- Police and Policing, Police use of force, Less Lethal Weapons, Crime Analysis, Spatial Analysis, Applied Quantitative Methods, and 39 moreCriminology, Econometrics, Police, Homicide, Racial Threat, Criminal Justice, Policing Studies, Public Perceptions of Policing, Minority relations with police, Domestic Violence, Crime, Critical Criminology, Sociology of Crime and Deviance, Criminology & Criminal Justice, Urban Crime, Tactical Emergency Medicine, Geographic Information Systems (GIS), Urban Geography, Firearms, Social Geography, Human Geography, Cultural Criminology, Criminal Justice History, Policing, Victimology, The economics of crime, Police History, Police Reform, Tasers, Use of Force, Criminology (Social Sciences), Green Criminology, Police canines, Police Accountability, Legitimacy and Authority, Less Lethal Weapon, Environmental Justice, POLICE USE OF FORCE TRAINING, and Space and Placeedit
- Associate Professor, Department of Criminologyedit
ABSTRACT The author(s) shown below used Federal funds provided by the U.S. Department of Justice and prepared the following final report:
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Police must frequently pursue suspects who flee to avoid apprehension and punishment. Although a substantial body of research exists regarding suspect flight and pursuits with motor vehicles (e.g., Alpert, 1997; Hill, 2002), a search of... more
Police must frequently pursue suspects who flee to avoid apprehension and punishment. Although a substantial body of research exists regarding suspect flight and pursuits with motor vehicles (e.g., Alpert, 1997; Hill, 2002), a search of the criminal justice literature failed to uncover a single dedicated study of police foot pursuits. Although the hazards of foot pursuits are not nearly as great as the hazards associated with high-speed motor vehicle pursuits, the "costs and benefits" of foot pursuits are unknown, and we have little or no empirical information about their nature, frequency, or outcomes (Bohrer et al., 2000). To begin to fill this gap in knowledge, this article presents findings from a study of foot pursuits in the Richland County, South Carolina, Sheriff's Department. Although the original study solicited a broad range of information from deputies regarding their experiences with foot pursuits, the findings reported in this article are limited to issue...
Oleoresin capsicum (OC) or "pepper spray" has been widely adopted by law enforcement agencies in the United States for use during resistive and forceful encounters with suspects. There have, however, been few rigor ous... more
Oleoresin capsicum (OC) or "pepper spray" has been widely adopted by law enforcement agencies in the United States for use during resistive and forceful encounters with suspects. There have, however, been few rigor ous evaluations of OC and no empirical research on its utility for deter ring violence against police. The present study expands previous research by employing a quasi-expenmental design—the interrupted time series— to test whether the introduction ofOC into the Baltimore County, Mary land, Police Department deterred assaults on police officers. The results suggest that OC had a statistically significant deterrent effect on violence against police, reducing assaults on officers an average of about 3.2 per month.
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Since 2001, the federal Project Safe Neighborhoods initiative has instituted a comprehensive effort to reduce gun crimes in local communities across the United States. In South Carolina, the United States... more
Since 2001, the federal Project Safe Neighborhoods initiative has instituted a comprehensive effort to reduce gun crimes in local communities across the United States. In South Carolina, the United States Attorney's Office for the District of South Carolina established Project CeaseFire, a localized response to reduce the prevalence of gun crime through targeted prosecution and increased public education. One element
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Despite substantial gains made by law enforcement agencies in attracting minorities into police work, blacks still remain underrepresented in most municipal police departments. One common explanation for their underrepresentation has been... more
Despite substantial gains made by law enforcement agencies in attracting minorities into police work, blacks still remain underrepresented in most municipal police departments. One common explanation for their underrepresentation has been that blacks find the prospect of a ...
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Largely paralleling research on general homicides, research on the structural covariates of murders of police has been carried out at various levels of areal aggregation. However, although the general homicide research has been extended... more
Largely paralleling research on general homicides, research on the structural covariates of murders of police has been carried out at various levels of areal aggregation. However, although the general homicide research has been extended to counties in the United States, research on murders of police has yet to follow suit. To begin to fill this gap, this study extends research on the structural covariates of police homicides to the county level. Controlling for the number of law enforcement officers at risk, we find that police were more likely to be murdered in economically depressed counties and in counties with larger percentages of African Americans, persons aged 25 to 34, and nonsheriff agencies. Police homicide risk was significantly lower in urbanized counties and in counties located in the Northeast, whereas the South was no riskier than the West or Midwest. Murders of police were unrelated to population mobility, divorce, and levels of violent crime.
