Papers by Jesenia Pizarro
Criminal Justice Policy Review, Jul 7, 2023
On average, one in five incarcerated persons will spend some time in restrictive housing (RH) dur... more On average, one in five incarcerated persons will spend some time in restrictive housing (RH) during their incarceration. Despite a growing body of research on the topic of RH, few have taken into account the heterogeneity of the incarcerated individuals’ pre-RH risk profiles. In the present study, we fill this gap by estimating a latent class analysis (LCA) model to explore the heterogeneity among a sample of incarcerated individuals in New Jersey. Our LCA has both dichotomous and count variables, and we specified a model with logit and Poisson functional forms. We then examine how the latent group membership predicted RH placement and length of stay using a hurdle model. We identified a four-group LCA model, and found that groups featuring misconduct records were more likely to experience RH and stay longer in RH. Prior criminal records were less predictive of these RH outcomes.
... One area in need of further attention is whether homicide offenders specialize in particular ... more ... One area in need of further attention is whether homicide offenders specialize in particular crimes ... This study addresses this void by examining the criminal histories and lifestyles of homicide offenders ... homicid (10), offend (6), crimin (4), examin (4), whether (3), studi (2), void (2 ...
Race and justice, Mar 16, 2017
Race and ethnicity are common themes in criminology and criminal justice. Research has consistent... more Race and ethnicity are common themes in criminology and criminal justice. Research has consistently shown that African Americans and other racial/ethnic minorities, such as Latinos, are overrepresented as victims and offenders in violent crime when compared to Caucasians (Sampson, Morenoff, & Raudenbush, 2005). Consequently, they are also overrepresented in the arrestee and prison populations (Walker, Spohn, & DeLone, 2012). Relatedly, studies have also demonstrated an intersectionality effect in which race, ethnicity, gender, and social class affect criminal behavior and the response by criminal justice agencies (Barak, Flavin, & Leighton, 2001; Spohn & Holleran, 2000). Specifically, African American males who are of low economic standing are more likely to be victims and offenders of crime and are also more likely to be represented in criminal justice agencies as arrestees and inmates. Given the importance of race and ethnicity, criminologists spend a lot of time examining how these variables affect criminal behavior, victimization, and the response by criminal justice institutions, and a plethora of research has accumulated that explore these issues and their consequences. Although criminologists recognize the importance of race/ethnicity in the explanation of criminality and response by criminal justice agencies, an area that is seldom examined is the effect of race/ethnicity, and their intersection with gender and social class, on the lives of academics who study these issues or members of the racial/ethnic gender minorities in academia. Studying these issues is important given the sparse, yet growing, population of faculty of color in criminology and criminal justice. Within criminology and criminal justice programs, racial minorities comprise a mere 16.5% of the faculty, with non-Latino Blacks accounting for approximately 6.2% and Latinos 2.7% (Association of Doctoral Programs in Criminology and Criminal Justice [ADPCCJ], 2016). The racial minority population in criminology and criminal justice programs, however, is expected to significantly increase, given that approximately
Urban Studies, Jan 16, 2020
This study examines the effects of a neighbourhood greening and beautification strategy called Cl... more This study examines the effects of a neighbourhood greening and beautification strategy called Clean & Green on crime prevention and reduction. Point level data for all Part I index crimes and Clean & Green efforts in the study area from 2005 to 2014 are analysed using spatial and linear regression with two key modifications: (1) controlling for temporal and spatial dependencies between points; and (2) allowing for potentially non-linear temporal trends in the effect of cumulative greening. To accommodate those modifications, generalised additive models (GAMs) were employed. The analyses of violent and property crimes suggest that greening efforts are increasingly protective over time. The findings
Homicide Studies, 2018
This study examines the covariates of weapon choice in homicide incidents. Two research questions... more This study examines the covariates of weapon choice in homicide incidents. Two research questions are examined. The first research question is: what variables influence the use of a particular type of weapon in a homicide? The second research question asks: how does the method of weapon retrieval, or lack thereof, affect the choice of weapon? The findings suggest that firearms are more likely to be on the offender’s person and carried to the incident scene relative to other weapon types. In addition, the use of specific types of weapons is conditioned by the demographic and lifestyle characteristics of victims and offenders.
