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An Exploration Of Texas Latinos’ Perceptions Of Law Enforcement And Undocumented Immigration In The United States, Marika Dawkins-Cavazos, Camille Gibson

Criminal Justice Faculty Publications

Given increased trepidation about undocumented immigration in the United States, this study offers an examination of the extent to which Latinos who represent different generations of immigrants perceive United States law enforcement and the current state of undocumented immigration. It gives voice to Latinos, the most significant demographic crossing the border. The topic is relevant given policymakers’ interest in addressing the moral panic over increasing immigration to the country and an interest in law enforcement legitimacy as an essential ingredient in their effectiveness in combating crimes. This qualitative study using semi-structured interviews describes the perceptions of 40 Texas Latinos regarding …

Strangers To The Algorithm: The Effects Of Algorithmic Decision-Making In Removal Proceedings On Due Process Rights, Otoniel Ramos

Undergraduate Research Symposium Podium Presentations

This paper investigates the impact of algorithmic decision-making tools on due process rights, particularly within immigration removal proceedings. Deviating from prior studies, which primarily focused on various measures of fairness or the long-term racial stratification as a consequence of these tools, this research emphasizes the implications for due process—a fundamental legal principle enshrined in the U.S. Constitution. By examining ICE's use of these tools between July 2012 (when they were adopted) and October 2016, the study reveals the ways algorithmic input may inadvertently erode principles of procedural justice, especially adjudicatorial independence, in a setting where the rights of non-citizens are …

The Cowl - V. 88 N. 8 - November 21, 2024

The Cowl

The Cowl - student newspaper of Providence College. Vol. 88 No. 8 - November 21, 2024. 16 pages.

Understanding Contributing Factors To Injury Severity And Improper Driver Actions In Work Zone Crashes And Evaluating Smart Work Zone Applications For Safety Improvement, Rakesh Rangaswamy

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

A work zone can be described as a roadway designated for construction, maintenance, or other activities that temporarily disrupt the normal traffic flow. Due to this disrupts in traffic conditions, work zones may bring sudden shifts in driving experience, depending on the sort of work zone present, creating unpredictable maneuvers, and putting both motorists and workers at risk. To understand these issues, this study uses work zone accident data obtained from Florida and uses several methodological techniques, including the mixed logit model with variance and mean heterogeneity, temporal instability test, log-likelihood test, out-of-sample analysis, and ANOVA test.

Firstly, this study …

More Than A Place For Social Capital Creation: Public Library As A Place For Immigrants’ Social Integration, Nafiz Z. Shuva

Publications and Research

Studies have shown that public libraries, one of the most trusted social institutions, play an important role in helping immigrants adjust to their host country. Although there have been quite a few international studies reporting the role that public libraries play in newcomers lives in the host country, few studies, especially in the context of the U.S., comprehensively reported local public libraries’ role in newcomers’ social integration. Previous studies on immigrants’ usage of public libraries have mainly focused on highlighting public libraries as meeting places that facilitate social capital creation for newcomers or describing the usage of public libraries among …

From A Traditional City To A Smart City: The Measurement Of Cities’ Readiness For Transition, Egypt As A Case Study, Ahmed Hassebo, Mohamed Tealab, Mosaad Hamouda

Publications and Research

The transition from traditional legacy cities to smart cities represents a pivotal juncture in urban development and governance. As cities worldwide grapple with the challenges of rapid urbanization, resource constraints, and the need to enhance the quality of life for their citizens, the concept of a “smart city” has gained significant attention. This paper delves into the multifaceted process of urban transformation, shedding light on the essential criteria and considerations that guide a city’s conversion into a smart city. To provide a comprehensive framework for the conversion process, this paper outlines a computer program utilized to measure the readiness to …

Exploring Community Adaptation To Public Safety Power Shutoff Events: Findings From Two Case Studies Of Unincorporated Mountain Communities In Southern California, Ramiro M. Brown