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There is a lack of research into the police’s physical defense and control tactics training. Approximately 600 officers in the USA form the research population and their opinions are sought about the defense and control tactics training... more
There is a lack of research into the police’s physical defense and control tactics training. Approximately 600 officers in the USA form the research population and their opinions are sought about the defense and control tactics training they receive, their experiences in using these tactics and their interest in alternative techniques and training methods. Results support the idea that in‐service training might be improved. There are high levels of dissatisfaction with the training and there are hints as to how training can be improved.
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Objectives. We investigated the effect of the use of less-lethal weapons, conductive energy devices (CEDs), and oleoresin capsicum (OC) spray on the prevalence and incidence of injuries to police officers and civilians in encounters... more
Objectives. We investigated the effect of the use of less-lethal weapons, conductive energy devices (CEDs), and oleoresin capsicum (OC) spray on the prevalence and incidence of injuries to police officers and civilians in encounters involving the use of force. Methods. We analyzed data from 12 police departments that documented injuries to officers and civilians in 24 380 cases. We examined monthly injury rates for 2 police departments before and after their adoption of CEDs. Results. Odds of injury to civilians and officers were significantly lower when police used CED weapons, after control for differences in case attributes and departmental policies restricting use of these weapons. Monthly incidence of injury in 2 police departments declined significantly, by 25% to 62%, after adoption of CED devices. Conclusions. Injuries sustained during police use-of-force events affect thousands of police officers and civilians in the United States each year. Incidence of these injuries can ...
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In the 2016 case of Estate of Armstrong V. The Village of Pinehurst (Armstrong), the Fourth Circuit Court decided to significantly restrict CED use to only encounters that pose an ‘immediate safety risk’ or ‘immediate danger.’ Some... more
In the 2016 case of Estate of Armstrong V. The Village of Pinehurst
(Armstrong), the Fourth Circuit Court decided to significantly restrict CED
use to only encounters that pose an ‘immediate safety risk’ or ‘immediate
danger.’ Some authors have argued that the decision from Armstrong
could lead to increased officer-involved shootings. The present study tests
this prediction by utilizing a comparative interrupted time-series analysis.
Findings from time-series count models show statistically significant
increases in monthly and weekly officer-involved shootings (OISs) within
the Fourth Circuit, and statistically significant decreases in weekly OISs
among states comparable to, but outside the Fourth Circuit’s jurisdiction.
Policy implications of these findings are discussed in detail.
(Armstrong), the Fourth Circuit Court decided to significantly restrict CED
use to only encounters that pose an ‘immediate safety risk’ or ‘immediate
danger.’ Some authors have argued that the decision from Armstrong
could lead to increased officer-involved shootings. The present study tests
this prediction by utilizing a comparative interrupted time-series analysis.
Findings from time-series count models show statistically significant
increases in monthly and weekly officer-involved shootings (OISs) within
the Fourth Circuit, and statistically significant decreases in weekly OISs
among states comparable to, but outside the Fourth Circuit’s jurisdiction.
Policy implications of these findings are discussed in detail.
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The objective of the current study was to examine the impact of a multiple conviction criminal record with varying crime types on hiring outcomes. An experimental correspondence audit was used to achieve this objective. The results showed... more
The objective of the current study was to examine the impact of a multiple conviction criminal record with varying crime types on hiring outcomes. An experimental correspondence audit was used to achieve this objective. The results showed that those with multiple conviction records and varying crime types received significantly fewer callbacks for interviews than those with no record. While the callback point estimates for those with this type of criminal history were not as low as expected, their statistically significant differences from those with no record were consistent with the bulk of previous research. The results also indicated the continued presence of racial discrimination in hiring practices as equally qualified African American applicants received significantly fewer callbacks than White applicants.
