Criminal Justice & Political Science Masters Theses

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An Exploratory Study of the Perceptions of Effectiveness for Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Training for Law Enforcement
(North Dakota State University, 2022) Harmon, Natalie
This study is designed to explore a possible solution to a variety of the current issues in the law enforcement field. The purpose of this study is to assess the views through purposive sampling of ten key informants in the Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and law enforcement field on the potential impact that routine Jiu Jitsu style training for officers would have. The current study outlines personal experiences for officers with prior Jiu Jitsu style training. This assessment also discusses the key informant's thoughts on benefits, limitations, and recommendations of the theoretical implementation of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu training for law enforcement officers. Overall, each participant provided a unique perspective through the series of twelve questions. There was unanimous support for the idea with the central themes of ‘adding another tool’ for officers to use and increasing officer confidence.
An Outcome Evaluation of Centre Incorporated’s Responsive Risk Reduction for Women Program
(North Dakota State University, 2022) Ursino, John
Research on gender-responsive correctional programming has yielded mixed results. Contemporary literature proposes practices aimed at increasing the efficacy of gender-responsive programming. Prior research has highlighted differential characteristics between female and male offenders, leading some scholars to suggest that correctional programming that is constructed to respond to needs and risks that disproportionately affect female offenders is needed to address the growing female incarcerated population. The current study seeks to expand upon the literature of such programs by conducting an outcome evaluation of a gender-responsive community-corrections program in Fargo, North Dakota that serves biological female offenders. The study provides contextual information about the current issue, reviews the literature regarding the current state of the incarcerated female population, and discusses the theoretical bases for gender-responsive programming. The study then provides an overview of the methods used for the outcome evaluation and discusses the findings and possible implications of the study.
Exploratory Analysis of Mass Shooting Offenders in U.S. Journalism
(North Dakota State University, 2022) Davis, Dominic
Mass shootings are commonplace in media. The media reports as to why the events happened, often within days or hours. These reasons attributed often lead to political debates on how to deter future mass casualty events. The portrayal by the media is important because their perceptions influence the perceptions of their audience. As of beginning this thesis, there is a lack of research utilizing qualitative analysis to analyze the offender reports using large datasets from the media. This thesis is an exploratory analysis and examines the number of times the offender's name is mentioned to determine whether there are sufficient conditions for the copycat effect. This thesis also explores the attributed wording used in the media articles of mass shooting offenders within the initial 30 days of the shooting. Finally, coverage between the newspapers and events is discussed as well to explore whether certain shootings were provided significantly more coverage.
Differences in DUI Punishments and Recidivism Between Transfers Among Municipal and District Court
(North Dakota State University, 2021) Menke, Alexander
The relationship between court transfers and punishment differences, as well as changes in recidivism, have been seldomly researched. This paper adds to the body of research by comparing punishments from DUI cases heard in municipal court and DUI cases heard in district court. The differences in recidivism between the defendants whose cases were heard in municipal and district court are also compared. A systematic sample of DUI offenders from Fargo and West Fargo, North Dakota make up the experimental and control groups. The 511 non-transfer cases are analyzed against the 402 transfer cases using crosstabulations and logistic regression techniques. The results of the analyses suggest mild support for transferring to district court and no support for any change in recidivism. Specific details of the results are discussed below, as well as the limitations of the study.
A Revalidation of the Level of Service Inventory–Revised (LSI-R)
(North Dakota State University, 2020) Towers, Crystal Murani
In the United States, the large number of incarcerated individuals presents heavy social and economic burdens. To lessen these strains, many criminal justice agencies utilize risk assessment to determine which individuals are at a higher risk of recidivating and allocate limited intervention resources accordingly. To ensure these interventions are being delivered to those persons most in need, these risk assessment instruments must be tested for predictive validity. The present research seeks to revalidate one such risk assessment tool, the Level of Service Inventory Revised (LSI-R), on an adult offender population of a Midwest state. Additionally, this research expands on previous LSI-R validation studies by assessing the predictive validity of the LSI-R on an understudied population, Native Americans. The analyses utilized in this research include univariate descriptive statistics, bivariate correlation, and Receiver Operator Characteristic/Area Under the Curve analysis. Results are presented. Policy implications and recommendations for future research are discussed.
Characteristics of Child Pornographers Under Federal Supervision in the State of North Dakota
(North Dakota State University, 2020) Doerr, Mandy Lee
Currently, it is estimated that there are over 45 million child pornographic images and videos on the internet. The purpose of the current study is to record the characteristics of those convicted of accessing, distributing, and/or producing child pornography in the State of North Dakota. To examine this phenomenon, the District of North Dakota Federal Probation and Pretrial Supervision Service records have been disseminated. Overall, the results indicate that child pornographers in North Dakota mirror those around the globe. In addition, the sample of child pornographers was compared to other sexual offenders and general offenders through bivariate analyses. There were statistically significant differences found between both groups.
