PhD, University of Cincinnati, 2024, Education, Criminal Justice, and Human Services: Criminal Justice

This study explores how target similarity influences burglary victimization. There is a large body of research that suggests that burglary can spread through neighborhoods through a contagion-like process known as near repeat victimization. Research has shown a positive association between homogeneous housing stock and near repeat burglary, and an elevated risk of burglary has been observed empirically for residences that share a similar layout to one that has been burglarized. Those early studies suggest that the level of target similarity in a neighborhood's housing stock is an important influence on its risk of repeat and near repeat burglary, but little research has been done more recently to explore this topic. Using five years of burglary incidents, this study tests the relationship between housing stock and burglary in Cincinnati, Ohio. Using a two-part approach, the burglary incidents are first analyzed with a Knox test to identify the spatiotemporal extent of increased repeat and near repeat burglary risk. Second, negative binomial regression is used to examine the influence of housing stock diversity on levels of burglary, including single, repeat, and near repeat incidents. In contrast to the earlier studies, the results suggest that greater diversity in a neighborhood's housing stock is associated with higher levels of near repeat burglary, but has no effect on repeat burglary. The study concludes by discussing the limitations and implications of the research.

Master of Science in Criminal Justice, Youngstown State University, 2024, Department of Criminal Justice and Consumer Sciences

This thesis explored the connection between the incel movement and militant accelerationism. This study was based on the qualitative analysis of several texts written by incels or incel-like figures. Comparisons were made with The Turner Diaries and material collected by Theweleit. The Linguistic Inquiry and Word Count and NVivo software packages provided analytic tools for the analysis of language and sentiment. The study found in the incel material themes of misogyny and the collapse of society similar to concepts expressed in neo-Nazi literature. As a result, it was concluded that incels are a form of militant accelerationism built around personal grievances using violent ideology to target women. These findings underline the need for comprehensive study and analysis of the ideological overlaps between online extremist subcultures and their potential to inspire real-world violence. The research further highlights the importance of developing targeted interventions to address the societal and psychological drivers of such movements.

Master of Arts (MA), Bowling Green State University, 2024, Sociology

This thesis explores how cognitive transformations are associated with the likelihood of recidivism among previously incarcerated male adults (average age = 29). Grounded in cognitive transformation theory and procedural justice theory, the study focuses on three key predictors of cognitive change: openness to change, receptivity to "hooks for change," and the adoption of a replacement self. Using wave 1 (baseline: 30 days prior to release) and wave 4 (15 months after release) of data from the Serious and Violent Offender Reentry Initiative (SVORI), the analysis employs mediation within an ordinary least square (OLS) regression framework to assess the role of legal cynicism in the relationship between cognitive transformations and recidivism (n = 827). Legal cynicism, characterized by distrust and negative views of the legal system, is posited to significantly mediate these associations. By examining these dynamics, this research aims to deepen the understanding of the cognitive processes that underlie recidivism and provide insights for interventions that reduce reoffending among justice-involved individuals. The findings suggest that respondent's replacement self is significantly linked to lower self-reported recidivism, as opposed to other predictors (cognitive openness and receptivity to hooks for change). Legal cynicism showed no mediating effects. Additionally, several covariates and control variables maintain significance across the models, contributing to the broader literature on cognitive transformations, legal cynicism, and self-reported recidivism.

