Eye injury from electrical weapon probes: Mechanisms and treatment.

PURPOSE: While generally reducing morbidity and mortality, TASER® electrical weapons have risks associated with their usage, including burn injuries and head and cervical trauma associated with uncontrolled falls. The primary non-fatal complications appear to be significant eye injury but no analysis of the mechanisms or suggested treatments has been published. METHODS: We used a biomechanical model to predict the risk of eye injury as a function of distance from the weapon muzzle to the eye. We compared our model results to recently published epidemiological findings. We also describe the typical presentation and suggest treatment options. RESULTS: The globe rupture model predicted that a globe rupture can be expected (50% risk) when the eye is within 6 m of the muzzle and decreases rapidly beyond that. This critical distance is 9 m for lens and retinal damage which is approximately the range of the most common probe cartridges. Beyond 9 m, hyphema is expected along with a perforation by the dart portion of the probe. Our prediction of globe rupture out to 6 m (out of a typical range of 9 m) is consistent with the published risk of enucleation or unilateral blindness being 69 ±â€¯18%, with an eye penetration. CONCLUSIONS: Significant eye injury is expected from a penetration by an electrical weapon probe at close range. The risk decreases rapidly at extended distances from the muzzle. Not all penetrating globe injuries from electrical weapon probes will result in blindness.

Children detained in French police cells.

AIM: Police custody is detention in response to a suspicion of crime. In France, until the age of 13, pre-trial detention and police custody are not allowed. We aimed to evaluate the practical implementation of police detention of children aged between 10 and 12 years and describe the medical characteristics and history, perceived health status and opinion on custody of the potentially affected children. METHODS: A descriptive study was conducted in a French reference regional department of forensic medicine at the time of medical examination in police cells among arrestees younger than 13 years old examined over a 5-year period (1 January 2011-31 December 2015). RESULTS: Children aged 10-12 years (n = 60; males, 48, 80%), accounting for 60 of 57 687 examined arrestees (0.1%), were examined over the study period. Six individuals (10%) were arrested twice or more times during the study period (for a total of 76 detentions analysed). The most common suspected crimes were theft or robbery (42/76, 55%) and physical assault (22/76, 29%). Arrestees had a favourable opinion of custody in 33 of 76 cases (43%). Children reported physical assault by the police in 6 of 76 cases (8%), and the physicians observed recent traumatic injuries in 7 of 76 cases (9%). Daily tobacco consumption was reported by 4 of 60 children (7%). No child was considered unfit for detention by the physician. CONCLUSIONS: Children aged 10-12 years suspected of serious crimes accounted for 0.1% of detained individuals in police cells. Although infrequent, such situations are a matter of concern.

Eye injuries from electrical weapon probes: Incidents, prevalence, and legal implications.

PURPOSE: While generally reducing morbidity and mortality, electrical weapons have risks associated with their usage, including burn injuries and trauma associated with uncontrolled fall impacts. However, the prevalence of significant eye injury has not been investigated. METHODS: We searched for incidents of penetrating eye injury from TASER® conducted electrical weapon (CEW) probes via open source media, litigation filings, and a survey of CEW law-enforcement master instructors. RESULTS: We report 20 previously-unpublished cases of penetrating eye injury from electrical weapon probes in law-enforcement field uses. Together with the 8 previously published cases, there are a total of 28 cases out of 3.44 million field uses, giving a demonstrated CEW field-use risk of penetrating eye injury of approximately 1:123 000. Confidence limits [85 000, 178 000] by Wilson score interval. There have been 18 cases of total unilateral blindness or enucleation. We also present legal decisions on this topic. CONCLUSIONS: The use of electrical weapons presents a rare but real risk of total or partial unilateral blindness from electrical weapon probes. Catastrophic eye injuries appear to be the dominant non-fatal complication of electronic control.

The use of a brief mental health screener to enhance the ability of police officers to identify persons with serious mental disorders.

