Digital Commons Network^™

International Criminal Law, Andrew Boyle, Beth Farmer, Timothy Franklin, Melissa Ginsberg, Leila Sadat

The Year in Review

No abstract provided.

Haunted Savannah: Dark Tourism And The Afterlives Of Slavery, Amelie Pelletier

Madison Historical Review

This paper examines the transformation of places associated with slavery in Savannah, Georgia into central sites of tourism, particularly focusing on the rise of ghost tours. The Sorrel-Weed House, a mid-19th century mansion, epitomizes this phenomenon, where historical narratives intertwine with paranormal allure to attract visitors. Despite lacking historical basis, stories like that of Molly, allegedly a slave involved in a tragic affair, are crafted to captivate tourists. This paper explores how the Savannah tourism industry obscures the unsettling histories of these sites in favor of Southern opulence and spooky intrigue. It investigates the commodification of slave narratives as ghostly …

An Eye For An Eye: How Revenge Is Viewed As A Motive, Elizabeth Perkins, Talon Stallings

2025 Celebration of Student Scholarship - Poster Presentations

Motives behind crimes play a large role in sentencing. A motive being defined as “the reason for doing something.” (Oxford Dictionary, 2023) In criminal cases, this translates to the reason for committing a crime. It’s well known that different criminal motives elicit different reactions from members of the public. (Wolfgang, 1958) This often leads to differences in sentencing. One of the most well known motives in crime is revenge, which is the act of criminally retaliating against one who a criminal believes has wronged them. (Kivivuori, 2016) In this research study, public opinion was gauged on how revenge is viewed …

Developing A Trauma-Informed Pedagogy Workshop Series For Faculty: Empowering Student Learning And Healing At Grand Valley State University, Hayley F. Wilson

Masters Projects

Higher education institutions (HEIs) face increasing student populations affected by trauma, presenting significant barriers to academic success and emotional well-being. Between 40% and 84.5% of college students have histories of trauma (Forster et al., 2019; Smyth et al., 2008), while approximately half experience trauma during their first year of enrollment (Galatzer-Levy et al., 2012). Exposure to trauma disproportionately impacts Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) students, further compounding educational inequities (Portell, 2019, as cited in Gunderson et al., 2023). Although trauma-informed care (TIC) has emerged in applications within education, formalized professional development opportunities for faculty to implement trauma-informed pedagogy …

Do Individuals With Mental Illness Engage In More Violence Than Others?, Kaley E. Rajewski

SACAD: Scholarly Activities

The stigma of mental illness that remains prevalent in our society has direct ties to the idea that mental illness and violence are interrelated. Regardless of data, the public perception of mental illness can and does include a preconceived notion of violent tendencies. Research has examined why these perceptions exist and whether they are valid. Research has evaluated various groups from both the general public and groups of individuals suffering from various levels of mental illness. Examinations in the public perception included location, age, economic status, sex, and race. Examinations in the mental health field evaluated different types of mental …

April 16, 2025 (Vol. 109, No. 26), Daily Easten News

Daily Eastern News: 2024-2025

No abstract provided.

The Impact Of Race On Sentencing Outcomes In The United States, Tijana Krivokapic

Honors Theses

The United States, with just 5% of the world’s population, houses nearly a quarter of the world’s prisoners. Moreover, the racial composition of the United States prison population is 56.8% White, 38.0% Black, 2.9% Native American, and 1.5% Asian (Federal Bureau of Prisons, 2023). This highlights the disproportionate presence of minority offenders in the prison system, prompting concerns about racial disparities in sentencing. While research on sentencing is robust, much of the research relies on outdated data sources. This study adopts a contemporary approach by utilizing current data to examine whether the race of an offender affects two essential sentencing …

Relationship Between Department Of Justice Consent Decrees And Police Use Of Force And Search And Seizure Incidents, Judith Crowell

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Efforts to reform law enforcement practices related to use of force and search and seizure incidents have largely involved policy revisions and training enhancements. This study compares use of force and search and seizure incidents in the Baltimore City (BCPD) and the Chicago (CPD) Police Departments before and after the implementation of a Department of Justice (DOJ) Consent Decree. An Independent Samples t-test was used to analyze whether there was a statistically significant difference between pre and post use of force incidents and search and seizure incidents by the BCPD and the CPD. Secondary data regarding the BCPD use of …

Family Perspective On The Opioid Crisis: A Qualitative Exploration Of Responsibility, Prevention, And Treatment Access, Stella Ukaoma

Electronic Theses and Dissertations Archive

ABSTRACT The opioid epidemic has inflicted a terrible toll on communities and families across the United States for decades. Family members with loved ones who misuse opioids have an especially intimate view of the initiation and progression of addiction, as well as the factors that lead to recovery. Perspectives from this population are underrepresented in the literature and may provide unique and valuable insight. The present research draws from in-depth interviews with twenty-seven individuals whose loved ones (i.e., children, spouses, siblings, etc.) either currently or historically had misused opioids. This study explored family members’ experiences and perspectives on key topics …

