WSU Criminal Justice Library and Research News

Crime in the United States, 2005

2006-09-19T10:14:00.000-04:00

The U.S. Department of Justice, Federal Bureau of Investigation has published "Crime in the United States, 2005", the annual statistical compendium of crime statistics. (via ResourceShelf).

The Social Process of Reentry for Female Ex-Offenders

2006-09-18T15:20:00.000-04:00

From ResourceShelf's Docuticker:

People, Places, and Things: The Social Process of Reentry for Female Ex-Offenders (PDF; 3.13 MB)
Source: National Institute of Justice
“This study examined the social lives of female ex-offenders to determine the features of their relationships after their release from prison.”

Office of Justice Programs Resource Guide

2006-09-18T15:19:00.000-04:00

From ResourceShelf's Docuticker:

Office of Justice Programs Resource Guide: Fiscal 2006 Edition (PDF; 511 KB)
Source: National Institute of Justice
“After outlining the mission and organization of the U.S. Justice Department’s Office of Justice Programs (OJP), this report describes OJP’s funding opportunities, training, technical assistance, and other resources for fiscal 2006.”

Burglary at Single-Family House Construction Sites

2006-09-17T18:00:00.000-04:00

From ResourceShelf's Docuticker:

Burglary at Single-Family House Construction Sites (PDF; 702 KB)

Source: Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (USDoJ)

“…describes the problem and reviews the factors that increase the risks
of burglary at single-family house construction sites. It then
identifies a series of questions that may assist in the analysis of the
problem and reviews responses based on evaluative research and police
practice.”

Witness Intimidation

2006-09-17T17:57:00.000-04:00

From ResourceShelf's Docuticker:

Witness Intimidation (PDF; 997 KB)

Source: Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (USDoJ)

“…describes the problem of witness intimidation, reviews the factors
that increase its risks, identifies questions that can help analyze
local witness intimidation problems, and reviews responses to the
problem as identified through research and police practice.”

European Sourcebook of Crime and Criminal Justice Statistics - 2006

2006-09-15T16:14:00.000-04:00

From ResourceShelf's Docuticker:

European Sourcebook of Crime and Criminal Justice Statistics - 2006
Source: WODC (Dutch abbreviation for Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek- en Documentatiecentrum)

“This third edition is a partial update of the second edition (2003) and covers the years 2000-2003. The European Sourcebook is divided into five chapters: Police data, Prosecution statistics, Conviction statistics and Correctional statistics.” Download sections as PDFs.

Florida Death Penalty Assessment Report

2006-09-15T10:00:00.000-04:00

From ResourceShelf's Docuticker:

Florida Death Penalty Assessment Report

Source: American Bar Association

From press release:
“The Florida team unanimously agreed that the state fails to comply or
is only in partial compliance with many of the protocols developed by
the ABA to assess death penalty systems. It specifically identified 11
problem areas in the state system, including: the high number of
death-row exonerations (22 since 1973), the failure to ensure that
lawyers assigned to represent capital defendants during the
post-conviction process are qualified and adequately compensated, the
continued existence of racial and charging disparities in capital
sentencing, the fact that unanimity is not required in jury sentencing
decisions, the failure to give sufficient weight to the mitigating
effects of serious mental disability, and the level of secrecy
surrounding the clemency process.”

Note: “Florida is the fourth state assessed under the
ABA project. Assessments in Georgia, Alabama and Arizona also are
complete and are accessible on the ABA’s Web site. Other assessments
are being conducted in Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee and
Virginia.”

Criminal Victimization, 2005

2006-09-11T14:20:00.000-04:00

From ResourceShelf's Docuticker:

Criminal Victimization, 2005

Source: Bureau of Justice Statistics (USDoJ)

“Presents estimates of national levels and rates of personal and
property victimization for the year 2005. Rates and levels are provided
for personal and property victimization by victim characteristics, type
of crime, victim-offender relationship, use of weapons, and reporting
to police. Annual average victimization rates for 2004-05 are compared
with those of the previous two years, 2002-03. A section is devoted to
trends in victimization from 1993 to 2005. Estimates are from data
collected using the National Crime Victimization Survey (NCVS), an
ongoing survey of households that interviews about 134,000 persons in
77,200 households twice annually. Violent crimes included in the report
are rape/sexual assault, robbery, aggravated assault and simple assault
(from the NCVS), and homicide (from the FBI’s UCR program). Property
crimes examined are burglary, motor vehicle theft, and property theft.”
Full report available in PDF or txt.

Terrorism Knowlege Base Adds New Features Including Visualization Tool

2006-09-07T12:44:00.000-04:00

From ResourceShelf:

From the announcement.

The TKB team is proud to announce the release of the Europe Media Monitor (EMM) on TKB. EMM is a new feature which significantly upgrades TKB’s ability to provide relevant and important terrorism news in real-time.

The EMM News Explorer provides breaking news coupled with sophisticated tools for analysis, and visual mapping features that give TKB users the ability to go beyond the headlines.

EMM news modules have been placed on group, leader and country profiles, offering targeted terrorism news in a matter of seconds.

Users can also employ EMM’s visual mapping tools to explore relationships between leaders to elucidate how terrorist networks operate in our ever-shrinking world.

Example: al-Qaeda
Note the new news and visualization tools located on the right side of the page. Powered by the EMM News Explorer (a site that looks like it’s worth a closer look).

What is the European News Explorer?

Europe Media Monitor (EMM) reads and analyses around 40.000 new news items per day. One of the results of this analysis is the clusters of the main stories in several languages. The selection and placement of stories are determined automatically by a computer program. This site is a joint project of DG-JRC and DG-COMM.

See Also: TKB Analytical Tools

Source: MIPT

Criminal Terrorism Enforcement in the United States

2006-09-07T12:41:00.000-04:00

From ResourceShelf:

Just Released, Criminal Terrorism Enforcement in the United States During the Five Years Since the 9/11/01 Attacks

A comprehensive and sometimes surprising portrait of the handling of criminal cases in the United States against individuals identified as international terrorists during the five years after 9/11/01 has emerged from an analysis of hundreds of thousands Justice Department records by the Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse (TRAC).

TRAC, a data research organization connected to Syracuse University, has been studying a wide range of federal agencies and programs for more than 15 years.

Includes charts, tables, and district by performance and activity.

