Criminological Theory Research Articles

Toward a Criminology of Sexual Harassment

Public attention to sexual harassment has increased sharply with the rise of the #MeToo movement, although the phenomenon has sustained strong scientific and policy interest for almost 50 years. A large and impressive interdisciplinary scholarly literature has emerged over this period, yet the criminology of sexual harassment has been slow to develop. This review considers how criminological theory and research can advance knowledge on sexual harassment—and how theory and research on sexual harassment can advance criminological knowledge. We review classic and contemporary studies and highlight points of engagement in these literatures, particularly regarding life-course research and violence against women. After outlining prospects for a criminology of sexual harassment that more squarely addresses perpetrators as well as victims, we discuss how criminological insights might contribute to policy efforts directed toward prevention and control.

Latino Criminology: Unfucking Colonial Frameworks in “Latinos and Crime” Scholarship

To “unfuck” is to correct a situation, or yourself, if necessary, and in a timely manner. There is an enduring need to audit and deconstruct the colonial features of criminological theory and criminal justice practices. To better understand these enduring colonial inheritances, this article offers a forward-looking prospectus on the merits of a Latino criminology and highlights the shared historical and conceptual overlaps between critical criminology and Latino Studies in studying interpersonal harms, racialized social control, and state violence. Compatible with both orthodox and progressive perspectives in criminology and criminal justice scholarship, an emergent and politically reflexive Latino criminology centers the margins by articulating areas of intervention for scholars to improve criminological inquiry and depart—or unfuck ourselves—from the many settler colonial and white supremacist inheritances of our field.

Who Produces Online Hate?: An Examination of the Effects of Self-Control, Social Structure, & Social Learning

The growing prevalence of hate material on the Internet has led to mounting concerns from scholars and policymakers alike. While recent scholarship has explored predictors of exposure, perception, and participation in online hate, few studies have empirically examined the social factors that lead individuals to produce cyberhate. Therefore, this work examines the production of online hate using online survey data (N = 520) of youth and young adults collected in December 2017. We draw on two commonly-cited criminological theories, the General Theory of Crime (GTC) and Social Structure-Social Learning Theory (SSSL), to understand social factors that contribute to producing cyberhate. In addition, we consider whether a broader relationship exists between the production of online hate and support for President Trump, whose rhetoric has gained traction among far-right and alt-right communities that traffic in hate. Logistic regression results show limited support for GTC, as low self-control is not a significant correlate of producing cyberhate after other relevant variables are considered. We find more robust support for SSSL, as the production of cyberhate is associated with an individual’s social location, online associations, and differential reinforcement. Moreover, we find evidence that individuals who approve of President Trump’s job performance are more likely to produce online hate.

The Glass is at Least Half Full: Reflections on the Internationalization of Criminology

The purpose of this essay is to offer reflections on the extent to which and the ways in which the production of criminological knowledge has (or has not) become more “international.” With respect to extent, I review previous work that has searched for evidence of internationalization by means of content analyses of criminological scholarship and by inquiries into the membership on editorial boards of journals. I build upon these studies by reporting original evidence on internationalization as reflected in the publications appearing in Criminology, the journal of the American Society of Criminology, over the course of the current century. With respect to the ways in which internationalization has unfolded, I review some of the comparative research that has been directed towards assessing the applicability of criminological theories developed in the West to the context of East Asian societies. I conclude with brief remarks about the internationalization of criminology in the future.

Violence against Women: Trends and Counter Measures in Smart Cities of India

Violence against women is a world-wide crisis of pandemic magnitude. The crime statistics in India show a steady increase in violence against women in urban areas.Different theories in Criminology have sought to explain violent crime in general and violence against women in particular.Violence inhibits harm both psychological and physical.The crime statistics is self explanatory and exhibits the scenario of violence against women in nineteen metropolitan cities of India which are smart cities. However it deserves mention that the level of literacy,development of the states, religious and cultural values,geographical and political location of the city can play provocative causes for the incidents of criminality. Collaborative effort of the people, NGOs and the urban police can foster sustainable urban society which are smart in the true sense of the term. Each city has its unique characteristics, issues of concern and distinct demographic and environmental conditions which influence people's life and crime trends. Thus each commissionerate should identify the lacunae, problems and prioritise accordingly and can thereby succeed in achieving success in combating crime. The present study analyses the trends of violence against women in smart cities of India and attempts to explore the counter measures that can be undertaken to eradicate the bane.

