Abstract

Anthropology textbooks hearken budding ethnographers to go to the field, get the seat of their pants dirty, immerse themselves in the data, and to develop informants (Fetterman 2010; Hagan 2012; Murchison 2010; Pelto and Pelto 1970). All right, I know what is meant by going to the field and getting one’s pants dirty, but who are these informants, where do they come from, and what do they do? The use of diverse types of informants is essential to solving problems, research, or otherwise and is most important to applied anthropology. Yet, the literature is noticeably sparse in regards to what we explicitly mean by informants. Personal accounts and diaries of fieldworkers long after they have left the field provide candid discussions but without orderly reflections of the varied types of informants (see, e.g., Lowie 1959; Malinowski 1967; Wax 1971; Whyte 1994; cf. Lofland et al. 2006). What follows is a discussion of how I worked with a variety of informants, the need for which sometimes emerged rather surprisingly, to conduct research in a somewhat remote area of the province of Lanao del Norte on the northwest coast of the island of Mindanao in the Southern Philippines. Although this is a specific research setting, the findings arguably apply across the board to a variety of cultural areas and set forth what might be regarded as ideal type models of informants, though admittedly not an inclusive typology.

More about Timothy Austin.

Department of Criminology

At the Department of Criminology banquet, award winners George Higgins, Tina Freiburger, Katherine Johnson, and Mahfuzul Khondaker were recognized.

Robert Mutchnick and Timothy Austin, two of the Department of Criminology’s professors and founders of the Doctor of Philosophy program, spoke to the crowd of over 40 alumni.

Department of Criminology

The article may be viewed here: “The Impact of Prior Victimization and Socio-Economic Status on People's Crime-Reporting Behavior.”

Department of Criminology

The study, “Peacekeeping Models in a Terror-Prone Land: The Case of Northwestern Mindanao in the Southern Philippines,” will be documented in summer 2013.

Department of Criminology

The article, “Delinquents after Exile: A Review of Aftercare Programs,” was published in the Journal of Knowledge and Best Practices in Juvenile Justice and Psychology.

Department of Criminology

The meeting was held in Bilbao, Spain, in September 2012.

Department of Criminology

The IUP Student Chapter of the Pennsylvania Prison Society will be displaying a poster in the lobby area of Wilson Hall through next Wednesday, October 3, 2012.

The poster includes information regarding the death penalty and case of Terry Williams. Williams is scheduled to be executed October 3, 2012, and he states that his victim had sexually abused him while he was young. Supporters of Mr. Williams are petitioning Governor Corbett for clemency since none of the information about the alleged abuse was introduced at trial.

Students will have an opportunity to sign an online petition for clemency and can review facts of the case and other information about the death penalty. Daniel Lee is the advisor of the local IUP chapter and is part of the Department of Criminology faculty.

Terry Williams Case

All items will be donated to the Indiana County Community Action Program for their annual Care & Share Day. This year marks the 25th Care & Share Day, and, as noted in the Indiana Gazette, the community is challenged to donate 25 tons of groceries and $25,000. Nonperishable food items, baby supplies, and household supplies will be collected in the lobby of Wilson Hall on the IUP campus.

All students who donate items will be eligible to enter a drawing for one of four $25 Get-Go gift cards. For more infomation, you may contact Jamie Martin at jmartin@iup.edu.

Department of Criminology

The article was published in the August 2012 issue of Western Criminology Review.

Abstract

General strain theory has been tested critically, but the development of the theory has lagged because tests of the full model are rare, and the integration and specification of conditioning variables that affect crime and deviance are not clear. This test of general strain theory used a young adult sample (n=679) of university students to complete a comprehensive analysis of the main tenets of general strain theory with the specific inclusion of conditioning variables such as self-esteem, self-efficacy, and delinquent peers, and expansion of the traditional measures of affective states, coping strategies, and types of deviant and criminal behaviors. General support for the theory was confirmed. The results show that perceptions of success and fairness, a more traditional measure of strain, are not related to crime and deviance, but the more subjective measure of stress, consistent with general strain theory, does have a relationship with crime and deviance. Implications based on these findings are presented.

