Digital Commons Network^™

Attitudinal Trends In Support For Police Use Of Force Before And After Ferguson, Tashanda Dennison

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Since the 2014 death of an unarmed black teenager, Michael Brown by a white Ferguson police officer, there has been a string of similar incidents that have occurred in a relatively short period of time. These high profile incidents of police officers using questionable amounts of force have shaken public trust in law enforcement. Studies have shown that public confidence in law enforcement often erodes drastically following heavily publicized, controversial media reports of police misconduct (Tuch and Weitzer 1997; Weitzer 2002). The current levels of public outrage in response to allegations of police brutality have surpassed the levels of outrage …

Impact Of Individual Differences On Faking Behavior, Norah Beverly Kerubo Orina

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Despite the widespread use of personality tests over the past decades for personnel selection, personality tests are known to be fakable by applicants. Professionals often design interventions during the selection process to reduce applicant faking. The current research examined the impact of individual differences faking behavior that are known to be associated with faking behavior in applicants. They included integrity, selfcontrol, self-monitoring, narcissism, impulsivity and external locus of control. This research tested hypotheses that applicants would fake differently on the various individual difference variables and whether the relationship between faking behavior and individual differences would be consistent across sex and …

Successes And Challenges In Services For Victims Of Sex Trafficking: An Organizational Analysis, Annelieke Sinnema

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study examines how the organization Calltofreedom, located in Sioux Falls South Dakota, works to rehabilitate victims of sex trafficking and how, what this organization offers fits with the needs these victims have. Secondly, this study looks at memorable messages clients of Calltofeedom receive that prevents or encourages them to heal after getting out of a trafficking situation. Sex trafficking is not only an international problem but a home-grown problem in the United States. Awareness about sex trafficking and needs of victims, especially in rural places, is still lacking. With this comes a lack in organizations that can help empower …

Increasing Access To High-Impact Practices: A Case Study On Internships At The University Of Mississippi, Kristina Phillips, Jennifer Saxon

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation-in-practice case study aimed to assess internships opportunities at the University of Mississippi (UM) to determine potential barriers for access among African American students and students with low socioeconomic backgrounds. Internships are a high impact practice, as identified by the American Association for Colleges and Universities (AAC&U) that provide students with tangible, real-world experience to prepare for careers after graduation. Experiential learning theories (Kolb, 1984; Dewey, 1938) and high-impact practices (Kuh, 2008) establish the importance of student engagement outside of traditional classroom settings. The patterns and frequency of internship participation are not clear for University of Mississippi students. Research …

Examining The Influence Of Personal And Environmental Factors On Treatment Outcomes In Opioid Dependent Medication-Assisted Treatment Patients., Vierne Placide

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Opioid abuse has become a global epidemic and is now a huge public health concern here in the US. Non-medicinal use of opioid prescription drugs is at the forefront of the epidemic and considered the "gateway" drug to other illicit opioid use. As opioid prescribing has increased over the last decade in the US, so has opioid-related deaths, surpassing car accidents and suicide as the leading cause of injury-related deaths. Medication assisted treatment (MAT) is fundamental in decreasing opioid abuse overdose and mortality. Therefore, the research study aims to determine if counseling adherence, opioid abstinence, and retention in MATs are …

Predictors Of Dental Opioid Analgesic Prescribing, Opioid Use And Dental Emergency Department Visits In The Mississippi Medicaid Population, Chukwuebuka Dibie

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

OBJECTIVES: The objectives of this study were: (1) to determine prevalence of opioid analgesics prescribing for non-ED dental related visits in the Mississippi Medicaid population, (2) to assess predictors of receiving opioid analgesics following non-ED dental related events among Mississippi Medicaid beneficiaries, and (3) to determine prevalence of opioid analgesic prescribing for dental related emergency departments (ED) visits in the Mississippi Medicaid population. METHODS: A retrospective, cross-sectional, observational database analysis using Mississippi Medicaid administrative claims data from January 1, 2015 to December 31, 2016. Beneficiaries with dental related visits were included in this study. Descriptive statistics were utilized to assess …