Криминализация АУЕ*: подводные камни реализации политико-правового решения*Организация запрещена в РФ

The article analyzes the expected positive and possible negative consequences of the implementation of the decision of the Supreme Court of the Russia to ban the activities of the international public movement “Prisoner criminal unity” in the Russian Federation. The organization is recognized as extremist. The author considers possible options for criminal-legal assessment of the activities of adults who coordinate minor adherents of this subculture, legal assessment of the collection and storage of material and financial resources (the so-called “obshchak”), which are intended to Finance the activities of the “AUE” movement or its members. Special attention is paid to the issues of legal influence on teenagers who are in one way or another committed to the“AUE”-ideology. Based on criminological theory and practice, the author draws attention to a number of issues on which it is necessary to develop a clear position in order to avoid negative side effects from the application of the norms of the Codec of the Russia on administrative offenses and the Criminal code of the Russian Federation. Among these consequences, the risks of dramatization of evil and stigmatization with subsequent polarization of young people, excessive expansion of the boundaries of criminal repression for ideological reasons, and an increase in the mood of sympathy or imitation for those who will be brought to criminal responsibility for adhering to the criminal subculture are highlighted. According to the author, the window of opportunities for countering the criminal subculture should be used with great care, so as not to repeat the mistakes and excesses that were previously made in countering extremist activities and for the sake of eliminating which the Prosecutor General’s office of the Russian Federation, together with the Plenum of the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation, in September 2018, were forced to significantly adjust law enforcement practice.

An Empirical Analysis of Machine Learning Algorithms for Crime Prediction Using Stacked Generalization: An Ensemble Approach

Ensemble learning method is a collaborative decision-making mechanism that implements to aggregate the predictions of learned classifiers in order to produce new instances. Early analysis has shown that the ensemble classifiers are more reliable than any single part classifier, both empirically and logically. While several ensemble methods are presented, it is still not an easy task to find an appropriate configuration for a particular dataset. Several prediction-based theories have been proposed to handle machine learning crime prediction problem in India. It becomes a challenging problem to identify the dynamic nature of crimes. Crime prediction is an attempt to reduce crime rate and deter criminal activities. This work proposes an efficient authentic method called assemble-stacking based crime prediction method (SBCPM) based on SVM algorithms for identifying the appropriate predictions of crime by implementing learning-based methods, using MATLAB. The SVM algorithm is applied to achieve domain-specific configurations compared with another machine learning model J48, SMO Naïve byes bagging and, the Random Forest. The result implies that a model of a performer does not generally work well. In certain cases, the ensemble model outperforms the others with the highest coefficient of correlation, which has the lowest average and absolute errors. The proposed method achieved 99.5% classification accuracy on the testing data. The model is found to produce more predictive effect than the previous researches taken as baselines, focusing solely on crime dataset based on violence. The results also proved that any empirical data on crime, is compatible with criminological theories. The proposed approach also found to be useful for predicting possible crime predictions. And suggest that the prediction accuracy of the stacking ensemble model is higher than that of the individual classifier.

Exposure to mother's verbal conflict with her intimate partner and aggressive behavior of urban adolescents: An empirical test of three criminological theories.

The current study applied the General Strain Theory (GST), Social Disorganization Theory (SDT), and Social Control Theory (SCT) to examine the association between exposure to verbal conflict between a mother and her intimate partner, and aggressive behavior of urban adolescents. The sample included 518 urban adolescents (96% Black), aged 14 to 17 years. Descriptive statistics, structural equation modeling (SEM), and moderation analyses were conducted. Consistent with GST, exposure to verbal conflict between the mother and her intimate partner was indirectly associated with aggression, as mediated by emotional distress. Also, consistent with SDT, neighborhood violence was positively associated with aggression. Neighborhood violence was associated with exposure to verbal conflict between their mother and her intimate partner, which was related to aggressive behavior in urban adolescents. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved).

