Jefferson E. Holcomb

Racial disparity and death sentences in Ohio

The use of the death penalty has resulted in a number of studies attempting to determine if its application is consistent with the guidelines established by the United States Supreme Court. In particular, many studies have assessed whether there are racial disparities in the imposition of death sentences. This study examined the imposition of death sentences in Ohio, a state largely ignored by previous research and that, until 1999, had not executed an inmate since 1963. Drawing from previous studies that have examined the issue in other states, this study assessed the likelihood that a particular homicide would result in a death sentence, controlling for race of defendant and victim and other relevant factors. Results indicated both legal and extralegal factors (including race of victim) were significant predictors of a death sentence, supporting many previous studies that concluded that race plays a role in the imposition of the death penalty.

The Interactive Effects of Victim Race and Gender on Death Sentence Disparity Findings

Several death penalty studies examine whether victim race is associated with differential death sentencing outcomes; however, these studies tend to ignore the potential interaction of victim race and victim gender on decision-making outcomes. The present article examines the impact of the interaction of victim race and gender on death sentences in Ohio. When victim race and gender were considered, those homicides with White female victims were significantly more likely to result in a death sentence than homicides with other victim characteristics. This finding expands on previous research by identifying a specific victim gender-race combination, White female victim, as an extralegal factor that may partially explain previously identified race-of-victim disparities in death sentencing.

The Development and Implementation of a Faculty–Student Collaborative Research Project

Criminal Justice faculty collaborated with undergraduate and graduate students to evaluate federal probation officers’ use of evidence-based skills following the implementation of a new training program designed to improve officer supervision skills and offender outcomes. The project resulted in the coding of over 100 audio recordings of actual officer–offender interactions based upon a developed assessment instrument. Overall, officers demonstrated high levels of adherence to training program skills. This article describes the process used to form a faculty–student collaborative research project and the benefits, challenges, and recommendations for similar projects at other institutions.

Improving probation officer effectiveness through agency–university collaboration

Collaborative research partnerships between criminal justice agencies and universities are vital to providing more effective and efficient services to the community by connecting research with practice. Unfortunately, such partnerships are not frequently sought. The tradition of autonomous research is often at least partially rooted in the perception that barriers to collaboration cannot be successfully mitigated. As external factors are increasing the pressure to collaborate, it is constructive to recognize the known barriers and strategies to overcome these hurdles. The present paper discusses an ongoing collaboration between the university researchers and a federal probation district in the assessment of an ongoing training program to improve officer interactions with offenders. Best practices are outlined and suggestions for future projects are discussed.

Food for Thought An Investigation of Food and Drug Administration Reporting Practices, 1995-1999

Criminologists and criminal justice researchers have neglected the behavior of regulatory agencies. Furthering the goal of focusing on the behavior of regulatory agencies, this article analyzes the reporting practices of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on its activities as found in two publications produced by that agency: FDA Enforcement Report, its official data report, and FDA Consumer, a public information magazine. Results suggest that the FDA uses these mediums to construct different images of its activities. The authors examine reasons why the FDA engages in image management and the differences across different FDA publications. The authors also introduce the idea of public health justice to identify the social control concerns of agencies ostensibly charged with protecting the public’s health.

An Assessment of the Relative Importance of Criminal Justice Learning Objectives

This study examines the relative importance of the different learning objectives for criminal justice education as identified by the Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences (ACJS). Three different populations (students, faculty, and professionals) completed a survey exercise in which they were required to rank order hypothetical job applicants who varied in competency on each of the ACJS learning objectives. In addition, students completed the same exercise pre- and post-completion of their required internship to determine if experience in the field affected their responses. Conjoint analysis was used to identify the relative importance of different learning objectives. While results indicate some similarities in responses across all three populations, several interesting differences were observed, and these may have important curricular implications for criminal justice programs.

From the Field: “BAD TIME”: THE RISE AND FALL OF PENAL POLICY IN OHIO

ABSTRACT Correctional administrators have traditionally had a number of disciplinary tools at their discretion to maintain institutional control. Following the virtual elimination parole and good time credits, the State of Ohio created a unique penal policy to strengthen prison quthorities’ ability to respond to prison violations. This paper reviews the passage of the bad time statute and its eventual demise at the hands of the states supreme court. The study illustrates how correctional discretion is often manipulated to serve perceived political and institutional needs and the consequences of altering that discretion.