Biomechanical Characterization Of Video-Recorded Short-Distance Falls Involving Children Equipped With A Biometric Device: A Pilot Study., Bret A Hilt

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Falls are commonly used as a false history by caregivers to conceal child abuse. Determining biomechanical compatibility is a key aspect in differentiating abuse from accident. Current forensic approaches are limited in assessing biomechanical compatibility of short-distance falls involving children due to a lack of reliable witnessed falls with known injury outcomes. The goals of this pilot study were to characterize biomechanical measures and to examine differences in biomechanical measures based on child and fall characteristics in reliable witnessed video-recorded falls involving children. The results of this study will serve as preliminary data for an on-going larger study with the …

Risk Factors Associated With The Arrest For Adolescent To Parent Abuse, Coleen Cicale

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study explored risk factors associated with the arrest for adolescent to parent abuse (ATPA) when compared to arrest for a similar violent misdemeanor against a non-parent. The phenomenon of ATPA is widely under-researched and there is little in terms of prevention policy or treatment. Using 18,548 risk assessment screens performed with adolescents (12-17) arrested in Florida for a violent misdemeanor, and guided by previous literature and social ecological and social bond theories, this analysis explored the relationship between risk factors (categorized as individual characteristics, beliefs, behavior, commitment and involvement and attachment) and arrest for ATPA versus arrest for a …

Procedural Justice And Police Officers: The Forgotten Perspective, Kirby Laura Rhodes

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

In recent years, there has been increased attention to questions about police legitimacy and the expectation of citizen compliance. Some scholars argue that procedurally just practices benefit police-citizen interactions (see Mazerolle et al., 2012, 2013). While there are many studies that focus on procedural justice and its effects on the civilian population, there is little research on police officers’ willingness to implement procedurally just practices. This study evaluates police officer perceptions of and willingness to engage in procedural justice using factor analytic techniques. There are four major findings: 1) Police officers are willing to engage in procedural justice, 2) police …

Demanding Reduction: An Exploration Of County-Level Characteristics Associated With Areas Of Human Trafficking In Florida, Madelyn Diaz

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Research on the prevalence of human trafficking (HT) is relatively scarce, even though more attention has been brought to this human rights issue in the past couple of decades. Widely known as a form of modern day slavery, trafficking of persons for sexual exploitative reasons to earn a profit for the trafficker occurs in every major city across the country, despite common misconceptions that it only thrives in foreign countries. To expand on limited existing literature on human trafficking, this research study explores possible correlations among areas of high violent crime rates, drug arrests, the presence of demand reduction strategies, …

Don't Do The Crime If You Can't Do A Man's Time: Examining Sentencing Disparities Using Offender Demographics, Vanessa Rinker

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Looking back, America has seen its fair share of differences among its population, so it should not come as a shock that sentencing disparities are a serious criminal justice issue in the United States. Each year, thousands of people are sent to Federal prisons where they receive sentences for crimes they have been convicted of committing. The United States Sentencing Commission publishes these results annually. No matter the number of persons entering the prison system on the federal level, the number of female offenders often remains about the same (8555 in 2000; 9451 in 2007; and 9302 in 2008). While …

No Way Out: The Impact Of Intimate Partner Violence On Homelessness And The Consequences Of Poor Health Outcomes, Kristina Bryant

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

IPV victimization leads many women who suffer from unstable housing into homelessness. These victims are in danger of severe negative health outcomes that are already prevalent in the homeless community, as well as seen in victims of IPV. This study seeks to explore the impact that IPV victimization has on negative health outcomes in the homeless community, compared to the negative health outcomes that homeless women face who are not homeless because of IPV victimization. This study hypothesized that women who are homeless because of IPV victimization face more severe negative health outcomes. The data for the current research is …

