Criminal Justice Programs Research Articles

The Recruitment Crisis in Policing: The Downstream Effect of Exceptional Declines in Criminal Justice Student Enrollment

The crisis in police recruitment and retention of qualified applicants is one of the most significant issues facing law enforcement in the 2020s. Colleges have been desirable and important recruitment sites for qualified law enforcement candidates because criminal justice (CRJ)programs have flourished over the past 20 years, providing a robust pool of potential applicants. The COVID-19 pandemic had a major impact on enrollment, including these CRJ programs. It has been conjectured that CRJ undergraduate programs faced another challenge: the climate of social unrest which developed because of George Floyd’s death from the inappropriate use of police force. This study aimed to demonstrate whether the declines in CRJ major enrollment were greater from those of other majors, which might speak to similar socio-political variables affecting policing recruitment challenges and a potential downstream effect on recruiting. Using descriptive analyses through a series of ANOVA and t-test comparisons across the top dozen programs at the City University of New York, the fourth largest university system in the U.S. from 2019-2022, this study finds that criminal justice programs lost a larger proportion of students than othermajors. These losses were more substantial in community college associate degrees than in senior college bachelor’s degrees. within the CRJ major, we found minimal demographic differences in declines across sex/gender and racial/ethnic lines. The findings are important because they aim to separate general pandemic effects from other social effects for criminal justice programs, which in turn can affect the pipeline for recruitment of college-educated officers for police.

College students’ attitudes towards individuals convicted of a sexual offense

ABSTRACT The purpose of this study was to assess the influence of political ideology/orientation, personal experiences with sexual assault, and news source choice on college students’ attitudes towards individuals convicted of sexual offense (ICSOs). Research demonstrates public attitudes influence the actions of decision makers, thus increasing the importance that we understand public perception. In the present study, 121 college students completed a survey which included selected items from two attitude scales (CATSO & ATS-21) and multiple open-ended questions developed by the investigators. The study results did not support the hypotheses proposed in this study with respect to the influence of the attitudes of college students towards ICSOs. Findings were consistent with the results of prior research investigating factors that have influenced public attitudes. Suggestions are made for future research studying public attitudes and evidence-based decision making related to criminal justice policies and programs.

Understanding Graduate Director Roles in Criminal Justice & Criminology Programs

For several decades, researchers have examined the important role that Department Chairs serve in their respective universities as well as the challenges they encounter in their positions. However, relatively little research has explored the fundamental role that Graduate Directors serve in their positions as well as the duties they carry out and challenges they face. Researchers have yet to examine graduate directors in criminal justice and criminology programs in the same manner. Thus, this research investigation seeks to fill this gap. Utilizing an Internet survey of graduate directors in criminal justice and criminology programs nationwide, this research investigation examines the duties carried out, the challenges faced, and compensation received by those serving as Graduate Directors in criminal justice and criminology programs. Additionally, this investigation explores how COVID-19 impacted their duties, trends in enrollment, the marketing tools utilized, and the respondent recommendations to improve Graduate Director positions. The implications for future research and policy implications are discussed.

Exploring County-Level Resources Influencing Evidence-Based Practices and Treatment Uptake in Behavioral Health Settings

ABSTRACT Evidence-Based Practices and Treatments (EBPTs) are recommended to improve outcomes for individuals with behavioral health disorders and the service delivery system. This study examines how existing and new resources affect the availability of different types of EBPTs for individuals in the criminal-legal systems in 519 U.S. counties. Significant predictors of EBPs in criminal justice programs (CJ-EBPs) and evidence-based treatments (EBTs) were identified using poisson count regression models. Similar models were used to predict outcomes of higher-, medium-, low-, and minimal-cost programs. Existing staff resources and a history of prior grants largely influence the availability of CJ-EBPs and EBTs. Improving county staffing influences, particularly through peer support and resources may increase the availability of CJ-EBPs and EBTs in a county.

Mapping of Course Outcomes: Basis For an Enhanced Criminology Educational Plan

This study traced the graduates of the BS in Criminology program from a Criminology School in Davao City, covering the School Years 2013-2017. It utilized a descriptive survey method, with 154 graduates selected as respondents through random sampling. The research adopted the BS in Criminology Tracer Study Questionnaire developed by CHED and revised by Licudine et al. (2010) as its instrument. Data collection was conducted using two methods: face-to-face distribution and online distribution via Google Forms. For statistical analysis, frequency and percentage were used. The results indicated that the majority of participants were single males who graduated in 2017 and resided in the urban area of Davao del Sur. Most graduates had passed the Licensure Examination for Criminologists, while a few were enrolled in a Master of Science in Criminal Justice (MSCJ) program. Additionally, many graduates completed training in the Public Safety Basic Recruit Course (PSBRC) for professional development. Regarding employment data, most graduates were currently employed by the Philippine National Police, citing salaries and benefits as key reasons for remaining in their positions. They were walk-in applicants and found employment within 1-6 months after graduation. Graduates believed that modern facilities, competent faculty, and student communication skills could enhance the school's competitive edge. As a result of this research, a Criminology Educational Plan was developed.

