Recent developments in California's environmental review process—an evaluation of the use made of environmental impact reports

This paper evaluates the use of CEQA (California Environmental Quality Act, 1970) and the extent to which it has achieved its goals. There has been criticism of unreasonable delay in project reviews, and consequently increased project costs. Little use has been made of techniques to speed up the review process and many reports lack a focus on essential issues. Reference is also made to the effect of Proposition 13, in diminishing political commitment to environmental policies.     

Conducting risk evaluations for future violence: Ethical practice is possible.

Psychologists frequently testify in court about an individual's risk for future violence. Decades ago, the basis for such testimony was problematic, but the field has made significant progress. However, recent criticisms raise ethical concerns about risk evaluations and state that current methods do not meet admissibility standards. Responding to such criticisms is important for expert witness involvement in these evaluations. We note that it is feasible to conduct thorough ethical evaluations that will aid judicial and clinical decision making. We argue that the courts find this information necessary, and well-informed professionals can make valid and important contributions in these proceedings. To leave the courts without access to the best science available could cause more harm than good. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

利用发光图像分析骨内残留物确定死亡时间

本文阐述一项关于用尸体或骷髅骨内残留物的发光图像分析以及确定死者死亡时间的研究，文章详细阐明分析的实验操作程序和获得的结果。     

薄层色谱法鉴别同种颜色涤棉纤维上的染料

薄层色谱法鉴别涤／棉织物上混合染料的品种。对于不同类别的染料染成的涤棉混纺纤维上的染料提取液，可用二次或多次层析的方法在同一块薄层板上进行分离鉴别，效果较好。     

Meeting the challenge of the "junk science" defense in domestic violence litigation.

Attorneys increasingly challenge the admissibility of expert testimony in domestic violence litigation on the ground that it is "junk science." This article discusses the standards courts apply when determining whether to admit "novel" scientific theory and methodology. It is recommended that psychologists offering testimony that may be subjected to this kind of challenge, critically evaluate the foundation for their opinions in light of the admissibility standards being applied in the pertinent jurisdiction, and that they directly address with the attorneys offering them as witnesses how best to present that foundation to the trial judge in their mutual effort to meet and overcome the junk science challenge. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Legal and ethical issues in play therapy.

Play therapists work with minor children in their practice; therefore the play therapist must be cognizant of the special circumstances under the law and major professional codes of ethics that apply to this special population. Major court cases, legislation, and critical issues are condensed in this article. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Dangerousness, Risk Assessment, and Capital Sentencing.

Judges, jurors, police officers, and others are sometimes asked to make a variety of decisions based on judgments of dangerousness. Reliance on judgments of dangerousness in a variety of legal contexts has led to considerable debate and has been the focus of numerous publications. However, a substantial portion of the debate has centered on the accuracy and improvement of risk assessments rather than the issues concerning the use of dangerousness as a legal criterion. This article focuses on whether dangerousness judgments can play a useful role in capital sentencing decisions within the framework of "guided discretion" and "individualized assessment" set forth by the Supreme Court of the United States. It examines the relationship between these legal doctrines and contemporary approaches to risk assessment, and it discusses the potential tension between these approaches to risk assessment and these legal doctrines. The analysis suggests that expert testimony has the potential to undermine rather than assist the sentencer's efforts to make capital sentencing decisions in a manner consistent with Supreme Court doctrine. This analysis includes a discussion of the advances and limitations of current approaches to risk assessment in the context of capital sentencing. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The Death Penalty in the United States: A Crisis of Conscience.

The articles in this issue discuss many appellate court decisions that turned on due process problems in the guilt and penalty phases of capital murder trials and the troubling role of race in capital prosecutions. Governor Ryan of Illinois cited many of these issues when he declared a moratorium on the death penalty and appointed a blue-ribbon panel to study the prosecution of capital murder in 2000. Governor Ryan commuted the sentences of all Illinois death row inmates in January 2003, in part, because the legislature was unable to address these issues that again appeared in the panel's report. These issues raise serious questions about the reliability of the capital murder system and recommend a continued public debate about its fairness. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)