Digital Commons Network^™

Female Offenders' Perceived Needs And Assistance Received During Reintegration Into The Community, Sarah I. Bauer

Theses and Dissertations

Reentry after prison is a challenge for justice involved females, with many factors contributing towards a positive reintegration into society or negatively, which can promote recidivism. Programs and policies exist to assist female offenders with a positive re-entry experience after incarceration and are in place to affirm that this population are able to reintegrate into society successfully. However, the recidivism rate continues to trend upwards, even with these programs and policies in place. Prior literature has directly associated certain factors, such as family, housing, substance abuse and mental health been directly correlated with reentry practices. This dissertation will use a …

Incarcerated Youth Returning To Society As Adults: An Examination Of Their Lived Experiences And Challenges, Kimberly R. Lawrance

Theses and Dissertations

When children have been incarcerated, they face collateral consequences that make it nearly impossible to recover from when they return home. Collateral consequences are the adverse effects experienced by incarcerated people and their families often causing restrictions or missed opportunities after interaction with the criminal justice system (Moise, Simonsen, & Kearl, 2023). Collateral consequences can be related to housing, employment, and education, to name a few. These lost opportunities are concerning for youth because most have never held a job or finished high school. Collateral consequences often set them up for failure leading to the revolving doors of jails and …

The Lived Experiences Of Project Rebound Students In California, Jeffrey R. Jacobs

Theses and Dissertations

As the United States attempts to address issues of prison overcrowding, recidivism, and rehabilitation, states like California have turned to higher education during and after incarceration to remedy the situation and promote successful community reentry among individuals who have served time in the nation’s prisons. People who are formerly incarcerated are often up against a myriad of obstacles once released, and programs like California State University’s Project Rebound aim to aid in this transition through a model rooted in community and campus care. Numerous bodies of research have explored the impacts of education on individuals who are actively incarcerated; however, …

Perceptions Of Maine Batterer Intervention Program Directors On Treatment Challenges, Jenna Ostrowski

Theses and Dissertations

Intimate partner violence (IPV), commonly known as domestic violence, is a widespread social issue that continues to impact many victims. To combat this problem, multiple funded resources target not only the victims’ needs, but also attempt to reduce recidivism rates for domestic violence offenders. Treatment programs for domestic violence offenders have been operational since the 1970s, with curricula directed toward changing power and control dynamics in intimate relationships. Growing research supports the idea that domestic violence offenders have more prevalent histories of childhood trauma and mental health issues, which may increase the risk of IPV perpetration. However, research also shows …

Efectividad De La Educación A Distancia Usando La Plataforma Del Microsoft Teams Entre Los Maestros De Las Escuelas Intermedias De Puerto Rico, Minelly Irizarry Echevarría

Theses and Dissertations

Este estudio examinó cómo los docentes de las escuelas intermedias de la zona sur de Puerto Rico aplicaron la educación a distancia utilizando la plataforma Microsoft Teams, implementada por el Departamento de Educación de Puerto Rico. A través del aprendizaje colaborativo, el aprendizaje significativo y las tecnologías de la información y comunicación, se identificaron las áreas de necesidad y oportunidad de los docentes al implementar dicha plataforma. El objetivo fue establecer la efectividad que presentó el educador al momento de lograr un proceso de enseñanza-aprendizaje efectivo en los educandos.

El soporte teórico de esta investigación se fundamentó en las teorías …

An Interpretative Phenomenological Study Of Sexual Assault Investigations In Sexual Assault Response Teams (Sarts), Caitlyn Marie Clark

Theses and Dissertations

This applied dissertation was designed to provide further insight into sexual assault investigations and response from the lived experiences of Sexual Assault Response Team and Task Force criminal justice professionals. There has been limited research on Sexual Assault Response Teams (SARTs), Multidisciplinary Teams (MDTs), and Sexual Assault Task Force (SATF) units, specifically encompassing the lived experiences of their members. This interpretative phenomenological study sought to explore these collaborative multidisciplinary teams from the lived experiences of the criminal justice professionals who represent them and to analyze the factors of sexual assault investigations and response that these members find significant.

