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Introduction To The Criminal Justice System, Courtney A. Crittenden

Open Textbooks

Introduction to the Criminal Justice System is an open educational resource that explores the history, concepts, and foundational knowledge of the contemporary criminal justice system in the United States. The text includes examinations of current events and includes coverage of some controversial topics that may be commonly excluded from introductory texts. Institutional memory, best practices in public safety, and statistical data are incorporated in ways intended to provide an unbiased viewpoint of the current status of the criminal legal system today in order to provide students with a clear picture of the system.

Probation Officers' Experiences Working With Individuals Who Have Antisocial Personality Traits, Katherine Ore

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

In fulfilling their role of monitoring individuals outside of a prison setting, probation officers may encounter individuals who have antisocial personality disorder (ASPD) or antisocial personality (ASP) traits. Individuals who have ASP traits and are not diagnosed with ASPD are still impacted by recommendations of punishment, higher recidivism rates, and a lack of treatment resources provided. Individuals in the criminal justice system with ASP traits are not a new phenomenon, but there is a lack of research on the probation officers' experience working with these individuals. The purpose of this study was to examine and explore the experiences of probation …

Mixed-Methods & Ai For Methodological Literature Reviews, António Pedro Costa, Pablo Burneo, Judita Kasperiuniene

The Qualitative Report

In the Generative AI (GenAI) era, social researchers have explored different tools for different phases of research projects. Despite AI and GenAI being highly relevant topics in current literature, few researchers have addressed the question of how to explore GenAI tools based on human-AI collaboration to improve the quality of methodological literature reviews. Based on a real project as a sample, “a competence framework for social researchers integrating GenAI”, we propose a detailed analytical model that triangulates evidence from both quantitative and qualitative data analyses. A mixed-methods approach is looked at, with a focus on the qualitative dimension (quant-QUAL). The …

Exploring Ex-Offenders’ Perceptions Of Their Learning Experiences And The Shape Of Criminal Activity In Louisiana, Carla Buntyn

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This qualitative study examined the lived experiences of 12 formerly incarcerated males in Louisiana between the ages of 18 and 25, with a focus on their perspectives related to schooling, social environments, and involvement in criminal activity. Guided by general strain theory, the research explored how participants described their learning experiences under Common Core standards and whether they perceived connections between those experiences and their criminal activity. The research question asked: How do American male ex-offenders between the ages of 18 and 25 in Louisiana describe the relationship between Common Core learning experiences and their criminal activity? Data were collected …

Police Officers’ Perceptions Of The Cultural, Structural, And Potential Training Barriers That Prevent Police Agencies From Adopting An Effective Emergency Response System, Allan David Dunham

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Despite the proven efficacy of the incident command system (ICS), police agencies face obstacles in effective critical incident response. This qualitative study explored the cultural, structural, and potential training barriers that hinder the adoption of the ICS within police agencies. The purpose was to investigate how police can more effectively adopt this unified command structure designed for multiagency emergency response. Guided by the theory of planned behavior, the research question addressed how California police officers’ attitudes, perceived social norms, and sense of behavioral control influence their adoption of incident command system principles. Data were collected using semistructured Zoom interviews with …

Red, Yellow, And Green: Traffic Signals As Symbols Of Authority In The United States, Alek Villarreal

ENGL 1102 Showcase

Traffic signals are ubiquitous in American society, but traffic laws themselves are violated with extreme frequency. The reasons for such a discrepancy between the widely understood benefits of tools like stoplights and their practical application in the everyday lives of individuals often goes underdiscussed.  The aim of this project is to explore how the reciprocal relationship between the authority of large-scale institution like the United States government and the agency of individual citizens can be examined by analyzing both the implementation and public impact of traffic signals. By consulting a variety of previously published academic, journalistic, and commercial sources, it …

The Role Of Higher Education Attainment In Mitigating Police Misconduct, Marty Allen Hatfield

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Police misconduct continues to undermine public trust and strain community–law enforcement relationships in the United States. The potential role of higher education in reducing misconduct among officers remains underexamined. The purpose of this quantitative correlational study was to examine whether higher educational attainment is associated with reduced rates of documented misconduct in a large urban police department. Grounded in the social learning and organizational justice theories, the research addressed how postsecondary education influences ethical decision-making and conduct. The overarching research question concerned whether education level predicted misconduct frequency, controlling for gender, rank, and years of service. Archival personnel and disciplinary …

Decolonizing Community Re-Entry: Effective Case Studies Of Community-Led Programs And Services To Support Formerly Incarcerated Individuals In Canada, Ardavan Eizadirad, Rai Reece

