There are long-standing racial disparities in the sanctions imposed on drug offenders in the United States. However, the policies and practices pursued under the war on drugs of the 1980s greatly exacerbated these disparities and the punitiveness of drug sanctions generally. These racial disparities do not appear to be attributable to racial differences in the
Education and crime have had a causal link to each other for as long as criminal behavior has been recorded. In fact, lack of education is a central risk factor for predicting crime. The link is most often associated with education and employment, with employment and wages having a positive correlation with education level. To
Gender has become one of the most reliable predictors of crime, especially violent crime. Governmental, crime victim, public, private, and self-reporting data sources are consistent in indicating adult males commit more crimes and are more likely to repeat their crimes than their adult female counterparts. Even with juvenile data denoting marked increases in girls committing
Homelessness and crime in the United States have intertwined since at least the 17th century, when Elizabethan era poor laws regulated vagrancy through forced labor and incarceration. In a more contemporary context, a systematic examination of the intersection between homelessness and crime covers three areas. The first addresses the range of situational factors and personal
Crime is often concentrated in geographic locales such as neighborhoods. Crime rates in neighborhoods tend to be consistent over time, yet rates can vary greatly between neighborhoods. Factors at the neighborhood level such as poverty, racial makeup, single-parent households, and residential mobility rates are often correlated with crime and criminal activity. Crime and criminal behavior
Growing economic inequality in the United States has profound implications for understanding crime, criminal justice processing, and trends in mass incarceration. Although contemporary crime rates are at levels observed during the 1960s, punishment—through the use of incarceration— remains at historic highs. As the richest nation in the world, the United States incarcerates more people than
The School Crime Victimization Survey, which is a supplement to the National Crime Victimization Survey (NCVS), estimates the number of students victimized by crime at school, on school grounds, or on the way to and from school. The survey is designed to assist policymakers, researchers, and educational practitioners in making informed decisions regarding crime in
This article explores the intricate landscape of international crime and jurisdictional challenges within the context of the United States’ criminal justice system. The globalization of crime, encompassing transnational organized crime, cybercrime, and terrorism, demands an examination of the evolving nature of criminal activities. Analyzing jurisdictional challenges, the discussion delves into the complexities of extraterritorial jurisdiction
This article delves into the pivotal role of Crime Mapping and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) in the contemporary U.S. criminal justice process. Beginning with an exploration of the historical context and evolution of these technologies, the introduction elucidates their significance in enhancing spatial analysis, visualization, and hotspot identification. The first section elucidates the foundational principles
Although most public attention regarding school violence focuses on situations in which students are the offenders, high school teachers and other school personnel are sometimes perpetrators. It is difficult to find solid data on how often educators are the offenders, as no one collects such data in a systemic way. Teacher- or staff-perpetrated violence may