http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/topic/16/criminology-and-criminal-justice Inquiries Journal provides undergraduate and graduate students around the world a platform for the wide dissemination of academic work over a range of core disciplines. en-us Sun, 17 May 2026 07:56:15 -0400 Sun, 17 May 2026 07:56:15 -0400 http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1936/explaining-the-gender-gap-in-the-criminal-justice-system-how-family-based-gender-roles-shape-perceptions-of-defendants-in-criminal-court By Katharina Geppert - Numerous studies have investigated why women are vastly underrepresented in prisons across the United States. In explaining this “gender gap,” scholars have found that women are treated more leniently than men at various stages of the judicial process. Explanations for women’s lenient treatment are often oversimplified as “sex differences” in criminal behavior and could benefit from further investigation. Through qualitative interviews with federal judges and attorneys, as well as observations of criminal court proceedings, this study examines how the family, as a... Wed, 09 Feb 2022 01:17 EST http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1936/explaining-the-gender-gap-in-the-criminal-justice-system-how-family-based-gender-roles-shape-perceptions-of-defendants-in-criminal-court http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1898/double-lives-a-qualitative-analysis-of-identity-navigation-in-chicagos-south-and-west-sides By Ava V. Levin - This paper draws on qualitative interviews to address internal and external identity navigation among gang members and how nonprofits address this navigation. Gang members ultimately lead double lives as they weave between gang and community life. At the same time, community members also engage with gang culture in daily life, as gang membership may be clear while gang and community life are blurred. This dual existence can breed cognitive dissonance, which gang members address through a variety of neutralization techniques that allow them to nevertheless view themselves as moral individuals.... Tue, 11 May 2021 02:03 EDT http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1898/double-lives-a-qualitative-analysis-of-identity-navigation-in-chicagos-south-and-west-sides http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1865/mental-illness-stigma-in-criminal-justice-an-examination-of-stigma-on-juror-decision-making By Jordan Termeer - Negative stereotypes associated with mental illnesses can lead to discrimination towards those with these illnesses through a process of stigmatization (Link & Phelan, 2001). This current study explored the stigmatization of offenders with mental illnesses through a mock-juror scenario. The influence of the media on this stigma was also examined. Undergraduate students (N = 266) were randomly assigned to one of three depictions of mental illnesses within the media (positive, negative, control) and one of three mental illness conditions for a defendant in a trial (schizophrenia, depression,... Wed, 20 Jan 2021 10:29 EST http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1865/mental-illness-stigma-in-criminal-justice-an-examination-of-stigma-on-juror-decision-making http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1753/the-criminal-justice-systems-mistreatment-of-transgender-individuals-a-call-for-policy-reform-to-assist-a-marginalized-prisoner-community By Stephenie King - While media coverage and politicians constantly acknowledge the inadequacies of the criminal justice system in managing victims and offenders of color and low socioeconomic status, the discussion about the failure of the criminal justice system towards transgender individuals, victims or offenders, is an issue that is rarely discussed. Transgender individuals have experienced a history of mistreatment and prejudice by traditional society, including judicially, but with contemporary acceptance movements and a rise in openly trans figureheads and celebrities, some may think the history of mistreatment... Thu, 31 Jan 2019 09:45 EST http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1753/the-criminal-justice-systems-mistreatment-of-transgender-individuals-a-call-for-policy-reform-to-assist-a-marginalized-prisoner-community http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1742/a-state-of-illegitimacy-the-dynamics-of-criminal-and-state-legitimacy-in-mexico By Benjamin J. Mackey - The following paper seeks to elucidate the complex processes involved in the Mexican State’s loss of authority and the subsequent acquisition of this authority by armed criminal groups operating in that country. In theoretical terms, this authority is termed the monopoly on the legitimate use of violence, and its transfer from the State to criminal groups carries profound implications - both quantifiable and otherwise - that are explored here. In order to detail the first half of this process, wherein the Mexican State has lost its authority, this paper presents a framework based on the... Mon, 08 Oct 2018 08:15 EDT http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1742/a-state-of-illegitimacy-the-dynamics-of-criminal-and-state-legitimacy-in-mexico http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1726/a-line-in-the-sand-drug-control-along-the-us-mexico-border By Benjamin J. Mackey - This paper analyzes the ongoing drug war being waged between Mexican drug trafficking organizations (DTOs), their rivals, and the U.S./Mexican governments. This analysis is conducted through the lens of drug control; namely, through an examination of the distinct strategies of interdiction and international operations. While both of these strategies carry inherent risks and benefits, the analysis