Digital Commons Network^™

Examining The Perceptions Of Restorative Practices In A Non-Profit Organization: A Comparative Analysis Of Staff And Youth Attitudes, Autumn N. Alicea, Anne Hobbs Dr

Theses/Capstones/Creative Projects

This study examines the attitudes toward restorative justice (RJ) among staff and youth at a non-profit residential organization. Using the Restorative Justice Attitude Scale, data was collected from 14 staff members and 14 youth participants (N=28). Results indicated that staff members reported significantly higher mean scores (M = 84.50, SD = 8.38) on the Total Restorative Justice Attitude Scale than youth participants (M = 67.93, SD = 15.81). ANOVA results revealed statistically significant differences between the two groups on attitudes toward restorative justice, F (1, 26) = 12.007, p = .002. Effect size analysis (η² = .316) indicates that approximately …

Human Trafficking Prevention Methods In Nebraska, Allison E. Munderloh

Theses/Capstones/Creative Projects

Human Trafficking has been a concern in Nebraska for a long period of time, but there is a lack of publicly available information regarding the prevention methods being employed and their effectiveness. This study aimed to identify the human trafficking prevention methods in use in Nebraska and their effectiveness based on the opinions of human trafficking professionals in the state. The human trafficking professionals were interviewed, and the information gathered was organized into seven different themes. The themes that arose from the information gathered included educational efforts, victim intervention and resources, addressing demand, labor trafficking, measuring success, resources and funding, …

Soft Substance Usage And Productivity In The Patrol Officer Population, Patrick Brady

Theses/Capstones/Creative Projects

Consumable substances have long been used to enhance performance and ease nerves in first-responder populations. Among these substances, caffeine and nicotine products are some of the most frequently used by law enforcement. For the purposes of this study, these substances will be coded as “soft substances” (SSs). As opposed to hard substances (heroin, methamphetamines, crack-cocaine, etc.) SSs are non-criminalized substances that do not significantly change one’s state of consciousness; these substances are also commonly used during the workday (e.g. nicotine used on smoke breaks, caffeinated drinks consumed during the day). Usage rates of SSs in the law enforcement population surpass …

The Effectiveness Of International Courts In Contributing To Rebuilding And Resolving Conflicts In Societies Post-Genocide, Garrett Connely

Theses/Capstones/Creative Projects

In the aftermath of mass atrocities, international courts have emerged as key mechanisms for delivering justice and fostering post-conflict reconciliation. Rooted in the precedent set by the Nuremberg Trials after World War II, these institutions aim to prosecute crimes that often go beyond national legal systems. However, their effectiveness remains contested, largely due to their dependence on state cooperation and the complexity of post-conflict environments. This project examines the societal impact of international courts in two significant cases – Rwanda and the former Yugoslavia. Through a comparative analysis of the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda and the International Criminal Tribunal …

A Comparative Analysis Of The Intersection Between Sex Trafficking And Domestic Violence: A Cross-Cultural Study Of The United States And India, Rachel A. Napier

Theses/Capstones/Creative Projects

Domestic violence survivors are affected by long-term trauma from abuse, which can lead to them being more vulnerable and susceptible to sex trafficking tactics. Sex trafficking survivors are also at risk of becoming involved in an abusive relationship because they may have been previously exposed or due to a normalization of abuse. Both domestic violence and sex trafficking are prevalent issues within the world that continue to be ongoing due to their hidden nature. This study highlights the connections between domestic violence and sex trafficking and how each can be portrayed differently based on the environment and cultural norms within …

Restorative Justice In U.S. School District Discipline Policies: Associations With School Discipline Outcomes, Michaela E. Benson-Goldsmith

