As police personnel carry out their mandates of enforcing the law, maintaining order, and serving the public, they are entrusted to "practice what they preach." They are expected to abide by the rules, laws, and ethical principles that apply to them as they hold private citizens to account for violations of laws. When the police do not live up to this standard by committing police misconduct, it can tarnish not just the individual officer, but the department and jurisdiction as well. Police misconduct is a concern for society as police misbehavior can result in negative outcomes, such as distrust by the citizenry, poor police-community relations, and litigation. Therefore, it is important for academics and police administrators to gain a better understanding of why police personnel engage in occupational deviance. A sizable literature has identified several individual, organizational, and community-level correlates of police misconduct, but there is a general dearth of knowledge concerning criminological explanations for police misconduct. The purpose of this study was to assess the potential relationship between self-control and police misconduct utilizing two versions of self-control theory. The primary objectives of the dissertation were to: (1) investigate whether self-control predicts police misconduct; and, if so, (2) identify which version of self-control theory best explains police misconduct. The original version of self-control theory (Gottfredson and Hirschi, 1990) hypothesizes that crime and deviant behavior are the result of low self-control, which is characterized by impulsivity, a preference for simple tasks, a proclivity for risk-seeking activities, self-centeredness, and a quick temper. More than a decade later, Hirschi (2004) revised the theory in an effort to address several shortcomings of the original theoretical model. In this revision, he moved the focus away from the personality trait of self-control to a rational choice, decision-making conceptualization, which he argued is more consistent with the original intent of the theory. From this new perspective, self-control refers to an internal set of inhibitors that influence the choices people make. Data were collected through online surveys of 101 police supervisors within three U.S. police agencies. The respondents are part of a larger research project, known as the National Police Research Platform, which is funded by the National Institute of Justice. The data were analyzed using a series of correlational and multiple regression strategies. Based on theory and prior research, it was hypothesized that measures of both theoretical versions would significantly predict police misconduct and that, in a full regression model, both versions would yield significant (and independent) effects. As predicted by the hypotheses, the results demonstrated that low self-control (as a measure of Gottfredson and Hirschi's theoretical version) and revised self-control (as a measure of Hirschi's revised theoretical version) were both significantly related to past police misconduct and the likelihood of future police misconduct. Furthermore, both measures produced independent effects in full regression models. Lastly, as evinced by standardized regression coefficients, the results suggested that revised self-control is the superior theoretical version within the context of police deviance. The finding that self-control is related to police misconduct has important policy implications for police administrators. Specifically, it is recommended that administrators 1) bolster their personnel selection and hiring through the use of more judicious background investigations and increased use of psychological testing; 2) increase the use of integrity-testing strategies, such as early warning systems, to detect problematic employees; and 3) utilize quality police training programs with emphases on ethics, consequences of misbehavior, and mechanisms to strengthen employees' levels of self-control. Study strengths and limitations, as well as directions for future research, are presented.

A developing body of research within the fields of criminology and rural sociology has emphasized the importance of considering geographic place in the study of interpersonal violence, and domestic violence in particular. Exploring how place is related to domestic violence lends itself to considerations of geographic variation in socio-structural conditions. A handful of studies since the 1980s have explored structural correlates of intimate abuse largely rooted in one of two theoretical contexts: social disorganization or gender inequality/patriarchy. However, knowledge regarding the relationship between place, social structure, and specific types of violence remains limited. The present study is intended as an examination of the relationship between place, social structure, and intimate homicide. Specifically, this study explores the influence of rurality, social disorganization and gender inequality on male perpetrated-female victim intimate partner homicide (femicide). Analyses are also conducted on non-domestic homicide to serve as a comparison to femicide findings. Several research questions are explored including, (1) does rurality have a significant relationship with femicide rates, (2) does structural gender inequality have a significant relationship with femicide rates, and is this relationship conditioned by rurality, (3) does social disorganization have a significant relationship with femicide rates, and is this relationship conditioned by rurality. All research questions are also explored for non-domestic homicide rates. The data come from several sources including the 2000 U.S. Census (theoretical indicators and control variables), the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Economic Research Service (measure of rurality), the North Carolina State Center for Health Statistics (measure of homicide), and the North Carolina Coalition Against Domestic Violence (measure of femicide). A unique contribution of this study is the use of non-official data sources for homicide measures which are not bound by the same limitations (e.g., accuracy, voluntary reporting) that limit the commonly utilized UCR and SHR data. Negative binomial regression is used to analyze county-level rates of femicide and non-domestic homicide for the population of North Carolina counties (N=100).The results indicate that (1) place does matter, as illustrated by significantly higher risk of femicide and non-domestic homicide victimization in rural counties compared to non-rural counties; (2) increasing female equality in rural counties may serve as a protective factor against femicide victimization, but this relationship is mediated by social disorganization; and (3) increasing social disorganization in non-rural counties is associated with higher risk of non-domestic homicide. The present study has several implications for femicide and disaggregated homicide research. First, the findings demonstrate the importance of considering geographic location in modeling structural theoretical indicators and processes. Second, the significance of certain theoretical indicators representing both gender inequality and social disorganization contribute to the development of a matrix of risk that can be used to encourage and/or justify the more arduous task of testing fully specified models of the theories across place. Third, the present study contributes to the literatures extending social disorganization to rural places and to domestic violence, and the role of structural gender inequality in gendered violence. Future research exploring structural explanations for intimate partner homicide are urged to make comparisons across disaggregated homicide types and, most importantly, consider the influence of rurality.