Education Faculty Publications

Decolonizing re-entry programs require rethinking traditional approaches in supporting formerly incarcerated individuals and challenging colonial and deficit frameworks embedded in the criminal legal system, which often has an exclusive focus on punishment. This article names the risk factors and systemic barriers faced by equity-denied individuals during reintegration with a focus on the Canadian context. Two community-led programs in Ontario are highlighted as innovative case studies for effectively supporting reintegration of individuals exiting carceral institutions. Key characteristics of these programs which are offered by the Youth Association for Academics, Athletics, and Character Education (YAAACE) and Walls to Bridges (W2B) are outlined. …

Community Service In Saudi Arabian Universities: A Comparative Study, Hesham K. Alfares, Muhammad H. Al-Haboubi, Mesfer M. Al-Zahrani

Journal of Community Engagement and Higher Education

A comparative analysis is presented of community service activities in Saudi Arabian Universities. The methodology includes literature surveys, benchmarking, questionnaires, and focus group meetings. Community service definitions and activities are surveyed around the world. A benchmarking comparison is made between community service programs in 10 major Saudi universities and 20 top American universities. The current status of community service in Saudi universities is evaluated, and several improvement strategies are proposed.

Supporting Community Safety Through University-Community Partnerships: Exploring Models Of Engagement, James M. Frabutt

Journal of Community Engagement and Higher Education

This paper explores various models of university-community engagement to support youth violence prevention and community safety. A series of case examples from the Center for Youth, Family, and Community Partnerships at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro are highlighted. The case examples-four projects spanning a six-year time period-are the springboard for exploring issues of funding, community collaboration, sustainability, leadership, evaluation, and communication.

“Oh, Are You Gay?”: An Exploration Of Lgbtq+ Students’ Lived Experiences With Microaggressions And Finding Safety On A University Campus, Christina Policastro, Courtney Crittenden, Jadon Clark, Rileigh Arrington

Qualitative Criminology (QC)

"Studies demonstrate that LGBTQ+ college students experience explicit and covert discrimination with research documenting various microaggressions reported by university students whose gender and/or sex identities are minoritized. Building off existing models of LGBTQ microaggressions, the current study adds to this literature by utilizing focus groups to explore campus safety perceptions among a sample of U.S. undergraduate students who identify as LGBTQ+. Findings highlight the diverse microaggressions experienced by students at the interpersonal and environmental level. Moreover, the results displayed the mechanisms students employed to avoid or disengage from situations where microaggressions may be encountered, as well as underscored ways in …

Punitiveness In The Modern Era: Gender Roles & Anti-Transgender Attitudes, Haley Brooke Trantham

Theses and Dissertations

Public opinion on punitiveness is an important topic of study because it can influence political elites’ decision making when developing legislation. This study focused on the role gender ideology and anti-transgender attitudes on punitiveness while controlling for religious and political conservatism. The 2020 American National Election Study (ANES) was used to examine the association between conservatism, traditional gender roles, and anti-transgender attitudes on their influence of punitiveness. Three ordinal logistic regressions were run for each type of punitiveness (i.e., death penalty support, crime spending, and felon disenfranchisement). Results indicated that religious conservatives had lesser odds for supporting the death penalty …

“Buying Time Or Doing Harm?”: Tracing Contestation And Consensus In Debates On Puberty Blockers For Trans Youth, Dana R. Lavergne

Dissertations

The use of hormone blockers and other forms of gender affirming medical care for trans youth has emerged as a site of medical and political contestation, with 26 states passing legislation outlawing their use (Movement Advancement Project, 2024). Drawing from a multiple-methods approach, this dissertation examines the ways in which this contestation emerged and has been framed both in political case law and digital spaces, which a specific attunement toward how medical discourse is used to support arguments calling for either the allowance or ban of hormone blockers. This dissertation highlights the ways in which the families of trans youth …

Fear Of Victimization, Trust, Security, And Public Spaces In Guatemala, Keyla Navarrete

Dissertations

This dissertation explores fear of victimization, personal encounters with crime, perceptions of institutional trust, support for informal justice practices, and avoidance of spaces in Guatemala. Institutional trust—understood as individuals’ confidence in the police, judiciary, and correctional systems, particularly their fairness and effectiveness—is vital for democratic governance and social stability. High levels of trust in legal institutions can foster civic engagement, reduce social fragmentation, and encourage public cooperation in crime prevention. In contrast, diminished trust may lead individuals to withdraw from formal systems of justice, limiting the state's capacity to function effectively. Utilizing nationally representative data from the National Survey of …

Opting Out: Over-Alerting And Warning Fatigue In The Era Of Wireless Emergency Alerts, Jeannette Sutton, Michele M. Wood

Emergency Preparedness, Homeland Security, and Cybersecurity Faculty Scholarship

While warning fatigue is commonly described among emergency management practitioners as a problem due to over-alerting, which leads to opting out, there has been limited research to define these concepts in a systematic manner that can inform policymaking around public alerting strategies, especially as they relate to Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA). In this study, we draw from semi-structured interviews with emergency managers and open-ended responses from surveys with emergency managers and members of the public, to develop definitions of “over-alerting” and “warning fatigue” and to identify the conditions that cause the public to “opt out” of WEA messages. We conduct …

