This study examines the potential effects of sex offender residency restriction laws on both the offenders and potential victimsin Riverside County, CA. Through the use of census data and mapping software the residentially zoned areas in which sex offenders can or can not live are examined.

Ungdomsbrottslighet är ett utbrett problem i världen och inte minst i Sverige. I denna studie undersöktes förekomsten av ungdomsbrottslighet och i vilken grad personlighet (Cloningers biopsykosociala modell för unga), familjeförhållanden och vänners brottsliga beteende relaterar till detta. Vidare studerades i vilken grad brottsligheten skiljer sig åt beroende på kön och bostadsområde. Studien genomfördes på ett urval om 1461 ungdomar i årskurs 7 och 8 som en del i projektet LoRDIA. Resultaten beskriver ett tydligt positivt samband mellan ungdomars brottsliga beteende och personlighetsdraget Novelty Seeking (sensationssökande, d.v.s. att individen är impulsiv, utforskande och spänningssökande). Vidare återfanns ett negativt samband mellan brottslighet och familjesammanhållning och ett positivt samband mellan brottslighet och vänners brottsliga beteende vilket tyder på att en god sammanhållning inom familjen verkar som en skyddande effekt mot brottslighet medan umgänge med kriminella vänner ökar risken för brottsligt beteende. Studien visade vidare att det finns tydliga könsskillnader i ungdomars brottsmönster. Förutom att killar begår fler brott än tjejer visade det sig att personlighetsdraget Novelty Seeking, som har ett generellt statistiskt signifikant samband med brottslighet, inte gav ett signifikant samband för killar boende i ett sämre socioekonomiskt område. Studien framhåller att både individuella karaktäristika och sociala band är viktiga för förståelsen av förekomsten av ungdomsbrottslighet. / Juvenile delinquency is a widespread problem in the world and not least in Sweden. This study examined juvenile delinquency and the extent to which personality (the Cloningers biopsychosocial model for the young), family relationships and friends' criminal behavior relate to this. Furthermore, the extent to which crime differs depends on gender and residential area. The study was conducted on a selection of 1461 adolescents in 7th and 8th grade as a part of the LoRDIA project. The results describe a pronounced positive relationship between youngster's criminal behavior and the personality trait Novelty Seeking (i.e. the individual is impulsive, exploratory and sensational seeking). Furthermore, there was a negative correlation between crime and family cohesion and a positive correlation between crime and friends' criminal behavior, which suggests that good cohesion within the family seems to be a protective effect against crime while dealing with criminal friends increases the risk of criminal behavior. The study further showed that there are pronounced gender differences in youth patterns of crime. In addition to boys committing more crimes than girls, it appeared that the personality trait Novelty Seeking has not a generally statistically significant relationship with crime for boys living in a worse socioeconomic area. The study emphasizes that both individual characteristics and social ties are important for understanding the existence of juvenile delinquency.

Doctor of Philosophy / Department of Sociology, Anthropology, and Social Work / W. Richard Goe / Criminologists have traditionally studied criminal offending and violent victimization separately. Extant studies, however, demonstrates that criminals and victims overlap to some degree, hinting that a common underlying trait explains both criminal offending and violent victimization. This study tests whether Gottfredson and Hirschi’s self-control theory explains the overlap in criminal offending and violent victimization exposure among gang members. Using cross-sectional survey data from the Evaluation of the Gang Resistance Education and Training (GREAT) Program in the United States, 1995-1999, results from the regression models show that low self-control is to some degree correlated with criminal offending and violent victimization. Gang members were more likely than non-gang members to participate in some forms of criminal activities, but they were not more likely to be victimized. When variables stemming from social learning and social bonding are included in the regression models, results show that associating with delinquent peers had the strongest effect in predicting criminal offending, contradicting Gottfredson and Hirschi’s claim that self-control is the only cause of criminal behavior. In concert with previous studies that have found a link between low self-control and violent victimization, results show that youths with low self-control were somewhat more likely than youths with higher self-control to report being victimized. The results of the study, as well as venues for future research, are discussed.

This thesis provides a comprehensive review of the evolution of Robert Agnew’s General Strain Theory of Delinquency, and tests his 2002 extension using two subsamples from the 2013 National Survey on Drug Use and Health: Juveniles between 12 and 17, and “emerging” adults that are 18 years old. Including an “emerging” adult subsample makes this analysis one of the first full tests of adults. Additionally, this analysis is the first partial test of Agnew’s 2013 extension of General Strain Theory. Overall, the results of the analysis lend support to Agnew’s 2002 extension. Measures of strain are revealed to significantly effect measures of negative emotionality and low selfconstraint, and measures of negative emotionality and low self-constraint significantly affect delinquency/deviance and illicit substance use. A major limitation to the thesis is that there is no negative emotionality measure of anger, which is Agnew’s (1985; 1992) key measures of negative emotionality. / Includes bibliography. / Thesis (M.S.)--Florida Atlantic University, 2017. / FAU Electronic Theses and Dissertations Collection

Criminologists have long since documented a connection between peer deviance and personal deviance. Some theories suggest that this connection is due to a learning process where individuals may adopt the attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors of those with whom they have significant interactions, such as friends. While individuals may be susceptible to learning anti-social behavior from peers, it is unclear if certain personality characteristics may affect this relationship. The purpose of this study is to determine if differences in specific personality characteristics, such as self-esteem, introversion and extroversion, can have a moderating effect on the pressures to participate in the use of drugs and alcohol that are projected on to individuals during their adolescent years. The findings of the current study can lead to new pathways in substance use prevention and personality assessment in conjunction with risk assessment for juveniles during their middle and high school years. / Includes bibliography. / Thesis (M.S.)--Florida Atlantic University, 2015 / FAU Electronic Theses and Dissertations Collection

As a consequence of increased awareness and the current scholarly debate regarding women's differential predictors of recidivism, criminal justice agencies are working with researchers in the field to expand their knowledge in this area. In 2007, Portland State University researchers in collaboration with the Oregon Department of Corrections conducted an investigation of factors emerging in the pathways and gender responsive literature as predictive of women's recidivism in a randomly selected sample of female (n=150) and male (n=150) inmates. This study used information gathered from that investigation for two purposes: (1) to assess the prevalence rates of victimization experiences (childhood, adolescent and adulthood), substance abuse and mental health diagnosis across male and female ODOC inmates, and (2) to assess the predictive nature of victimization experiences, substance abuse and mental health diagnoses on recidivism across gender after a three year period. Findings suggest that females suffered from higher rates of victimization experiences throughout their lifetime than male ODOC inmates and higher rates of DSM-IV-TR mood and anxiety diagnosis. Similar rates were found across gender when assessing substance abuse and diagnosis of co-occurring disorders. When assessing the predictive impact of victimization, substance abuse and mental health diagnosis on recidivism this study found support for both gender neutral and gender responsive perspectives.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Texas at Austin, 2000. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 240-259). Available also in a digital version from Dissertation Abstracts.

published_or_final_version / Sociology / Master / Master of Social Sciences

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Texas at Austin, 2009. / Title from PDF title page (University of Texas Digital Repository, viewed on Sept. 9, 2009). Vita. Includes bibliographical references.

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