Protecting Academia and Religion: Andreas Libavius's Criticism of a General Reformation

Andreas Libavius (ca. 1560-1616) is a well-known early modern physician and alchemist, who involved himself in various disputes. For example, in several of his writings he rejected the heterodox texts related to the Rosicrucian episode. This paper analyses Libavius's refutation of the Rosicrucian manifestos (1614-16), and aims to show that, in his response, Libavius presented himself not just as a member of the scholarly community, which is a well known facet of his life and career, but also as a Lutheran who aimed to protect his confession from attacks by heterodox sects.

Correlates and predictors of re-incarceration among Turkish adolescent male offenders: A single-center, cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND

Adolescents involved in the legal system are known to be under elevated risk for repeat offending. There may be many reasons for recidivism. Specifically, we aim to investigate the clinical, socio-demographic, and familial factors and psychopathology among adolescents in a penal institution and to determine risk factors for re-incarceration.

METHODS

This single-center cross-sectional survey was conducted at Tarsus Closed Penal Institution for Children and Youth. This institution is for males only, and all male adolescents detained at the center within the study period were evaluated with semi-structured interviews (K-SADS-PL). The adolescents completed Meaning and Purpose of Life Scale, The EPOCH measure of Adolescent Well-being, Family Sense of Belonging Scale, Children's Alexithymia Scale, Beck Depression Inventory, and State-Trait Anxiety Inventory for themselves. Descriptive and inferential analyses were used. P was set at 0.05.

RESULTS

Ninety adolescent offenders with a mean age of 16.6 years (S·D = 0.7) were enrolled. Mean age at first offense was 14.6 years (S·D = 2.1). The most common reason for offenses was reported as as being with peers who were offenders, too (57.8%). Most common diagnoses were substance use (36.7%), attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (33.3%), and conduct disorder (26.7%). Rates of offending and conviction in first-degree relatives were 62.2% and 60.0%, respectively, and most of the adolescents had at least one peer with a criminal record (n = 71, 78.9%). Re-incarcerated adolescents had lower education, committed more violent crimes, and reported elevated use of substances, suicide attempts, and psychopathology. However, in regression analysis, age of onset was the sole predictor of re-incarceration.

CONCLUSION

Turkish male adolescents in forensic settings may be screened for externalizing disorders and referred for treatment. Re-incarcerated Turkish youth may be more susceptible to peer influence, substance use and externalizing disorders. It may be prudent to systematically screen offending youth for psychiatric disorders regardless of the individual's request for treatment and refer identified cases to treatment. Integration of child and adolescent psychiatrists with penal institutions serving youth may help in this regard.

Mental health interventions for youth who are incarcerated: A systematic review of literature

To promote the safety and well-being of youth who are incarcerated, the U.S. Departments of Justice and Education identified the importance of evidence-based mental health interventions. The purpose of this systematic review is to summarize and synthesize intervention research focusing on the mental health of youth who are incarcerated since the publication of Guiding Principles for Providing High-Quality Education in Juvenile Justice Secure Care Settings. ProQuest and Ebsco databases were searched to identify relevant published studies from 2015 to 2020. Eleven studies met the inclusion criteria. Studies mainly focused on cognitive-behavior interventions and included the following outcome domains: symptoms, functioning, personal growth, and multiple domains. To evaluate study quality, modified versions of Gersten et al.'s (2005) group design and Mulcahy et al.'s (2016) single-case design quality indicators were used. Of concern are the small number of studies, methodological limitations within studies, and lack of a common intervention and outcomes of focus that limit individual study conclusions and evaluation across studies. In particular, studies rarely included necessary information, such as participant mental health characteristics, interventionist training or qualifications, intervention details, and/or measures/reports of treatment integrity. For the Guiding Principles to be realized, one key issue is for government funding to target high-quality mental health interventions in juvenile correctional facilities within identified target areas. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved).

Methadone and buprenorphine discontinuation among postpartum women with opioid use disorder

BACKGROUND

The postpartum year is a vulnerable period for women with opioid use disorder, with increased rates of fatal and nonfatal overdose; however, data on the continuation of medications for opioid use disorder on a population level are limited.

