The present study focuses on the interrelationship between perceived morality and perceived legality of behavioral scenarios presented to a sample of Taiwanese college students. The study's results indicate that personal moral values correlate with perceptions of legality for a majority of the scenarios examined. A similar study performed in the U.S. but focused on criminality. From this latter comparison, the following conclusions about homogeneous and heterogeneous societies are drawn. In homogeneous societies, like Taiwan, moral values are more widely shared and consequently appear to be more closely associated with perceptions of legality. In more heterogeneous societies, like the United States, moral values are more diffuse and individual's perceptions of legality is more loosely associated with perceptions of morality. Such interesting findings imply that "deviant" behaviors are culturally and historically relevant. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 53-09, Section: A, page: 3376. / Major Professor: Leroy C. Gould. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--The Florida State University, 1992.

Until recently, female police officers held very traditional stereotypical positions within law enforcement. Despite equal employment opportunity laws, affirmative action policies, and the influx into patrol assignments, women still represent only 9% of sworn police officers in the United States. The underrepresentation of minorities in policing is not a new phenomenon to social scientists. However, this study represents the first attempt to determine whether the gender composition of local law enforcement agencies reflects local labor force characteristics. / The present study examines the variation in female representation among sworn full-time personnel in municipal police departments serving populations of 2,500 or more in the State of Florida. A tobit censored normal regression analysis is utilized to test the hypothesis that women are denied access to patrol positions. The results support the hypothesis. Despite their adequate representation in the local labor force and the available applicant pool, females are excluded from this traditionally male domain. The relative size of the police department and the geographical region of the state are the best predictors of female representation. The implications of this finding for the future of women in policing is discussed. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 53-07, Section: A, page: 2554. / Major Professor: William G. Doerner. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--The Florida State University, 1992.

Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 31-09, Section: A, page: 4912. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--The Florida State University, 1970.

This paper specifies a continuous time model of the probability of recidivism to provide evidence on the main hypothesis of the economics of crime that people weigh the costs and benefits of criminal activity in a rational utility maximizing process. Since the size of the illicit drug industry has proliferated dramatically in the recent past, drug-related offenders are used in the model. / The existence of a complete market for illicit drugs makes imperative the use of economic analyses. In order to characterize the probabilistic nature of recidivism, a formal search model is developed, which reflects the uncertainty and the risks associated with transactions in the illicit drug market. This model links economic incentives of market participants and their empirical behaviors. / A hazard model is estimated that analyzes the length of time in a given state (outside prison) prior to transition out of that state (re-incarceration). Among various hazard specifications, the Weibull hazard is adopted to shed some insights on the duration dependence with three categories of independent variables: opportunity cost, disincentives, and control variables. / The result shows that the opportunity cost perspective is fairly promising. The length of incarceration is not playing a significant role as a specific deterrent variable among drug offenders. Consequently, a long period of incarceration should apply, for an incapacitation purpose, only to those who are most likely to recidivate, i.e., those who have very low opportunity cost. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 51-03, Section: A, page: 0937. / Major Professor: David W. Rasmussen. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--The Florida State University, 1990.

A number of studies have focused on the status of female faculty in academic disciplines. Previous research efforts have yielded mixed findings pertaining to achievement differences between male and female faculty. One reason for these inconsistencies is a lack of methodological rigor (primarily inadequate control variables). / Little is known about the status of female faculty in academic criminology and criminal justice. The purpose of this study was to examine faculty performance (research productivity) and achievements (tenure, promotion, and salary) in these disciplines. The theoretical framework which guided this research was Kanter's (1977) theory of proportions. / Using a stratified random sample, faculty names were drawn from membership lists of four professional associations. Analytical strategies included: Probit, Weighted Least Squares, and Ordinary Least Squares regressions. / The results indicated that performance and achievement among female faculty did not vary with differences in female proportions within departments. Moreover, the main effect of gender was not predictive of tenure status, time to promotion, or salary. That is, academic decisions were largely based on merit and length of service, as opposed to normative criteria. / A number of possible explanations for these findings were provided, as well as suggestions for additional research. Finally, implications of this study for affirmative action, as well as the discipline itself, were discussed. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 50-08, Section: A, page: 2659. / Major Professor: Thomas Blomberg. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--The Florida State University, 1989.