Master's Theses

As aging electrical infrastructure in the US continues to succumb to unyielding weather patterns brought on by climate change, there is an urgency among Investor-Owned Utilities (IOUs) to reduce the likelihood of their equipment sparking a wildfire. Public Safety Power Shutoffs (PSPS) – the intentional de-energization of the electrical grid on high fire weather danger days – have become a staple in IOU Wildfire Mitigation Plans (WMPs) since 2018 as one way to avoid wildfire ignitions via electrical infrastructure. One criticism of PSPS events is that they create their own hazard by cutting off power to thousands – sometimes millions-of …

Bearing The Weight: A Phenomenological Exploration Of Burnout And Stress Among Medicolegal Investigators, Ava Juliette Thorpe

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This phenomenological study aimed to investigate and comprehend the impact of burnout and associated maladaptive behaviors among medicolegal and coroner investigators in the United States. Burnout is broadly defined as factors impeding practitioners' physical and psychological well-being in these fields. Despite extensive research on burnout among criminal justice practitioners in trauma-informed care environments, there is a notable gap in the literature concerning support mechanisms for medicolegal and coroner systems (Slack, 2020). This study addressed this gap by exploring the lived experiences of medicolegal and coroner investigators, providing insights for addressing burnout in these contexts. The central problem addressed in this …

Mitigating The Negative Effects Of Perceived Stress Using Wellness And Resiliency Training Programs On Job Satisfaction In Public Safety Officers In The United States, Benjamin T. Iobst

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The following quasi-experimental, cross-sectional, survey-based quantitative research study investigated the role of wellness and resiliency training programming in mitigating the adverse effects of stress on job satisfaction (JS) in US Public Safety Officers (PSOs). This research measured the dimensions of perceived stress, such as technological stress, critical incidents, organizational stressors, work-life balance, and social-conflict stress. Additionally, this research examined the relationship between these stressors, wellness, and resiliency education and their effect on job satisfaction in PSOs. It was found that perceived stress has a statistically significant negative correlation with job satisfaction (rs = -.466, p < .001). Additionally, organizational stress (rs = -0.556, p < 0.001), work-life balance stress (rs = -0.452, p < 0.001), critical incident stress (rs = -0.306, p < 0.001), and social conflict stress (rs = -0.298, p < 0.001) have a statistically significant negative correlation with job satisfaction, whereas technological stress does not (rs = -0.109, p = 0.129). Finally, it was found that resiliency training does not have a statistically significant relationship with job satisfaction (U (195) = 4647, p = .971) or perceived stress (U (195) = 4434.50, p = .608) based on the conditions that were tested. Police departments can use results from this research to guide and develop policies and training to address stress and job satisfaction in the public safety industry.

A Qualitative Approach Exploring Interoperation Communications By Law Enforcement Officers During Active Shootings, Amy Schissler

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this exploratory-descriptive qualitative study was to investigate how law enforcement officers communicate during active shooting incidents. The study used Ferrell’s Human Factors theory (1997) and the Human Factors Analysis and Classification System (HFACS) as the theoretical and conceptual framework. Data collection methods included 11 oral narratives, 11 individual semi-structured interviews, and 12 open-ended questionnaires, involving a total of 12 participants. The study followed the Exploratory-Descriptive Qualitative design proposed by Hunter et al. (2018). The interview and questionnaire data were analyzed using Braun and Clarke’s thematic analysis and the HFACS to identify major themes, while the narrative data …

The Effects Of Sleep And Culture On A Police Officer’S Mindset Involved In A Traffic Collison, Christopher Gary Cano

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The host police department experienced 58 traffic collisions from 2019-2020, which resulted in adverse outcomes for police officers and community members. The police department seeks a solution to reduce and prevent future collisions. This problem is not an isolated incident, as traffic collisions have been the leading cause of death and injury to police officers in the United States for the last three decades. Previous research focused on the causative factors of traffic collisions (speeding, distracted driving); however, little research has been dedicated to why a police officer would engage in risky driving. Is the mindset of a police officer …

A Comprehensive Analysis Of Challenges And Strategies In Enhancing Cyber Security For The Defense Industry, Taehyun Lee

