Parole Guidelines: Suggested Research Questions

Three factors have supported the development of parole guidelines: criticism of the rehabilitation model as a basis for parole decision making and the accompanying movement toward a just deserts model of punishment, the development of sophisticated statistical procedures for risk assessment, and increasing questions about disparity in criminal justice decision making. This paper raises questions related to each of these three factors that should be addressed by the research community as guidelines are implemented. With respect to offense severity and sentence served, key considerations are the rationale for sentence lengths, the degree to which discretion is being structured, inmates' perceptions of the guidelines, and the effect of guidelines on time served. Under risk assessment and parole prediction, the accuracy of the salient factors as predictors, the problem of false positives, and the possibility of unan ticipated bias must be addressed. In terms of effects on the overall system, questions are raised about the extent to which discretion can be structured, the effect on correctional staffs of changing the purpose of correction, and the impact of such a shift on the already dwindling resources for the parolee. The paper closes with a call for a coherent program of research to accompany the implementation of guidelines.

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AI-Enabled Sensing and Decision-Making for IoT Systems

Complexity ◽

10.1155/2021/6616279 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 2021 ◽

pp. 1-9

Author(s):

Hao Qinxia ◽

Shah Nazir ◽

Ma Li ◽

Habib Ullah ◽

Wang Lianlian ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Decision Making ◽

Real Life ◽

Research Community ◽

Smart Sensors ◽

Future Research ◽

New Paradigm ◽

Exclusion Criteria ◽

Intelligent Devices ◽

Research Questions

The influential stage of Internet of Things (IoT) has reformed all fields of life in general but specifically with the emergence of artificial intelligence (AI) has drawn the attention of researchers into a new paradigm of life standard. This revolution has been accepted around the globe for making life easier with the use of intelligent devices such as smart sensors, actuators, and many other devices. AI-enabled devices are more intelligent and capable of doing a specific task which saves a lot of resources and time. Different approaches are available in the existing literature to tackle diverse issues of real life based on AI and IoT systems. The role of decision-making has its own importance in the AI-enabled and IoT systems. In-depth knowledge of the existing literature is dire need of the research community to summarize the literature in effective way by which practitioners and researchers can benefit from the prevailing proofs and suggest new solutions for solving a particular problem of AI-enabled sensing and decision-making for the IoT system. To facilitate research community, the proposed study presents a systematic literature review of the existing literature, organizes the evidences in a systematic way, and then analyzes it for future research. The study reported the literature of the last 5 years based on the research questions, inclusion and exclusion criteria, and quality assessment of the selected study. Finally, derivations are drawn from the included paper for future research.

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Attitudes, Rape and Law Reform in South Africa

The Journal of Criminal Law ◽

10.1350/jcla.2009.73.5.591 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 73 (5) ◽

pp. 414-429 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Charnelle van der Bijl ◽

Philip N. S. Rumney

Keyword(s):

South Africa ◽

Decision Making ◽

Criminal Justice ◽

Social Attitudes ◽

Law Reform ◽

Judicial Decision Making ◽

Rape Law ◽

Justice Process ◽

Criminal Justice Process ◽

The Impact

In the last decade South Africa has undergone an extensive process of sexual offence law reform. This process has attempted, amongst other things, to address deficiencies in the criminal justice response to rape and has also recognised some of the limits to the impact of legal reform. These limits are partly defined by rape supportive attitudes and myths that appear to influence decision-making at all points in the criminal justice process. In South Africa, and many other jurisdictions, evidence suggests that police, prosecutorial and judicial decision-making is influenced, in part, by a range of social attitudes that misconstrue sexual violence, as well as serve to undermine the credibility of complainants. This article examines the impact of myths, social definitions of rape on rape law reform in South Africa and the points at which these reforms are likely to be undermined by social attitudes and what potentially might be done to address this problem.

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Principles and practices of risk assessment in mental health jail diversion programs

CNS Spectrums ◽

10.1017/s1092852919001652 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 25 (5) ◽

pp. 593-603

Author(s):

Sarah L. Desmarais ◽

Evan M. Lowder

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Risk Assessment ◽

Criminal Justice ◽

Public Safety ◽

The Body ◽

Assessment Tools ◽

Diversion Programs ◽

Jail Diversion ◽

Risk Assessment Tools ◽

The Impact

Eligibility criteria for participation in mental health jail diversion programs often specify that, to be diverted, a candidate must not pose a level of threat to public safety that cannot be managed in the community. Risk assessment tools were developed to increase consistency and accuracy in estimates of threat to public safety. Consequently, risk assessment tools are being used in many jurisdictions to inform decisions regarding an individual’s appropriateness and eligibility for mental health jail diversion and the strategies that may be successful in mitigating risk in this context. However, their use is not without controversy. Questions have been raised regarding the validity and equity of their estimates, as well as the impact of their use on criminal justice outcomes. The purpose of this review is to provide an overview of the science and practice of risk assessment to inform decisions and case planning in the context of mental health jail diversion programs. Our specific aims include: (1) to describe the process and components of risk assessment, including differentiating between different approaches to risk assessment, and (2) to consider the use of risk assessment tools in mental health jail diversion programs. We anchor this review in relevant theory and extant research, noting current controversies or debates and areas for future research. Overall, there is strong theoretical justification and empirical evidence from other criminal justice contexts; however, the body of research on the use of risk assessment tools in mental health jail diversion programs, although promising, is relatively nascent.

