Committee Chair

Ross, David F., 1959-

Committee Member

Walker, Ruth; Pica, Emily

Department

Dept. of Psychology

College

College of Arts and Sciences

Publisher

University of Tennessee at Chattanooga

Place of Publication

Chattanooga (Tenn.)

Abstract

Researchers have demonstrated the impact of victimization on mental health, and survivor dissatisfaction with legal processes and services. Recent literature supports the efficacy of restorative justice programs that started in response to retributive justice and its inability to directly address survivor harm. Thus, the current study examined how crime survivors perceive legal system support and attitudes towards restorative justice, with an undergraduate sample recruited from UTC’s SONA system and an online cloud-survey sample. Participants completed a survey that asked about their victimization experience(s), and legal system and restorative justice attitudes. Analyses examined mean differences between non-victims and victims, and subjective victimization impact groups. The results indicated that survivors maintain less positive legal system attitudes, and hesitance towards restorative justice. Open responses addressed barriers faced by survivors, systemic remedies, and prioritization of survivor healing. The implications are that the current study could inform policy, practice, and victim-focused alternative justice approaches.

Acknowledgments

I would like to acknowledge the innumerable contributions and advice put forth by my chair, Dr. Ross, and committee members, Drs. Pica and Walker. I would first like to acknowledge Dr. Pica’s years-long guidance in cultivating me into the motivated student and compassionate researcher that I am today. Dr. Pica contributed to the development of this project through several rounds of proofreading, survey development and implementation, along with her continued and dedicated guidance. Next, I would like to acknowledge how Dr. Ross conceptualized and refined this project via proofreading and critiques, further ensuring I included the appropriate measures, survey items, and available resources for local survivors of crime. Dr. Ross also provided me with a unique and experienced perspective of the legal system. I would also like to acknowledge Dr. Walker’s numerous contributions to the proofreading and refinement of this project and the analyses, especially concerning the guidance about the qualitative data analysis. The qualitative responses played an important and valuable role in this mixed-methods project, where Dr. Walker’s guidance was much needed. I would finally like to acknowledge Dr. Moser, and my colleague and good friend, Taylor L., in making important contributions to the proofreading of my thesis document and proposal, respectively.

Degree

M. S.; A thesis submitted to the faculty of the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga in partial fulfillment of the requirements of the degree of Master of Science.

Date

5-2026

Subject

Criminal justice, Administration of--United States; Restorative justice--Public opinion; Victims of crimes--Attitudes

Keyword

crime survivors; restorative justice; attitudes; victimization; legal system

Document Type

Masters theses

DCMI Type

Text

Extent

xi, 63 leaves

Language

English

Rights

http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/

License

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

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