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Studies of Supreme Court confirmations have found that a senator's vote is primarily determined by his or her ideological proximity to a nominee and that nominee's objective qualifications. This literature does not account for the extent to which a senator's electoral safety may enhance or mitigate the effects of ideology or qualifications. We argue that senators from less competitive states are more likely to eschew a nominee's qualifications in favor of their own ideological preferences. By analyzing roll call data on confirmation votes from Byron White to Elena Kagan, we support this argument and add an intriguing new piece to the puzzle underlying the changing dynamics of Senate confirmation voting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Contemporary views on sex offender treatment planning suggest that therapist and client collaboration may enhance treatment outcomes, but little research has examined this topic. The use of dynamic risk assessment instruments may provide insight into what criminogenic needs should be focused on for clients in sex offender treatment. Here, we compared therapist and client (N =80) mid-treatment assessment scores on the Sex Offender Treatment Intervention and Progress Scale (SOTIPS) in a prison-based treatment program for adult male sex offenders. The SOTIPS is 16-item dynamic assessment measure of treatment needs and progress that was designed to be scored at intake and thereafter as often as every six months on a four-point scale. Data were collected following the completion of SOTIPS as a group treatment exercise. Although there were significant overall differences in SOTIPS scores between therapists and clients (t(79)=6.50,p <.001;d =1.03), SOTIPS scores related to criminality, social stability and supports, and sexual deviance showed substantial (ICC = 0.75,p< .001), moderate (ICC = 0.59,p< .001), and fair (ICC = 0.23,p <.05) correlations, respectfully. Using partial correlations, controlling for static risk showed no impact on these relationships. Findings are discussed in light of the experiences of therapists. This study suggests that the SOTIPS provides a useful framework for therapists to engage clients in a collaborative process of indentifying clients’ strengths, potential treatment needs, and treatment progress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Engaging family and significant others in the treatment of alcoholism and problem drinking is increasingly recognized as an important element in successful intervention. This article presents a rationale for involving collaterals of DWI(Driving While Intoxicated) offenders in a specially designed education program associated with a DWI school. A model for such a program, including recruitment strategies, is outlined. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The written report often represents the final product of a mental health professional's evaluation of a sex offender. Given the diverse readership-courts, attorneys, correctional parole boards, and others-and the longevity of the report, care in its preparation is essential. This article reviews strategies for preparing such documents. A report format is first presented, followed by writing style suggestions and ethical considerations. Contents should include identifying information, reason for referral, notification of rights, sources of information, mental status examination results, personal and social history, sexual and sexual offense history, test results, opinions of the evaluators, and applicable diagnoses based on the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders III-Revised (DSM-III-R). Because it has been criticized as generally unsuitable for diagnosing sex offenders (Marshall and Eccles 1991), caution is advised in using the DSM-III-R. Other suggestions are made, from keeping raw data and notes to employing multiple reviewers. An extended bibliography is included.