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2014 Graduate Student Research Symposium

November 13, 2014
11:30AM - 1:30PM
Journalism Building, Room 217

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Add to Calendar 2014-11-13 11:30:00 2014-11-13 13:30:00 2014 Graduate Student Research Symposium Presenters and abstracts for the event:Samantha Boch, M.S./Ph.D. student in the OSU College of Nursing: “Exposure to Parental Incarceration and C-Reactive Protein Levels Among U.S. Adults”Abstract: Previous studies have linked childhood adversity to low-grade inflammation via C-reactive protein levels (CRP) across the life course. The goal of our study was to analyze the association between low-grade inflammation and prior biological parental incarceration – an ever-growing adversity. Data from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health (1994-2008) were analyzed using multinomial logistic regression models. Measures included high sensitivity CRP (<3 mg/L - reference, 3 – 10mg/L – low-grade inflammation, and >10 mg/L) and biological mother or father incarceration occurring in the child’s lifetime, timing with respect to child’s age (0-18 years or > 18 years vs. never), and frequency of incarceration. Analyses were stratified by child’s gender. Final sample sizes for the biological mother analyses were: male N=5396 and female N=6447 and for the biological father analyses: male N=4956 and female N=5860. Females whose biological father was ever incarcerated had a greater odds of having a hs-CRP level between 3 – 10mg/L versus < 3 mg/L than females whose biological father was never incarcerated (AOR: 1.44, 95% CI: 1.08-1.91). Additionally, daughter’s age of biological father incarceration (< 18 years) (AOR: 1.47, 95% CI: 1.10-1.97) and frequency of father incarceration were significant (AOR: 1.24, 95% CI: 1.03- 1.49). No significant associations were found for either biological father or mother incarceration among the male sample. History of biological father incarceration was associated with low-grade inflammation among female adults in a nationally representative sample. Further investigation is needed on the physiological effects and interventions supporting children exposed to parental incarceration. Trent Steidley, David Ramey and Emily Shrider, Ph.D. Students in the OSU Department of Sociology: “Metropolitan Gun Shop Prevalence and Neighborhood Violent Crime” (presented by Trent Steidley)Abstract: Recently, scholars have demonstrated how local social and economic institutions can contribute to neighborhood social disorganization and violent crime in the US. There has also been a significant amount of research on the association between gun prevalence and violent crime rates, but there has been very little research tying the two together, namely, how gun shops—as local economic institutions—contribute to rates of violence. Using data from the National Neighborhood Crime Study and a nationwide database of licensed firearm dealers, this project examines how the prevalence of gun shops at the local and city level contribute to local rates of violent crime in large U.S. cities. In doing so, we answer three important questions. First, what is the relationship between local prevalence of gun shops and neighborhood violent crime? Second, what is the relationship between extralocal gun shop prevalence and neighborhood violent crime? Finally, does the relationship between gun shop prevalence and local violence vary across different neighborhood contexts, including racial composition or socioeconomic disadvantage? Jenny Malave, Ph.D. Student in the OSU Department of Sociology: "The Criminal Justice System as Strain: Exploring the Link between Justice Contact and Subsequent Depression"Abstract: The current study draws on Agnew’s (1992) General Strain theory to explore the link between exposure to the justice system and depression. Extant literature has established a consistent link between strain and crime as a coping mechanism (Peck 2012), but few studies have examined the relationship between exposure to the justice system and subsequent elevations in depressive symptoms. Using four waves of the Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health, arrests, convictions, and episodes of incarceration or detention are examined to assess the effect of strain on mental health outcomes over time. Our research questions are as follows (1) What is the effect of contact with the justice system on mental health outcomes? (2) How does magnitude of contact alter this relationship? (3) What is the effect of early vs late exposure to the justice system? Findings suggest that contact with the justice system increases depression outcomes. Additionally, having a more severe contact resulted in higher levels of depression. Laura De Marco, Ph.D. Student in the OSU Department of Sociology: “The Sex Ratio, Gender Equality, and Women’s Victimization: A Cross-National Analysis”Abstract: The relationship between the sex ratio and crime is underdeveloped in the criminological literature, particularly regarding the victimization of women. Much of the existing work draws on theorizing by Guttentag and Secord (1983) on the interpersonal dynamics related to dyadic power. In this line of research, the characteristics of structural power are largely taken for granted. Drawing on literature about gender inequality and women’s victimization, this study recasts Guttentag and Secord’s notion of structural power as a continuous measure of gender equality. I examine the effect of the sex ratio on women’s victimization, and evaluate if that effect is contingent on the levels of gender equality. I theorize and evaluate the relationships between these constructs cross-nationally, finding little support for a moderating effect of gender equality. Directions for further research and theorizing are discussed. (Not presenting, but a recipient of a CJRC ASC Travel Grant Award) Christopher Keenan, Ph.D. Student in the OSU Department of Sociology; Research Analyst, Wisconsin Department of Corrections:“The Principles of Effective Intervention in Practice: The Role of Implementation in Effective Ex-Offender Reentry Programming” Abstract: The U.S. penal system is undergoing a “cultural shift” in how it manages a substantial ‘fall-out’ in the form of exceedingly high recidivism rates following the recent era of mass incarceration (D’Amico et al. 2013). This shift, characterized by a move towards the use of an evidence-based approach towards ex-offender treatment, has shown that many program types are effective at reducing recidivism but that this effectiveness varies widely across community-based programming contexts, likely a product of implementation issues within these programs. Unfortunately, similar investigations have yet to occur in the prison context. In order to address this, we use data garnered from a U.S. state department of corrections on ex-offender post-release outcomes and a comprehensive evaluative study of within-prison rehabilitation programming in a multilevel analysis of 95 programs in 24 prisons with approximately 3,000 inmates and nearly 1,200 staff. Overall, we will identify if prison programming fulfills its intended goal of rehabilitation and assess whether variation in successful rehabilitation outcomes varies across institutional-level indicators of implementation, net of individual-level factors. This will be among the first studies to investigate the explanatory role of implementation in the relationship between prison-reentry programming and ex-offender recidivism. Plans for further investigation are discussed.    Journalism Building, Room 217 Criminal Justice Research Center cjrc@osu.edu America/New_York public

