USC Criminology & CJ
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usccrim.bsky.social
USC Criminology & CJ
@usccrim.bsky.social
Official account for the Department of Criminology and Criminal Justice at the University of South Carolina (Columbia, SC, USA)
Reposted by USC Criminology & CJ
Hot Spots Policing: Effectiveness vs. Stigma
Hot Spots Policing: Effectiveness vs. Stigma
This is an overview based on the article, "Public Perceptions of Hot Spots Policing: How Crime Reduction Stats and Stigma Narratives Affect Public Perceptions" (https://doi.org/10.21428/cb6ab371.99927be8 ). We create these "Crimversations" with the AI tool Google NotebookLM. While we strive for accuracy, an overview may not perfectly reflect the original article, a limitation common to both AI-generated and human-led podcasts. For definitive information, please refer directly to the article. Stay tuned for the launch of our new sites, https://crimconsortium.com and https://crimhub.com. Does high-visibility policing actually reduce crime, and more importantly, does the public support it? A new study published in the American Journal of Criminal Justice explores how "framing"—the way police strategies are presented to the public—can dramatically shift opinion. [About the Study] In this video, we break down "Public Perceptions of Hot Spots Policing" by researchers Brandon Tregle, Hunter Boehme, and colleagues. Using a large survey experiment of over 2,400 respondents, the study tests whether showing people quantitative crime reduction data increases support for police patrols, compared to narratives about community stigma,. [Key Takeaways We Cover] • What is Hot Spots Policing? We explain the "deterrence-based" strategy where officers sit in high-crime areas with lights on for ~15 minutes to prevent crime rather than make arrests,. • The "Effectiveness" Frame: The study found that showing people clear evidence of crime reduction significantly increased positive attitudes toward the strategy. In fact, the "effectiveness" message increased support by nearly 15% compared to the control group. • The "Stigma" Frame: Does talking about over-policing hurt support? The study found that stigma narratives produced "null results" on overall support but did increase concerns that the strategy would erode trust in the police,. • Demographic Differences: How non-white respondents and recent crime victims reacted differently to these messages. • Policy Implications: Why agencies must pair crime stats with an acknowledgment of stigma to maintain community legitimacy,. [Reference] Tregle, B., Boehme, H. M., Mascari, G., & Smith, K. (2026). Public Perceptions of Hot Spots Policing: How Crime Reduction Stats and Stigma Narratives Affect Public Perceptions. American Journal of Criminal Justice. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12103-025-09892-x #Criminology #Policing #CriminalJustice #HotSpotsPolicing #PoliceReform #Sociology #PublicSafety
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February 6, 2026 at 12:45 PM
Here is a summary of new research in Criminology on sanctuary policies and female homicide rates from faculty and students in our department.
Are Women Safer in Sanctuary States? New Homicide Data (2016–2021)
Are Women Safer in Sanctuary States? New Homicide Data (2016–2021)
This is an overview based on the article, "Statewide sanctuary policies and female homicide rates, 2016–2021" (https://doi.org/10.21428/cb6ab371.b3d1e957 ). We create these "Crimversations" with the AI tool Google NotebookLM. While we strive for accuracy, an overview may not perfectly reflect the original article, a limitation common to both AI-generated and human-led podcasts. For definitive information, please refer directly to the article. Stay tuned for the launch of our new sites, https://crimconsortium.com and https://crimhub.com. Introduction: Do sanctuary policies actually increase violent crime against women? Political rhetoric often claims that policies limiting cooperation with federal immigration enforcement endanger communities, specifically citing the threat of undocumented immigrants harming women. However, a new study published in Criminology (2026) analyzes state-level data from 2016 to 2021 to separate fact from fear. What the Study Found: Researchers examined female homicide rates using data from the National Violent Death Reporting System (NVDRS), focusing on Hispanic, Black, and White women. The results challenge common political narratives: No Increased Crime: States with protective (sanctuary) policies were not associated with higher homicide rates for any racial or ethnic group. Stranger Homicide: Contrary to the idea that these policies harbor dangerous criminals, the study found significantly lower rates of stranger-perpetrated homicide among both Hispanic females and non-Hispanic White females in protective states. Domestic Homicide: While researchers hypothesized that sanctuary policies would lower domestic homicide rates by encouraging victims to seek help without fear of deportation, the data did not show a significant reduction in domestic homicide for Hispanic women during this period. Methodology: Unlike previous research that relied on city-level Uniform Crime Reports (UCR), this study utilizes state-level data and the NVDRS to analyze specific victim-suspect relationships (stranger vs. domestic). The analysis covers 244 state-years and accounts for factors like concentrated disadvantage and immigrant concentration. Conclusion: This video breaks down why state-years with protective policies may actually see lower stranger homicide rates and discusses the complex barriers Hispanic women still face regarding domestic violence. Source: Boyle, K. M., Shaiman, S., Gonzalez, V. V., & Regoeczi, W. (2026). Statewide sanctuary policies and female homicide rates, 2016–2021. Criminology. #Criminology #ImmigrationPolicy #WomensSafety #SanctuaryCities #CrimeStats #SocialScience #HomicideRates #ResearchReview
www.youtube.com
February 6, 2026 at 8:01 PM
Congratulations, Dr. Applegate, on receiving the Academy Fellow Award from the Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences!
February 6, 2026 at 6:29 PM
Congrats to Professor Wendy Regoeczi, Ph.D., MPH on her new publication in Policing: An International Journal:

