The objectives of this study were to analyze the prevalence of firearm safety training and secure gun storage practices among American gun owners. We used nationally-representative survey data to estimate the impact of previously untested predictors of secure firearm storage. Findings show that older gun owners, gun owners living in metropolitan statistical areas, and low-SES gun owners are less likely to use secure firearm storage methods. Gun owners who receive formal, informal, or both forms of safety training are more likely to store firearms securely than those who receive no training. Additionally, results indicate that state-level secure gun storage laws have little influence on gun owners’ use of mechanisms to securely store their firearms. Findings suggest that firearm safety training has a demonstrable impact on improving gun owners’ use of secure firearm storage mechanisms.

Previous research has shown that race and sex influence perceptions of social stigma among individuals with opioid addiction. However, few studies have explored multiple dimensions of stigma using vignette-based experimental designs. The current study used a vignette survey experiment to assess the association between the vignette character's race and sex and four measures of stigma: perceived dangerousness, fatalism, social distance, and blame. Our findings indicated that participants were more likely to hold fatalistic views-believing the individual would never achieve sobriety and would remain dependent for life-when the vignette character was White compared to Black. Our study highlights the need for further research on fatalism.

Campus carry is one of the most debated interventions to address school violence. While extensive research exists on campus carry in a college setting, less attention has focused on K-12 schools. The current exploratory study examines public support, including that of K-12 parents, of concealed carry by teachers, staff, and parents in a K-12 setting. It also explores the correlates of support for K-12 carry more broadly. Findings indicate that more participants believe than disbelieve that armed staff and teachers could effectively extinguish a threat in a K-12 school. However, participants generally do not support any group carrying firearms in K-12 settings, and more participants indicated that they would feel less safe having armed individuals in K-12 settings. Multivariable modeling indicated that gun socialization, political beliefs, and orientations toward law enforcement were the strongest predictors of support K-12 carry. Theoretical and practical implications based on these findings are discussed within.

BACKGROUND:In 2019, the state of Maryland passed legislation requiring local detention centers to offer medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD) to all incarcerated individuals who met criteria for opioid use disorder (OUD). Four years later, many facilities remain out of compliance. Beyond issues of staffing, funding, and technical support, stigma may represent a barrier to MOUD implementation. METHODS:Using surveys and interviews among correctional professionals working in Maryland, the current exploratory study sought to identify barriers to MOUD implementation, including measures of provider-based stigma of OUD and support for MOUD. RESULTS:Quantitative and qualitative results revealed moderately high levels of OUD-related stigma and negative attitudes toward MOUD, with multivariable modeling revealing a statistically significant relationship between provider-based stigma of OUD and support for MOUD in correctional settings. CONCLUSION:These findings suggest that stigma may be a significant barrier to MOUD implementation in local detention centers, even in the presence of legal mandates. Further, these results reveal the need for educational and anti-stigma campaigns targeted at correctional professionals who are charged with implementing policies that may contradict their previous learning or correctional training.

Rape myths, or false beliefs about rape and sexual assault, held by professionals in the American Criminal Justice System have contributed to reduced rates of sexual offense case reporting, biased investigative procedures, and the nonprosecution of offenders. Thus, Rape Myth Acceptance (RMA) has been considered by scholars to be a direct contributor to the under-sentencing or non-sentencing of perpetrators of sexual assault and rape. Prior research on RMA in the American Criminal Justice System has disproportionately focused on criminal justice students and law enforcement professionals. With the potential to influence victim reporting and rape case outcomes, an understanding of RMA held by actual decision-makers in all steps of the criminal-legal process is needed. This study extends prior research in this area by examining RMA among various criminal justice decision-makers, including police officers, prosecuting attorneys, and jurors, and comparing the RMA held by a sample of criminal justice decision-makers to that of a sample of the general public. Specifically, this study used data collected from a nationwide survey of criminal justice decision-makers (n = 228) and members of the general public (n = 865) to examine the presence and predictors of RMA. Findings reveal that, in the aggregate, while both samples held RMA scores indicative of nonacceptance of such attitudes, criminal justice decision-makers reported higher RMA than members of the general public, with younger males, more conservative-leaning respondents, and higher socioeconomically advantaged individuals holding the highest rates of RMA in both samples. Policy implications, limitations, and directions for future research based on these findings are discussed within.