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The Effect of Work Pressures on Decision-Making: An Empirical Study on Al Rajhi Bank in Jeddah for the Period from 2018-2020

Asian Social Science ◽

10.5539/ass.v16n12p52 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 16 (12) ◽

pp. 52

Author(s):

Malak S. S. Hussein

Keyword(s):

Decision Making ◽

Statistical Analysis ◽

Work Stress ◽

Analytical Approach ◽

Decision Making Process ◽

Kingdom Of Saudi Arabia ◽

Factors Affecting ◽

Scientific Hypothesis ◽

Research Questions ◽

The Impact

This study deals with identifying the impact of work pressures on decision-making, at Al-Rajhi Bank in Jeddah - Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The main objective of this research is to answer the following research questions: - What is the effect of work stress on the decision-making process? To answer these questions, on which the problem is centered, the following scientific hypothesis has been put forward: - There is a statistically significant relationship between work pressures at the bank and decision-making. The descriptive analytical approach was used to describe the phenomenon under study, and the questionnaire was used to collect various data to distribute the questionnaire to the sample members, who numbered (35) employees, to do the statistical analysis for this study. The most important results that came out of the study, the level of work stress among the sample members is considered acceptable. The study also recommended more attention to the human cadre regarding the issue of work stress and the decision-making process, and more research on the effects of different work pressures, as well as other factors affecting the decision-making process.

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Examination of Decision Making and Botched Lethal Injection Executions in Texas

American Behavioral Scientist ◽

10.1177/0002764220956701 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 64 (12) ◽

pp. 1715-1732

Author(s):

Talia Roitberg Harmon ◽

Michael Cassidy ◽

Richelle Kloch

Keyword(s):

Decision Making ◽

Criminal Justice ◽

Death Penalty ◽

Single Drug ◽

Lethal Injection ◽

Injection Protocol ◽

The One ◽

The Impact ◽

The U.S ◽

Analyze Data

This research examines the influence of lethal injection drug shortages on Texas criminal justice officials’ decision to change the state’s three-drug lethal injection protocol to the use of pentobarbital as a single drug protocol, without judicial oversight. We analyze data collected under the three- and one-drug protocols from 1982 through 2020 and compare differences in the length of time the lethal injection took, and complications reported by media witnesses. Findings suggest a higher rate of botched executions under the one-drug protocol than the three-drug protocol. We discuss the role compounding pharmacies may play in our results, the impact of this work on the U.S. Supreme Court’s death penalty jurisprudence, and implications concerning the unilateral decision making by Texas state officials.

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Officers' perceptions regarding the unexpected effects of body-worn cameras

Policing An International Journal of Police Strategies and Management ◽

10.1108/pijpsm-09-2019-0153 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 43 (2) ◽

pp. 390-402

Author(s):

Jordan C. Pickering

Keyword(s):

Decision Making ◽

Criminal Justice ◽

Law Enforcement ◽

Criminal Justice System ◽

Justice System ◽

The United States ◽

Law Enforcement Agencies ◽

Content Type ◽

Advantages And Disadvantages ◽

The Impact

PurposeThroughout the last decade, a number of empirical studies have assessed the effectiveness of body-worn cameras (BWCs) among law enforcement agencies across the United States. The purpose of this paper is to examine officers' perceptions regarding the impact this technology has had on police-community relations, as well as the working relationship between police and other actors in the criminal justice system (e.g. prosecutors, jurors).Design/methodology/approachThe author conducted focus groups with officers (n = 89) from two local law enforcement agencies in California that had adopted BWCs in recent years. Participating officers discussed advantages and disadvantages they associated with BWCs, as well as how BWCs have impacted their relationship with the public and justice system personnel.FindingsOfficers recognized advantages to using BWCs, including the potential for positive changes in police behavior and the ability to protect officers against false citizen complaints. Officers also identified a number of disadvantages (or consequences) they associate with BWCs, such as the depreciation of credibility behind an officer's word and the impact of video footage on prosecutorial decision-making.Originality/valuePrior studies have gathered officers' perceptions regarding BWCs, but very few have assessed whether and how the use of this technology by law enforcement influences other actors within the criminal justice system. The findings from this study may prompt further empirical consideration regarding BWCs, especially with regard to whether police use of this technology significantly impacts citizens' trust in the police and how their use may impact prosecutorial and juror decision-making.

