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Exploring Formerly Incarcerated African American Males' Relationship With Their Children, Najjiyya Christine Arnold

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study was to explore formerly incarcerated African American fathers’ perceptions on reestablishing relationships with their children. Prior to this study, little or no research had been conducted to examine how formerly incarcerated parents build relationships with their children. Data were collected through one-to-one, semi-structured interviews with 11 African American fathers 18 years and older who were formerly incarcerated and had one or more children under the age of 18 years while incarcerated. The theoretical frameworks for this study included Attachment Theory and African American Male Theory. These data were analyzed using the thematic analysis …

African American Students’ Experiences With Teachers’ Discriminatory Behavior In The School-To-Prison Pipeline, James Anthony Douglas

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractAfrican American students have been affected by the School-to-Prison pipeline detrimentally. The disproportionate expulsions of African American students from schools have resulted in their overrepresentation in prison. Racial inequity has made African American students more prone to suspensions than Caucasian students, resulting in African American students missing classes and falling behind academically. The purpose of this qualitative case study was to explore how minor disciplinary violations may be perceived as a threat to African American students, funneling them into the school-to-prison pipeline. The theoretical framework was based on Bertalanffy’s general system theory. Data were collected using open-ended, semi structured interviews …

Master’S Level Mental Health Counselor Experiences Working With Offenders In Correctional Settings, Jennifer Bernard

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Forensic mental health is considered a specialty at a doctoral level, yet a majority of mental health services in correctional settings are provided by master’s-level mental health counselors. These clinicians lack the specialized education, training, and experience needed to work with offenders in correctional settings. There is limited research on how master’s-level counselors experience providing mental health services in correctional settings and how they manage challenges. The purpose of this qualitative study was to understand the lived experiences of master’s-level mental health counselors working with offenders in correctional settings. A hermeneutic phenomenological approach was used to facilitate an understanding of …

Male Graduates' Experiences Following An Alternatives Sentencing Program In Grenada, Wendy Margaret Romain

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractJuveniles in many countries around the world were incarcerated during the 1980s and 1990s due to countries’ legislating tough-on-crime policies against juveniles. Community-based alternative sentencing options have since been found to be more effective than prisons for developmental and rehabilitative needs of juveniles. However, there is a dearth of research on how these programs have impacted the lives of their graduates. In this study, five male graduates of an alternative sentencing program on the island of Grenada were interviewed to examine how they applied skills and knowledge gained from the program. The theory of change model based upon Prochaska’s Transtheoretical …

Officer Perceptions Of Cultural Competency And Growing Hispanic Suburbia In Northwest Indiana, Joseph William Swanson

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Increased interactions between police and Hispanic citizens in suburban communities suggest a need for officers to possess cultural awareness and competency for successful service; however, how cultural competency develops in officers remains elusive. This qualitative interpretative phenomenological study’s purpose was to explore cultural competency’s role in police-Hispanic citizen interactions through the lived experiences of officers in Northwest Indiana. Bronfenbrenner’s ecological systems theory and Bennett’s developmental model for intercultural sensitivity comprised the research frameworks. Data collected through semi-structured interviews of 9 officers representing 4 police departments in northwest Indiana revealed the officers’ existing cultural competency was predicated by self-motivation reflective of …

Content Analysis Of Ethics Curriculum Requirements In Undergraduate Social Work Programs, Debra Evonne Thrower

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Due to recent mandates of the 2015 Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) Educational Policies and Accreditation Standards, social work ethics education has received considerable attention. These standards have increased the focus on ethical education requirements in bachelor’s and master’s curricula. However, research regarding approaches that undergraduate institutions use to implement the required content remains limited. The purpose of this qualitative study was to examine ethics education requirements in the syllabi from practice courses at CSWE-accredited undergraduate social work programs. Common morality theory and curriculum theory were theoretical frameworks that guided examination of the phenomenon. Data were collected from 51 …