Presenters and abstracts for the event:


Samantha Boch, M.S./Ph.D. student in the OSU College of Nursing: “Exposure to Parental Incarceration and C-Reactive Protein Levels Among U.S. Adults”

Abstract: Previous studies have linked childhood adversity to low-grade inflammation via C-reactive protein levels (CRP) across the life course. The goal of our study was to analyze the association between low-grade inflammation and prior biological parental incarceration – an ever-growing adversity. Data from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health (1994-2008) were analyzed using multinomial logistic regression models. Measures included high sensitivity CRP (<3 mg/L - reference, 3 – 10mg/L – low-grade inflammation, and >10 mg/L) and biological mother or father incarceration occurring in the child’s lifetime, timing with respect to child’s age (0-18 years or > 18 years vs. never), and frequency of incarceration. Analyses were stratified by child’s gender. Final sample sizes for the biological mother analyses were: male N=5396 and female N=6447 and for the biological father analyses: male N=4956 and female N=5860. Females whose biological father was ever incarcerated had a greater odds of having a hs-CRP level between 3 – 10mg/L versus < 3 mg/L than females whose biological father was never incarcerated (AOR: 1.44, 95% CI: 1.08-1.91). Additionally, daughter’s age of biological father incarceration (< 18 years) (AOR: 1.47, 95% CI: 1.10-1.97) and frequency of father incarceration were significant (AOR: 1.24, 95% CI: 1.03- 1.49). No significant associations were found for either biological father or mother incarceration among the male sample. History of biological father incarceration was associated with low-grade inflammation among female adults in a nationally representative sample. Further investigation is needed on the physiological effects and interventions supporting children exposed to parental incarceration.

