Pamela Jenkins

Do juvenile curfew laws work? A time-series analysis of the New Orleans law

Juvenile curfew laws are one of the most recent weapons for combating delinquency, but little is known about their effectiveness. This study examines the impact of the juvenile curfew law in New Orleans, Louisiana on victimizations, juvenile victimizations, and juvenile arrests. Interrupted time-series analyses are used to compare victimizations and arrests before and after the curfew was implemented. The results show the ineffectiveness of the curfew. Victimizations, juvenile victimizations, and juvenile arrests during curfew hours did not decrease significantly after the law went into effect; some victimizations during non-curfew hours increased significantly after the law was implemented.

Paradigm Shifts in Family Sociology? Evidence From Three Decades of Family Textbooks

This article explores paradigm shifts in family sociology from the 1960s to the 1990s using a thematic content analysis of 7 multiple-edition texts. Two competing views on theoretical developments are examined. David Cheal claims that challenges posed to structural functionalist hegemony resulted in theoretical pluralism and an end to this hegemony. Dorothy Smith argues that Parsons theoretical assumptions are so deeply embedded in the discourse of family sociology that they continue to govern major issues and debates. As late as the 1990s, we found that structural functionalism continued to frame many topics and debates in the majority of texts even when new concepts and more critical literature were added. Notable exceptions were textbook treatments of African American families and gender issues. This suggests that the relative success of social movements in institutionalizing their goals may be an important factor in determining paradigm shifts.

Economic impacts of energy development

This article examines the economic impacts of offshore petroleum extraction and production on communities in Louisiana. The study extends previous work concerning the economic impacts of energy development by including all phases of petroleum development, by accounting for the degree and type of involvement of the community in petroleum production, by using analysis of variance to determine the effect of the rate and direction of change in as well as level of petroleum activity, and by using time series regression to examine the effect of year‐to‐year changes in activity on year‐to‐year changes in economic impacts. The findings show an initial improvement in economic conditions followed by serious economic decline. The results also point out the need for a diversified involvement in petroleum production and the necessity of mitigation programs during the boom and decline in petroleum activity.

Class, Self-Perception, and Racial Group Identification Among African Americans

This paper examines the saliency of class location for African Americans employing Barreras (1979) model of multi-racial/ethnic capitalist societies. It employs data from the National Survey of Black Americans to test hypotheses linking class location to two important consequences of the life chances of members of the African-American minority: self-perception and racial group identification. Wrights (1985) exploitation-based model of the class structure of advanced capitalist society is employed to measure class location. The results reveal that class location is a significant predictor of both self-perceptions and levels of racial group identification among African Americans.

Freedom Hill Is Not for Sale—and Neither Is the Lower Ninth Ward

In 1999, a series of flood and rain events inundated Princeville, North Carolina. This historic community, the first town in the United States founded by African Americans, chose to stay in place rather than to relocate. This article presents the relocation decision within the contexts of history, place attachment, and community connections. Interview, observation, and documentary data reveal themes that led to the decision to remain in place. A Discussion section ties the decision to place attachments and recommends that future research should move beyond the individual level of analysis. Recommendations for policy and practice are included. In particular, how residents are attached to their communities and the ways in which they negotiate the environment relative to that place must be linked to mitigation efforts such as relocation buyouts. Immediately after Hurricane Katrina in 2005, discourse surrounded areas in New Orleans regarding the future of a location similar in many ways to Princeville, particularly, the Lower Ninth Ward. The article concludes with an examination of that discourse and updates reconstruction progress in both Princeville and New Orleans.

CONTRADICTIONS AND CONSENSUS: YOUTHS SPEAK OUT ABOUT JUVENILE CURFEWS

ABSTRACT Juvenile curfew laws are supposed to reduce juvenile crime and victimization. Yet, current empirical evidence demonstrates that these laws are ineffective, but cannot explain why. This study examines the New Orleans juvenile curfew law through focus group discussions with youths. The focus groups were designed to determine their experiences and reactions to this law. The major dimensions explored are their knowledge of the law, compliance with the law, reactions to enforcement of the curfew, and evaluation of the law. The results show that the adolescents’ knowledge of the curfew is incomplete, disobedience is widespread, they are concerned about unfair enforcement of the law, and yet they overwhelmingly support the curfew. Further examination of the youths’ statements show that they feel unsafe and they want parents to be responsible for them and to protect them.

Local Nonprofit Organizations in a Post-Katrina Landscape Help in a Context of Recovery

In this study, we examine the role of local New Orleans nonprofit agencies in disaster and how these local nonprofits become a part of the disaster management process. The dominant disaster management framework, and to some degree the social vulnerability approach, affect the design of postdisaster relief programs, projects, and policies. The new Federal Emergency Management Agency framework asks nonprofits to contribute to postdisaster relief, as well as predisaster preparedness. This increased inclusion of local nonprofits in disaster recovery presents specific challenges. The present case study uses multiple sources of data collected over a 10-year period from nonprofit agencies. Primary data collection included interviews, focus groups, and observations of nonprofits; we also collected data from a series of community workshops for nonprofit agencies. We found the nonprofits in New Orleans that reframed their work to fit into the postdisaster context proved to be the most resilient. Their ability to adapt and be reflexive emerged as the most important skills in a postdisaster landscape. However, in the midst of their substantial post-Katrina accomplishments, the future for local nonprofits in disaster depends on their relationship with the federal government and their impact on federal policy.

What Do We Know about Domestic Violence

This scenario shows how advocates and police can talk past each other in a crisis. The shelter worker is taught that the victim must decide for herself what she needs. Police officers just want to resolve the situation.

Impact of petroleum development on lethal violence

Rapid social change is hypothesized to be associated with social disorder. This study investipates the relationship between petroleum extraction activity in the Gulf of Mexico and lethal violence in Louisiana across allphases of development, controlling for degree and type of community involvement in the industry. The results show that rapid increases in petroleum activity are associated with increases in lethal violence. Rapid decreases in activity are disruptive and associated with high levels of lethal violence. The relationship between petroleum extraction and lethal violence differs by degree, but not type, of involvement in the industry. The evidence implies that petroleum industry activity is a force of production, but not direction, of lethal violence.

Prevention and the Community

Although this woman might still be in danger, her chances for safety have significantly increased. The police have successfully partnered with other agencies to provide service and protection.