Pub Date : 2025-02-02DOI: 10.1016/j.jcrimjus.2025.102356
Sue-Ming Yang , Sangjun Park , Yi-Fang Lu , Charlotte E. Gill
This study explores patterns and features of mental health calls in a predominantly rural county in the United States. We found that mental health calls cluster in a very small number of street segments and these “hot spots” are relatively stable over time. Furthermore, using the Spatial Point Pattern Test and trajectory analysis, we identified a set of ‘signal calls’ that are not initially recorded by police as mental health-related but which are also highly clustered at hot spots of mental health calls. These signal calls could be used to help inform police agencies about possible risk factors for mental health crises in the community. We discuss the implications of the findings for policing and mental health practitioners.
{"title":"Identifying signals of mental health crisis in calls for police service","authors":"Sue-Ming Yang , Sangjun Park , Yi-Fang Lu , Charlotte E. Gill","doi":"10.1016/j.jcrimjus.2025.102356","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jcrimjus.2025.102356","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study explores patterns and features of mental health calls in a predominantly rural county in the United States. We found that mental health calls cluster in a very small number of street segments and these “hot spots” are relatively stable over time. Furthermore, using the Spatial Point Pattern Test and trajectory analysis, we identified a set of ‘signal calls’ that are not initially recorded by police as mental health-related but which are also highly clustered at hot spots of mental health calls. These signal calls could be used to help inform police agencies about possible risk factors for mental health crises in the community. We discuss the implications of the findings for policing and mental health practitioners.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":48272,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Criminal Justice","volume":"97 ","pages":"Article 102356"},"PeriodicalIF":3.3,"publicationDate":"2025-02-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143096056","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"社会学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-02-01DOI: 10.1016/j.jcrimjus.2025.102368
Daniel Trovato, Gregory M. Zimmerman, Huy Gia Han Vu
Although the impact of school discipline on future life outcomes is widely studied, examination of the effect of school discipline on social capital is sparse. Investigating the influence of school discipline on social capital could enhance our understanding of the collateral consequences and long-term implications of school discipline. Using nationally representative data and hierarchical linear modeling on 10,605 students nested within 132 schools from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health, this study examines whether receiving school discipline influences family, peer, teacher, and school social capital. Findings indicate that school discipline decreases teacher and school social capital, but not family or peer social capital, controlling for demographic, behavioral, and school characteristics. The results suggest that school discipline can displace students from beneficial social connections. As such, future theory and research should account for the broad social implications of school discipline, and school policy should work to maintain the social capital of disciplined students.
{"title":"Is school discipline decapitalizing America's youth?: Examining the effect of school discipline on family, peer, teacher, and school social capital","authors":"Daniel Trovato, Gregory M. Zimmerman, Huy Gia Han Vu","doi":"10.1016/j.jcrimjus.2025.102368","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jcrimjus.2025.102368","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Although the impact of school discipline on future life outcomes is widely studied, examination of the effect of school discipline on social capital is sparse. Investigating the influence of school discipline on social capital could enhance our understanding of the collateral consequences and long-term implications of school discipline. Using nationally representative data and hierarchical linear modeling on 10,605 students nested within 132 schools from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health, this study examines whether receiving school discipline influences family, peer, teacher, and school social capital. Findings indicate that school discipline decreases teacher and school social capital, but not family or peer social capital, controlling for demographic, behavioral, and school characteristics. The results suggest that school discipline can displace students from beneficial social connections. As such, future theory and research should account for the broad social implications of school discipline, and school policy should work to maintain the social capital of disciplined students.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":48272,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Criminal Justice","volume":"97 ","pages":"Article 102368"},"PeriodicalIF":3.3,"publicationDate":"2025-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143096054","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"社会学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-01-31DOI: 10.1016/j.jcrimjus.2024.102346
David Bright, Chad Whelan, Callum Jones, Kelly Edson-Wilkinson
Outlaw motorcycle gangs (OMCGs) may be approached along a continuum between gangs and organized crime involving criminal activities such as illicit drug production and distribution, firearms trafficking, and serious violent crime. Approaches to the study of OMCGs, as with the study of gangs more broadly, tend to focus on offending at the individual level, with limited focus on the nature and extent of social network structure and dynamics. In this paper, we focus on the utility of social network analysis (SNA) for analyzing and understanding conflict and collaboration within and between OMCG clubs. We review the existing literature applying SNA to examine collaboration or conflict in the context of OMCGs. Our aim is to identify the many characteristics of actors and groups influencing collaboration and conflict, which we examine as potential boundaries. This review identified five sets of characteristics – membership, rank, core-periphery, ethnicity, and geospatial – that we supplement with additional characteristics by reflecting on the broader criminal network literature, most notably in the scholarship on gangs. We conclude with a research agenda for the study of conflict and collaboration across boundaries that can be applied to the study of OMCGs, gangs, and organized criminal groups.