Current sex offending legislation and public opinion present an image of sexual offenders as specialized predators who are likely to exhibit continued sexually deviant behavior over the life-course. Although sex offending continuity and post-release recidivism has been independently assessed in prior research, the potential link between sex offending continuity and post-release recidivism has yet to be investigated. Using data collected on random samples of sex offenders from a Northeastern state, the present study examines the predictability of sex offender continuity and its potential linkages with general and sex recidivism, as well as identifying distinguishable risk factors related to these outcomes. Logistic regressions provided support for all but one of the four key hypotheses proposed. Specifically, results indicate a low rate of sex offending continuity among the sample, and the presence of identifiable risk factors that distinguish sex offenders who demonstrate continuity from those adult sex offenders who do not display sex offending continuity. Specifically, non-juvenile sex offending is the most notable of the numerous risk factors found to be associated with those displaying sex offending continuity from adolescence into adulthood. Analyses also reveal a significant association between sex offending continuity and sexual recidivism, but not general recidivism. Evidence of identifiable risks factors for both sex and general recidivism are reported. Policy implications, study limitations, and directions for future research are also presented.

Dade County (Miami, Florida) government officials, made various attempts in recent years to reduce the number of robberies committed against tourists in the Greater Miami area. This exploratory, descriptive study reviewed those efforts focusing on the most recent attempt, a problem-oriented police response, the Tourist-Oriented Police Program (TOP). TOP's area of assignment was examined to determine if robberies were reduced and if robberies increased in the surrounding area, indicating possible displacement. Additionally, the robbery and tourist robbery rates of the county were examined to determine if TOP may have been a causal factor in any change. Data from area police departments of robberies occurring from 1989 through 1994 were retrieved and analyzed. Utilizing an interrupted time series design model, raw numbers and percentages of robberies in several geographic areas were compared. A subjective interpretation of the data suggests that TOP was a causal factor in reduction, and that robberies were not significantly, if at all, displaced into other areas.

No description available.

Includes abstract. Includes bibliographical references.

For decades, research has consistently demonstrated that minorities are overrepresented in the prison population, yet relatively little is known about whether juror perceptions about race and criminal culpability may impact this problem in the United States. Using Hill's folk theory of race and racism as the theoretical foundation, this cross sectional study examined the relationship between perceptions of the race of the defendant and the verdicts to be handed down. Data were collected from a convenience sample of 25 people who self-reported having served on a jury or were eligible for jury service within the past 5 years in a southwest Georgia community. The instrument used was original and designed to capture basic demographics of the respondents and perceptions about traits of the criminal defendants and their criminal culpability. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and chi-square tests to examine whether participants' perceptions of race, income, and education of the defendant were statistically associated. Income and educational ranges were assigned to the defendants. Findings revealed 76% of respondents believed that baggy clothes are predictors of criminality. Furthermore, 72% of participants associated baggy pants with African Americans. It is possible that a correlation exists between associating African Americans with baggy pants and baggy clothes with criminality. Chi square results indicate that participants' beliefs of whether defendants were 'likely or extremely likely' to commit criminal offenses based on race, education level, and income of the defendants were not statistically significant. These findings may be important to court systems in terms of better understanding race relations in the United States as it relates to justice system equality.

Employer Attitudes and Beliefs About Hiring Post-Incarcerated Offenders in Mississippi by Ora Starks MS, Criminal Justice, 1999 BS, Criminal Justice,1994 Dissertation Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy Human Services Program Criminal Justice Specialization Walden University May 2018

Prior research examining criminogenic risk and need suggests that dynamic factors (i.e., criminogenic needs) are best suited for intervention and treatment as they are changeable over time. Thus, dynamic factors can be targeted to reduce the likelihood of recidivism among youth in the juvenile justice system. The assessment of needs is critical as it allows for the prediction of future delinquency and the ability to provide appropriate services/treatment for juvenile offenders. Several studies have shown that youth present with multiple needs and that these needs differ by gender. Therefore, the current study utilized a sample of adjudicated youth under community supervision from all counties in Florida from 2007 to 2015. Latent class analysis was employed to create need profiles based on dynamic factor domains from the Community Positive Achievement Change Tool (C-PACT). The relationships between the need classes and various justice-related factors and outcomes (i.e., race/ethnicity, age, risk level and static risk factors, change in dynamic needs, and recidivism) were also assessed. Furthermore, the analyses were conducted separately for males and females to examine for possible gender differences. Findings demonstrate that there are different multiple needs that present within males and females. With a few exceptions, the latent classes do not predict recidivism. However, the gender-specific subgroups do predict change in dynamic needs. Based on the findings, theoretical and practical implications are discussed that focus on the use of risk assessment instruments and rehabilitation in the juvenile justice system. Directions for future research are also discussed.

The current research focuses on the risk factors for bully profiles, antisocial behavior across profiles, and patterns of bullying behavior over the span of four school years. The sample was comprised of 1,817 middle school students from seven school districts. Latent profile analysis, multivariate regression techniques, and latent transition analysis were used to meet the five objectives of this study: 1) identify unique subgroups of youth based on responses to different bully experiences, 2) determine similarities and differences in risk factors that are associated with bully experiences, 3) examine antisocial behavior across identified bully profiles, 4) determine if membership in bully profiles is stable or changes over time, and 5) assess the similarities and differences in the risk factors associated with transition patterns over four time points. Results indicated that unique subgroups of youth exist based on bully perpetration and bully victimization experiences. Similarities and differences arose in the risk factors that were associated with bully experiences and transition patterns. However, across the identified bully profiles, antisocial behavior did not vary once time order was established. These results have important implications for research, practice, and policy, which are discussed.