Source: Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse (TRAC) / Syracuse University

Proximal Psychiatric Risk Factors for Suicidality in Youth

2006-09-07T12:39:00.000-04:00

From ResourceShelf's Docuticker:

Proximal Psychiatric Risk Factors for Suicidality in Youth
Source: Archives of General Psychiatry
“Several conclusions can be drawn regarding short-term risks for suicidality in children and adolescents through 16 years of age. Depression is a major proximal risk factor, especially in association with anxiety (specifically GAD) or disruptive disorders (primarily ODD). Anxiety or SUD alone do not increase risk. Subthreshold (disruptive) disorder is as potent a risk factor as many diagnosable psychiatric disorders. Severity of symptom-related impairment will help identify which youth with psychiatric disorders are most at risk. Youth living in poverty defined by federal guidelines for families are also at increased risk, irrespective of psychiatric profile or severity of psychopathology.”

Federal Criminal Justice Trends, 2003

2006-09-07T12:31:00.000-04:00

From ResourceShelf's Docuticker:

Federal Criminal Justice Trends, 2003
Source: Bureau of Justice Statistics (USDoJ)
“Presents data on Federal criminal justice trends from 1994-2003. This report summarizes the activities of agencies at each stage of the Federal criminal case process. It includes 10-year trend statistics on the number arrested (with detail on drug offenses); number and disposition of suspects investigated by U.S. attorneys; number of persons detained prior to trial; number of defendants in cases filed, convicted, and sentenced; and number of offenders under Federal correctional supervision (incarceration, supervised release, probation, and parole).” Download in PDF (6 MB) or ASCII (34 KB). Spreadsheets also available.

National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS)

2006-09-06T16:55:00.000-04:00

From ResourceShelf's Docuticker:

National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS): Operations 2005 (PDF; )
Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation (USDoJ)
From press release: “The FBI today released its annual report on the performance of the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) which is designed to screen prospective firearms transferees for criminal record history information. NICS was implemented by the FBI in 1998 as mandated by the Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act. NICS is maintained and operated out of the FBI’s Criminal Justice Information Services (CJIS) Division in Clarksburg, WV. In 2005, NICS produced many achievements in furtherance of its mission by identifying, developing, and implementing system improvements to enhance its overall effectiveness. The FBI is committed to providing timely and accurate determination of firearms and explosives eligibility for prospective transferees.”

World Female Imprisonment List

2006-09-06T16:50:00.000-04:00

From ResourceShelf's Docuticker:

World Female Imprisonment List (PDF; 162 KB)
Source: International Centre for Prison Studies, King’s College London
“The World Female Imprisonment List shows the number of women and girls held in penal institutions, as pre-trial detainees (remand prisoners) or having been convicted and sentenced, in 187 prison systems in independent countries and dependent territories. It also shows the percentage of women and girls within each national prison population. The information is the latest available at the end of April 2006.”

Drug Abuse Treatment for Criminal Justice Populations

2006-09-06T16:42:00.000-04:00

From ResourceShelf's Docuticker:

Principles of Drug Abuse Treatment for Criminal Justice Populations - A Research-Based Guide
Source: National Institute on Drug Abuse
“This guide is intended to describe the treatment principles and research findings that are of particular relevance to the criminal justice community and to treatment professionals working with drug abusing offenders. The guide is divided into three main sections: (1) the first distills research findings on the addicted offender into 13 essential principles; (2) the second contains a series of frequently asked questions (FAQs) about drug abuse treatment for those involved with the criminal justice system; and (3) the third is a resource section that provides Web sites for additional information.”

No More "Cell" Phones

2006-09-06T16:36:00.000-04:00

From ResourceShelf's Docuticker:

No More “Cell” Phones
Source: National Institute of Justice (USDoJ)
” Cell phones are not permitted in prisons yet their ever-shrinking size means many of them are smuggled into prisons and used by inmates for illicit purposes. Four main approaches have been identified to deal with the cell phone problem: (1) locate and confiscate cell phones through the use of detection technology; (2) overpower the cell phone signal with a stronger signal, commonly referred to as “jamming;” (3) trick the cell phone into reacting as if there is no service; and (4) intercept the signal, which requires a judge’s order. The simplest option is signal detection which carries no regulatory or legal restrictions. Since all cell phones use radio frequency (RF) antenna power, the Bureau of Prisons (BOP), the National Institute of Justice (NIJ), and the Naval Surface Warfare Center-Dahlgren are launching a multi-year project to develop technology to detect RF and to evaluate and test existing technologies. The resulting information will ultimately be included in a report that recommends the next technology development steps for the NIJ. Contact information is presented to learn more about the BOP’s research into cell phone use by inmates and NIJ’s involvement.”
Full Document (PDF; 42 KB)

Longitudinal Research in Criminology and the Health Sciences

2006-09-06T16:26:00.000-04:00

From ResourceShelf's Docuticker:

Learning From Longitudinal Research in Criminology and the Health Sciences
Source: Reading Research Quarterly
“This article reviews longitudinal research within criminology and the health sciences on the relationship between reading and criminal, delinquent, or antisocial behavior. Longitudinal research in criminology, medicine, and psychology examines the role of reading within a broad set of interactive processes, connecting literacy to public health via its association with child and adolescent behavior, family dynamics, and sociocognitive phenomena such as school-bonding and academic frustration. The article provides a select review of longitudinal research in three areas of concentration: preschool; reading achievement; and antisocial, delinquent, or criminal behavior. Following this review, the article compares longitudinal research in criminology and the health sciences with ethnographic and social practice research within literacy studies. The article discusses the viability of literacy practices and educational resilience as theoretical frames that may help scholars integrate reading research across disciplines. The article closes with recommendations for expanding the breadth of topics engaged within reading research and for further research on high-stakes testing, resilience, and the relation of literacy to behavior and the bonds and attachments children form with their parents, teachers, and schools.”

Crime Analysis Unit Developer Kit

2006-09-06T16:22:00.000-04:00

From ResourceShelf's Docuticker:

Crime Analysis Unit Developer Kit
Source: Crime Mapping & Analysis Program (CMAP)
“This collection of documents, publications, examples, and tools has been researched, collected, and made publicly available by the Crime Mapping & Analysis Program (CMAP) with the professional crime and intelligence analyst in mind. These products have been selected to meet the needs of crime analysts at every level of sophistication and at every point in their analytical unit development, from planning a unit from scratch to increasing your analytical firepower, through expanding the profession with internships.” Download with software (370 MB) or without software (25 MB). U.S. public safety personnel may request a free CD.

