Digital Commons Network^™

Building Bridges For Women Through Service-Learning: Bringing Students And Communities Together To Combat Domestic Violence In Honduras, Darlene Metcalf-Bergeron

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This thesis defines service-learning and domestic violence, while describing how bringing students and communities together through service-learning courses can build and has already built bridges for victims of violence against women. Collaboration is essential in the quest to raise awareness about domestic violence through education. This thesis will demonstrate through data and photojournalism this collaboration between students of SPA/MLC Service-Learning Classes of UMaine from 2006 through to and including 2011.

As the themes in this thesis develop the reader will also begin to question what lies just beyond our borders and behind closed doors for women of the twenty-first century. …

Youth And Family Based In-Home Services Program In Tennessee: Factors For Success, Craig S. Hall

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Intensive in-home services is a family-centered, strength-based intervention program offering comprehensive treatment that includes family therapy, mental health treatment and parenting skills for caregivers, development of positive social systems, and assistance with accessing community resources for long-term support (Youth Villages, 2013b). Framed on family system theory, Intensive-In Home Services (IIHS) was developed from Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Functional Family Therapy, Social Development, and Crisis Intervention models as a means to modify behaviors that place youth at risk for out-of-home placement. The socio-historical development of these models is examined in the literature review.

Intensive in-home services is a family-centered, strength-based intervention program …

Race, Social Disorganization And Delinquency, Alina Bazyler

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The overrepresentation of racial and ethnic minorities in crime has been an issue of debate. Some evidence, however, has shown that racial differences in offending are largely accounted for by economic disadvantage. Using data from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health (n = 4,290), the relationship between race and delinquency was examined looking at social disorganization factors. It was hypothesized that there would be racial and ethnic differences in delinquency and that these differences would be accounted for by social disorganization factors, specifically collective efficacy and economic disadvantage. The results show that compared to White adolescents Hispanic adolescents …

Examining Juvenile Delinquency Contributors Through Life-Course And Strain Theory, Caitlin E. Burns

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

For years the causes of juvenile delinquency have drawn a lot of attention from the scientific community and have become a widely studied concept in research literature. Causes of juvenile delinquency have become an important aspect of criminological study because with the knowledge of what contributes to delinquency, the scientific community can possibly slow down the continuous act of offending, also known as continuity, through implementation of prevention strategies. Criminological theory is used to define and help understand why certain contributors are the foundation for juvenile delinquency, along with the continuity of crime for an adolescent but also what factors …

The Marriage Effect : An Intergenerational Analysis Of Marijuana Desistance., Rachel Coonce 1983-

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This thesis takes a gendered look at the criminological age-graded theory of informal social control, which posits that social bonds are strongly influential in curbing crime and deviance over the course of an individual's life. However, the theory was based on an all-male sample and is therefore not as applicable to women. It is likely that social bonds for men and women have evolved differently over the course of the last century and it is therefore the goal of this study to analyze how these changes are operating within this informal social control theory. Specifically, this paper analyzes marriage and …

Predictors Of Hiv Risk Behaviors Among Older Adults : A Multilevel Analysis., Laneshia Rae' Mccord

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Over the past thirty years, HIV has become a worldwide epidemic. Given the surge in the rate of sexually transmitted diseases including HIV, this sheds light as a new worry for sexually active older adults, raising questions about risk behaviors among this group. The issues facing older adults are three-fold in that they are 1) not identifying themselves as being at risk; 2) not identifying risk behaviors; and 3) are not largely being identified in the public realm as participating in risk behaviors. For these reasons, understanding both environmental and individual factors and their unique influences on HIV risk behaviors …

Success On Their Own Terms : Youths' Perspectives On What It Means To Be Successful In Foster Care., Justin Miller

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Foster care is a fundamental component of the child welfare system. Traditionally, foster care has been viewed as the primary mechanism for caring for children placed outside of their home, and is considered one of the central intervention strategies for child welfare practitioners. Foster care services are regularly recommended for children who are abused and neglected. In 2011, there were an estimated 401,000 youths in foster care and approximately 646,000 youth were served by the foster care system. Yet, despite the importance of foster care to child welfare, social work literature in general, and child welfare literature specifically, is devoid …

The Effects Of Family Structure On Juvenile Delinquency, Alisha B. Parks

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Studies show that family structure is an important factor in explaining delinquency among adolescents (Price & Kunz, 2003). There is a lack of research, however, pertaining to cohabitation. The main goals of this study are to determine if there are variations in delinquency between cohabitating and other family types, and to examine the extent to which parental social control measures account for the variation in delinquency by family structure. Data from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health (Add Health) are used for the purposes of this study (n = 4,389). While there are no significant differences in violent delinquency …