Master of Arts (MA), Bowling Green State University, 2024, Sociology

Self-control theory (Gottfredson and Hirschi 1990) has remained a popular explanation for violence within the field of criminology. However, recent analyses have contradicted some of the key tenants in the general theory (i.e. stability, development, environment), suggesting room for advancement. Situational Action Theory (Wikstrom, 2004, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2010, 2014, 2019a, 2019b) suggests that an interaction occurs between morality and self-control in the perception-choice process when potential action alternatives are considered. Additionally, a considerable amount of empirical evidence has identified a relationship between alcohol use and violence, as well as self-control and violence. What remains to be answered is, does alcohol use moderate the main and interactive effects of self-control and morality on violent behavior? This study attempts to answer this question using the first five waves from the Pathways to Desistance Study, a longitudinal dataset of adjudicated youths. The study explores the main and interactive effects of self-control, morality, and alcohol consumption on violent behavior using a series of mixed-effects regression models. Results demonstrate that in addition to the independent effects of alcohol, morality, and self-control on violent behavior, each of the three focal variables interacts with the others when predicting violence. However, the study did not find significant two-way or three-way interaction terms as hypothesized. The findings provide support for Situational Action Theory and suggest that alcohol partially conditions the effects of morality and self-control when explaining violent outcomes at lower levels of alcohol consumption, but differences are diminished at lower levels of self-control and morality. Theoretical advancement and policy recommendations are discussed.

Ph.D., Antioch University, 2024, Leadership and Change

The correctional officer (CO) has one of the most critical roles in the correctional setting and is one of the least studied topics amongst criminal justice professionals (Butler et al., 2018). In the United States, a CO's primary responsibility is to ensure the safety and well-being of an incarcerated individual and the staff that work in the prison setting (Cheek, 1984). Paradoxically, in the United States, the CO works in an organizational system based on deprivation and punishment toward incarcerated people. The United States Prison system's current structure does not support rehabilitation efforts of incarcerated people and ultimately impacts any attempts at a successful re-entry into the community (Ahalt et al., 2019). Furthermore, this punitive-oriented organizational structure has acute and deleterious effects on the mental and physical health of the CO. This study used critical incident technique to examine humanizing interactions between corrections officers and incarcerated people, from the perspective of the COs. Participants were asked to identify moments where they felt an incarcerated person (IP) saw their (the COs) humanity, they saw an IPs humanity, and suggestions regarding how corrections leaders could further support a humanizing approach. Findings included three overarching themes which describe the essence of these humanizing interactions: Being Emotionally Available, Responding with Active Support, and Interacting with Intention. Exploration of these critical incidents also revealed that COs experienced a range of positive outcomes from taking a humanizing approach. The goal of the study was to gain insight to the humanizing practices of COs in the United States from the officers' perspectives, which is largely underrepresented. This dissertation concludes with recommendations for COs and corrections leaders to further support and develop humanistic approaches to corrections culture and practice. This dissertation is available in open access (open full item for complete abstract)

MA, Kent State University, 2024, College of Arts and Sciences / Department of Sociology and Criminology

Restorative justice has emerged in the past 30 years as a promising alternative to traditional court sentencing. Prior research indicates its potential efficacy in resolving even violent offenses, as well as interest from some in pursuing such alternatives for their own cases. However, less attention has been given to the practicalities of their application. Namely, how favorably do Americans perceive restorative justice conferences, which rely on community participation, and what demographic factors predict their views? Additionally, how do offender race and violence severity impact willingness to participate as community members in a restorative justice conference? This study addresses these questions through a survey experiment of a representative convenience sample (n=425), using vignettes to test differences in race and severity. The manipulation for severity was unsuccessful, while no differences were found based on offender race. However, more conservative political affiliation, working for an income, and higher fear of crime were all significantly correlated with poorer views toward the use of restorative justice conferences over traditional court sentencing. These results indicate that offender race is unlikely to have a significant effect in recruiting community representatives. However, individuals with more conservative beliefs or higher fear of crime may be less likely to support the use of restorative justice conferences in their communities.

Master of Arts (MA), Bowling Green State University, 2024, Sociology

Violence in carceral settings is a well-established detriment of the justice system. Prior research has explored the effects of violence exposure during detention on various post-release outcomes. However, less is known about the effect of witnessing victimization during incarceration on similar metrics of post-release success. Using the Pathways to Desistance study, a longitudinal panel sample of high-risk, justice involved youth, the current study seeks to examine the role of vicarious victimization – or witnessed victimization of others – in an institutional setting on substance use six months after release. Situated within a strain theory framework, this study seeks to expand the research on how violence exposure impacts detained persons. Stepwise, negative binominal regression models are employed in the analyses. Findings demonstrate that once accounting for numerous individual characteristics, vicarious victimization during detention does not exhibit a significant relationship with substance use six months post- release. However, this study's findings echo prior research by highlighting the ubiquitous nature of vicarious victimization during incarceration. The findings of the current study provide evidence for the continued support of mental health resources for incarcerated populations and expanded programming which acknowledges the trauma of violence exposure during incarceration.