Transforming how we communicate with victims :moving beyond information provision to a system of communication

This article is based on Victim Support Europe’s policy paper “Transforming how we communicate with victims: moving beyond information provision to a system of communication”, drafted and published in 2022 under the Project INFOVICTIMS 3. The three INFOVICTIMS projects, co-financed by the Criminal Justice Programme of the European Union, were developed and led by the Portuguese Association for Victim Support (Associação Portuguesa de Apoio à Vítima, APAV). As a result of multiple contacts and exchange of knowledge and experiences, a partnership between APAV and the Instituto Brasileiro de Atenção e Apoio Integral às Vítimas (PRÓVÍTIMA) was established. The connection between APAV and ProVítima is characterized by collaborative efforts and synergies to create a more robust and integrated response to the complex challenges associated with victimisation. APAV's expertise in victim support and ProVítima's specialized focus contribute to a collective and coordinated approach to prevention, intervention, and assistance for those affected by crime. This collaboration exemplifies a concerted endeavour to provide holistic support and advocate for the rights and well-being of victims within the Portuguese and Brazilian context. Under this partnership,Infovictims reached Brazil, and ProVítima Institute created the website Infovictims Brazil.

A life on hold: women, drugs, and electronically monitored parole in Thailand

ABSTRACT The United Nations Rules for the Treatment of Women Prisoners and Non-Custodial Measures for Women Offenders (the Bangkok Rules) advocate for the increased use of non-custodial measures alongside women-wise criminal justice programs, policies, and practices. In Thailand, since the Bangkok Rules were adopted, there has been increased attention paid to implementing affirmative action to counterbalance the gender discrimination women face behind prison walls. However, there is a sparsity of knowledge and consideration of women’s non-custodial involvement, in Thailand and worldwide. In this paper, we present findings from research exploring women’s pathways to and experiences of electronically monitored (EM) parole in Thailand. We found that women’s criminalisation trajectories were facilitated by a configuration of multifaceted, commonly interconnected, vulnerabilities and harms. While EM parole should, according to governmental rhetoric, be rehabilitative and supportive of reintegration through ‘the treatment of offenders in accordance with international norms and standards’ in practice, women’s needs were barely recognised, let alone met. Instead, rather than supporting women, EM parole was, in many ways, setting them up to fail.

Effectiveness of substance use disorder treatment as an alternative to imprisonment

IntroductionDrug courts are criminal justice programs to divert people with substance use disorders from incarceration into treatment. Drug courts have become increasingly popular in the US and other countries. However, their effectiveness in reducing important public health outcomes such as recidivism and substance-related health harms remains ambiguous and contested. We used nationwide register data from Sweden to evaluate the effectiveness of contract treatment sanction, the Swedish version of drug court, in reducing substance misuse, adverse somatic and mental health outcomes, and recidivism.MethodsIn this prospective cohort study, two quasi-experimental designs were used: difference-in-differences and the within-individual design. In the latter, we compared the risk of outcomes during time on contract treatment to, 1) parole after imprisonment and, 2) probation.ResultsThe cohort included 11,893 individuals (13% women) who underwent contract treatment. Contract treatment was associated with a reduction of 7 percentage points (95% CI: -.088, -.055) in substance misuse, 5 percentage points (-.064, -.034) in adverse mental health events, 9 percentage points (-.113, -.076) in adverse somatic health events, and 3 fewer charges (-3.16, -2.85) for crime in difference-in-differences analyses. Within-individual associations suggested that the same individual had longer times-to-event for all outcomes during contract treatment than on parole or on probation.ConclusionsContract treatment is an effective intervention from both public health and criminal justice perspective. Our findings suggest that it is a superior alternative to incarceration in its target group. Further, we find that an implementation approach that is less punitive and more inclusive than what is typical in the US can be successful.

