This thesis explored the communication and conflict style contrasts between criminal justice professionals and African American defendants that can interfere with the equitable administration of justice in the criminal justice system in Dane County, Wisconsin. The focus of this research was on the potential conflict style contrasts between criminal justice professionals and African Americans because the racial disparity in the incarceration rate was greatest for African Americans. This research project began from the premise that the racial incarceration rate disparity was caused in part by differences in cultural conflict and communication styles, and it explored the intersection of power differentials and cultural conflict and communication style differentials. The study employed the Intercultural Conflict Style Inventory, courtroom observations, and two focus groups. One focus group was composed of professionals in the criminal justice system from Dane County, Wisconsin, and the other of African Americans who have been impacted negatively by this system. All findings were used to develop specific training recommendations to help criminal justice professionals to understand conflict and communication style preferences with the intention of decreasing the disparate treatment of members of the African American community. The combined research strategies suggested that the primary culture of the criminal justice system was consistent with European American cultural preferences for low-context, direct, and emotionally restrained communication and conflict styles, which contrasts with the general preference of the African American culture for a more emotionally expressive engagement style. While this research did not specifically indicate that intercultural miscommunication directly impacts the equitable distribution of justice in Dane County, it did suggest that cultural contrasts may be one variable contributing to the inequitable distribution of justice.

As a restut of British colonization and their attempts to govern a variety of different cultures many nations now share a common bond in their criminal justice systems. This research focuses on the impact of some of those common bonds on the South African and United States criminal justice systems. Along with many national historical similarities there appears to be similarities in the approaches these two governments have taken to remedy criminal justice issues that arise. Political interference, lack of cooperation, poor communication skills, interagency discord and a lack of unified direction seem to plague both criminal justice systems. As a resulc both criminal justice systems appear: to be fragmented and in a constant state of flux. One solution that attempts to remedy the mistrust developed by individual citizens and their communities as a result of the fragmentation of their criminal justice system is community policing. Both nations are embarking on a concept that was proposed by Sir Robert Peel in 1829 when he espoused the ideal of Police, at all times, should maintain a relasionship with the public that gives reality to the historic tradition that the police are the public and the public are the police. The fragmentation which causes many of the dilemmas faced by the criminal justice system appears to be a necessary element of any system that wishes to be able to grow and change with time. As we embark on the 21st century, globalization w1ll become a factor in every surviving national goverernment. South Africa and the United States appear co be positioning themselves to be active patcipants in this process / Criminology and Security Studies / D.Litt. et Phil. (Criminology)

This thesis situates the famous Leopold and Loeb case within the context of social discourse about the criminal. I will argue that this case played an important role in mediating social attitudes towards criminality at two moments in American history: first, in the 1920s, when defense attorney Clarence Darrow used the Leopold and Loeb trial to challenge traditional assumptions about innate criminality and the existence of a criminal type; and later, in the post World War Two epoch, when concern with various forms of "deviant" behaviour intensified. This analysis of one particular criminal case and its manifold repercussions might also prove useful for opening similar inquiries into other causes celebres.

Thesis (M.P.A.)--Kutztown University of Pennsylvania, 1993. / Source: Masters Abstracts International, Volume: 45-06, page: 2945. Abstract precedes thesis title page as [2] preliminary leaves. Typescript. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 88-91).

As a restut of British colonization and their attempts to govern a variety of different cultures many nations now share a common bond in their criminal justice systems. This research focuses on the impact of some of those common bonds on the South African and United States criminal justice systems. Along with many national historical similarities there appears to be similarities in the approaches these two governments have taken to remedy criminal justice issues that arise. Political interference, lack of cooperation, poor communication skills, interagency discord and a lack of unified direction seem to plague both criminal justice systems. As a resulc both criminal justice systems appear: to be fragmented and in a constant state of flux. One solution that attempts to remedy the mistrust developed by individual citizens and their communities as a result of the fragmentation of their criminal justice system is community policing. Both nations are embarking on a concept that was proposed by Sir Robert Peel in 1829 when he espoused the ideal of Police, at all times, should maintain a relasionship with the public that gives reality to the historic tradition that the police are the public and the public are the police. The fragmentation which causes many of the dilemmas faced by the criminal justice system appears to be a necessary element of any system that wishes to be able to grow and change with time. As we embark on the 21st century, globalization w1ll become a factor in every surviving national goverernment. South Africa and the United States appear co be positioning themselves to be active patcipants in this process / Criminology and Security Studies / D.Litt. et Phil. (Criminology)

