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The (not so) United States of Parole: A State-of-the-Art Review of Discretionary Release for Individuals Serving Life
No full textAbout one in seven individuals are currently in prison serving a life sentence. A substantial proportion of this incarcerated population have the opportunity for early release through parole. Given the complexity and variety of parole board systems, capturing a comprehensive understanding of parole decision-making is imperative. This article provides a state of the art review of statutory and administrative provisions describing parole practices for individuals serving life sentences were collected and evaluated by employing content analytical techniques. We find that the formalization of discretionary release procedures in statutes, administrative rules, and policy manuals reflects a confluence of perspectives ranging from the punitive to the rehabilitative in terms of the structure of parole boards, extent of due process rights to candidates, and the factors considered in decision-making. Conducting an inductive, exploratory examination of parole decision-making across the United States provides a new lens into the routinization and diversity of parole board practices
Examining State Statutory Selection Methods, Term Limits, and Required Qualifications for Appellate Judges as a Model for Reform
No full textSeveral reform proposals have been pushed forward for the federal judiciary- namely the United States Supreme Court- in recent years, including term limits, changes in judicial selection, and qualification criteria. Such changes could ostensibly apply to all federal appellate judges as well. The purpose of this study is to determine if states can provide a roadmap for Supreme Court reform discussions. This study utilizes a state-level legal content analysis of all statutes pertaining to judicial selection and qualification criteria for appellate-level judges. Specifically, selection mechanisms, age limits, term limits, and qualifications for selection are examined. Whether state statutory schemes can serve as a guide for U.S. Supreme Court reform initiatives is discussed, as well as recommendations for future research
Addressing White Collar and Corporate Crime: Prosecution, Nonprosecution, or Deferred Prosecution?
No full textTrends in white-collar and corporate crime prosecutions have been examined over two decades. It is found that prosecutions have dropped substantially over the last 10 years. Reasons for this trend are explored. A recent trend to use deferred and nonprosecution agreements (DNPAs) as an alternative to criminal prosecution helps explain some of this decline. The frequency and nature of their use against organizations are examined based on the charges involved and the type of corporate defendant. Interviews with former federal investigators and prosecutors shed light on prosecution decisions against organizations and potential changes that might deter corporate misconduct more effectively
Counselors-in-Training as Behavioral Health Consultants in Primary Care: A Focus Group Study
Get PDFIntegrated Primary Care (IPC) combines medical and behavioral services so that patients’ physical and behavioral health concerns can be addressed more effectively within primary care settings. The Primary Care Behavioral Health (PCBH) Consultation Model is the gold star framework for IPC and entails team-based care for a broad spectrum of health conditions (i.e., depression, asthma, insomnia) through behaviorally focused appointments. Focus groups were utilized to gain an in-depth understanding of the PCBH internship experience of 12 counselors-in-training working as behavioral health consultants in primary care. Data were analyzed using constant comparison analysis and three themes were identified: (a) benefits to clinic infrastructure, (b) advocacy for behavioral health consultant (BHC) involvement and (c) barriers to clinic integration. Implications for counselor training and research are discussed
Across the Curriculum: Teaching LGBTQ+ Competencies in Counselor Education
Get PDFIn the U.S., the number of people identifying as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, or other sexual/gender minority identity (LGBTQ+) is increasing. LGBTQ+ individuals utilize counseling services twice as much as individuals in the general population. They are at a higher risk of experiencing depression, suicidal ideation, anxiety disorders, substance abuse, and relationship issues. This population also faces discrimination and marginalization due to the stigma of their gender identity and sexual orientation. Thus, there is a high likelihood that counselors will provide counseling services to LGBTQ+ clients during their careers. Unfortunately, many masters-level counselor education programs do not provide sufficient training. Ethical, effective, and affirmative strategies counselor educators can use when teaching LGTBQ+ competencies are offered
The Perceived Impact of an Awareness Toolkit on Alzheimer Caregivers\u27 Preparedness, Burden, and Posttraumatic Growth
