Crime & Delinquency

Cooper, Maisha N.; Bouffard, Jeff A.

doi: 10.1177/00111287231202981pmid: N/A

Researchers suggest an inverse relationship between criminal behaviors and a number of social bonds, including religiosity, but few studies have examined religiosity’s impact among adults, especially those known to have committed serious crimes. Utilizing survey data from a large sample of men and women incarcerated for felonies in a southwestern correctional system, we estimated a series of regressions examining the relationship between religiosity and intentions to drive drunk, controlling for a number of other social and self-control measures. We also explored possible race and sex differences in these relationships. Results support the negative relationship between religiosity and crime; and indicate that this significant relationship is similar among men and women, and also among White and African American individuals.

Walters, Glenn D.

doi: 10.1177/00111287231202985pmid: N/A

Based on previous research and a theoretical model which states moral neutralization is learned through interaction with others, it was hypothesized that moral neutralization would promote an accelerated rate of delinquent growth during the middle school years, while a related concept, cognitive impulsivity, would not. Using multilevel modeling with 3,166 youth (1,538 boys, 1,628 girls) from the Gang Reduction Education and Training (GREAT) study, the effects of school level moral neutralization and cognitive impulsivity on delinquent growth were evaluated over a period of 18 to 21 months. Multilevel modeling produced results consistent with the conclusion that only moral neutralization moderated the temporal rise in delinquency once age, sex, race, treatment condition, and individual-level measures of moral neutralization and cognitive impulsivity were controlled.

Semenza, Daniel C.; Berryessa, Colleen M.; Sierra-Arévalo, Michael

doi: 10.1177/00111287231207388pmid: N/A

We used an experimental study design with newspaper vignettes to examine how characteristics of gun violence perpetrators including mental illness and previous incarceration influence three categories of firearm policy support in a national sample of U.S. adults (N = 3,387). Depictions of mass shootings elicit greater support for firearm policies than other types such as suicides, accidents, or street-level homicides. Further, depictions of mental illness and previous incarceration increase support for policies regulating who may legally own, purchase, and possess firearms. Demographic characteristics of perpetrators such as gender and race largely do not affect public policy support, although personal characteristics of respondents themselves are predictive of support.

Cheon, Hyunjung; Katz, Charles M.; Freemon, Kayla

doi: 10.1177/00111287231197402pmid: N/A

Measures in international self-report surveys drawn from criminological theories have rarely been validated. Instruments that have been tested suggest that they might lack reliability and validity depending on the nation. The present study uses a large sample of school-attending youth in nine English-speaking Caribbean countries to examine the reliability and validity of three theoretical constructs—social control, self-control, and social learning—included in the Eurogang Youth Survey instrument. Our findings suggest that the theoretical constructs contained in the Eurogang Youth Survey instrument are relevant to explaining Caribbean delinquency and show adequate reliability levels. Our results also show consistency in the measurement structure of these theoretical constructs across the study nations.

Bares, Kyle J.

doi: 10.1177/00111287231202778pmid: N/A

Research on the transition into adulthood finds that individuals are likely to take on new adult roles which can influence a change in identity. Furthermore, literature on desistance finds that offending tends to decline as individuals transition into adulthood and that this decline can be attributed to changes in internal processes such as developing a new pro-social identity. However, scholarship has yet to conceptualize and measure the development of an adult identity as a latent construct. The current study seeks to establish a new latent time variant measurement I call Latent Adult Attitudes (LAA) and examine LAA’s association with offending. LAA uses a collection of items focused on attitudes towards adult roles to measure a latent construct of adult identity.

Biswas, Priyanka; Das Chatterjee, Nilanjana

doi: 10.1177/00111287231202784pmid: N/A

In this present study, the focus has been given to excavating the generalities of domestic abuse against women in the Indian state of West Bengal and understanding the possible determinants. The study findings revealed that 69.68% of study respondents throughout Bengal often experienced any form of domestic violence in their lifetime. Mostly the traditional patriarchal structure that governs Bengal’s society endorses vulnerability among the ever-married women in the family environment, yet some other determinants viz. socio-demographic, socio-cultural as well as situational factors are significantly associated with the victimization of domestic abuse among women in Bengal’s society. This study aims to contribute to society and might help policymakers to address this societal issue more efficiently.

Wojciechowski, Thomas

doi: 10.1177/00111287231202787pmid: N/A

Research has indicated that criminality may be transmitted from parent to offspring. However, there remains limited research examining risk for offspring recidivism in this regard and mechanisms underpinning this relationship. The present study examined dual systems imbalance as a potential mediator using the first three waves of the Pathways to Desistance data. Generalized structural equation modeling was used to test for direct and indirect effects of interest. Results indicated that parent criminal history predicted both increased recidivism risk and re-offending frequency. Dual systems imbalance significantly mediated the relationship between parent criminal history and recidivism risk, but this was not observed for the re-offending frequency outcome.

Carter, Travis; Melde, Chris

doi: 10.1177/00111287231202777pmid: N/A

This study tests whether fear of victimization manifests in the same way across macro level contexts by drawing on Ferraro’s risk interpretation framework. Structural equation modeling techniques were used to test the invariance of the risk interpretation framework across a sample of weighted survey data drawn from three Michigan cities. Results indicated that the framework operated in a theoretically invariant manner across city samples by way of measurement and structural invariance. This demonstrates the framework’s generality by highlighting its ability to consistently explain fear of victimization at a macro level across three city samples. Accordingly, investing in risk communication strategies targeted at improving perceptions at a macro level may be transferable and useful in moderating fear of victimization.

Cohen-Louck, Keren; Levy, Inna; Herzog, Sergio

doi: 10.1177/00111287211029859pmid: N/A

This study investigates whether crime type and severity, as well as offender, observer, and victim characteristics predict public attitudes towards capital punishment in Israel. We surveyed Israeli citizens by phone. A random and representative sample of 594 participants, ages 20 to 74, read scenarios illustrating crimes and were asked about their perception of capital punishment as an appropriate punishment. The results indicate that most participants did not support capital punishment. Perceived high-crime severity, a crime that constitutes terrorism, and male observer (participant) status predicted 34% in an increased likelihood of supporting capital punishment. The discussion attributes the stronger support of capital punishment in cases of terrorism to the Israeli experience of chronic terrorism and explains gender differences by gender-role socialization.

Gottschalk, Petter

doi: 10.1177/00111287221104737pmid: N/A

Convenience exists in the financial motive, the organizational opportunity, and the personal willingness for deviant behavior. These three themes can result in 14 convenience propositions as presented in this article. In cases where an offender is detected, the offense can be examined by identifying relevant convenience issues in the structural model of crime convenience. Not all of the 14 issues will be relevant to create a narrative of one specific incident. In cases where prevention of offenses is the issue, then vulnerability review is appropriate for all 14 propositions. For example, domination of greed or extensive differential association can signal strong motivation or strong willingness for wrongdoing, while lack of oversight and guardianship can signal an invitation for wrongdoing.