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Title: The ‘True’ Juvenile Offender: Age Effects and Juvenile Court Sanctioning.
Creator: Mears, Daniel P., Cochran, Joshua C., Stults, Brian J., Greenman, Sarah J., Bhati, Avinash S., Greenwald, Mark A.
Abstract/Description: Age is the only factor used to demarcate the boundary between juvenile and adult justice. However, little research has examined how age guides the juvenile court in determining which youth within the juvenile justice system merit particular dispositions, especially those that reflect the court's emphasis on rehabilitation. Drawing on scholarship on the court's origins, attribution theory, and cognitive heuristics, we hypothesize that the court focuses on youth in the middle of the range of...
Show moreAge is the only factor used to demarcate the boundary between juvenile and adult justice. However, little research has examined how age guides the juvenile court in determining which youth within the juvenile justice system merit particular dispositions, especially those that reflect the court's emphasis on rehabilitation. Drawing on scholarship on the court's origins, attribution theory, and cognitive heuristics, we hypothesize that the court focuses on youth in the middle of the range of the court's age of jurisdiction—characterized in this article as “true” juveniles—who may be viewed as meriting more specialized intervention. We use data from Florida for court referrals in 2008 (N = 71,388) to examine the decision to proceed formally or informally and, in turn, to examine formally processed youth dispositions (dismissal, diversion, probation, commitment, and transfer) and informally processed youth dispositions (dismissal, diversion, and probation). The analyses provide partial support for the hypothesis. The very young were more likely to be informally processed; however, among the informally processed youth, the youngest, not “true” juveniles, were most likely to be diverted or placed on probation. By contrast, among formally processed youth, “true” juveniles were most likely to receive traditional juvenile court responses, such as diversion or probation.
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Date Issued: 2014-05-01
Identifier: FSU_libsubv1_scholarship_submission_1460380390, 10.1111/1745-9125.12034
Format: Citation

Title: Assessing the Differential Effects of Race and Ethnicity on Sentencing Outcomes under Different Sentencing Systems.
Creator: Wang, Xia, Mears, Daniel P., Spohn, Cassia, Dario, Lisa
Abstract/Description: Although many states have adopted sentencing guidelines, questions remain about whether guidelines achieve one of their primary goals—reducing disparities that arise from such extralegal factors as race and ethnicity. To date, research has not taken a cross-state approach to testing for racial or ethnic disparity in sentences imposed in guideline and nonguideline states or to examining whether less disparity exists in states with voluntary or presumptive guidelines. To address this research...
Show moreAlthough many states have adopted sentencing guidelines, questions remain about whether guidelines achieve one of their primary goals—reducing disparities that arise from such extralegal factors as race and ethnicity. To date, research has not taken a cross-state approach to testing for racial or ethnic disparity in sentences imposed in guideline and nonguideline states or to examining whether less disparity exists in states with voluntary or presumptive guidelines. To address this research gap and inform sentencing scholarship, data from the State Court Processing Statistics program are used to determine whether offenders’ race or ethnicity affects incarceration and sentence length decisions in jurisdictions with different types of sentencing systems. Implications of the findings for theory, research, and policy are discussed.
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Date Issued: 2012-12-21
Identifier: FSU_libsubv1_scholarship_submission_1461875071, 10.1177/0011128709352234
Format: Citation

Title: Assessing the Effectiveness of Correctional Sanctions.
Creator: Cochran, Joshua C., Mears, Daniel P., Bales, William D.
Abstract/Description: Objectives: Despite the dramatic expansion of the US correctional system in recent decades, little is known about the relative effectiveness of commonly used sanctions on recidivism. The goal of this paper is to address this research gap, and systematically examine the relative impacts on recidivism of four main types of sanctions: probation, intensive probation, jail, and prison. Methods: Data on convicted felons in Florida were analyzed and propensity score matching analyses were used to...
Show moreObjectives: Despite the dramatic expansion of the US correctional system in recent decades, little is known about the relative effectiveness of commonly used sanctions on recidivism. The goal of this paper is to address this research gap, and systematically examine the relative impacts on recidivism of four main types of sanctions: probation, intensive probation, jail, and prison. Methods: Data on convicted felons in Florida were analyzed and propensity score matching analyses were used to estimate relative effects of each sanction type on 3-year reconviction rates. Results: Estimated effects suggest that less severe sanctions are more likely to reduce recidivism. Conclusions: The findings raise questions about the effectiveness of tougher sanctioning policies for reducing future criminal behavior. Implications for future research, theory, and policy are also discussed.
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Date Issued: 2014-06-01
Identifier: FSU_libsubv1_scholarship_submission_1460382618, 10.1007/s10940-013-9205-2
Format: Citation

Title: Assessing the Effectiveness of Juvenile Justice Reforms: A Closer Look at the Criteria and the Impacts on Diverse Stakeholders.
Creator: Mears, Daniel P.
Abstract/Description: Research to date has taken a relatively narrow view of the criteria by which the effectiveness of juvenile justice sentencing policies are to be assessed. This narrowness is particularly striking given the comprehensive “get tough” reforms that recently have been enacted in nearly every state. Drawing on previous research and an analysis of the potential effects of a recent juvenile justice sentencing reform in Texas, this paper argues for greater attention to conceptualizing and empirically...
Show moreResearch to date has taken a relatively narrow view of the criteria by which the effectiveness of juvenile justice sentencing policies are to be assessed. This narrowness is particularly striking given the comprehensive “get tough” reforms that recently have been enacted in nearly every state. Drawing on previous research and an analysis of the potential effects of a recent juvenile justice sentencing reform in Texas, this paper argues for greater attention to conceptualizing and empirically assessing effectiveness broadly, including reference to intended and unintended effects, multiple goals and means, and diverse stakeholders. The argument is sustained first by outlining and discussing these key dimensions and then by empirically illustrating the potential importance of one of these dimensions – diverse stakeholders and their respective interests.
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Date Issued: 2000
Identifier: FSU_libsubv1_scholarship_submission_1460731325, 10.1111/1467-9930.00090
Format: Citation

Title: Assessments and Intake Processes in Juvenile Justice Processing: Emerging Policy Considerations.
Creator: Mears, Daniel P., Kelly, William R.
Date Issued: 1999-10
Identifier: FSU_libsubv1_scholarship_submission_1460062498
Format: Citation

Title: Central Analytical Issues in the Generation of Cumulative Sociological Knowledge.
Creator: Mears, Daniel P., Stafford, Mark Christopher
Abstract/Description: The growth of theories, methodologies, and substantive/empirical areas in sociology has not led to consensus about what sociology is or how to generate cumulative knowledge. Recourse to general or “grand” theories, conceptual frameworks, and methodological advances has not proven noticeably helpful in resolving this situation. Suggesting an alternative strategy, this paper delineates nine analytical issues central to “doing” sociology. The authors contend that systematic attention to these...
Show moreThe growth of theories, methodologies, and substantive/empirical areas in sociology has not led to consensus about what sociology is or how to generate cumulative knowledge. Recourse to general or “grand” theories, conceptual frameworks, and methodological advances has not proven noticeably helpful in resolving this situation. Suggesting an alternative strategy, this paper delineates nine analytical issues central to “doing” sociology. The authors contend that systematic attention to these issues will increase the generation of cumulative sociological knowledge
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Date Issued: 2002-01-01
Identifier: FSU_libsubv1_scholarship_submission_1461161591, 10.1080/00380237.2002.10571217
Format: Citation

Title: The Code of the Street and Inmate Violence: Investigating the Salience of Imported Belief Systems..
Creator: Mears, Daniel P., Stewart, Eric A., Siennick, Sonja E., Simons, Ronald L.
Abstract/Description: Scholars have long argued that inmate behaviors stem in part from cultural belief systems that they “import” with them into incarcerative settings. Even so, few empirical assessments have tested this argument directly. Drawing on theoretical accounts of one such set of beliefs—the code of the street—and on importation theory, we hypothesize that individuals who adhere more strongly to the street code will be more likely, once incarcerated, to engage in violent behavior and that this effect...
Show moreScholars have long argued that inmate behaviors stem in part from cultural belief systems that they “import” with them into incarcerative settings. Even so, few empirical assessments have tested this argument directly. Drawing on theoretical accounts of one such set of beliefs—the code of the street—and on importation theory, we hypothesize that individuals who adhere more strongly to the street code will be more likely, once incarcerated, to engage in violent behavior and that this effect will be amplified by such incarceration experiences as disciplinary sanctions and gang involvement, as well as the lack of educational programming, religious programming, and family support. We test these hypotheses using unique data that include measures of the street code belief system and incarceration experiences. The results support the argument that the code of the street belief system affects inmate violence and that the effect is more pronounced among inmates who lack family support, experience disciplinary sanctions, and are gang involved. Implications of these findings are discussed.
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Date Issued: 2013-08-01
Identifier: FSU_libsubv1_scholarship_submission_1460486872, 10.1111/1745-9125.12017
Format: Citation