Criminology and Criminal Justice Theses and Dissertations

As more studies highlight the harmful and disparate impacts of exclusionary discipline for students, schools and school districts are increasingly implementing alternative discipline approaches like restorative justice (RJ). To understand the state of school district policies incorporating RJ in discipline and how these policies inform school discipline practices, I conducted a content analysis of 122 district policies. I also assessed whether districts with RJ discipline policies are associated with reduced rates of exclusionary discipline, or indirectly associated through reduced criminal offenses and/or harassment. Further, I investigated whether these RJ policies are associated with reduced rates of exclusionary discipline for student …

Extremist Threats To Food And Agriculture Critical Infrastructure, Jennifer Carson, Michael K. Logan

Reports, Projects, and Research

In this report, NCITE researchers explore the current threat domestic extremists pose to the Food and Agriculture (FA) critical infrastructure sector. We pay specific attention to three threat actors, including 1) animal rights and environmentally motivated extremists, 2) racially/ethnically motivated violent extremists, and 3) anti-institutionalist extremists. Additionally, we elaborate on several security considerations that are unique to the FA sector and the role that precision agriculture technologies play in this ever-evolving threat landscape. We conclude by recommending strategies that national security leaders should consider to strengthen and fortify the FA sector.

Vocational & Life Skills: Quarterly Report - Grant Cycle Five, Quarter Five July-September 2024, Nebraska Center For Justice Research, Janee Pannkuk, Abby Hayes, Katelynn Towne

Reports

The Vocational and Life Skills (VLS) program was created by Nebraska Legislative Bill 907 in 2014 with the purpose of easing the transition for individuals who reenter the community after incarceration. The VLS initiative is evaluated by the Nebraska Center for Justice Research (NCJR) to identify the impact service providers and programming have in increasing meaningful employment and prosocial lifestyle improvements among the justice-involved population. As part of the evaluation, NCJR provides trainings to support grantees as needed and provides feedback and information to the Nebraska Department of Correctional Services (NDCS) regarding the implementation process and data updates on a …

Overcoming Challenges And Unlocking Potential In Police Training Programs: The Case Of Blue Courage, Ryan E. Spohn

Reports

The Blue Courage website provides the mission of their agency: “The Blue Courage mission is to illuminate a path forward so that we ignite transformation in the individuals and organizations that we engage through our ground-breaking educational and consulting services. Transformation occurs with the small, consistent, incremental changes that amplify and reset current benchmarks of performance. Capacity continuously grows by enhancing our ability to execute, experience, and understand practical applications and tools that can be effectively used to ritualize capacity building practices — both professionally and personally.”

This noble mission reflects the dominate philosophies behind their law enforcement training program1 …

Empowering Families To Prevent Violent Extremism, Karyn Sporer

Reports, Projects, and Research

Families play a critical role in the pathways to radicalization and the prevention of violent extremism. While adverse family conditions — such as abuse, neglect, and parental abandonment — can increase vulnerability to radicalization, strong family bonds and emotional support can help individuals disengage from extremism and reintegrate into society. This study aims to understand the lived experiences of families impacted by violent extremism to identify how they can support prevention efforts. This research was conducted for policymakers, community organizations, and practitioners seeking to develop family-centered strategies to prevent radicalization and support deradicalization. By equipping families with knowledge, resources, and …

Fact Book, Academic Year 2024, Systems Intelligence And Data Analytics, University Of Nebraska At Omaha

Fact Book

The Fact Book presents important campus information in data tables and charts. Included are details regarding students, faculty, staff, and alumni. Generally, data are broken out by college, rank, level, gender, age and ethnicity for both spring and fall semesters, past to present. There are a few academic year tables that include information on tuition & fees, student credit hours by program, and degrees conferred. We wish to thank the many individuals and departments at the University for their contributions to the Fact Book.

University Of Nebraska At Omaha Commencement: December 2024, University Of Nebraska At Omaha

Commencement Programs

No abstract provided.

Graduate List - December 2024, University Of Nebraska At Omaha

Commencement Lists

No abstract provided.

National Counterterrorism Innovation, Technology, And Education Center Annual Report 2023-2024, National Counterterrorism Innovation, Technology, And Education Center

Reports, Projects, and Research

No abstract provided.

