a description of a study of child abuse in Samaru Village of Nigeria and the effects of such abuse on the development of the child. (BG)

In response to James Mulick (EC 232 032), this paper agrees with the need for careful use of aversive techniques to treat severe behavior disorders of persons who are mentally retarded but justifies such use on moral, legal, ethical, and practical bases as well as scientific ones. (DB)

The findings of a survey of 64 Black families do not support the hypothesis of role flexibility and sharing in Black households. The mothers in the sample, 78 percent of whom were employed, were primarily responsible for household maintenance and child rearing. (DM)

Describes a child discipline seminar designed for parents who are unaware of alternatives to corporeal punishment. Session topics include: (1) the definition of discipline; (2) major theories of child development; (3) parenting styles and their behavior outcomes in children; (4) common discipline techniques; (5) a model for handling negative…

Studies assessing treatments for severe behavior problems of developmentally delayed persons were reviewed. Procedures used in the 382 studies, published from 1967-1987, were analyzed in terms of problem behaviors, side effects, and treatment methods. Also examined were number of studies reported yearly, maintenance and generalization of effects,…

This article analyzes four federal court cases dealing with the use of reductive interventions to manage the behaviors of behaviorally disordered students in public schools. Definitions and principles of corporal punishment, suspension, expulsion, and timeout are outlined; and the legal status of these punishment procedures is explained.…

Discusses the issue of providing adequate legal representation for persons condemned to death. Asks if the rights of a poor capital defendant charged with a capital crime in the South enjoys fewer rights than one in Los Angeles and whether this creates a dual system of justice. Suggests that state action for improvement may be slow in coming. (KO)

Interviewed mothers about spanking infants and toddlers to determine beliefs and practice and relationships between factors affecting these beliefs and practices. Found that context of the spanking affects spanking beliefs and practice and that beliefs about spanking rather than impulse largely explain the prevalence of spanking for children under…

Analysis of observations of 70 adults making public verbal threats to physically punish or hurt children indicated that adults typically attributed unshared responsibility for group problems to the child and normalized their own aggression by acting as though nothing unusual had happened. The role of the ongoing interaction and the social context…

This family study with parents of 983 college students examined 2 models regarding the intergenerational transmission of corporal punishment. The social learning model asserts that corporal punishment influences aggressive child behavior, whereas the temperament theory suggests that aggressive child behavior impacts parental use of corporal…

Tested hypotheses concerning the relationship between alcohol and homicide from four major theoretical perspectives; specific predictions on the causes of types of homicide were also derived. Findings revealed that alcohol consumption rates change the way important predictors, such as poverty and deterrence, are related to specific types of…

This paper reviews the efficacy of aversive interventions in the treatment of individuals with developmental disabilities. It also considers the ethical and legal issues involved and concludes that there is empirical, ethical, and legal support for the continued availability of aversive interventions as treatment options if sufficient safeguards…

The comment on a paper about the use of aversive interventions with developmentally disabled persons (EC 602 022) questions the effectiveness of aversive interventions and suggests effective nonaversive or less aversive interventions can usually be found. (DB)