Digital Commons Network^™

Cyberbullying: Its Social And Psychological Harms Among Schoolers, Hyeyoung Lim, Hannarae Lee

International Journal of Cybersecurity Intelligence & Cybercrime

Criminal justice around the world has prioritized the prevention and protection of bullying and its victims due to the rapid increases in peer violence. Nevertheless, relatively few studies have examined what treatments or assistance are effective for peer victims to reduce and recover from their social and psychological suffering, especially in cyberbullying cases. Using data derived from the National Crime Victimization Survey-School Crime Supplement data in 2011 and 2013 (N=823), the current study examined the impact of two emotional support groups (i.e., adult and peer groups) on cyberbullying victims' social and psychological harm. The findings indicated that both adult and …

Cyber-Victimization Trends In Trinidad & Tobago: The Results Of An Empirical Research, Troy Smith, Nikolaos Stamatakis

International Journal of Cybersecurity Intelligence & Cybercrime

Cybertechnology has brought benefits to the Caribbean in the form of new regional economic and social growth. In the last years, Caribbean countries have also become attractive targets for cybercrime due to increased economic success and online presence with a low level of cyber resilience. This study examines the online-related activities that affect cybercrime victimization by using the Routine Activity Theory (RAT). The present study seeks to identify activities that contribute to different forms of cybercrime victimization and develop risk models for these crimes, particularly the understudied cyber-dependent crimes of Hacking and Malware. It also aims to explore if there …

Assessing The Credibility Of Cyber Adversaries, Jenny A. Wells, Dana S. Lafon, Margaret Gratian

International Journal of Cybersecurity Intelligence & Cybercrime

Online communications are ever increasing, and we are constantly faced with the challenge of whether online information is credible or not. Being able to assess the credibility of others was once the work solely of intelligence agencies. In the current times of disinformation and misinformation, understanding what we are reading and to who we are paying attention to is essential for us to make considered, informed, and accurate decisions, and it has become everyone’s business. This paper employs a literature review to examine the empirical evidence across online credibility, trust, deception, and fraud detection in an effort to consolidate this …

U.S. Prisons And System Reform, Darian Reimels

English Department: Research for Change - Wicked Problems in Our World

Prison systems, specifically in the U.S., are a wicked problem. For years prisoners have been treated inhumanely inside and outside of prison, with everyone looking at them with a judgmental eye. This essay aims to point out and bring light to these issues within the prison system. Specifically, it focuses on how inmates are treated during and after serving their sentence, and solitary confinement. To better understand and explain the problems to you, extensive research was done. Articles were read, organizations were researched, and a documentary was watched to gather the information needed to write this essay. The results showed …

The Youth Reformation Program, Anna Gilboard

Criminology Student Work

No abstract provided.

Criminal Justice Update - April 2021, Haley B. Shultz

Criminal Justice Updates

The Criminal Justice Update is a monthly newsletter created by the Adams County Bar Foundation Fellow providing updates in criminal justice policy coming from Pennsylvania's courts and legislature as well as the US Supreme Court.

Contents

• Updates from PA Governor's Office (no updates this month)
• Updates from the PA Legislature
• Updates from the Courts
• U.S. Supreme Court: Criminal Law & Procedure
• PA Supreme Court: Criminal Law & Procedure
• PA Superior Court: Criminal Law & Procedure

The Martin Institute: Prints, Spring 2021, Stonehill College: The Martin Institute For Law And Society

The Martin Institute: Prints

No abstract provided.

Stuck Together While Staying 6 Feet Apart: Exploring Covid-19’S Impact On Domestic Violence, Janelle Havens

Honors Senior Capstone Projects

No abstract provided.

The Career Path Of A Correctional Treatment Specialist, Elizabeth Mcavoy

Criminology Student Work

No abstract provided.

A Policy Analysis Of The Effectiveness Of Prison Nursery Programs, Juliann Karfgin

Spring Showcase for Research and Creative Inquiry

The objective of this research is to examine the effectiveness of prison nurseries programs. A critical review of the empirical research indicates that prison nurseries, while controversial in use, have mostly positive outcomes related to mental health, relationship bond, and recidivism.

