Bonnie Fisher - Academia.edu (original) (raw)

Papers by Bonnie Fisher

Criminal Justice Review, 2011

In the last decade, online social networking websites have become immensely popular worldwide, wi... more In the last decade, online social networking websites have become immensely popular worldwide, with the number of users growing exponentially. With a social network account, users can post an array of personal information and link their profile to those of other users, forming virtual communities. In the last few years, security and protection of private information posted on social networking sites has piqued the interest of researchers. Generally, the focus of this research has been limited to describing the type of information posted by users, with few studies examining the relationship between users' adoption of security measures for their social networking sites and negative online experiences, such as online interpersonal victimization. Our examination of the relationship between users' online social network activity, online social network security, and online interpersonal victimization found that users who engaged in risky online behaviors, such as opening numerous social network accounts and adding strangers as friends, were more likely to be victimized online.

Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 2011

A clinical sample of 995 community dwelling women aged 55 and older were surveyed by telephone ab... more A clinical sample of 995 community dwelling women aged 55 and older were surveyed by telephone about their experience with psychological/ emotional, control, threat, physical, and sexual abuse. Nearly half of the women experienced at least one type of abuse since turning 55. Sizable proportions were victims of repeated abuse, and many experienced cooccurring abuse. Women who experienced any type of abuse were more likely to self-report negative health effects than those who were not abused. Health care and social service providers should routinely screen older women for psychological/emotional abuse at it often co-occurs with more severe forms of abuse.

Progress in cyber technology has created innovative ways for individuals to communicate with each... more Progress in cyber technology has created innovative ways for individuals to communicate with each other. Sophisticated cell phones, often with integrated cameras, have made it possible for users to instantly send photos, videos, and other materials back and forth to each other regardless of their physical separation. This same technology also makes sexting possible – sending nude or semi-nude images, often of oneself, to others electronically (e.g., by text message, email). Few studies examining sexting have been published, and most have focused on the legal issues associated with juvenile sexting. In general, lacking are empirical analyses of the prevalence of sexting, and its potential consequences (i.e., victimization) that are theoretically grounded. Accordingly, we explored the possible link between sexting and online personal victimization (i.e., cybervictimization) among a sample of college students. As hypothesized, respondents who engaged in sexting were more likely to not only experience cybervictimization, but also to be victimized by different types of cybervictimization.

Journal of Quantitative Criminology, 2011

This study revisits a familiar question regarding the relationship between victimization and offe... more This study revisits a familiar question regarding the relationship between victimization and offending. Using longitudinal data on middle- and high-school students, the study examines competing arguments regarding the relationship between victimization and offending embedded within the “dynamic causal” and “population heterogeneity” perspectives. The analysis begins with models that estimate the longitudinal relationship between victimization and offending without accounting for the influence of time-stable individual heterogeneity. Next, the victimization-offending relationship is reconsidered after the effects of time-stable sources of heterogeneity, and time-varying covariates are controlled. While the initial results without controls for population heterogeneity are in line with much prior research and indicate a positive link between victimization and offending, results from models that control for time-stable individual differences suggest something new: a negative, reciprocal relationship between victimization and offending. These latter results are most consistent with the notion that the oft-reported victimization-offending link is driven by a combination of dynamic causal and population heterogeneity factors. Implications of these findings for theory and future research focusing on the victimization-offending nexus are discussed.

vii EXECUTIVE SUMMARY viii 3.2.

Violence Against Women, 1999

Abstract It is only in recent years that sexual victimization has been identified as a salient pr... more Abstract It is only in recent years that sexual victimization has been identified as a salient problem on college and university campuses. Researchers have used a variety of different methodologies and data sources to describe the extent and the nature of sexual victimization of college women. These studies, however, are most commonly flawed by an incomplete conceptualization of sexual victimization (eg, omitting sexual harassment and stalking), and by the inability to distinguish between different ranges of more and less ...

British Journal of Criminology, 2004

115 Prikazi knjiga MARTIN GILL, BONNIE FISHER, VAUGHAN BOWIE Violence at work: Causes, patterns a... more 115 Prikazi knjiga MARTIN GILL, BONNIE FISHER, VAUGHAN BOWIE Violence at work: Causes, patterns and prevention (Nasilje na poslu: Uzroci, obrasci i ... U zaključnom delu studije, autori ističu da niko nije imun na iskustvo nasi-lja na poslu, i da se na radnom mestu mogu ...