This encyclopedia entry covers the latest developments in the literatures on mental health and criminal justice. Topics addressed include the integration of the criminal justice system in the control of mentally ill populations, mental illness and stigma among individuals who are justice involved, and post‐offender outcomes for mentally ill populations.

The Pennsylvania State Police (PSP) recently incorporated simulation-based training into their academy curriculum as part of the Keystone Model of Crisis Management (KMCM). The novelty of this training is that it involves combining the expertise of clinical healthcare professionals with the expertise and practical training of senior law enforcement officers, along with standardized patients, who role-play scenarios with cadets. The training provides cadets with realistic experiences to practice communication, de-escalation, and other crisis management strategies in a safe learning environment. Since inception in 2022, more than 400 cadets have been trained using this method. The aim of this paper is to provide an overview of the KMCM and to share insights, practical recommendations, and guidance for incorporating simulation into mental health crisis training for law enforcement more broadly.

Scholars have argued that stigma of opioid use disorder (OUD) is a significant barrier to implementing evidence-based responses to the opioid crisis, including the use of medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD). They have also documented a relationship between addiction frameworks and support for punitive responses to substance use. Using a representative sample of Pennsylvania residents ( N = 1,033), the current study synthesizes this literature by empirically examining the relationship between addiction frameworks, opioid-related stigma, and policy-related attitudes (i.e., NIMBY syndrome, support for punitive treatment of OUD, and support for employment discrimination against individuals prescribed MOUD). Results show that support for the disease model of addiction was negatively associated with endorsing NIMBY syndrome for opioid-treatment centers, support for punitive treatment of OUD, and support for employment discrimination against individuals prescribed MOUD; however, these relationships were fully mediated by opioid-related stigma, such that support for the disease model of addiction impacted outcome measures only indirectly through opioid-related stigma. Policy implications are discussed within.

This experimental vignette study used nationally representative survey data ( n = 841) to examine the effects of perpetrator sex and sexuality and victim sex on simulated juror punitivity and sentencing recommendations for individuals convicted of aggravated assault and domestic abuse. Results show participants recommended longer sentences and higher fines for male than for female offenders, and for those who victimized women than for those who victimized men, suggesting the effects of jurorbias on punitive attitudes are influenced by offender and victim sex. However, the effects of offender sexuality were insignificant in modeling. Path analysis showed that sex differences found in baseline models were partially explained by stigmatization (i.e., perceptions of dangerousness, fatalism blame, and social distance) hypothetical jurors attached to offenders.

Opioid overdose death is significantly increased immediately following incarceration. Evidence-based medications are underutilized in rural jails and detention centers. We have reported our efforts to address this gap through telemedicine-based medications for opioid use disorder treatment (tele-MOUD) for incarcerated patients. Staff acceptance and perceptions are critically important factors in the assurance of program validation. We assessed tele-MOUD acceptability and perceptions of effectiveness and stigma in one detention center. Overall, we found that jail staff's general acceptability of the program was rather low, as was perceived effectiveness of MOUD, while stigmatizing beliefs were present. Furthermore, tele-MOUD acceptability was positively correlated with perceptions of MOUD effectiveness and negatively correlated with stigmatizing notions of MOUD (p's < 0.001). Findings suggest the need for educational interventions. Future research investigating the potential moderating effects of training on staff acceptability of jail-based tele-MOUD will support the implementation and sustainability of these life-saving programs.