Problems of countering the legalization of proceeds from criminal activity (on the example of the Kingdom of Bahrain)

This article examines the challenges of combating money laundering and terrorist financing in offshore territories of the Kingdom of Bahrain. Additionally, it reveals the methods and mechanisms of money laundering within this jurisdiction. It also provides examples from notable cases. The article analyzes the Basel AML Index indicators, part of a study by the Basel Institute under the United Nations Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice Program Network. These indicators cover a broad spectrum of risk factors, each with its own focus and scope. The rating's calculation is based on indicators organized into five main categories, each weighted differently.

Enhancing Criminology Education with Crime News Analysis

Crime news analysis is an effective teaching tool in teaching Criminology. This study illustrates the use of crime news analysis in Criminology, and examines its effectiveness using a quasi-experimental survey. The results show that crime news analysis significantly enhances students’ interest in the subject matter, improves their learning experiences, and fosters stronger attachment to the Criminal Justice program. Incorporating crime news analysis into the curriculum facilitates understanding the causes of crime, connecting theory to practice, improving analytical and critical thinking skills, and promoting active engagement with real-world issues. The study also reveals that crime news analysis’s impact is more pronounced among criminal justice majors, freshmen, sophomores, and female students. Additionally, its effectiveness is slightly higher in face-to-face classes compared to online ones. These findings provide valuable insights into optimizing the educational merits of crime news analysis in various contexts and demographics.

Criminology and Criminal Justice Education and the Search for Quality: Then and Now

This essay examines criminology and criminal justice educational programs seeking to establish quality programming though academic standards. Since the inception of criminal justice as a standalone academic degree program, questions about the quality of such programs has plagued the discipline. Examining the history of the discipline including the challenges brought from such a fast development of a great number of academic programs in criminal justice/criminology, and the resultant issues stemming from this explosion of growth, leads to questions about the quality of these programs. We examine the quality issues when the programs first started to develop and then blossom to the quality issues that still exist today. We address the development of "standards" as a measure of quality and ACJS’ role in establishing standards through certification and accreditation. We conclude with a suggestion about how to get back on track with ensuring quality programming in criminal justice programs utilizing an accreditation process.

Book Review Symposium: Women Abuse in Rural Places

In this review symposium, four readers present their views on Walter DeKeseredy’s book, Woman Abuse in Rural Places. These reviews emerged from an author meets critics session at the 2022 annual meeting of the American Society of Criminology (Atlanta, Georgia). The four reviewers were: (1) Venessa Garcia, Criminal Justice Program, New Jersey City University; (2) Deena A. Isom, Department of Criminology and Criminal Justice, University of South Carolina; (3) Jessica Peterson, Department of Criminology and Criminal Justice, Southern Oregon University; and (4) Ralph Weisheit, Department of Criminal Justice Sciences, Illinois State University. Walter DeKeseredy then addresses the various comments of the reviewers with a response titled “If I had to do it again”.

What Happens after Tenure? Exploring Stimuli of Promotion to Full Professor in Top-Ranking Criminology and Criminal Justice Programs in the United States

This research addressed how research productivity and scholarly influence may contribute to associate professors’ promotion to the full professor rank. In 2017, we collected vitae of tenure-track faculty employed at top Ph.D.-granting criminology and criminal justice programs in the U.S.A. In this paper, we used the data for 213 associate and full professors and employed survival analysis to examine their time to promotion and factors that stimulated the process. Results showed that the number of sole-authored articles and citation counts positively predicted faculty’s likelihood of being promoted to full professors. We also found faculty members who graduated after 1996 were promoted approximately twice as fast as those who graduated before the year; however, neither race nor gender influenced faculty promotion trajectories. Finally, limitations and implications were discussed.

An alternative intervention for juvenile hackers? A qualitative evaluation of the Hack_Right intervention

ABSTRACT While traditional crime rates are decreasing, cybercrime is on the rise. As a result, the criminal justice system is increasingly dealing with criminals committing cyber-dependent crimes. However, to date there are no effective interventions to prevent recidivism in this type of offenders. Dutch authorities have developed an intervention program, called Hack_Right. Hack_Right is an alternative criminal justice program for young first-offenders of cyber-dependent crimes. In order to prevent recidivism, this program places participants in organizations where they are taught about ethical hacking, complete (technical) assignments and reflect on their offense. In this study, we have evaluated the Hack_Right program and the pilot interventions carried out thus far. By examining the program theory (program evaluation) and implementation of the intervention (process evaluation), the study adds to the scarce literature about cybercrime interventions. During the study, two qualitative research methods have been applied: 1) document analysis and 2) interviews with intervention developers, imposers, implementers and participants. In addition to the observation that the scientific basis for linking specific criminogenic factors to cybercriminals is still fragile, the article concludes that the theoretical base and program integrity of Hack_Right need to be further developed in order to adhere to principles of effective interventions.