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to examine the effect of discontinuing methadone and buprenorphine in women with opioid use disorder in the year following delivery and determine the extent to which maternal and infant characteristics are associated with time to discontinuation of medications for opioid use disorder.

STUDY DESIGN

This population-based retrospective cohort study used linked administrative data of 211,096 deliveries in Massachusetts between 2011 and 2014 to examine the adherence to medications for opioid use disorder. Individuals receiving medications for opioid use disorder after delivery were included in the study. Here, demographic, psychosocial, prenatal, and delivery characteristics are described. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis and Cox regression modeling were used to examine factors associated with medication discontinuation.

RESULTS

A total of 2314 women who received medications for opioid use disorder at delivery were included in our study. Overall, 1484 women (64.1%) continued receiving medications for opioid use disorder for a full 12 months following delivery. The rate of continued medication use varied from 34% if women started on medications for opioid use disorder the month before delivery to 80% if the medications were used throughout pregnancy. Kaplan-Meier survival curves differed by maternal race and ethnicity (the 12-month continuation probability was .65 for White non-Hispanic women and .51 for non-White women; P<.001) and duration of use of prenatal medications for opioid use disorder (12-month continuation probability was .78 for women with full prenatal engagement and .60 and .44 for those receiving medications for opioid use disorder ≥5 months [but not throughout pregnancy] and ≤4 months prenatally, respectively; P<.001). In all multivariable models, duration of receipt of prenatal medications for opioid use disorder (≤4 months vs throughout pregnancy: adjusted hazard ratio, 3.26; 95% confidence interval, 2.72-3.91) and incarceration (incarceration during pregnancy or after delivery vs none: adjusted hazard ratio, 1.79; 95% confidence interval, 1.52-2.12) were most strongly associated with the discontinuation of medications for opioid use disorder.

CONCLUSION

Almost two-thirds of women with opioid use disorder continued using medications for opioid use disorder for a full year after delivery; however, the rates of medication continuation varied significantly by race and ethnicity, degree of use of prenatal medications for opioid use disorder, and incarceration status. Prioritizing medication continuation across the perinatal continuum, enhancing sex-specific and family-friendly recovery supports, and expanding access to medications for opioid use disorder despite being incarcerated can help improve postpartum medication adherence.

Incarceration History and HIV Care Among Individuals Living with HIV in Florida, 2014-2018

The present study examines the HIV continuum of care outcomes among people living with HIV (PLWH) who have either recent (< 12-months) or distal (> 12-months) incarceration history compared to those without an incarceration history. A self-administered survey (as part of the Florida Cohort Study (n = 932)) was used to collect data on demographic information, linkage to care, retention in care, HIV medication adherence, viral suppression, and incarceration history. Those with recent incarceration history were least likely to report HIV medication adherence greater than or equal to 95% of the time (χ² = 8.79; p = 0.0124), always take their medications as directed (χ² = 15.29; p = 0.0005), and to have durable viral suppression (χ² = 16.65; p = 0.0002) compared to those distally or never incarcerated. In multivariable analyses, those never and distally incarcerated had greater odds of care linkage ([vs recently incarcerated] AOR = 2.58; CI: 1.31, 5.07; p = 0.0063, AOR = 2.09; CI: 1.11, 3.95; p = 0.0228, respectively). Those never incarcerated had greater odds of taking ART as directed ([vs recently incarcerated] AOR = 2.53; CI: 1.23 - 5.19; p = 0.0116). PLWH with an incarceration history may need more on-going monitoring and follow-up HIV care than those without previous incarceration regardless of when incarceration occurred.

Cross-sectional assessment of tuberculosis and HIV prevalence in 13 correctional facilities in Zambia

OBJECTIVE

To determine the prevalence of tuberculosis (TB) and HIV in 13 Zambian correctional facilities.

METHODS

Cross-sectional study.

SETTING

13 correctional facilities in seven of the 10 provinces in Zambia.

