This article examines the concept of terrorism as a social and legal phenomenon, its international legal and criminal-legal characteristics. Highlighted are the main aspects of cooperation of the states and the international community to counter terrorist activities. Terrorism as a social phenomenon is determined by paragraph 1 of article 3 of the…

The following research will assist in better understanding if gender, major, and technology use influences success rates among the Latino-ethnic undergraduate students in a Hispanic Serving Institution. The site chosen to be studied was located in a southern region of Texas and in a highly impoverished area. A previously administered instrument…

Forensic linguistics (FL) provides consultation to lawyers through the analysis of language evidence during the pre-trial investigation. Evidence commonly analyzed by linguists in criminal cases includes transcripts of police interviews and language crimes (such as bribery) and anonymous or questioned texts. Forensic linguistic testimony is rarely…

There are several definitional problems inherent in the concept of "recidivism," some of which can be illustrated by comparing use of the term in the professional literature with students' definitions of the term. Thirty professional sources were reviewed to study the definitions of recidivism. Some sources provided more than one…

Scholars have called for an integration of knowledge of the jury trial process, and in response, this paper argues that the contingency rules theory of communication can integrate and advance understanding of the trial. Four common approaches to the study of the trial are outlined briefly and criticized: the jury characteristic approach, the jury…

An investigation into the types of propositions used in criminal trials reveals that the question being adjudicated in criminal trials is a proposition of fact that may or may not be influenced by policy and value considerations. The argument is offered that the proposition of fact identifies the ultimate issue in a legal debate. While value…

A study investigated the effects of order verdict consideration and decision rule on jury verdicts. After reading the summary of an actual trial, 240 mock jurors drawn from undergraduate communications classes were randomly assigned to six-member juries. Jury assignments were made under two verdict orders (ascending and descending order of…

Legislation regarding penalty severity and control over punishment raises questions about the effect of potential penalties on verdicts. Experimental evidence from previous studies is mixed and subject to debate over the worth of simulations. In this study it was expected that the effect of penalties on verdicts would depend on strength of…

Criminologists and gerontologists have reported increases in crimes perpetrated by elderly persons, but arrest data do not necessarily reflect this trend, due to failure to prosecute. To explore the influence of age, sex, race, and offense type on arrest and prosecution outcomes, Detroit Police Department arrest and case disposition data (1981),…

The content of pretrial crime stories in a national sample of 29 newspapers was analyzed to discover the extent of violations of the voluntary free-press fair-trial guidelines of the American Bar Association (ABA), which have been adopted by 23 states. The investigation also considered the relationship between violations and several relevant…

A simulated jury deliberation with experienced and inexperienced jurors sampled from the jury population of Hennepin County, Minnesota, was investigated. The purpose was to assess the impact of recent reforms in evidentiary rules pertaining to the admissibility of prior sexual history evidence in rape trials. Specific questions included: (1)…

This document contains seven papers from the ninth World Conference of Therapeutic Communities (TCs) that deal with drug abuse and the criminal justice system. Papers include: (1) "Some Characteristics of the Social Structure & Social Organization of the TCs" (Lewis Yablonsky); (2) "Therapeutics & Incarceration: They Said It…

Argues that the American criminal justice system is unjust because it victimizes Blacks and others on the basis of race and class. Examines economic, sociological, and ideological factors and asserts that prospects for reform are bleak. (KH)

California state statutes and a series of court cases have required campus security and police departments to release information about incidents occurring on campus to the media and the general public. Despite the law and case decisions, recent studies reveal campus police and security officials are still reluctant to release information to the…

Policy analysis, or policy study, is defined as the study of the nature, causes, and effects of alternative public policies; sometimes policy analysis refers to specific methods used. Two new developments associated with policy analysis are discussed. One is the concern for deducing the effects of alternative policies before they are adopted, as…