Editorial

Citation

Dhingra, K. (2017), "Editorial", Journal of Criminal Psychology, Vol. 7 No. 1, pp. 1-2. https://doi.org/10.1108/JCP-12-2016-0046

Welcome to our first issue of 2017. This issue reflects the diverse nature of research in criminal psychology with a series of international papers across a range of settings.

The first paper (DeLisi et al.) examines whether armed burglars represent a type of sexual burglar, or perhaps a more severe type of offender who enters homes not merely to rape a victim, but to perhaps murder them as well. Using data drawn from 790 offenders serving time for violent convictions, results indicate that qualitative and quantitative distinctions can be drawn between armed and unarmed burglars. More specifically, compared to offenders not convicted of armed burglary, armed burglars were involved in significantly more instrumental crimes of violence. Armed burglars were not significantly different from non-armed burglars for charges for second-degree murder (where premeditation and instrumental intent is lacking) and rape. The authors conclude that burglars who come armed to the crime location may present a different motivation than the typical burglar motivated to steal property. Consequently, armed burglary may be a marker of extreme instrumental violent offending and warrants further study.

Using latent class analysis, Beauregard et al. explore the utility of empirically derived profiles of offender- and victim-related sexual assault case characteristics in the preparation of the interrogation strategies in sexual assault investigations. Participants were 624 Canadian incarcerated sex offenders. The best fitting latent class model for both offender- and victim-related case characteristics was a five-class solution. Further analysis indicated that specific offender-victim profiles are related to greater likelihood of confession during the interrogation. Together, the results suggest that the decision-making strategy of the offender to confess or not during interrogation is influenced by factors that precede the context of the interrogation room; and that interrogation strategies should be tailored to a specific case, or on a case-by-case basis, rather than preparing for an interrogation that takes into account just the characteristics of the offender.

Responding to the relative paucity of literature examining the effects of maternal criminality on children’s delinquent outcomes (property destruction and fighting), the third paper (Sobba et al.) uses the Fragile Families and Child Wellbeing data set (n=3,050) to explore this relationship. Of the sample, 9.4 per cent had destroyed or damaged property and 20.1 per cent had been in a fight. Results indicated that mother’s criminal behaviour affected children’s fighting behaviour but not their tendency to destroy property. The authors conclude by highlighting the need for research exploring mother-child attachment and the intergenerational transmission of low self-control.

Using an experimental design (n=142), paper four (Gordillo et al.) explores the effects of verbal cues on the evaluation of the personality and emotionality of a man accused of murdering his children, as well as the relationship between personality and emotionality. The results obtained reveal that the information we have on a person involved in a criminal proceedings affects the inferences made on their personality and emotionality, giving rise to evaluations that are consistent with the types of cues provided. The authors conclude that impression formation within legal proceedings may be affected by variables that are complex and difficult to control, which might bias court decisions and compromise the objectivity required of the judiciary.

Drawing on a multi-disciplinary literature base, the final paper in this issue (Hockey) seeks to illuminate the legal implications for suspects who are interviewed under caution for historical allegations, when the suspect’s responses rely on episodic memory recall. Focussing on historical sexual offenses, Hockey draws attention to the fact that suspects with no or low-quality legal representation, will attempt to answer questions of a historical nature, and, in doing so, may well unwittingly disadvantage themselves unfairly and thereby, in some cases, the interests of factual justice. In light of such concerns, Hockey notes the need for future research to provide more informed advice to both investigators and legal representatives of suspects.

As ever, we hope you find the papers in this issue interesting. We would encourage you to recommend the journal to colleagues and give thought to submitting papers for consideration. Author guidance can be found at: http://emeraldgrouppublishing.com/products/journals/author_guidelines.htm?id=jcp