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Faith-Based Organizations In A System Of Behavioral Health Care, Mark Dekraai, Denise Bulling, Nancy C. Shank, Alan J. Tomkins
Faith-Based Organizations In A System Of Behavioral Health Care, Mark Dekraai, Denise Bulling, Nancy C. Shank, Alan J. Tomkins
Alan J Tomkins
Through community service activities, and ministries to members within their congregations, faith communities will encounter individuals with behavioral health needs. This article suggests that faith communities have inherent resources that can enhance the reach and effectiveness of behavioral health systems. A framework is presented that will create a bridge of understanding about how behavioral health can leverage faith organization assets and how faith organizations can actively assist adults, children and families with behavioral health needs within the context of their faith and their community.
Final Report: Nebraska Child Support Collection And Disbursement System Implementation Project, Alan Tomkins, Nancy C. Shank
Final Report: Nebraska Child Support Collection And Disbursement System Implementation Project, Alan Tomkins, Nancy C. Shank
Alan J Tomkins
In June, 1999, the University of Nebraska Public Policy Center (PPC) was asked by the Executive Board of the Nebraska Legislature to undertake a study of child support issues. Specifically, the PPC was asked to recommend how Nebraska can preserve existing strengths and reduce or eliminate weakness in its child support customer service system as the state complies with a federal mandate and develops a centralized State Disbursement Unit (SDU) for the receipting and disbursement of child support payments. In order to learn about the strengths and weaknesses of the present customer service system in Nebraska, as well as learn …
Ccf Semi-Annual Report: Nebraskans Expanding Behavioral Health Access Through Networking Delivery Systems, Caroline Wells, Mark Dekraai, Denise Bulling, Alan Tomkins
Ccf Semi-Annual Report: Nebraskans Expanding Behavioral Health Access Through Networking Delivery Systems, Caroline Wells, Mark Dekraai, Denise Bulling, Alan Tomkins
Alan J Tomkins
Table of Contents: 1. Grant Information 2. Major Activities and Accomplishments 3. Concern/Problems 4. Significant Stories/Findings 5. Communication Activities 6. Other Activities 7. Activities Planned for the Next Reporting Period 8. Financial Status Report Attachments: A. Year Three Subawardees B. Subawardee success stories C. Information on technical assistance workshops D. Information on Subawardee technical assistance events E. Subawardee semiannual survey results F. Financial status report G. Subawardee newsletters H. NEBHANDS Newsletters I. Letters of Appreciation and Celebration of Excellence Keynote Speech
Public Trust And Confidence In The Courts: What Public Opinion Surveys Mean To Judges, David B. Rottman, Alan Tomkins
Public Trust And Confidence In The Courts: What Public Opinion Surveys Mean To Judges, David B. Rottman, Alan Tomkins
Alan J Tomkins
In August 1998 a comprehensive national survey added to the growing mass of information on how the public perceives the state courts. The “Perceptions of the U.S. Justice System,” commissioned by the American Bar Association, relied on telephone interviews of 1,000 American adults selected at random. The respondents were asked for their opinions about “the justice system,” lawyers, judges, law enforcement and the courts. The findings from the ABA survey were optimistic relative to most of the previous surveys. Public confidence in the courts relative to other major institutions seemed higher, and experience with courts appeared to promote higher rather …
Introduction To "Persons With Disabilities": Special Issue Of Behavioral Sciences And The Law, Alan Tomkins
Introduction To "Persons With Disabilities": Special Issue Of Behavioral Sciences And The Law, Alan Tomkins
Alan J Tomkins
In 1990, the United States Congress enacted legislation protecting the civil rights of persons with disabilities. The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) (1990) has been termed the most significant civil rights legislation since the 1960s (Rothstein, 1992/1994; see also Drimmer, 1993; Gostin & Beyer, 1993). The intent of the ADA is to provide “not only equal treatment [for persons with disabilities], but also equal opportunity” (Rothstein, 1992, p. 19, emphasis in original). The purpose of the ADA is not only to eliminate intentional discrimination, but also to change “policies and practices that have a discriminatory impact” on persons with disabilities …
The Need For And The Role Of Comparative And Cross-Cultural Perspectives In Behavioral-Science-And-Law Scholarship, David Carson, Alan Tomkins
The Need For And The Role Of Comparative And Cross-Cultural Perspectives In Behavioral-Science-And-Law Scholarship, David Carson, Alan Tomkins
Alan J Tomkins
Behavioral-science-and-law scholarship suffers from the lack of many activities examining issues from a comparative or cross-cultural perspective. Although U.S. contributions tend to be the most insular, the problem applies to virtually all behavioral-science-and-law endeavors. This special perspective examines the trend in behavioral-science-and-law scholarship) presents data to support the allegation that there are few comparative/cross-cultural contributions) offers explanations for the situation, and advocates for the introduction of more comparative/cross-cultural efforts in the future.
