Publications

Dmello, J. R. & Bichler, G. (2020). Assessing the impact of civil gang injunctions on the use of online media by criminal street gangs. International Journal of Cyber Criminology, 14(1), 44-62.

• Mounting evidence suggests that members of criminal street gangs use internet communications technology to advertise their accomplishments, promote a counter-normative lifestyle, and continue illicit operations. Noting that not all content is equal in its ability to influence target audiences, this study investigates the message sensation value (MSV) of material posted by street gangs with civil gang injunctions. Gangs facing increased social censure and behavioral restrictions associated with the imposition of CGIs may be more inclined to post YouTube videos with high MSV to promote gang lifestyles and brand, as their visibility in the neighborhood may be diminished by law enforcement action. The results show that (1) there is a moderate association between indices measuring MSV and content (lifestyle and branding); (2) gangs that continue to use physical violence to maintain social dominance are observed to have lower scores on MSV, lifestyle and branding metrics; and, (3) videos filmed in public settings and those produced by gangs that have been under injunction for a longer period are likely to have stronger branding messages, while videos filmed in a safe zone are expected to have lower lifestyle messages. We find no significant difference between video quality between the Bloods and the Crips. [Link to Full Article]

Bichler, G., Norris, A., Dmello, J. R., & Randle, J. Community terrorization: Evaluating the impact of civil gang injunctions on networked violence between the Bloods and the Crips. (2019). Crime & Delinquency, 65(7), 875-915.

• Comparing the centrality of gangs and changing structure in attack behavior, this study examines the effects of civil gang injunctions (CGIs) on violence involving 23 gangs (seven Bloods and 16 Crips) operating in Southern California. We mapped violence networks by linking defendants and victims named in 272 court cases prosecuted in the City of Los Angeles (1997-2015), involving at least one conviction for a violent crime and a defendant tried as an adult. The results show that a small number of gangs are centrally located in a dynamic web of non-reciprocated conflict that exhibited complex hierarchical structures. These results raise four implications for combating gang violence. [Link to Full Article]

Dmello, J. R. (2021). Ostracization, inequity, and exclusion: The lasting effects of 9/11 and the War on Terror on South Asian diasporas. Critical Studies on Terrorism, 14(4), 405-411.

• This piece is a reflection on the temporality of 9/11 as it pertains to longitudinal discimination and biases against the South Asian experience in the United States. [Link to Full Article]

Dmello, J. R., Perliger, A., & Sweeney, M. (2022). The violence of political empowerment: The role of electoral success in the facilitation of terrorism in the Republic of India. Terrorism & Political Violence, 34(7), 1281-1304. 

• Ideological violence, according to previous research, tends to spike following what may be perceived as an electoral success of an ideologically-affiliated political camp. Despite a growing number of examples across the globe, the extent to which ideological success in electoral processes impacts terrorism within constituencies remains under-researched. This exploratory analysis seeks to examine how majority-minority outcomes in the electoral process influence terrorism in democratic states. This study employs a longitudinal case study approach for the Republic of India, using publicly available data from the Census of India and open-sourced data on terrorist activity. We find that economic stress most strongly impacts the likelihood that supporters of the political majority will engage in terrorist activity, followed by social cohesion, measured through religious homogeneity. [Link to Full Article]

Shortland, N., Nader, E., Imperillo, N., Ross, K., & Dmello, J. R. (2021). The interaction of extremist propaganda and anger as predictors of aggression. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 36(3-4), NP1391-1411NP.

• In this study, and with a view to extending upon existing findings on the effects of general violent media on violent cognitions, we experimentally measured the relationship between exposure to extremist propaganda and violent cognitions. Our results countered our hypotheses and the wider findings of violent media and aggression that exposure to violent stimuli increases violent thoughts and that this effect is moderated by trait aggression. Specifically, this study found that participants with low and medium trait aggression became more pro-social after being exposed to extremist propaganda. We discuss these results with reference to theories of terror management and mortality salience, as well as the implications of these results for wider theories of the role of online extremist material in the wider “radicalization” process. [Link to Full Article]

Dmello, J. R. & Kras, K. R. (2021) Photovoice as a research technique for student learning and empowerment: A case study from a South Texas border town. Journal of Criminal Justice Education, 32(4), 513-536.

• Criminal justice (CJ) education often includes culminating research courses as part of its curriculum. Many of these courses follow a traditional process of considering ethics, theory, research design, quantitative and qualitative methods, and aspects of experiential learning. However, the pedagogy around engaging contemporary modes of knowledge building in CJ, especially those that critique traditional models and rely on new technologies, is lacking. This paper documents our experience using Photovoice methods to empower students as both residents and researchers to systematically assess manifestations of social disorganization in a mid-sized city along the U.S.-Mexico border. We first introduce how other disciplines have incorporated Photovoice into pedagogy, then focus on using a Photovoice study in the CJ classroom to investigate and understand social disorganization in a South Texas border town and consider influences for social action. We conclude with lessons learned and ideas for teacher-scholar-activists to engage in new modes of research pedagogy. [Link to Full Article]

Dmello, J. R. & Ranjan, S. (2020). Lock unlock: The impact of COVID-19 on health security in Pakistani and Indian prisons. Victims & Offenders, 15(7-8), 970-987.

