Criminology and Criminal Justice Commons^™

Recent Trends, Current Research In Cyberpsychology: A Literature Review, Amarjit Kumar Singh, Pawan Kumar Singh

Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal)

Cyberpsychology refers to the study of the mind and behavior in the context of interactions with technology. It is an emerging branch, which has focused on the psychological aspects connected to the increasing presence and usages of technology in modern lives. This paper traces recent advancement and trends of Cyberpsychology is an emerging domain of knowledge and goes on the give a literature review of the same. An analysis of the recent research and literature covering 300 most relevant research papers from the period of 2012 to 15, August 2019 was conducted to determine and shape the research pattern based …

Mental Health Jail Diversion: A Therapeutic Approach To Offending In Twenty-First Century America, Ryan J. Parent

Criminology Student Work

This analysis is concerned with understanding the facets of criminal justice diversion programs that successfully improve the mental wellbeing of participants and, as a subsequent effect, reduce offending amongst the mentally ill populous in the United States. An inquiry of pre-program and post-program data from both adult and juvenile mental health specific programs reveals that participation amongst both groups shows a meaningful reduction in new/repeat offending in comparison to non-participants. The data shows that the expansion of law enforcement Crisis Intervention Team’s (CIT’s) has a compounding effect to the positive results. A review of these programs in Australia indicates that …

Is It Terrorism?: Public Perceptions, Media, And Labeling The Las Vegas Shooting, Matthew J. Dolliver, Erin M. Kearns

Criminology and Criminal Justice Faculty Publications

When a mass casualty event occurs, why do some people label it terrorism while others do not? People are more likely to consider an attack to be terrorism when the perpetrator is Muslim, yet it is unclear what other factors influence perceptions of mass violence. Using data collected from a national sample of U.S. adults shortly after the 2017 Las Vegas shooting, we examine how media consumption and social identity influence views of the attack. Media consumption and individual-level factors—Islamophobia, political ideology, and other participant demographics—influence how people view the attack and how confident people are in their assessments.

Changes In Enforcement Of Low-Level And Felony Offenses Post-Ferguson: An Analysis Of Arrests In St. Louis, Missouri, Lee Slocum, Claire Greene, Beth Huebner, Richard Rosenfeld

Criminology and Criminal Justice Faculty Works

As a result of several highly publicized incidents of police killing unarmed Black suspects, many contend that American police are in the midst of a crisis. Police have faced high levels of public scrutiny that some argue has stifled police activities and led to spikes in violent crime. This phenomenon—coined in the aftermath of the police killing of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri—has become widely known as the Ferguson Effect. This study uses seven years of data and time series analysis to assess whether the events in Ferguson were associated with a reduction in arrests for felonies and low-level offenses …

High Stakes Require More Than Just Talk: What To Do About Corruption In Health Systems, Taryn Vian

Nursing and Health Professions Faculty Research and Publications

Reluctance to talk about corruption is an important barrier to action. Yet the stakes of not addressing corruption in the health sector are higher than ever. Corruption includes wrongdoing by individuals, but it is also a problem of weak institutions captured by political interests, and underfunded, unreliable administrative systems and healthcare delivery models. We urgently need to focus on corruption as a health systems problem. In addition to supporting research to better understand the context and implications of corruption in health systems, this article suggests actions that public health professionals can do now to fight corruption.

Effect Of Juvenile Mental Illness And Adult Offending, Gabriela Hernandez-Garcia

Criminology & Criminal Justice Theses - Archive

Individuals with mental illness interact with both the juvenile and adult criminal justice systems. Over 50% of inmates in jail and prisons have been diagnosed with mental health problems (James & Glaze, 2006; Al-Rousan, et al. 2017; Wilson & Wood, 2014; Torrey, 1995), while offenders in the juvenile justice system appear to have considerably higher rates of mental illness than those who do not offend (Cashman & Thomas, 2017). The current study utilizes data obtained from The National Longitudinal Study of Adolescents Health (Add Health). Adolescents from “selected schools, urbanity, school size and school type,” (Beaver, 2013, Daigle & Teasdale, …

Vocational And Life Skills Monthly Data Update: August 2019, Uno Nebraska Center For Justice Research, Katelynn Towne, Michael Campagna

Reports

Grantees use an online data management system to submit data on participants served under their Vocational and Life Skills programming. This data is due monthly and reflects all services provided during the previous month to participants. Evaluators at the Nebraska Center for Justice Research work with grantees directly to manage data entry errors on an ongoing basis during update calls and site visits.

