Criminal Justice Policy Review

- Publisher:
- Sage Publications, Inc.
- Publication date:
- 2021-09-06
- ISBN:
- 0887-4034
Issue Number
- No. 34-3, April 2023
- No. 34-2, March 2023
- No. 34-1, February 2023
- No. 33-9, December 2022
- No. 33-8, October 2022
- No. 33-7, August 2022
- No. 33-6, July 2022
- No. 33-5, June 2022
- No. 33-4, May 2022
- No. 33-3, April 2022
- No. 33-2, March 2022
- No. 33-1, February 2022
- No. 32-9, December 2021
- No. 32-8, October 2021
- No. 32-7, August 2021
- No. 32-6, July 2021
- No. 32-4, June 2021
- No. 32-5, June 2021
- No. 32-3, April 2021
- No. 32-2, March 2021
Latest documents
- Circumventing the Sentencing Grid: Encouraging Downward Departures in Presumptive Prison Cases
This study examines sentencing outcomes of Justice Reinvestment Initiative (JRI) focused on reducing incarceration by encouraging downward departures to community-based sanctions in presumptive prison cases. The sample includes 3,930 defendants enrolled in the JRI program. Pre-adjudication assessment reports and a judicial settlement conference were used to help the court decide if a case warranted a departure offer. A quasi-experimental design with propensity score matching balanced JRI program defendants to 1,153 historic defendants that would have been eligible in the previous year. Logistic regressions assessed the impact of both program participation and race/ethnicity, controlling for other factors on prison versus probation sentence outcomes and sentence length in prison outcomes. On average, across all racial groups, program participants are 52% less likely to go to prison. The impact of participation on sentencing outcomes was also equitable across the race/ethnicity of defendants. However, the program did not affect sentence length of prison outcomes.
- Circumventing the Sentencing Grid: Encouraging Downward Departures in Presumptive Prison Cases
This study examines sentencing outcomes of Justice Reinvestment Initiative (JRI) focused on reducing incarceration by encouraging downward departures to community-based sanctions in presumptive prison cases. The sample includes 3,930 defendants enrolled in the JRI program. Pre-adjudication assessment reports and a judicial settlement conference were used to help the court decide if a case warranted a departure offer. A quasi-experimental design with propensity score matching balanced JRI program defendants to 1,153 historic defendants that would have been eligible in the previous year. Logistic regressions assessed the impact of both program participation and race/ethnicity, controlling for other factors on prison versus probation sentence outcomes and sentence length in prison outcomes. On average, across all racial groups, program participants are 52% less likely to go to prison. The impact of participation on sentencing outcomes was also equitable across the race/ethnicity of defendants. However, the program did not affect sentence length of prison outcomes.
- A Qualitative Inquiry Into the Sources of Resilience Found Among Maximum Security Correctional Officers
Resilient individuals are better able to cope with trauma, and overcome life’s adversities. Correctional officers are routinely exposed to workplace stressors that can be psychologically harmful. For these essential workers, resilience, therefore, offers a way to counteract the aversive conditions of their employment. In light of its importance in promoting mental wellness, studies have explored antecedents of resilience, yet few of which were conducted among correctional officers. To address this literature void, open-ended questionnaire data were collected from maximum-security corrections officers (N = 193) working in a southeastern state to understand the factors they believe most crucial in developing resilience. Respondents identified seven key themes associated with resilience, including co-worker support, establishing purpose in life, individual characteristics, self-care, life balance, prayer/meditation, and finally, maintaining positive attitudes. Results are discussed in light of interventions targeted at improving correctional officer mental health.
- Examining Case Dismissal Outcomes in Prosecutor-Led Diversion Programs
Prosecutors’ offices are a critical site for criminal legal reform and decarceration efforts. Prosecutor-led diversion programs (PLDPs) are a prosecutorial innovation that process cases away from punitive prosecution and, instead, offer various services and supports. Successfully completing a PLDP results in the dismissal of the charge, which helps participants to avoid formal entry into the criminal legal system and a range of collateral consequences. This paper reports findings from over 11,000 participants in six PLDPs in three Midwestern jurisdictions, and examines race/ethnicity and charge characteristics associated with successful program completion and case dismissal. Findings indicate that PLDPs have the capacity to provide alternative processing to a large volume of defendants with high completion rates, although the likelihood of racial/ethnic minorities to successfully complete the program is mixed. PLDPs are discussed as a promising policy and programmatic innovation that can help to move away from an era of mass incarceration.