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This dissertation presents a comprehensive analysis of the challenges and strategies involved in enhancing cybersecurity within the defense industry. Given the increasing sophistication of cyber threats and the critical importance of safeguarding national security, this research addresses the unique vulnerabilities faced by the defense industry. Utilizing a phenomenological approach based on routine activity theory, the study gathers insights from cybersecurity professionals through semi-structured interviews, providing a deep understanding of the evolving threat landscape. The research identifies key themes such as the growing complexity of cyber threats, the importance of proactive threat-hunting, and the need for collaboration across public and private …

Analysis Of Forensic Crime Gun Data As A Predictive Tool For Crime Gun Intelligence And The Disruption Of The Shooting Cycle, Michael P. Garvey

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Gun violence is a national issue; however, major cities account for most recovered crime guns and shootings. Various efforts to address gun violence by identifying shooters and sources of crime guns, enhancing intervention efforts, improving social services, and prosecuting prolific offenders have been offered over the last twenty years. However, large urban cities continue to observe high homicides and non-fatal shooting rates. Forensic techniques have been used to generate leads to solve crimes. In addition, group violence intervention programs, such as Operation Ceasefire, are used to identify potential groups associated with gun violence to provide social alternatives or enhanced prosecution. …

Mental Health Of Western Tennessee Police Officers, Jasmin Marie Powell

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this grounded theory study is to understand the group think regarding mental health and wellness of police officers in the western Tennessee region. The theory guiding this study is group think, a theory first defined in 1972 by Irvin Janis. Irvin Janis, a psychologist introduced the phenomenon of groupthink and described it as a group of people, in this research case police officers, where loyalty was required from members and that this can cause both positive and negative side effects. The research population for this research will consist of 92 participants, including males and females, of different …

Fbi Crime Reporting: Overcoming Challenges For A Safer Future, Alan Saquella

Publications

Accurate crime reporting is essential for effective law enforcement, evidence-based policymaking, and building trust between communities and their local police departments. The FBI’s Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) Program has served as a vital source of crime statistics for decades. However, its data collection process faces hurdles that, when addressed, could lead to even greater transparency and safety improvements. These challenges—such as inconsistent participation, voluntary reporting, and varying crime classifications—have contributed to underreporting, leading to gaps in our understanding of crime trends. The good news is that these are surmountable challenges, and focusing on improvements can foster a clearer picture of …

Lanthorn, Vol. 59, No. 07, November 11, 2024, Grand Valley State University

Volume 59, August 5, 2024 – April 14, 2025

Lanthorn is Grand Valley State's student newspaper, published from 1968 to the present.

Ua12/2/1 College Heights Herald, Vol. 100, No. 1, Wku Student Affairs

WKU Administration Documents

Magazine edition of the College Heights Herald for the period October 9 - November 11, 2024.

• Wilborn, Price. Letter from the Editor – Elections
• Ivory, Larkin, Cameron Shaw, Libby Simpson & Abigail Vickers. How WKU Students Are Approaching the Ballot Box
• Todd Alcott Shares Vision for Bowling Green

• Freidhof, Natalie. A College Student’s Guide to the Swing States
• Reed-Whalen, Bradlee. What Is Amendment 22? – School Funding
• Di Palermo, Dominic. More to Accomplish – Todd Alcott, Bowling Green Mayor
• Todd Alcott for Mayor In His Own Words
• Patti Minter for Mayor In Her Own Words
• Randolph, Eli. A Day in …

Critique And “Controversy” In Pedagogy And Pop Culture [Dialogue: The Interdisciplinary Journal Of Popular Culture And Pedagogy, Volume 9, Issue 3 (August 2022)], Miriam Sciala

Dialogue: The Interdisciplinary Journal of Popular Culture and Pedagogy

Critique and “Controversy” in Pedagogy and Pop Culture [Dialogue: The Interdisciplinary Journal of Popular Culture and Pedagogy, Volume 9, Issue 3 (August 2022)]