Get PDFOver 7 million Americans age 65 and older live with Alzheimer’s in the United States, and more than 11 million caregivers of people with Alzheimer’s disease or other dementias provided an estimated 18 billion hours of unpaid care valued at $340 billion (Alzheimer’s Association, 2023). This study implemented a new intervention called an Awareness Toolkit for Alzheimer\u27s caregivers comprised of Alzheimer’s disease-related education, community resources, and support tailored to the county where care was provided, including caregiver self-care and coping tips. The aim of this study is to evaluate the impact of an Awareness Toolkit intervention and examine its influence on Alzheimer caregivers’ preparedness, burden, and personal growth. Methods Randomly assigned caregivers in the intervention group were informed about the Awareness Toolkit intervention, supplemented with social work case management services. Conversely, randomly assigned caregivers in the control group received this intervention upon the study\u27s conclusion. A total of 51 completed surveys were returned, comprising 28 surveys from the intervention group and 23 surveys from the control group. Three measurements were used to measure levels of caregiver burden, preparedness, and growth: 1) Zarit Caregiver Burden Assessment (Zarit et al., 2001), 2) Preparedness for Caregiving Scale (Archbold et al., 1990), and 3) Posttraumatic Growth Inventory Short Form (Cann et al., 2010)
A Duoethnographic Investigation of a Cross-Cultural Dissertation Chairing Relationship
Get PDFDespite the importance of cross-cultural mentorship in supporting doctoral counselor education students with international backgrounds in overcoming barriers, few have researched the specific complexities of these relationships with critical depth. Therefore, in this duoethnographic study rooted in relational cultural theory, we offer a critical and transformative polyvocal dialogue of the cross-cultural dissertation mentoring relationship of [author 1], a White counselor educator, and [author 2], an Asian-Japanese former doctoral student with an international background. We discussed how our cultural backgrounds impacted the relationship, our experiences of imposter phenomenon, and how broaching may have impacted our relationship. We present a series of critical questions raised by our dialogue for readers to reflect upon and discuss the impact of their cultural identities and contexts
Child Sex Trafficking and Professional School Counselor Preparedness in Texas
Get PDFProfessional school counselors in Texas responded to a questionnaire about training received and their needs concerning preparedness to identify and work with youth exposed to child sex trafficking (CST). The study utilized a convergent parallel mixed methods design. Quantitative results indicated many participants did not find that their graduate degree program prepared them to work with CST and less than half felt their school and/or district provided adequate training opportunities. In addition, thematic analysis revealed two themes characterizing Texas school counselors’ needs to identify and work with CST: (a) concerning preparedness: “so much going on” and (b) “specific training”: a comprehensive review of CST. This article concludes with implications and recommendations for practice and future research
More than just checking a box: Teachers\u27 experiences of transformation in equity-focused professional learning
Get PDFPennsylvania has the largest disparity between student and faculty demographics. In fact, over half of Pennsylvania schools employ zero teachers of color. As student demographics change and teacher demographics remain the same, there is an ever-increasing need to train in-service teachers on diversity, equity, and inclusion tenets. Training teachers to be culturally competent requires them to alter their understandings in a transformational way. Often, cash-strapped districts attempt to produce training sessions in-house, developed by administrators who may have little training in the area themselves. This leads to professional learning that is left in the conference room once teachers leave. Research demonstrates that schools that engage in quality equity-focused professional learning show an increase in test scores, better student mental health, and lower dropout rates. This study seeks to examine how teachers experience sessions of equity-focused professional learning to determine what aspects are effective in engaging teachers in the transformational learning process. The teachers in this study underwent equity-focused professional learning led by a consultant in the field in the 2022/2023 school year. The teachers’ experiences will be examined through a survey and ethnographic interviews. This qualitative and quantitative data would illustrate if teachers experienced transformation and what that transformation looked and felt like. Finally, quantitative data analysis on student surveys that measure students’ feelings of belonging can help to determine whether there is reciprocal transfer from professional learning, answering the question: does this type of training help to increase students’ feelings of belonging