Трансформація підходів поліцейського функціонування в руслі впровадження теорії розбитих вікон і моделі САРО

The purpose of the article is to study the foreign experience of using in modern Ukrainian realities methods of effective crime prevention in the framework of the theory of broken windows and the SARO model (scanning, analysis, response and evaluation). Methodology. A set of general scientific and special-scientific methods of cognition is used, namely: terminological, system-structural, formal-logical, historical-legal, comparative-legal, social-legal, method of theoretical-legal analysis. The scientific novelty of the obtained results is that for the first time in domestic criminology an attempt to transform approaches to policing in line with the implementation of the theory of broken windows and the SARO model in the context of cross-border cooperation and globalization, as well as outlined the spiritually valuable aspects of the practical implementation of the studied concepts. The scientific article examines the current problems of modern Ukrainian society and proposes measures for crime prevention and reducing in line with the implementation of the theory of broken windows and the SARO model. A general digression into the history of these concepts has been made, spiritually valuable aspects of the theory of broken windows are revealed, foreign experience of SARO model implementation is studied, and also revealed the specifics of their functioning in the context of cross-border cooperation and globalization. The author substantiates the need for practical implementation of the studied theoretical developments in domestic realities. Numerous scientific works are devoted to the study of the theory of broken windows; however, the situation remains disappointing: it has not been properly popularized and put into practice. There is a need to unite the efforts of all public authorities, civil society institutions and the entire social community in order to consolidate cooperation for further promotion of this area of research. From the standpoint of the practical implementation of the theory of broken windows would be quite effective action «Put order near your home». You can announce a competition, annually encouraging concerned citizens, entrepreneurs to make our cities tidier, more attractive for visitors. No wonder they say: tidy is not where they clean, but where they do not litter, because everything starts with cleanliness. At the same time, the police and the public must take a principled stand in these processes. In the institutional hierarchy of all criminological theories and concepts, the SARO model is promising for implementation. Canadian experience in its practical application has shown the successful overcoming of poverty, unemployment, drug addiction, domestic violence, suicidal ideation, corruption, high crime rates, and public distrust. The implementation of the SARO model in Ukrainian realities is an important step in the reform of the Ministry of Internal Affairs in the direction of crime prevention. Conclusions. According to the theory of broken windows, the rate of deterioration of the criminogenic situation directly depends on the number of minor offenses. The theory clearly demonstrates how the smallest details affect great successes, achievements and victories. It is aimed at eradicating and fighting with evil. It turns out that littered streets, polluted environment, run-down houses, painted walls are the cause of many offenses and negative consequences in society. The theory of broken windows is not only external purity, but first of all – internal, which is the key to harmony, well-being, and usual moral and psychological climate in the team, the state. In addition, this theory is a promising factor in crime prevention. For example, when the investigator inspects the scene of a crime, he pays attention to the smallest details and subtleties. Therefore, the studied theory can be developed on a much broader scale, considering it in terms of spiritual and value component: purity of thoughts, the ability to respect human as the highest social value. Thus, the social aspects of the theory of broken windows and the model of SARO in relation to their implementation are boundless. In close cooperation between states, public authorities and the community, investment projects are of great importance on the way to cleanliness in cities, crime and optimizing the functioning of the police. As part of the practical implementation of the theory of broken windows and the SARO model, it is proposed to start writing joint research. We believe that these criminological developments need special popularization in order for further their practical implementation in each region of our state. This year MDNP in Ivano-Frankivsk region proposed to include in the Plan of research and development work of the National Academy of Internal Affairs for 2021 research: Criminological theory of broken windows and the model of interaction between the police and the SARO community (scanning, analysis, response and evaluation) in crime prevention, which will enhance scientific work on writing theoretical and methodological works, as well as preparing conclusions and recommendations for practical implementation of experience in domestic realities. Keywords: theory of broken windows; SARO model; police functioning; public authorities; spiritual and value component.

