Pub Date : 2021-01-02DOI: 10.1080/24751979.2021.1881410
Scott M. Mourtgos, Ian T. Adams, Justin Nix, Tara N. Richards
Abstract The present study employs a quasi-experimental design to evaluate the effects of a mandatory sexual assault kit (SAK) testing policy on rape arrests in a large western US jurisdiction. We use a Bayesian structural time-series model and monthly data on arrests for rape from 2010 through 2019. In the post-implementation period, we observed a downward trend in the arrest rate for rape. Based on the results, the most conservative interpretation of our findings is that the policy implementation did not affect rape arrest rates. While mandatory SAK testing policies are often advocated for based on the belief that they will increase arrest rates for sexual assault (among other proposed benefits), we add to growing empirical evidence that policy interventions beyond mandatory SAK testing are needed to increase arrest rates for sexual assault. Jurisdictions that currently use mandatory SAK testing policies are encouraged to assess stakeholders’ experiences to proactively address resource allocation, consider other policies that may increase accountability for sexual assault offenders, and utilize victim service providers to support other measures of success with victims in instances where no arrest is made.
{"title":"Mandatory Sexual Assault Kit Testing Policies and Arrest Trends: A Natural Experiment","authors":"Scott M. Mourtgos, Ian T. Adams, Justin Nix, Tara N. Richards","doi":"10.1080/24751979.2021.1881410","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/24751979.2021.1881410","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract The present study employs a quasi-experimental design to evaluate the effects of a mandatory sexual assault kit (SAK) testing policy on rape arrests in a large western US jurisdiction. We use a Bayesian structural time-series model and monthly data on arrests for rape from 2010 through 2019. In the post-implementation period, we observed a downward trend in the arrest rate for rape. Based on the results, the most conservative interpretation of our findings is that the policy implementation did not affect rape arrest rates. While mandatory SAK testing policies are often advocated for based on the belief that they will increase arrest rates for sexual assault (among other proposed benefits), we add to growing empirical evidence that policy interventions beyond mandatory SAK testing are needed to increase arrest rates for sexual assault. Jurisdictions that currently use mandatory SAK testing policies are encouraged to assess stakeholders’ experiences to proactively address resource allocation, consider other policies that may increase accountability for sexual assault offenders, and utilize victim service providers to support other measures of success with victims in instances where no arrest is made.","PeriodicalId":41318,"journal":{"name":"Justice Evaluation Journal","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2021-01-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"80141496","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2020-12-21DOI: 10.1080/24751979.2020.1858697
Eric L. Piza, Vijay F. Chillar
Abstract The current study tests the effect of police layoffs on crime through a natural experiment involving Newark and Jersey City, New Jersey’s two largest cities. In response to severe budget shortfalls resulting from the economic recession beginning in 2008, officials in both cities seriously considered police layoffs as a potential component of their cutback strategies. The Newark Police Department terminated 13% of the police force in late 2010 while Jersey City officials averted any layoffs from occurring. The current study uses monthly Part 1 crime counts spanning from 2006 to 2015 to measure the effect of the police layoffs on crime in Newark. Findings of time series generalized least squares regression models indicate the police layoffs were associated with significant increases of overall crime, violent crime, and property crime in Newark as compared to Jersey City in the post-layoffs period. Supplemental analyses found the overall crime and violent crime increases become progressively more pronounced each year following the police layoffs.
