Journal of Criminal Psychology最新文献

{"title":"Getting stuck in a collective stigma: sex offense registrants, liminality liminoid experiences, and identity limbo groups","authors":"Brooke Cooley Webb, Cassandra Petersen, Lisa L. Sample","doi":"10.1108/jcp-03-2024-0017","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1108/jcp-03-2024-0017","url":null,"abstract":"<h3>Purpose</h3>\u0000<p>The purpose of this study was to examine the internalization of group-level identities held by people who are on the sex offense registry and how these influence emotions and the willingness to accept treatment. The types and consequences of identities and stigmas are often examined at the individual level, but most people belong to groups that hold collective identities that can be detected in phrases such as “we, us, our,” etc.</p><!--/ Abstract__block -->\u0000<h3>Design/methodology/approach</h3>\u0000<p>Longitudinal data from 2008 to 2024 was used to examine registrant’s group identities. Interviews were conducted with 115 registrants and 40 of their family members, and narrative research analysis was used to assess how participants’ levels of liminality influence why some on the registry never come to see themselves as sex criminals.</p><!--/ Abstract__block -->\u0000<h3>Findings</h3>\u0000<p>Three group-level identities were found that corresponded with varying phases of liminality. The first group had a fixed mindset, no liminality and a strong sense of self. The second group of registrants had liminoid experiences, allowing them to change the way they saw themselves over time. This group had a growth mindset that believed change was attainable. The third group exhibited fixed mindset, as they either always saw themselves as sex criminals and required no transition or came to see themselves as sex offenders post-punishment.</p><!--/ Abstract__block -->\u0000<h3>Originality/value</h3>\u0000<p>To the best of the authors’ knowledge, there are no studies that have examined group-level identities among people convicted of sex crimes or what the consequences of group identities have on behavior.</p><!--/ Abstract__block -->","PeriodicalId":44013,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Criminal Psychology","volume":"1 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.0,"publicationDate":"2024-07-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141516323","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Unmasking the dark triad: exploring its relationship with attitudes toward intimate partner violence","authors":"Charlie Waite, Robyn Mooney","doi":"10.1108/jcp-02-2024-0016","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1108/jcp-02-2024-0016","url":null,"abstract":"<h3>Purpose</h3>\u0000<p>Although it is a relatively recent conceptualization of malevolent personality, the dark triad (DT) has been widely researched and shown to be responsible for increases in physical violence, controlling behavior, short-term mating preferences and poor relationship quality. This study aims to investigate whether DT traits predict acceptance toward intimate partner violence (IPV) in the general population, addressing a gap in the literature regarding predictors of harmful attitudes toward romantic relationships.</p><!--/ Abstract__block -->\u0000<h3>Design/methodology/approach</h3>\u0000<p>In total, 150 adults aged 18–74 (76% women) completed two self-report questionnaires: the short DT and the IPV attitude scale-revised.</p><!--/ Abstract__block -->\u0000<h3>Findings</h3>\u0000<p>A series of hierarchical multiple regression analyses were conducted, with gender as predictor in the first models and DT traits added as predictors in second models. The results showed that male participants were more accepting of IPV than female participants. Over and above the contribution of gender, psychopathy and Machiavellianism positively predicted overall IPV acceptance, but narcissism did not. Psychopathy and Machiavellianism positively predicted acceptance of psychological abuse, and psychopathy positively predicted acceptance of controlling behaviors. Narcissism did not predict any facet of IPV acceptance.</p><!--/ Abstract__block -->\u0000<h3>Originality/value</h3>\u0000<p>To the best of the authors’ knowledge, as the first study to explore the roles of DT traits in acceptance of IPV behaviors, the results contribute to the understanding of how these traits may predispose individuals to harmful intimate partner behaviors. These findings can inform IPV prevention efforts to aid in the early identification of individuals who hold maladaptive beliefs surrounding romantic relationships.</p><!--/ Abstract__block -->","PeriodicalId":44013,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Criminal Psychology","volume":"26 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.0,"publicationDate":"2024-06-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141504407","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The dark figure of murder and unsolved homicides in the USA","authors":"Molly Minkler, Matt DeLisi, James Marquart, Nicholas Scurich","doi":"10.1108/jcp-03-2024-0025","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1108/jcp-03-2024-0025","url":null,"abstract":"<h3>Purpose</h3>\u0000<p>This study aims to use a novel data set of 636 murderers sentenced to death in California to investigate homicide offenses that are committed but not prosecuted or officially solved, a concept known as the dark figure of crime.