Digital Commons Network^™

The Case Against Police Militarization: Stop Turning Police Into Soldiers, Kenia A. Silva Garcia

Themis: Research Journal of Justice Studies and Forensic Science

This paper will critically explore police militarization in the United States, highlighting its origins, implications, and the urgent need to demilitarize them. The rise of militarized police forces began in the 1960s—the War on Drugs and federal programs that allowed military equipment to be transferred to local police departments made their expansion even more possible. Due to this expansion, this paper discusses that police should not be militarized because it increases violence, disproportionately affects marginalized communities, particularly racial minorities, and ultimately fails to reduce crime. Evidence suggests that militarized police forces foster systemic inequalities that are rooted in historical racism—a …

The Rape Kit Backlog: Problems And Solutions, Tracey Cao

Themis: Research Journal of Justice Studies and Forensic Science

This literature review examines the ongoing issue of rape kit backlog in the United States. Rape kits are a means of evidence collection from victims of sexual assault that can be used in court. Across the nation, many state jurisdictions have hundreds and thousands of rape kits left untested and locked away in storage facilities. Consent for testing, police bias, and funding issues are the main issues that will be addressed. Many victims choose not to have their kits tested. Other kits never get tested due to police choosing not to submit a kit due to their bias against some …

Spartan Daily, May 1, 2025, San Jose State University, School Of Journalism And Mass Communications

Spartan Daily, 2025

Volume 164, Issue 40

Diverse Residents' Experiences Of Policing And Attitudes Towards Law Enforcement: Findings From A Large Community-Based Survey In San José, California, Soma De Bourbon, Michael Dao, Melissa Mc Clure Fuller, William Armaline, Curtis Asplund, Rachel Kumar, Daniel Desanto, Jaala Robinson, Derrick Sanderlin, Miranda Worthen

Faculty Research, Scholarly, and Creative Activity

Despite widespread debate on public safety policy, few studies explore diverse community members’ perspectives on safety and policing. This community-based participatory research study assessed perspectives on city spending, opinions about law enforcement policy, perspectives on police and safety, direct experiences with police, and perspectives on alternatives to policing in San José, California, one of the ten largest cities in the United States. Between July 27, 2021 – January 14, 2022, we conducted an online survey, available in 7 languages, and obtained 1,595 responses. Respondents supported increased funding for community safety resources (73%) and helping residents meet basic needs (67%). A …

Spartan Daily, April 22, 2025, San Jose State University, School Of Journalism And Mass Communications

Spartan Daily, 2025

Volume 164, Issue 35

Fourth Industrial Revolution And The Future Of Nigeria Academic Libraries In The 21st Century: Review Of Literature, Esther Motunrayo Ekeh

Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal)

Abstract

As the world is experiencing technological development, the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) is taking prominence in the provision of information to library users. This study covers the prospects and complications facing the academic libraries in Nigeria and the future of Libraries professionals. Reconnoitering this matter is crucial since 4IR has essentially altered how information is received and used by personages. Library professional is described as having knowledge of resources in all of their forms as well as the ability to acquire, organize, and disseminate these materials. The fourth industrial revolution (4IR) is characterized by a greater degree of interconnection …

Spartan Daily, March 20, 2025, San Jose State University, School Of Journalism And Mass Communications

Spartan Daily, 2025

Volume 164, Issue 25

Spartan Daily, February 27, 2025, San Jose State University, School Of Journalism And Mass Communications

Spartan Daily, 2025

Volume 164, Issue 16

Spartan Daily, February 20, 2025, San Jose State University, School Of Journalism And Mass Communications

Spartan Daily, 2025

Volume 164, Issue 13

Understanding The Prevalence Of Mental Health And Behavioral Distress In Transit Assaults And Presenting Targeted Response And Mitigation Methods To Reduce Victimization Trends, Kathleen Moore, Emilie Ellenberg, Melissa Carlson, Jodi Godfrey, Lisa Staes

Mineta Transportation Institute

This research project was performed to better understand the prevalence of mental health and behavioral distress in transit assaults and present corresponding targeted response and mitigation methods to reduce victimization trends. It includes a literature review, a data presentation and overview of reported public transit assault-related events, an examination of the contributing factors to those events, and documentation of 10 transit agency case studies. The literature review discusses some of the misconceptions of mental illness and associated stigmas and discrimination that can occur in response to these misconceptions. It discusses various approaches and strategies that transit agencies have used to …

The Potential For Fuel Reduction To Reduce Wildfire Intensity In A Warming California, Patrick T. Brown, Scott J. Strenfel, Richard B. Bagley, Craig B. Clements

Faculty Research, Scholarly, and Creative Activity

Increasing fuel aridity due to climate warming has and will continue to increase wildfire danger in California. In addition to reducing global greenhouse gas emissions, one of the primary proposals for counteracting this increase in wildfire danger is a widespread expansion of hazardous fuel reductions. Here, we quantify the potential for fuel reduction to reduce wildfire intensity using empirical relationships derived from historical observations with a novel combination of spatiotemporal resolution (0.375 km, instantaneous) and extent (48 million acres, 9 years). We use machine learning to quantify relationships between sixteen environmental conditions (including ten fuel characteristics and four temperature-affected aridity …

