Showing papers in "Justice Quarterly in 2019"
TL;DR: In this article, the authors discuss why some terrorist attacks receive more coverage than others. But not all incidents receive equal attention. And why some incidents receive more attention than others, while not all attacks receive equal coverage.
Abstract: Terrorist attacks often dominate news coverage as reporters seek to provide the public with information. Yet, not all incidents receive equal attention. Why do some terrorist attacks receive more m...
123 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors used data collected from the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) in 2008 to investigate the effect of credibility of a complainant on the likelihood that an officer will question a complainant's credibility.
Abstract: Research has long highlighted the importance of complainant credibility in influencing sexual assault (SA) case outcomes. Despite these findings, few studies have investigated the police decision to question a complainant’s credibility. This study uses data on SAs reported to the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) in 2008 to address this issue, specifically focusing on the effects of rape culture. Results suggest that indicators of “real rape” and measures of complainant “character flaws” influence the likelihood that an officer will question a complainant’s credibility. Notably, all indicators measuring officer perceptions of complainant “character flaws”—whether reputation issues were present, the complainant suffered from mental health issues, her testimony was inconsistent, and if the officer believed she had a motive to lie—increased the likelihood that the police would question her credibility. Practical implications, theoretical advancements, and directions for future research are discussed.
69 citations
TL;DR: In this article, prison visitation is an important tool used to strengthen inmates' social ties and incentivize good behavior in prison, however, prison visits do not always go well for inmates, and we know li...
Abstract: Prison visitation is an important tool used to strengthen inmates’ social ties and incentivize good behavior in prison. Nevertheless, prison visits do not always go well for inmates, and we know li...
65 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the authors proposed a theoretical framework for explaining disparities in sentencing outcomes, which is the predominant theoretical framework in criminology for explain disparities in criminal justice outcomes. But, while the framework has generated a large body of empirical scholarship,
Abstract: “Focal concerns” is the predominant theoretical framework in criminology for explaining disparities in sentencing outcomes. While the framework has generated a large body of empirical scholarship, ...
64 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the spatial and temporal confluence of offenders and targets is considered for studies assessing routine activities theory, where people move about during the daytime and night for routine activities.
Abstract: A challenge for studies assessing routine activities theory is accounting for the spatial and temporal confluence of offenders and targets given that people move about during the daytime and nightt...
63 citations
TL;DR: In this article, structural hypotheses regarding police-caused homicides of minorities were tested regarding minority threat and community violence hypotheses, and the former maintains that relatively large numbers of relatively large...
Abstract: We test structural hypotheses regarding police-caused homicides of minorities. Past research has tested minority threat and community violence hypotheses. The former maintains that relatively large...
52 citations
TL;DR: This article applied moral foundations theory to capital juror decision making, and hypothesized that binding moral foundations would predict death qualification and punitive sentencing decisions, and demonstrated that such foundations predicted death qualification.
Abstract: This study applies moral foundations theory to capital juror decision making. We hypothesized that binding moral foundations would predict death qualification and punitive sentencing decisions, whe...
51 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors reinterpret the current inventory of knowledge on gang disengagement through the lens of signaling theory, and explore how gang members successfully communicate their unobservable "inner change" to outsiders and eventually escape the grip of the gang.
Abstract: Extant theoretical work on gang exit has focused more on the pushes and pulls that motivate de-identification, rather than the mechanisms underlying the process of disengagement. How gang members successfully communicate their unobservable “inner change” to outsiders and eventually escape the grip of the gang is unresolved. This article reinterprets the current inventory of knowledge on gang disengagement through the lens of signaling theory. We position de-identification as private information that the gang member must signal to competing stakeholders—the gang, rival gangs, crime control agents—in order to successfully progress through the stages of disengagement established in prior theory and research. We explore how mechanisms of signaling, screening, and credible commitments underline continuity and change in levels of gang embeddedness and examine the role of the receivers of signals in validating disengagement. We conclude with testable hypotheses, the generality of the model, and associated implic...
49 citations
TL;DR: This article found that hate crimes most likely to result in hate crime are those that fit the profile of a stereotypical hate crime: violent incidents, incidents committed by hate groups, and incidents involving white offenders and black victims.