Safety and Abuse in America's Prisons

2006-09-06T16:18:00.000-04:00

From ResourceShelf's Docuticker:

Confronting Confinement: A Report of the Commission on Safety and Abuse in American’s Prisons
Source: Commission on Safety and Abuse in America’s Prisons
“The Commission’s findings show that violence remains a serious problem in America’s prisons and jails and that there is sufficient information on what is causing this violence so that prevention efforts can be tailored to the causes. Still, more reliable measures of violence in prisons and jails are needed. In addition to violence, high rates of inmate illness, coupled with inadequate funding for correctional health care, are endangering inmates, staff, and the public. The findings also show that the increased use of high-security segregation is counterproductive, often causing violence among inmates and between inmates and staff, as well as contributing to reoffending after release. In the areas of labor and leadership, the Commission concluded that better safety inside prisons and jails depends on changing the institutional culture, which requires improving the education, training, and recruitment at all levels of the corrections profession. The Commission’s finding regarding oversight and accountability is that most correctional facilities are not subject to external monitoring and public scrutiny. Also, internal oversight and accountability need improving. In the area of knowledge and data, uniform nationwide reporting on safety and abuse in correctional facilities is incomplete and unreliable, which impedes correctional leaders, legislators, and the public in making sound decisions regarding prisons and jails. Recommendations are offered for addressing the safety and abuse issues identified. The Commission’s report is based on consultation with experts, correctional personnel, inmates and former inmates, and site visits.”
Full Report (PDF; 7.87 MB)

Analysis of Supreme Court Opinions Regarding the Death Penalty

2006-09-06T16:15:00.000-04:00

From ResourceShelf's Docuticker:

Logical and Consistent? An Analysis of Supreme Court Opinions Regarding the Death Penalty
Source: Justice Policy Journal
“Main findings revealed that justices’ opinions in four major capital punishment cases–Furman v. Georgia (1972), Woodson v. North Carolina (1976), Gregg v. Georgia (1976), and McCleskey v. Kemp (1987)–were clearly contradictory to opinions issued in earlier cases (Type I inconsistency). Moreover, some of the justices’ opinions were contradictory to statements made in written opinions in earlier cases (Type II inconsistency) and in some cases the Court ruled in ways that violated precedents or rules of law (Type III inconsistency). Seven factors are identified as the main explanations for these inconsistencies: (1) Constitutional ambiguity; (2) ideology/attitudes and political affiliation of justices; (3) approach to interpreting the Constitution; (4) strategic rationality and bargaining; (5) changing justices over time; (6) evolving human standards; and (7) public opinion and State legislative activity. The authors argue that the analysis of the four most significant Supreme Court capital punishment cases illustrates that the Supreme Court is unable to provide a clear interpretation of some sections of the Constitution and highlights the disagreement among the justices themselves. Data were drawn from the Supreme Court decisions in four major capital punishment cases. Three main types of inconsistencies in judge’s opinions were examined: (1) issuing an opinion that was contradictory to opinions issued in earlier cases; (2) issuing an opinion that appeared to be contradictory to statements made in written opinions in earlier cases; and (3) ruling in a way that appeared to violate a precedent or rule of law. The analysis also focused on factors that could explain these inconsistencies and changes in opinions across time.”
Full Paper (PDF; 257 KB)

New Issue: Journal of Economic Crime Management

2006-09-06T16:09:00.000-04:00

From ResourceShelf's Docuticker:

New Issue: Journal of Economic Crime Management
Source: Economic Crime Institute of Utica College
“Although this is our first issue in over a year, we are pleased to
present four articles on varied subjects: identity fraud, gender and software
piracy, illegal use of video poker machines, and self control and insurance
fraud. These four are an indication of the wide range of topics with which we
are faced as we study and work in the field of economic crime investigation and
management. We believe that a considerable amount of research is being done and
hope that we canreach out to those of you who are conducting it, so that you
will consider submitting articles for publication.” Articles in PDF.
+ TheOngoing Critical Threats Created by Identity Fraud: An Action Plan
+ GenderDifferences in Software Piracy: The Mediating Roles of Self-Control Theory and Social Learning Theory
+ The Illegal Use of Video Poker Machines by Public Bars and Private Social Clubs in
Pennsylvania: It’s a Rational Choice
+ Self-Control and Insurance Fraud

Federal Law Enforcement Officers, 2004

2006-09-06T15:59:00.000-04:00

From ResourceShelf's Docuticker:

Federal Law
Enforcement Officers, 2004 Source: Bureau of Justice Statistics“Reports the
results of a biennial census of Federal agencies employing personnel with arrest
and firearms authority. Using agency classifications, the report presents the
number of officers working in the areas of police response and patrol, criminal
investigation and enforcement, inspections, security and protection, court
operations, and corrections, by agency and State, as of September 2004. Data on
gender and race of officers are also included.” Full report available in PDF or
text.

Violent Felons in Large Urban Counties

2006-09-06T15:05:00.000-04:00

From ResourceShelf's Docuticker:

Violent Felons in Large Urban Counties
Source: Bureau of Justice Statistics
“Presents data collected from a representative sample of felony cases that resulted in a felony conviction for a violent offense in 40 of the Nation’s 75 largest counties. The study tracks cases for up to 1 year from the date of filing through final disposition. Defendants convicted of murder, rape, robbery, assault or other violent felonies are described in terms of demographic characteristics (gender, race, Hispanic origin, age), prior arrests and convictions, criminal justice status at time of arrest, type of pretrial release or detention, type of adjudication, and sentence received.” Full report available in PDF or text.

Newly Released Crime and Police Statistics in the United States

2006-09-06T15:04:00.000-04:00

From ResourceShelf's Docuticker:

+ Violent Felons in Large Urban Counties

A majority (56%) of violent felons studied had a prior conviction record.

+ Federal Law Enforcement Officers, 2004

Federal agencies employed approximately 105,000 full-time personnel authorized to make arrests and carry firearms in the 50 States and the District of Columbia.

Source: BJS

AMBER Alert: Best Practices Guide for Public Information Officers

2006-09-06T15:01:00.000-04:00

From ResourceShelf's Docuticker:

AMBER Alert: Best Practices Guide for Public Information Officers
Source: Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention
“Describes the public information officer’s (PIO’s) job responsibilities and provides tips to maximize the PIO’s effectiveness before, during, and after an AMBER Alert activation. It offers recommendations for helping law enforcement agencies achieve a smooth, rapid public warning activation program. This guide underscores the value of the PIO as an integral member of the public warning network, one who will be most helpful to the AMBER Alert team when he or she has been a key member from the outset.”
Full Document (PDF; 863 KB)

Is Crime Contagious?

