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Book Review: Midnight Cry: A Shooting On Sand Mountain, Ann Fuller

Georgia Library Quarterly

No abstract provided.

Perpetrator Nationality And Prescribed Punitiveness: The Effect Of Moral Disgust, Phoebe Fanning, Scott Eidelman, Emily Vance

Psychological Science Undergraduate Honors Theses

Does perpetrator nationality impact prescribed punitiveness, and is this relationship explained by moral disgust? White American participants (N = 243) read a fake news article about a physical assault. Perpetrator nationality was manipulated by indicating that the offender was an American citizen or in the U.S. illegally. Then, participants completed measures on prescribed punitiveness (e.g., minimum sentence for the offender), their emotional reactions toward the offender (e.g., disgusted), as well as exploratory items on patriotism, nationalism, identification with the U.S., and belief in a dangerous world. I predicted that participants in the illegal immigrant perpetrator condition would exhibit more …

Juror Decision-Making In Context, Kassandra Jovellanos

Criminal Justice

The United States criminal justice system was designed to be one of fairness, where everyone is equal in the eyes of the law. However, that does not seem to be case, and one instance of this is how a defendant’s gender identity influences juror decision. Much literature exists on juror reaction to the cisgender binary, yet there is a gap in research on how juries react to transgender defendants and how pretrial media exposure interacts with this effect. This study aims to answer this question, as well as look into the interaction of pretrial publicity on juror decision when still …

Understand The Power Of Resilient Adult Survivors Of Childhood Neglect, Sheena Smith

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study was to explore the lived experiences of adults from New York (NY) and New Jersey (NJ) who have overcome adverse childhood experiences and describe their experiences in becoming resilient. Adverse childhood experiences have been linked to various health disparities, including depression, anxiety, substance misuse, and physical health concerns. However, limited research focuses specifically on resilience among survivors of childhood neglect and adversity. The study investigated the subjective experiences of adults residing in New York and New Jersey who have experienced high levels of ACEs, including neglect and abandonment. The study answered the following …

An Investigation Of Mental Well-Being Of Black Men: Perceived Discrimination, Depression, Social Support, And Marital Satisfaction, D'Anthony Teon Harris

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Black Americans have long endured significant psychological distress due to racism and discrimination. Yet, limited research has examined how these stressors impact the mental health of Black males in the context of marital relationships. This study investigated the effect of perceived discrimination on depression in married African American men, examining whether marital satisfaction mediated this relationship and whether social support moderated it. Rooted in the historical legacy of systemic racism and modern forms of aversive discrimination, the study aimed to fill a gap in the literature concerning the intersection of race, gender, and mental well-being. Utilizing a diverse and well-educated …

Emerging Black Male Adults' Lived Experiences With Racial Microaggressions And Social Media, Ian L. Griffin Sr.

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Racial microaggressions on social media take a serious psychological toll on emerging Black male adults (EBMAs), leading to heightened stress, anxiety, depression, and low self-esteem. Despite increasing awareness of these issues, research has yet to fully examine how religious involvement buffers the mental health effects of digital racial adversity. This study examined how EBMAs experience social media racial microaggressions, the impact of these encounters on their mental health, and whether engagement in religious activities helps reduce psychological distress. This research adopted a qualitative phenomenological design, integrating interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA) and thematic analysis to understand these experiences through microaggression theory …

The Implementation Process Of The Norway Model In U.S. Prisons: A Qualitative Study, Kaitlin M. Armstrong

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this grounding theory method will be to develop the best correctional practices for implementing the Norway Model of prison reform in U.S. prisons. The data gathered from participating facilities in the U.S. that have already attempted this method of reform will help identify the best strategic planning methods for future facilities to use. The theory guiding this study is based on the grounding theory method, developed by sociologists Barney Glaser and Anselm Strauss, and will allow for the conceptualization of the data collected to be used in predicting the best future methods of implementation, specifically for correctional …

A Phenomenological Look At Licensed Professionals' Perceptions And Lived Experiences Of Parental Alienation In The Family Court System, Jacqueline Ziebart

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Parental alienation (PA) frequently emerges in high-conflict child custody disputes and is commonly understood as one parent encouraging a child to unjustifiably reject the other parent. The behaviors associated with PA encompass a complex form of family violence, incorporating elements of both intimate partner violence and child psychological abuse. As a polarizing and multifaceted social issue, PA necessitates further dialogue and interdisciplinary collaboration among professionals. This qualitative research study explored licensed professionals’ perceptions and lived experiences of PA in the family court system. The research aimed to investigate the meaning professionals attributed to PA across individual, family, and institutional levels. …

Conversations With Friends: How Gender And Politics In The 2024 U.S Presidential Election Was Perceived By The People And By The Numbers, Hadley H. Burke

