Publication Type: Conference Paper/Unpublished Manuscript
Abstract: This paper reports early results from an ongoing study of factors influencing the decision to give the death penalty in the state of Delaware. Delaware is a good site for such a study because of its small size, which enables researchers to examine each death-eligible case in the contemporary period of capital punishment. Another feature of Delaware is that during the contemporary period of capital punishment, juries decided the sentence during one period, and judges with jury input decided the sentence in a subsequent period. Thus, the study has the potential to inform us about how the presence of the jury or judge as the ultimate sentencer affects the process and outcomes in capital cases.

Publication Type: Poster
Abstract: This poster presents findings from the five-year study, "Drug Court Offenders in Outpatient Treatment." The goal of this study was to provide an increased understanding of the influence that drug courts have in motivating treatment completion and post-treatment success when offenders are referred to outpatient substance abuse treatment. The current research aims to better understand why and how treatment works in this context. To accoplish this goal, three major specific aims were assessed. We collected a sample of adult offenders in outpatient substance abuse treatment and examined a) multiple post-treatment outcomes b) the impact of drug court referrals on treatment completion, and c) variations in treatment interest, treatment completion, and treatment outcomes. On the basis of the data presented, we conclude that referrals to the New Castle County Drug Court increased treatment completion and that this increased completion is directly influenced by motivations induced by the drug court, which in turn results in successful treatment outcomes. Findings from treatment program data,the Client Satisfaction Survey (CSS) interview, and the 12 and 24-months follow-up interviews are reported. More specifically, predictors of program completion, recidivism and relapse by treatment group, treatment interest, concurrent life problems, drug use history and treatment history are presented.

Publication Type: Individual Paper
Abstract: Delaware, the smallest slave state in size and slave population, received little attention from slavery studies. Deemed 'an anomaly', 'outside the pale of slavery,' and inconsequential; nevertheless, it was a slave state and remained one until the end of the Civil War. Enslaved women were mentioned only in the few comprehensive studies done on slavery in Delaware; however, these women did engage in resistance from running away to arson, poisoning, spontaneous uprising, and numerous examples of 'insolence.' Their acts were recorded in coroners' reports, governors' registries, and newspaper notices. Delaware did not have large plantations, most slave owners possessed from 1 to 5 slaves. The largest slave owners had no more than 35 or 40 slaves, and women outnumbered men in nearly every case. Even though slavery was considered to be less onerous in the state, enslaved women attempted to escape its coils. The actions of these women add to the studies of enslaved women.

Publication Type: Conference Paper/Unpublished Manuscript
Abstract: How feasible is it to collect data from court records to better understand how Daubert has altered the admission or exclusion of expert testimony? The Daubert trilogy has impacted the courts, yet how and to what extent is largely still unknown. A lack of empirical data on this topic has underscored the need for researchers to investigate how to approach the collection of pertinent and reliable data on this topic.

We have evaluated both civil and criminal case files from a sample of cases in all three Superior Courts in Delaware and tested the reliability of conducting electronic searches in the case management system. Together with the methodological assessment, we also collected valuable data through both case file reviews as well as interviews with judges and attorneys on the actual impact of Daubert and how this decade old decision has affected the parties in the case, proffered experts, judges, and the time and resources of court staff.

Publication Type: Poster
Abstract: In the past eight years, mental health courts, as another type of therapeutic court modeled after drug courts, have developed rapidly across the United States. Using both key informant interviews and direct court observation, this study did a preliminary evaluation on Delaware’s Mental Health Diversion Program. Community context, target population, and major procedures of the program are introduced, followed by a summary of main features of the program and a discussion of future improvement. Findings in this study may not be only useful to Delaware policy makers, but also to other state and local agencies that are involved with issues of mental health and criminal justice. Especially, this study can contribute to current literatures that are predominantly concentrated on the big and influential model courts across the country.