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Attorney Perspectives Regarding Use Of Federal Confidential Informants In White-Collar Crimes, Richard Dwayne Britt

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Most federal white-collar cases involve the use of confidential informants (CIs) to obtain convictions. However, there was a gap in research regarding the examination of CI efficacy safeguards and whether combinations of safeguards produce desired effects from the perspectives of private practice attorneys with defense and prosecutor experience. The purpose of this historical research qualitative study was to explore the literature related to whether federal CI policies of safeguards influenced the national use of CIs to obtain convictions in federal white-collar cases based on the perspectives of private practice attorneys with defense and prosecutorial experience as gathered through participant interviews. …

Attorney Perspectives Regarding Use Of Federal Confidential Informants In White-Collar Crimes, Richard Dwayne Britt

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Most federal white-collar cases involve the use of confidential informants (CIs) to obtain convictions. However, there was a gap in research regarding the examination of CI efficacy safeguards and whether combinations of safeguards produce desired effects from the perspectives of private practice attorneys with defense and prosecutor experience. The purpose of this historical research qualitative study was to explore the literature related to whether federal CI policies of safeguards influenced the national use of CIs to obtain convictions in federal white-collar cases based on the perspectives of private practice attorneys with defense and prosecutorial experience as gathered through participant interviews. …

Perspectives Of Law Enforcement Officers In A Suburban Community On Use Of Body Cameras, Todd Samuel Nagbe

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Abstract

As law enforcement in the United States struggles to improve relationships with the communities they serve, especially in the wake of unprecedented police use of deadly force incidents, police community relations continue to deteriorate. With advancements in technology and the creation and introduction of the Internet, footage of police misconduct including the use of deadly force has been shared on social media in real time. This has made situations between the community and police fragile to a point where it sometimes results in rioting and other public disturbances. Many have asked if the introduction of police worn-body camera systems …

The Relationship Of Diversity Education On Perceptions Of Criminal Justice Majors, Deborah Palicia

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractIn a world of ever-changing demographics, it is imperative that criminal justice practitioners acquire the knowledge and skills needed to effectively interact with the communities they serve. The purpose of this nonexperimental study was to ascertain the relationship between perceptions of diversity of undergraduate criminal justice majors at a Northeastern college who had taken a diversity course to those who had not. Bandura’s social cognitive theory guided this study. Data were collected using McMorris’ Perceptions of Criminality survey with a purposive nonprobability sample of 72 criminal justice majors at a Northeastern college who were 18 years of age or older. …

Sentencing Length Disparity Across Gender And Race For Drug Offenses, Alexis Griggs

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Research on sentencing outcomes have concentrated on disparities between gender and race with a range of influences in legal decision making. This study was an examination of whether the same form of sentencing inconsistency is found with offenders who were convicted of drug offenses. A quantitative method (ANCOVA) was used to analyze the difference in sentencing outcomes. Data from the United States Sentencing Commission from 2016 fiscal year were used to investigate the role of gender and race in sentencing disparity and examine whether an offender’s prior sentencing history and drug amount influences sentencing outcomes. The results of this study …

Juvenile Justice Administration In Ghana, Juliana Mameefua Asamoah

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The juvenile justice policy in Ghana seems to conflict with current administrative practices. As such it appears impossible to achieve the aim of rehabilitating juvenile delinquents. While there is literature documenting this conflict, little has been documented on approaching the issue from the perspective of the administrators of juvenile justice. The research purpose was to bridge this gap in literature by exploring and understanding what could improve the implementation processes of policies pertaining to juveniles in conflict with the law. The theoretical framework for this study was the advocacy coalition framework. The research questions focused on how juvenile justice administrators …

Impact Of Emotional Disturbance On Crime Among Latinos In Texas, Patricia Kendra Sellers

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Latinos are a minority population who are largely stereotyped as violent and vulnerable to committing crimes in America. While Latinos’ vulnerability to committing crimes is attributed to multiple factors, little attention has been drawn towards the relationship between Latinos’ emotional disturbance and probability toward perpetrating or preventing crime. The rational choice theory, trait theory, and biological theory were used to show relationships between emotional disturbance and cognitive processes underlying recidivism that are common among Latinos in Texas. This study investigated the impact of emotional disturbance on decision-making processes among Latinos in Texas as a motivator or deterrent to engage in …

The Impact Of Mental Health First Aid Training On Law Enforcement Officer Mental Health Literacy, Cindy J. Blankenship

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

An increasing number of juvenile offenders with untreated mental health issues are entering the justice system. Lack of adequate training of criminal justice personnel enhances the possibility of this population being arrested which is creating an overwhelming problem for stakeholders. This study sought to determine if the implementation of Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) Training impacted law enforcement officers’ (LEOs’) mental health literacy. This mixed-methods study used a quasi-experimental, one-group, pretest-posttest design, with a qualitative survey. Participants consisted of a sample of 28 LEOs from a rural Southeastern United States law enforcement agency. Study findings indicated that MHFA training increased …

