Criminology and Criminal Justice Commons^™

Damned & Damned: Examining Vexatious Litigation And The Vexatious Litigant Statute In Florida Courts, Sarah L. Harper

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation examines self-represented litigants subjected to limitations under the Vexatious Litigant statute (F.S. 68.093) and related case law. It draws data from official records, surveys, interviews with judges, and a thematic analysis of court orders. The present research consists of two studies: Study I focuses on the application of Florida's Vexatious Litigant statute and similar sanctions, and Study II explores judges' decision-making in cases involving challenging self-represented litigants. Restrictions on litigants' court access raise concerns about due process rights, and an assessment of the use of these sanctions and litigants' practices is vital for understanding their application. The findings …

Understanding And Minimizing School Shootings, Taylor Hammond

Master of Arts in Criminal Justice Leadership

The unfortunate trend of school shootings is on the rise within the United States. The purpose of this paper is to describe a leadership communication plan for a school shooting situation, along with identifying the three phases of a crisis: pre-crisis, crisis response, and post-crisis. It also describes the role a probation officer plays within this topic and the importance of this person in a juvenile’s life. An unforeseen issue with school shootings is how it relates to social media. Social media can be used to bully, harass, and contact others unsolicited. It can also be used for a student …

Dna Analysis: The Answer For Unsolved Cases?, Sarah Hetchler

Master of Arts in Criminal Justice Leadership

DNA analysis has become a crucial part of solving cases. It has developed significantly since its creation in the mid-1980s. The longing for answers within unsolved cases is historically lengthy, leaving traces of distrust and injustice. Criminologists offer a potential solution to the mess created by connecting DNA analysis to protect victims and communities. DNA evidence and analysis can assist in solving cases and provide answers for exonerees. Like public genealogy websites, law enforcement agencies must acknowledge new methods to solve issues. Not only could law enforcement agencies solve and arrest suspects through DNA analysis, but DNA could also provide …

Restrictive Pursuit Policies And Rising Violent Crime, Ryan Kelly

Master of Arts in Criminal Justice Leadership

Consequences can be a driving factor for why citizens follow laws in the United States. Financial and physical freedom is valued. Citizen’s behavior may change if police officers threaten to take these things away for breaking laws. Policymakers today are working to restrict when law enforcement officers can chase criminals for breaking the law. Suppose the ability of law enforcement to hold criminals accountable is restricted. Would this not lead a reasonable person to believe that criminals may think they are free to commit crimes? This paper will cover current trends in violent crime in both the United States and …

Where Do We Go From Here? Reconsidering Crowd Management And Control In The Wake Of The George Floyd Era Of Protests., Nicholas Steiger

Master of Arts in Criminal Justice Leadership

This research evaluated police response to protests and considered crowd management and control in the wake of the George Floyd era of protests. The research reviewed the history of crowd management and control and evaluated new methods to increase police legitimacy. It proposed the adoption of the Elaborated Social Identity Model of crowd control and provided agencies with additional recommendations that may increase ethical decision-making. It proposed that forming multi-jurisdictional mobile field force teams for crowd management and control will increase the professionalism of the police and help ensure the rights and safety of those participating in First Amendment activities. …

Incorporating A Peer Support Program In A Criminal Justice Department, Joshua Gerving, Joshua J. Gerving

Master of Arts in Criminal Justice Leadership

This research aims to provide police agencies with a step-by-step guide for developing a Peer Support Program. It will address how to design the program, overcome complex changes in an agency, create a crisis communication strategy, and budget for the new specialty department. This research will address ethical and moral dilemmas a peer support member may face as they perform their duties. Furthermore, the author will present a code of conduct that will serve as the foundation of the program. The researcher will also explain how training, ethical accountability, and stewardship are crucial in making an ethical program for first …

Title: The Truth Behind A Guardian Ad Litem, Klarissa Stovall

Master of Arts in Criminal Justice Leadership

The role of a guardian ad litem is at the forefront when acknowledging the significance of the role in its entirety when considering the safety and wellbeing of a child who is a victim of abuse or neglect. Also focusing on the supportive topics including adequate training, effective communication, and safety is equally important when discussing the role of a guardian ad litem. Furthermore, being able to acknowledge the role of a guardian ad litem is extremely helpful when remembering how vital they are to the future of a child, specifically when involved in child protective services or family law. …

The Assassination Of Dr. Martin Luther King: Understanding The Criminal Behavior And Prosecution Of James Earl Ray, Scott P. Johnson

Ohio Northern University Law Review

No abstract provided.

