Using summated scale scores to make group comparisons is only meaningful if one can assume that the scale measures attribute in the same way in each of the groups involved in the comparison. This assumption is called measurement invariance. This contribution discusses the use of modern statistical measurement models to test this assumption and to verify the consequences of a possible violation for the comparison of group means. In the empirical part of the contribution the authors illustrate their account by examining whether a scale assessing avoidance behavior – commonly used in fear of crime research – is invariant across gender and age groups. |
Artikel |
Het probleem van meetinvariantie bij het vergelijken van subgroepen op basis van somscoresVermijdingsgedrag als casestudy |
Tijdschrift | Tijdschrift voor Criminologie, Aflevering 1 2014 |
Trefwoorden | measurement invariance, differential item functioning, fear of crime, avoidance behavior |
Auteurs | Arne De Boeck MSc, Prof. dr. Wim Hardyns en Prof. dr. Lieven Pauwels |
SamenvattingAuteursinformatie |
Artikel |
De subjectieve zwaarte van detentieEen empirisch onderzoek |
Tijdschrift | Tijdschrift voor Criminologie, Aflevering 1 2014 |
Trefwoorden | subjective severity imprisonment, deterrence, just desert, deprivation model, importation model |
Auteurs | Ellen Raaijmakers MSc, Dr. Jan de Keijser, Prof. dr. Paul Nieuwbeerta e.a. |
SamenvattingAuteursinformatie |
Both in punishment theory and sentencing practices, the subjective sentence severity is an important yet neglected area of research. This paper aims to explain differences between inmates in their subjective severity of imprisonment and to contemplate these against the background of important sentencing goals and sentencing principles. Two models commonly used to explain adjustment to prison life were applied: the import and deprivation model. Data from the Prison Project, collected among Dutch inmates staying in pretrial detention, reveal that both import and deprivation characteristics are related to the subjective severity of imprisonment. No support is found for a moderation effect of personality. |
Artikel |
Autonomie, ambtelijke organisaties en criminaliteitsbestrijdingOver samenwerking tussen overheidsinstanties bij de aanpak van mensenhandel |
Tijdschrift | Tijdschrift voor Criminologie, Aflevering 1 2014 |
Trefwoorden | collaboration, public administration, law enforcement, human trafficking, multi-agency approach |
Auteurs | Dr. Barbra van Gestel en Drs. Maite Verhoeven |
SamenvattingAuteursinformatie |
How do organisations collaborate in the daily practice of law enforcement? And what role plays autonomy of government agencies within this cooperation? In this article the authors answer these questions on the base of two case studies: two large scale projects in which a partnership approach was used to combat human trafficking in the Netherlands. Collaboration between city administration, investigation services and tax authorities seems to be very hard to put into practice. This is understandable from the theory that government agencies, while performing their tasks, are focused on achieving autonomy. |
Artikel |
Straffen omvat meer dan gevangenisstrafDe effecten van daderkenmerken op de straftoemeting voor het gehele sanctiepakket |
Tijdschrift | Tijdschrift voor Criminologie, Aflevering 1 2014 |
Trefwoorden | judicial decision-making, sentencing disparity, Imprisonment, concomitant sentencing, sentence severity scale |
Auteurs | Mr. drs. Sigrid van Wingerden en Dr. Johan van Wilsem |
SamenvattingAuteursinformatie |
Sentencing research focusing solely on unsuspended imprisonment does no justice to the practice of sentencing, where many other punishment types are imposed – often conjunctly. To investigate to what extent this imprisonment bias might have caused incomplete and thereby biased findings, we compare the effects of offender characteristics for imprisonment to those for other sanction types, as well as to a model combining sanction types. Findings suggest that the effects of offender characteristics differ per sanction type. When combinations of sanction types are taken into account, some offender characteristics do no longer have mitigating or aggravating effects, or the effects even inverted. Hence, future sentencing research should aim to include all sentences imposed. |
Artikel |
Verschillen crackers van andere criminelen?Een vergelijking op basis van Nederlandse verdachtenregistraties |
Tijdschrift | Tijdschrift voor Criminologie, Aflevering 4 2013 |
Trefwoorden | hackers, crackers, computer intrusion, suspects, The Netherlands |
