The Political Attractiveness of Mandatory Minimum Sentences

This article addresses the question of why Canada still has mandatory minimum sentences despite inquiries by a number of commissions that suggest abolition. It suggests that politicians and judges alike not only promote mandatory minimum policies, but also speak about them in much the same way - as a way of fighting crime. Though the evidence is clear that mandatory minimum sentences are not an effective crime-control strategy, and actually disrupt the sensible operation of the justice system, it is apparent that the deterrence message they deliver is still functional for politicians and is rarely challenged by judges

The Political Attractiveness of Mandatory Minimum Sentences

This article addresses the question of why Canada still has mandatory minimum sentences despite inquiries by a number of commissions that suggest abolition. It suggests that politicians and judges alike not only promote mandatory minimum policies, but also speak about them in much the same way - as a way of fighting crime. Though the evidence is clear that mandatory minimum sentences are not an effective crime-control strategy, and actually disrupt the sensible operation of the justice system, it is apparent that the deterrence message they deliver is still functional for politicians and is rarely challenged by judges

Socioeconomic differentials in premature mortality in Rome: changes from 1990 to 2001

BACKGROUND: While socioeconomic inequalities in mortality have widened in many countries, evidence of social differentials is scarce in Southern Europe. We studied temporal changes in premature mortality across socioeconomic groups in Rome between 1990 and 2001. METHODS: We analysed all 126,511 death certificates of residents of Rome aged 0–74 years registered between 1990–2001. A 4-level census block index based on the 1991 census was used as an indicator of socioeconomic position (SEP). Using routine mortality data, standardised mortality rates (per 100,000 inhabitants) were calculated by SEP and gender for four time periods. Rate ratios were used to compare mortality by gender and age. RESULTS: Overall premature mortality decreased in both genders and in all socioeconomic groups; the change was greater in the highest socio-economic group. In both men and women, inequalities in mortality strengthened during the 1990s and appeared to stabilise at the end of the 20th century. However, for 60–74 year old women the gap continued to widen. CONCLUSION: Socioeconomic inequalities in health in Rome are still present at the beginning of the 21(st )century. Strategies to monitor the impact of SEP on mortality over time in different populations should be implemented to direct health policies

Incarcerated young men, masculinity, and trauma

The current article is part of a unique comparative study of the experiences and adjustment of 190 incarcerated young men in both Scotland and Canada. In collecting data on the participants’ lives, the authors learned of the multiple traumas and losses many of them had suffered. Many participants however seemed to adhere to a prison masculinity that may constrain help-seeking behavior. Ultimately, this article analyses the levels of trauma that exists in a population of incarcerated young men within the context and alongside of the masculine ideals they appeared to adhere to. This article advocates for gender-responsive trauma-informed care for incarcerated young men that incorporates an exploration and understanding of masculine identity and how it interacts with help-seeking and trauma recovery

Exposure to Residential Greenness as a Predictor of Cause-Specific Mortality and Stroke Incidence in the Rome Longitudinal Study.