Master of Science in Criminal Justice, Youngstown State University, 2024, Department of Criminal Justice and Consumer Sciences

This research explores what effect having a court appointed counsel as opposed to private counsel has for a defendant being granted pretrial release. To investigate the influence further, data was collected from a non-random sample population from a Midwestern mid-sized city (2024). The primary variables in this study include counsel type, race, gender, initial bond type, release type, court appearance, number of days incarcerated, and whether defendants get re- arrested while their case is pending. It was concluded that there was a relationship between type of counsel and factors such as race and number of days incarcerated, but no significant relationship with gender, initial bond type, release from incarceration, court appearance, and remaining arrest free.

Master of Science in Criminal Justice, Youngstown State University, 2024, Department of Criminal Justice and Consumer Sciences

This study investigates the relationship between rape myth acceptance and demographic factors such as age, race, and gender among university students. A survey including the Illinois Rape Myth Acceptance –Subtle Version Scale (IRMA-S) was administered to 144 students. Independent samples T-tests revealed some significant demographic differences. The findings highlight how rape myth acceptance varies across demographic groups based on gender, race, and age. These findings underscore the need for addressing the prevalence and predictors of rape myth acceptance among university students, which can contribute to the development of more effective interventions and support services for sexual assault victims on college campuses.

Master of Science, The Ohio State University, 2024, Psychology

Dovidio & Gaertner, 2000 have previously shown when given an excuse to be prejudiced, people are more likely to exhibit their underlying prejudice as opposed to when there's an absence of an excuse—known as the aversive racism hypothesis. We look at this hypothesis for people who have been previously incarcerated as opposed to people who have not, with incarceration offering an excuse to be prejudiced. In addition, we examine suspicion (Fein, et al., 1990) as a possible mechanism that creates aversive racism and the role of political orientation in moderating the effect. In study 1 we found evidence for aversive racism creating suspicion, but only among liberals, in being a possible mechanism behind the stigma that the formerly incarcerated face. In study 2 we examined the role of maintaining a sense of being moral in creating the effect, but we were not able to successfully manipulate feelings of being moral. In study 3 we found evidence that suspicion can have an effect on behavioral intentions such as hiring decisions. For study 4 we found we found that only liberals showed the aversive racism effect and that for liberals suspicion predicted hiring intention consistent with the aversive racism hypothesis.

PhD, University of Cincinnati, 2024, Education, Criminal Justice, and Human Services: Criminal Justice

Risk and needs assessments' primary function is to predict future involvement in crime and delinquency with a degree of certainty higher than chance. With these tools, stakeholders in the juvenile justice system can categorize youth and match their needs with appropriate services in a standardized manner rather than relying on professional judgment. Past literature suggests that youth who are involved in both the child welfare and juvenile justice system are more likely to adopt nonnormative behaviors and engage in delinquency earlier and more frequently than their counterparts (Ryan et al., 2013; Morris & Freundlich, 2004). As such, these youth present a unique set of risks for recidivism and treatment needs. Few scholars have examined the utility of risk instruments in predicting recidivism for dual-status youth. Onifade and colleagues (2014) reported that the Youth Level of Service/Case Management Inventory (YLS/CMI), a widely used risk assessment tool, poorly predicted recidivism for dual-status youth. However, the dual-status population did have an increased risk of various criminogenic factors for reoffending such as peer association, family, leisure, personality, and attitudes. Another study using the Ohio Youth Assessment System-Disposition (OYAS-DIS) tool found that the tool equally predicted recidivism for dual-status youth and juvenile justice system-only youth. Similar to findings reported by Onifade and colleagues (2014), the authors found that the dual-status population was more likely to be younger and have higher risk scores. This population also had a larger proportion of female delinquents. Studies such as this suggest that more research is needed to understand better the challenges, nuances, and needs faced by youth caught in the intersection of these two realms. This dissertation will explore how child welfare history affects delinquent youths' risks, needs, and responses to intervention. The dissertation will also review how ecological systems p (open full item for complete abstract)

Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.), Bowling Green State University, 2024, Sociology

A lack of consensus about how cannabis policies may influence demographic changes and social problems has had life-altering consequences for the U.S. populous as cannabis-related offenses continue to result in punitive sanctions for many. The purpose of this dissertation is to explore cannabis policy changes over a 15-year period, spanning 2006 to 2020, alongside a variety of measures capturing population change, social-structural disadvantage, and arrest rates for a national sample of U.S. counties. The data used include the American Community Survey, National Incident Based Reporting System, U.S. Census, and a primary collection of state- and county-level efforts to legalize and/or decriminalize cannabis over time. Overall, I find that the influence of cannabis legalization on arrest rates seems to vary depending on the level of legalization and the type of arrest—with significant conditioning effects contingent on the proportion of Black residents in a county. I also find that sanctions associated with first-time possession offenses exert an independent—and often interrelated—effect on arrest rates over time. This dissertation offers keen insight for the continued development of what Wheeldon and Heidt (2023) refer to as “cannabis criminology,” while offering a critical, policy-focused perspective on drug reform policy.

Doctor of Philosophy, The Ohio State University, 2024, Sociology

Criminologists have long observed that most criminally active individuals eventually terminate their offending (Laub and Sampson, 2001; Bushway and Paternoster; Rocque, 2017). Yet, despite decades of scholarship (see Rocque, 2017 for a thorough review), the causes of desistance remain poorly understood. As a result, scholars continue to study the myriad social and developmental factors that are theoretically related to desistance. One of these factors, employment, has received considerable attention within life-course criminology and recidivism research (Lageson and Uggen, 2013). The idea that acquiring and maintaining employment reduces offending is rooted in classic criminological theories, including Sampson and Laub's (1990;1993) age-graded theory of informal social control and rational choice theory. The former views employment as a form of “turning point” in the life course, while the latter conceptualizes employment and offending as trade-offs. Identity theories of desistance, on the other hand, view identity change as the most important cause of desistance and contend that employment likely plays a minor role in the process desistance (Giordano et al., 2002; Paternoster and Bushway, 2009). Leveraging rich data from the Pathways to Desistance Study (N = 1358), this dissertation advances research on desistance by scrutinizing these competing perspectives. Focusing on employment, chapter 2 explores whether employment must be of a certain quality to influence offending. Latent class analysis derives a typology of employment quality from nine measures capturing important aspects of employment quality, including wages, satisfaction, stability, and benefits. The best fitting solution distinguished four types of employment, categorized by various configurations of the nine employment characteristics. After weighting each case according to its propensity for selection into higher quality employment, these employment categories were used to predict self-reported offe (open full item for complete abstract)

Doctor of Organization Development & Change (D.O.D.C.), Bowling Green State University, 2024, Organization Development

Throughout history, police reform initiatives have consistently been met with skepticism, with such initiatives having a variable impact on officer functioning. Many reform tactics focus on policy and procedure, with the goal seemingly being to turn officers into pre-programmed machines that follow a set course of actions. Unfortunately, in reality, it is rare for any single officer encounter to conform perfectly to training and policy. Thus, what is missing from such reform initiatives is an acknowledgment that officers are indeed human, and thus, individual discretion is a key component of officer action. The primary objective of this study is to better understand the multitude of factors that shape decision-making among law enforcement officers across various operational scenarios. By better understanding the influencers of officer decision-making, police agencies may be better equipped to develop training and policy geared towards improving officer-decisions in discretionary situations. The results obtained from the qualitative analysis reveal consistent patterns across diverse operational contexts. Organizational factors, such as organizational norms, supervisor expectations, and the reward structure, emerge as central determinants, significantly influencing officers' actions and decisions. Additionally, personal factors, such as intrinsic motivations and individual differences, influence officer decision-making, suggesting a one size fits all approach to officer decision-making training and development may be ineffective. Thirdly, officers are aware of external factors, such as media and social media portrayals and general public opinion, and such considerations are weighed when determining a course of action. Lastly, in certain contexts, factors such as the nature of the violation, or characteristics of the violator, influence officer decision-making, though seemingly less frequently than organizational, personal, or external factors. These findings undersc (open full item for complete abstract)

