Digital Commons Network^™

Securing Our Community Through The Emergency Medical Services Sector, Michael Linehan

Master in Management for Public Safety and Homeland Security Professionals Master's Projects

Keeping the nation resilient; that is a nation able to withstand any threat or catastrophe is a primary goal of the United States Government. Ever since 9-11 our nation has had to face the reality that we can be vulnerable to threats from forces outside our control. We have had to re-examine the threats that we face and how we can better deal with them in the best way possible.

The following project will explore the many facets connected to making a resilient society. My area of expertise within the emergency services management gives me the unique perspective as a …

Reducing Courts’ Failure-To-Appear Rate By Written Reminders, Brian H. Bornstein, Alan J. Tomkins, Elizabeth M. Neeley, Mitchel N. Herian, Joseph A. Hamm

Alan Tomkins Publications

This article examines the effectiveness of using different kinds of written reminders to reduce misdemeanor defendants’ failure-to-appear (FTA) rates. A subset of defendants was surveyed after their scheduled court date to assess their perceptions of procedural justice and trust and confidence in the courts. Reminders reduced FTA overall, and more substantive reminders (e.g., with information on the negative consequences of FTA) were more effective than a simple reminder. FTA varied depending on several offense and offender characteristics, such as geographic location (urban vs. rural), type of offense, and number of offenses. The reminders were somewhat more effective for Whites and …

Predicting Risk To Reoffend: Establishing The Validity Of The Postive Achievement Change Tool, Julie H. Martin

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

In recent years, there has been increased reliance on the use of risk assessment in the juvenile justice system to predict and classify offenders based on their risk to reoffend. Over the years, the predictive validity of risk assessments has improved through the inclusion of actuarial assessment and dynamic risk factors. The predictive validity of certain assessments, such as the Youth Level of Service/Case Management Inventory (YLS/CMI), has been well established through numerous replication studies on different subgroups of the population. The validity of other instruments, such as the Positive Achievement Change Tool (PACT), is in its infancy having only …

Ua12/8 Wku Police, Wku Archives

WKU Archives Collection Inventories

Records created by and about the WKU Police Department.

Ua12/8 Annual Campus Security And Fire Report, Wku Police

WKU Administration Documents

This report is designed to provide students, prospective students, parents, faculty, and staff with accurate crime statistics, information on university services, and crime prevention programs. These programs are designed to help inform our campus community about safety practices that will help reduce the risk of becoming a victim of crime. These safe practices can provide individuals with vital information that they can carry with them through college and beyond, keeping them safe for the rest of their lives.

Natural Resources In Nonmetropolitan Nebraska: Use And Priorities: 2012 Nebraska Rural Poll Results, Rebecca J. Vogt, Cheryl A. Burkhart-Kriesel, Randolph L. Cantrell, Bradley Lubben

Nebraska Rural Poll

Many rural Nebraskans say they already recycle a lot and face no barriers. However, many rural Nebraskans cite lack of programs and difficulty getting materials to drop-off sites as barriers to recycling. Persons living in or near smaller communities are more likely than persons living in or near larger communities to say their community doesn’t offer recycling. However, most rural Nebraskans say their community offers either curbside pickup or drop-off recycling for all of the materials listed with the exception of glass bottles.

Most rural Nebraskans are in favor of building the Keystone XL pipeline, but think it should be …

Management In The United States Government: Applying Management Techniques Toward Homeland Security Efforts, Debra Wilson

Master in Management for Public Safety and Homeland Security Professionals Master's Projects

The term homeland security has been defined by the National Strategy for Homeland Security (NSHS) as "a concerted national effort to prevent terrorist attacks within the United States, reduce America's vulnerability to terrorism, and minimize the damage and recover from attacks that do occur" (NSHS). The United States government has made countless attempts to protect the nation, some of which were successful. For the purpose of this paper, the United States government refers to all government agencies on the federal, state, and local levels. The task of securing the nation has been extremely complex and time consuming. There are times …

Quality Of Life In Nonmetropolitan Nebraska: Perceptions Of Well-Being And Church Life: 2012 Nebraska Rural Poll Results, Rebecca J. Vogt, Cheryl A. Burkhart-Kriesel, Randolph L. Cantrell, Bradley Lubben, Philip Schwadel

Nebraska Rural Poll

Most rural Nebraskans are positive about their current situation. And, they continue to be generally positive about their future situation. Over one-half (51%) of rural Nebraskans think they are better off than they were five years ago and just under one-half (45%) think they will be better off ten years from now. Certain groups remain pessimistic about their situation. Persons with lower household incomes, older persons, and persons with lower educational levels are the groups most likely to be pessimistic about the present and the future.