</p><!--/ Abstract__block -->\u0000<h3>Design/methodology/approach</h3>\u0000<p>Uaing appellate records from the Supreme Court of California, which contain extensive information about the offender’s background, criminal offense history and mental health diagnoses, it was revealed that one-third of the offenders in the sample have additional homicide offenses for which they likely bear responsibility, but were not prosecuted.</p><!--/ Abstract__block -->\u0000<h3>Findings</h3>\u0000<p>Most of these involve one or two additional homicides, though a wide range was observed spanning 0 to 93 additional victims. Those with a dark figure of murder and unsolved homicides had substantially more prior arrests, convictions and prison incarcerations and were higher in psychopathy, sexual sadism, homicidal ideation and gang involvement than offenders without a dark figure. Psychopathy and homicidal ideation were the most robust predictors of both the presence and magnitude of a dark figure of murder and unsolved homicides, whereas sexual sadism was inconsistently associated.</p><!--/ Abstract__block -->\u0000<h3>Originality/value</h3>\u0000<p>A disproportionate amount of the unsolved murders in the USA are likely perpetrated by the most pathological types of offenders, those with extensive antisocial careers and severe externalizing psychopathology.</p><!--/ Abstract__block -->","PeriodicalId":44013,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Criminal Psychology","volume":"96 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.0,"publicationDate":"2024-06-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141504408","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Perceptions of the freezing response of male and female rape victims, and the moderating role of rape myth beliefs","authors":"Judith Christiane Ostermann, Steven James Watson","doi":"10.1108/jcp-01-2024-0002","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1108/jcp-01-2024-0002","url":null,"abstract":"<h3>Purpose</h3>\u0000<p>The purpose of this study was to investigate whether indicating victims of sexual attacks actively resisted their attacker or froze during their assault affected perceptions of victim blame, perpetrator blame and seriousness of the crime. We also tested whether victim and perpetrator gender or participants’ rape myth endorsement moderated the outcomes.</p><!--/ Abstract__block -->\u0000<h3>Design/methodology/approach</h3>\u0000<p>This study was a cross-sectional, vignette survey study with a 2 × 2 between-participants experimental design. Participants read a mock police report describing an alleged rape with a female or male victim who either resisted or froze, while perpetrator gender was adjusted heteronormatively.</p><!--/ Abstract__block -->\u0000<h3>Findings</h3>\u0000<p>Freezing and male victims were blamed more than resisting and female victims. Perpetrators were blamed more when the victim resisted, but male and female perpetrators were blamed equally. Seriousness of the crime was higher for male perpetrators and when the victim resisted. Female, but not male, rape myth acceptance moderated the relationship between victim behaviour and outcome variables.</p><!--/ Abstract__block -->\u0000<h3>Originality/value</h3>\u0000<p>This study highlights the influence of expectations about victim behaviour on perceptions of rape victims and the pervasive influence of rape myths when evaluating female rape victims. The data is drawn from the German border region of the Netherlands, which is an especially valuable population given the evolving legal definitions of rape in both countries.</p><!--/ Abstract__block -->","PeriodicalId":44013,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Criminal Psychology","volume":"51 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.0,"publicationDate":"2024-04-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140578973","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Examining traumatic brain injury as a risk factor for violent offending: testing for cognitive and affective mediation","authors":"Thomas Wojciechowski","doi":"10.1108/jcp-01-2024-0006","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1108/jcp-01-2024-0006","url":null,"abstract":"<h3>Purpose</h3>\u0000<p>While prior research has established that traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a risk factor for violent offending, there is little understanding of mechanisms that may underpin this relationship. This is problematic, as a better understanding of these mechanisms could facilitate more effective targeting of treatment. This study aims to address these gaps in the extant literature by examining TBI as a predictor of violent offending and test for mediation effects through cognitive constructs of dual systems imbalance and hostility among a sample of justice-involved youth (JIY).</p><!--/ Abstract__block -->\u0000<h3>Design/methodology/approach</h3>\u0000<p>The Pathways to Desistance data were analyzed. The first three waves of this data set comprising the responses of 1,354 JIY were analyzed. Generalized structural equation modeling was used to test for direct and indirect effects of interest. A bootstrap resampling process was used to compute unbiased standard errors for determining the statistical significance of mediation effects.