PARTICIPANTS

All incarcerated individuals were eligible for TB and HIV screening and testing. Of the total study population of 9695 individuals, which represent 46.2% of total correctional population at the beginning of the study, 8267 and 8160 were screened for TB and HIV, respectively.

INTERVENTIONS

TB and HIV screening and testing was done between July 2018 and February 2019.

PRIMARY OUTCOME MEASURES

All forms of TB, bacteriologically confirmed TB, drug-resistant TB, HIV.

RESULTS

Prevalence of all forms of TB and bacteriologically confirmed TB was 1599 (1340-1894) per 100 000 population and 1056 (847-1301) per 100 000 population, respectively. Among those with bacteriologically confirmed TB, 4.6% (1.3%-11.4%) had drug-resistant TB.There was no statistically significant difference in the prevalence of all forms of TB, bacteriologically confirmed TB and drug resistant TB between adults and juveniles: (p=0.82), (p=0.23), (p=0.68) respectively. Of the bacteriologically confirmed TB cases, 28.7% were asymptomatic. The prevalence of HIV was 14.3% (13.6%-15.1%). The prevalence of HIV among females was 1.8 times the prevalence of HIV among males (p=0.01).

CONCLUSION

Compared with the study in 2011 which screened inmates representing 30% of the country's inmate population, then the prevalence of all forms of TB and HIV in correctional facilities has reduced by about 75% and 37.6%, respectively. However, compared with the general population, the prevalence of all forms of TB and HIV was 3.5 and 1.3 times higher, respectively. TB/HIV programmes in correctional facilities need further strengthening to include aspects of juvenile-specific TB programming and gender responsive HIV programming.

Intentional ingestion of batteries and razor blades by a prisoner: a true emergency?

PURPOSE

Few case studies in the literature report on adult patients with intentional foreign body ingestion. Prisoners deliberately ingest foreign bodies, such as cylindrical alkaline batteries and razor blades, to achieve hospitalization or commit suicide. The purpose of this paper is to present a case of deliberate ingestion of batteries and razor blades by an inmate.

DESIGN/METHODOLOGY/APPROACH

The authors present a case of an incarcerated man in Greece, who intentionally ingested three cylindrical alkaline batteries and three razor blades wrapped in aluminum foil.

FINDINGS

The patient was treated conservatively with serial radiographs and was subsequently discharged without complication. This paper discusses the complications and examine the current guidelines available.

ORIGINALITY/VALUE

To best of authors' knowledge, this is the first report of a simultaneous ingestion of batteries and razor blades.

Challenges Associated with Parenting While Incarcerated: A Review

Of the 2.5 million people who are incarcerated in the United States, over half are parents. While it is well-established that incarceration has a detrimental impact on the children of incarcerated parents, less is known regarding the psychological impact of incarceration on parents themselves. The present review summarizes existing literature on the impact of incarceration on parents retrieved via online databases. Published articles were classified according to their overall themes and summarized. Pertinent studies include the psychological and emotional consequences of incarceration on parents, the experience of parenting while incarcerated, including barriers to parenting, the utility of parenting program interventions during periods of incarceration, and how these results differ for mothers and fathers. While the existing evidence introduces these issues, there is a need for additional research on the impact of incarceration on parents. These areas for future research as well as clinical implications are discussed.

High Prevalence of Human Immunodeficiency Virus Infection among Inmates in Korean Correctional Facilities

BACKGROUND

Epidemiological data are crucial in designing policies for the control of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infections. There is a lack of data on the epidemiology of HIV in Korean correctional facilities such as jails and prisons.

METHODS

Clinical characteristics of the study population were collected through a medical record review.

RESULTS

The number of people with HIV infection were 83 and the HIV infection prevalence in correctional facilities of Korea was 0.15%. Among them, 10 (12.0%) were diagnosed with the infection when they were incarcerated. The number of drug users was 38 (45.8%). Syphilis-HIV coinfection was observed in 21 (25.3%) patients. Individuals from the group comprising the drug users were more likely to belong to the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer (LGBTQ) community, and had a higher incidence of psychological disorders (31.6% vs. 11.1%, P = 0.029; 50.0% vs. 28.9%, P = 0.049, respectively).

