Don Hummer

Myths and Realities of Prison Violence: A Review of the Evidence

In order to distinguish prison myth from reality, the authors examine both official and unofficial estimates of the violence and disorder in prison, as well the dual issues of whether drug abuse and gang activity in prison can be directly linked to the level of violence and disorder in correctional institutions. Based on this review, current responses to prison violence and disorder are examined; the authors argue that the key to reducing the current level of prison violence and disorder is to determine the appropriate tipping point between formal and informal social control mechanisms. The authors conclude by highlighting three distinct strategies for reducing violent incidents in prisons: (1) demand transparency, (2) require evidence-based practice, and (3) implement innovative measures of prison performance and quality.

What Do College Students Think of Policewomen

Abstract Police departments across the United States now commonly require new recruits to possess either a two— or four-year college degree before admittance to the academy. As such, the pool of applicants for law enforcement positions is now centered in our nations colleges and universities. At the same time, many departments are making conscious efforts to increase both the number of female officers on patrol duty and in administrative/management positions. Given these organizational changes in a traditionally male-dominated profession, the present research assesses the attitudes of 835 undergraduate students at a midsize, state-supported university in the Northeast toward women in the field of policing. Results are compared with similar research from the 1970s and 1980s, and conclusions are drawn regarding the present attitudes of future law enforcement personnel.

Serious Criminality at U.S. Colleges and Universities: An Application of the Situational Perspective

This research builds on data collected by the Bureau of Justice Statistics’ Law Enforcement and Management and Administrative Statistics program, which administered a questionnaire to larger (enrollment more than 2,500 students) colleges and universities throughout the United States. The primary focus of the original Bureau of Justice study was to assess the structure and functions of campus public safety departments. However, data were also collected on a number of variables indicative of the tenants of situational crime prevention, as well as data on serious (Part I) offending from the sampled institutions. This research will help determine whether crime prevention initiatives derived from the situational perspective are successful in ameliorating serious offending in the campus environment.

Considerations for Faculty Preparing to Develop and Teach Online Criminal Justice Courses at Traditional Institutions of Higher Learning

Criminal justice programs at traditional institutions of higher learning have been moving toward offering courses online and, in some cases, placing entire programs online for the better part of the past decade. In competition with for‐profit institutions, many traditional colleges and universities have expanded their distance education programming to include online courses and programs to attract students. As a result, the number of criminal justice students has increased, as have the profits for home institutions. With this growth in the online education market, the criminal justice faculty member has been thrust, willingly or unwillingly, into the world of online teaching—a method of instruction foreign to many instructors. From the authors’ experience at their current (and in the case of the lead author a second) institution, this paper addresses many issues that must be considered by faculty members before embarking on this type of time‐intensive initiative.

Assessing strategies for improving law enforcement / security relationships: Implications for community policing

Though much has been written about law enforcement agencies developing partnerships with citizen groups in the context of community policing, very little research has addressed the role of private security as a viable partner in law enforcement. The basis for developing working relationship is sharing common goals as well as having mutual respect for each other. A further important ingredient for developing sound relationships includes the presence and fostering of positive perceptions and attitudes toward each other. In this paper we examine a sample of 284 police officers and 236 security professionals in a Midwestern state to assess their perceptions on strategies to improve police/security relationships. Implications for developing partnerships are discussed.

A survey of existing program strategies for offenders with intellectual and developmental disabilities under correctional supervision in Pennsylvania

Mental institutions housed individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I&DD) until the 1960s. Community-based alternatives became the preferred treatment method to relieve overcrowding and declining living conditions. This movement towards deinstitutionalization had several unintended consequences, including placing responsibility on the criminal justice system to serve as mental health providers. This study examines treatment programs for offenders with intellectual and developmental disabilities in county jails and probation and parole offices in Pennsylvania to examine current treatment models. The research examines the extent of programming for individuals with I&DD and provides recommendations for improving service provision for this growing population of offenders.

Arming the campus cops: a descriptive and multivariate assessment of support

The general characteristics of crimes occurring on American college and university campuses have changed, reflecting a much greater frequency and variety of criminal activities. Therefore, many campus police departments are considering alternative mechanisms aimed at crime control and diminishing the fear levels of constituents. While most municipal police agencies routinely arm themselves, traditionally, armed police forces have been uncharacteristic of campus law enforcement, especially at smaller, rural and suburban schools. The present research assesses campus constituency support and rationale for arming the police force at one university. Constituent status, gender, fear of crime, outcome of contact with an officer, and political ideology are among the variables discussed in relation to this contemporary issue.

A Quantitative Analysis of Wrongful Death Lawsuits Involving Police Officers in the United States, 1995-2005

This article examines the nature of wrongful death lawsuits involving police officers in the United States. By reviewing state-level cases, the authors determine the circumstances surrounding the incidents. More specifically, the authors note characteristics such as the parties typically involved in the cases, the situation in which the deaths occurred, the location of the incidents, the status of the deceased (suspect/nonsuspect), the number of officers involved in the incidents, the specific reasons for the suits, and the outcomes of the cases. Multivariate analyses were also performed to determine the strongest predictors of success in these suits. The implications of the research for police officers and citizens are also discussed.

Hate Crimes in Post-9/11 Pennsylvania: Case Characteristics and Police Response Revisited

Extant research suggests that police involvement with hate crimes and bias incidents may be affected by case- and community-level characteristics. Triggering events, such as the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001 (9/11), or the recent heated debates concerning illegal immigration, may also mediate this relationship. The present study builds on prior research by replicating the work of Wilson and Ruback (2003), which explored whether historical events, case characteristics, and community demographics are significantly associated with police involvement and response to bias-motivated offenses. The goals of this study were twofold: (1) to determine if the level of police response to bias-motivated incidents changed significantly post-9/11 and (2) to determine the extent to which case- and community-level factors are associated with police involvement. The findings illustrate that a significant increase in police response to hate crimes and bias incidents occurred post-9/11, and that both case- and community-level characteristics affect police involvement.

Public opinion on the affluenza defense, race, and sentencing decisions: results from a statewide poll

Abstract Ever since the highly publicized Texas case in which a wealthy, Caucasian teenager invoked ‘affluenza’ as a mitigating factor during his homicide trial, public discourse has debated the appropriateness of considering wealth during criminal sentences. Underlying this debate is a question about race: would a black defendant have the same chance of successfully using the affluenza defense? Intersectionality suggests that considerations of class, as implicated by the affluenza debate, are necessarily conditioned by understandings of race. This research examines whether public opinion supports the idea that extreme wealth contributes to criminal offending; whether affluence should be considered during sentencing; and whether a black defendant would able to use the affluenza defense successfully. Examining public opinion data from a statewide poll in Pennsylvania, this research explores public opinion on affluenza and examines whether race and other demographic characteristics influence the attribution process. The researchers use multivariate models to investigate significant predictors tied to respondents’ opinions, and they make observations about the impact of these factors on due process in sentencing procedures. This research provides an important first step in exploring whether the public perceives affluenza to be related to offending, related punitiveness, and the interplay of race with that attribution process.