A Qualitative Exploration Of Campus Law Enforcement Sexual Assault Response, David Alan Ferber

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Sexual assault violence affects many college students regardless of ethnicity, age, gender, race, or socio-economic background. There is a problem with reporting sexual assaults on college campuses to campus law enforcement officials. The purpose of this qualitative narrative study was to utilize the theory of andragogy and social theory to identify the factors that contribute to effective campus law enforcement training as it relates to responding to sexual assaults. The research questions addressing the existing gap in the literature examined whether campus law enforcement officers were receiving adequate training to assist a sexual assault victim and the strategies that are …

Effects Of Intervention And Prevention Programs On Youth Risk-Taking Behavior In Monroe County, Audrey D. Davis

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Crime committed by adolescents between the ages of 13 and 16 is a recurring issue in the United States. Research showed a number of contributing factors associated with youth risk-taking behaviors and juvenile delinquency. The purpose of this qualitative case study was to improve the understanding of the relationship between intervention and prevention programs and curbing risk-taking and delinquency among adolescents between the ages of 13 and 16 in Monroe County, New York. This study addressed the connection between modern theories of deviance and programs of juvenile delinquency intervention as conceptualized by Chapman as the theoretical framework. Using intrinsic case …

Exploring Alternative Dispute Resolution For Settlement Of Criminal Disputes In Nigeria, Agatha Anulika Okeke

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Despite advancements in modern criminal justice administration and its widespread use in criminal justice administration in other parts of the globe, alternative dispute resolution (ADR) was not widely used in Nigeria. A qualitative research method was used, anchored with Bentham’s theory of judicial organization and adjective law, cognitive-behavioral theory, and the reintegrative shaming theory. The purposeful sampling technique, a nonprobability sampling method was used to select 10 participants who were either members of the Bar or of the Bench for the interview sessions. Their responses were transcribed, analyzed, coded, decontextualized, recontextualized, and the meaning units fed into the Nvivo statistical …

Juvenile Justice Administration In Ghana, Juliana Mameefua Asamoah

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The juvenile justice policy in Ghana seems to conflict with current administrative practices. As such it appears impossible to achieve the aim of rehabilitating juvenile delinquents. While there is literature documenting this conflict, little has been documented on approaching the issue from the perspective of the administrators of juvenile justice. The research purpose was to bridge this gap in literature by exploring and understanding what could improve the implementation processes of policies pertaining to juveniles in conflict with the law. The theoretical framework for this study was the advocacy coalition framework. The research questions focused on how juvenile justice administrators …

Perceptions Of Domestic Violence Among Women In The Department Of Artibonite, Haiti, Kenaz Jean Baptiste

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

One of the major problems that face women in Haiti, especially those in the department of Artibonite, is domestic violence also called domestic or relationship abuse, and intimate partner violence. In the department of Artibonite (Artibonite county), violation of women’s rights is stimulated and encouraged by cultural norms, religious practices, economic, social, and political conditions. This phenomenological study explored the experiences, views, and beliefs of abused women in the department of Artibonite, Haiti, and the factors that influence domestic violence. Data were acquired through in-depth interviews of 17 women and was coded, categorized, and summarized into interpretive themes. Elements such …

Role Of Nigerian Labor Force Demand In Domestic Child Trafficking, Muideen Adegboyega Salami

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractChild trafficking, especially internal trafficking of children, is increasing despite efforts by Nigerian federal, state, and local governments and agencies and other local and international organizations. Internal child trafficking has denied many Nigerian children access to quality education and human rights protections. The purpose of this generic qualitative study was to investigate the perceptions of law enforcement officers and bureaucrats regarding the influence of domestic labor demand on internal child trafficking in Nigeria. The labor market segmentation theory and routine activities theory provided theoretical foundations to explore the demand or pull factor of internal child trafficking in Nigeria. Data were …

Experience Of Nigerian Female Prostitutes Who Are Victimized By Police, Anitha Scroggins