Life without parole for juvenile offenders is a controversial issue across the globe. Recently, the United States stands alone as the only country in the world that allows juvenile offenders to be sentenced to life time confinement without the possibility of parole. Furthermore, the U.S. has seen an increase in juvenile waivers and blended sentences, which has resulted in harsher penalties for juvenile offenders who have committed serious and violent crimes. This analysis examines scientific evidence that shows juveniles are different from adults in terms of brain development, rational decision making abilities, and maturity levels. These findings have questioned the reasoning behind imposing adult punishment on adolescent behavior. This analysis also presents the legal arguments suggesting that juvenile life without parole is unconstitutional and violates the Eighth and Fourteenth Amendments. Arguments for and against life sentences were also presented. This study concludes with a discussion of policy implications, whether the U.S. Supreme Court should abolish juvenile life without parole sentencing practices and explores the possible future direction of juvenile sentencing in the United States.

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This research focuses on the association between law enforcement training and implementation of hate crime legislation. The Anti-Defamation League's state hate crime statutory provisions and the Federal Bureau of Investigation's Hate Crime Reporting by States data are examined. Section one includes the following: What Constitutes Hate?, The History of Hate Crime Legislation, and Issues Facing Hate Crime Legislation. Section two surveys literature on both Hate Crime Legislation and the training of law enforcement officers. Section three discusses the Anti-Defamation League and FBI data in detail and explains the methods used to test the association between law enforcement training and reporting of hate crime legislation. Findings yield a statistically significant association between law enforcement training and reporting of hate crime legislation.

Psychological assessment ofjuveniles being considered for waiver to adult criminal courts often requires systematic evaluation of dangerousness, maturity-sophistication, and amenability to treatment (ATX). Despite the importance of these constructs to the evaluation of juveniles, little is known about the criteria that constitute these three constructs. This study was designed to assist in clarifying the constructs of dangerousness, maturity-sophistication, and ATX that typically guide juvenile transfers. Generally, prototypicality ratings were aligned with the current literature on dangerousness, sophistication-maturity, and ATX.

Research indicates that states have implemented juvenile justice reforms to enact harsher punishments, to transfer greater numbers and younger juvenile offenders to adult criminal court, and to restrict discretion of the juvenile court judges. Social science studies have found that harsher punishments, transfers to adult criminal court and other measures do not work, but that comprehensive approaches which address the numerous major factors contributing to juvenile offending have been successful. This study examined the legal status of the juvenile justice system by focusing upon ten diverse sample states and analyzed the social science research on factors contributing to juvenile offending and on prevention, treatment, and rehabilitation approaches. The study was accomplished by legal research, qualitative social science research, and analysis of both. Findings indicated: a) state statutes require and allow adult punishment of juvenile offenders, transfer of juvenile offenders to adult criminal court, and direct filing of charges against juveniles in adult criminal court; most states begin these proceedings at age 14, some have no age minimum; b) social science research indicates numerous factors contribute to juvenile offending with most of the factors categorized into the major factors of early antisocial behavior, deviant peers, parents and family, sociomoral reasoning, biological factors, and violence which interact with each other creating a complicated web; and c) prevention, treatment, and rehabilitation efforts should be comprehensive, multidimensional and multimodal addressing the interacting major factors contributing to juvenile offending and the needs of the juvenile, the family, and the home environment. Implications include the need for legislators to access the social science research to craft legislation and programs which are effective. Suggestions for improvement include collaboration within communities and with knowledgeable and committed social science professionals and educators. Areas suggested for further research include education of the public, the media, and stakeholders; long term follow-up on promising programs; design and improvements in approaches based upon the social science research; meeting the needs of the juvenile, the family, and the home environment; and study of how the factors may differ for disabled juveniles.