Legal Studies Commons^™

Living And Dying On Death Row In America, Angela D. Crews, Gordon A. Crews

Criminal Justice Faculty Publications and Presentations

- Much written on capital punishment in America, but very little research on the persons serving these death sentences - Initial results from survey of more than 3,200 death row prisoners in the U.S. and material from a "behind-the-scenes" personal narrative from a death row prisoner in South Carolina. - Qualitative personal reflections (“life lessons”) from prisoners and a quantitative examination of coping mechanisms they use to deal with living and dying on death row

International Police Education For The Rule Of Law: Obstacles, Facilitators, Curricula, Pedagogy, And Delivery, Gordon A. Crews, Angela West Crews

Criminal Justice Faculty Publications and Presentations

The points discussed in the session are related to United Nations peacekeeping in the twenty-first century and the international police education for the rule of law. It is noted that 100 countries contribute police officers to the United Nations, and that 49 of those countries contribute 25 or fewer officers. There is a gender imbalance, with only 7.75 % of forces being made up of women. In the past, UN policing priorities were: monitoring to verify police performance and impartiality, observing to ascertain police strengths and weaknesses and reporting to document police infractions. The UN Peacekeeping Mission Statement aims to …

Black Metallers And Gangster Rappers: “Anti-Cultures” Make Strange Bedfellows, Gordon A. Crews, Angela West Crews

Criminal Justice Faculty Publications and Presentations

No abstract provided.

Do You Know How Your Children Are? International Perspectives On Child Abuse, Mistreatment, And Neglect, Gordon A. Crews, Angela D. Crews

Criminal Justice Faculty Publications and Presentations

In the early 1980s, televised public service announcements in the United States queried, “Parents …it is 10:00 pm, do you know where your children are?” These were launched through the media as reminders for American parents to take a moment and think about their children and to strive to inform themselves of their children‟s activities. Similar broadcasts to urge parents to interact with their children and to provide simple parenting tips have followed in various forms since this time. An interesting realization is that almost all of these “messages” were directed towards the parents by the government for the children. …

Youth Involvement In Alternative Subcultures, Groups, Belief Systems, And Lifestyles: Examining International Police And Societal Response, Gordon A. Crews

Criminal Justice Faculty Publications and Presentations

This presentation comparatively examines relationships in the United States, Eastern and Central Europe, Scandinavia, and parts of the Middle East among juvenile violence, "heavy metal" music, substance abuse, and participation in occult and "alternative" youth groups (e.g., Wicca, Satanism, vampirism, Goth). We trace the movement of certain groups, behaviors, and preferences and make a correlation between some of these movements and an increase in youth violence and substance abuse. The authors use results from surveys and participant observations in the U.S., Copenhagen, Germany, the Netherlands, & the Middle East (Egypt & Turkey) that indicate, however, that mere participation in these …

Juvenile Delinquency And Violence: Examining International Police And Societal Response, Gordon A. Crews, Angela West Crews

Criminal Justice Faculty Publications and Presentations

This presentation comparatively examines relationships in the United States, Eastern and Central Europe, Scandinavia, and parts of the Middle East among juvenile violence, "heavy metal" music, substance abuse, and participation in occult and "alternative" youth groups (e.g., Wicca, Satanism, vampirism, Goth). We trace the movement of certain groups, behaviors, and preferences and make a correlation between some of these movements and an increase in youth violence and substance abuse. The authors use results from surveys and participant observations in the U.S., Copenhagen, Germany, the Netherlands, & the Middle East (Egypt & Turkey) that indicate, however, that mere participation in these …

International Police And Societal Response To Juvenile Delinquency & Violence, Angela D. Crews, Gordon A. Crews

Criminal Justice Faculty Publications and Presentations

No abstract provided.

Interview With Commissioner Of Police George Asiamah, Ghana National Police Service Interviewed By Gordon A. Crews And Angela D. Crews, Gordon A. Crews, Angela D. Crews

Criminal Justice Faculty Publications and Presentations

In January of 2007, Drs. Gordon and Angela Crews traveled with their graduate assistant, Mr. Kofi Annor Boye-Doe, and Ghanaian Fulbright Scholar, Mr. Ken Aikins, to Ghana, West Africa, in order to conduct a research study. The original research plan was to conduct a three part examination of: 1) the blend of indigenous government (rooted in religious practices and strongly associated with spirituality and mysticism) and state government in the Ghanaian justice system; 2) the treatment of women and children within these systems; and 3) the alternative dispute resolution, restorative justice, and conflict resolution strategies within the two systems.