In this …

Formación Del Docente En Medios Tecnológicos Y Audiovisuales Para La Enseñanza De Inglés Como Segundo Idioma A Través De La Lectura, Waleska Rivera Santiago

Theses and Dissertations

Esta disertación aplicada fue diseñada para determinar la formación tecnológica del docente de inglés como segundo idioma del Departamento de Educación en tecnología. Además, la revisión de literatura presentada mostró una variedad de términos como el uso de las TIC en el aula, el uso de tecnología para la enseñanza y aprendizaje en la sala de clases. A su vez, la revisión de literatura presentó sobre el uso de la tecnología para la adquisición lingüística de inglés como segundo idioma. Por consiguiente, la investigación tuvo como fin cuantificar la formación docente de inglés como segundo idioma y sus competencias tecnológicas …

Law Enforcement And The Need For Mental Health Collaboration, Jacquline Gillins-Hatcher

Theses and Dissertations

This study examined the ongoing challenges and the necessity of enhanced collaboration between law enforcement agencies and mental health professionals in responding to mental health crises in the United States. Using a constructivist grounded theory approach, qualitative data were collected through semistructured interviews with law enforcement officers and mental health professionals, along with an analysis of existing records and policies.

Findings highlighted that crisis intervention team training improved officers’ ability to manage crisis situations. However, barriers such as limited interagency coordination, funding constraints, leadership challenges, and systemic policy gaps continued to hinder effective collaboration. Data from this research indicated that …

Lived Experience Of Middle School Science Teachers During The Covid-19 Pandemic, David E. Abbott Jr.

Theses and Dissertations

The COVID-19 pandemic significantly disrupted education worldwide, compelling schools to adopt remote teaching and learning. This phenomenological study examined the lived experiences of six middle school science teachers in an Alabama school district during this period. Data were collected through interviews and reflective journals maintained for 2 weeks following the interview. The research investigated how teachers navigated shifting instruction to remote settings, engaged students, assessed and monitored their progress, and managed challenges. Guided by the technological pedagogical and content knowledge (TPACK) framework, findings revealed that teachers leveraged a combination of technological, pedagogical, and content knowledge to adapt their instruction. Despite …

Factors Contributing To Teacher Attrition From The Perspectives Of Teachers Who Left The Profession, Malik Padgett

Theses and Dissertations

This applied dissertation examined teacher attrition, a persistent challenge in K–12 education. Nearly 20% of teachers leave by their third year, with up to 50% departing by the fifth year. High turnover disrupts learning, strains resources, and diminishes educational quality, particularly in under-resourced communities. Addressing these issues is crucial for improving retention and fostering stability.

The study explored key factors driving attrition, including inadequate compensation, excessive workload, insufficient professional development, and limited administrative support, especially in the post-COVID era. Grounded in transformational leadership theory, the research highlighted the role of leadership in fostering morale and ethics rather than merely transactional …

Investigating The Impact Of Student Motivation And Self-Efficacy On Academic Performance In Advanced Placement Courses, Alicia Carroll

Theses and Dissertations

This mixed methods applied dissertation was designed to provide insight into the effects of student motivation and student self-efficacy on academic performance in Advanced Placement (AP) courses. Secondary educational institutions in the United States offer their students Advanced Placement courses, dual enrollment or dual credit courses, International Baccalaureate (IB) courses, and early college programs to encourage and promote the quest for outstanding student attainment. Although many students in the study school enroll in the Academy for Advanced Placement Studies, not all ninth through 12th graders achieve Advanced Placement credit in the Academy’s required courses.

Education has traditionally been viewed as …

A Qualitative Study For Parental Involvement In Middle School: Perspectives Of Parents And Teachers, Twana Ivory

Theses and Dissertations

This applied dissertation was designed to examine the barriers contributing to low parental involvement in a selected middle school. Parental engagement has been widely linked to student academic success and positive behavior outcomes; however, involvement tends to decline as students enter middle school. The purpose of this study was to explore the experiences and perceptions of educators and parents regarding parental involvement, identify the challenges families face, and discover opportunities to strengthen school-family collaboration.

