Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

Challenging The New Penology: A Case-Study Analysis Of Correctional Management, Interstate Inmate Transfers, And Administrative Intent, Robert Thomas Swan

Dissertations and Theses

The purpose of this study is to explore the use of interstate inmate transfers (IITs) by prison wardens and the administrative intent that guide their use. This study assesses the explanatory power of the new penology in three cases and asks three broad questions of two prison wardens and the DOC: What correctional goals do you hope to accomplish with interstate inmate transfers? Why? And what contextual factors (if any) are felt to inhibit or facilitate these goals?

IITs are controversial. Supporters of IITs argue that in addition to serving the needs of correctional managers, they may also serve to …

Criminal Psychological Profiling: A Comparative Study Of Knowledge And Perception Between Police Officers And Criminology And Criminal Justice Students, Bonnie Lynn Bevers

Criminology & Criminal Justice Theses

The purpose of this study is to examine the knowledge and perceptions of police officers from police departments in North Texas and students in the Criminology and Criminal Justice program at the University of Texas at Arlington on criminal psychological profiling. Data was obtained from a sample of graduate and undergraduate students at the University of Texas at Arlington and police officers in the Investigation Unit at Irving Police Department. Officers and students seemed to agree that criminal psychological profiling was a significant tool in the criminal justice field, while having differing perceptions of whether education or experience were more …

The Public's View Of Terrorism In Their Communities As Related To Media-Viewing Habits, Renee Bradshaw

Criminology & Criminal Justice Theses

The purpose of this study was to analyze the beliefs and behaviors of criminology and communications students in regards to general media and terrorism media exposure, as well as fear of terrorism. It was conducted using a survey, which concentrated on the participants’ media-viewing habits; perceptions of current terrorism trends; fear of terrorism; viewer characteristics; and demographic information. Results revealed more frequent media exposure among communications students than among criminology students. Criminology students were more likely to believe another terrorist attack is likely in the United States, while being less fearful of such an attack on a personal level; communication …

Forensic Gunshot Residue Distance Determination Testing Using Identical Make And Model Handguns And Different Ammunitions., Stanley Keith Hodges

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The determination of how far a firearm was from a victim or target when it was discharged is a frequent request to crime laboratories. This determination requires test firing the firearm at various distances to compare gunshot residue patterns made during the test with patterns on the victim or target. Crime laboratories stipulate that the same firearm and ammunition used in commission of the crime must be used for this testing; however, little empirical evidence exists supporting this requirement. It was the purpose of this study to determine if there were any significant differences using different firearms and different ammunition …

Chavs, Neds, Neets And Yobs: The Anti-Social Underclass Of The United Kingdom, Alexander Michael Marra

Graduate Program in International Studies Theses & Dissertations

This work is the result of the first look by an American into anti-social and yobbish behavior in the UK, and who's responsible for it. The delinquent subculture whose members are alternately either known as chavs or neds will be analyzed in detail. In addition, the NEET, the British government's designation for those who are not in employment, education, or training, will also be analyzed for the roots and reasons behind what may come to be known as the NEET generation in the UK in the years to come. For now they are sometimes called the ASBO generation because of …

Defining Acquaintance Rape: College Students' Perceptions Of Sexual Consent And Coercion, Sara Elizabeth Buck Doude

Dissertations

Perceptions of rape have evolved dramatically over the past decade. Prior to the second wave of the feminist movement, rape was perceived to be committed by a psychotic man against a woman. The feminist movement brought the term "acquaintance rape" into the popular lexicon and into the forefront of women's consciousness. As a result, throughout the 1970s and 1980s state governments enacted laws to prohibit "sexual assault," or expanded existing rape laws to include a variety of relationships or sexual acts. However, public perceptions of rape did not evolve as rapidly. Despite legislative efforts, there is no universally understood definition …

United States Presence In Afghanistan And Iraq: A Comparitive Analysis Of Opinions And Policy Implications, Michele L. Whitehead

Criminology & Criminal Justice Theses

The purpose of this study is to explore undergraduate student opinion regarding the continued presence of the United States military in Afghanistan and Iraq. Using a voluntary survey instrument and quantitative research methodology, this study will attempt to differentiate between variances in opinion among undergraduate students in the Criminology and Criminal Justice Department and non-Criminology and Criminal Justice majors at the University of Texas at Arlington, while examining the impact exposure to various forms of media and academic information has on the formation of perception. This study also evaluates the potential impact the result of analyzing these variables has on …

Perceptions Of Alcohol Consumption: An Examination Of Undergraduate Students' Perception Of Harmful Alcohol Consumption As A Social Problem And Its Relationship With Crime, Michael Chad Gann

Criminology & Criminal Justice Theses

The role of law enforcement in the United States has evolved such that police officers are expected to be problem solvers as well as crime fighters. To that extent, the author begins this study as a broad examination of a social problem that plagues the United States on a day to day basis and ultimately focuses more specifically on social problems locally. It is understood that alcohol-related offenses are the leading cause of negligent deaths in the United States but the problem goes deeper than most realize. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to examine undergraduate students' perceptions of …