Perceptions Of The Reentry Process Among African American Male Ex-Offenders With Multiple Incarcerations, Chanae Latrice Lumpkin

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Within 3 years of their release from the criminal justice system, almost 7 out of 10 released African American males go back to. There is limited social science research into how these ex-offenders perceive their lived experiences after release. The research questions that guided this inquiry related to understanding the post-prison experiences of African American males with a history of multiple incarcerations. The conceptual framework was guided by Tajfel’s social identity theory and Becker’s social reaction theory. Interviews were conducted with a purposeful sample of 6 African American males with a history of multiple incarcerations who had been released from …

Exploring The Impacts Of Workplace Loneliness On Criminal Justice Senior Leaders, Johanna Papa

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This phenomenological qualitative study aimed to explore the impacts of workplace loneliness on senior leaders of various criminal justice organizations. The theoretical framework used was Descartes' views of the self-concept theory, which explained how individuals defined and described themselves within a social context. Using purposive sampling and semistructured telephone, and email interviews of 16 criminal justice senior leaders from the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area, this research was conducted to answer the overarching question of this study. Workplace loneliness was a professional hazard. The key findings revealed that at least 87% of the criminal justice senior leaders reported feeling or have …

The Politics Of Decentralizing Criminal Justice Systems In Postconflict Societies: Insights From Liberia (2011-2017), Samuel Opoku-Agyakwa

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

After the end of Liberia’s brutal 14 year civil war, the process of rebuilding Liberia has focused on a number of interventions including reforming the criminal justice system. In the current study, institutional, policy, legal reform, and infrastructure development were the approaches used to decentralize Liberia’s Criminal Justice System. Thirty experts were interviewed, and their responses coded using NVivo 12.0. Seven themes and 25 subthemes emerged from the data. It was that found that a top down internationally led approach with minimal involvement of local communities and the neglect of the traditional justice system characterized the decentralization process. Results also …

African American Males' Perception Of The Prince Georges' County (Md) Police And Improving The Relationship, Katija J. Ra'oof

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The shootings and killings across the country of unarmed African American males by police officers, has become a topic of discussion. Previous research indicates that African American males, in comparison to other groups, are more likely to have adverse encounters with law enforcement officials. The purpose of this phenomenological study was to explore the experiences and perceptions of African American males in Prince Georges' County regarding encounters with the Prince Georges' County Police Department and how the relationship can improve. Max Weber's social action theory was used to examine perception and purposive sampling aided in gathering this information from a …

Race As A Predictor Of Recidivism Risk: An Epidemiological Analysis, Femi Folorunsho

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Prisoner recidivism is a problem of great social importance, as recidivism represents a failure of the rehabilitative goal of incarceration. The problem addressed in this study was the lack of accurate estimates of race as a predictor of recidivism risk in the United States, after taking demographics and criminal variables into account. Applying the life-course theory of recidivism, the purpose of this archival, epidemiological study was to calculate whether recidivism risk varied based on race, across different seriousness levels of commitment offense and number of prior arrests, among a sample of male federal prisoners released from custody. A Cox proportional …

Race As A Predictor Of Recidivism Risk: An Epidemiological Analysis, Femi Folorunsho

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Prisoner recidivism is a problem of great social importance, as recidivism represents a failure of the rehabilitative goal of incarceration. The problem addressed in this study was the lack of accurate estimates of race as a predictor of recidivism risk in the United States, after taking demographics and criminal variables into account. Applying the life-course theory of recidivism, the purpose of this archival, epidemiological study was to calculate whether recidivism risk varied based on race, across different seriousness levels of commitment offense and number of prior arrests, among a sample of male federal prisoners released from custody. A Cox proportional …

Race, Gender, And Attorney Representation As Predictors Of Private Probation Warrants, Subaricca Robinson

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Private probation companies were formed to provide supervision to low-risk offenders who committed misdemeanor charges by allowing offenders to reside in the community instead of being incarcerated. However, research has revealed that private probation agencies have become problematic because state and local governments have benefited financially by collecting court costs and probation supervision fees from indigent probationers who are unable to pay. Other researchers have revealed that gender, race, and attorney representation r impact whether a warrant would be issued for failure to pay court costs and supervisions fees. This study examined the predictive relationships between race, gender, attorney representation, …

Understanding The Perceptions And Decision-Making Behaviors Of First Responders In The Context Of Traumatic Events And Ptsd, Sunday O. Olatunji

