Sean Maddan

The Influence of Sex Offender Registration and Notification Laws in the United States: A Time-Series Analysis

Although federal legislation for the implementation of sex offender registration and notification systems is now a decade old, empirical studies on the efficacy of this policy are relatively nonextant. This article explores the impact of registration legislation on the incidence of forcible rapes. Using monthly count data of rapes aggregated at the state level, this analysis uses Box–Jenkins autoregressive integrated moving average (ARIMA) models to conduct 10 intervention analyses on the enforcement of Megans Law. The results of the analyses are mixed on whether the enforcement of sex offender registration had a statistically significant effect on the number of rapes reported at the state level. Although several states showed a nonsignificant increase in the number of rapes, only three states had a significant reduction in rapes. Policy implications are discussed in terms of the efficacy of sex offender registration and whether changes in these laws should be considered.

Prosecutorial Discretion: An Examination of Substantial Assistance Departures in Federal Crack‐Cocaine and Powder‐Cocaine Cases

Recently there has been a call for research that explores decision‐making at stages prior to sentencing in the criminal justice process. Particularly research is needed under a determinate sentencing system where judicial dispositions are usually restricted by guidelines, which increases the importance of earlier decision‐making stages. As an answer to this call, and in an attempt to build on currents studies on the effects of departures as an intervening mechanism, and a source of unwarranted disparity, this study explores federal sentencing data on offenders convicted of crack‐cocaine and powder‐cocaine offenses. Although decision‐making of all criminal justice actors generally, and prosecutors specifically, has been the subject of much research, studies have yet to resolve the nature and outcome of their “autonomous” discretion. This autonomy becomes especially salient regarding prosecutorial decisions for substantial assistance departures. In deciding who receives a substantial assistance departure, the prosecutor has carte blanche power.

Does size really matter?: A reexamination of Sheldon's somatotypes and criminal behavior

Abstract In the mid-20th century, William Sheldon developed the idea of somatotypes in explaining different types of criminal behavior. Sheldon defined three body types believed to be associated with criminality: mesomorphs, who are athletically fit; endomorphs, who are overweight, and ectomorphs, who are characterized by fragility and thinness. Sheldons research implied that mesomorphic individuals were more prone to committing violent and aggressive acts. This research explores a new method of somatotyping using the Body Mass Index (BMI). What follows is an examination of prisoners from the State of Arkansas, using information provided by the Arkansas Department of Corrections database on inmates. In particular, this paper examined prisoners’ physical characteristics such as age, height, and weight in comparison to the types of crimes that these prisoners committed. The findings of this paper show that the BMI is a useful alternative to traditional somatotyping techniques; the findings also suggest that a prisoners somatotype is associated with criminal patterns while being a meager predictor of criminality. Methodological and theoretical implications of this study are discussed.

Utilizing Criminal History Information to Explore the Effect of Community Notification on Sex Offender Recidivism

While sex offender registration laws with notification provisions are now over a decade old, little is known about how these policies influence the prevention of sex offending. Very few studies have considered the impact of notification on sex offender recidivism or the effect of these laws on sex crimes, generally. This study considers the effectiveness of offender tracking and declaration at the state level through evaluation of current sex offender laws in Arkansas. Using a quasi‐experimental regression‐discontinuity design, this research evaluated the recidivism of the first three waves of sex offenders registered in the state (1997–1999) vs. a comparison group of sex offenders from a decade earlier (1987–1989). Findings indicate there is no statistically significant difference between the two groups in terms of recidivism. Policy implications are discussed.

Lawyers Practicing Medicine: Criminal Justice, Criminology, Sociology and Differential Curricula

Recently there has been a vigorous dialogue over the Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences (ACJS) academic standards pertaining to the role of JDs within criminal justice academic programs. It is a next logical step to open a discussion on a related aspect of the ACJS standards: “doctorates in a closely related field.” This discussion should center on how “closely” the “closely related fields” should be. This article examines the relationship between an education in sociology and criminology/criminal justice programs respectively by comparing the general curricular requirements, undergraduate and graduate, in a selection of sociology and criminology and criminal justice programs. This analysis indicates that there is a great deal of similarity within the sociology curricula, which contain sociologically oriented classes and criminology/criminal justice curricula, which contain criminologically oriented courses, but there is little overlap in course offerings across these two academic areas. Specifically, sociology graduates are not exposed to a meaningful number of criminology/criminal justice classes.

Reforming La Policía: looking to the future of policing in Mexico

Historically, policing in Mexico has been known more for its rampant corruption than crime fighting or public service. However, recent decades have seen not only a marked rise in crime, but a boom in substantive reform efforts. This study examines the historical development of law enforcement reform in Mexico with an emphasis on the last decade which has produced the most revolutionary changes in policing practices in Mexico. Not only does this discussion include the last decade of substantive reforms and subsequent outcomes, but also explores an overview of the current Mexican president’s law enforcement reform initiatives, and potential reforms based on US attempts. This research then focuses on survey responses and direct interviews of criminological experts on law enforcement in Mexico and their predictions on the future of police reforms, with a focus on policing in Mexico City. The interviews focused on the reform initiatives by Mexico’s two most recent presidents and predictions of their likely success. These experts see success of current reforms as very unlikely. Policy implications are also discussed.

Value Change Among Police Recruits in Mexico at a Time of Organizational Reform: A Follow‐Up Study Using Rokeach Value Indicators

Individual values are very much related to the successful implementation of community‐ oriented policing (COP) policies. Utilizing Rokeach value indicators, this study seeks to add to the very limited empirical research in this area by examining the values of police recruits in Mexico. This paper examines the values of police recruits in Mexico City during a time of major organizational reform and is formatted in line with the approach of Zhao, et al. (1998). Surveys were administered in 1998 and 2002 which focused on changes in recruit values in relation to community‐oriented policing. The findings of this paper suggest that police recruit values have not changed substantially over time, or across national lines, even in a department with active COP recruiting efforts and substantive institutional reforms. Further, the values of the recruits are not likely consistent with the implementation of community policing reforms. These results suggest that Mexico will continue to have difficulty implementing community‐based police reforms and is not likely to accomplish such through recruitment efforts alone. Policy implications are discussed.

The BMI as a somatotypic measure of physique:A rejoinder to Jeremy E.C. Genovese

Abstract In 2008, Maddan, Walker and Miller promoted the use of the Body Mass Index (BMI) as a viable alternative to Sheldons technique of somatotyping. Utilizing the BMI, Maddan Walker and Miller re-analyzed the original data from the Sheldon studies. This analysis indicated a statistically significant relationship between the two measures of somatotyping. Genovese wrote a response to this work suggesting the BMI is not a useful proxy for somatotyping individuals. We respond to Genoveses critique by providing a full explication of the Sheldon somatoype measure and an analysis of Sheldons original data accounting for all of the different somatotypes identified. Analyses here indicate that the original somatotype measure was very subjective. Although not without flaws, the BMI provides an objective somatotype measure that is comparable, if not superior, to the measure promulgated by Sheldon.