BackgroundOpioid-related stigma can affect the health and recovery of individuals with opioid use disorder (OUD). As such, campaigns to reduce stigma are needed. We evaluated Life Unites Us (LUU), a comprehensive social media campaign to reduce public stigma of opioids and those who use them, 12 months after campaign launch.MethodsA cross-sectional web survey of 1,045 people was used to assess differences in public stigma by exposure to LUU. Survey items focused on public OUD stigma and were divided into three subscales: desire for social distance, treatment availability and effectiveness, and general attitudes.ResultsControlling for relevant covariates (i.e. gender, political ideology, education level, race), individuals exposed to LUU endorsed less stigma in the desire for social distance and treatment subscales. There were no significant differences in stigma for the general attitudes subscale. Those who identified as more politically conservative held more stigma across all subscales than those who identified as less politically conservative. Females reported less treatment and general OUD stigma than males.ConclusionsFindings suggest that comprehensive social media campaigns that foster connections, educate the public, and advocate for community-level change may positively influence public attitudes toward individuals with OUD and create a more supportive environment for recovery.

In 2021, the Pennsylvania State Police (PSP) created and implemented the Building Bridges Community Outreach Program (BBCOP), which is a positive law enforcement-initiated non-enforcement contact intervention designed to educate the public and improve community relations. To date, there have been no empirical assessments of the influence that this program has had on public perceptions of police. The current study attempts to fill this gap in the literature by offering an assessment of BBCOP participants' perceptions of the program, and their perceptions of police before and after participating in the program. Specifically, the current study uses a mixed-method analysis of matched (i.e. pre- and post-intervention) survey data (n = 106) collected from student participants of initial iterations of the PSP BBCOP intervention occurring between the end of January 2023 and the end of January 2024. Findings reveal that BBCOP participants overwhelmingly reported positive sentiments about their experiences with the program. Further, statistical analyses revealed significant improvements in perceptions of law enforcement effectiveness, procedural justice, and legitimacy following participation in the program. Implications based on these findings are discussed within.

BACKGROUND:Despite significant efforts to improve access to medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD), uptake remains low relative to the scope of the problem in the United States. A growing body of quantitative and qualitative research has documented consistent barriers to MOUD treatment access and retention, at the level of individuals, institutions, and society at large. Stigma - surrounding both people who use opioids (PWUO) and treatment using MOUD - is among the most-cited barriers by patients and providers alike, yet few studies have examined provider-based stigma specifically, or considered its interaction with other impediments to OUD care. METHODS:This paper employs a qualitative approach to the analysis of provider-based stigma among professionals involved in the treatment or supervision of individuals with OUD. We conducted and analyzed interviews with 19 professionals as part of a larger mixed methods study on stigma among substance use treatment providers and court personnel in Pennsylvania. Beyond capturing providers' perceptions of PWUO and MOUD, the authors asked participants to describe barriers to recovery, and the effective delivery of care within this population. RESULTS:Interviewees enumerated multiple entrenched barriers that sometimes operated at different levels, such as criminal-legal involvement, which weakened PWUO's social networks and employment prospects, while undermining providers' attempts at continuity of care; moreover, participants cited the "War on Drugs" as an overarching impediment to effective substance use treatment, not least for its role in perpetuating stigma against PWUO. CONCLUSIONS:Interestingly, while an overwhelming majority of participants named stigma as a barrier to treatment at every level, most also articulated stigmatizing beliefs around PWUO. Namely, providers evoked one element of stigma - blameworthiness - in their contention that many PWUO are inadequately motivated to recover. In addition to adding further complexity to MOUD barriers research, this study troubles the notion that professional training and education on the disease model of addiction serve to eradicate stigma.