- A Qualitative Inquiry Into the Sources of Resilience Found Among Maximum Security Correctional Officers
Resilient individuals are better able to cope with trauma, and overcome life’s adversities. Correctional officers are routinely exposed to workplace stressors that can be psychologically harmful. For these essential workers, resilience, therefore, offers a way to counteract the aversive conditions of their employment. In light of its importance in promoting mental wellness, studies have explored antecedents of resilience, yet few of which were conducted among correctional officers. To address this literature void, open-ended questionnaire data were collected from maximum-security corrections officers (N = 193) working in a southeastern state to understand the factors they believe most crucial in developing resilience. Respondents identified seven key themes associated with resilience, including co-worker support, establishing purpose in life, individual characteristics, self-care, life balance, prayer/meditation, and finally, maintaining positive attitudes. Results are discussed in light of interventions targeted at improving correctional officer mental health.
- Examining Case Dismissal Outcomes in Prosecutor-Led Diversion Programs
Prosecutors’ offices are a critical site for criminal legal reform and decarceration efforts. Prosecutor-led diversion programs (PLDPs) are a prosecutorial innovation that process cases away from punitive prosecution and, instead, offer various services and supports. Successfully completing a PLDP results in the dismissal of the charge, which helps participants to avoid formal entry into the criminal legal system and a range of collateral consequences. This paper reports findings from over 11,000 participants in six PLDPs in three Midwestern jurisdictions, and examines race/ethnicity and charge characteristics associated with successful program completion and case dismissal. Findings indicate that PLDPs have the capacity to provide alternative processing to a large volume of defendants with high completion rates, although the likelihood of racial/ethnic minorities to successfully complete the program is mixed. PLDPs are discussed as a promising policy and programmatic innovation that can help to move away from an era of mass incarceration.
- When Prosecution Is Declined: Factors Influencing Prosecutorial Portrayal of Officers Involved in Shootings
Using District Attorney Declination Letters of officer-involved shootings in Denver, Colorado between 2000 and 2020 (N = 132) and drawing on the Narrative Policy Framework, this study examined how prosecutors use of narrative strategies varied with legal and extra-legal characteristics of shooting. Findings indicated that prosecutors were more likely to likely to praise police shootings involving armed subjects, independent witnesses, and injuries to officers. Surprisingly, prosecutors were less likely to praise officers involved in the shooting of African American subjects, unarmed suspects, and in shootings involving a standoff. Findings suggest that while prosecutors largely draw upon legal criteria to justify not prosecuting police, their narrative accounts of declining to pursue criminal charges are also sensitive to extra-legal variables. Implications for theory, practice, and research are discussed.
- When Prosecution Is Declined: Factors Influencing Prosecutorial Portrayal of Officers Involved in Shootings
Using District Attorney Declination Letters of officer-involved shootings in Denver, Colorado between 2000 and 2020 (N = 132) and drawing on the Narrative Policy Framework, this study examined how prosecutors use of narrative strategies varied with legal and extra-legal characteristics of shooting. Findings indicated that prosecutors were more likely to likely to praise police shootings involving armed subjects, independent witnesses, and injuries to officers. Surprisingly, prosecutors were less likely to praise officers involved in the shooting of African American subjects, unarmed suspects, and in shootings involving a standoff. Findings suggest that while prosecutors largely draw upon legal criteria to justify not prosecuting police, their narrative accounts of declining to pursue criminal charges are also sensitive to extra-legal variables. Implications for theory, practice, and research are discussed.