Introduction To Special Issue: International Perspectives (Behavioral Sciences And The Law), Alan Tomkins, David Carson
Introduction To Special Issue: International Perspectives (Behavioral Sciences And The Law), Alan Tomkins, David Carson
Alan J Tomkins
There is a dearth of behavioral-sciences-and-law (bsl) scholarship that employs an international, comparative, or cross-cultural perspective. Traditionally, bsl scholarship is national in its orientation. Thus, it is quite pleasing to have assembled five articles for this “Special Issue on International Perspectives” that address bsl issues from a nontraditional perspective. The four core articles (there also is a “Special Perspective” that the Issue Editors have contributed) in the Special Issue represent the kinds of research, theorizing, and writing that can open the horizons and expand the boundaries of traditional scholarship in the bsl area.
Immigration Controversies In Nebraska: Policies, Politics, And Public Perspectives, Alan J. Tomkins, Tarik Abdel-Monem, Angel Rivera-Colon
Immigration Controversies In Nebraska: Policies, Politics, And Public Perspectives, Alan J. Tomkins, Tarik Abdel-Monem, Angel Rivera-Colon
Alan J Tomkins
Immigration reform has been a part of the United States policy discussions since the 18th century. As early as 1790, Congress was developing laws to allow immigrants to become United States citizens. By 1891, due to the amount of immigrants flowing into the country, the federal government assumed responsibility for immigration control and the Immigration Service was established. Over the past century, policies regulating immigration have transformed reflecting public concern over changing migrant flows into the country. During World War I, immigration levels were relatively low, but when the mass flow resumed post World War I, Congress enacted the Quota …
Public Input For Municipal Policymaking: Engagement Methods And Their Impact On Trust And Confidence, Alan Tomkins, Lisa M. Pytlik Zillig, Mitchel Herian, Tarik Abdel-Monem, Joseph A. Hamm
Public Input For Municipal Policymaking: Engagement Methods And Their Impact On Trust And Confidence, Alan Tomkins, Lisa M. Pytlik Zillig, Mitchel Herian, Tarik Abdel-Monem, Joseph A. Hamm
Alan J Tomkins
Municipalities across the country use various methods of public input to inform managers and elected policymakers about citizen’s preferences and perspectives regarding budget matters or performance measures. One benefit of actively involving the public on key governmental decisions is the belief that it enhances the public’s trust and/or confidence in government. Does it make a difference in the public’s confidence assessments which public engagement technique is used? If enhancing the public’s trust/confidence is a specific objective of a public engagement, which technique is to be preferred? This article presents public trust and confidence data we have been collecting as part …
Research And Engagement Opportunities For Applying Science To Public Policy, Alan Tomkins
Research And Engagement Opportunities For Applying Science To Public Policy, Alan Tomkins
Alan J Tomkins
In 1997, a task force of faculty and administrators from across the five campuses of the University of Nebraska determined that NU “should do more to make public policy expertise and resources available to Nebraskans” and recommended the creation of a university-wide policy center to assist Nebraska’s policymakers (“Recommendations for a University-Wide Public Policy Center,” July 1, 1997). In January 1998, the University’s Board of Regents formally established the Public Policy Center (PPC) as a unit to assist policymakers on a wide range of public policy issues. The University of Nebraska Public Policy Center (http://ppc.nebraska.edu/ ) functions as an outreach …
Genetically Modified Foods: Attitudes And Knowledge In The Heart Of The Farm Belt, Usa, Alan Tomkins, Ian Christensen, John Fulwider, Kim Loontjer, Tarik Abdel-Monem, Dana Cohn
Genetically Modified Foods: Attitudes And Knowledge In The Heart Of The Farm Belt, Usa, Alan Tomkins, Ian Christensen, John Fulwider, Kim Loontjer, Tarik Abdel-Monem, Dana Cohn
Alan J Tomkins