Master of Arts, The Ohio State University, 2024, Sociology

This study examines the relationship between natural disasters and extreme weather events (ND/EWEs) and the incidence of sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) in Texas from 2018 to 2020. Utilizing a series of mixed-effects negative binomial regression models and data from the National Incident-Based Reporting System and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the research investigates the impact of various ND/EWEs on general violence, and specifically SGBV incidents. Key findings reveal that extreme heat events are significantly associated with an increase in general violence, violence against women (VAW), and intimate partner violence (IPV), indicating that heat acts as a stressor contributing to the escalation of SGBV. Conversely, winter storms are associated with a decrease in IPV, suggesting a potential reduction in violence during these weather conditions. The study underscores the importance of incorporating environmental factors into the analysis of SGBV and suggests the need for targeted interventions and policies to mitigate the risks of violence in the aftermath of ND/EWEs. This research contributes to the understanding of the complex dynamics between environmental disasters and societal violence, with implications for public health and disaster response strategies.

Master of Science in Criminal Justice, Youngstown State University, 2024, Department of Criminal Justice and Consumer Sciences

U.S. violence, including school shootings and synagogue bombings, is increasing. Perpetrators of violent events often radicalize from violent beliefs to actions. The theory of cognitive radicalization distinguishes between the radicalization to extremist opinions and radicalization built on actions. People who commit mass shootings and bombings are part of the 1% of people who fit at the apex levels of the two-pyramids model of cognitive radicalization. Observed events of firearm violence throughout the country in media, such as mass shootings, initially produced interest in this study. Analyses of the data revealed that firearm access is significant to violent opinion radicalization; many violent events are related to radical behavior, ideas, or beliefs. This study analyzes data from the Public Religion Research Institute Social Networks Survey. It investigates associations between firearm accessibility and adherence to violent acts after controlling for sociodemographic factors. The sample population includes 5461 online survey respondents. Frequency tables and binary logistic regression were used for analysis, aiming to provide insights into violence identification, awareness, and prevention. Variables not included in the current study that can be reviewed in the future involve political affiliation, religious belief, and cultural norms.

Master of Science in Criminal Justice, Youngstown State University, 2024, Department of Criminal Justice and Consumer Sciences

Throughout Adolf Hitler's duration of power in Nazi Germany, he garnered unquestionable support from an entire nation while utilizing a variety of populist techniques to do so. While articulating many of the same general messages, Neo-Nazis have sparked their own movements within the United States, and many organizations perpetuating violent agendas have emerged. Subsequently, little currently exists that explains how populist rhetoric and communicative techniques have changed since Nazism's inception. This study aims to address this gap in the literature by comparing the populist techniques utilized by George Lincoln Rockwell and James Nolan Mason and their Neo-Nazi rhetoric to that of Adolf Hitler. By utilizing KH Coder, a qualitative analysis software, three separate analyses were conducted that determined each speaker's word frequency, placement, and links. This study asserts that Neo-Nazis have indeed altered their use of populism since the ideology's inception. Likewise, it also indicates that the speakers' use of pronouns not only differed, but played a significant role in the messages being presented to their audiences. While Hitler focused more on personal pronouns to create homogeneity and collective action, Rockwell and Mason prioritized pronouns that targeted outgroups and individual action.

