Digital Commons Network^™

Global Criminal Justice Practices And Public Safety, Rachel Hwang

Posters-at-the-Capitol

Popular political discourse in the U.S. assumes that more funding for law enforcement and prison facilities will make civilians safer, presumably by reducing crime and sense of disorder. However, studies have shown that the relationship between these factors may not be as straightforward. With the killing of George Floyd and increased media coverage of police brutality, existing literature focuses mainly on the relationship between police and crime in the U.S. The impact of incarceration (the result of procedural justice) on the community (for whom procedural justice exists) is less known, especially on a global scale. We argue that cycling people …

Science Of Hemp: Production And Pest Management Meeting Proceedings (2022)

Science of Hemp Annual Meeting

The third meeting of the Science of Hemp: Production and Pest Management held on November 3-4, 2022 at the University of Kentucky in Lexington, KY. Ninety-two agricultural scientists attended a series of scientific presentations. Topics included discipline-specific presentations in agronomy, entomology, horticulture, economics, and plant pathology, as well as general sessions. The abstracts for presentations and posters are included within this publication.

A Probabilistic Exploration Of Food Supplementation And Assistance, Logan Mattingly

Honors College Theses

Food insecurity is a stark threat that grips our country and affects households throughout our country. Dietary insufficiency manifests itself in ways that affect health and public safety. According to researchers, individuals who suffer from food insecurity have a higher risk of aggression, anxiety, suicide ideation and depression. These problems tend to occur unequally distributed among those households with lower income. In this work, an exploratory analysis within these data sets will be performed to examine the socio-economic, biographical, nutritional, and geographical principal components of food insecurity among survey participants and how the US Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) effects …

Youth In A Mental Health Crisis, William Simmons

Integrated Studies

Recent research has shown that many of today’s youth are experiencing a mental health crisis that they are not prepared to handle on their own. A large portion of youth have a mental, emotional, or behavioral issue and may not even realize it or are not able to seek help. This problem is further exacerbated by continual budget cuts made to school spending and a justice system that prioritizes punishment over rehabilitation. This research paper will give a brief history of the juvenile justice system and what advances have been the most influential. It will also examine the flaws of …

Leadership In Modern Policing, Shawn Craven

Integrated Studies

The growing need for effective and moral law enforcement leadership is at an all-time high due to the changing societal needs and complexities. Modern law enforcement leaders must possess many skills and competencies that reflect the profession's demands and their communities. Effective police leadership requires a commitment to transparency, accountability, and community engagement obtained through effective knowledge, skills, and abilities that are enhanced by training. A review of available research literature supports that to be an influential and effective police leader, you must possess high-quality and moralistic leadership values and attributes to advance departmental and public trust. This conclusion points …

Navigating The Obstacles Of The Substance Use Epidemics In The United States For Healthcare Professionals, Valencia A. La'cour

Integrated Studies

ABSTRACT

The purpose of this research is to assist healthcare professionals in the United States in both clinical and non-clinical areas become more informed, identify barriers, and develop an action plan regarding opioid and alcohol addiction crisis. The opioid crisis was declared an epidemic that places the county in a state of national emergency by President of the United States Donald J. Trump in 2018. Alcohol consumption has been steady in America since 1850, except for during the times of prohibition from 1919-1933.

Both the opioid crisis epidemic, and alcoholism continuously manage to aggressively take devasting numbers of lives over …

Low-Income Communities And The Impact On Mental Health And Substance Use Disorder, Melissa Haynes

Integrated Studies

This paper discusses the literature review and findings of low-income communities and the direct impact it has on mental health and substance use disorder. As stated in Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology, Bauer et al. (2021) research showed that “poverty and poor mental health are closely related”; this paper will review the direct impacts. While using literature review journals and other creditable sources, this paper will show specific mental health and substance use disorder concerns found within low-income communities, including depression, anxiety, suicide, and substance use disorder. This research will identify individuals within communities who are at greater risk due …