The current data derives from an active database, from which data is being entered and updated daily. Data values, including previously submitted information, may fluctuate depending on the duration of lag between service delivery and data entry. …

What's Cookin'?: An Analysis Of Food As A Method Of Control In The Penal System, Zoe Livengood

Master's Theses

According to Garland (2001), the U.S. correctional system is a reflection of the culture of control that exists in American society. One way the correctional system exerts control is through food. This concept partnered with Foucault’s ideas about the evolution of punishment and the criminal justice system as an institution creates the theoretical foundation for food as a method of control in the correctional system.

Through quantitative and qualitative analysis, this study examined food as a method of control in three southern Mississippi jails in order to understand how food is a contested space for control between jail staff and …

Sexual Abuse And Assault Against Minors: A Spatial Application Of Routine Activity Theory, John Ropp

Boise State University Theses and Dissertations

Recent advances in criminological theory have changed the way we approach age-old questions of criminality. Routine activity theory, hotspots analyses, and spatial-statistical models have become popular methods of investigating criminal phenomena. This study tests the applicability of spatial analyses and routine activity theory by examining the relationship between a geographically-measured lack of guardianship composite score and the occurrence of child sexual abuse (CSA) and sexual assault perpetrated against minors (SAAM). Moran’s I, single kernel interpolation, dual kernel interpolation, and spatial lag regression are used as methods of analysis for this study. Strong evidence of spatial clustering is observed and a …

Policing Protests: An Exploratory Analysis Of Crowd Management Policies, Logan P. Kennedy

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Several policing strategies have been used to manage protest crowds over the past 50 years. Research suggests that escalated force and command and control strategies were utilized until the 1990’s (Bourne, 2011; Schweingruber, 2000), while negotiated management has emerged as a prominent protest management strategy within recent decades (Gillham, 2011; Gillham & Noakes, 2006). While literature describes the general evolution of protest strategies over time, there has been no systematic documentation of police approaches to crowd management.

This study examines police policies governing protest management to identify current U.S. police practices. The International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) provides …

Does The Decriminalization Of Prostitution Reduce Rape And Sexually Transmitted Disease? A Review Of Cunningham And Shah Findings, Lily Lachapelle, Clare Schneider, Melanie Shapiro, Donna M. Hughes

Dignity: A Journal of Analysis of Exploitation and Violence

In 2013, research findings by Cunningham and Shah claimed that rape and sexually transmitted diseases were reduced by decriminalized prostitution in Rhode Island. The original unpublished claims have received wide media coverage which have gone unexamined. This review finds errors in their analyses. One error is the date when prostitution was decriminalized in Rhode Island. Cunningham and Shah claim that prostitution was decriminalized in 2003. Our analysis finds the date of decriminalization of prostitution was 1980. The change in the start date of decriminalization significantly alters the analysis and the findings. Another error results from Cunningham and Shah using an …

Community College Students’ Perceptions Of Law Enforcement, Jason L. Sharp

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to extend our understanding of public perception towards law enforcement. Students from three different Kansas community colleges were surveyed about their perceptions of law enforcement effectiveness and professionalism, and what might impact those perceptions.

A total of 159 community college students responded to the survey. The majority of the respondents were female (78%), and Caucasian (77.4%). Respondent’s age represented the following percentage breakdowns: 29.6% being 18-19 years old, 27.7% being 20-24 years old, and 30.8% being 25-34. Resulting in 88% of respondents being between the ages of 18-34 years old.