{"title":"The Effect of Police Layoffs on Crime: A Natural Experiment Involving New Jersey’s Two Largest Cities","authors":"Eric L. Piza, Vijay F. Chillar","doi":"10.1080/24751979.2020.1858697","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/24751979.2020.1858697","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract The current study tests the effect of police layoffs on crime through a natural experiment involving Newark and Jersey City, New Jersey’s two largest cities. In response to severe budget shortfalls resulting from the economic recession beginning in 2008, officials in both cities seriously considered police layoffs as a potential component of their cutback strategies. The Newark Police Department terminated 13% of the police force in late 2010 while Jersey City officials averted any layoffs from occurring. The current study uses monthly Part 1 crime counts spanning from 2006 to 2015 to measure the effect of the police layoffs on crime in Newark. Findings of time series generalized least squares regression models indicate the police layoffs were associated with significant increases of overall crime, violent crime, and property crime in Newark as compared to Jersey City in the post-layoffs period. Supplemental analyses found the overall crime and violent crime increases become progressively more pronounced each year following the police layoffs.","PeriodicalId":41318,"journal":{"name":"Justice Evaluation Journal","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2020-12-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"81141565","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2020-11-24DOI: 10.1080/24751979.2020.1847602
Peter Leasure, Gary Zhang
Abstract Few studies have examined the impact of criminal history on hiring outcomes for women and even fewer studies have explored the effectiveness of mechanisms aimed to improve hiring outcomes for women with criminal history. The overall objectives of the current study were to examine (1) whether criminal history negatively influenced hiring outcomes for women and if so, (2) whether Ohio’s certificate of relief could improve hiring outcomes for women. These objectives were achieved with the use of an experimental correspondence audit that addressed limitations of prior research and utilized innovative methodological approaches. The results showed that callback (i.e., invitation to continue in the hiring process) point estimates for those with no record were higher than those with a record and no certificate. However, the differences between these two conditions lacked statistical significance. Further, while callback probabilities for certificate holders were statistically indistinguishable from those with no record, the callback probabilities for certificate holders were also statistically indistinguishable from those with a record and no certificate. Finally, there were no statistically significant racial differences. These results were supported in several robustness checks. Despite the lack of statistical significance, several findings have substantive significance and these findings are discussed in detail.
{"title":"Women, Criminal Records, and Certificates of Relief: An Experimental Study","authors":"Peter Leasure, Gary Zhang","doi":"10.1080/24751979.2020.1847602","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/24751979.2020.1847602","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract Few studies have examined the impact of criminal history on hiring outcomes for women and even fewer studies have explored the effectiveness of mechanisms aimed to improve hiring outcomes for women with criminal history. The overall objectives of the current study were to examine (1) whether criminal history negatively influenced hiring outcomes for women and if so, (2) whether Ohio’s certificate of relief could improve hiring outcomes for women. These objectives were achieved with the use of an experimental correspondence audit that addressed limitations of prior research and utilized innovative methodological approaches. The results showed that callback (i.e., invitation to continue in the hiring process) point estimates for those with no record were higher than those with a record and no certificate. However, the differences between these two conditions lacked statistical significance. Further, while callback probabilities for certificate holders were statistically indistinguishable from those with no record, the callback probabilities for certificate holders were also statistically indistinguishable from those with a record and no certificate. Finally, there were no statistically significant racial differences. These results were supported in several robustness checks. Despite the lack of statistical significance, several findings have substantive significance and these findings are discussed in detail.","PeriodicalId":41318,"journal":{"name":"Justice Evaluation Journal","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2020-11-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"82569897","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2020-11-13DOI: 10.1080/24751979.2020.1836996
A. Liberman, M. Katz
Abstract Many schools are attempting to reduce their reliance on suspension and exclusionary discipline to manage student behavior. One promising alternative involves restorative justice (RJ). However, many programs and interventions are being described as “restorative,” without clarity regarding key components of a RJ approach, and few studies have measured program fidelity. This paper presents a measure of fidelity in implementing RJ conferences, which was used to rate RJ 105 conferences conducted in response to truancy, chronic disruption, and incidents with and without victims. These were implemented in the context of a larger effort that also included a whole-school intervention. Conferences showed very high fidelity in the behavior of conference facilitators, high fidelity in the interaction among conference participants, in contributions of participants to the action plan, and in consensus about the action plan. Student behavior was more varied, as was the extent to which the group offered forgiveness. Emphasizing consequences was associated both with more student remorse and with more student disengagement during conferences, both of which were associated with forgiving the student, but in opposite directions. This highlights a tension in RJ between holding misbehavior accountable while also showing students respect and helping them to repair harms they have caused.