CONCLUSION

Inmates of correctional facilities showed a five times higher prevalence of HIV infection in Korea, nearly half of whom were drug users.

Experiences of menopause during incarceration

OBJECTIVE

Despite increasing representation of older women in US jail and prison facilities, their menopause experiences and access to related care remain uncharacterized. Our objective is to explore the menopause experiences of women incarcerated in jail and prison facilities.

METHODS

We conducted a pilot study of four semi-structured in-depth interviews with women in the community who experienced menopause symptoms while incarcerated in either a prison or jail facility.

RESULTS

Preliminary findings suggest critical gaps in access to menopause-related resources and medical care. Participants described that lifestyle and medical interventions for menopause in prison were inaccessible, and that untreated symptoms contributed to significant distress. Participants reported feeling as though medical staff did not believe their concerns and were dismissive of their complaints. In some cases, menopause symptoms and symptom management exacerbated the ways in which institutional barriers reproduce criminalization within the carceral system.

CONCLUSIONS

Individuals going through the menopause transition while experiencing incarceration have significant unmet needs and poor access to relieving lifestyle changes or medical interventions. Policy and practice changes should address menopause-related needs of individuals experiencing incarceration.

Health Access of Women in Provincial Correctional Institutions

Historically, there has been a disparity between men and women rates of incarceration, even though there has been a significant increase in the number of women imprisoned over the past 20 years, globally. Women have unique health care needs that are often not adequately addressed within the correctional institutions in which they are held. The focus of this study was to explore women's experiences when accessing health services within Canadian provincial correctional institutions. Narrative inquiry was used to investigate the life stories of five women who accessed health care in provincial correctional institutions. A total of two storylines and five sub-storylines resulted from the analysis of interviews conducted with the participants. The findings suggest that during incarceration, participants experienced compromising conditions that contributed to the worsening of their health, and faced difficulties accessing their prescribed treatments and medications. Consequently, this contributed to the worsening of their physical and mental wellbeing.

Ms. Beaudry et al. Reply

We thank Atilola et al.¹ for their thoughtful letter in response to our systematic review and meta-analysis of the prevalence of mental health problems among adolescents in juvenile detention and correctional facilities. We agree with Dr. Atilola that search strategies for systematic reviews should specifically look for low- and middle-income countries. In our systematic review, we used the bibliographic index Global Health to address this.

Victimization profiles in girls involved in the juvenile justice system: A latent class analysis

BACKGROUND

Previous research has demonstrated that youth involved in the juvenile justice system endorse diverse patterns of victimization. However, previous research investigating victimization profiles among youth involved in the juvenile justice system has primarily consisted of boys.

OBJECTIVE

This study investigated victimization profiles and correlates of victimization exposure, including posttraumatic stress symptoms and risk behaviors, in a sample of girls involved in the juvenile justice system.

PARTICIPANTS AND SETTING

Participants were 245 girls involved in the juvenile justice system (Mage = 15.57, SD = 1.13) participating in a dating violence prevention program. The sample was racially diverse, and 48 % self-identified as Hispanic/Latina.

METHOD

Prior to participating in the intervention, participants completed self-report measures of adversity and victimization exposure, posttraumatic stress symptoms, and risk behaviors.

RESULTS

Results of latent class analysis identified three distinct victimization profiles. The first class (n = 106) was characterized by low levels of victimization. The second class (n = 98) experienced predominantly emotional victimization (i.e., emotional dominant). The third class (n = 41) was characterized by exposure to polyvictimization (i.e., polyvictimization predominant). Girls categorized into the polyvictimization dominant class evidenced the greatest levels of posttraumatic stress symptoms, substance use, suicidal behaviors, and sexual risk behaviors.

CONCLUSIONS

Girls involved in the juvenile justice system report distinct patterns of victimization, which are differentially associated with posttraumatic stress symptoms and risk behaviors. The present study underscores the importance of implementing trauma-informed assessment and intervention practices within juvenile justice systems.