The Case For Bail Reform, Wendy R. Calaway

Ohio Northern University Law Review

No abstract provided.

Cash Bail And Individualized Ability To Pay: The Key To Ending Ohio's Wealth-Based Detention Crisis, Patrick Higgins

Ohio Northern University Law Review

No abstract provided.

Criminal Justice Update - October 2023, Delaney Rabenold

Criminal Justice Updates

The Criminal Justice Update is a monthly newsletter created by the Adams County Bar Foundation Fellow providing updates in criminal justice policy coming from Pennsylvania's courts and legislature as well as the US Supreme Court.

Contents:

• Updates from PA Governor's Office (no updates this month)
• Updates from the PA Legislature: Criminal Law and Procedure
• Updates from the Courts
• U.S. Supreme Court (no updates this month)
• PA Supreme Court
• PA Superior Court

Cj 601: Criminal Justice Statistical Analysis, D’Andre Walker Ph.D.

GMAS Course Syllabi

No abstract provided.

Crime In A Time Of Cannabis: Estimating The Effect Of Legalizing Marijuana On Crime Rates In Colorado And Washington Using The Synthetic Control Method, Alexis J. Harper, Cody Jorgensen

Criminal Justice Faculty Publications and Presentations

The legalization of marijuana for recreational use continues to expand across America. Colorado and Washington were the first states to legalize marijuana in 2012. A primary concern regarding legalization is how these policy changes affect crime rates. Researchers have begun to estimate the effect marijuana legalization has had on crime rates. We extend this literature by using a different analytical approach. State level data covering years 2000–2019 were analyzed using the synthetic control method to find that legalizing marijuana for recreational use in Colorado and Washington was generally not associated with variations in index crime rates. These findings substantiate prior …

Examining The System-Wide Effect Of Eliminating Bail In New York City: A Controlled-Interrupted Time Series Study, Stephen Koppel, René Ropac

Publications and Research

This builds upon the initial report in the Data Collaborative for Justice's Bail Reform and Recidivism Series - Does New York's Bail Reform Law Impact Recidivism? A Quasi-Experimental Test in New York City. Using controlled-interrupted time series analysis (CITS), this follow-up study estimated effect of New York's initial reform on recidivism in New York City by comparing re-arrest rates between bail-ineligible versus bail-eligible offenses before and after the reforms.

Family Mass Murder: An Exploratory Study Of The Role Of Arson, Rachel Rori Rodriguez Spradley

Theses and Dissertations

The current literature on the use of arson in homicides analyzes the role of psychosis and mental illness, detection avoidance, and fire-setting as a precursor to violent crime. Only recently have researchers examined the connection between arson and family violence through the means of coercive control. Remaining unanswered is the role of arson in family mass murders occurring in a private residence. Using the Mass Killings in America database compiled and maintained by the Associated Press, USA Today, and Northeastern University (2006-2022), I compare characteristics of family mass murders that are arson-related to those that are non-arson-related. While family mass …

“Social Workers By Day And Terrorists By Night?” Wounded Healers, Restorative Justice, And Ex-Prisoner Reentry, Allely Albert

Articles

Common to many post-conflict societies, former political prisoners and combatants in Northern Ireland are often portrayed as security threats rather than as potential contributors to societal peacebuilding processes. This distrust limits their ability to contribute to the transitional landscape and additionally hinders desistance processes during their reentry from prison. Drawing from the work of Maruna, LeBel, and others on “wounded healers,” this article critically examines the restorative justice work of ex-prisoners who have become involved in leadership roles within community based restorative justice. It is argued that such practitioner work can help former combatants overcome many of the challenges typically …

Hydra: Lessons From The World's Largest Darknet Market, Priyanka Goonetilleke, Alex Knorre, Artem Kuriksha

