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Criminal violence frequently increases within jurisdictions following the implementation of self-defense laws. One explanation for this finding is a firearm amplification effect, whereby criminal offenders increasingly use firearms as a direct response to the amplified threat engendered by citizens. Using longitudinal data drawn from the National Incident-Based Reporting System for 95 cities situated in 15 states, we investigate whether the passing of a stand your ground or castle doctrine law amplifies the likelihood of gun use by criminal offenders. Results from a panel analysis show a marked rise in gun use among criminal offenders following the imposition of both types of self-defense laws. These findings furnish empirical support for the firearm amplification thesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

On average, one in five incarcerated persons will spend some time in restrictive housing (RH) during their incarceration. Despite a growing body of research on the topic of RH, few have taken into account the heterogeneity of the incarcerated individuals' pre-RH risk profiles. In the present study, we fill this gap by estimating a latent class analysis (LCA) model to explore the heterogeneity among a sample of incarcerated individuals in New Jersey. Our LCA has both dichotomous and count variables, and we specified a model with logit and Poisson functional forms. We then examine how the latent group membership predicted RH placement and length of stay using a hurdle model. We identified a four-group LCA model, and found that groups featuring misconduct records were more likely to experience RH and stay longer in RH. Prior criminal records were less predictive of these RH outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article critically reviews the evidence on sex offender treatment and subsequently provides new estimates on short-term recidivism among sexual offenders released from prison in New Jersey. The sample of male sex offenders is drawn from the Adult Diagnostic Treatment Center (ADTC), New Jersey's only sex-offender-specific prison, and the general population of nine prisons within the state of New Jersey. The ADTC sample receives treatment while incarcerated (n = 495), whereas no treatment is provided to the offenders in the general population sample (n = 223). Overall, 33% of the total sample (N = 718) commits a new offense. Of the total sample, 14% commits a new sexual offense and 24% commits a new nonsexual offense. Significant differences exist between the ADTC and the general population samples with respect to nonsexual reoffending only. In the final analysis, treatment appears to matter in terms of a reduction in recidivism but not in conventionally expected ways. Keywords: sexual offense; treatment and recidivism

Much attention has been paid to the examination of community sentiment regarding convicted sex offenders and the policy that governs these offenders' behavior. This literature, however, has largely been absent of international comparisons of sex offender community sentiment. The current study seeks to fill this gap by drawing from the results of surveys (n = 333) conducted in both the United States (US) and the United Kingdom (UK). Results indicate that sex offender policy is generally supported in both the US and the UK. Contrary to our expectations, we found that participants from the UK were less tolerant of sex offenders residing in their neighborhoods than participants from the US. Additionally, there is support for the notion that sex offender policy holds a symbolic value for both study locations. Theoretical and practical implications of these findings are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Policy makers have recently been exploring methods to reduce incarceration. Most current proposals for reducing incarceration exclude people in prison who were convicted of violent crimes. This article considers violence exclusion from criminal justice reform by examining a sample released from New Jersey's prisons (n = 375). We assess the hidden nature of the violence in the crime through a review of the characteristics behind the criminal label, with particular focus on the displayed aggravation and mitigation. Postrelease outcomes for this sample are compared with a sample released for nonviolent crimes (n = 1,185). Findings reveal people released for violent offenses frequently display mitigation, as opposed to aggravation. Those released for violent crimes are less likely to be rearrested than those released on nonviolence. The degree of severity of the violence itself has no bearing on the risk of rearrest. Accordingly, policy reform for those convicted of violence is considered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ability to conduct sound crime analysis has become a necessity in contemporary policing. This is due to the central role that analysis plays in modern police practices, as well as improved technological capabilities. Yet, many police departments struggle with the development of their inhouse analytical abilities; and existing evaluation literature offers little guidance given the void of scholarly attention on this topic. This study represents one of the first outcome assessments of an effort to improve crime analysis functions within an urban police department. Pre and post analyst knowledge tests surrounding training sessions indicated a 25 to 53% improvement. Further, an approximated before-after assessment of police administrator behavior found that use of analytical work products significantly increased, to being used 'about 1 to 2 times per week' on average. This signified a demonstrable improvement in the integral use of data derived information in the performance of policing