Komanduri S. Murty

Fear of crime and the likelihood of victimization: a bi-ethnic comparison

Fear of crime and the likelihood of future victimization for Hispanics and Blacks in the United States was examined. The sample size was 2,235 (1,696 Black and 539 Hispanic respondents). Fear of crime and the likelihood of victimization were perceived as serious social problems by both Hispanics and Blacks, but Hispanics and women reported higher levels of fear of crime and felt more likely to be victimized than Blacks and men did.

The Process of Cessation Among Current Tobacco Smokers: A Cross-Sectional Data Analysis From 21 Countries, Global Adult Tobacco Survey, 2009–2013

We analyzed data from the Global Adult Tobacco Survey (GATS) from 21 countries to categorize smokers by stages of cessation and highlight interventions that could be tailored to each stage. GATS is a nationally representative household survey that measures tobacco use and other key indicators by using a standardized protocol. The distribution of smokers into precontemplation, contemplation, and preparation stages varied by country. Using the stages of change model, each country can design and implement effective interventions suitable to its cultural, social, and economic situations to help smokers advance successfully through the stages of cessation.

The black community's reactions to the 1992 los angeles riot

This article is based on field (street) interviews with a sample of 227 black community members living and/or working in South Central Los Angeles at the time of the 1992 riot. The interview instrument comprises 20 questions designed to (1) ascertain the reactions and feelings of black community members to the riot; and (2) compare a sample of black participants in the riot with nonparticipants. The participant group was found to be more frequently younger males with less education and lower income, and they were more likely to have arrest records prior to the riot than nonparticipants. Though reactions and feelings were mixed and contradictory, both groups reported an overall acceptance of the disorders. Differentials in reactions were in degree rather than in kind. Most objected to the riot in principle but concluded that collective violence “pays off.” The preriot structural facilitators (poverty, relative deprivation, unemployment, police brutality, racial discrimination, and negative police‐community...

The DUI Offender As A Social Type

This study of 311 white DUI offenders is based on three sources: (a) survey data, (b) personal interviews, and (c) official arrest histories. All cases were examined along eight research dimensions: arrest charges, sociodemographic variables, perceived self‐drinking attributes, behavioral drinking problems, identities, life histories, personal problems, and life styles. Two hundred and eighty‐nine multiple offenders were found to comprise an identifiable generalized deviant social type. The remaining cases, a residual category of 22 “negative cases,” were first‐time offenders and social drinkers. We suggest that our findings may be applicable to other DUI samples. For the most part DUI offenders are “criminals on the road.”

Death Row Inmates: A Comparison of Georgia and Florida Profiles

A study of inmates on death row in Georgia in 1983 was conducted and compared to a comparable examination carried out in Florida in 1977. The two populations were found to be strikingly similar, and they were demograph ically similar to death-row inmates in other states in 1983. National statistics on death-row prisoners show little demographic change since 1977. A profile of Georgias 101 death-row inmates was derived from prison files and personal interviews. It portrays a group of young, undereducated, unskilled, underemployed, economically de prived, working class, recidivist offenders. Though unremorseful and burdened with unrealistic and defensive con ceptualizations about their homicide acts, these offenders did not appear to be mentally disturbed. They were of average intelligence, educable, optimistic about the future, and keenly interested in self-improvement programs. A typology was also constructed and shows that less than 30% were considered dangerous offenders at the time of the study. Finally, the results point to several implications regarding research on death-row inmates.

Deviant Exploitation of Black Male Student Athletes on White Campuses

Considering exploitation—regardless of whether it takes place at the organizational level or individual level—as inherently deviant, this article examines different types of exploitations experienced by black male football and basketball student athletes (BSAs) on predominantly white campuses over the last five decades by utilizing a five-point hypothetical framework. The study findings are in agreement with those of prior studies conducted in this area by sports scholars and sociologists. Additionally, this study finds that the exploitation is embedded in social class differences as well as in racial ideology and discrimination.