Faculty Scholarship

Research Summary

We present a comprehensive description of Hydra, the largest darknet marketplace in the world until its shutdown in April 2022. We document the main features of Hydra such as dead-drop delivery, feedback and reputation system, escrow, and dispute resolution. Using data scraped from the platform, we quantitatively examine the scale and the structure of the marketplace. We find that it has been highly competitive, geographically covering at least 69% of the Russian population and trading a wide variety of drugs, while also allowing the wholesale trade of drugs and precursors. The dead-drop delivery system used on Hydra was …

An Exploration Of Change Or Stability Over Time (2005-2018) In The Number And Likelihood Of Police Officers Arrested, Dismissed, And Convicted For On- And Off-Duty Misconduct, Adam Watkins, Eric M. Cooke, Philip M. Stinson, John Liederbach

Criminal Justice Faculty Publications

This research was presented at the annual conference of the Midwestern Criminal Justice Association on September 28, 2023, in Chicago, IL.

The Downfall Of Capitalism: Its Exploitation Of Mental Health And The Working Class, Joanna Castaneda

Themis: Research Journal of Justice Studies and Forensic Science

Capitalism has been part of American culture for so long, but so has the topic of mental health. America has seen high rates of mental health issues occurring among working-class people of America. High-end companies making billions of revenues have taken advantage of their workers, leaving many to rely on working multiple jobs to get their families by. As for women and minorities, the job setting has not come easy for many as they face major inequality in the workforce and setbacks in wanting to reach positions. Capitalism has shown that income inequality has made life in America difficult, leaving …

The Social Determinants Of Health And Reentry: An Exploratory Study, Makayla Lewis, Brian Schaefer, Heather Ouellette

The Cardinal Edge

Being released from jail affects a person’s ability to secure basic needs such as health, housing, and employment. Compounding these barriers are issues related to returning to impoverished communities, complicated relationships with families and support systems, and minimal reentry opportunities within jails and upon release. This study explores how the Opportunity Network’s reentry workbook is working to address the social determinants of health and improve perceptions of successful reentry outcomes.

Welcome From The Editors, Cassandra B. Whyte Dr., Stephen Young

The Mid-Southern Journal of Criminal Justice

No abstract provided.

What Are The Causes And Remedies Of Wrongful Convictions?, Audree Alick

The Mid-Southern Journal of Criminal Justice

Wrongful convictions, also known as miscarriages of justice, are very common in the criminal justice system today. With the first known wrongful conviction in 1872, to the most recent in 2023, researchers have similarly identified three causes of wrongful convictions: false confessions, eyewitness errors, and investigative misconduct. Wrongful convictions can cause many physical and mental effects on post-exonerees and currently incarcerated individuals, including but not limited to, clinical anxiety, depression, and PTSD. Analyses of DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) have proven instrumental in cases of wrongful convictions. Each exoneree should have access to the DNA database to test against the DNA evidence …

Samuel Little: A Brief Summary And Analysis Of America’S Most Prolific Serial Killer, Hannah M. Stephens

The Mid-Southern Journal of Criminal Justice

Serial murderers have long been a topic of fascination for both the public and law enforcement. In recent years, more analyses of serial murders have proven valuable to the development of criminal profiles used to apprehend these offenders. Though these analyses involving large samples are extremely valuable to law enforcement, it can be become easy to discount the value of case studies. Many times, case analyses can provide a practical application of developed profiles. In this essay, a case study of Samuel Little, one of the most prominent—yet surprisingly unknown—serial killers, will be discussed in brief. First, this essay will …

Moving In The Shadows: The Reasons Why Men Purchase Commercial Sexual Services And The Connection To Strain Theory, Kelley Barry

The Mid-Southern Journal of Criminal Justice

Prostitution has been a feature of human civilization since its establishment. Yet, existing research typically encompasses the perspective of the seller, leaving the context of an entire faction somewhat undiscovered. In working to better understand this population, this paper emphasizes the perspective of male buyers and their reasons for purchasing sexual services. To further examine the role that men assume in this type of exchange, their input is compared against the central tenets of Agnew’s (1992) strain theory.