Title: A Critique of Waiver Research: Critical Next Steps in Assessing the Impacts of Laws for Transferring Juveniles to the Criminal Justice System.
Creator: Mears, Daniel P.
Abstract/Description: Of the many recent changes in juvenile justice, none are more prominent than waiver laws designed to more easily transfer young offenders to adult courts. These laws create more options to punish youth as if they were adults, leading some to question the need for a separate juvenile justice system. As yet, however, we have little systematic empirical basis for assessing the effectiveness of these laws. To help develop the foundation for such an assessment, this article examines the leading...
Show moreOf the many recent changes in juvenile justice, none are more prominent than waiver laws designed to more easily transfer young offenders to adult courts. These laws create more options to punish youth as if they were adults, leading some to question the need for a separate juvenile justice system. As yet, however, we have little systematic empirical basis for assessing the effectiveness of these laws. To help develop the foundation for such an assessment, this article examines the leading intended and unintended impacts identified by researchers. It then discusses critical research gaps that must be addressed if we are to develop a balanced and empirically informed assessment of the effectiveness of waiver.
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Date Issued: 2003-01-01
Identifier: FSU_libsubv1_scholarship_submission_1461348666, 10.1177/1541204002250876
Format: Citation

Title: Determinants of Chicago Neighborhood Homicide Trajectories: 1965-1995.
Creator: Stults, Brian
Abstract/Description: The homicide rate in Chicago nearly tripled between 1965 and 1992, and subsequently declined by more than 50% through 2005. But is this trend representative of all areas in the city? Drawing on the social disorganization and concentrated disadvantage perspectives, this paper uses semi-parametric group-based trajectory modeling to examine homicide trajectories in Chicago neighborhoods from 1965-1995. Significant variability is found in homicide trajectories across neighborhoods. Multivariate...
Show moreThe homicide rate in Chicago nearly tripled between 1965 and 1992, and subsequently declined by more than 50% through 2005. But is this trend representative of all areas in the city? Drawing on the social disorganization and concentrated disadvantage perspectives, this paper uses semi-parametric group-based trajectory modeling to examine homicide trajectories in Chicago neighborhoods from 1965-1995. Significant variability is found in homicide trajectories across neighborhoods. Multivariate results show that disadvantage increases the likelihood of having an increasing or persistently high homicide trajectory. Social disorganization and family disruption are also predictive of variation in homicide trajectories, but only in communities with already low levels of homicide. Other theoretically relevant predictors are evaluated, and suggestions for theoretical refinement and future research are discussed.
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Date Issued: 2010
Identifier: FSU_migr_crim_faculty_publications-0001, 10.1177/1088767910371173
Format: Citation

Title: Does a Rising Tide Lift All Boats?: Labor Market Changes and Their Effects on the Recidivism of Released Prisoners..
Creator: Mears, Daniel P., Wang, Xia, Bales, William D.
Abstract/Description: The dramatic growth in incarceration nationally has increased attention to the factors that influence recidivism among ex-prisoners. Accordingly, scholars have called for research that identifies factors, such as employment opportunities, that may influence reentry experiences. Few studies, however, have examined how changes in labor market conditions affect ex-prisoner offending. Drawing on prior scholarship, this study examines the effect of such changes on the recidivism of ex-prisoners...
Show moreThe dramatic growth in incarceration nationally has increased attention to the factors that influence recidivism among ex-prisoners. Accordingly, scholars have called for research that identifies factors, such as employment opportunities, that may influence reentry experiences. Few studies, however, have examined how changes in labor market conditions affect ex-prisoner offending. Drawing on prior scholarship, this study examines the effect of such changes on the recidivism of ex-prisoners and, in particular, how the recidivism among blacks and whites may be differentially affected by changes in labor market conditions in the areas to which they return. The analyses indicate that, among black male ex-prisoners, labor market declines increase violent recidivism. They also indicate that, among white male ex-prisoners, the effects are more tenuous, influence only property recidivism, and are moderated by prior labor market conditions and criminal history. Implications of the study are discussed.
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Date Issued: 2012-05-16
Identifier: FSU_libsubv1_scholarship_submission_1460381180, 10.1080/07418825.2012.677466
Format: Citation

Title: Does Inmate Behavior Affect Post-Release Offending?: Investigating the Misconduct-Recidivism Relationship among Youth and Adults..
Creator: Cochran, Joshua C., Mears, Daniel P., Bales, William D., Stewart, Eric. A.
Abstract/Description: Recent scholarship has highlighted the potential implications of in-prison experiences for prisoner reentry and, in particular, recidivism. Few penological or reentry studies, however, have examined the relationship between one experience that may be especially consequential, inmate misconduct, and recidivism. The goal of this study is to address this gap in the literature by employing a matching design that estimates the effect of inmate misconduct on reoffending, using data on a release...
Show moreRecent scholarship has highlighted the potential implications of in-prison experiences for prisoner reentry and, in particular, recidivism. Few penological or reentry studies, however, have examined the relationship between one experience that may be especially consequential, inmate misconduct, and recidivism. The goal of this study is to address this gap in the literature by employing a matching design that estimates the effect of inmate misconduct on reoffending, using data on a release cohort of Florida prisoners. The results indicate that inmates who engage in misconduct, violent misconduct in particular, are more likely to recidivate. Consistent with prior scholarship, we find that this relationship holds only for adult inmates. These findings underscore the importance of prison experiences for understanding recidivism, examining youthful and adult inmate populations separately, and devising policies that reduce misconduct.
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Date Issued: 2014-01-01
Identifier: FSU_libsubv1_scholarship_submission_1460383468, 10.1080/07418825.2012.736526
Format: Citation

Title: The Effect of Agency Scandal on Public Views Toward the Correctional System.
Creator: Christina, Mancini, Mears, Daniel P.
Abstract/Description: Evidence of a corrections agency scandal involving corruption can be expected to diminish public perceptions of agency effectiveness, especially in an era in which government accountability has featured prominently in national and state criminal justice policy discourse. However, relatively little scholarly attention has studied this idea. Using 2006 public opinion survey data collected prior to and after the highly publicized resignation of a corrections department director who was...
Show moreEvidence of a corrections agency scandal involving corruption can be expected to diminish public perceptions of agency effectiveness, especially in an era in which government accountability has featured prominently in national and state criminal justice policy discourse. However, relatively little scholarly attention has studied this idea. Using 2006 public opinion survey data collected prior to and after the highly publicized resignation of a corrections department director who was investigated for and subsequently convicted of graft and mismanagement, this study examines whether a prominent corrections agency scandal exerted an appreciable effect on how the public viewed the agency’s performance. Study findings suggest that the scandal had no effect on the public’s perception of the department’s performance. Implications of the study for research and policy are discussed.
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Date Issued: 2013-02-28
Identifier: FSU_libsubv1_scholarship_submission_1461854829, 10.1177/0734016812450026
Format: Citation