Political Science Undergraduate Honors Theses

The 2024 U.S. presidential election were largely unprecedented, with President Joe Biden withdrawing from the race and endorsing Vice President Kamala Harris as the Democratic Nominee mere months before election day. The events that followed were rife with opportunity to explore the intersection of gender and politics, a topic of increasing relevance as women have become more politically active over the past century. Going beyond the traditional gender gap research, which demonstrates the divergent voting patterns of women and men, this research seeks to understand how the gender of the candidate influences vote choice. Using empirical data on the gender …

Environmental Concern And Its Relationship To Community Attachment And Satisfaction In Southern West Virginia, Terence Asitibasi

All Theses

Extractive industries, especially coal, in the Appalachia region, have contributed to severe environmental challenges. Over the past years, residents in these areas faced increased health risks and damage to natural landscapes, impacting on how connected they are attached to their communities and overall satisfaction with their quality of life. Previous studies have examined these issues but with a focus on amenity-rich rural west, low amenities, urban-suburban, tourist-dependent and Great Lakes regions; this study looks at southern West Virginia, a coal-dependent region. And as such fills that gap by exploring how environmental concerns - combined with a longstanding reliance on coal …

How A College Course Benefits Under-Resourced High Schoolers Interested In Veterinary Medicine, Gwendolyn R. Svenson, Olivia Arnold, Patricia Vigil, Naomi Nishi, Christianne Magee

Journal of Youth Development

The Veterinary Perspectives Institute (VPI) was designed to address the challenges faced by underrepresented youth who are interested in veterinary medicine. This study examines the VPI, a tuition-free program that introduces students from under-resourced high schools to veterinary medicine and One Health through a hands-on, transdisciplinary approach. The VPI integrates One Health concepts by linking human, animal, and environmental health in the context of veterinary medicine. The program’s aim is to foster college readiness and career exploration in veterinary and biomedical fields, while also addressing barriers to diversity in veterinary medicine. Through hands-on learning and case studies in One Health, …

Shades Of Families: Exploring Intersectionalities Of Cross-Cultural Parenting Experiences In The U.S., Shu-Han Huang

Dissertations

As multiracial and multicultural families continue to grow across the United States, parents must navigate evolving cultural identities, systemic inequities, and increasing social and emotional pressures. These realities underscore the need for parenting resources that are both culturally responsive and emotionally supportive. This transcendental phenomenological study explored the lived experiences of 11 cross-cultural parents raising children in the U.S., with a focus on how intersecting identities and systemic forces shape parenting practices.

Guided by Critical Multiracial Theory and Intersectionality Theory, this study investigated parenting at the personal, familial, societal, and structural levels. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews and analyzed …

Investigating Exoneration Patterns Among Juveniles, Kristin Mahan

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Exoneration from crime has been studied among adults, but exoneration of juveniles (i.e., persons under age 18) has not been analyzed as a separate entity, despite distinct legal systems and developmental considerations. Wrongful conviction, while not always indicative of innocence, devastates lives of convicted individuals and their families, while increasing public mistrust and sometimes failing to convict truly guilty individuals. This devastation, as well as vulnerability to wrongful conviction, is significantly increased for youth who miss out on crucial developmental years, milestones, and opportunities.

In the current study, I examined differing and intersecting contributors (i.e., individual characteristics, crime characteristics, legal …

Comparing Fastbridge Reading Assessment Scores: Reading Interventionist Vs. Lexia Powerup For Sixth-Grade Students, Amanda K. Boss

Education Doctorate Dissertations

This study investigates the differences in FastBridge reading assessment scores among sixth-grade students at a middle school in Southeast Minnesota. A sample of 266 sixth graders participated in the technology-based intervention program, Lexia PowerUp, while 35 students received additional support from a reading interventionist using the UFLI (University of Florida Literacy Initiative) Foundations curriculum. Employing a quantitative, non-experimental post hoc analysis, the research revealed that both Lexia PowerUp and UFLI: Foundations enhanced FastBridge AUTOreading scores; however, FastBridge aReading scores showed no significant changes for either program. Notably, students utilizing Lexia PowerUp consistently improved throughout the year, whereas those in the …

"You Gonna Be Like Mama": A Case Study Of Intergenerational Sex Trafficking, Lindsey M. Grabowska

Honors Thesis

Commercial sexual exploitation of children (CSEC) is a range of experiences inflicted upon children that involves sexual exploitation for financial benefit and results in many psychological harms on exploited youth. Familial sex trafficking is a subset of CSEC where the child is exploited by a family member through either intergenerational prostitution or exchanging sexual access to their child to others for commercial gain. This paper will review the available literature on CSEC and familial trafficking, focusing specifically on two important questions (1) What makes minors vulnerable to CSEC and sex trafficking and (2) What maintains the involvement on people in …

