Joseph Kuhns - Academia.edu (original) (raw)

Papers by Joseph Kuhns

Existing research is not yet sufficient to determine precisely what factors are responsible for f... more Existing research is not yet sufficient to determine precisely what factors are responsible for firearms assaults against officers and for understanding why some officers in certain settings may be at increased risk of firearms-related victimization. Some likely explanations include variability in crime rates, population demographics, economic conditions, organizational training, policies and procedures, and officer assignments.

This report examines some of the jurisdictional and departmental characteristics in local police departments and sheriffs’ offices in the United States that may influence the risk of firearms-related injury or death to law enforcement officers. More specifically, we examine the presence or absence of departmental policies, practices and training that is specifically focused on improving officer safety during high risk calls for service. We hypothesize that the risks to officer safety are neither uniform across the country nor are they static; instead, some officers from particular agencies/jurisdictions are at a higher risk of becoming victims of firearms-related violence.

The report is divided into three sections. First, the report provides a summary of the Officer Safety and Wellness group meeting discussions that informed the findings and recommendations of the report. Second, we provide an updated literature review that examines fifty years of attempts to better understand the situational factors that lead to officers being assaulted and killed by firearms. Third, we discuss the methods and results of the current research, which includes merging five years of crime and LEOKA data, and an organizational survey, to better understand how we can improve officer safety in the future.

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Criminal Justice and Behavior, 2014

In recent years, Tobago, a popular tourist island destination in the southern Caribbean, experien... more In recent years, Tobago, a popular tourist island destination in the southern Caribbean, experienced steady and substantial increases in recorded crimes against tourists. As a part of an assessment of the overall crime problem, we surveyed the owners and managers of resorts, hotels, villas, and guesthouses in two high‐crime areas. The survey focused on security measures at the establishments and solicited perceptions of the nature and prevalence of crimes targeting tourists. The results reveal that lodging establishments—particularly villas and guesthouses—provide minimal security for guests, and crimes against tourists at these lodging establishments were not rare events. Further, although tourists staying in guesthouses had a higher likelihood of victimization than those staying in hotels and resorts, both burglaries and robberies were concentrated in a small number of hotels and resorts. Respondents from various types of establishments agreed that tourists become victims of crime...

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Building on past research, this study closely examined the decision-making proc... more EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Building on past research, this study closely examined the decision-making processes of 422 randomly-selected, incarcerated male and female burglars across three states (North Carolina, Kentucky, and Ohio). The central research questions that guided the project included the following: 1. What motivates burglars to engage in burglary? 2. What factors are considered by burglars during target selection? 3. What deters burglars from burglarizing specific targets? 4. What techniques do burglars use when engaging in burglary? 5. Are their gender differences in burglary motivations, target selection and techniques? In addition, this study was designed to specifically assess the deterrent effect, if any, of burglar alarms on offender’s decisions to burglarize. To address these research questions, we relied on a self-administered survey data collection process using an instrument designed specifically for this study. The following are some of the central findings: 1. What m...

Contemporary Drug Problems, 2010

The study draws attention to the importance of considering and controlling for caffeine and the i... more The study draws attention to the importance of considering and controlling for caffeine and the interactive effects between caffeine and alcohol when investigating aggressive and violent behavior. Various pathways between caffeine and alcohol consumption and aggression and violence are examined. Given recent changes in preferences and availability of caffeine and energy drinks among licit and illicit substance users, this study argues for the importance of focusing research attention on the role of caffeine, particularly when combined with alcohol, in facilitating violent outcomes. Evidence suggests that both caffeine and alcohol are linked to aggression and violence and that both substances should be considered within the context of our efforts to manage the negative consequences of drugs. Caffeine, via energy drink consumption, may contribute to violent offending and victimization in a variety of ways. Evidence suggests that caffeine/energy drink consumption is popular among a subculture of toxic jock users, may motivate and facilitate increased alcohol consumption particularly in late nighttime economies, and can potentially contribute to disrupted decision-making. Recent increases in caffeinated-product availability, marketing, and consumption necessitate focused research and policy attention. Many of these products are consumed with alcohol and/or in late evening settings by individuals that are already at increased risk for violent offending and victimization.

Encyclopedia of Community Policing and Problem Solving, 2013

Law & Society Review, 2014

Research on procedural justice and legitimacy has expanded greatly across the social sciences in ... more Research on procedural justice and legitimacy has expanded greatly across the social sciences in recent years. The process-based model of regulation, which links people's assessments of procedural justice and legitimacy to their compliance with the law and legal authorities, has become particularly influential in criminology and sociolegal studies. A review of the previous research on perceived legitimacy highlights two important features. First, legitimacy has been conceptualized and measured in many different ways. Second, most of the research on legitimacy has focused on only a handful of developed nations. Using survey data from Trinidad and Tobago, this article examines the conceptualization and measurement of the perceived legitimacy of the law and legal authorities. The findings indicate that some of the prominent conceptual and measurement models used in previous research are not empirically valid in the Trinidadian context. The implications of the results for conceptualization, theory, and future research are discussed.

Violence and Victims, 2005

Relying on historical research, a longitudinal data set, and multivariate analyses, the drugviole... more Relying on historical research, a longitudinal data set, and multivariate analyses, the drugviolence relationship is scrutinized. A proposed model is tested and supported, indicating that attitudes toward violence, gender, neighborhood problems, minor delinquency, and victimization were persistent correlates that must be considered within the drug-violence relationship. Parental attachment and importance, exposure to delinquent peers, and drug dealing were also important. Both licit and illicit drug use were significant within the models, although the relationship changed from year to year. In year 1, youth who used drugs reported more violence. In year 2, youth who were not using drugs reported more violence. Association with delinquent peers and initial involvement in drug dealing were likely explanations for this transition. Findings offer support for prevention efforts that disrupt drug markets and target male youth who are involved in crime and drugs, repeatedly victimized, associating with delinquent peers, and developing attitudes favorable toward the use of violence.