Policy Analysis Of The Effectiveness Of De-Escalation Training, Kennedy Culbreath

Spring Showcase for Research and Creative Inquiry

The objective of this research is to examine the effectiveness of de-escalation training on the rates of excessive force towards mentally ill and minority individuals. A systematic review of studies conducted to assess the impact of this policy on stated outcomes indicates that the policy is an effective means of reducing excessive rates outcomes between police officers, mentally ill, and minority citizens. In addition, the policy has also reduced the rate of assaults and increased confidence and skills in the medical field which contributes to the policy's effectiveness.

A Policy Analysis Of The Effectiveness Of Hot Spot Policing, Ashley King

Spring Showcase for Research and Creative Inquiry

The objective of this research is to examine the effectiveness of Hot Spot Policing efforts in reducing rates of crime in high concentrated areas. A systematic review of studies conducted to assess the impact of this policy found that this policy is an effective means of reducing crime rates. In addition, this policy has also allowed for police agencies to make use of their limited resources in an effective manner.

Policy Analysis On The Effectiveness Of Mental Health Courts, Madison Johnson

Spring Showcase for Research and Creative Inquiry

The objective of this research is to examine the effectiveness of mental health courts in reducing recidivism rates with mentally ill offenders. A systematic review of studies was conducted to assess the impact that mental health courts have in reducing recidivism. This research found these courts to be effective in reducing recidivism as well as being an effective means of intervention for mentally ill offenders.

A Policy Analysis On The Effectiveness Of Domestic Violence Courts, Sara Beth Stansberry

Spring Showcase for Research and Creative Inquiry

The objective of this research is to examine the effectiveness of Domestic Violence Courts in increasing offender accountability and recidivism, providing victim and offender services and safety, altering the view of domestic violence in the eyes of both the Criminal Justice System and citizens, and improving court processes and procedures. A systematic review of studies conducted to assess the impact of this policy on stated outcomes indicates that Domestic Violence Courts effectively reduce the negative effects that traditionally coincide with domestic violence cases. In addition, this policy has altered how victims are more confident in coming forward about their incident …

Gang Resistance Education And Training Program, Delaney Morris

Spring Showcase for Research and Creative Inquiry

The objective of this research is to examine the effectiveness of the Gang Resistance Education and Training (G.R.E.A.T.) program in decreasing juvenile gang membership, violence, and activity. A systematic review of studies conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of the G.R.E.A.T. program and outcomes indicate that the policy is effective on reducing gang membership and activity. In addition, this policy has also provided positive skills for the juveniles in attempt to decrease potential gang membership risk factors.

A Policy Analysis Of The Effectiveness Of Crisis Intervention Training, Hannah Elmore

Spring Showcase for Research and Creative Inquiry

The objective of this research is to investigate the effectiveness of Crisis Intervention Teams in diverting the mentally ill from the criminal justice system and reducing the rates of problematic interactions. A systematic review of studies conducted to assess the impact of this policy on stated outcomes indicates that the policy is an effective means of educating law enforcement on mentally ill individuals, diverting mentally ill individuals from the criminal justice system, and reducing problematic encounters. Keywords: crisis intervention training, mental illness, law enforcement

A Policy Analysis Of The Effectiveness Of Portugal's Drug Decriminalization Policy, Emily Mothersbaugh

Spring Showcase for Research and Creative Inquiry

The objective of this research is to examine the effectiveness of Portugal’s Decriminalization Policy in reducing rates of addiction, HIV/AIDS/Hepatitis, drug use, drug related deaths, and interaction of drug users with law enforcement. ​A systematic review of studies conducted to assess the impact of this policy on stated outcomes indicates that the policy is an effective means of reducing these rates of addiction, disease, deaths, use of drugs, and interaction with the law. In addition, this policy has also impacted the drug markets of Portugal, and decreased levels of drug-related crime.