University Campus Members' Perceptions And Willingness To Accept Plea Deals, Magalli Morado Landaverde

Boise State University Theses and Dissertations

Previous research on plea bargaining has primarily focused on public opinion about this practice and the disparities among individuals who have accepted a plea deal. This body of research usually addressed only legal or extralegal factors associated with the prevalence of plea bargaining. Few studies have explored the impact of both factors on an individual’s attitude toward plea bargaining and willingness to accept a plea deal. The current study sought to address this gap in the literature by exploring situational and dispositional factors and other relevant measures, such as court procedural justice, to examine their influence on a person’s attitude …

Examining The Perceptions Of Restorative Practices In A Non-Profit Organization: A Comparative Analysis Of Staff And Youth Attitudes, Autumn N. Alicea, Anne Hobbs Dr

Theses/Capstones/Creative Projects

This study examines the attitudes toward restorative justice (RJ) among staff and youth at a non-profit residential organization. Using the Restorative Justice Attitude Scale, data was collected from 14 staff members and 14 youth participants (N=28). Results indicated that staff members reported significantly higher mean scores (M = 84.50, SD = 8.38) on the Total Restorative Justice Attitude Scale than youth participants (M = 67.93, SD = 15.81). ANOVA results revealed statistically significant differences between the two groups on attitudes toward restorative justice, F (1, 26) = 12.007, p = .002. Effect size analysis (η² = .316) indicates that approximately …

Human Trafficking Prevention Methods In Nebraska, Allison E. Munderloh

Theses/Capstones/Creative Projects

Human Trafficking has been a concern in Nebraska for a long period of time, but there is a lack of publicly available information regarding the prevention methods being employed and their effectiveness. This study aimed to identify the human trafficking prevention methods in use in Nebraska and their effectiveness based on the opinions of human trafficking professionals in the state. The human trafficking professionals were interviewed, and the information gathered was organized into seven different themes. The themes that arose from the information gathered included educational efforts, victim intervention and resources, addressing demand, labor trafficking, measuring success, resources and funding, …

Soft Substance Usage And Productivity In The Patrol Officer Population, Patrick Brady

Theses/Capstones/Creative Projects

Consumable substances have long been used to enhance performance and ease nerves in first-responder populations. Among these substances, caffeine and nicotine products are some of the most frequently used by law enforcement. For the purposes of this study, these substances will be coded as “soft substances” (SSs). As opposed to hard substances (heroin, methamphetamines, crack-cocaine, etc.) SSs are non-criminalized substances that do not significantly change one’s state of consciousness; these substances are also commonly used during the workday (e.g. nicotine used on smoke breaks, caffeinated drinks consumed during the day). Usage rates of SSs in the law enforcement population surpass …

The Effectiveness Of International Courts In Contributing To Rebuilding And Resolving Conflicts In Societies Post-Genocide, Garrett Connely

Theses/Capstones/Creative Projects

In the aftermath of mass atrocities, international courts have emerged as key mechanisms for delivering justice and fostering post-conflict reconciliation. Rooted in the precedent set by the Nuremberg Trials after World War II, these institutions aim to prosecute crimes that often go beyond national legal systems. However, their effectiveness remains contested, largely due to their dependence on state cooperation and the complexity of post-conflict environments. This project examines the societal impact of international courts in two significant cases – Rwanda and the former Yugoslavia. Through a comparative analysis of the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda and the International Criminal Tribunal …

A Comparative Analysis Of The Intersection Between Sex Trafficking And Domestic Violence: A Cross-Cultural Study Of The United States And India, Rachel A. Napier

Theses/Capstones/Creative Projects

Domestic violence survivors are affected by long-term trauma from abuse, which can lead to them being more vulnerable and susceptible to sex trafficking tactics. Sex trafficking survivors are also at risk of becoming involved in an abusive relationship because they may have been previously exposed or due to a normalization of abuse. Both domestic violence and sex trafficking are prevalent issues within the world that continue to be ongoing due to their hidden nature. This study highlights the connections between domestic violence and sex trafficking and how each can be portrayed differently based on the environment and cultural norms within …

Perceptions Of Identity And Blame Attribution In Sexual Harassment Scenarios, Avarie Lambert

Honors Theses

Sexual harassment is a widespread issue influenced by societal attitudes that stem from victim blaiming and rape myth acceptance. These perceptions are often shaped by the identities of the parties involved, however there is limited research on how gender and race influence blame attribution. The purpose of this study is to examine how different identities shape public perceptions of victims in sexual harassment scenarios. Through using a nationwide sample and survey experiment, participants were randomly assigned to receive one of eight different hypothetical scenarios that differed by the race and gender of the victim, and the gender of the perpetrator. …

The Interplay Of Housing Instability And Mathematics During Adolescence: A Retrospective Study Of Black Stem Folx, Sharetta M. W. Bufford

