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Articles 1 - 30 of 99
Full-Text Articles in Legal Studies
The Downfall Of Capitalism: Its Exploitation Of Mental Health And The Working Class, Joanna Castaneda
The Downfall Of Capitalism: Its Exploitation Of Mental Health And The Working Class, Joanna Castaneda
Themis: Research Journal of Justice Studies and Forensic Science
Capitalism has been part of American culture for so long, but so has the topic of mental health. America has seen high rates of mental health issues occurring among working-class people of America. High-end companies making billions of revenues have taken advantage of their workers, leaving many to rely on working multiple jobs to get their families by. As for women and minorities, the job setting has not come easy for many as they face major inequality in the workforce and setbacks in wanting to reach positions. Capitalism has shown that income inequality has made life in America difficult, leaving …
Advancements In Technology To Solve Cold Cases, Melissa Hernandez
Advancements In Technology To Solve Cold Cases, Melissa Hernandez
Themis: Research Journal of Justice Studies and Forensic Science
The purpose of this paper is to highlight the crisis of cold case investigations and discuss the advancements being made in this area over the last four decades. Technology such as CCTV cameras, DNA Phenotyping, and Genetic Genealogy have allowed many cases to be reopened but there are still not enough resources or funds to close the immense number of unsolved cases. There are also ethical concerns being addressed to allow for this technology to continue to be applicable. In some instances, it takes a combination of preexisting technology and new applications to work around previous barriers in investigations. Despite …
Examining The Relationship Between Legal Systems And Forensic Science: Current Issues And Proposed Solutions, Rowan Dunton
Examining The Relationship Between Legal Systems And Forensic Science: Current Issues And Proposed Solutions, Rowan Dunton
Themis: Research Journal of Justice Studies and Forensic Science
Forensics and legal systems are often seen working together, but the relationship between the two disciplines is thornier and more complex than it may appear on the surface. This paper will examine why courtrooms struggle to accommodate forensic fields, how the nature of science can impede its utilization in court, and where legal education may fall short in educating students about the forensic sciences. After the literature is reviewed, solutions will be proposed to address each area of concern. Where possible, these solutions expand on existing infrastructure and ideas to make them easier to incorporate. Since the greater-scope issue is …
Criminal Injustice: An Examination Of Racial Profiling And Discriminatory Police Practices In Canada And The United States, Patricia Advincula
Criminal Injustice: An Examination Of Racial Profiling And Discriminatory Police Practices In Canada And The United States, Patricia Advincula
Themis: Research Journal of Justice Studies and Forensic Science
The Black Lives Matter movement swept across the United States after the murders of black people at the hands of law enforcement. Not fully acknowledged in the media are the police brutality cases that have also occurred in Canada, a country that prides itself on tolerance, acceptance, and diversity. Police brutality is an unfortunate reality that stems from racial profiling, one of the many symptoms of historically oppressive institutions. In this paper, I will examine police coercion and racial profiling in Canada and the United States. This paper will employ a theoretical framework of conflict theory and minority threat hypothesis …
Los Angeles Homeless Encampments: East Of Mainstreet, Desarey Castellanos
Los Angeles Homeless Encampments: East Of Mainstreet, Desarey Castellanos
Themis: Research Journal of Justice Studies and Forensic Science
Homelessness can impact a person’s ability to navigate public spaces, find employment, meet basic subsistence, and have access to essential social services. Instead, the long-term consequences of homelessness have been focused of the criminalization of unhoused people. This fieldwork analyzes the daily obstacles that individuals face east of main street in downtown Los Angeles. Although wide variation exists from different locations many challenges stemming from mental illness, substance use disorder, and ostracization from mainstream society make these circumstances increasingly difficult to navigate. All these factors are influenced by the policy environments that continuously impact these targeted populations. I will present …
Discovering A Pathway To Reestablishing Policing By Consent In The United States, Everett Glynn
Discovering A Pathway To Reestablishing Policing By Consent In The United States, Everett Glynn
Themis: Research Journal of Justice Studies and Forensic Science
Policing in the 21st century faces issues with leadership and accountability within officer ranks. Police organizations increasingly resemble paramilitary organizations, from their hierarchy to their eagerness to use force. Investigations into the conduct of the Minneapolis, Chicago, and Ferguson police departments uncover widespread, paternal issues of abuse from police officers. The abuse includes paternal excessive force, discrimination, and even the social media targeting of community members of color Solutions proposed from President Obama’s Task Force on 21st Century Policing, combined with a proposition to espouse Sir Robert Peel’s Principles of community policing, offer a pathway toward regaining the …
Stigma Of Incarceration And Motivation Of Undergraduate Students For Service-Learning, Kapil Sharma
Stigma Of Incarceration And Motivation Of Undergraduate Students For Service-Learning, Kapil Sharma