Police agencies in Canada and elsewhere have received much criticism over how they respond to persons with serious mental disorders. The adequacy of training provided to police officers on mental health issues and in particular on recognizing indicators of serious mental disorders has been a major concern. This paper describes the process that led to the development of a new brief mental health screener (interRAI Brief Mental Health Screener, BMHS) designed to assist police officers to better identify persons with serious mental disorders. The interRAI BMHS was developed in collaboration with interRAI, an international, not-for-profit consortium of researchers. The government of Ontario had previously partnered with interRAI to develop and implement the Resident Assessment Instrument for Mental Health (RAI-MH), the assessment system mandated for use on all persons admitted into inpatient psychiatric care in the province. Core items on the interRAI BMHS were obtained through analysis (N=41,019) of RAI-MH data together with input from representatives from health care, police services, and patient groups. Two police services in southwestern Ontario completed forms (N=235) on persons thought to have a mental disorder. Patient records were later accessed to determine patient disposition. The use of summary and inferential statistics revealed that the variables significantly associated with being taken to hospital by police included performing a self-injurious act in the past 30days, and others being concerned over the person's risk for self-injury. Variables significantly associated with being admitted included abnormal thought process, delusions, and hallucinations. The results of the study indicate that the 14-variable algorithm used to construct the interRAI BMHS is a good predictor of who was most likely to be taken to hospital by police officers and who was most likely to be admitted. The instrument is an effective means of capturing and standardizing police officer observations enabling them to provide more and better quality information to emergency department (ED) staff. Teaching police officers to use the form constitutes enhanced training on major indicators of serious mental disorders. Further, given that items on the interRAI BMHS are written in the language of the health system, language acts as common currency between police officers and ED staff laying the foundation for a more collaborative approach between the systems.

[Assessment of psychological conditions for the use of firearms in law enforcement]. / Evaluación de las condiciones psicológicas para el uso del arma de fuego en los cuerpos de seguridad.

To handle firearms safely, an individual needs to be in sound psychological conditions. This point is especially relevant in law enforcement, given that this group is likely to experience situations where there is a reasonably severe risk to life, physical integrity and that of third parties. These conditions cause high levels of stress and become a significant source of psychological strain. The assessment of these psychological conditions in law enforcement must stay ahead of this strain and should act preventively, establishing surveillance that is the product of a consensus between the needs of professionals and organizations. This evaluation should be conducted by technical specialists who understand and know the occupational reality of these professionals. A good assessment methodology starts with the need to discover the basic areas that need exploring, the ideal procedure for assessing these issues and the criteria that determine the aptitude (or lack thereof) for handling firearms. Once these goals have been established, we can be assured that the assessment will follow a set of principles that will give it homogeneity, effectiveness and efficiency. This type of assessment will help accomplish the mission that these security professionals are entrusted to by law, which is to protect the free exercise of rights and freedoms and ensure citizen safety.

La labor del jefe de sector policial en el entorno sociocomunitario cubano / The work of the chief of the police sector in the Cuban social-community environment / O trabalho do chefe do setor policial no ambiente socio-comunitário cubano

Se aborda la temática de la mezcla de funciones preventivas y represivas de la Policía en la actualidad, simbiosis que ha venido ocurriendo a medida que evoluciona la concepción de la agencia policial, no solo como agente de enfrentamiento de las conductas socialmente desviadas y delictivas, sino también como pieza preventiva en los entornos sociocomunitarios, donde se originan muchas de las modalidades delictivas y socialmente desviadas, que tanto afectan en primer orden a la ciudadanía y al Estado en general. La policía comunitaria se convierte en referente de la investigación, lo que encamina a analizar la figura del Jefe de Sector en Cuba, a través de métodos de revisión bibliográfica y análisis de documentos, que demuestran cómo desde su concepción posee aciertos y aspectos aún por perfeccionar.

Aborda-se a temática da mistura de funções preventivas e repressivas da Polícia na atualidade, a simbiose que acontece enquanto evoluciona a concepção da agência policial, não somente como o agente de enfrentamento das condutas socialmente desviadas e criminais, mas também como a peça preventiva nos ambientes socio-comunitários, onde muitas das modalidades criminais e socialmente desviadas são originadas, quanto afetam na primeira ordem à cidadania e no Estado em geral. A polícia comunitária torna-se um referente de investigação, que conduz a análise da figura do Chefe do Setor em Cuba, através dos métodos de revisão bibliográfica e análise de documentos, que demonstram como desde sua concepção tem sucessos e aspectos ainda para aperfeiçoar.

