Den här är en översiktsstudie som syftar till att presentera en bild av forskningen relaterad till ungdomar som ansluter sig till gatugäng och utvecklingen av deras kriminella beteende. Relevanta studier har analyserats med hjälp av två teorier; signalteorin som ser till signaler mellan gäng och deras potentiella rekryter och teorin om differentiella associationer som argumenterar för att ett kriminellt beteende är inlärt genom kontakter med pro-kriminella influenser. Den här studien omfattar två frågeställningar: (1) Varför går ungdomen med i ett gatugäng? (2) Hur påverkar gängmedlemskapet ungdomens attityder och kriminella beteende? För att svara på dessa frågor har vi gjort en översiktsstudie där vi inkluderat en kvalitativ, åtta kvantitativa vetenskapliga artiklar och en meta-studie. Från denna data har vi sedan applicerat en tematisk analys. Resultatet visar hur kumulativa riskfaktorer ökar oddsen för ett gängmedlemskap betydligt och medlemmarnas attityder och beteende anpassas efter gängets normer och sätt att agera. Det visar också på att gängmedlemskapet och adopterandet av gruppidentiteten tar över de normativa värderingarna, genomgående ökar brottsligheten och leder till ett ökat våldsamt beteende.

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This study uses a data set on adolescent offending, originally collected by a team of researchers at the Vera Institute of Justice in New York City, to critically examine the role of incarceration in criminal rehabilitation. A theoretical explanation of recidivism is constructed using four criminological theories: life course theory (Sampson & Laub 1993), differential association theory (Sutherland 1939), deterrence theory, and reintegrative shaming theory (Braithwaite 1989). This thesis uses these theories to investigate societal factors that may contribute to young offenders’ recidivism (versus successful rehabilitation). It is argued that youths who: (1) come from unconventional family environments, (2) possess deviant peer associations, (3) receive incarceration as punishment, and (4) undergo a stigmatizing shaming process are more likely to recidivate. The combination of these factors is also expected to be intensified during incarceration. An empirical examination of the effects of these factors on recidivism supports the main hypotheses advanced. Although conventional family environments and deviant peer associations are successful in determining first-time offending, results from this study suggest that these are inadequate as predictors of recidivism. Conversely, an extension of Braithwaite’s (1989) reintegrative shaming concept was found to be a strong predictor of subsequent offending. Medium sentence lengths in prison were associated with increased risk to recidivate. Most importantly, the results gathered some support for restorative justice approaches to criminal rehabilitation. Future considerations for recidivism research are explored. / Thesis (Master, Sociology) -- Queen's University, 2009-12-16 15:53:46.514

Epidemiological methods and public health theories can be tied to theories of crime and delinquency and used to create evidence-based policy. Interdisciplinary theoretical approaches to existing, and emerging, public health and criminal justice problems hold great promise. Differential association theory postulates that close association with delinquent peers leads to an increase in deviant activities such as illicit drug use. Social cognitive theory postulates that health behavior change is driven by the interaction of (a) cognitive states that support a health outcome, (b) the social and contextual environment, (c) and individual action. Combined, these theories can be applied to drug eradication programs as well as other health and crime issues. Focus groups and interviews were performed to identify rates of illicit substance use among incarcerated African American adolescent male gang members and nongang members. The policy recommendations illustrate the convergence of criminological and epidemiological theory under the new paradigm of epidemiological criminology or ??EpiCrim.??

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This study examines a largely unexplored aspect of Sutherland’s (1974) model of differential association: the interplay of general and crime specific definitions favorable towards crime. Do individuals learn the specific techniques of a type of crime through interactions or do social interactions produce a general disposition towards all types of criminal behavior? Little prior research has been done on the influence of these definitions. Instead studies focus on only one or another, which leaves the details of general/specific definitions unexplored. With the aid of a mixed methodology of statistical and network analysis, this study explores general/specific definitions simultaneously by focusing on relationships between egos and alters. If alters commit similar crimes, it is likely that crime specific definitions are being learned; if crimes are dissimilar then general definitions are more likely. Using police data on a known criminal network located in an urban capital, I test the relationship between the criminal behaviors of egos and alters. The study also compares the centrality of the node to the commonality of crime they commit. This provides an understanding of how key nodes in the network affect the dissemination of criminal definitions. Overall, while variations exist for criminal types, the study finds that crime specific definitions dominate the network and, therefore, have greater influence over respondents’ criminal behavior. Conversely, I found no clear pattern which indicates that high centrality nodes commit more common crimes. This may indicate that high centrality nodes are responsible for disseminating general definitions of crime while most nodes communicate crime specific definition.

