<p>Life course criminology seeks to explain the factors that lead and deter individuals from engaging in persistent later-life criminality. However, the cultivation of marijuana has yet to be tested by life course related means. This thesis uses data from both the Marijuana Growers' Survey and the Belgian Marijuana Growers' Survey to examine the extent that life course related variables are associated with transitions within marijuana growers. Results suggest little support for life course related variables, and instead suggest that motivations are more important in dictating transitions associated with an increase in profit and operations. Implications of these results are discussed and policy recommendations are made. </p>

<p> Human trafficking is one of the most profitable and quickly growing organized crimes. Human trafficking occurs across the globe, including in the United States. The high profits from human trafficking outweigh the risks to the trafficker, making this a lucrative crime. Victims of trafficking are often not willing to come forward, making prosecution difficult. Federal laws and regulations have evolved over the years to be a valuable tool. However, inconsistencies in state laws surrounding trafficking often leave the burden of identification and prosecution on federal agencies. Anti-money laundering efforts are one of the ways this crime can be identified and prevented. Human trafficking profiles of high risk businesses, trafficker characteristics, victim characteristics, and money laundering red flags should be combined to create a typology that can be used by financial institutions and law enforcement to identify possible human trafficking activity. Existing money laundering statutes should be used more often during the prosecution stage to add additional sentencing times and allow for seizure of assets.</p>

<p> This paper investigates factors affecting susceptibility to online dating fraud victimization among a sample of 110 Internet users. Demographic factors such as age, income, marital status, employment, education, and country of residence are analyzed. Applicability of Routine Activities Theory to online scams is discussed, and variables such as computer use and proficiency, awareness of online scams, past experience with international dating, and interest in online dating are analyzed. Study differentiates between likelihood and severity of victimization. Findings indicate that factors most likely to affect vulnerability to online dating fraud victimization are: interest in online dating, interest in international dating, and years of computer use. Contrary to expectations, none of the demographic factors and none of the variables measuring level of awareness about online scams were statistically significant. For many variables, patterns of likelihood of victimization were different from the patterns of severity of victimization.</p>

<p> It is widely accepted that a confession is one of the most incriminating piece of evidence that can be presented in a criminal case (Kassin &amp; Neumann, 1997). However, little prior research has examined the impact of situational characteristics (e.g., length of interrogation, how recently suspect has slept, etc.) of the interrogation and resulting confession. While police tactics and personal characteristics are known to impact perceptions of the resulting confession, little is known about how aspects of an interrogation might impact the perceptions of jurors. In three studies, this dissertation seeks to determine how mock jurors' perceptions of evidence strength are impacted by the inclusion of known risk factors for false confessions. </p><p> The first study uses an in-person, student sample to evaluate the impact of interrogation length, how recently the suspect slept, and how many interrogators questioned the suspect. The second study repeats the measures of the first study using an online sample of adults. Situational interrogation factors, specifically the length of the interrogation, were found to have a significant effect on perceived evidence strength and resulting trial verdict. A confession resulting from a lengthy (16 hour) interrogation was perceived to be significantly weaker than a confession resulting from a shorter (1 hour) interrogation. Overall, when situational interrogation factors were presented to mock jurors, the evidence was perceived to be weaker and less indicative of guilt, and respondents voted to convict the defendant significantly less often. </p><p> The final study varies the age of the defendant and the alleged crime committed along with the length of the interrogation to determine whether any or all of these factors impact perceptions of evidence strength. This third study finds that confessions offered by younger defendants are viewed as less strong than older defendants, and that this effect is magnified when there is a lengthy interrogation. Similarly, defendants accused of murder who faced a lengthy interrogation were less likely to be convicted than those accused of assault. The final chapter concludes with an overall discussion of the three studies and avenues for future research.</p>

Laundering is a general term that comprises all the acts aiming at bringing back into circulation criminal funds, and especially drug trade benefits. / So it became urgent to mobilize the financial and banking institutions into joining the repressive authorities' action. Thus the different states involved examined how the proceeds of crimes and offences linked to the sale of narcotics could be detected and identified. / However the variations between all the national laws were likely to damage the fight that was getting itself better organized and internationalized. / A true international crusade took place. Finally all the European and international authorities recommended that the member states should have their laws drawn closer to one another and have effective measures adopted.

<p> To address the primary problem of racial profiling by police, many states have passed legislation that require police departments to collect demographic data on those with whom the officer comes into contact; these data are later evaluated by supervisors. The problem lies in the possibility for police officers to disengage, or <i>depolice,</i> when faced with data collection policies that may be viewed as lessening the officer's discretion. It was this potential to depolice as related to policy interpretation that formed the conceptual framework for this study. As a result, implementation of racial profiling policies may negatively impact the very minorities they are designed to protect. The purpose of this exploratory study was to identify and analyze the possible correlationship between statutory racial data tracking, the frequency of racial profiling discussion, the officer's time in policing, and history of disciplinary procedures for violating profiling policy in the decision to either stop or not stop a motorist when the race of that motorist is observed to be that of a racial and ethnic minority. A forward stepwise logistic regression was utilized to analyze data collected from a sample of 176 police officers in the Midwest recruited through police organizational contacts. The results showed the only significant predictor in a police officer's decision to stop or not stop a minority motorist was the presence of a state statute requiring the collection of racial profiling data. This information can be useful to administrators and policy makers in addressing allegations of racial profiling. Understanding the influence of mandated racial profiling data collection policies on police officer behavior offers potential explanation when analyzing individual officer minority contact ratios, and may prompt policy revision to effect equal treatment of all citizens regardless of race or ethnicity.</p>

In order to help the fight against organised crime, particularly drug dealing, the problem of money laundering has become more significant. / The various techniques used by money launderers are also subject of this thesis. Through the many ways utilised to launder money, it shows how difficult it is to pinpoint what action is on the border of legality and what is not. / These difficulties become more apparent when precise analysis is made of the law as applied in both Switzerland and the U.S.A. / Neither approach has proven successful. On the contrary, the question of constitutionality of many rules becomes relevant. Many authors do not find the application of the laws easy from the point of view of constitutional law. / The present thesis suggests to review the present laws and redefine them in a simpler manner which makes them acceptable internationally.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--Indiana University, Dept. of Criminal Justice, 2006. / Title from PDF t.p. (viewed Nov. 7, 2008). Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 67-11, Section: A, page: 4344. Advisers: S. Chernale; G. R. Aarjoura. Mode of access: World Wide Web.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Indiana University, Dept. of Criminal Justice, 2006.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University OF MICHIGAN.