Risk-Contamination And Dilution: Advancing The Rnr Model In Prison Settings, Baylee Allen-Flores, Zachary Hamilton, John Ursino, Alex Kigerl

Criminology and Criminal Justice Faculty Publications

The Risk-Needs-Responsivity (RNR) model posits separating lower from higher-risk individuals to avoid “risk contamination.” In a prison setting, policies and restrictions lead to mixing different populations within a housing unit. While this may pose a threat, it may allow higher-risk individuals to gradually promote through security levels, reducing risk. We term this “risk dilution.” The current study compares the infraction behavior of individuals that are over-classified (housed higher than their risk) and those under-classified (housed lower than their risk). Using mixed-effect models with a large (N = 52,000) sample of incarcerated men, findings demonstrate support for both contamination and …

Terrorist Recruitment Narratives: Key Themes From Expert Reports, Evan Perkoski, Alec Worsnop, Meredith Maloof Loken

Reports, Projects, and Research

This research report was commissioned for an expert report series led by Evan Perkoski as part of his NCITE-funded project, Understanding the Link Between Recruitment and Operational Behavior of Terrorist Organizations. This study examines terrorist recruitment characteristics (such as military experience, professional expertise, age, gender, and education) against terrorist groups’ many operational characteristics (like lethality, success, complexity, innovation, and target types). This study also evaluates recruitment dynamics and success among contemporary groups operating in the U.S.

The Drivers And Consequences Of Child Recruitment By Violent Non-State Actors, Chris Faulkner, Evan Perkoski, Alec Worsnop, Meredith Maloof Loken

Reports, Projects, and Research

This research report was commissioned for an expert report series led by Evan Perkoski as part of his NCITE-funded project, Understanding the Link Between Recruitment and Operational Behavior of Terrorist Organizations. This study examines terrorist recruitment characteristics (such as military experience, professional expertise, age, gender, and education) against terrorist groups’ many operational characteristics (like lethality, success, complexity, innovation, and target types). This study also evaluates recruitment dynamics and success among contemporary groups operating in the U.S. This report passed peer- and scientific-review.

Navigating Entry: The Role Of Exposure And Career Fit Negotiation In Women’S Pathways To Policing In The United States, Samantha S. Clinkinbeard, Rachael Rief, Trisha Rhodes, Lexi Goodijohn

Criminology and Criminal Justice Faculty Publications

Women’s engagement in policing in the United States and other countries has not reached its potential. We interviewed 47 women in law enforcement to learn about their pathways into policing. Two primary themes emerged: career discovery through exposure and negotiating career fit. Exposure through interactions with role models, hands-on experiences, and media portrayals, provided a peek into policing. The assessment and negotiation of career “fit” in our study was an ongoing, dynamic process. As participants faced questions about their own characteristics, values, and belonging, exposure in the form of role models and experiences helped them navigate career fit concerns. Implications …

Fall 2024 Graduation Survey Responses, Systems Intelligence And Data Analytics, University Of Nebraska At Omaha

Graduation

Fall 2024 Graduation survey responses master file without identifiers.

Fall 2024 Degree Summary, Systems Intelligence And Data Analytics, University Of Nebraska At Omaha

Enrollment Reports

No abstract provided.

Never Going To Let You Down: Preventing Predictive Shrinkage Via The Strong-R Assessment Method, Zachary Hamilton, Alex Kigerl, Baylee Allen-Flores, John Ursino, Amber Krushas

Criminology and Criminal Justice Faculty Publications

Risk-needs assessments (RNAs) are an evidence-based practice used by practitioners to assign supervision and programming. While foundational to day-to-day practices, these tools are typically applied ‘off-the shelf,’ and are mistakenly assumed to demonstrate equivalent prediction accuracy regardless of location or population. Although researchers and providers are aware these tools experience performance shrinkage, the issue is commonly ignored. In 2016 the Tennessee Department of Correction (TDOC) collaborated with the developers of the Static Risk Offender Needs Guide – Revised (STRONG-R) to create a staged development of a locally developed risk needs assessment. Using propensity score matching, a proxy sample was used …

Graduate List - August 2024, University Of Nebraska At Omaha

Commencement Lists

No abstract provided.