</p><!--/ Abstract__block -->\u0000<h3>Findings</h3>\u0000<p>Lifetime experience of TBI was associated with increased violent offending frequency at follow-up. Hostility significantly mediated this relationship, but dual systems imbalance did not. This indicated that programming focused on reducing hostility among JIY who have experienced TBI could aid in reducing violent recidivism rates.</p><!--/ Abstract__block -->\u0000<h3>Originality/value</h3>\u0000<p>To the best of the author’s knowledge, this study was the first to identify significant mediation of the relationship between TBI and violent offending through hostility.</p><!--/ Abstract__block -->","PeriodicalId":44013,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Criminal Psychology","volume":"92 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.0,"publicationDate":"2024-04-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140578974","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"A systematic review of evidence capturing efficacy of community and school-based approaches to knife crime intervention and prevention programs","authors":"Dean Wilkinson, Isha Chopra, Sophie Badger","doi":"10.1108/jcp-09-2023-0054","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1108/jcp-09-2023-0054","url":null,"abstract":"<h3>Purpose</h3>\u0000<p>Knife crime and serious violent crime (SVC) among youth has been growing at an alarming rate in the UK (Harding and Allen, 2021). Community and school-based intervention and prevention services to tackle knife crime are being developed with some evaluation; however, these are independent and of varied quality and rigour. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to record the approaches being developed and synthesise existing evidence of the impact and effectiveness of programmes to reduce knife crime. In addition, the complex factors contributing to knife crime and SVC are discussed.</p><!--/ Abstract__block -->\u0000<h3>Design/methodology/approach</h3>\u0000<p>A systematic approach was used to conduct this knife crime intervention evidence review using two search engines and four databases. Inclusion and exclusion criteria were applied to ensure focus and relevance. The results of searches and decisions by the research team were recorded at each stage using Preferred Reporting Items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses (PRISMA).</p><!--/ Abstract__block -->\u0000<h3>Findings</h3>\u0000<p>Some evidence underpins the development of services to reduce knife crime. Much of the evidence comes from government funded project reports, intervention and prevention services reports, with few studies evaluating the efficacy of intervention programmes at present. Some studies that measured immediate impact in line with the programme’s aims were found and demonstrated positive results.</p><!--/ Abstract__block -->\u0000<h3>Originality/value</h3>\u0000<p>This systematic review specifically synthesised the evidence and data derived from knife crime and weapon carrying interventions and preventions, integrating both grey and published literature, with a novel discussion that highlights the importance of outcome evaluations and issues with measuring the success of individual level interventions and their contributions to the overall reduction of violence.</p><!--/ Abstract__block -->","PeriodicalId":44013,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Criminal Psychology","volume":"22 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.0,"publicationDate":"2024-03-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140322122","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Exploring the perceived importance of neuroscientific research on addictions in legal contexts: a survey of US criminal justice students and German legal professionals","authors":"Doris Ochterbeck, Colleen M. Berryessa, Sarah Forberger","doi":"10.1108/jcp-11-2023-0071","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1108/jcp-11-2023-0071","url":null,"abstract":"<h3>Purpose</h3>\u0000<p>Neuroscientific research on addictions has prompted a paradigm shift from a moral to a medical understanding – with substantial implications for legal professionals’ interactions with and decision-making surrounding individuals with addiction. This study complements prior work on US defense attorney’s understandings of addiction by investigating two further perspectives: the potential “next generation” of legal professionals in the USA (criminal justice undergraduates) and legal professionals from another system (Germany). This paper aims to assess their views on the brain disease model of addiction, dominance and relevance of this model, the responsibility of affected persons and preferred sources of information.</p><!--/ Abstract__block -->\u0000<h3>Design/methodology/approach</h3>\u0000<p>Views of 74 US criminal justice undergraduate students and 74 German legal professionals were assessed using Likert scales and open-ended questions in an online survey.</p><!