Jennifer L. Hartman

Gender, Bullying Victimization, and Juvenile Delinquency: A Test of General Strain Theory

Abstract Bullying has emerged as a salient problem in the school environment. Using a sample of 2,437 middle-school students from a metropolitan Virginia area, we explore the impact of school bullying victimization on delinquent involvement and substance use. The analysis is guided by general strain theory (GST). Consistent with GST, bullying victimization has a significant, if weak, direct relationship with wayward conduct. This effect is robust across gender groups. Notably, an examination of “conditioning” effects showed that the impact of this strain on delinquency is stronger among students with weaker school social bonds and with higher levels of aggressive attitudes. The results thus suggest that bullying victimization should be considered as a risk factor that places youngsters in jeopardy of criminal involvement.

The effects of aggressive policing of disorder on serious crime

This paper adds to a growing body of research which explores the relationship between aggressive police strategies and serious crime. For one month, police enforced disorder crime in a small section of one community. An interrupted time series analysis was utilized to evaluate the effects of this intervention on robbery and aggravated burglary in a target area and a control area. The strategy was found to be unrelated to levels of aggravated burglary and robbery in the target area. There was no spatial displacement of crime. Explanations for the findings are offered.

Exploring the Gender Differences in Protective Factors Implications for Understanding Resiliency

Understanding the causes of why individuals desist from or are resilient to delinquency and drug use has become a salient social concern. Much research has centered on the effects that protective factors possess in fostering resiliency but that research has not fully explored how the effects of protective factors might vary across gender. Using a sample of 711 individuals from the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth, Child—Mother data set, the authors investigate how individual protective factors vary across gender on two measures of resiliency that document the lack of involvement in serious delinquency and drug use. They also examine whether the accumulation of protective factors varies across gender in fostering resiliency. The findings suggest that although males and females rely on different individual protective factors to foster resiliency, the accumulation of protective factors appears to be equally important for males and females in promoting resiliency. The authors discuss theoretical and policy implications.

THE EFFECTS OF PRENATAL PROBLEMS, FAMILY FUNCTIONING, AND NEIGHBORHOOD DISADVANTAGE IN PREDICTING LIFE- COURSE-PERSISTENT OFFENDING

Research examining Moffitts dual taxonomy theory of offending has generally supported the idea that neuropsychological deficits interact with disadvantaged familial environments to predict life-course-persistent offending. Most research, however, has neglected to investigate the power of this interaction across different neighborhood and racial contexts. Using data extracted from the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth, Moffitts biosocial hypothesis is tested across different neighborhood and racial contexts. The findings indicate that the biosocial interaction predicts life-course-persistent offending only among non-Whites in disadvantaged neighborhoods. Stated differently, macro-level structural factors appear to moderate the effects of individual and family risks. That poor non-Whites reside in neighborhoods that are ecologically distinct from those in which poor Whites reside exacerbates the criminogenic effects of individual-level deficits and family disadvantage.

Drug abusing women in the community: the impact of drug court involvement on recidivism

Developing community-based options for drug abusing women is important for a variety of reasons. One option that shows promise is the treatment-oriented drug court. Although drug courts enjoy considerable empirical support, relatively few studies have examined the efficacy of this model for women. The current study uses a quasi-experimental design to compare outcomes between a sample of moderate to high-risk drug court participants (n=91) and probationers (n=80). Over the course of an average two year follow-up period, female drug court participants were found to have significantly lower rates of recidivism than their probation counterparts. The results of an event history analysis confirmed that drug court participants were significantly less likely to recidivate even after controlling for differences in length of follow-up. These findings provide support for the ability of drug court programs to successfully treat drug-involved women.

Examining the Cumulative Effects of Protective Factors: Resiliency among a National Sample of High-Risk Youths

Abstract Research has consistently suggested that individuals from high-risk environments who experience multiple risk factors are most susceptible to becoming delinquent. A substantial portion of these individuals, however, are resilient to the pressures within high-risk environments and thus do not become delinquent. While past research has identified protective factors that are independently correlated with resiliency, relatively few studies have investigated the cumulative effects that protective factors possess in promoting resiliency. Using a sample of 711 individuals from the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth, Child-Mother data set, this study investigates the cumulative effects of protective factors in fostering resiliency. The findings suggest that the accumulation of protection is positively correlated with resiliency over and above the effects of risk. The theoretical and policy implications of these findings are discussed.

A Life-Course Approach to the Study of Victimization and Offending Behaviors

Abstract Research generated from the life-course perspective has consistently documented a curvilinear relationship between age and offending, yet very little research has employed a life-course approach to investigate the relationship between age and victimization over time. We address this gap in the literature by using data from three waves of the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health (Add Health). Specifically, based on Sampson and Laubs (1993) contention that the presence of adult social bonds decreases the likelihood of criminal activity in adulthood, we examine whether two adult social bonds—marriage and employment—are associated with desistance from delinquent involvement and whether these same bonds are associated with a reduction in the odds of victimization. The theoretical and policy implications of this research are discussed.

Effectiveness of Culturally Specific Community Treatment for African American Juvenile Felons

In response to seemingly high recidivism rates among male African American juvenile felons in Cincinnati, a community program was created specifically for these youths. The Community Corrections Partnership (CCP) Program focuses on the cultural regrounding of African American boys to improve their self-esteem and help them to develop a sense of community. The program has received national attention, yet its effectiveness for reducing recidivism remains unknown. This article presents results from a study of rearrests among juveniles who have completed the program and a comparison group of youths who underwent probation. The findings revealed that CCP did no better than regular probation for preventing recidivism among these juveniles.

Outcomes Among Drug Court Participants: Does Drug of Choice Matter?

The link between drug and alcohol abuse and criminal behavior is clearly illustrated in the literature. The options of how to respond to these offenders, however, has widely fluctuated over time. Currently, many states have reconsidered their “get tough” approach to one that is more rehabilitative in nature. One particular community-based intervention that has gained in popularity is the drug court model. The literature on drug courts is generally supportive; however, there is a need to examine effectiveness by target population. The purpose of this study is to explore recidivism rates of drug court clients by drug of choice. Using a 2-year follow-up period, this study finds that drug of choice does not significantly influence either successful graduation or arrest. Policy implications are discussed.

Sexual Harassment Victimization During Emerging Adulthood A Test of Routine Activities Theory and a General Theory of Crime

Sexual harassment of college students may lead to more serious forms of sexual assault. Few studies have investigated sexual harassment predictors framed within competing theoretical perspectives. In this study, the literature is extended by examining (a) three types of sexual harassment on a college campus, (b) the nature of reporting, and (c) whether routine activities and self-control theories effectively explain sexual harassment. Findings indicate that one fourth of the participants in the sample were sexually harassed, assaulted students are extremely unlikely to officially report incidents, and measures of routine activities theory are important predictors of sexual harassment. Prevention and education policies should focus on increased reporting to university authorities and helping students understand the situational contexts in which these behaviors are likely to occur.