2006-09-06T15:00:00.000-04:00

From ResourceShelf's Docuticker:

Is Crime Contagious? (PDF; 606 KB)
Source: Institute for the Study of Labor
“Understanding whether criminal behavior is ‘contagious’ is important for law enforcement and for policies that affect how people are sorted across social settings. We test the hypothesis that criminal behavior is contagious by using data from the Moving to Opportunity (MTO) randomized housing-mobility experiment to examine the extent to which lower local-area crime rates decrease arrest rates among individuals. Our analysis exploits the fact that the effect of treatment group assignment yields different types of neighborhood changes across the five MTO demonstration sites. We use treatment-site interactions to instrument for measures of neighborhood crime rates, poverty and racial segregation in our analysis of individual arrest outcomes. We are unable to detect evidence in support of the contagion hypothesis. Neighborhood racial segregation appears to be the most important explanation for across-neighborhood variation in arrests for violent crimes in our sample, perhaps because drug market activity is more common in high-minority neighborhoods.”

Preventing Suicide in Prison: A Collaborative Responsibility of Administrative, Custodial, and Clinical Staff

2006-09-06T14:58:00.000-04:00

From ResourceShelf's Docuticker:

Preventing Suicide in Prison: A Collaborative Responsibility of Administrative, Custodial, and Clinical Staff
Source: American Academy of Psychiatry and the Law
“Suicide is a sentinel event in prison, and preventive efforts reflect the adequacy and comprehensiveness of mental health, psychiatric, custodial, and administrative services in a correctional system. This article reviews the literature on suicide in prison during the past three decades and identifies the pattern and occurrence of risk factors. These risk factors are classified as demographic, institutional, and clinical. Based on this review, the author outlines specific administrative, custodial, and clinical steps and procedures that form the basis of a comprehensive suicide-prevention program that can be implemented in small and large systems. The author recognizes the limitations of staff availability, the budget constraints, and the ineffectiveness of efforts to prevent suicides that occur without any warning. Ultimately, a prevention program is the collective responsibility of administrative, custodial, and clinical staff.”

Reducing Crime: An Overview Analysis

2006-09-06T14:55:00.000-04:00

From ResourceShelf's Docuticker:

Reducing Crime: An Overview Analysis
Source: Home Office Strategic Policy Team (UK)
“In England and Wales, all major types of volume crime are being driven downward. Overall, crime against individuals and households has fallen by almost 40 percent since 1995 according to the British Crime Survey. However, despite the reductions in crime, the total cost of crime to individuals and households in 2003-2004 was around 36.2 billion (pounds). Most crimes were concentrated in certain geographical areas particularly deprived areas. Offending was highest among young men in their late teens, particularly for violence and non-injury assault. Crime levels were determined by a mixture of personal and environmental factors: early development, lifestyle and opportunities, aggravating factors, and the opportunities and deterrents to offending. Early year development interventions have been shown to be successful in preventing offending later in life. Examples of early year intervention programs are the Sure Start and On-Track programs. Personalized programs for those with severe behavioral problems include Youth Inclusion Programs and Youth Inclusion and Support Panels. In addition, the transformation of the police services into a problem-oriented service is intended to greatly enhance its potential to reduce crime. The new Serious Organized Crime Agency (SOCA) will have as its core objective to reduce the harm caused by organized crime. This analysis of crime in England and Wales was conducted in order to synthesize research, to gain an understanding to inform specific strategies, to provide effective targeting, and to develop critical mass interventions. It provides a broad perspective on the evidence on offenders of high volume crime and impacts of interventions.”
Full Report (PDF; 319 KB)

Without a Trace: How the Gun Lobby and the Government Suppress the Truth About Guns and Crime

2006-09-06T14:54:00.000-04:00

From ResourceShelf's Docuticker:

Without a Trace: How the Gun Lobby and the Government Suppress the Truth About Guns and Crime (PDF; 2.2 MB)
Source: Brady Center to Prevent Gun Violence
“The more the public understands about crime guns, the more it also understands the integral role of reckless licensed gun dealers in supplying the illegal market. The gun lobby, and particularly the gun industry, feel threatened by this knowledge because it supports the need for tighter federal regulation of gun dealers and gun sales to curb the flow of guns into criminal hands. The Tiahrt Amendment is a transparent attempt by the gun lobby, and its wholly owned friends in Congress, to shield the public, as well as government and law enforcement agencies, from the truth about guns and crime.”

Homicides and Suicides: National Violent Death Reporting System, United States, 2003-2004

2006-09-06T14:49:00.000-04:00

From ResourceShelf's Docuticker:

Homicides and Suicides — National Violent Death Reporting System, United States, 2003–2004
Source: Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (CDC)
“Preliminary 2004 national homicide and suicide data from NVSS indicate a decline in rates from 2003 levels; data from the seven states in NVDRS collecting data in both 2003 and 2004 also indicate a decline. Violent deaths continue to be among the 10 leading causes of death in the United States for persons aged < 65 years.

Majority Jury Verdicts in Criminal Trials

2006-09-06T14:47:00.000-04:00

From ResourceShelf's Docuticker:

Majority Jury Verdicts in Criminal Trials
Source: Queensland Parliamentary Library (Australia)
“A number of Australian jurisdictions, including South Australia, Tasmania, and Victoria, have begun allowing majority verdicts in some criminal trials in lieu of a unanimous verdict. England, Wales, and Scotland have allowed majority verdicts for a number of years and legislation is being considered in New South Wales, Queensland, and New Zealand to allow majority verdicts in some or all criminal trials. The history of unanimous verdicts, which have previously been required in all criminal trials, dates back to 1367. Several arguments have been put forth in favor of forgoing a unanimous jury decision in favor of a majority jury decision in criminal trials. Those who support the use of majority verdicts point out that majority jury decisions can reduce the number of hung juries; reduce problems created by ‘rogue’ jurors; reduce the chances of jurors being bribed or intimidated; and cut down on the use of compromise verdicts. On the other hand, some proponents still favor the requirement of a unanimous verdict because there is less risk of convicting innocent persons; it is a fundamental feature of a jury trial; and it leads to better jury deliberations. Moreover, proponents of unanimous verdicts point out that disagreement in a jury is not unreasonable. The specific jury requirements in Australia, New Zealand, England and Wales, and Scotland are briefly reviewed and their potential use of majority verdicts in criminal trials is considered.”
Full Report (PDF; 263 KB)

Computer Forensics For Law Enforcement

2006-09-06T14:44:00.000-04:00

From ResourceShelf's Docuticker:

Computer Forensics For Law Enforcement
Source: Infosec Writers
“A phrase often heard in computer technology is ‘computer forensics’. Computer forensics is process of collecting, analyzing and preserving computer related data. I am going to examine computer forensics for law enforcement. I will provide the reader with a better understanding of computer forensics, I will reference specific laws dealing with cybercrime. Finally, I will discuss the tools and techniques to gather evidence from a cybercrime.”
Full Paper (PDF: 90 KB)

