Digital Commons Network^™

Advancement Of Wrongful Conviction Prevention Strategies In Forensic Science, Isabella Pinto

Honors Projects

The National Registry of Exonerations (NRE) has identified 1,051 of its logged cases to involve forensic evidence in some way, nearly one-third of the total 3,600 exonerations in its database. Analysis of the NRE and Innocence Project databases revealed the most common factors in forensic-related wrongful convictions: expert testimony, flawed methodologies (most of which are no longer in use), and statistical misinterpretations of results. The majority of scholars agree that oversight in forensic casework must be improved in order to meaningfully resolve issues. Creation of commissions in each state would address all of the identified errors, though not a catch-all …

The Ever Present Issue Of Sexism In Politics In An Age Of Social Media., Kerryn M. Moran

Senior Honors Projects

“If we have come to think that the nursery and the kitchen are the natural sphere of a woman, we have done so exactly as English children come to think that a cage is the natural sphere of a parrot– because they have never seen one anywhere else”. - George Bernard Shaw

Sexism exists pervasively in the structures that exist in America. This is evident by the lack of America’s female leaders, with a female Vice President not being elected into office until Kamala Harris in 2020. As time moves forward, my fear grows that our nation continues to embrace …

Ideological Testing, Renagh O’Leary

North Carolina Law Review

No abstract provided.

The Decline Of Corum Claims: How Washington V. Cline Limited Constitutional Protection For State Infringement Of The Speedy Trial Right, Mary Anneliese Childs

North Carolina Law Review

No abstract provided.

Elderly & Incarcerated In North Carolina, Juliana Whittington

North Carolina Law Review

No abstract provided.

Environmental Concern And Its Relationship To Community Attachment And Satisfaction In Southern West Virginia, Terence Asitibasi

All Theses

Extractive industries, especially coal, in the Appalachia region, have contributed to severe environmental challenges. Over the past years, residents in these areas faced increased health risks and damage to natural landscapes, impacting on how connected they are attached to their communities and overall satisfaction with their quality of life. Previous studies have examined these issues but with a focus on amenity-rich rural west, low amenities, urban-suburban, tourist-dependent and Great Lakes regions; this study looks at southern West Virginia, a coal-dependent region. And as such fills that gap by exploring how environmental concerns - combined with a longstanding reliance on coal …

Conversations With Friends: How Gender And Politics In The 2024 U.S Presidential Election Was Perceived By The People And By The Numbers, Hadley H. Burke

Political Science Undergraduate Honors Theses

The 2024 U.S. presidential election were largely unprecedented, with President Joe Biden withdrawing from the race and endorsing Vice President Kamala Harris as the Democratic Nominee mere months before election day. The events that followed were rife with opportunity to explore the intersection of gender and politics, a topic of increasing relevance as women have become more politically active over the past century. Going beyond the traditional gender gap research, which demonstrates the divergent voting patterns of women and men, this research seeks to understand how the gender of the candidate influences vote choice. Using empirical data on the gender …

The Unseen Wounds: How Non-Utilization Of Va Benefits Contributes To Veteran Incarceration, Peter R. Barragan

Capstone Projects and Master's Theses

This project addressed the issue of justice-involved veterans who fail to utilize Department of Veteran Affairs (VA) benefits, increasing their risk of incarceration. The project consisted of distributing a VA Resource Handbook aimed at enhancing veterans' awareness and utilization of VA benefits, thus improving their reintegration outcomes. Using convenience sampling, the project administered pre- and post-intervention surveys to measure changes in awareness, barriers, and benefit utilization among 16 justice-involved veterans. Results indicated a significant increase in veterans’ awareness of VA benefits post-intervention, prompting additional benefit claims submissions. Critical barriers identified included long wait times, insufficient staffing at Monterey County Military …

Engaging Minds, Changing Lives: Developing Youth Centered Substance Use Education For Vha, Diana K. Maravillo

Capstone Projects and Master's Theses

Substance use among the youth is a public health concern worldwide. Valley Health Associates (VHA) is a non-profit agency that offers solutions to the deadly epidemic by offering programs like the Youth Outpatient Program. Individuals from different backgrounds are served by VHA. The capstone project aims to develop an engaging, age appropriate and interactive presentation to educate youth on substance use and prevention, specially tailored for (VHA) Youth Outpatient Program. The initiative was sought because of VHA’S outreach materials, which previously consisted of a broad presentation and limited online resources. A new presentation was created using Canva and made available …

