Delphi in Criminal Justice Policy: A Case Study on Judgmental Forecasting

This article provides an in-depth case study analysis of a pilot project organized by the section Strategic Analysis of the Belgian Federal Police. Using the Delphi method, which is a judgmental forecasting technique, a panel of experts was questioned about future developments of crime, based on their expertise in criminal or social trends. The results demonstrate how police authorities could implement judgmental forecasting methods like Delphi methodology for the anticipation of future criminal trends, and how this technique, applied under specific conditions, can complement current crime analysis techniques. This article will not focus on criminal trends that were forecasted in the pilot project, but on the preconditions for using the Delphi method in criminal justice policy. Hence, this article could contribute to future applications of judgmental forecasting techniques by practitioners in both criminal justice systems and other policy domains

The Dutch Whistleblowers Authority in an international perspective: a comparative study

The Dutch Whistleblowers Authority (Huis voor klokkenluiders) was created in July 2016. After a year into its existence, it commissioned research into how its tasks and mandates compared to whistleblowing agencies in other countries. This report is the result of that research. The report presents an international comparison of institutions with advisory, psychosocial care, investigative and/or preventative tasks with regard to whistleblowing. The characteristics of the Dutch Whistleblowers Authority are the starting point of that comparison. The research involved a comparison of the above dimensions in the Netherlands with those in ten other countries: Australia, Belgium, France, Ireland, Israel, Norway, Republic of Korea, Serbia, UK, and USA. For each of these countries, information was sought about reporting culture, legal context, and the institutional context. The legal context included how the whistleblowing legislation had emerged, the scope of wrongdoing in the whistleblowing legislation, and the scope of protected persons (target group) of the whistleblowing legislation. The institutional context included information about tasks and mandates of the agencies that implement the whistleblowing legislation, institutional characteristics of the agencies that perform any of the tasks similar to those of the Dutch Whistleblowers Authority, and mandates for the protection of whistleblowers. The findings in this report were arrived at through analysis of policy and legislative documents, analysis of existing research reports about selected institutions and implementation of whistleblowing legislation, and interviews with representatives of whistleblowing institutions or whistleblowing experts (academics) from the selected countries. In total 17 telephone interviews and four face-to-face interviews were conducted. These respondents also reviewed the respective country summaries we developed based on these three data sources

The Dutch Whistleblowers Authority in an international perspective: a comparative study

The Dutch Whistleblowers Authority (Huis voor klokkenluiders) was created in July 2016. After a year into its existence, it commissioned research into how its tasks and mandates compared to whistleblowing agencies in other countries. This report is the result of that research. The report presents an international comparison of institutions with advisory, psychosocial care, investigative and/or preventative tasks with regard to whistleblowing. The characteristics of the Dutch Whistleblowers Authority are the starting point of that comparison. The research involved a comparison of the above dimensions in the Netherlands with those in ten other countries: Australia, Belgium, France, Ireland, Israel, Norway, Republic of Korea, Serbia, UK, and USA. For each of these countries, information was sought about reporting culture, legal context, and the institutional context. The legal context included how the whistleblowing legislation had emerged, the scope of wrongdoing in the whistleblowing legislation, and the scope of protected persons (target group) of the whistleblowing legislation. The institutional context included information about tasks and mandates of the agencies that implement the whistleblowing legislation, institutional characteristics of the agencies that perform any of the tasks similar to those of the Dutch Whistleblowers Authority, and mandates for the protection of whistleblowers. The findings in this report were arrived at through analysis of policy and legislative documents, analysis of existing research reports about selected institutions and implementation of whistleblowing legislation, and interviews with representatives of whistleblowing institutions or whistleblowing experts (academics) from the selected countries. In total 17 telephone interviews and four face-to-face interviews were conducted. These respondents also reviewed the respective country summaries we developed based on these three data sources

Дослідження асоціації хламідійної інфекції з фоновими, диспластичними процесами та з інтраепітеліальним раком шийки матки

Проведено комплексне обстеження (кольпоскопія, цитологічне дослідження, полімеразна ланцюгова реакція — ПЛР) 117 жінок віком від 17 до 64 років. За допомогою методу ПЛР здійснено якісне виявлення Chlamydia trachomatis та інших збудників інфекцій, що передаються статевим шляхом, у мазках з цервікального каналу та шийки матки. Визначено асоціацію хламідійної інфекції (моно- та мікстінфекції) з помірно вираженою та важкою дисплазією епітелію шийки матки переважно у жінок віком 25–35 років, які ведуть активне статеве життя. Обговорюється роль урогенітальних інфекцій у прогресуванні диспластичних змін епітелію та у виникненні раку шийки матки.The paper presents findings of a complex examination (including colposcopy, cytological examination, and polymerase chain reaction (PCR)) of 117 women aged between 17 and 64. With the help of PCR, Chlamydia trachomatis and other infectious agents that are transmissed amphipathicly were detected qualitatively in the smears from the cervical canal. An association between the chlamydious infection (mono or mixed infections) and abstainious or severe dysplasia of the uterine neck epithelium was disclosed primarily in sexually active women between 25 and 35 years of age. The paper discusses the role of urogenital infections in the progression of dysplastic changes in the epithelium and in the development of uterine neck cancer