An Updated Systematic Review and Meta-regression Analysis: Mental Disorders Among Adolescents in Juvenile Detention and Correctional Facilities

OBJECTIVE

To synthesize evidence on the prevalence of mental disorders in adolescents in juvenile detention and correctional facilities and examine sources of heterogeneity between studies.

METHOD

Electronic databases and relevant reference lists were searched to identify surveys published from January 1966 to October 2019 that reported on the prevalence of mental disorders in unselected populations of detained adolescents. Data on the prevalence of a range of mental disorders (psychotic illnesses, major depression, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder [ADHD], conduct disorder, and posttraumatic stress disorder [PTSD]) along with predetermined study characteristics were extracted from the eligible studies. Analyses were reported separately for male and female adolescents, and findings were synthesized using random-effects models. Potential sources of heterogeneity were examined by meta-regression and subgroup analyses.

RESULTS

Forty-seven studies from 19 countries comprising 28,033 male and 4,754 female adolescents were identified. The mean age of adolescents assessed was 16 years (range, 10-19 years). In male adolescents, 2.7% (95% CI 2.0%-3.4%) had a diagnosis of psychotic illness; 10.1% (95% CI 8.1%-12.2%) major depression; 17.3% (95% CI 13.9%-20.7%) ADHD; 61.7% (95% CI 55.4%-67.9%) conduct disorder; and 8.6% (95% CI 6.4%-10.7%) PTSD. In female adolescents, 2.9% (95% CI 2.4%-3.5%) had a psychotic illness; 25.8% (95% CI 20.3%-31.3%) major depression; 17.5% (95% CI 12.1%-22.9%) ADHD; 59.0% (95% CI 44.9%-73.1%) conduct disorder; and 18.2% (95% CI 13.1%-23.2%) PTSD. Meta-regression found higher prevalences of ADHD and conduct disorder in investigations published after 2006. Female adolescents had higher prevalences of major depression and PTSD than male adolescents.

CONCLUSION

Consideration should be given to reviewing whether health care services in juvenile detention can address these levels of psychiatric morbidity.

Incarceration Exposure During Pregnancy and Infant Health: Moderation by Public Assistance

OBJECTIVES

To assess the relationship between exposure to incarceration during pregnancy and adverse infant health outcomes: low birth weight (<2500 g), very low birth weight (<1500 g), preterm birth (<37 weeks), and very preterm birth (≤33 weeks), and to evaluate the moderating role of receiving public assistance benefits (Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children and Medicaid) during pregnancy in this process.

STUDY DESIGN

The current study employs data from the Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System, 2009-2017. Logistic regression models were used to assess the association between incarceration of a woman or her partner in the year before birth, the receipt of public assistance during pregnancy, and postpartum infant health. Moderation analyses were conducted by interacting forms of public assistance and incarceration exposure.

RESULTS

Exposure to incarceration either personally or vicariously through a partner increased all 4 adverse infant health outcomes. However, moderation analyses demonstrated that public assistance benefits and incarceration have a negative interaction, indicating that public assistance might buffer against the harmful effects of incarceration exposure during pregnancy on infant health.

CONCLUSIONS

Incarceration exposure during pregnancy poses a significant risk for adverse infant health outcomes. However, the receipt of public assistance benefits including Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children and Medicaid may mitigate this risk. Expanded access to public assistance for women exposed to incarceration during pregnancy holds promise to improve infant health outcomes.

Healing the Wounded Healer? A Survey of Jewish and Protestant Correctional Chaplains

This article explores how working with incarcerated female Jewish and Protestant inmates affected correctional chaplains personally, professionally, and in their religious lives. The researcher interviewed a group of 10 correctional chaplains who work with female Jewish inmates, and a comparison group of 10 chaplains who work with female Protestant inmates in the Northeastern and Midwestern United States. The research found significant positive benefits for both groups, including a tendency to be less conservative in their views regarding the criminal justice system and more compassionate views towards inmates and humanity in general. Noted in both study groups was a high prevalence of trauma history prior to their employment as a correctional chaplain.

