Canadian Journal of Criminology and Criminal Justice/La Revue canadienne de criminologie et de justice pénale
Volume 52, Number 5 October 2010 is now available at http://utpjournals.metapress.com/content/l847q2237728/.
This issue contains:
La télésurveillance policière dans les lieux publics : l'apprentissage d'une technologie
Mathieu Charest, Pierre Tremblay, Rémi Boivin, et al.
Abstract :Few studies have investigated law enforcement agencies' motivation and capacity to integrate video surveillance of public places into patrol- and criminal-investigation practices or the extent to which that motivation and capacity are constrained by independent regulatory agencies. In this paper, we assess the impact of a law-enforcement experiments in video surveillance in Montreal during a five-year period (2004 to 2008). Two strategies are compared. The first strategy made use of CCTV as a proactive and integrated element of a problem-solving initiative targeting an open-air drug-dealing market. The second strategy was essentially passive and CCTV cameras were spread along a street known for its nightlife, bars scene, and clubs. Findings show that video surveillance is, in fact, effective when closely linked to traditional police strategies and focused on a specific, recurrent, and localized problem. CCTV did manage to have an impact on the incidence of drug-dealing transactions as well as a collateral impact on the incidence of other offences, especially violent crimes. The second and more common approach, however, had no impact on crime.
http://utpjournals.metapress.com/content/10mr4tqv323j0008/?p=d3baa02a0d904caa85cfa53b0627575c&pi=0
Isabelle Beaudoin, Étienne Blais
Abstract: Results of studies using cross-section and time series data call into question the utility of deterrence theory to explain the relationship between arrests and crime. In this study, we propose that the absence of a relationship between arrests and the crime rate is explained, in part, by the omission of notions of contextual and structural deterrence in the analysis. Contextual deterrence would be produced when the risk of arrest is increased to an unacceptable level for the population and this risk is maintained over a lengthy period of time. Structural deterrence underscores the importance of considering police jurisdictions as a unit of analysis, since the sentence would affect the exposed population. In order to demonstrate the utility of such notions, we have evaluated the effect of the Road and Traffic Safety Team of the Montreal Police Service on collisions involving injuries. Our results show that the introduction of the Road and Traffic Safety Team was followed by an immediate and sustained increase in police activity, which, in turn, led to a gradual decrease in collisions with injury. These results show the importance of including the concepts of contextual and structural effects in the study of the general deterrent effect of sentencing.
http://utpjournals.metapress.com/content/97g57pr74103hm46/?p=d3baa02a0d904caa85cfa53b0627575c&pi=1
Marie-Eve Boudreau, Marc Ouimet
Abstract:In Quebec, the rate of sexual assault has risen since the 1980s, while the rate of aggravated (more serious) sexual assault has abated. How can these contradictory tendencies be explained? This study examines the empirical merits of the hypothesis that the increased rate of simple sexual assault is a result of more frequent denunciations of these offences in the period observed. The empirical corpus of this study is made up of 461 articles about sexual assault that appeared in the Journal de Montréal between 1974 and 2006. The results suggest that the increase in simple sexual assault in Quebec is an artificial phenomenon, attributable, in the main, to a higher level of denunciation of sexual assault, which has been encouraged by an increase in media coverage of sexual violence and the enactment of legislation in 1983. The secondary hypothesis that this denunciation has had a dissuasive effect is also examined.
http://utpjournals.metapress.com/content/18457302871462p0/?p=d3baa02a0d904caa85cfa53b0627575c&pi=2
Carolyn Greene, Jane B. Sprott, Natasha S. Madon, et al.
