Doctoral Dissertations (FSSH)
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Browsing Doctoral Dissertations (FSSH) by Author "Harkins, Leigh"
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Item Examining the role of race in plea decision-making for defense attorneys and laypeople(2023-08-01) Khairalla, Annmarie; Harkins, LeighGuilty pleas and trials both result in convictions, however, the plea process is significantly shorter, and most convictions are secured through guilty pleas. Defendants typically only see their defense attorney during this process, so the advice that they give carries weight. Because defendants may have little time with their defense attorney before making a plea decision, they may turn to other people, such as their friends or family for advice. The racial biases of legal actors and laypeople may influence the advice they give to their clients or friends who are facing plea decisions. The current thesis examined the effects that racial biases have on plea decision making and recommendations. Study 1 explored the extent to which defense attorney recommendations differ depending on the race of the defendant and the strength of the evidence. Results indicate that defense attorneys do not make decisions based solely on the race of the client, but rather in conjunction with other factors, such as the evidence. Defense attorneys thought that it would be better for Black defendants with strong evidence to accept a plea deal than similarly situated white defendants. Study 2 explored the extent to which peer recommendations differ depending on the race of the defendant and the strength of the evidence. Results indicate that students are influenced by both race and evidence strength separately, but not together. Student participants are influenced by the race of the client, but in a counterintuitive pro-Black direction where they thought that their white friends were more guilty, so they were more likely to recommend the plea deal. The additional analysis compared the results of Study 1 and Study 2 to explore if defense attorneys and student participants make different plea-related recommendations and judgments. Results of the additional analysis indicate that student participants demonstrate more racial bias in their recommendations, and they are more pro-plea than defense attorneys. This is theorized to be because defense attorneys have more experience in the criminal justice system and with Black defendants. Together, these studies increase the field’s understanding of the role that race plays in plea recommendations and the criminal justice system as a whole.Item Improving understanding of rape proclivity(2022-04-01) Dadgardoust, Laleh; Harkins, LeighThe current dissertation included three studies that together aimed to improve understanding of rape proclivity as a potential construct related to sexual violence. In the first study, participants' understanding of the items on the Rape Proclivity Measure were assessed to gain insight into participants' perspectives about rape scenarios and to examine the content validity of the measure. Most participants (68.7% to 95.8%) did not view the wording of scenarios as ambiguous, and understood scenarios as incidents of sexual violence, indicating that the Rape Proclivity Measure is comprehensible and has good content validity. However, participants were more likely to label rape scenarios involving: (a) a stranger perpetrator, and (b) use of physical force, as incidents of rape, indicating that their definition of rape matches the rape scripts prevalent in North America. The second study examined the relationship between rape proclivity and various correlates of rape, namely deviant sexual interests, offence supportive cognition (both rape and antisocial), and history of past sexually aggressive behaviour. The aim was to identify the most relevant variables, and to evaluate whether rape proclivity forms a distinct construct or whether it overlaps substantially with one of these other constructs. There was a strong correlation between rape proclivity and correlates of rape. However, in a factor analyses, the various measures of rape proclivity did not form a distinct construct indicating that different measures of rape proclivity may not be assessing the same construct. Finally, the third study aimed to address the gap in the literature regarding the role of rape proclivity, assessed by rape proclivity measures, as a predictor of sexually aggressive behaviour. Results indicated that rape proclivity measured by Sexual Experience Survey-Tactics First Revised (SES-TFR) predicted future sexual violence, but the Rape Proclivity Measure did not. This means that rape proclivity may be a factor related to the perpetration of sexual offending, but care must be taken in the measures that are used. Once proclivity can be identified in a reliable and valid manner, it can be targeted in programs designed to prevent sexual violence.Item Understanding minor attracted persons(2023-10-01) Collins, Carisa M.; Harkins, LeighMinor attracted persons (MAPs) are a group of understudied individuals who acknowledge a sexual interest in children but who may never have offended against a child. They are often regarded the same as individuals who have sexually offended against children, regardless of their history of personal stance on adult/child sexual relationships. This means they experience significant stigma and face many barriers to accessing mental health treatment. This dissertation provides an exploratory analysis of the lived experiences of MAPs from 3 different perspectives. Study 1 is a qualitative analysis of online support forums for MAPs, examining offense avoidance strategies they use when in a position where they believe they could engage in a relationship with a child. Study 2 used mixed methods to look at how MAPs differed from non-MAPs on several mental health treatment targets and potential criminogenic needs, as well as their help-seeking experiences. Study 3 also used mixed methods, examining psychological professionals’ stereotyped beliefs toward MAPs and their experiences and opinions about providing treatment to them. Overall, MAPs tend to prefer avoidance techniques when they feel they are presented with a potentially risky situation, using such strategies as complete avoidance or the use of a buddy system. In addition, they experience significantly more hopelessness and loneliness than non-MAPs, and less respect for authority. Though they have not had many positive therapeutic experiences, psychological professionals in my study mostly indicated a willingness to provide them with treatment predominantly through a cognitive behavioural therapy lens. Implications for treatment, public perception, and prevention are discussed.