Department of Criminology

Department of Criminology

Department of Criminology

PDF Article available for download

Abstract

Many people experience crime, but choose not to report it to the police. If members of the public fail to contact the police about a criminal incident they have experienced or witnessed, it will remain undetected (Coleman & Moynihan, 1996; Mosher, Miethe, & Philips, 2002). Unfortunately, a large number of crimes never reach the attention of the police. In fact, the number of crimes not reported to the police is much larger than the number of crimes reported to the police or recorded by police officials (Bureau of Justice Statistics, 2003, 2005a, 2005b, 2005c; Helfgott, 2008; Mosher et al., 2002; Pilkington, 1995; Taylor, 2003). Research shows that in 2000, only 39 percent of approximately 25.4 million crimes against persons and property crimes were reported to the police (Bureau of Justice Statistics, 2003). Although willingness to report crimes to the police has shown an increase in recent years, still more than half of crimes do not get the attention of the police. By the type of crimes, less than 40 percent of property crimes get reported to the police. Violent crimes, on the other hand, are reported at slightly higher rates (47 percent) compared to property crimes (Bureau of Justice Statistics, 2007).

The problem of unreported crimes to the police becomes much more disturbing when looking within the age category of those victimized. Most crimes against children, for example, are not reported to the police. Comparing the number of unreported crimes against children with the number of unreported crimes among the general population, statistics show that the number of unreported crimes against children is twice as high (Finkelhor, Wolak, & Berliner, 2001). Research shows that most cases of sexual and physical assaults against children are kept in secrecy. Only 28 percent of crimes against children are reported to the police (Finkelhor & Ormrod, 1999, 2000). Demographically, statistics show that young people ages 12 to 24 comprise 22 percent of the population in the United States, but disproportionately represent 35 percent of murder victims and 49 percent of serious violent crime victims (Bureau of Justice Statistics, 1997). Yet, their crime-reporting behavior is much lower than that of the older population (Bureau of Justice Statistics, 2002b, 2003, 2005a, 2007; Byrne, Conway, & Ostermeyer, 2005; Carcach, 1997; see also Hindelang, 1976; Tanton & Jones, 2003). This gives us grounds to believe that crime-reporting is selective, and many reasons why people do not report crimes to the police are not well understood.

The first annual Dean’s Cup was presented to Mary Swinker, dean of of the College of Health and Human Services, by Phi Kappa Phi.

The Dean’s Cup is given to the dean of the college with the highest yield (highest percent of invited members who accept membership into PKP in the college). The Dean’s Cup is a traveling trophy

Phi Kappa Phi is one of the nation’s oldest, largest, and most selective collegiate honors society. The Dean’s Cup is a traveling trophy that will move next year to the college at IUP that wins the competition. Phi Kappa Phi is extrememly thankful to the College of Health and Human Services for their hard work in recruiting outstanding students into Phi Kappa Phi.

In photo: Dennis Giever, professor of Criminology, and IUP chapter president of Phi Kappa Phi along with this year’s winner, Mary Swinker, dean of the College of Health and Human Services.

The award was presented in “recognition of her lifetime of service and scholarship in corrections” at the annual conference in New York City in March 2012.

Department of Criminology

The award recognizes the significant contributions made through their externally funded Constable Training Program.

Department of Criminology

Timothy Austin, Department of Criminology, has focused his field research in the Republic of the Philippines. In October 2011, supported by grants from IUP, Austin returned to the southern Philippines to conduct field work on street theft among Filipino youth.

He writes:

“In an economically developing and oftentimes poverty-stricken locale, young children turn to the street, Oliver Twist-style, to learn ways to survive by begging or conning outsiders. The specific ways and rationales used by youth to dupe, trick, or deceive others to make a few pesos is sometimes viewed with humor by locals, although youthful pranks may later turn to crime. . . . thievery may be viewed almost as a sport-like activity or tradition, and is in the process of becoming embedded in the culture in the same way other aspects of the culture (traditional music, games, tales, etc.) become part of the folklore.”