The Realities of Pregnancy and Mothering While Incarcerated

Women of reproductive age may experience pregnancy and mothering in a correctional environment designed for men. Rates of incarceration for women in the United States are high by international standards, and they continue to rise. Mothers were often single mothers prior to incarceration, and they are often separated from their children for the first time upon entering prison. Pregnancy, delivery, lactation, and parenting each require special consideration. Outcomes of pregnancy in prison are better overall than for similarly disadvantaged women in the community. Breastfeeding, despite being recommended by medical groups, is problematic for most who are awaiting forced separation from their infant, due to a lack of mother-baby units in most U.S. states. Mother-baby units have crucial goals, including improved family relations and decreased recidivism. They should not discriminate against mothers with treated perinatal mental illness. Many barriers for visitation of incarcerated mothers exist, including that, because there are fewer women's prisons, there are greater distances between mothers and children. This article reviews data about pregnancy and motherhood in corrections, and it discusses the international state of mother-baby units, with implications for U.S. corrections.

Comparing Recidivism of Sexual and Nonsexual Offenders: The Role of Humanist, Spiritual, and Religious Involvement

Some research has considered whether faith-informed programs help persons with a previous incarceration navigate a life away from crime. Few studies considered whether offense category moderates this relationship. Building upon studies that found a strong association between a prior sexual conviction and participation in religion in prison, we assess whether time spent in humanist, spiritual, and religious (HSR) programs in prison is associated with reconviction, separately for persons convicted of a sex offense and any other offense. Our results revealed that a higher level of participation in HSR programs was associated with a lower likelihood and rate of reconviction; however, this effect was more pronounced for persons with a prior sexual conviction. Supplementary analyses revealed that the use of religion in an extrinsic manner was beneficial, suggesting this group may look to religion to gain social support and overcome rejection and loneliness. Extrinsic religiosity among other groups, however, was associated with an increased risk of reconviction.

Exploring the Association Between Work-Family Conflict and Job Involvement

Past research among U.S. correctional staff has found that work-family conflict has negative outcomes such as decreasing job satisfaction, decreasing organizational commitment, and increasing job stress. Little empirical research has addressed the association of the specific types of work-family conflict with job involvement. The present study contributes to the literature by separately analyzing the relationship of the four specific major types of work-family conflict (time-based conflict, strain-based conflict, behavior-based conflict, and family-on-work conflict) with job involvement among surveyed staff at two Chinese prisons. Job involvement varied by the type of work-family conflict. Specifically, time-based conflict and strain-based conflict had nonsignificant association with job involvement, but behavior-based and family-based conflicts had significant negative associations.

Misconceptions About Working in Correctional Psychiatry

Incarcerated individuals have high rates of mental disorders and substance use disorders compared with the general population, yet correctional facilities in the United States have difficulty recruiting mental health professionals. This has led to shortages in the availability of clinicians who can provide psychiatric care in these settings. During training and in practice, mental health professionals may develop misconceptions about correctional psychiatry that deter them from the field. This article examines common misconceptions about working in correctional psychiatry, including that correctional psychiatry provides unnecessary care to criminals, supports mass incarceration, is dangerous work, represents a less respectable subspecialty, and excludes clinicians from teaching and research opportunities. This article seeks to provide a resource for mental health professionals considering working with incarcerated patients.

Parental incarceration during childhood and later delinquent outcomes among Puerto Rican adolescents and young adults in two contexts

OBJECTIVE

Childhood parental incarceration has been linked to increased rates of delinquency and arrest during adolescence and young adulthood; however, previous research has focused on White and/or Black samples rather than Latinx youth. We examined relationships between childhood parental incarceration and later delinquency and arrest among Puerto Rican youth living in Puerto Rico (majority context) and the mainland United States (minority context).

HYPOTHESES

We expected that childhood parental incarceration would be significantly linked to delinquent behavior and arrest. In line with acculturation theory, we hypothesized that residence (proxy for minority status) would be significantly related to delinquent outcomes and that an interaction effect would emerge between parental incarceration and residence.

METHOD

Longitudinal data from the Boricua Youth Study were examined for 1,294 Puerto Rican youth from the South Bronx, NY (minority context) and greater San Juan, PR (majority context). We conducted a series of negative binomial and logistic regressions to determine the effects of parental incarceration and residence in childhood on self-reported delinquent behavior and arrest in adolescence and young adulthood, while also examining factors previously linked to delinquency in Puerto Rican youth.