Mean and standard deviation …

Ethical Implications Of Codis, Lucy Grogan

Masters Theses

CODIS stores and maintains numerous DNA profiles, and is used as a tool by the criminal justice system in order to help solve crime. Deoxyribonucleic Acid, or DNA for short, is the genetic material that an individual inherits from one’s parents (NIH, 2019). Certain portions of this genetic material are selected for use within the CODIS database due to their lack of medically relevant information. There is an immense amount of power associated with DNA and the CODIS database that it is held within, which allows for many ethical issues to arise. In order to create a usable and safe …

Schools And Crime: An Empirical Analysis Of School Safety Measures, Heather Gilmore

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

During the 2015-2016 academic year, more than three-fourths of public schools reported having a violent, property, or other crime on their campuses (Musu-Gillette et al., 2018). While most students do not experience victimization (Musu-Gillette et al., 2018), a large portion schools do report criminal activity on campus. The desire for improved school strategies on crime is warranted, particularly as student populations continue to grow, increasing to 56.6 million students (NCES, 2018). The focus, however, has remained primarily on violence and specific types of school security measures. The purpose of this study is to close the gaps in the literature and …

Victim Satisfaction With Reparations From The International Criminal Court: An Examination Of Child Soldier Cases From Kenya And Sexual Violence Cases From The Democratic Republic Of Congo, Brittany Foutz

Doctor of International Conflict Management Dissertations

This dissertation addresses how the implementation and use of reparation mechanisms affects the satisfaction of child soldier and sexual violence victims of the International Criminal Court (ICC), the world’s court. The existing literature is lacking regarding measuring the level of satisfaction of victims that have received reparations from the International Court, especially from a legal positivist approach. The researcher collected data through 42 total semi-structured interviews. These interviews were conducted with victims that have received individual and collective reparations, and victims that have not received reparations, all from the International Criminal Court’s Trust Fund for Victims. Other interviews were conducted …

Disciplinary Segregation’S Effects On Inmate Behavior: Institutional And Community Outcomes, Youngki Woo, Laurie A. Drapela, Michael F. Campagna, Mary K. Stohr, Zachary K. Hamilton, Xiaohan Mei, Elizabeth Thompson Tollefsbol

Criminal Justice Faculty Publications

Disciplinary segregation (DS) is practiced in a variety of correctional settings and a growing body of research explores its subsequent effects among offenders. The present study contributes to this literature by analyzing the impact of short-term DS on violent infractions and community recidivism among a sample of inmates in Washington State. We assessed the impact of DS on these outcomes from deterrence and stain theory perspectives while controlling for social support variables such as visitations and correctional programming. Mentally ill offenders were excluded, as their abilities to make rational choices may be inconsistent with deterrence theory. Results show DS does …

Suicide Squad: Boko Haram's Use Of The Female Suicide Bomber, Vesna Markovic

Justice, Law, and Public Safety Studies Department Faculty Articles

Boko Haram first began using the tactic of suicide bombings in 2011 and in 2014 started using female suicide bombers. This research focuses on gender differences in the use of suicide bombers. The data were collected using open sources from June 16, 2011 to June 15, 2018. Using this longitudinal data, trends are described over that 7-year period, focusing on the use of females. A majority of the suicide bombings target civilians in Nigeria, Cameroon, Chad, and Niger. More than half of the bombers were women and girls, some as young as 7 years old, whereas there were more than …

Anger From Within: The Role Of Emotions In Disengagement From Violent Extremism, Pete Simi, Steven Windisch, Daniel Harris, Gina Ligon

Qualitative Criminology (QC)

"There is growing recognition about the similarities between generic criminality and violent extremism. Using data derived from a unique set of in-depth life history interviews with 40 former U.S. white supremacists, as well as previous studies of criminal desistance, we examine the emotional valence that characterizes actors' descriptions of the disengagement process. More specifically, results suggest that negative emotions (i.e., anger and frustration) directed toward the extremist group and oneself function as a catalyst for disengagement. Negative emotions become a source of motivation in re-evaluating the relative importance of the group as it relates to the individual. Ultimately, the reevaluation …

