False Confessions From The Viewpoint Of Federal Polygraph Examiners,
2016
Walden University
False Confessions From The Viewpoint Of Federal Polygraph Examiners, Bradford Beyer
Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies
While confessions are a powerful form of evidence, innocent people sometimes confess to crimes they did not commit. Many researchers have studied false confessions through laboratory experiments with university students or by focusing on proven cases of false confession. These approaches have led many researchers to form a conceptual framework that law enforcement interrogative methods are a key cause of false confessions. A gap exists in the literature as few researchers have queried law enforcement about false confessions or consulted with officers who specialize in interrogation. For this study, a qualitative case study approach was used to explore the experiences …
Identifying Business Risk Factors Of Identity Theft,
2016
Walden University
Identifying Business Risk Factors Of Identity Theft, Robert K. Minniti
Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies
Businesses are under pressure to identify and control risks affecting profitability, including the risk of fraud. Identity theft, a type of fraud, costs businesses, governments, and individuals in excess of $56 billion a year. In order to develop good internal controls to help prevent and detect fraud, it is necessary to identify the risks to the business, but business owners are not always aware of what risk factors relate to identity theft. A nonexperimental research design formed the basis of this research study. The population for this study was data from all 50 U.S. states, represented via government databases maintained …
A Phenomenological Inquiry Into Identity Change On The Path To Long-Term Criminal Desistance,
2016
Walden University
A Phenomenological Inquiry Into Identity Change On The Path To Long-Term Criminal Desistance, Leah B. Mazzola
Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies
Growing federal attention to addressing collateral damages of the era of mass conviction and mass incarceration has led to millions in funding allocated to support successful reentry for offenders in contact with the justice system. In line with this initiative, federal agencies have recently turned to criminal desistance research to build on earlier recidivism studies and to inform successful reentry programs. In an effort to contribute to opportunities for future research within the desistance paradigm, this study was designed to explore the identity change process of the offender from deviant to prosocial, a continuously emerging concept within the desistance literature …
A Qualitative Exploration Of The Use Of Contraband Cell Phones In Secured Facilities,
2016
Walden University
A Qualitative Exploration Of The Use Of Contraband Cell Phones In Secured Facilities, Margaret E. Henderson
Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies
Offenders accepting contraband cell phones in secured facilities violate state corrections law, and the possession of these cell phones is a form of risk taking behavior. When offenders continue this risky behavior, it affects their decision making in other domains where they are challenging authorities; and may impact the length of their incarceration. This qualitative phenomenological study examined the lived experience of ex-offenders who had contraband cell phones in secured correctional facilities in order to better understand their reasons for taking risks with contraband cell phones. The theoretical foundation for this study was Trimpop's risk-homeostasis and risk-motivation theories that suggest …
Texas Sheriff Perceptions Of The Militia Movement,
2016
Walden University
Texas Sheriff Perceptions Of The Militia Movement, John F. Fisher
Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies
With the election of President Barack Obama, the United States has seen a steady increase in the number of right-wing militia groups. The Southern Poverty Law Center and the Department of Homeland Security have claimed that the various militia groups are a dangerous domestic terrorism threat. Law enforcement perceptions of the threat that these militia groups pose served as the focus of inquiry in this multiple case study. These perceptions were explored through the theoretical frameworks of groupthink, Credulous Bayesianism, and nudge theory. A purposeful sample of 12 local sheriffs in Texas were interviewed in an attempt to identify common …
Court-Appointed Special Advocates In The Rural South: A Fidelity Assessment,
2016
Georgia Southern University
Court-Appointed Special Advocates In The Rural South: A Fidelity Assessment, Shanna N. Felix
College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations
Children in the court system who are abused or neglected are mandated by the federal Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (CAPTA) to have special legal representation in the form of a Guardian ad Litem (GAL). A GAL can be a staff attorney or he or she can be a volunteer layperson (known as a Court-Appointed Special Advocate, or CASA) who has undergone the GAL training. In some states, the CASA volunteer can be a substitute for the GAL, while in other states (like Georgia) the CASA is appointed by the judge as a complement to the staff attorney. To …
The Socio-Legal Construction Of Adolescent Criminality: Examining Race, Community, And Contextual Factors Through The Lens Of Focal Concerns,
2016
University of South Carolina
The Socio-Legal Construction Of Adolescent Criminality: Examining Race, Community, And Contextual Factors Through The Lens Of Focal Concerns, Patrick Glen Lowery
Theses and Dissertations
The first American juvenile court opened in 1899, with the understanding that children and adults are fundamentally different, and as such, should be treated differently by the law. Less than 50 years later, every state within the United States had developed a separate juvenile justice system, along with the adoption of many significant statutes that made the juvenile court markedly different from the adult criminal court. Over time, however, dissatisfaction with numerous inadequacies in the juvenile court led to the “due process revolution” of the 1960’s and 1970’s. The legal and philosophical changes made during this time were not long …
The Impact Of Deinstitutionalization On Murders Of Law Enforcement Officers,
2016
University of South Carolina
The Impact Of Deinstitutionalization On Murders Of Law Enforcement Officers, Xueyi Xing
Theses and Dissertations
Occupational risk of violent victimization is a serious concern for law enforcement officers. However, there have been virtually no studies that examined the relationship between the incidence of police officer homicide victimization and the deinstitutionalization movement during which large number of persons with mental illness were released back into communities, often without adequate support systems. Research has shown that persons with certain types of mental illness have a greater propensity for violent behavior if they fail to take prescribed medications and/or abuse illicit substances. Since police are most often the first responders to persons with mental illness in crisis, increases …
Neuroscience And Behavioral Genetics In Us Criminal Law: An Empirical Analysis,
2016
Duke Law School
Neuroscience And Behavioral Genetics In Us Criminal Law: An Empirical Analysis, Nita A. Farahany
Faculty Scholarship
The goal of this study was to examine the growing use of neurological and behavioral genetic evidence by criminal defendants in US criminal law. Judicial opinions issued between 2005–12 that discussed the use of neuroscience or behavioral genetics by criminal defendants were identified, coded and analysed. Yet, criminal defendants are increasingly introducing such evidence to challenge defendants’ competency, the effectiveness of defense counsel at trial, and to mitigate punishment.