Concurrent Enrollment Programs And Acquired Social Capital For Students From Impoverished Backgrounds: An Examination Of High School And College Outcomes, Dan D. Jorgensen

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Poverty has been linked to reduced workforce opportunities, reduced collegegoing rates, increased social-emotional challenges, and even negative health consequences. Postsecondary educational opportunities, offered during high school, that contribute to the acquisition of social capital may improve academic outcomes for students from impoverished backgrounds. The Colorado concurrent enrollment legislation, provides one opportunity for students to enroll in college level coursework and receive college credits with tuition being paid through state funding while in high school. Concurrent enrollment (CE) programs support the college application, financial aid and enrollment processes. Most importantly, they also support the development of social networks that may foster …

An Evaluation Of The Potential Impact Of Community Oriented Policing In Latin America, Gabriella A. Ippolito

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This thesis examines the potential impact of community oriented policing in Latin America through a series of case studies from Brazil, Mexico, Chile, Colombia and El Salvador dating from the early 1990’s to the present. They are analyzed through a typology that organizes community oriented policing strategies according to costliness to the police. Costliness is defined as the amount of power that the police have to renounce to the community to implement a certain strategy. The thesis concludes that community oriented policing is an improvement over militarized policing strategies as it has the possibility to enhance both human security and …

Needs Assessment For Animal-Assisted Interventions: Factors Influencing Implementation Of Dogs As Judiciary Aids In Criminal Justice Processes In Cps Cases, Maureen Macnamara

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The study presents findings from a needs assessment exploring the critical features or core elements that bear on professionals regarding the inclusion of dogs as judiciary aides in the investigation and prosecution of child maltreatment cases. Specifically, the objectives of the current needs assessment were examined through the following questions: (1) What are the perceived benefits of implementing programs with dogs as judiciary aids throughout criminal justice? (2) What specific roles do professionals identify for dogs within criminal justice, (3) What are potential barriers to the implementation of dogs as judiciary aids programs, and (4) How are the needs and …

The Evolution Of Healthcare For Louisville's African American Community, 1865-1990., Angela Calloway

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

It is well documented that inequality in the delivery of health care exists within the U.S. (Smedley, Stith & Nelson, 2003; Trivedi, Zaslavsky, Schneider, & Ayanian, 2006). Historically, our health care system was a segregated one in which white Americans enjoyed one system of health care—a more privileged one-- while black Americans experienced another, supported by law and custom. Laws changed after the Civil Rights Act of 1964 but disparate practices lingered. Although there have been studies about the historical picture of segregated health care available to black Americans (Byrd & Clayton, 2000; Savitt, 2007), there is a lack of …

The New Paradigm Of Rehabilitation : A Meta-Analysis Of The Effectiveness Of Incarceration-Based Rehabilitation In Regards To Recidivism Reduction., Shaun Andrew Dixon 1985-

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study is a meta-analytic examination of incarceration-based rehabilitation and its ability to reduce recidivism. Substance abuse is a large problem within our convict population; many times it is a substance related conviction that is the cause of the inmates’ incarceration. Claims have been made for decades that if society can effectively rehabilitate these convicts, recidivism rates will be reduced, ultimately lowering incarceration rates. By creating a stringent criterion of inclusion, this study makes an “apples-to-apples” analysis of prior studies on the topic, examining twelve studies of incarceration-based rehabilitation and their outcome variables. The data was synthesized through meta-analytic techniques …

Empathy And Threatened Egotism In Men’S Use Of Violence In Intimate Relationships, Jessica H. Turner

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The current study was undertaken to explore the relationship between self-esteem, narcissism, and empathy with intimate partner violence perpetration among men in 2 samples: college students and inmates. The sample was analyzed both as an aggregate and separately. A negative relationship was hypothesized between intimate violence perpetration and both self-esteem and empathy. A positive relationship was expected between intimate violence perpetration and narcissism. A 2-way interaction was examined between self-esteem and narcissism as a test of threatened egotism, defined as high self-esteem coupled with high narcissism, which was not expected in the current study. Empathy was hypothesized to moderate the …

Learning The Ropes: The Role Of Peers, Mentors, And Extracurricular Participation In College Persistence, Adriene Davis

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Although college attendance rates continue to rise in the United States during the 21st century, college completion percentages still lag behind. This put those not able to persist through higher education at a disadvantage, particularly because of the financial and opportunity costs of attending college without successful completion. Using data collected from 20 semi-structured interviews, I examine how social support helps students navigate and succeed during college. From the data I find that the various social relationships students cultivate in college with peers, upperclassmen and college-educated family members, as well as through involvement in on-campus groups and organizations can provide …

Pathways To Aggressive Behavior: Antisocial And Borderline Personality Symptoms And The Mechanisms Of Impulsivity, Negative Affect, And Distress Tolerance, Katherine Lee Bracken-Minor