Definitions Favorable To Terrorism? Sssl And Radicalization: A Case Study Approach, Jennifer Varriale Carson, Patrick Andres James

Qualitative Criminology (QC)

"Although social structure and social learning (SSSL) theory has oft been proposed as a general theory of crime, it has rarely been applied to that which qualifies as ideologically-motivated. We seek to rectify this notable gap in the research by examining the suitability of an SSSL framework to radicalization; an understudied, yet vital process to enacting evidence-based counterterrorism efforts. Utilizing a “most likely” case study approach, we find several themes consistent with SSSL principles, primarily within its social learning constructs. We conclude that SSSL does indeed offer promise for explaining all forms of crime including acts of terrorism."

Introduction To The Special Issue On Terrorism, Thomas J. Holt

Qualitative Criminology (QC)

"As noted by several scholars, there has been a massive growth in research related to terror and extremism in the wake of the 9/11 attacks in the United States. Federal agencies have invested millions of dollars in funding to understand violent extremism, particularly through the use of quantitative assessments of behavior. As a result, there are several widely recognized databases of terror and extremist violence against targets in the US and abroad."

The Emergence Of Violent Narratives In The Life-Course Trajectories Of Online Forum Participants, Philippa Levey, Martin Bouchard

Qualitative Criminology (QC)

"Online discussion forums have been identified as an online social milieu that may facilitate the radicalization process, or the development of violent narratives for a minority of participants, notably youth. Yet, very little is known on the nature of the conversations youth have online, the emotions they convey, and whether or how the sentiments expressed in online narratives may change over time. Using Life Course Theory (LCT) and General Strain Theory (GST) as theoretical guidance, this article seeks to address the development of negative emotions in an online context, specifically whether certain turning points (such as entry into adulthood) are …

A Mixed Method Examination Of Law Enforcement Investigatory Strategies Used In Jihadi And Far-Right Foiled Terrorist Plots Before And After 9/11, Brent R. Klein, Jeff Gruenewald, Steven M. Chermak, Joshua D. Freilich

Qualitative Criminology (QC)

"Empirical research on the law enforcement strategies used to prevent terrorism has increased since the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. Yet, few studies have examined how these preventative approaches vary based on terrorists’ ideological affiliations and across time. This study thus explores the similarities and differences in law enforcement investigatory strategies used to thwart global jihadi and farright terrorist violence prior to and since the 9/11 terrorism events. Employing a convergent parallel mixed method research design, our study analyzes both quantitative and qualitative data on 86 terrorism enterprise investigations from the U.S. Extremist Crime Database (ECDB). The quantitative data analyses …

Situational Context Of Police Use Of Deadly Force: A Comparison Of Black And White Subjects Of Fatal Police Shootings, Shana Lynn Meaney Ruess

Dissertations and Theses

Police use of deadly force is an understudied yet deeply important issue in our society. Recent years have seen a dramatic increase in public concern over use of deadly force, particularly when that force is used against people of color. Due to the relative low frequency of deadly force incidents, little is known about when such force is used, or who it is used on. Recent studies have found a racial disparity between white and black subjects of deadly force, with black subjects significantly over represented as a proportion of the population. This study further expands our understanding of police …

Bystander Intervention, Victimization, And Routine Activities Theory: An Examination Of Feminist Routine Activities Theory In Cyber Space, Jennifer A. Leili

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Routine Activities Theory (RAT) is one of the most widely used theories to explain victimization. It has been applied to a wide range of criminal victimizations, such as property crimes (Miethe, Stafford, & Long, 1987) and urban murder (Messner & Tardiff, 1985). While traditional RAT has been used to explain violence against women, the feminist perspective of RAT developed by Schwartz and Pitts (1995) provides a better explanation by incorporating cultural factors that shape the conditions that give rise to offending. The current study draws on feminist RAT in order to explore three different types of victimization involving women: stalking, …

An Intersectional Examination Of Criminally Involved Women Of Color With Mental Illness, Cailin Rosemary Mcdermott

