There are numerous examples in the homicide literature of a presumed connection between the victim-offender relationship and the manner, extent, and body location of wounds inflicted in homicides. The current study examined variations in wounding patterns according to the intimacy of the victim-offender relationship in a sample of urban homicides…

Bertillon cards are underutilized resources, often regarded as the remnants of an antiquated nineteenth century police identification system. Through the application of computer search techniques, data manipulation, and outreach, not only can institutions provide their patrons access to this unique information, these collections can in turn help…

There are constant calls for reform in the criminal justice system, but observers have often reported that criminal justice reform is an exceptionally challenging task. As with any organizational change, resistance to new policies, procedures, and practices comes from a variety of sources. The relatively broad discretionary authority vested in…

Drawing on a sample of 798 Ohio criminal justice professionals (police, prosecutors, defense attorneys, judges), the authors examine respondents' perceptions regarding the frequency of system errors (i.e., professional error and misconduct suggested by previous research to be associated with wrongful conviction), and wrongful felony conviction.…

The purpose of the Youth Level of Service Case Management Inventory (YLS/CMI) is to assess, classify, and assist agencies with developing treatment and service plans according to the offender's criminogenic risk factors. Given the limited research in the predictive validity for this instrument, the current study attempts to examine this issue on a…

This paper describing offenders and components of the criminal justice system is the second of the five-part Comprehensive Community-Based Services for Offenders Information PAK that provides guidelines for developing a system to improve exoffender service delivery. (Parts 1 and 3, which also contain printed information, are available separately.)…

The relatively high imprisonment rates of African American men from poor neighborhoods raise a question of whether felony sentences are influenced by ecological factors, separately from or in conjunction with a defendant's race. To provide insight on the topic, both legal and extralegal effects on imprisonment and sentence length were modeled for…

Ohio's program, now in its third year, of enrolling prisoners in external college courses is described. About 12,000 men and women are enrolled, with as many as 25 percent qualified for college work. (LBH)

The purpose of this bulletin is to inform citizens and policy makers about the nature and scope of crime in rural Ohio, the characteristics of those committing crimes in rural areas, and protective means currently employed by rural residents to protect themselves and their property. Data are derived from the Uniform Crime Reports published by the…

This study examined the association between ownership of high-risk ("vicious") dogs and the presence of deviant behaviors in the owners as indicated by court convictions. We also explored whether two characteristics of dog ownership (abiding licensing laws and choice of breed) could be useful areas of inquiry when assessing risk status…

This study of vocational education in Ohio correctional institutions seeks to determine the progress that has been made in the past decade, identify conditions that affect future directions for this educational effort, and make recommendations for further development of the program. The study examines vocational education for juvenile correctional…

This guide to the use of PAK materials is the first of the five-part Comprehensive Community-Based Services for Offenders Information PAK that provides guidelines for developing a system to improve ex-offender service delivery. (Parts 2 and 3, which also contain printed information, are available separately.) The first section discusses the need…

The work of six citizen task forces in comprehensive planning for vocational rehabilitation in one region in Ohio is described. Their combined findings are summarized and recommendations presented in the areas of facilities and programs, personnel, coordination, public information, and finance. The regional study plan is defined in terms of its…

This study compared correctional education participants and non-participants in Maryland, Minnesota, and Ohio to assess the impact of correctional education on recidivism and post-release employment of inmates. The study attempted to address criticism of previous studies by using a treatment and comparison group, using statistical controls,…

The impact of correctional education (CE) on inmates' postrelease behavior was examined in a longitudinal study of recidivism in Maryland (which has a medium-sized prison population), Minnesota (which has a small prison population), and Ohio (which has a large prison population). The study sample consisted of 3,170 individuals in the release…