Security Journal, 2001

Abstract The first generation of cyberaggression researchers has shown that the Internet is being... more Abstract The first generation of cyberaggression researchers has shown that the Internet is being used in different forms to harass, insult, threaten, and stalk a significant number of female Internet users. Because this type of communication takes place in cyberspace—a relatively anonymous environment—cyberaggression poses new challenges to the safety and security of these women. A handful of nations have developed anti-cyberaggression legislation, yet these legal efforts have not deterred those who harass and stalk women on ...

Womens Health Issues, 2011

Purpose: We sought to examine relationships between women's sexual orientations and their sexual ... more Purpose: We sought to examine relationships between women's sexual orientations and their sexual assault experiences before and during university. Methods: Self-reported responses on a web-based survey of 5,439 female undergraduates who participated in the Campus Sexual Assault study were analyzed to compare three groups: bisexuals, lesbians, and heterosexuals. Groups were compared in terms of the prevalence of sexual assault before and during university, and the extent to which sexual assault before university predicted sexual assault during university. Findings: The prevalence of sexual assault before and during university was higher among bisexuals and lesbians compared with heterosexuals (25.4% of bisexuals, 22.4% of lesbians, and 10.7% of heterosexuals were sexually assaulted before university; 24.0% of bisexuals, 17.9% of lesbians, and 13.3% of heterosexuals were sexually assaulted during university). Sexual assault before university was highly predictive of sexual assault during university, especially among nonheterosexuals. Compared with heterosexuals not sexually assaulted before university (the referent group), previously assaulted non-heterosexuals (bisexuals/lesbians) had eight times the odds of sexual assault during university (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] ¼ 8.75), whereas previously assaulted heterosexuals had four times the odds of sexual assault during university (AOR, 4.40). However, there was no difference in the odds of sexual assault during university between nonheterosexuals not sexually assaulted before university and heterosexuals not sexually assaulted before university. Conclusion: Bisexual and lesbian women are more likely than heterosexual women to be sexually assaulted before and during university. Sexual assault before university is linked to sexual assault during university for all women, with this association being especially pronounced among non-heterosexuals.

Journal of Forensic Nursing, 2009

Little is known about the role of skin color in the forensic sexual assault examination. The purp... more Little is known about the role of skin color in the forensic sexual assault examination. The purpose of this study was to determine whether anogenital injury prevalence and frequency vary by skin color in women after consensual sexual intercourse. The sample consisted of 120 healthy (63 Black, 57 White) women who underwent a forensic sexual assault examination following consensual sexual intercourse. Experienced sexual assault forensic examiners using visual inspection, colposcopy technique with digital imaging, and toluidine blue application documented the number, type, and location of anogenital injuries. Although 55% of the total sample was observed to have at least one anogenital injury of any type following consensual intercourse, the percentages significantly differed for White (68%) and Black (43%) participants (p 0.02). When the presence of anogenital injury was analyzed by specific anatomical region, a significant difference between White and Black participants was only evident for the external genitalia (White = 56%, Black = 24%, p = .003), but not for the internal genitalia (White = 28%, Black = 19%, p = .20) or anus (White = 9%, Black = 10%, p = 0.99). A one standard deviation-unit increase in L* values (lightness) was related to a 150% to 250% increase in the odds of external genitalia injury prevalence (p < 0.001). While Black and White participants had a significantly different genital injury prevalence, dark skin color rather than race was a strong predictor for decreased injury prevalence. Sexual assault forensic examiners, therefore, may not be able to detect injury in women with dark skin as readily as women with light skin, leading to health disparities for women with dark skin.

Deviant Behavior, 2012

Over the last decade, researchers have consistently reported that stalking is a disturbing realit... more Over the last decade, researchers have consistently reported that stalking is a disturbing reality for many individuals, especially youths. Cyberstalking, however, has received much less attention from the research community than stalking. Few estimates of cyberstalking victimization or cyberstalking offending have been published. The current study attempts to address these gaps by estimating lifetime prevalence of both cyberstalking victimization and offending among a sample of undergraduates from a large urban university in the Midwest. Results show that 40.8% had experienced cyberstalking victimization, with females, nonwhites, non-heterosexuals, and non-singles disproportionately experiencing cyberstalking. Approximately 4.9% of students had perpetrated cyberstalking, but there were few differences in offending across students’ demographic characteristics.

