Problem:
You will now be performing an Article Critique on a scholarly source by Tartaro and Levy (2008) obtained in TCS's library database on inmate suicides in prison. The Tartaro and Levy (2008) article that you will be critiquing is an empirical study, is no more than 10 years old, and has the following APA sections (i.e., an Abstract, Introduction, Methodology, Results, Discussion, Conclusion, and References). Need Assignment Help?
This source meets the criteria as outlined in the Article Selection Template that was showcased in the Module 2 PowerPoint with other sample articles.
Please review the materials below to assist you in your article critique.
Reference Materials:
Review
Article Selection Template Document
Student Example of An Article Critique Document
Article to be Critiqued
Tartaro, C. & Levy, M.P. (2008). Predictors of suicide in new generation jails. Justice Research and Policy, 10(1), 21-37.
Sample Articles
Hanes, M.J. (2008). Signs of suicide: Using road drawings with inmates on suicide observation at a county jail. Art Therapy, 25(2), 78-84.
Cook, T. (2013). Recent criminal offending and suicide attempts: A national sample. Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology, 48(5), 767-774.
Additional Critique Information
Paper Information
Minimum of 3-4 pages (not including the Title or Reference Page).
Completed in Microsoft Word.
Follow the APA Publication Manual's writing style and formatting guidelines (use objective 3rd person language),
Include a Title page, text pages, and Reference pages.
You should write at the graduate level, displaying critical thinking, paying attention to cross-cultural and multiple perspectives, as well as focusing on grammar and writing mechanics.
Be sure to include the following areas in your Article Critique:
Introduction: address the research questions/hypotheses;
Methodology: discuss the sampling strategy, measures used, and procedural format;
Results: relate the statistical analyses to the research questions/hypotheses;
Discussion: address the conclusions of the study noting limitations, validity issues, and application to counseling practice
Reference page.
The results of the analysis conducted in this study provide no evidence to support the first and second study hypotheses. The first hypothesis involves the impact of officer training on suicides, and the second suggests a relationship between the concentration of services on the pod level and reported suicides. Detailed information about the nature of the training offered in these facilities would likely provide insight on types of training that are more or less effective. Additional research on the relationship between officer training and suicide needs to be conducted to identify characteristics of effective training programs.
Support was found for the third hypothesis, namely, that jails that provide a less institutional, more comfortable, living environment for inmates tend to be less likely to report at least one inmate suicide. This suggests that the use of certain techniques to improve the atmosphere of the jail can be beneficial in terms of suicide reduction.
The list of jail characteristics used to measure the physical environment in this study was rather limited, and there are clearly more factors involved in jail design that could be important in terms of suicides. With this type of research, the ideal data collection method would involve observation of each jail participating in the study. Financial constraints as well as the practical constraints of gaining access to 150 jails prevented the researchers from conducting observations for this study. The researchers could, however, have requested additional information about the jail environment from the respondents, such as the design of the booking area and more detailed information about the design of the dayrooms and cells.
The number of inmate-inmate assaults was also associated with reported sui-cides. It should not be surprising that facilities that have less inmate stress brought about by violence or the threat of violence also have fewer suicides. As was noted earlier in this study, past research has found a relationship between inmate victimization and suicide (Blaauw et al., 2001; Liebling, 1993). Jails that are successful in preventing disorder in the form of inmate-inmate assaults appear to also successfully address suicide prevention issues. Future research should control for the types of inmates who are incarcerated in each jail, since one possible explanation is that the more violent jails are holding more violent and troubled inmates. One limitation to the dataset used for this analysis was the lack of classification information for inmates held in each jail. Additional information about the characteristics (such as race and gender) of inmates residing in each jail also might help to further explain which jails experience suicides and which do not.
The finding of a relationship between the jail environment and reported suicides has important implications for jails nationwide. Neglect of certain aspects of the direct supervision model has the potential to contribute to the failure of the institution in creating a safe environment. Criminal justice agencies have a tendency to only partially implement successful programs that they wish to emulate. The popular direct supervision model has been recognized by researchers and practitioners as being a promising design and management strategy. Some of the characteristics of this jail, however, are expensive and politically controversial. For example, those involved in the design of the new jail might be concerned that by designing a non-institutional environment, they will be accused of coddling inmates. The political success of get-tough sheriffs nationwide is widely known among criminal justice personnel. County-level decision-makers need to understand that not including certain aspects of the direct supervision jail model will likely reduce its effectiveness in suicide prevention. This reluctance to follow through with the principles of direct supervision can result in its failure if a well-publicized security incident (including suicide) occurs in one of these institutions. Unfortunately, members of the media and politicians reacting to such an incident are unlikely to make the distinction between a poorly implemented direct supervision jail and one that is being run properly.
Respond in objective 3rd person language and include references