--/ Abstract__block -->\u0000<h3>Findings</h3>\u0000<p>Neuroscientific research findings on addictions and views that addiction is a brain disease were rated as significantly more relevant by American students to their potential future work than by German legal professionals. However, a majority of both samples agreed that addiction is a brain disease and that those affected are responsible for their condition and actions. Sources of information most frequently used by both groups were publications in legal academic journals.</p><!--/ Abstract__block -->\u0000<h3>Practical implications</h3>\u0000<p>In the USA, information for legal professionals needs to be expanded and integrated into the education of its “next generation,” while in Germany it needs to be developed and promoted. Legal academic journals appear to play a primary role in the transfer of research on addiction into legal practice.</p><!--/ Abstract__block -->\u0000<h3>Originality/value</h3>\u0000<p>This study complements prior work on US defense attorney’s understandings of addiction by investigating two further perspectives.</p><!--/ Abstract__block -->","PeriodicalId":44013,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Criminal Psychology","volume":"19 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.0,"publicationDate":"2024-02-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139923475","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Job stress and burnout among prison staff: a systematic literature review","authors":"Vítor Costa, Samuel Monteiro, Ana Isabel Cunha, Henrique Pereira, Graça Esgalhado","doi":"10.1108/jcp-10-2023-0067","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1108/jcp-10-2023-0067","url":null,"abstract":"<h3>Purpose</h3>\u0000<p>The purpose of this study is to systematically review the recent empirical literature on job stress and burnout among prison staff with a focus on predictors, outcomes of stress and burnout and the mediating role that stress and burnout can play between its predictors and outcomes.</p><!--/ Abstract__block -->\u0000<h3>Design/methodology/approach</h3>\u0000<p>The authors followed systematic literature review (SLR) protocols for the social sciences, and searches were done on two large research databases: SCOPUS and Web of Science. Articles included in the study were from January 2015 to March 2020. After the screening and eligibility processes, 48 articles met the inclusion/exclusion criteria, and 33 articles were included in the full-text qualitative analysis.</p><!--/ Abstract__block -->\u0000<h3>Findings</h3>\u0000<p>Characteristics of the samples, main authors and journals and measures used to assess stress and burnout are presented, showing that most research was done in the USA, with cross-sectional studies using similar measures of stress and burnout. Results from the qualitative analysis were organised around the main research questions. Most studies explored the antecedents of stress and burnout in the context of the job demands – resources model. Common predictors that consistently increase stress and burnout among different samples include perceived dangerousness of the job and work–family conflict. Participation in decision-making and social support consistently decrease job stress.</p><!--/ Abstract__block -->\u0000<h3>Originality/value</h3>\u0000<p>This paper presents a SLR on stress and burnout among prison officers in a pre-COVID-19 pandemic era, providing an important picture of the published scientific research on the topic as well as implications for theory and practice.</p><!--/ Abstract__block -->","PeriodicalId":44013,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Criminal Psychology","volume":"26 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.0,"publicationDate":"2024-01-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139376019","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Measuring criminal thinking among convicts imprisoned in Punjab prisons of Pakistan","authors":"Nimrah Ishfaq, Anila Kamal","doi":"10.1108/jcp-09-2023-0057","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1108/jcp-09-2023-0057","url":null,"abstract":"&lt;h3&gt;Purpose&lt;/h3&gt;\u0000&lt;p&gt;This study aims to differentiate crime-related characteristics (such as the number of cases filed against current convictions and criminal history) based on the criminal thinking prevailing among convicts. However, because of the low reliability of subscales and poor structural validity of indigenous and translated versions of international instruments, a new instrument criminal attitude measure (CAM) was extracted to measure criminal thinking patterns among convicts incarcerated in central prisons of Punjab.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;!--/ Abstract__block --&gt;\u0000&lt;h3&gt;Design/methodology/approach&lt;/h3&gt;\u0000&lt;p&gt;A cross-sectional research design was used. Data was collected from 1,949 male convicts (extracting mutually exclusive data from 649 respondents for EFA and 1,300 respondents for confirmatory factor analysis [CFA]). Both data samples were collected from convicts incarcerated in the nine (all) central jails of Punjab, Pakistan.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;!