A Bonded Case Study Of Missouri Secondary Criminal Justice Program Curricula, James Barnes, James Oren Barnes

Murray State Theses and Dissertations

This exploratory case study measured the Missouri Secondary Criminal Justice Program instructors' perception on the impact of Missouri technical standards, the Industry Recognized Credential/Technical Skills Assessment (IRC/TSA), Career and Technical Student Organizations (CTSOs), individual cumulative career experience, and advisory boards on their curricula. As a local autonomy state, Missouri has no statutorily mandated curricula to guide instructors. Six secondary criminal justice instructors agreed to be interviewed on their perspectives regarding the factors that impact curricula. The research found that instructor experience had the most substantial impact on curricula. The instructors used the technical standards as a scope and sequence for …

Understanding Resilience And Protective Factors Among Released Offenders, Vanke'via Garner

Murray State Theses and Dissertations

Approximately 650,000 offenders are being released from prison or jail per year in the USA. After incarceration, released offenders encounter a myriad of challenges that prohibit successful transition into the community. Research has focused on the risk factors that contribute to recidivism – relapse into criminal activity, with limited focus on protective factors that contribute to desistance from criminal activity. Existing research has relied on several theories to hypothesize and explain the causes of desistance, with research suggesting that individual subjective factors and social factors are essential to the desistance process. This study was therefore guided by two theories – …

The Ineffectiveness Of The War On Drugs, Tristen Miller

Integrated Studies

The War on Drugs does not improve health and public safety, but rather serves as a tool of institutional racism and militarism. Despite increased spending on drug enforcement efforts, rates of incarceration and overdose deaths remain high. Through analyzing research done on arrest records in areas such as the state of California; Seattle, Washington; and New Haven, Connecticut, the disparity in arrests of black and white Americans becomes apparent. Additionally, analyzing the effectiveness of War on Drugs policies in Afghanistan, Colombia, and Mexico, reveals ulterior motives for American military intervention. Military intervention and incarceration have proven ineffective at addressing the …

Informal Executive Actions And Agency Guidance: Legal And Political Implications For Immigration And Other Policy Areas, Ihsan A. Alkhatib, James C. Clinger

Commonwealth Review of Political Science

This paper is a study of the use of various forms of informal executive actions used by presidents and cabinet officials to guide the policy implementation of federal agencies. Among these are policy manuals, guidance statements, statements of administration policy, and announcements of executive priorities. The recent executive action regarding immigration announced by President Obama is also an example of this kind of behavior. The paper will rely upon the analysis of legal scholars who have examined the causes and consequences of informal executive actions. We will examine the implications that these actions have for public participation, transparency, consistency in …

Complete Issue - Volume 5, Number 1 (2021)

Commonwealth Review of Political Science

Complete Issue

An Investigation Into Cte Classroom Instructional Strategies, Jonathan Walker

Murray State Theses and Dissertations

This researcher conducted this ex post facto study with the help of career and technical education (CTE) teachers across the country. The research was a survey of classroom instructional strategy usage, a teacher’s familial impact on classroom instruction strategies used, and the effects of Covid-19 on classroom strategies used. Data suggested that CTE teachers use different instructional strategies based on teacher demographics and that Covid-19 did have an effect on CTE teachers’ use of instructional strategies. This data suggested the five most used classroom instructional strategies were questioning, guided practice, demonstrations, lab activities, and whole group discussion.

Towards A Social Justice Agenda: Intimate Partner Violence Among Rural, African American Women, Shani Collins Woods

Contemporary Rural Social Work Journal

The social work profession is rooted in community-based work that seeks to eradicate social injustice everywhere. Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a global phenomenon which impacts women from diverse socio-economic and racial/ethnic backgrounds. It involves power and control, economic abuse, and physical and sexual violence. When compared to other racial and ethnic groups, African American women are likelier to experience physical violence, rape, and homicide. Intimate partner violence among African American women is a social justice issue.