Austin is known for his research in the area of informal dispute resolution and his specialty in cross-cultural studies. Beginning with several Fulbright grants to Southeast Asia in the 1980s, Austin published work on a variety of issues in Filipino culture, including Muslim-Christian conflict resolution, adaptation to village life in terror-prone regions, and the role of bribery in routine activities. He will return to the Phillipines in summer 2012 to continue his latest research.

Department of Criminology

The ACJS Minority Mentorship Grant Award was created in order to provide opportunities for mentorship of minority doctoral students or junior faculty by senior criminal justice professors at the same or another institution within the ACJS organization.

Department of Criminology

IUP’s Criminology doctoral program will graduate its 100th Ph.D. student in Spring 2012. Shelly Clevenger is the 100th student to successfully complete the program.

She defended her dissertation, “To Register or Not to Register? The Effectiveness of Megan’s Law in Pennsylvania,” on November 30, 2011.

Shelly is currently working in the Department of Criminology as a temporary faculty member. She begins a new faculty position at Illinois State University in the fall.

The Criminology doctoral program is already anticipating the next 100 graduates. Kennethia McIntosh Fuller completed her dissertation, “Personality and Crime: An Examination of the Influence of the Five Factor Model on Offending and Co-Offending,” in February 2012, and five more doctoral students are expected to defend this semester.

The full article can be read online (PDF).

Abstract:

Grasmick and colleagues expanded general power-control theory to include both pro-and antisocial risky behaviors more than 10 years ago; however, to date, there have been no empirical tests of their theoretical modifications. The current study tested the comprehensive model of general power-control theory using three different samples from South Korea: women who enter traditionally male-dominated occupations, female prison inmates, and women incarcerated for intimate partner killing. Results related to women’s patriarchal attitudes and preference for general risks supported our expectations and confirmed the tenets of general power-control theory that focus on both pro- and antisocial risky behaviors. In addition, the ones related to patriarchy of the family of origin supported Hagan’s original power-control theory focusing on only antisocial risky behaviors.

The IUP student chapter of the Pennsylvania Prison Society has established the Reading for Change program at the Indiana County Jail. This program helps maintain connections between jail inmates and their children.

With student assistance, jailed parents are audio recorded while reading books to their children. The books are selected by the parents from those donated by community groups such as the ARIN Unit and the Kiwanis Club of Indiana, Pa. The recording, which often includes a personal message, and the book are then mailed to the child. The project’s goal is to help build the bonds that are lost when a parent becomes incarcerated.

Brandon Stroup, president of the group, initiated the program in 2011; the faculty supervisor is Daniel Lee.

The Reading for Change program is conducted free of charge to the inmates and their families. Program costs are shared by the Indiana County Jail, IUP’s Department of Criminology, the community organizations that donate books, and the IUP Student Chapter of the Pennsylvania Prison Society. Donations are welcome; contact Brandon at b.t.stroup@iup.edu.

Photo: Brandon Stroup, president of IUP’s student chapter of the Pennsylvania Prison Society, adding labels to the books on CD for the Reading for Change Program.

“We’ve worked to develop a program that not only meets the academic standards required to prepare students for administrative and management positions in the criminal justice system and related fields, but meets the needs of working professionals and nontraditional students with nontraditional schedules,” Jamie Martin, professor of Criminology and coordinator of the master’s program, said.

“The online program also offers an opportunity for students throughout the nation to complete their degree work without the necessity of travel to IUP. While most positions in the criminal justice field do not require a master’s degree for employment, a master’s degree enhances promotion opportunities and in some cases is even required for promotion.”

Students take courses in a cohort of 25 students, and the degree can be completed in two academic years. Coursework includes two courses per term for five semesters, including the Summer term in 2013.

Applications are being accepted now and will be considered until the cohort is filled. For more information or an application, visit the IUP Admissions website, e-mail crim-online@iup.edu, or call 724-357-2720.