{"title":"The utility of social network analysis to examine conflict and collaboration across boundaries: A review and research agenda for Outlaw Motorcycle Gangs","authors":"David Bright, Chad Whelan, Callum Jones, Kelly Edson-Wilkinson","doi":"10.1016/j.jcrimjus.2024.102346","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jcrimjus.2024.102346","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Outlaw motorcycle gangs (OMCGs) may be approached along a continuum between gangs and organized crime involving criminal activities such as illicit drug production and distribution, firearms trafficking, and serious violent crime. Approaches to the study of OMCGs, as with the study of gangs more broadly, tend to focus on offending at the individual level, with limited focus on the nature and extent of social network structure and dynamics. In this paper, we focus on the utility of social network analysis (SNA) for analyzing and understanding conflict and collaboration within and between OMCG clubs. We review the existing literature applying SNA to examine collaboration or conflict in the context of OMCGs. Our aim is to identify the many characteristics of actors and groups influencing collaboration and conflict, which we examine as potential boundaries. This review identified five sets of characteristics – membership, rank, core-periphery, ethnicity, and geospatial – that we supplement with additional characteristics by reflecting on the broader criminal network literature, most notably in the scholarship on gangs. We conclude with a research agenda for the study of conflict and collaboration across boundaries that can be applied to the study of OMCGs, gangs, and organized criminal groups.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":48272,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Criminal Justice","volume":"97 ","pages":"Article 102346"},"PeriodicalIF":3.3,"publicationDate":"2025-01-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143104813","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"社会学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-01-27DOI: 10.1016/j.jcrimjus.2025.102358
Sarah Paquette , Angela W. Eke , Shelby Scott , Jean-Pierre Guay , Manon Duval , Francis Fortin , Michael C. Seto , Yves Paradis
This study assessed the predictive validity of the Static-99R among 172 men convicted of online sexual solicitation of minors in Canada – 93 from clinical settings and 79 from police investigations. It examined recidivism rates for sexual (any, contact, and child luring) and nonsexual violent offenses, comparing men with and without intent to engage in contact sexual offenses. Results showed the Static-99R effectively predicted recidivism, with modest to strong accuracy for contact sexual recidivism (Harrell's Cs = 0.78–0.94), any sexual recidivism (Harrell's Cs = 0.66–0.80), and child luring-specific recidivism (Harrell's Cs = 0.61–0.71). Predictive validity was consistent regardless of offenders' intent to engage in contact sexual offenses. Calibration analyses indicated the Static-99R underestimated the number of sexual recidivists in our sample. The study also highlighted differences between online and offline offenders, noting that online offenders often had numerous victims, which could complicate risk assessments. Discussion includes the relevance of Static-99R items related to victim characteristics and the need to refine tools for online offenders. Incorporating unique factors of online offenses may enhance the tool's predictive validity and practical application. Future research should address these dynamics to improve risk assessment for online sexual offenders.