Landslide Prediction Using Time-Series Decomposition, Reinforcement Learning-Based Feature Selection And Ml Models, Mohith Sai Venkat Ankem

Master's Projects

Landslides pose significant risks to human life, the community, and the environment, yet their prediction remains a complex and unexplored challenge. Existing prediction models often rely on surface measurements and satellite images, neglecting the critical role, in providing deeper insights into landslide analysis. The literature review highlights a lack of research in time series decomposition techniques, despite their potential to improve prediction accuracy. Similarly, feature selection methods that enhance model robustness and precision have not been adequately addressed. This study presents a novel approach to predicting landslide displacement by combining feature selection through reinforcement learning techniques with advanced time-series machine …

“This Is Everyone's Issue”: Policy Entrepreneurs, Issue Framing, And Coalition Building In The Passage Of Automatic Criminal Record Expungement, Elsa Y. Chen, Sarah E. Lageson, Ericka B. Adams

Faculty Research, Scholarly, and Creative Activity

Research Summary: Since 2018, at least 12 U.S. states have introduced policies to expunge certain eligible arrest and criminal conviction records through automated or algorithmic means. Drawing on interviews with governmental representatives and community stakeholders, this paper identifies strategies used to pass this legislation in Pennsylvania and Utah, the first two states to enact automated expungement policies. We frame our findings around three established theoretical frameworks of public policy making—policy entrepreneurship, issue framing, and coalition building—illustrating their combined strategic importance with data gathered from those involved on the ground in the passage and adoption of automated expungement legislation. The findings …

Working With Similarities And Differences: Relational Processes In Transdisciplinary Qualitative Research With Diverse Teams, Michael S. Dao, Soma De Bourbon, Melissa Mcclure Fuller, Miranda Worthen

Faculty Research, Scholarly, and Creative Activity

Transdisciplinary research and research teams are becoming increasingly valued in academic spaces. The potential of transdisciplinary research is that the diversity of thought and experience can create robust research processes from project inception, methodological protocol, data collection, data analysis and reporting output. Yet, transdisciplinary research teams can also bring about complications pertaining to conflicting epistemological perspectives, areas of expertise, and objectives for applied impact. In noting the benefits and downsides of transdisciplinary research, this article aims to detail how a transdisciplinary research team navigated a qualitative and participatory longitudinal research project. Drawing from a larger community-based participatory research project, the …

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 …

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 …

Spartan Daily, October 30, 2024, San Jose State University, School Of Journalism And Mass Communications

Spartan Daily, 2024

Volume 163, Issue 29

Measurement And Prediction Of Transit System Performance Using Probe Data Generated Through Dsrc And Non-Dsrc Technologies, Gregory L. Newmark

Mineta Transportation Institute

This research explores the application of two different probe data standards to transit performance measurement. The first section chronicles the proposed and implemented transit uses of dedicated short-range communication (DSRC) technologies during the two decades between the standard’s emergence and its announced sunset. The research finds that, despite proposed applications across safety, operation, and information domains, DSRC never became embedded in transit operations. By contrast, the general transit feed specification (GTFS) standard with its real-time (RT) extension has been widely embraced and offers the potential to use the associated VehiclePosition messages as probe data to generate detailed transit performance metrics. …

Spartan Daily, September 12, 2024, San Jose State University, School Of Journalism And Mass Communications

Spartan Daily, 2024

Volume 163, Issue 9

"We'll Handle Our Business": How Immigrant Perceptions Of Police And Police Legitmacy Influence Legal Cynicism And The Mobilization Of Law, Patricia Espiritu Advincula

Master's Theses

Using a qualitative, exploratory approach, semi-structured interviews with first-generation and second-generation immigrants residing in San José, CA who were victimized by a crime were conducted to explore immigrant perspectives of the criminal justice system and the law. The guiding research questions of this study are: (1) what influences immigrants to report crimes and what are the barriers to crime reporting? and (2) what are immigrant perceptions/attitudes of local law enforcement? A total of 39 semi-structured interviews were thematically coded to understand immigrant experiences with police officers and how these perceptions of local law enforcement influence the mobilization of law and …

Lindholm-Leary, Kathryn J., San Jose State University

Emeritus and Retired Faculty Biographies

University of California, Los Angeles ,Psychology, Ph.D. 1981

University of California, Los Angeles, Psychology, M.A. 1977

University of California, Santa Barbara, Psychology, B.A, 1976

Time-To-Failure Prediction Of Fine-Grained Soil Slopes Subject To Weather-Driven Deterioration, Arm M. Morsy

Mineta Transportation Institute

Embankments have been widely used in the construction of transportation and flood defense infrastructure. Embankments constructed from clays experience a suite of weather-driven deterioration processes that lead to a progressive loss of hydromechanical performance, causing potentially severe and costly consequences. This study aimed to predict the time to failure of aging, deteriorating clay embankments supporting transportation infrastructure. A multi-phase numerical modeling approach was developed to replicate the long-term, weather-driven, hydromechanical behavior of clay embankments. This model simulated the behavior of a number of well-documented embankment failure case studies that had sufficient data to derive the necessary soil properties and climate …