Auteurs | Dr. Stijn Ruiter en Frank Bernaards LLM |
SamenvattingAuteursinformatie |
Scientific research on cybercrime has mainly focused on its technological aspects. There is a lack of knowledge regarding the human factor in cybercrime. In this article we focus on the human factor and address the question to what extent crackers (criminal hackers) are similar to other criminals. We analyse socio-demographic characteristics as well as criminal careers of crackers in comparison to those of other criminals. We employ Dutch police data on criminal suspects from 1996-2009. Our results show that hacking suspects are quite similar to other criminals with respect to both socio-demographic characteristics and their criminal careers. |
Artikel |
Je geld kwijt, en dan?Financiële schade bij slachtoffers van onterechte bankafschrijvingen |
Tijdschrift | Tijdschrift voor Criminologie, Aflevering 4 2013 |
Trefwoorden | unauthorized cash withdrawal, bank account, identity fraud, financial damage |
Auteurs | Dr. Johan van Wilsem, Dr. Nicole van der Meulen en Dr. Maarten Kunst |
SamenvattingAuteursinformatie |
Identity fraud is a rapidly growing problem, as shown by recent volume estimates from victim surveys. Little is known however about the amount of financial damage among victims of this crime, especially in the Dutch context. This article studies victims of unauthorized cash withdrawal from their bank account, which is one of the most common forms of identity fraud. For this, we use data on 180 victims from the representative LISS panel. The results show that the financial implications of this type of crime experience vary widely between victims. While many victims are disadvantaged for only a small amount of money (for almost 40 per cent is about less than 50 euros ), a quarter of this group suffers from substantial money loss of more than 500 euros. Nevertheless, the vast majority (85 per cent) are completely reimbursed by their banks. Eventually, only in rare cases victims suffer significant permanent money loss. Remarkably, the low educated are significantly less often reimbursed by their banks. |
Artikel |
Cyberpesten vanuit een criminologisch perspectief |
Tijdschrift | Tijdschrift voor Criminologie, Aflevering 4 2013 |
Trefwoorden | cybercrime, criminological challenges, cyberbullying, characteristics perpetrators, interrelation online-offline |
Auteurs | Drs. Joyce Kerstens en Sander Veenstra MSc |
SamenvattingAuteursinformatie |
It is assumed that the online world creates new possibilities for criminal behaviour. Only recently criminologists started the debate on the applicability of traditional criminological theories to cybercrime offending. Data retrieved from the national Dutch survey Youth & Cybersafety indicate that cyberbullying behaviour is not only strongly interwoven with traditional bullying behaviours, but is also affected by the distinct features of the online environment. The findings give support to the suggestion that the aetiological schema to explain cyberbullying should postulate the interaction between individual characteristics, distinct features of the online environment and the interaction between offline and online social realities. |
Artikel |
Psychische klachten bij mannelijke gedetineerdenPrevalentie en risicofactoren |
Tijdschrift | Tijdschrift voor Criminologie, Aflevering 3 2013 |
Trefwoorden | mental health, prisoners, deprivation model, longitudinal |
Auteurs | Anne Brons MSc, Dr. Anja Dirkzwager, Drs. Karin Beijersbergen e.a. |
SamenvattingAuteursinformatie |
This study examined the prevalence and predictors of male inmates’ mental health problems. Data were used from the Prison Project, a longitudinal study in which 824 prisoners were surveyed twice (three weeks and three months after arrival in prison). Compared with the general population, inmates reported significantly more psychological problems. Except for depressive symptoms, inmates’ mental health problems decreased over time. After controlling for prior mental health problems and a number of import factors, we found that those who shared a cell in the first weeks of their imprisonment and held more positive judgments regarding daytime activities and the relationships with staff, reported fewer psychological problems after three months. Those who were verbally abused by prison staff during their first weeks in prison reported more psychological problems after three months. |
Artikel |
Dader, slachtoffer, of beiden?De samenhang tussen daderschap en slachtofferschap onderzocht |
Tijdschrift | Tijdschrift voor Criminologie, Aflevering 3 2013 |
