Assessing the Impact of the Court Response to Domestic Violence in Two Neighboring Counties

Since the 1970s, there has been a proliferation of research on domestic violence (DV). The majority of research, however, has focused on the correlates of DV and far fewer studies have examined the criminal justice system\u27s approach to addressing DV. This is particularly concerning given that historically, the criminal justice system was rooted in English Common Law and tolerant of marital discipline to maintain household stability. Through the efforts of women\u27s rights advocates, policy makers began devising innovative strategies for responding to DV, including provisions for mandatory arrests, no-drop policies, and the establishment of specialized DV courts. Although there has been an increase in the number of studies examining the criminal justice system\u27s response to DV, a limited number of these are devoted to the court\u27s response, and even fewer studies have examined specialized courts\u27 response to DV. Further, a limited number of investigations have focused on the effects of decision-making in DV cases on future DV offending. This study attempts to overcome these shortcomings by examining the response to DV by two specialized DV courts in South Carolina. The predictors of prosecutorial and judicial decision-making are assessed within the two courts and the magnitude of these effects is compared across counties. Further, the extent to which general courtroom theoretical frameworks extend to our understanding decision-making in specialized DV courts is discussed. The impact of court decisions on recidivism is also explored. The results indicate that both courts proactively responded to DV and operated under a treatment-oriented sentencing approach; there were, however, differences in conviction rates and sentencing between the two courts. Legal, case processing, and extralegal variables were relevant to the explanation of courtroom decision-making in the two courts and few differences existed in the magnitude of the effects across courts. General theoretical frameworks extend only partial utility for explaining decision-making in specialized DV courts. Finally, overall, court decisions were limited in their effect on future DV re-arrests. In all, this study adds to the growing literature surrounding specialized DV courts, courtroom decision-making in DV cases, and the effects of courtroom decisions on future offending

Despite the idea that all are equal under the law, women are often treated more leniently in pretrial decisions.

The 14th Amendment guarantees that Americans are all equal under the law, but in reality this is often not the case. In new research which covers nearly 78,000 felony defendants, Gillian M. Pinchevsky and Benjamin Steiner examined the whether or not criminal defendants received different treatment based on their sex or other characteristics during their pretrial period. They find that compared to men, female defendants were treated more leniently during the pretrial process. In addition, women arrested for more serious offenses were treated more harshly than other women

The implementation of current guidelines regarding the treatment of cardiovascular risk in type 2 diabetics

Background: Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is defined by an increase in serum glucose, however, this leads to the belief that only the serum glucose levels need be monitored and treated. Hence many other risk factors such as obesity, lipids and blood pressure which increase the risk of coronary heart disease, myocardial infarction, stroke and peripheral vascular disease are neglected. Consequently, T2DM patients that are at greater risk of developing cardiovascular disease (CVD), are often not receiving optimal comprehensive care. Aims: To identify the treatment gaps of cardiovascular risk factors in patients with T2DM using both national and international current treatment guidelines. Methods: Using a public sector database, data was obtained on the treatment of 666 T2DM patients. Records of patients were selected on the basis of established T2DM diagnoses, receiving oral hypoglycaemic and/or insulin therapy. The following patient data was recorded: demographics (age, gender, ethnicity), systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c), total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), HDL-cholesterol (HDL-C), LDL-cholesterol (LDL-C) , family history, cardiovascular history and all chronic medications. The following parameters were applied to the cohort: SBP 1.0 mmol/L (males), HDL-C >1.2 mmol/L (females) and TG <1.7 mmol/L. In patients with established CVD, LDL-C target: ≤1.8 mmol/L. Results: The study cohort consisted of 666 T2DM-patients. 55% females. Mean age was 63 years (SD: 11.8), mean HbA1c was 8.7% (SD: 2.4). The mean SBP and DBP readings for the cohort were 133.66 (SD: 19.9) and 78.07 mmHg (SD: 11.6), respectively. Mean LDL-cholesterol was 2.6 mmol/L (SD: 0.9). 26.2% reached HbA1c of ≤7%, 45.8% reached ≤130/80 mm Hg blood pressure targets, 53.8% reached LDL-C of ≤2.5mmol/L and all 3 were reached by 7.5% of the cohort. TC ≤4.5 mmol/L was reached by 53.8%, 60.2% reached TG ≤1.7mmol/L, 58.6% males and 52.8% females reached HDL-C targets of ≥1.0 mmol/L and ≥1.2 mmol/L, respectively. There were 17.9% of patients with CVD reaching targets of LDL-C ≤1.8 mmol/L whilst 16.4% of patients with nephropathy reaching targets of ≤120/70 mm Hg. Almost half (48.2%) were not receiving lipid-lowering therapy, yet would be deemed eligible for therapy. Blood pressure targets may have been better reached with appropriate dosage reductions in addition to the introduction of further antihypertensive combination therapy. CVD was present in 15.5%. Conclusions: T2DM patients are at high-risk for CVD. Many trials have demonstrated the benefits of targeting CVD risk factors (HbA1c, blood pressure, serum lipids) in T2DM. Less than 10% of CVD risk factor targets were reached by the study cohort despite treatment guideline recommendations. The data from the study suggests poor control of modifiable cardiovascular risk factors and significant under treatment of T2DM in clinical practice. Whether improvement lies in the form of therapeutic titration adjustment or an increase in patient education, there needs to be a more aggressive multi-factorial therapeutic approach to treating this high risk group of patients in order to reduce overall morbidity, mortality and improve patient outcomes