During …

Education And Crime, Gordon A. Crews

Criminal Justice Faculty Publications and Presentations

The purpose of this chapter is to provide an overview of the topic of education and crime. While at first glance this appears to be a simple task, there is an inherent complexity in examining such a broad subject. There are many different perspectives from which a discussion of education and crime could develop. Criminologists might assume this would be an overview of the impact that an individual’s education level may have upon their criminal or anti-social behavior. On the other hand, parents might assume this is a discussion of the impact of school violence and crime upon the safety …

Teaching Tips: Personal Criminal History Analysis Paper, Gordon A. Crews, Angela D. Crews

Criminal Justice Faculty Publications and Presentations

Students often have difficulty visualizing the practical application of criminological theory. The following activity assists instructors to develop students‘ abilities in evaluating behaviors and determining the theoretical perspectives that potentially could be used to explain those behaviors. It also is designed to assist students in comprehending how their own experiences impact their views on law-violating behavior and its etiology. This exercise facilitates students‘ awareness of how their beliefs about the ―causes‖ of law-violating behavior inevitably impact their beliefs about potential ―solutions‖ or ―responses‖ to this type of behavior. Eventually, students unfailingly begin to realize the artificial dichotomy between ―us,‖ as …

Review Of Crime Punishment And Justice: Selected Articles From A Scholarly Career (2007) By Ulla V. Bondeson, Gordon A. Crews

Criminal Justice Faculty Publications and Presentations

Crime, Punishment and Justice: Selected Articles from a Scholarly Career by Dr. Ulla V. Bondeson offers the reader exposure to twelve selected writings which represent the life, evolution, cumulative-knowledge, philosophy, and research, of a veteran international scholar. The importance of the topics examined and their historical significance (spanning 1968 to 2006) need not be argued. The concepts of crime causation, truth, justice, and justifications for punishment, are not only international issues, but universal ones.

One Size Fits All? Ghanaian Perceptions Of Law Enforcement And The Importation Of American Community Policing, Angela West Crews, Gordon A. Crews, Kofi Boye-Doe

Criminal Justice Faculty Publications and Presentations

The purpose of this presentation was to introduce a research project that the authors have ongoing with the Ghana National Police Service (Accra, Ghana, Africa). This focus of this project is to assist the Ghanaian police in the development and implementation of a “community policing” program. In 2008, a new Director of Community Policing had been hired, although she expressed that she and the officers had absolutely no training or education in theories and practices related to community policing. This presentation showcased the authors’ initial efforts to help solve that problem. Three major aspects are covered in this presentation, 1) …

Academic Credit For Police And Correctional Academy Courses: The Criminal Justice Training Assessment (Cjta) Approach, Jack Greene, Sutham Cheurprakobkit, Angela West Crews, Gordon A. Crews, Prahba Unnithan, Eric C. Schultz

Criminal Justice Faculty Publications and Presentations

For the past few years, a federal grant sponsored by the Department of Justice has allowed teams consisting of faculty (from two-year and four-year colleges) and practitioners to assess the training curricula of various United States law enforcement and correctional agencies. Although traditional wisdom in academia is against viewing training academy courses as academically credible, the teams, after carefully assessing many training curricula, have agreed to give academic credit recommendation to those deserving curricula. In the end the CJTA project has not only helped to connect the academic world with the world of practitioners, but also generated rich data on …

Dressed To Kill? School Dress Codes And Student Rights Vs. School Safety Issues, Michelle Belanger, Sylvere Ap Leanan, John D. Hewitt, Robert Regoli, Jeffrey P. Rush, Ereka Watson, Gordon A. Crews

Criminal Justice Faculty Publications and Presentations

•Increasing numbers of cases involving litigation around the issue of student dress/grooming codes. •Students in many of these cases are involved in Goth, Occult, or alternative belief systems and practices and have expressed their participation through their appearance (e.g., dress, make-up, jewelry). •Complex and controversial relationship between school dress/grooming codes and constitutional protections related to speech, religion, assembly, and expression.

