Digital Commons Network^™

Evaluation Of The Implementation Of Foster Youth Independent Living Programs In The State Of California, Ingrid Flores

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Foster youth transitioning into adulthood often confront a myriad of challenges stemming from limited social capital and unstable support systems. The transition out of foster care, particularly for Transitional Age Youth (TAY), is fraught with barriers including disconnection from familial ties, inadequate knowledge regarding higher education, financial instability, unemployment, and housing insecurity. In 2021, approximately 4,920 foster children aged out of the system, facing the option to participate in extended care programs designed to facilitate their transition into independent living. Despite these programs, many youths struggle to achieve self-sufficiency. Key legislation, including the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act, and …

Black Events As Narrated By Black People: Contextualizing America’S Framing Of Progression In News, Social, And Academic Writing, Tyrina Horton

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

This paper is a critical examination of collective and public memories of public events that impact Black lives as constructed in news, social, and academic writing. Using Black mundane life to explore and build localized context and attitudes towards these events, I examine whether the collective memory of an event, as framed by public discourse, accurately portrays how Black communities experienced them. This paper explores what it means for Black people, to experience a disconnect with written accounts of public events that do not properly account for the many layers of Black experience, highlighting where there’s a failure to tell …

Parent-Child Contact In Family-Focused Programs For Incarcerated Individuals, Carol Marie Nettie Mcdonald

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

The following research study will evaluate family-focused programs offered to incarcerated individuals and determine if these programs are hindered when there is little to no contact between parents and children during incarceration. Family-focused programs include parent/child bonding, and/or parenting classes and other similar programs. The research method that will be used in this study is a qualitative design and will gather data through interviews of formerly incarcerated individuals as well as former children (now adults) who have been involved in family programming. The study will also gather data from licensed clinical staff who have been involved in related programming while …

Coping Experiences Of Low-Income Individuals With A History Of Opioid Use In Santa Cruz County: A Qualitative Study, Nikki Himelright

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

The opioid epidemic has increased exponentially in severity across the United States in the last decade. This research project was conducted to understand the needs of a vulnerable population (opioid users) at the local level. The research sought to answer the following question: How do low-income individuals in Santa Cruz County cope with opioid use? The purpose is to identify the most common coping strategies used by this population, so that social workers and others in helping professions in Santa Cruz County will have a fuller picture of what this vulnerable demographic is facing. The data for this research was …

A Secluded Cabin On The Outskirts Of Riverside: A 1937 Trial For Conspiracy To Have Gay Sex, Randall Stoner, Randi Stoner

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

In the early morning hours of Sunday, March 14, 1937, a group of deputy sheriffs and military police surrounded a secluded cabin on the outskirts of Riverside and forced their way inside, arresting everyone on the premises for conspiracy to violate California Penal Code sections 288a and 286: oral copulation and sodomy. Though same-sex relations were outlawed, these men had sought to create a place of privacy for themselves—only to have it surveilled and raided by members of law enforcement. The subsequent trial, People v. Jordan, was a landmark case for the city of Riverside. Many histories of LGBTQ …

Formerly Incarcerated People's Experiences Trying To Access Affordable Housing, Maira Y. Fuentes

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Lack of affordable housing among formerly incarcerated people continues to be a major social issue, as thousands of individuals and families in the United States continue to struggle with being unsheltered. Formerly incarcerated people build up 69% of the population who reside within these shelters in the United States (Glassman, 2024). The literature in this research discusses that common systemic barriers among formerly incarcerated individuals accessing housing are lack of affordable housing, facing stigma and discrimination, or no employment opportunities. Previous research shows that there is a limited number of participants and is focused on newly released prisoners in their …

Effects Of Project Rebound On Reducing Recidivism, Lisa A. Ravega, Ashley Van Mouwerik

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Background: Recidivism is the tendency of justice-involved individuals to relapse into criminal behavior and remains a critical challenge within the justice system. Objective: This proposed research aims to assess the effectiveness of campus-based programs to assist individuals with enrollment and success in higher education, specifically Project Rebound. Project Rebound is a campus-based re-entry program that assists justice-involved college students in obtaining their educational goals through such support as enrollment and counseling services. Methods: The proposed research suggests utilizing a quasi-experimental non-equivalent comparison group design to examine the impact of Project Rebound on reducing recidivism among justice-involved college students at California …

Incarcerated Parents And Their Minor Children: A Study On The Impact Of Maintaining Relationships, Jennifer M. Upstill-Tokaji