A Study Of The Influence Of The Restorative Justice Model On Out-Of-School Suspensions In A Large School District, Brian Agard

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this quantitative study was to investigate whether the Restorative Justice model influenced the number of days that students were suspended out-of-school or the number of out-of-school suspension incidents. In addition, the researcher analyzed whether the Restorative Justice model had different impacts for the subgroups of students qualifying for free and reduced lunch (FRL), English Learners (EL), students qualifying for exceptional student education services (ESE), and three ethnic subgroups (White, Black, and Hispanic) in an urban school district in Central Florida for the sixth-, seventh-, and eighth-grade students for the seven school years from 2010-2011 to 2016-2017. Primary …

The Tragic City: Black Rebellion And The Struggle For Freedom In Miami, 1945-1990, Porsha Dossie

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This thesis examines the creation of South Florida's tri-ethnic racial hierarchy during the postwar period, from 1945-1990. This racial hierarchy, coupled with discriminatory housing practices and police violence, created the necessary conditions for Dade County's first deadly uprising in 1968. Following the acquittal of several officers charged in the killing of an unarmed black businessman, a second uprising in 1980 culminated in three days and three nights of violent street warfare between law enforcement and black residents in Miami's northwest Liberty City neighborhood. The presence of state sanctioned violence at the hands of police in Liberty City set the stage …

A Risky Business : Examining The Prevalence And Correlates Of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder Symptomology And Social Support In Kentucky's Adult Correctional Staff., Ashley Terrell French

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence and correlates of post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptomology among correctional staff, using a sample of staff who work in an adult facility for the Kentucky Department of Corrections (KY DOC). Participants (N=775) were asked to complete a written survey to indicate not only demographic variables (age, race, education, and gender) but also the amount of violent and traumatic events experienced, the duration of employment within the KY DOC, whether they were assigned to a custodial/security role, and whether they worked in a maximum security facility. Furthermore, their perceived level …

Attending To Systemic Racism : Advancing Public Health's Approach To Youth Violence Prevention., Billie Faith Castle

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation examines how the field of public health addresses the impact of systemic racism on health and how that informs public health’s approach to youth violence prevention. Beginning with an overview of youth violence, it breaks down the concepts of race and racism and how they are addressed within the science. It also reviews concepts that contribute to risk and protective factors of youth violence. The dissertation is written from a Critical Race Theory approach, argues that the social environment contributes to why youth violence is pervasive in certain neighborhoods, and promotes action from a macro-level approach. Seven chapters …

Mental Health And Substance Use Disorders And Treatment Receipt Among Pregnant Women In The United States, 2008-2014 : Trend Analysis, Likelihood Of Treatment Receipt, And Ethnic Disparities In Mental Health Treatment., Taghreed Nayel Salameh

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purposes of this dissertation were to examine trends from 2008 to 2014 in mental health and substance use disorders and treatment receipt, and explore factors associated with treatment receipt in pregnant women aged 18-44 years in the United States. A systematic review showed that illicit drug use disorder increased in pregnant women over the past decade. Despite the increase in treatment admissions for these disorders from 1992 to 2012, the overall treatment admission rate for pregnant women remained relatively stable (4%). In a trend study, compared mental health and substance use disorders and treatment receipt across Matched groups of …

Preparing For Racial Discrimination : The Role Of Cognition And Emotion In The Proactive Coping Process Of African American College Students., Ryan Christopher Tyler Delapp

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Traditionally, conceptual models of racial discrimination have characterized the reactive experiences of African Americans, particularly identifying how African Americans cognitively, emotionally, and behaviorally respond to racial stress. The current study extends beyond the reactive coping experience and identifies nuances in the anticipatory and preparatory coping processes associated with racial discrimination. Methods: 62 African American college students participated in a stress induction experiment that prompted anticipatory judgments of discrimination. The full sample completed quantitative self-report questionnaires about their anticipatory thoughts (SAM; Peacock & Wong, 1990; Roesch & Rowley, 2005), state-based affect (PANAS-X; Watson & Clark, 1994), and proactive coping behaviors (PPCB; …