Mental illness and substance use disorders have been determined to be leading predictors for recidivism among criminal offenders in the United States who are released to community supervision. Women make up an increasing in percentage of this criminal justice population; however, few studies have explored the role that gender plays in determining men and women's recidivism. Offender's education, employment, and peer association have also been reported to be predictors increasing the likelihood of recidivism among criminal offenders. This study was designed to determine if gender, mental illness, substance use disorder, employment, education, and peer association predicted recidivism. Differential association theory and gender pathways theory provided the theoretical framework for this study for examining archival data obtained from the Court Services and Offender Supervision Agency AUTO Screener and Supervision Management Automated Record Tracking System. Multiple logistic regression analysis showed that substance use disorder significantly predicted recidivism, while employment decreased the likelihood of recidivism. This study did not find a significant interaction between mental illness and substance use disorder or mental illness only. Additionally, neither gender, education, nor peer association were found to be associated with recidivism. This study promotes social change by highlighting the increasing need for services for offenders and identifying the complex factors that impact recidivism. The findings from this study will be helpful to criminal justice agencies for developing programs that address the need of SUD and employment for offenders to reduce the likelihood of recidivism and increase public safety.

A presente dissertação de mestrado tratou de analisar a prática do crime de evasão de divisas como uma possível estratégia das organizações criminosas. A análise empírica deu-se, em especial, pela leitura de acórdãos – para os quais se utilizou do programa de análise de dados sociais qualitativos NVivo8 – e ementas (espécies de resumos) do Tribunal Regional Federal da 4ª Região, pela realização de entrevistas semi-estruturadas com membros do Judiciário Federal e do Ministério Público Federal, e pela observação das operações especiais realizadas pela Polícia Federal, cujas informações foram complementadas pela busca de informações na internet em sítios de notícias e de instituições governamentais. A leitura das legislações trazidas no decorrer do trabalho também serviu de subsídio para as considerações finais. Passando pelas concepções primeiras a respeito do que se entenderia por crime e criminoso de colarinho branco, buscou-se fazer uma análise, considerando o âmbito brasileiro e o período de vigência da Lei n. 7.492/86, que trata dos crimes contra o Sistema Financeiro Nacional – estando, dentre eles, a evasão. Tal estudo pretendeu identificar as eventuais dissonâncias entre as características de outrora – do delito e delinquente de colarinho branco – e as atuais, apontando para a ampliação do perfil outrora traçado por Edwin H. Sutherland. No que tange às razões e consequência da criminalização de evasão de divisas, procedeu-se à análise da necessidade de proteção da sociedade por intermédio de uma norma penal. Nessa esteira, enveredou-se por questionamentos acerca das fragilidades sociais e institucionais, da integração, da impunidade e da morosidade judicial, bem como das estratégias de combate à criminalidade econômica. O exame realizado conduziu ao entendimento de que a evasão de divisas ocorre, não raramente, conjuntamente com outros delitos e com o crime organizado, podendo ser utilizada – ainda que não o tenha sido, comprovadamente – como elemento estratégico para a sustentação de organizações criminosas. / The present Master‟s thesis analyzed the criminal practice of tax evasion as a strategy possibly used by criminal organizations. Empirical analysis was made mainly through the reading of sentences, for which I used the NVivo8 software (for qualitative social data analysis), and summaries (ementas) of the TRF 4ª R., through semi-structured interviews with members of the Federal Judiciary and of the Federal Public Ministry. And finally, through the observation of special operations performed by the Federal Police, of which information was complemented by data found on news and governmental institutions websites on the Internet. For the final considerations, I used as a foundation the legislation mentioned in the course of the work. Starting with initial concepts as to what people would understand as a crime and the white-collar criminal, I built an analysis that takes into account the Brazilian scope and the validity period of Act n. 7.492/86, which deals with crimes against the National Financial System – among them, evasion. Such research intends to identify any inconsistencies between the former characteristics – of delinquency and the white-collar delinquent – and the actual characteristics, pointing at the enlargement of the profile once defined by Edwin H. Sutherland. Regarding the reasons and the consequence of the tax evasion criminalization, I move forward, analyzing the necessity of protecting society through criminal regulation. In this context, I bring questions about social and institutional fragilities, of integration, impunity and judicial slowness, as well as questions about the strategies to combat economic crimes. The performed exam led to the understanding that tax evasion happens, not rarely, along with other transgressions and organized crime, and it is subject to be used, even though not proved, as a strategic element for sustaining criminal organizations.