Abstract: Many hate crimes are not reported and even fewer hate crimes result in an arrest. This study investigates patterns of victim reporting and arrest for hate crimes in two parts. First, using data from the National Crime Victimization Survey, we find that, controlling for offense severity, hate crimes are less likely than non-bias crimes to be reported to the police and that the police are less likely to take further action for hate crimes, compared to non-hate crimes. Second, we use data from the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission and the National Incident-Based Reporting System to compare differences between types of hate crimes in the likelihood of crime clearance. We find that those hate crimes most likely to result in arrest are those that fit the profile of a “stereotypical” hate crime: violent incidents, incidents committed by hate groups, and incidents involving white offenders and black victims.
46 citations
TL;DR: The rape reform movement of the 1970s and 1980s was designed to improve the likelihood of prosecution and conviction in sexual assault cases as discussed by the authors, however, there is evidence that the attrition rate for...
Abstract: The rape reform movement of the 1970s and 1980s was designed to improve the likelihood of prosecution and conviction in sexual assault cases. However, there is evidence that the attrition rate for ...
45 citations
TL;DR: This paper used nationally representative prison data to test two competing theories of how white-collar offenders experience prison, referred to as the special sensitivity theory or sensitivity sensitivity theory, and found that the first perspective is more accurate than the second.
Abstract: This study uses nationally representative prison data to test two competing theories of how white-collar offenders experience prison. The first perspective, referred to as the special sensitivity h...
TL;DR: Despite a growing body of research on the victim-offender overlap, limited scholarship has examined this phenomenon in the context of the prison as mentioned in this paper, and this paper advances theory and scholarship on the v...
Abstract: Despite a growing body of research on the victim–offender overlap, limited scholarship has examined this phenomenon in the context of the prison. This paper advances theory and scholarship on the v...
TL;DR: In this article, the authors examine use-of-force incidents as neighborhood processes to understand how rates and levels of use of force vary across New York City and suggest that there are two distinct outco...
Abstract: In this paper, we examine use-of-force incidents as neighborhood processes to understand how rates and levels of use-of-force vary across New York City. We suggest that there are two distinct outco...
TL;DR: Anecdotal evidence suggests that recent video-recorded police-citizen encounters have undermined police legitimacy and fueled civil unrest across the United States as mentioned in this paper, drawing from the process-based m...
Abstract: Anecdotal evidence suggests that recent video-recorded police–citizen encounters have undermined police legitimacy and fueled civil unrest across the United States. Drawing from the process-based m...
TL;DR: In this article, the authors found that in disadvantaged neighborhoods, prior research has found reduced social cohesion and less willingness among residents to address disruptive behaviors and violations of social norms, which is a deficiency of social cohesion.
Abstract: In disadvantaged neighborhoods, prior research has found reduced social cohesion and less willingness among residents to address disruptive behaviors and violations of social norms. This deficiency...
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors examined whether the adoption of city-level sanctuary policies and the concentration of unauthorized Mexican immigrants are associated with homicide and robbery incidents in 107 U.S. cities, across three decades.
Abstract: Despite media coverage of isolated incidents of violent crime perpetuated by undocumented immigrants in cities with sanctuary policies, there is scant systematic research on the relationships between the adoption of sanctuary policies, unauthorized immigration, and crime. We compile city-level data from official sources and use fixed-effects negative binomial regression to examine whether the adoption of city-level sanctuary policies and the concentration of unauthorized Mexican immigrants are associated with homicide and robbery incidents in 107 U.S. cities, across three decades. We find evidence that the adoption of sanctuary policies is associated with a reduction in robberies but not homicide. In contrast, an increase in the relative size of a city’s unauthorized Mexican immigrant population corresponds with a reduction in homicide; however, only in sanctuary cities. Lastly, shifts in violence during our study period are consistently related to social structural characteristics of cities, which are fi...
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors compared the predictive validity of clinical versus statistical-prediction of criminal behavior in terms of spatial distribution of crime in Northern Ireland, and found that professional judgement inaccurately locates future spatial crime concen...
