Criminology and Criminal Justice Commons^™

Book Review: "A Very Short, Fairly Interesting And Reasonably Cheap Book About Studying Criminology." (Ronnie Lippens), Tyler Wall

Journal of Theoretical and Philosophical Criminology

No abstract provided.

Illicit Drug Analysis By Using Ultra-Short Pulses (Thz Spectroscopy), Canan Karaalioglu

Cornerstone 3 Reports : Interdisciplinary Informatics

No abstract provided.

Critical Analysis Of Fear Of Crime On College Campuses, Hannah Deason

Criminology & Criminal Justice Theses - Archive

The purpose of this research study is to examine the perception of fear of crime among undergraduate college students who are enrolled in courses in the Criminology and Criminal Justice Department at the University of Texas at Arlington. Surveys were administered to 160 undergraduate students enrolled in courses in the Criminology and Criminal Justice department at the University of Texas at Arlington. Survey responses of female undergraduate students were then compared male undergraduate students to determine knowledge and perception differences relating to sexual assault. In regards to the survey questionnaire administered to the undergraduate students, there were statistically significant differences …

Efficacy Of The Jesness Inventory-Revised Conduct Disorder And Oppositional Defiant Disorder Scales, Terry B. Pinsoneault, Frank R. Ezzo

Contemporary Issues in Juvenile Justice

The authors investigated the Conduct Disorder (JR-CD) and Oppositional Defiant Disorder (JR-ODD) scales developed for the Jesness Inventory-Revised. Participants included 340 youth aged 12 to 18 seen at a juvenile court diagnostic clinic in Cleveland, Ohio. The authors also investigated the previously existing Social Maladjustment (JR-SM) and Asocial Index (JR-ASO) scales. Participants were independently diagnosed as having CD, ODD, Disruptive Behavior Disorder NOS (a milder behavioral disorder), or no diagnosable behavioral disorder. Mean scores varied across the groups in the expected directions for all four scales. JR-CD and JR-ODD were better able to differentiate between their target groups and the …

The Theory Of Cognitive Dissonance: A Reappraisal, Peter A. Metofe

Contemporary Issues in Juvenile Justice

The cognitive dissonance theory, as postulated by Festinger (1957), has undergone increased scrutiny since its development. Through a reappraisal of this theory as explicated by other researchers, specifically relying on extant and current research in this theory, coupled with recent developments, this paper provides a context for better understanding of how individuals experience cognitive dissonance and its implications for clinical practice.

Missing And Exploited Children In Jamaica: An Empirical Analysis, Lorna E. Grant

Contemporary Issues in Juvenile Justice

This paper is an analysis of missing, abused, and exploited children in Jamaica. I examined the responses of advocate groups and the government to determine the steps to take to protect children who are most vulnerable. I collected data through interviews from the Police National Intelligence Bureau, the Office of the Children's Registry, the Office of Children Advocate, literature review, and the printed media (e.g., The Jamaica Gleaner, The Jamaica Observer, and The Jamaica Star).

Towards A New Professionalism In Policing., Christopher Stone, Jeremy Travis

Publications and Research

No abstract provided.

The Relationship Among Emotional Intelligence And Leadership Styles Of Law Enforcement Executives, Gregory, Jr. Campbell

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Policing in the 21st century is becoming more complex and dynamic as law enforcement executives deal with operational, political, and economic challenges. Organizational theory and research indicate positive relationships among emotional intelligence (EI), leadership effectiveness, leadership styles, and employee outcomes. But these relationships have not been investigated in law enforcement organizations. The purpose of this quantitative study was to fill this knowledge gap by exploring the above relationships in a sample of law enforcement executives. Situational leadership theory, full range leadership model, and trait EI theory comprised the theoretical framework for this study. Data were collected from 139 law enforcement …

Criminal History And Lsi-R Scores Of Rsat Participants In The State Of Massachusetts: Impact Of Offender Age On Program Completion And Rates Of Offender Recidivism, Jewell E. Hankins

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The purpose of this study was to understand how offender age impacted residential substance abuse treatment (RSAT) program success in reducing rates of recidivism for offenders exiting the judicial system. Despite passing legislation in the 1980s and 1990s, which increased the penalties for certain crimes, offender recidivism remains high, with no apparent drop in the number of incarcerations and re-incarcerations, resulting in high costs and threats to the safety and quality of life experienced within communities. Social learning theory, behavioral decision theory, and biologically based theories of behavior were the theoretical foundations. Archival data collected from a RSAT grant program …