{"title":"Is the static-99R valid for all men with ‘identifiable’ victims? Examining cases of online sexual solicitation of children","authors":"Sarah Paquette , Angela W. Eke , Shelby Scott , Jean-Pierre Guay , Manon Duval , Francis Fortin , Michael C. Seto , Yves Paradis","doi":"10.1016/j.jcrimjus.2025.102358","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jcrimjus.2025.102358","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study assessed the predictive validity of the Static-99R among 172 men convicted of online sexual solicitation of minors in Canada – 93 from clinical settings and 79 from police investigations. It examined recidivism rates for sexual (any, contact, and child luring) and nonsexual violent offenses, comparing men with and without intent to engage in contact sexual offenses. Results showed the Static-99R effectively predicted recidivism, with modest to strong accuracy for contact sexual recidivism (Harrell's <em>C</em>s = 0.78–0.94), any sexual recidivism (Harrell's <em>C</em>s = 0.66–0.80), and child luring-specific recidivism (Harrell's <em>C</em>s = 0.61–0.71). Predictive validity was consistent regardless of offenders' intent to engage in contact sexual offenses. Calibration analyses indicated the Static-99R underestimated the number of sexual recidivists in our sample. The study also highlighted differences between online and offline offenders, noting that online offenders often had numerous victims, which could complicate risk assessments. Discussion includes the relevance of Static-99R items related to victim characteristics and the need to refine tools for online offenders. Incorporating unique factors of online offenses may enhance the tool's predictive validity and practical application. Future research should address these dynamics to improve risk assessment for online sexual offenders.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":48272,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Criminal Justice","volume":"97 ","pages":"Article 102358"},"PeriodicalIF":3.3,"publicationDate":"2025-01-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143096055","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"社会学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-01-27DOI: 10.1016/j.jcrimjus.2025.102357
Diana Ribeiro da Silva , Nina Lindberg , Carlo Garofalo
Youth detained in forensic settings display a high prevalence rate of mental health disorders, mostly Conduct Disorder (CD), usually in comorbidity with other psychopathologies. However, few studies explored whether there are different mental health profiles of these youth. This exploratory study aims to answer two research questions: What mental health profiles exist in youth detained in forensic settings? What are the underlying patterns across and within profiles? A Latent Profile Analysis based on the number of CD criteria and number of comorbid disorders was performed in a sample of 119 male youth detained in Portuguese juvenile detention facilities. Significant mean differences on variables of interest (e.g., sociodemographic/legal/criminal/clinical) across profiles were also tested. Results found two profiles, a severe mentally disturbed profile (moderate/severe type of CD and moderate comorbidity rates) and a highly severe mentally disturbed profile (severe type of CD and high comorbidity rates), which also differ on variables of interest. Findings shed light on the potential heterogeneity of these youth considering their mental health patterns, giving also clues on complexities across and within profiles. This study reinforces the need for accurate assessments and personalized treatment approaches for the specific intervention needs of these youth.
{"title":"Exploring mental health profiles of male youth detained in forensic settings: Implications for research and clinical practice","authors":"Diana Ribeiro da Silva , Nina Lindberg , Carlo Garofalo","doi":"10.1016/j.jcrimjus.2025.102357","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jcrimjus.2025.102357","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Youth detained in forensic settings display a high prevalence rate of mental health disorders, mostly Conduct Disorder (CD), usually in comorbidity with other psychopathologies. However, few studies explored whether there are different mental health profiles of these youth. This exploratory study aims to answer two research questions: What mental health profiles exist in youth detained in forensic settings? What are the underlying patterns across and within profiles? A Latent Profile Analysis based on the number of CD criteria and number of comorbid disorders was performed in a sample of 119 male youth detained in Portuguese juvenile detention facilities. Significant mean differences on variables of interest (e.g., sociodemographic/legal/criminal/clinical) across profiles were also tested. Results found two profiles, a severe mentally disturbed profile (moderate/severe type of CD and moderate comorbidity rates) and a highly severe mentally disturbed profile (severe type of CD and high comorbidity rates), which also differ on variables of interest. Findings shed light on the potential heterogeneity of these youth considering their mental health patterns, giving also clues on complexities across and within profiles. This study reinforces the need for accurate assessments and personalized treatment approaches for the specific intervention needs of these youth.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":48272,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Criminal Justice","volume":"97 ","pages":"Article 102357"},"PeriodicalIF":3.3,"publicationDate":"2025-01-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143095609","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"社会学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-01-01DOI: 10.1016/j.jcrimjus.2024.102336
Kimberly Przeszlowski , Rob T. Guerette
Technological advancements have reshaped law enforcement practices, offering opportunities to enhance both public safety and policing efficiency. However, the use of emerging technologies by police departments nationally, such as those within Real-Time Crime Centers (RTCCs), has raised concerns about privacy, accountability, and the impact on public perceptions. This study employed a randomized vignette experimental survey design (n = 345) to systematically investigate how the presentation of police technology scenarios influence public perceptions and approval. The findings underscore the significant role played by informational stimuli in shaping public perceptions and emphasize the importance of establishing police agencies as transparent entities for effective communication with communities. In the evolving digital landscape of policing and amid the growing integration of technology in law enforcement, this study highlights the need for targeted messaging to boost public understanding and support.