Trefwoorden | victimization, offending, spuriousness, causal relationship |
Auteurs | Drs. Josja Rokven, Dr. Stijn Ruiter en Dr. Jochem Tolsma |
SamenvattingAuteursinformatie |
This study addresses next to the question to what extent offenders become victims themselves also and for the first time in the Netherlands the degree in which victims become suspects of criminal investigations themselves. Furthermore, this study also examines whether this reciprocal relationship is in fact spurious, caused by socio-demographic characteristics of individuals. Annual victimization survey data combined with longitudinal police data show a positive reciprocal relationship, even after controlling for socio-demographic characteristics of individuals. Subgroups that score relatively low on offending and victimization show a stronger reciprocal relationship, while for subgroups with relatively high scores, the relationship is less strong or even negative. |
Artikel |
Als de berg niet naar Mohammed komt ...Over het belang van inzicht in levensbeschouwing bij de politiële aanpak van eergerelateerd geweld |
Tijdschrift | Tijdschrift voor Criminologie, Aflevering 2 2013 |
Trefwoorden | honour-based violence, religion, Islam, police, motive |
Auteurs | Dr. Janine Janssen en Drs. Ruth Sanberg |
SamenvattingAuteursinformatie |
How can police officers make use of citizens’ religious beliefs when dealing with cases of honour-based violence (HBV)? In this article religion is addressed regarding motive and legitimisation of violence and as a social network of people and institutions for communities of believers. We focus on Islamic religion, because most cases of HBV handled by the police take place within Islamic communities and because the Dutch public debate on religion revolves around Islam. We interviewed police officers with expertise on HBV. These officers have an instrumental vision on religion. It helps them to gain insight in motives for violence and it offers opportunities for conflict mediation and coping with the aftermath of HBV. |
Artikel |
Illegaal verblijvende moslimmigranten in jihadistische samenwerkingsverbanden |
Tijdschrift | Tijdschrift voor Criminologie, Aflevering 2 2013 |
Trefwoorden | jihadi Salafism, terrorism, radicalization, irregular immigrants, survival crime |
Auteurs | Drs. Jasper de Bie, Dr. Christianne de Poot en Prof. dr. Joanne van der Leun |
SamenvattingAuteursinformatie |
Irregular immigrants were disproportionally present in jihadi movements in the Netherlands between 2001 and 2005. By analyzing closed police files and interviewing imams and personnel from Asylum Seeker Centers and Detention Centers, this paper claims that the attractiveness of jihadi movements can be explained by a combination of pragmatic and ideological factors. Jihadi movements are able to fulfil the needs of the irregular immigrants in a pragmatic way, in which crime is an important feature. In addition, the results show that irregular immigrants are searching for meaning, which the jihadi movements can offer. Nonetheless, the salafi-jihadi ideology does not seem to be the core factor to most of the illegally residing immigrants that expresses the attractiveness of the jihadi movements. |
Artikel |
‘Als Allah mij kiest’Rechtvaardigingen voor martelaarschap en geweld op Facebook |
Tijdschrift | Tijdschrift voor Criminologie, Aflevering 2 2013 |
Trefwoorden | radicalisation, young Muslims, jihadists, martyrdom, internet, violence |
Auteurs | Dr. Marion van San |
SamenvattingAuteursinformatie |
For the past few weeks, young Muslims from Belgium and the Netherlands leaving for Syria to join the armed struggle against the Assad regime have been dominating the local news. This is especially remarkable in light of the fact that it would appear that, until very recently, jihadists from Belgium and the Netherlands were far and few between. The armed struggle is a topic that is widely discussed among young Muslims on social media such as Facebook. During the research on which this article is based, we conducted an analysis of conversations between young Muslims on Facebook and held interviews with a number of them. The key question was: why is it that so many young people use social media to profess their willingness to sacrifice their lives in armed struggle while at the same time most of them are not prepared to put action to their words? Despite all the media reports, the fact remains that of the large number of young Muslims who are potentially ready to go into battle, the vast majority prefer to stay at home for the time being. When we confronted the participants in these discussions with this inconsistency, they offered a number of reasons and considerations as to why martyrdom was not yet granted to them. The way in which these considerations shape their lives and the role played by their religious convictions form the subject of this article. |