Theses and Dissertations

Women, people of color, and people with mental illness are fast growing populations in the criminal justice system. However, research tends to overlook the women of color with mental illness who exist at the intersection of these statuses. The current thesis attempts to apply an intersectional framework to the analysis of the narratives of these multifaceted women to explore the ways that their varying positions in society interact to shape unique life experiences. I analyzed a secondary data set of semi-structured life-course interviews with 65 women on a Seriously Mentally Ill (SMI) probation caseload. Implementing a grounded-inspired approach, the interviews …

A Multi-Dimensional Macrolevel Study Of Drug Enforcement Strategies, Heroin Prices, And Heroin Consumption Rates, Alexander G. Toth

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

American policy makers primarily embrace a deterrent-based policing agenda to curb illicit drug trafficking and use that relies on the principles of the economic price elasticity of demand (Boynum & Reuter, 2005). This counter-drug platform includes three fundamental programs: arresting offenders, seizing illicit drugs, and eradicating horticultural sources of illicit drugs (U.S. DEA, 2015). One of the main goals of these programs is to deter illegal trafficking and use by increasing the price of illicit substances so they are no longer attractive to consumers. The United States has weathered various drug use epidemics during its history, and currently it is …

Racial Disparities In The United States Criminal Justice System: “With Liberty And Justice For All?”, Remi Alapo, David Rockefeller

Publications and Research

Racial discrimination remains a prevalent issue in the contemporary U.S. despite efforts to promote equality. Many young African American and Hispanic males are easy target for law enforcement agents. Minorities experience a higher and more unfair form of racial discrimination, racial profiling, police brutality, unfair sentencing, and mass incarceration for offences which are the same or less than those committed by White males. The rate of incarceration in the United States is five to eight times higher than most developed countries, and Black males constitute the largest percentage of inmates in the U.S. prison system. Once arrested, Black Americans are …

Uni S A C Updates: Sociology, Anthropology, Criminology Newsletter, Summer 2019, University Of Northern Iowa. Department Of Sociology, Anthropology, And Criminology.

Sociology, Anthropology, and Criminology Newsletter

Inside This Issue:
-- Fall 2018 Alumni in Residence - Katelyn M. Bries
-- 2019 UNI Outstanding Student Leader
-- UNI Purple and Gold Awards
-- UNI Honors Students
-- 2018-19 Student Admissions Ambassadors
-- 2018-19 Ethnic Student Promoters
-- Social and Behavioral Representatives (SABRs)
-- INSPIRE Student Research & Engagement Conference: Poster Presentations
-- Iowa Sociological Association Annual Meeting: Poster Presentation
-- Midwest Sociological Society Annual Meeting
-- CSBS Donald and Gudrun Fruehling Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship
-- SAC Internships
-- Sociology
-- Criminology
-- Anthropology
-- Faculty Retirements
-- Sociology Endowed Scholarship Fundraising Progress

Trends In The Prevalence Of Arrest For Intimate Partner Violence Using The National Crime Victimization Survey, Tara E. Martin

Theses and Dissertations

Average annual reporting and arrest victimization rates, or the probability that an intimate partner violence (IPV) victimization is reported or ends in arrest, are estimated to be 56% and 23%, respectively, according to the National Crime Victimization Survey (NCVS; Reaves, 2017). These estimates are based on the number of victimizations that occur annually, but certain repetitive reporting or arrest patterns for a household may mask an offender’s individual probability of being reported or arrested. To address this problem, the current study examines prevalence rates, which examine the number of unique victims who report an offender or experience an incident that …

Vocational And Life Skills Monthly Data Update: July 2019, Uno Nebraska Center For Justice Research, Katelynn Towne, Michael Campagna

Reports

Grantees use an online data management system to submit data on participants served under their Vocational and Life Skills programming. This data is due monthly and reflects all services provided during the previous month to participants. Evaluators at the Nebraska Center for Justice Research work with grantees directly to manage data entry errors on an ongoing basis during monthly update calls and regular site visits.

The current data derives from an active database, from which data is being entered and updated daily. Data values, including previously submitted information, may fluctuate depending on changes made from data entry oversight. One common …