Traffic Stops

2006-06-05T13:40:00.000-04:00

Via ResourceShelf's DocuTicker:

Traffic Stops--Demographics
Source:
Characteristics of Drivers Stopped by Police, 2002
"Presents
data on the nature and characteristics of traffic stops, as collected
in the 2002 Police Public Contact Survey, a supplement to the National
Crime Victimization Survey. Detailed demographic information is
presented on the 16.8 million drivers stopped by police in 2002. The
report provides statistics about various outcomes of traffic stops,
including searches conducted by police, tickets issued to drivers
stopped for speeding, arrests of stopped drivers, and police use of
force during a traffic stop. The report also discusses the relevance of
the survey findings to the issue of racial profiling and provides
comparative analysis with prior survey findings."
Full Report (PDF; 337 KB)

Police Effectiveness: Measurement and Incentives

2006-06-02T13:25:00.000-04:00

From the RAND Corporation:

By: Ben A. Vollaard

This dissertation addresses how to assess police performance and how to
use performance assessments to strengthen incentives for the police.
First, an econometric analysis provides evidence of negative effects of
police on property crime, violent crime and public disorder. The police
funding formula is modeled to identify the endogenous variation in
police levels. The remaining variation is used to identify police
effectiveness. By using victimization data, this study provides
evidence on the effects of police on public disorder rather than crime
only, circumvents measurement error common to police statistics, and
controls for both individual and municipality characteristics. Second,
an analysis of incentive design suggests a tradeoff between two
alternative approaches to holding the police accountable to results. A
performance reward can be based on a definition of “good performance”
ex ante. Alternatively, subjective performance assessment can be used
to close the gap between performance data and judgment of performance
ex post. Given the multidimensional nature of police work and the
prevalence of non-discrete outcomes, rule-based assessment proves to be
difficult. The government faces an unfavorable tradeoff between power
of incentives versus distortion of effort and discretionary power.
Subjective assessment alleviates distortion of effort and leaves more
room to respond to (changing) regional conditions. [PDF available]

Women in Prison

2006-05-22T12:26:00.000-04:00

From ResourceShelf's DocuTicker:

Prisons--United States--Women--Statistics
Source: Women's Prisons Association
Hard Hit: The Growth in the Imprisonment of Women 1977-2004
"The
Punitiveness Report-HARD HIT: The Growth in Imprisonment of Women,
1977-2004" takes an in-depth look at female prison population growth
patterns and regional trends, and it provides the first state-by-state
analysis of female imprisonment from 1977 to 2004, with findings from
all 50 states. The report was authored by Dr. Natasha Frost, Assistant
Professor at Northeastern University, and Judith Greene and Kevin
Pranis of Justice Strategies."

Officers Killed in 2005

2006-05-17T12:30:00.000-04:00

From ResourceShelf's DocuTicker:

Law Enforcment Officers--Mortality
Source: FBI
Preliminary Statistics for Law Enforcement Officers Killed in 2005
"According
to preliminary statistics released today by the Federal Bureau of
Investigation, 55 law enforcement officers were feloniously killed in
the line of duty during 2005. Geographically, 28 of the victim officers
were killed in the South, followed by 10 in the Midwest, 10 in the
West, and 5 in the Northeast. Two officers were slain in Puerto Rico.
The total number of officers killed is 2 fewer than in 2004.... The FBI
will release final statistics in the Uniform Crime Reporting Program’s
annual publication Law Enforcement Officers Killed and Assaulted, which
will be published on the Internet in the fall of this year."

Recruiting and Hiring Crisis in Law Enforcement

2006-05-17T12:28:00.000-04:00

From ResourceShelf's DocuTicker:

Law Enforcement--Recruiting
Source: Police Executive Research Forum
Cop Crunch: Identifying Strategies for Dealing with the Recruiting and Hiring Crisis in Law Enforcement (PDF; 1.94 MB)
"The
processes of recruitment and selection are key to developing agencies
with high quality personnel and to producing agencies that are
representative of their communities in terms of race and gender. The
headlines reveal, however, that many departments are having major
problems with recruitment and hiring. And, although warnings were
sounded in the 1980s and 1990s (see e.g. comments made by Shannon,
1984; Sanders et al., 1995; Bowers, 1990), the 'cop crunch' based on
anecdotal evidence appears to have hit many agencies very hard and very
quickly. The challenge of recruiting and hiring quality personnel has
emerged as a critical problem facing law enforcement nationwide. It
threatens to undermine the ability of law enforcement to protect our
nation’s citizens and to reverse important gains in our efforts to
increase the representation on our forces of racial/ethnic minorities
and women. In response to this potential problem, PERF conducted this
project, with NIJ funding, to examine the nature and extent of the “cop
crunch” and identify department-level policies/practices that
facilitate the recruiting and hiring of quality personnel, and that
facilitate the recruiting and hiring of quality women and minorities."

The Center of Juvenile and Criminal Justice

2006-05-12T09:53:00.000-04:00

From The Internet Scout Report:

The Center of Juvenile and Criminal Justice [pdf]

http://www.cjcj.org

With offices in such gritty locales as Oakland and the nation’s
capital, it follows that The Center of Juvenile and Criminal Justice
(CJCJ) is well-positioned to offer well-thought out policy research and
technical assistance in the field of juvenile and criminal justice.
Founded in 1985, the CJCJ works in a number of arenas, such as
sentencing reform and community-based alternatives to juvenile
detention. A good place to start for first-time visitors is the
publications area, which contains links to recent works created by
staff members on juvenile justice, adult corrections, and sentencing.
One highlight of the site is the juvenile justice area. Here visitors
can learn about the CJCJ’s work in the state of California with
alternative sentencing options and also view video clips from their
conference on youth reform. [KMG]

Murder-Suicide in the United States

2006-05-08T10:42:00.000-04:00

From ResourceShelf's DocuTicker:

Murder-Suicide--United States
Source: Violence Policy Center
American Roulette: Murder-Suicide in the United States (PDF; 276 KB)
From press release:
"More than 10 murder-suicides, almost all by gun, occur each week in
the United States, according to American Roulette: Murder-Suicide in
the United States, a new study by the Violence Policy Center (VPC). The
study used a national news clipping service and Internet survey tools
to collect incidents nationwide from January 1, 2005, through June 30,
2005, and is one of the largest and most comprehensive studies ever
conducted on murder-suicide. During this six-month period, at least 591
Americans died in 264 murder-suicides, and almost all murder-suicides
(92 percent) involved a firearm. Using these figures, the VPC estimates
that nearly 1,200 Americans die each year in murder-suicides."