conducted herein indicates that the realm of international operations holds greater potential to directly affect the dynamic environment in which these DTOs thrive. As such, specific international operations... Wed, 31 Jan 2018 08:28 EST http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1726/a-line-in-the-sand-drug-control-along-the-us-mexico-border http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1427/perpetuating-the-cycle-opioid-addiction-and-the-criminal-justice-system By Scot N. DuFour - Heroin use and the consequences that come from it are skyrocketing around the United States. From major metropolitan areas to rural towns, millions of people are in the throes of opiate addiction. The traditional response to the illegal use and possession of drugs, including opiates, in the United States is incarceration, but this response is wholly inadequate to address the issue of heroin addiction and may actually contribute to the problem by placing users in situations that promote opiate use. Several treatment options for opiate addiction have been found to be far more successful than traditional... Tue, 05 Jul 2016 06:36 EDT http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1427/perpetuating-the-cycle-opioid-addiction-and-the-criminal-justice-system http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1421/life-course-criminology-comparing-the-dual-taxonomy-and-age-graded-theories-of-criminal-behavior By Joana Ferreira - One of the most well established assertions in criminology is that of the relationship between crime and age (e.g. Sampson & Laub, 1992, 1998; McAra & McVie, 2012), in which developmentally orientated researchers attempt to explain how crime unfolds across the life course. From this impetus, the criminal career paradigm was developed, later setting the inspiration for developmental and life-course criminology (DLC). The aim of this framework is to explain offending by individuals through the analysis of the impact of different events at different stages of life as antisocial behaviour... Fri, 10 Jun 2016 11:49 EDT http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1421/life-course-criminology-comparing-the-dual-taxonomy-and-age-graded-theories-of-criminal-behavior http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1570/rationally-irrational-applying-the-rational-actor-model-to-rio-de-janeiros-police-gang-conflict By Amber Waltz - Both gangs and police in Rio de Janeiro seemingly operate irrationally in an extended conflict, as it is highly unlikely that the state will make drug dealing legal, and it is also unlikely that gangs would be able to destroy the police through armed force. This article attempts to determine why favela gangs and police became and are still engaged in a conflict with what some see as an inevitable outcome, using the rational actor model to determine the motivations and strategies of each side. This article finds that because gangs understand their importance to Rio's society and depend on the income... Tue, 31 May 2016 12:00 EDT http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1570/rationally-irrational-applying-the-rational-actor-model-to-rio-de-janeiros-police-gang-conflict http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1575/neighborhood-violence-and-crime-do-public-institutions-reduce-crime-in-neighborhoods By Monica Floyd - This paper explores the role of public institutions in reducing or fostering neighborhood violence and crime. Understanding institutional density as a neighborhood effect, this paper examines how ten public institutions and structures influence crime rates in Chicago. Using multivariate regression analysis and geo-coded spatial models, the relationship between the institutions and four different crime statistics (homicide, assault, robbery, and burglary) are analyzed. The findings show that the public institutions have very little impact on crime. Publicly owned vacant lots, however, exhibit a... Tue, 31 May 2016 12:00 EDT http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1575/neighborhood-violence-and-crime-do-public-institutions-reduce-crime-in-neighborhoods http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1404/the-effect-of-a-311-vacant-building-call-on-crime-rates By Bharat Chandar - Abandoned and vacant properties have long been a source of economic and political debate in the United States. Historically, property abandonment has been considered a symptom of urban disinvestment and not a cause. However in recent years, many studies have investigated whether there is a casual link between vacant buildings and the crime rate in the surrounding areas. Since these spaces offer an area of low supervision, they can act as a haven to individuals with criminal intent. Consequently, these buildings if left unsecured often evidence acts of prostitution, drug use, and gang-related activities... Tue, 03 May 2016 12:00 EDT http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1404/the-effect-of-a-311-vacant-building-call-on-crime-rates http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1401/shame-anger-and-guilt-the-hierarchy-of-emotions-in-restorative-justice By Scot N. DuFour - There has been a shift away from the traditional adversarial criminal justice system and towards a victim centered system. The effects of this shift can be seen in talk of “closure” as a justification for the death penalty, the use of victim impact statements in court hearings, and the implementation of restorative justice programs. Restorative justice programs are centered on providing healing and reconciliation for all concerned parties in a criminal offense rather than seeking justice in a traditional retributive manner. Since restorative justice programs focus on healing, emotion... Thu, 28 Apr 