Methodological And Practical Considerations For Cross-Cultural Focus Groups On Sensitive Topics Within Criminal Justice And Criminology, Hillary Mellinger, Belén Lowrey-Kinberg, Maya Pagni Barak

Qualitative Criminology (QC)

Cross-cultural focus groups offer several advantages over other qualitative methods, particularly when the research goal is to better understand individual and collective perceptions, opinions, or conceptualizations of issues salient to marginalized groups. However, cross-cultural focus groups also pose several unique challenges despite their advantages. Therefore, more scholarly attention needs to address how to overcome these challenges. In this article, we tackle three issues related to cross-cultural focus groups: (1) defining homogenous regarding focus group formation; (2) incorporating intersectionality into cross-cultural focus groups while maintaining homogeneity in crucial aspects of participants’ identities; and (3) overcoming unexpected practical challenges that may appear …

Blood On The Walls: The Influence Of Place Management On Jail And Prison Victimization, Victor J. St. John

Qualitative Criminology (QC)

This study examines the influence of place management on victimization within jail and prison settings. The author conducts content and thematic analysis of narratives deriving from 87 individuals who were formerly incarcerated in Newark, New Jersey, and Cleveland, Ohio. Qualitative findings illustrate that place management may set the stage for victimization by exposing persons in custody to coercive interactions, inadequately surveilled places, deplorable physical conditions, and limited access to quality health services. Such treatment fosters poor relationships among occupants within the correctional setting. I conclude that mismanaged prisons and jails influence the perpetuation of violent victimization. Correctional administrations may foster …

Pilot Study: An Exploration Of Medication Assisted-Treatment (Mat) For Indigenous Americans Within Tribal Healing To Wellness Courts, Fanni Farago, Lindsay Smith, Violette Cloud, Michael Gordon, Faye Taxman

Qualitative Criminology (QC)

Considering the opioid epidemic’s adverse and disproportionate consequences on Indigenous American communities across the nation, United States federal agencies (i.e., Indian Health Service, the Bureau of Indian Affairs, and the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy) and Tribal nations are urgently calling for more substance use treatment and prevention efforts. Problem-solving courts (PSCs) are a well-known innovation for treating individuals with substance use disorders (SUDs) and those who have committed non-violent offenses. However, very little is known about these courts in indigenous communities and how they address substance use disorders. Drawing on a small sample of court coordinators …

Eroticization Of The Body, Reflexivity, And Qualitative Methodology In Criminology: An Omerta, Catherine Montgamny Grenier

Qualitative Criminology (QC)

This article reflects upon the notion of reflexivity in qualitative methodology, both generally and specifically within the field of criminology. This reflection stems from completing my pre-field research in Costa Rica, which I undertook while completing my doctoral thesis regarding the sexuality of solo female travelers. Based on a sexual assault I experienced during this pre-field research, I critically discuss the notion of reflexivity in cases where the security of researchers is undermined by the relations of power that exist between gatekeepers and participants as a result of gender identity and the eroticization of the body. This article specifically questions …

Actionable Motivational Interviewing: Gendered Perceptions Of Probation Officer-Client Relationships, C.J. Appleton, Lindsay Smith, Danielle S. Rudes

Qualitative Criminology (QC)

Prior research purports that probation officers (POs) view the differences between women and men clients as emotional, with women being more "in-touch" with their emotions and "self-aware" of their issues (Welsh, 2019). Since probation client satisfaction links to relationships with POs (DeLude et al., 2012), it is also important to examine clients' perceptions of POs using a gendered lens that considers the potential variations in women and men clients' views of officers. This study uses 15 semi-structured interviews with women and men clients in one Northwestern probation agency. We examine clients' perceptions of the officer-client relationship, finding that clients desire …

Prison Visitation Policy And Procedure Guide, Meghan Mitchell

AI Assignment Library

In this assignment you will use artificial intelligence (AI)—specifically ChatGPT—to create a visitation information guide for a prison. This assignment has multiple learning objectives:

1. learning how to draft and refine official policies and procedures;
2. exploring the utility of AI; and
3. validating the accuracy of AI tools as they apply to criminal justice practices.