A COMPARISON OF CRIME REPORTAGE IN TWO NIGERIAN NEWSPAPERS: DAILY TIMES AND NEW NIGERIAN

This study compares crime reportage in the two major newspapers in Nigeria, Daily Times and New Nigerian, from August 1 to October 31, 1983, utilizing a content analysis methodology. The Daily Times (jointly owned by the Government and the private interest) exceed the New Nigerian (totally owned by the Government) in total crime reports, average daily reports, average number of lines per report and the ratio of space-utilization for crime vs. non-crime reportage. It is likely that newspapers totally owned and controlled by the government, e.g., New Nigerian, are less likely to publish crime reports in general and political crimes in particular than newspapers owned and controlled in part by the private sector, e.g., Daily Times. Both newspapers covered political crimes more frequently (36 percent of total reports) than any other type of crime and its subcategory “riots and demonstrations” comprised 44 percent of all political crimes. This finding reflects Nigerias problems of neo-colonization and ethnic,...

HIV/AIDS: A Survey of Beliefs, Attitudes, and Behavior in Post War Liberia

A survey of 170 Liberians was conducted through a partnership between Rust College in Mississippi, USA and Cuttington University, Liberia, funded by the United Negro College Fund Special Programs (UNCFSP) in 2006. Data were gathered on respondents’ socio-economic characteristics, alcohol use, and sex life; awareness of HIV/AIDS; knowledge of HIV/AIDS; sources of information about HIV/AIDS; beliefs, attitudes and behavior; opinions related to sexual practices; awareness of condom; and, access to media and acceptance of message on safe sex . The study findings showed that, on the whole, the levels of awareness of HIV/AIDS, knowledge of its origins and knowledge of preventive behaviors appeared to be considerably higher than their level of protective behaviors for safe sex—i.e., their knowledge and awareness did not change significantly their risky behavior. These findings suggest that there is a critical need for capacity building and implementation of effective HIV/AIDS prevention strategies to overcome negative health related consequences, including dissemination, intervention and evaluation associated with the risk of contracting and spreading HIV/AIDS in Liberia.

Maternal Health and Maternal Mortality in Post War Liberia: A Survey Analysis

The United Negro College Fund Special Programs (UNCFSP) funded the partnership between Rust College of Holly Springs, Mississippi, and Cuttington University College, Suakoko, Liberia, to implement an intervention project based on three interconnected strategies: training, management and extension, and community engagement. The overall goal of this project is to develop capacity of health practitioners assigned to rural clinics and health centers to deliver better services to the most marginalized communities of women and children in an agrarian society recovering from two decades of war. The first of the five phases, that were proposed to implement this project, was to conduct needs assessment to identify and determine the magnitude of priorities of unmet needs. In an attempt to fulfill this objective, three independent surveys were conducted. The first survey focused on knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors relating to HIV/AIDS, and 170 Liberians participated in that survey (Murty 2006). This study reports the findings of the other two surveys that are directly related to maternal health and maternal mortality—that is as perceived by the women in reproductive ages and by health care professionals/providers. Both surveys were conducted in the months of June and July of 2006.

Profile of Adult Offenders in Dammam Central Prison, Saudi Arabia

This study for the first time profiles Saudi Arabian prisoners along several quantitative and qualitative dimensions: 1. criminal history; 2. juvenile delinquency history; 3. demographic characteristics; 4. socioeconomic status; 5. family background characteristics; 6. parent-child relationships; 7. self-concept and identities; 8. life-history problems; and 9. deviant habits. Two thirds of the sampled prisoners (199 out of 306) were found to be non-serious, situational offenders. The remainder consisted of 29 serious offenders, 41 problem drinkers, and 37 drug addicts. The study suggests that the situational offenders could be diverted to community-based correctional facilities; and that the serious and problematic offenders could be held in regional medium security prisons, such as Damman. This data base should be helpful to the Ministry of Interior in classification of Saudi prison populations.