Household Composition And Its Influence On Youth Mental Health And Violence Outcomes: A Systematic Review, Comparative Analysis, And National Survey Findings, Clarion Jamil Harris

Electronic Theses and Dissertations Archive

Youth mental health and violence have emerged as critical public health concerns, with increasing rates of anxiety, depression, behavioral problems, and youth violence in recent years. Household composition plays a crucial role in shaping child mental health outcomes, yet research has largely focused on single-parent and stepparent households, with limited attention to grandparent-headed households. This dissertation explores the relationship between household composition and child mental health, with a particular focus on anxiety, depression, behavioral problems, and experiences with violence. Using data from the National Survey of Children’s Health (NSCH) 2018-2019 and 2021-2022 (n=53,267), this research employs logistic regression models to …

The Impact Of Counterman V. Colorado On Stalking Prosecutions In Idaho, Stephanie Wodnik

Idaho Law Review

This Note reflects on the recent United States Supreme Court decision in Counterman v. Colorado, which held that in order to find liability for true threat crimes the state or plaintiff must prove the defendant’s subjective intent to threaten the recipient. The holding creates a new, additional burden on the movant to prove intent, where before, the majority of state and circuit courts only required an objective, reasonable person standard to prove intent in true threat cases. Idaho, being one of the states that previously used a reasonable person standard in prosecuting true threats, is affected by this holding …

Human Trafficking In Idaho: A Growing Issue And How Idaho Law Can Be More Effective, Blaykleigh Smythe

Idaho Law Review

Human trafficking has been a national problem since the beginning of the nation’s history and has created millions of victims and threatened the safety and freedom of our country. Since 2000, when the first comprehensive federal law to address human trafficking was passed, states have followed suit and passed their own versions of trafficking statutes. Many states have also recognized the growth of the problem and reformed their legislation to respond and provide resources for victims more effectively. This article discusses the importance of state legislation against human trafficking and analyzes Idaho’s own statute in comparison to other states. The …

Stress And Public Criminal Defense: Comparing Male And Female Defender Experiences And Coping Strategies, Alisa M. Smith

Idaho Law Review

Little research has focused on stress and coping strategies among public defenders, and none compares the experiences of male and female defenders. As frontline workers, critical to the due process of law, understanding and eradicating stress is essential to their well-being and the fair treatment of defendants. Employing thematic analysis of public defenders’ responses to open-ended questions, this study found gendered differences in how male and female defenders described their work motivations, challenges, and strategies for dealing with stress. Both male and female public defenders confront the stresses of injustice and heavy workloads. Female defenders, however, are more likely to …

Love Thy Neighbor: A Content Analysis Of Nextdoor™ Posts Discussing The Homeless Population In Spokane, Olivia Harrington

Diversity & Social Justice in Education Conference

Homelessness, as it is portrayed in American media (e.g. news, social media, films, television) is riddle with misinformation and stereotype application. These stereotypes place individual blame on those experiencing homelessness, claiming that they are drug addicts, violent, and not worthy of help. 61% of Americans have not researched homelessness on their own, meaning they solely depend on media for their information (National Alliance to End Homelessness, 2024). Furthermore, research has provided evidence that this culturally dominant messaging impacts Americans’ level of empathy and willingness to support policies of care (e.g., Medicaid, food stamps, shelter services) (Johnson et al., 2009). This …

Evaluation Of An Occupational Therapy Intervention In Prisons To Prepare Incarcerated Individuals For Successful Community Reentry, Dalenna Bellum, Sue Dahl-Popolizio, R. Curtis Bay, Angela Zhu, Jeremiah Fine, Bruce Kotter, Abbey Glenn, Rebecca L. Wolf

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Background: Literature suggests that to reduce recidivism and facilitate successful community reintegration, incarcerated individuals need life skills training before release. This study evaluated the effectiveness of such an occupational therapy (OT) program.

Methods: We provided and evaluated a 12-session pilot OT program with incarcerated men providing life skills education for community reentry. We used forced-choice and open-ended questions with pre/post Employee Self-Assessment Tool (ESAT), assessing interpersonal, self-management, analytical skills, and skills used in an organization, and Life Skills Program Daily Surveys (LSDS) assessing participants’ perceptions of program effectiveness.

Results: Ninety-three of the residents participated; 69 completed …

Approved Programs 4-15-25, Angela Brock

Programs Committee (PC)

No abstract provided.

Accelerate Your Education This Summer At Gardner-Webb University, Office Of University Communications

Gardner-Webb NewsCenter Archive

Gardner-Webb University’s summer sessions o!er a!ordable, accessible online and in-person courses designed to help students get ahead, stay on track, or explore new interests on their path to graduation. Choose from an array of subjects across all disciplines from business and management to creative and independent studies.

