Kathryn D. Morgan

Factors associated with probation outcome

Abstract In an attempt to determine how certain demographic, employment, prior criminal history, and probation sentence variables are associated with probation outcome, this study investigated probation terminations of 266 felony adult probationers in Tennessee whose cases had been terminated between January 1, 1980 and December 31, 1989 by completion of probation, revocation, or absconding. Probation outcome, the dependent variable, was measured as success or failure. Hypotheses predicting significant relationships between key variables including race, sex, prior criminal history, marital status, and employment status were tested for statistical significance and strength. Chi square was used to determine the statistical significance. All of the predicted relationships were in the right direction; with the exception of the variables race and age, all of the relationships were statistically significant. Logit regression was used to determine the best predictors of probation outcome. Four models were estimated, with statistically insignificant variables being deleted. The final model contained the variables sex, work status, marital status, prior felonies, and conviction offense, which were statistically significant and cited as the best predictors of probation outcome.

Terrorists right and left: Empirical issues in profiling American terrorists

Although recent efforts have been made to profile American terrorists, these efforts have been hampered by severe methodological difficulties, from the way in which terrorism was defined, to the identification of potential cases, to the methods used in sample selection. The current study utilizes a data base created from a list of persons indicted under the FBIs Counterterrorism Program from 1980 through 1989. This information was supplemented by case files from federal district courts and the U.S. Department of Justice and verified through demographic and sentencing data on each subject from the Administrative Office of U.S. Courts. The sample includes over 200 terrorists from 21 terrorist organizations, who had been indicted for over 1300 violations of federal criminal law. Analysis of the data reveals substantial differences from traditionally accepted descriptions of terrorists. Of singular interest is the finding that American terrorists tend to be significantly older, on average, then previous stud...

The Impact of Race on Parole Decision‐Making

In an attempt to discover the major predictors of (1) selection for parole consideration and (2) parole release decision‐making in one Southeastern state, this study examined the cases of 762 inmates under the supervision of the Alabama Department of Corrections who were eligible for parole from 1 June 1993 through 31 May 1994. Alabama uses a two‐stage process: the preliminary screening stage to determine if the inmate should be considered for parole and the parole release stage. The two dependent variables in the study were: decision to select an inmate for parole consideration and parole release disposition. Of the 762 eligible inmates, only 299 were selected for a parole release hearing, and only 128 (43 percent) were granted parole. At the preliminary release stage, the most significant predictors were seriousness of the offense, time served, total disciplinaries, and recommendations from the Institutional parole officer, while recommendations given by prison personnel were the only variables impacting release decisions. Results showed that race did not have a significant impact on decisions at the preliminary screening stage or the parole release stage. Although Black inmates comprised over 60 percent of the population of inmates eligible for release and those selected for a hearing and Whites comprised less than 40 percent of both groups, only 42 percent of the Black inmates were released compared to 43 percent of the White inmates. A major concern of the study was the generalizability of the findings. At the conclusion of the study, the question was can these findings which focused on Class A felonies where there was injury to the victim be generalized to states where the laws and parole procedures might be different?

Liability issues affecting probation and parole supervision

Abstract Courts are making probation and parole officers more accountable for the supervision and control of their clients. This article addresses the civil liability that probation and parole officers can incur in the performance of their duties. They may be held liable for injuries to the client or for injuries caused by their client to a third party if it can be shown that the injuries resulted from negligent supervision. There are three purposes of the article: (1) to examine officer liability for injury to a third party caused by the client under supervision; (2) to examine the approaches used to determine officer liability; and (3) to identify circumstances under which the officer has immunity from civil liability.

Issues in Female Inmate Health: Results From a Southeastern State

The current study examines health care services and perceptions of those services by former inmates of a womens prison in 1 southeastern state. The results indicate that many women enter prison with health issues, including hypertension, HIV/AIDS, depression, anxiety, and drug addictions, and use health services while incarcerated. Women in this study expressed overall dissatisfaction with those health services and did not perceive that their health improved while incarcerated or that they received better health care in prison than on the outside. This exploratory study points to the need for further empirical investigation into the issue of health care for the incarcerated female. The generalizability of the studys findings is possibly limited by the fact that respondents were former female inmates. Also, results from 1 southeastern state may not be generalizable to other geographic locations.