PhD, University of Cincinnati, 2024, Education, Criminal Justice, and Human Services: Criminal Justice

This dissertation seeks to augment research in crime, health, and wellbeing by introducing life satisfaction, or subjective wellbeing into criminological framework. Using data from the Panel Study of Income Dynamic's (PSID) supplemental file, Transition to Adulthood, this study tests 1) the relationship between criminal justice contact and life satisfaction, 2) the moderating influence of religiosity, and 3) the racial/ethnic variance of these relationships. Agnew's 1992 General Strain Theory (GST) is employed as the theoretical underpinning. These relationships are assessed across six waves of data using multiple imputation for missing cases and ordered logistic fixed effects. Findings from this study suggest that criminal justice contact did not have any effect on reported level of life satisfaction across the general sample. Further, religiosity did not significantly moderate the relationship between criminal justice contact and reported level of life satisfaction. However, when stratifying these relationships across race/ethnicity, significance emerged. First, evidence suggests that Blacks who have experienced arrest history relative to never having this experience had higher log odds of reporting higher life satisfaction. Hispanics who had experienced jail incarceration relative to never having experienced this, had lower log odds of reporting higher life satisfaction. Second, religiosity held a positive moderating effect on probation and jail incarceration for Hispanics. Greater importance and higher frequency of service attendance moderated the effect of jail incarceration on reported level of life satisfaction while higher frequency of service attendance moderated the effect of probation history on reported level of life satisfaction. Conclusively, this study found that criminal justice contact is associated with reported level of life satisfaction when considering race/ethnicity. Further, religiosity is evidenced to be a salient factor for Hispanics (open full item for complete abstract)

PhD, University of Cincinnati, 2024, Education, Criminal Justice, and Human Services: Criminal Justice

Social media (e.g., Instagram) has become a significant part of the daily lives of many people. Used for individual photograph and video content creation and distribution, Instagram allows users to connect with individuals across the world. While Instagram has age-restriction policies requiring users to be 13 years of age or older, it is commonplace for parents to run an underage user's Instagram account, for underage users to claim parental representation, or for underage accounts to slip through Instagram's age restriction policies. Photos of young girls can often garner negative and/or sexualized attention, specifically from adult men. The sexualization of young girls is further compounded by the entertainment industry and the growing concept of social media influencers, who are content creators with authority and sway over large audiences that represent a unique version of celebrity. The growing popularity of underage influencers has resulted in adults, specifically adult males, viewing pictures and videos of young girls. While not all viewership of child female Instagram influencers can be considered victimization, the current study expands on existing social media cybervictimization research by characterizing the viewership of sexualized child content by adult men as a gateway to potential future victimization of these children. Using routine activities theory, the current study examined the convergence of potential victims (underage female influencers), potential offenders (adult male Instagram followers), and a lack of capable guardianship (lack of parental monitoring or the perception of parental monitoring). This theoretical framework was used to assess if parental monitoring of underage female influencers' profiles was associated with a reduced percentage of adult male Instagram followers relative to profiles without parental monitoring. A sample of n = 950 female Instagram influencers 17 years of age or younger was constructed using an AI-powered (open full item for complete abstract)

PhD, University of Cincinnati, 2024, Education, Criminal Justice, and Human Services: Criminal Justice

Prior research has identified many collateral consequences people face after coming into contact with the criminal justice system. These consequences include negative outcomes in employment, education, physical and mental health, housing, and family relationships. One collateral consequence that has received less empirical attention is the impact of criminal justice contact on financial well-being. Financial well-being is a broad term that represents an individual's objective (e.g., amount of debt) and subjective (e.g., satisfaction with their financial situation) financial health. People with better financial well-being tend to experience more positive life outcomes (e.g., economic, health, social, familial) than those with poor financial well-being. Thus, financial well-being could be a key causal mechanism explaining the impact of contact with the justice system on adverse outcomes later in life. Drawing on data from the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth 1997, the current study sought to comprehensively examine the impact of criminal justice involvement on salient constructs of financial well-being (e.g., financial assets, debts, and satisfaction) over two decades of the life course. Although nuanced relationships emerged, the global conclusion from the study is clear: criminal justice contact, and more frequent and lengthier contact, harms financial well-being in both the short- and long-term.