All Dissertations

Few studies have delved into the delicate nuances that impact Black students’ mathematics performance, nor have they paid much attention to the resources students leverage to overcome systems that perpetuate negative stereotypes about Black youth. For decades, studies about Black youth have been explored from a deficit perspective, shedding negative light on circumstances typically beyond the control of those being studied. Even more, some studies have placed blame on parents and parental figures in the lives of Black children for unacceptable school behavior and poor academic progress (Cobb II & Russell, 2015). Black youth have been portrayed as problematic, disruptive, …

Addiction In The Prison System: Recidivism And Alternatives, Daniel R. Bowers

Undergraduate Honors Theses

The United States criminal justice system has the highest number of incarcerated individuals in the world, with nearly 2 million people currently being behind bars, and around 7.5 million arrests per year according to the most recent available statistics. A key factor in this is addiction, specifically substance use disorders. Between 58% to 68% of adults arrested are addicted to one or more substances, with 68% of drug involved individuals being rearrested within three years of being released. This recidivism rate is incredibly high, and when combined with current prison and jail overcrowding, has created massive problems for the United …

Job Satisfaction Levels In The Correctional Field Based On Gender, Minal Chughtai

Honors College Theses

The overall purpose of this study was to research and understand the different levels of job satisfaction when it comes to female and male correctional officers and determine if female officers have greater levels of job satisfaction than their male counterparts. This study is a systematic review of different research articles that analyze correctional officers’ job satisfaction levels. This information will then be synthesized into one cohesive paper. The results will display the various factors that contribute to job satisfaction levels of correctional officers, such as gender perception, job burnout and stress, and other workplace variables. The overall findings of …

The Psychology Of Morbid Fascination: The Role Of Spectatorship In Executions, Rubbernecking, Dark Tourism, And True Crime Consumption, Sydnee L. Hope

Honors Theses

This literature review examines the general idea of morbid fascination through the lens of spectatorship. The questions that this paper will attempt to answer and contribute knowledge towards are, “What is the psychology behind morbid fascination?” and “Why are humans drawn to the macabre?”. This paper will use a myriad of different sources such as books, peer-reviewed articles, personal accounts, documentaries, podcasts, and different studies from the psychological, criminal justice, and philosophical fields of study to very carefully review, report, compile, and add new theories onto the information provided. The sections discussed throughout will fall under four categories: Public Executions, …

The Effects Of Short-Term Rental Regulation On Neighborhoods In Traverse City, Mi, Joseph H. Slonecki

Master of Public Administration Capstone Papers

With the increase in popularity of Short-Term Rentals (STRs) and the increase in housing and rental prices throughout the United States, this study aims to explore the effects STRs have on housing and rental prices in Traverse City, MI. Traverse City is a popular tourist area and has experienced significant price increases over the last decade. STRs have been a topic of regulation by many local units of government and the area lacks unified regulation. The study area is confined to two census block groups of adjacent neighborhoods that occupy different townships. The townships have two different approaches to STR …

A World Without Prison: The Role Of Policy In Prison Abolition, Kristen Davis

Honors Theses

As concerns about mass incarceration persist, prison abolition offers an innovative approach to safety and justice. The prison abolition movement has been active in the United States since the 1970s. Despite increasingly critical attitudes of the prison system, prison abolition is yet to be accepted in mainstream policy making. Instead, policymakers focus on reform, which problematically legitimizes and reinforces locking people away as criminals. One reason why reform takes precedent may be that prison abolition is often understood in negative terms, as a movement that only advocates ending incarceration. However, its essence is better captured in positive terms, such as …

Spanish Language Accessibility Within Mississippi Courts, Meredith Dudte

Honors Theses

As the Hispanic population continues to rise in Mississippi, Spanish language access in the public sector is of increasing importance. This thesis will specifically explore Spanish language access in Mississippi courts, identifying strengths and weaknesses and recommending policy solutions based on the results. To gain a better understanding of court interpretation in Mississippi, I interviewed ten Spanish language court interpreters and two court clerks either working in Mississippi courts or courts in similar southern states. Responses highlighted two themes as strengths: the federal court interpreter test and compensation, four themes as weaknesses: compensation, standards, omissions, and dialects, and four themes …

Who Lives, Who Dies, Who Tells Your Story: A Comparative Analysis Of The Representations Of American Serial Killers In News And True Crime Media, Jenelle Walters

Honors Theses

Serial killers are a subject that have fascinated individuals for centuries in both news and entertainment media. Although research has been done on the representations of serial killers in news media, little research has attempted to connect the representations seen in the news media to those seen in true crime entertainment media. Through the use of four case studies, a comparative analysis was done to compare the framing seen in the original news articles, both local and national, to the framing seen in the later true crime films, documentaries, and series. Although the framing originally seen in the news media …