The present research mirrored Doerner's (1987) study in order to examine the perceived seriousness of maltreatment and the maltreatment-delinquency linkage in Taiwan. The 415 subjects for this study came from Taiwan's universities and colleges. All subjects were over the age of eighteen, the age at which juvenile court jurisdiction ends. The instrument used to collect the data for this study was the same questionnaire developed by Doerner. The instrument contained four major sections: perceived seriousness of child maltreatment, child maltreatment victimization, self-reported juvenile delinquency, and respondent demographic characteristics. Like Doerner (1987), there is substantial agreement as to child maltreatment seriousness judgment within the study group. The results resemble Doerner's study in that some types of maltreatment correlate positively with some types of delinquency. But the results only meet the first criterion of causation. That is, an association exists. Whether a causal relationship exists is an open question. This study has attempted to initiate a cross-cultural comparative study in Taiwan. The results suggested that more research in this area is necessary because some issues remained unresolved. Finally, both strengths and limitations of this study lead to recommendations for future research. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 50-08, Section: A, page: 2660. / Major Professor: William G. Doerner. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--The Florida State University, 1989.

During the past ten years, the growth of single-parent female-headed households has proliferated. A wide array of the research literature of the last decade has refocused attention on the role of the family in explaining juvenile delinquency. Within these assessments there is much conjecture that African-American female-headed households, particularly those receiving welfare assistance, provide ideal conditions for the development of juvenile delinquency or chronic maladaptive behavior among their progeny. Therefore, much of the family and delinquency literature concerning the African-American female-headed families is centered around the "feminization of poverty", a concept resulting from Moynihan's (1965) study of the black family. The renewed research interest in family relationships and the impact of family structure and functioning upon family life has cast too little attention on the question of whether the interpersonal interaction of the parent with the child contributes to or deters juvenile chronic maladaptive behavior in African-American female-headed households. This study provides empirical data which attempts to more accurately distinguish those interpersonal interaction (bonding) attributes which are associated with juvenile chronic maladaptive behavior in African-American female-headed households. / The current family interaction and delinquency literature, which includes the study of single-parent homes and parent-child relationships, reveals a minimum interest in family life components, such as "natural" support systems, child supervision, parental affection, parent-child leisure activity, the issue of trust, and other components. / Social control theory was the guiding framework for deriving the measures of interpersonal interactions of parent with child, and for empirically testing the relationship of the interaction measures and of the "natural" support systems of African-American female-heads of household to juvenile chronic maladaptive behavior. The empirical analyses bearing on this research question use secondary data compiled from intake, progress, and disposition forms of 140 juveniles from the Early Attention Program of the Children's Aid Society in Detroit, Michigan. The juveniles were referred to the agency between 1984 and 1987. / The bivariate analyses indicate that several statistically significant relationships exist between interpersonal bonding variables and the maladaptive behavior of juveniles. The prominent interpersonal bonding factors were that parents contacted the agency willingly to deal with their children's problem, they were consistent in disciplining their children, and they prepared and shared meals with their child. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 50-03, Section: A, page: 0796. / Major Professor: C. Ray Jeffery. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--The Florida State University, 1989.

Since 1970, there has been an increased interest in environmental factors associated with crime. It is anticipated that, through environmental design, areas may be made safe and the quality of life enhanced for individuals living in that area. The process of making an area safe and secure is known as Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED). / There are two major aspects of CPTED. The first involves the examination of environmental factors to determine why and how offenders choose their targets. The second involves the examination of environmental factors associated with the vulnerability of victims. The present research focuses upon this second aspect of CPTED. / In the growing field of CPTED research, no studies have been found in the available literature which examine environmental factors associated with types and rates of criminal victimizations in interstate highway interchange areas--i.e., areas surrounding interchanges providing short-term services for interstate travellers. It is the objective of this study to help fill the gap in the literature of criminology in general and in the literature of CPTED in particular. / For the purpose of this research, the unit of analysis is the Interchange Activity Area (IAA). The IAA was defined as a geographical area surrounding an interstate highway interchange in which behavioral activities and constructed facilities are primarily associated with travel on the interstate highway. / Although an IAA may possess similar characteristics found in other locations, its distinguishing features are that its activities and facilities are specifically associated with interstate highway travel and ease of access to the interstate highway system. The facilities are designed particularly for the convenience of travellers and are structured in a manner to allow the traveller to engage in activities with relative ease and with the convenience of driving an automobile directly to the facility of interest. / It is recognized that the same environmental characteristics of an IAA which enhance traveller convenience may also increase traveller vulnerability to criminal victimization. Therefore, the environmental characteristics associated with an IAA were assessed to determine what role environmental characteristics play in securing the safety of individuals engaging in activities within the IAA. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 56-12, Section: A, page: 4956. / Major Professor: Frederic L. Faust. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--The Florida State University, 1995.