The Effects of the DUI 24/7 Program in Cass County, North Dakota
(North Dakota State University, 2019) Berge, Christine Marie
This study presents the results of an evaluation of the 24/7 Sobriety Program in Cass County, North Dakota, looking specifically at participants’ likelihood of receiving a conviction of Driving Under the Influence (DUI) both during and after exiting the program. Data was collected of participants who have been enrolled in the program from the start of the program in 2010 through 2018 and matched to public criminal records searches of each participant. Several analyses were run to determine whether substance choice (alcohol vs. drugs), gender (male vs. female), and duration in program influence a participant’s likelihood to recidivate. Findings for each measure are presented including potential changes that could be made, as well as, limitations of the study.
Formal and Informal Labeling Effects on Later Self-Reported Non-Violent and Violent Delinquency
(North Dakota State University, 2011) Mitchell, Meghan Marie
This research examines the impact of formal and informal labeling on self-reported violent and non-violent delinquency. This longitudinal research design utilizes cohort 15 from the Project on Human Development in Chicago Neighborhoods (PHDCN) at two different points in time. This research not only evaluates the effect of formal labeling (arrest) but also determines the effect of informal labeling (warning and releasing) by police officers. Specifically, the hypotheses assess if labeling affects minority youth differently than white youth. Using nested ordinary least square re and logistic regression models, the results indicate that labeling only operates in simple models containing few variables. The apparent effects of labeling on non-violent delinquency are accounted for in the complete model by previous delinquent behavior, living in a two-parented home, and having a parent with a criminal record. Moreover, the apparent effects of labeling are diminished in the complete model predicting violent delinquency once controlling for the effects of race (Black), gender (male), lower income level, and having a parent with a criminal record.
Juvenile Perceptions of the Police and Police Services
(North Dakota State University, 2011) Sanden, Michael Brian
This study examined the impact of four categories of variables (demographics, neighborhood context variables, contact with the police, and vicarious influence variables) on juvenile perceptions of the police and police services. Data analyzed in this study were collected as part of a larger research evaluation that examined the impact of law enforcement efforts in relation to violent crime. Students from one middle school were surveyed. Statistical analysis consisted of a series of One-Way ANOVA tests and several ordinary least squares regression (OLS) models. The study found significant results for both dependent variables within all four categories of independent variables. Policy implications and suggestions for further research are discussed.
Substance Use Among Adolescents: A Comparison Between Native Born and New American Students
(North Dakota State University, 2017) Borseth, Jenna Lynn
Currently, there is a lack of research within the social bond and social capital theory literature on the effects that immigration status has on substance use behaviors. The purpose of the current study is to fill this void in existing research by examining the individual and combined effects that immigration status and social capital have on adolescent substance use. To examine this, survey results from a Midwestern school district are used. Overall, the results indicate that when examining immigration and social capital measures, immigration status only predicts substance use—not frequency of use. Additionally, interaction effects indicate a significant interaction between school social capital and immigration status suggesting that when assessing substance use behaviors, native born adolescents are more affected by lower school social capital compared to recent immigrant groups.
Over a Decade Later: A Quasi-Experimental Study of North Dakota’s Juvenile Drug Courts
(North Dakota State University, 2017) Belisle, Linsey Ann
Little is known about the long-term impact of juvenile drug court on recidivism. This study compares the adult recidivism rates among prior juvenile drug court participants against a comparison group of probated, but not drug courted juveniles. The study employed a twelve-year average follow up subsequent to participants in both groups reaching the age of majority (18). Outcomes examined included arrests, convictions, and both substance and violent convictions in adulthood. Logistic and linear regression models indicated no main effects of drug court into adulthood. However, gender appeared to be suppressing the effect of drug court on recidivism. Interaction terms indicated a vicious interaction with males in the drug court having slightly higher recidivism rates than comparison males and female drug court participants recording lower recidivism rates than comparison females. Some recommendations are made as far as modifying juvenile drug court based on these results.
Homelessness and Police Contact
(North Dakota State University, 2017) Noe, Allison
Research regarding the homeless and their interactions with law enforcement is sparse. The current study examines the perceptions homeless men and women have of police officers in the Fargo-Moorhead area. Data for this study was collected via fifty-one semi-structured interviews with guests at three homeless shelters in the Fargo-Moorhead area. Roughly half of those interviewed have a positive opinion of police officers. The results demonstrate that the perceptions of police officers held by those interviewed is based largely on the amount of respect that they receive. If individuals feel they are respected by police officers, their perception is generally more positive. The results also show several of problems expressed by respondents in regards to how they view the homeless are treated by police. A number of policy implications and directions for future research are discussed.