Title: The Effect of Interracial Contact on Whites’ Perceptions of Victimization Risk and Black Criminality.
Creator: Mears, Daniel P., Pickett, Justin, Golden, Kristin, Chiricos, Ted, Gertz, Marc
Abstract/Description: Objectives. This article examines two questions. First, does interracial contact increase or decrease Whites' perceptions of Blacks' criminality? Second, does it affect Whites' perceived victimization risk, and, if so, is the effect mediated by the perceived criminality of Blacks as compared to the perceived criminality of different racial and ethnic groups? Methods. Multivariate regression analyses of data from a national public opinion poll that included measures of perceived victimization...
Show moreObjectives. This article examines two questions. First, does interracial contact increase or decrease Whites' perceptions of Blacks' criminality? Second, does it affect Whites' perceived victimization risk, and, if so, is the effect mediated by the perceived criminality of Blacks as compared to the perceived criminality of different racial and ethnic groups? Methods. Multivariate regression analyses of data from a national public opinion poll that included measures of perceived victimization risk and the criminality of Whites and Latinos. Results. Interracial contact increases Whites' perceptions of the criminality of all racial and ethnic groups, not just Blacks. It also increases Whites' perceived risk of victimization, an effect that partially arises by increasing their perception of Whites and Latinos, and not just Blacks, as criminal. Conclusions. Although the identified effects may be due to Whites' stereotypes about Blacks, they are equally consistent with the notion that interracial contact may educate Whites about crime. Unfortunately, the present study could not investigate this possibility. Future research ideally will address this limitation, use additional measures of contact, and assess other explanations for any identified effects.
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Date Issued: 2013-05-06
Identifier: FSU_libsubv1_scholarship_submission_1460486253, 10.1177/0022427811431156
Format: Citation

Title: Evaluation Issues Confronting Juvenile Justice Sentencing Reforms: A Case Study of Texas.
Creator: Mears, Daniel P.
Abstract/Description: Many states currently are implementing “get tough” sentencing reforms in juvenile justice. Surprisingly, however, little attention has been given to evaluation issues identified by the adult justice sentencing literature as critical to assessments of efficacy. Analysis of one recent juvenile justice sentencing reform in Texas – determinate sentencing – provides an opportunity to highlight such issues and to demonstrate their relevance to assessment of other states’ juvenile justice sentencing...
Show moreMany states currently are implementing “get tough” sentencing reforms in juvenile justice. Surprisingly, however, little attention has been given to evaluation issues identified by the adult justice sentencing literature as critical to assessments of efficacy. Analysis of one recent juvenile justice sentencing reform in Texas – determinate sentencing – provides an opportunity to highlight such issues and to demonstrate their relevance to assessment of other states’ juvenile justice sentencing reforms. This article identifies the failure to attend adequately to design, implementation, use, and assessment issues, including identification of potential unintended effects, as barriers to effective evaluation of these reforms.
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Date Issued: 1998
Identifier: FSU_libsubv1_scholarship_submission_1460060320
Format: Citation

Title: Everything Old is New Again: The Criminology/Criminal Justice Freshman Research Seminar.
Creator: Hill, Leslie, Maier-Katkin, Daniel, Kinsley, Kirsten
Abstract/Description: This is a report of an action-research project undertaken in tandem with the development of a new freshman seminar in criminology and criminal justice. In the freshman seminar the goal is to teach the research, critical thinking and writing skills that are the underpinnings of scholarship and good citizenship. Utilizing a unique approach, this class focuses on resources available through the University library and is taught by a professor, two librarians and a graduate teaching assistant. We...
Show moreThis is a report of an action-research project undertaken in tandem with the development of a new freshman seminar in criminology and criminal justice. In the freshman seminar the goal is to teach the research, critical thinking and writing skills that are the underpinnings of scholarship and good citizenship. Utilizing a unique approach, this class focuses on resources available through the University library and is taught by a professor, two librarians and a graduate teaching assistant. We hypothesize that freshmen who experience this seminar will show improvement in critical thinking skills, and that this will contribute to greater levels of academic success. This report describes the educational innovation (seminar) in sufficient detail to make replication possible, and presents preliminary findings that indicate the seminar enhances research and writing skills, fosters ability to think critically, and has a positive influence on students’ academic careers.
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Date Issued: 2015-06-12
Identifier: FSU_libsubv1_scholarship_submission_1488563765, 10.1080/10511253.2015.1052002
Format: Citation

Title: Evidence on the Effectiveness of Juvenile Court Sanctions.
Creator: Mears, Daniel P., Cochran, Joshua C., Greenman, Sarah J., Bhati, Avinash S., Greenwald, Mark A.
Abstract/Description: Purpose The past decade has been witness to a proliferation of calls for evidence-based juvenile court sanctions—including various programs, interventions, services, and strategies or approaches—that reduce recidivism and improve mental health, drug dependency, and education outcomes. At the same time, an emerging body of work has identified “proven,” “evidence-based,” “best practice,” or, more generally, “effective” efforts to achieve these outcomes. Even so, grounds for concern exist...
Show morePurpose The past decade has been witness to a proliferation of calls for evidence-based juvenile court sanctions—including various programs, interventions, services, and strategies or approaches—that reduce recidivism and improve mental health, drug dependency, and education outcomes. At the same time, an emerging body of work has identified “proven,” “evidence-based,” “best practice,” or, more generally, “effective” efforts to achieve these outcomes. Even so, grounds for concern exist regarding the evidence-base for these and other sanctions. Methods This paper describes the heterogeneity of sanctioning within juvenile justice and argues that, despite substantial advances in research, the heterogeneity severely delimits the generalizability of evaluations to date. It also raises questions about how much is in fact known about the effectiveness of many juvenile justice sanctions. Conclusion Extant research offers grounds for optimism. Even so, explicit articulation of the limitations of this research and the need for studies that examine external validity is important for developing evidence about “what works” in juvenile justice. Implications for research and policy are discussed.
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Date Issued: 2011-11-01
Identifier: FSU_libsubv1_scholarship_submission_1461945642, 10.1016/j.jcrimjus.2011.09.006
Format: Citation

Title: Examining the Direct and Interactive Effects of Changes in Racial and Ethnic Threat on Sentencing Decisions.
Creator: Wang, Xia, Mears, Daniel P.
Abstract/Description: Minority threat theory has been used to explain sentencing decisions, but rarely has the theory’s logic been assessed by examining changes in threat. Building on prior theoretical and empirical research, we develop hypotheses about the direct and interactive effects of changes in racial and ethnic threat on sentencing. We test the hypotheses using data from the Bureau of Justice Statistics’ State Court Processing Statistics program and other sources. The results indicate that increased racial...
Show moreMinority threat theory has been used to explain sentencing decisions, but rarely has the theory’s logic been assessed by examining changes in threat. Building on prior theoretical and empirical research, we develop hypotheses about the direct and interactive effects of changes in racial and ethnic threat on sentencing. We test the hypotheses using data from the Bureau of Justice Statistics’ State Court Processing Statistics program and other sources. The results indicate that increased racial threat contributes to a greater probability of receiving a prison sentence when baseline levels of threat are high. Less support is found for an effect of changes in ethnic threat. We find no support for arguments that minority threat effects are greater among minority defendants, but we do find support for the argument that threat effects are greater among violent and drug offenders. We discuss the implications of the findings for theory, research, and policy.
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Date Issued: 2010-10-12
Identifier: FSU_libsubv1_scholarship_submission_1464291602, 10.1177/0022427810375576
Format: Citation

Title: Explaining the Gender Gap in Delinquency: Moral Evaluations of Behavior and Peer Influence.
Creator: Mears, Daniel
Abstract/Description: Gender is one of the strongest correlates of delinquent behavior, but gender differences in delinquency have proven difficult to explain. Some analysts have called for gender-specific theories of delinquency, while others argue that males and females are differentially exposed to or differentially affected by the same criminogenic conditions. Building on the latter approach, this paper draws on Sutherland's theory of differential association and Gilligan's theory of moral development to argue...
Show moreGender is one of the strongest correlates of delinquent behavior, but gender differences in delinquency have proven difficult to explain. Some analysts have called for gender-specific theories of delinquency, while others argue that males and females are differentially exposed to or differentially affected by the same criminogenic conditions. Building on the latter approach, this paper draws on Sutherland's theory of differential association and Gilligan's theory of moral development to argue that males and females are differentially affected by exposure to delinquent peers. Analysis of data from the National Youth Survey supports the hypothesis that moral evaluations act as a barrier to reduce or counteract the influence of delinquent peers among females, thereby producing large observed sex differences in delinquent behavior.
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Date Issued: 1998
Identifier: FSU_libsubv1_scholarship_submission_1460062028
Format: Citation