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Nigerian police are not trusted by the population they swore to protect because they often assault, manipulate, exploit, and humiliate citizens as a form of intimidation to achieve a personal gain, especially from those who are involved in illegal activities like prostitution. The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study was to explore the experiences of Nigerian prostitutes and learn how they use adaptive coping strategies to cope with the stress of police victimization. This study’s underlying theory was the distress tolerance theory, which was utilized to understand the emergence of adaptive coping strategies. Data were collected from semi-structured interviews with …

Experiences, Reflections, And Applications Of Service-Learning Among Rookie Police Officers, Jacqueline D. Smith

Walden University Research Conference

The problem addressed was service-learning has not been adopted as a widespread teaching practice in criminal justice professional. The purpose was to explore the experiences service-learning in college criminal justice courses among rookie police officers. A basic qualitative design was the method of study. Semi-structured interviews were used to collect data from 8 purposefully selected rookie police officers. Findings revealed that rookie police officers with prior service-learning experiences continued to engage with youth and community organizations and develop altruistic behaviors after their college service-learning experiences. A reduction in the use-of-force by police officers would result in positive social change.

Recommended …

Association Of Working Therapeutic Alliance And Psychopathy In Civilly-Confined Sex Offenders, Kearie A. Newman

Walden University Research Conference

Through this research study, I addressed a gap in the literature by examining the relation between client and therapist TA ratings in a population of civilly-confined sexual offenders who have been assigned to either low or high psychopathy treatment groups. The goal was to examine the relation between TA and psychopathy in this population. The purpose of this quantitative survey study was to examine the association of psychopathy and the TA in a group of male mandated therapy clients who have been convicted of sexual assault, served time and are in civil confinement.

Recommended Citation

Newman, K. A. (2020, October …

Epidemiology And Criminology: Managing Youth Firearm Homicide Violence In Urban Areas, Joseph A. Mcmillan

Walden University Research Conference

Despite violence being considered a public health problem in the United States, little is known about the benefit of using a combined epidemiology and criminology (EpiCrim) approach to focus on urban youth firearm homicides. This general qualitative study identified alignment between Akers and Lanier’s EpiCrim and Benet’s polarities of democracy approaches when used to research an interdisciplinary concern. Data was collected through semi structured interviews of 16 criminal justice practitioners and medical professionals. The positive social change implications identified approaches to reduce gun violence among youth in urban communities.

Recommended Citation

McMillan, J. A. (2020, October 1-2). Epidemiology and criminology: …

Loneliness, Prosocial Relationships, And Recidivism In Long-Term Incarcerated Juveniles, Amy R. Jozan

Walden University Research Conference

Lengthy juvenile facility placement has resulted in deterioration of important prosocial supports and social isolation, increasing risk for recidivism. Lengthy juvenile incarceration impacts on loneliness, post-release prosocial relationships, and desistance implications have been investigated utilizing interpretative phenomenological analysis. Social maladaptation, institutionalization, stigmatization, identifying with prosocial support, antisocial peer dissociation, and loneliness were six overarching themes discovered. Recommendations for future research efforts and proactively addressing youth maladaptation with relatable prosocial supports will be discussed. Implications for practice may be used to promote positive social change towards improving public safety, mitigating recidivism, and avoiding negative transgenerational effects from mass incarceration.

Recommended Citation …

Public Perceptions Of Delays In The Release Of Police Body-Worn Camera Footage, Christopher L. Bush

Journal of Sustainable Social Impact

Delays in the release of police body-worn camera (BWC) video footage have amplified public concerns about police misconduct. People question law enforcement transparency when video from BWCs is not shared with the community in a timely manner. The qualitative case study explores the life experiences of the community and the victims’ family related to delays in the release of police BWC footage. Mettler and Sorelle’s policy feedback theory was used for the study’s theoretical framework. The research questions focus on understanding the lived experiences and perceptions of community relationships with law enforcement around transparency, communication, and information sharing. A qualitative …