 

Trent Steidley, David Ramey and Emily Shrider, Ph.D. Students in the OSU Department of Sociology: “Metropolitan Gun Shop Prevalence and Neighborhood Violent Crime” (presented by Trent Steidley)

Abstract: Recently, scholars have demonstrated how local social and economic institutions can contribute to neighborhood social disorganization and violent crime in the US. There has also been a significant amount of research on the association between gun prevalence and violent crime rates, but there has been very little research tying the two together, namely, how gun shops—as local economic institutions—contribute to rates of violence. Using data from the National Neighborhood Crime Study and a nationwide database of licensed firearm dealers, this project examines how the prevalence of gun shops at the local and city level contribute to local rates of violent crime in large U.S. cities. In doing so, we answer three important questions. First, what is the relationship between local prevalence of gun shops and neighborhood violent crime? Second, what is the relationship between extralocal gun shop prevalence and neighborhood violent crime? Finally, does the relationship between gun shop prevalence and local violence vary across different neighborhood contexts, including racial composition or socioeconomic disadvantage?

 

Jenny Malave, Ph.D. Student in the OSU Department of Sociology: "The Criminal Justice System as Strain: Exploring the Link between Justice Contact and Subsequent Depression"

Abstract: The current study draws on Agnew’s (1992) General Strain theory to explore the link between exposure to the justice system and depression. Extant literature has established a consistent link between strain and crime as a coping mechanism (Peck 2012), but few studies have examined the relationship between exposure to the justice system and subsequent elevations in depressive symptoms. Using four waves of the Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health, arrests, convictions, and episodes of incarceration or detention are examined to assess the effect of strain on mental health outcomes over time. Our research questions are as follows (1) What is the effect of contact with the justice system on mental health outcomes? (2) How does magnitude of contact alter this relationship? (3) What is the effect of early vs late exposure to the justice system? Findings suggest that contact with the justice system increases depression outcomes. Additionally, having a more severe contact resulted in higher levels of depression.

 

Laura De Marco, Ph.D. Student in the OSU Department of Sociology: “The Sex Ratio, Gender Equality, and Women’s Victimization: A Cross-National Analysis”

Abstract: The relationship between the sex ratio and crime is underdeveloped in the criminological literature, particularly regarding the victimization of women. Much of the existing work draws on theorizing by Guttentag and Secord (1983) on the interpersonal dynamics related to dyadic power. In this line of research, the characteristics of structural power are largely taken for granted. Drawing on literature about gender inequality and women’s victimization, this study recasts Guttentag and Secord’s notion of structural power as a continuous measure of gender equality. I examine the effect of the sex ratio on women’s victimization, and evaluate if that effect is contingent on the levels of gender equality. I theorize and evaluate the relationships between these constructs cross-nationally, finding little support for a moderating effect of gender equality. Directions for further research and theorizing are discussed.

 

(Not presenting, but a recipient of a CJRC ASC Travel Grant Award) Christopher Keenan, Ph.D. Student in the OSU Department of Sociology; Research Analyst, Wisconsin Department of Corrections:

“The Principles of Effective Intervention in Practice: The Role of Implementation in Effective Ex-Offender Reentry Programming”

Abstract:
The U.S. penal system is undergoing a “cultural shift” in how it manages a substantial ‘fall-out’ in the form of exceedingly high recidivism rates following the recent era of mass incarceration (D’Amico et al. 2013). This shift, characterized by a move towards the use of an evidence-based approach towards ex-offender treatment, has shown that many program types are effective at reducing recidivism but that this effectiveness varies widely across community-based programming contexts, likely a product of implementation issues within these programs. Unfortunately, similar investigations have yet to occur in the prison context. In order to address this, we use data garnered from a U.S. state department of corrections on ex-offender post-release outcomes and a comprehensive evaluative study of within-prison rehabilitation programming in a multilevel analysis of 95 programs in 24 prisons with approximately 3,000 inmates and nearly 1,200 staff. Overall, we will identify if prison programming fulfills its intended goal of rehabilitation and assess whether variation in successful rehabilitation outcomes varies across institutional-level indicators of implementation, net of individual-level factors. This will be among the first studies to investigate the explanatory role of implementation in the relationship between prison-reentry programming and ex-offender recidivism. Plans for further investigation are discussed.