Title: Exposure to Pre- and Perinatal Risk Factors Partially Explains Mean Differences in Self-Regulation between Races.
Creator: Barnes, J. C., Boutwell, Brian B., Miller, J. Mitchell, DeShay, Rashaan A., Beaver, Kevin M., White, Norman
Abstract/Description: Objectives To examine whether differential exposure to pre- and perinatal risk factors explained differences in levels of self-regulation between children of different races (White, Black, Hispanic, Asian, and Other). Methods Multiple regression models based on data from the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study, Birth Cohort (n approximate to 9,850) were used to analyze the impact of pre- and perinatal risk factors on the development of self-regulation at age 2 years. Results Racial differences...
Show moreObjectives To examine whether differential exposure to pre- and perinatal risk factors explained differences in levels of self-regulation between children of different races (White, Black, Hispanic, Asian, and Other). Methods Multiple regression models based on data from the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study, Birth Cohort (n approximate to 9,850) were used to analyze the impact of pre- and perinatal risk factors on the development of self-regulation at age 2 years. Results Racial differences in levels of self-regulation were observed. Racial differences were also observed for 9 of the 12 pre-/perinatal risk factors. Multiple regression analyses revealed that a portion of the racial differences in self-regulation was explained by differential exposure to several of the pre-/perinatal risk factors. Specifically, maternal age at childbirth, gestational timing, and the family's socioeconomic status were significantly related to the child's level of self-regulation. These factors accounted for a statistically significant portion of the racial differences observed in self-regulation. Conclusions The findings indicate racial differences in self-regulation may be, at least partially, explained by racial differences in exposure to pre- and perinatal risk factors.
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Date Issued: 2016-02-16
Identifier: FSU_libsubv1_wos_000371219000001, 10.1371/journal.pone.0141954
Format: Citation

Title: Findings from a Process Evaluation of a Statewide Residential Substance Abuse Treatment Program for Youthful Offenders.
Creator: Mears, Daniel P., Kelly, William R., Durden, Emily D.
Abstract/Description: Despite the critical importance of process evaluations to enhancing the efficiency and long-term effectiveness of chemical dependency treatment programs, attention to process-related dimensions of treatment programming has been largely neglected. Using data collected on youthful offenders with chemical dependency treatment needs in the Texas Youth Commission (TYC), this paper provides a systematic and empirical process evaluation of factors associated with successful program progress in TYC’s...
Show moreDespite the critical importance of process evaluations to enhancing the efficiency and long-term effectiveness of chemical dependency treatment programs, attention to process-related dimensions of treatment programming has been largely neglected. Using data collected on youthful offenders with chemical dependency treatment needs in the Texas Youth Commission (TYC), this paper provides a systematic and empirical process evaluation of factors associated with successful program progress in TYC’s Chemical Dependency Treatment Program (CDTP). Analyses focus on appropriate program placement and whether and to what extent risk, dynamic/criminogenic need, behavioral, and treatment amenability factors are related to several key measures of program progress, including completion/expulsion, days to completion/expulsion, and performance, as well as to variation among these outcomes across treatment sites. Policy and research implications of these analyses and of process evaluations then are discussed.
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Date Issued: 2001-01-01
Identifier: FSU_libsubv1_scholarship_submission_1460740223, 10.1177/0032885501081002006
Format: Citation

Title: Gender Differences in the Effects of Prison on Recidivism.
Creator: Mears, Daniel P., Cochran, Joshua C., Bales, William D.
Abstract/Description: Purpose This study examines gender differences in the effectiveness of prison in reducing recidivism. Methods Using data on released male and female prisoners, we apply a propensity score matching methodology to compare the effects of prison on recidivism versus three counterfactual conditions—jail, intensive probation, and probation. Results The analyses indicated that a prison term, as compared to placement on intensive probation or traditional probation, is associated with a greater...
Show morePurpose This study examines gender differences in the effectiveness of prison in reducing recidivism. Methods Using data on released male and female prisoners, we apply a propensity score matching methodology to compare the effects of prison on recidivism versus three counterfactual conditions—jail, intensive probation, and probation. Results The analyses indicated that a prison term, as compared to placement on intensive probation or traditional probation, is associated with a greater likelihood of property and drug recidivism. There was little evidence that recidivism was greater when compared to jail, that prison increased the likelihood of violent or other recidivism, or that the criminogenic effect of prison is appreciably greater for females or males. Conclusions The findings do not support arguments that prison is an effective alternative to non-incarcerative punishments or that it exerts a differential effect on females or males. Further research is needed on what features of the prison experience contribute to the observed effects.
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Date Issued: 2012-09-01
Identifier: FSU_libsubv1_scholarship_submission_1461942724, 10.1016/j.jcrimjus.2012.06.009
Format: Citation

Title: Getting Tough with Juvenile Offenders: Explaining Support for Sanctionig Youths as Adults.
Creator: Mears, Daniel P.
Abstract/Description: Despite recent “get tough” trends in juvenile justice, relatively little is known about support for sanctioning youths in adult courts. In response, this study examines several neglected explanatory factors, including links between marital status, political orientation, and philosophy of punishment. Analysis of data from the 1995 National Opinion Survey of Crime and Justice suggests that marital status and philosophy of punishment are consistently associated with support for adult sanctioning...
Show moreDespite recent “get tough” trends in juvenile justice, relatively little is known about support for sanctioning youths in adult courts. In response, this study examines several neglected explanatory factors, including links between marital status, political orientation, and philosophy of punishment. Analysis of data from the 1995 National Opinion Survey of Crime and Justice suggests that marital status and philosophy of punishment are consistently associated with support for adult sanctioning of youths when the offense involves any of three categories of offenses (selling illegal drugs or committing property or violent crime). It also suggests that marital status conditions the effect of philosophy of punishment, an effect itself conditioned by political orientation when the offense involves selling illegal drugs. Research and policy implications are discussed.
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Date Issued: 2001-01-01
Identifier: FSU_libsubv1_scholarship_submission_1460735204, 10.1177/0093854801028002004
Format: Citation

Title: Here and Gone: Anticipation and Separation Effects of Prison Visits on Inmate Infractions.
Creator: Siennick, Sonja E, Mears, Daniel P., Bales, William D.
Abstract/Description: Objectives: This study examines the effect of prison visitation on the probability of inmate misconduct. Method: Our sample is an admissions cohort of over 7,000 inmates admitted to Florida correctional facilities between 2000 and 2002. The authors conducted multilevel analyses of the week-to-week association between officially recorded disciplinary infractions and prison visits, including spousal, significant other, parental, relative, and friend visits. Results: The probability of an in...
Show moreObjectives: This study examines the effect of prison visitation on the probability of inmate misconduct. Method: Our sample is an admissions cohort of over 7,000 inmates admitted to Florida correctional facilities between 2000 and 2002. The authors conducted multilevel analyses of the week-to-week association between officially recorded disciplinary infractions and prison visits, including spousal, significant other, parental, relative, and friend visits. Results: The probability of an in-prison infraction declines in anticipation of visits, increases immediately following visits, and then gradually declines to average levels. This pattern is relatively consistent across visitors and infraction types but is strongest for spousal visits and contraband infractions. More frequent visits are associated with a more rapid postvisit decline. Conclusions: If visits reduce the pains of imprisonment or increase social control, then these effects may be too short-lived to create lasting improvements in the behavior of individuals while incarcerated. Future research should attempt to replicate and explain these findings and examine the longer term effects of visitation on inmate adjustment during and after incarceration.
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Date Issued: 2013-07-04
Identifier: FSU_libsubv1_scholarship_submission_1461874623, 10.1177/0022427812449470
Format: Citation

Title: Housing for the ‘Worst of the Worst’ Inmates: Public Support for Supermax Prisons..
Creator: Mears, Daniel P., Mancini, Christina, Beaver, Kevin M., Gertz, Marc
Abstract/Description: Despite concerns whether supermaximum security prisons violate human rights or prove effective, these facilities have proliferated in America over the past 25 years. This punishment—aimed at the “worst of the worst” inmates and involving 23-hr-per-day single-cell confinement with few privileges or services—has emerged despite little evidence that the public supports it. Based on public opinion survey data, this study identified the extent to which support exists for supermax prisons and so...
Show moreDespite concerns whether supermaximum security prisons violate human rights or prove effective, these facilities have proliferated in America over the past 25 years. This punishment—aimed at the “worst of the worst” inmates and involving 23-hr-per-day single-cell confinement with few privileges or services—has emerged despite little evidence that the public supports it. Based on public opinion survey data, this study identified the extent to which support exists for supermax prisons and so tested three interrelated hypotheses about variation in public views. The focal contention is that support can be linked to groups that are most concerned with symbolic threats, to those most embracing of a belief in individual agency, and to those who have had negative contacts with offenders. The article concludes with a discussion on implications for theory, research, and policy.
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Date Issued: 2013-05-27
Identifier: FSU_libsubv1_scholarship_submission_1460485737, 10.1177/0011128708330851
Format: Citation