Neighborhoods and Intimate Partner Violence: A Decade in Review

We consider the broad developments that have occurred over the past decade regarding our knowledge of how neighborhood context impacts intimate partner violence (IPV). Research has broadened the concept of “context” beyond structural features such as economic disadvantage, and extended into relationships among residents, collective “action” behaviors among residents, cultural and gender norms. Additionally, scholars have considered how the built environment might foster (or regulate) IPV. We now know more about the direct, indirect, and moderating ways that communities impact IPV. We encourage additional focus on the policy implications of the research findings

Treatment Gaps Found in the Management of Type 2 Diabetes at a Community Health Centre in Johannesburg, South Africa

Aims. The management of cardiometabolic goals or “ABCs” (HbA1c, blood pressure (BP), and cholesterol) ultimately determines the morbidity and mortality outcomes in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). We sought to determine if patients with T2DM attending an urbanized public sector community health centre (CHC) were having their ABCs measured, were treated with appropriate cardioprotective agents and finally, were achieving guideline-based targets. Methods and Results. A cross-sectional record review of 519 patients was conducted between May and August 2015. The mean age was 54 years (SD: ±11.5) and 54% (n=280) were females. Testing of ABCs occurred in 68.8% (n=357) for HbA1c, 95.4% (n=495) for BP, and 58.6% (n=304) for LDL-C. Achievement of ABC targets was as follows: 19.3% (HbA1c < 7%), 22.0% (BP < 140/80 mmHg), and 56.3% (LDL-C < 2.5 mmol/l). Conclusion. There were a significant number of patients who were not tested nor received adequate pharmacotherapy or achieved their ABC targets. This places these patients at an increased risk for the development of diabetes-related complications. Although the realities of resource constraints exist in South Africa’s public sector settings, a wider implementation of evidence-based guidelines must be instituted in order to ensure better patient outcomes

The effects of exposure to violence and victimization across life domains on adolescent substance us

This study uses longitudinal data from the Project on Human Development in Chicago Neighborhoods (PHDCN) to examine the effects of exposure to school violence, community violence, child abuse, and parental intimate partner violence (IPV) on youths’ subsequent alcohol and marijuana use. We also examine the cumulative effects of being exposed to violence across these domains. Longitudinal data were obtained from 1,655 adolescents and their primary caregivers participating in the PHDCN. The effects of adolescents’ exposure to various forms of violence across different life domains were examined relative to adolescents’ frequency of alcohol and marijuana use three years later. Multivariate statistical models were employed to control for a range of child, parent, and family risk factors. Exposure to violence in a one-year period increased the frequency of substance use three years later, though the specific relationships between victimization and use varied for alcohol and marijuana use. Community violence and child abuse, but not school violence or exposure to IPV, were predictive of future marijuana use. None of the independent measures of exposure to violence significantly predicted future alcohol use. Finally, the accumulation of exposure to violence across life domains was detrimental to both future alcohol and marijuana use. The findings support prior research indicating that exposure to multiple forms of violence, across multiple domains of life, negatively impacts adolescent outcomes, including substance use. The findings also suggest that the context in which exposure to violence occurs should be considered in future research, since the more domains in which youth are exposed to violence, the fewer “safe havens” they have available. Finally, a better understanding of the types of violence youth encounter and the contexts in which these experiences occur can help inform intervention efforts aimed at reducing victimization and its negative consequences

The implementation of guidelines in a South African population with type 2 diabetes