Background: The opioid crisis is a public health emergency in the United States, particularly in rural Pennsylvania. Stigma in rural communities is a treatment barrier and impacts harm reduction programming availability.Objectives: The current study utilized an observational, cross-sectional design to examine latent subgroups of stigma and differences in support for harm reduction strategies (i.e., safe injection facilities, syringe services programs, fentanyl test strips, Naloxone distribution). Participants included rural Pennsylvanians (n = 252), taken from a statewide survey of opioid use disorder (OUD) stigma. Participants reported OUD public stigma (i.e., attitudes/perceptions about OUD, willingness to engage with individuals with OUD) and support for harm reduction strategies.Results: Latent class analysis identified 4 stigma classes: 1) high stigma (HS), 2) high judgment/low stigmatizing behavior (HJ/LB), 3) high stigmatizing behavior/low stigmatizing attitude (HB/LA), and 4) low stigma (LS). ANCOVAs identified subgroup differences in harm reduction support. The HS group indicated less support for safe injection sites, syringe services programs, and fentanyl test strips, compared to the HB/LA and LS groups. The HS group indicated less support for Naloxone distribution compared to the HJ/LB, HB/LA, and LS groups. Lastly, the HJ/LB group indicated less support for each program compared to the LS group.Conclusions/Importance: Findings highlight that OUD stigma profiles differ across rural Pennsylvania and are associated with varying support for harm reduction strategies. Individuals with less stigma report more support for harm reduction strategies. Interventions to implement harm reduction strategies should consider varying levels of stigma and use a targeted approach to inform implementation and messaging strategies.

Course-based undergraduate research experiences, or CUREs, have been shown to promote equitable participation in undergraduate research, an opportunity with potent benefits for first-generation and underrepresented minority students. Yet, CUREs are employed disproportionately within STEM fields, and among upperclassmen, despite evidence of their positive effects for lower-level, social science, and humanities students. The project described herein represents an attempt to democratize access to undergraduate research experiences through the implementation of a multi-section, cross-campus CURE in a general education course in criminal justice. Pre- and post-test surveys demonstrated significant increases in participants' perceived research ability, confidence, interest, and knowledge, with gains stable across students by race, income, and class standing. We conclude by proposing a framework for implementing course-based research experiences within introductory courses in the social sciences, including introduction to criminal justice.

Counselor turnover is a serious problem for substance use disorder (SUD) treatment programs, especially in rural areas. This study examined the relationship between workload, workplace environment, and emotional exhaustion on turnover intentions among SUD treatment counselors in rural Pennsylvania. An online, anonymous survey was administered to rural SUD treatment counselors in Pennsylvania between October and December 2020. Completed surveys from 206 counselors were used for analysis. Variables included multi-dimensional measures of emotional exhaustion, intention to quit, workload, and workplace environment. Results showed age, perceptions of distributive justice, and management communication to be inversely related to emotional exhaustion and intention to quit. A subsequent analysis showed that the direct effects of these variables on intention to quit were reduced with the inclusion of emotional exhaustion in modeling, suggesting a potential mediation effect. Findings indicated that higher levels of emotional exhaustion were directly related to a greater intention to quit. A statistically significant indirect relationship was also found for distributive justice on intention to quit through emotional exhaustion, indicating a significant mediating effect. While counseling is a stressful occupation with high potential for burnout, these results show that organizations can adopt practices that help lower emotional exhaustion and turnover intentions for their counselors which could improve retention in the SUD treatment field. This is especially important for rural areas, where there is a high demand for SUD services and not enough treatment workers to meet that demand.

Perceptions of law enforcement ineffectiveness, injustice, and illegitimacy are prevalent among individuals living in Black communities in the United States. Prior research links these attitudes with differential orientations toward cooperation with police. The current study used data collected from a representative sample of 522 Pennsylvania residents to measure public perceptions of police. Analyses examined racial differences in perceptions of police and determined whether normative (i.e., perceptions of procedural justice) and/or instrumental (i.e., perceptions of police effectiveness) assessments of police could explain racial differences in anticipated cooperation with law enforcement through perceptions of legitimacy. Findings revealed the presence of a significant indirect relationship between race and perceptions of legitimacy through perceptions of police effectiveness and procedural justice, as well as a significant indirect relationship between race and cooperation through police effectiveness, procedural justice, and legitimacy. Theoretical and practical implications stemming from these findings are discussed within.