operations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Within both the United States and the United Kingdom, laws have been implemented that govern the behavior of individuals convicted of certain sexually based offenses. Thus, research has naturally gravitated toward examining the public perceptions of these laws. Although both the United States and United Kingdom have laws regarding convicted sex offenders, and although these laws vary, research into the perceptions of these laws has largely been concentrated within the United States. The current study seeks to fill this gap through a survey of U.K. residents that assesses their perceptions of the implementation of Sarah's Law. Respondents were gathered through convenience sampling methods in both Bristol and London, England (n = 140). Overall, respondents were fairly supportive of Sarah's Law and its current implementation. However, as opposed to respondents in the United States, U.K. respondents were also open to the idea of providing a degree of privacy to convicted sex offenders and were more tolerant of sexual offenders living near them. Finally, age, race, and parental status of the respondents were found to be statistically significant predictors among four identified dependent variables testing support of the law. Implications from these results are discussed, and a direction for future comparative research is highlighted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One of the often-noted 'pains of imprisonment' is the deprivation of good and services. One of the few ways that prisoners can acquire additional amenities is to purchase items at the prison commissary. As such, the commissary represents a small amount of control that inmates have over their lives with regard to food, clothing, and methods to pass the time. To use the commissary, however, inmates must have money in their accounts; typically from their institutional job or via family members or friends. The present study seeks to examine the prices of commissary items along with typical institutional minimum wage salaries of inmates, to determine the likelihood of inmates purchasing from the commissary. In addition, items of similar size and convenience from the commissary are compared with prices found online in a large superstore and federal and state minimum wages are compared to examine buying power. The authors find that contrary to common belief, prices of items in the commissary are similar to superstores in the free community; however, in-prison wages are so low that it is unlikely inmates can afford to purchase many, if any amenities without supplemental financing from families and friends. Implications of these findings are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study explored the effects of solitary confinement on in-prison outcomes among inmates housed in disciplinary segregation in a northeast state (N = 398). The deterrent effects of segregation and program participation on future in-prison behaviors were examined. Differences among samples of inmates housed in disciplinary segregation before and after the enactment of policy revisions were also assessed. Findings from bivariate and multivariate analyses indicate most inmates did not have a new infraction; however, certain inmates were more likely to receive a future discipline. Furthermore, completing programming while in disciplinary segregation did not have an effect on future infractions or programming participation. The implications of the research findings are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The finding that offenders tend to commit crime within relative proximity to their own residence has been well established in nearly 80 years of research. The usefulness of this area of research extends not only to the validation of environmental crime theories, but also offers to improve crime analysis capabilities, police investigative practice, and ultimately crime case clearances. Despite the considerable attention this area of study has received, much remains to be known about the factors which might influence variation in residence-to-crime (RTC) distances. One somewhat recently formalized idea is that offenders might be limited by the time that they have in which to commit crimes (such as by employment or family demands) and that this will constrict the geographic mobility of offenders as they operate within those time constraints. This study tested this time-constraint hypothesis on a sample of sex offense incidents (N = 157) from the state of New Jersey. Findings revealed limited support for the time-constraint thesis, before and after controlling for offender, situational and geographic characteristics. Implications for theory and practice are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Given that sex offenders have been found to serve longer prison terms compared with other types of violent criminals, it has been suggested that the influence of imprisonment may impact subsequent reoffending. However, institutional factors are often overlooked in risk assessment studies and very few risk assessment instruments include institutional items within their models. The current study explores prison experience explanations for recidivism among convicted sex offenders and indicates that, with respect to time served, both institutional treatment and institutional infractions demonstrate a significant impact. Findings indicate that misconduct in custody was positively associated with revocation and sexual recidivism. Moreover, longer periods of incarceration significantly increase postrelease reoffending for high-risk sex offenders. Policy implications are made regarding further modifications to risk assessment instruments that will take into account institutional risk factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]