{"title":"Fidelity in Implementing School-Based Restorative Justice Conferences","authors":"A. Liberman, M. Katz","doi":"10.1080/24751979.2020.1836996","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/24751979.2020.1836996","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract Many schools are attempting to reduce their reliance on suspension and exclusionary discipline to manage student behavior. One promising alternative involves restorative justice (RJ). However, many programs and interventions are being described as “restorative,” without clarity regarding key components of a RJ approach, and few studies have measured program fidelity. This paper presents a measure of fidelity in implementing RJ conferences, which was used to rate RJ 105 conferences conducted in response to truancy, chronic disruption, and incidents with and without victims. These were implemented in the context of a larger effort that also included a whole-school intervention. Conferences showed very high fidelity in the behavior of conference facilitators, high fidelity in the interaction among conference participants, in contributions of participants to the action plan, and in consensus about the action plan. Student behavior was more varied, as was the extent to which the group offered forgiveness. Emphasizing consequences was associated both with more student remorse and with more student disengagement during conferences, both of which were associated with forgiving the student, but in opposite directions. This highlights a tension in RJ between holding misbehavior accountable while also showing students respect and helping them to repair harms they have caused.","PeriodicalId":41318,"journal":{"name":"Justice Evaluation Journal","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2020-11-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"75095674","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2020-10-06DOI: 10.1080/24751979.2020.1827938
G. Circo, Julie M. Krupa, E. McGarrell, Alaina De Biasi
Abstract Focused deterrence programs, which concentrate community and police resources on small groups of high-risk offenders, have been identified in a number of cities as an effective method to reduce violent crime. In 2013, the city of Detroit began its own “Ceasefire” program in two of its most violent police precincts, which continued through 2019. This study examines the community-level effect of the 2013–2019 Detroit Ceasefire initiative on fatal and non-fatal shooting victimization. We apply a synthetic control design to account for the complex, disaggregated data to identify the effect of Ceasefire above and beyond the substantial decreases in gun violence observed throughout Detroit. We find marginal decreases in victimizations among those aged 15-24 and 25-34 in the year after Ceasefire was re-organized in 2015, but these effects were limited and largely converged to trends observed in the rest of the city. We discuss the results of this evaluation with a focus on the importance of effective implementation as well as the challenges of studying violence prevention strategies under ever evolving conditions.
{"title":"Focused Deterrence and Program Fidelity: Evaluating the Impact of Detroit Ceasefire","authors":"G. Circo, Julie M. Krupa, E. McGarrell, Alaina De Biasi","doi":"10.1080/24751979.2020.1827938","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/24751979.2020.1827938","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract Focused deterrence programs, which concentrate community and police resources on small groups of high-risk offenders, have been identified in a number of cities as an effective method to reduce violent crime. In 2013, the city of Detroit began its own “Ceasefire” program in two of its most violent police precincts, which continued through 2019. This study examines the community-level effect of the 2013–2019 Detroit Ceasefire initiative on fatal and non-fatal shooting victimization. We apply a synthetic control design to account for the complex, disaggregated data to identify the effect of Ceasefire above and beyond the substantial decreases in gun violence observed throughout Detroit. We find marginal decreases in victimizations among those aged 15-24 and 25-34 in the year after Ceasefire was re-organized in 2015, but these effects were limited and largely converged to trends observed in the rest of the city. We discuss the results of this evaluation with a focus on the importance of effective implementation as well as the challenges of studying violence prevention strategies under ever evolving conditions.","PeriodicalId":41318,"journal":{"name":"Justice Evaluation Journal","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2020-10-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"80756601","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2020-09-17DOI: 10.1080/24751979.2020.1818275
L. Tompson, J. Belur, A. Thornton, K. Bowers, Shane D. Johnson, A. Sidebottom, N. Tilley, G. Laycock
Abstract To support the development and implementation of evidence-based crime reduction, we systematically identified and appraised 70 systematic reviews of single crime reduction measures published between 1975 and 2015. Using the EMMIE framework, we find that the quality of reporting on the Effectiveness of crime reduction measures is reasonably strong, particularly in systematic reviews published by the Cochrane and Campbell Collaborations. In contrast, evidence concerning the Mechanisms underpinning a crime reduction intervention, the conditions that Moderate effectiveness, Implementation challenges and the Economic costs and benefits of crime reduction was largely absent from the assessed systematic reviews. We conclude that there is a distinct lack of systematic review evidence in crime reduction that currently speaks to the knowledge needs of practitioners (i.e., how to make an intervention “work” for them).
