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The Impact Of Mental Health First Aid Training On Law Enforcement Officer Mental Health Literacy, Cindy J. Blankenship

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

An increasing number of juvenile offenders with untreated mental health issues are entering the justice system. Lack of adequate training of criminal justice personnel enhances the possibility of this population being arrested which is creating an overwhelming problem for stakeholders. This study sought to determine if the implementation of Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) Training impacted law enforcement officers’ (LEOs’) mental health literacy. This mixed-methods study used a quasi-experimental, one-group, pretest-posttest design, with a qualitative survey. Participants consisted of a sample of 28 LEOs from a rural Southeastern United States law enforcement agency. Study findings indicated that MHFA training increased …

Unsheltered Homelessness On Oahu, Hawaii, Erik Gray

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

According to a recent national estimate of homelessness in the United States, between 2016 and 2017, the number of people experiencing homelessness increased by 0.7 %. This study was focused on the issue of unsheltered homelessness in the context of Oahu, Hawaii. There is a gap within the available scholarly literature that directly addresses the unsheltered homeless populations and why it is that they are unsheltered rather than living in a shelter or utilizing other transitional services. Using the generic qualitative approach and a purposive sampling method, 12 service provider professionals who work directly with the unsheltered homeless on the …

Attitudes On International Standards For Criminal Hacking In The Public And Private Sector, Melinda Shoemaker

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

There is a current gap in the literature regarding uniform and consistent standards and policies for addressing criminal hacking at the international level. The purpose of this quantitative dissertation was to explore the relationship between individuals in the public and private sectors and their attitudes toward the need for international law defining criminal hacking and the penalties associated with the act. Since the advent of information and communication technologies, there has been a need to address security holistically. The security and sustainability of evolving technologies are examined in light of the threat landscape of criminal hacking, privacy concerns, and policies …

Guidelines For Chronic Back Pain: An Education Module For Health Providers, Ron Pascual

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Effective chronic back pain management and patient self-care guidelines are necessary for healthcare providers treating patients with complaints of low back pain (LBP). The purpose of this doctoral project was to provide an evidence-based educational program aimed at improving the knowledge and skills of healthcare professionals regarding the Center for Disease Control (CDC) and American Chronic Pain Association (ACPA) guidelines, emphasizing alternative pain management treatments. The staff education project was supported by the biomedical pain model and chronic care model. A panel of 3 experts including the clinic’s board-certified anesthesiologist and pain management specialist, clinical manager, and leading medical director …

Risk Factors For Polysubstance Abuse: A National Secondary Data Analysis Study, Dakota Mcmurray

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Substance abuse is a serious public health problem in the United States and globally. Abuse of more than one substance is considered polysubstance abuse and can cause more harm than abuse of only one substance. Polysubstance abuse compounds the problems of addiction because of the variety of substances that may be used and the resulting side effects. This quantitative cross-sectional secondary data analysis, guided by the socio-ecological theory, assessed patient characteristics and how predictive they were for polysubstance abuse. The study sample of 986 patients was analyzed by binomial logistic regression to assess the association between patient-related factors and polysubstance …

Transgender Protection And Best Practices In The Prison Setting, Jessica Renee Byrd

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

While the importance of equal protection for all offenders has been established, prison officials often do not provide adequate protection for or effectively address the unique needs of transgender inmates. In this qualitative action research study, prison officials' perceptions regarding their responsibility to provide protection and equal treatment to transgender offenders were evaluated as well as to what extent they are congruent with those stated in policies and procedures. The expectation was that linkages could be drawn between prison officials' level of knowledge regarding their responsibilities and the various types of maltreatment that transgender offenders experience as well as the …

Calworks Participation And Poverty Rates In Multigenerational Families, Destiny Wray Lovato

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The State of California aids more than a million individuals under the California Work Opportunity and Responsibility to Kids (CalWORKs) program at a cost of billions of dollars each year. Although adult recipients are given supportive services and offered various programs in a motivational attempt to achieve self-sufficiency, the needs of children, who are the highest population group living in poverty, are not currently addressed. The absence of programs and services targeted to children may perpetuate the generational cycle of poverty. Yet researchers have not yet examined the underlying reasons behind multiple generations receiving CalWORKs and the continuation of poverty …

Psychological Consequences Of Mandated School Security Response Training, Shelise Tillman

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Mandated active shooter drills are necessary for students, especially in high school districts, where active shooter events are more prevalent. As a result, high school administrators and teachers face numerous implementation challenges and consequences that may threaten the student learning environment’s psychological balance. Guided by DeVos’s theory of school safety integration and crisis preparedness and three aspects of policy recommendations, this qualitative case study was designed to explore the challenges and perceptions of a high school administrator and teachers’ regarding implementing mandated active shooter drills while supporting the student’s psychological, social, emotional, and physical health. Through semi-structured interviews, one administrator …