"Just one more sentence: Challenges in identifying nonfatal strangulation in rape reports."

www.emerald.com/pijpsm/artic...
February 1, 2026 at 6:17 PM
Another one for Assistant Professors Scott M. Mourtgos and Ian T. Adams! "Recalibrating the risk of false confession wrongful convictions: Interrogation tactics and inverse probability" in the Journal of Criminal Justice.

www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
Recalibrating the risk of false confession wrongful convictions: Interrogation tactics and inverse probability
False confession wrongful convictions (FCWCs) are a serious failure of the criminal justice system. Although scholars have identified interrogation ta…
www.sciencedirect.com
February 1, 2026 at 6:15 PM
Congrats to EPPS Director of Research Brandon Tregle, Assistant Professor Hunter Boehme, & grad students Gabrielle Mascari & Kaley Smith on their new publication in the American Journal of Criminal Justice:

link.springer.com/article/10.1....
Public Perceptions of Hot Spots Policing: How Crime Reduction Stats and Stigma Narratives Affect Public Perceptions - American Journal of Criminal Justice
A robust body of evidence indicates that hot spots policing is effective at reducing crime. However, relatively few studies have examined citizens’ views of the strategy, and the limited findings that...
link.springer.com
February 1, 2026 at 6:13 PM
Congrats to Assistant Professor Scott M. Mourtgos on his solo-authored publication in the Justice Evaluation Journal entitled "Probabilities Over p-values: A Decision Framework for Evidence-Based Policing."

www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
Probabilities Over p-Values: A Decision Framework for Evidence-Based Policing
Null-hypothesis significance testing (NHST) continues to dominate policing research, yet binary p-value thresholds offer little guidance for decision-makers navigating operational, fiscal, and poli...
www.tandfonline.com
February 1, 2026 at 6:10 PM
A timely op-ed written by several of our faculty members & affiliates: Dr. Ian Adams, Dr. Geoff Alpert, and Seth Stoughton, along with colleagues.

lnkd.in/ez9xSChY
What Federal Immigration Enforcement Is Doing Isn’t Policing—and It Isn’t Normal | Maureen "Mo" McGough
What federal immigration enforcement authorities are doing isn’t policing. It isn’t normal. And history suggests these actions are the hallmarks of authoritarianism. Honored to join Seth Stoughto...
lnkd.in
February 1, 2026 at 5:54 PM
Exciting news! Frank DiRienzo, a PhD student at the University of Cincinnati, will be starting as an Assistant Professor in August.

Frank’s work examines how individuals and their social environments interact over time, with a focus on victimization, offending, and health outcomes.
January 21, 2026 at 3:38 PM
Congratulations to doctoral student @h-noh.bsky.social Hyeseon Noh & Assoc Prof John Burrow on their new publication with Dr. Soojung Lee:

"Assessing judicial responses of judges to stalking in South Korea: A focal concerns perspective."

www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
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lnkd.in
January 14, 2026 at 3:45 AM
Congratulations to doctoral student @h-noh.bsky.social Hyeseon Noh and Associate Professor John Burrow on their new publication with Dr. Soojung Lee in the Journal of Criminal Justice:

"Assessing judicial responses of judges to stalking in South Korea: A focal concerns perspective."
January 14, 2026 at 3:42 AM
The end of 2025 and beginning of 2026 resulted in some a number of policing publications for our department members and their colleagues:
January 13, 2026 at 2:25 PM
Congrats to Assoc. Prof. Tia Andersen on her new publication in the Journal of Youth Development:

"Promoting Positive Youth Development Through Mentoring in Alternative Education," Journal of Youth Development: Vol. 20: Iss. 4, Article 7.
Available at: open.clemson.edu/jyd/vol20/is...
Promoting Positive Youth Development Through Mentoring in Alternative Education
This Program and Practice article provides a comprehensive overview of a university-school mentoring program specifically designed to address the school-to-prison pipeline by supporting youth in a dis...
open.clemson.edu
January 13, 2026 at 2:23 PM
Congrats to Assistant Professor Scott Mourtgos on his new publication in Behavioral Science & Policy:

