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A content analysis of newspaper articles published between 1900 and 1970 revealed that sheriffs' wives played a key role in the day-to-day operations of jails in rural America. Although few of these women had official law enforcement status, they admitted and supervised arrestees, thwarted jail escapes, apprehended escapees, and challenged lynch mobs. In addition, many of these women managed the day-to-day jail operations and cared for the inmates. Our analyses revealed that these women were often unpaid and that their work toward making jail conditions more humane has gone unacknowledged. Analyses of contemporary Bureau of Justice Statistics data revealed that staffing patterns of women employed in local jails and state prisons today are highest in jurisdictions where mom and pop jails were most prevalent. This study sheds light on the contributions that these women made to rural law enforcement, including paving the way for women in local corrections. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

This research examined the demographic and offense-related characteristics of 1,488 children who were 12 years of age or younger when transferred by juvenile court judges to criminal courts in the United States from 1985 to 2009. Juvenile court statistics show a twofold increase in the number of these children transferred between 2005 and 2009, compared to the five-year era between 1985 and 1989. Examination of the data revealed that the major offense that precipitated most of these transfers was a nonviolent act. Given these facts, a number of key questions emerged from this study: (1) Are these transfers desirable given the potential lifelong consequences of a criminal conviction for these youngsters; (2) Do these practices accomplish a legitimate crime control function; and (3) Are these transfers just and fair given the developmental status of these children? [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Responses from a survey of gang management strategies were collected from U.S. prison systems holding 1.19 million inmates. The results provided insight into the prevalence of gang members in prisons, gang structure, as well as the strategies used to manage the threat that these groups pose. Officials from most prison systems reported an increase in the proportion of security threat group (STG) members over the past five years and that these offenders were more disruptive and sophisticated than five years ago. Despite these challenges, there was no one clear strategy for the investigation or suppression of these groups, nor did most systems evaluate the effectiveness of their current gang management interventions. A lack of rehabilitative opportunities for gang members represents one shortcoming in the range of gang management strategies in most jurisdictions. The implications of these findings are addressed. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Expunging a criminal conviction in the United States is a rare event and often limited to persons who committed offenses as juveniles or adult misdemeanants. Criminal convictions in Canada, however, are routinely set aside through pardons alter offenders have demonstrated a period of crime-free behavior. Sealing an offenders criminal record, the practice in Canada, is a significant step in his or her reentry into society and official acknowledgment of society's forgiveness. This exploratory study of pardons in Canada has two clear findings: First, despite the relatively easy process, few individuals with criminal records make application for pardons. Second, of those who do apply, few applications are ever denied, and a very small percentage of successful applicants reoffend. Although setting aside criminal convictions seems inconsistent with the increasing use of collateral consequences for U.S. offenders, taking this approach might contribute to increased public safety in the long term by easing offender reintegration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In a popular statement in 1997, Zimring and Hawkins argued that crime was not an important determinant of levels of lethal violence in the USA. Zimring and Hawkins’ proposition is evaluated using multiple regression analyses of homicide using state‐, city‐, and county‐level data. The results indicate that there is a consistent crime effect on homicide rates at all three levels of analysis. More important than falsifying their hypothesis, we contend that overly simplistic notions about crime and justice distract the public and policy‐makers from the complex economic and structural conditions that contribute to high levels of homicide. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a study on the unlawful possession of assault weapons by juveniles. This study examines crime-involved firearms recovered from legally defined juvenile offenders in four annual studies of the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF) completed between 1997 and 2000, as well as all firearms recovered from juvenile offenders in St. Louis, Missouri, from 1992 to 2000 and Washington, D.C. between 1991 and 1995. National-level ATF data come from requests for firearm traces for crime-involved guns in cities of 250,000 or more residents between 1997 and 2000. The results show that youths have used assault weapons in offenses, and it is possible that police reports of these isolated cases drive sensational reports from news organizations and give politicians additional ammunition for their violence-reduction platforms. These portrayals of assault weapons use do not reflect reality. These images do shape beliefs about juveniles, gun use, and the methods that society should use to respond to these problems.

This study examined the relationship between state firearms homicides and background checks for firearms purchases. Controlling for economic and social conditions, the estimated number of firearms in circulation, offenders under community supervision, and violent crime it was found that states with less stringent background checks on firearms purchases were significantly associated with firearms homicides. The large number of firearms circulating within the United States makes it likely that a motivated-but ineligible-person could obtain a firearm over the long-term in the secondary firearms market. Effective state background checks, however, may temporarily frustrate an unauthorized person from obtaining a firearm that, in turn, may contribute to lower firearms homicide rates. Implications for further research are examined. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Classifies the firearms confiscated from juveniles in St. Louis, Missouri from 1992 to 1999 using the body armor threat level scale of the National Institute of Justice. Observance of the constant level of the juvenile's lethal capacity; Absence of any increase in the firearm's sophistication used by juveniles; Likelihood of the confiscation of unsophisticated guns from juveniles; Preference for sawed-off rifles and shotguns by youths.