Laura J. Moriarty

Statistical Risk Assessment: Old Problems and New Applications

Statistically based risk assessment devices are widely used in criminal justice settings. Their promise remains largely unfulfilled, however, because assumptions and premises requisite to their development and application are routinely ignored and/or violated. This article provides a brief review of the most salient of these assumptions and premises, addressing the base rate and selection ratios, methods of combining predictor variables and the nature of criterion variables chosen, cross-validation, replicability, and generalizability. The article also discusses decision makers’ choices to add or delete items from the instruments and suggests recommendations for policy makers to consider when adopting risk assessments. Suggestions for improved practice, practical and methodological, are made.

The Effects Of Domestic Violence Batterer Treatment On DomesticVIOLENCE RECIDIVISM The Chesterfield County Experience

This study determines the influence of domestic violence batterer treatment on the recidivism rate of domestic violence offenders and certain demographic characteristics associated with recidivism. The study population (N = 248) consisted of male domestic violence offenders sentenced to Community Corrections Services in Chesterfield County, Virginia, between January and December 1999. This analysis revealed treatment does not affect recidivism; however, the number of treatment sessions attended was an important factor in predicting domestic violence recidivism in the treatment group, and successful completion of all treatment sessions reduces the likelihood of domestic violence rearrest and reconviction among those who received treatment. The treatment provider in this sample did not affect recidivism.

The impact of sentencing options on recidivism among domestic violence offenders: A case study

Past domestic violence research has tended to focus on issues related to law enforcement responses. More recently, the focus has shifted to other components of the criminal justice system, such as prosecution and correctional responses, to determine the best way to reduce domestic violence. This project is a case study of 177 male convicted domestic violence offenders who were sentenced to one of five options: community corrections; jail; a suspended sentence; private counseling, a fine, or restitution; and advisement. The focus of this inquiry is on the likelihood of each sanction reducing future arrests and convictions for domestic violence. The results reveal that no one sanction is more effective than the other options.

Examining the relationship between routine activities theory and social disorganization: An analysis of property crime victimization

A property crime victimization survey was conducted of households in both high and tow crime neighborhoods in one southern city. A response rate of 68.5% was obtained. The study tested the premises of both the routine activities and social disorganization theories as they contribute to the likelihood of property crime victimization at the individual level. It was found that routine activities theory explained 28% of the property crime variance in the socially disorganized area (high crime) while only explaining 11% of the same variance in the low crime area. Separate measurements were used to establish the level of social disorganization in the two geographical areas. The beta coefficients reveal that in the high crime area, those most likely to be property crime victims are white, single homeowners who are not at home from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m., who have relatives living in their neighborhoods, and who interact with their neighbors. These findings lend marginal support to the routine activities model.

Cyberstalking: Utilizing What We do Know

Abstract Current newspaper accounts have highlighted some of the more sensationalized cyberstalking cases, but what do we really know about these offenses and their victims? While there are some similarities between traditional offline stalking and cyberstalking, the differences between the two can have a tremendous impact on victims. This article will focus on what we know about cyberstalking, such as the harm it may cause, the apparent increasing nature in terms of volume and escalating actions of these types of crimes, and the observation that many state laws do not adequately address cyberstalking offenses. In light of what we do know, we can conclude that there is much more that we do not know about cyberstalking in part because it is rarely reported, law enforcement agencies are ill equipped to handle it when it is reported, and the availability of resources are often lacking. This article will focus on the policy implications and some of the steps necessary to increase our knowledge about cyberstalking to better assist and aid its victims.

Juvenile Correctional Officers’ Perceived Fear And Risk Of Victimization Examining Individual and Collective Levels of Victimization in Two Juvenile Correctional Centers in Virginia

In this exploratory study, the authors examined perceived fear and risk of victimization among juvenile correctional officers at two juvenile detention centers in Virginia. Expanding on previous work, four scales were created to measure fear of victimization and risk of victimization at individual and collective levels. Our analyses revealed no difference in fear or risk of victimization levels among the juvenile correctional officers based on the type of correctional facility; however, gender was found to be statistically significant in all models. Female officers were more likely to have a higher level of perceived fear and risk of victimization at the individual and collective levels than were male officers. Race and education were also found to be significant factors in one model, perceived risk of victimization at the individual level.

The Impact of a Juvenile Residential Treatment Center on Minority Offenders

This study compares postrelease behavior of youth released from a residential treatment center to a similar group of youth discharged from traditional juvenile institutions. The hypotheses tested are (a) non-White youth are more likely to be reconvicted of a new offense and recommitted than are White youth regardless of the type of facility, (b) non-White youth in a residential treatment facility are less likely to be reconvicted of a new offense or recommitted than are non-White comparison youth, and (c) White youth in a residential treatment facility are less likely to be reconvicted of a new offense or recommitted than a comparison group of White youth. Regardless of race, the residential treatment group has a lower percentage of reconvictions and recommitments than the comparison group. Minority offenders in a residential treatment facility are less likely to be reconvicted or recommitted than minority offenders in the comparison group. These findings have implications for future correctional endeavors.

Cyberstalking: Utilizing Newspaper Accounts to Establish Victimization Patterns

Abstract This manuscript reports the findings of an exploratory study that examines cyberstalking incidents as reported in newspapers in order to better understand victimization patterns. Several variables are examined including type and frequency of victimization (i.e., behaviors that constitute cyberstalking), the gender of the victim, and the relationship between the victim and the offender. An application of Roberts and Dziegielewskis (2006) stalking typology is employed to see how well this typology explains offender motive. Findings include that females are most likely to be the victims of cyberstalking while males are most likely to be the offenders. In most cases, the victim and offender do not have a prior relationship. Offender motive for cyberstalking differs from stalking; however, the stalking typology is a good fit for classifying cyberstalking offender motive.

Role Reversals in the Life-Course: A Systematic Review

Abstract In this manuscript, we systematically review the literature on role reversals in the life-course. The term “role reversals” in this context means changes between the roles of offender and victim (and vice versa) over time. The majority of the literature focuses on the complex relationship between victim and offender in violent situations. The phrases “violence begets violence” or the “transgenerational transmission of violence” center on the relationship between early childhood victimization and future adult offending. The topics of study vary in terms of subject matter, but the general assumption is that in a culture of violence, victims become offenders and offenders become victims. The role reversals literature establishes such a relationship, but as Widom (1988, 1989b, 1996) and others point out (United States General Accounting Office, 1996) there are methodological shortcomings with the research—thus the findings should be viewed as inconclusive. In this paper, we review the role reversals literature published since 1989, providing summary information about the research, and analyzing it from a methodological perspective. There are several variables of interest that must be present in order for a study to be deemed “sound” in its methodology. These are (1) a valid research design that employs a control group, (2) use of a data collection technique that does not rely on retrospective self-reports, (3) uniformity in the definition of the victimization/offense studied, and (4) the avoidance of cross-sectional designs. With these criteria, we find that only two studies can be described as having methodological rigor. The other studies reviewed all have some deficiencies—making the studies less than sound and thus calling into question the findings.

Perceived fairness of drug-testing policies: An application of Leventhal’s principles of procedural justice

Employees rate the fairness of organizational policies by applying principles of distributive and procedural justice. Using Leventhal’s (1980) Principles of Procedural Justice, the current study surveyed 279 upper-level college and graduate students to determine the impact each principle has on support for drugtesting policies. The results support the hypothesis that drug-testing programs that violate these principles are viewed as unfair.