Wise, R. A., Mayer, R. C., & Mourtgos, S. M. 2025. Police-public trust: Toward a more complete perspective. Behavioral Science & Policy, 11(2), 31-37.
January 13, 2026 at 2:22 PM
Congratulations to Assistant Professor Ian Adams on his publication in the inaugural issue of Evidence Base:

Logan, M. W., Long, J. S., Dulisse, B. C., Adams, I. T., & Morgan, M. A. (2026). The foundational deficits of correctional rehabilitation. Evidence Base. www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
The foundational deficits of correctional rehabilitation
For more than three decades, correctional rehabilitation has positioned itself as a cornerstone of criminal justice reform, celebrated by its supporters as the gold standard for reducing recidivism...
www.tandfonline.com
January 13, 2026 at 2:21 PM
Congrats to PhD grads Heather Ouellette & Riane Bolin & Prof. Brandon Applegate on their new publication:

"Jail leaders' receptivity to empirical research" in Justice Evaluation Journal. www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
Jail Leaders’ Receptivity to Empirical Research
Jail leaders play a critical role in managing local facilities, making their perspectives on research essential for understanding the balance between empirical evidence and the practical demands of...
www.tandfonline.com
November 25, 2025 at 6:38 PM
We are happy to share the great news that Dr. Veronica Gonzalez has accepted the offer to transition to a tenure-track assistant professor position beginning in August 2026! We look forward to her ongoing contributions to the department and the university!

sc.edu/study/colleg...
Veronica Gonzalez - Department of Criminology and Criminal Justice | University of South Carolina
sc.edu
November 17, 2025 at 9:28 PM
Congrats to Asst Prof. Boehme, PhD student Gabby Mascari & MA student Kaley Smith and their co-authors on their new pub in Crime & Delinquency!

journals.sagepub.com/doi/epub/10....
Assessing Public Support of Gunshot Detection Technology Through a Framing Survey Experiment
journals.sagepub.com
November 17, 2025 at 9:18 PM
Check out this blog post by Assistant Professor Brent Klein and his colleagues on preventing mass public shootings!

www.rockinst.org/blog/leverag...
Leveraging Social Networks to Prevent Mass Public Shootings | Rockefeller Institute of Government
Rising numbers of mass public shootings have renewed urgency among policymakers and the public to identify effective prevention strategies, as 2025 is on pace to reach a post-pandemic high in such inc...
www.rockinst.org
November 5, 2025 at 3:55 PM
Our very own Professor Geoff Alpert appears in an episode of Last Week Tonight with John Oliver to discuss police chases! You can check it out here (he appears around the 16-minute mark):
www.youtube.com/watch?v=wVFX...
Police Chases: Last Week Tonight with John Oliver (HBO)
YouTube video by LastWeekTonight
www.youtube.com
November 5, 2025 at 3:54 PM
Congrats to PhD student Sophia Shaiman & Associate Prof. Boyle on their publication in the Journal of Interpersonal Violence entitled "Disparities in Street Harassment Exposure and Mental Health Consequences: Elevated Risk for Marginalized Women."

journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/...
journals.sagepub.com
October 6, 2025 at 2:00 PM
Congrats to Assistant Profs Boehme & Adams, PhD student Marc Olson, & their colleague at CPD Cannon Fulmer on their publication: "Shootings, seizures, and speed: A quasi-experimental study of gunshot detection technology in a mid-sized capital city"

link.springer.com/epdf/10.1186...
Shootings, seizures, and speed: a quasi-experimental study of gunshot detection technology in a mid-sized capital city
link.springer.com
October 1, 2025 at 4:03 PM
Congrats to Assistant Professors Mourtgos & Adams & colleagues on their publication in Justice Quarterly:

"Through Thick and Thin: Comparing Traditional Qualitative Analysis and Natural Language Processing Techniques Using Narrative Data from Police Officers"

www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
Through Thick and Thin: Comparing Traditional Qualitative Analysis and Natural Language Processing Techniques Using Narrative Data from Police Officers
Traditional qualitative analysis can unearth nuanced insights into social problems through the systematic examination of textual or other non-numerical data. However, qualitative approaches are som...
doi.org
September 30, 2025 at 2:19 PM
Congrats to Assistant Professors Mourtgos & Adams, Prof. Alpert, and their colleagues on two new grants from Arnold Ventures:

"An Evaluation of Drone as First Responder Programs in U.S. Policing"

"Evaluating the Effects of Pursuit Policy Changes"
September 30, 2025 at 2:17 PM