A Policy Analysis Of The Effectiveness Of Three Strikes Law As A Crime Deterrent, Nathan Owens

Spring Showcase for Research and Creative Inquiry

The objective of this research is to examine the effectiveness of Three Strikes Law at reducing rates of violent crime. A systematic review of studies conducted to assess the impact of this policy on stated outcomes indicates that the policy is an ineffective means of reducing violent crime. In addition, the policy increased costs for prisons, overrepresented non-violent felony offenders, and caused a significant increase in overcrowded prisons.

The Effectiveness Of The Decriminalization Of Prostitution On Rates Of Sex Trafficking., Madison Van Dyke

Spring Showcase for Research and Creative Inquiry

The objective of this research is to examine the effectiveness of  the effectiveness of the decriminalization of prostitution on rates of sex trafficking. A systematic review of studies conducted to assess the impact of this policy on stated outcomes indicates that the policy is an ineffective means of reducing rates of sex trafficking. In addition, decriminalization has created unintended consequences in the criminal justice field that have led to a black market for sex trafficking.

The Effectiveness Of Victim-Witness Advocate Services, Carmen Mehling

Spring Showcase for Research and Creative Inquiry

The victims' movement in the United States occurred due to the development of victimology, the introduction of state victim compensation programs, the rise of the women's movement, and the rise of crime that was accompanied by a parallel dissatisfaction with the criminal justice system. The interest in victimology was due to the increasing concern about crime in America in the late 1960s. Research by Frank Cannavale found that the largest cause of prosecution failure was due to a lack of cooperation among victims-witnesses who stopped helping the justice system because it was indifferent to their most basic needs (Young & …

Front End Justice: Diverting People Affected By Mental Illness From The Criminal Justice System, Ariel Esqueda, Kelliann Kutschke, Matthew Miller, Kayleigh Wendland

Master of Social Work Student Policy Advocacy Briefs

Many of the people caught up in the criminal justice system are non-violent offenders struggling with mental illness, which cannot and should not be addressed through incarceration. Our jails and prisons are ill-equipped to provide effective mental health services. Incarceration compounds the problem by contributing to increased psychological distress. We are relying on the criminal justice system to respond to mental illness, rather than investing fully in the spectrum of mental health care from prevention to recovery. Minnesota must invest in diverting people affected by mental illness away from the criminal justice system and into community-based treatment, services, and supports …

Racial Sympathy And Support For Capital Punishment: A Case Study In Concept Transfer, Kellie R. Hannan, Francis T. Cullen, Leah C. Butler, Amanda K. Graham, Alexander L. Burton, Velmer S. Burton Jr.

Criminal Justice & Criminology: Faculty Publications

Beliefs about race, especially racial resentment, are key predictors of public support for capital punishment and punitiveness generally. Drawing on a conceptual innovation by political scientist Jennifer Chudy, we explore the utility of transferring into criminology her construct of racial sympathy – or Whites’ concern about Blacks’ suffering. First, across three data sets, we replicate Chudy’s finding that racial sympathy and resentment are empirically distinct constructs. Second, based on a national-level 2019 YouGov survey (n = 760 White respondents) and consistent with Chudy’s thesis, racial sympathy is then shown to be significantly related to the race-specific view that capital punishment …

Gendered Pronouns And Rape Myth Acceptance, Cassandra M. Merritt

Masters Theses

Rape myths, and the acceptance of these rape myths, have been studied extensively for the last several decades. Since the 1980s, researchers have used various rape myth acceptance (RMA) scalesRape Myth Acceptance Scale (Burt 1980), the Illinois Rape Myth Acceptance Scale (Payne et al., 1999), and the Updated Illinois Rape Myth Acceptance Scale (McMahon & Farmer, 2011)-to examine whether certain factors (e.g., gender, just world beliefs, gender norm conformity, and police officer bias) influence individual RMA levels. Little to no research has explored how gendered pronouns used in these scales influence the levels of RMA measured. This study seeks to …

The Applicability Of Understanding Hypervigilance In Law Enforcement, Garrett Ingram