In addition to meeting the requirements for admission, a student must be able to demonstrate an understanding of criminological theory and the criminal justice system—generally satisfied by a bachelor’s degree in criminology, criminal justice, or a related field; experience within the justice system; or specialized training or graduate or undergraduate studies in a related field.

Gido was also honored at the June 2011 North/South Irish Criminology conference on the occasion of her retirement from IUP.

She held teaching and research posts in 1997 and 2011 at the Irish Garda Police College. She is editor of the Prison Journal.

The society’s meeting took place in Vilnius, Lithuania on September 22, 2011.

Read the article: “IUP Criminologists Find It's Still About the Gender when Discussing Rape Myths”

A doctorate in Criminology, Criminal Justice, or closely related social science discipline is required. The search closes September 30, 2011.

IUP is an equal opportunity employer M/F/H/V and a member of the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education.

The article is found in the International Journal of Police, Science and Management, Vol. 13, No 2, pp. 132-148.

The authors (in order) are: Peter J. Benekos, Alida V. Merlo, and Charles M. Puzzanchera.

The Association of Doctoral Programs in Criminology and Criminal Justice is comprised of universities and colleges offering the doctorate in criminal justice, criminology, and related areas of study.

As part of the Department of Criminology Speaker Series, Megan Joseph, M.A., IUP alumna, will visit campus on March 23, 2011, to speak to Criminology and Psychology students.

She earned a double B.A. in Criminology and Psychology from Indiana University of Pennsylvania, where she won the 2001 IUP Women’s Leadership Award, and received a master’s degree in Consciousness and Transformative Studies from John F. Kennedy University, where she was recognized as the 2009 Scholar of the Year.

Megan was influenced by the experience of her father being sent to prison for six years while she was a teenager. She developed a passion for creating positive change for individuals, families, and communities affected by the criminal justice system.

Her topic is “Solving Problems, Shifting Systems, Transforming Lives: A Community-Based Approach to Sustainable Reentry.”

The event will be held March 23, 2011, at 2:30 p.m. in the Gorell Room of Sutton Hall. She will also be speaking to students at 10:00 a.m. in the HUB’s Allegheny Room.

All Criminology and Psychology students and faculty members are invited to attend.

The article is to be published in Crime and Delinquency Journal.

The article was published in the Women and Criminal Justice Journal, 21: 1, 1 - 20 (2011).

The chapter was published in the fifth edition of Women and Justice: It's a Crime, by Roslyn Muraskin (2012).

Upper Saddle River NJ: Prentice Hall.

Seven faculty members and twenty-three graduate students presented papers at the annual ASC meeting in San Francisco in November 2010. The faculty presenting were: Dr. Rosemary Gido, Dr. Dennis Giever, Dr. Bitna Kim, Dr. Daniel Lee, Dr. Jamie Martin, Dr. Alida Merlo, and Dr. David Myers.

This article appeared in Journal of Criminal Justice.

The article appeared in Journal of the Korean Criminological Association.

The 2009 recipients of the Outstanding Researcher Award, as selected by their deans, were honored during a November 2009 event.

The research is titled “Jungle Law in Mindanao: An Ethnographical Study on the Normalization of Theft.”

An estimated 150 students and faculty attended the presentation, “100 Years of Organized Crime: Old Cons, New Criminals.”

Albanese said organized crime began in the late 1800s in New Orleans when David Harnessers, the police chief at the time, was shot at his doorstep. “Organized crime took off in the 1920s after prohibition laws were passed,” Albanese said. In recent times, new versions of organized crime have shifted to things such as Internet gambling, synthetic drugs, sex trafficking, money laundering, and property theft.

Albanese ended his presentation saying that organized crime will continue to exist and change in the future.

Dr. Martin presented at Kyonggi University, Korea National Police University, and the Korean Institute of Criminology.

Currently, there is a dilemma about how to handle alcohol-related issues involving juvenile offenders and drunk driving. Some argue for additional alcohol laws to restrict use and more severe penalties for extant laws. Others call for an ease in alcohol policies, including a lower drinking age and state-mandated regulation of alcohol use without federal interference. Lewis examines these approaches and argues that retribution and incarceration have little chance of success and will only add to the problem through higher incarceration rates, the threat of more severe offending, and the implementation of additional policies that will cause net widening.