Felony Defendants in Large Urban Counties, 2002

2006-04-28T12:56:00.000-04:00

From ResourceShelf's DocuTicker:

Felony Cases--United States
Source: Bureau of Justice Statistics
Felony Defendants in Large Urban Counties, 2002
"Presents
data collected from a representative sample of felony cases filed in
the Nation's 75 largest counties during May 2002. The cases are tracked
for up to one year to provide a complete overview of the processing of
felony defendants from filing to disposition and sentencing. Data
collected include current arrest charges, demographic characteristics,
prior arrests and convictions, criminal justice status at arrest, type
of pretrial release or detention, bail amount, court appearance record,
adjudication outcome, and sentence received if convicted. This periodic
report has been published biennially since 1990."

Teen Dating Abuse

2006-04-26T10:24:00.000-04:00

From ResourceShelf's DocuTicker:

Adolescents--Dating--Abuse
Source: Liz Claiborne, Inc.
Teen Relationship Abuse Survey (PDF; 100 KB)
"Research
shows deep and troubling evidence that significant numbers of today’s
teens are not only victims of dating abuse but are accepting it as
normal. More alarmingly, as teens get older and enter into serious
relationships, a still greater number are exhibiting and accepting
controlling, abusive, and even violent behaviors -- often by a
two-to-one margin -- over younger teens who have less dating
experience. Many young people face tremendous pressure to have a
boyfriend, girlfriend, keep a relationship, and to have sex."

GLBT Abuse

2006-04-26T10:22:00.000-04:00

From ResourceShelf's DocuTicker:

GLBT Citizens--United States--Police Abuse
Source: Amnesty International
Stonewalled – still demanding respect: Police abuses against lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people in the USA
"This
report is based on the report Stonewalled: police abuse and misconduct
against lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people in the U.S.
produced by Amnesty International USA (AIUSA) in 2005. It is based on
research conducted between 2003 and 2005 which focused primarily on
four very different and geographically diverse US cities – Chicago
(Illinois), Los Angeles (California), New York (New York), and San
Antonio (Texas). All four cities have well-documented histories of
police brutality and misconduct and each has taken at least some steps
to address these human rights abuses. They, therefore, provide an
insight into the progress that has been made and the challenges that
remain."

Protecting Privacy in Integrated Justice Systems

2006-04-24T11:11:00.000-04:00

From ResourceShelf's DocuTicker:

Justice Information Sharing--Privacy
Source: National Governors Association Center for Best Practices (NGA Center)
Protecting Privacy in Integrated Justice Systems (PDF; 205 KB)
"The
full implications of improved justice information sharing are not yet
known. The challenge is that state privacy policies have not kept pace
with technological advances. The state laws, practices, and rules and
regulations designed to protect privacy were mostly put in place when
justice records and information were paper-based, housed in separate
agencies and organizations, and not searchable electronically. The
advent of justice information sharing, however, is testing the adequacy
of these privacy policies. While many of these issues are not new, what
are new are the large-scale implications; never before has so much
justice information been immediately available at the touch of a
button."

Juvenile Runaways

2006-04-13T22:39:00.000-04:00

From ResourceShelf's DocuTicker:

Source: Office of Community Oriented Policing Services, U.S. Department of Justice
Juvenile Runaways (PDF; 720 KB)
"This
86-page guide describes the problem of juvenile runaways, reviews risk
factors, and identifies a series of questions designed to assist
communities in analyzing their runaway problem. The guide also reviews
responses to the problem from the perspectives of evaluative research
and police practice."

Prisoner Reentry Program

2006-04-07T12:04:00.000-04:00

From ResourceShelf's DocuTicker:

Prisoners--Employment
Source: MRDC
The Power of Work: The Center for Employment Opportunities Comprehensive Prisoner Reentry Program
"Ex-prisoners
face a daunting set of obstacles to reentry, but securing employment
may be the biggest challenge of all. The unemployment rate of formerly
incarcerated people one year after release may be as high as 60
percent, and there is an increasing reluctance among employers to hire
people with criminal histories. Further, studies show that inmates
reentering communities are most vulnerable to failure in the early
stages after release from jail or prison. Since the late 1970s, New
York City’s Center for Employment Opportunities (CEO) has addressed the
relationship between work and crime. Through a highly structured
program of pre-employment training, immediate short-term transitional
employment, and full-time job placement services, CEO helps close to
2,000 men and women each year to take the crucial first steps toward
staying out of prison and returning to their families and communities."
Full Report (PDF; 460 KB)

Identity Theft, 2004

2006-04-03T12:35:00.000-04:00

From ResourceShelf's DocuTicker:

Identity Theft--United States
Source: Bureau of Justice Statistics
Identity Theft, 2004
"Presents data on identity theft victimization and its consequences from the National Crime Victimization Survey (NCVS). This is the first report from new questions about identity theft added to the survey in July 2004 and encompasses credit card thefts, thefts from existing accounts, misuse of personal information, and multiple types at the same time. The report, based on interviews with 40,000 household residents drawn to be nationally representative, describes age, race, and ethnicity of the household head; household income; and location of the household (urbanicity). Characteristics of the theft presented include economic loss, how the theft was discovered, whether misuse is ongoing, and problems experienced as a result of the identity theft."
Full Report (PDF; 152 KB) (via ResourceShelf.com)

White Collar Crime

2006-03-22T11:44:00.000-05:00

From ResourceShelf's DocuTicker:

White Collar Crime

Source: National White Collar Crime Center2005 National Public Survey on White Collar Crime

"Despite the evidence of the widespread nature of white collar crime, there remain few empirical studies devoted to assessing the prevalence of white collar crime as it relates to the general public. In response to this, NW3C conducted the 2005 National Public Survey on White Collar Crime (a follow-up to NW3C’s original National Public Survey on White Collar Crime conducted in 1999). By utilizing household and individual measures, this nationally-representative survey highlights the public’s recent experiences with white collar crime including victimization, reporting behaviors, and perceptions of crime seriousness."

Full Survey (PDF; 2 MB)

National Drug Threat Assessment 2006

2006-03-20T11:05:00.000-05:00

From ResourceShelf's DocuTicker:

Illegal Drugs
Source: U.S. Department of Justice
National Drug Threat Assessment 2006
"This
assessment addresses the status and outlook of the drug threat to the
United States. It covers the trafficking and abuse patterns of cocaine,
methamphetamine, marijuana, heroin, MDMA, pharmaceutical drugs, and
other dangerous drugs."

