Youngki Woo

Vulnerability Versus Opportunity: Dissecting the Role of Low Self-Control and Risky Lifestyles in Violent Victimization Risk Among Korean Inmates:

The present study explores self-control, risky lifestyles, and domain-specific opportunities as explanations of violent victimization among adult male inmates from South Korea. Data were collected from the Inmate’s Conduct and Prison Security Survey in South Korea (N = 951). Structural equation modeling was used by applying a four-step process to examine the indirect effects of low self-control on prison victimization via risky lifestyles. We find that low self-control indirectly affects violent victimization via opportunities through risky lifestyles, and that risky lifestyles fully mediate the effect of low self-control on violent victimization in prison settings. Findings from the current study reinforce the contention that the relationship between low self-control and victimization includes a connection to opportunities for victimization. The results further suggest that the vulnerability that comes with possessing low self-control operates through the opportunities generated in living a risky lifestyle.

An empirical test of the social support paradigm on male inmate society

ABSTRACT While social support theory has been applied to a variety of criminal justice settings, there has been little empirical research on the effect of social support on inmate behavior. In this article, we test Cullen’s proposition that social support, in whatever form it manifests itself, has an effect on Korean inmates’ experiences. Specifically, we examine whether social support in an all-male prison environment explains inmate misconduct, victimization, fear of victimization, and the intent to commit crime in the future. We build upon previous research by using unique measures of the instrumental and the expressive dimensions of social support to determine their effect on reducing criminogenic engagement in a prison setting. The results indicate that social support is an important factor in reducing prison violence, enhancing pro-social behavior, and potentially reducing recidivism.

Direct and indirect effects of procedural justice on cooperation and compliance: evidence from South Korea

Abstract Procedural justice now plays an important role in the study of policing. While most empirical research on the effects of procedural justice has been carried out in Western countries, there has been little empirical research on its effects in East Asia, where authority dynamics are thought to differ from those in the West. Using a sample of 301 South Korean citizens, this study examines the direct and indirect effects of procedural justice and other factors on cooperation and compliance with police and the law. The results show that procedural justice has a significant, positive direct effect on obligation to obey, but not on cooperation or compliance. Procedural justice has a significant, positive indirect effect on cooperation via obligation to obey, but it does not have a significant indirect effect on compliance. We discuss the implications of these results for procedural justice theory and its applications in different settings, including East Asia.

Parental Attachment and Bullying in South Korean Adolescents: Mediating Effects of Low Self-Control, Deviant Peer Associations, and Delinquency:

Utilizing a nationally representative, longitudinal South Korean student sample, the current study explores two pathways leading to bullying: (a) parental attachment to low self-control and (b) low self-control to deviant peer associations. Data for the study were derived from the Korean Youth Panel Study, and the study sample consisted of fourth graders in 2004 and eighth graders in 2008, producing three waves of data. Structural equation modeling was used to examine whether parental attachment (Wave 1), low self-control, deviant peer associations, and delinquency (Wave 2) were associated with bullying (Wave 3). Results suggest a significant indirect relationship between poor parental attachment and higher rates of bullying through low self-control. Implications for practice and research are also discussed.

Assessing the current state of juvenile probation practice: A statutory analysis

ABSTRACT The 2002 Desktop Guide to Good Juvenile Probation Practice indicated that a states juvenile justice system should reflect a “balanced and restorative justice” (BARJ) model. Over a decade has passed since this publication, yet little is known about whether juvenile probation followed the BARJ. This study employed a statutory analysis to examine the differences between the legally prescribed roles of juvenile probation officers and the BARJ model across 50 states and the District of Columbia. Results indicated that even with significant reforms and statutory changes overtime, juvenile probation practices still fall short of meeting the basic tenets of restorative justice.

The Dynamics of Intra-Family Relationships During Incarceration and the Implications for Children of Incarcerated Parents

The current study examines effects of changes in intra-family relationships after parental incarceration on internalizing behaviors of the children of incarcerated parents. Using data from a sample of 249 incarcerated parents with minor children in South Korea, the present study found that perceived degradation of family relationships among inmate parents, their non-incarcerated spouses, and children was a significant risk factor of internalizing behaviors of children of incarcerated parents. The current study also found that inmate parents who had more frequent family contact were more likely to perceive improvements of all forms of intra-family relationships during incarceration. The implications of these findings are discussed.

Determinants of citizen support for community-oriented policing

Abstract The extent to which community members are willing to cooperate with the police and become involved with various community crime prevention programs depends on citizen perceptions of the police and of the community in which they reside. The purpose of the present study is to explore factors that affect support for community policing in a small rural city. Findings revealed that the majority of respondents supported community policing. Using community survey data collected from over 400 citizens in a small metropolitan area in the intermountain West, this study also explored the importance of demographic factors, community characteristics, and public perceptions and experiences with police in predicting citizens’ support for community policing. Citizen support for community-oriented policing varied somewhat by demographic factors (i.e., gender, education), and by community characteristics (i.e., disorder, social cohesion).

Social support and the gendered experience of incarceration in South Korean prisons

ABSTRACT Although many studies on social support have demonstrated promising evidence of positive outcomes in a variety of criminal justice settings, not enough empirical research has been conducted on gender effects in a prison setting. Using a sample of 359 Korean inmates (303 men and 56 women), this study examines whether social support lessens involvement in prison misconduct and whether male and female inmates are similarly affected. The findings indicate that female inmates are less likely to engage in misconduct than male inmates. In addition, whereas male inmates are provided with more institutional social support than female inmates, female inmates are more likely to be provided with more informal social support than male inmates. Implications for further research and correctional policy are discussed.

A comparison of attributions, self-esteem, anxiety, and parental attachment in sexually abused and non-abused Korean children

ABSTRACT This study attempts to address the dearth of information about child sexual abuse (CSA) and psychological functioning in Korean children by measuring the psychological impact of sexual abuse on children in South Korea. The original data were collected on 92 sexually abused children (age 13 or younger) who underwent medical forensic interviews and psychological evaluations prior to treatment. This study collected additional data reflecting specific psychological evaluations from a control group drawn from five randomly chosen elementary schools. The psychological impact on the group of sexually abused children was compared to the control group via the assessment of four major psychological diagnostic criteria: (1) Child Attribution Perception Scale (CAPS), (2) Self-Esteem Scale (SES), (3) Parental Behavior Scale-Child reporting (PBS), and (4) State Trait Anxiety Inventory-Children (STAI-C). Using structural equation modeling, the findings indicated that the abused and control-group children differed significantly on these four psychological criteria. Policy recommendations addressing victim, parent, and health provider needs are reviewed.