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The Impact of Ambiguity-induced Error in Offender Decision-making: Evidence from the Field

Journal of Research in Crime and Delinquency ◽

10.1177/00224278211000088 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 002242782110000

Author(s):

Greg Midgette ◽

Thomas A. Loughran ◽

Sarah Tahamont

Keyword(s):

Decision Making ◽

Criminal Justice ◽

Drunk Driving ◽

Sensitivity Analyses ◽

Criminal Justice Program ◽

Program Compliance ◽

Quasi Experimental ◽

Justice Program ◽

The Impact ◽

Weighting Methods

Objectives: To invoke behavioral economics theories of ambiguity in the context of offender decision-making, and to test the impact of ambiguity in punishment certainty on offender decisions. Methods: We leverage a quasi-experimental condition among a sample of drunk driving arrestees that are tested for alcohol use and subject to mandatory brief incarceration for a violation. The treatment condition relaxes a zero-tolerance alcohol rule, thereby introducing design-based ambiguity surrounding the certainty of punishment. We use Mahalanobis matching and propensity score weighting methods to estimate the impact of ambiguity on violations. We then interrogate this finding with complementary sensitivity analyses. Results: When facing the ambiguity condition participants are 27–28 percentage points (84–93 percent) more likely to violate program conditions after 30 days of supervision. We demonstrate that a statistical difference in violations due to ambiguity is still detectible at 90 and 180 days of supervision. These results are robust to alternative specifications and falsification tests. Conclusions: This study is the first to examine the impact of ambiguity on criminal justice program compliance using a quasi-experiment from the field. We further demonstrate the unintended costs to persons under supervision and jurisdictions of laxity in program design, which are applicable across criminal justice domains.

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Detection and Evaluation of Machine Learning Bias

Applied Sciences ◽

10.3390/app11146271 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (14) ◽

pp. 6271

Author(s):

Salem Alelyani

Keyword(s):

Machine Learning ◽

Cognitive Bias ◽

Research Community ◽

Training Data ◽

Learning Models ◽

Open Research ◽

Research Questions ◽

And Behavior ◽

The Impact ◽

Machine Learning Models

Machine learning models are built using training data, which is collected from human experience and is prone to bias. Humans demonstrate a cognitive bias in their thinking and behavior, which is ultimately reflected in the collected data. From Amazon’s hiring system, which was built using ten years of human hiring experience, to a judicial system that was trained using human judging practices, these systems all include some element of bias. The best machine learning models are said to mimic humans’ cognitive ability, and thus such models are also inclined towards bias. However, detecting and evaluating bias is a very important step for better explainable models. In this work, we aim to explain bias in learning models in relation to humans’ cognitive bias and propose a wrapper technique to detect and evaluate bias in machine learning models using an openly accessible dataset from UCI Machine Learning Repository. In the deployed dataset, the potentially biased attributes (PBAs) are gender and race. This study introduces the concept of alternation functions to swap the values of PBAs, and evaluates the impact on prediction using KL divergence. Results demonstrate females and Asians to be associated with low wages, placing some open research questions for the research community to ponder over.

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Implications for Future Research

Management for Professionals - The Fundamental Elements of Strategy ◽

10.1007/978-981-33-4713-7_10 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 161-189

Author(s):

Xiu-bao Yu

Keyword(s):

Decision Making ◽

Decision Makers ◽

Strategic Decision ◽

Strategic Decision Making ◽

Future Research ◽

Decision Factors ◽

Research Questions ◽

The Impact

AbstractOn the basis of the three elements of strategy, this chapter puts forward some follow-up research questions and prospects mainly from the following aspects. The first is the study of factors that have influences on the quality of strategic decision. Factors include individual aspects of decision-maker, strategic decision-making information factors, approaches of strategic decision-making, etc. The second is about normative studies. They are about how the world ought to be or how strategy decisions ought to be in given situations. Outcomes of the studies can provide guidance to industry decision makers when facing development issues. Future research includePerhaps the impact of strategic decision-makers on the quality of strategies is far beyond our imagination.

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The Influence Of Criminal Justice Professors On Narco-Terrorism Policies

Journal of Business & Economics Research (JBER) ◽

10.19030/jber.v6i6.2436 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 6 (6) ◽

Author(s):

Craig S. Cleveland ◽

Andrew Honeycutt

Keyword(s):

Decision Making ◽

Criminal Justice ◽

The United States ◽

Comparison Method ◽

Managerial Decision ◽

Quantitative Research Methods ◽

Drug Enforcement ◽

Cultural Behavior ◽

Drug Enforcement Administration ◽

The Impact

The purpose of the study was to determine the impact of leadership and managerial decision making within the Drug Enforcement Administration since September 11, 2001.  A web based survey questionnaire was used to collect the data.  Participants in the study were criminal justice professors from randomly selected colleges and universities located in the southeast and southwest region of the United States.  Qualitative and quantitative research methods were used. Each participant was asked to complete a post survey that addressed areas of leadership and decision-making based on opinions and knowledge related to criminal justice.  Paired samples t test was used to describe the data. In spite of the survey findings of change in knowledge, skills, and cultural behavior, these changes did not appear to lead to significant differences in determining leadership skills.  It is recommended that future studies use a survey sample instrument designed to measure attitudinal dimensions of decision-making among leaders and managers within the Drug Enforcement Administration.  One possible recommendation is to utilize a different type of comparison method or instrument that would measure certain dimensions of managerial levels between upper and lower management.

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