Unlocking Potential Through Expungement, Carolina Lopez

Capstone Projects and Master's Theses

Individuals with misdemeanor and felony records in Monterey County face persistent barriers to employment due to criminal record stigma, despite being eligible for relief under Proposition 47. This capstone project was implemented at the Monterey County Public Defender’s Office within the Clean Slate expungement unit, which serves low-income individuals seeking to reduce or clear their criminal records. The project focused on supporting formerly incarcerated community members by developing a formal verification letter confirming their active participation in the record clearance process. The purpose was to empower clients during their job search by providing documentation they can share with prospective employers, …

Optimizing Client Retention In Mental Health Diversion, Amelia N. Hernandez

Capstone Projects and Master's Theses

This qualitative study at the Monterey County Public Defender’s Office explored client experiences within the mental health diversion program. The research was prompted by a noticeable discrepancy of high case dismissal rates that appeared to be linked to declining client engagement rather than successful program completion. Twelve clients were interviewed and categorized into two groups: active participants and program graduates. Additionally, two lead attorneys overseeing diversion cases were interviewed to provide further insight into the program’s impact and potential strategies to strengthen client engagement. Through analysis, six key recommendations emerged: (1) a participant checklist packet, (2) Employment Connect partnerships, (3) …

Rethinking Policies: Impact Of School To Prison Pipeline, Lyrik S. Hampshire

Capstone Projects and Master's Theses

This senior capstone research project examines the school-to-prison pipeline (STPP), a system of policies and practices from schools that disproportionately push minority high school students into the criminal justice system. This study investigates how school policies, including zero-tolerance and truancy, disciplinary practices, the lack of resources, school funding disparities, and systemic racism, contribute to this STPP pipeline. Through a literature review and survey responses from school staff, the result findings revealed that there is a lack of comprehensive understanding of the STPP among some educators and administrators, involving their role of biases and systemic issues. It is vital for educators …

Meeting Student Needs: Exploring Social Workers Perspectives Through Maslow's Lens, Joselyn Villasenor

Capstone Projects and Master's Theses

This capstone project was focused on the lack of adequate access to basic needs and resources for students in the Salinas Union High School District (SUHSD), which impacts their behavior and contributes to behavioral challenges. The project was implemented in collaboration with the district’s Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) Coordinator and was carried out through interviews with eight social workers from four middle schools and three high schools within the school district. Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs was used as the guiding framework to assess the social workers' understanding and their capacity to address students’ basic needs. The expected outcome …

Illinois State University, One Hundred And Sixty-Sixth Annual Commencement, May 2025, Illinois State University

Commencement Programs

Illinois State University

One Hundred and Sixty-Sixth Annual Commencement

May 2025

The Right To Grow Old, Jamal Greene

Faculty Scholarship

This chapter considers the status of a constitutional “right to grow old” under the US Constitution. Understood as a “positive” right – ensuring a certain minimum quality of life to people as they face the challenges of aging – such a right may seem unavailing given the austerity in respect to such rights that many lawyers associate with the US constitutional tradition. This chapter shows this view to be premature, at least. Unlike the kinds of positive rights overtly rejected in prior cases, such as rights to certain forms of social welfare or to racial equality, a right to grow …

Examining The Combination Of Race-By-Age Segregation On Violence In Little Rock, Arkansas, Karissa Kruse

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The Present study addresses the issue of residential segregation. Specifically, how the physical isolation of populations segregated based on both age and race affects violent crime. The sample includes all 155 Census block groups, which represent neighborhoods, in the city of Little Rock Arkansas. Data is accessed from the U.S. Census and the Little Rock Police Department. The current study asks: does the segregation of juveniles by age and race affect the distribution of crime? The theoretical frameworks guiding this research are social disorganization theory, structural-cultural theories of crime, the racialization of space perspective, and routine activities theory. The key …

The Rhetorical Use Of The Lower Classes In Three Primary Accounts Of The First Crusade, John Hannon