Editorial

Teaching for Change, Miriam Sciala

Articles

Peril and Promise: Student Experiences of Virtual Reality and Implications for Inclusive Social Justice Pedagogy, Michelle VanNatta

Will the Odds Ever Be in Her Favor? Katniss Everdeen and the Female Athlete, Tony Kemerly

Don’t Sweat the Technique: Rhetoric, Coded Social Critique, and Conspiracy Theories in Hip-Hop, Josh Chase

Cake and Conclusions: Rhetorical Roots in “Sheetcaking” and Fallacious Community Responses, Marissa Lammon

Musings (Online Only)

Teaching and Learning Popular Media Cultures: …

Peril And Promise: Student Experiences Of Virtual Reality And Implications For Inclusive Social Justice Pedagogy, Michelle Vannatta

Dialogue: The Interdisciplinary Journal of Popular Culture and Pedagogy

Virtual reality (VR) is a fast-evolving technology rapidly being integrated into education and training in multiple sectors of society. As the use of VR spreads, it is important to critically analyze both its role in effective pedagogies and how students experience it. Virtual reality has extraordinary promise for deeply engaging students, and it also poses particular challenges for equitable and effective teaching of diverse students. This paper discusses students’ responses to a VR exercise and examines some of the complexities VR presents around racial justice, gender equity, and economic fairness. Virtual reality technology may be less effective and less comfortable …

Blame Walt Rostow For Miss Som Rasmey’S Acid Bath, David J. Nemeth

The Geographical Bulletin

In general, the legal rights of women in Asia are ignored. The paper provides anecdotal evidence of “young, beautiful” women in several Asian countries who have been the targets of acid attacks by angry men and women over personal issues. Battery acid is the weapon of choice. The acid attacks intentionally transform these women from “beautiful” to “ugly.” Most of the victims are alone and poor, and youth and beauty may be their only assets. The courts of law, however, blame the victims’ beauty and wile for initiating the circumstances that result in their suffering. The attackers generally go free. …

The Many Ways Of Wakanda: Viewpoint Diversity In Black Panther And Its Implications For Civics Education, Justin Frank Martin

Dialogue: The Interdisciplinary Journal of Popular Culture and Pedagogy

Like many of its superhero film predecessors, Black Panther (2018) achieved widespread popularity both domestically and internationally. Although the film examines the focal character T’Challa’s (Black Panther) attempt to balance his dual responsibilities as king and protector of Wakanda, the viewpoint diversity displayed by its citizens suggests that the film’s central character is Wakandan society. Drawing on events and themes from the film, the essay argues that social domain theory (SDT)—a theory that attempts to explain the development of sociomoral concepts across the lifespan—provides a useful lens to examine Wakandans’ viewpoint diversity as portrayed in the film, specifically with regards …

Society Doesn’T Owe You Anything: Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas & Video Games As Speculative Fiction, Marc A. Ouellette

Dialogue: The Interdisciplinary Journal of Popular Culture and Pedagogy

Since Donald Trump’s election in 2016, popular and scholarly commentators have been looking for speculative and/or dystopic literary works that might provide analogues for the Trump-era. Perhaps the most famous of these was the renewed popularity of Margaret Atwood’s The Handmaid’s Tale. In this regard, though, video games remain an underexplored fictional form. With its exaggerated and parodic satire of an America ruled by the corruption and greed of extreme right-wing populism, Grand Theft Auto (GTA): San Andreas (2004) offers a speculative fiction that players can enact as well as imagine, and simulate as well as prepare. …

The Cowl - V. 88 N. 6 - November 7, 2024

The Cowl

The Cowl - student newspaper of Providence College. Vol. 88 No. 6 - November 7, 2024. 16 pages.

