Master of Science in Justice Studies (M.S.J.S.)
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Item CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM: DO SUBSTANCE USERS RECEIVE FAIR TREATMENT?(ProQuest, 2022-09-22) Gilliam-Cassell, CarliDrug use in the United States of America is continuing to increase every day. Providing research on the publics opinion of this matter can be a benefit for the future when it comes to public policy changes. There are numerous studies that examines the unfair treatment within the Criminal Justice system, but not many on this specific topic. The purpose of this study was to determine if the public perceives that drug users receive fair treatment within the Criminal Justice system. This quantitative study was designed to see if there is a relationship between whether or not the public feels that substance abusers receive unfair treatment by the Criminal Justice system. There were six independent variables for this study that cover various concepts related to the drug user status. The dependent variable for this study was the public’s perception of drug users receiving unfair treatment received from the Criminal Justice system. There was a total of six hypothesis tested to evaluate the problem statement. The researcher used an online survey to collect the data. The participants were obtained through email and social media outlets. Additionally, the study looked at relationships between alternative to incarceration programs and whether or not the public felt that these were beneficial to substance users or not. The participants were asked whether offering substance users drug court, alternative programs, were beneficial rather than being incarcerated. The data collected demonstrates that the public feels that there is unfair treatment for substance users within the Criminal Justice system. Overall implications and recommendations for future research are discussed.Item Reentry as Opposed to Recidivism(ProQuest, 2021-10-19) Scrimager, ElizabethReducing recidivism is critical to lowering jail and prison populations, as well as saving taxpayer dollars and money within the corrections system. Identifying key issues that exist for individuals who are incarcerated is first and foremost. Beginning the transition process of addressing those key issues and building the framework around them that alleviates their existence or eases the process of obtaining the essential elements shared is the next step. Most importantly, recognizing primary challenges, goals, and potential solutions should start as early as possible during an inmate’s incarceration. Although some factors such as housing, transportation, or employment are difficult to establish prior to release, those are some of the greatest obstacles ex-offenders face once no longer incarcerated. Other potential challenges often include family relationships, substance abuse and drug treatment, addiction, mental health disorders, financial support, education, and so much more. However, the latter can be included in reentry and release planning long before an inmate is released. Substantially, there is an obligatory importance of implementing reentry programming that is strictly designed to focus on the major discrepancies one is confronted with prior to and upon release of jail or prison. If these are not addressed accordingly, individuals who continuously reoffend, communities they return to, taxpayers who fund recidivism, correctional facilities who house these offenders, and society will suffer consequences from the lack of mandatory care provided by Department of Corrections to those in need. Therefore, a purpose-driven secondary data analysis of original mixed-methods research conducted from surveys of 100 state inmates participating in a reentry program known as Re-Entering American Communities with Hope (REACH) at a local jail can provide substantial feedback and insight regarding their entry level needs, self-identified strengths and weaknesses, greatest release challenges, and biggest fears. Being aware of first-hand issues state inmates face prior to and upon release from correctional agencies can aid in establishing and improving effective reentry-based programming and availability of beneficial resources to ultimately reduce the likelihood of recidivism and improve the wellbeing of individuals post-incarceration.Item The Understanding and Practice of Community Policing(ProQuest, 2021-04-21) Fegett, DavidDivision between the police and the communities they serve is growing at an alarming rate. Cities throughout this country are calling to defund the police and police officers are cast as villains even when their actions are warranted. The Community Policing philosophy was developed in an effort to bridge the gap between these two entities and create an atmosphere of mutual trust but the philosophy has had little impact. This exploratory study was designed to find relationships between an officer’s rank and their level of agreement toward this philosophy. Additionally, this study looked for relationships regarding the organizational size and the level of agreement with both the practice and concepts of Community Policing. Last, this study looked for relationships involving the officer’s level of agreement with Community Policing and their engagement in Community Policing activities. For this study, 234 certified Kentucky law enforcement officers were provided a 22 item survey. The results of this study provided statistical evidence that three of the four objectives merit further examination. Evidence suggests that a relationship exists between an officer’s rank and their agreement with Community Policing practices. In fact, 30.8 percent indicated making arrests are the best way to solve problems. While this study is not suggesting enforcement of criminal codes is not necessary, making an arrest is not always the best or preferred option. Additionally, 25.6 percent indicated they want to be left alone to do their job but as the officer’s rank increased this belief decreased. Leaders of organizations understand the positive impact this philosophy can have on their community, but this understanding must be filtered down to the line officers. Police officers perform heroically on a daily basis, but law enforcement and the community must come together to bridge this gapItem A GENERATIONAL PERSPECTIVE OF WHETHER ALL EX-CONVICTS SHOULD RETAIN VOTING RIGHTS IN THE USA(ProQuest, 2021-05-05) Billy, IrisAs per an article written by the criminal justice reform group the Sentencing Project, an approximated 6.1 million convicts were not allowed to vote in the United States in 2016 elections. These 6.1 million convicts were approximately 2.5 percent of the total populace who are of voting age in the United States. The main topic of an ongoing debate is whether voting rights should be consequentially reinstated to all ex-convicts and whether those individuals ought to be able to vote after completing their sentences for their crimes. As per Sentencing Project voting rights for imprisoned offenders can be different substantively from state to state. A total of 48 states as of August 2020, as well as Washington, D.C. bar convicted felons from voting while incarcerated, however ex-convicts can resume their voting rights when they are released or at some point thereafter release. As reported by the Sentencing Project two states Maine and Vermont allow ex-convicts retain their voting rights during their imprisonment. In the Commonwealth of Kentucky ex-convicts with some extreme verdicts such as murder will never resume the right to vote. United States governors may implement their executive authority to reinstate the right to vote for ex-convicts on an individual basis.