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Parental incarceration is a social problem that has not received enough attention in the criminal justice literature despite the increase in the prison population over the years and the large number of children adversely impacted by this issue. The purpose of this research proposal is to determine if regular communication between incarcerated parents and their minor children has a positive influence on their rehabilitation and if that communication is also beneficial for the development and well-being of children. Using convenience and snowball sampling methods, this cross-sectional study will recruit approximately formerly incarcerated individuals who had at least one minor child …

Understanding Victim Blaming In Domestic Violence Among Adults In The U.S., Katja Estrada, Juliana Hernandez

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Domestic violence, encompassing a range of abusive behaviors, remains a pervasive issue affecting countless individuals globally. Understanding the factors that shape attitudes toward domestic violence is crucial for developing effective interventions and prevention strategies. This study intends to explore the relationship between gender role belief, cultural orientation, and media influences and attitudes toward domestic violence. A non-random sample of 92 participants currently residing within the United States and over the age of 18 were recruited to participate in an online survey. Regression analyses revealed significant associations between attitudes toward domestic violence and gender role beliefs, indicating that individuals with more …

The Effects Of Police Brutality Upon Marginalized Communities: An Exploratory Study, Tera S. Person

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Background: A 2018 study revealed that members of the African American community and those from marginalized communities experience sadness, depression, anxiety and an overall decrease in mental health after the shooting or killing of an unarmed African American or Latino by a white police officer in their city or state (Bor et al., 2018). Experiencing, witnessing or hearing stories of others who have been victims of police brutality has contributed to increased levels of anxiety when anticipating an encounter with law enforcement or when needing assistance from law enforcement (Alang et al., 2017; Davis & Jackson, 2023). Studies have …

The Effectiveness Of Trauma Informed Care Interventions After A School Mass Shooting Incident, Maurelys M. Areas Mendoza, Alondra Odaliz Rios

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Background: School mass shootings have a profound psychological and educational impact on students. Survivors often experience long-term trauma, including depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and anxiety, which affects the overall well-being and educational development of a student. Objective: This pilot study proposes to evaluate the effectiveness of a trauma-informed care intervention implemented in elementary schools for student survivors of school shootings. Methods: This study proposes a pre-experimental research design, with the proposed implementation taking place at Oakland High School in Oakland, California. A total of 100 students will be offered the opportunity to participate in the study. The primary tool …

Ethnic Studies Pedagogy: Professional Development And Its Relevance To Student Achievement, Gabriel A. Orosco Dr.

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

As Ethnic Studies becomes a graduation requirement across all public schools in California, the importance of Ethnic Studies professional development cannot be understated. This is a tumultuous time in our world today. Multiple world conflicts are happening today, and many governments are facing challenges to their very existence. Ethnic Studies programs and classes challenge dominant narratives and close the opportunity gaps for historically marginalized communities.

This study examines the impact of Ethnic Studies (ES) professional development on student achievement within California’s public high schools, where ES has been mandated as a graduation requirement through Assembly Bill 101. The research emphasizes …

An Unfair Chance For The Formerly Incarcerated: Yim V. City Of Seattle And The Commercial Speech Doctrine, Emilee Kaminski

Cardozo Law Review

Formerly incarcerated persons face disproportionately challenging barriers to housing upon reentry; criminal records are used as a basis to deny otherwise suitable prospective tenants. In 2017, the City of Seattle passed the "Fair Chance Housing Ordinance," prohibiting landlords from relying on criminal history when evaluating prospective tenants. In 2023, the Ninth Circuit struck this provision down on the grounds that this complete ban violated Seattle landlords' constitutionally protected free speech rights. The circuit court held that the ordinance implicated commercial speech and failed to pass intermediate scrutiny review under the four-part test outlined in Central Hudson Gas & Electric Corp. …

Understanding Attitudes And Burnout Among Juvenile Justice System Professionals, Madison Liechti

Undergraduate Honors Theses

Juvenile offending is a consistent issue in the United States. On any given day in the United States, up to 50,000 juveniles are in custody (Leitch,2019). Many juvenile offenders have faced a wide range of adversity in their lives leading up to delinquency and detention. Many therapies have been put into place to help prevent juveniles from reoffending, and while these therapies and treatments can be helpful, we still see consistent rates of recidivism (Narvey et al., 2024).