The IUP Department of Criminology offers students seeking careers in Criminology a broad liberal arts education that encourages them to think critically about crime and justice issues and also prepares them for careers in the criminal justice system.

His testimony was given in the Matter of the Estate of Majencio Camaso, Decendent, et al. vs. Derek Charles Egan, et. al.

Eight hundred pounds of food, drinks, and toiletry items were donated to ICCAP along with $230.

At left are Kendra Bowen, president and James Bowers, vice president

Department of Criminology

Department of Criminology

The Department of Criminology recently held a "Welcome Picnic" for incoming freshmen in  Fall 2009. Students stopped by the Oak Grove area in front of Wilson Hall to meet many of their professors and enjoy a picnic lunch.

Dr. Erika Frenzel, Advising Center coordinator, welcomed and encouraged the students to stop by the Advising Center if they have any questions. Seven door prizes were given, included Criminology T-shirts, a backpack, and IUP school supplies. It was a relaxing afternoon and an excellent start to their first semester here at Indiana University of Pennyslvania.

Bitna Kim. (2009). General Power Control Theory of Women: Prosocial and Antisocial Risk-taking Behaviors among Women. Saarbrucken, Germany: Verlag Dr. Muller Publishing.

Peter J. Benekos and Alida V. Merlo, eds. (2009). Controversies in Juvenile Justice and Delinquency. Second Edition. Cincinnati, OH: Anderson Publishing/LexisNexis.

A PowerPoint presentation was shown to family and friends of graduating students at the beginning of the ceremony. Dr. Randy Martin, chair, welcomed the students, family, and friends. Special awards included the Spinelli Memorial Award, the Prandy Memorial Award, and the Outstanding Academic Achievement Award. The award winners were presented with a plaque of recognition, and each gave a short acceptance speach.

Below, from left: Dr. Randy Martin, chair; Derek R. Scheer, Outstanding Academic Achievement Award; Angie M. Lane, Spinelli Memorial Award; and Alex N. Smith, Prandy Memorial Award. (PowerPoint presentation)

Hopeful Hearts is a grief support center for children, adolescents, and their families, serving Indiana County, southern Jefferson County, and eastern Westmoreland and Armstrong counties. The center is supported by a $271,000 grant from Highmark Healthy High 5 secured by Dr. Giever and his wife, Diane Giever, to fund the first two years of program operation.

John A. Lewis and Philip E. Carlan. (2009). “The National Minimum Drinking Age Law: Perceptions of its effectiveness to deter juvenile alcohol use.” A Critical Journal of Crime, Law and Society, 22(2).

Philip E. Carlan and John A. Lewis. (2009). “Professionalism in policing: Assessing the professionalism movement. Professional Issues in Criminal Justice, 4(1), 39–58.

John A. Lewis. (2009). “The fallacy of legislating away drunk driving.” Impaired Driver Update, 13(2).

Dr. Moyer was a member of the faculty in IUP’s Criminology Department from 1984 through 1998. She was instrumental in the growth and development of the department and its programs, and she is remembered particularly for her mentoring of graduate students and new faculty members.

Dr. Moyer was the author of Criminological Theories: Traditional and Non-Traditional Voices and Themes and The Changing Roles of Women in the Criminal Justice System: Offenders, Victims, and Professionals, as well as numerous journal articles and book chapters. She was the recipient of the 2005 Lifetime Achievement Award from the American Society of Criminology’s Division on Women and Crime and was Professor Emerita in the Criminology Department at Indiana University of Pennsylvania.

Bitna Kim & G. Armstrong. (2009). Boot Camps. In R. Ruddell & M. Thomas (Eds.), Juvenile Corrections. Richmond, KY: Newgate press.

G. Armstrong, Bitna Kim & R. Ruddell. (2009). Aftercare. In R. Ruddell & M. Thomas (Eds.), Juvenile Corrections. Richmond, KY: Newgate press.