Racial Profiling Policy And Its Relation To Pro-Active Policing, Bradley R. Anders

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

To address the primary problem of racial profiling by police, many states have passed legislation that require police departments to collect demographic data on those with whom the officer comes into contact; these data are later evaluated by supervisors. The problem lies in the possibility for police officers to disengage, or depolice, when faced with data collection policies that may be viewed as lessening the officer's discretion. It was this potential to depolice as related to policy interpretation that formed the conceptual framework for this study. As a result, implementation of racial profiling policies may negatively impact the very minorities …

The Utility Of Restorative Justice In Urban Communities For Afro Americans Males 12-17, Johnny Brooks

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Juvenile delinquency continues to be a major social problem in the United States. One of the more salient problems with the juvenile justice system in the United States is its staggering incarceration rate, which poses a significant problem for youth exposed to the juvenile justice system, and the community as a whole. The purpose of this qualitative case study was to understand the perspective of the program facilitators about the effectiveness of the restorative justice program in reducing recidivism for African American males aged 12 to 17 in Baltimore City's urban community. This study relied upon restorative justice theory as …

Analysis Of Variance In Recidivism Between Special Needs Offenders And Regular Offender Populations In Texas, Park Esewiata Atatah

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

A Specialized or Super Intensive-1 (SI-1) supervision level refers to a contact requirement imposed on special needs offenders (SNOs) under Texas parole supervision. SI-1 supervision requires greater contact with parole officers and treatment providers than supervision levels used on regular offenders (ROs), yet little is known about whether SI-1 supervision offenders violate terms of their parole or commit new crimes at a different rate compared to the regular offender population in the State of Texas. Reconstruction theory and the social construction of reality were used as theoretical underpinnings of this study, which examined whether differences in offenders' supervision levels created …

Law Enforcement`S Perception On Whether Or Not Criminal Street Gangs Are A Potential Terrorist Threat, Pamela Renee Mcintire

Criminology & Criminal Justice Theses - Archive

Over time gangs have evolved and formed a new era. The relationships today of these gangs are one of a convoluted nature. With technological advances like cell phones and the internet, they are not just a problem for an inner city area. The area is becoming worldwide. Because of the worldwide connections of these gangs another player is coming into the game with another agenda, terrorism.Local police officers are the front line defense when dealing with gangs. Their perception is crucial to the security of our neighborhoods. The current study explores the possible threat of terrorism through gang involvement by …

Comparing Risk Reducing And Incentive Based Reporting Strategies In A Small Business, William Howell

Criminology & Criminal Justice Theses - Archive

The effects of employee theft can become detrimental when small businesses are their target. Small businesses are prone to employee theft through limitations solely defined by being a small business. The purpose of this research project was to present information that could be valuable in the elimination of employee theft. The research presented a questionnaire to examine the employees' attitudes of reporting employee theft of the selected small business. The research compared two common strategies used for reporting employee theft. Through analysis of these strategies, the more effective reporting strategy would be determined.

An Innovative Model For Police Leaders And Managers: From An Ancient Source "The Art Of War" By Sun Tzu, Melissa Pena

Criminology & Criminal Justice Theses - Archive

Crime has been perceived as a battle that has yet to be won within the United States, as in other countries as well. However, an ancient text over 2,500 years old has been used to achieve victory in many battles throughout history. The innovative leader, Sun Tzu created the thirteen chapter document called The Art of War which identifies principles and strategies that can be used to defeat and overcome one's enemy. The purpose of this study is to identify if strategies advocated by military leader Sun Tzu in his seminal work The Art of War, are applicable to modern …

Sexting As Moral Panic: An Exploratory Study Into The Media's Construction Of Sexting, Brandon Scott Marker

Online Theses and Dissertations

This paper presents a study of sexting as a socially constructed moral panic. Central to a social construction of moral panic perspective is the role the media plays in creating the panic. The purpose of this exploratory study was to make sense of the phenomenon of sexting by analyzing media reports for indication that sexting was constructed by the media as a moral panic. A content analysis was conducted on media reports for three concepts: Theme Setting, Sensational Stories, and Policy Changes. I conclude that sexting is constructed as a moral panic by the media.

