[A critical review of applied criminology]

By reporting on a recent decision of the Regional Court (LG) of Marburg (Germany) calling attention to applied criminology, a concept still insufficiently considered in the administration of criminal justice, the paper argues that professional action in the execution of the sentence represents nothing else but applied criminology. Based on this assumption, the paper discusses practical diagnosis and correctional planning. Beyond that, the paper deals with the future of criminology. In the opinion of the author an important aspect for the future of criminology will be if it will be able to remain in touch with the world in which we live, as an independent empirical science. Applied criminology and its methodology constitute the link between science and practice.

Molecular neuroeconomics of crime and punishment: implications for neurolaw

Criminal behaviors have been associated with risk, time and social preferences in economics (Becker 1968; Davis 1988), criminology (Chamlin & Cochran 1997), and neurolaw (Goodenough & Tucker 2010). This study proposes a molecular neuroeconomic framework for the investigation into crime and punishment. Neuroeconomic parameters (e.g., risk-attitude, probability weighting, time discounting in intertemporal choice, loss aversion, and social discounting) are predicted to be related to criminal behavior. Neurobiological and neuroendocrinological substrates such as serotonin, dopamine, norepinephrine, cortisol (a stress hormone), sex hormones (e.g., testosterone), and oxytocin in brain regions such as the orbitofrontal cortex, the amygdala, and the cingulate may be related to the neuroeconomic parameters governing criminal behaviors. The present framework may help us develop "neurolaw" based on molecular neuroeconomics of criminal and antisocial decision-making processes.

Criminological psychology in the twenty-first century

BACKGROUND

This article aims to review key issues that criminological psychologists should address in the twenty-first century, especially in relation to why people become offenders, why people commit offences, and the link between explanation and the prevention and reduction of offending.

CONCLUSIONS

It is important to explain between-individual differences in the development of criminal potential and within-individual differences in the commission of crimes. More research is needed on protective factors, on investigating which risk factors are causes, and on causal mechanisms linking risk factors and offending. Questions about situational influences on offending should be included in longitudinal studies of the development of offenders. Comprehensive theories of offending need to be developed and tested. More longitudinal and experimental studies need to be carried out by criminological psychologists.

Fibers under fire: suggestions for improving their use to provide forensic evidence

The current emphasis on DNA technology in forensic science has led many to believe that trace evidence examinations, including fibers, may be of little value. Reasons are given here to show that this is an erroneous assumption. In the face of this situation, fibers examiners have been challenged to consider ways in which they can improve the services they offer to the Criminal Justice System not only by increasing the efficiency of the examinations, but also by expressing the evidential value of the findings in a clearer way. The separate stages within fibers casework from evidence collection to report writing are critically examined. Suggestions are made on how improvements may be achieved. Areas where particular progress can be made include improving communication and exchange of information between the investigator and the scientist and streamlining analysis by using the latest equipment in conjunction with effective case management. In addition, ways of making better use of existing data pertaining to fiber frequencies, accumulating new data by using the resources of working groups, and improving training procedures with respect to evidence interpretation are discussed.

[Scientific cooperation in the area of criminologic techniques in Europe]

Due to an increased trend toward professionalism on the part of criminals and the globalization of crime the demands on forensic science have increased. These demands can only be met by international co-operation. A priori all areas of forensic science can be recommended as fields where working together is adequate. Co-operation--depending for example on the amount of work required for planned research and development, on the need for harmonization of methods and techniques or on the complexity of the task--is certainly necessary to a varying extent. In institutionalizing co-operation it is not so much a mere increase in the relevant activities that is offered but much more variety of (new) ideas. In doing this, as will be shown in a couple of examples, the use of new information and communication technology in particular should be increased.