Understanding Community Members’ Perception Of Opioid Treatment Programs For Women In Westchester County, Erika Jean Pichardo

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Research shows a significant rise in opioid abuse that has led to an opioid epidemic. Although research has shown the importance and effectiveness of treatment programs for opioid users, there is a lack of research on understanding community members’ perception and role of such programs and their perception of women who are opioid abusers and enter programs. The purpose of this study was to understand community members’ perception of opioid treatment programs for women in New York State’s Westchester County, using the theoretical framework of Becker’s social labeling theory. The study employed a phenomenological design using interviews. Results of the …

Juvenile Recidivism After Release From A Juvenile Detention Center In Atlanta, Georgia, Jacquelyn Monique Nelson

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

After undergoing a form of rehabilitation (i.e., youth detention centers in Georgia), statistics show that juveniles have a 65% chance of reoffending within 3 years after being released. The Georgia Juvenile Justice System’s $300 million annual budget raises concerns about the acts of juvenile recidivism. The purpose of this research was to understand why juveniles reoffend after being in a juvenile detention center in Atlanta, Georgia. The conceptual framework for this study was centered on the alternative to youth detention centers. The research question addressed factors that led juvenile delinquents to reoffend after receiving an alternative treatment. This study had …

Supporting Intervention For Adolescents Of Incarcerated Parents In Rural Areas, Jeanette Kathleen Loudy

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This study was focused on the challenges experienced by children who had a parent incarcerated during their adolescence. The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study was to explore the lived experiences of adult child survivors of parental incarceration in a rural community and to describe the impact that parental incarceration had on children during adolescence and into young adulthood. The research questions were designed to examine the perceived challenges facing adult children of parental incarceration in rural areas and policy intervention programs that would be most effective at supporting children of parental incarceration during adolescence and the transition into adulthood. …

Perceptions Of Stress And Coping In The First Year Of Police Work, Scott David Eaton

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The pressures associated with a career in law enforcement are considerable and often result in significant detriment to an officer's personality, behavior, and overall mental health, ultimately impacting job performance and work engagement. Although there is extensive research on the influence of stress encountered in police work, an understanding of those stressors and ways of coping in the first year of police work has yet to be fully explored. The purpose of this study was to describe the lived experiences of 5 police officers who have been subject to stress in their first year and to identify the coping skills, …

Examining Experiences Of Sex Offender Program Professionals Working In Civil Commitment Programs, William Donald King

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Criminal justice systems have attempted to include psychiatric history as a component for consideration when it comes to punishment and rehabilitation. Criminal justice systems have created various programs to address the psychological components of some behaviors to address specific actions. These programs are intended to consider an individual’s psychological history and address the underlying causes to eliminate future criminal behavior. This study focused on professionals working in civil commitment programs for sexually violent predators. The purpose of this phenomenological study was to explore the lived experiences of professionals working in these programs and gain an understanding of their attitudes, perspectives, …

Effects Of Ethnicity And Type Of Crime On Juvenile Offenders’ Recidivism Risk, Larry E. Taylor

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Juvenile crime in the United States has been a persistent social problem that has reached epidemic proportions. The purpose of this between-subjects, comparative quantitative study was to examine the relationship between recidivism risk and the type of crime, ethnicity, and race of the juvenile. Social learning theory was used to guide the study. Archival data of 59,653 cases were collected from Inter-University Consortium Political and Social Research. Correctional Offender Management Profiling for Alternative Sanctions was used to assess the dependent variable recidivism risk. The independent variables were ethnicity and type of crime of the offender reported in the Transcript of …

Leaders And At-Risk Students' Perceptions Of Online Credit Recovery Opportunities And The Role Of Efficacy, Angelo Mitsuo Barcinas

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Although online credit recovery opportunities are available to high school students enrolled in a United States of America territory credit recovery school, the inability of students to access these courses outside of the school is difficult because students do not have online access. This study examines the role self-efficacy plays on students successfully completing high school through taking advantage of online credit recovery opportunities. The purpose of this general qualitative interview study was to examine at-risk students’ perceptions of online credit recovery opportunities and the role of efficacy for students enrolled in online credit recovery school. Using the social cognitive …

Drug Control Officers' Perception Of Nigeria's Narcotics Control Policy, Olufemi Ajayi