The Intersection Of Race And Nativity: Exploring Criminal Justice Contact Among Black Adults In The United States., Uchenna Makuochukwu Onuoha

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Black immigrants in the United States navigate a dual identity as both Black and immigrant, yet their unique experiences remain underexplored in research on immigration and crime. While prior studies have documented generational differences and negative associations between immigration and crime, the intersection of race and nativity in shaping criminal justice contact for Black immigrants is unknown. Using data from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health, this study examines the role of race and nativity on various forms of criminal justice contact. Specifically, we investigate (1) the extent to which nativity plays a role in criminal legal …

What Are The Limits To Smart Innovation? The Digital Underground Initiative And New Frontiers Of “Smartness” In Singapore, Prerona Das, Orlando Woods, Lily Kong

Research Collection College of Integrative Studies

This paper argues that the emergence of new frontiers of smart transformation, such as underground spaces, can pose significant challenges to the implementation of “smart” technological solutions. Exploring the case of Singapore’s Digital Underground initiative, we show that elements such as material complexity, co-ordination between stakeholders, and the availability of appropriate regulatory and administrative frameworks can problematize the implementation of subterranean smart initiatives. By considering multistake-holder perspectives on these “more-than-technological” factors, this paper offers lessons for urban planners, policymakers, and developers in cities around the world that are keen to leverage technology to unlock the potential of underground space.

Crisis Convergence, Sarah Medina Camiscoli

Northwestern University Law Review

Progressive jurists and legal scholars have called the Supreme Court’s doctrine of colorblind constitutionalism that dismantled affirmative action in Students for Fair Admissions, Inc. v. President and Fellows of Harvard (SFFA) a crisis for constitutional democracy. However, scholars have not yet tended to students, particularly students mobilized for racial justice, to understand their interpretation of this race-evasive ideology and what insights those mobilized students might offer in this pivotal moment. Given the fact that a small coalition of dissenting conservative jurists, scholars, and mobilized students—the Federalist Society—spent decades crafting the doctrine, scholarship, and resources that drive colorblind constitutionalism …

Machine Learning And Crime Prevention, Emily Lizewski

Student Theses

Predictive policing uses machine learning to analyze crime patterns and help law enforcement better efficient use their resources. These tools can improve accuracy by highlighting complex trends in large sets of data. While this technology has its advantages, it also raises important ethical and social questions. Within this paper we looks at how predictive policing works, focusing on the machine learning models often used such as decision trees, random forests, gradient boosting, and models that factor in both time and location. It also explores how these tools might unintentionally reinforce biases already present in historical crime data. In reviewing the …

An Analysis Of Ex-Offender’S Perspectives On The Impact Of The Time Frame Of Reentry Programs On The Likelihood Of Recidivating, Angel Yates

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The problem this study explored is how the timing of when reentry services are provided to incarcerated individuals and the impact it will have on their reintegration process and recidivism rates. This qualitative study analyzed the timing of when reentry programs are provided to incarcerated individuals and the impact it has on reducing recidivism rates. This study’s flyer was posted on social media platforms and shared with reentry programs. A total of 20 interviews were conducted. All participants answered the requirement questions via email; for those who met the criteria, consent forms were then sent, and interviews were scheduled. Transcripts …

Crime Prevention Professionals’ Perspectives On Using Cpted To Mitigate Targeted Violence On K-12 School Campuses, Bridgit C. Didier

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Targeted violence in K-12 schools across the United States is a serious concern. These incidents not only endanger students and staff, but also cause lasting trauma and erode trust in schools. While existing measures may deter some violence, questions remain regarding their overall effectiveness. This study involved exploring perspectives of crime prevention experts on using Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) strategies to mitigate violence in K-12 schools. Although CPTED is recognized as effective in terms of reducing crime, research on its use in schools, especially from the perspective of crime prevention professionals, is limited. This generic qualitative study involved …

The Perceived Impact Of Officer-Involved Domestic Violence On Law Enforcement Administrators, Victoria Smith

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The frequency of officer-involved domestic violence (OIDV) is a serious problem in the law enforcement profession. This qualitative phenomenological study aimed to determine what measures and specific domestic violence policies are working well and what is working poorly in Florida. This study is critical because it can aid upcoming law enforcement administrators (LEAs) and current LEAs in improving the policies and measures they use in their agency to combat OIDV among their officers and recruits. Jacques’s organizational culture theory (OCT) provided a framework for this study. I used purposeful snowball sampling methods to recruit participants for this study. Six law …

Florida Fish And Wildlife Conservation Commission Comment Tool For Proposed Changes To Trapping Regulations, Amy Donley, Jacquelyn Reiss

Institute for Social and Behavioral Science (ISBS)

No abstract provided.