Zapped: A Typology Of Use And Misuse Of The Taser, Lindsey L. Upton

Online Theses and Dissertations

Police use of TASER force is currently a hot topic of controversy in the intersections of society and the criminal justice system. Proponents, including manufacturers and law enforcement, value the TASER as a less than lethal alternative to deadly force; providing increased safety for officers as an aid to maintain distance between potentially threatening suspect(s) and officer(s) while preserving the life and well being of suspects in such encounters. Civil and human rights advocacies argue the TASER to be associated with many deaths, serious injury and abuse of power by law enforcement. Those who lean more toward the opposition of …

A Call To Arms: The Militarization Of Natural Disasters In The United States, Ashley Katherine Farmer

Online Theses and Dissertations

Natural disasters are an expected and uncontrolled part of history, and will continue and possibly worsen in the future. The humanitarian focus that has characterized disaster response throughout the years is changing, as is the way the federal government responds to large-scale natural disasters. In recent years, the primary concern in responding to these catastrophes has shifted from the well-being of citizens to the security and safety of the area impacted. Security and crime have become a main focus, with the military increasingly gaining a more prominent role in relief efforts. This thesis will provide evidence that the militarization of …

An Exploration Of The Calls Received By The Kentucky Council On Problem Gambling Help Hotline, Carleigh Jones

Online Theses and Dissertations

Studies that focus on crisis hotlines are abundant, however very few deal with the subject of gambling. The literature reviewed examines gambling as an addiction and the general existence of hotlines. This study examines the use of the hotline provided by the Kentucky Council on Problem Gambling (KYCPG) in a dichotomous breakdown of gender. There are some significant differences between males and females, particularly regarding criminal behavior in the effort to recoup gambling losses or to continue gambling. An additional breakdown of seasonal and regional call logs further analyzes the use of the KYCPG hotline.

Factors In Juvenile Court Dispositions: Case Study Of A Rural Juvenile Court, Kevin Lee Kirk

Online Theses and Dissertations

The primary question of importance in this current study is what factors affect judges' dispositional rulings in a small rural Central Kentucky county. In order to evaluate these factors, this study involved a two stage process. The quantitative data were gathered from 120 Department of Juvenile Justice (DJJ) files dating back to 1999 that were processed through the study site small county court. The qualitative data were gathered through a series of structured interviews with court personnel. This current study provides descriptive statistics of the study cases that have been adjudicated delinquent with respect to their legal and extralegal characteristics, …

Transnational Crime In A Global Community: The Case Of West Africa, Holly Joanna Sims

Online Theses and Dissertations

This research project is an examination of the organization and behavior of criminal group activity in the region of West Africa. An assessment of the size, structure, and type of criminal enterprises crime groups are involved in are investigated. It is also uncovered if and how groups make use of corruption, the legit economy, and influence politicians. The environment in which transnational crime is able to thrive is also of great interest as the social, political, economic, and technological changes that occurred alongside the sudden trend in transnational crime activity are considered. The information is used to generate a discussion …

A Multilevel Model Of Police Corruption: Anomie, Decoupling, And Moral Disengagement, Ruth Zschoche

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Police corruption is a primary concern for law enforcement agencies. The purpose of this study was to identify factors that could predict the likelihood of police officer susceptibility to corruption. Data was collected through surveys of 1083 officers within eight U.S. police agencies that were participating in the National Police Research Platform funded by the National Institute of Justice. The data were analyzed using multilevel structural equation and base multilevel models.

The theoretical model for this study addressed susceptibility to corruption on both the departmental (clusters) and individual officer levels. Four main constructs were utilized in this study. Acceptance of …

Behaviors And Attitudes Related To Youth Runaway Behaviors, Braden Anthony Bozer

Criminology & Criminal Justice Theses - Archive

The purpose of this study was to examine running away behaviors related to certain attitudes and behaviors during childhood and adolescence. Data for this study was collected from 206 students that filled out a self report questionnaire while attending the University of Texas at Arlington during the Fall semester of 2010 or Spring semester of 2011. The main point of this research was to examine attitudes and behaviors that caused participants to have runaway thoughts or actually run away. Other variables observed were gender, family structure, and parent's education level. Two logistic regressions were run. Depression was the behavior that …

The Impact Of The War On Drugs: African-American Women's Perceptions Through A Phenomenological Approach, Zandra D. Hubbard