Abstract: A mature body of evidence exists on the utility of clinical versus statistical-prediction of criminal behavior. Less is known about the predictive validity of either model in terms of spatial distribution of crime. How accurately do experts—i.e. frontline-officers—predict which geographic areas to target with preventative tactics? Research on crime and place shows distinctively that incidents concentrate spatially within “recidivist” hotspots. Statistical predictions based on this spatial persistence characteristic of hot spots can serve as a comparator for the prediction capacity based on professional judgment. We turn to the Police Service of Northern Ireland, where we compared “Waymarkers,” maps drawn as a predictive tool for deployment purposes, against recidivist street segments based on statistical analyses. While statistical “hot spots” and “harmspots” accurately predict future incidents, Waymarkers are nearly always misplaced. Professional judgement inaccurately locates future spatial crime concen...
TL;DR: In this paper, a survey of approximately 1,100 residents in Houston, Texas was conducted to examine the related effects of key elements of broken windows theory on citizen engagement in public safety promotion.
Abstract: According to broken windows theory, heightened perceptions of disorder, increased fear of crime and diminished community social control are significant inhibitors of public participation in crime prevention arising directly from concerns for personal safety and sense of futility associated with the effort required. The purpose of this study is to partially test these hypothesized links between conditions, perceptions and behaviors. The data were derived from a telephone survey of approximately 1,100 residents in Houston, Texas. In addition to the traditional survey data, social nuisance crime/disorder incidents recorded by the police in the immediate neighborhood of each respondent’s residence were documented by using a GIS spatial analysis tool. The use of structural equation modeling enables us to examine the related effects of key elements of broken windows theory on citizen engagement in public safety promotion. Study results indicate that disorder incidents had a significant impact on perceptions of ...
TL;DR: This article applied an external benchmark to estimate racial bias in police stop, question, and frisk (SQF) patterns and found that the external and internal benchmarks were both biased.
Abstract: Various methodological approaches to constructing external and internal benchmarks have been applied to estimate racial bias in police stop, question, and frisk (SQF) patterns. We apply an external...
TL;DR: The authors examined whether procedural justice policing in counter-terrorism enhances Muslims' feelings of social inclusion, and promotes their intentions to report terror threats to police using survey data from 800 Australian Muslims.
Abstract: The heightened threat of terrorism in the West has resulted in more power being granted to police. However, new anti-terror laws and heavy-handed policing practices can stigmatize Muslim communities. Using survey data from 800 Australian Muslims this paper examines whether procedural justice policing in counter-terrorism enhances Muslims’ feelings of social inclusion, and promotes their intentions to report terror threats to police. Of interest is how procedural justice influences Muslims who feel less socially included. Three competing theoretical frameworks differ in the predictions they make about when and why procedural justice influences excluded groups. This paper considers each framework and discusses how each explains the relationships between our variables of interest. Our findings show that procedural justice is positively associated with social inclusion and intentions to report terror threats to police. Findings also show that social inclusion both moderates and partially mediates the effect of procedural justice on reporting intentions.
TL;DR: This paper found that the formerly incarcerated are at an elevated risk of homelessness, however, studies disagree regarding how these individuals experience homelessness; quantitative research showed that the former prisoners experience homelessness differently from the rest of the population.
Abstract: Prior work finds that the formerly incarcerated are at an elevated risk of homelessness. However, studies disagree regarding how these individuals experience homelessness; quantitative research emp...
TL;DR: Gender disparity in sentencing outcomes has been well established in literature as mentioned in this paper, and recent research has increasingly paid attention to social contexts within which judicial decision-making occurs, focusing on race and ethnicity.
Abstract: Gender disparity in sentencing outcomes has been well established in literature. Recent research has increasingly paid attention to social contexts within which judicial decision-making occurs. Thi...
TL;DR: There is considerable speculation that prison plays a role in radicalization, and many individuals involved in acts of political extremism have spent time in prison, adding credibility to such claims as discussed by the authors.
Abstract: There is considerable speculation that prison plays a role in radicalization. Many individuals involved in acts of political extremism have spent time in prison, adding credibility to such claims. ...