Title: The Immigration and Crime Nexus: Toward an Analytical Framework For Assessing and Guiding Theory, Research, and Policy.
Creator: Mears, Daniel P.
Abstract/Description: If media accounts are to be believed, immigration to the United States is a primary cause of increased crime rates. Review of recent anti-crime policies targeting immigrants would lead one to the same conclusion. Yet, most empirical research suggests precisely the opposite conclusion: many immigrant groups consistently demonstrate significantly lower crime rates than that of native populations. Moreover, despite early sociological research focusing on the relationship between immigration and...
Show moreIf media accounts are to be believed, immigration to the United States is a primary cause of increased crime rates. Review of recent anti-crime policies targeting immigrants would lead one to the same conclusion. Yet, most empirical research suggests precisely the opposite conclusion: many immigrant groups consistently demonstrate significantly lower crime rates than that of native populations. Moreover, despite early sociological research focusing on the relationship between immigration and crime, relatively little attention has been given to a range of critical theoretical and methodological issues bearing on this relationship. Taking these observations as a point of departure, several critical theoretical and methodological issues are outlined to develop an analytical framework for more systematically guiding and assessing research on the immigration-crime nexus. It is concluded that such a framework is needed for developing improved theories and facts, as well as more efficient and effective policies.
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Date Issued: 2001-01-01
Identifier: FSU_libsubv1_scholarship_submission_1461004355, 10.1525/sop.2001.44.1.1
Format: Citation

Title: Immigration and Crime: What’s the Connection?.
Creator: Mears, Daniel P.
Date Issued: 2002-01-01
Identifier: FSU_libsubv1_scholarship_submission_1461165323, 10.1525/fsr.2002.14.5.284
Format: Citation

Title: Improving Criminal Justice through Better Decision Making: Lessons from the Medical System.
Creator: Mears, Daniel P., Bacon, Sarah
Abstract/Description: Against a backdrop of unprecedented growth in the criminal justice system stand calls for increased government accountability, yet substantial gaps between ideal and actual practice remain. Many observers have pointed to the problem and some of its causes and solutions, including the need for performance monitoring and evidence-based practices. Less attention has been paid to how decision-making errors influence effective criminal justice practice. This article draws on examples from medicine...
Show moreAgainst a backdrop of unprecedented growth in the criminal justice system stand calls for increased government accountability, yet substantial gaps between ideal and actual practice remain. Many observers have pointed to the problem and some of its causes and solutions, including the need for performance monitoring and evidence-based practices. Less attention has been paid to how decision-making errors influence effective criminal justice practice. This article draws on examples from medicine, where decision making has been examined in more depth, and applies them to criminal justice. Its goals are to identify the types of decision-making errors that can undermine effective practice and policy in the criminal justice system, illustrate how systemic factors influence everyday decision making, and draw attention to the benefits of decision making-focused monitoring and assessment. The article concludes by discussing the implications for performance monitoring and improving the criminal justice system.
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Date Issued: 2009-03-13
Identifier: FSU_libsubv1_scholarship_submission_1464805126, 10.1016/j.jcrimjus.2009.02.001
Format: Citation

Title: Incarceration Heterogeneity and its Implications for Assessing the Effectiveness of Imprisonment on Recidivism.
Creator: Mears, Daniel P., Cochran, Joshua C., Cullen, Francis T.
Abstract/Description: Mass incarceration has led to increased interest in understanding the effects of imprisonment. Reviews of criminological theory and research report mixed evidence that incarceration reduces recidivism; indeed, some studies report criminogenic effects. We argue that a better understanding of the heterogeneity of incarceration—including the types and sequences of sanctions and experiences that occur before, during, and after imprisonment—and of incarceration effects among different groups is...
Show moreMass incarceration has led to increased interest in understanding the effects of imprisonment. Reviews of criminological theory and research report mixed evidence that incarceration reduces recidivism; indeed, some studies report criminogenic effects. We argue that a better understanding of the heterogeneity of incarceration—including the types and sequences of sanctions and experiences that occur before, during, and after imprisonment—and of incarceration effects among different groups is important for two reasons. First, it can assist with assessing the salience of prior research on the effects of incarceration on recidivism. Second, it serves to identify conceptual and methodological challenges that must be addressed to provide credible assessments of incarceration effects. The paper argues that incarceration likely exerts a variable effect depending on the nature of the prison experience, the counterfactual conditions, including prior sanction history, and the specific populations subject to imprisonment. Implications for theory, research, and policy are discussed.
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Date Issued: 2015-08-15
Identifier: FSU_libsubv1_scholarship_submission_1459949920, 10.1177/0887403414528950
Format: Citation

Title: Incidence Of Diabetes Mellitus And Obesity And The Overlap Of Comorbidities In Hiv Plus Hispanics Initiating Antiretroviral Therapy.
Creator: Gomes, Angelina, Reyes, Emily V., Garduno, L. Sergio, Rojas, Rita, Mir Mesejo, Geraldine, Del Rosario, Eliza, Jose, Lina, Javier, Carmen, Vaughan, Catherine, Donastorg, Yeycy,...
Show moreGomes, Angelina, Reyes, Emily V., Garduno, L. Sergio, Rojas, Rita, Mir Mesejo, Geraldine, Del Rosario, Eliza, Jose, Lina, Javier, Carmen, Vaughan, Catherine, Donastorg, Yeycy, Hammer, Scott, Brudney, Karen, Taylor, Barbara S.
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Abstract/Description: Background Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a leading health threat for HIV+ patients on antiretroviral therapy (ART); cardiometabolic comorbidities are key predictors of risk. Data are limited on incidence of metabolic comorbidities in HIV+ individuals initiating ART in low and middle income countries (LMICs), particularly for Hispanics. We examined incidence of diabetes and obesity in a prospective cohort of those initiating ART in the Dominican Republic. Methods Participants >= 18 years,...
Show moreBackground Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a leading health threat for HIV+ patients on antiretroviral therapy (ART); cardiometabolic comorbidities are key predictors of risk. Data are limited on incidence of metabolic comorbidities in HIV+ individuals initiating ART in low and middle income countries (LMICs), particularly for Hispanics. We examined incidence of diabetes and obesity in a prospective cohort of those initiating ART in the Dominican Republic. Methods Participants >= 18 years, initiating ART <90 days prior to study enrollment, were examined for incidence of impaired fasting glucose (IFG), diabetes mellitus (DM), overweight, and obesity. Fasting plasma glucose (FPG) 100-125mg/dl defined IFG; FPG >= 126 mg/dl, diagnosis per medical record, or use of hypoglycemic medication defined DM. Overweight and obesity were BMI 25-30 and >= 30kg/m2, respectively. Dyslipidemia was total cholesterol >= 240mg/dl or use of lipid-lowering medication. Framingham risk equation was used to determine ten-year CVD risk at the end of observation. Results Of 153 initiating ART, 8 (6%) had DM and 23 (16%) had IFG at baseline, 6 developed DM (28/1000 person-years follow up [PYFU]) and 46 developed IFG (329/1000 PYFU). At baseline, 24 (18%) were obese and 36 (27%) were overweight, 15 became obese (69/1000 PYFU) and 22 became overweight (163/1000 PYFU). Median observation periods for the diabetes and obesity analyses were 23.5 months and 24.3 months, respectively. Increased CVD risk (>= 10% 10-year Framingham risk score) was present for 13% of the cohort; 79% of the cohort had >= 1 cardiometabolic comorbidity, 48% had >= 2, and 13% had all three. Conclusions In this Hispanic cohort in an LMIC, incidences of IFG/DM and overweight/obesity were similar to or higher than that found in high income countries, and cardiometabolic disorders affected three-quarters of those initiating ART. Care models incorporating cardiovascular risk reduction into HIV treatment programs are needed to prevent CVD-associated mortality in this vulnerable population.
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Date Issued: 2016-08-10
Identifier: FSU_libsubv1_wos_000381380400055, 10.1371/journal.pone.0160797
Format: Citation