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This study investigates the aftermath of a high-profile violent police incident as it relates to city-wide firearm violence. Utilizing two Midwest cities (Kansas City, Missouri and Omaha, Nebraska) as comparison cities, we assess whether... more
This study investigates the aftermath of a high-profile violent police incident as it relates to city-wide firearm violence. Utilizing two Midwest cities (Kansas City, Missouri and Omaha, Nebraska) as comparison cities, we assess whether violent firearm incidents increased in Minneapolis after the murder of George Floyd. Multiple interrupted time-series analyses showed statistically significant increases in weekly firearm incidents in Minneapolis (AME = 10.63, p < 0.05) and Omaha (AME = 1.47, p < 0.5) following the murder of George Floyd. No significant results were found in Kansas City. Similar relationships were found when examining monthly firearm incidents. The firearm spike in Minneapolis thus represents an approximate 10-fold increase in weekly firearm incidents relative to that observed in Omaha. We conclude, therefore, that the murder of George Floyd was associated with a substantially greater increase in firearm violence in Minneapolis than in the two comparison citie...
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Noting the paucity of research on the racial threat hypothesis in the juvenile courts, this study examined the interplay of defendant characteristics and country-level characteristics on dispositions. Data were retrieved from the... more
Noting the paucity of research on the racial threat hypothesis in the juvenile courts, this study examined the interplay of defendant characteristics and country-level characteristics on dispositions. Data were retrieved from the Department of Juvenile Justice files in South Carolina and were analyzed using multinomial logistic hierarchical linear modeling. Results revealed support for the racial threat hypothesis, as racial inequity operated in a different manner (more punitively) for Black defendants. Larger Black populations in counties also led to an increased use of punitive sanctions. In addition, concentrated disadvantage effects were found, and heightened levels of teenage population led to higher incarceration rates for Black defendants. Limitations of this study, implications for stakeholders/practitioners, and directions for future research are discussed.
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With a majority of inmates being assigned some type of work while incarcerated, work assignments are a staple of U.S. prisons. These work assignments are likely to impact not only prisoner behavior while in prison, but also may impact... more
With a majority of inmates being assigned some type of work while incarcerated, work assignments are a staple of U.S. prisons. These work assignments are likely to impact not only prisoner behavior while in prison, but also may impact their ability to obtain gainful employment after prison. Historically, it has been noted that work in prison has been influenced by gender and racial norms and stereotypes. These stereotypical assignments may not be beneficial for inmates, especially in a time when work assignments are increasingly providing the only work skills inmates may receive while incarcerated. Using a nationwide data set of prisoners incarcerated facilities, the current study uses multilevel modeling to examine the nature of work assignments for male and female state prisoners and whether these assignments are based on gender and/or racial stereotypes. Results indicate that there are indeed lingering stereotypes influencing work assignments for men and women in U.S. prisons.
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Uses data on 1,550 nonlethal assaults recorded by Baltimore County Police Department. Examines factors that are associated with the likelihood of officer injury after an assault. Notes that factors affecting the probability of assault do... more
Uses data on 1,550 nonlethal assaults recorded by Baltimore County Police Department. Examines factors that are associated with the likelihood of officer injury after an assault. Notes that factors affecting the probability of assault do not necessarily correspond with the factors that affect the likelihood of injury. Analyzes a broader spectrum of contributory factors than those addressed by other research. Finds inter alia that greater officer proficiency in unarmed defensive tactics may reduce their assault‐related injuries, since most incidents do not involve arms; that in‐service training should be biased toward less experienced officers who are at greater risk; that officer height is a significant variable; that many officers suffer multiple attacks; that domestic disturbances do not rank higher than other dangers, but that this may reflect the possibility that officers anticipate potential violence and take better precautions before attending the scene.
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PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to examine the effect of police use of conducted energy devices (CEDs) on officer and suspect injuries while controlling for other types of force and resistance and other... more
PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to examine the effect of police use of conducted energy devices (CEDs) on officer and suspect injuries while controlling for other types of force and resistance and other factors.Design/methodology/approachData on 1,645 use‐of‐force incidents occurring between January 1, 2002 and July 2006 were obtained from two different law enforcement agencies. Logistic and generalized ordered logistic regressions are used to model the odds of injury and severity of injury.FindingsThe use of CEDs was associated with reduced odds of officer and suspect injury and the severity of suspect injury in one agency. In the other agency CED use was unrelated to the odds of injury; however, the use of pepper spray was associated with reduced odds of suspect injury. Among other findings, in both agencies the use of hands‐on tactics by police was associated with increased odds of officer and suspect injury, while the use of canines was associated with increased odds of susp...