A Cross-Sectional Exploration Of Household Financial Reactions And Homebuyer Awareness Of Registered Sex Offenders In A Rural, Suburban, And Urban County., John Charles Navarro

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

As stigmatized persons, registered sex offenders betoken instability in communities. Depressed home sale values are associated with the presence of registered sex offenders even though the public is largely unaware of the presence of registered sex offenders. Using a spatial multilevel approach, the current study examines the role registered sex offenders influence sale values of homes sold in 2015 for three U.S. counties (rural, suburban, and urban) located in Illinois and Kentucky within the social disorganization framework. Homebuyers were surveyed to examine whether awareness of local registered sex offenders and the homebuyer’s community type operate as moderators between home selling …

Academic Dishonesty In Higher Education: Perceptions And Opinions Of Undergraduates, Stanley K. Hodges

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to determine if statistically significant differences existed between identified student demographic characteristics (gender and age), academic variables (classification, GPA, and major), and students’ perceptions of academic dishonesty, as measured by the Attitudes and Perceptions of Academic Dishonesty survey.

A pen-and-paper survey was used to gather the data at the 3 participating universities and college (a 4-year public university, a 4-year private university, and a 2-year public community college). There were 22 items on the survey. There were 328 surveys distributed by the investigator to participating classes at the 3 institutions of higher education. All …

Perceived Value Of Higher Education Among Police Officers, Bradley D. Edwards

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to examine whether police officers perceive higher education to be important in improving their job performance and promotional opportunities, whether the perception of higher education varied by several independent variables, and the types of suggestions that officers might have for improving the college curriculum. Independent variables included gender, age, level of education, type of police agency, academic major, years of service as a police officer, and job duty. The dependent variable was scores on 3 dimensions: general attitude toward higher education, perceived utility of a criminal justice related degree, and career-related competencies.

A 34- …

The Effects Of Employment On Recidivism Among Delinquent Juveniles, Leigh Kassem

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Current research indicates an association between intense adolescent work (twenty hours or more per week) and delinquent behavior. It has been widely speculated that this relationship is spurious, occurring only as a result of other factors which are common to both offending and intense employment. The current study attempts to fill a gap in the literature by utilizing the Pathways to Desistance dataset to examine the evolution of the relationship between work and self-reported offending in a longitudinal sample of juvenile offenders. Work intensity and consistency, social capital, and expectations for success were analyzed as potential predictors of recidivism or …

Bound To A Brothel: A Rhetorical Analysis Of Institutional And Non-Institutional Anti-Trafficking Training Curriculum And Awareness-Raising Material, Kaylen Runyan

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This thesis explores various facets of human trafficking ranging from signs of victims to recruitment methods of traffickers, focusing specifically on the inherent connection of complex trauma as an effect of experiencing exploitation. Trauma serves as the overarching theme throughout this paper as I analyze anti-trafficking institutional organizations and their training curricula as well as non-institutional organizations and their awareness-raising material. The questions I focus on are: How do institutional texts and training curriculum prepare individuals to interact with victims of trauma? And how do non-institutional awareness-raising materials educate audiences who do not work directly with victims of trafficking on …

The Sources Of Behavioral Reinforcement : An Examination Of Nonsocial Reinforcement Theory., Heather Tolle

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation attempts to gain a better understanding of the means by which deviant behavior is perpetuated. Nonsocial reinforcement theory proposes that behavior is reinforced by psychological, physiological, and social rewards of the behavior. This reinforcement of the behavior causes the frequency of the behavior to increase. Specifically, when an individual uses marijuana, the psychological and physiological rewards gained from the behavior can lead the individual to continue using marijuana over time. This dissertation will test this reciprocal impact of increased psychological and physiological responses leading to an increase in the behavior. Data from the National Longitudinal Study of Youth …