{"title":"How Strong is the Evidence-Base for Crime Reduction Professionals?","authors":"L. Tompson, J. Belur, A. Thornton, K. Bowers, Shane D. Johnson, A. Sidebottom, N. Tilley, G. Laycock","doi":"10.1080/24751979.2020.1818275","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/24751979.2020.1818275","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract To support the development and implementation of evidence-based crime reduction, we systematically identified and appraised 70 systematic reviews of single crime reduction measures published between 1975 and 2015. Using the EMMIE framework, we find that the quality of reporting on the Effectiveness of crime reduction measures is reasonably strong, particularly in systematic reviews published by the Cochrane and Campbell Collaborations. In contrast, evidence concerning the Mechanisms underpinning a crime reduction intervention, the conditions that Moderate effectiveness, Implementation challenges and the Economic costs and benefits of crime reduction was largely absent from the assessed systematic reviews. We conclude that there is a distinct lack of systematic review evidence in crime reduction that currently speaks to the knowledge needs of practitioners (i.e., how to make an intervention “work” for them).","PeriodicalId":41318,"journal":{"name":"Justice Evaluation Journal","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2020-09-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"76303481","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2020-09-17DOI: 10.1080/24751979.2020.1819014
Katherine Fernandez Rundle, Stephen K. Talpins
Abstract Historically, prosecutors and judges relied almost exclusively on punitive measures, most notably jail or prison sentences, to address and deter criminal activity. However, the traditional punitive approach to justice is unduly expensive, does not work as well as it should, and has unnecessary and devastating consequences for lower level offenders and their families. While more and more district attorneys have begun to experiment with what some call “progressive” solutions, strategic remedial measures that reduce crime, improve lives, and save money are a matter of tradition for Miami-Dade County prosecutors. This paper outlines the results of a new strategy in Miami-Dade County, Florida, “Miami-Style Smart Justice” which focuses on a mixture of rehabilitation and incapacitation depending on the circumstances of the offenders as individuals and employs an evidence-based outcome-oriented approach that maximizes public safety, makes judicious use of jail space, minimizes unintended collateral consequences, and reduces costs. Using this approach Miami-Dade County as seen an almost 70% drop in the crime rate since 1993, while dramatically reducing its reliance on incarceration.
{"title":"21st Century Prosecutions—Miami-Style Smart Justice","authors":"Katherine Fernandez Rundle, Stephen K. Talpins","doi":"10.1080/24751979.2020.1819014","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/24751979.2020.1819014","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract Historically, prosecutors and judges relied almost exclusively on punitive measures, most notably jail or prison sentences, to address and deter criminal activity. However, the traditional punitive approach to justice is unduly expensive, does not work as well as it should, and has unnecessary and devastating consequences for lower level offenders and their families. While more and more district attorneys have begun to experiment with what some call “progressive” solutions, strategic remedial measures that reduce crime, improve lives, and save money are a matter of tradition for Miami-Dade County prosecutors. This paper outlines the results of a new strategy in Miami-Dade County, Florida, “Miami-Style Smart Justice” which focuses on a mixture of rehabilitation and incapacitation depending on the circumstances of the offenders as individuals and employs an evidence-based outcome-oriented approach that maximizes public safety, makes judicious use of jail space, minimizes unintended collateral consequences, and reduces costs. Using this approach Miami-Dade County as seen an almost 70% drop in the crime rate since 1993, while dramatically reducing its reliance on incarceration.","PeriodicalId":41318,"journal":{"name":"Justice Evaluation Journal","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2020-09-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"72697374","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2020-08-25DOI: 10.1080/24751979.2020.1808855
M. Benson
Abstract Over the past decade the study of white-collar crime has been undergoing a resurgence of interest, productivity, and creativity. New findings have emerged regarding the social, demographic and psychological characteristics of white-collar offenders. These findings have spurred theoretical advances in the application of standard criminological perspectives to white-collar crime, including opportunity, life course, and informal social control theory. Researchers have also made advances in understanding how white-collar offenders are treated by the justice system and how they respond to that treatment, and these advances have implications for the prevention and control of white-collar crime. In this presentation, I review these theoretical and empirical advances and suggest avenues for future research and policy on this important and harmful form of criminal behavior.
{"title":"Theoretical and Empirical Advances in the Study and Control of White-Collar Offenders","authors":"M. Benson","doi":"10.1080/24751979.2020.1808855","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/24751979.2020.1808855","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract Over the past decade the study of white-collar crime has been undergoing a resurgence of interest, productivity, and creativity. New findings have emerged regarding the social, demographic and psychological characteristics of white-collar offenders. These findings have spurred theoretical advances in the application of standard criminological perspectives to white-collar crime, including opportunity, life course, and informal social control theory. Researchers have also made advances in understanding how white-collar offenders are treated by the justice system and how they respond to that treatment, and these advances have implications for the prevention and control of white-collar crime. In this presentation, I review these theoretical and empirical advances and suggest avenues for future research and policy on this important and harmful form of criminal behavior.","PeriodicalId":41318,"journal":{"name":"Justice Evaluation Journal","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2020-08-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"84805497","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2020-07-13DOI: 10.1080/24751979.2020.1790303
Anthony G. Vito, G. Vito, George E. Higgins
Abstract This study examines the issue of prosecutorial discretion and the decision to offer a plea of life without parole (LWOP) in Kentucky death-eligible homicide cases (2000–2016). Using focal concerns theory as a framework and propensity score matching (PSM) and logistic regression as the methods of analysis, it attempts to explain the factors influencing prosecutorial discretion in the decision to grant a plea for LWOP with an emphasis on the role of race and gender or the victim and offender in this process. Among similarly situated cases, black offenders convicted of killing a white victim and those cases featuring a female victim were significantly more likely to receive a sentence of life without parole. Within the context of LWOP sentencing, the blameworthiness of a case was more significant than factors measuring the protection of the community.