Title: Interracial Contact and Fear of Crime.
Creator: Mears, Daniel P., Stewart, Eric A.
Abstract/Description: Despite a large literature on public views about crime, the racialization of crime, and the contact hypothesis, surprisingly little is known about how interracial friendships may influence Whites’ fear of crime. At the same time, and perhaps because no counterpart stereotype to that of “Blacks as criminals” exists, there has been little exploration of how such contact may influence Blacks’ fear of crime. To address these research gaps, this study built on prior theory and research and used...
Show moreDespite a large literature on public views about crime, the racialization of crime, and the contact hypothesis, surprisingly little is known about how interracial friendships may influence Whites’ fear of crime. At the same time, and perhaps because no counterpart stereotype to that of “Blacks as criminals” exists, there has been little exploration of how such contact may influence Blacks’ fear of crime. To address these research gaps, this study built on prior theory and research and used data from an ABC News and Washington Post poll to test competing hypotheses about the effect of interracial contact on Whites’ and Blacks’ fear of crime, respectively. The analyses revealed that close interracial friendships are associated with increased fear of crime among Whites, decreased fear of crime among lower-income Blacks, and increased fear among higher-income Blacks. The implications for theory and research are discussed.
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Date Issued: 2010-01-01
Identifier: FSU_libsubv1_scholarship_submission_1464279389, 10.1016/j.jcrimjus.2009.11.005
Format: Citation

Title: It Varies from State to State: An Examination of Sex Crime Laws Nationally.
Creator: Mancini, Christina, Barnes, J. C., Mears, Daniel P.
Abstract/Description: Sex crime laws seemingly have proliferated recently as part of a national “get tough” shift in criminal justice policy. However, to date, there exists no systematic account of these state-level legislative changes. Accordingly, the “tough on sex crime” characterization of states may be understated or incorrect. It may also gloss over variability in the types of laws enacted and the implications such variability has for the generalizability of assessments of these laws. Drawing on an analysis...
Show moreSex crime laws seemingly have proliferated recently as part of a national “get tough” shift in criminal justice policy. However, to date, there exists no systematic account of these state-level legislative changes. Accordingly, the “tough on sex crime” characterization of states may be understated or incorrect. It may also gloss over variability in the types of laws enacted and the implications such variability has for the generalizability of assessments of these laws. Drawing on an analysis of state laws, we identify considerable variation in the type, intensity, and design of sex crime laws among states. Results suggest that not all states have uniformly embraced these reforms, that considerable caution is warranted when generalizing from evaluations of particular laws, and that the continuing expansion of sex crime policy making will make it increasingly difficult, especially in the absence of a commensurate body of empirical research, to identify the effects of specific policies.
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Date Issued: 2013-02-08
Identifier: FSU_libsubv1_scholarship_submission_1461856632, 10.1177/0887403411424079
Format: Citation

Title: Linking Process and Outcomes in Evaluating a Statewide Drug Treatment Program for Youthful Offenders.
Creator: Mears, Daniel P., Kelly, William R.
Abstract/Description: Considerable attention recently has been given to the principles of effective intervention and their importance for reducing recidivism. By contrast, much less attention has been given to youth performance while in treatment or to program implementation, yet both are critical factors that also can affect recidivism. Using data on youthful offenders in the Texas Youth Commission (TYC), we examine rearrest patterns for youths in TYC’s Chemical Dependency Treatment Program (CDTP). Analyses focus...
Show moreConsiderable attention recently has been given to the principles of effective intervention and their importance for reducing recidivism. By contrast, much less attention has been given to youth performance while in treatment or to program implementation, yet both are critical factors that also can affect recidivism. Using data on youthful offenders in the Texas Youth Commission (TYC), we examine rearrest patterns for youths in TYC’s Chemical Dependency Treatment Program (CDTP). Analyses focus on treatment performance and program implementation and their impact on rearrest, net of demographic, risk, and need factors. Policy and research implications of these analyses are discussed.
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Date Issued: 2002-01-01
Identifier: FSU_libsubv1_scholarship_submission_1461160273, 10.1177/001112870204800104
Format: Citation

Title: A Multilevel Test of Minority Threat Effects on Sentencing.
Creator: Wang, Xia, Mears, Daniel P.
Abstract/Description: Prior studies of criminal sanctioning have focused almost exclusively on individual-level predictors of sentencing outcomes. However, in recent years, scholars have begun to include social context in their research. Building off of this work—and heeding calls for testing the racial and ethnic minority threat perspective within a multilevel framework and for separating prison and jail sentences as distinct outcomes—this paper examines different dimensions of minority threat and explores...
Show morePrior studies of criminal sanctioning have focused almost exclusively on individual-level predictors of sentencing outcomes. However, in recent years, scholars have begun to include social context in their research. Building off of this work—and heeding calls for testing the racial and ethnic minority threat perspective within a multilevel framework and for separating prison and jail sentences as distinct outcomes—this paper examines different dimensions of minority threat and explores whether they exert differential effects on prison versus jail sentences. The findings provide support for the racial threat perspective, and less support for the ethnic threat perspective. They also underscore the importance of testing for non-linear threat effects and for separating jail and prison sentences as distinct outcomes. We discuss the findings and their implications for theory, research, and policy.
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Date Issued: 2010-06-01
Identifier: FSU_libsubv1_scholarship_submission_1464291008, 10.1007/s10940-009-9076-8
Format: Citation

Title: Offending and Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Criminal Justice: A Conceptual Framework for Guiding Theory and Research and Informing Policy.
Creator: Mears, Daniel P., Cochran, Joshua C., Lindsey, Andrea M.
Abstract/Description: Scholars and policy makers have expressed concern that observed minority differences in processing (e.g., arrest, detention, conviction) and sentencing stem not from the legal merits of cases but rather from intentional or unintentional discrimination. An additional concern is that there may be disparities in society that lead to offending differences among racial and ethnic groups, and that these differences may be amplified by disparities that minorities experience in and through the...
Show moreScholars and policy makers have expressed concern that observed minority differences in processing (e.g., arrest, detention, conviction) and sentencing stem not from the legal merits of cases but rather from intentional or unintentional discrimination. An additional concern is that there may be disparities in society that lead to offending differences among racial and ethnic groups, and that these differences may be amplified by disparities that minorities experience in and through the criminal justice system. In this article, we identify the dimensions along which information is needed to document minority disparities in criminal justice processing and sanctioning and to guide interventions to reduce them. We conclude that research to date has not systematically documented the true prevalence of minority disparities in criminal justice processing or sanctioning or the causes of them. We then argue that social structural disparities faced by minorities warrant comparable attention to that given to criminal justice disparities. Documentation of these disparities and their causes will be necessary to shed light on the exercise of formal social control. It also can contribute to efforts to understand offending and how most effectively to reduce crime and unfair sanctioning.
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Date Issued: 2016-02-01
Identifier: FSU_libsubv1_scholarship_submission_1459442017, 10.1177/1043986215607252
Format: Citation

Title: Practitioner Views of Priorities, Policies, and Practices in Juvenile Justice.
Creator: Mears, Daniel P., Shollenberger, Tracey L., Willison, Janeen B., Owens, Colleen E., Butts, Jeffrey A.
Abstract/Description: Dramatic changes in juvenile justice have occurred in recent decades. One result has been the emergence of new policies and practices, many of which remain largely unexamined. One avenue for gaining insight into whether such policies and practices are needed or effective, as well as into how the juvenile justice system might be improved, is to tap into the perceptions of people who work within this system. Drawing on a national survey of juvenile court practitioners, the authors investigate...
Show moreDramatic changes in juvenile justice have occurred in recent decades. One result has been the emergence of new policies and practices, many of which remain largely unexamined. One avenue for gaining insight into whether such policies and practices are needed or effective, as well as into how the juvenile justice system might be improved, is to tap into the perceptions of people who work within this system. Drawing on a national survey of juvenile court practitioners, the authors investigate key questions about the effectiveness of juvenile justice and discuss the implications of the study’s findings for research, policy, and practice.
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Date Issued: 2010-08-26
Identifier: FSU_libsubv1_scholarship_submission_1464278925, 10.1177/0011128708324664
Format: Citation

Title: The Prison Experience: Introduction to the Special Issue.
Creator: Mears, Daniel P.
Date Issued: 2012-09-01
Identifier: FSU_libsubv1_scholarship_submission_1461942019, 10.1016/j.jcrimjus.2012.05.006
Format: Citation

