Search Results (74)

Canada played a pivotal role in the establishment of the International Criminal Court (ICC) and it was the first country in the world to incorporate the Rome Statute in its domestic law when it passed the Crimes Against Humanity and War Crimes Act (CAHWCA) on 24 June 2000. The CAHWCA allows the application of universal jurisdiction for the prosecution of those persons responsible for “atrocity crimes” who are present in Canada. Yet, Canada’s record for the prosecution and conviction of those who are responsible for “atrocity crimes” under CAHWCA is far from enviable. Rather than taking a leadership role in the prosecution of those responsible for “atrocity crimes,” Canada has avoided doing so. Thus far, Canada has prosecuted only two atrocity crimes cases under universal jurisdiction: R. v. Munyaneza 2009 QCCS 2201 [2009] QJ No 4913 conviction and the denial of its appeal in R. v. Munyaneza 2201. (Quebec Court of Appeal, 7 May 2014); and an acquittal in the R. v. Mungwarere (Superior Court of Ontario, 5 July 2013) case. This article will analyze the ratio decidendi in these two precedent-setting cases that rest on the credibility and trustworthiness of the testimonial evidence presented. It also considers other factors that militate against the criminal investigation and prosecution of those who are allegedly responsible for atrocity crimes. This raises the fundamental question of whether it will be possible to “end impunity for international crimes” and advance international justice when States, such as Canada, are failing to prosecute and convict those who are responsible for atrocity crimes through universal jurisdiction. It calls on States to allocate adequate funding for criminal investigations and prosecutions under universal jurisdiction and to develop more rigorous, detailed, and refined methods for gathering and adducing credible and trustworthy testimonial evidence for the prosecution of cases involving these serious international crimes. Full article

Most delinquent behavior occurs within age-homogeneous peer groups. Using incident-level data from the National Incident-Based Reporting System (NIBRS), this study reassesses the extent to which contemporary juvenile group offending reflects peer-only networks versus cross-age collaboration. Results show that while juvenile-only groups remain the dominant pattern, approximately one-third of co-offending incidents involve adult participants. Mixed-age groups are associated with group size, offense type, and situational context, and are especially common in serious offenses such as homicide, aggravated assault, and drug crimes. Mixed-age co-offending is also associated with greater offense severity, particularly higher odds of victim physical injury. These findings have important implications for the criminal justice system’s response to juvenile crime. While most juvenile offending diversion programs currently focus on interventions that counter peer influence and reduce the time spent with peers engaging in antisocial behavior, intervention strategies that also address the facilitating role of adult co-offenders may also be necessary. Full article

Background: Governments increasingly seek whole-system, public-health approaches to prevent serious youth violence. However, there is limited empirical evidence on how such approaches are implemented and sustained in complex, post-conflict settings characterised by coercive control, political instability, and fragmented system ownership. Aim: This study examines the Executive Programme on Paramilitarism and Organised Crime (EPPOC) in Northern Ireland as a system-level implementation architecture for addressing serious youth violence, with a focus on how coordinated action was enabled, constrained, and adapted over time. Methods: We conducted an embedded qualitative case study of EPPOC using systematic analysis of programme documentation, independent evaluations, oversight reports, and population-level data spanning nine years of delivery. Implementation science frameworks (ERIC, Proctor’s implementation outcomes, and CFIR) were applied retrospectively as analytic lenses to examine implementation strategies, outcomes, and contextual determinants. Results: EPPOC demonstrated strong implementation outcomes in acceptability and adoption across statutory and community sectors, supported by cross-government governance, trauma-informed workforce development, and shared learning systems. Penetration and sustainability were more variable and constrained by political instability, short-term funding cycles, uneven departmental ownership, and coercive community conditions. Conclusions: The findings suggest that the most transferable element of EPPOC is not individual interventions but the implementation architecture that enabled coordinated, trauma-responsive action across government in a highly complex environment. This architecture represents a potentially replicable design pattern for jurisdictions seeking to address serious youth violence where traditional programme models struggle to operate. Full article