The subject dealing with the current mixture of the Police preventive and repressive roles is approached as a symbiosis that has been taking place as the conception of the police agency evolves not only as an agent of confrontation of socially deviated and criminal conducts but also as a preventive piece in the social and community environments where many of those criminal and socially deviated modalities originate and so hardly affect citizens in the first place and the State at large. Community Police becomes an investigation referent, which helps analyze through methods involving bibliographical review and document analysis the figure of the Chief of the Police Sector in Cuba and how from its very conception it has shown both successes, failures, and areas for improvement.

Driving intoxicated: is hospital admission protective against legal ramifications?

BACKGROUND: According to the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, in 2010, 10,228 people were killed in alcohol-impaired driving crashes. Daily, intoxicated drivers are seen in trauma centers across the country. At our trauma center, we sought to determine the number of drivers who had a documented elevation in their blood alcohol content (BAC) and compare this with county police records to evaluate how many charges for driving while intoxicated (DWI) were issued. METHODS: A retrospective chart review was performed for trauma admissions during a 3-year period. Patients with a BAC of less than 0.08 g/dL were excluded. Only documented drivers were included. This group of intoxicated drivers was then compared against public records from the Dallas County for any record of a charge of DWI. RESULTS: During a 3-year period, from 2009 to 2011, 118 drivers had a confirmed BAC above the legal limit of 0.08 g/dL. Average BAC level was 0.218 g/dL. Injuries varied widely between patients with an average Injury Severity Score (ISS) of 11. Extremity fractures were seen in 27%, facial fractures were seen in 16%, and intracranial hemorrhage was seen in 7%. Forty-eight percent of the patients were admitted to the intensive care unit initially, with an average length of intensive care unit stay of 1.5 days (range, 0-25 days). Only 18% of our patients (21) received a charge of DWI. Four patients were charge with related offenses. CONCLUSION: A motor vehicle accident may be protective against the legal ramifications of drinking and driving. Less than 20% of patients who were driving under the influence incurred any legal repercussion. Deterrents that prevent law enforcement from being able to obtain evidence needed for prosecution should be eliminated. Health care providers and law enforcement agencies should work as a team to help mitigate the incidence of drunk driving and its burden on society. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Epidemiologic study, level III.

La participación comunitaria en asuntos de seguridad ciudadana en Bucaramanga y su Área Metropolitana / Community participation in citizen security affairs in Bucaramanga and its Metropolitan Area / A participação comunitária nos assuntos da segurança cidadã em Bucaramanga e em sua área metropolitana

Las reformas policiales llevadas a cabo en América Latina en las últimas décadas han apostado por estimular la participación ciudadana en el diseño, la ejecución y la evaluación de políticas de seguridad. Se analiza el papel desempeñado por el ciudadano en el actual esquema de prestación del servicio policial en Colombia, a través de la implementación del Plan Nacional de Vigilancia Comunitaria por Cuadrantes en el Área Metropolitana de Bucaramanga, y la percepción que los líderes comunitarios tienen en torno a la efectividad del modelo y al rol del ciudadano como gestor de su propia seguridad.

Police reforms carried out in Latin America during the past decades have been committed to foster citizen participation in the design, introduction and assessment of security policies. The role played by citizens in the current scheme of Police Service rendered in Colombia through the implementation of the “Plan Nacional de Vigilancia Comunitaria por Cuadrantes” (National Community Surveillance Plan by Quadrants) at the Metropolitan Area in Bucaramanga is analyzed, together with the perception that community leaders have of the model effectiveness and the citizens role as the managers of their own security.

As reformas policiais realizadas em América Latina nas últimas décadas apostaram para estimular a participação cidadã no projeto, na execução e na avaliação de políticas da segurança. O papel jogado pelo cidadão no esquema atual do fornecimento do serviço policial na Colômbia é analisado através da implementação do Plano Nacional de Monitoramento Comunitário por Quadrantes na área metropolitana de Bucaramanga, e a percepção que os líderes comunitários têm em torno da eficácia do modelo e ao papel do cidadão como o gestor da sua própria segurança.