Perceptions Of Stalking: The Influence Of Perpetrator Mental Disorder Diagnosis, Target-Perpetrator Gender, And Perpetrator Persistence,
2016
Edith Cowan University
Perceptions Of Stalking: The Influence Of Perpetrator Mental Disorder Diagnosis, Target-Perpetrator Gender, And Perpetrator Persistence, Ebonnie Landwehr
Theses: Doctorates and Masters
Stalking is a complex phenomenon that results in significant harm to victims. For this reason, it is vital that knowledge and understanding of the behaviour be continually advanced. The aim of the present study was to investigate the influence of perpetrator mental disorder diagnosis, target-perpetrator gender, and persistence on perceptions of stalking. Although psychiatric diagnoses are prevalent among clinical stalker populations, little is known about how the presence of a perpetrator mental disorder may influence perceptions of stalking. Both target-perpetrator gender and persistence have been found to have an effect on perceptions of stalking, however it is not understood if …
The Impact Of Cognitive Map Quality And Expert Testimony On Juror Decisions And Perceived Credibility Of Eyewitnesses,
2016
University of Northern Iowa
The Impact Of Cognitive Map Quality And Expert Testimony On Juror Decisions And Perceived Credibility Of Eyewitnesses, Justin Parker Simmons
Dissertations and Theses @ UNI
An eyewitness to a crime is often asked to create a hand drawn psychological map of the crime scene in terms of the placement of buildings, people, and other objects. Psychological maps, also referred to as “sketch maps,” are a physical representation of one’s mental map of a particular location. Sketch maps are often submitted as evidence and presented to jury members during trial. Information from these maps can be used to provide information such as entrance and exit into the crime scene by the perpetrator, relative distance between eyewitness and perpetrator, and other information critical to jurors’ evaluations of …
No More Mind Games: Content Analysis Of In-Game Commentary Of The National Football League’S Concussion Problem,
2016
Wilfrid Laurier University
No More Mind Games: Content Analysis Of In-Game Commentary Of The National Football League’S Concussion Problem, Jeffrey Parker
Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)
American (gridiron) football played at the professional level in the National Football League (NFL) is an inherently physical spectator sport, in which players frequently engage in significant contact to the head and upper body. Until recently, the long-term health consequences associated with on the field head trauma were not fully disclosed to players or the public, potentially misrepresenting the dangers involved in gameplay. Crucial to the dissemination of this information to the public are in-game televised commentators of NFL games, regarded as the primary conduits for mediating in-game narratives to the viewing audience. Using a social constructionist theoretical lens, this …
Investigative Inadequacies Or Investigative Corruption? Exploring The Role Of Police Misconduct Within Canadian Wrongful Conviction Cases,
2016
Wilfrid Laurier University
Investigative Inadequacies Or Investigative Corruption? Exploring The Role Of Police Misconduct Within Canadian Wrongful Conviction Cases, Michelle L. Lovegrove
Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)
The phenomenon of wrongful convictions has begun to attract the attention of the public and scholars alike within the past few decades. However, despite this recent fixation the issue of wrongful convictions is not new, as research on the subject dates back to 1932 with the work of Edwin Borchard. Most of the research on the subject of wrongful convictions has focused largely on identifying the factors that contribute to these injustices. For the most part academics are in agreement when it comes to the causes of wrongful convictions, which include, eyewitness misidentification, false confessions, police & prosecutor misconduct, use …
White Faces In A Black Movement: Why Their Voices Matter,
2015
City University of New York (CUNY)
White Faces In A Black Movement: Why Their Voices Matter, Chauncey L. Alcorn
Capstones
This story follows the lives of two white activists in New York's Black Lives Matter movement. It examines the largely ignored impact white activists have had on the BLM movement and also explores the history of white activists in the abolitionist and Civil Rights movements. The climax details a highly-publicized spat between rival Black Lives Matter organizations that happened during a Dec. 4 protest to commemorate the one-year anniversary of Officer Daniel Pantaleo's non-indictment in Garner's death. My main character, a white male, was blamed for causing the rift and was asked to step down from his leadership position in …
Search & Seizure: Historical Analysis Of The Fourth Amendment,
2015
Bridgewater State University
Search & Seizure: Historical Analysis Of The Fourth Amendment, Sarah Cummings
Honors Program Theses and Projects
