Master Theses & Projects (FSSH)

Permanent URI for this collectionhttps://hdl.handle.net/10155/530

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A criminology of catastrophe: a critical analysis of imperialistic state crime and the Haiti earthquake
(2011-07-01) San Antonio, Jaclyn Tricia; Perry, Barbara; Ammar, Nawal; Alvi, Shahid
Despite the devastation caused by environmental catastrophes, these phenomena have yet to garner significant attention as a subject of criminological inquiry. This thesis is framed by the following question: How can we problematize the notion of “natural” disaster to arrive at a criminological understanding of human culpability in the production of harm? I argue that the degree of human suffering caused by natural disasters is aggravated by imperialistic state crimes, which predispose populations to conditions of vulnerability and dependency. I substantiate this argument with an analysis of Haiti and demonstrate how its history of imperialistic exploitation by the US amounted to a pattern of state crime victimization that marginalized Haitians and, consequently, shaped their suffering from the 2010 earthquake. The story of Haiti exemplifies the relationship between the contemporary hardships of a natural disaster and the historical injustices of state crime, thus illuminating the relevance of a criminology of catastrophe.
Elder abuse and victimization: yet another vulnerable population
(2014-10-29) Pigeon, Nicole; Ammar, Nawal
Examining the utility of pre-charge youth diversion programs: a Canadian context
(2015-05-01) Samuels, Kanika; Cesaroni, Carla; Ammar, Nawal; Zaidi, Arshia
Despite the perceived benefits of pre-charge diversion programs, some researchers contend that programs based on police selection may suffer from selection bias. Critics have also argued that diversion programs are being used as a coercive tool to expand the number of youth into the justice system. Using police data from a local police service (N= 6479) in Ontario Canada, this thesis conducts a bivariate analysis to explore the personal characteristics of youth and attempts to determine the probability of being charged or diverted for minor youth offences. Results suggest implementation of the formal pre-charge diversion program had an impact on the police service‘s charging decisions.
Indo-Caribbean immigrants perceptions of dating abuse
(2016-04-01) Singh, Nelesh; Ammar, Nawal
Diverse cultures as well as social and political conditions work in various ways to alter the experiences of dating abuse among divergent populations. Utilizing an Intersectionality paradigm, I have attempted to understand the perceptions of dating and dating abuse among members of the Indo-Caribbean community living in Canada. Contemporary research has done little to examine this population. In order to delve deeper into the perceptions of dating abuse among this community, I conducted 11 qualitative interviews which looked at intersection of factors such as immigration, family background, home life and their role in the perceptions of dating, dating pressure, shame / dishonor and community-specific dating behaviours. I purport that the confluence of these factors help to shape perceptions of dating and dating abuse among members of the Indo-Caribbean community.
The news coverage of honour killings in Canadian newspapers
(2012-05-01) Vatandoost, Negin; Ammar, Nawal
The issue of honour killings has become a prominent topic of discussion in the Western discourse of violence against immigrant women. In Canada, particularly, the recent high-profile cases of honour killings have drawn increased attention from the media, academics and the public. The prevalent discussion links these murders to the broader issues of immigration, multiculturalism, and violence against immigrant women. In this thesis, I examine the nature of honour killings, their components, and the discourse of honour killings in its Canadian context. In doing so, I conduct a textual analysis of the representation of three recent honour killings in two major Canadian newspapers; The Toronto Star and The Globe and Mail. Results suggest that honour killings touched a nerve in Canadian media leading to the use of culturalist approaches to understand and represent these killings. This culturalist approach to the debate created serious obstacles for clarifying or explaining this form of violence against women. It further hindered any constructive public debate about ending these killings. The consequences of the culturalist approach to honour killings as well as recommendations for future research and theoretical developments in this area of violence against women are suggested.
Operationalizing the spatial influence of the risk factors behind the open-air drug markets in Durham region
(2015-08-01) Akca, Davut; Ammar, Nawal
The social cost of illegal drugs has reached a very high point both in Canada and around the world. The efforts to control the global flow of illegal drugs have not achieved to compensate these costs. This thesis examines the relatively neglected approach of controlling open-air drug markets in an administrative region in Southern Ontario-Canada. The study is guided by a framework that views the results of controlling wholesale drug networks to be difficult due to their clandestine nature, their expense and their disappointing outcomes. The results are based on the use of the Risk Terrain Modeling (RTM) to explore tile spatial factors behind the open-air drug markets. In particular, the spatial influences of the criminogenic features, which are alcohol outlets, bus stops, street robbery, and prostitution areas on open-air drug dealing are operationalized through RTM. The geographical approach to open-air drug markets is assessed to understand better whether it can help authorities to make cost-effective decisions that control the drug markets. Findings suggest that open-air drug markets exist more in the areas close to alcohol outlets and bus stops, and where street robbery incidents and prostitution areas aggregate.
Reporting unwanted sexual behavior at a post-secondary institution: an examination of campus policy
(2017-08-01) Ostridge, Lindsay; O'Connor, Christopher; Ammar, Nawal; Alvi, Shahid
The Ontario government has made recommendations and proposed legislation to mandate all universities and colleges in Ontario, Canada to create a sexual assault policy that involves student input. Using a small commuter university in southwestern Ontario as a case study, this thesis examines student perceptions of the policy. This research includes two parts. The first part consists of online qualitative research with seventeen students using an open-ended inductive exploratory instrument which asks students to read and define aspects of policy. The objective of this instrument was to verify if students adequately comprehended the language of the policy, knew how to report, who to report to, felt safe reporting, and found the reporting process supportive of their needs. The second part uses Allan’s (2008) policy discourse analysis to investigate replicated power and gender inequalities within the policy as well as policy silences and absences. Student recommendations to the policies are discussed.
Restorative justice programs in Ontario: views of offenders
(2011-06-01) MacDiarmid, Laura; Ammar, Nawal
Restorative justice has grown within the criminal justice system over the last 30 years. The current academic literature suggests that restorative justice programs provide many positive benefits for the offenders who participate in them; however, there is a lack of research to account for the subjective experiences of program participants. Using qualitative inquiry, the current thesis sought to understand better the meaning, purpose, and impact of restorative justice programs from ten adult offenders participating in one of two restorative justice programs in Southern Ontario: restorative conferencing and victim-offender mediation. Results highlight how offenders report gaining access to the programs, how they describe the programs, significant features of the programs, and long-term impacts of the programs. Recommendations to enhance the meaningfulness for the offenders as well as policy recommendations and areas for future research are discussed.

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Browsing Master Theses & Projects (FSSH) by Author "Ammar, Nawal"