Never Going To Let You Down: Preventing Predictive Shrinkage Via The Strong-R Assessment Method, Zachary Hamilton, Alex Kigerl, Andrew Peterson, Grant Duwe, John Ursino

Criminology and Criminal Justice Faculty Publications

Widely used sources of crime data, such as the Uniform Crime Reports (UCR) and National Incident-Based Reporting System (NIBRS), provide invaluable information on patterns in reported crime and justice processing. Yet, due to their measurement of crime at the incident level, these data have not been used to determine an individual’s likelihood of justice system involvement. By contrast, in the correctional field, individuals are used as the unit of analysis and common definitions to establish state-level base rates. Used for decades, base rates provide an estimate of justice system involvement, per individual, for a given jurisdiction’s population.

The Cpacs Collective Summer 2024, College Of Public Affairs And Community Service, University Of Nebraska At Omaha

CPACS Newsletters

The College of Public Affairs and Community Service (CPACS) newsletter that reported on the news, collaborations, events, and general happenings of the UNO College of Public Affairs and Community Service. This newsletter has had many names and variations over the years including SPACS Newsletter (1973); Newsletter of the College of Public Affairs and Community Service (1973-1974): Happenings (1974-1980s); and the current e-newsletter titled the CPACS Collective (2021-)

Summer 2024 Graduation Survey Responses, Systems Intelligence And Data Analytics, University Of Nebraska At Omaha

Graduation

Summer 2024 Graduation survey responses master file without identifiers.

Summer 2024 Degree Summary, Systems Intelligence And Data Analytics, University Of Nebraska At Omaha

Enrollment Reports

No abstract provided.

Screening For Insider Threats In Us Law Enforcement: A National Sample Of Department Policies And Practices State Of Practice Guide, Erin M. Kearns, Sadaf Hashimi, Jessica Huff, Justin Nix, Natalie Cotton

Reports, Projects, and Research

For decades, violent extremist groups in the U.S. have encouraged their members to infiltrate law enforcement agencies. While there are anecdotal examples of insider threats in law enforcement, we do not have a systematic understanding of whether these are isolated incidents or indicative of a more pervasive issue. To address this gap, the current project took a multi-method approach to examining department-level policies and procedures around screening and hiring.

The State of Practice Report is the major deliverable from this grant focused on multi-pronged formative research on insider threats in U.S. law enforcement. Broadly, we were interested in the extent …

Vicarious Trauma In Counterterrorism Practitioners, Daisy Muibu, Joseph Young, Michael Becker, Sarah Lynch, Ethan Ferguson, Lindsay Barclay

Reports, Projects, and Research

Those exposed to violence and trauma as part of their careers may experience significant distress; yet there remains a dearth of literature exploring occupational outcomes as a result of this exposure to violence, namely through the pathways of vicarious trauma (VT) and secondary traumatic stress (STS). The current study seeks to explore how violence and trauma exposure during one’s job in the counterterrorism workforce can lead to the adverse outcomes of VT and STS, which will in turn impact one’s job performance and job satisfaction. We use a mixed methods approach, using a quantitative survey and qualitative interviews to gain …

Current Fentanyl Trends And Our Southern Border Region, Robert Harkins

NCITE Envision Conference

Slides for the presentation presented at the ENVISION24 Conference Session 8: Lighting Talks: Transformative Workforce Development

Understanding Threats To Public Officials, Peter Simi, Christopher Bader, Seamus Hughes

Reports, Projects, and Research

Threats against public officials are on the rise. It’s a disturbing trend that NCITE researchers at Chapman University are charting by tracking federal cases that involved threats against officials working in the criminal justice system, elections, politics, health care, and education.