BACKGROUND: Living in areas with higher levels of surrounding greenness and access to urban green areas have been associated with beneficial health outcomes. Some studies suggested a beneficial influence on mortality, but the evidence is still controversial. OBJECTIVES: We used longitudinal data from a large cohort to estimate associations of two measures of residential greenness exposure with cause-specific mortality and stroke incidence. METHODS: We studied a population-based cohort of 1,263,721 residents in Rome aged [Formula: see text], followed from 2001 to 2013. As greenness exposure, we utilized the leaf area index (LAI), which expresses the tree canopy as the leaf area per unit ground surface area, and the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) within 300- and [Formula: see text] buffers around home addresses. We estimated the association between the two measures of residential greenness and the outcomes using Cox models, after controlling for relevant individual covariates and contextual characteristics, and explored potential mediation by air pollution [fine particulate matter with aerodynamic diameter [Formula: see text] [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text]] and road traffic noise. RESULTS: We observed 198,704 deaths from nonaccidental causes, 81,269 from cardiovascular diseases [CVDs; 29,654 from ischemic heart disease (IHD)], 18,090 from cerebrovascular diseases, and 29,033 incident cases of stroke. Residential greenness, expressed as interquartile range (IQR) increase in LAI within [Formula: see text], was inversely associated with stroke incidence {hazard ratio (HR) 0.977 [95% confidence interval (CI): 0.961, 0.994]} and mortality for nonaccidental [HR 0.988 (95% CI: 0.981, 0.994)], cardiovascular [HR 0.984 (95% CI: 0.974, 0.994)] and cerebrovascular diseases [HR 0.964 (95% CI: 0.943, 0.985)]. Similar results were obtained using NDVI with 300- or [Formula: see text] buffers. CONCLUSIONS: Living in greener areas was associated with better health outcomes in our study, which could be partly due to reduced exposure to environmental hazards. Further research is required to understand the underlying mechanisms. https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP2854

A registry for Dravet syndrome: The Italian experience

Objectives: We describe the Residras registry, dedicated to Dravet syndrome (DS) and to other phenotypes related to SCN1A mutations, as a paradigm of registry for rare and complex epilepsies. Our primary objectives are to present the tools and framework of the integrative platform, the main characteristics emerging from the patient cohort included in the registry, with emphasis on demographic, clinical outcome, and mortality. / Methods: Standardized data of enrolled pediatric and adult patients were collected in 24 Italian expert centers and regularly updated at least on a yearly basis. Patients were prospectively enrolled, at registry starting, but historical retrospective data were also included. / Results: At present, 281 individuals with DS and a confirmed SCN1A mutation are included. Most patients have data available on epilepsy (n = 263) and their overall neurological condition (n = 255), based on at least one follow-up update. Median age at first clinical assessment was 2 years (IQR 0–9) while at last follow-up was 11 years (IQR 5–18.5). During the 7-year activity of the registry, five patients died resulting in a mortality rate of 1.84 per 1000-person-years. When analyzing clinical changes over the first 5-year follow-up, we observed a significant difference in cognitive function (P < 0.001), an increased prevalence of behavioral disorders including attention deficit (P < 0.001), a significant worsening of language (P = 0.001), and intellectual disability (P < 0.001). / Significance: The Residras registry represents a large collection of standardized national data for the DS population. The registry platform relies on a shareable and interoperable framework, which promotes multicenter high-quality data collection. In the future, such integrated platform may represent an invaluable asset for easing access to cohorts of patients that may benefit from clinical trials with emerging novel therapies, for drug safety monitoring, and for delineating natural history. Its framework makes it improvable based on growing experience with its use and easily adaptable to other rare and complex epilepsy syndromes

Long-term low-level ambient air pollution exposure and risk of lung cancer - A pooled analysis of 7 European cohorts.