Social Work Research
Vicarious trauma refers to the cognitive and affective impacts of trauma exposure through one’s w... more Vicarious trauma refers to the cognitive and affective impacts of trauma exposure through one’s work, with traumatization indicating negative effects and resilience, positive. While vicarious trauma has been studied among practitioners, little is known about trauma exposure’s effects on researchers. This exploratory study addresses this gap through an examination of vicarious trauma policies and procedures used by a homicide research team, and aims to understand if and how research assistants (RAs) were affected by reading homicide case files, how they took care of themselves while working, and how the policies supported their well-being. Eleven RAs participated in focus groups and interviews and responded to a quantitative survey about their experiences. Data were analyzed using thematic analysis and descriptive statistics. All RAs mentioned traumatic impact, noting that certain factors increased or buffeted against traumatization. RAs described several means of supporting their ow...
Routledge eBooks, Apr 20, 2023
Homicide Studies, Jun 22, 2023
Intimate partner violence (IPV) and intimate partner homicide (IPH) are complex global problems. ... more Intimate partner violence (IPV) and intimate partner homicide (IPH) are complex global problems. Transdisciplinary research approaches offer the potential to increase the understanding of these events and inform best practices for prevention. To encourage scholars to adopt transdisciplinary practices when investigating multifaceted problems, this note employs a case study approach to detail one such effort—The Preventing and Assessing Intimate Partner Homicide Risk (PAIR) Studies. The goal of the PAIR Studies is to improve the understanding of IPH to inform the development of best practices for prevention. The note concludes with a discussion of the benefits of transdisciplinary approaches.
New York University Press eBooks, Dec 6, 2022
Homicide Studies
COVID-19 transformed society, affecting how every sector conducted work. Researchers, law enforce... more COVID-19 transformed society, affecting how every sector conducted work. Researchers, law enforcement, and social service agencies had to adapt procedures to a virtual space—moving participant recruitment, warrant requests, and protection orders online. Researcher-practitioner partnerships also altered, halting in-person data collection and agencies having limited time to support guests, regardless of interest. While some COVID-19-related challenges will likely subside, the future of these partnerships seems to have permanently shifted. In this research note, we reflect on these shifts using an example of an intimate partner homicide study to discuss research adaptions to COVID-19 and the future of community-engaged homicide research.
Homicide Studies
COVID-19 transformed society, affecting how every sector conducted work. Researchers, law enforce... more COVID-19 transformed society, affecting how every sector conducted work. Researchers, law enforcement, and social service agencies had to adapt procedures to a virtual space—moving participant recruitment, warrant requests, and protection orders online. Researcher-practitioner partnerships also altered, halting in-person data collection and agencies having limited time to support guests, regardless of interest. While some COVID-19-related challenges will likely subside, the future of these partnerships seems to have permanently shifted. In this research note, we reflect on these shifts using an example of an intimate partner homicide study to discuss research adaptions to COVID-19 and the future of community-engaged homicide research.
A growing body of environmental justice research consistently demonstrates an association between... more A growing body of environmental justice research consistently demonstrates an association between area race, class and the presence/level of environmental hazards. However, the mechanisms that create these environmental inequities are less understood. In the current study, we draw on criminological research on neighborhood social process to extend the environmental justice literature. Specifically, we use community survey (rather than census proxies) and public health data to explore the relationship between concentrated disadvantage, collective efficacy, organizational capacity and lead exposure in ecologically cohesive neighborhoods in the city of Chicago. Concentrated disadvantage is associated with lead exposure and the effect is mediated by neighborhood collective efficacy. The effect of organizational capacity is minimal. The theoretical and policy implications of these results are discussed.
