Introduction to Families and the Courts: Special Issue of \u3ci\u3eBehavioral Sciences & the Law\u3c/i\u3e

This special issue of Behavioral Sciences & the Law examines some of the many issues related to “Families and the courts.” As Judge Ted Rubin (this issue) observes, “Not everything or everybody ends up in a family court—or any other court—when there is a family problem. But much does and many do.” The issue deals with some of the family matters that do—or should—implicate the legal system (ranging from the attempts of gay men and lesbians to obtain legal recognition of their parental status vis-a-vis their children to the potential role of law in protecting children from emotional maltreatment by their parents). It also deals with issues regarding the nature, structure, definition, and jurisdiction of family courts; the practice of other courts that handle family matters (such as domestic violence), as well as some of the mental health professionals who aid the courts in their decision making. Scientific issues, practical issues, ethical issues, and political issues are covered. The six articles comprising the special issue span a vast territory

From the Guest Editor

Journal of Contemporary Rural Social Work Volume 7, Number 1: Special Issue 2015 From the Guest Editor: Pamela Casey Twis

Do Off-Campus Students Use E-Books?

The number of electronic books (e-books) that are available is increasing rapidly. Libraries are acquiring them individually, in large groups, and as part of collections. Off-campus librarians perceive them to be the best solution to the problems and expenses related to loaning and shipping print books to off-campus students. This study looks at the usage of e-books by off-campus students at Central Michigan University (CMU) to see if usage patterns can assist librarians with e-book collection development to support off-campus programs

MINDING THE COURT: ENHANCING THE DECISION-MAKING PROCESS

Scientists carefully study how our brain processes information, though judges rarely consider these studies. But this research has great potential significance to judges, who spend much of their time making decisions of great importance to others. Although the study of how the brain processes information is an evolving one, the information now available can help judges to make better decisions. Much of the processing for simple tasks—called reflexive processing—occurs in the background, while most of us solve riddles or math problems through reflective processing, which is deliberate and conscious. The reflective system has a limited capacity, so we operate on a principle of least effort, tending to rely on the reflexive system when possible. To do so, we often use what scientists call schemas, in which characteristics of objects, people, or behaviors coalesce into an easily recognizable pattern (like our ability to tell that a red octagon in the distance is a stop sign). Heuristics are schemas that are based on only part of the information available—letting us make decisions more quickly. But heuristics can be faulty in a variety of ways. And since heuristics (like all schemas) operate in the world of unconscious, reflexive processing, we can easily make errors without recognizing the source of a faulty decision. Anchoring is one of these heuristics: for example, a person is likely to give a higher or lower estimate of damages if a particularly high (or low) figure is introduced early in the process. That number— even if far off the mark—tends to act as an anchor around which later estimates are formed

Increasing Document Delivery to Off-Campus Students Through an Interdepartmental Partnership

At Central Michigan University, two separate departments in the Libraries have historically handled library services to distance learning and on-campus students. In 1999, Off-Campus Library Services and Interlibrary Loan (ILL) partnered to provide additional services to off-campus students through the on-campus ILL department. In this paper, the authors discuss the procedures, budget, successes and challenges of this interdepartmental cooperation

The Invention of Public Space: Designing for Inclusion in Lindsay's New York

Review of The Invention of Public Space: Designing for Inclusion in Lindsay's New York, Reviewed May 2021 by Pamela Casey, Architecture Archivist, Drawings & Archives, Avery Architectural & Fine Arts Library, [email protected]

Frederick Law Olmsted: Plans and Views of Public Parks

Review of Frederick Law Olmsted: Plans and Views of Public Parks, Reviewed July 2015 by Pamela Casey, MLIS (Archives) 2015, McGill University, [email protected]