When asked if they believe people are powerless to control their own lives, most …

The United States Drug Enforcement Administration: Pertaining To Public Safety And Homeland Security, Benjamin Martin Ogden

Master in Management for Public Safety and Homeland Security Professionals Master's Projects

Despite the efforts of the United States Drug Enforcement Administration, United States Government, Armed Forces, and other law enforcement agencies, illegal drug uses continues to be a major issue. The direct connection between illicit drugs and terrorism, specifically in Afghanistan, poses a major threat to America along with the effects these drugs have on public health. In order to continue to successfully counter illegal drug trafficking and abuse in the United States it is essential to bolster numerous aspects of the Drug Enforcement Administration its efforts. This includes management, public-private partnerships, and critical infrastructure protection. It is also necessary for …

A Local Approach: Homeland Security Officers, Erik Grutzner

Master in Management for Public Safety and Homeland Security Professionals Master's Projects

It has become apparent that true preparedness for a catastrophic event requires a strong local component. However, the patchwork of full and part time operators in a range of disciplines preparing for a variety of responsibilities creates the risk of an inexact or inefficient response. As a result, this document will support the idea that in order to improve the level of preparedness of municipalities, one full time police officer should be assigned to the newly created position of Homeland Security Officer (HSO), and be tasked with all manner of responsibilities for the most effective example of homeland security.

This …

Mamaroneck Ems And The Continuity Of Operations: Homeland Security On A Local Level, Samantha M. Gagliardi

Master in Management for Public Safety and Homeland Security Professionals Master's Projects

The definition of homeland security and all that it encompasses has been an ongoing discussion since the events of 9/11. As a homeland security professional it has become clear to me that homeland security is not only a federal obligation, but a local priority as well. All events are local and the government cannot be solely responsible for the preparation, response, and resilience of each individual community. The Village of Mamaroneck is a small jurisdiction approximately 30 miles from New York City. The prime threat this Village has faced is inclement weather and severe flooding due to the multiple floodplains …

Fighting Narcoterrorism: A Counter Narcotic Approach To Homeland Security, Nicholas Levesque

Master in Management for Public Safety and Homeland Security Professionals Master's Projects

The use of illicit drugs in the United States can be looked at as a homeland security concern for many reasons. The illicit drug trade challenges the security of our borders, fuels crime in many of our communities and when illicit drugs are abused by individuals, they can become unproductive members of society. This loss of productivity can be attributed to healthcare concerns, incarceration and the burden placed on the rest of society to make up for the loss. Terrorist organizations like Al-Qaeda have shown involvement in the illicit drug trade and use it as a means of funding their …

New York/New Jersey High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Terrorist Financing & Drug Trafficking Strategy, Danielle Morita O'Mara

Master in Management for Public Safety and Homeland Security Professionals Master's Projects

My Masters Project focuses around the New York/New Jersey High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (NY/NJ HIDTA). Narco-terrorism has become a significant issue for the safety and security of the United States. Terrorist financing also plays a significant role in the war on terror. I chose to create a three part strategy for the NY/NJ HIDTA that will combat both narco-terrorism and terrorist financing. Each chapter describes another detailed plan of how the NY/NJ HIDTA, as well as particular agencies within, combat these issues in attempt to keep our nation secure. My Masters Project was carefully constructed with a strong focus …

Continuity Of Operations: A Strategy To Secure The Nation, Matthew J. Cassidy

Master in Management for Public Safety and Homeland Security Professionals Master's Projects

The sharing of power and responsibilities between the individual states and the federal government is detailed in the US Constitution and is called federalism. Research has indicated that the shift of power between the states and federal government has waxed and waned over the last 236 years. This qualitative study is based upon literature review of the relationships of local, state, and federal governments in responding to catastrophes. Each level of government brings unique capabilities to the response to catastrophic events. There is no need to usurp federalism in order to survive the next catastrophe; it is going to take …