Objective: The aim of this study was to identify the treatment gaps that pertain to risk factors in South African patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus, using national treatment guidelines.Design: Cross-sectional study.Setting and subjects: The study consisted of 666 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus, attending a diabetes clinic at the Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital.Outcome measures: Using a public sector database, retrospective data were obtained on the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus participants. Patients were randomly selected on the basis of established type 2 diabetes mellitus diagnosis, and if they were receiving oral hypoglycaemic and/or insulin therapy. Age, gender, race, blood pressure, haemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) and fasting lipids were captured and measured. The history of patients’ previous coronary artery disease, strokes, nephropathy, neuropathy and retinopathy was recorded.Results: The mean age of the patients was 63 years [standard deviation (SD) 11.9], 55% of whom were females. The HbA1c was 8.8% (SD 2.5). 26.2% of patients attained HbA1c levels of &lt; 7%. Of the total patients, 45.8% met a &lt; 130/80 mmHg blood pressure target, and 53.8% a low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol of &lt; 2.5 mmol/l. Only 7.5% obtained the combined target for HbA1c , blood pressure and LDL cholesterol.Conclusion: Traditionally, type 2 diabetes mellitus treatment has centred on correcting blood glucose levels. Yet, as many as 80% of people with type 2 diabetes mellitus die from some form of cardiovascular disease  (CVD). Many trials have demonstrated the benefits of targeting CVD risk factors (HbA1c, blood pressure and lipids) in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Despite the wealth of evidence, our data suggest that significant undertreatment of risk factors in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus remains.Keywords: diabetes mellitus, risk factors, targets, managemen

The Achievement of Glycaemic, Blood Pressure and LDL Cholesterol Targets in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Attending a South African Tertiary Hospital Outpatient Clinic

Objectives: To determine differences in the control of multiple diabetes control parameters in a select group of subjects with type 2 diabetes (T2DM) after a four-year follow-up period.Design: Cross-sectional study.Setting and subjects: The initial 2009 study population consisted of 666 T2DM patients of whom only 261 (39.2%) were audited at the Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital. Outcome measures: Using a public sector database, retrospective data were obtained on the treatment of participants with T2DM attending a tertiary care setting and a descriptive analysis was done.Results: The mean age was 64 (SD 10.6) years, women represented 55% of the cohort and the mean duration of diabetes was 16 years (range 2–40 years) in 2013. Fewer patients achieved an HbA1c goal (of &lt; 7%) in 2013 (15.5%) compared with 2009 (25.4%), whilst an additional 13.7% and 25.0% of the 261 patients reached blood pressure targets (&lt; 140/80 mmHg) and LDL-C targets ( &lt; 2.5 mmol/L), respectively.Conclusion: Overall, more patients in the study reached blood pressure and LDL-C targets but there were difficulties in achieving optimal glycaemic levels over the four-year period. This study highlights the complexities of managing risk factors in T2DM, especially glucose control.Keywords: Diabetes Mellitus, Management, Risk Factors, Target

Are Domestic Incidents Really More Dangerous to Police? Findings from the 2016 National Incident Based Reporting System

It is widely believed among police officers that domestic incidents are among the most dangerous incidents to which they respond. However, most research in this area suffers from the “denominator problem,” where prior studies have focused on incidents resulting in harm to police officers and failed to account for incidents not resulting in harm. Such methodologies can produce drastically misleading results. This paper uses data from the 2016 National Incident Based Reporting System (NIBRS) to overcome the denominator problem. We examine the probability of (1) an officer being assaulted and (2) an officer being injured or killed when responding to a domestic incident compared to a non-domestic incident while controlling for other potentially important variables. Results indicate that officers are significantly more likely to be assaulted or injured when responding to non-domestic incidents. Implications for law enforcement training, victim legitimacy, and future research are discussed

Parental monitoring, sensation seeking, and marijuana use: Correlations and an interactive model

This study focused on the independent and interactive effects of parental monitoring and sensation seeking on marijuana initiation in college. Data from the College Life Study was used to examine 314 individuals who had not used marijuana prior to college. Descriptive statistics and t-tests analyzed significant differences between individuals who initiated marijuana in college (n=127) and those who did not (n=187). Logistic regressions tested theoretical models and an interaction between sensation seeking and parental monitoring on the likelihood of initiating marijuana. Approximately 40% of the sample initiated marijuana in college. Significant differences in multiple variables existed between initiators and non-initiators. Sensation seeking and parental monitoring independently influenced the likelihood of initiating marijuana, however their interaction was insignificant. Post-hoc analyses indicated a gender specific moderation. Future research should examine the influence of gender