Real research for real scholarshttp://www.scholarsportal.infohttp://www.scholarsportal.infoimages/small_logo.png http://odesi.ca/details/view.html?uri=/icpsr/29121.xmlThis is a survey study of 43 judges from the British House of Lords, the Caribbean Court of Justice, the High Court of Australia, and the Supreme Courts of Ireland, India, Israel, South Africa, Canada, New Zealand, and the United States on the use of foreign law in constitutional rights cases. As the focus of attempts to both explain and justify the use of foreign law in constitutional discourse, the attitudes of apex judges are clearly at issue. The study aims to shed light on how common law judges view foreign law as a source of argument in constitutional rights matters, and how they "see" transnational sources. The data provide the basis for preliminary testing of globalist theory (associated with Anne-Marie Slaughter, Vicki Jackson and Chris McCrudden). More generally, they lend a practical insight to jurisprudential debates invoking the nature of judicial reasoning in appellate courts. We find that the conception of judges citing foreign law as a source of persuasive authority is of limited application. Citational opportunism and the aspiration to membership of an emerging international "guild" appear to be equally important strands in judicial attitudes towards foreign law. We argue that their presence is at odds with Ronald Dworkin's theory of legal objectivity, and revealed in a manner meeting his own methodological standard for attitudinal research.2010-09-06 http://odesi.ca/details/view.html?uri=/icpsr/27065.xmlThe New York City Community Health Survey (CHS) is a telephone survey conducted annually by the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH). The CHS conducted in 2004 collected information from 9,585 New York adult residents aged 18 years and older from all five boroughs of New York City -- Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, Bronx, and Staten Island. All data collected are self-report. Data are available at the level of 33 different neighborhoods, defined by ZIP code. The survey is conducted to inform health program decisions, to increase the understanding of the relationship between health behavior and health status, and to support health policy positions. Respondents were asked about their physical activity participation, whether they had been diagnosed with asthma, and whether they had ever had a flu or pneumonia shot. Multiple questions addressed respondents' smoking habits, whether they thought of quitting, the number of cigarettes they smoked per day, where their last cigarette came from, which aides helped them to quit smoking, and the implemented policies for smoking at their jobs and in their homes. Additional information was collected on respondents' second hand smoke exposure, colonoscopy and pap smear screenings, diabetes diagnosis, and episodes of heavy and binge drinking. Other topics covered included respondents' sexual history, whether they had ever been tested for HIV, and whether they had experienced domestic violence. Weights were constructed at the UHF-level to allow the sample to provide neighborhood-level estimations of both individual adults and of households in New York City. The data contain a weight variable (WT5) that should be used in analyzing the data. Demographic variables include gender, age, marital status, employment status, race, poverty level, income, and education level.2010-09-06 http://odesi.ca/details/view.html?uri=/icpsr/28841.xmlThe National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health (Add Health) is a longitudinal study of a nationally representative sample of adolescents in grades 7-12 in the United States during the 1994-1995 school year. The Add Health cohort has been followed into young adulthood with three in-home interviews, the most recent in 2001-2002, when the sample was aged 18-26. Add Health combines longitudinal survey data on respondents' social, economic, psychological, and physical well-being with contextual data on the family, neighborhood, community, school, friendships, peer groups, and romantic relationships, providing unique opportunities to study how social environments and behaviors in adolescence are linked to health and achievement outcomes in young adulthood. This Add Health data file measures the prevalence of alcohol outlets in respondent communities by reporting the tract-level density of establishments possessing on- and/or off-premise alcohol licenses. Alcohol outlet licensing data was gathered from individual states from September 2006 through June 2007. The physical address and the alcohol license category for each outlet were obtained when available.2010-09-06 http://odesi.ca/details/view.html?uri=/icpsr/25867.xmlThe current study was a national evaluation that examined the effects of implementing The Greenbook recommendations on collaboration, systems change, and practice within and across the three primary systems of child welfare agencies, courts, and domestic violence service providers. The national evaluation utilized data collected through stakeholder surveys, direct service worker surveys, child welfare case file reviews, and site visit interviews between 2001 and 2006. The purpose of the national evaluation was to develop and implement a strategy for gaining a formative understanding of sites' planning and implementation processes and a summative assessment of the impact of such work on communities, systems, and families. Part 1 (Stakeholder Survey Data) includes variables on the respondent's level of involvement in the organization and barriers to implementing Greenbook initiatives. The baseline stakeholder survey was conducted in 2002 with a total of 86 respondents across sites, and follow-up data were collected three years later (2005) with a total of 62 respondents. Part 2 through Part 7 (Direct Service Worker, and Supervisor Data) include variables on the respondents' race, gender, and length of time at the child welfare agency, court, or domestic violence service provider. Respondents are asked about the hours of training received over the past year, the presence of written reporting guidelines, screening tools, and working relationships with the other agency types. The baseline direct service worker survey was conducted after the end of the demonstration planning period (2003) with a total of 275 respondents across sites, and follow-up data were collected two years later (2005) with a total of 224 