Digital Commons Network^™

Barry Gibbs' Wrongful Conviction And Exoneration, Gracie Rains

SACAD: Scholarly Activities

Barry Gibbs was wrongfully convicted in the murder of Virginia Robertson in 1986 based primarily on forced testimony of a single witness. The witness had been tutored by NYPD detective Louis Eppolito, who possessed ties to organized crime. Gibbs was sentenced to life imprisonment but acquitted in 2005 based on forensic evaluation and evidence of corrupting witnesses. Forensic re-testimonies, in the form of inconsistencies in the witness’ statement and forensic evidence, were crucial for proving his innocence. Neither the judge nor the prosecutor questioned the testimony’s credibility, while the lawyer of the accused failed to forcefully object to the investigative …

Research Showcase Program, St. Mary's University

Program - 2025

No abstract provided.

Gold & Blue Law Edition, Spring 2025, St. Mary's University - San Antonio, Texas

Gold & Blue Law Edition

This is the Spring 2025 edition of Gold & Blue Law Edition which is St. Mary's University's official School of Law publication.

Navigating Recovery: Community College Student Journeys Through Collegiate Recovery Programs, Eric Scott Klein

Educational Leadership & Workforce Development Theses & Dissertations

There is an inherent regional need to support students in recovery, and often their demographics and lived experiences coincide with the student body of a community college. This is particularly salient to the segments of this population which concurrently suffer maltreatment due to other intersectional biases implicit in many health care and education-based systems inside the United States (Cole, 2009; Mance et al., 2010; Rosenthal, 2016). Community colleges are not doing enough to equitably support students in recovery from substance use disorder (SUD) and help buoy their recovery capital (Appiah, 2021; Ashford, Curtis, et al., 2018; Association of Recovery in …

19th Annual Research In The Capitol [Program], March 31, 2025, University Of Northern Iowa. University Honors Program. Iowa State University. Honors Program. University Of Iowa. Honors Program.

Research in the Capitol Programs

Program of research presentations given at the Capitol by students from the University of Northern Iowa, Iowa State University, and the University of Iowa.

Wrongful Convictions In The United States, Connor J. Schoenberger

SACAD: Scholarly Activities

Wrongful convictions occur too frequently in the united states. A wrongful conviction occurs when a person is found guilty and sentenced for a crime that he or she did not commit. Wrongful convictions occur for a number of reasons including false confessions and prosecutorial misconduct, to name only two. This study considers how wrongful convictions affect society and consequences for those who are wrongfully convicted and then later exonerated. One cannot put a price tag on the harm done as a result of wrongful convictions.

Does Social Media Have An Impact On Inciting Violence?, Cora Thorne

SACAD: Scholarly Activities

What is social media? What comes to mind? What is if for? What is its purpose? Is it the variety of popular applications such as Instagram, Tik Tok, Snapchat, Facebook? Or, is it the headlines that come across those apps? Headlines about crime and criminal justice, major events, and politics? Among all the different platforms and the many people on them there is one common theme, hate and violence.

The Effects Of Faith-Based Programs In Prison, Emmery Huber

SACAD: Scholarly Activities

Faith based programs in prison is a cheaper way that the DOJ has found to be able to reduce recidivism rates. Studies show that these programs help inmates find purpose and joy during their situation. However, there is also a question to whether these programs break the establishment clause in the Constitution.

Should Courts Trial Juveniles As Adults, Dylan Velasco

SACAD: Scholarly Activities

The question of whether juveniles should be charged as adults in the criminal justice system is a controversial issue. Some scholars argue that charging juveniles as adults for serious offenses, such as violent crimes, is necessary for ensuring accountability, protecting public safety, and deterring future crimes. Charging juveniles as adults sends a clear message about severity of criminal actions, regardless of the perpetrator's age, and provide a means to safeguard communities by incarcerating dangerous individuals on adult facilities. However, other scholars highlight that developmental differences exist between juveniles and adults. For instance, adolescent brains are still maturing, particularly in areas …

Does Media Influence Public Perception Of Crime, Dylan Leach

SACAD: Scholarly Activities

Media encompasses anything that can spread mass communication, such as news outlets, social media, music, etc. This study includes a review of various scholarly sources to determine the impact that various forms of media have for influencing public perceptions of crime in our nation as well as nations across the world. Initial findings implicate exposure to local news media and rap music influence public perceptions of crime, to include but not limited to increases in violence, concern about local crime rates, and negative perceptions of law enforcement. This study reports some of those results.