Threat And Hazard Identification And Risk Assessment (Thira) Guidance For Railroads, Frances L. Edwards, Daniel C. Goodrich

Mineta Transportation Institute

Climate change creates new challenges for all critical transportation infrastructure, especially for railroads with an open system that is continuously exposed to the elements. A Threat and Hazard Identification and Risk Assessment (THIRA) is a necessary first step for an organization to understand the challenges and develop strategies for adaptation to them. In many cases, the railroad sector is uniquely positioned to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions through mitigation steps. This guide will assist railroad risk managers and emergency managers to evaluate the risks and determine how best to respond to them through preparation, mitigation, or adaptation. The THIRA is the …

Smart City Community Watch—Camera-Based Community Watch For Traffic And Illegal Dumping, Nupur Pathak, Gangotri Biswal, Megha Goushal, Vraj Mistry, Palak Shah, Fenglian Li, Jerry Gao

Faculty Research, Scholarly, and Creative Activity

Highlights: What are the main findings? The smart city community watch program developed using YOLOv5 for object detection and DeepSORT for multi-object tracking achieves 97% accuracy in detecting illegal dumping. The web-based application integrates person detection, trash detection, license plate detection and extraction, and a decision algorithm aiding government agencies to monitor and effectively manage illegal dumping. What are the implications of the main findings? With the 97% detection accuracy and real-time detection capabilities of the YOLOv5- and DeepSORT-based solution, this solution can help in saving government expenditure to clean up illegal dumping. The solution can be integrated with smart …

Development Of The Roadway Pothole Management Program, Dingxin Cheng

Mineta Transportation Institute

Addressing the issue of potholes is a primary concern for maintaining urban infrastructure. The research team has developed a prototype pothole management program. The program includes a mobile application and two machine learning models. The mobile app enables users to upload images of potholes, report relevant information, and provide driving directions to the pothole location. With the help of this application, the user can seamlessly capture images of the potholes, record pertinent information, and submit the data for necessary action. The mobile application is an essential tool in the Pothole Management Program (PMP), as it enhances the program's efficiency, effectiveness, …

Protocol: Street Outreach Conflict Mediation Programs For Reducing Violence, Edward R. Maguire, Cody W. Telep, Thomas Abt, Ericka Adams

Faculty Research, Scholarly, and Creative Activity

This is a protocol for a Cochrane Review (intervention). The objectives are as follows: This systematic review will synthesize the available evaluation research on the effectiveness of street outreach conflict mediation programs. The review seeks to answer the following primary question: Are street outreach worker strategies that use conflict mediation and/or violence interruption strategies effective at reducing violence? Assuming a sufficient number of eligible studies, this review will also address two additional questions: Are there certain program elements that render these strategies more or less effective? Are there certain conditions under which these strategies are more or less effective? As …

Taser Use In Law Enforcement: Examining Effectiveness, Medical Consequences, And Ideal Scenarios, Benjamin Smyers

Themis: Research Journal of Justice Studies and Forensic Science

The methods police officers use to detain resisting subjects have changed over time. One addition to their methods is the Thomas A. Swift Electric Rifle (TASER), which hinders subjects using electric shock. This paper examines the effectiveness of the TASER, the potential risk of injury for suspects, and scenarios where its use is most likely to succeed. Since its adoption, the TASER has reduced the likelihood of injury to officers and suspects and is more effective against heavy-set and intoxicated individuals. Although extremely unlikely to result in death, injuries are more likely when used against mentally disturbed people and in …

Deconstructing Drugs: Addressing The Stigma, Harm Reduction, And Policy Solutions, Charlotte Theriault

Themis: Research Journal of Justice Studies and Forensic Science

Black and homeless people who struggle with substance use disorder (SUD), especially opioid use disorder (OUD), have experienced unique obstacles due to inequalities relating to their social determinants of health (SDOH). Historical context and peer-reviewed research were used to evaluate racial bias and expand upon the factors that contributed to the opioid crisis, the effects of COVID-19 on drug overdoses, and the presence of fentanyl in illicit drug supplies. Various studies combat the stigma surrounding substance use disorder (SUD) by acknowledging the disease as a chronic health condition. Research showed that the most effective way to combat these inequalities and …

Privatized Immigration Detention In California And The Opportunity For Reform, Natalie Lager

Themis: Research Journal of Justice Studies and Forensic Science

The expanding literature on “crimmigration” law has turned academic attention toward the state of carceral immigration detention in the U.S. Immigration detention has increasingly become a private enterprise, which raises new concerns for immigrant rights and the political legitimacy of privatizing carceral institutions. California’s private detention centers have an alarming record of Constitutional violations, and detention corporations are seldom penalized for violating immigrants’ rights. In response, the California legislature passed AB 32 to ban private prisons and detention centers. In Geo Group v. Newsom (2020), the Ninth Circuit Court struck down the ban. Laws that dismantle private detention, such as …

Spartan Daily, May 7, 2024, San Jose State University, School Of Journalism And Mass Communications

Spartan Daily, 2024

Volume 162, Issue 41