--/ Abstract__block --&gt;\u0000&lt;h3&gt;Findings&lt;/h3&gt;\u0000&lt;p&gt;The results of this study showed poor model fit for both the indigenous criminal thinking scale and the translated version of criminogenic cognition scale. CAM was extracted through principal component analysis and proposed as a 15-item questionnaire with five factors extracted through varimax rotation. Those five factors are power orientation, mollification, entitlement, mistrust toward authorities and short-term orientation. The results of CFA for CAM confirmed the proposed five-factor structure for the construct. Findings based on MANOVA further found that CAM differentiates between the thinking patterns of recidivists, convicts with multiple charges filed against them in current convictions and convicts with a familial criminal record. The findings of this study showed that CAM is a practical, valid and reliable instrument for measuring criminal thinking among convicts.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;!--/ Abstract__block --&gt;\u0000&lt;h3&gt;Research limitations/implications&lt;/h3&gt;\u0000&lt;p&gt;In this study, using the survey method was inevitable because of the restrictions imposed by the granted permission. However, this time duration was extended because of the courtesy of the Superintendent and Deputy Superintendent of each jail. This study is focused on a male sample only, and the findings cannot be generalized to females. The phenomena proposed (based on large data sets) in this study can further be elaborated using qualitative research designs and methods (using a small sample with an in-depth study). So, it is also suggested to test this new instrument on a comparative study between prisoners and non-prisoners to explore whether scale can differentiate between these two groups.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;!--/ Abstract__block --&gt;\u0000&lt;h3&gt;Practical implications&lt;/h3&gt;\u0000&lt;p&gt;A short-scale and easy-to-administer instrument was developed for assessing major criminogenic needs among convicts for prison management, i.e. assigning barracks, allocating treatment and also detecting changes in attitude after imprisonment.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;!--/ Abstract__block --&gt;\u0000&lt;h3&gt;Originali","PeriodicalId":44013,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Criminal Psychology","volume":"20 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.0,"publicationDate":"2023-12-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139052713","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Forensic mental health assessments of juvenile misdemeanor cases involving demoralization (status offenses) and delinquency","authors":"Danuta Rode, Joanna Kabzińska, Magdalena Rode, Ewa Habzda-Siwek, Daniel Boduszek","doi":"10.1108/jcp-10-2023-0069","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1108/jcp-10-2023-0069","url":null,"abstract":"<h3>Purpose</h3>\u0000<p>The role of evidence-based psychological knowledge in cases of juvenile offending is essential to make appropriate decisions relating to youth who violate legal or social norms, as it carries implications for treatment, intervention and practice. Psychological expert opinions therefore need to meet high formal and methodological requirements while maintaining ethical standards. The purpose of this study is to investigate psychological expert opinions in cases of juvenile misbehavior reported to regional courts in Poland. Juvenile court proceedings concern cases of demoralization and/or delinquent offenses. Demoralization is a legal concept described in the Act of June 9, 2022 on juvenile support and resocialization. This concept was not defined; it was only described through examples of behaviors indicating demoralization. These include the following: violations of the principles of community life; evading compulsory education or schooling; use of alcohol, narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances, their precursors, substitutes or new psychoactive substances; and prostitution.</p><!--/ Abstract__block -->\u0000<h3>Design/methodology/approach</h3>\u0000<p>To reach these goals, court records of juvenile cases in six district courts (<em>N</em> = 253) were gathered and analyzed. A semistructured questionnaire was used to examine the cases in which psychologists were appointed and to analyze the procedures used by these experts for assessing adolescents and their families.</p><!--/ Abstract__block -->\u0000<h3>Findings</h3>\u0000<p>Findings revealed that family judges appoint psychologists both in cases of “demoralization” (i.e. status offenses) and in cases of juvenile delinquency. The opinions were delivered by psychologists who were mostly members of diagnostic teams. Results indicate that such opinions generally comply with the minimal standards recommended by the Ministry of Justice, yet a few problems were observed with the determination of levels of demoralization.</p><!--/ Abstract__block -->\u0000<h3>Originality/value</h3>\u0000<p>The limitations of diagnostic tools used by psychologists are discussed, and recommendations for future practice are provided.</p><!--/ Abstract__block -->","PeriodicalId":44013,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Criminal Psychology","volume":"55 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.0,"publicationDate":"2023-12-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"138826206","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}