Is There A Relationship Between Drug Addiction And Incarceration?, Lindsey M. Lopez

SACAD: Scholarly Activities

The connection between drug addiction and incarceration has been widely debated. Many individuals who struggle with substance abuse will end up in the criminal justice system, mainly due to drug-related crimes or offenses committed under the influence like DUI’s. This study examines whether incarceration is effective in solving substance abuse issues or if alternative approaches such as rehabilitation, offer better results. The analysis explores the balance between punishment and treatment programs to determine what the most effective strategy is in reducing recidivism and addressing why drug addiction is high in the justice system.

Full Issue

Intersections

No abstract provided.

Vocation At Full Stretch: Reflections On Follow Your Bliss And Other Lies About Calling And Its Use Among College Students, Jason A. Mahn

Intersections

No abstract provided.

Ai Meets Advocacy: A Pilot Study On Teaching Victim Advocacy Using Boodlebox Chatbot, Ziwei Qi

SACAD: Scholarly Activities

Artificial intelligence (AI) is increasingly used in the criminal justice system, including crime prediction, sentencing, and victim services. While AI tools offer benefits—such as identifying intimate partner violence and child abuse—scholars caution against bias, lack of transparency, and victim-blaming, particularly in apps and risk assessment models. Building on these insights, a new pedagogical model was developed to train future victim advocates using AI simulations. Through platforms like Boodlebox, students engage in structured, trauma-informed dialogues with AI chatbots such as ChatGPT and “Ruth” from the National Domestic Violence Hotline. The curriculum focuses on experiential learning, client-centered practice, and ethical engagement with …

Forensic Evidence And Its Effect On The Criminal Legal System, Kelsie L. Winter, April Terry

SACAD: Scholarly Activities

The use of forensic evidence is a relatively new initiative, gaining momentum and popularity in the 1980s and 1990s, for its role in addressing wrongful convictions. Yet, with advancements still being achieved, mistakes have been uncovered. In the criminal legal system, inaccurate evidence and/or information can be a barrier for seeking justice. Collectively, estimates suggest forensic errors occur in anywhere between 46-100% of forensic cases, with varying errors occurring based on the type of evidence (e.g., forensic pathology vs. seized drug analysis). As such, this literature review outlines the unreliable aspects of forensic evidence, the misinterpretation of such findings, and …

State Of The Grid: Cybersecurity Best Practices For The Utility Industry, Corban Garcia

SACAD: Scholarly Activities

Developing a strong cybersecurity posture is essential for protecting critical infrastructure, especially in the utility industry. This study analyzes a multi-layered cybersecurity approach that integrates risk management, technology, governance, and workforce training. Based on an examination of industry literature, six key steps were identified. These include assessing security posture, developing policies, implementing security controls, employee training, incident response planning, and regular audits. Each step plays a vital role in mitigating cyber threats and ensuring operational resilience. A comparative analysis of cybersecurity frameworks and real-world incidents highlights the necessity of proactive security strategies. Without these foundational steps, organizations face greater risks …

Ai-Powered Education: Innovative Teaching Strategies To Elevate Student Learning, Karen J. Magruder, Ann M.L. Cavallo, Andrew M. Clark

Mavs Open Press Open Educational Resources - Archive

AI-Powered Education is a practical teaching resource crafted by educators, for educators, focusing on the integration of AI to enhance student learning. The book provides a collection of practical, step-by-step activities from a variety of disciplines in higher education. Each activity integrates AI tools and technologies into the classroom in innovative ways, with detailed guidance for instructors to seamlessly adopt these ideas.