This study will aim to look inward towards the professionals who work with juveniles to try to discover what attitudes they have …

The Influence Of Mental Illness Stigma On Juror Decision-Making, Alexa N. Triden

Undergraduate Honors Theses

The current study examined the influence of a defendant’s mental illness diagnostic labels on mock jurors’ decision-making in a hypothetical criminal case. Due to the present stigmatization of mental illness in the United States, it was hypothesized that if a criminal defendant of a violent crime were given a mental illness diagnosis, specific labels would significantly impact jurors’ perceptions of guilt. Specifically, it was predicted that defendants diagnosed with antisocial personality disorder (ASPD) or borderline personality disorder (BPD) would have more guilty verdicts in comparison to a control. In contrast, those diagnosed with schizophrenia would receive fewer guilty verdicts compared …

The Evolution Of India’S ‘Counter-Terrorism (Ct)’ Policy In The 21st Century, Mule Rohit Ashok

Journal of Terrorism Studies

The changing nature of modern terrorism has proved a major threat to the global security architecture. The 9/11 terrorist attack on the United States of America, the world's ‘Police State’, is apparent. Consequently, the international community launched collective fights at different levels to deal with it. However, the nation-state at the individual level also designed a ‘Counter-Terror (CT)’ policy mechanism within the scope of the foreign policy paradigm to safeguard national security. India, since its independence, has consistently faced security challenges from terrorism from its neighbours, and has followed the same suit. The major CT policy was grounded in the …

Impact Of Crime On Interstate Transport Operations In Northcentral Nigeria, Muhammed Etudaiye Ohida

Journal of Terrorism Studies

The study investigated the impact of crime on interstate road transport operations in north-central Nigeria. The study relies on descriptive statistics to describe the features of the populations. 200 questionnaires were purposefully administered to the four major interstate motor parks in the capital of some north-central states (i.e., Minna, Lokoja, Benue, and Lafia) using random sampling techniques. The gathered data was analysed using percentages and charts, while the T-test statistics were used to test the study hypothesis. The result shows that there is a statistically significant influence of crimes on interstate transport operations in north-central Nigeria. The study concluded that …

The Conversation Continues: The Judiciary’S Evolving Role In Perpetuating Racial Disparities In Addiction Treatment, Sydney Crute

Fordham Law Review

Language is a powerful means of social control, an idea that resonates deeply with court rhetoric as it relates to race. This Note examines the language courts use when discussing cases related to drug use and addiction. During the crack epidemic, when Black individuals represented the race of the primary drug user and drug dealer, courts relied on racially coded language related to crime and fear. Alternatively, during the opioid epidemic, when White individuals represented the race of the primary drug user, courts relied on more neutral language related to the health and well-being of society. Finally, the language courts …

Spectator 2025-05-01, Editors Of The Spectator

The Spectator

No abstract provided.

Volume 108, Number 3 (2025)

Judicature

No abstract provided.

Exploring The Biasing Effects Of Gender On Personality Disorder Diagnoses Formulated By Artificial Intelligence, Zoe Colclough

Student Theses

Gender bias is prevalent in personality disorder assessments, and while artificial intelligence has been posited as a solution to improve diagnostic objectivity and accuracy, the potential for such technologies to propagate human gender bias in mental health contexts remains underexplored. This study investigated the influences of gender bias on the diagnostic performance of ChatGPT-4o for personality disorders using three factorial research designs, which involved experimentally manipulating patient gender in a combined sample of 360 vignettes and case studies. Vignettes were synthesized through a novel artificial intelligence-assisted methodology established for this research, and case studies were identified from the literature. Significant …

Transfer Of Material Derived From Polymer-Jacketed Bullets During Cycling And Discharge, Ethan A. Frazer

Student Theses

The goal of this study was to determine alternative ways to connect a polymer-coated bullet to the handgun from which it was fired. Polymer-coated bullets are lead projectiles encased in a synthetic coating, which may vary between brands and/or models, to reduce barrel friction and heavy metal exposure. Federal Syntech^® Total Synthetic Jacket (TSJ) ammunition presents unique challenges to firearms examiners as its synthetic coating may not retain the individualizing striations found in traditional unjacketed or metal-jacketed bullets.

In this study, 9mm TSJ ammunition was fired through multiple traditionally rifled aftermarket Glock barrels. Cloth targets were set up at …

Examining Portrayals Of Gender In The Design Of Ai Voice Assistants, Olivia Fratangelo

Student Theses

This capstone project provides a theoretical framework for shifting the ways in which we think about and discuss anthropomorphized features of technological products, focusing specifically on applying this framework to the gendered design of AI voice assistants. The goal in providing this framework is to prompt readers to consider how we can think more critically about technology beyond our “preferences” and biases. Our roles as consumers of technology do not have to be passive ones. In fact, the dialectical relationship between humanity and technology makes everyone who contributes to society not just a consumer, but a developer of technology in …