Perception Towards Airport Security As It Relates To Terrorism: An Analysis Of Criminology/Criminal Justice Majors And Non-Majors, Brittany Michelle Rodriguez

Criminology & Criminal Justice Theses

The purpose of this study is to examine the knowledge and perception of airline security and safety between Criminology and Criminal Justice Majors and Non-Criminology and Criminal Justice Majors post September 11, 2001. The data for this study was obtained from a sample of Criminal Justice majors and Non-Criminal Justice majors enrolled at The University of Texas at Arlington. Questions were asked pertaining to the students' knowledge of TSA (The Transportation Security Administration) and the Air Marshals Program to determine if students were aware what security measures were in place since September 11, 2001. Furthermore, the surveys included questions regarding …

Time On Florida's Death Row: A Theory Of "Benign Neglect", Angela Willis

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This thesis attempts to identify and explain what influences the length of time an inmate spends on Florida's death row. A systematic random sample of 33 Florida death row inmates was drawn from the Florida Department of Corrections death row roster and the Florida Commission on Capital Cases inmate roster. Documented for each death row inmate was how long he spent on Florida's death row navigating the various stages and steps in Florida's post-conviction capital punishment process. The data show that petitions to the state trial courts and appeals to the Florida Supreme Court take the longest time in Florida's …

Determinants Of Turkish Police Officers' Perception Of Integrity: Impact Of Organizational Culture, Bahadir Kucukuysal

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this research was to examine the influence of police organizational culture on officers' perception of integrity in the Turkish National Police (TNP). Adopting an organizational rather than an individualistic perspective, this study focused on police organizational culture to investigate the causes of integrity problems in the TNP. While focusing on police organizational culture, this study also aimed to determine to what extent officers' perceptions of integrity are influenced by personal and occupational attributes such as age, gender, rank, income, educational level, years of employment, and assignment type. The research was conducted in Turkey's two largest cities, Istanbul …

What Law Enforcement In West Virginia Know About Stalking Crimes, Sandra Kiser-Griffith

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Emerging research is beginning to reveal how prevalent, and dangerous, stalking can be, especially in situations that involve domestic or former domestic partners. As front line responders to stalking-related crimes, it would seem imperative that law enforcement personnel have extensive training and be knowledgeable about a broad range of stalking-related issues. A victim’s well-being can be directly impacted by the actions and interventions of the officers handling his or her case. Unfortunately, however, many states, including West Virginia, still do not require that officers receive stalking training. In an attempt to establish how well informed law enforcement officers in West …

Examining The Effect Of Organizational Policy Changeon Taser Utilizations, Michael Miller

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study is to examine the effect of organizational policy changes within the Use-of-Force Continuum on taser usage and officer's perceptions of taser effectiveness. Tasers have been used by police since the 1970s and their use is increasing as the technology has improved. Data reveals that tasers are beneficial for controlling non-compliant suspects while preventing serious injuries and rarely has their use resulted in death. Much of the public controversy surrounding tasers centers on when and how often officers deploy them. Use of force data from 890 police citizen encounters during a two-year period was analyzed to …

Examining The Effects Of Abuse On Girls In Gangs, Champagne Monique Ford

Theses Digitization Project

The purpose of this study is to encourage further study and attention to girls that are at high risk of becoming members of a gang. The more that can be learned about this group the more can be done to implement appropriate policies and programs to effectively target and assist this population. This study is based on an existing data set that profiled the needs and characteristics of girls that were incarcerated May 1996 at a California Youth Authority facility in Ventura, now called The Division of Juvenile Justice.

The Amber Alert: A Comparative Analysis Of The Suggested Federal Amber Alert Activation Guidelines And Individual State Activation Criteria, Jacklyn Leann Donalson

Criminology & Criminal Justice Theses

This study focuses on the AMBER Alert system, in particular the criteria that should be present prior to the issuance of an alert. The purpose of this study is to review individual state's AMBER Alert activation criteria as they relate to the suggested federal AMBER Alert activation guidelines. Police department's interpretations of their state's AMBER Alert criteria were also analyzed on a case-by-case basis. The findings of this study suggest that the federal government should ensure that all states use standardized activation criteria that includes confirmation of an abduction prior to an AMBER Alert activation.