respondents. Part 8 (Case Abstractions Data) includes variables on substantiated cases of child maltreatment, risk factors contributing to maltreatment attributed to the mother, the father, or other caregiver, documentation of domestic violence and services provided to the victims and perpetrators. A random sample of substantiated cases of child maltreatment was reviewed in each site at the beginning of the demonstration initiative (2001) with a total of 616 case files reviewed across sites, after the end of the planning period (2003) with a total of 642 case files reviewed across sites, and toward the end of the implementation period (2005) with a total of 562 case files reviewed across sites. Part 9 (Site Visit Interview Notes Qualitative Data) includes questions on structure of services, policies and procedures, training, and the strengths and needs of the site. Site visits were conducted between January 2001 and June 2006 with interviewers with at least one collaborative member from each of the three primary systems (child welfare agency, courts, domestic violence service provider). 2010-09-06 http://odesi.ca/details/view.html?uri=/icpsr/23461.xmlThe purpose of the current study was to explore and understand the values, the general opinions, and the sociopolitical and cultural attitudes of youths in Egypt and Saudi Arabia. The researchers conducted face-to-face interviews of youths in six selected cities, three in Egypt and three in Saudi Arabia. The researchers explained to the youths what they were studying and followed by asking them a variety of different social issue questions dealing with religion, marriage, political systems, employment, freedom, and economic development. They also gathered demographic data such as age, education, race, religion, and socio-economic status from those interviewed. The dataset contains a total of 224 variables pertaining to the general opinion of youths in regards to a variety of social issues. Also included are demographic variables.The purpose of the study was to explore and understand the values, the general opinions, and the sociopolitical and cultural attitudes of youths in underdeveloped, Middle Eastern countries, specifically Egypt and Saudi Arabia. The study focused on four general areas of values. First, the study examined the sources of epistemic authorities that the youths rely on in forming opinions about various social and cultural issues and deciding their career. Second, the researchers sought to explore the extent to which the youth were aware of developmental ideas. Third, the research aimed to examine the youths' orientations toward such issues as the relationship between religion and politics, form of government, Western culture, and social status of women. Finally, the study focused on the youths' religiosity and attitudes toward religion.The researchers conducted face-to-face interviews of youths in six selected cities, three in Egypt and three in Saudi Arabia. The researchers explained to the youths what they were studying and followed by asking them a variety of different social issue questions dealing with religion, marriage, political systems, employment, freedom, and development. They also gathered demographic data from those interviewed, such as age, race, religion, and socio-economic status.The dataset contains a total of 224 variables pertaining to the general opinion of youths in regards to a variety of social issues. Also included are demographic variables, such as age, education, race, religion, and socio-economic status. The major variables that the researchers examined were the country of origin (Egypt or Saudi Arabia), and responses to questions regarding the level of development, the level of individual freedom, political leadership characteristics, income characteristics, political system characteristics, characteristics of foreign threat, religion and religious issues, economic development, morality scaling, and family change characteristics. Other variables concern family life around the world, attitudes toward women, government, the democratic political system, regional and international problems, and variables about Islam and non-Islamic religions, and Muslims versus non-Muslims. Additionally, variables measure the extent that the respondent relies on, (that is, believes and trusts), parents, teachers of religion at school or university, other (secular) teachers, friends, religious leaders, media, and satellite TV and the internet about the following subjects: the role of women in society and politics, politics and forms of government, education and career choice, evolution (the explanation of how plants and animals have evolved), Western societies and foreign culture, and the role of religion and politics in society.2010-09-06 http://odesi.ca/details/view.html?uri=/icpsr/27841.xmlThe Fortune Society, a private not-for-profit organization located in New York City, provides a variety of services that are intended to support former prisoners in becoming stable and productive members of society. The purpose of this evaluation was to explore the extent to which receiving supportive services at the Fortune Society improved clients' prospects for law abiding behavior. More specifically, this study examined the extent to which receipt of these services reduced recidivism and homelessness following release. The research team adopted a quasi-experimental design that compared recidivism outcomes for persons enrolled at Fortune (clients) to persons released from New York State prisons and returning to New York City and, separately, inmates released from the New York City jails, none of whom went to Fortune (non-clients). All -- clients and non-clients alike -- were released after January 1, 2000, and before November 3, 2005 (for state prisoners), and March 3, 2005 (for city jail prisoners). Information about all prisoners released during these time frames was obtained from the New York State Department of Correctional Services for state prisoners and from the New York City Department of Correction for city prisoners. The research team also obtained records from the Fortune Society for its clients and arrest and conviction information for all released prisoners from the New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services' criminal history repository. These records were matched and merged, producing a 72,408 case dataset on 57,349 released state prisoners (Part 1) and a 68,614 case dataset on 64,049 city jail prisoners (Part 2). The