Whilst youth offending has been declining, there have been increases in serious youth violence in the last decade. Therefore, there is a pressing need to prevent youth crime and violence owing to its prevalence, harms and cost to society. Part of the effort to address this involves identifying and disseminating evidence-based practice. We explore key challenges in this endeavour and offer ideas for how to address them. These fall into two categories. The first concerns the focus and nature of interventions and the imperative to increase the effectiveness of our collective efforts. We start by considering neglected issues and groups in need of intervention responses, arguing that interventions too often do not consider relevant risk and contextual factors. Next, we explore emerging means of designing and delivering interventions that warrant greater investment, including those that extend beyond a traditional focus on programmes. Finally, we highlight cross-cutting issues affecting the delivery and uptake of interventions and therefore their success. The second set of challenges concerns intervention evaluation and the need to maximise the usefulness of our cumulative evaluation activity in this field. Here, we start by discussing common challenges involved in moving through the pipeline of feasibility, pilot and definitive (often trial-based) evaluations. We then explore issues concerning the actual design and conduct of such studies, before closing with thoughts on the potential value of underused (non-trial) methods of impact evaluation. Throughout the article, we draw on the scientific literature and our collective experience over many years of developing, adapting, evaluating and promoting interventions and other forms of evidence-based practice in this space. Full article

Illegal dumping poses serious risks to ecosystems and human health, requiring effective and timely monitoring strategies. Advances in uncrewed aerial vehicles (UAVs), photogrammetry, and deep learning (DL) have created new opportunities for detecting and characterizing waste objects over large areas. Within the framework of the EMERITUS Project, an EU Horizon Europe initiative supporting the fight against environmental crimes, this study evaluates the performance of pre-trained prompt-based multimodal (PBM) DL models integrated into ArcGIS Pro for object detection and segmentation. To test such models, UAV surveys were specially conducted at a semi-controlled test site in northern Italy, producing very high-resolution orthoimages and video frames populated with simulated waste objects such as tyres, barrels, and sand piles. Three PBM models (CLIPSeg, GroundingDINO, and TextSAM) were tested under varying hyperparameters and input conditions, including orthophotos at multiple resolutions and frames extracted from UAV-acquired videos. Results show that model performance is highly dependent on object type and imagery resolution. In contrast, within the limited ranges tested, hyperparameter tuning rarely produced significant improvements. The evaluation of the models was performed using low IoU to generalize across different types of detection models and to focus on the ability of detecting object. When evaluating the models with orthoimagery, CLIPSeg achieved the highest accuracy with F1 scores up to 0.88 for tyres, whereas barrels and ambiguous classes consistently underperformed. Video-derived (oblique) frames generally outperformed orthophotos, reflecting a closer match to model training perspectives. Despite the current limitations in performances highlighted by the tests, PBM models demonstrate strong potential for democratizing GeoAI (Geospatial Artificial Intelligence). These tools effectively enable non-expert users to employ zero-shot classification in UAV-based monitoring workflows targeting environmental crime. Full article

Background: Patients are the most frequent perpetrators of physical violence against nurses. In the United States, most states have established laws designating assault against nurses a felony, or serious crime. It is unknown what reasons nurses have for pressing charges or not pressing charges against patients. Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine nurses’ decisions regarding pressing charges when patients exhibit violent behavior. Methods: This study used a mixed-method, cross-sectional, descriptive design. Three unfolding case studies were presented in an electronic survey. Twelve versions of the survey were randomly assigned to participants. Each described an adolescent, adult, and geriatric patient. The narrative descriptions were identical, but the visual representations of the patients differed. Results: A total of 499 nurses from seven hospitals in the western United States responded. Most nurses indicated that they would not press charges against any of the hypothetical patients. An injury occurring and an assumption of intentionality contributed to nurses’ decisions to press charges. Participants were more likely to press charges against the adolescent and adult patients than the geriatric patient. The hypothetical adolescent and geriatric patients were more likely to have charges pressed against them if presented as female than if presented as male. The hypothetical adult patient was more likely to have charges pressed against them if presented as white than if presented as black. Conclusions: There is no consensus regarding when a nurse ought to pursue legal action against a patient who exhibits violent behavior. In addition to the presence of injury and the assumption of intentionality, it is possible that implicit bias may also play a role in these decisions. More investigation into this is needed. Full article