A Popularity Contest? Exploring Predictors of Faculty Influence in Criminology and Criminal Justice

Our study analyzes the factors associated with the faculty influence. We explore Google Scholar citation counts of 226 faculty at the top 20 doctoral programs in criminology and criminal justice. Our multivariate models show that some of the publication-related factors matter; the number of journal articles, proportion of articles published in prestigious journals, and proportion of books published with prestigious publishers are all positively related to citation counts, while the proportion of solo-authored articles and the number of textbooks published are both negatively related to the citation counts. Among demographic factors, faculty rank, length of years since the Ph.D., and race are related to citation counts, while gender is not. Finally, institutional prestige is positively related to citation counts, while the field of specialization is not.

Driver Licences, Diversionary Programs and Transport Justice for First Nations Peoples in Australia

In Australia, one significant cause of the imprisonment and disadvantage of First Nations people relates to transport injustice. First Nations people face obstacles in becoming lawful road users, particularly in relation to acquiring driver licences, with driving unlicensed a common pathway into the criminal justice system. This paper identifies that while some programs focus on increasing driver licensing for First Nations people, there are significant limitations in terms of coverage and access. Further, very few diversionary or support programs proactively address the intersection between First Nations people’s driver licensing and the criminal justice system. Nevertheless, it is argued that scope does exist within some state and territory criminal justice programs to enhance transport justice by assisting First Nations people to secure driver licensing. This paper highlights the need for accessible, available and culturally safe driver licencing support programs in First Nations communities led by First Nations people.

“This is Part of my Final Grade”: A LatCrit Critique of Prison Tours as Pedagogical Tools in Criminal Justice Education

The proliferation of criminal justice programs brings new pedagogical challenges for educators who look for innovative ways to help students build lasting connections between theory, research, and practice. Prison tours are a well-known experiential learning practice in criminal justice courses. Educators have emphasized the benefits of using prison tours in providing students with first-hand knowledge of the criminal justice system, but critics have questioned their educational value, and the subjectivity of students’ personal experiences are rarely considered. In this article, I use LatCrit to problematize the use of prison tours as pedagogical tools in criminal justice courses, focusing on my status as a Latinx scholar and educator. I combine counter-story telling and autoethnography to highlight my own prison tour experience. I question the educational benefits of prison tours and discuss the potential harms they can cause Latinx students who have previously come into contact with the criminal justice system.

Patterns and Profiles in Faculty Publication Productivity

Unlike prior studies that have examined the research productivity to develop various rank-order metrics of particular scholars or institutions, we seek to determine ways in which criminology and criminal justice faculty at the top 21 doctoral programs publish their research. To account for a potential diversity in faculty publication productivity, our study considers various outlets for faculty publications—journal articles, books, and book chapters—and develops composite profiles of publication productivity. Our intention is not to rank faculty and determine academic stars, but to distinguish groups of faculty similar in their patterns of faculty productivity. We analyze the publications of over 90% of all tenured and tenure-track faculty employed by the top 21 U.S. doctoral programs in criminology and criminal justice. Our latent profile analysis yielded five distinct profiles of productivity among the faculty in the top doctoral programs. Our study reaffirms the need for the use of multidimensional measures of publication productivity.

The effect of COVID-19 pandemic on college enrollment: How has enrollment in criminal justice programs been affected by the pandemic in comparison to other college programs

The COVID-19 pandemic has affected various aspects of our lives. For many, it has affected their ability to attend school. While some have switched to online classes, others have had to drop or delay college until later. Using official enrollment data for 12 public universities in the State of Texas, this study explores the impact the COVID-19 pandemic has had on student enrollment in criminal justice programs. A series of statistical techniques, including t-tests comparing pre- and post-pandemic enrollment numbers and panel data analysis models, are utilized to investigate the trends and changes in the program enrollments between 2009 and 2021. While in alignment with the existing research on the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on college enrollment in general the authors have found a negative statistically significant effect of the pandemic on total college enrollment for all universities in the sample, no statistically significant effect of the pandemic was found on enrollment in criminal justice programs at 12 public universities. The effect was also non-existent for engineering and all social science programs combined. In contrast to all other programs studied herein, enrollment in natural science programs was found to be positively associated with the pandemic. Authors offer an explanation for these findings as well as suggest ideas for future research.

Evidence-Based Inventory of Criminal Justice Programs in Nebraska

Evidence-Based Inventory of Criminal Justice Programs in Nebraska