Mary A. Finn

The effectiveness of electronic monitoring with violent male parolees

Research on electronic monitoring (EM) has ignored its effectiveness with high-risk, violent offenders. This article examines the effectiveness of using EM as a supervision tool for violent male parolees by comparing those who were mandated to such supervision who were released in fiscal year 1996 (N = 128) to a random sample who did not receive such supervision who were released in fiscal year 1995 (N = 158). Effectiveness was assessed by examining return to prison and time to failure within four years of release. The results indicated that, after controlling for relevant demographic and criminal history variables, EM had no direct effect on the likelihood of recommitment to prison or time until failure. Parolees who reported drug problems and those with lower parole-success likelihood scores were more likely to fail and to fail more quickly. Sex offenders on EM were less likely to return to prison than those not on EM, and those on EM who eventually returned to prison remained in the community longer than did those not on EM. Implications for the usefulness of EM as a tool in parole supervision are discussed.

Individual and Contextual Influences on Sentence Lengths: Examining Political Conservatism

This study examined the impact of legal, extralegal, and contextual variables on prison sentence lengths for violent felons sentenced in Georgia from 1981 to 1989. Multiple linear regression analyses were conducted for all violent crimes and separately for four types of violent crime: murder and manslaughter, rape, aggravated assault, and robbery. Results indicated that the legally relevant factors—seriousness of the crime and number of convictions—had the strongest influence on sentence lengths. Across most violent crimes, male, older, and better-educated offenders received longer sentences than those without such characteristics. Political conservatism had a positive effect on sentence lengths for overall violent crime, robbery, and aggravated assault. Interaction effects for political conservatism and the number of convictions were significant, indicating that sentence length increased disproportionately as a courts conservatism and the felons number of convictions increased. Findings suggest that political conservatism is an important contextual feature affecting prison sentence length.

The Impact of the Pennsylvania Sentencing Guidelines on Sex Differences in Sentencing

Although it has been argued that sentencing guidelines reduce the favorable treatment afforded female offenders, only one study has directly theoretically assessed the impact of guidelines on sentencing outcomes for men versus women. This study examines the influence of guidelines on the outcomes of male and female defendants sentenced in Pennsylvania by examining three periods, including one period during which guidelines were suspended. Results indicate that female, compared to male, offenders were less likely to be incarcerated in jail or prison and received shorter sentences in all periods; differences were not greatest when guidelines were suspended. Findings suggest that Pennsylvanias structured sentencing model has not affected the sex—sentencing relationship in that state.

The Victim-Offender Overlap, Intimate Partner Violence, and Sex Assessing Differences Among Victims, Offenders, and Victim-Offenders

This study examines the overlap between victimization and offending within officially recorded incidents of intimate partner violence (IPV). Using official police data, 1,256 individuals are initially differentiated by their role as the victim or the offender in an IPV incident and then categorized into four distinct groups (e.g., as victims, persistent offenders, desistent offenders, or victim-offenders) based on their role in further officially recorded IPV incidents during an 18-to 30-month follow-up period. Of particular interest is the victim-offender category, which involves individuals who switched roles from the original IPV incident (e.g., IPV victims who later became IPV offenders or IPV offenders who later became IPV victims). Results suggest that important distinctions exist across categories related to sex and crime exposure. Compared with victims who were predominately female and offenders who were predominately male, victim-offenders were the most gender symmetric and exhibited greater contacts with the justice process prior to and after the original IPV incident. Implications from these findings, as well as limitations and suggestions for further research are discussed.

Employment Outcomes of Ex-Offender Job Training Partnership Act (JTPA) Trainees

The influence of demographic variables, barriers to employment, and type of training on employment outcomes of ex-offender (n = 521) and nonoffender (n = 734) trainees who terminated from Job Training Partnership Act (JTPA) programs between July 1989 and June 1990 in Georgia is examined. Results from regression analyses indicate that ex-offender status had no influence on employment at termination or duringfollow-up. However, participants who were unemployed for 15 or more weeks prior to entry were less likely to have a job at termination and during follow-up. Participants who received employer-based training were more likely to have a job at termination and during follow-up.

Consulting Legal Experts in the Real and Virtual World: Pimps’ and Johns’ Cultural Schemas about Strategies to Avoid Arrest and Conviction

ABSTRACT This study addressed the cultural schemas about legal issues associated with on line solicited prostitution from those embedded in the subculture. Qualitative analysis of conversations in a specialized legal website forum, coupled with interview data from 43 pimps, revealed that participants held similar realistic cultural schemas of law enforcement’s priorities and operations, and risk reduction strategies. Evasive strategies emphasized the importance of covert communication in interactions and the use of trustworthy connections (virtual verification websites and non-traceable technology) when engaging in on-line solicited prostitution. Findings have direct implication for strategies aimed at ending demand by targeting johns and pimps.