The Chanticleer, 2025-02-27, Coastal Carolina University

The Chanticleer Student Newspaper

The editorially independent student produced weekly newspaper of Coastal Carolina University.

Neurocriminology: Revolutionizing Specialized Training For Criminal Justice System Professionals, Janina Cich

Forensic Scholars Today

No abstract provided.

Advising Tools For Student Success, Ingrid Washington, Jimmy Wright

Morehead State Theses and Dissertations

A capstone submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Education in the Ernst and Sara Lane Volgenau College of Education at Morehead State University by Ingrid Washington on February 18, 2025.

Identifying The Level Of Physical Activity (Pa) In Hospitality & Tourism, Kinesiology, And Recreation Students, Erick Kong, Dal-Hyun Moon, Alexandra Sandoval

ICHRIE Research Reports

Purpose – This study examines the impact of COVID-19 on Physical Activity (PA) on hospitality & tourism, kinesiology, and recreation students at California State University. The findings will help understand a direct impact on what is needed to be in place on campus in order to support and promote normal levels of PA as recommended by the World Health Organization.

Methodology/Design/Approach – PA was measured by a modified version of the International Physical Activity Questionnaires (IPAQ) questionnaire. There were 116 students that participated in this study, respondents were mostly students who are majoring in hospitality & tourism, kinesiology, and recreation. …

The Grizzly, February 13, 2025, Kate Horan, Sidney Belleroche, Renee Washart, Nathaniel Nerone, Claudia Tracy, Emily Veasey, Hadley Whitman, Jesse Cherone

Ursinus College Grizzly Newspaper, 1978 to Present

The Launch of Soulful Creations • Annual UC Career Fair Coming Soon! • CIE Syllabus Change Proposals • Professor Pairs • Behind Their Doors: Meet the New Staff of Ursinus • Valentine's Day: Friend or Foe? • Shattering Limits: Bears Break School Records • Basketball Bears Push Towards Playoffs!

The Current - Volume 35 Issue 8, Nova Southeastern University

Student Newspapers

No abstract provided.

Navigating Climate Action: The River As Teacher For Eco-Literacy, Educational Regeneration And Creative Participation, Bibi (Silvina) Calderaro

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

Cultures' engagements with land and its more-than-human elements reveal their attitudes toward these dimensions, spanning a spectrum from reciprocal to transactional practices. In time, these engagements form a body of knowledges that nurtures the culture and its land, or arrests their vital and diverse qualities. This research project aims to bring to light how the different ways of engaging with and relating to land are embedded in knowledge production, distribution and communication—in short, in general educational endeavors and their philosophies—to promote a better understanding of the principles of eco-literacy. Additionally, a purpose of this project is to provide insights into …

The Current - Volume 35 Issue 7, Nova Southeastern University

Student Newspapers

No abstract provided.

An Examination Of Maternal Messages Given To Academically Successful African American Undergraduate Males By Their Single Mothers, Denee' Scott-Elliott

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to examine the lived experiences of successful African American undergraduate males from single-parent homes, and the maternal messages that contributed to their academic success and resilience. Research shows that African American males face an icreased risk of academic underachievement, particularly those raised by single mothers. The participants consisted of African American undergraduate males who grew up in a single-parent home headed by their mother. For the purpose of this study, academically successful males were defined as males enrolled in a Historically Black College or University (HBCU) in the District of Columbia, Maryland and …

Building Community, Sarah Moss, Athan De Jong

The Voice

No abstract provided.

A Different Kind Of Summer School, Jennifer Vermeer

The Voice

No abstract provided.

Residential Freshman Interest Groups, University Of North Florida

Student Affairs Printed Materials

Brochure: Residential Freshman Interest Groups, University of North Florida Department of Residence Life, brochure explaining what about Resident Freshman Interest Groups (RFIGs), where students live at The Crossings residence hall and take classes together. Undated.

Nsu Communiversity Outreach, Nova Southeastern University

NSU Digital: Communiversity

No abstract provided.