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ABSTRACT
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A sizable literature exists showing that the general public is supportive of the police, but that substantial differences exist in levels of support among minorities and whites. Few studies, however, have examined the impact of violent... more
A sizable literature exists showing that the general public is supportive of the police, but that substantial differences exist in levels of support among minorities and whites. Few studies, however, have examined the impact of violent police‐citizen encounters on perceptions of the police. Using survey data from a random sample of Cincinnati residents over an 11‐year period, we examine the effect of a violent televised arrest of an African‐American youth on minority and white opinions of the police. Furthermore, we interpret the results of the analysis in the context of Easton’s (1965) theory on diffuse and specific support for political institutions. The results suggest that although substantial differences exist among minorities and whites in their levels of support for the police, most indicators of diffuse support were unaffected by the controversial televised arrest.
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Tyler’s process-based model of policing suggests that the police can enhance their perceived legitimacy and trustworthiness in the eyes of the public when they exercise their authority in a procedurally fair manner. To date, most... more
Tyler’s process-based model of policing suggests that the police can enhance their perceived legitimacy and trustworthiness in the eyes of the public when they exercise their authority in a procedurally fair manner. To date, most process-based research has focused on the sources of legitimacy while largely overlooking trust in the police. The present study extends this line of literature by examining the sources of trust in the police. In particular, emerging research has revealed that neighborhood context influences attitudes toward the police but much less attention has been given to exploring the role individuals’ perceptions of their neighborhood play in shaping such evaluations. Therefore, the present study considers whether individuals’ perceptions of collective efficacy serve as a social-psychological cognitive orientation that influences levels of trust in the police. Using data from a recently conducted mail survey of a random sample of 1,681 residents from a metropolitan c...
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To date, little research has systematically investigated perceptions of mental health professionals regarding motivations for self-injury among prison inmates. To help fill this gap, the authors used descriptive techniques to examine... more
To date, little research has systematically investigated perceptions of mental health professionals regarding motivations for self-injury among prison inmates. To help fill this gap, the authors used descriptive techniques to examine self-injurious behavior among inmates from the perspective of correctional mental health professionals. A quantitative survey assessed perceptions of mental health staff regarding etiology, motivations, and manifestations of self-injury. A qualitative interview component was used to explicate responses from the survey. Inmate cutting, scratching, opening old wounds, and inserting objects were the most commonly witnessed behaviors. Findings suggest that self-injury occurred regularly and that a subset of inmates are responsible for recurrent events. Mental health professionals perceived the motivation for inmate self-injury to be both manipulative and a coping mechanism. They described current management strategies and corresponding needs for training an...
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The current study examines demographic, health functioning, and criminogenic correlates of self-injurious behaviors. Incident reports for all 28 South Carolina correctional facilities were collected during a 30-month period, evidencing... more
The current study examines demographic, health functioning, and criminogenic correlates of self-injurious behaviors. Incident reports for all 28 South Carolina correctional facilities were collected during a 30-month period, evidencing 189 inmates who self-injure contrasted with 22,794 inmates who do not. Self-injury was significantly associated with the disproportionate utilization of health resources, specifically through major mental health treatment and institutional restriction. Characteristics of incarcerated self-injurers revealed discernible maladjustment to the correctional milieu, with each self-injury incident being associated with a 37% increase in the number of disciplinary incidents. Moreover, the earlier incarceration period represented a period of greater risk. Each additional year in prison was associated with a 25% increase in self-injurious events, which then declined with further years of imprisonment. These unique characteristics are discussed, and salient polic...