What do “average citizens” think about genetically modified foods (GMF)? Do their potential benefits outweigh their risks? Should food products containing GM ingredients be so labeled? Surveys of attitudes toward GM foods and discussions on the topic in the US have been plentiful. The research typically indicates at least a low level of concern about GMFs. Yet GMFs continue to be prevalent in the American food marketplace. Whatever concerns Americans may have, they have not adversely impacted the production or consumption of GM foods. Indeed, there have not been sufficient political pressures in the US to require the labeling of …
Constructs Of Justice: Beyond Civil Litigation, Alan Tomkins, Kimberly Applequist
Constructs Of Justice: Beyond Civil Litigation, Alan Tomkins, Kimberly Applequist
Alan J Tomkins
It is the case that civil justice problems constitute the bulk of courts’ work in both the state and federal legal systems (see, e.g., Court Statistics Project, 2006; U.S. Courts, 2007). Nevertheless, a decision rendered by a jury (or a judge) takes place in only a relatively small percentage of civil disputes. There are exponentially more civil disputes resolved outside of court than are resolved via jury verdicts (see, e.g., Galanter, 1983, 1993, 1996; Miller & Sarat, 1980–1981; Trubek, Grossman, Felstiner, Kritzer, & Sarat, 1983), a state of affairs true for the UK as well as the US (Pleasence, 2006). …
Potential Impacts Of State Meat And Poultry Inspection For The State Of Nebraska, Kara Slaughter, Sam Cordes, Alan Tomkins, Lyn Kathlene
Potential Impacts Of State Meat And Poultry Inspection For The State Of Nebraska, Kara Slaughter, Sam Cordes, Alan Tomkins, Lyn Kathlene
Alan J Tomkins
Since 1907, Federal law has mandated the inspection of all slaughter and processing establishments engaging in interstate sales of meat and poultry products. In the late 1960’s, Congress expanded the Federal Meat and Poultry Inspection Acts to also require inspection of establishments selling within state lines. At that time, Congress intended for individual states to take on the responsibility for monitoring intra-state meat and poultry sales, using standards “at least equal to” the Federal guidelines for interstate establishments. At present, 27 states do maintain their own state inspection programs, at an average cost of $1,882,319 per state, per year. In …
Introduction To "Current Directions": Behavioral Sciences And The Law 2000, Alan Tomkins
Introduction To "Current Directions": Behavioral Sciences And The Law 2000, Alan Tomkins
Alan J Tomkins
Th is is the second “Current Directions” issue published in Behavioral Sciences and the Law. Our Current Directions issues are not themed issues, but rather they are a collection of current research reports, special perspectives, and other publications. In this issue of Current Directions, there are five traditional research report/special perspective articles: • Frederick, “Mixed Group Validation: A Method to Address the Limitations of Criterion Group Validation in Research on Malingering Detection” • Cooper & Hall, “Reaction of Mock Jurors to Testimony of a Court Appointed Expert” • Cascardi, Poythress, & Hall, “Procedural Justice in the Context of Civil Commitment: …
Education And Training In Psychology And Law/Criminal Justice: Historical Foundations, Present Structures, And Future Developments, James R. P. Ogloff, Alan Tomkins, Donald N. Bersoff
Education And Training In Psychology And Law/Criminal Justice: Historical Foundations, Present Structures, And Future Developments, James R. P. Ogloff, Alan Tomkins, Donald N. Bersoff
Alan J Tomkins
Although psychology had a brief—and rather dramatic—foray into the legal system early in this century, it was only after World War II that psychology started to systematically permeate the legal system. Building on the interest psychologists and other social scientists had on the law, education and training in the areas of psychology and law/criminal justice has undergone considerable growth and development over the past two decades. The authors discuss the early developments and current models of this education and training. Implications of the increased interest and training in psychology and law/ criminal justice, and directions for future developments in these …
Farewell From The Editor Of Behavioral Sciences And The Law, Alan Tomkins
Farewell From The Editor Of Behavioral Sciences And The Law, Alan Tomkins
Alan J Tomkins