Artikel |
Informele huwelijken in Nederland: in het echt verbonden?Een kritische reflectie op een vermeend veiligheidsrisico |
Tijdschrift | Tijdschrift voor Criminologie, Aflevering 2 2013 |
Trefwoorden | informal marriages, radicalization, religion |
Auteurs | Prof. dr. Joanne van der Leun en Avalon Leupen MSc |
SamenvattingAuteursinformatie |
Dutch law solely recognizes civil marriage. According to law, religious marriages can only take place after these civil marriages. Over the last years there have been several indications of rising numbers of ‘informal marriages’ which conflict with the law. These informal marriages were presupposed to take place primarily in Muslim circles. Amongst politicians and media the worries were expressed that these marriages pointed to an aversion with regard to the state of law and to radicalization of the young people involved. They were also seen as a risk to the security of society. In this explorative study we did not find any evidence for this securitisation link. |
Artikel |
Geestelijke verzorging in penitentiaire inrichtingen: zorg zonder targets |
Tijdschrift | Tijdschrift voor Criminologie, Aflevering 2 2013 |
Trefwoorden | chaplaincy, spiritual care, detainees, penal system |
Auteurs | Dr. Mohamed Ajouaou |
SamenvattingAuteursinformatie |
Spiritual care is connected with one’s identity and is linked to the religious or worldview background of the detainee. The spiritual caregiver’s religious or worldview serves the question of care. This care does not have any ‘care targets’; the basic characteristics for this care are availability and presence. The positive effect of his or her efforts on the well-being of the detainee and his contribution to a humanitarian penal system, resocialization in general, and maintenance of order have already been proven. Despite the legal protection spiritual care cannot escape the discussion on the role of religion and worldview in a strongly secularized society. This article suggests that spiritual care weathers this questioning. |
Artikel |
Een meta-analyse van Nederlands recidiveonderzoek naar de effecten van strafrechtelijke interventies |
Tijdschrift | Tijdschrift voor Criminologie, Aflevering 1 2013 |
Trefwoorden | meta-analysis, penal interventions, effectiveness, recidivism, the Netherlands |
Auteurs | Dr. Bouke Wartna, Drs. Daphne Alberda en Suzan Verweij MSc |
SamenvattingAuteursinformatie |
In the Netherlands penal interventions aimed at the reduction of recidivism are progressively executed according to the ‘what works’ approach, a research tradition that tries to articulate the conditions under which penal interventions can be effective in preventing offenders to relapse into crime. The ideas on ‘what works’ originate from international studies, but what about the Dutch research itself? Which interventions have proved to be successful in the Netherlands and which have had adverse results? The WODC has carried out a meta-analysis of all relevant studies that have been published in the Netherlands and the Dutch-speaking part of Belgium since the early seventies of the previous century. 141 evaluations were identified, 83 of which contained some sort of comparison with a control group. Results indicate that programmes aimed at adult offenders were more successful than interventions for youth and young adults. Programmes based on the idea of rehabilitation appeared to have been more successful than sanctions based on deterrence. |
Artikel |
‘Maar Hollanders zouden zeggen dat het uitbuiting is ...’Chinese restauranthouders en illegale Chinezen over werken bij ‘de Chinees’ |
Tijdschrift | Tijdschrift voor Criminologie, Aflevering 1 2013 |
Trefwoorden | labour exploitation, Chinese restaurants, illegal aliens, moral economy, reciprocity |
Auteurs | Jing Hiah MSc. en Prof. dr. Richard Staring |
SamenvattingAuteursinformatie |
Based on qualitative research within Chinese restaurants in the Netherlands, the authors describe and discuss (informal) labour relations among Chinese restaurant owners and their illegal Chinese workers. It is argued that a too one-sided emphasis on interpreting these labour relations in terms of ‘labour exploitation’ reduces employers to offenders and employees to victims. Such a judicial perspective hinders a clear view on the causes of underlying themes as illegal labour and illegal stay. The authors discuss how restaurant owners and employees operate in a ‘moral economy’ in which a demand for cheap products and flexible, motivated, cheap, and capable labour interacts with culturally shared expectations on justice and reciprocity and influences labour relations. |