The Influence Of Sport Participation On Youth Binge Drinking., Jason Nicholson

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation is an examination of the influence of sport participation on binge drinking among African-American youth. The dissertation is divided into five chapters, covering introduction, literature review, methodology, results, and conclusion. Chapter one describes the problem of binge drinking among African-American youth, focusing on the many deleterious consequences and rates of use. It also examines the problem theoretically through the criminological theories of social bond theory and social learning theory to argue for an understanding of binge drinking by African-American youth. Chapter two examines similar work by previous authors and further details our theoretical premises and their relation to …

The Dangers And Self Protective Behaviors Of Ride Share Drivers., M. Angela Schwendau

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Ride-sharing companies have sprung up in various countries around the world, starting in the United States, in the past five years (Uber, 2015). These entrepreneurial upstarts have invaded the transportation industry with contract drivers and no regulations. As independent contractors, these drivers are not afforded the rights and protections as employees. Therefore, they question whether the companies, Uber and Lyft, are concerned about their safety and security. The closest profession to ride share drivers are taxicab drivers, who are considered to have one of the most violent jobs in the United States (Richardson & Windau, 2003). Specifically, they have a …

Oil, Space, And National Imaginaries : Discursive Productions By Standard Oil New Jersey Post Wwii., Michael Poindexter

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

In a moment of self-representation, Standard Oil New Jersey commissioned a large photo ‘documentary’ project of nearly 80,000 images taken between the years 1943 to 1950. Produced for publication and exhibition, images captured “how oil seeped into every joint” of America, and displayed a specific landscape for post WWII economies. While a stable and centralized industry was ever more tied to the state’s idea of national security, Standard Oil needed a public relations project to address social concerns of big oil. This singular perspective on oil space is problematic. Community histories and social relations are seen through Standard Oil’s own …

Stigma Of Mental Illness And Multicultural Counseling Self-Efficacy : Investigating The Implications Of The Multicultural Training Environment, Mental Health Literacy, And Empathy., Sarah E. Tucker

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Research has shown that the stigma of mental illness is a pervasive social issue, in the United States and globally (Arboleda-Florez, 2008), one that has been considered by the surgeon general to be one of the single greatest barriers to addressing mental health care in the United States (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 1999). Furthermore, research has indicated that mental health care providers hold stigmatizing views toward people with mental illnesses at rates equal to or higher than the general public (Nordt, Rössler, & Lauber, 2006). This experience of being stigmatized because of a mental illness diagnosis by …

Moral Time And Homicide Investigations., David Stuart Lapsey Jr.

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Previous literature explores the many dimensions of homicide investigations, including case and individual characteristics, evidence and investigative activities. However, little research delves into situational characteristics and their relationship to specific homicides, charge severity sought by prosecutors and sentence length given to homicide offenders. The current study sampled homicide cases (N=68) to gather baseline information and data regarding judicial outcomes. Donald Black’s Theory of Moral Time (2011) is tested and utilized as the study’s conceptual framework for the study’s hypotheses.

A Spatial Analysis Of The Relationship Between Violent Neighborhood Crime Rates And Alternative Gentrification Indicators In Louisville, Ky (2010-2016)., George A. Noonan

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study analyzes recent findings analyzing coffee shops as alternative indicators of gentrification and the spatial relationship to violent crime. This thesis seeks to add to this literature by providing additional alternative gentrification indicators such as breweries, distilleries and wineries. The change in number of coffee shops, breweries, distilleries and wineries may impact crime rates and multiyear average incidences of homicide and robbery in the city of Louisville, KY. The first hypothesis states that gentrification decreases multiyear average robberies per census tract from 2010 to 2016. The second hypothesis states that gentrification decreases multiyear average homicides per census tract from …