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Aggressive behaviors, including physical aggression toward others and non-suicidal self-injury, are high-risk behaviors that are prevalent in the college student population. Personality disorder symptoms, particularly those of antisocial personality disorder and borderline personality disorder, are associated with these aggressive behaviors. Some researchers have posited that ASPD and BPD are “mirror-image disorders” that have similar underlying traits but differing behavioral manifestations of those characteristics, namely differing in terms of the object of their aggression. The present study investigated these issues by examining the pathways from ASPD and BPD to aggressive behaviors via the mechanisms of impulsivity, negative affect, and distress tolerance …

Peer Influence And Social Networking Websites: Applying Differential Association And Social Learning Theories To Online Interaction, Timothy Glen Mccuddy

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Differential association and social learning theories explain how individuals learn deviant behavior through traditional in-person social interaction. Online social networking has paved the way for the younger generation to interact with their peer group using a distinctly different method. The purpose of this research is to take an exploratory approach in examining the relationship between online interaction and personal behavior. The current study examined 583 University of Memphis undergraduate students' self-reported personal deviant behavior, as well as the deviant behavior found within their online social networks. Results support the hypothesis that exposure to deviant behavior on online social networks is …

Academic Success Of African American Males In The Blount County, Tennessee: Perceptions Of The Community, Keri Charnelle Prigmore

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this quantitative study was to investigate factors that contribute to the academic success of African American males in the Blount County Area. More specifically, the study was focused on the perception of the participants concerning noncognitive, demographic, and institutional variables associated with the academic success of African-American males. The participants for this study were attendees of four local churches: Mount Pleasant A.M.E. Zion, Rest Haven Missionary Baptist Church, St. John Missionary Baptist Church, and St. Paul A.M.E. Zion Church. Each of the four churches is located in Blount County, Tennessee. Participants were male and female adults of …

Media Influences And Student Attitudes Toward Law Enforcement Figures Within Northeast Tennessee, George T. Ford Iv

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study is to analyze student attitudes toward various law enforcement figures and to obtain a better understanding of public relations, police effectiveness, and media influences in Northeastern Tennessee. This literature review provided a preliminary analysis of related works to advance the accuracy in conducting and examining future studies. The fields that deserve the most analysis are the underlying dimensions associated with public attitudes about police effectiveness, the media’s impact on public attitudes toward police, and the individual, external, and contextual variables that influence public attitudes toward police.

A Study Of Surveillance And Privacy Rights, Jesse T. Kittle Mr.

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study it to research the role and public perception of security surveillance on a university campus. The research measured variables such as age, gender, class standing political affiliation, and one's residence whether on campus or off campus. This study is focused on how students view security surveillance, and whether they see security surveillance as an important tool for the safety of the public or a threat to privacy. A student survey was administered to undergraduate students asking how they felt about crime on campus and whether crime was a problem that could be solved by security …

To Conform Or Not To Conform: An Examination Of The Effects Of Mock Jury Deliberation On Individual Jurors, Ashley S. Bowser

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The jury method is a unique social setting in the Criminal Justice system that provides opportunity for social influence to occur. Questions about the formation of jurors’ individual and collective decisions have stimulated a great deal of interest and research. This study is a review of the juror decision-making process and the various sources of influence that can affect it. Mock jurors were asked to review a mock criminal trial as well as the testimony of 2 witnesses. Upon reviewing the case, a predeliberation verdict (guilty or not guilty) and the degree of certainty of that decision was made. Once …

Support Of Police Consolidation : Assessing The Impact Of Perceived Complexity., John C. Reed 1956-

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation is an examination of how police officers' perceptions of the complexity in merging Organizational Change Components (OCCs) related to the consolidation of the Louisville Division of Police (LDP) and Jefferson County Police Department (JCPD) in 2003 impact support for police consolidation. This study focused on five primary OCCs: 1) culture(s), 2) policies and procedures, 3) communications, 4) collective bargaining contracts, and 5) re-defining patrol division boundaries. The population consisted of officers who were currently employed by the Louisville Metro Police Department (LMPD) and were affiliated with either the former LDP or the JCPD in 2003 when these departments …

The Nashville John School : Risk Deterrence And The Reintegrative Shaming Approach., Robin Malony Valenzuela

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Contemporary anti-prostitution campaigns focus on curtailing “the demand” by punishing sexual service consumers. One component of this approach is a diversion program, or “john school,” offered to those who are caught buying prostitution. This ethnography focuses upon the Nashville John School (NJS), which consists of informational presentations that educate johns about the risks associated with prostitution. By employing a restorative justice approach, the NJS exemplifies elements of John Braithwaite’s “reintegrative shaming” theory (1989), which seeks to hold offenders accountable for their wrongdoing while avoiding stigmatization. This ethnographic study utilizes participant observation in the NJS, as well as individual interviews with …