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors investigate the impact that charging decisions exert on sentencing by estimating the "distance traveled" in charge bargaining, or the expected change in the expected charge bargaining strategy.
Abstract: Relatively little work examines the impact that charging decisions exert on sentencing. We investigate this issue by estimating the “distance traveled” in charge bargaining, or the expected change ...
TL;DR: The authors compared regression and propensity score methods in estimating Black-White disparities in incarceration sentences and proposed entropy weighting as a new method for estimating racial disparities that has several advantages over traditionally used methods.
Abstract: The current study builds on prior research examining racial disparities in sentencing. Entropy weighting is introduced as a new method for estimating racial disparities that has several advantages over traditionally used methods. Entropy weighting is compared to regression and propensity score methods in estimating Black-White disparities in incarceration sentences. Although all methods find non-significant racial disparities in incarceration sentences, regression and propensity score methods underestimate disparities in incarceration sentence lengths. Entropy weighting provides comparable estimates to propensity score methods, but assures that the samples are identical on all covariates aside from race. The method offers researchers a useful and flexible approach for estimating racial disparities in criminal justice, and its use may lead to alternative conclusions about the size and presence of racial disparities in sentencing.
TL;DR: Examining marital and cohabiting partnerships as transitions with distinct stages of entry, stability, and dissolution shows differential protective associations of marriage and co-habitation depending on the stage of the partnership.
Abstract: A wealth of scholarship generally finds that marriage protects against crime, but there is less consistent evidence for cohabitation. In this article, we contribute to scholarship on marriage and put forward new evidence about cohabitation by examining marital and cohabiting partnerships as transitions with distinct stages of entry, stability, and dissolution. We use within-person change models with contemporary data from the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth 1997 to analyze these stages for the full sample and separately for men and women. The findings show differential protective associations of marriage and cohabitation depending on the stage of the partnership. Both recently formed cohabiting partnerships and stable cohabiting partnerships are associated with reductions in the level of offending, although to a lesser degree than marital relationships. Cohabiting partnerships that are stable, in that they have lasted at least a year, are associated with larger decreases in offending, particularly among women.
TL;DR: This article showed that the manifestation of punitiveness in the criminal justice system is complex, and that it rarely differentiates between responses to different kinds of crimes, and pointed out that it is difficult to distinguish between different types of crimes.
Abstract: Though criminological literature shows that the manifestation of punitiveness in the criminal justice system is complex, it rarely differentiates between responses to different kinds of crimes. Thi...
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors theorize that misdemeanants detained in pretrial detention are more likely to commit crimes than non-detained individuals, and they theorize the misdemeanant detai...
Abstract: While numerous studies have examined pretrial detention and felony case outcomes, little empirical attention has been devoted to misdemeanor pretrial detention. We theorize that misdemeanants detai...
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors investigated whether inmates in specific unit management programs in Ohio prisons were less likely to return to prison within three years after release compared to matched groups of inmates who were eligible and wait-listed for the same programs but never participated in these or any other reentry approved programs.
Abstract: Evidence that prison programs reduce the odds of post-release recidivism is mixed, perhaps due to barriers to rigorous analyses of program effects. We attempted to overcome some of these barriers in an analysis of whether inmates in specific unit management programs in Ohio prisons were less likely to return to prison within three years after release compared to matched groups of inmates who were eligible and wait-listed for the same programs but never participated in these or any other reentry approved programs. Group differences in prison rule violation rates were also examined given the extant link between inmate misconduct and recidivism. Results indicated that some but not all seven programs were successful at reducing the odds of misconduct (violence, in particular) and/or return-to-prison, with additional differences in the magnitude of these effects across “successful” programs. Common attributes of the more successful programs are identified and discussed.
TL;DR: There is little evidence about "what works" in police training as discussed by the authors, but the good news is that training evaluations are becoming more common. As we build this evidence base, we need to explore the factors t...
Abstract: There is little evidence about “what works” in police training. The good news is that training evaluations are becoming more common. As we build this evidence base, we need to explore the factors t...