Citizen And Officer Perceptions Of Community Policing In Ghana: Policing Of, By, And For The People, Or Just To The People?, Angela West Crews, Gordon A. Crews

Criminal Justice Faculty Publications and Presentations

This presentation presents initial results of an evaluation of citizen and officer perceptions of policing in Ghana. The Ghana Police Service (GPS) is attempting to transition from a para-militaristic philosophy to a more community-centered approach, developing a domestic violence unit in the past decade and, more recently, a community policing unit. Community policing philosophies, however, face unique challenges in Ghanaian society, such as a deep-rooted (and historically well-founded) mistrust of the police, and a culture with a well-established and trusted “traditional” system wherein matters are settled within communities and impacted by religion, spirituality, and mysticism. This project used official reported …

Researching Crime, Justice, And Social Control In Ghana: Evolving Issues In A Developing African Country, Gordon A. Crews, Angela West Crews, Kofi Boye-Doe, Ken Aikins

Criminal Justice Faculty Publications and Presentations

The purpose of this presentation is to discuss a recent research project which seeks to offer an examination of the unique relationship between the traditional Ghanaian indigenous justice system and the established state-administered justice system. This is an overview of the interesting blend of indigenous practices (rooted in religious practices and strongly associated with spirituality and mysticism) and state (formal justice and governmental systems) in the Ghanaian justice system. In addition the topics of the treatment of women and children within these systems and the use of alternative dispute resolution, restorative justice, and conflict resolution strategies inherent within the two …

Legend Tripping As Field Research: Investigating The Connection Of “Satanic Tourism” To Juvenile Delinquency, Gordon A. Crews, Virginia Adame, Rochelle Andrews, Kofi Boye-Doe, Juna Green, Shawn Kirby, Ori Onazi, Jill Schalansky, Cale Urban, Justin Zabokrtsky

Criminal Justice Faculty Publications and Presentations

Gary Alan Fine and Jeffrey Victor (1994) defined “legend trips” as inherently delinquent juvenile activities at geographic sites associated with some tragic event, rumored to be supernatural or related to the occult. “Satanic tourism” is a type of legend trip characterized by juvenile involvement in pseudo-Satanic/occult behavior, such as drawing pentagrams, writing epithets, and burning candles. A juvenile may visit a geographic location such as an abandoned church, historic graveyard, or reputedly “haunted” site, and engage in mischievous, destructive, or “ritualistic” behaviors as “rites of passage.” These activities, which often are relatively harmless and conducted primarily for juvenile thrills, may …

Art Imitates Life: Violence And The Music Of Metal And Rap, Gordon A. Crews, Angela D. Crews

Criminal Justice Faculty Publications and Presentations

The purpose of this presentation is to explore the similar evolution's of Black Metal and Gangsta Rap musical genres. The authors argue the following similarities exist: 1) different cultures and statements being made, but violence is a common thread (outcomes of violence and societal responses), 2) the music and lyrics in both reflect their cultures, histories, and lives, and, 3) there is a strong musical and lyrical expression of violence related to the behavioral expression of violence among the artists and the fans in both genres. Finally, the authors question whether art imitates life or life imitates art.

Professional Integrity In Higher Education: Behind The Green Curtain In The Land Of Oz, Gordon A. Crews, Angela D. West

Criminal Justice Faculty Publications and Presentations

This article discusses concerns related to professional integrity in academics and to the use of collegiality as an informal criterion for employment and evaluation decisions. We question the nature of the educational enterprise and the academic environment within which both students and faculty operate. We use the AAUP Statement on Professional Ethics to guide our examination of collegiality, and the three traditional areas of faculty evaluation (teaching, scholarship, and service), as they relate to professional integrity. We discuss potential pitfalls in situations involving integrity concerns, and suggest that the use of collegiality in professional decisions is more prevalent and potentially …

Academic And Professional Integrity: New Snake Oil In Old Bottles?, Gordon A. Crews

Criminal Justice Faculty Publications and Presentations

This presentation was given in September of 2005 as Dr. Gordon A. Crews’ presidential address during his year as president of the Southern Criminal Justice Association. It is an overview of the issue of academic and professional integrity, or lack thereof, in higher education. The comparison of academics to “snake oil salesmen” of the past is the central focus of this presentation. The presentation also analyzes the issues of integrity and collegiality in the three traditional areas of academics’ professional lives: teaching, research, and service.