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Previous researchers have indicated that first responders are in an ever-changing environment, and unfortunately, the prevalence of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) among first responders is increasing. This study sought to better understand first responders' perceptions of emergency preparedness protocols and training, as well as the prevalence of PTSD. This study also examined first responders' thoughts, decision making processes, and protective actions information, communications necessary during situations of emergency preparedness for traumatic events, and how PTSD impacted this process. A sample of 16 first responders of various ages was recruited for the purpose of this study. The participants were made up …

A Case Study Of Overcrowding In A County Jail In The Southeast United States, Marquice Robinson

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

For the past several decades, the county jail in a large metropolitan city in the southeast United States has been overcrowded, which has resulted in violence within the jail, excessive costs to the Sheriff's Office, and a requirement of Federal oversight of the jail from 2005 to 2015. In spite of these events, little is understood about why jail overcrowding is prevalent in the county and what impacts overcrowding may have on the communities around the jail. Using Shaw and McKay's social disorganization theory as the foundation, the purpose of this case study was to understand the unique circumstances around …

Incarceration Of Nonviolent Offenders At The High Court In Oyo State, Nigeria, Olugbenga Rotimi Akanji

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The nonuse of community correction in the Nigeria criminal justice system has led to increased recidivism, contributed to prison congestion, introduced the risk of prison victimization, and lacked the provision of a rehabilitative structure for nonviolent offenders. The purpose of this phenomenological research study was to explore Nigerian judges' use of alternatives to incarcerations for nonviolent offenders. Dolinko retributive punishment theory provided the theoretical framework for this study. Ten participant judges comprised the study sample from a purposeful and criterion random sampling method. Data were collected from participants through structured interviews and were coded manually, sorted, and analyzed using the …

Stress And Job Satisfaction In Career College Criminal Justice Department Heads, Sherria Nicole King

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

There has been a significant amount of research on the impact of stress and job satisfaction amongst employees in a multitude of professional settings, including the criminal justice and higher education field. Yet, information on criminal justice professionals who work in more untraditional types of higher education institutions, such as career colleges, was lacking. The purpose of this quantitative research study was to examine whether there is a significant relationship between stress, job satisfaction, and being employed as a criminal justice department head within a career college institution and compare whether heads of other departments within career college institutions differ …

From Combat Veterans To Criminals: Posttraumatic Stress Disorder And Criminal Justice Involvement, Jolene M. Van Nevel

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is currently known as the silent killer among combat veterans who have served in Operation Iraqi Freedom, Operation Enduring Freedom, and Operation New Dawn. Many combat veterans do not know or understand that they may be suffering from mental illness/disorders such as PTSD and turn to maladaptive behavior, resulting in criminal justice involvement (CJI). The goal of this study was to assess a relationship between PTSD and CJI among combat veterans. This study used cognitive behavior theory to understand the relationship between PTSD, CJI, and combat. This study used a predictive correlational design and statistical analysis …

Effect Of The Criminal Justice Curriculum On The Attitudes Of 12th-Grade Students Toward The Police, Willie Howard Bradley

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

While the use of criminal justice courses and law-related education programs have been shown to serve as a crime prevention and deterrence mechanism against school crime and violence, and help students to gain positive experiences and attitudes toward law enforcement, many high schools still do not offer criminal justice courses. The purpose of this quasiexperimental study was to compare the attitudes of 12th-grade students from a school district in Massachusetts who took a criminal justice course to 12th-grade students from another school district in Massachusetts who did not to determine if there is a statistically significant difference between the groups. …

Electronic Warrant Systems: The Effect Of Advanced Technologies On Arrest Performance, Gerald Lee Ward

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Public safety is negatively affected when arrest warrant information is not available to law enforcement officers, judges, prosecutors, and other criminal justice practitioners. The U.S. Government and the criminal justice community have advocated for electronic warrant systems (e-warrants). Peace officers know that when e-warrant systems deliver warrant information to them immediately from multiple jurisdictions, their safety is increased. However, the factors that cause these e-warrants systems to improve safety are not known. The purpose of this historical data analysis study was to determine if the use of e-warrant systems resulted in shorter clearance times than the use of legacy paper-based …

The Impact Of Gender And Focal Concerns Theory On The Treatment Of White-Collar Defendants By Federal Judges, Brandon Michael Roberts

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Previous research found gender to be a primary consideration of judges in terms of actions towards defendants. Blameworthiness, the combined effect of criminal history, offense severity, and the defendant's role in the criminal event, is also known to impact judge's actions. Little, though, is known about how gender and blameworthiness, combined, may be related to judges' actions towards white-collar defendants. The purpose of this case study, therefore, was to explore whether defendant gender and blameworthiness impact judicial actions towards defendants charged with white-collar crime(s) in a federal district court of New York. The theoretical framework was Demuth and Steffensmeier's theory …