This double issue is comprised of 12 articles on a variety of topics. The issue marks the beginning of the 20th year of Behavioral Sciences & the Law (BS&L). The journal began publication in 1983 with four themed issues, on ‘Malpractice,’ ‘Terrorism,’ ‘Post-traumatic stress disorders,’ and ‘Informed consent.’ Each of these topics is as relevant in 2002 as it was almost two decades ago. Over the 20 years, BS&L has primarily published special topic issues. Special topics have distinguished BS&L from other journals in the field. The past few years, however, we have been receiving so many high quality manuscripts …
Introduction To International Perspectives On Therapeutic Jurisprudence, Alan Tomkins, David Carson
Introduction To International Perspectives On Therapeutic Jurisprudence, Alan Tomkins, David Carson
Alan J Tomkins
Therapeutic Jurisprudence (TJ), a concept first conceived by law professors David Wexler (University of Puerto Rico and University of Arizona) and Bruce Winick (University of Miami) only a little more than a decade ago, has emerged as the leading conceptual perspective in the mental health law field. Indeed, a LEXIS search reveals well over 150 articles on, or citing to, therapeutic jurisprudence in American law review publications in the past decade (terms used were “therapeutic w/5 jurisprudence w/25 Wexler or Winick”). Although initially a notion that provided an alternative to the traditional “rights” approach to thinking about mental health law …
Newcomers In Nebraska’S Rural Communities 2006 Nebraska Rural Poll Results, Rebecca J. Vogt, Randolph Cantrell, Bruce Johnson, Alan Tomkins
Newcomers In Nebraska’S Rural Communities 2006 Nebraska Rural Poll Results, Rebecca J. Vogt, Randolph Cantrell, Bruce Johnson, Alan Tomkins
Alan J Tomkins
Population loss in rural Nebraska communities has been a concern, but many communities across the state have experienced population gains during the past decade. Are rural Nebraskans aware of new residents living in their community? How do they feel about their community’s new residents? What do they think will happen to their community’s population during the next ten years? This report details 2,482 responses to the 2006 Nebraska Rural Poll, the eleventh annual effort to understand rural Nebraskans’ perceptions. Respondents were asked a series of questions about new residents in their community and their expectations regarding population growth in their …
International Perspectives On Restorative And Community Justice, Alan Tomkins, Mark A. Small
International Perspectives On Restorative And Community Justice, Alan Tomkins, Mark A. Small
Alan J Tomkins
Legal systems across the globe have attempted to accommodate to our new understandings of human behavior, evolving notions of fairness, and increasing recognitions by Western jurists that the law sits within, not apart from, the complexities of societies. One manifestation of legal system change has been the attempt to alter legal institutional structures and practices in order to better address the overlap of justice and social concerns, often drawing from culture contexts previously ignored by Western bureaucracies (see, e.g., Levine, 2000, discussing the Maori roots of family group conferencing practices). The interest in restorative justice and community justice is, in …
Are Court-Appointed Experts The Solution To The Problems Of Expert Testimony?, Anthony Champagne, Danny Easterling, Daniel W. Shuman, Alan Tomkins, Elizabeth Whitaker
Are Court-Appointed Experts The Solution To The Problems Of Expert Testimony?, Anthony Champagne, Danny Easterling, Daniel W. Shuman, Alan Tomkins, Elizabeth Whitaker
Alan J Tomkins
In contrast with the legal systems of many other countries, the use of privately-retained experts is the subject of intense criticism. Critics argue that privately-retained experts bias the information provided to courts because attorneys shop for experts who will present their point of view in the most favorable light, even though that point of view may not be the mainstream scientific one or appropriately reflect the consensus of technical or specialized knowledge. Others argue that the use of retained experts permits non-mainstream perspectives to be brought into court and gives judges little control over its introduction, and that privately-retained experts …