{"title":"Public perceptions on police use of information technologies: Findings from a randomized vignette experiment","authors":"Kimberly Przeszlowski , Rob T. Guerette","doi":"10.1016/j.jcrimjus.2024.102336","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jcrimjus.2024.102336","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Technological advancements have reshaped law enforcement practices, offering opportunities to enhance both public safety and policing efficiency. However, the use of emerging technologies by police departments nationally, such as those within Real-Time Crime Centers (RTCCs), has raised concerns about privacy, accountability, and the impact on public perceptions. This study employed a randomized vignette experimental survey design (<em>n</em> = 345) to systematically investigate how the presentation of police technology scenarios influence public perceptions and approval. The findings underscore the significant role played by informational stimuli in shaping public perceptions and emphasize the importance of establishing police agencies as transparent entities for effective communication with communities. In the evolving digital landscape of policing and amid the growing integration of technology in law enforcement, this study highlights the need for targeted messaging to boost public understanding and support.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":48272,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Criminal Justice","volume":"96 ","pages":"Article 102336"},"PeriodicalIF":3.3,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143146715","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"社会学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-01-01DOI: 10.1016/j.jcrimjus.2024.102339
Matthew Valasik
Purpose
The current study examines the influence of civil gang injunctions (CGIs) on the patterns of association among gang associates at the individual- and group-levels in East Los Angeles.
Methods
The analysis is divided into two parts examining Field Investigation (FI) stops conducted by the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD). First, how do CGIs influence an individual gang associate's patterns of association is investigated with individual- and event-level data. Next, a case-study approach employing social network analysis is used to examine if CGIs produce observable and consistent changes to the publicly observed social structure of an enjoined gang.
Results
Findings suggest that CGIs are able to influence the associating patterns of gang associates at the individual-level. That is, enjoined gang associates are less likely to loiter in public, hang out in their gang's known set space, associate with fellow members, and are less visible to police. At the group-level an enjoined gang's group structure either becomes disrupted by the presence of a CGI or conversely fosters an increased connectedness among associates.
Conclusions
It appears that CGIs inhibit the public loitering of individual gang associates. At the group-level, divergent findings illustrate the complexity of gang associates' patterns of association and the challenges when attempting to alter them through suppression strategies.
{"title":"Gang injunction, What's your function? Investigating the relationship between civil gang injunctions and gang associates' patterns of association","authors":"Matthew Valasik","doi":"10.1016/j.jcrimjus.2024.102339","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jcrimjus.2024.102339","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Purpose</h3><div>The current study examines the influence of civil gang injunctions (CGIs) on the patterns of association among gang associates at the individual- and group-levels in East Los Angeles.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>The analysis is divided into two parts examining Field Investigation (FI) stops conducted by the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD). First, how do CGIs influence an individual gang associate's patterns of association is investigated with individual- and event-level data. Next, a case-study approach employing social network analysis is used to examine if CGIs produce observable and consistent changes to the publicly observed social structure of an enjoined gang.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Findings suggest that CGIs are able to influence the associating patterns of gang associates at the individual-level. That is, enjoined gang associates are less likely to loiter in public, hang out in their gang's known set space, associate with fellow members, and are less visible to police. At the group-level an enjoined gang's group structure either becomes disrupted by the presence of a CGI or conversely fosters an increased connectedness among associates.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>It appears that CGIs inhibit the public loitering of individual gang associates. At the group-level, divergent findings illustrate the complexity of gang associates' patterns of association and the challenges when attempting to alter them through suppression strategies.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":48272,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Criminal Justice","volume":"96 ","pages":"Article 102339"},"PeriodicalIF":3.3,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143146730","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"社会学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-01-01DOI: 10.1016/j.jcrimjus.2024.102334
Ha-neul Yim , Jordan R. Riddell , Yung Hyeock Lee
Objective
The goal of this study is to investigate what factors shape police use of force in the South Korean context.