Security Journal, 2018
A growing body of literature has recently begun to examine spatiotemporal nuances of arson. Howev... more A growing body of literature has recently begun to examine spatiotemporal nuances of arson. However, criminal justice research has minimally investigated how an arson event might serve as an initiator for a string of arsons. To rectify this gap, the current study conducted a near repeat analysis incorporating multipleevent near repeat chains to identify possible spatiotemporal patterns for arson in Flint, Michigan. Findings underscore that increased risk of repeat arson victimization was most pronounced for residential arsons. Results for near repeat chains indicate an average mean risk of roughly 5 days but for certain chains risk lasted for up to 2 months. Discussion of implications, limitations, and future research are also provided.
American Journal of Criminal Justice, 2019
The placement of inmates in restrictive housing (RH) units has become a staple of corrections pol... more The placement of inmates in restrictive housing (RH) units has become a staple of corrections policy in recent years. Despite its increased use, research on its continued effects is relatively rare when compared to the breadth of general correctional research. This study contributes to the literature by examining the effect placement in restrictive housing has on offender recidivism post prison release. Subjects include approximately 4000 inmates matched through Propensity Score Matching (PSM) techniques and followed 36 months post-release. The findings reveal that inmates placed in restrictive housing had elevated levels of recidivism and proportionally more new commitments for all crime types than those not placed in restrictive housing. Restrictive housing subjects also displayed shorter time to rearrest than non-RH individuals. The theoretical and policy implications of these findings are discussed.
Journal of Behavioral Medicine, 2019
To conduct our scoping review of risk and protective factors for firearm violence among youth, we... more To conduct our scoping review of risk and protective factors for firearm violence among youth, we searched PubMed, Scopus, EMBASE, and Criminal Justice Abstracts for English-language research articles published between January 1985 and May 2018. We included studies of modifiable risk or protective factors associated with intentional (including suicide) or unintentional firearm victimization or perpetration with samples that included youth B 17. Among the 28 included studies, 15 explored risk/protective factors for victimization, five focused on perpetration, five did not differentiate between victimization and perpetration, and five focused on suicide. Most studies examined individual-level risk factors. The few that explored factors beyond the individual were limited by methodological weaknesses and inconsistent findings. Protective factors for youth firearm outcomes were understudied. We need more research on youth firearm violence using longitudinal data and robust statistical methods. Future research is needed to understand the underlying mechanisms by which risk/protective factors influence firearm violence.
Criminal Justice Policy Review, 2016
The purpose of this study is to assess whether distinct targeted violence prevention programs are... more The purpose of this study is to assess whether distinct targeted violence prevention programs are needed to address gun violence based on offender age. Police incident reports were used to analyze the temporal, situational, and spatial patterns of offending between a group of adult and youthful offenders in the city of Detroit, Michigan. Chi-square and logistic regression multivariate techniques were used to test the differences and similarities between these groups. The findings suggest that youth and adult offenders of gun crimes in Detroit are not significantly different in the time or place in which they offend. Only modest differences were observed in terms of situational characteristics. The most significant differences between youth and adult offenders involved the age of their victim and the presence of co-offenders. Policy implications are discussed.
Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 2017
Violence involving firearms poses a serious threat to public safety in urban areas. The present s... more Violence involving firearms poses a serious threat to public safety in urban areas. The present study examines how illegal firearm availability (IFA) is related to firearm violence at the neighborhood level. We analyzed 3 years (from 2005 to 2007) of recovered firearm and violent index crime data from Newark, New Jersey. Violent index crime is separated into three categories by level of firearm use: shootings, display of firearm violence (DFV), and no-firearm violence (NFV). Negative binominal regression was conducted to examine the relationship between IFA and firearm violence at the neighborhood level while controlling for neighborhood conditions. Firearm violence is prevalent in Newark: over 90% of homicides and 47% of robberies were committed with a firearm. IFA is related to increased shootings and NFV, but not to DFV. IFA is a robust predictor of shootings in Newark, New Jersey. Neighborhood conditions influence IFA and firearm violence. IFA may reflect neighborhood distress l...
Feminist Criminology, 2015
The Handbook of Homicide, 2017
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Papers by Jesenia Pizarro