A CRIMINOLOGIA MIDIÁTICA COMO INSTRUMENTO DO ETIQUETAMENTO SOCIAL

Este artigo tem por objetivo analisar o etiquetamento social e a criminologia midiática, pontuando suas consequências e limites, como tentativa de atenuar seus possíveis danos. Etiquetamento Social é o nome dado à estigmatização de indivíduos com o intuito de marginalizá-los e, eventualmente, encarcerá-los. Cronologicamente, foram sendo desenvolvidas teorias criminológicas. Sociólogos desenvolveram teses, de modo que cada nova tese confrontava a anterior. O labeling approach surgiu logo após a teoria positiva e a teoria das subculturas criminais. A principal marca do labeling approach é tratar de forma discriminatória e taxativa apenas uma parcela da população, qual seja: a parcela mais carente, em termos de poder aquisitivo. Como uma espécie de desdobramento do etiquetamento social, surgiu a criminologia midiática, que nada mais é do que uma forma de manipulação exercida pela mídia, que endossa a estigmatização de indivíduos. A mídia reforça a ideia de estereótipos e constantemente palpita sobre o tratamento cruel que, na opinião daquela, estes indivíduos deveriam receber. A pesquisa torna-se relevante por tratar dos juízos de valor que são feitos baseados em tipos físicos, local de resdiência, companhias, cor da pele, etc, tudo isso em decorrência do etiquetamento social e da criminologia midiática. A metodologia utilizada foi a revisão de literatura, através de análise doutrinária de alguns autores. Nesta senda, cumpre ressaltar que o referencial teórico baseia-se em Alessandro Baratta (2002) e Zaffaroni (2012), dois dos principais expoentes no que tange aos temas em comento. Destarte, espera-se contribuir para o conhecimento dos meandros do etiquetamento social e da criminologia midiática e, consequentemente, para a desmistificação da figura do criminoso, de modo a promover uma reflexão acerca de possíveis injustiças cometidas em face de alguns cidadãos em decorrência de julgamentos precipitados e dotados de pura estigmatização.

A Biosocial Perspective on the Relationship of Sexual Infidelity to Intimate Partner Violence Focusing on Socioeconomic Factors, Cohabiting Unions, and Children

Data from the National Study of Adolescent to Adult Health (Add Health) were used to analyze relationships between sexual infidelity and intimate partner violence (IPV). A biosocial perspective was advanced and compared to criminological theories. General estimating equations, fit for repeated observations of binary outcomes, were used to estimate the impact on the odds of IPV changing between waves 3 and 4 of the data in response to changes in experiences with infidelity. Analyses suggest that socioeconomic factors of educational attainment and employment may serve as mitigating variables in the perpetration of IPV. Men were more likely to cheat, but less likely to perpetrate IPV when employed full-time. Women were more likely than men to report perpetrating IPV but were less likely to respond violently to infidelity as their educational attainment level increased. Cohabiting and children increased the risk of IPV for men and women and were not found to modify the link between infidelity and IPV for either sex. Findings were largely consistent with the expectations of a biosocial perspective but also offered mixed support for criminological theories.

