Throwing the Book versus Cutting Some Slack: Factors Influencing the Use of Discretion by Game Wardens in Kentucky

An article written by Stephen L. Eliason and published in the 2003 issue of Deviant Behavior: An Interdisciplinary Journal, pages 129-152

Suicide and Suicide Risk in Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Populations: Review and Recommendations

Despite strong indications of elevated risk of suicidal behavior in lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people, limited attention has been given to research, interventions or suicide prevention programs targeting these populations. This article is a culmination of a three-year effort by an expert panel to address the need for better understanding of suicidal behavior and suicide risk in sexual minority populations, and stimulate the development of needed prevention strategies, interventions and policy changes. This article summarizes existing research findings, and makes recommendations for addressing knowledge gaps and applying current knowledge to relevant areas of suicide prevention practice

Behavioral, cognitive, and adaptive development in infants with autism spectrum disorder in the first 2 years of life

BACKGROUND: To delineate the early progression of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) symptoms, this study investigated developmental characteristics of infants at high familial risk for ASD (HR), and infants at low risk (LR). METHODS: Participants included 210 HR and 98 LR infants across 4 sites with comparable behavioral data at age 6, 12, and 24 months assessed in the domains of cognitive development (Mullen Scales of Early Learning), adaptive skills (Vineland Adaptive Behavioral Scales), and early behavioral features of ASD (Autism Observation Scale for Infants). Participants evaluated according to the DSM-IV-TR criteria at 24 months and categorized as ASD-positive or ASD-negative were further stratified by empirically derived cutoff scores using the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule yielding four groups: HR-ASD-High, HR-ASD-Moderate (HR-ASD-Mod), HR-ASD-Negative (HR-Neg), and LR-ASD-Negative (LR-Neg). RESULTS: The four groups demonstrated different developmental trajectories that became increasingly distinct from 6 to 24 months across all domains. At 6 months, the HR-ASD-High group demonstrated less advanced Gross Motor and Visual Reception skills compared with the LR-Neg group. By 12 months, the HR-ASD-High group demonstrated increased behavioral features of ASD and decreased cognitive and adaptive functioning compared to the HR-Neg and LR-Neg groups. By 24 months, both the HR-ASD-High and HR-ASD-Moderate groups demonstrated differences from the LR- and HR-Neg groups in all domains. CONCLUSIONS: These findings reveal atypical sensorimotor development at 6 months of age which is associated with ASD at 24 months in the most severely affected group of infants. Sensorimotor differences precede the unfolding of cognitive and adaptive deficits and behavioral features of autism across the 6- to 24-month interval. The less severely affected group demonstrates later symptom onset, in the second year of life, with initial differences in the social-communication domain. ELECTRONIC SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIAL: The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s11689-015-9117-6) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users

Some Polemical Observations on Utah\u27s Cooperative Wildlife Management Unit Program

Since the early 1990s, the state of Utah\u27s Division of Wildlife Resources (DWR) has sponsored the Cooperative Wildlife Management Unit (CWMU) hunting program (Messmer et al. 1998). Under this program, landowners who meet certain requirements are allotted a specified number of big-game hunting permits and may designate hunters of their choice to receive them. In most instances, those hunters then pay a fee (generally thousands of dollars) to hunt on the private land. In exchange, landowners are required to allot a certain minimal number of permits (15% of the total buck mule deer [Odocoileus hemionus] and bull elk [Alces alces] permits) to the public via a drawing and to provide them free access to hunt on the land

Policing the Poachers in a Western State: Game Wardens and the Use of Discretion

Game wardens are specialized law enforcement officers responsible for enforcing hunting and fishing laws designed to protect wildlife resources. While performing their duties they encounter a variety of wrongdoers that range from first time offenders to those who are chronic violators of the law. Little research exists on the use of discretion by wildlife law enforcement officers, or their attitudes toward offenders. This study took a qualitative approach to data collection and examined the use of discretion by game wardens in Montana and their perceptions of habitual poachers. Factors that were associated with the use of discretion included intent of the violator, seriousness of the offense, and age of the violator. The majority of wardens in the study expressed negative opinions toward violators that were chronic offenders. Findings contribute to our understanding of law enforcement attitudes and decision making

Structural Foundations, Triggering Events, and Ballot Initiatives: The Case of Proposition 5

A controversial piece of legislation affecting the taking of wildlife, approved during the 1998 general election by Utah voters, essentially serves as a tool to protect hunting rights. I document the recent increase in use of the ballot initiative process by special interest groups as a mechanism to change wildlife policy. I use Galliher\u27s (1989) structural foundations-triggering events framework to examine how and why laws originate, and I identify specific factors that contributed to the passage of this unique