How Psychology’S Empirical Results Can Benefit The Criminal Justice System: Expert Testimony, Ford C. Mccurry

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Brigham and Bothwell (1983) claimed that jurors have a scientifically incorrect view of eyewitness testimony. The purpose of this study was to examine the most beneficial way to assist the jury in dealing with eyewitness testimony. Duckworth, Kreiner, Stark-Wroblewski, and Marsh (2011) applied interactive participation in an eyewitness activity and expert testimony to a mock-jury dealing with eyewitness testimony and found that those who participated in the activity had significantly fewer convictions. The methodological framework of the Duckworth et al. study was applied to East Tennessee State University criminal justice undergraduates. Although this study did not find any significant effects …

Police Militarization: Attitudes Towards The Militarization Of The American Police, Phillip T. Wyrick

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Police militarization is a critical contemporary issue in the criminal justice field; however, only a minor amount of research exists on this issue. Almost no research exists on public attitudes toward police militarization, which is very important given the social context. A contextual literature review covers a brief history of American police with emphasis on key events leading to modern police militarization, such as the Munich Incident and Columbine. Also covered are research topics that help outline the need for research on public attitudes in this field, such as the amount and use of PPUs by Peter Kraska and the …

Family Dependency Drug Courts: An Empirical Test Of Therapeutic Jurisprudence, Elizabeth Lindsey-Mowery

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The rise in cases of child abuse and neglect over the past two decades has overwhelmed the nation’s dependency court and child welfare agencies. While multiple factors are associated with child abuse and neglect, it is indisputable that substance abuse plays a significant role. The families that come into the dependency system with substance abuse issues are substantially more difficult and challenging to serve. Consequently, the families experience low levels of reunification and high levels of child welfare recidivism. In response to the increase in dependency cases involving substance abuse and the inability of the traditional dependency courts (TDC) to …

A Comparison Between Male Perpetrators Of Intimate Partner Violence And Child Sexual Abuse: A Feminist Perspective, Christelle Schafer

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to explore whether attributes of sex role identity and gender role stress differed between perpetrators of child sexual abuse (CSA) and perpetrators of intimate partner violence (IPV). The primary research question posed in the research sought to determine if participants’ attitudes on gender role stereotyping or gender role stress were significantly different between perpetrators of CSA and perpetrators of IPV. Participants in this study were a convenience sample of adult males with histories of CSA and IPV from two different outpatient counseling programs. Participants completed the Bem Sex Role Inventory-Short Form (BSRI-SF) and the …

Seriously Though... Is Positive Workplace Humor A Help Or A Hindrance?: The Impact Of Coworker-Employee Humor Interactions On Employee Well-Being And Effectiveness, Mary Sierra

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The prevalence and importance of humor in the workplace has been well-documented over the past several decades, with research consistently revealing its significant impact on employee well-being and effectiveness. During this same time period, organizations worldwide have begun embracing team-based work designs as a means for achieving success. As a result, the degree to which employees are engaging in both frequent and intensive interactions with their coworkers is rapidly increasing. Despite these trends, little research has been dedicated to investigating the ways in which employees’ well-being and effectiveness are influenced by the humor of their coworkers or the ways in …

Tracking Violence: Using Neighborhood-Level Characteristics In The Analysis Of Domestic Violence In Chicago And The State Of Illinois, Rachel Morgan

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Social disorganization theory proposes that neighborhood characteristics, such as residential instability, racial and ethnic heterogeneity, concentrated disadvantage, and immigrant concentration contribute to an increase in crime rates. Informal social controls act as a mediator between these neighborhood characteristics and crime and delinquency. Informal social controls are regulated by members of a community and in a disorganized community these controls are not present, therefore, crime and delinquency flourish (Sampson, 2012). Researchers have focused on these measures of social disorganization and the ability to explain a variety of crimes, specifically public crimes. Recently, researchers have focused their attention to characteristics of socially …

Childhood Predictors In The Severity Of Combat Related Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Among Veterans With Combat Related Exposure, Michael Bermes

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Emerging research suggests that childhood adversities may increase both the risk and symptomology of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in our veteran population. Over 40% of our reintegrating military veterans return with significant mental health issues led by combatrelated PTSD. PTSD impacts veterans in numerous areas including unemployment, increased criminal justice involvement, increased treatment costs, divorce, co-morbid mental illness, greater levels of domestic violence, homelessness, high college dropout rates, suicide, and long term health problems. The purpose of this study is to investigate the impact of childhood adversities (abuse, neglect, and poverty) upon the severity of combat-related PTSD in veteran populations. …