research team obtained data from the Fortune Society for 15,685 persons formally registered as clients between 1989 and 2006 (Part 3) and data on 416,943 activities provided to clients at the Fortune Society between September 1999 and March 2006 (Part 4). Additionally, the research team obtained 97,665 records from the New York City Department of Homeless Services of all persons who sought shelter or other homeless services during the period from January 2000 to July 2006 (Part 5). Part 6 contains 96,009 cases and catalogs matches between a New York State criminal record identifier and a Fortune Society client identifier. The New York State Prisons Releases Data (Part 1) contain a total of 124 variables on released prison inmate characteristics including demographic information, criminal history variables, indicator variables, geographic variables, and service variables. The New York City Jails Releases Data (Part 2) contain a total of 92 variables on released jail inmate characteristics including demographic information, criminal history variables, indicator variables, and geographic variables. The Fortune Society Client Data (Part 3) contain 44 variables including demographic, criminal history, needs/issues, and other variables. The Fortune Society Client Activity Data (Part 4) contain seven variables including two identifiers, end date, Fortune service unit, duration in hours, activity type, and activity. The Homelessness Events Data (Part 5) contain four variables including two identifiers, change in homeless status, and date of change. The New York State Criminal Record/Fortune Society Client Match Data (Part 6) contain four variables including three identifiers and a variable that indicates the type of match between a New York State criminal record identifier and a Fortune Society client identifier.The Fortune Society, a private not-for-profit organization located in New York City, provides a variety of services that are intended to support former prisoners in becoming stable and productive members of society. The purpose of this evaluation was to explore the extent to which receiving supportive services at the Fortune Society improved clients' prospects for law abiding behavior. More specifically, this study examined the extent to which receipt of these services reduced recidivism and homelessness following release. 2010-09-06 http://odesi.ca/details/view.html?uri=/icpsr/29022.xmlThe purpose of the Health Interview Survey is to obtain information about the amount and distribution of illness, its effects in terms of disability and chronic impairments, and the kinds of health services people receive. There are seven types of records in the 1969 survey, each in a separate data file. The variables in the Household file (Part 1) include type of living quarters, size of family, number of families in the household, presence of a telephone, number of unrelated individuals, and region. The Person file (Part 2) includes information on sex, age, race, marital status, Hispanic origin, education, veteran status, family income, family size, major activities, health status, activity limits, employment status, and occupation. These variables are found in the Condition file (Part 3) and the Hospital Episode file (Part 4) as well. The Person file (Part 2) also supplies data on height, weight, bed days, doctor visits, hospital stays, years at residence, and region variables. The Condition file (Part 3) contains information for each reported health condition, with specifics on injury and accident reports. The Hospital Episode file (Part 4) provides information on medical conditions, hospital episodes, type of service, type of hospital ownership, date of admission and discharge, number of nights in hospital, and operations performed. The Doctor Visit file (Part 5) documents doctor visits within the time period and identifies acute or chronic conditions. The Special Aids file (Part 6) provides data on chronic conditions, the number of aids used, length of hospital stays, and information regarding doctor visits. The Arthritis file (Part 7) includes information on chronic conditions, length of hospital stays, restricted activities, and bed days.2010-09-06 http://odesi.ca/details/view.html?uri=/icpsr/28185.xmlThis round of Eurobarometer surveys diverged from the Standard Eurobarometer measures and queried respondents on the following major areas of focus: (1) poverty and social exclusion, (2) social services, (3) climate change, and (4) the national economic situation and statistics. For the first major focus, poverty and social exclusion, respondents were queried about their own definition of poverty, the extent of poverty in their area, trends in the growth or decline of poverty in their area and in the world, social and personal causes of poverty and homelessness, and negative effects of poverty. Questions also included the risk of poverty for themselves and others, the importance of governmental wealth redistribution, social tension between groups, trust in individual people, trust in and reliability of institutions in fighting poverty, minimal acceptable living standards, and the level of homelessness in their area. In addition, respondents were queried on their ability to keep their job, the relationship between their job and their family, their own personal aid to help the poor, access to financial services, the respondents' satisfaction with life, and the respondents' own living conditions and income. For the second major focus, social services, respondents were asked about such services as long term care, childcare, public employment, social housing, and social assistance. Questions focused on how much they or others around them use social services, the quality and affordability of social services, preferences for elderly care and childcare, the prioritization of group assistance, and the financing of social services. For the third major focus, climate change, respondents were asked about the seriousness of climate change, governmental attempts to fight climate change, personal actions taken to fight climate change, and the relationship between environmental protection and economic growth. Finally, for the fourth major focus, the national economic situation and statistics, respondents were asked to estimate their country's official growth rate, inflation rate, and unemployment rate, and were asked to give their opinions on the importance and trustworthiness of economic statistics. Respondents were also queried on the employment