Digital Commons Network^™

Examining The "Csi-Effect" In The Cases Of Circumstantial Evidence And Eyewitness Testimony: Multivariate And Path Analyses, Hon. Donald E. Shelton, Young S. Kim, Gregg Barak

Hon. Donald E. Shelton

As part of a larger investigation of the changing nature of juror behavior in the context of technology development, this study examined important questions unanswered by previous studies on the “CSI-effect.” In answering such questions, the present study applied multivariate and path analyses for the first time. The results showed that (a) watching CSI dramas had no independent effect on jurors' verdicts, (b) the exposure to CSI dramas did not interact with individual characteristics, (c) different individual characteristics were significantly associated with different types of evidence, and (d) CSI watching had no direct effect on jurors' decisions, and it had …

Mediating The Streets: An Exploratory Case Study Of Mediation As A Conflict Resolution Method For Police Officers, Matt Ferre, Christine Yalda

Christine A. Yalda

No abstract provided.

The Admissibility Of Social Science Evidence In Criminal Cases, Hon. Donald E. Shelton

Hon. Donald E. Shelton

The rapid development of emerging scientific methods, especially the increased understanding of deoxyribonucleic acid ("DNA"), has had, and will undoubtedly continue to have, an almost stunning impact on our justice system, particularly at the trial level. The forensic applications of these new scientific discoveries have been most dramatically seen in the criminal trial court. They have also caused us to re-examine other forms of forensic evidence that have been rather routinely admitted in our courts. Forensic evidence from social scientists is certainly one of those forms. Which of these forms of scientific forensic evidence have sufficient validity to be used …

State Primary Law Materials In A Digital Era, Ruth Stevens, Jane Edwards

Ruth Stevens

No abstract provided.

Participation In Victim-Offender Mediation: Lessons Learned From Observations, Patrick Gerkin

Patrick Gerkin

Victim—offender mediation has grown to establish itself among criminal justice practices as an alternative to traditionally retributive notions of justice. As the number of programs claiming to be restorative in nature continues to grow, victim—offender mediation programs are emerging as one of the state's preferred delivery methods for restorative justice. Restorative practices, including victim—offender mediation, are inclusive practices. Participation is not only encouraged, it is a necessary element for victim—offender mediation to achieve restorative outcomes. Through the use of observations and content analysis of agreements produced in victim—offender mediation, this research uncovers several impediments to individual participation, including problems in …

Recidivism Among Child Sexual Abusers: Initial Results Of A 13 Year Longitudinal Random Sample, Steven Patrick, Robert Marsh

Sociology Faculty Publications and Presentations

In the initial analysis of data from a random sample of all those charged with child sexual abuse in Idaho over a 13 year period, only one predictive variable was found that related to recidivism of those convicted. Variables such as ethnicity, relationship, gender and age differences did not show a significant or even large association with recidivism. The only variable that seemed to show both a significant and almost moderate association to recidivism was the Risk Assessment in the Sex Offender Evaluation re-offense. Comparisons were made to prior research as well as a discussion of implications of the sex …

A Battle Of Bills: Understanding The Criminogenic Environment In The Healthcare Industry, Debra Ross, Dana Bonnell

Debra E. Ross

No abstract provided.

Teaching Computer Aided Legal Research To Criminal Justice Students, Kristine Botsford Mullendore, Ruth Stevens

Kristine Botsford Mullendore

No abstract provided.

Youth Violence Reduction Literature Review, Christine Yalda, William Crawley, Dana Bonnell, Melinda Furtaw, Aaron Rider

Christine A. Yalda

No abstract provided.

The Prison-Keeper's Dilemma: Unsustainable And Undesirable Business Practices In Privatized Corrections, Stephen Raher

Stephen Raher

During the well-documented expansion of the American prison system in the late twentieth century, privately operated correctional institutions experienced an especially pronounced rate of growth. A substantial body of research has addressed operational shortcomings of private prisons, but less attention has been devoted to the business-law aspects of correctional outsourcing. This paper explores some of the persistent contractual and fiscal problems that arise when prison operation is delegated to for-profit firms.

Non-governmental prison operation inevitably leads to reduced transparency when private operators seek to prevent public access to operational information, typically by citing a proprietary interest in business records. Although …

An Indirect-Effects Model Of Mediated Adjudication: The Csi Myth, The Tech Effect, And Metropolitan Jurors' Expectations For Scientific Evidence, Hon. Donald E. Shelton, Young S. Kim, Gregg Barak

Hon. Donald E. Shelton

Part I of this article defines the "CSI effect", given that the phrase has come to have many different meanings ascribed to it. It emphasizes the epistemological importance of first describing the effect of the “CSI effect” as observed in juror behavior documented in a new study conducted in Wayne County (Detroit), Michigan, and then looking at causative factors that may be related to an explanation of those observed effects. Part II describes the methodology of the Wayne County study, provides a descriptive analysis of Wayne County jurors, and compares the jurors demographically to the Washtenaw County jurors who were …

Twenty-First Century Forensic Science Challenges For Trial Judges In Criminal Cases: Where The "Polybutadiene" Meets The "Bitumen", Hon. Donald E. Shelton

Hon. Donald E. Shelton

This artice discusses the challenges faced by trial judges in crimnal cases in fulfilling their Daubert "gatekeeping" role in the face of rapid advancements in forensic science. Admissibility questions for various forms of scientific evidence are reviewed, from DNA to fingerprints to social science "syndrome" evidence. The article discusses the pretrial issues presented by DNA databases, search issues and limitations problems as well as the impact of forensic science developments on juror expectations. Finally, forensic science issues regarding trial conduct are discussed, including voir dire, arguments and jury instructions,

Rss Feeds: Worth Another Look, Ruth Stevens

Ruth Stevens

No abstract provided.

New Rules For A New Game: The Challenge Of Preserving Human Dignity In A Shadow War, Christine Yalda, Jonathan White

Christine A. Yalda

No abstract provided.

Sex, Dating, And Delinquency: Do Precocious Relationships Lead To Crime?, Christopher Kierkus

Christopher A. Kierkus

No abstract provided.

Who Skips? An Analysis Of Failure To Appears, Brian Johnson, Christopher Kierkus, Christine Yalda

Christopher A. Kierkus

No abstract provided.

'Cop' Or 'Counselor': Reconciling Role Conflict Of Criminal Justice Professionals On Drug Treatment Court Teams, Christine Yalda, Frank Hughes, K. Stahl, Melinda Furtaw, Christopher Kierkus, William Crawley

Christopher A. Kierkus

No abstract provided.

The Use Of Developmentally Appropriate Services In Juvenile Drug Treatment Court, Christopher Kierkus, Melinda Furtaw, K. Stahl, Christine Yalda, William Crawley, Frank Hughes

Christopher A. Kierkus

No abstract provided.

The Contextual Nature Of The Family Structure/Delinquency Relationship, Christopher Kierkus, John Hewitt

Christopher A. Kierkus

No abstract provided.

How Prosecutor Elections Fail Us, Ronald F. Wright

Ronald F. Wright

There are several methods for holding prosecutors accountable in this country. Judges enforce a few legal boundaries on the work of prosecutors. Prosecutors with positions lower in the office or department hierarchy must answer to those at the top. But none of these controls binds a prosecutor too tightly. At the end of the day, the public guards against abusive prosecutors through direct democratic control.

Does the electoral check on prosecutors work? There are reasons to believe that elections could lead prosecutors to apply the criminal law according to public priorities and values. Voters choose their prosecutors at the local …