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Full-Text Articles in Law

Evidence, Arrest Circumstances, And Felony Cocaine Case Processing, Jacqueline G. Lee, Alexander Testa Apr 2020

Evidence, Arrest Circumstances, And Felony Cocaine Case Processing, Jacqueline G. Lee, Alexander Testa

Criminal Justice Faculty Publications and Presentations

Case evidence and situational arrest characteristics are widely speculated to influence courtroom actor decisions, yet such measures are infrequently included in research. Using new data on felony cocaine cases from an urban county in a Southern non-guideline state, this study examines how physical evidence and arrest circumstances affect three stages of case processing: initial charge type, charge reduction, and sentence length. The influence of evidence appeared strongest at the early stage when prosecutors chose the appropriate charge, though certain evidentiary and arrest measures continued to influence later decisions. Charge reductions were driven mostly by legal factors, and while guilt should …


Prior Discipline And Performance Among Police Officers: Does Organizational Fairness Matter?, Richard Helfers, Paul D. Reynolds, Jon Maskaly Jan 2020

Prior Discipline And Performance Among Police Officers: Does Organizational Fairness Matter?, Richard Helfers, Paul D. Reynolds, Jon Maskaly

Criminal Justice Faculty Publications and Presentations

Using a survey of police officers (n=1080) in a southern state of the USA, this study examines how overall performance is influenced by organizational fairness and prior disciplinary actions. In particular, this study focuses on the relationship between organizational treatment and officers’ self-acknowledged engagement in more innocuous forms of negative workrelated behaviors, general task performance, and extra-role behaviors. Results suggest prior disciplinary actions and organizational treatment are related to officer performance. Our findings highlight fair treatment’s relationship to enhanced prosocial activities and reduced negative work behaviors. Of importance to police administrators, police officers’ fairness perceptions of the police organization appear …


The Only Thing That Stops A Guy With A Bad Policy Is A Guy With A Good Policy: An Examination Of The Nra’S “National School Shield” Proposal, Gordon A. Crews, Angela D. Crews, Catherine E. Burton Jan 2013

The Only Thing That Stops A Guy With A Bad Policy Is A Guy With A Good Policy: An Examination Of The Nra’S “National School Shield” Proposal, Gordon A. Crews, Angela D. Crews, Catherine E. Burton

Criminal Justice Faculty Publications and Presentations

With the recent tragedy at Sandy Hook Elementary in Newtown, CT, the public and the government are looking for solutions to school violence. The National Rifle Association (NRA), a Second Amendment, pro-gun advocacy group, has proposed an “education and training emergency response program” called The National School Shield, which advocates the placement of armed security in schools. Although the program sounds provocative, serious questions complicate its plausibility, necessity, motive, and effectiveness. Furthermore, the potential policy and practical ramifications of encouraging armed security forces in U.S. schools are complex. The authors examined the proposal’s key elements from a public policy …


An Evaluation Of Operation Street Sweeper - 2006, Andrew Giacomazzi, Jeremy D. Ball Dec 2007

An Evaluation Of Operation Street Sweeper - 2006, Andrew Giacomazzi, Jeremy D. Ball

Criminal Justice Faculty Publications and Presentations

Operation Street Sweeper (OSS) was a multi-level, interagency collaboration with multiple purposes. According to OSS documents, Operation Street Sweeper goals included the following: (1) to reduce gang-related criminal and violent activity in Nampa and Caldwell, Idaho through aggressive, proactive, and coordinated street enforcement between the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF) and local law enforcement; (2) to deter criminal activity through high profile enforcement activity; (3) to develop and/or increase the number of positive community contacts; (4) to show the community and gang members that law enforcement is serious about reducing gang and violent crime in the area; and …


Juvenile Gangs In Schools: Characteristics, Causes, And Possible Solutions, Gordon A. Crews Aug 2000

Juvenile Gangs In Schools: Characteristics, Causes, And Possible Solutions, Gordon A. Crews

Criminal Justice Faculty Publications and Presentations

The purpose of this seminar is to acquaint participants with the ever-changing characteristics, often conflicting issues of causation, and various proposed solutions to the myriad of problems associated with gangs in schools. Special attention is given to the evolving nature of gangs in K-12 educational institutions (e.g., new types of juvenile groups developing and their associated behavior). Traditional subjects such as gang recruitment, initiation, and criminal activity are examined by discussing the many ways they manifest themselves in the school setting. Finally, a conceptual framework is presented by which a school can identify, understand, and begin to address a potential …