The Sheriff's Constitution, Farhang Heydari

Vanderbilt Law School Faculty Publications

The county sheriff is unique among our nation's law enforcers, with an ancient pedigree, elected status, and special protections as a state constitu- tional officer. But these factors combine to cause a recurrent problem elected sheriffs often assert for themselves the power to refuse to enforce criminal laws of their choosing. Today's constitutional sheriffs-a group of sheriffs who view themselves as the highest authority in their county, answerable only to their electorate-are the latest manifestation of this ethos, declaring opposition to gun control measures, pandemic restric- tions, environmental protections, and more. Lest one think these nonen- forcement decisions are entirely …

The Effects Of Placing Students In Special Education In A Disciplinary Alternative Education Program, Daniel Garza

Theses and Dissertations

Educating students with special needs can be very challenging especially when their academic challenges are compounded with behavioral challenges. Disciplining students with special needs can create additional challenges and often the use of punishment can have little to no effect in deterring undesirable behavior. As behaviors escalate, so does the form of punishment and students with special needs are often sent to a Disciplinary Alternative Education Program. This study aimed to uncover the effects of placing students who receive special education services in a Disciplinary Alternative Education Program focusing on the impact of placements on academic outcomes and behavioral changes. …

Saving Lives: Changing Perceptions Of Naloxone Distribution For Opioid Overdoses, Ryan Turner

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

This study investigated the impact and community perceptions of Narcan® (naloxone) distribution in El Paso County, Texas, as a harm reduction strategy amid the ongoing opioid epidemic. Drawing from a mixed-methods approach, the research surveyed 368 participants comprised of opioid users, family members, first responders, and community members who engaged in Narcan® training facilitated by two nonprofit organizations. The study explored four main questions: perceptions of Narcan® among different community stakeholders, patterns of Narcan® administration, whether the availability of Narcan encouraged drug use, and its effectiveness in reducing overdose deaths. Findings revealed widespread support for Narcan® distribution, although some community …

"Alone I Can't, But Together We Can": A Photovoice Study To Explore Insights Of Assisted Outpatient Treatment (Aot) From Providers Working With Individuals With Serious Mental Illness (Smi)., Monica G. Urquieta

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Assisted Outpatient Treatment (AOT) is a court-ordered mental health treatment program for individuals with SMI (bipolar disorder, major depressive disorder and schizophrenia) who have a history of noncompliance with treatment and are at risk of deteriorating or causing harm to themselves or others. This dissertation examined the perceptions and experiences of thirteen providers (lawyers, judges, case managers, psychiatrists, housing navigators, treatment guardians, nurse practitioners, therapists and peer support specialists with lived experience) on the AOT program for clients with SMI; and the environments that shape these perceptions, taking into account a system and community-based approach focusing on how the unique …

Testing Revenge Pornography Using The General Strain Theory And Online Disinhibition Effect, Jesus Manuel Guardado Hernandez

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

The current study tests whether perceptions of general strain and online disinhibition effect could explain the intent to commit Revenge Pornography (RP). The data was collected using an online survey that was launched on a research platform called "Connect Cloud Research." After gathering the data, bivariate correlation and multiple regression analysis were necessary to establish the relationship and causality. Results were mixed, showing that there is a positive correlation with general strain and online disinhibition effect factors with the intent to commit RP, while multiple regression indicated that the independent variables did not predict the intent to commit RP. Unexpectedly, …

A Brighter Future Lies Ahead? The Impact Of Juvenile Records On Adults' Hiring Prospects, Morgan Rose Wagner

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Having a record can make obtaining employment difficult - while the stigma against criminal records is well established, the effects of a juvenile record on hiring outcomes is less clear. Juvenile records can often be sealed; however, when sealing is not done consistently or transparently, people with juvenile records face a difficult decision when applying for jobs - disclose a record that may be sealed, or omit information about a record that shows up on a background check? Experiment 1 used a hypothetical applicant paradigm with a sample of hiring managers to evaluate the impact of juvenile record disclosure and …

Can Shame And Guilt Be Used As A Deterrent For Drug Use And Drug Crime Recidivism?, Megan Elizabeth Pesek

Sociology and Criminology Undergraduate Honors Theses

Introduction: The present study focuses on how shame and guilt can be used as a deterrent for substance use and substance-related crime recidivism. This research is significant because of on-going alcohol and other drug crime recidivism in the United States. About 68% of drug-involved offenders have been found to recidivate within three years of their release from prison. Understanding how guilt and shame affect one's drug use and crime recidivism is important in recovery. This study was influenced by Braithwaite's theory of reintegrative shaming: using shame and guilt as the specific deterrent for recidivism. Methods: Based on this theory, I …