Smartphones are ubiquitous and continuously carried high-performance devices equipped with speech recognition capabilities that enable the analysis of surrounding conversations. When leveraged for public purposes, networks of smartphones can function as a large-scale sensing infrastructure capable of detecting and reporting early signs of serious crimes or terrorist activities. This paper proposes the concept of “Smartphone as Societal Safety Guard” as an approach to substantially enhancing public safety through relatively low additional cost and the combination of existing technologies (first pillar). At the same time, this concept entails serious risks of privacy infringement, as exemplified by the potential introduction of always-on eavesdropping through operating system updates. The originality of this study lies in redefining smartphones not merely as personal tools but as public safety infrastructure within democratic societies, and in systematizing the conditions for their social acceptability from the perspective of institutional design. This research presents a reference architecture and a regulatory framework, and organizes six key challenges that must be addressed to reconcile public safety with privacy protection: external attacks, mitigation of privacy information, false positives, expansion of the scope of application, discriminatory use, and misuse by authorized insiders. In particular, misuse by authorized insiders is positioned as the core challenge. As a necessary condition for acceptance in democratic societies (second pillar), this paper proposes a privacy-protective infrastructure centered on the Verifiable Record of AI Output (VRAIO). By combining on-device two-stage urgency classification with the review and recording of AI outputs by independent third-party entities, the proposed framework aims to provide a mechanism that can ensure, as a design requirement, that information unrelated to emergencies is not released outside the device. In summary, this paper presents a design framework for reconciling enhanced public safety with the protection of privacy. Full article

Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a public health issue that produces significant psychological and physiological consequences. This exploratory descriptive study examines whether sustaining a serious injury increases the likelihood that IPV survivors experience emotional and physical symptoms. We analyzed nonfatal violence by an intimate partner reported in the U.S. National Crime Victimization Survey (2009–2023) and applied survey-adjusted logistic regression models. We assessed two dichotomous outcomes: (1) whether respondents reported at least one emotional symptom (e.g., vulnerable, violated, distrustful, or unsafe) and (2) whether they reported at least one physical symptom (e.g., headaches, fatigue, or muscle tension). We define serious injury as broken bones, gunshot wounds, internal injuries, or loss of consciousness. We included demographic characteristics (age, race, sex, and educational attainment) as control variables. The results show that IPV survivors who sustained serious injuries had significantly higher odds of reporting both emotional and physical symptoms than those who did not sustain such injuries. These findings underscore how serious injury compounds the burden of IPV and emphasize the need for comprehensive medical, legal, and psychosocial interventions to address its lasting health impacts. Full article

Sexual assault is a global public health and human rights concern, with serious physical, psychological and reproductive consequences for survivors. Among these, sexually transmitted infections are particularly relevant due to their frequently asymptomatic nature and potential for long-term complications. The detection of sexually transmitted infections in forensic settings is crucial for clinical management of victims and for evidentiary support in forensic sexual crimes investigations. This study aimed to evaluate the applicability of real-time polymerase chain reaction for detecting Chlamydia trachomatis, Trichomonas vaginalis, Neisseria gonorrhoeae, and Treponema pallidum in biological samples collected from victims of sexual assault and stored under routine forensic conditions, in some cases, for up to 18 years. A total of 231 swabs from 116 individuals collected between 2004 and 2017 were analysed using real-time PCR with pathogen-specific primers and fluorescent probes. The analysis revealed 13 positive samples of T. vaginalis (5.6%) and 11 of C. trachomatis (4.8%). No positive results were obtained for N. gonorrhoeae or T. pallidum. These findings demonstrate the usefulness of real-time polymerase chain reaction for detecting sexually transmitted infections in long-term preserved forensic samples. Moreover, the ability to identify pathogen DNA in archived samples highlights the potential role of molecular diagnostics in the retrospective investigation of sexual crimes, including cold cases. It underscores the value of molecular methods as a complementary tool in forensic proceedings and survivor care. Full article