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This study looked at injuries that occur to law enforcement officers and citizens during use-of-force events. Most applications of force are minimal, with officers using their hands, arms or bodies to push or pull against a suspect to... more
This study looked at injuries that occur to law enforcement officers and citizens during use-of-force events. Most applications of force are minimal, with officers using their hands, arms or bodies to push or pull against a suspect to gain control. Officers are also trained to use various other force techniques and weapons to overcome resistance. These include less-lethal weapons such as pepper spray, batons or conducted energy devices (CEDs) such as Tasers. They can also use firearms to defend themselves or others against threats of death or serious bodily injuries.
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ABSTRACT State and regional intelligence fusion centers have emerged as the centerpiece of a national strategy to incorporate local law enforcement into a nationwide homeland security network. Over time, the majority of these centers have... more
ABSTRACT State and regional intelligence fusion centers have emerged as the centerpiece of a national strategy to incorporate local law enforcement into a nationwide homeland security network. Over time, the majority of these centers have broadened their mission to include strategies that address terrorism and criminal activity, which provides further opportunities for centers to connect to the local agencies they serve. Although an accumulation of reports and literature has emerged to inform the efforts to develop these centers, there is little empirical research on the degree to which these centers are connecting with local law enforcement agencies. The present study addresses this gap through the analysis of surveys administered to local law enforcement executives (e.g. chiefs, sheriffs, directors) and their personnel in South Carolina that captured assessments on the utility of the state fusion center. The findings reveal that executives who place a high priority on intelligence-led policing were more likely to rate the center as very useful to their organization. Moreover, personnel who attended training on the fusion center&#39;s operations and service or used the services of the center one or more times over the past year were more likely to rate it as very useful to their organization. The findings suggest fusion centers can increase their connection to local agencies through outreach and training, as well as take steps to foster the adoption of intelligence-led policing by the agencies they serve.
This study examined the combined impact of individual-level and group-level variables on self-reported intimate partner violence, operationally defined as mild to severe physical aggression on the Modified Conflict Tactics Scale, among... more
This study examined the combined impact of individual-level and group-level variables on self-reported intimate partner violence, operationally defined as mild to severe physical aggression on the Modified Conflict Tactics Scale, among married male U.S. Army soldiers. The sample comprised 713 servicemen from 27 companies stationed at an Army post in the Alaskan interior. Group-level variables were based on individual reports on various dimensions of group climate aggregated at the company level. Contextual analyses were conducted using a variety of regression approaches. Individual-level predictor variables significantly associated with intimate partner violence included race, symptoms of depression, poor marital adjustment, alcohol problems, and a history of childhood abuse. Group-level predictor variables significantly associated with intimate partner violence included lower leadership support (vertical cohesion), a culture of hyper-masculinity (operationally defined as increased ...
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Purpose – This paper examines potential correlates of the effectiveness of oleoresin capsicum (OC) or pepper spray and police officer satisfaction with its performance during use‐of‐force encounters. Design/methodology/approach – Based on... more
Purpose – This paper examines potential correlates of the effectiveness of oleoresin capsicum (OC) or pepper spray and police officer satisfaction with its performance during use‐of‐force encounters. Design/methodology/approach – Based on surveys completed by police officers, superior officers, and substitute prosecutors, data on nearly 800 uses of OC by Dutch police forces occurring between June 1, 2001 and December 31, 2002 were obtained. Ordered and generalized ordered logistic regressions are used for the analysis. Findings – The paper shows that although OC was generally effective, it was less effective on suspects under the influence of drugs, violent suspects, minority suspects, and suspects who were warned before being exposed to OC. Officers with more job experience reported OC as being more effective than officers with less experience. OC reduced aggressiveness among suspects already aggressive, but it induced aggression among initially non‐aggressive subjects. The vast ma...
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This article investigates the effectiveness of pepper spray as a means of aiding arrest. The authors aim to provide a more rigorous study than has previously been achieved. Data from the Baltimore County Police Department have been used... more
This article investigates the effectiveness of pepper spray as a means of aiding arrest. The authors aim to provide a more rigorous study than has previously been achieved. Data from the Baltimore County Police Department have been used in this analysis. The evaluation undertaken has taken into account the “effective‐ineffective” dichotomy of the incapacitating effects of pepper spray as well as whether those being arrested were drunk, under the influence of drugs or mentally disturbed. Five variables of age, weight, height, race and sex were also recorded, the latter three having little or no effect. The overall conclusion which is drawn is that using pepper spray eases arrest in the majority of instances. The conclusions drawn leave the way open for further detailed analysis of the use of the spray to ease arrest.