The researcher employed a qualitative research design using a phenomenological approach. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with eleven participants, including six middle school teachers and five parents. …

El Síndrome De Quemazón Laboral “Burnout” Y Su Relación Con La Satisfacción Laboral De Los Docentes Administrativos En Las Escuelas De La Región Educativa Del Sur De Puerto Rico, Nemarie Ortiz

Theses and Dissertations

Esta disertación aplicada fue diseñada para examinar la relación entre el nivel de quemazón laboral (burnout) y la relación con la satisfacción laboral de los directores escolares de las escuelas públicas pertenecientes a la Región Educativa del Sur de Puerto Rico. El propósito de este estudio fue identificar la congruencia del agotamiento de los directores escolares al examinar las dimensiones de agotamiento emocional, despersonalización y realización personal. La adecuación entre la persona y su trabajo se exploró mediante la comparación entre el docente administrativo y su entorno laboral.

En el primer capítulo se abordan los conceptos de satisfacción laboral y …

Exploring Teacher Self-Efficacy And Best Practices Of Teacher Preparation Programs To Teach The Science Of Reading, Tonya Robinson-Mcnair

Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation investigated the content of teacher preparation programs to assess whether they integrate the science of reading and effectively equip English Language Arts teachers to instruct children in reading. Researchers have long examined the decline in national reading scores, identifying contributing factors such as the structure and content of teacher training programs. While many reading educators undergo formal training, these programs often lack a foundation in scientific research to support effective instructional methods. A teacher's confidence in teaching reading is influenced by both their preparation program and in-service training. However, many educators lack essential pedagogical knowledge and an understanding …

Abduction Prevention Intervention For Children With Autism: Behavioral Skills Training With In-Situ Parent-Led Training, Kelli N. Spencer

Theses and Dissertations

This applied dissertation was designed to review the efficacy of parents of children with autism as interventionists to prevent their children’s potential abduction. Oftentimes, abduction prevention strategies are not implemented due to time, staff, and resource constraints. While there have been effective interventions conducted, many did not address the unique needs of individuals with autism or the lack of qualified interventionists. The researcher implemented a behavioral skills training model based on the previously effective abduction prevention research and integrated the in-situ component with parents as primary interventionists.

The researcher conducted a behavior skills training, the instructional portion of which included …

Perceptions Of The Role Principals Play As School Leaders: Current Charter School Perspective(S), Mary Ann Rosser

Theses and Dissertations

This applied dissertation was designed to provide ongoing access to current information for charter school principals, charter school management organization (CMO), educational management organizations (EMO), and independent district level charter school leaders.

The researcher developed a qualitative research interview protocol. The interview protocol consisted of seven research questions, designed to elicit each participant’s perception of the key leadership elements associated with being a successful charter school principal. The researcher selected 10 charter school leaders to conduct in-depth interviews using qualitative research-gathering questions about charter school principals’ perspectives as the basis for generating research data. The researcher individually analyzed the interview …

Teachers’ Perspectives On Behavioral Classroom Expectations Of Students With Emotional And Behavioral Disorders, Jennifer E. Brewer

Theses and Dissertations

The problem addressed in this study was that adolescents with emotional and behavior disorders (EBD) were failing in general education courses. The purpose was to investigate how teachers’ perceptions and biases influenced EBD students. Participants included five teachers (two special education teachers and three general education teachers) from each of Grades 6, 7, and 8 recruited from social media. The study was guided by the case study research design, and the interview instrument was the Indepth Interview Protocol. Data analysis was guided by a coding system that facilitated searching the interview responses for themes.

Research Question 1 queried about forms …

La Enseñanza Del Arte A Estudiantes Con Trastorno De Déficit De Atención: Una Aproximación Fenomenológica Desde La Perspectiva Docente, María Torres Guzmán

Theses and Dissertations

Esta disertación aplicada se diseñó con el propósito de explorar, describir y entender las experiencias fenomenológicas de los docentes en la enseñanza del arte a estudiantes diagnosticados con Trastornos de Déficit de Atención (TDAH). Se documentaron las vivencias, se explicaron las experiencias y se describieron los problemas que enfrentan los docentes en su proceso de enseñanza a los estudiantes con TDAH. El marco teórico empleado fue la Teoría de las Inteligencias Múltiples de Howard Gardner, que plantea la existencia de ocho inteligencias que son la musical, la corporal cinestésica, lingüística, lógico-matemática, espacial, interpersonal, intrapersonal y naturalista.