La detención desde la perspectiva de la Policía local en España / Detention from the Perspective of the Local Police in Spain / A detenção desde a perspectiva da Polícia Local na Espanha

Desde la perspectiva de la policía local se examina de manera crítica la actividad de imputación y, en especial, la consiguiente aplicación de la medida cautelar personal que la Ley de Enjuiciamiento Criminal denomina “detención” en el ámbito procesal penal español. La aplicación de esta medida provisionalísima de privación de libertad conlleva una serie de problemas y especialidades que merecen una atención detenida y una valoración jurídica, teniendo en cuenta los presupuestos imprescindibles, las finalidades perseguidas, los límites temporales, así como el régimen jurídico de la persona privada de libertad. Todo ello, además, debe ser matizado con apuntes específicos cuando se trata de juicios rápidos, de procesos por delitos de terrorismo, de casos de cooperación internacional, de asuntos en que están imputados menores o delincuentes extranjeros. Por último, se trata de un problema importante desde el punto de vista de la valoración de las pruebas conseguidas en estos procesos y se refiere, en concreto, a la utilización de las declaraciones obtenidas por la policía para fundar la sentencia de condena que finalmente pueda recaer.

From the perspective of the local Police, the imputation and, particularly, the resulting application of the personal precautionary measure that the Law of Criminal Procedure denominates as “detention” in the Spanish criminal procedure sphere is examined in a critical way. The application of this highly urgent measure involving the deprivation of liberty implies a series of problems and specialties deserving close attention and juridical assessment, taking into account the unavoidable presuppositions, the aims pursued and the temporary limits, as well as the legal system affecting the person deprived from liberty. In addition, all of this must be tinged with specific notes where dealing with snap judgments or expeditious trials, along with prosecutions and convictions for terrorist offenses, international cooperation cases, affaires where minors or foreign criminals are involved… Finally, this is an important issue from the point of view of the assessments of proofs obtained in these procedures and refers, specifically, to the use of depositions obtained by Police to base the final convicting as required.

Desde a perspectiva da polícia local atividade de imputação é examinada de maneira crítica, em especial, a aplicação conseguente da medida cautelar pessoal que a Lei do Processo Civil denomina “detenção” no âmbito processual penal espanhol. A aplicação desta medida muito urgente (provisionalísima) da privação da liberdade envolve uma série de problemas e especialidades que merecem uma atenção detalhada e um avaliação jurídica, considerando os prussupostos essenciais, as finalidades perseguidas, os limites provisórios, assim como o regime jurídico da pessoa privada da liberdade. Tudo isso, além, deve ser esclarecido com notas específicas quando trata-se de julgamentos rápidos, dos processos por crimes do terrorismo, dos casos da cooperação internacional, dos assuntos em que os imputados são menores ou delinquentes estrangeiros. Finalmente, trata-se de um problema importante desde o ponto de vista da avaliação dos testes obtidos nestes processos e se refere, em especial, ao uso das declarações obtidas pela Polícia para fundar a sentença da condenação que finalmente pode recair.

Aproximación a la inteligencia policial(la Policía Federal de México, 2006-2012) / An approximation to police intelligence (the federal police of Mexico, 2006-2012) / Abordagem a inteligencia policial (a policia federal do Mexico, 2006-2012)

Del 2006 al 2012, la política criminal del gobierno del presidente Felipe Calderón Hinojosa le dio preeminencia a la Secretaría de Seguridad Pública Federal, encarnada en la Policía Federal, a la que se dotó de una moderna plataforma tecnológica para la inteligencia; por lo tanto, esta contribución se centrará sobre la inteligencia policial y el derrotero de los últimos seis años de la inteligencia de la Policía Federal mexicana.

From 2006 through 2012, President Felipe Calderon’s criminal policy gave priority to the Federal Public Security Secretariat embodied in the Federal Police which was equipped with a modern technological platform for intelligence. Therefore, this contribution will focus on police intelligence and the path of the Mexican Federal Police in the past six years.

De 2006 a 2012, a política criminal do governo do presidente Felipe Calderón Hinojosa deu preeminência para o Secretariado da Segurança Pública Federal encarnada na Polícia Federal, que é dotada de uma moderna plataforma tecnológica para a inteligência; portanto, essa contribuição vai se centrar na inteligência da polícia e o curso dos últimos seis anos da inteligência da Policia Federal mexicana.