and economic situations in their country. Demographic and other background information includes left-right political placement, occupation, age, gender, marital status, age at completion of full-time education, household composition, ownership of a fixed or a mobile telephone and other durable goods, internet usage, financial situation, level in society, minority group affiliation, region of residence, type and size of locality, and language of interview (in select countries).2010-09-06 http://odesi.ca/details/view.html?uri=/icpsr/24587.xmlThis special topic poll, fielded April 22, 2007, is a part of continuing series of monthly polls that solicit public opinion on various political and social issues. This poll focused on respondents' views on gun control and laws. Respondents were asked whether they favored stricter gun laws, whether they would support laws requiring a nationwide ban on semiautomatic handguns, a nationwide ban on the sale of assault weapons, a nationwide ban on people carrying a concealed weapon, and a law requiring a nationwide ban on the sale of handguns, except to law enforcement officers. Respondents were also asked whether they thought stricter gun control laws would reduce the amount of violent crime, whether the best way of reducing gun violence was either by passing stricter gun control laws or by stricter enforcement of existing laws, if the respondent or anyone in their home owned a gun, and whether they thought states should or should not be required to report mentally ill people to a federal database in order to prevent them from buying guns. Views were sought concerning the Virginia Tech shooting and university policies. Specifically, respondents were asked whether they thought school officials did or did not do enough to investigate concerns that the student who committed these shootings was mentally unstable, whether news organizations did the right thing or the wrong thing by airing photos and videos of the Virginia Tech gunman, whether they supported a law requiring universities to provide stricter screening and counseling for students who are suspected of being mentally unstable and possibly dangerous to themselves or others, and whether they supported changing confidentiality laws so that when a college student is suspected of being mentally disturbed, the school would be required to notify their parents. Views were also sought on the primary cause of gun violence in America and whether shootings like the one at Virginia Tech could happen in the respondent's community. Respondents were queried on whether they supported legislation giving Washington, D.C., a full voting member in the United States House of Representatives and whether they approved of the proposed law that would give Democratic D.C. a full voting member in the House, while also giving the Republican state of Utah another congressional seat. Demographic information includes sex, age, race, education, political party affiliation, and political philosophy.2010-09-06 http://odesi.ca/details/view.html?uri=/icpsr/27382.xmlThe National Criminal Justice Treatment Practices (NCJTP) Survey provides a comprehensive inquiry into the nature of programs and services provided to adult and juvenile offenders involved in the justice system in the United States. Participants included key criminal justice administrators, operations managers, and staff. This survey was conducted in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. The survey involved a myriad of state, regional, and local organizations employing a mix of their own staff and contracted personnel, and services that might involve multiple levels of government. It was a self-administrated, paper-and-pencil questionnaire. The methodology included a multilevel approach that captured the perspective of executives, front-line administrators, and line staff about current practices in a range of institutional and community correctional settings for adults and juveniles. The goals for this survey were: to describe current drug treatment practices, policies, and delivery systems for offenders on probation or parole supervision, and in jails, prisons, and youth institutions; to examine agency structures, resources, and other organizational factors that may affect service delivery, including mission, leadership, climate, culture, and beliefs about rehabilitation versus punishment; and to assess coordination and integration across criminal justice agencies and between corrections and treatment systems. Items in the survey included: respondent characteristics, organizational characteristics, correctional programs characteristics (e.g., size, nature, etc.), substance abuse treatment programs characteristics, social networks/agencies collaboration, integration of services with other agencies, attitudes toward punishment and rehabilitation (personal values), organizational needs assessment, organizational culture and climate for treatment, cynicism toward change, organizational commitment to treatment, and perspectives on intradepartmental coordination.The objectives of this study were to describe the current drug treatment practices, policies, and delivery systems of offenders on probation or parole supervision, and in jails, prisons, and youth institutions. In addition, it was meant to examine agency structures, resources, and other organizational factors that may affect service delivery, including mission, leadership, climate, culture, and beliefs about rehabilitation versus punishment. Finally, it assesses the coordination and integration across criminal justice agencies and between corrections and treatment systems.The mode of the survey was a self-administered paper-and-pencil questionnaire. This study consisted of a survey delivered to employees within correctional and treatment systems nationally, including agency administrators, wardens, program managers, and counselors and correctional officers. The survey included questions about the organizational structure and resources, the work environment, support for treatment, the value and purpose of substance abuse treatment, and the type and amount of treatment services offered. It was estimated the survey would take about 30 to 60 minutes to complete. Administrators also requested the permission of agency directors that staff who participate should be allowed to complete the survey during regular work hours. Participants were able to access the findings at the CJ-DATS (www.cjdats.org) Web site and by the researchers.2010-09-06