Esta investigación tuvo un …

Teacher Perception On The Implementation Of A Culturally Responsive Ela Curriculum, Erica Tate Dial

Theses and Dissertations

While the principles of culturally responsive and culturally relevant teaching hold transformative potential, they can only be fully realized if educators are genuinely equipped and empowered to implement them. This qualitative study examined teacher perceptions of an English Language Arts curriculum through the lens of culturally relevant and culturally responsive teaching. A diverse group of teachers, varying in experience, age, gender, and race, were interviewed to gather a range of perspectives on the implementation of this curriculum. The study focused on addressing the following research questions: 1. What are teachers’ perceptions of culturally responsive and culturally relevant instruction and academic …

Perspectives Of Corporate Instructional Design Experts On Effectiveness, Personal Traits And Attributes, And Technology, Thomas A. Gant

Theses and Dissertations

This qualitative phenomenological descriptive study explored corporate instructional design experts' perspectives on effectiveness, personal traits and attributes, and technology that enhance their expertise. Three central themes emerged: "Mastering Instructional Design: The Journey of Continuous Learning and Skill Development," highlighting the importance of mentorship, lifelong learning, and professional development; "Accessing Instructional Design Expertise Through Individual Strengths," emphasizing adaptability, problem-solving, and empathy; and "Navigating Technological Integration and Innovation in Instructional Design," showcasing the transformative role of tools such as virtual reality, learning management systems, and authoring software. Semi-structured interviews conducted via Zoom with 10 corporate instructional designers with at least 10 years …

Beyond The Brochure: Exploring The Reality Of Belonging In South Florida Private Schools, Jennifer Vigille

Theses and Dissertations

This applied dissertation was designed to explore Black parents’ perceptions of teachers and leadership in predominantly White private schools. The research drew on a rich body of literature on race, education, and social dynamics in diverse school settings. The study addressed the ongoing challenges Black families faced in navigating these environments, particularly in terms of communication and cultural competence. The central research questions investigated how Black parents experienced and interpreted teacher and leadership relationships and support in predominately White private schools.

The study hypothesized that Black parents perceived significant gaps in communication and cultural competence among educators and leaders, affecting …

My Grandpa: How One Man Changed Our Life, Jada Shavers

Scripps Senior Theses

My thesis uses argumentation, personal essay, letters, and writing about feelings to recount stories of three generations of women (my grandmother, my mom, and myself) to ultimately explore the controversies of sexual violence. To establish this point, I use a combination of writing techniques to challenge the typical framework of a memoir and destabilize a linear retelling of events. I also complicate the narrative to allow the reader to question their own understanding of sexual violence; ultimately defining sexual violence as a loss of autonomy, a feeling that extends far beyond any single or recurring event, and something that never …

The Moral Justifications Of The Justice-Experienced: Recidivism In Dark Triadic Morally Disengaging Offenders, Lacy Parrett

Scripps Senior Theses

Little is known about the cognitions of those who commit violent crimes; even less is known about the justification process of those who reoffend after completing a prison sentence. The proposed study suggests analyzing the moral disengagement strategies and personality traits of incarcerated adults to identify recidivism risk factors. Current literature indicates that nonhomicide violent offenders’ use of moral disengagement cognitions that justify the violation of socially accepted morals will moderate the relationship between psychopathic, Machiavellian, and narcissistic personality traits and offenders’ risks of recidivating. Furthermore, it is anticipated that an interaction will exist between moral disengagement and this so-called …

Let's Talk About Sex: Investigating Radical Feminist Theories On Prostitution In The United States, Anna E. Peterson

