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Journal Article 1: DiPietro, S., Slocum, L., & Esbensen, F. (2014). School climate and violence: Does immigrant status matter? Youth Violence and Juvenile Justice, 13, 299-322.

Abstract: A growing literature shows that school context is an important predictor of student behavior, above and beyond individual and family characteristics. Limited attention, however, has been given to potential contingencies in this relationship. The aim of this research is to extend previous school-based studies by examining whether and to what extent school context is differentially predictive of violent delinquency for immigrant and nonimmigrant youth. Using two waves of data from two multicity program evaluations, Teens, Crime, and the Community/Community Works (T.C.C./C.W.) and the Gang Resistance Education and Training (G.R.E.A.T.) program, we assess the impact of four measures of school climate on violent delinquency. Results highlight important contingencies in the relationship between immigrant status and violence.

Journal Article 2: DeFronzo, J., Ditta, A., Hannon, L., & Prochnow, J. (2007). Male serial homicide: The influence of cultural and structural variables. Homicide Studies, 11, 3-14.

Abstract: Psychiatric approaches have usually been used to explain male serial homicide. But multifactor explanations of the phenomenon suggest that aspects of culture and social structure may also play important roles. The current study attempts to evaluate the multifactor approach by examining whether cultural and structural variables might contribute to explaining the considerable interstate differences in the incidence of male serial killer activity. Separate analyses were conducted for two different state-level male serial killer rates, one based on the state where male serial killers received their early socialization and the other based on the state where male serial killers murdered their largest number of victims. Consistent with the multifactor approach, the results indicated that aspects of culture and social structure were able to account for much of the male serial killer variation among states.