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This study analyzes the rhetorical use of the lower classes in three primary accounts of the First Crusade: Albert of Aachen, the Gesta Francorum, and Raymond of Aguilers — specifically with an eye towards the proper maintenance of the order of society through everyone performing their assigned role. Through a close reading of these three texts this study demonstrates how the three authors engage with and uphold versions of the idealized three orders model of medieval society. Though there is nuance between each source, broadly, each of the authors presents the lower classes as a force that needs to …

Community Perceptions Of A Crisis Response Collaboration: A Community Survey Of Attitudes Towards Police And The Crisis Intervention Response Team., Meghan Anspach

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This thesis examined community perceptions of the Fayetteville Police Department (FPD) and its Crisis Intervention Response Team (CIRT), focusing on how racial minorities and individuals from lower socioeconomic status (SES) backgrounds view these professionals and their roles in crisis situations. The research also aimed to determine whether perceptions of the collaborative effort through CIRT influenced views of the FPD. Previous research has explored perceptions of police, social workers, and co-response teams individually, but a gap remains in understanding how community members feel about the collaboration between police and social workers and whether these perceptions influence their views of the police. …

How A College Course Benefits Under-Resourced High Schoolers Interested In Veterinary Medicine, Gwendolyn R. Svenson, Olivia Arnold, Patricia Vigil, Naomi Nishi, Christianne Magee

Journal of Youth Development

The Veterinary Perspectives Institute (VPI) was designed to address the challenges faced by underrepresented youth who are interested in veterinary medicine. This study examines the VPI, a tuition-free program that introduces students from under-resourced high schools to veterinary medicine and One Health through a hands-on, transdisciplinary approach. The VPI integrates One Health concepts by linking human, animal, and environmental health in the context of veterinary medicine. The program’s aim is to foster college readiness and career exploration in veterinary and biomedical fields, while also addressing barriers to diversity in veterinary medicine. Through hands-on learning and case studies in One Health, …

Who Lives, Who Dies, Who Tells Your Story: A Comparative Analysis Of The Representations Of American Serial Killers In News And True Crime Media, Jenelle Walters

Honors Theses

Serial killers are a subject that have fascinated individuals for centuries in both news and entertainment media. Although research has been done on the representations of serial killers in news media, little research has attempted to connect the representations seen in the news media to those seen in true crime entertainment media. Through the use of four case studies, a comparative analysis was done to compare the framing seen in the original news articles, both local and national, to the framing seen in the later true crime films, documentaries, and series. Although the framing originally seen in the news media …

The Sexual Assault Survivor Experience Of Medical Forensic Examinations, Brielle Simonsen

Honors Theses

Following a sexual assault, survivors may seek medical forensic examinations (MFEs) at hospitals. MFEs can be important in identifying and prosecuting the assailant and in receiving necessary physical and psychological care, yet many survivors choose not to undergo the examination. In this qualitative study, I explored survivor experiences of MFEs at United States hospitals to identify possible areas for improvement of the MFE experience. Understanding these experiences is essential to reducing barriers to care, minimizing further harm, and supporting survivor recovery.

Evaluating Accuracy In Legal Research: A Comparative Analysis Of Traditional And Artificial Intelligence-Driven Methods, Lily Collins

Honors Theses

Legal professionals are challenged with performing accurate legal research to meet professional standards. The use of artificial intelligence (AI) presents a potential for enhanced efficiency. However, knowledge and process gaps exist, questioning the accuracy of results generated by AI. The uncertainty of accurate results poses a risk for poor outcomes for all stakeholders. This thesis aimed to quantitatively measure the accuracy of AI legal research in comparison to traditional legal research. Accuracy and relevance were measured by analyzing case precedent results using three legal research platforms, Westlaw, Nexis Uni, and Chat GPT. The three platforms represented traditional and AI-driven research, …

Redistricting And The Origins Of The Good Faith Presumption, Leonard C. Brahin

Barry Law Review

Evidentiary and substantive presumptions are a well-established tool that courts employ when addressing a variety of legal problems. These presumptions streamline litigation, avoid debate over minor disputes, and ensure that the most important issues can be addressed. But these same presumptions just as frequently close the courthouse doors on meritorious claims and preemptively shut down litigation where a disputed issue exists.