Pandemija Covid-19 i kriminalitet u Srbiji 2020. godine

This paper examines c rime in Serbia in 2020 when the actual Covid-19 pandemic has started. The first part of the paper is dedicated to presentation of relevant literature which analyzed crime during the pandemic in different countries. Further, the author gives and in depth analyses the theoretical background, first and foremost theories of environmental criminology, that could explain changes of crime due to the different social circumstances. The second part of the paper deals with crime rate in Serbia in 2020 in comparison to previous years. Data used stem from two sources. Firstly, annual crime rate is calculated by using judicial statistics whereas monthly presentation of criminal charges is based on police statistics. This is due to the fact that judicial statistics in Serbia contain only annual crime data. Secondly, the author has used ARIMA program to make crime forecasts for the capital city of the Republic of Serbia and for this analysis police statistics have been used. Results show that the general crime rate in Serbia has dropped for 20% in comparison to 2019. Variations between state regions are observable and for example Vojvodina region records the decrease of 12.7% whereas Šumadija and Western Serbia the decrease of 25.4%. Also, crime rate was calculated for several criminal offences: homicide and aggravated homicide, rape, domestic violence, violent behaviour, theft, aggravated theft, robbery, abuse of power of the responsible person in the economy. Apart from homicide and aggravated homicide (the crime rate calculated together), all other criminal offences recorded a decline in 2020 in comparison to 2019 and this was especially evident for the abuse of power of the responsible person in the economy, aggravated theft and robbery. With respect to police statistics, we presented monthly data of criminal charges for three criminal offences (theft, aggravated theft, domestic violence) in 2020 for four cities: Belgrade, Novi Sad, Kragujevac and Niš. The data are presented in absolute numbers. When it comes to theft and aggravated theft, the lowest number of criminal charges in all cities was recorded in April, when the decision on the state of emergency was in force. Since the middle of the year and after the abolishment of the state of emergency, there has been a noticeable trend of increasing of criminal charges for theft and aggravated theft in all cities. Domestic violence hasn't followed such a trend. Only in Belgrade the lowest number of filed criminal charges was recorded in April, while in other cities this happened in the period September-October. Finally, the author uses ARIMA model to make comparison between expected and recorded criminal charges for homicide and aggravated homicide, rape, domestic violence, violent behaviour, theft, aggravated theft, robbery, abuse of power of the responsible person in the economy in the city of Belgrade. We used police data for the period January 2015-February 2020 as a base for crime forecasts for the period March-December 2020. In the lockdown homicide and aggravated homicide were recorded slightly less than expected whereas these crimes were evidently higher in the period May-August. All other criminal offences recorded lower values than expected. The greatest discrepancy was noticed in the lockdown (April-May). The recorded value was almost for 100% lower for abuse of power of the responsible person in the economy than expected, 70% for violent behaviour and theft, 50% for robbery and 40% for aggravated theft. The recorded number of criminal charges for domestic violence was for 25% lower in April than expected. After the lockdown, all criminal offences recorded higher values but, except from homicide and aggravated homicide, these values were still generally lower than predicted.

СОЦИАЛЬНЫЕ ТЕОРИИ ПРИЧИННОСТИ ПРЕСТУПНОСТИ ТЕРРОРИСТИЧЕСКОЙ НАПРАВЛЕННОСТИ

The article deals with the algorithm for assessing the research value of individual theories of causality of terrorism offences. Various research schools developed several main directions, which explain the reasons for terrorism offences. Mostly, these theories are convincing both theoretically and empirically, and it is problematic to explain many of them. The result of the study is the analysis of the strengths and weaknesses of social theories of the causality of terrorism offences. In the study, we used such general scientific methods as analysis, synthesis, and a system -structural method. We also used such specific scientific methods as biographical analysis, statistical analysis, comparative-historical and expert assessment. The article comes to several conclusions below. Among the factors, with the help of which it is advisable to determine the value of the theory of causality of terrorism offences were political and doctrinal biases. Political and doctrinal biases were among the factors by which it is advisable to determine the value of the theory of causality for terrorist-related crimes. The political bias of a criminological theory is compliance with the needs and perception of the world of the most active social groups that form the social request to the science from society. The doctrinal bias of the criminological theory is the conformity to the interests and the main provisions of the doctrine as a source of law and legal science. The theory of anomy by E. Durkheim cannot apply to terrorism. Within the framework of this theory, one of the basic statements is the idea that crime can be a factor in integrating society, the strengthening of social ties. It is difficult to see an integrative social component in modern revolutionary separatist and expansionist. The theories of differentiated communication of E. Sutherland and D. Cressey concerning terrorism are not applicable. The principal postulate of this theory says that the more a person interacts with the criminal environment, the higher is the probability of his antisocial infestation. However, the thesis that most terrorists come from a criminal or close to a criminal environment is not confirmed by anything, even if we talk only about the ordinary members of terrorist organizations. The research vector, focused on the multifactorial analysis of criminological theories, will contribute to their deeper scientific understanding at the theoretical level, and more effective application at the practical one. One of the main ideas is the thesis about the targeting of each theory of the causality of terrorism offences.