A Multifaceted Approach To Management And Homeland Security For The 21st Century, Vincent Antonecchia

Master in Management for Public Safety and Homeland Security Professionals Master's Projects

This master’s thesis is a compilation of "short stories" which share one common theme, the immediate and long-term protection, preservation and prosperity of my country, the United States of America. I embarked on this journey to obtain a Master of Arts in Management and Homeland Security because I am truly concerned about my children’s future, the future of the United States of America, and the future of the world as a whole. On September 11, 2001, the world caught a glimpse of true evil and witnessed death and destruction as it was carried out by focused and motivated enemies.

I …

Play Fair With Recidivists, Richard Dagger

Political Science Faculty Publications

Retributivists thus face a difficult challenge. Either we must go against the social grain, and perhaps our own intuitions, by insisting that a criminal offense carry the same penalty or punishment no matter how many previous convictions an offender has accrued; or we must find a way to justify the recidivist premium. I shall take the second route here by arguing that recidivism itself is a kind of criminal offense. In developing this argument, I shall rely on Youngjae Lee's insightful analysis of "recidivism as omission." I shall complement his analysis, however, by grounding it in a conception of criminal …

State Homeland Security : Variation And Patterns Among The U.S. States, Lisa N. Sacco

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

This dissertation examines the homeland security organizations of the 50 states, and describes what systems the states have created for homeland security policy and structure. The purpose of this dissertation is to determine how each state homeland security organization was developed, describe each organization, and ascertain if patterns of homeland security have emerged among the states. This descriptive study also uncovers philosophical differences in the states' interpretation of homeland security.

Disappearing Act? : An Analysis Of The Boundaries Between The Nonprofit & For-Profit Sectors, Simone Grant

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

This dissertation analyzes the boundaries between the nonprofit and for-profit sectors using network analysis on interlocking directorates. Drawing upon data that contains over 26,000 directors and 1000 organizations, it seeks to identify the nature of the network between the largest organizations in American society and addresses how it might explain recent marketization trends in the nonprofit sector. The “biznification” of the nonprofit sector has caused some alarm amongst nonprofit scholars and this dissertation adds another layer to the discussion by looking at the directors of the nonprofit and for-profit sectors. Seeking to identify any differences in the network brought on …

Modeling Municipal Service Integration : A Comparative Case Study Of New York And Philadelphia 311 Systems, Taewoo Nam

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

An increasing number of city governments are looking to the consolidation of municipal services to make their cities more efficient, effective, transparent, and accountable. A 311 system, as a consolidated channel for non-emergency contact services, is one strategy being employed. Despite growing attention to 311 systems as a preferred approach to city-level service integration, there is a paucity of research on integration of the related city services. Considering the gap in theoretical and practical knowledge of city-level service integration, this study addresses two questions: 1) How do city governments integrate critical city services? and 2) What influences city-level service integration …

Public Safety Networks – Examining Mimetic, Complexity, And Legacy Effects On Interorganizational Collaborations, Martin A. Dias

2012

The purpose of this dissertation is to examine information systems-enabled interorganizational collaborations called public safety networks – their proliferation, information systems architecture, and technology evolution. These networks face immense pressures from member organizations, external stakeholders, and environmental contingencies. This dissertation investigates the role of three effects on these networks - the effect of peers in network proliferation, the effect of environmental and organizational complexity on their information systems, and the effect of legacy systems on capability scale and scope. Better understanding the conditions associated with network proliferation will assist decision-makers in assessing appropriate partnering opportunities. Better understanding the nature of …

Fiscal Review Of The Cleveland Public Library And Scan Of State And National Trends In Library Funding, Claudette Robey, Kevin O'Brien, Kyle Julien, Scott Winograd

All Maxine Goodman Levin School of Urban Affairs Publications

No abstract provided.

The Next Steps Toward Consolidating Public Safety Dispatch Centers: Parma, Ohio, Daila Shimek, Scott Winograd, Kimberly Renee Vining, Eugene Kramer, Thomas Cozzens, Claudette Robey, Kevin E. O'Brien, Andrew Batson

All Maxine Goodman Levin School of Urban Affairs Publications

No abstract provided.