Themis: Research Journal of Justice Studies and Forensic Science
Incarceration can be a long-lasting, stigmatizing life event that significantly impacts one's life and limits ex-offenders in various aspects of their life. The impact of widespread criminal records can obstruct reentry, economic stability, and full participation in society, whether minor, major, old, or new. The study aims to explore the stigma attached to incarceration and the motivation of undergraduate students for Service-Learning. Based on responses from three semi-structured interviews with students interns of the Records Clearance Project of San Jose State University, it was evident that after completing their sentences, ex-offenders come into many barriers that may prevent them from …
Effect Of Child Abuse On Eating Disorders And Suicidal Behaviors, Hannah Lyons
Effect Of Child Abuse On Eating Disorders And Suicidal Behaviors, Hannah Lyons
Themis: Research Journal of Justice Studies and Forensic Science
The broad range of psychological disorders and correlations with childhood upbringing has resulted in the creation of a complex connection between mental illness in adults as a result of childhood trauma. My research findings indicate that child abuse experienced during youth often leads to higher susceptibility to eating disorders in adulthood. Further, the research reflects that the type of child abuse experienced, influenced the type of eating disorder developed later in life. By researching the relationship of child abuse and eating disorders, it becomes evident that suicidal behaviors are also increased due to childhood experiences with abuse as well as …
The Crisis Of Femicides In Mexico, Alejandra Vela
The Crisis Of Femicides In Mexico, Alejandra Vela
Themis: Research Journal of Justice Studies and Forensic Science
Femicides are a growing issue in Mexico. These murders are intertwined with the incompetence of authorities, poverty, corruption, and organized crime. Authorities tend to blame victims by not taking missing reports seriously, nor do they conduct searches in these urgent situations. Authorities do not have DNA databases, space in morgues, and have little forensic science training. Ways of identifying remains involve odontology, bitemarks, and saliva. These provide a means of identifying through individual characteristics and DNA. Evidence is usually mishandled and not tested, or purposely lost to stop the investigation, thus, involving corruption. Criminal organizations, known as cartels, bribe authorities …
The Effects Of Marital Rape On A Woman’S Mental Health, Brisa Victorio
The Effects Of Marital Rape On A Woman’S Mental Health, Brisa Victorio
Themis: Research Journal of Justice Studies and Forensic Science
Marital rape has been a topic that does not receive the awareness it needs. About 14% of married women experience marital rape in the United States, and of that fourteen percent, 77% of those cases go unreported. Women experience post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, higher levels of anger, fear, and guilt, and begin to hate their bodies, therefore causing their self-esteem to drop. Despite the argument that women who are raped by their husbands suffer less because they have already consented to having sexual relations, it is the opposite. Marital rape victims suffer more severe psychological consequences and for a …
The Perpetuation Of Racial Inequalities In The Criminal Justice System, Chloe Bessette
The Perpetuation Of Racial Inequalities In The Criminal Justice System, Chloe Bessette
Themis: Research Journal of Justice Studies and Forensic Science
The criminal justice system is not necessarily just and is particularly unfair towards Black Americans. The research shows that they face discrimination in every step of the justice system, from initial arrest to sentencing. Many peer-reviewed sources were analyzed in order to compile the evidence that supports that claim, and what follows is a summation of that research. This paper succinctly proves, using facts, that discrimination and racism still run rampant in the American justice system. These facts include an over 50% higher chance of being killed during an arrest, five times as likely to be incarcerated, three times as …
The Student-Athlete Dilemma: The Hidden Truth, Andrew Jenkins
The Student-Athlete Dilemma: The Hidden Truth, Andrew Jenkins
Themis: Research Journal of Justice Studies and Forensic Science
This paper presents an in-depth analysis of student-athletes' challenges transitioning to college life. The findings indicate that many student-athletes struggle with adapting to the academic demands, navigating the social landscape, and maintaining a healthy work-life balance. To address these issues, this paper recommends that universities implement comprehensive orientation programs that provide students with the necessary tools, resources, and support to succeed. Additionally, universities should offer targeted interventions such as mentoring, tutoring, and counseling to students who may be at risk of falling behind academically or experiencing mental health concerns. By taking a proactive approach, universities can ensure that students have …
Semi Structured Interview: Public Perceptions Of Family Resource Centers As Seen By Staff Personnel, With An Emphasis On The Undocumented Community, Eva Gonzalez
Themis: Research Journal of Justice Studies and Forensic Science
The value of Family Resource Centers in communities is examined in this research paper, with a focus on legal advocacy in undocumented communities. To begin, do Family Resource Centers provide sufficient resources to the undocumented population? By 2022, there will be over 3,000 FRCs in 30 states, serving over 2 million people per year. Second, how can the Family Resource Center best support Valley Palms' undocumented population? Finally, do Family Resource Centers play an important role in community development? These are some of the questions that helped lead the research when it came down to semi-structured interviews with employees from …