Who is the (“Ideal”) Victim of Labor Exploitation? Two Qualitative Vignette Studies on Labor Inspectors’ Discretion

This paper analyzes how labor inspectors deal with ambiguous legal boundaries between those who can and who cannot be identified as a labor exploitation victim. Street-level bureaucracy research has largely overlooked how frontline officers deal with victims. We combine the street-level bureaucracy framework with insights from symbolic interactionism and criminology about ‘ideal/iconic victims’ to explain how inspectors use heuristics based on societal norms about victimhood to deal with legal ambiguity when dealing with potential labor exploitation cases. Using qualitative vignette studies in Belgium and the Netherlands, our results show that the perceived vulnerability and blamelessness of employees have a crucial role in inspectors’ assessment of who is and is not a labor exploitation victim. More specifically, migrant workers are seen as more vulnerable than native workers, particularly if they are female, and perceived complicity of social fraud reduces the chance that workers are seen as exploitation victims. Furthermore, also perceived employer characteristics have a role in case assessment. Our findings thus show that within the context of legal ambiguity, labor inspectors use stereotypical societal victim perceptions as heuristics, which can result in legal uncertainty and the risk that those suffering exploitations do not receive the support they need

Who is the ("ideal") Victim of Labor Exploitation? Two Qualitative Vignette Studies on Labor Inspectors' Discretion

This paper analyzes how labor inspectors deal with ambiguous legal boundaries between those who can and who cannot be identified as a labor exploitation victim. Street-level bureaucracy research has largely overlooked how frontline officers deal with victims. We combine the street-level bureaucracy framework with insights from symbolic interactionism and criminology about ‘ideal/iconic victims’ to explain how inspectors use heuristics based on societal norms about victimhood to deal with legal ambiguity when dealing with potential labor exploitation cases. Using qualitative vignette studies in Belgium and the Netherlands, our results show that the perceived vulnerability and blamelessness of employees have a crucial role in inspectors’ assessment of who is and is not a labor exploitation victim. More specifically, migrant workers are seen as more vulnerable than native workers, particularly if they are female, and perceived complicity of social fraud reduces the chance that workers are seen as exploitation victims. Furthermore, also perceived employer characteristics have a role in case assessment. Our findings thus show that within the context of legal ambiguity, labor inspectors use stereotypical societal victim perceptions as heuristics, which can result in legal uncertainty and the risk that those suffering exploitations do not receive the support they need

Towards a Custom-Made Whistleblowing Policy. Using Grid-Group Cultural Theory to Match Policy Measures to Different Styles of Peer Reporting

To be effective, whistleblowing policies should be adapted to the organisational culture. They need to be custom-made and not follow a one-size-fits-all logic, specifically when they are installed to stimulate responsible peer reporting, a highly sensitive and value-laden type of whistleblowing. This paper attempts to illustrate that grid-group cultural theory could help to construct a whistleblowing policy by linking reporting styles to the organisational culture. First, we will identify four types of policy measures that are hypothesized to be effective in four types of organisational culture. Second, we develop the hypothesis that certain organisational cultures can induce peer reporting that is harmful for the organisation. The whistleblowing policy can then be used as a catalyst for cultural change

Environmental justice: Bridging the gap between experts and laymen

Sustainable Development deals with highly technological issues (e.g. genetic manipulation, brain science, environmental protection, etc.). The decision making process therefore tends to be very complex. The task for policymakers is extremely difficult due to the involvement of different stakeholders, such as experts, public organisations and unorganised citizens. The importance of lay knowledge in technological and complex policy domains is often underestimated. Opponents of citizen participation use arguments related to NIMBY (Not In My Backyard), lack of interest, and knowledge deficiencies. Nevertheless, obtaining public support for policy decisions in the domain of Sustainable Development is essential. In this chapter we will examine if and how integration of expert and lay knowledge is possible in complex policy issues and how we can reduce the gap between experts, policymakers and citizens. The main focus will be on the integration of expert and lay knowledge in design and policymaking processes. We first describe the (dis)advantages of citizen participation and then consider the conditions for successful citizen involvement in policymaking, distinguishing between participants in lay and in professional roles. We then focus on a model to determine whether public involvement is opportune in a specific situation: Thomas’ ‘Effective Decision Model of Public Involvement.’ We discuss some specific techniques and international initiatives for citizen participation in the domain of Sustainable Development. Finally, we focus on three best practices of citizen (lay), expert, and organisational participation in highly technological or complex issues. In Belgium the King Baudouin Foundation is specialised in dialogue with citizens and experts about Brain Science and Food Safety. In the Netherlands we examine the policy programme ‘Policy with Citizens’ of the Dutch Ministry of Housing, Spatial Planning and the Environment (2005). The third case is the Danish Board of Technology, specialised in active citizenship in technological issues