Lies, damned lies, statistics and criminology

Longer texts

Differences in sentencing in similar cases? This Long TEXT was the second non-peer review of the (now defunct) Dutch website ‘Emperors & Clothes’ (Keizers & Kleren). I discussed the article Differences in sentencing in similar cases that appeared in episode 2012-11 of the Dutch Legal Journal (‘Nederlands Juristenblad’ (NJB)). In publishing this English translation, I… Continue reading Lies, damned lies, statistics and criminology

Why exactly no placebo punishments?

Longer texts

In 2009, the Journal of Criminology [A Dutch journal, ‘Tijdschrift voor Criminologie, hence: ‘TVC’ further on] published the article “Recidivism after community service and after prison sentences”. The authors claimed to have demonstrated that offenders reoffend less after community service than after a prison sentence. At the beginning of 2011, the study was the subject… Continue reading Why exactly no placebo punishments?

Respect for relating to prison thugs?

First video in the category Meanwhile In The Netherlands.

At the beginning of this century I was a teacher for a couple of years in two very different kinds of schools. The management of both schools felt that some form of respect should be imposed on the teachers. In very different ways. The booklet ‘Respect’ I received as an ICT teacher at an intermediate… Continue reading Respect for relating to prison thugs?

Imagine all politicians.And world peace.

Imagine all politicians over all the wo-o-rld.

Sing alongwith Lennon, John: Imagine all politicians over all the wo-o-rld.Countries working together and listening to us, scienctists.And World Peace, of course. (Link to my all time favorite movie clip. With Sandra Bullock.) Links:The long Japanese videoYes, Yuval Noah Harari is a member of the World Economic Forum.The Times of Israel articleNote on the absulutely… Continue reading Imagine all politicians.And world peace.