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The Nigerian government’s cannabis prohibition policy has failed to achieve the suppression of supply and reduction of demand for drugs. The purpose of this qualitative case study was to explore the policy implementation experiences of Nigeria’s drug control officers regarding Nigeria’s drug control policies. The theoretical foundation was social construction theory. Data were collected from reviews of public documents and in-depth interviews with 15 active or retired drug control officers. Data were sorted, organized, and coded through directed content analysis to identify themes. The themes that emerged included defective nature and content of the policy, poor policy implementation, and unfavorable …

The Lived Experiences Of Reformed Armed Robbers In Nigeria, Patrick Akem-Vingir

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Armed robbery has affected Nigeria for years and is escalating; in 2019 there were 13,278 cases reported and 15,719 persons arrested. The purpose of this phenomenological study, guided by deterrence theory and anomie theory, was to explore the lived experiences of reformed young adult armed robbers who engaged in crimes from ages 18-25 in Lagos, Nigeria and belonged to street gangs. Data were drawn from a purposeful sample of 10 reformed armed robbers and 10 rehabilitated members of street gangs. Semistructured interviews were used for data collection. The lived experiences offered textual descriptions of the factors that precipitate participation in …

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

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Over the past decade, researchers have focused attention on the therapeutic alliance (TA) and its impact in treatment outcomes. The literature on TA has been focused primarily on its impact on the client’s participation, the accomplishment of goals, and treatment completion. However, very little of this research includes individuals who have psychopathy. Therefore, the purpose of this quantitative survey study was to explore the relation between the level of psychopathy (high versus low) and TA ratings of 16 therapists and 64 clients in the population of convicted civilly-confined male sex offenders. Bordin’s theory grounded the study. Data were gathered from …

Elementary Content Teacher Perceptions Regarding Their Ell Instructional Practices, Collier Wesley Owens

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Instructional practices of elementary content teachers of English language learners (ELLs) and their alignment with improved ELL academic performance need to be explored. The purpose of this case study was to explore the instructional practices of elementary teachers of ELLs and how those practices are perceived by the teachers to be aligned with improved ELL academic performance. The study is grounded in Ladson-Billings’ theory of culturally relevant pedagogy which holds that student academic achievement and cultural identity should be affirmed. The research questions focused on exploring instructional practices used by teachers to support ELL learning and the teachers’ perceptions regarding …

Effects Of Prerelease And Reentry Programs On Male Recidivism In The Midwest, Tenisha N. Mack

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractThe purpose of this qualitative case study was to determine the effectiveness of prerelease and reentry programs on recidivism from the perspective of male ex-offenders. The prison population in the United States in 2.3 million according to the Bureau of Justice Statistics. Most ex-offenders recidivate in the first 3 years. Prerelease and reentry programs are responsible for successful reintegration for many ex-offenders. However, this study revealed that a holistic approach to rehabilitation pre-and postrelease contributed to a better quality of life for ex-offenders, their families, and communities. The operant conditioning and social cognitive theories provided the theoretical foundation for this …

Impact Of Interviewers’ Personal Bias On Hiring Of Law Enforcement Applicants, Richard W. Diffley

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Individuals posing a risk to the community who pass preemployment interviews represent a problem for law enforcement departments and their communities. The purpose of this phenomenological study was to explore the shared experiences of participants regarding hiring biases that may exist among individuals tasked with interviewing law enforcement applicants. Argyris’s organizational learning theory provided the framework for the study. Data were collected from semistructured interviews with 4 participants who had experience interviewing applicants for placement in a law enforcement department.Data were analyzed to identify themes.Biases included participants’ interpretation of applicants’ appearance, body language, ability to handle stress/pressure, preparedness for the …

The District Of Columbia And Gun Control Laws: Homicides And Social Impacts, Richard Ghislain Mbakop

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Abstract

The District of Columbia has one of the toughest gun laws in the United States, yet the city has one of the highest homicide rates in the nation and much of this gun violence is concentrated in the southeastern part of the city. The framework for the study was comprised of (a) the psychological theory based on many arguments, such as labeling weapons as symbols of male superiority and power, and (b) the social contract theory. Finding the perceptions about the relationship between gun control laws and homicide rates in Washington D.C. was the essential aim of the study. …

Exploring The Dual Role Of Consumer And Provider In Substance Use Peer Support Workers, Christian Scannell

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Peer support is built upon the premise that shared life experiences will benefit both the helper and the receiver. In the substance abuse field, this relationship has been linked to an increase in practical knowledge, empowerment, hope, and community connectedness. However, the research on peer support is primarily geared toward the effectiveness of the intervention for the consumer. Less is known about the role of this relationship in the recovery of the workers themselves. The purpose of this generic qualitative study was to explore the experience of recovery in substance abuse peer support workers. A recovery framework and the helper …