Blood’S Evidentiary Value Based On Its Biological And Physical Properties, Samantha Boman
Blood’S Evidentiary Value Based On Its Biological And Physical Properties, Samantha Boman
Themis: Research Journal of Justice Studies and Forensic Science
Prior to 1955, bloodstain evidence was considered to be unreliable and therefore inadmissible in a court of law. Today, DNA profiles can be derived from leukocytes, which comprise less than 1% of our total blood volume. Aside from genetic profiles, the biological and physical properties of blood can reveal a great deal to investigators. The first landmark case to utilize blood’s class characteristics reliably was in the State of Ohio vs. Samuel Sheppard. This paper explains how viscosity, surface tension, flow, velocity, and Newtonian laws of motion can be used to determine: the relative locations of victims and offenders, handedness …
Rights That Are Not Guaranteed: Failures Of Government Policy On Homelessness, Jeffrey Kaspraw
Rights That Are Not Guaranteed: Failures Of Government Policy On Homelessness, Jeffrey Kaspraw
Themis: Research Journal of Justice Studies and Forensic Science
Since the 1980s, the rising number of homeless people has caused the problem to become a significant political issue. Politicians have made promises in their campaigns to solve the emergency every election cycle. Most of these campaign promises never come to fruition, and we see a continuing rise in homelessness. This paper examines the political context of housing insecurity to argue that housing is a human right, and that homelessness is a failed policy decision. Homelessness comes in four different forms that all require individual attention. The current policies aimed to address homelessness cannot be one size fits all. While …
An Interview With Dr. Steven Lee: Scientist, Jazz Musician, Athlete, Wine Connoisseur, And Founder And Former Director Of The Forensic Science Program At Sjsu, Steven Lee
Themis: Research Journal of Justice Studies and Forensic Science
No abstract provided.
The Efficacy Of Us-Mexico Border Enforcement In Relation To Crime Prevention, Samuel Klopstock
The Efficacy Of Us-Mexico Border Enforcement In Relation To Crime Prevention, Samuel Klopstock
Themis: Research Journal of Justice Studies and Forensic Science
The Trump Administration brought substantive changes to United States immigration policies, and labeled undocumented immigrants as predisposed towards criminal behavior. This paper presents a brief historical perspective of three major waves of Mexican immigration to the United States: The Early 1900s – Before World War I, Post-World War I – World War II, End of Bracero Accord – Present, and considers the relationship between immigrants and crime. The author explores contemporary immigration enforcement, both conservative and liberal attitudes towards immigrants, and their effects on policy. Consequences of border enforcement policies and the efficacy of border enforcement in preventing crime are …
The Impact Of Intimate Partner Violence On Women's Financial Wellbeing, Rowan Dunton
The Impact Of Intimate Partner Violence On Women's Financial Wellbeing, Rowan Dunton
Themis: Research Journal of Justice Studies and Forensic Science
Domestic violence and intimate partner violence against women affects all aspects of their health, including physical, mental, emotional, and economic health. When social programs, support networks, and better opportunities exist to improve the lives of female survivors, the financial impact of their abuse can be addressed and reduced in a significant, sustainable manner. Reviewing existing literature on this financial impact of abuse makes it apparent what women want and need to recover from their former, or even ongoing, situations. Effective preventative measures against financial harm include closing the gender wage gap and offering welfare programs for lower-income women to increase …
The Criminal Justice System And The Lgbtq Community: An Anti-Queer Regime, Steven Peck
The Criminal Justice System And The Lgbtq Community: An Anti-Queer Regime, Steven Peck
Themis: Research Journal of Justice Studies and Forensic Science
The LGBTQ community in the US, while experiencing great strides in social equality, continues to suffer disproportionately in the criminal justice system. Historical precedents of criminalizing the LGBTQ community are rife within the criminal justice system; the establishment of anti-sodomy laws, belief of inherent criminality, and a heteronormative perspective have all fostered a greater anti-queer regime. The criminalization and incarceration of the LGBTQ community remain steadfastly in place, with little to no reprieve. Establishing a new narrative in the criminalization and imprisonment of the LGBTQ community may assist in efforts to achieve real change within the criminal justice system. Moving …
The Implications Of A Militarized Police Force In The United States, Nhat Dang
The Implications Of A Militarized Police Force In The United States, Nhat Dang
Themis: Research Journal of Justice Studies and Forensic Science
The police model in America is slowly changing. From the early days of America, the police were modeled after the London Metropolitan Police. Over time, this has changed from a civilian police model into a more militaristic one. Police militarization in America can be traced to the implementation of the 1033 program, which granted local law enforcement agencies surplus military equipment such as weapons, surveillance gadgets, and armored vehicles. This research paper examines the effects of increasing police militarization on public perception and public trust of police.