- A Contemporary Review of Hate Crime Legislation in the United States
Hate-motivated crime remains problematic in the United States. California passed the first hate crime law in 1978; Congress followed in 1990. States continue to amend their hate crime legislation, producing an amalgam of statutory provisions. This article creates a conceptual framework from which to classify hate crime legislation across the 50 states and Washington, DC. Laws were identified through Westlaw. Analyses compared the types of crimes covered, discrete and insular minorities protected, prosecutorial alternatives, mandates for law enforcement agencies, and additional rights provided to victims among states’ legislation. Considerable variation in scope and content of hate crime legislation exists among states, leaving several vulnerable groups unprotected, law enforcement underprepared, and victim rights and resources sparse. Future directions for hate crime policy and legislation are discussed.
- A Contemporary Review of Hate Crime Legislation in the United States
Hate-motivated crime remains problematic in the United States. California passed the first hate crime law in 1978; Congress followed in 1990. States continue to amend their hate crime legislation, producing an amalgam of statutory provisions. This article creates a conceptual framework from which to classify hate crime legislation across the 50 states and Washington, DC. Laws were identified through Westlaw. Analyses compared the types of crimes covered, discrete and insular minorities protected, prosecutorial alternatives, mandates for law enforcement agencies, and additional rights provided to victims among states’ legislation. Considerable variation in scope and content of hate crime legislation exists among states, leaving several vulnerable groups unprotected, law enforcement underprepared, and victim rights and resources sparse. Future directions for hate crime policy and legislation are discussed.
Featured documents
- Jail Diversion and Recidivism: A Case Study of a Municipal Court Diversion Program
Municipal Courts in the United States have jurisdiction over cases involving municipal ordinance violations such as loitering, trespassing, public drunkenness, and vandalism. When an individual violates a city ordinance, the typical punishment is a fine, even if the defendant is indigent. Failure...
- Corporate Environmental Crime and Environmental Justice
Executive Order 12898 (42 U.S.C. § 4321 [2000]) mandates that federal agencies in the United States make it their purpose to achieve environmental justice. As a result, agencies often rely on empirical studies to provide crucial information that can be used to implement policies to combat...
- Romeo & Juliet
Laws that set an age of consent to engage in sexual behavior are unique in that they are the only laws that can result in a child being both a victim and offender of a crime merely due to age. They are also unique because some states have used these laws in an attempt to reduce teen pregnancy rates....
- A Decade of Change: Roper v. Simmons, Defending Childhood, and Juvenile Justice Policy
In the last decade, juvenile justice has emerged with more compassion and child-focused policies. During this time, crime decreased, successful strategies for prevention and intervention were identified, neuroscience examined the wiring of the adolescent brain, and the Attorney General established...
- Investigative Resources and Crime Clearances: A Group-Based Trajectory Approach
Past studies of crime clearance rates have largely ignored the role of investigators in the process. This omission is important because criminal investigation is essential to clearing crimes, particularly those in which offenders are not readily identifiable. Using data from 570 law enforcement...
- Impact Evaluation of a Parolee-Based Focused Deterrence Program on Community-Level Violence
We estimate the impact of a parolee-based focused deterrence (“pulling levers”) intervention on community-level firearm and non-firearm violence in Rockford, Illinois, via a retrospective, quasi-experimental design. Focusing on incidents of firearm violence in Rockford over a period of 60 months (38...
- Intentional Cruelty Versus Neglect: New Insights on Animal Cruelty Crimes and Implications for Policy
Animal cruelty has received growing scholarly attention over the past few decades. One ongoing challenge for researchers has been the lack of readily accessible data. This situation changed in 2014 with the addition of animal cruelty offenses to the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Uniform Crime...
- Law Enforcement Perspectives on Sex Offender Registration and Notification: Effectiveness, Challenges, and Policy Priorities
Since the 1990s, sex offender registration and notification (SORN) has assumed a prominent place on state and federal crime control agendas in the United States. Although researchers have examined many aspects of SORN policies and systems, relatively little is known about how SORN is used,...
- Impact of Workplace Factors on Role-Related Stressors and Job Stress Among Community Corrections Staff
Community corrections staff are responsible for supervising more than 4 million offenders nationwide; yet, little research exists on understanding their experiences with role-related stressors and job stress. The purpose of this study was to extend the existing community corrections literature by...
- Procedural Justice, Legitimacy, and School Principals’ Evaluations of School Resource Officers
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...