BACKGROUND/AIM: Ambient air pollution has been associated with lung cancer, but the shape of the exposure-response function - especially at low exposure levels - is not well described. The aim of this study was to address the relationship between long-term low-level air pollution exposure and lung cancer incidence. METHODS: The "Effects of Low-level Air Pollution: a Study in Europe" (ELAPSE) collaboration pools seven cohorts from across Europe. We developed hybrid models combining air pollution monitoring, land use data, satellite observations, and dispersion model estimates for nitrogen dioxide (NO2), fine particulate matter (PM2.5), black carbon (BC), and ozone (O3) to assign exposure to cohort participants' residential addresses in 100 m by 100 m grids. We applied stratified Cox proportional hazards models, adjusting for potential confounders (age, sex, calendar year, marital status, smoking, body mass index, employment status, and neighborhood-level socio-economic status). We fitted linear models, linear models in subsets, Shape-Constrained Health Impact Functions (SCHIF), and natural cubic spline models to assess the shape of the association between air pollution and lung cancer at concentrations below existing standards and guidelines. RESULTS: The analyses included 307,550 cohort participants. During a mean follow-up of 18.1 years, 3956 incident lung cancer cases occurred. Median (Q1, Q3) annual (2010) exposure levels of NO2, PM2.5, BC and O3 (warm season) were 24.2 µg/m3 (19.5, 29.7), 15.4 µg/m3 (12.8, 17.3), 1.6 10-5m-1 (1.3, 1.8), and 86.6 µg/m3 (78.5, 92.9), respectively. We observed a higher risk for lung cancer with higher exposure to PM2.5 (HR: 1.13, 95% CI: 1.05, 1.23 per 5 µg/m3). This association was robust to adjustment for other pollutants. The SCHIF, spline and subset analyses suggested a linear or supra-linear association with no evidence of a threshold. In subset analyses, risk estimates were clearly elevated for the subset of subjects with exposure below the EU limit value of 25 µg/m3. We did not observe associations between NO2, BC or O3 and lung cancer incidence. CONCLUSIONS: Long-term ambient PM2.5 exposure is associated with lung cancer incidence even at concentrations below current EU limit values and possibly WHO Air Quality Guidelines

Incarcerated Young Men and Boys:Trauma, Masculinity and the Need for Trauma-Informed, Gender-Sensitive Correctional Care

In this chapter we bring together three previously unconnected areas of research relating to young men and boys: trauma and prison, trauma and masculinity, and prison masculinities. Within the existing literature there emerges a significant focus on incarcerated young women and trauma, while there is a relative dearth of literature focusing on young men and boys and their trauma experiences prior to, and as a consequence of, incarceration. Furthermore, we consider the ways in which masculinity and trauma interact to reduce the likelihood that young men and boys are able to seek help or benefit from treatment. Consequently, this chapter advocates that there is a pressing need to better understand how prison masculinities interface with trauma-informed care. It is evident that more research is needed with young men and boys about their trauma experiences, the manifestation of their trauma symptoms and how to better support their recovery. Ultimately, through considering these areas and exploring areas of connection and disconnection, we argue for both trauma-informed and gender-sensitive correctional care for incarcerated young men and boys, whose vulnerabilities have tended to be overlooked

Mortality and morbidity in a population exposed to multiple sources of air pollution: A retrospective cohort study using air dispersion models

AbstractBackground and aimsA landfill, an incinerator, and a refinery plant have been operating since the early 1960s in a contaminated site located in the suburb of Rome (Italy). To evaluate their potential health effects, a population-based retrospective cohort study was conducted using dispersion modeling for exposure assessment.MethodsA fixed cohort was enrolled in the Rome Longitudinal Study in 2001, mortality and hospitalizations were followed-up until 2010. Exposure assessments to the landfill (H2S), the incinerator (PM10), and the refinery plant (SOX) were performed for each subject using a Lagrangian dispersion model. Individual and small-area variables were available (including exposures levels to NO2 from traffic and diesel trucks). Cox regression analysis was performed (hazard ratios, HRs, 95% CI) using linear terms for the exposures (5th–95th percentiles difference). Single and bi-pollutant models were run.ResultsThe cohort included 85,559 individuals. The estimated annual average exposures levels were correlated. H2S from the landfill was associated with cardiovascular hospital admissions in both genders (HR 1.04 95% CI 1.00–1.09 in women); PM10 from the incinerator was associated with pancreatic cancer mortality in both genders (HR 1.40 95% CI 1.03–1.90 in men, HR 1.47 95% CI 1.12–1.93 in women) and with breast morbidity in women (HR 1.13 95% CI 1.00–1.27). SOx from the refinery was associated with laryngeal cancer mortality in women (HR 4.99 95% CI 1.64–15.9) and respiratory hospital admissions (HR 1.13 95% CI 1.01–1.27).ConclusionsWe found an association of the pollution sources with some cancer forms and cardio-respiratory diseases. Although there was a high correlation between the estimated exposures, an indication of specific effects from the different sources emerged