The Lasting Impact Of Deinstitutionalization: Policing And The Mental Health Crisis, Ruqayyah Sorathia
The Lasting Impact Of Deinstitutionalization: Policing And The Mental Health Crisis, Ruqayyah Sorathia
Themis: Research Journal of Justice Studies and Forensic Science
Society is combating the detrimental effects of the deinstitutionalization policy, which transferred the treatment of mentally ill patients from state-run psychiatric hospitals to community-run psychiatric facilities. These patients frequently fall into relapses and are more likely to experience risky encounters with law enforcement officials who have no formal training in dealing with them. The paper analyzes the criminalization of mentally ill people, many with substance abuse and alcohol addictions, receiving treatment in jails and state prisons. Incarcerating people with mental illness, though reducing the homeless population from the street and disturbances faced by the public, still does not address the …
Defining Sex: Revisiting Bostock V. Clayton County Two Years Later, Laura Kerharo
Defining Sex: Revisiting Bostock V. Clayton County Two Years Later, Laura Kerharo
Themis: Research Journal of Justice Studies and Forensic Science
LGBT rights in the United States have come a long way in the past few decades. Cases such as Lawrence v. Texas and Obergefell v. Hodges have shown the critical role of the Supreme Court in attaining equality for LGBT people. Bostock v. Clayton County is the latest case of this kind. Bostock firmly established that workplace discrimination based on gay or transgender status was forbidden under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. This essay examines the case’s majority opinion—written by conservative Justice Gorsuch—and Justice Kavanagh’s dissent. It establishes that Justice Gorsuch used a living textualism approach …
Cognitive And Other Types Of Biases Affecting Forensic Evidence: Research Analysis And Expert Conclusions, Sukhmanpreet Kaur
Cognitive And Other Types Of Biases Affecting Forensic Evidence: Research Analysis And Expert Conclusions, Sukhmanpreet Kaur
Themis: Research Journal of Justice Studies and Forensic Science
This paper identifies the issue of cognitive bias, with emphasis on confirmation bias, and its implications within the forensic science field. Biased thinking or processing of forensic evidence can have significant effects on an investigation process. The literature analyzed discusses the consequences of providing contextual or irrelevant ancillary information to forensic experts. Following this discussion, the opinions held by forensic professionals with regards to confirmation bias and erroneous conclusions will likewise be evaluated. It is important that the forensic science field continues to listen to its experts in order to develop solutions for dealing with and preventing instances of confirmation …
Justice In Hybrid-Democracy: Blood Feuds And Albania Post Communism, Isabella Mahan
Justice In Hybrid-Democracy: Blood Feuds And Albania Post Communism, Isabella Mahan
Themis: Research Journal of Justice Studies and Forensic Science
In 1991, Albania shifted from severe communist rule to a regime claiming to be democratic. However, to this day, Albania maintains undemocratic elements. This paper analyzes the impact of hybrid state capacity in the context of state-led justice and the implications for citizen compliance. Albanian culture possesses a deep history of reliance on Kanun and traditional justice in conjunction with the state's inconsistency and unreliability. It further establishes the disconnect between people and the state. Despite attempts to progress towards modernity, traditions of blood feuds reemerged with the movement away from communism. The failure to properly transition from authoritarianism to …
The Rise Of Police Militarization And Impact On Civilians, Araceli Marquez
The Rise Of Police Militarization And Impact On Civilians, Araceli Marquez
Themis: Research Journal of Justice Studies and Forensic Science
Across the country, police are using aggressive, military-style policing tactics to enforce the law. These aggressive tactics disproportionately affect minorities and residents of lower-income communities. Recent protests by the Black Lives Matter movement have taken place in response to the deaths of individuals such as George Floyd and Breonna Taylor. Aggressive police presence at these demonstrations has been prominent, despite protesters’ peaceful intent. The police are not only present at rallies and protests but also at celebratory events like major cities' sports celebrations. This paper examines militarization as a result of the War on Drugs, the 1033 program, racial politics, …