How Targeted Enforcement Shapes Marketing Decisions of Pimps: Evidence of Displacement and Innovation

Abstract Little research to date has examined how those who serve as intermediaries between clients and prostitutes (i.e., pimps) are influenced by targeted police interventions. While earlier work noted that displacement from risky online venues (i.e., Backpage and Craigslist) occurs, this study relies on data gathered from interviews with a purposive sample of pimps in the cities of Atlanta and Chicago to examine further the effects of targeted enforcement on where pimps advertise online and use of technological tools to reduce risk of detection. Pimps who advertised on the Internet were not different from those who used nonvirtual advertising, suggesting similar markets in the virtual and nonvirtual illicit sex trade. The vast majority of pimps who utilized the Internet for business continued to use Craigslist and/or Backpage to advertise and developed additional tactics to leverage their use. Some pimps broadened their presence on the Internet to other locations (specialized websites), moved to the deep web, and utilized different technological tools to reduce their risk of detection. Last, pimps adopted more interactive marketing strategies that permitted them to remain where their customers were familiar, but tap into sections of websites that previously had not been utilized.

Coercive Control in Intimate Relationships: Differences Across Age and Sex:

Research indicates that intimate partner violence (IPV) victimization is a gendered phenomenon with a plethora of studies exploring the relationship between sex and IPV experiences. The literature, however, has primarily focused on IPV among young couples with limited attention to how abuse manifests and changes as individuals grow old. In particular, studies have not fully analyzed how coercive control experiences vary across age, as well as by sex. The current study expands upon prior work using data from the National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey (NISVS) to investigate how the effects of sex on two forms of coercive control, intimidation and surveillance, are moderated by age, while controlling for health impairment and other key demographic characteristics. The findings reveal that older persons regardless of gender are less likely to experience surveillance or intimidation. However, men compared with women are significantly more likely to report surveillance, and younger women are significantly more likely to report experiencing intimidation compared with younger men. Implications and directions for future research are presented.

Managers’ rules about sex workers’ health and safety in the illicit online sex market: Considering profits and risks

This study examines how 71 male pimps utilize rules about illicit drug use and safe sex practices to define their market sector, lower their risk of detection, and maximize the profitability of their business. The term, pimp, was used to refer to those who received a percentage of the earnings from sex workers in exchange for scheduling and negotiating with clients, arranging for the location of the sex work, the transportation to the location, and the protection of sex workers. This purposive sample was recruited through advertisements placed in the focus groups/studies and adult entertainment (escorts and massage) sections of Backpage in the cities of Chicago and Atlanta. Coding from qualitative interviews revealed that maximization of profits guided managers’ decisions on whether their sex workers would be required to use condoms, and refrain from illicit drug use. Safety rules, such as STD/HIV testing, were adopted and enforced to attract new customers and to assure returning of regular customers that their sex workers were free of STDs and HIV. Businesses that enforced strict rules prohibiting illicit drug use by sex workers were more sophisticated in their operations, employing others to drive sex workers, providing places for sex work to occur, and consulting with legal insiders to assist them in avoiding detection by law enforcement or to provide counsel on legal matters. Conversely, businesses that supplied drugs to workers and/or to clients or accepted drugs as a form of payment were more likely to operate on the lower profit end of the internet-solicited prostitution or indoor club market. The implications of these findings for policy are discussed.

Home Visits in Community Supervision: A Qualitative Analysis of Theme and Tone:

Although home visits play a major role in community supervision, little is known about what transpires—what is discussed and with whom the discussion is held. This study addresses that void by qualitatively analyzing case notes of home visits with high-risk parolees who entered supervision in 2008, 2010, or 2012 and exited between 2011 and 2013. Officers’ written comments describing 81,732 home visits were analyzed to uncover discussion themes, tones, and the parties contacted. Of the 12 themes identified, most conversations included parolee contact with the justice system, housing, and employment. Analysis of the tone of comments as neutral, positive, or negative suggested that nearly nine out of 10 notes were neutral containing simple descriptions of the parolee’s behavior and status. While home visit interactions were primarily with parolees, parents/grandparents were the second most mentioned participants. Implications for supervision through the lens of therapeutic jurisprudence are discussed.