Residential Mobility and Substance Use among Area Youth: The Mediating Effects of Social Capital
(North Dakota State University, 2017) Rapp, Andrea Mae
This study examined self-reported substance use in relation to social capital and residential mobility by administering a survey to high school students attending three Midwestern schools. The results of this study provide partial support for social capital theory. Pearson’s correlations indicate a relationship between residential mobility and two social capital variables, community involvement and community support. Results from binary logistic regression and linear regression find that students with higher levels of family and school social capital report lower levels of substance use, and higher levels of peer support are related to higher levels of reported substance use. Further exploration of interactions between social capital measures and residential mobility finds that peer support suppresses the other social capital variables in relation to substance use. Although little support was found for residential mobility, other variables found to be significant with social capital and substance use include immigration status and grade.
Can Detention Reduce Recidivism of Youth? An Outcome Evaluation of a Juvenile Detention Center
(North Dakota State University, 2017) Simanovic, Tia
This study is an outcome evaluation of a secure unit of one juvenile detention center in the Midwest. The primary purpose of this study was to elucidate the relationship between a secure detention placement and recidivism on a sample of Midwest juvenile offenders. Besides the examination of recidivism of the total sample, this study examined differences between two subsamples of the institutionalized juveniles, those in a treatment program and those in detention only. The importance of demographics, prior admissions, length of stay, frequency of institutional misconduct, and exposure to treatment was examined. Results suggest a significant negative relationship between the age at admission and recidivism, and a positive one between prior admissions and recidivism. Length of stay, institutional misconduct, and treatment did not reach significance. This study did not find support for the effectiveness of juvenile detention in recidivism reduction. Implications of findings and suggestions for future research are discussed.
Do Victim Impact Panels Reduce DUI Recidivism?
(North Dakota State University, 2016) Joyce, Sarah Leigh
This study looks at Victim Impact Panels as an effective program for reducing recidivism of convicted drunk drivers. Researchers collected data on a group of DUI offenders who were sentenced to attend a Victim Impact Panel (VIP) after being convicted of a DUI (410 cases) and a group of DUI offenders who were sentenced by a judge who did not order them to attend a VIP (373 cases). Using logistic regression, researchers found those offenders who were sentenced to attend a Victim Impact Panel were significantly less [likely] to reoffend, both in terms of subsequent DUI convictions, and criminal offenses in general. In addition, this study showed Victim Impact Panels proved to be beneficial to those offenders who have had previous DUI convictions, and have attended a Victim Impact Panel in the past. The resulting policy and program implications are discussed.
Effectiveness of Restorative Justice Programs in the Prevention of Juvenile Crime
(North Dakota State University, 2014) Buchholz, Maria Mae
This study examined how restorative justice programs impact the probability of recidivism among juvenile offenders. It compared juveniles who completed restorative justice programs versus juveniles who were released with warning from the courts. Both groups were compared to determine if restorative justice juveniles outcomes differed based on recidivism. Logistic regression showed that restorative justice programs had statistically significant increased odds of recidivating when compared to juveniles released with a warning. However, when the groups of restorative justice were disaggregated, only the adjudicated juveniles were statistically significant. Survival time analysis showed that restorative justice juveniles have longer survival times of recidivism when compared to juveniles released with a warning. Suggestions for further research and analysis are discussed with respect to the current results.
Predictors of Drug Court Success in a Small City Drug Court
(North Dakota State University, 2013) Fangman, Melinda Sue
This study examines the factors related to completion outcomes of the East Central Judicial District Drug Court (ECJDDC). The ECJDDC has a 71% graduation rate which far exceeds the national average of approximately 40-45%. The dataset included information on 250 participants who entered the drug court from 2003-2011. Factors included in the analysis include those related to living situation, family situation, socioeconomic status, veteran status, current offense, and prior criminal history in addition to sex, race, and age. Logistic regression determined that the strongest predictors of graduation relate to education, income, employment, and living situation. Policy implications, practice, and future research are discussed with respect to the current results.
The Veracity of Self-Reported Criminal Records among NDSU Students
(North Dakota State University, 2013) Keimig, Kelsey Anne
Campus safety and security are important concerns for colleges and universities. One way security is addressed is through utilization of self-report questions about criminal backgrounds during the admissions process. The current study evaluates this admissions policy by using a systematic random sample of 1,400 students to compare self-reported criminal backgrounds with criminal records listed in four online databases. Results indicate that two individuals within the sample failed to report their criminal backgrounds which included simple assault, burglary, theft, possession of controlled substance, and drug paraphernalia. While the failed reporting rate appears low, caution should be taken interpreting the results. A number of policy implications and directions for future research are discussed.

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