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Violence against police officers is a widely held concern for the law enforcement profession. Prior research into this problem has focused almost exclusively on individual, situational, or ecological correlates at the city or higher... more
Violence against police officers is a widely held concern for the law enforcement profession. Prior research into this problem has focused almost exclusively on individual, situational, or ecological correlates at the city or higher levels of aggregation rather than at the neighborhood level, potentially masking important local variation. This study examines block-group-level risk factors for serious assaults on police from a criminal opportunity perspective. Data for the study included 603 aggravated assaults on police in Boston, arrestee location data, violent crimes known to the police for the years 1993 to 1999, and 1990 census data. Findings indicate strong associations between serious assaults on police and block groups characterized by high arrestee density, criminogenic conditions, and propensity for violence.
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This article examines the effects of perceived impaired judgment due to mental illness, drugs, or alcohol among a sample of arrestees on police use of force and other outcomes. Using a combined measure of impairment, bivariate analysis of... more
This article examines the effects of perceived impaired judgment due to mental illness, drugs, or alcohol among a sample of arrestees on police use of force and other outcomes. Using a combined measure of impairment, bivariate analysis of more than 2,000 arrests made by officers from a large southeastern municipal police department suggests that persons with perceived impaired judgment were only mildly problematic for police in this study. Multiple regression analysis of the effects of perceived judgmental impairment on use of force indicates it significantly increased the odds that higher levels of force were used, but the influence of this factor was less than the influence of other factors commonly examined in use-of-force studies. Additional analysis using a disaggregated measure of perceived impaired judgment reveals that the significant effect of the combined measure is a function of suspected drug intoxication rather than suspected alcohol intoxication or mental illness.
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Police foot pursuits have come under increased scrutiny in recent years because of concerns of officer-involved shootings and fatalities associated with this tactical response. Consequently, there have been calls for police administrators... more
Police foot pursuits have come under increased scrutiny in recent years because of concerns of officer-involved shootings and fatalities associated with this tactical response. Consequently, there have been calls for police administrators to place strict limits on officer discretion to engage in foot pursuits. Such limits may be premature, however, given limited empirical evidence regarding the hazards of foot pursuits. To help inform this debate, this study analyzed foot-pursuit injuries using data provided by the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. The findings indicate that in the vast majority of pursuits, deputies and suspects were uninjured or sustained only minor injuries. In this regard, they do not appear to be any more hazardous than resistive encounters generally. However, that suspects were injured in 60% of foot pursuits and that the use of conducted energy devices by deputies was associated with an increased odds of suspect injury suggest the dynamics of foot purs...
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... the television world with the observable world, and the possible conditioning effects based on the amount of television viewing (pp. 182, 191). It is reasonable to expect, then, that media coverage of the VT and NIU shootings... more
... the television world with the observable world, and the possible conditioning effects based on the amount of television viewing (pp. 182, 191). It is reasonable to expect, then, that media coverage of the VT and NIU shootings impacted student fear of crime and victimization on ...
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In response to our reanalysis and extension of Jacobs and Carmichael (2002) in which we found no evidence of a Black mayor effect, Jacobs (this issue) critiques our article on theoretical and methodological grounds. Theoretically, Jacobs... more
In response to our reanalysis and extension of Jacobs and Carmichael (2002) in which we found no evidence of a Black mayor effect, Jacobs (this issue) critiques our article on theoretical and methodological grounds. Theoretically, Jacobs argues that we did not provide sufficient justification for the inclusion of the percentage of the city council that was Black. Methodological criticisms include failure to include a nonlinear specification of percent divorced, improper temporal ordering, and the inclusion of only a single regional dummy variable. In our rejoinder we clarify the theoretical importance of the percentage of the city council that was Black and we address each of Jacobs’ methodological concerns. In additional analyses, we again find that the effect of the Black mayor variable is not robust to model specification or data employed, which was the point of our original article
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Law enforcement agencies across the United States, partly in response to public outcries over fatalities associated with police use of lethal force, have adopted numerous less lethal technologies, including conducted energy devices... more
Law enforcement agencies across the United States, partly in response to public outcries over fatalities associated with police use of lethal force, have adopted numerous less lethal technologies, including conducted energy devices (CEDs). Although the device was intended to reduce citizen deaths resulting from police use of force, various human rights groups have linked its usage to increased fatalities. The present study adds to the literature on CEDs by examining (a) the relationship between the restrictiveness of CED-related policies and CED deployments and (b) the relationship between these policies and fatal police shootings. Using data from a nationally representative sample of American law enforcement agencies, this study estimates a series of count regression models to examine the influence of departmental policies on CED usage and fatal shootings by police. Findings illustrate that less restrictive CED policies are associated with increased CED usage and fewer fatal shooti...