Retention Strategies For Trained Criminal Investigators In The Jamaica Constabulary Force, Jacqueline Edwards-Blackwood

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) has been faced with the challenge of having their trained criminal investigators voluntarily leave. This study explored factors that could make these detectives leave the JCF and strategies to retain them. The job embeddedness theory was used to better understand the factors that would make these specialists stay in the JCF. A qualitative single case study design was employed using a purposive sample of 15 participants responding to an anonymous online qualitative survey using Google Forms and 15 redacted exit interview forms completed by former detectives. The survey utilized three closed-ended and 14 open-ended questions …

Patterns Of Government In Onondaga County: Structure And Services Of County, City, Town, And Village Governments (2024), Focus Greater Syracuse, Syracuse University, Maxwell School, Community Benchmarks Program

Community Benchmarks Program

The 2024 revised Patterns of Government is an important resource for elected and public officials, citizens, students, businesses, nonprofit organizations, educational institutions, and the general public. Patterns of Government also serves as the textbook for Citizens Academy, co- sponsored by FOCUS Greater Syracuse and Syracuse University Community Engagement. Local government courses at Maxwell School of Syracuse University and Newhouse School of Public Communications also use Patterns of Government as an educational tool. This book contains vital information that ordinarily can be found only when one researches multiple sources. This informational book will help you understand how local governments are organized, …

Support Services From Prison To Home: Reentry Programs In A Midwestern State, Naima I. Lusane

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The problem addressed in this study was a gap in understanding the impact of Ohio-based reentry programs and support services for previously incarcerated offenders. Providing reentry services to ex-offenders before and after release from prison is vital in reducing the likelihood of recidivism. This study was essential because its outcomes provided valuable insights to reentry service agencies and prisons into the impact of support services on successful reentry and reducing recidivism in Ohio. The purpose of this qualitative ethnographic study was to explore how reentry programs addressed the employment, education, and housing needs of ex-offenders transiting back into society. The …

Restoring And Improving Senior Citizens' Trust In Water Safety In Flint, Michigan, Jessica Nichole Burt

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Trust can be defined as a belief in truth, hope, or simply the idea that a person or group has the best interest or ability of the next party. During the Flint, Michigan, water crisis, trust significantly impacted how a person or group perceived the person deemed dependable when decisions made impacted their life. The purpose of this study was to explore senior citizens' experiences and perceptions and make recommendations for restoring the public's confidence in water safety in Flint, Michigan, which has been fragmented within the minority senior community. A qualitative case study was designed by using interviews to …

Connecting Community And Family Philanthropy In Latin America: Mexico, Dorothy A. Johnson Center For Philanthropy At Grand Valley State Universit, Michael D. Layton, Michael Moody

Research, Reports, and Publications

This report explores the dynamics of community philanthropy and family philanthropy in Mexico in order to inform efforts to strengthen the connection between the two. In terms of community philanthropy, our primary focus is upon Mexico’s community foundation model, which is the most institutionalized form of community philanthropy and a uniquely important actor in the philanthropic ecosystem. Wealthy families and family businesses in Mexico are known to have strong local ties and to prioritize place-based development, and Mexico has more community foundations than any other Latin American country. In terms of family philanthropy, we have cast a wider net, interviewing …

Estimating Models For Engineering Costs On The State Highway Operation And Protection Program (Shopp) Portfolio Of Projects, Elhami Nasr, Tariq Shehab, Nigel Blampied, Vinit Kanani

Mineta Transportation Institute

The State Highway Operation and Protection Program (SHOPP) is crucial for maintaining California’s 15,000-mile state highway system, which includes projects like pavement rehabilitation, bridge repair, safety enhancements, and traffic management systems. Administered by Caltrans, SHOPP aims to preserve highway efficiency and safety, supporting economic growth and public safety. This research aimed to develop robust cost-estimating models to improve budgeting and financial planning, aiding Caltrans, the California Transportation Commission (CTC), and the Legislature. The research team collected and refined comprehensive data from Caltrans project expenditures from 1983 to 2021, ensuring a high-quality dataset. Subject matter experts validated the data, enhancing its …

The Liability Of Classification Societies : A Comparative Study With A Focus On Criminal Liability Under The Law Of The Republic Of Korea And Other Jurisdictions, Hyunho Kim

World Maritime University Dissertations

No abstract provided.