2016 07:35 EDT http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1401/shame-anger-and-guilt-the-hierarchy-of-emotions-in-restorative-justice http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1350/revisiting-crime-rates-as-a-measure-of-crime-prevention-effectiveness-does-the-crime-drop-reveal-a-policy-effectiveness-outcomes-gap By Ronald F. Pol - A companion article (Has New Zealand Identified the Causes of Crime?) explored the development of five factors described as "the underlying causes of offending and victimisation" in the context of meeting crime rate reduction targets and transforming the business of policing from a responsive to a preventive model. Using crime rate targets from New Zealand’s Addressing the Drivers of Crime program as a starting point, this article constructively critiques crime rates as a policy effectiveness measure. It contends that crime rates retain legitimacy as an ‘output’ measure because... Thu, 04 Feb 2016 05:41 EST http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1350/revisiting-crime-rates-as-a-measure-of-crime-prevention-effectiveness-does-the-crime-drop-reveal-a-policy-effectiveness-outcomes-gap http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1349/has-new-zealand-identified-the-causes-of-crime By Ronald F. Pol - This article explores the genesis and development of The 5 Drivers of Crime (described as "the underlying causes of offending and victimisation") and examines its impact in the context of policy effectiveness and outcomes. The ‘drivers of crime’ was introduced into New Zealand policing to help meet crime rate reduction targets and transform the business of policing from traditional responsive policing to a preventive model. Recent crime prevention policies elsewhere have identified similar factors, such as England’s “six key drivers of crime,” and South Africa&rsquo... Thu, 04 Feb 2016 05:40 EST http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1349/has-new-zealand-identified-the-causes-of-crime http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1328/sexual-behavior-in-prison-populations-understood-through-the-framework-of-rational-choice-and-exchange-theory By April N. Terry - Rational choice and exchange theories have been used to explain many phenomena in the field of sociological research. Although some literature has used such theories to explain sexual offenses, no research has attempted to make the connection between rational choice and exchange theory as a way of explaining sexual behavior of inmates. The following paper attempts to use such theories to further understand explanations for sexual behavior of inmates. Although standards such as the Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA) seek to restrict sexual behavior amongst the incarcerated population, while providing... Sat, 16 Jan 2016 10:04 EST http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1328/sexual-behavior-in-prison-populations-understood-through-the-framework-of-rational-choice-and-exchange-theory http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1587/a-statistical-analysis-of-privacy-norms-and-state-compliance-with-anti-money-laundering-regulations By Allison Blauvelt - Organized crime and terrorist organizations cannot be battled by force alone; anti-money laundering (AML) techniques have become key tools to trace these individuals through their finances. Every country has an interest in implementing internationally-standardized AML and counter the finance of terrorist (AML/CFT) regulations, yet there are still widely ranging levels of compliance between states. Previously, scholars have tried to explain this variability through political, managerial, bottom-up, and top-down approaches. However, they have all failed to fully recognize the importance of culture... Sun, 31 May 2015 12:00 EDT http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1587/a-statistical-analysis-of-privacy-norms-and-state-compliance-with-anti-money-laundering-regulations http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1028/the-use-and-effectiveness-of-problem-oriented-policing By Dan Brandon - The question of how to lower crime rates has baffled criminologists and law enforcement officials for decades. Over the years, many different models were developed to attempt to lower crime rates. In 1979, Herman Goldstein published an article outlining a revolutionary crime fighting model. This new method was called problem-oriented policing (POP) (Cordner & Biebel, 2005, p. 155). Goldstein described problem-oriented policing as a new approach to policing focused on end results, such as lower rates of a particular crime (Eisenberg & Glasscock, 2001, p. 1). Initially, problem-oriented... Fri, 17 Apr 2015 09:52 EDT http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1028/the-use-and-effectiveness-of-problem-oriented-policing http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1027/statutory-rape-and-teen-sexting-laws-the-consequences-of-poorly-crafted-legislation By Sarah L. Rankin - Child pornography laws are primarily drawn from the "Protection of Children Against Sexual Exploitation Act" of 1977. This act targets persons who “transport, ship, receive, distribute, or reproduce child pornography” but precludes minors because they are the subjects of the pornography (Cornwell, 2013). Technology has certainly changed in the 40 years since the penning of this legislation. Many adolescents now have access to smartphones that, among other things, enable them to privately take and send sexually suggestive pictures and messages, or ‘sexts.’ Technically, this... Mon, 13 Apr 2015 04:32 EDT http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1027/statutory-rape-and-teen-sexting-laws-the-consequences-of-poorly-crafted-legislation http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1007/out-in-force-the-new-struggle-against-sexually-oriented-policing By Elijah Mercer - Early police tactics and practices point to a culture rooted in heterosexism, a system of attitudes, bias and discrimination in favor of opposite-sex sexuality and relationships (Jung, Smith 1993). Heterosexism also suggests that maleness/masculinity and femaleness/femininity are complementary.[6] Contrary to popular belief, the initial role of the police focused on traditional female roles that included service, nurturing and protecting morals and virtues (Schulz 1995, Miller 1999). However, as crime increased, police departments came to be dominated by white, “masculine” and heterosexual... Mon, 09 Mar 2015 05:38 EDT http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1007/out-in-force-the-new-struggle-against-sexually-oriented-policing http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1393/the-effect-of-crime-on-achievement-the-differential-effect-of-violent-and-non-violent-crimes-on-achievement-in-high-schools By Colin Rohm - According to the Indicators of School Crime and Safety: 2010 report published by the National Center for Educational Statistics (NCES), there were approximately 1.2 million victims of non-fatal crimes within school bounds in 2008. Of these, there were 629,800 counts of simple assault, rape, robbery and other "violent" and "non-violent" crimes. These incidents have observable and noteworthy consequences; victims of crimes are known to avoid after school activities and certain locations at school, or skip class entirely all behaviors which impede a student's academic achievement (U.S. Department... Tue, 15 Apr 2014 12:00 EDT http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1393/the-effect-of-crime-on-achievement-the-differential-effect-of-violent-and-non-violent-crimes-on-achievement-in-high-schools http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1658/the-role-of-antisocial-personality-disorder-and-antisocial-behavior-in-crime By Ishita Aggarwal - Antisocial personality disorder (ASPD), also known as dyssocial personality disorder, is a mental illness that is characterized by a reckless disregard for social norms, impulsive behaviour, an inability to experience guilt, and a low tolerance for frustration. Individuals with ASPD exhibit an inflated sense of self-worth and possess a superficial charm, traits that often aid their attempts to exploit and violate the rights of others. Although the causes of ASPD are highly disputed, research has found that antisocial behaviour is linked to abnormalities in the chemistry and anatomy of the human... Tue, 17 Sep 2013 11:21 EDT http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1658/the-role-of-antisocial-personality-disorder-and-antisocial-behavior-in-crime http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/755/mexican-drug-activity-economic-development-and-unemployment-in-a-rational-choice-framework By David J. Masucci - From his inauguration in 2005 to the end of his presidency in 2012, Mexican President Felipe Calderon presided over one of the most violent periods in his country’s history. Making good on one of his election promises, Calderon unleashed the country’s military against drug trafficking organizations (DTO’s) and other criminal gangs who usurped authority from local governments in the northern and western parts of the country. The result has been a brutal and sustained war between Mexico’s security forces and the drug cartels. U.S. media outlets report daily violence from... Thu, 05 Sep 2013 12:05 EDT http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/755/mexican-drug-activity-economic-development-and-unemployment-in-a-rational-choice-framework http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1608/the-populist-bind-death-penalty-abolition-as-an-anti-democratic-decision By Aubrey Rose - The continued application of the death penalty in the United States marks the country as an extreme outlier among its allies and like-minded nations in the 21st century. In order to explain America's retention of this criminal punishment, scholars have sought to first explore: what explains variation in a Western democracy's retention or abolition of the death penalty? In an attempt to eliminate intervening variables present in past studies, this paper provides a comparative historical analysis of death penalty abolition movements in Great Britain and the United States. While many scholars have... Fri, 31 May 2013 12:00 EDT http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1608/the-populist-bind-death-penalty-abolition-as-an-anti-democratic-decision http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/707/non-traditional-therapies-in-forensic-populations-benefits-of-human-animal-interaction-art-therapy-and-meditation-based-interventions By A. M. Foerschner - Unique challenges are present in therapy when working with mentally ill offenders in a correctional setting. In order to encourage effective therapeutic change, hurdles such as strong resistance to therapy by inmates, complex etiologies of illness, and limited resources must be overcome in addition the usual challenges of treating individuals who have psychological issues. The present paper explores how non-traditional therapies, including human-animal interaction, art therapy, and meditation-based interventions have shown great effectiveness in treating mental illnesses common in the forensic... Tue, 16 Oct 2012 10:07 EDT http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/707/non-traditional-therapies-in-forensic-populations-benefits-of-human-animal-interaction-art-therapy-and-meditation-based-interventions