This article examines the historical evolution, contemporary dynamics, and future trajectory of China’s legal and judicial framework for pangolin protection. By reviewing over seventy years of regulatory changes, case law, and policy implementation, it outlines three distinct phases: the early emphasis on pangolins as medicinal and export resources (1949–1989); the phase of conflicted protection and utilization under regulatory expansion (1989–2020); and the post-2020 shift toward judicial activism and ecological civil litigation. We then highlight the long-standing contradiction between legislative protection and continued medicinal use, particularly the centuries-old use of pangolins and their derivatives in traditional Chinese medicine, a practice still acknowledged within certain state policies and regulatory frameworks, showing how these inconsistencies enabled persistent illegal exploitation despite regulatory controls. Through systematic analysis of public court records and case databases, the policy historical records reveal a marked increase in environmental public interest litigation since 2020. These lawsuits, often attached to criminal prosecutions, signal a transition from merely punitive approaches to restorative ones—anchored in ecological valuation of species and their services. Case studies illustrate how courts now impose not only wildlife resource loss fees, but also punitive damages and compensation for ecological service function loss. The article will elaborate in detail on the distinctions and interrelations among these types of compensation. The landmark Case No.17 also demonstrates this paradigm shift, wherein courts recognized pangolins’ role in balancing forest ecosystems. However, significant challenges persist. Valuation methodologies lack uniform standards; while the ecological value of pangolins has been recognized, their inherent value as individuals has not been emphasized within the legal system; judicial discretion varies across jurisdictions; and public interest organizations remain underutilized in litigation. Moreover, while the crackdown on organized crime succeeded in curbing mass trafficking, smaller-scale violations tied to cultural consumption for medicine use persist. The article concludes that judicial innovations, such as ecological judicial restoration bases and integration into China’s draft Ecological Environment Code, offer promising pathways forward. To enhance efficacy, it calls for standardization in ecological valuation, strengthened civil society participation, and nuanced differentiation in penal strategies between minor and serious offenses. This study ultimately positions judicial reform as the cornerstone of China’s evolving pangolin conservation strategy. Full article

This article examines the level of inconsistency in work, health and safety (WHS) laws across Australia’s mining sector. Despite general efforts towards national harmonisation through model WHS legislation, significant inconsistencies persist because individual states and territories retain primary regulatory control. A critical analysis of each jurisdiction’s legislative framework reveals a fragmented legal landscape. Queensland, especially, exhibits notable divergence. Key findings highlight a considerable variation in legislative approaches to risk management principles and specific obligations. In particular, a disjointed and incremental approach to serious offences such as industrial manslaughter and provisions concerning imputed conduct are evident. These inconsistencies suggest that corporations operating in multiple Australian mining regions must develop a nuanced understanding of the varying WHS requirements in each jurisdiction. This study underscores the need for caution when assessing risk management strategies aimed at preventing serious incidents because the presumption of a harmonised system can be misleading, especially concerning mining-specific legislation. Full article

American citizens are significantly more likely to experience property crime victimization than violent crime victimization. During a staffing crisis, police prioritize limited resources in combating serious crime; however, property crimes remain impactful to the community. Therefore, agencies need to consider innovative ways to control property crime, such as “super-cocooning” strategies that alert residents to recent offenses. These strategies intend to empower the community to implement guardianship and crime prevention measures. For these strategies to be effective, they require public buy-in and support. The present study implements a preregistered information provision survey experiment (N = 2412), similar to the strategy of super-cocooning, to assess whether the public is more likely to support such strategies to combat property crime. Although the sample held overall high support of this strategy, exposure to a super-cocooning door hanger prime produced no significant changes in perceived effectiveness. However, there was observed racial heterogeneity in the treatments: non-White respondents assigned to the treatment relative to White respondents experienced significantly increased support of super-cocooning strategies. Implications for light-footprint crime control strategies, particularly during a staffing crisis, are discussed. Full article