Law Enforcement Guide to Driving Under the Influence

2006-03-20T11:04:00.000-05:00

From ResourceShelf's DocuTicker:

Driving Under the Influence--Law Enforcement Guide
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Community-Oriented Policing Services
Drunk Driving (PDF; 868 KB)
"This
guide begins by describing the problem of drunk driving and reviewing
the factors that increase its risks. It then identifies a series of
questions that can help analyze local drunk driving problems. Finally,
it reviews responses to the problem of drunk driving and examines what
is known about the effectiveness of these responses from research and
police practice."

Biometrics in Prisons

2006-03-13T16:37:00.000-05:00

Via ResourceShelf's DocuTicker:

Source: National Institute of Justice Journal
Tracking Prisoners in Jail With Biometrics: An Experiment in a Navy Brig
"Biometrics
has been used previously to track the movement of staff, visitors, and
prisoners in and out of correctional facilities. It has also been used
to account for staff members in the event of a riot or other prison
disturbance. This project represents the first use of biometrics to
track prisoner movements within a prison or jail. It was designed to
employ computer-based methods of tracking inmates to improve the
efficiency of corrections specialists[1] and brig officials and to
demonstrate how advanced technology can make corrections facilities
safer."

Statistics on Felony Defendents

2006-03-06T11:44:00.000-05:00

From ResourceShelf's DocuTicker:

Felony Cases--United States
Source: Bureau of Justice Statistics
Felony Defendants in Large Urban Counties, 2002
"Presents
data collected from a representative sample of felony cases filed in
the Nation's 75 largest counties during May 2002. The cases are tracked
for up to one year to provide a complete overview of the processing of
felony defendants from filing to disposition and sentencing. Data
collected include current arrest charges, demographic characteristics,
prior arrests and convictions, criminal justice status at arrest, type
of pretrial release or detention, bail amount, court appearance record,
adjudication outcome, and sentence received if convicted. This periodic
report has been published biennially since 1990."

Sentencing Guidelines

2006-03-06T11:42:00.000-05:00

From ResourceShelf's DocuTicker:

Legal--United States--Statistics
Source: The Third Branch
New, Year After Booker: Most Sentences Still Within Guidelines
"At
the one-year anniversary of a key Supreme Court decision, federal
courts continue to punish more than 60 percent of convicted criminals
within guidelines set by the U.S. Sentencing Commission (USSC)."

Motorcycle Thefts and Crashes

2006-02-28T10:26:00.000-05:00

From ResourceShelf's DocuTicker :

Motorcycles--Theft/Accidents
Source: Progressive Casualty Insurance Company
Where Are Motorcycles Stolen Or Crashed Least Or Most? Progressive Says The Answer May Surprise You
"If
you think you'd be more likely to have your motorcycle stolen if you
lived in Chicago versus Wichita, who could blame you? After all, it's a
much bigger city. The same goes for crashes; no one could fault you for
assuming that the bigger the city, the more the traffic congestion and
therefore the greater the odds of having an accident. But that's not
always the case, according to The Progressive Group of Insurance
Companies, which insures more motorcycles than any other insurance
group in the country."

Resources on Law Enforcement Technology

2006-02-24T10:18:00.000-05:00

From ResourceShelf's DocuTicker:

Law Enforcement--Technology
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Community Oriented Policing Services
Tech Docs: Technology Resources for Law Enforcement
"A COPS CD provides more than 50 documents and resources related to law enforcement and crime-fighting technology. Information provided by the COPS Office, U.S. Department of Justice, and other federal agencies covers IT guides and reports, crime mapping and crime analysis, interoperable communications and information sharing, surveillance video and in-car cameras, and 311 nonemergency call systems." Online version of CD.
See also: Law Enforcement Tech Guide for Small and Rural Police Agencies: A Guide for Executives, Managers, and Technologists (PDF; 1.8 MB)

National Summit on Campus Public Safety

2006-02-24T10:15:00.000-05:00

From ResourceShelf's DocuTicker:

Academia--Campus Security
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs
National Summit on Campus Public Safety: Strategies for Colleges and Universities in a Homeland Security Environment (PDF; 416 KB)
"Colleges and universities are among our most vulnerable and exploitable targets for individuals and organizations seeking to cause harm and fear. In some jurisdictions, threat assessments have cited colleges and universities as potential targets of terrorist activity, while other jurisdictions have ignored them in homeland security planning. In a COPS-sponsored project led by the Mid-Atlantic Regional Community Policing Institute, a national summit on campus public safety held in late 2004 established direction and made recommendations for developing a national strategy, programs, information sharing resources, funding, and other initiatives for protecting our colleges and universities."

National Crime Victims' Rights Week Guide

2006-02-24T10:13:00.000-05:00

From ResourceShelf's DocuTicker:

National Crime Victims' Rights Week--Guide
Source:
National Crime Victims' Rights Week: Resource Guide
"This guide was developed to help communities and victim assistance providers promote awareness of crime victim issues and help commemorate National Crime Victims' Rights Week held each year in April.... You can download the complete Resource Guide or individual content sections in PDF format. (Note: PDF is 40 mb and may require several minutes to download.)"

Knowledge Management in Policing

2006-02-24T10:11:00.000-05:00

From ResourceShelf's DocuTicker:

Law Enforcement--Knowledge Management
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Community Oriented Policing Services
Knowledge Management in Policing (PDF; 2 MB)
"This publication explores the potential for Knowledge Management to support innovation in police organizations. Within three chapters, the concept of Knowledge Management in policing is introduced, it's use in a West Coast police department is documented and examined, and a series of guidelines for adopting and implementing Knowledge Management as an organizational development and management strategy is outlined."

Crime Incident Mapping

2006-02-24T10:07:00.000-05:00

From Programmable Web:

Incidentlog.com provides mapping of police and fire incidents for major metropolitan areas, using Google Maps.

Crime Analysis and Problem Solving

2006-02-24T10:05:00.000-05:00

From ResourceShelf's DocuTicker:

Crime Analysis--Manual
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Community Oriented Policing Services
Crime Analysis for Problem Solvers in 60 Small Steps (PDF; 1 MB)
"This new manual, written by two leading crime prevention experts, is intended for crime analysts and other police officials working on problem oriented policing projects. It covers the basics of problem-oriented policing and shows how many new concepts developed to analyze crime patterns can sharpen understanding of crime and disorder problems. It also shows how the 25 techniques of situational crime prevention can greatly expand the problem-solving capacity of police. Finally, it gives guidance on ways to assess the effectiveness of action taken, including ways of testing for displacement."

