Doctoral DissertationsDoctoral Dissertations (FSSH)https://hdl.handle.net/10155/11662024-03-29T01:35:14Z2024-03-29T01:35:14ZYouth justice policy implementation – community organizations’ perspectiveWoods, Sarahhttps://hdl.handle.net/10155/17572024-02-27T20:36:10Z2023-10-01T00:00:00ZYouth justice policy implementation – community organizations’ perspective
Woods, Sarah
This dissertation is situated at the intersection of two gaps in Canadian youth justice literature – limited scholarship focused on youth justice community-based organizations (CBOs) and few studies investigating the impact of neoliberal restructuring in Canadian youth justice. This study provides a Canadian perspective to the growing body of scholarship concerned with the influence of neoliberalism in youth justice and is an example of what a multidisciplinary approach to studying youth justice reveals. Critical institutionalism (CI), a theoretical framework from political economy, is used to address current applications of neoliberalism within criminology. There are two major problems within the criminology scholarship on neoliberalism: (1) a failure to understand the contradictory implementation and reproduction of neoliberal policy logics on relatively autonomous state actors/institutions; and (2) a failure to take seriously the origins of the neoliberal project and its relationship to economic competition. CI addresses these shortcomings by acknowledging the interconnectedness of different levels of influence and thus the role of institutions, structures, and institutionally embedded human agents, to shape, navigate, and implement policy. Drawing from in-depth qualitative interviews with front-line and management staff working in Ontario youth justice CBOs, I illustrate the purpose of these agencies within Ontario’s youth justice system and how their different roles are connected to their efforts to navigate the impacts of neoliberal restructuring and pressures of neoliberal rationalities. Findings shed light on why CBOs do the work they do, not just what work they do, as their experiences revealed the reality of how organizations and individuals struggle, resist, and negotiate constantly in their day-to-day work. The findings here suggest neoliberal logic penetrates deeply throughout youth justice CBOs; however, it is not totalizing such that youth justice CBOs are merely passive receives of the pressures of neoliberal logics. Rather, CBOs and individual staff are resilient and creative in managing these constant pressures with a shared goal of prioritizing youth over all else. Their decisions and operations are grounded in the spirit of non-profit work, yet ongoing broad pressure to fully succumb to neoliberal logics and rationalities remain.
2023-10-01T00:00:00ZBreaking the silence: an intersectional approach to sexual violence and harm narratives of women living in LebanonAzzi-Mofrad, Nataliehttps://hdl.handle.net/10155/17052023-12-18T19:16:58Z2023-10-01T00:00:00ZBreaking the silence: an intersectional approach to sexual violence and harm narratives of women living in Lebanon
Azzi-Mofrad, Natalie
Lebanon has experienced war and conflict for the last four decades, yet there is an absence of literature on Lebanese women’s lived experience of the Lebanese Civil War (LCW) (April 1975 – October 1989), and the ongoing conflict that has occurred thereafter. There are limited accounts of Lebanese women’s experience of sexual violence during times of conflict, and the existing literature does not address their resilience and survivorship. The militarization of public spaces increases the vulnerability of women living in Lebanon and advances masculinization within patriarchal power structures (Accad, 1990; Farr et al., 2009, Holt, 2014; Holt, 2013; Joseph, 2012). This dissertation utilizes a qualitative methodological approach to uncover in-depth narratives detailing the experiences of violence among Lebanese women within a politically conflicted nation. The research examines the gendered social relations, exploring topics such as sexuality and the female body. Furthermore, this dissertation will explore coping strategies and the use of shelter services. It seeks to understand the perspectives of Lebanese women residing in a conflict-ridden country, as they confront and challenge prevailing cultural ideologies regarding sexual violence, victimization, patriarchy, shame, and honour in Lebanon. Examining the real lived experiences of women residing in Lebanon can be significant in advancing the field of social justice and advocating for human rights in war-torn countries.
2023-10-01T00:00:00ZUnderstanding minor attracted personsCollins, Carisa M.https://hdl.handle.net/10155/17002023-12-18T17:21:31Z2023-10-01T00:00:00ZUnderstanding minor attracted persons
Collins, Carisa M.
Minor 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.
2023-10-01T00:00:00ZExamining the role of race in plea decision-making for defense attorneys and laypeopleKhairalla, Annmariehttps://hdl.handle.net/10155/16622023-08-28T14:26:43Z2023-08-01T00:00:00ZExamining the role of race in plea decision-making for defense attorneys and laypeople
Khairalla, Annmarie
Guilty 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.
2023-08-01T00:00:00Z