Objective: Low birth weight is a serious public health problem even in developed countries. The objective of this study was to assess the ability of machine learning to predict low birth weight rates in big cities in the USA on an ecological/population level. Study design: The study was based on publicly available data from the Big Cities Health Inventory Data Platform. The collected data related to the 35 largest, most urban cities in the United States from 2010 to 2022. The model-agnostic approach was used to assess and visualize the magnitude and direction of the most influential predictors. Results: The models showed excellent performance with R-squared values of 0.82, 0.81, 0.81, and 0.79, and residual root mean squared error values of 1.06, 0.87, 1.03, 0.99 for KNN, Best subset, Lasso, and XGBoost, respectively. It is noteworthy that the Best subset selection approach had a high RSq and the lowest residual root mean squared error, with only a four-predictor subset. Influential predictors that appeared in three/four models were rate of chlamydia infection, racial segregation, prenatal care, percentage of single-parent families, and poverty. Other important predictors were the rate of violent crimes, life expectancy, mental distress, income inequality, hazardous air quality, prevalence of hypertension, percent of foreign-born citizens, and smoking. This study was limited by the unavailability of data on gestational age. Conclusions: The machine learning algorithms showed excellent performance for the prediction of low birth weight rate in big cities. The identification of influential predictors can help local and state authorities and health policy decision makers to more effectively tackle this important health problem. Full article

Child First (CF), the approach to youth justice now endorsed by the Youth Justice Board in England and Wales, centres around seeing children as children and meeting their needs in a child-focused way. CF opposes its predecessor, the risk-based approach, which focused on actuarial measurements of risk and led to net-widening, the overuse of custody, and harsher sentencing. As the current strategic approach for youth justice in England and Wales, it is essential to consider its applicability for all offence types, including the most serious. This study aimed to begin the exploration of this under-researched area by identifying the opinions of youth justice professionals on the application of theory to practice. This small-scale exploratory study, comprising five in-depth interviews with youth justice practitioners based in rural Wales, found a consensus amongst respondents that CF should apply to all offences, regardless of their seriousness, but with recognition that some factors centred around the child themselves and their relationship with their youth justice worker and with other services/the public may have an impact on this. Respondents suggested recommendations to counter these problems, leading to recommendations for future research to further embed CF at all levels of youth justice operation. Full article

Background: Gun-related homicide remains a persistent public health crisis in the United States, with over 48,000 firearm-related deaths reported in 2022, including 19,651 homicides and 27,032 suicides. Despite frequent calls for tighter gun control, firearm access alone does not explain the complexity of violence. Objective: This commentary aims to unpack the socioeconomic, psychological, and biological drivers of gun-related homicide and propose integrative, evidence-based solutions that extend beyond legislative reform. Methods: We synthesized data from peer-reviewed literature, national crime and health databases (e.g., Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Federal Bureau of Investigation), and international reports. We examined patterns related to poverty, trauma, male aggression, neurobiology, and firearm acquisition, as well as cross-national comparisons with countries like Switzerland and Mexico. Findings: Young males, particularly those aged 10–29, accounted for 50% of homicide offenders in 2022. African Americans experienced homicide rates of 23.1 per 100,000, ten times the rate among Whites. Up to 56% of incarcerated men report childhood physical trauma, and over 40% of those in prison exhibit symptoms of serious mental illness. While firearm legislation varies widely, analysis reveals that over 90% of crime guns are acquired illegally or through informal sources. International comparisons show that poverty and weak rule of law, more than gun laws alone, correlate with elevated homicide rates. Conclusions: Reducing gun violence sustainably requires a multifaceted approach. Authors advocate for investments in trauma-informed mental health care, focused deterrence programs, early childhood interventions, and improved enforcement against illegal gun trafficking. A public health strategy that integrates social reform with targeted regulation holds the greatest promise for long-term change. Full article