{"title":"Examining the Sentence of Life without Parole in Kentucky Homicide Cases","authors":"Anthony G. Vito, G. Vito, George E. Higgins","doi":"10.1080/24751979.2020.1790303","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/24751979.2020.1790303","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract This study examines the issue of prosecutorial discretion and the decision to offer a plea of life without parole (LWOP) in Kentucky death-eligible homicide cases (2000–2016). Using focal concerns theory as a framework and propensity score matching (PSM) and logistic regression as the methods of analysis, it attempts to explain the factors influencing prosecutorial discretion in the decision to grant a plea for LWOP with an emphasis on the role of race and gender or the victim and offender in this process. Among similarly situated cases, black offenders convicted of killing a white victim and those cases featuring a female victim were significantly more likely to receive a sentence of life without parole. Within the context of LWOP sentencing, the blameworthiness of a case was more significant than factors measuring the protection of the community.","PeriodicalId":41318,"journal":{"name":"Justice Evaluation Journal","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2020-07-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"87924852","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2020-07-07DOI: 10.1080/24751979.2021.1976596
W. Crozier, Brandon L. Garrett, Karima Modjadidi
Abstract The impact of low-level criminal enforcement on communities has been the subject of a growing body of scholarship and policy work, and awareness that even minor offenses can impose unaffordable criminal debt and negatively affect other rights. Many jurisdictions suspend driving privileges for nonpayment of traffic fines or court nonappearance without considering the individual’s ability to pay, affecting millions in the United States. To investigate the impact of such suspensions, we surveyed people in North Carolina (N = 853), a state with large numbers of such suspensions. Eighteen percent of respondents having had a suspended license, with race and low income predicting higher suspension rates, and increased difficulty for daily activities and ability to pay for housing. Thus, suspension policies are of questionable deterrence value and little public safety benefit, but impose great hardship for minor offenses. We offer abolishing suspension policies for non-safety reasons as the easiest policy change, as well as other incremental options. Restoration efforts for those affected should also be implemented, despite challenges in contacting those affected and providing procedures to get their license back. As such, comprehensive local-level efforts, which we describe, are likely necessary to address the challenges and harms associated with driver’s license suspensions.
{"title":"Understanding the Impact of Driver’s License Suspension: Lay Opinion in Impacted and Non-Impacted Populations","authors":"W. Crozier, Brandon L. Garrett, Karima Modjadidi","doi":"10.1080/24751979.2021.1976596","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/24751979.2021.1976596","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract The impact of low-level criminal enforcement on communities has been the subject of a growing body of scholarship and policy work, and awareness that even minor offenses can impose unaffordable criminal debt and negatively affect other rights. Many jurisdictions suspend driving privileges for nonpayment of traffic fines or court nonappearance without considering the individual’s ability to pay, affecting millions in the United States. To investigate the impact of such suspensions, we surveyed people in North Carolina (N = 853), a state with large numbers of such suspensions. Eighteen percent of respondents having had a suspended license, with race and low income predicting higher suspension rates, and increased difficulty for daily activities and ability to pay for housing. Thus, suspension policies are of questionable deterrence value and little public safety benefit, but impose great hardship for minor offenses. We offer abolishing suspension policies for non-safety reasons as the easiest policy change, as well as other incremental options. Restoration efforts for those affected should also be implemented, despite challenges in contacting those affected and providing procedures to get their license back. As such, comprehensive local-level efforts, which we describe, are likely necessary to address the challenges and harms associated with driver’s license suspensions.","PeriodicalId":41318,"journal":{"name":"Justice Evaluation Journal","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":2.1,"publicationDate":"2020-07-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"75154834","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
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