Child sexual abuse has existed for a long time, but it has only been recognized as a national problem since the 1960s. There has been minimal research in this area and the prior literature on child sexual abuse has ignored many important research issues. For instance, not much attention has been devoted to the issue of how child sexual abuse cases are substantiated or the variables that are predictive of the decision making process to substantiate or unsubstantiate child sexual abuse cases. / This study addresses the question of "What factors affect the decision making process in the substantiation of child sexual abuse cases?" The research question is important because there is little known about the decision making process that results in some individuals being labeled "victims" and some "abusers." The present study uses labeling theory in an attempt to clarify the decision making process by determining the types of variables that are most predictive of the substantiation decision. / To investigate this research question, secondary data from the Protective Services Unit of the Department of Human Resources in Opelika, Alabama were used. Case files of children reported to the agency between January 1982 to October 1987 for sexual abuse allegations were examined. A study group of 233 children was used to analyze results. / Stepwise logistic regression analysis was used to determine whether or not there was a relationship between specified factors and the decision to substantiate or unsubstantiate sexual abuse cases. Findings indicate that the most important predictor influencing the decision making process was statements made by children admitting or denying the sexual abuse allegations. When children admitted sexual abuse allegations, the case was more likely to be substantiated. Also, when children denied sexual abuse allegations, the case was more likely to be unsubstantiated. Overall, the results from this research provide some support for labeling theory. In order to verify the findings, however, further research is needed. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 50-02, Section: A, page: 0543. / Major Professor: Gordon P. Waldo. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--The Florida State University, 1988.

The Competency Assessment Instrument (CAI) is a widely used testing device whose reliability and validity have not been firmly established. Performing well on the CAI is thought to depend heavily on the cognitive/conceptual abilities of the criminal defendants being assessed. / Correspondingly, tests of concept formation are presumed to inform clinicians about the kinds of cognitive processes available to examinees (e.g., abstract concrete thinking, symbolic thinking, and step-shifting), as well as the upper levels of conceptualization achievable by examinees. Information about these cognitive processes is of central interest to legal authorities attempting to determine competency to stand trial, especially in light of modern legal doctrine, which, following the so-called "Dusky" standard, requires that a person charged with a crime be able to understand, i.e. conceptualize, the proceedings and assist counsel rationally if he or she is to be considered competent to stand trial. / In this study, the validity of the CAI and the role of understanding and concept formation as they relate to competency to stand trail were examined. Fifty judicially determined incompetent inpatients at a state forensic hospital were evaluated using the CAI at their treatment wards. The patients then participated in a mock trial procedure during which they were rated globally, pass of fail, on their competency by three mock trial officials and were simultaneously evaluated by two independent raters using the CAI. Further, following initial assessment with the CAI at the treatment units, subjects were evaluated for their ability to form concepts by means of five commonly administered tests of concept formation and were assessed with behavioral ratings of their concept attainment during mock trial. / Comparisons were made between the CAI scores, the test scores and behavioral measures of concept attainment at mock trial. The degree of influence of conceptual ability and the other non-conceptual factors on whether patients passed or failed mock trail was calculated. The relationship of conceptual vs. non-conceptual factors and the role of the CAI in making competency decisions are discussed. Recommendations for future research are offered. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 50-08, Section: B, page: 3675. / Major Professor: Richard L. Hagen. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--The Florida State University, 1989.