Documentation Of Violence Risk Information In Psychiatric Hospital Patient Charts: An Empirical Examination, Eric B. Elbogen, Alan J. Tomkins, Antara P. Pothuloori, Mario Scalora
Documentation Of Violence Risk Information In Psychiatric Hospital Patient Charts: An Empirical Examination, Eric B. Elbogen, Alan J. Tomkins, Antara P. Pothuloori, Mario Scalora
Alan J Tomkins
Studies have identified risk factors that show a strong association with violent behavior in psychiatric populations. Yet, little research has been conducted on the documentation of violence risk information in actual clinical practice, despite the relevance of such documentation to risk assessment liability and to conducting effective risk management. In this study, the documentation of cues of risk for violence were examined in psychiatric settings. Patient charts (n = 283) in four psychiatric settings were reviewed for documentation of violence risk informationsummarized in the MacArthur Violence Risk Assessment Study. The results revealed that particular patient and institutional variables influenced documentation …
Introduction To Families And The Courts: Special Issue Of Behavioral Sciences & The Law, Alan Tomkins, Pamela M. Casey
Introduction To Families And The Courts: Special Issue Of Behavioral Sciences & The Law, Alan Tomkins, Pamela M. Casey
Alan J Tomkins
This special issue of Behavioral Sciences & the Law examines some of the many issues related to “Families and the courts.” As Judge Ted Rubin (this issue) observes, “Not everything or everybody ends up in a family court—or any other court—when there is a family problem. But much does and many do.” The issue deals with some of the family matters that do—or should—implicate the legal system (ranging from the attempts of gay men and lesbians to obtain legal recognition of their parental status vis-a-vis their children to the potential role of law in protecting children from emotional maltreatment by …
Public Engagement For Informing Science And Technology Policy: What Do We Know, What Do We Need To Know, And How Will We Get There?, Lisa M. Pytlik Zillig, Alan Tomkins
Public Engagement For Informing Science And Technology Policy: What Do We Know, What Do We Need To Know, And How Will We Get There?, Lisa M. Pytlik Zillig, Alan Tomkins
Alan J Tomkins
This article examines social science relevant to public engagements and identifies the challenges to the goal of meaningful public input into science and technology policy. Specifically, when considering “which forms, features, and conditions of public engagement are optimal for what purposes, and why?” we find social science has not clarified matters. We offer a model to guide systematic research that defines and empirically connects variations in features and types of public engagement activities to specifically defined variations in effective processes and outcomes. The specification of models, as we have done, will guide policy makers, practitioners, and the public in determining …
Preliminary Evaluation Of The Lancaster County Indigency Screener Project, Alan Tomkins, Elizabeth Neeley
Preliminary Evaluation Of The Lancaster County Indigency Screener Project, Alan Tomkins, Elizabeth Neeley
Alan J Tomkins
In January 2001, a three-year Indigency Screener pilot project was initiated in Lancaster County for the purposes of assessing: 1) The advisability of a uniform rule developed to clarify defendant eligibility for courtappointed counsel. 2) A standardized form for documenting eligibility for appointed counsel. 3) The use of dedicated county court staff to obtain financial information from a defendant and verify the information submitted by a defendant in support of his/her claim of indigency. This report is a Preliminary Evaluation of the project. The Preliminary Evaluation is based primarily on information obtained from interviews with key stakeholders, courtroom observations of …
Using Research And Engagement To Inform Policy Making, Alan J. Tomkins
Using Research And Engagement To Inform Policy Making, Alan J. Tomkins
Alan J Tomkins
The University of Nebraska Public Policy Center specializes in policy-relevant research and engagement activities in five areas: 1. Access to Government Services 2. Application of Information Technology to Health & Human Services Delivery Systems 3. Behavioral Health and Human Services 4. Public Participation in Policy Making 5. Water Resources