This research examines the prevalence of same-sex domestic violence in the United States and Venezuela. Data were collected through a survey administered using snowball and convenience sampling. Approximately two thirds of the sample in both countries reported experiencing some form of domestic violence, although substantially fewer had received information about or knew of resources supporting victims of same-sex domestic violence. In addition, respondents were surveyed about attitudes toward law enforcement and courts. Venezuelan respondents viewed law enforcement significantly more negatively than United States respondents, but there were not significant differences regarding perceptions of courts. Conclusions and practical implications are offered.

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The urban environment provides many surfaces from which bullets or shotgun pellets may ricochet. Factors that determine whether a ricochet will occur include the nature of the target surface, the angle of incidence, the shape of the projectile, and its velocity. Investigators of shooting incidents in which ricochets may have played a role must pay attention to the nature of the wounds suffered by the shooting victims, the deformation of the bullets or shotgun pellets, the presence of trace evidence on the bullets or shotgun pellets, ricochet marks on surfaces at the scene and the probable geometry of ricochet.

This study focuses on the homicide investigator and the death encounter. The authors examined the effects of critical incident stress on the death investigator who has been exposed to the murder of a child. The participants in the study (N = 67) were all actively involved in the difficult business of investigating death by homicide. Included were detectives, criminalists, and personnel from the medical examiner's office. It was found that these investigators experienced significantly higher levels of stress when compared with ordinary adults. In addition, it was determined that exposure to traumatic stimuli at the crime scene involving the death of a child was the most significant predictor variable of stress. The potential effectiveness of critical incident stress management in mediating the effects of this exposure is discussed, and recommendations made for the care and support of death investigators as well as directions for further inquiry.

The prevalence of domestic violence in a sample of 33 men and 33 women currently or previously in same-sex relationships was assessed. Data were collected through a mail survey in the state of Virginia. Of 1000 surveys sent out 66 usable ones were returned (response rate = 6.6%). Analysis indicated that 34 had experienced some form of domestic violence, but significant differences between male and female respondents were not detected. When data from this same-sex sample were compared with those of the heterosexual sample of the National Violence Against Women Survey, intimate partner assault may be more prevalent against gay men than against heterosexual men, but there was no significant difference between lesbians and heterosexual females.