http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/706/obtaining-justice-for-victims-of-strangulation-in-domestic-violence-evidence-based-prosecution-and-strangulation-specific-training By Brigitte P. Volochinsky - Strangulation accounts for 10-percent of violent deaths in the United States, with six female victims to every male victim. A common form of abuse in domestic violence, strangulation may result in many harmful health effects and it often indicates either an ongoing pattern of abuse or it foreshadows escalating violence. Yet, strangulation is often minimized by the criminal justice system, including law enforcement officials, emergency room medical personnel, and prosecutors, who equate strangulation with a slap on the face. The phenomenon of minimizing a violent and life-threatening act occurs... Wed, 10 Oct 2012 10:53 EDT http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/706/obtaining-justice-for-victims-of-strangulation-in-domestic-violence-evidence-based-prosecution-and-strangulation-specific-training http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/696/assessing-the-impact-of-three-strikes-laws-on-crime-rates-and-prison-populations-in-california-and-washington By Joshua A. Jones - The efficacy of three strikes laws has been a topic of contention among researchers since the first such piece of legislation was implemented in the United States nearly two decades ago. With the benefit of hindsight, it is possible to trend their impact through longitudinal analysis. This paper assesses the impact of three strikes legislation in California and Washington; two states which have implemented uniquely divergent forms of mandatory sentencing. It addresses the effect of three strikes law on crime trends and prison populations therein. Results indicated that mandatory sentencing was... Sun, 16 Sep 2012 08:05 EDT http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/696/assessing-the-impact-of-three-strikes-laws-on-crime-rates-and-prison-populations-in-california-and-washington http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/689/a-multi-state-analysis-of-correctional-boot-camp-outcomes-identifying-vocational-rehabilitation-as-a-complement-to-shock-incarceration By Joshua A. Jones - This paper evaluates the outcomes of various correctional boot camp and shock incarceration programs from three U.S. states. It examines the recidivism rates observed among graduates of these programs juxtaposed against their contemporaries who received other custodial and non-custodial sanctions. This paper further analyzes the overall efficacy of these initiatives and offers suggestions for the improvement of juvenile and adult correctional boot camp programs. Finally, it identifies employability as a contributing factor to criminal recidivism and proposes its applicability as a complementary... Sun, 02 Sep 2012 08:05 EDT http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/689/a-multi-state-analysis-of-correctional-boot-camp-outcomes-identifying-vocational-rehabilitation-as-a-complement-to-shock-incarceration http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/682/wrongful-conviction-in-the-american-judicial-process-history-scope-and-analysis By Joshua A. Jones - This paper addresses the historical, current, and projected scope of wrongful convictions in the judicial process of the United States. Herein, numerous research studies are reviewed in order to identify the trend  of this problem, determine its origin, and propose solutions. Specifically, the paper addresses the implications of the expanding American custodial system and the decline in homicide clearance rates necessary for the efficacy of the current justice process. It further examines wrongful convictions as a social problem from an interactionist perspective concerning racial and economic... Mon, 20 Aug 2012 09:05 EDT http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/682/wrongful-conviction-in-the-american-judicial-process-history-scope-and-analysis http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/674/ethical-considerations-in-criminal-justice-research-informed-consent-and-confidentiality By Joshua A. Jones - Experiments involving human subjects are increasingly utilized in criminal justice research. However, these studies present relatively unaddressed ethical concerns. This article examines the dark history of human experimentation on offenders and other stigmatized groups in order to substantiate the need for ethics policies. Specifically, it analyzes the ethical problems inherent to informed consent and confidentiality requirements as they pertain to research in the field of criminal justice. Moreover, it reveals an apathetic view of ethics which seems to permeate introductory literature and has... Tue, 07 Aug 2012 08:05 EDT http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/674/ethical-considerations-in-criminal-justice-research-informed-consent-and-confidentiality http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1690/crime-and-personality-personality-theory-and-criminality-examined By Joan A. Reid - Critical concerns that have been raised about personality theory by criminologists will be reviewed; first, concerns related to key propositions and policy implications will are considered and evaluated; secondly, criticism regarding methodological weaknesses in personality theory research will be reviewed. Recent advances in personality theory research will be detailed in response to those specific methodological concerns, including current research findings regarding the link between personality and antisocial behavior. Finally, personality theory’s future application to the pursuit of... Mon, 31 Jan 2011 09:02 EST http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1690/crime-and-personality-personality-theory-and-criminality-examined