This thesis is a legal analysis of the history of privacy law in the context of the Fourth Amendment. This historical analysis will focus on landmark United States Supreme Court cases involving searches and seizures from the 1886 Boyd v. United States case to the 2014 Riley v California case. Incorporated is the evolution of the Supreme Court’s analysis from the Trespass Doctrine to the Reasonable Expectation of Privacy Doctrine. Also included is how those doctrines have related to the evolution of technology. Finally, there is a discussion of the possible direction of future U.S. Supreme Court, Fourth Amendment privacy …
General Strain Theory And Bullying Victimization: Do Parental Support And Control Alleviate The Negative Effects Of Bullying,
2015
University of South Carolina - Columbia
General Strain Theory And Bullying Victimization: Do Parental Support And Control Alleviate The Negative Effects Of Bullying, Jonathon Thompson
Theses and Dissertations
With growing reports of bullying victimization ranging from 8 percent to 46 percent in many countries, bullying victimization has been declared an international problem often affecting youth in or near one’s school with poor parental supervision. While there has been a growing body of research concerning bullying victimization, few studies have examined the collateral consequences of bullying victimization and the mediating role of family processes through the theoretical lens of general strain theory. This thesis attempts to shed light on such a complex social phenomena and contribute to the bullying and stress literature. This study posits that bullying victimization is …
A Qualitative Exploration Of A Massachusetts Drug Court: How Are The 10 Key Components Applied?,
2015
Bridgewater State University
A Qualitative Exploration Of A Massachusetts Drug Court: How Are The 10 Key Components Applied?, Isabel Pires
Master’s Theses and Projects
With the overwhelming drug offense and policy changes that occurred in the 1980s, the criminal justice system was forced to create other methods of dealing with offenders suffering from substance abuse problems. Therefore, drug court was created as a diversion program. Drug court was first created in 1989 in Florida to offer a therapeutic method to assist offenders with substance abuse problems and criminal cases. The purpose of drug court was to prevent addicts from constant contact with the criminal justice system. Drug court professionals developed a guideline based on the therapeutic jurisprudence theory called the “10 key component”. The …
A Review Of 'Body Farm' Research Facilities Across America With A Focus On Policy And The Impacts When Dealing With Decompositional Changes In Human Remains,
2015
University of Texas at Arlington
A Review Of 'Body Farm' Research Facilities Across America With A Focus On Policy And The Impacts When Dealing With Decompositional Changes In Human Remains, Brittany M. Wolff
Criminology & Criminal Justice Theses - Archive
In the current research study, the use of content analysis and secondary data analysis provided the exploratory research on the “body farm” research facilities across the United States. Open-ended survey questions were also utilized and sent to the six research facilities across the country. The use of open-ended survey questions in combination with a small sample size, resulted in only one institution participating in the survey and one facility actively declining to participate. To resolve this limitation, the use of secondary data and content analysis from facility publications and websites were utilized to complete some of the gaps resulting from …
Green Criminological Concerns & Philosophical Beliefs,
2015
University of Texas at Arlington
Green Criminological Concerns & Philosophical Beliefs, Alexander Allen Anderson
Criminology & Criminal Justice Theses - Archive
The purpose of this research project was to test the philosophical argument that people who maintained a dualistic mindset or sustained a belief in the existence of the soul would be less concerned with environmental crime. A survey was collected from a sample of 332 individuals at the University of Texas at Arlington in Arlington, Texas. The survey asked individuals to select on a likert scale how concerned they were with environmental harm. Preceding these, individuals were asked to answer either yes, no, or I don’t know on questions concerning their philosophical beliefs, looking for indicators of dualistic thinking and …
Tracking Enforcement Rates In New York City, 2003-2014. Report Presented To The Citizens Crime Commission.,
2015
John Jay College of Criminal Justice, City University of New York
Tracking Enforcement Rates In New York City, 2003-2014. Report Presented To The Citizens Crime Commission., Preeti Chauhan, T. C. Warner, A. G. Fera, E. Balazon, O. Lu, M. Welsh, Jeremy Travis
Publications and Research
"Our first report documented misdemeanor arrests in New York City and compared those trends to Upstate Cities in New York State (i.e., Albany, Buffalo, Rochester, Syracuse, and Yonkers) and the rest of New York State for over three decades. The first report, entitled Trends in Misdemeanor Arrests in New York, examined not only arrest rates but also examined charges, dispositions, and sentences. Our second report was entitled The Summons Report : Trends in the Issuance and Disposition of Summonses in New York City, 2003-2014. This report examined trends in issuance patterns by age and gender, charges, dispositions, and sentences. Similar …