Prison Programming In Texas: Do We Practice What We Preach, Molly Baldwin

Criminology & Criminal Justice Theses

Prison programming is an important aspect of the criminal justice system. Programming can be used to help solve many problems in the system. In this thesis, educational and life skills programs offered in public prisons in Texas are examined. Comparisons are made to the number of programs in women's and men's prisons. This thesis argues that Texas needs to offer more programming and that the Texas Department of Criminal Justice might not be living up to its mission statement in terms of the number of programs offered. Simply stated the educational and life skills programs that are offered in the …

Identifying Juror Bias: Using The Pretrial Juror Attitude Questionnaire For More Effective Voir Dire, Sara Jane Mobley

Criminology & Criminal Justice Theses

A vast amount of empirical study exists regarding both the juror decision-making process and testing the validity of various methods for finding juror bias. Juror decision making is based on a multitude of factors including, but not limited to, ability to retain information, strength of evidence, preconceived ideas about lawyers, the justice system and law enforcement. Further, the concern regarding judicial economy during voir dire gives rise to ineffective attorney questioning as well as pressure placed on jurors to fulfill their duty to serve. This study seeks to rely on a version of the Pretrial Juror Attitude Questionnaire or PJAQ …

Analysis Of Police Officer Perceptions And Attitudes Regarding Vehicle Pursuits, Christopher G. Cook

Criminology & Criminal Justice Theses

The purpose of this study was to analyze differences in the way that officers respond to pursuit scenarios. This project used a survey questionnaire to gather responses from participants who read a chase scenario and considered the type of offense and risk factors to the public as they answered. Similarities and differences were analyzed in relation to demographical data regarding gender and years of experience as a police officer. Officers and supervisors were asked to respond to each scenario how they actually felt, without regard to current institutional constraints such as policies and procedures.

Modeling Situational Variants In High Commercial Robbery Locations Comparing Site And Area Level, Janet Enriquez

Theses Digitization Project

In this research, the focus was on commercial robberies with the primary targets being convenience stores and those with gasoline stations. Commercial robbery is defined as the taking or attempted taking of anything of value from the care or custody of a commercial or financial establishment. This study was restricted to late night establishments in Lexington Kentucky, and those features that contribute to their victimization.

The Role Of Child Protective Services Workers:, Brook Shelnutt

Criminology & Criminal Justice Theses

This study examines the self-concepts and opinions of Child Protective Services (CPS) caseworkers and University of Arlington undergraduate students that are declared Criminal Justice majors. Both groups have been surveyed to also explore how CPS caseworkers and UTA students feel that they are viewed by others. This was done in an attempt to establish what similarities and differences exist between personality traits of CPS caseworkers and UTA students. The data in this study was obtained from surveys given to a sample of CPS caseworkers in Wichita County, Texas and University of Arlington (UTA) undergraduate Criminal Justice students that were enrolled …

Gang Activity In San Bernardino, California: A Needs Assessment For Operation Phoenix, Mario Leone Rogers

Theses Digitization Project

This research study examined an innovative gang approach in the city of San Bernardino called Operation Phoenix. The purpose of this study was to conduct a needs assessment for Operation Phoenix. This qualitative and quantitative study examined how effective Operation Phoenix was in the prevention, intervention, and suppression of gang activity in the city of San Bernardino. In addition it assessed the unique needs of this comprehensive gang program.

Gang Membership, Drug Sales, Violence, And Guns, Jose Fabian Gonzalez Dominquez

Theses Digitization Project

The purpose of this study is to examine three factors relating to drug arrests using secondary data analysis. First, ethnic characteristics of a dealer were analyzed according to the location from where they sold their product. Next, possible factors associated with a police officer using force at the time of a drug arrest were also analyzed. Finally, factors associated with a gun being present at the time of a drug arrest were also analyzed.

The Nine Reasons Why Inmates Offend: Rational Choice And Determinism, Anthony Robert Carbo

Theses Digitization Project

The purpose of this study was to consolidate the myriad theories of crime and create a comprehensive list of reasons a person may violate the law. This thesis aimed to accurately identify and categorize the general criminal motivations of sentenced inmates at Glen Helen Rehabilitation Center (GHRC). By administering a survey to sentenced inmates this study supported the research hypothesis that all of the participants would agree that they had committed their illegal act due exclusively to one or more of the nine reasons discussed.

The Effects Of Megan's Law On The Reintegration Of Child Sex Offenders, Trisha Marie Tenorio

Theses Digitization Project

This study looked at the effects Megan's Law has on the reintergration of child sex offenders. Previous research notes the harsh consequences sex offenders endure as a result of their registration. This proposal attempts to understand the social and psychological consequences of community notification for offenders trying to assimilate back into society. The current study focuses only on the results dealing with the effects of community notification on registered sex offenders.

Measuring Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (Cpted) In Shopping Centers, Anchalee Roongsittchichai

Theses Digitization Project

Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) is routinely implemented in development and planning to deter crime and to prevent opportunity for criminals. This study focused on shopping malls and shopping centers as they are important places where Americans spend a lot of their leisure time. There are a variety of activiites occuring at the malls as well as many types of crimes. This study examined the level of CPTED used in shopping centers in the assessment of public fear of crime.

Juvenile Movement Between Activity Nodes, Jill Mary Christie

Theses Digitization Project

This research will examine the movements of juvenile deliquents residing in the desert communities of Southern California. The purpose of this study was to shed light on the distances routinely traveled by juvenile delinquents to reach their activity places, including recreational locations and school. The research used juveline offender data from an ongoing evaluation of a Riverside County, California youth diversion program. This study examines juveniles in 56 California cities most of which would be classified as rural. By understanding how far juveniles can travel and by what means, it may be possible to gain perspective on how to develop …