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Self-injurious behaviors in correctional facilities have been reported as a significant threat to inmates, staff, and institutional operations. This study is the first national survey to inquire about self-injurious behavior in... more
Self-injurious behaviors in correctional facilities have been reported as a significant threat to inmates, staff, and institutional operations. This study is the first national survey to inquire about self-injurious behavior in incarcerated prison populations. Surveys were mailed to mental health professionals working in state facilities that provided mental health services and housed 100 plus inmates. Data were received from 230 respondents representing 473 prison facilities. The average prevalence of inmate self-injury was 2.4%, and it was 0.7% for serious self-injury. Cutting was reported as the most frequent act of self-injury, with considerable concern for the importation of self-injury tools reported. Treatment responses were typically therapeutic or punitive, with a significant portion of facilities employing suicide protocols to address self-injurious behaviors. Results from negative binomial regressions suggest institutional characteristics associated with the prevalence of inmate self-injury include female-only institutions, specialized maximum-security units, and elevated staffing ratios.
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ABSTRACT An observational study of nine roadway segments in three towns in Connecticut was conducted to compare the race of motorists observed on the road to the race of motorists stopped by the police in those towns. The results showed... more
ABSTRACT An observational study of nine roadway segments in three towns in Connecticut was conducted to compare the race of motorists observed on the road to the race of motorists stopped by the police in those towns. The results showed that there is a very close relationship between police stops and motorists observed on the road. In six of the nine locations there was a non-significant difference between the race of the motorists observed and the race of those stopped. In two locations black motorists were stopped less frequently than all other races, and in one location black motorists were stopped more frequently than all other races. The study argues that census based estimates for driving population are not valid and should be eliminated from evaluating police behavior.
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ABSTRACT Self-harming behaviors occurring in prison disproportionately consume resources and cause considerable disruption. To date, theoretical paradigms have explained self-injurious behaviors and suicidal processes either via a... more
ABSTRACT Self-harming behaviors occurring in prison disproportionately consume resources and cause considerable disruption. To date, theoretical paradigms have explained self-injurious behaviors and suicidal processes either via a continuum or dichotomy of self-harm. This current study examines all documented acts of self-harm (n = 1,158) occurring in South Carolina’s 28 prisons over a 50-month period. We test and find support for a tripartite schema of self-harm; differentiated with regard to suicidal processes, self-injurious behaviors, and a ‘mixed group‘ of self-harming behaviors. These groups of behaviors were distinct with regard to situational variables (i.e. body part targeted, injury severity) as well as institutional responses (i.e., medical treatment needed, employment of suicide protocols). Findings indicate that self-injurious behaviors are likely to result in physical injury and/or hospitalizations.
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... PII S00472352(97)000226 THE EFFECT OF A VIDEOTAPED ARREST ON PUBLIC PERCEPTIONS OF POLICE USE OF FORCE ERIC S. JEFFERIS ... Other studies found age to be positively as sociated with evaluations of the police (Wilson, 1985: Brillon,... more
... PII S00472352(97)000226 THE EFFECT OF A VIDEOTAPED ARREST ON PUBLIC PERCEPTIONS OF POLICE USE OF FORCE ERIC S. JEFFERIS ... Other studies found age to be positively as sociated with evaluations of the police (Wilson, 1985: Brillon, Guerin, and Lamarche ...