• This paper assesses the state of COVID-19 in the Pakistani and Indian prison systems. Using publicly available data, governmental documents, media and non-profit organization reports, and scholarly literature, we provide an overview of COVID-19 in each country and the current state of each nation’s prison system. We then analyze the impact of the novel coronavirus on the corrections systems and each government’s response to the virus in its prison infrastructure. The pandemic provides both Pakistan and India with the opportunity to change course and move toward a more sustainable prison system that protects human rights while bolstering health security. [Link to Full Article]

Kras, K. R., Dmello, J. R., Meyer, K. S., Butterfield, A. E., & Rudes, D. S. (2019). Attitudes toward punishment, organizational commitment and cynicism: A multi-level analysis of staff responses in a juvenile justice agency. Criminal Justice and Behavior, 46(3), 475-491.

• Staff commitment to agency goals is important in juvenile justice settings, where the mission oscillates between the often competing goals of rehabilitating youth and punishing them. Although prior research considers how staff characteristics relate to commitment to, and/or cynicism about, criminal justice organizations, less work examines these relationships in juvenile justice settings, and even less examines the effects of staff attitudes toward punishment. The current study assesses the influence of rehabilitative and punitive attitudes on organizational commitment and cynicism in a juvenile justice agency (n = 204). Multilevel analyses evaluating staff members within organizational units reveal that staff holding more traditional (punitive) attitudes are significantly and positively associated with cynicism, whereas staff holding rehabilitative values demonstrate greater commitment to the agency. Findings suggest attitudes toward punishment play an important role in staff commitment to, and cynicism about, justice organizations, which may affect workers’ adherence to organizational policies and goals. [Link to Full Article]

Kras, K. R., Meyer, K. S., Dmello, J. R. & Rudes, D. S. (In Press). Individual and organizational correlates of morale among workers in a youth and family court agency. Crime & Delinquency, Online First.

• Morale is an important feature of organizational work life; however, few studies in criminal justice settings consider measuring morale in organizational surveys, nor how morale might link to other employee characteristics, like personal attitudes. The current study surveys 180 workers in a youth and family court setting to examine the relationship between morale and organizational- and individual-level factors. Survey results reveal positive feelings of morale overall; however, interaction effects suggest that type of staff and attitudes toward punishment impact morale, providing evidence that morale is a context dependent construct. By reconsidering dimensions of morale and situating it within a joint custodial and community supervision agency context, we contribute to the growing literature on organizational behavior in the youth justice setting. [Link to Full Article]

Khasawneh, M., Kilburn, J. C., Dmello, J. R., Sanchez, D. E., & Segovia, A. (2020). A proposed survey-based student-centered framework for evaluation of undergraduate research awareness in a minority-serving institution. Proceedings of the American Society of Engineering Education's 2020 Virtual Conference.

• The purpose of this work in progress study is to present a survey-based framework to evaluate the awareness of and participation in undergraduate research experiences (URE) by students in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) majors in Minority-Serving Institutions (MSIs). MSIs, which include historically black colleges and universities (HBCU) and Hispanic serving institutions (HSI), recruit and admit underserved, low income, minority students in various disciplines, including STEM. While MSIs attempt to bridge educational gaps seen in these students with pre-college resources, first year mentoring, and tutoring sessions, awareness and participation in URE is not prevalent at a MSI. Participation in such activities, however, has been linked to improved career prospects and an increase in the number of students seeking graduate degrees. Past studies have suggested that an initial interest in STEM does not necessarily continue throughout undergraduate education with a higher number of students requesting major changes and/or prolonging their graduation timeline. This paper proposes to identify current notions and perceptions surrounding undergraduate research of STEM students at a mid-sized MSI along the U.S.- Mexico border. The proposed design for this study will include an online survey to identify which students are more likely to be aware of and participate in undergraduate research and which students are not. Our model will focus on remediation to increase participation in URE, retention in STEM majors, and progression towards career prospects and graduate study.

Pfeifer, H. L., Button, D. M., Summers, M. E., Porter, C. M. & Dmello, J. R. (In Press). Academy

of Criminal Justice Sciences Doctoral Student Summit: A model of professional

development. Journal of Criminal Justice Education, Online First.

