Journal of Criminal Justice 39(1)

How general is general strain theory?
Matt DeLisi

ADHD and criminality: A primer on the genetic, neurobiological, evolutionary, and treatment literature for criminologists
Catrina M. Schilling, Anthony Walsh, Ilhong Yun

Assessing the effectiveness of mental health courts: A quantitative review
Christine M. Sarteschi, Michael G. Vaughn, Kevin Kim

We used quantitative analysis to examine mental health court interventions. Eighteen published and unpublished studies were analyzed. Our findings suggest they are effective but this assertion is not definitive.

Physical health and crime among low-income urban women: An application of general strain theory
Ryan D. Schroeder, Terrence D. Hill, Stacy Hoskins Haynes, Christopher Bradley

Explores the relationship between physical health and criminal offending. Poorer physical health increases the odds of offending onset. The loss of physical health reduces the odds of decreased offending. Anxiety and depression partially mediate the impact of physical health on crime. Findings provide support for General Strain Theory. Policies that address crime must integrate public health approaches.

Correlates and consequences of pre-incarceration gang involvement among incarcerated youthful felons
Sean P. Varano, Beth M. Huebner, Timothy S. Bynum
The findings indicate that among youthful incarcerated felons, approximately two thirds report not being part of gangs at the point of incarceration.

Among the felons reporting gang involvement, half reported being involved in unorganized gangs and the remainder in organized gangs. Delinquent peers and delinquent values are significant predictors of pre-incarceration involvement in organized gangs. Pre-incarceration involvement in organized gangs is a significant predictor of serious prison misconduct net other risk factors; pre-incarceration involvement in unorganized gangs is not a significant predictor of serious prison misconduct.

Is stalking a learned phenomenon? An empirical test of social learning theory
Kathleen A. Fox, Matt R. Nobles, Ronald L. Akers

The current study is the first to examine social learning theory among stalking behavior. Results suggest that there are responses, attitudes, and behaviors that are learned, modified, or reinforced primarily through interaction with peers that predict stalking victimization and perpetration.

Understanding the relationship between violent victimization and gang membership
Charles M. Katz, Vincent J. Webb, Kate Fox, Jennifer N. Shaffer

Rival gangs in respondents’ neighborhood was associated with victimization. Current gang members were more likely to be a victim of a violent crime. After controlling for gang crime gang status was unrelated to victimization.

Developmental trajectories of nonsocial reinforcement and offending in adolescence and young adulthood: An exploratory study of an understudied part of social learning theory
George E. Higgins, Wesley G. Jennings, Catherine D. Marcum, Melissa L. Ricketts, Margaret Mahoney

Nonsocial reinforcement has three distinct groups. Nonsocial reinforcement and delinquency has a reciprocal effect. Nonsocial reinforcement complements Akers’s and Moffitt’s theories.

The effect of low self-control on perceived police legitimacy
Scott E. Wolfe

Level of self-control affects peoples’ perceptions of procedural justice and legitimacy. Procedural justice mediates the effect of self-control on perceptions of legitimacy. Self-control conditions the effect of procedural justice on perceived legitimacy. The process-based model of policing is affected by individuals’ levels of self-control.

The Severe 5%: A Latent Class Analysis of the Externalizing Behavior Spectrum in the United States
Michael G. Vaughn, Matt DeLisi, Tracy Gunter, Qiang Fu, Kevin M. Beaver, Brian E. Perron, Matthew O. Howard

Four-classes of respondents from a nationally representative study were identified. A severe (5% of sample) class was found. Results show that a small subset of individuals are extreme in their antisociality.

No change is a good change? Restrictive deterrence in illegal drug markets
Owen Gallupe, Martin Bouchard, Jonathan P. Caulkins

No prior research has assessed the effect of restrictive deterrence on survival time. Altering drug market behavior appears to place offenders at risk for rapid rearrest. Cannabis growers that change location and increase plant numbers survive longer. Subtle post-arrest behavioral changes seem to increase time to rearrest.

Toward a biosocial theory of offender rehabiltiation: Why does cognitive-behavioral therapy work?
Jamie Vaske, Kevan Galyean, Francis T. Cullen

CBT programs that promote prosocial skills may improve brain functioning. CBT programs for may improve functioning in PFC regions, ACC/PCC, insula, and the TPJ. Improvements in brain functioning may be both compensatory and normalizing.

Journal of Criminal Justice, January 2011; Volume 31, Issue 1