Substance Use & Misuse, 1992

will be pursuing a Doctorate in Research and Measurement in 1991. He is currently managing a rese... more will be pursuing a Doctorate in Research and Measurement in 1991. He is currently managing a research project at the Florida Mental Health Institute, University of South Florida, which is attempting to measure the effects and outcome of an intensive wrap-around intervention program for foster children, based on educational achievement, emotional/behavioral development and famial reintegration. Joe has conducted research and published papers on prostitution, substance abuse, spouse abuse and homicide, recidivism and AIDS.

Policing: An International Journal of Police Strategies & Management, 2009

Purpose -This paper aims to examine the impact of the implementation of community-oriented polici... more Purpose -This paper aims to examine the impact of the implementation of community-oriented policing and problem solving in a small city. Design/methodology/approach -Citizen surveys that measure perceptions and activities of the police are completed before and three years after broader implementation of community policing. Because the existing literature supports the influence of a number of individual, neighborhood, and situational characteristics, several variables are included and controlled. Findings -The results show that although the police invest a great deal of time building partnerships with and problem solving in neighborhoods, there are no significant differences over time in citizen satisfaction with police or in fear of crime. Personal contact with police mediates the influence of individual and neighborhood characteristics on citizen satisfaction. Police presence remains a common significant predictor of citizen satisfaction. Research limitations/implications -Ensuring anonymity of subjects requires different samples between data collection periods; however, the same stratified random sampling process is used both times. The pre/post research design allows for measuring changes over time, but the lack of a control city threatens internal and external validity. Practical implications -Citizen satisfaction is an important concern for all police and local governmental administrators; therefore, the findings of this study are useful for smaller agencies that are implementing or planning to implement community-oriented policing. Originality/value -With its focus on a small city and the capability to survey citizens before department-wide implementation, this article expands research conducted on citizen satisfaction with police in a small town.

Police Quarterly, 2007

Contingency theory argues that the performance of an organization is contingent on how well it fi... more Contingency theory argues that the performance of an organization is contingent on how well it fits the context within which it is embedded. This study explores the publicsafety concerns of nearly 6,000 law enforcement agencies serving populations less than 50,000. Property offenses, domestic violence, and drugs were the most frequently reported concerns, whereas gangs and violent crimes were often ranked lower. Rankings of public-safety concerns varied across agencies and were affected by population density, violent and property crime, type of agency, department size, and region. Findings suggest that the context in which police organizations are located plays a role in shaping public-safety concerns, which is an important step in broadening our knowledge about the priorities, goals, and behaviors of police organizations.

Journal of Research in Crime and Delinquency, 1997

Journal of Criminal Justice, 2008

Situational crime prevention has proven successful in reducing crime rates, though critics argue ... more Situational crime prevention has proven successful in reducing crime rates, though critics argue these programs simply displace criminality into different venues. Research exploring the phenomenon of displacement found offenders change their behavior in response to law enforcement intervention, particularly in research on prostitution. Most research on displacement in the sex trade, however, focuses on the sex worker rather than their clients. This limits the amount of knowledge concerning the dynamics of prostitution, and the illegal sex trade as a whole. This study addressed this gap by examining the displacement practices of the customers of prostitutes, also called johns. Using a sample of posts from Web forums for johns in ten U.S. cities, this qualitative analysis found that johns engage in multiple forms of displacement in the real world. In addition, the Internet appears to act as a resource to identify sex workers, thereby enabling tactical displacement. Implications for law enforcement and situational crime prevention theory are also discussed.

Journal of Crime and Justice, 2011

Homicide Studies, 2013

This study meta-analyzes 23 independent studies that included information from 28,265 homicide of... more This study meta-analyzes 23 independent studies that included information from 28,265 homicide offenders across nine countries. On average, 48% of homicide offenders were reportedly under the influence of alcohol at the time of the offense and 37% were intoxicated. We found no demographic variations across age, gender, or race, although the proportion testing positive within the United States appears to be decreasing over time. Further, the proportion of offenders who were under the influence of alcohol was lower among those who committed the homicide with a firearm. Communities that have high homicide rates should work to reduce alcohol consumption rates.

Forensic Science, Medicine, and Pathology, 2012

Purpose: This paper examines toxicology results from homicide victims in Trinidad and Tobago to e... more Purpose: This paper examines toxicology results from homicide victims in Trinidad and Tobago to explore patterns in pre-mortem drug and alcohol use.

Criminal Justice Policy Review, 2012

This study explores the link between alcohol and drugs and robbery-based homicide victimization w... more This study explores the link between alcohol and drugs and robbery-based homicide victimization within the context of routine activities theory. Using 2001-2005 homicide and toxicology data from Trinidad and Tobago, the study considers the general context of robbery-related homicides by identifying common place, victim, offender, and time characteristics. Next, the study examines whether victims of robbery-based homicides were more or less likely to be using alcohol and/or drugs at the time of death than victims of domestic and "street" homicides. The results indicate that robbery-related homicide victims were less likely to test positive for alcohol or be intoxicated and were significantly less likely to test positive for marijuana and cocaine than victims of street homicides. Nevertheless, when considered within a broader context, Trinidad and Tobago robbery-based homicide victims test positive at higher rates for marijuana (13.6%), compared with homicide victims in other locations (6%). The results of this study suggest a firm link between victim substance use and homicide victimization in Trinidad and Tobago, which could help explain escalating violence levels in the country.