NIC Report on Corrections Leadership Competencies

2006-02-24T10:01:00.001-05:00

From ResourceShelf's DocuTicker:

Prison Administration--Leadership
Source: National Institute of Corrections
Correctional Leadership Competencies for the 21st Century: Executive and Senior Levels
"Characteristics that result in the best performance of executive and senior level leaders are identified along with the key skills, knowledge, and attributes of effective and successful leaders which are then linked to a set of specific behaviors. Following an executive summary, this manual provides an exploration of: managerial profiles; self awareness; ethics and values; vision and mission; strategic thinking; managing the external environment; power and influence; strategic planning and performance measurement; collaboration; and team building."
Full Report (PDF: 1.19 MB)

New Criminal Justice Online Journals

2006-02-24T10:01:00.000-05:00

We have several new online journals available, including these in Criminal Justice:

Search the library catalog, by title, for these new resources.

Technorati Tags: Criminal_Justice, journals, Wayne_State_University

New Report from National Institute of Corrections

2006-02-24T09:57:00.000-05:00

From ResourceShelf's DocuTicker:

Prisons--Emergency Preparedness
Source: National Institute of Corrections
A Guide to Preparing for and Responding to Prison Emergencies: Self-Audit Checklists, National Survey Results, Resource Materials, [and] Case Studies
"Information regarding prison emergency preparedness is presented. This guide is comprised of the following sections: introduction; conducting an audit; self-audit checklists--emergency preparedness, natural disaster/HAZMAT/fire, and counterterrorism; Report on the National Survey of Emergency Readiness in Prisons; resource materials--leadership issues during crises, prevention of prison emergencies, emergency teams, and prisons and counterterrorism; and case studies."
Full Guide (PDF; 2.02 MB)

How's the Phishing?

2006-02-17T15:24:00.000-05:00

From ResourceShelf's DocuTicker:

The Anti-Phishing Working group has published the December Phishing Activity Trends Report (PDF).

Phishing

"is the act of tricking someone into giving them
confidential information or tricking them into doing something that
they normally wouldn’t do or shouldn’t do. For example: sending an
e-mail to a user falsely claiming to be an established legitimate
enterprise in an attempt to scam the user into surrendering private
information that will be used for identity theft." -- Michigan Department of Information Technology

Women and Girls in the Criminal Justice System

2006-02-16T22:50:00.001-05:00

From ResourceShelf's DocuTicker:

Source: National Criminal Justice Reference Service
Women and Girls in the Criminal Justice System
"Female criminal behavior has been commonly perceived as a less serious problem
than male criminal behavior. Historically, women have been more likely
to commit minor offenses and have made up only a small proportion of
the offender population."

New Juvenile Justice Report

2006-02-14T14:41:00.000-05:00

From ResourceShelf's DocuTicker:

Source: Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention
How the Justice System Responds to Juvenile Victims: A Comprehensive Model
"Introduces the concept of a juvenile victim justice system, identifying the major elements of the system by delineating how cases move through it. The Bulletin reviews each step in the case flow process for child protection and criminal justice systems and describes the interaction of the agencies and individuals involved."
Full Report (PDF; 416 KB)

Felony Defendants in Large Urban Counties, 2002

2006-02-07T22:14:00.000-05:00

From ResourceShelf's DocuTicker:

Source: Bureau of Justice Statistics
Felony Defendants in Large Urban Counties, 2002
"Presents
data collected from a representative sample of felony cases filed in
the Nation's 75 largest counties during May 2002. The cases are tracked
for up to one year to provide a complete overview of the processing of
felony defendants from filing to disposition and sentencing. Data
collected include current arrest charges, demographic characteristics,
prior arrests and convictions, criminal justice status at arrest, type
of pretrial release or detention, bail amount, court appearance record,
adjudication outcome, and sentence received if convicted. This periodic
report has been published biennially since 1990."
Full Report (PDF; 1.2 MB)

Dept. of Justice relaunches DNA.gov

2006-02-03T11:43:00.000-05:00

DNA.gov
"Here, on the redesigned Web site, find online training, and resources
tailored to policymakers and lawmakers, forensic scientists,
researchers, and victim advocates. Other new features include services
that are available to forensic laboratories under the President?s
Initiative, Advancing Justice Through DNA Technology, and case studies
on how criminals were caught and innocent people were exonerated." from ResourceShelf

Indicators of School Crime, 2005

2006-01-24T10:34:00.000-05:00

The Bureau of Justice Statistics has just released the report, "Indicators of School Crime and Safety, 2005", which presents data on crime and safety at school. View the report here. [Via DocuTicker]

2005 Fraud Trends

2006-01-23T11:11:00.000-05:00

The National Consumers League has announced its list of top Internet and Telemarketing scams for 2005. From the press release (which can be viewed here):

"Based on information that consumers provided last year to NCL’s National Fraud Information Center/Internet Fraud Watch program, the average loss to telemarketing fraud rose from $1,974 in 2004 to $2,892 in 2005, and Internet fraud losses more than doubled, from an average of $895 in 2004 to $1,917. The number of scams reported rose by 39 percent for telemarketing fraud and 12 percent for Internet fraud."

[Via ResourceShelf's DocuTicker]

FBI Releases 2005 Computer Crime Survey

2006-01-23T11:04:00.000-05:00

The FBI has issued the results of its largest "cyber-crime" survey to date. It is based on responses from a cross-section of more than 2,000 public and private organizations in four states. View the summary here. More information from the report can be viewed here. [Via ResourceShelf]

Library Research Session at CRJ 4860

2006-01-18T15:06:00.000-05:00

Wednesday, Jan. 18 we talked to the CRJ 4860 Class about how they can better use the library to accomplish their class projects. More feedback to come...

New Criminal Infractions Database

2006-01-17T17:29:00.000-05:00

Verified Person (VP) has created the largest real-time database of criminal infractions in the country, entitled "VPassure". The database was developed to help employers deal with workplace violence, internal theft or fraud, and aid in compliance with The Sarbanes-Oxley Act. For more information, see the article in Sarbanes-Oxley Compliance Journal.

Welcome!

2006-01-13T13:53:00.000-05:00

This weblog will highlight new developments in information as they affect the faculty, staff and students of the Wayne State University Department of Criminal Justice, the WSU Library System, and the campus community at large. We'll highlight new books, new electronic resources, changes in policies and procedure, and developments that impact teaching, learning, and research at Wayne State.

You can find this blog directly at http://wsucrjlib.blogspot.com or through a link from the library's Criminal Justice Subject Guide. The site feed for this blog is: http://wsucrjlib.blogspot.com/atom.xml.

As the acting library subject specialist for Criminal Justice, I will do my best to facilitate information sharing and problem solving for faculty, staff and students of Criminal Justice. I look forward to working with you!

Michael Sensiba
Criminal Justice Subject Specialist
134 Purdy/Kresge Library
ao9754@wayne.edu