Title: Prison Visitation and Recidivism.
Creator: Mears, Daniel P., Cochran, Joshua C., Siennick, Sonja E., Bales, William D.
Abstract/Description: Scholars and policymakers have called for greater attention to understanding the causes of and solutions to improved prisoner reentry outcomes, resulting in renewed attention to a factor—prison visitation—long believed to reduce recidivism. However, despite the theoretical arguments advanced on its behalf and increased calls for evidence-based policy, there remains little credible empirical research on whether a beneficial relationship between visitation and recidivism in fact exists. Against...
Show moreScholars and policymakers have called for greater attention to understanding the causes of and solutions to improved prisoner reentry outcomes, resulting in renewed attention to a factor—prison visitation—long believed to reduce recidivism. However, despite the theoretical arguments advanced on its behalf and increased calls for evidence-based policy, there remains little credible empirical research on whether a beneficial relationship between visitation and recidivism in fact exists. Against that backdrop, this study employs propensity score matching analyses to examine whether visitation of various types and in varying amounts, or “doses,” is in fact negatively associated with recidivism outcomes among a cohort of released prisoners. The analyses suggest that visitation has a small to modest effect in reducing recidivism of all types, especially property offending, and that the effects may be most pronounced for spouse or significant other visitation. We discuss the implications of the findings for research and policy.
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Date Issued: 2012-12-01
Identifier: FSU_libsubv1_scholarship_submission_1461944713, 10.1080/07418825.2011.583932
Format: Citation

Title: Prison-Based Programming: Why It’s Needed and What It Can Do.
Creator: Mears, Daniel P., Lawrence, Sarah, Soloman, Amy L., Waul, Michelle
Date Issued: 2002-01-01
Identifier: FSU_libsubv1_scholarship_submission_1461241862
Format: Citation

Title: Prisoner Reentry, Employment, Signaling, and the Better Identification of Desisters: Introduction to the Special Issue.
Creator: Mears, Daniel P., Mestre, Julie
Date Issued: 2012-02-01
Identifier: FSU_libsubv1_scholarship_submission_1461945251, 10.1111/j.1745-9133.2012.00784.x
Format: Citation

Title: Public (Mis)Understanding of Crime Policy: The Effects of Criminal Justice Experience and Media Reliance.
Creator: Pickett, Justin T., Mancini, Christina, Mears, Daniel P., Gertz, Marc
Abstract/Description: Scholars attribute the public’s low level of knowledge about sentencing and corrections to its lack of extensive criminal justice experience and consequent reliance on the media for justice-related information. However, scant research exists that evaluates how criminal justice experience affects media consumption, or how such consumption may influence knowledge about sentencing laws or the extent of imprisonment. To extend this literature, we develop and test three hypotheses about the...
Show moreScholars attribute the public’s low level of knowledge about sentencing and corrections to its lack of extensive criminal justice experience and consequent reliance on the media for justice-related information. However, scant research exists that evaluates how criminal justice experience affects media consumption, or how such consumption may influence knowledge about sentencing laws or the extent of imprisonment. To extend this literature, we develop and test three hypotheses about the relationships between prior criminal justice experience, reliance on the mass media for information about crime and justice, and knowledge about criminal punishment. Analysis of data from a random telephone survey of 1,308 adult Floridians reveals that individuals with prior criminal justice experience are less likely to rely on the media for crime-related information. The evidence also shows that media reliance is associated with lower levels of knowledge about criminal punishment, and that this effect is particularly strong for female respondents.
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Date Issued: 2015-06-25
Identifier: FSU_libsubv1_scholarship_submission_1459521915, 10.1177/0887403414526228
Format: Citation

Title: Race, Ethnic, and Gender Divides in Juvenile Court Sanctioning and Rehabilitative Intervention.
Creator: Cochran, Joshua C., Mears, Daniel P.
Abstract/Description: Objectives: Drawing on focal concerns theory, as well as scholarship on the juvenile court’s mandate to consider youth culpability and amenability to treatment, we develop hypotheses that seek to examine whether the court will (1) punish Whites less severely and (2) be more likely to intervene with Whites through rehabilitative intervention and, simultaneously, be more punitive and less rehabilitative with minorities, and, in particular, Black males. Method: Florida juvenile court referral...
Show moreObjectives: Drawing on focal concerns theory, as well as scholarship on the juvenile court’s mandate to consider youth culpability and amenability to treatment, we develop hypotheses that seek to examine whether the court will (1) punish Whites less severely and (2) be more likely to intervene with Whites through rehabilitative intervention and, simultaneously, be more punitive and less rehabilitative with minorities, and, in particular, Black males. Method: Florida juvenile court referral data and multinomial logistic regression analyses are used to examine multicategory disposition and “subdisposition” measures. Results: Findings suggest that minority youth, especially Black males, are not only more likely to receive punitive sanctions, they also are less likely than White youth to receive rehabilitative interventions and instead experience significantly higher rates of dismissals. The analyses indicate that similar racial and ethnic disparities emerge when “subdispositions”—specifically, placement options within diversion and probation—are examined. Conclusions: The results underscore the salience of race, ethnicity, and gender in juvenile court decisions about punitive sanctioning and rehabilitative intervention, as well as the importance of employing multicategory disposition measures that better reflect the range of sanctioning and intervention options available to the court.
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Date Issued: 2015-02-04
Identifier: FSU_libsubv1_scholarship_submission_1459951089, 10.1177/0022427814560574
Format: Citation

Title: Race-Specific Employment Contexts and Recidivism.
Creator: Wang, Xia, Mears, Daniel P., Bales, William D.
Abstract/Description: Although much literature has examined macrolevel employment contexts and crime rates and, at the individual level, employment and offending, few studies have examined systematically whether macrolevel employment contexts influence individual-level offending. At the same time, emerging literature on prisoner reentry increasingly underscores the potential importance of the social environment for impeding or facilitating successful transitions back into society. All three avenues of inquiry have...
Show moreAlthough much literature has examined macrolevel employment contexts and crime rates and, at the individual level, employment and offending, few studies have examined systematically whether macrolevel employment contexts influence individual-level offending. At the same time, emerging literature on prisoner reentry increasingly underscores the potential importance of the social environment for impeding or facilitating successful transitions back into society. All three avenues of inquiry have emphasized the salience of race-specific and offense-specific effects. This study extends prior work on ecology and offending, employment and crime, and prisoner reentry by examining the race-specific effects of unemployment rates and manufacturing employment rates on violent, property, and drug recidivism. By analyzing data on male ex-prisoners released to 67 counties in Florida, we found, as hypothesized, that Black ex-prisoners released to areas with higher Black male unemployment rates have a greater likelihood of violent recidivism. No comparable effect was identified for White exprisoners. However, we found that White ex-prisoners, especially those without prior violent convictions, have a lower likelihood of violent recidivism when released to areas with higher White male manufacturing employment rates. We discuss the findings and their implications for theory, research, and policy.
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Date Issued: 2010-11-28
Identifier: FSU_libsubv1_scholarship_submission_1464292218, 10.1111/j.1745-9125.2010.00215.x
Format: Citation

Title: Reducing Domestic Violence Revictimization: The Effects of Individual and Contextual Factors and Type of Legal Intervention.
Creator: Mears, Daniel P., Carlson, Matthew J., Holden, George W., Harris, Susan D.
Abstract/Description: This paper examines the role of individual and contextual factors and legal interventions in reducing time to domestic violence revictimization. Drawing on current theory and research, hypotheses are deduced about the effects of these factors. Cox regression and survival analyses are employed to test the hypotheses using court, police, and census data from an urban jurisdiction in Texas. Prior drug use, race/ethnicity, and community-level income were associated with time to revictimization....
Show moreThis paper examines the role of individual and contextual factors and legal interventions in reducing time to domestic violence revictimization. Drawing on current theory and research, hypotheses are deduced about the effects of these factors. Cox regression and survival analyses are employed to test the hypotheses using court, police, and census data from an urban jurisdiction in Texas. Prior drug use, race/ethnicity, and community-level income were associated with time to revictimization. However, there was little evidence either of interactive effects between race/ethnicity and community-level income or of differential effects of each of three types of legal interventions. Implications for theory, research, and domestic violence interventions are discussed.
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Date Issued: 2001-01-01
Identifier: FSU_libsubv1_scholarship_submission_1460735767, 10.1177/088626001016012003
Format: Citation