• Doctoral student attrition has been a consistent and ongoing problem, with only half of Ph.D. students completing their degrees. Often generated by feelings of isolation and dissatisfaction during the Ph.D. process, attrition results in negative consequences for students, their departments and institutions, and the broader academic community. Students face substantial financial and psychological burdens, institutions lose out on their investments, and the larger community misses out on significant contributions to resolutions to social challenges. To make matters worse, attrition rates are highest among the most marginalized students. Effective strategies for reducing attrition involve aiding in the development of students’ academic identity and creating a supportive sense of community. Although many departmental and institutional efforts to support doctoral students exist, challenges remain. Further, the needs of students are far-reaching and arguably require interventions from the academic community as a whole. To confront these challenges, the Academy of Criminal Justice Science approved the development of the Doctoral Student Summit, a professional development seminar intended to support Ph.D. students in degree completion through providing opportunities to foster academic identities and develop extended academic communities. This manuscript outlines the origins and evolution of the Doctoral Summit and provides an outline of its model and potential benefits to the field of Criminal Justice and other disciplines. [Link to Full Article]

Newton, X. Lohmeier, J., Thompson, S., Oh., B., Dmello, J. R., & Trainor, A. (2022). Rethinking alternative education accountability indicators. Performance Information Quarterly, 34(4), 455-489.

• School performance indicators commonly used for school accountability purposes (e.g., student attendance, achievement on standardized test scores, graduation rates, etc.) do not adequately reflect student progress in an alternative education context (Brewer et al., 2001; De Velasco & Gonzales, 2017; Rumberger & Palardy, 2005; Warren, 2016). Though proposals of alternative accountability indicators exist, these proposals rarely consider contextual indicators that are important for understanding the academic outcomes of students attending alternative schools.  In this paper, we argue for a multilevel and contextual perspective on alternative school accountability system just as some scholars in the education and health sectors have argued for multilevel social-ecological framework for understanding individuals in context (e.g., Brofenbrenner, 1977; Gordon & Earp, 2012; Lemieux-Charles et al., 2003). We present our conceptualization (i.e., Multi-level Contextual School Accountability Framework) of what a comprehensive and fair accountability system might look like, based on reviews of existing literature and our evaluation of an alternative school’s effort to transform into a full community service school. [Link to Full Article]

Updegrove, A., Dmello, J. R., Cooper, M., & Cho, A. (In Press). Racial differences in public support for federal law enforcement finding and prosecuting the January 6th insurrectionists who broke into the U.S. Capitol. Crime & Delinquency, Online First.

• Black people may view the January 6th, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol as the latest development in a long series of threats that white supremacy poses to their status in the U.S., whereas white people may apply a colorblind perspective. Thus, Black people were hypothesized to support prosecuting insurrectionists at higher rates than white people because they want the federal government to protect Black people’s status. Results from a nationally representative dataset revealed that while a majority of both Black and white participants considered it very important for federal law enforcement agencies to find and prosecute those who broke into the Capitol, the odds of Black participants endorsing this view were 72% greater than the odds for white people. [Link to Full Article]

Updegrove, A. H., Cooper, M. N., & Dmello, J. R. (In Press). Heritage not hate? Confederate flag supporters less likely to perceive criminal injustice, more likely to view police as friends. Race & Justice, Online First.

• Although the post-civil rights era has motivated many people to avoid appearing racist, they may still be unwilling to relinquish privileges derived from the U.S. racial hierarchy. Because the Confederacy fought to preserve slavery, which upheld this hierarchy, support for the Confederate flag may serve as a proxy measure for individuals' commitment to maintaining privileges stemming from structural racism. Moreover, given the modern legal system upholds that same racial hierarchy through anti-Black discrimination, individuals who prioritize protecting their privilege may soothe the guilt they feel for benefiting from structural racism by convincing themselves the legal system treats everyone equally. Similarly, because flag supporters identify with the symbol of a failed nation that considered northern states to have insufficiently policed Black people, they may view police as protectors of the racial hierarchy. Hypotheses were tested using randomly sampled CBS News national poll data. As anticipated, flag supporters were 66% less likely to perceive anti-Black criminal justice system bias, 60% less likely to perceive anti-Black police bias, 34% less likely to consider racial profiling widespread, and 55% more likely to view police as friends. [Link to Full Article]

Nikitopoulos, C., Ho, I., & Dmello, J. R. (2022). Just do it: Exploring the factors that predict physical activity among women over age 40. Journal of Physical Activity Research, 7(1), 56-65.

• Physical activity is a critical health behavior for people as they age; yet, the majority of individuals do not meet recommended levels. Women over the age of 40 are less active than both their younger counterparts and men, and experience barriers to incorporating physical activity into their daily lives. Using the 2015 National Health Interview Survey data, this study investigated the association between psychological well-being, neighborhood cohesion, and the recommended types of physical activity among women over 40, using a two-step approach. First, binary logistic regressions examined whether psychological well-being, neighborhood cohesion, and covariates influenced physical activity frequency. Next, negative binomial regressions examined the associations for only physically active women. When comparing women who were active with those who were not, there were strong associations between variables. When examining only active women, the differences in the frequency of physical activity is primarily lost, suggesting these factors more strongly affect the likelihood of exercising than the frequency. Campaigns which encourage women (and all individuals) to exercise, such as Nike’s Just Do It campaign and others on both the national and local levels, have the potential to make a strong impact on getting women to add physical activity into their lives.