Artikel |
Het effect van de slachtofferverklaring op straftoemeting: een experimenteel onderzoek onder rechtenstudenten |
Tijdschrift | Tijdschrift voor Criminologie, Aflevering 1 2013 |
Trefwoorden | victim impact statement, sentence, written, videotape, injuries |
Auteurs | Mr. Maaike Kampen, Dr. Jan de Keijser en Mr. dr. Ard Schoep |
SamenvattingAuteursinformatie |
Annually hundreds of victims make use of their right to speak in court. Victims often expect this will result in more punitive sentences. According to judges this is unlikely. This experiment among law students examines the influence of victim impact statements (VIS) on the sentencing outcome. Furthermore the effect of how the statement is delivered is examined. Is there a difference between the VIS as document in the case file and one delivered by the victim in court? Does it matter if the victim still has visible injuries? Study findings indicate that neither the presence of a VIS, nor the mode of delivery and visible injuries affect sentence length. |
Artikel |
Ruimtelijke criminologieVan woonbuurt tot cyberspace en van politiestatistiek tot space-time budgets |
Tijdschrift | Tijdschrift voor Criminologie, Aflevering 4 2012 |
Trefwoorden | environmental influences, social ecology, environmental criminology, studies in the Netherlands and Belgium |
Auteurs | Prof. dr. Lieven Pauwels, Dr. Frank Weerman, Dr. Wim Bernasco e.a. |
SamenvattingAuteursinformatie |
Since the publication of a special issue in TvC (the Dutch Journal of Criminology) on the spatial distribution of crime, about fifteen years ago, a vast number of developments have been observed in the field of social ecology and environmental criminology. During this period many studies have been undertaken in the Netherlands and Belgium. However, there still is room for progress, e.g. through the study of new contexts beyond the traditional boundaries of residential neighbourhoods and through the use of promising new methodologies and technological developments. This special issue provides some examples of such innovative research on environmental influences on crime. In this introductory article the authors provide an overview of the background of the theme, and discuss recent theoretical and methodological developments. They move on to discuss contemporary studies that have been carried out in the Netherlands and Belgium, and outline some desirable and necessary future developments. Finally, the authors provide the reader with an overview of the other contributions to this special issue. |
Artikel |
Het effect van intensief surveilleren vlak bij en vlak na een eerdere inbraak |
Tijdschrift | Tijdschrift voor Criminologie, Aflevering 4 2012 |
Trefwoorden | burglary, experiment, police surveillance, near-repeat, contagiousness |
Auteurs | Marlijn Peeters MSc, Jasper van der Kemp MSc, Guillaume Beijers MSc e.a. |
SamenvattingAuteursinformatie |
Can a fruitful police surveillance scheme be based on supposedly increased risk immediately after and around a previous burglary (‘near repeat phenomenon’)? An experiment in Amstelveen has been set up and analysed for this purpose. Some neighbourhoods got a ‘near repeat surveillance’ scheme, and the occurrence of burglary in those areas has been compared with control neighbourhoods elsewhere in town. We observed a change in the near repeat pattern in the experimental area, but no net effect on burglary rates, presumably because of large between-neighbourhood variance in incidence. |
Artikel |
Virtuele ontmoetingsruimtes voor cybercriminelen |
Tijdschrift | Tijdschrift voor Criminologie, Aflevering 4 2012 |
Trefwoorden | offender convergence settings, cyber crime, phishing, carding |
Auteurs | Dr. Melvin Soudijn en Eileen Monsma MSc |
SamenvattingAuteursinformatie |
Felson introduced the concept of offender convergence settings in his articles on situational crime prevention. He refers to physical locations where criminals get together to relax, share information, fence stolen goods, plot new crimes, etc. Such places come in the form of restaurants and cafes that are in the hands of the ‘underworld’, but may equally well consist of deserted schoolyards where unruly adolescents gather. According to Felson, such settings facilitate the committing of crimes and enable the creation of structure and continuity in criminal networks. |