Methods
The study draws on systematic observational data collected in 97 police substations across South Korea to examine the extent to which police use of force is influenced by a range of legal and extra-legal factors related to situational, suspect, and officer characteristics of police-suspect encounters.
Results
Multinomial logistic regression analyses of 427 police-suspect encounters show that encounters involving suspects assaulting an officer and situations involving the conflict between the suspect and another individual at the beginning of an encounter result in physical restraints and impact methods. The study also found that encounters involving older suspects were more likely to result in verbal force, and encounters involving situations in which an increased number of citizens are present on the scene of the interaction were more likely to result in physical restraints.
Conclusions
Our findings are consistent with the extant literature that officers often respond to legal stimuli when using force, though they also use force on the basis of extra-legal factors. This finding demonstrates the need for de-escalation training for police in South Korea as a means to reduce instances in which officers use force based on extra-legal factors.
{"title":"Examining the sources of police use of force in South Korea","authors":"Ha-neul Yim , Jordan R. Riddell , Yung Hyeock Lee","doi":"10.1016/j.jcrimjus.2024.102334","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jcrimjus.2024.102334","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Objective</h3><div>The goal of this study is to investigate what factors shape police use of force in the South Korean context.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>The study draws on systematic observational data collected in 97 police substations across South Korea to examine the extent to which police use of force is influenced by a range of legal and extra-legal factors related to situational, suspect, and officer characteristics of police-suspect encounters.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Multinomial logistic regression analyses of 427 police-suspect encounters show that encounters involving suspects assaulting an officer and situations involving the conflict between the suspect and another individual at the beginning of an encounter result in physical restraints and impact methods. The study also found that encounters involving older suspects were more likely to result in verbal force, and encounters involving situations in which an increased number of citizens are present on the scene of the interaction were more likely to result in physical restraints.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>Our findings are consistent with the extant literature that officers often respond to legal stimuli when using force, though they also use force on the basis of extra-legal factors. This finding demonstrates the need for de-escalation training for police in South Korea as a means to reduce instances in which officers use force based on extra-legal factors.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":48272,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Criminal Justice","volume":"96 ","pages":"Article 102334"},"PeriodicalIF":3.3,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143146718","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"社会学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-01-01DOI: 10.1016/j.jcrimjus.2024.102322
Alex O. Widdowson, Katelyn M. McMahon, Holly M. Kratzwald
Purpose
Existing studies indicate that acute life stressors often precede mass shootings and may contribute to the shooter's motivation or exacerbate underlying mental health issues. However, it remains unclear whether these stressors influence mass shooter outcomes—that is, whether the shooter is apprehended, dies by suicide, or is killed by law enforcement or citizens. This study advances the literature by examining the associations between five acute life stressors and mass shooter outcomes and whether these associations vary across different incident types.
Methods
Using data on 539 lone mass shooters in the United States from 1980 to 2018, we employed logistic regression to predict mass shooter outcomes (suicide/killed vs. detained) from measures of recent financial strain, job loss, romantic breakup, interpersonal conflict, and other life stressors. Multiplicative interactions assessed whether these associations vary across incident type.
Results
Our analyses revealed that mass shooters who experienced a recent financial strain and job loss had higher odds of suicide/being killed. In contrast, interpersonal conflict was associated with lower odds of suicide/being killed. Moreover, associations were statistically invariant across family, felony, and public mass shootings.