Title: Research and Interventions to Reduce Domestic Violence Revictimization.
Creator: Mears, Daniel P.
Abstract/Description: Despite decades of research on domestic violence, considerable challenges must be addressed to develop sound, theoretically and empirically-based interventions for reducing domestic violence revictimization. Many basic and applied research issues remain unaddressed by existing studies, and evaluations frequently do not sufficiently highlight their limitations or program or policy implications. Nonetheless, considerable progress has been made, and practitioners and policymakers increasingly...
Show moreDespite decades of research on domestic violence, considerable challenges must be addressed to develop sound, theoretically and empirically-based interventions for reducing domestic violence revictimization. Many basic and applied research issues remain unaddressed by existing studies, and evaluations frequently do not sufficiently highlight their limitations or program or policy implications. Nonetheless, considerable progress has been made, and practitioners and policymakers increasingly have a wide range of promising interventions from which to select. This paper reviews research on domestic violence and focuses particular attention on interventions aimed at reducing revictimization among individuals known to have been abused. It also provides a conceptual framework for practitioners and policymakers to situate existing evaluation research, and highlights the need for better data to understand and assess efforts to reduce domestic violence revictimization. The author concludes by discussing directions for future research and recommendations for practice and policy.
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Date Issued: 2002-01-01
Identifier: FSU_libsubv1_scholarship_submission_1461348349, 10.1177/1524838002250764
Format: Citation

Title: Reviving Juvenile Justice in a Get-Tough Era.
Creator: Mears, Daniel E, Butts, Jeffrey A
Abstract/Description: State and local jurisdictions throughout the United States enacted a wide array of new juvenile justice policies in recent years. Many of these policies were intended to make the juvenile justice system tougher, but others improved prevention, increased rehabilitation, and enhanced the restorative features of the juvenile justice system. This paper describes the most prominent new ideas in juvenile justice and addresses a question usually asked by policymakers: “What works?” It suggests that...
Show moreState and local jurisdictions throughout the United States enacted a wide array of new juvenile justice policies in recent years. Many of these policies were intended to make the juvenile justice system tougher, but others improved prevention, increased rehabilitation, and enhanced the restorative features of the juvenile justice system. This paper describes the most prominent new ideas in juvenile justice and addresses a question usually asked by policymakers: “What works?” It suggests that a new generation of innovative programs might revive the spirit of American juvenile justice.
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Date Issued: 2001-01-01
Identifier: FSU_libsubv1_scholarship_submission_1460731815, 10.1177/0044118X01033002003
Format: Citation

Title: The Role of Information in Changing Offender Behavior, Criminal Justice System Actions, and Policy Maker Decisions.
Creator: Mears, Daniel P.
Date Issued: 2014-08-01
Identifier: FSU_libsubv1_scholarship_submission_1460379082, 10.1111/1745-9133.12102
Format: Citation

Title: The Role of Research and Researchers in Crime and Justice Policy.
Creator: Mears, Daniel P.
Date Issued: 2010-10-06
Identifier: FSU_libsubv1_scholarship_submission_1464276645, 10.1111/j.1745-9133.2010.00671.x
Format: Citation

Title: Security at the Expense of Liberty: A Test of Predictions Deriving From the Culture of Control Thesi.
Creator: Pickett, Justin T., Mears, Daniel P., Stewart, Eric A., Gertz, Marc
Abstract/Description: In The Culture of Control: Crime and Social Order in Contemporary Society, David Garland linked contemporary crime control policies and welfare reforms to a cultural formation that he termed the “crime complex of late modernity.” According to Garland, once established, the crime complex exerts a contemporaneous effect on public views about both criminal justice and the welfare state, increasing popular support for security measures as well as more restrictive public assistance policies....
Show moreIn The Culture of Control: Crime and Social Order in Contemporary Society, David Garland linked contemporary crime control policies and welfare reforms to a cultural formation that he termed the “crime complex of late modernity.” According to Garland, once established, the crime complex exerts a contemporaneous effect on public views about both criminal justice and the welfare state, increasing popular support for security measures as well as more restrictive public assistance policies. Although Garland’s thesis has featured prominently in scholarship on crime and punishment, few empirical studies have tested the specific predictions that underlie his arguments. To address this research gap, this study uses public opinion data to assess the extent to which key dimensions of the crime complex are associated with public views about criminal justice policies and welfare reforms that emphasize security and control. The results support several of the theoretical underpinnings of Garland’s thesis. The authors discuss the implications of the findings for theory, research, and policy.
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Date Issued: 2013-02-25
Identifier: FSU_libsubv1_scholarship_submission_1461874016, 10.1177/0011128712461612
Format: Citation

Title: Self-Control Theory and Nonlinear Effects on Offending.
Creator: Mears, Daniel P., Cochran, Joshua C., Beaver, Kevin M.
Abstract/Description: Objectives This paper examines Gottfredson and Hirschi’s (A general theory of crime. Stanford University Press, Stanford, 1990) self-control theory and develops theoretical arguments for why self-control may have a differential effect on offending depending on the level of self-control. Methods We test the argument that the association between self-control and violent offending (n = 5,681) and non-violent offending (5,672) is nonlinear by using generalized propensity score analyses of data...
Show moreObjectives This paper examines Gottfredson and Hirschi’s (A general theory of crime. Stanford University Press, Stanford, 1990) self-control theory and develops theoretical arguments for why self-control may have a differential effect on offending depending on the level of self-control. Methods We test the argument that the association between self-control and violent offending (n = 5,681) and non-violent offending (5,672) is nonlinear by using generalized propensity score analyses of data from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health. Results The results indicate that self-control and offending are nonlinearly related in a manner that involves two thresholds. Specifically, among individuals at the high end of the self-control spectrum, there was little evidence of an association between variation in self-control and offending. However, among individuals in the middle part of the self-control spectrum, a positive association obtained—that is, the greater the level of low self-control, the greater the likelihood of offending. Finally, among individuals at the low end of the self-control spectrum, there was, once again, little evidence of an association. Conclusions A nonlinear association between self-control and offending may exist and have implications for self-control theory and tests of it. Studies are needed to investigate further the possibility of a nonlinear association and to test empirically the mechanisms that give rise to it.
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Date Issued: 2013-09-01
Identifier: FSU_libsubv1_scholarship_submission_1460485157, 10.1007/s10940-012-9187-5
Format: Citation

Title: Sentencing and State-Level Racial and Ethnic Contexts.
Creator: Wang, Xia, Mears, Daniel P.
Abstract/Description: Sentencing studies have incorporated social context in studying sentencing decisions, but to date the bulk of prior work has focused almost exclusively on county context. An unresolved question is whether there also may be state-level effects on sentencing. Drawing from the minority threat perspective, we examine (1) whether state-level racial and ethnic contexts affect sentencing, (2) whether this effect amplifies the effect of county-level racial and ethnic contexts on sentencing, and (3)...
Show moreSentencing studies have incorporated social context in studying sentencing decisions, but to date the bulk of prior work has focused almost exclusively on county context. An unresolved question is whether there also may be state-level effects on sentencing. Drawing from the minority threat perspective, we examine (1) whether state-level racial and ethnic contexts affect sentencing, (2) whether this effect amplifies the effect of county-level racial and ethnic contexts on sentencing, and (3) whether the interaction of county-level and state-level contextual effects is greater for minorities than for whites. Analysis of State Court Processing Statistics and other data indicates that state-level racial and ethnic contexts are associated with sentencing outcomes and that this effect may differ by outcome (e.g., incarceration versus sentence length) and by type of context (e.g., racial or ethnic). The study's findings and their implications are discussed.
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Date Issued: 2015-12-01
Identifier: FSU_libsubv1_scholarship_submission_1459518881, 10.1111/lasr.12164
Format: Citation

College of Criminology and Criminal Justice (75)	+ -
Department of Behavioral Sciences and Social Medicine (1)	+ -
University Libraries (1)	+ -

Crime (1)	+ -
Criminology (1)	+ -
Demography (1)	+ -
Deviant behavior (1)	+ -
Ecology (1)	+ -

Law (1)	+ -
Population (1)	+ -
Social control (1)	+ -
Study and teaching (1)	+ -

text (75)	+ -
journal article (1)	+ -

Mears, Daniel P. (68)	+ -
Cochran, Joshua C. (14)	+ -
Bales, William D. (12)	+ -
Mancini, Christina (11)	+ -
Stewart, Eric A. (6)	+ -

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