Effects Of Ratemyprofessors.Com And University Student Evaluations Of Teaching On Students’ Course Decision-Making And Self-Efficacy, Stefanie S. Boswell

Higher Learning Research Communications

This study investigated effects of Ratemyprofessors.com and university student evaluations of teaching on students’ course decision making and self-efficacy in an ethnically diverse undergraduate sample. It also investigated if these effects were impacted by evaluation positivity. Additionally, the study explored if attitudes toward Ratemyprofessors.com was related to student gender, college class, and age. Participants were 73 undergraduates who were exposed to positive and negative evaluations about fictitious professors; participants were informed that the evaluations originated from RMP or university student evaluations of teaching. Evaluation positivity but not type influenced students’ intention to enroll in the professor’s course, but not how …

Human Trafficking And Gender Inequality In Remote Communities Of Central Vietnam, Bich Ngoc Nguyen, Mark Gordon

Journal of Sustainable Social Impact

Human trafficking crime is rising globally at an alarming rate. Vietnam has one of the highest prevalence of trafficking female victims for forced sex and marriages and of girls abandoning school for unskilled work. In this study, we explored human trafficking awareness in remote communities of central Vietnam and the factors for young girls leaving school for work at an early age. The study also investigated a link between gender inequality and child labor. Gender inequality and vulnerability theories provided theoretical constructs and context for face-to-face interviews with 19 villagers, mothers of the child labor victims, teachers, human services workers, …

Understudied And Underfunded: Potential Causes Of Mass Shootings And Implications For Counseling Research, Rebecca G. Cowan, Rebekah F. Cole

Journal of Sustainable Social Impact

Mass shootings are becoming more commonplace in our society. Despite this increase in frequency, research on mass violence has lagged behind due to halted federal research funding. Counselors and other mental health professionals find themselves at the forefront of this issue due to the contentious debate surrounding the intersection of mental health issues and mass shootings. The purpose of this article is to increase awareness of the cause of this dearth of research, examine what is currently known in the limited scholarly literature, and discuss what still needs to be explored. Implications for positive social change and advocacy efforts are …

Health Behaviors In The Service Sector: Substance Use Among Restaurant Employees, Amanda Michiko Shigihara

Journal of Social, Behavioral, and Health Sciences

Restaurant workers in the United States exhibit high levels of alcohol and drug use. However, there is a scant amount of qualitative research uncovering how and why restaurant employees use and abuse legal and illegal substances. Examining restaurant workers’ self-reported risky health behaviors is important for improving employee and occupational quality of life. The purpose of this article is to investigate the health behaviors of restaurant workers and pathways to such outcomes. Specifically, this article explores the question of what social conditions and processes within restaurants relate to employee adverse health behaviors. Drawing on qualitative data collected between 2009 and …

Nursing Clinical Practice Guideline Development For The Care Of Sexual Assault Survivors, Elssy J. Bingham

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Sexual assault, a form of sexual violence, is an egregious crime that continues to be a serious and significant public health problem which affects millions of people each year in the United States and globally. Sexual assault may have lasting and devastating negative physical and emotional consequences. Knowledgeable nurses can have a positive impact on a survivor’s safety and recovery. The purpose of this project was to develop a Clinical Practice Guideline (CPG) for nurses who provide the initial care when patients present in the emergency room following sexual assault. The conceptual framework used for this project included Knowle’s Theory …

Disinterest In Pursuing A Law Enforcement Career Among Minorities, Howard E. Jordan

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractIn the United States, women and racial minorities are underrepresented in the law enforcement profession. Ideally, law enforcement agencies should reflect the racial makeup of the communities they serve; which has been a challenge for departments. The purpose of this study was to investigate what effect media reporting of unarmed Black men killed by police has had on women and racial minorities’ decisions to apply for police jobs. Another issue investigated was whether family attitudes influence women’s and racial minorities’ decision making about becoming police officers. The theoretical frameworks applied for this study were the critical race theory and punctuated …