Immigrant Surveillance In San Diego During A Fascist Era, Jennifer L. Torres Leon

McNair Summer Research Program

The following qualitative study examines a new increase of technological surveillance used on immigrants by San Diego’s local law enforcement. Drawing from in-depth interviews of the San Diego Privacy Advisory Board and Trust SD, insights of technological related violations are sanctioned by the San Diego Police Department. This is done through ambiguous language regarding “criminal investigations” and lack of definitive use policy, despite several memorandums and recommendations by the SD Privacy Advisory Board. Present findings reveal a duality of immigrant surveillance instigating hyper-visible tracking and broadcasting an image of their criminality. This study contributes to scholarship or crimmigration and urban …

Set Up For Success: The Lived Experiences And Perceptions Of Nonviolent Offenders And Their Challenges Of Successfully Reentering Society, Ciera Lee'nette Day

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This dissertation firmly highlighted the critical necessity for effective diversion plans tailored to nonviolent offenders, presenting a compelling qualitative analysis of the lived experiences of 12 former nonviolent offenders and their views on diversion centers. The research employed in-depth interviews as the primary data collection method, engaging participants aged 18 and older who had committed nonviolent offenses, had no pending legal cases, and had been released from incarceration or probation within the past six months. To analyze the data, NVivo 15 and MAXQDA software were utilized, ensuring a rigorous and systematic approach to organizing and interpreting unstructured data, developing robust …

October 7 And International Police Cooperation: The Silence Of Interpol, Mathieu Deflem

Faculty Publications

Aim: The aim of this study is to explore the background and interpretation of Interpol’s silence following the terrorist attacks committed by Hamas against Israel on October 7, 2023. The author examines the international policing im-plications of the events, with special attention to why the world’s largest police organization failed to issue any substantive response.

Methodology: The research is based on asociological analysis combining ahistorical and institutional overview of Interpol’s counterterrorism activities with the examination of the organization’s communications and institutional decisions. It relies on qualitative sources and an interpretive, case study-based approach using public documents, records, and statements.

Findings: …

African American Men's Perceptions Of Law Enforcement, Dr. Dedrie Reshell Leonard-Francis

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

African American Black men are more likely to report unreasonable, unnecessary, and unwarranted experiences with U.S. law enforcement than men of other racial groups, and they higher mistrust toward law enforcement than any other racial group. These experiences have been described as unjustifiable due to the level of force used by police. In some cases, excessive force by law enforcement has resulted in the death of Black men. The purpose of this phenomenological study was to explore Black men’s perceptions of law enforcement and to understand their distrust. The study centered on the facilitators and barriers to Black men trusting …

The Lasting Impact Of Childhood Maltreatment On Parenting: A Qualitative Study, Leslie K. Moorman

Theses, Dissertations and Culminating Projects

This qualitative study explored how Child Protection Service (CPS)-involved parents made meaning of their parenting and what informed their meaning making. Bronfenbrenner’s Person Process Context Time (PPCT) framework was utilized to examine the context of parenting within the CPS system. The PPCT theoretical assumptions were used to discuss the results of the study. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 10 participants, from diverse ethnic backgrounds. All but one returned for a second interview. The CPS-involved parents disclosed childhood experiences that were consistent with childhood maltreatment. The participants were preoccupied with stories of their own childhood and not wanting to parent like …

Project Choices: An Experimental Serious Video Game For Performance-Based Risk Assessment, Rachel Bomysoad

Theses, Dissertations and Culminating Projects

Risk assessment for future criminal conduct currently relies on evaluator ratings or self-report measures, with imperfect predictive utility. A new serious (clinical) video game, Project Choices, was developed for assessment and treatment purposes with persons involved with the criminal legal system. Project Choices offers performance-based measurement of individuals’ responses to realistic scenarios relevant to overall criminogenic risk and individual risk factors. The current study aimed to pilot test the newest version of Project Choices (Version 2) using a sample of university students (N = 100), examining gameplay performance metrics (number of risky decisions overall and within individual risk domains) for …

Empowerment Through The Sisters Lifting As We Climb Network: Examining The Organization’S Impact On Black Women, Sharnay Hearn Davis

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This phenomenological case study examines the role of empowerment within the “Sisters Lifting as We Climb Network” through the experiences of Black women participants in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Utilizing in-depth semi-structured interviews, the research investigates the organization's origins, evolution, and social support mechanisms that foster empowerment, as well as participants' experiences with programs and activities over the past nine years. Additionally, the study identifies areas for organizational improvement to further enhance participant empowerment.

The findings of this research support the empowerment theory framework by clarifying the preconditions, processes, and outcomes of empowerment within the Network, which fosters sisterhood and enhances participants' …