Концептуальні основи культурологічного напряму підвищення рівня безпеки дорожнього руху в Україні

The author’s vision of the conceptual bases of the culturological direction of reduction of transport offenses in Ukraineis stated in the article. The culturological direction is one of the aspects of criminological theory and practice of crimeprevention and its manifestations. Its essence is a significant impact on the legal awareness of road users, includingdrivers, the restraining force of law and culture. According to the authors, increasing attention to compliance with trafficregulations is due to the threat of significant losses of legal, material, personal and other nature for potential offenders. This should promote their technical culturization, limit, if not completely, then partially the manifestations of arbitrarinesson the roads. The basis of the culturological direction is a set of special concrete measures that are able to significantlychange the catastrophic situation on the roads of Ukraine with their integrated potential and its real use in a short period(2–3 years). In other words, to really achieve – not on paper and not through accounting manipulations – 30% reductionin road deaths. This set consists of measures of social, normative, technical, cultural, criminological and psychologicalnature, the effectiveness of which will be achieved only by identifying the political will of the state and responsible attitudeto their implementation of the subjects carrying out cultural activities.Key words: road safety, culturological direction, conceptual bases, compulsory technical culturization, reduction oftraffic offenses.

Assessing the Intraday Variation of the Spillover Effect of Tweets-Derived Ambient Population on Crime

The spatial pattern of geotagged tweets reflects the dynamic distribution of the ambient population during day and night as a result of people’s routine activities. A few studies have assessed the impact of tweets-derived ambient population on crime and the spillover effect of such impact at different spatial and temporal scales. However, none has revealed the intraday variation of such spillover effect. This study analyzes both the direct and spillover effects of tweets-derived ambient population on crime and its intraday difference in day and night during weekdays and weekends. Four crime types, including assault, burglary, robbery, and theft, are examined at the neighborhood level. The analysis is based on negative binomial regression models, with the control of necessary socioeconomic and land-use variables driven by criminology theories. Results show (1) tweets-derived ambient population affects the magnitude of crime, but this effect varies by types of crime at different time periods of the day and week, and (2) the spillover effect of the tweets-derived ambient population exists for all four types of crime during most of the time periods at the neighborhood level and is particularly pronounced for thefts at all time periods. Similar results are seen in the block-level analysis. This study further confirms the utility of the count of geotagged tweets as a measure of the ambient population and its spatial lag for intraday analyses of crime, particularly theft.

Approaching the end of post - soviet transition? Trends of youth crime in Klaipėda in 2005-2019

The article presents a sociological and criminological analysis of data on registered youth criminal offences (young people of 14-29 years old) in Klaipėda. The analysed period covers the years from 2005 to 2019 (late post-Soviet period). It includes youth crime offences and persons suspected of committing a crime. The period is characterised by a constant downward trend in crime. There were no substantial changes in criminal law during this period, however, Lithuania significantly strengthened the legal and material background for work with juveniles and young adults. On the basis of the insights of the theories of anomie, social control and ecological criminology, the article analyses the key indicators of youth crime and its dynamics. The changes by age and employment of persons who have allegedly committed criminal offences are analysed.