Abstract: For those who are negotiating their way through court, there are potentially many aspects of the court-room atmosphere that can be perceived as unpleasant. Moreover, issues arising from general delays, confusion, and unprofessional conduct may be related to broader evaluations of the entire justice system, independently of how fairly people feel that they, personally, were treated by specific court actors. We explored this by interviewing youths after their first court appearance and by independently coding the overall atmosphere of the court-room. We found that, independently of how fairly youths felt they themselves had been treated, the atmosphere of the courtroom was significantly related to their overall assessments of the legitimacy of the criminal justice system. Those who experienced an atmosphere of confusion and unprofessionalism tended to view the entire justice system as less legitimate than did those who experienced better days.
http://utpjournals.metapress.com/content/g304271960231232/?p=d3baa02a0d904caa85cfa53b0627575c&pi=3
Brent Snook, Joseph Eastwood, Sarah MacDonald
Abstract: The administration of the right-to-silence and right-to-legal-counsel cautions in 126 investigative interviews (37 videotapes, 89 transcripts) was evaluated with a 78-item coding manual. We found that the right-to-silence and right-to-legal-counsel cautions were administered in 87% and 83% of the interviews, respectively. Average speech rates for both cautions exceeded acceptable levels for ensuring listening comprehension. Although the right-to-silence and right-to-legal-counsel cautions were not always read verbatim, the interviewers rarely missed rights that are contained in the cautions or incorrectly read the cautions. Interviewees almost always confirmed that they understood both cautions, but interviewers rarely attempted to verify that they actually understood them. Attempts to explain various rights in both cautions were always done correctly. Interviewees invoked their right to silence in 25% of cases and chose to speak to a lawyer in 31% of cases. The implications of these findings for improving the administration of justice in Canada are discussed.
http://utpjournals.metapress.com/content/85u152071621q720/?p=d3baa02a0d904caa85cfa53b0627575c&pi=4
Book Reviews / Recensions de livres (October/octobre 2010)
http://utpjournals.metapress.com/content/054528132732v453/?p=d3baa02a0d904caa85cfa53b0627575c&pi=5
Books Received / Livres reçus – October/octobre 2010
http://utpjournals.metapress.com/content/r850q3q11r63k651/?p=d3baa02a0d904caa85cfa53b0627575c&pi=6
Index to Volume 52 /Index du volume 52
http://utpjournals.metapress.com/content/j7424270u2120756/?p=d3baa02a0d904caa85cfa53b0627575c&pi=7
Canadian Journal of Criminology and Criminal Justice
Now in its 52nd year of publication, the Canadian Journal of Criminology and Criminal Justice – one of the most established journals of criminology in the world – is now available ONLINE.
CJCCJ, led by an editorial team selected from the criminology and criminal justice research communities in Canada and abroad, is the inter-disciplinary forum for original contributions and discussion in the field of criminology and criminal justice. Its focus is on the theoretical and scientific aspects of the study of crime and the practical problems of law enforcement, administration of justice and the treatment of offenders.
This highly respected scientific publication of the Canadian Criminal Justice Association features in-depth articles based on research and experimentation and appeals to justice administrators, researchers and practitioners, academics, and anyone wishing to keep abreast of recent criminological findings and opinions.
The CJCCJ frequently publishes special thematic issues. Recent issues have explored topics such as the Youth Criminal Justice Act, wrongful convictions, criminology research in Canada, and punishment and restorative justice. Forthcoming issues of interest are Privacy and Police Powers (available summer 2008) and Car Theft (available late 2008).
Canadian Journal of Criminology and Criminal Justice
University of Toronto Press — Journals Division
5201 Dufferin St., Toronto, ON, Canada M3H 5T8
Tel: (416) 667-7810 Fax: (416) 667-7881
Fax Toll Free in North America 1-800-221-9985
email:[log in to unmask]
www.utpjournals.com/cjccj/cjccj.html
utpjournals.metapress.com
UTP Journals on Facebook and Twitter http://www.facebook.com/utpjournals
http://www.twitter.com/utpjournals
Join us for advance notice of tables of contents of forthcoming issues,
author and editor commentaries and insights, calls for papers and advice on
publishing in our journals. Become a fan and receive free access to articles
weekly through UTPJournals focus.
posted by T Hawkins, UTP Journals