Peter B. Wood

Academic dishonesty and low self‐control: An empirical test of a general theory of crime

This study uses academic dishonesty as a unique type of fraudulent behavior upon which to test Gottfredson and Hirschis general theory of crime. The study utilizes self‐report data from a survey of undergraduate students enrolled in sociology courses at a large southwestern university. With these data, the authors examine a number of the core theoretical propositions of Gottfredson and Hirschis theory. That is, we test issues concerning the dimensionality of low self‐control, the influence of parenting on the development of self‐control, the association between levels of self‐control and involvement in academic dishonesty, and the interactive effects of low self‐control and opportunity on the frequency of academic dishonesty. The results of our analyses, although rather mixed, do provide qualified support for the theory.

Sensation-Seeking and Delinquent Substance Use: An Extension of Learning Theory

The paper allows an explicit test of a sensation-seeking perspective to help account for substance use (legal and illegal) among a sample of nearly 1,600 high school students responding to a survey conducted in 1991. We present analyses specific to drinking alcohol, getting drunk, tobacco use, use of marijuana or hash, and use of harder drugs to determine if factors common to a sensation-seeking perspective help explain both the prevalence and frequency of substance use among adolescents. Findings provide strong support for considering sensation-seeking variables like thrillseeking, immediate gratification, and impulsivity to help explain self-reported substance use. Our results show that for each of the five substance delinquencies examined, sensation-seeking factors generate statistically significant influences. Results point toward intrinsic rewards that initially promote and subsequently reinforce substance use, and which center on the fun, thrills, and excitement of risky, illegal substance use, and the physiological high generated by drug or alcohol use. Finally, the relevance of a sensation-seeking approach to social learning theory is explored.

Racial differences in perceptions of the severity of sanctions: A comparison of prison with alternatives

We survey adult probationers to examine racial differences in perceptions of the severity of alternative sanctions compared to imprisonment. Results show that blacks rate every alternative sanction as more punitive than do whites, a higher percentage of blacks than whites refuse to participate in each alternative and choose prison instead, and blacks identify more strongly with reasons to avoid alternatives. Furthermore, blacks and whites generate different rankings of the severity of criminal justice sanctions. This may be due to racial differences in the perceived severity of imprisonment, and/or racial differences in “risk assessments” associated with serving alternatives. Implications for rational choice/deterrence theories and correctional policy are discussed.

Self-Control, Native Traditionalism, and Native American Substance Use: Testing the Cultural Invariance of a General Theory of Crime

Usinga sample of White and Native Americanhigh school students, the authors provide a test of (a) self-control theorys invariance thesis and (b) native traditionalism as an explanation of Native American substance use. Self-control significantly influenced all forms of substance use when controlling for race and in race-specific analyses. However,z tests by race revealed that self-control is a stronger predictor of marijuana and serious drug use among Native Americans. Beyond this simple comparison across groups, the authors control for native traditionalism (as a proxy for cultural variation) among the Native American respondents. In doing so, self-control remained a consistent predictor of their substance use. Although these findings largely support the invariance thesis of self-control, the racial difference related to marijuana and serious drug use poses a theoretical challenge. With regard to native traditionalism, results suggest that those most attached to their native traditions engage in greater substance use.

What Influences Offenders’ Willingness to Serve Alternative Sanctions?

Previous research has revealed gender and racial differences in offenders’ perceptions of the severity of prison compared to alternative sanctions. This research extends that literature by examining the relative impact of demographic, correctional experience, and attitudinal indicators on the amount of probation, community service, and boot camp that male and female prison inmates will endure to avoid 1 year of actual imprisonment. Results highlight differences in perceptions of the relative severity of alternative sanctions among prisoners and identify factors that contribute to these differences. Implications for correctional policy and practice are discussed.

Predicting Offender-Generated Exchange Rates: Implications for a Theory of Sentence Severity

We solicited offender-generated exchange rates between prison and several noncustodial sanctions from a sample of 588 offenders currently serving community-based punishments. We then regressed these exchange rates on demographic, attitudinal, and correctional experience indicators. Males, Blacks, older offenders, offenders with prison experience, and those who agree most strongly with reasons to avoid alternative sanctions are likely to serve less of a given alternative to avoid imprisonment. In addition, offender-generated exchange rates are used to develop a ranking of sanction severity that includes prison and nine intermediate sanctions. Implications of these findings for correctional policy, practice, and a theory of sentence severity are discussed.

The Lesser of Two Evils? A Qualitative Study of Offenders' Preferences for Prison Compared to Alternatives

ABSTRACT Recent work has demonstrated that many offenders will choose to serve prison rather than any amount of a community-based sanction. This primarily quantitative research has found that offender-generated exchange rates are influenced by a wide variety of experiences and characteristics. Missing from this literature is a qualitative evaluation of why offenders might make this choice. We present qualitative data from 618 probationers and parolees to explain why those who have experienced imprisonment are less willing to serve community sanctions than their counterparts, and more willing to serve prison. Results hold implications for deterrence, recidivism, rehabilitation, and correctional policy issues.

Offenders, Judges, and Officers Rate the Relative Severity of Alternative Sanctions Compared to Prison.

ABSTRACT Recent work suggests that offenders rate several alternatives as more severe than imprisonment. We build on this literature by comparing punishment exchange rates generated by criminal court judges with rates generated by offenders and their supervising officers. Findings reveal that none of the three groups rates prison as the most severe sanction and judges and officers rate alternatives as significantly less severe than offenders. Offenders are generally willing to serve less of each alternative to avoid imprisonment than judges or officers. Serving correctional sanctions thus appears to reduce the perceived severity of imprisonment and increase the perceived severity of alternatives.

Delinquency and Non-Reservation American Indians: The Role of Unique and General Predictors of Interpersonal and Property Offending

Using a sample of 382 American Indian public high school students, we compare unique (Native traditionalism) and general (parental control and self-control) influences on interpersonal and property delinquency. Results indicate that these 3 predictors more or less independently predict each form of delinquency, suggesting that non-reservation American Indian delinquency is the product of both unique and general influences. Contrary to expectations and most research on reservation delinquency, greater identification with Native traditions is associated with heightened delinquency among our non-reservation respondents. Theoretical and policy implication are discussed relative to the lack of empirical research on non-reservation American Indians as well as the lack of etiological research on the sources of non-substance use delinquency among American Indians, reservation or otherwise.

Consequences of Truth-in-Sentencing The Mississippi Case

Like many other states, in the mid-1990s Mississippi responded to growing public fear of crime and mounting dissatisfaction with its criminal justice system by implementing a series of ‘get tough’ measures designed to control crime. Perhaps the primary vehicle for reform has been the enactment of ‘truth-in sentencing’ legislation. Truth-in-sentencing (TIS) does not imply a specific correctional policy, but covers a variety of reforms designed to improve the delivery of proportionate punishments and promote stability and predictability in administering criminal justice. In 1995 Mississippi implemented a TIS law which mandated that felons sentenced to prison must serve at least 85 percent of their sentence. Mississippi’s TIS law is unique compared to those passed in other states in that the 85 percent requirement applies to all groups of offenders, including non-violent offenders. The comprehensive nature of Mississippi’s TIS law has had a dramatic impact on the state’s criminal justice system - particularly its correctional component. This article examines both the direct effect of TIS on correctional populations, as well as the unanticipated impact of TIS on patterns of judicial decision making and political and economic dynamics related to prison construction in rural counties.