Ashley G. Blackburn

Sexual Assault in Prison and Beyond Toward an Understanding of Lifetime Sexual Assault Among Incarcerated Women

Although several studies have examined consensual sexual activity in female correctional institutions, there has been little research conducted on in-prison sexual assault among incarcerated females. The present study examines 436 female inmates in a large Southern prison system and explores demographic characteristics as predictors of sexual victimization. Of the women in the sample, 68.4% reported lifetime sexual victimization, and 17.2% reported in-prison sexual victimization. Consistent with previous research, 3.0% of the entire sample reported being the victim of a completed prison rape. Significant demographic predictors were revealed for lifetime sexual victimization but not for in-prison sexual victimization. Implications for correctional policy based on research findings are discussed.

Would They Officially Report an In-Prison Sexual Assault? An Examination of Inmate Perceptions

This exploratory study examined inmates’ intentions to report their own sexual victimization and recommend others to officially report their assaults. More than 900 male and female inmates in a Southern prison system responded to the self-report questionnaire. Victims of prison sexual assault and homosexual/bisexual inmates, at risk for victimization, had decreased chances of reporting their own victimization. As inmates’ time served increased their chances of intending to report their victimization decreased. Women were more likely to recommend others to report as were those who knew a recently victimized inmate. Recommendations focus on training and education alongside prison cultural change.

Understanding the Complexities of Human Trafficking and Child Sexual Exploitation: The Case of Southeast Asia

Trafficking for the purposes of sexual exploitation is a social problem that has marred the reputations of Southeast Asian countries such as Cambodia and Thailand. Estimates of the extent of this problem vary dramatically, and research on child sexual exploitation in these countries is almost nonexistent. Presented here are findings from observations and interviews with government officials, nongovernmental organization workers, and women and children involved in the sex industry in Cambodia and Thailand. These findings reveal the complex nature and inner workings of this industry from those who live with it on a daily basis. Based on this study, implications for change are discussed.

The Next Generation of Prisoners: Toward an Understanding of Violent Institutionalized Delinquents

Violent behavior by juveniles, along with the juvenile incarceration rate, has been on the decline in the past several years. Despite these declines, institutionalized juveniles, particularly violent offenders, constitute the population most at risk of becoming the next generation of adult prisoners. Using a sample of youth incarcerated in the Texas Youth Commission (TYC), this article first examines gender differences among numerous self-report measures including but not limited to violence, maltreatment, life stress, and depression. Next, multivariate analysis revealed that age, minority status, substance dependency, life stress, and gang membership were significantly related to violent offending. Analyses also revealed that numerous variables were related to depression among incarcerated male and female delinquents. This article ends with a discussion of policy implications for incarcerated delinquents.

CRACKING THE CODE: AN EMPIRICAL EXPLORATION OF SOCIAL LEARNING THEORY AND COMPUTER CRIME

ABSTRACT Computer crime and related behaviors have received increased attention in recent years, yet there is still a paucity of research focusing on the behaviors surrounding computer hacking. In the present study, we extend Akers’ social learning theory (SLT) to explore the etiology of four forms of computer hacking (guessing passwords, attempted hacking, malicious file manipulation, and using/creating computer malware), thus filling a gap in the literature. Based on self-report data (n=600), our findings lend modest support to SLT, however the impact of social learning components may vary across different types of computer hacking. Limitations are discussed and suggestions for future research are provided.

The Depiction of Female Municipal Police Officers in the First Four Decades of the Core Cop Film Genre: “It's a Man's World”

In a first-step cultivation theory analysis, this study examined the frequency and quality of female municipal police officers depicted in either the leading or joint leading role in the first 4 decades of the core cop film genre. An examination of 112 films released between 1971 and 2011 found that only 15 films portrayed female municipal police officers in either the leading or joint leading role. Findings revealed that key barriers regularly faced by female police officers, such as sexual harassment, gender harassment, and gender discrimination, were not addressed in the films. Female municipal police officers were, however, repeatedly depicted as having had intimate relationships with senior male police officers and/or portrayed as becoming officers because of being scarred emotionally or mentally by past traumatic events. According to cultivation theory, such depictions would cultivate a perceived social reality in which females only become police officers if they are emotionally scarred and intimacy with male colleagues is the norm. This study provides insight into the potential impact the lack and quality of existing portrayals have on the recruitment, hiring, and retention of female municipal police officers.

Crime and punishment in Ethiopia: A country profile

Ethiopia is a country with a long and tumultuous history. Centuries of political instability, civil unrest, and poverty have left their mark on the African nation. Over the past two decades the new Ethiopian government has propelled the nation in a progressive direction. While problems continue to plague the Ethiopian people, particularly political unrest, Ethiopia has made improvements related to law and justice well beyond most other African countries. This article profiles the country of Ethiopia and the components of its justice system. The ways in which different crimes and punishments are defined are discussed and each component of the justice system is described in both a historical and current context. As the reader will see, Ethiopia has taken great strides to conform to international standards. Although there is still improvement to be had, Ethiopia has certainly advanced itself as a country with much potential.

Mental Health Among Incarcerated Women: An Examination of Factors Impacting Depression and PTSD Symptomology

Female offenders experience mental health symptoms at a higher rate than male offenders and females in the community. The current study investigated individual characteristics and experiences that may impact symptoms of depressive disorders and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) among a sample of female inmates in a large Southern prison system. Results showed high rates of reported childhood and adult victimization experiences among the sample. Factors such as seeking mental health treatment prior to incarceration significantly impacted the reporting of depressive and PTSD symptoms, as did victimization histories. Findings suggest that women would benefit from screening to identify mental health needs at the onset of incarceration as well as gender responsive needs assessment and programming to address histories of victimization and current mental health symptomatology.

Serious about Change: A Gendered Examination of the Impact of Offense Type on Parole Success

Female offender populations are growing at an unprecedented rate. The present study examines gender differences among a large sample of male and female offenders as related to seriousness of their offense and success on parole. Data analyzed were originally collected from a random sample of parole case files in California. Results revealed that although gender does significantly impact parole success, seriousness of the offense does not. Other significant factors include age at release on parole, criminal history, and measures of stability upon release. The need for wrap-around services, comprehensive treatment models, and funding for gender-specific services are discussed.