Senior Honors Theses

Hypervigilance is a condition characterized by a state of heightened awareness in the absence of a threat. Hypervigilance can occur for many reasons, ranging from stressful events or scenarios, to training, to personality. Because of the nature of law enforcement, hypervigilance is an issue that affects law enforcement officers as well as the people with whom they interact on a regular basis. It is important to gain a full understanding of hypervigilance and how it affects decision making, interactions, and quality of life, which has its own effects. By understanding these issues, law enforcement officers can overcome the issues associated …

Criminal Mental Health, Tabitha Oliver

Senior Honors Theses

The purpose of this thesis is to assess and address the prevalence of mental health issues among incarcerated individuals in America. There are multiple internal and external contributing factors to the disproportionately high numbers of mentally ill inmates. Comparing the United States prison system with other countries such as Norway allows for possible paths to improving the mental health crisis that we are currently experiencing. This thesis looks at the principles and practices used in Norway's prisons as well as how they affect inmate's mental health. By comparing Norway's prison policies and design, this thesis will suggest changes in staff …

The Ineffectiveness Of The Reid Technique In Law Enforcement Interrogations And How A Non-Accusatory Model Of Interview Can Be Applied In Law Enforcement Interviews In The United States, Angie Chen

Honors College Theses

The research questions that this thesis explored were “Why the Reid Technique is Ineffective for Law Enforcement Interrogations?” and “How a Non-Accusatory Model of Interview Can Be Applied in Law Enforcement Interviews in the United States.” In recent years, the harmful effects of using a confrontational, adversarial interrogation method, such as the Reid technique, have emerged. These interrogation methods are based on pseudoscience. The effects of these types of interrogation methods can include psychological harm and false confessions. Professionals and officials in the law enforcement field are exploring new options for interviewing including non-accusatory methods such as the PEACE model. …

Indigenous Peoples' Trust In Police: Multi-Jurisdictional Issues And The Effect On Reporting, Anna R. Doering

Honors Thesis

The crisis of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Peoples (MMIP) has occurred for centuries. The current structure of the criminal justice system relies on trust and cooperation between law enforcement agencies and citizens to combat such crises. The purpose of this research project is to assess how, if at all, Indigenous peoples’ trust in police and willingness to report at the tribal, state, and federal levels impact MMIP. These two dependent variables were assessed using survey results from Indigenous peoples 18 and older. Discussion will focus on how these variables impact MMIP moving forward.

To What Extent Is The Death Penalty A Tool Of Racial Terror In America, And How Can We Fix It?, Gabrielle Boileau

Honors Projects

In this project, I seek to answer the question: To what extent is the death penalty a tool of racial terror in America, and how can we fix it? America has long been plagued by the legacy of slavery and white supremacy. In the reconstruction era, when slavery was no longer legal, angry white citizens would simply round up African-Americans and lynch them if they felt they had done something “wrong”. However, in the modern era, such blatant displays of racism are illegal, and the racist views of society are subverted into the court system. Black men are disproportionately arrested …

The “Innocence Penalty”: Is It More Pronounced For Juveniles?, Nilam A. Sanghvi, Elizabeth A. Delosa

Dickinson Law Review (2017-Present)

Despite the presumption of innocence, we know that individuals accused of crimes are punished for maintaining their innocence in ways both tangible and intangible as they make their way through our criminal justice system. For example, even if instructed not to, jurors may infer guilt from a defendant’s failure to testify; defendants who exercise their right to go to trial receive lengthier sentences if convicted than those who plead guilty; and, once convicted, defendants who maintain their innocence are often denied opportunities for parole or clemency. This article explores whether these “innocence penalties” are even greater for children who are …

A Macro Analysis Of Illegal Hunting And Fishing Across Texas Counties: Using An Economic Structural Approach, Leo J. Genco Jr.

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this disseration is to examine the distribution of illegal hunting and fishing violations across Texas counties in respect to the economic structure. Illegal hunting plays a part in the extraction of resources that are overly withdrawn, and criminologists have ignored this form of deviancy that has large ramifications for the environment. To view this criminal phenomenon, the study uses the Treadmill of Production theory to determine economic structural factors and whether those factors explain the distribution of illegal hunting and fishing. Using regression analyses and SatScan, the findings suggested that while there are significant factors related to …