Perceptions Of Health Care Professionals Providing Smoking Cessation In Health Care Settings, Dr. Tenishia Tamika Edwards

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Tobacco use affects many individuals in the United States and around the world, particularly those who have existing health disparities. Smoking cessation therapy is a process used by health care professionals (HCPs) to help aid in the reduction or elimination of tobacco use. HCPs providing this service in health care settings can reach patients directly while helping to decrease the mortality rate in those who use tobacco. The purpose of this phenomenological qualitative study was to identify HCPs’ perceptions of patient barriers to adherence to smoking cessation services and what can be done to improve smoking cessation in health care …

Teachers’ Experiences Addressing Students’ Trauma-Related Behavior In The Classroom, Amanda Lynn Henry

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Trauma is not something the untrained eye can see; it can be described as a silent issue, but the effects of trauma are seen in society. Research about trauma has focused on the perspective of the student and not the interaction between the teacher and the student. The purpose of this basic qualitative study was to explore classroom teachers’ perceptions and experiences with addressing students’ trauma-related behavior. The theoretical foundation was trauma theory. Data were collected through questionnaires and in-person interviews with teachers and administrators who work in Southwest Pennsylvania. There were a total of 13 participants. Descriptive coding was …

Perceived Obstacles For State-Facilitated Legal Recreational Cannabis, Robert A. Lino

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

U.S. states that facilitate the use of legal recreational cannabis face the threat of federal prosecution because cannabis remains illegal at the federal level. The purpose of this qualitative case study was to assess the perceived obstacles to the state-facilitated regulation and implementation of legal recreational cannabis. Collective action federalism theory provided the framework for the study. The data collection instrument was developed based on themes in the literature and was pilot tested to ensure accuracy. The final study included 22 participants who represented the cannabis industry in the United States. Descriptive coding and thematic analysis indicated that the federal …

Counterterrorism Investigator Perceptions: Homegrown Violent Extremists With Mental Illness, Jeffery Brandon Perez

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Terrorism endures throughout the world. Some individuals who engage in it may suffer from a cognitive disorder. For those who investigate terrorism, preconceptions exist both toward extremists and toward people with mental illness (MI). A review of the literature has shown how counterterrorism (CT) investigators perceive terrorists’ motivations, and how law enforcement perceives people with MI. In filling a gap between the two, this study aimed to research whether based on their lived experiences, do the understandings, perceptions, and attitudes of CT agents inform their biases and influence their decision-making and ultimately investigations of homegrown violent extremists (HVEs) with MI. …

Evaluating Integrated Treatment On Recidivism For Female Offenders In Criminal Justice System, Oyin T. Popoola

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The burden of co-occurring disorders (CODs) among offenders in the criminal justice system (CJS) in the United States, particularly among the female population, is threatening the communities. About 80% of women in the CJS were diagnosed and treated for CODs, and 63% tend to be rearrested. The study examined the possible influence of CODs, integrated treatment of CODs, and gender, on recidivism while controlling for other demographic factors. The study was based on the conceptual framework of integrated dual disorder treatment (IDDT) and feminist criminology theory. Cross-sectional quantitative study design was applied on a secondary dataset from the 2017 Treatment …

Juvenile Probation Officer Stress In Rural Area Corrections Offices, John Kelly

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

In 2015, approximately 62,400 juveniles in the United States were court-ordered to be on probation. Juvenile probation officers (JPOs), who monitor these juveniles, are responsible for intake assessments, predisposition reports, and working with juvenile delinquents and their families. Aspects of JPOs’ job duties, such as excess paperwork and lack of managerial support, can create stress. To address the relative lack of research on JPOs’ stress, particularly the limited research in rural settings, this qualitative case study examined JPOs’ stress in rural corrections offices in South Dakota. The study examines JPOs’ perceptions of causes of their stress and their responses to …