Criminology & Criminal Justice Theses - Archive

The purpose of this study was to explore the perceptions of African-American women who have been impacted by incarceration based on drug offense. Studies have indicated that in last twenty years, women have been incarcerated at a much higher rate than their male counterparts (Bureau of Statistics Bulletin, 2009; Kappeler & Porter, 2005; Harrison & Beck, 2003).African-American women have the highest imprisonment rate (Tonry, 1995; Nunn, 2002). As a result, this study attempted to portray the impact of the war on drugs on African- American women while considering all the factors relevant to their incarceration phenomenon. This qualitative study was …

Perceptions Of Terrorism Regarding Fear Of Victimization, Rufus Abraham

Criminology & Criminal Justice Theses - Archive

The purpose of this study is to measure perceptions of terrorism in regards to fear of victimization by terrorist organizations among college undergraduates. A quantitative measure of levels of fear of victimization and its possible effects on student behavior will be obtained through the use of a survey instrument. The 120 students will be confidentially surveyed at The University of Texas at Arlington. The experimental group will have nine media photos of major terrorist events attached to their survey. The research team hypothesizes that female undergraduates will have higher rates of fear of victimization than male undergraduates in both groups …

Racial Disparities And Capital Sentencing As Perceived By Criminology And Criminal Justice Students, Hubert Kanda Lumbala

Criminology & Criminal Justice Theses - Archive

The purpose of this study is to examine the difference of perceptions of criminology and criminal justice (CRCJ) male students in comparison with their female counterparts on possible race factor in death penalty sentencing. The data in this study were obtained from a sample of 100 male and female CRCJ students enrolled in CRCJ courses during the semester of fall 2010 at the University of Texas at Arlington, located in north Texas. The findings in this research suggest that there is a little significant difference of knowledge among both male and female CRCJ students as pertaining to the death penalty, …

Social Contracts, Fair Play, And The Justification Of Punishment, Richard Dagger

Political Science Faculty Publications

In recent years, the counterintuitive claim that criminals consent to their own punishment has been revived by philosophers who attempt to ground the justification of punishment in some version of the social contract. In this paper, I examine three such attempts—“contractarian” essays by Christopher Morris and Claire Finkelstein and an essay by Corey Brettschneider from the rival “contractualist” camp—and I find all three unconvincing. Each attempt is plausible, I argue, but its plausibility derives not from the appeal to a social contract but from considerations of fair play. Rather than look to the social contract for a justification of punishment, …

General Strain Theory, Race, And Delinquency, Jennifer Peck

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The present study drew on Agnew's General Strain Theory (GST) to examine the relationship between strain, race, and delinquent behavior. To address this possible association, five hypotheses were tested to examine if different types of strain and stress exposure influence delinquent coping and if these relationships are conditioned by race and ethnicity. Using data from the Add Health Study, White, African American, and Hispanic adolescents, the present study attempts to generalize GST to different racial and ethnic groups.

Results from OLS and negative binomial regression analyses indicate that some support was found for GST, in that indicators of strain to …

Drug Courts Work, But How? Preliminary Development Of A Measure To Assess Drug Court Structure And Processes, Blake Barrett

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The high prevalence of substance use disorders is well-documented among criminal offenders. Drug courts are specialty judicial programs designed to: 1) improve public safety outcomes; 2) reduce criminal recidivism and substance abuse among offenders with substance use disorders; and 3) better utilize scarce criminal justice and treatment resources. Drug courts operate through partnerships between the criminal justice, behavioral health and public health systems. Offenders participate in an intensive regimen of substance abuse treatment and case management while under close judicial supervision. Drug courts' effectiveness in reducing criminal recidivism and drug use has been documented through numerous primary studies as well …

Assessing Racial Differences In Offending Trajectories: A Life-Course View Of The Race-Crime Relationship, Michael S. Caudy

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The developmental and life-course criminology (DLC) paradigm has become increasingly popular over the last two decades. A primary limitation of this paradigm is the lack of consideration of race and ethnicity within its framework. Race unquestionably matters in today's society and yet it has generally been ignored within the context of DLC theories. The current study aims to contribute to the literature informing DLC by viewing life-course theories through the lens of race and ethnicity. Utilizing nationally-representative data from the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth 1997, the current study examines race-specific developmental trajectories of offending over 11 years during the …