One area this occurs is redistricting. In the last fifty years, the Supreme Court of the United States has expanded its substantive presumptions in redistricting matters to permit facially discriminatory redistricting plans. By invoking the presumption of good faith, …

Investigating Exoneration Patterns Among Juveniles, Kristin Mahan

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Exoneration from crime has been studied among adults, but exoneration of juveniles (i.e., persons under age 18) has not been analyzed as a separate entity, despite distinct legal systems and developmental considerations. Wrongful conviction, while not always indicative of innocence, devastates lives of convicted individuals and their families, while increasing public mistrust and sometimes failing to convict truly guilty individuals. This devastation, as well as vulnerability to wrongful conviction, is significantly increased for youth who miss out on crucial developmental years, milestones, and opportunities.

In the current study, I examined differing and intersecting contributors (i.e., individual characteristics, crime characteristics, legal …

Static Risk Sensitive Reinforcement Learning, Jia Lin Hau

Doctoral Dissertations

Reinforcement Learning (RL) is a core area of artificial intelligence (AI) that enables systems to make decisions in complex environments. RL algorithms have shown promise in various domains, including resource management, robotics, and games. However, most existing RL approaches fail to account for the risks associated with decision-making. This oversight becomes particularly critical in high-stakes settings, such as healthcare, finance, criminal justice, and autonomous driving, where poor decisions can have significant consequences.

To address risk in decision-making, another line of research explores the properties (axioms) of "desirable" risk measures. This desirability is defined as the ability to quantify the capital …

Age Distribution Of Minors Portrayed In Image-Based Sexual Abuse And Child Sexual Abuse Material, Samantha Jean Sutton

Doctoral Dissertations

Child sexual abuse material (CSAM) poses a significant threat, especially in the current technological age. A better understanding of victim characteristics is needed to direct investigation and prevention efforts properly. However, determining the age distribution of children in CSAM has been difficult due to numerous factors, including differing laws governing CSAM, the priority placed on investigating younger victims, and the difficulty of determining from images alone the age of young people. This meta-analysis sought to understand the proportion of image abuse victims who are under the age of 13 compared to those who are 13 years or older and whether …

Project Foresight Annual Report, 2023-2024, Paul J. Speaker

Faculty & Staff Scholarship

Project FORESIGHT is a business-guided self-evaluation of forensic science laboratories across the globe. The participating laboratories represent local, regional, state, and national agencies. Economics, accounting, finance, and forensic faculty provide assistance, guidance, and analysis. Laboratories participating in Project FORESIGHT have developed standardized definitions for metrics to evaluate work processes, linking financial information to work tasks and functions. Laboratory managers can then assess resource allocations, efficiencies, and value of services—the mission of Project FORESIGHT is to measure, preserve what works, and change what does not.

The benchmark data for the 2023-2024 performance period includes laboratory submissions for a variety of fiscal …

Public Health And Crime Rates In Sioux Falls, Sd, Samuel D. Stukel

Honors Thesis

Sioux Falls, South Dakota is a rapidly growing city that has an emerging public health concern. While the city boasts high ranks in quality-of-life metrics, crime remains a significant concern as it does with most growing cities. This thesis aims at exploring the relationship between public health and crime for the city of Sioux Falls. It emphasizes how social determinants such as poverty, housing insecurity, mental illness, and systemic inequality contribute to crime rates. Through a public health framework, the study proposes a three-tiered approach, primary, secondary, and tertiary preventions. Each of these preventions will address both the root causes …

Reviving Baybayin: The Pre-Hispanic Writing System Of The Philippines, And Raising Awareness In The United States, Richana K. Stone

Honors Thesis

Baybayin is an Indigenous system of writing in the Philippines that has been preserved, but has seen rapid decline in usage throughout the centuries. This paper explores the history of Baybayin and the methods of reviving the written script that have been suggested and used to reimplement Baybayin into the daily lives of Filipinos. Furthermore, this paper will look at how Lakota and Peruvian recording systems, the winter count and the khipu, respectively, have been preserved and used in modern times. Viewing the history of these groups and how they preserved these writing systems sparks a potential for the adoption …

Graduate List - May 2025, University Of Nebraska At Omaha

Commencement Lists

No abstract provided.