• Dr. Alida Merlo, professor of criminology, received the Becky Tatum Excellence Award from the Minorities and Women’s Section in recognition of her far-reaching contributions to the discipline.
• Doctoral student Katie L. Herman was awarded the Minorities and Women’s Section Esther Madriz Student Travel Award for her paper “Victimization of Women: Different Perceptions of the Definition of Rape.”

Graduates of the Criminology doctoral program were also recognized at the national conference:

• Dr. George Higgins, currently of the University of Louisville, was awarded the Minority and Women’s Section Leadership Award

And three alumnae received the Sage Publications Award for Teaching:

• Dr. Danielle McDonald
• Dr. Alison S. Burke
• Dr. Rebecca (Boyd) Howell

When arriving on campus, Dr. Mesko and students were given a tour by Dr. Rosemary Gido and Dr. Alida Merlo. They later met with the chair of the Department of Criminology, Dr. Randy Martin, and also enjoyed a reception held by the department and the Pennsylvania Prison Society Student Chapter, plus a welcome message given by Dr. Carleen Zoni, dean of the College of Health and Human Services.

Since attending the World Congress of Criminology in Philadelphia in 2005, Dr. Mesko has been very busy working to develop the criminal justice and security undergraduate and graduate programs at the University of Maribor. There are currently two undergraduate, M.A., and Ph.D. programs, for a total of 1,600 students. They have twenty-six full time faculty members, fifteen staff, and sixty part-time associates.

This event is free and open to the public. Refreshments will be provided.

Department of Criminology 

“We’ve worked to develop a program that not only meets the academic standards required to prepare students for administrative and management positions in the criminal justice system and related fields, but meets the needs of nontraditional students with nontraditional schedules,” Dr. Jamie Martin, professor of criminology and coordinator of the master’s program, said.

“The on-line program also offers an opportunity for students throughout the nation and world to complete their degree work without the necessity of travel to IUP.

“While most positions in the criminal justice field do not require a master’s degree for employment, a master’s degree enhances promotion opportunities and in some cases is even required for promotion.”

Students would take courses in a cohort of twenty-five students, meaning that the students complete coursework as a group. Coursework would include two courses per term for five semesters.

Applications are being accepted now and are due by April 15. For more information or an application, visit the IUP Admissions website, e-mail crim-online@iup.edu, or call 724-357-2720.

In addition to meeting the requirements for admission, a student must be able to demonstrate an understanding of criminological theory and the criminal justice system—generally satisfied by a bachelor’s degree in criminology, criminal justice, or a related field; experience within the justice system; or specialized training or graduate or undergraduate studies in a related field.

Department of Criminology

Dr. Bitna Kim, assistant professor, joined the Department of Criminology at Indiana University of Pennsylvania in the Fall of 2008. Dr. Kim completed her doctorate in May 2008 at Sam Houston State University, Huntsville, Texas. Her dissertation concerned a General Power-Control Theory of Women.

Dr. Kim’s undergraduate and master’s degrees in Psychology were completed at Chungbuk National University in South Korea. She spent a year at Queen’s University in Kingston, Canada, before coming to the United States to begin her doctoral studies. As a graduate student, she was the recipient of the First Place Scholarship, 2006 Graduate Student Paper Competition, at Southwestern Association of Criminal Justice.

Dr. Kim’s research and teaching interests include Statistics and Research Methods, Hate Crime, Data Analysis, Criminology, Gender Issues in CJ System, and Homicide. She has published several articles, most recently her coauthored article “Abused South Korean Women: A Comparison of Those Who Do and Do Not Resort to Lethal Violence,” which will be published in the International Journal of Offender Therapy and Comparative Criminology.

Since leaving the warmth of Texas, Dr. Kim has quickly adjusted to life in the Northeast. Currently she is enjoying the cold and snow and “plenty of Starbucks coffee.” Dr. Kim plans to spend the semester break with family and friends.

Department of Criminology

See the Commencement website for more information about the university's main commencement ceremony.

Other criminology graduate students presenting papers were Steven L. Brewer Jr.,  Mari Pearce, and Sunyoung Park.