Review Of The Operations Of Bay Village, Ohio, Daila Shimek, Kyle Julien, Scott Winograd, Claudette Robey, James Wyles, Kevin E. O'Brien

All Maxine Goodman Levin School of Urban Affairs Publications

No abstract provided.

The Latino Community In Multnomah County: An Unsettling Profile, Ann Curry-Stevens, Amanda Cross-Hemmer, Coalition Of Communities Of Color

School of Social Work Faculty Publications and Presentations

Our report, "The Latino Community in Multnomah County: An Unsettling Profile" uncovers an array of racial inequities across the systems of income, employment, education, juvenile justice, corrections, child welfare, philanthropic giving, housing, immigration, research practices (particularly population measurement), wealth, health, health insurance coverage, racial harassment, public service and voter registration. These systems maintain our second-class status and serve to limit our current well being and the prospects for a bright future for our children.

Can Drug Court Results Be Predicted? Completion And Termination Of Drug Court Participants, Christopher D. Geisler

MPA/MPP/MPFM Capstone Projects

The substantial growth in Kentucky’s prison population since the 1980s has resulted in increased spending on corrections, both the total amount and as a percentage of total general fund spending. The sustained growth in corrections spending combined with shrinking budgetary realities has created an incentive to explore ways to reduce costs without compromising public safety. Community supervision programs are one alternative to addressing this problem. They are an attractive approach to dealing with certain types of criminals because the cost is significantly lower than incarceration. Drug courts are an example of community supervision that allows drug offenders to avoid imprisonment …

Nutrition Policy, Nonmarket Failure, And The Obesity Epidemic, James Woodward

MPA/MPP/MPFM Capstone Projects

The Dietary Guidelines for Americans, which are based on the Dietary Goals for the United States, represent the federal government’s first attempt to improve the nation’s health by recommending that Americans avoid certain foods. The Guidelines were based on what was perceived, by the government and nutritionists alike, to be solid scientific evidence that consumption of fat and saturated fat in particular, increase the risk of developing heart disease. They also emphasized, and continue to emphasize, the importance of exercise and calorie restriction as the primary means of maintaining a healthy weight. In short, the Guidelines sought to …

Unmas 2012 Annual Report, Unmas

Global CWD Repository

The year 2012 was an important one for UNMAS. Delivering on its commitment, UNMAS has successfully led and completed the United Nations Mine Action Strategy, which was endorsed, last December, by the heads of United Nations entities active in mine action. This was a welcome reaffirmation of UNMAS leadership and coordination role. Simultaneously, my counterparts entrusted UNMAS with the responsibility of establishing, hosting and operating the United Nations Monitoring and Evaluation Mechanism for Mine Action, a commitment to accountability and transparency that I wholeheartedly support. The Secretary-General appointed a new Director, the first woman to occupy this post, who immediately …

Civilian Aviation Screening: A Time-Series Analysis Of Confiscated Firearms At Screening Checkpoints, Shon Agard

Online Theses and Dissertations

This study investigated the aviation screening process and sought to determine if the federalization of the screening process had any effect on the number of firearm confiscations at civilian aviation screening checkpoints. The hypothesis of the study was that airport screening firearms confiscations (per one million screenings) were lower before the U.S. government (TSA) took over screening in 2001-2002. This quantitative research required the performance of an interrupted time series analysis. Interrupted time series analysis evaluates the impact of one or more events on the values in the time series. An interrupted time series analysis attempts to determine whether an …

Voter Ideology, Tax Exporting, And State And Local Tax Structure, John M. Foster

Theses and Dissertations--Public Policy and Administration

State and local governments play an important role in financing and delivering public services in the United States. In 2008, state and local governments collected 57 percent of total federal, state, and local revenue (Urban Institute and Brookings Institution, Tax Policy Center, 2009). The decentralization of fiscal responsibility has enabled a high degree of variation in state and local tax structures to emerge. This dissertation presents two empirical studies that extend the positive literature on state and local tax policy.

The extant literature contains evidence of a direct relationship between voter ideology and state and local tax progressivity. However, the …

San Jose Police Department: A Managerial Audit Of Patrol Staffing, Self-Initiated Activity, Response Times, And In-Field Arrest Rates, Justin T. Deoliveira

Master's Projects

No abstract provided.