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Browsing by Author "Thomas, Mackenzie"

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    Criminogenic and non-criminogenic needs of high-risk offenders
    (2022) Robles, Chella Mae; Thomas, Mackenzie; Jung, Sandy
    There is limited research about individuals incarcerated until the end of their sentence without being supervised in the community through parole. When they are assessed to be a high risk for committing sexual or violent offences, they can be placed on Section 810 peace bonds to restrict their movements and behaviours (Harris, 2001). The present study examines high-risk individuals’ basic needs, criminogenic needs (i.e., dynamic risk factors), and responsivity issues and how these predict their reintegration success. Specifically, it assesses whether these factors contribute to missing an appointment, violating conditions, and reoffending. The files of 45 individuals were coded for the first year of post-release supervision to explore challenges and performance while under supervision for each 4-month time period. The area under the curve statistic was calculated to evaluate the predictive accuracy of each total for basic needs items, criminogenic needs, responsivity issues, and three community outcomes. The findings indicated that criminogenic needs consistently predicted violations of conditions and reoffending across time periods. However, basic needs and responsivity were not predictive of missed appointments and reoffending for all time periods. These findings suggest that supervision and monitoring of these factors play an essential role in stabilizing and effectively reintegrating these individuals into the community. However, a greater emphasis should be placed on criminogenic needs to reduce criminal behaviour. Future research is needed to examine the predictive validity of individual criminogenic risk factors and the association of basic needs, criminogenic needs, and responsivity issues regarding long-term reintegration success.
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    Criminogenic needs based on sexual assault typologies
    (2022) Thomas, Mackenzie; Jung, Sandy
    People have an intrinsic desire to understand other people’s behaviour, especially when considered socially deviant or abnormal. This fascination has led to several theoretical and empirically-based typologies for criminal behaviour, including sexual assault. These are typically based on the premise that those who commit sexual assault have different individual characteristics. The greater knowledge we gain to identify diverse groups of these individuals may help us understand the characteristics associated with their sexual offending. The current study examines the typology proposed by Knight and Prentky (1990). The Massachusetts Treatment Center Rapist Typology, Version 3 (MTC: R3) identifies five general categories of rapists, four of which are examined in the current study. These categories include opportunistic, pervasively angry, vindictive, and sexual types. Using a sample of 300 individuals who have been investigated for sexual assault, the present study categorizes these individuals into one of these typologies. This research identifies potentially unique attributes for each subtype, and it is hypothesized that these subtypes will present with different individual characteristics, including criminogenic needs, depending on the type of motivation that reflects a particular individual who sexually offends. The practical implications of this study for criminal justice professionals, such as police, will be discussed, and it is hoped that our findings will increase our understanding of individuals who have committed sexual offences.
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    Criminogenic needs based on sexual assault typologies
    (2022) Thomas, Mackenzie; Jung, Sandy
    People have an intrinsic desire to understand other people’s behaviour, especially when considered socially deviant or abnormal. This fascination has led to several theoretical and empirically-based typologies for criminal behaviour, including sexual assault. These are typically based on the premise that those who commit sexual assault have different individual characteristics. The greater knowledge we gain to identify diverse groups of these individuals may help us understand the characteristics associated with their sexual offending. The current study examines the typology proposed by Knight and Prentky (1990). The Massachusetts Treatment Center Rapist Typology, Version 3 (MTC: R3) identifies five general categories of rapists, four of which are examined in the current study. These categories include opportunistic, pervasively angry, vindictive, and sexual types. Using a sample of 300 individuals who have been investigated for sexual assault, the present study categorizes these individuals into one of these typologies. This research identifies potentially unique attributes for each subtype, and it is hypothesized that these subtypes will present with different individual characteristics, including criminogenic needs, depending on the type of motivation that reflects a particular individual who sexually offends. The practical implications of this study for criminal justice professionals, such as police, will be discussed, and it is hoped that our findings will increase our understanding of individuals who have committed sexual offences.
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    Criminogenic needs based on sexual assault typologies
    (2022) Thomas, Mackenzie; Jung, Sandy
    People have an intrinsic desire to understand other people’s behaviour, especially when considered socially deviant or abnormal. This fascination has led to several theoretical and empirically-based typologies for criminal behaviour, including sexual assault. These are typically based on the premise that those who commit sexual assault have different individual characteristics. The greater knowledge we gain to identify diverse groups of these individuals may help us understand the characteristics associated with their sexual offending. The current study examines the typology proposed by Knight and Prentky (1990). The Massachusetts Treatment Center Rapist Typology, Version 3 (MTC: R3) identifies five general categories of rapists, four of which are examined in the current study. These categories include opportunistic, pervasively angry, vindictive, and sexual types. Using a sample of 300 individuals who have been investigated for sexual assault, the present study categorizes these individuals into one of these typologies. This research identifies potentially unique attributes for each subtype, and it is hypothesized that these subtypes will present with different individual characteristics, including criminogenic needs, depending on the type of motivation that reflects a particular individual who sexually offends. The practical implications of this study for criminal justice professionals, such as police, will be discussed, and it is hoped that our findings will increase our understanding of individuals who have committed sexual offences.
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    Post-offence explanations of exhibitionists
    (2022) Thomas, Mackenzie; Jung, Sandy
    There is little research exploring post-offence explanations and acceptance of responsibility among individuals who engage in exhibitionism. Despite research suggesting that denial is not associated with recidivism, when sexual offenders attribute their criminal behaviour to multiple internal and external factors, their explanations are often deemed problematic, seen as a responsivity factor, and consequently, lead to exclusion from treatment (Yates, 2009; Maruna & Mann, 2006). We sought to investigate explanations given by individuals who have been convicted of sexual offences involving exhibitionistic acts and compare the cognitive distortions of those with prior sexual offences (contact or non-contact) versus those without. The files of 40 offenders were coded to create a descriptive record of the offenders’ behavioural characteristics and different types of explanations given after committing their crimes. With 15% demonstrating categorical denial, the majority of the sample acknowledged the charges for an indecent act, thereby giving explanations that minimized the offence rather than absolute admittance of criminal motives. Not surprisingly, we found significant differences in offender behaviour and criminal sentencing, with individuals who had prior sexual offences reporting a higher sex drive and receiving longer conditional sentences. In terms of explanations used by offenders, individuals with a history of prior sexual offences were significantly less likely to exhibit complete denial and more likely to explain that their exhibitionistic behaviours were motivated by sexual arousal or resulted from internal character. This study provides an empirical examination of explanations used by individuals who engage in exhibitionistic behaviour. Furthermore, it has implications for practitioners to better engage these offenders in treatment and, therefore, address responsivity issues that may emerge.
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    Research recast(ed): S1E17 - Student Research Day - allyship, e-scooters and criminal psychology
    (2022) Ekelund, Brittany; Cave, Dylan; Lakhani, Alysha-Khanu; Bailey, Brady; Thomas, Mackenzie
    Today, we learn about three different MacEwan student research projects focusing on the topics of Indigenous allyship, sustainability and criminology. In our first Student Research Day podcast, we speak with three student researchers. First, Alysha-Khanu Lakhani discusses her paper on Indigenous allyship in the Asian Diaspora, touching on implicit bias, challenging perceptions and cognitive imperialism. Next we talk with Brady Bailey, whose award winning research looks at sustainability, e-scooters and the sharing economy. Lastly, we talk with Mackenzie Thomas about her pioneering research into typographies and risk assessment of criminogenic needs of sexual offenders.