Jonathon A. Cooper

Is Criminology Moving Toward a Paradigm Shift? Evidence from a Survey of the American Society of Criminology

Ideology impacts a number of values, beliefs, and norms across an array of domains. Relatively little research has been done in criminology exploring the relationship between ideology and theoretical orientation. This study represents not only a follow‐up of previous research exploring this relationship, but also introduces new variables exploring the extent to which biological correlates of crime are becoming more accepted in the academy. Results are gleaned from a survey given to members of the American Society of Criminology as of December 2007.

Theorizing Criminal Justice Evaluation and Research

Theories of the criminal justice process continue to develop and mature, as do theories of crime; however, less need has been perceived for theory in evidence-based policy evaluations. The authors argue that more emphasis should be placed in criminal justice and criminology on theoretically robust evaluation research, as doing so can help bridge the divide between two divided disciplines. Examples are provided to illustrate how the gap between criminological and criminal justice theory can be bridged with theory-based evaluation. The authors also highlight resources available to researchers who take us up on our call.

Noble cause corruption as a consequence of role conflict in the police organisation

This article proposes a theoretical framework with which to examine and understand noble cause corruption. Specifically, it draws on the social psychological work of Katz and Kahn, integrating role theory and role conflict with previous research into policing behaviour and misconduct. After proposing the theoretical framework, research directions are presented along with related methodological challenges. This article accomplishes the following: it provides a stepping off point for research into an under examined and thus far atheoretically understood phenomenon, it increases the academic understanding of noble cause corruption, and it assists practitioners in creating policies aimed at combating corruption generally.

Race, Structural Disadvantage, and Illicit Drug Use Among Arrestees

Although structural disadvantage has been found to predict both crime and illicit drug use, its pattern relative to methamphetamine use is not clear. To gain further insight into the relationship between structural disadvantage and methamphetamine use, the current study examines how structural disadvantage, as a macro-level risk factor, predicts methamphetamine use relative to other illicit drug use among a national sample of male arrestees. The study also examines the interaction between race/ethnicity, structural disadvantage, and methamphetamine use, vis-à-vis that of other drugs. Findings reveal that Black and Latino arrestees were more likely than Whites to test positive for marijuana, cocaine, and opiates than methamphetamine. Also, Whites in less disadvantaged areas were more likely than similarly situated Blacks to test positive for methamphetamine than marijuana, cocaine, and opiates. Policy implications are discussed.

Law Enforcement Case Law

This article is another in a recurring series that provides a selective review of current case law involving law enforcement. The cases are drawn from decisions rendered by the U.S. Courts of Appeal between January 2005 and December 2006. This time period covers Volumes 390-472 of the Federal Reporter (third edition). The topics addressed include the following areas of search and seizure law commonly faced by law enforcement officers: the exclusionary rule, probable cause, stop and frisk, the search incident to arrest exception, the exigent circumstances exception to the warrant requirement, consent searches, automobile searches, plain view, and open fields. Cases were selected on the basis of their currency and discussion of current “hot-button” issues in search and seizure law. This article provides criminal justice scholars with an update on the current state of the law in search and seizure. Although the U.S. Supreme Court is the final word on the subject, the high court decides only a handful of search and seizure cases in a term. The bulk of the law is developed in the lower courts. The federal courts of appeal hear appeals regarding Fourth Amendment claims from all of the states. They interpret Supreme Court pronouncements and apply Supreme Court rules to a variety of situations and contexts, often ones not anticipated by the high court.

The Future of the Academy: Who’s Looking for Whom?

Individuals seeking academic employment opportunities often do so by exploring hiring announcements that are advertised online through Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences, American Society of Criminology, and The Chronicle of Higher Education. Because limited educational resources and budget constraints can impact hiring decisions that are made at institutions of higher learning over time, it is important for candidates to consider exactly what employers are looking for in prospective professionals and to see how they measure up to the demands brought on by academic job searches. Using quantitative content analyses of recent job postings on popular academic job search websites, this study explores recent trends in the hiring of criminology and criminal justice professionals, paying particular attention to exactly which positions are being sought after by colleges and universities and how the presence of online technology has changed hiring trends within our field.

Police, Sociology of

This article is a revision of the previous edition article by H.-J. Albrecht, D. Nogala, volume 17, pp. 11532–11535,

Criminal justice theory: an introduction

come with the vagaries of team work. It is a quick and focused review that establishes the work to come and the conclusions Hunt will later draw. Finally, what makes the book valuable for the student of ethnographic research is the appendix, where Hunt becomes the teacher of ethnographic methodology. Here, she discusses many of the conflicts and decisions that researchers face when working in the field and conducting interviews, conveying not only how she conducted her study, but offering advice to future ethnographers for their studies. This book operates at so many different levels that it is a highly recommended read for a number of reasons. For those interested in a gripping police story of both the emergency services unit’s response to a suicide bomber cell and the organizational politics that followed, this is a must read. And for the serious student of policing and qualitative research, because of Hunt’s ability to also convey the process of conducting an ethnographic study, Seven Shots also stands on the must read list.