Journal of Trauma-injury Infection and Critical Care, 2009

Accurate data regarding intimate partner violence is difficult to obtain, particularly when exami... more Accurate data regarding intimate partner violence is difficult to obtain, particularly when examining only homicides or trauma registries. This study characterizes firearm violence against women by examining data from both the county coroner and an urban level I trauma center. The Trauma Registry and Coroners database were reviewed for female victims of firearm assault from 1998 to 2006. Data collected included age, race, location of assault (home, public, unknown), mortality, and injuries. Assailants were categorized as intimate partners (IP), acquaintances, strangers, or undetermined. Adjusted odds ratios for effects of assailant and location were calculated using logistic regression analysis, with statistical significance at alpha = 0.05. Of 115 victims identified, 51 (44%) were fatally injured. Forty-two (37%) of assailants were IP. Fatalities occurred in 71% of IP, 50% of acquaintance, and 20% of stranger assaults. Firearm assault by IP was 10 times more lethal than injury by stranger (p &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt; 0.0005). Assaults at home occurred 54% of the time and had 60% mortality. Assault at home was 3.8 times more lethal than assault in public (p &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt; 0.002). Seventy-nine percent of IP assaults, 63% of acquaintance assaults, and 29% of stranger assaults occurred in the home. In 99 victims with documented injuries, head injuries were found in 68% of IP assaults, compared with 33% and 16% of acquaintance and stranger assaults. IP firearm assaults against women may be underrepresented in current databases. These assaults are highly lethal, frequently occur at home, and often involve head injury. These observations may lend to strategies for trauma prevention.

Violence and Victims, 2009

Studies suggest that experience and expectations of intimate partner violence (IPV) among college... more Studies suggest that experience and expectations of intimate partner violence (IPV) among college women may be positively related. We investigated their association using modified versions of two standard measures: the Conflict Tactics Scale and the Multidimensional Emotional Abuse Scale. Five hundred and thirty-four college women completed each measure twice: once based on their partner&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;#39;s actual behaviors and once based on what they expected a male partner would do in a relationship. Results demonstrated that IPV experience and IPV expectations are significantly and positively related. Results also showed that respondents expected more IPV than they reportedly experienced, suggesting that college women may believe that IPV occurs more frequently in others&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;#39; relationships than in their own. Findings suggest that behavioral interventions for IPV victims should address IPV expectations.

Using a cross-sectional survey of a random sample of 7,945 college undergraduates, we report on t... more Using a cross-sectional survey of a random sample of 7,945 college undergraduates, we report on the association between having received Green Dot active bystander behavior training and the frequency of actual and observed self-reported active bystander behaviors as well as violence acceptance norms. Of 2,504 students aged 18 to 26 who completed the survey, 46% had heard a Green Dot speech on campus, and 14% had received active bystander training during the past 2 years. Trained students had significantly lower rape myth acceptance scores than did students with no training. Trained students also reported engaging in significantly more bystander behaviors and observing more self-reported active bystander behaviors when compared with nontrained students. When comparing selfreported active bystander behavior scores of students trained with students hearing a Green Dot speech alone, the training was associated with significantly higher active bystander behavior scores. Those receiving bystander training appeared to report more active bystander behaviors than those simply hearing a Green Dot speech, and both intervention groups reported more observed and active bystander behaviors than nonexposed students.

Journal of Offender Rehabilitation, 2007

Abstract In light of President Bush&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;#x27;... more Abstract In light of President Bush&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;#x27;s enthusiastic support and numerous initiatives, there is a growing call to fund “faith-based” social service programs, including those focused on juvenile and adult offenders. These programs are controversial because they seek to reconfigure the line separating church and state. Based on a national 2001 survey of 327 respondents, we assessed public support for this policy initiative. The major findings were:(1) the respondents were divided evenly on whether the government should fund ...

Previous studies utilizing the “routine activity approach” have been relatively unsuccessful at p... more Previous studies utilizing the “routine activity approach” have been relatively unsuccessful at predicting household victimization. This study discusses some of the limitations of previous research and eliminates several methodological problems by employing a multivariate, multi-level analysis of household victimization utilizing the household as the unit of analysis. Specifically, we combine household-level measures and routine activities and household-level perceptions of the neighborhood and crime prevention behaviors to better predict household larceny and burglary. Data for this study were derived from the National Crime Survey: Victim Risk Supplement (VRS), a nationally representative sample of 14,258 households in the United States. The findings argue for disaggregated measures of household victimization and the existence of unique opportunity structures for burglary and larceny victimization events.

Journal of Contemporary Criminal Justice, 2006

Abstract Valid and reliable cross-national estimates of rape are needed to more fully understand ... more Abstract Valid and reliable cross-national estimates of rape are needed to more fully understand the extent and nature of these victimizations. Methodological issues that compromise the integrity of cross-national comparisons of self-report survey data have been identified. These issues have neither been systematically addressed, nor is there a consensus as to how to correct them. This article examines the effects that the definition and operationalization of rape have on completed and attempted rape estimates from the ...