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Violence and active shooter situations in schools have been important issues to the public, policy makers, and scholars in recent years. School resource officers (SROs) are widely used in efforts to address school crime-related threats.... more
Violence and active shooter situations in schools have been important issues to the public, policy makers, and scholars in recent years. School resource officers (SROs) are widely used in efforts to address school crime-related threats. Yet, little is known about the factors that influence key stakeholders’ (e.g., school principals) evaluations of such officers. The present study uses survey data from a sample of public school principals in South Carolina to examine the role of procedural justice theory in understanding evaluations of SROs. The results reveal that procedural justice is associated with principals’ support for SROs, perceived effectiveness of SROs, and level of trust and satisfaction in SROs. The policy implications of the results center on the importance of SRO procedural fairness in maintaining quality relationships with top school administrators which may ultimately have a wider impact on the success of SRO programs.
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With a majority of inmates being assigned some type of work while incarcerated, work assignments are a staple of U.S. prisons. These work assignments are likely to impact not only prisoner behavior while in prison, but also may impact... more
With a majority of inmates being assigned some type of work while incarcerated, work assignments are a staple of U.S. prisons. These work assignments are likely to impact not only prisoner behavior while in prison, but also may impact their ability to obtain gainful employment after prison. Historically, it has been noted that work in prison has been influenced by gender and racial norms and stereotypes. These stereotypical assignments may not be beneficial for inmates, especially in a time when work assignments are increasingly providing the only work skills inmates may receive while incarcerated. Using a nationwide data set of prisoners incarcerated facilities, the current study uses multilevel modeling to examine the nature of work assignments for male and female state prisoners and whether these assignments are based on gender and/or racial stereotypes. Results indicate that there are indeed lingering stereotypes influencing work assignments for men and women in U.S. prisons.
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In September 2011, Florida Highway Patrol officer Daniel Cole arrested 19-year old Danielle Maudsley for leaving the scene of an accident and detained her in the Pinellas Park substation. Handcuffed in the front of her body, Maudsley ran... more
In September 2011, Florida Highway Patrol officer Daniel Cole arrested 19-year old Danielle Maudsley for leaving the scene of an accident and detained her in the Pinellas Park substation. Handcuffed in the front of her body, Maudsley ran out the substation’s South entrance and into a parking lot closely followed by Cole, who shot Maudsley in the back with a conducted energy device (CED). In the video-taped incident, one can observe Maudsley spin, land on her back, and impact her head hard on the asphalt. After a few minutes, Maudsley lost consciousness and remains in a vegetative state (Glasser, 2012). This incident highlights the fact that foot pursuits can pose a significant risk not only to officers, but suspects as well. It also raises the question as to how many law enforcement agencies in the U.S. consider the use of CEDs on actively fleeing suspects an appropriate tactic. Unfortunately, there is no answer to this question. Despite the release in 2003 of a model foot-pursuit policy by the International Association of Chiefs of Police (2003) and increased concerns about the safety of foot pursuits over the last decade (Adcox, 2009; Bobb, 2003, 2005; Bohrer, Davis & Garrity, 2000; Graham, 2009; Pfeifer, 2007; Pinizzotto, Davis & Miller, 2002; Simpson, 2007), empirical research on the hazards of police foot pursuits is in its infancy (Kaminski, 2007; Kaminski, Rojek, Smith and Alpert, 2012) and national data on foot-pursuit policies and practices are not presently available. To begin to fill this gap in the literature, this study presents findings from a national survey of large law enforcement agencies in the United States administered in 2011.
As discussed in detail below, findings indicate that in spite of the publication of a model foot pursuit policy by the International Association of Chiefs of Police in 2003 and safety concerns raised by law enforcement experts and the media, the majority of agencies surveyed did not have a written foot pursuit policy and most reported engaging in practices deemed risky to the police and the public. Few differences regarding policies, practices and training were observed by agency type and size, but the findings indicate several significant differences by region of the country.
As discussed in detail below, findings indicate that in spite of the publication of a model foot pursuit policy by the International Association of Chiefs of Police in 2003 and safety concerns raised by law enforcement experts and the media, the majority of agencies surveyed did not have a written foot pursuit policy and most reported engaging in practices deemed risky to the police and the public. Few differences regarding policies, practices and training were observed by agency type and size, but the findings indicate several significant differences by region of the country.