Conclusion
The findings provide new insights about the predictors of mass shooter outcomes and have implications for prevention.
{"title":"The influence of acute life stressors on mass shooter outcomes","authors":"Alex O. Widdowson, Katelyn M. McMahon, Holly M. Kratzwald","doi":"10.1016/j.jcrimjus.2024.102322","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jcrimjus.2024.102322","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Purpose</h3><div>Existing studies indicate that acute life stressors often precede mass shootings and may contribute to the shooter's motivation or exacerbate underlying mental health issues. However, it remains unclear whether these stressors influence mass shooter outcomes—that is, whether the shooter is apprehended, dies by suicide, or is killed by law enforcement or citizens. This study advances the literature by examining the associations between five acute life stressors and mass shooter outcomes and whether these associations vary across different incident types.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>Using data on 539 lone mass shooters in the United States from 1980 to 2018, we employed logistic regression to predict mass shooter outcomes (suicide/killed vs. detained) from measures of recent financial strain, job loss, romantic breakup, interpersonal conflict, and other life stressors. Multiplicative interactions assessed whether these associations vary across incident type.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Our analyses revealed that mass shooters who experienced a recent financial strain and job loss had higher odds of suicide/being killed. In contrast, interpersonal conflict was associated with lower odds of suicide/being killed. Moreover, associations were statistically invariant across family, felony, and public mass shootings.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>The findings provide new insights about the predictors of mass shooter outcomes and have implications for prevention.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":48272,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Criminal Justice","volume":"96 ","pages":"Article 102322"},"PeriodicalIF":3.3,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143146721","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"社会学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-01-01DOI: 10.1016/j.jcrimjus.2024.102344
John Leverso , Kate K. O'Neill , Alex Knorre , George Mohler
This study investigates the social network structure of an online gang forum, focusing on the social location of gang-affiliated girls and women in the “digital streets.” Existing studies highlight how gang members use social media for masculine posturing and promoting violent identities, but there is a significant gap in understanding the digital engagement of girls and women in gangs. Specifically, few studies have directly examined the network positionality of girls and women through social network analysis of digital data. Our research addresses this gap by analyzing user-to-user interactions on a public Facebook page popular among Chicago-area gang members, circa 2015–2016 (4231 positive and negative interactions across 37,403 comments from 6829 user profiles). Digital platforms could offer a space where girls and women who claim gang affiliation can be liberated from analog constraints in establishing gang centrality. Findings indicate, however, that girls and women remain in peripheral network positions, undermining the liberation hypothesis. Our findings challenge optimistic narratives about the liberating potential of social media, underscore the persistence of misogyny in gang culture, and contribute to understanding how digitalization affects gang dynamics.
{"title":"The limits of digital liberation: The social locations of gang-affiliated girls and women in the digital streets","authors":"John Leverso , Kate K. O'Neill , Alex Knorre , George Mohler","doi":"10.1016/j.jcrimjus.2024.102344","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jcrimjus.2024.102344","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study investigates the social network structure of an online gang forum, focusing on the social location of gang-affiliated girls and women in the “digital streets.” Existing studies highlight how gang members use social media for masculine posturing and promoting violent identities, but there is a significant gap in understanding the digital engagement of girls and women in gangs. Specifically, few studies have directly examined the network positionality of girls and women through social network analysis of digital data. Our research addresses this gap by analyzing user-to-user interactions on a public Facebook page popular among Chicago-area gang members, circa 2015–2016 (4231 positive and negative interactions across 37,403 comments from 6829 user profiles). Digital platforms could offer a space where girls and women who claim gang affiliation can be liberated from analog constraints in establishing gang centrality. Findings indicate, however, that girls and women remain in peripheral network positions, undermining the liberation hypothesis. Our findings challenge optimistic narratives about the liberating potential of social media, underscore the persistence of misogyny in gang culture, and contribute to understanding how digitalization affects gang dynamics.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":48272,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Criminal Justice","volume":"96 ","pages":"Article 102344"},"PeriodicalIF":3.3,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143146729","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"社会学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}