Scripps Senior Theses

This paper explores the feminist debates surrounding prostitution through an analysis of Catharine MacKinnon and Andrea Dworkin’s abolitionist theories, juxtaposed with critiques from Wendy Brown, Janet Halley, Susie Bright, and Marxist feminist abolitionist Esperanza Fonseca. The text examines the systemic forces of patriarchy and capitalism that commodify women’s bodies and the challenges of legislative approaches to the sex trade. While MacKinnon and Dworkin identify the structural inequalities underpinning prostitution, their legislative proposals often fail to address the stigma and systemic conditions that perpetuate the marginalization of prostituted people. Critics like Brown and Halley highlight the limitations of punitive measures, calling …

Dei And Antisemitism: Bred In The Bone, Suzanna Sherry

FIU Law Review

The article explains why no one should have been surprised by the antisemitism that exploded on college campuses after October 7, 2023. The article demonstrates that the worldview espoused by the DEI (diversity, equity, and inclusion) movement -- and its cousins, antiracism and wokeness -- is inherently and inevitably antisemitic. The antisemitism "bred in the bone" of DEI was bound to come to the surface eventually, and it did.

Punishing Violence, Shima Baradaran Baughman

American University Law Review

The American criminal justice system doles out the harshest punishments in the world. It is infamous for its protracted criminal sentences and prodigious criminal code. But what most scholars and policymakers overlook is that the United States punishes only a fraction of the total serious crime that occurs in the country—including violent crime.

Approximately twenty million serious crimes occur in America each year, but only about half of these are reported to police. Of those reported, the police make arrests for an average of only twenty percent of serious crimes, and only ten percent of arrests result in a conviction. …

Amending Rule 15.3 Of The Mississippi Rules Of Criminal Procedure To Fully Capture Boykin V. Alabama And Acknowledge Systemic Coercion Indigent Defendants Face In Mississippi, Sarina P. Larson

MC Law Review

The U.S. Constitution—not a state—is what governs questions of constitutionality. It follows that for a state court to make a constitutionally sufficient record of a defendant’s waiver at their plea, the complete interpretation as to sufficiency by the United States Supreme Court must be followed. This Comment stands for the proposition that when Rule 15.3 of the Mississippi Rule of Criminal Procedure was adopted in 2017, it misinterpreted the call of the United States Supreme Court in Boykin v. Alabama, 395 U.S. 238 (1969). Ultimately, this Comment suggests amendments to Rule 15.3 that would place it in compliance with Boykin, …

Juvenile Record Expungement Policy In Illinois, Emma Kudelka

Res Publica - Journal of Undergraduate Research

This policy paper explores juvenile expungement policies and their broader social impact. Research suggests that lenient expungement laws help prevent discrimination in education, housing, and military service, aiding rehabilitation youth offenders' reintegration. The paper begins with a historical overview of Illinois juvenile law, highlighting its shift from punitive to rehabilitative approaches. It then examines key legislation, including the Juvenile Court Act, Juvenile Justice, and Delinquency Prevention Act, and Youth Opportunity and Fairness Act. Illinois's juvenile expungement laws are analyzed, covering eligibility, process, and timeline. A comparative analysis follows, contrasting Illinois' policies with those of California and Florida to emphasize differences …

Fixing Fixed Term Recall An Insights Paper: February 2025, Miranda Shanks, Katie Mcbride, Zoë James

School of Law, Humanities and Social Sciences

This Insights Paper seeks to provide a comprehensive understanding of the application of fixed term recall (FTR) within the criminal justice system (CJS) and their impact on the rehabilitation and resettlement journeys of individuals on licence. The paper explores how FTR are currently being applied, examines the experiences of those subject to them, and identifies strategies to reduce the use of FTR while improving their effectiveness in managing non-compliance of low-risk individuals.

Exploring Individuals’ Experiences Of Working With Probation Who Have Personality Disorder: A Community-Based Participatory Action Research Approach., Nikki Morfey

School of Psychology Theses

Utilizing a Community-Based Participatory Action Research approach, semi-structured interviews were used to explore seven individuals’ experiences of working with Probation who self-identified as screening into the Offender Personality Disorder (OPD) Pathway. Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) of the data resulted in the construction of six Group Experiential Themes. Findings reflect participant confusion with the Personality Disorder label in light of feeling it was imposed without discussion, speaking to their experiences of the power dynamic in the probation relationship. Participants described being reduced to a case to be managed, with no space to be seen as a person, and a gap between …