Democracy And Delinquency: An International Comparison Of Youth Violence Associated With Alternative Lifestyles, Beliefs, And Practices, Gordon A. Crews, Angela West Crews

Criminal Justice Faculty Publications and Presentations

This presentation discusses youth crime and violence within the context of evolving democracy. The focus is to compare Turkish juvenile crime to that experienced in the United States and the United Kingdom (e.g., extent, characteristics, causes, solutions, etc.). During the mid-to late 1990s, Turkey’s juvenile crime rate skyrocketed, although rates have decreased in recent years. Increases seen during the 1990’s may be a natural by-product of Turkey's historical efforts to become and maintain a democratic society, and part of the price Turkey has to pay to join the European Union. Juvenile crime (and other social problems, such as suicide) may …

Every Day Is Halloween: A Goth Primer For Law Enforcement, Gordon A. Crews

Criminal Justice Faculty Publications and Presentations

The following article is based upon field research conducted by Dr. Gordon A. Crews dealing with juveniles and young adults involved in the “Goth” lifestyle across the United States. This research is part of his ongoing efforts over the last decade to examine the impacts of alternative lifestyles, beliefs, and practices upon juvenile delinquency and violence. Most of the information in this article has been derived from face-to-face interviews with individuals aged 13 to 39 years of age proclaiming to be Goth, Vampires, Satanists, Pagans, Wiccans, New Agers, Druids, and a myriad of other occult-based identities.

The Emerging Problem Of Preppie Gangs In America, Gordon A. Crews

Criminal Justice Faculty Publications and Presentations

The purpose of this presentation is to examine the growing problem of "Preppie Gangs" in America. Involved youngsters generally come from the affluent upper class and participate in activities similar to traditional gang members. However, they tend to operate in a much safer environment than traditional street gangs and are predominantly "rich white kids". This paper will examine how these groups are currently manifesting themselves as Delinquent Gangs (Mimicking Other Street Gangs), Ideological Gangs (Specific Ideology or Belief System), or Occultic Gangs (Alternative Belief System Connections). Finally the unique issues of activities, causes, and solutions will be discussed .

Epidemiology Of Deviance, Gordon A. Crews

Criminal Justice Faculty Publications and Presentations

Deviance (Goode, 1997), in a general sense, is behavior that some members of a given society will find “offensive”. It is behavior which brings about, or would bring about if it were discovered, disapproval, punishment, condemnation, or hostility from another. This is any behavior that is likely to get the actor into “trouble”. Deviance is behavior which is considered to be outside the “bounds” of a given group or society. Another definition, in a more working sense, is “any departure from a social norm which does or could provoke sanctions” (p. 37).

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 …

Social Structure And Deviance, Gordon A. Crews

Criminal Justice Faculty Publications and Presentations

No abstract provided.

A Study Of School Disturbance In The United States: A Twentieth Century Perspective, Part One, Gordon A. Crews

Criminal Justice Faculty Publications and Presentations

In 1989, President George Bush. and the Nation's fifty governors, held a historic education summit that culminated in the adoption of six National Education Goals. These six broad goals were intended to serve as a framework for future reform efforts. The sixth goal of the United States' National Educational Goals states:

By the year 2000, every school in America will be free of drugs and violence and will offer a disciplined environment conducive to learning. The stated objectives are: Every school will implement a firm and fair policy on use, possession, and distribution of drugs and alcohol. Parents, businesses, and …

Adolescent Satanists In America: Religious Commitment Or Developmental Stage?, Gordon A. Crews

Criminal Justice Faculty Publications and Presentations

No abstract provided.

A Study Of School Disturbance In The United States: A Twentieth Century Perspective, Part Two, Gordon A. Crews

Criminal Justice Faculty Publications and Presentations

In 1989, President George Bush. and the Nation's fifty governors, held a historic education summit that culminated in the adoption of six National Education Goals. These six broad goals were intended to serve as a framework for future reform efforts. The sixth goal of the United States' National Educational Goals states:

By the year 2000, every school in America will be free of drugs and violence and will offer a disciplined environment conducive to learning. The stated objectives are: Every school will implement a firm and fair policy on use, possession, and distribution of drugs and alcohol. Parents, businesses, and …