When compared to other racial and ethnic groups, rural and/or low-income African American women are likelier to experience IPV. They are also likelier …

Can Body-Worn Cameras And Policy Changes Assist Within Police Agencies?, William L. Propes

Integrated Studies

Police agencies across the globe are facing a crisis as it pertains to the diminishment of public trust within their communities, stemming from highly-publicized instances where police officers have had to use force on a citizen, which can sometimes be deadly. Because of many different factors such as social media, biased mainstream media outlets, and rapid information sharing, public opinion and trust for the police are at an all-time low, and use of force incidents are commonly questioned and critiqued by those with no police training or law enforcement knowledge.

It is not accurate to state that police agencies and …

Comparative Analysis Of Animal Welfare Laws Versus Kentucky’S Animal Welfare Laws, Tammala Stratton

Integrated Studies

State laws governing animal welfare vary between states. This paper will establish the differentiation in the terminology, the established punishments, and the resulting rates of euthanasia associated with these laws as well as examining local laws that have proven effective. Best practices that are a direct result of the institution of the laws in the states that have been deemed “top tier” by The Animal Legal Defense Fund, the American Veterinary Medical Association, and The United States Department of Agriculture will be examined and compared with the existing practices and laws of Kentucky. Kentucky currently ranks in the bottom tier …

The Impact Of Prescription Pain Reliever Misuse And Heroin Use On Morbidity And Mortality By Level Of Urbanicity: 2002-2014, M. Fe Caces, Peter J. Delany, Michael A. Cala

Contemporary Rural Social Work Journal

Non-medical use of prescription pain relievers (PPRs), heroin, and more recently fentanyl, continue to have major public health consequences in the United States. This article analyzes trends in PPR and heroin use, emergency department and hospital stays, substance use treatment services, and mortality to assess the relative impact of the opioid crisis on rural versus more urbanized counties in the United States. Our findings suggest that while more urbanized counties have had greater increases in opioid use, rural and less urbanized counties tended to be more negatively impacted than larger and non-rural counties. Disparities in service availability highlight the need …

Chemical Regulations And The Effect On Manufacturers, Dustin Smith

Integrated Studies

This paper examines two major regulatory systems chemists and chemical manufacturers must deal with on a day-to-day basis. There are dozens of different sets of regulations that affect the chemical industry throughout the world. Many countries have their own specific rules that govern the chemicals manufactured or imported inside their borders. Specifically, this paper will examine the rise of the European Union’s REACH system, the failure and reform of the United States’ TSCA and finally, the effects these two systems have upon each other.

Opioid Epidemic, Amy Ford

Integrated Studies

Most narcotics and non-synthetic drugs have medicinal values that have helped in treating various conditions in medical practice. Opium is a typical plant that has proved remarkable medicinal values. Opium extracts (opioids) are the most effective analgesics available for tackling pains. Unfortunately, while healthcare and pharmaceuticals exploited the health benefits of the substance, its dirty aspect (addiction) unveiled. As people developed dependence, the pharmaceutical players involved in opioids production increased quantities and enticed medical practitioners to increase prescriptions for the opioid-based painkillers. Consequently, the addiction grew, and healed patients continued the use that has led to widespread overdose and deaths. …

National Service Works: A Review Of Federally Administered National Service Programs, Caitlin Szabo

Integrated Studies

National service in the United States permeates through most communities. Despite a significant number of participants, national service programs like AmeriCorps and Senior Corps are relatively unknown. People understand the concept of the Peace Corps – programs may refer to their AmeriCorps model as the “domestic version of the Peace Corps." National service programs engage individuals in providing services to their communities in exchange for intrinsic and extrinsic rewards. Individuals ranging from 18 to 99 join national service programs for a number of reasons, including a desire to “give back” or “make a difference.” People also find national service as …