From Preschool To Prison: How School Resource Officers Produce Criminality, Brenda Vargas Tapia
From Preschool To Prison: How School Resource Officers Produce Criminality, Brenda Vargas Tapia
Themis: Research Journal of Justice Studies and Forensic Science
Police officers were introduced in the American school system to provide White communities with a sense of safety. However, these police officers are not well trained to provide students with support and instead are trained to deal with situations with force. The implicit bias of police officers criminalizes and punishes Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) students unfairly. School shootings have continued to enforce the idea that officers are needed. However, this notion is untrue. Policing in schools builds a school-to-prison pipeline that is now, in the online schooling era, translating to the Zoom-to-prison pipeline, which reveals that BIPOC …
Valuing Mental Health In The Justice System, Anabel Lugo
Valuing Mental Health In The Justice System, Anabel Lugo
Themis: Research Journal of Justice Studies and Forensic Science
Mental health is an issue that needs more recognition, especially within inmates and law enforcement. The mental health of incarcerated inmates, as well as law enforcement officials, has been overlooked and negatively impacted our criminal justice system. Ignoring mental health has helped create negative depictions and stereotypes about these communities. Law enforcement tends to ignore its mental health due to masculinity and police culture, feeding into the stigma that lingers around it. Although mental health has become a recurring topic in recent years, little has been done to help restore it within our justice system. Recently, there have been numerous …
Policing And Mental Health: The Current Criminal Justice Approach To A Public Health Issue, Jacklyn Spatzer
Policing And Mental Health: The Current Criminal Justice Approach To A Public Health Issue, Jacklyn Spatzer
Themis: Research Journal of Justice Studies and Forensic Science
One source of unrest in modern society is the traditional criminal justice approach towards mental health issues, made evident by public protests and media highlights of police brutality. While public perceptions of mental health issues evolve, law enforcement interactions show failures to implement nuanced avenues to protect people undergoing crises. This paper examines the relationship between law enforcement and public health issues to develop more efficient avenues than those currently in place. All involved parties experience negative consequences when police departments bear the responsibility for addressing public health issues. Lack of police training in mental health disturbances and scarcity of …
Current Applications And Limitations Of Forensic Entomology, Helena Volckaert
Current Applications And Limitations Of Forensic Entomology, Helena Volckaert
Themis: Research Journal of Justice Studies and Forensic Science
Forensic entomology is the study of arthropods concerning their application in crime scene investigation as a method of predicting postmortem interval (PMI) in deceased or missing individuals. PMI is determined by the life stage of insects present on-scene. Insects used in criminal investigations are primarily beetles, flies, or moths; this may also include various scavenging insects and hitchhiking mites. These creatures help colonize decayed tissue, providing crime scene personnel with live specimens collected and examined for biological evidence. Forensic entomology is currently a niche application in most investigations—as qualified entomologists are often needed—and proper analysis of collected evidence can be …
Invisible Harm: Verbal Sexual Coercion Among College Students, Char Chezanne
Invisible Harm: Verbal Sexual Coercion Among College Students, Char Chezanne
Themis: Research Journal of Justice Studies and Forensic Science
This paper provides a review of literature and research on verbal sexual coercion on college campuses by focusing on heterosexual dynamics. The studies involved explore the factors that influence sexually coercive behavior, including parenting styles, heteronormative beliefs, and risk-taking behaviors. Furthermore, this paper reviews current informal and formal responses to campus sexual coercion by focusing on the overlooked power dynamics that influence sexual consent. This paper concludes that restorative justice serves as an alternative to traditional justice for campus-based sexual coercion because of its flexibility and applicability to nuanced sexual assault cases.