Sudden Leadership Loss And The Importance Of Succession Planning In Behavioral Health Care, Angela R. Dawson

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This study examined sudden leadership loss and the importance of succession planning in behavioral health. The organization at the center of the study is located in the midwestern United States and is known for providing stellar services to its clients and fostering a quality workspace for its employees. The findings provided the organization with a clear and specific understanding of the value of succession planning for sustainability. The study was conducted using a qualitative research method. Semistructured interviews with 5 senior-level leaders from a single site location provided the primary source of data. Additional data were collected from the organization’s …

Police-Civilian Interaction Trend Analysis In Detroit And Atlanta (1980–2018), Australia Powell

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This study compared trends in arrests and fatalities between Black Americans and Caucasians in Atlanta and Detroit. A descriptive analysis was conducted on secondary data compiled by the Department of Justice (1980-2014) and the Mapping Police Violence Organization (2015-2018) to compare Police-Civilian Interaction between races and cities over the past four decades. Trend analysis was conducted on arrests records for Atlanta, Georgia and Detroit, Michigan for years 1980 to 2014, and for persons who were fatally shot by police from 2015 to 2018 in these cities. The number of arrests from 1980 to 2014 in Atlanta, Georgia was 26,532 and …

Comparison Of Gpa And Act Reading And Math Scores For African American Males In Afrocentric Versus Mainstream High Schools, Marissa Irene Prince

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

In the United States, the academic achievement of African American males is not at the same level as their peers from other ethnic backgrounds. There are negative social and financial implications for African American males who do not experience positive educational outcomes. The purpose of this quantitative study, based on critical race theory, was to compare the effectiveness of traditional high school education and Afrocentric high school education on the educational outcomes of African American males. Three measures of educational outcomes were examined: GPA at graduation, ACT reading score, and ACT math scores. The participants were 143 African American males, …

Association Between Maoa U Vntr Genetic Polymorphism And Aggression, Gender, And Race In Adolescents, Almaz Adair Johnson

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

A genetic polymorphism found in the upstream region of the monoamine oxidase A (MAOA) gene upstream variable number tandem repeat (u VNTR) has been shown to have an influence on aggression with mixed results. The purpose of this quantitative study was to examine the association between the u VNTR genetic polymorphism of the MAOA gene and aggression in an adolescent population 13–18 years of age. The conceptual framework was based on the biosocial model of antisocial behavior that indicates genes can influence aggressive behaviors with or without environmental influences. Data (N = 2506) from the National Longitudinal Adolescents and Adult …

Previously Incarcerated Individuals’ Perceptions Of Decision-Making Leading To Their Solitary Confinement, Rita Pavone

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This study explored the issue of communication in prison systems in conjunction with an overextended utilization of isolation confinement methods. Using Sexton’s conceptualization of the penal subjective consciousness model as a guide, the purpose of this phenomenological study was to better understand the experiences of confined offenders related to their experiences regarding the perspectives of prison officials based on a variety of factors including criminal background, social status, and programming needs. Data from semi-structured interviews with 25 participants addressed the process of communication between prison personnel and inmates from the time of incarceration through placement in isolation confinement, and then …

Identifying What Hinders Effective Interactions Between Correctional Staff And Transgender Juvenile Offenders, Tawanda Walker

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Communication serves as an avenue for individuals to introduce themselves to others and the world, but communication for individuals who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, questioning/queer, or intersex (LGBTQI) creates an opportunity discrimination, bias, and mistreatment. Research has been conducted to address the issues of discrimination, bias, and mistreatment among LGBTQI youth in juvenile detention centers; however, a gap exists in the literature exploring correctional staff members’ beliefs, attitudes, and understandings of transgender juvenile offenders. The purpose of this action research, quasi-experimental, mixed-method study was to explore if correctional staff members’ religious beliefs, lack of LGBTQI training, and inadequate …

A Multiple Case Study Of School Administrators On Use Of Disciplinary Measures, Michele L. Jones-Pace

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Disproportionately high rates of out-of-school suspension and expulsion of African American children represent an ongoing issue in the U.S. public school system. Bronfenbrenner’s ecological theory was used as the theoretical framework for this multiple case study. The research question focused on the perceptions, perspectives, and experiences of a purposeful sample of 7 high school principals and what they believed were the reasons for persistently high rates of out-of-school suspension for African American students. The principals represented Title I and non-Title I schools located in urban, rural, and suburban regions of a southern state. Data from individual interviews and archival data …