The Importance Of Immunizations In School-Aged Children, Cortney D. Stutzman Lpn

Integrated Studies

This paper identifies in detail the importance of vaccinations, focusing primarily on the category of school-aged children. All 12 vaccines are discussed individually, recognizing the disease/diseases they are protecting against, benefits of the vaccine, how and to whom the vaccine is administered, contraindications for the immunization, and risks associated with each vaccination. The information used in this project is from a combination of scholarly peer-reviewed journal articles, medical texts, and information from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). It addresses all regulated childhood vaccinations including hepatitis B (Hep B); haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib); diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis …

The Impact Of Gender Normed Scoring Of The Brief Symptom Inventory On Trans* Individuals, Ashley Megan Bieze Wilson

Murray State Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this research was to investigate the significance of the choice of gender normed scoring on the Brief Symptom Inventory (BSI) (Derogatis, 1993) when assessing cisgender and trans* or gender non-conforming individuals. This study compared two groups, cisgender and trans* individuals, on male and female gender normed scoring for the BSI. Each participant’s responses on the BSI were scored using both male and female norms and the number of clinically significant elevations (T-score ≥ 63) was counted. Results indicated that regardless of gender identity or sex-assigned-at-birth (SAAB), a higher mean number of elevations was found when using male …

Prediction Of Metal Sample Failure From Scanning Electron Microscope Images Using Deep Learning Neural Network, Lawrence Madriaga, Ivan Novikov, Morteza Nurcheshmeh

Posters-at-the-Capitol

We present the preliminary results on using a deep learning neural network to predict a metal sample failure based on a set of images obtained with a Scanning Electron Microscope.

Various metal alloy samples were prepared according to ASTM E8/E8M-11 standards for a tensile test. Each sample was prepared for circle grid analysis and then stressed on a tensile machine. Stress and strain values were obtained for each position along the sample by measuring dimensions of each elongated circle. Increasing stress and strain values were found closer to the breakage of the sample with low values found at the holding …

2018-08-07, Board Of Regents, Murray State University

Board of Regents Meeting Minutes

No abstract provided.

2018-03-09, Board Of Regents, Murray State University

Board of Regents Meeting Minutes

No abstract provided.

Prevention: The Fight Against The Prescription Opioid Epidemic, Kenoshia Hatchette, Kenoshia E. Hatchette

Integrated Studies

Abstract

Prescription opioids drug abuse and addiction has become one of the United State’s biggest problems today. This epidemic is causing major issues is the lives of many Americans today. Research shows millions are affected by this epidemic each year and numbers are steadily rising. One of the biggest factors behind the rise of prescription opioid addiction and abuse is, the fact that these drugs are perfectly legal to use and easy to get.

I researched online articles and journals to further look into the epidemic. The research shows that this epidemic not only affected adults, but it also affected …

Juvenile Detention, Veronica Ortiz Moralez

Integrated Studies

The study aimed at identifying and evaluating the reasons for juvenile delinquency and detention. To attain this aim, secondary data has been used in a descriptive way. It is observed from the study that the lack of education along with financial issues influence juveniles to reflect offensive behavior and crime. The reasons also involve the lack of support from the parents as well as the inappropriate family environment. The improper school and community environment and bad company of friends may also cause juvenile delinquency, which results in detention. The personality and the psychology of the juvenile may also lead to …

Workplace Violence, Darvonte Green

Integrated Studies

'Every year, 2 million American workers report having been victims of workplace violence. In 2014, 409 people were fatally injured in work-related attacks, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. That's about 16% of the 4,821 workplace deaths that year.' National Safety Council (NSC 2018).

2017-08-25, Board Of Regents, Murray State University

Board of Regents Meeting Minutes

No abstract provided.

Protective Custody Inmates, Allen Stone

Integrated Studies

This paper was written about protective custody inmates. This research looks at if/or protective custody is a useful tool in correctional settings.

The paper looks at different settings in different states on how they do protective custody. The paper discusses if protective custody is cost effective for what it's purpose is.

It looks at the difference in protective custody and segregation. What inmates are entitled to go to protective custody and what are the reasons that they go into protective custody.

It also talks briefly about former New England Patriots tight end and former Subway spokesperson and how they were …