Beyond The Minimum: How Long Do Idaho Prisoners Serve Beyond Their Determinate Sentences?, Mason Scott

2025 Undergraduate Research Showcase

Under the Idaho Unified Sentencing Act, individuals sentenced to prison receive both a broad indeterminate sentence and a minimum determinate sentence, which they must serve before becoming eligible for parole. This unique sentencing structure raises an important question: How long are individuals in Idaho’s prisons actually staying past their determinate sentence? Despite its significance, this question remains largely unanswered due to limited research, restricted public access to sentencing data, and the complexity of criminal justice legislation, which makes it difficult for the general public to understand. Parole boards ultimately have the discretion to release individuals after their mandatory sentence based …

Warriors And Guardians: Police Recruit Role Orientation And Heterogeneity, Robert Boxerman

Dissertations

American police have experienced an expansion of duties over the last century, and their function has become increasingly diverse. As a result, researchers have developed role orientation typologies to understand how officers view themselves, their attitudes toward their work, and their responsibilities. One such typology is the warrior/guardian framework, where warrior-oriented officers see themselves as crime-fighting soldiers in conflict with criminals, while guardian-oriented officers view themselves as protectors of the community and providers of broader public services. Despite its popularity, there is limited empirical evidence supporting this framework. Further, little research examines how police recruits differentially view their role as …

Building Wealth One Sentence At A Time: A Capitalist’S Guide To Criminal Justice, Alexandra J. Lindell

Masters Projects

This project explores the underutilized profit potential of criminal justice in the United States. Its systemic design and aggressive market positioning have made long-term success possible. Nevertheless, this is just the beginning; there are new revenue streams to unlock and untapped markets to capture. Using a mixed-methods approach, the research identifies key historical policies, how collateral consequences contribute to customer retention and acquisition, and current barriers to profit maximization. The findings emphasize the importance of a coordinated, multi-level strategy involving lawmakers, media, corporations, and private stakeholders to protect and expand revenue streams, manipulate public perception, and disrupt reform efforts. By …

Program Agenda 4-15-25, Angela Brock

Programs Committee (PC)

No abstract provided.

Mental Health Wellness For Female Law Enforcement Executives And Their Perception Of Proactive Mindsets, Cindy Elizabeth Baughman

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

This qualitative study aimed to examine how female law enforcement executives perceive the use of mental health wellness in their professions. The phenomenological design provided an increased understanding of the lived experiences of those interviewed, specifically regarding their use of mental health wellness. The snowball sampling technique was utilized to recruit seven female law enforcement executives at the Sheriff, Under Sheriff, Chief, or Deputy Chief rank. One-on-one interviews were completed, data collected from the interviews was transcribed using NVivo software, and collectively, common themes amongst the participants’ interviews were identified. The gap in the research and the associated qualitative interview …

Program Review Report 4-15-25, Angela Brock

Program Review Committee

No abstract provided.

Ucc Minutes 4-15-25, Angela Brock

UCC Agendas/Minutes

No abstract provided.

Investigating Cold Homicide Cases In Michigan: Combining Systematic Research With Experiential Insight, Jaqueline Chavarria

Honors Theses

According to the Michigan State Police (2023), murder/non-negligent manslaughter, commonly known as homicide, is the “willful (non-negligent) killing of one human being by another.” The Murder Accountability Project suggests there could be over 20,000 unsolved homicide cases in Michigan between 1965 and 2023 (2024). Despite the prevalence of unsolved cases, scholarly analysis on the topic is limited. This study examines solvability factors, also known as clearance factors, for cold homicide cases in Michigan by conducting a systematic literature review with news publications. Additionally, this study incorporates experiential insight, offering a holistic exploration of solvability factors. Using a systematic approach, 15 …

The Link April 15, 2025, Access To Justice Institute

The Link Newsletter

No abstract provided.

Legal And Ethical Challenges In Home Healthcare Administration, Chidubem Xerona Nnajiofor, Isheka Francis

Liberty University Research Week

Health administrators in home healthcare face numerous legal and ethical issues that need careful management. The home healthcare industry delivers essential patient care services in residential settings while health administrators confront critical legal and ethical challenges. This research proposal seeks to explore the legal and ethical issues facing health administrators in the home healthcare industry, focusing on five primary areas: Health administrators in home healthcare must address legal and ethical challenges including eligibility criteria compliance, elder abuse and neglect cases, labor law adherence and worker rights protection as well as ethical patient care decisions along with healthcare worker overwork and …

Bowe V. United States: Brief Of Federal Courts Scholars As Amici Curiae In Support Of Petitioner, Leah Litman, Eve Brensike Primus

Appellate Briefs

Amici curiae are law professors who research, study, teach, and write about the writ of habeas corpus and federal postconviction relief. They share an interest in seeing habeas law applied in a way that ensures the just adjudication of claims.

2025 April 14 - Faculty Senate Agenda And Minutes, Faculty Senate, East Tennessee State University

Faculty Senate Agendas and Minutes

No abstract provided.

Systemic Failures Of The Criminal Justice System, Isabella Lucero

Honors Program: Senior Projects (Public)

America’s history as a nation that was founded on the unjust treatment of the people of color has forever shaped the way our justice system has evolved. From slavery to “Black Codes” to Jim Crow Laws, the system has never been set up for equal administration of justice. The purpose of this essay is to evaluate how the Criminal Justice System disadvantages and targets individuals at all stages of justice involvement, with a particular focus on individuals from communities of color.