Measuring compliance with tobacco-free campus policy.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose is to describe psychometric testing and feasibility of the Tobacco-Free Compliance Assessment Tool (TF-CAT) to measure tobacco-free policy compliance at a public university and medical center. The aims are to (1) investigate concurrent validity by comparing the number of cigarette butts in areas covered by the policy with those on adjacent sidewalks; (2) evaluate the interrater reliability of the TF-CAT; and (3) describe the feasibility of using the TF-CAT. METHODS: Phase I was a pilot study on the health care campus. Phase II was baseline of an intervention study on the main campus. Cigarette butts and smokers were counted in hot spots. Validity was assessed using Mann-Whitney U and Geographical Information System Analysis methods. RESULTS: There was some support for the validity and high interrater reliability. Data collectors spent 1 hour per week for 8 weeks during Phase I, and 31 hours in 1 week during Phase II. CONCLUSION: TF-CAT is a feasible, time-intensive method to measure tobacco-free policy compliance.

Should college campuses become tobacco free without an enforcement plan?

Tobacco-free campuses are a great public health initiative. Healthy People 2020 and Healthy Campus 2020 address tobacco use and young adults including college students. Sources indicate that of the more than 6,000 colleges and universities in the United States, less than 800 are either smoke free or tobacco free. An increasing number of college campus policy makers in the United States are implementing smoke-free or tobacco-free policies, including procedures for violators of these policies. However, without a clearly defined and actionable enforcement component, these policies serve little purpose. This has become a policy enforcement issue that campus leaders should address. Should colleges and universities become tobacco free, if enforcement is not implemented? College and university administrators should demonstrate leadership by having violators of tobacco-free campus policies held to the same standard as those who violate other policies.

Resultados de la Policía Nacional en la lucha contra el crimen, 2011 / Resultados da Polícia Nacional na luta contra o crime, 2011 / 2011 Results of the National Police in the Fight Against Crime

El artículo contiene la descripción de los resultados obtenidos por la Policía Nacional en el desarrollo de estrategias orientadas a garantizar la seguridad y la convivencia ciudadanas en Colombia durante el 2011, entre los cuales están las capturas por todos los delitos consagrados en el Código Penal, el rescate de personas secuestradas, la desactivación de artefactos explosivos, la recuperación de vehículos y la incautación y recuperación de mercancía, entre otras actividades de repercusión nacional e internacional en la lucha contra el crimen.

This article describes the results obtained by the National Police in the development of strategies leading to guarantee security and good citizen coexistence in Colombia during 2011. It refers to captures relating to all criminal offenses established in the Criminal Code, as well as the rescuing of kidnapped persons, the deactivation of explosive artifacts, the recovery of missing vehicles, and the seizure and recovery of stolen merchandise among other activities of wide national and international notoriety in the scene of the fight against crime.

O artigo contém uma descrição dos resultados obtidos pela Polícia Nacional no desenvolvimento de estratégias orientadas para garantir a segurança e a coexistência cidadãs de Colômbia durante 2011, entre eles estão as capturas por todos os crimes, consagradas no Código Penal, o resgate de pessoas sequestradas, a desativação de artefatos explosivos, a recuperação de carros e apreensão e recuperação de bens, entre outras atividades com impacto nacional e internacional na luta contra o crime.

Psychosocial correlates of police-registered youth crime. A Finnish population-based study.

This study is focused on psychosocial correlates of youth crime in a sample of 2330 Finnish boys born in 1981. Two kinds of data were combined: questionnaires completed by the boys at call-up in 1999 and crime registered in the Finnish National Police Register between 1998 and 2001. One-fifth of the boys were registered to offending during the 4-year period in late adolescence; 14% were registered for one or two offences, 4% for three to five offences, and 3% for more than five offences. Crime accumulated heavily in those with more than five offences, as they accounted for 68% of all crime. Independent correlates of crime were living in a small community, parents' low educational level and divorce, having a regular relationship, self-reported delinquency, daily smoking, and weekly drunkenness, whereas anxious-depressiveness was reversely associated with crime. Most psychosocial problems covaried linearly with offending frequency, being particularly manifested by multiple recidivists. However, recidivists had very rarely used mental health services. The results indicate that offending and various psychosocial problems accumulate in a small minority of boys not reached by mental health services.

Salud pública y violencia doméstica/intrafamiliar / Health public and violence domestic family

La violencia doméstica /intrafamiliar representa un problema social que impacta negativamente en la salud de la población. Esta versión resumida contiene una primera base de datos que muestra los aspectos más sobresalientes constituyéndose en un instrumento de aproximación orientado al quehacer de profesionales del área de salud, para el abordaje integral de este mal social evitable