RESULTS

Childhood parental incarceration and South Bronx residence were both linked to delinquent behavior but not arrest, even when simultaneously examining several individual, diagnostic, environment/social, and family factors reported in childhood. However, we did not observe an interaction effect between parental incarceration and residence for either outcome.

CONCLUSIONS

Findings suggest that Puerto Rican youth with histories of parental incarceration could benefit from targeted programs aimed at preventing future delinquency. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2020 APA, all rights reserved).

Staff Reports of Bullying and Intervention Strategies in Croatian Care and Correctional Institutions for Youth

This study compares staff reports of bullying among institutionalized youth with residents' own self-reported prevalence of bullying and victimization collected in the previous study (the Self-Report Study on Bullying in Croatian Residential Care [SSBCRC]) and staff reports of reduction strategies are compared with evidence-based proposed policy solutions arising from residents' reports. The study also compares reduction strategies used by staff with evidence-based proposed policy solutions arising from residents' reports arising from the SSBCRC. A total of 140 staff from 20 Croatian youth facilities completed an anonymous questionnaire. The results revealed that staff estimates of the prevalence of bullying and victimization were significantly lower than resident reports. Staff were better aware of the prevalence of certain types of bullying, but they held stereotypical views of bullies and victims and had difficulties in recognizing the true times and places of bullying. Staff described their anti-bullying policies as being predominantly reactive, rather than proactive and evidence-based. It is concluded that more effort needs to be made to change the current anti-bullying policies used by staff.

It's not "Just poverty": Educational, social, and economic functioning among young adults exposed to childhood neglect, abuse, and poverty

BACKGROUND

Neglect is the most common allegation in Child Protective Services (CPS) investigations. Researchers and media have questioned whether and how CPS-investigated neglect differs from poverty. Prior studies are limited by self-reported or cross-sectional measures, small samples, and short observation periods.

OBJECTIVE

(1) To estimate the "added harm" of CPS-investigated neglect, net of poverty exposure (depth and duration), on high school completion, employment and earnings, incarceration, and teen parenthood; (2) To assess whether abuse is a stronger risk factor for adverse outcomes than neglect.

PARTICIPANTS AND SETTING

29,154 individuals born in 1993-1996 from Milwaukee County, WI, who either received food assistance or were reported to CPS before age 16.

METHOD

Using logistic regression with a rich set of social and demographic controls, we compared individuals with CPS-investigated neglect, abuse, or both abuse and neglect in early childhood or adolescence to those who experienced poverty but not CPS involvement. We calculated cumulative measures of poverty duration and poverty depth between ages 0 and 16 for the full sample using public benefit records.

RESULTS

Outcomes among children with alleged or confirmed neglect were statistically significantly worse in all domains than impoverished children without maltreatment allegations, and similar to children with alleged or confirmed abuse. Effect sizes varied by outcome.

CONCLUSIONS

Overall, this study suggests that CPS allegations of neglect are distinct from poverty and an important risk factor for adverse outcomes in adulthood.

EUROPEAN STANDARDS FOR ASSESSING THE HEALTH OF A PERSON WHO PROBABLY SUSTAINED MISTREATMENT DURING DETENTION OR CUSTODY

OBJECTIVE

The aim: The purpose of this paper is to identify and characterize the standards for assessing the health status of a person who is likely to have been mistreated during detention or custody.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Materials and methods: The provisions of international regulations, as well as the case law of the European Court of Human Rights (hereinafter - ECHR, Court) were studied in the preparation of the paper. A set of general scientific and special methods of cognition was used, in particular, the comparative-legal method, the system-structural method, the generalization method, the method of analysis and synthesis, and others.

CONCLUSION

Conclusions: Medical examinations and forensic examinations of persons detained or incarcerated and alleging torture or mistreatment are appropriate provided that they comply with European standards set out in the case law of the ECHR and the recommendations of international organizations, which whereas will ensure the effectiveness of formal investigations of such facts.