The phenomenon of cybercrime in modern criminological theory

The article considers the concepts and signs of cybercrime, the phenomenon of cybercrime through the prism of indicators thatcharacterize it, in particular the level, dynamics, structure. The social conditionality and the current state are determined taking intoaccount various factors that influence the change of quantitative and qualitative indicators. Globalism, a high level of public danger andthe massive consequences of cyber threats are emphasized.It is pointed out that the scale of threats to the information space is not limited to the borders of one country, as modern globalcomputer networks cover the vast majority of countries, which further contributes to a sharp increase in criminal computer professiona lism and high mobility of criminals. Therefore, it is timely to study and analyze the system of rapidly changing high-tech cyberthreats, tactics of interaction in the field of information security, which affects the formation of sustainable development of society, thefunctioning of mechanisms to counter information threats taking into account modern realities.The signs of the phenomenon of cybercrime through the prism of indicators that characterize it are highlighted:– the scale of threats to the information space is not limited to the borders of one state;– changes in the quantitative and qualitative indicators of cybercrime, in particular a sharp increase in criminal computer professionalismand high mobility of criminals;– the level of cybercrime is closely related to the economic level of development of society in different countries and regions;– cyber threats are fast-changing and high-tech;– high level of latency;– the dependence of the geography of distribution on the factor of urbanization;– Cybercrime is a social phenomenon that manifests itself in a set of cybercrimes.It is noted that in order to prevent these crimes it is necessary to conduct further research in social and criminological areas to studythe psychophysiological properties of cybercriminals, improve domestic legislation in the field of state secrets and official information,international cooperation in information security, improve the content of higher education information security professionals states.

Individual and Environmental Explanations for Violent Extremist Intentions: A German Nationally Representative Survey Study

This study examines individual differences in violent extremist intentions. It combines key criminological theories and concepts including situational action theory, social learning theory, self-control, general strain theory and legal cynicism. We employ a conceptually integrated approach to studying extremism, which acknowledges the profound effect of person-environment reciprocity and, thereby, we aim to identify key individual, developmental and social mechanisms involved in the development of extremist propensities. The analytical framework is tested using structural equation modeling. The analysis is based on a German nationally representative survey (N = 1502) collected via Computer Assisted Telephone Interviewing (CATI). Representativity of the sample was achieved via a systematic and controlled approach of a multi-stratified probability sample (random-digit-dialing) in the dual-frame mode (landline telephone- households and mobile phone users). Results highlight that low law-relevant morality, low self-control, and exposure to extremism-promoting settings are associated with individuals’ readiness to engage in violent extremism. The relationship between legal morality, self-control and violent extremism is further mediated by exposure to extremist peers. We thereby identify exposure to extremist settings as a key mechanism, which stresses the importance of including social environmental factors in the explanation of violent extremism. The proximate determinants are further related to a series of distal factors, such as perceived individual and collective strains and personal alienation.

The Victim-Offender Overlap in Sexual Offending: Exploring a Community-Based Sample of Young Adults in Hong Kong.

This study examines the overlap between sexual offending perpetration and victimization among 1,171 participants (18-40 years) in Hong Kong. Testing the theoretical propositions of several criminological theories (i.e., self-control, general strain, routine activity, and social learning), the participants' prevalence of general, penetrative, and nonpenetrative sexual offending perpetration and victimization are explored. The findings indicated that sexual offending perpetration and victimization are generally positively correlated, and further tests using multivariate analyses confirmed the relationship between these two experiences. Less than 5% of the sample had both sexual offending perpetration and victimization experience. The results of logistic regression indicated that participants who engaged in sexual offending were 1.67 times more likely to fall prey to sexual victimization. Similar odds ratio (1.67 times) was true for sexual victimization in predicting sexual offending perpetration. A bivariate probit model confirmed the sexual victim-offender overlap, with the Spearman's rho correlation from the unadjusted model suggesting significant overlap with general sexual offending (79%). Having a high level of risky sexual behavior was found to be a general risk factor for engaging in sexual offending behavior and for falling prey to sexual victimization.

Examining the Role of Power-Control Theory and Self-Control to Account for Computer Hacking

Criminological inquiry consistently identifies a gender difference in offending rates, which are also evident among certain forms of cybercrime. The gender difference in cybercrime offending is particularly large within computer hacking, though few have specifically addressed this issue through applications of criminological theory. The current study attempted to account for the gender disparity in hacking through a test of power-control theory, which considers the role of class and family structure. This analysis also incorporated an extension of power-control theory through the influence of low self-control. Using data from the Second International Self-Report of Delinquency study (ISRD-2), logistic regression analyses were estimated, producing partial support for both theories to account for hacking. Implications for theory and research were explored in detail.