An Assessment Of Cross-National Variation In Rates Of Incarceration, Ryan E. Spohn, Travis Linnemann

Criminology and Criminal Justice Faculty Publications

Our theoretical approach compares the relative efficacy of multiple theories of law and social control. From a general social threat perspective, we find that variables reflecting the size of the unemployed youth population and general measures of income inequality have positive impacts on a nation's rates of incarceration. We also find partial support for one of Durkheim's laws of quantitative change and penal evolution, in that, all else equal, nations with a more authoritarian form of government utilize incarceration at a higher rate than their more democratic counterparts. We also find that the institutional anomie perspective, which has previously been …

Religion And Community: Mexican Americans In South Omaha (1900-1980) - Ollas Report No. 4, Maria S. Arbelaez

Latino/Latin American Studies Reports

Mexicans, like all other ethnic groups that created the United States as a nation of immigrants, were adamant in establishing churches of their own. Ethnic religious affiliations were essentially of Judeo-Christian origin and benefited effectively from the tolerance of worship mandated by the Constitution. Freedom of belief was known, demanded, and exercised by all immigrants. For Mexican and other ethnic communities, religious belief and centers of worship were the very heart of their community and identity bonds, their source of strength and reason to persevere in a new society where multiple nationalities, cultures, languages, and ethnicities converged.

This report provides …

Latino Political Participation In Nebraska: The Challenge Of Enhancing Voter Mobilization And Representation - Ollas Report No. 3, Jonathan Benjamin-Alvarado

Latino/Latin American Studies Reports

This OLLAS policy brief seeks to enhance basic information regarding the role Latinos will play in shaping the future of politics in Nebraska in the short and medium term. Because issues such as immigration policy, fair housing, labor practices, and public education have risen to the top of the political agenda nationally and statewide, and because these issues most directly impact the lives of Nebraska’s growing Latino constituencies legitimately, we must consider to what extent Latino stakeholders can shape the debate and articulate acceptable policy responses to these matters.

How effectively these issues are dealt with will have major implications …

Code Enforcement Manual: Omaha Neighborhood Scan, University Of Nebraska At Omaha

Publications

No abstract provided.

2006 Economic Analysis Example, Center For Public Affairs Research (Cpar)

Publications

No abstract provided.

2005 Revised Omaha Economic Development Plan: Plan For Northeast Omaha, Robert Blair, Jerry Deichert, Heather L. Bloom, Jordan Fuller, Alvin M. Goodwin, Elizabeth Cunard, Michael Maroney

Publications

The 2005 Revised OEDP provides OEDC with current data and analysis to initiate and complete a strategic process to develop an action plan for community and economic development activities and projects.

The 2005 Revised Overall Economic Development Plan (OEDP) prepared by the Center for Public Affairs Research (CPAR) at the University of Nebraska at Omaha (UNO) for the Omaha Economic Development Corporation (OEDC) replaces the original OEDP first prepared in 1978. While a variety of revisions and updates over the years helped keep the original OEDP relatively current and helpful in development activities, in 2005 OEDC President Alvin Goodwin commissioned …

Beyond Government Performance: Is Planning And Management Enough?: 17th Annual Conference Of The Association For Budgeting And Financial Management As Section Of The American Society For Public Administration Program Draft, Association For Budgeting And Financial Management

Publications

“Beyond Government Performance: Is Planning and Management Enough?”

17^th Annual Conference of the

Association for Budgeting and Financial Management

a section of the American Society for Public Administration

Co-Sponsors

Section on International and Comparative Administration (SICA)

Section on Transportation Policy and Administration (STPA)

November 10-12, 2005

Washington Marriott Hotel

1221 22nd Street, NW

Washington DC

Nebraska State Data Center: 16th Annual Summer Conference Brochure, Center For Public Affairs Research (Cpar)

Publications

Conference brochure

Examining The Impact Of Parental Involvement In A Dual Language Program: Implications For Children And Schools - Ollas Report No. 2, J. F. Casas

Latino/Latin American Studies Reports

This study focuses on a dual language (Spanish-English) program in the Omaha Public Schools. Dual language programs are programs in which children develop proficiency in two languages simultaneously. These programs are currently seen as the gold standard second language education because of the large amount of empirical support they have received with respect to children’s academic gains. All of the dual language classrooms are comprised of half native English speakers and half Spanish speakers.

Parental involvement has received much empirical attention with respect to traditional school programs; however, little is known about the role of parental involvement in dual language …

The Practice Of Local Development: A Guide For Nebraska Communities On Creating Jobs And Business Investment, Robert Blair, Jerry Deichert, Jordan Fuller, Nathan George, School Of Public Administration, University Of Nebraska At Omaha, Center For Public Affairs Research (Cpar), Nebraska Department Of Economic Development

Publications

A description of the foundations of the local development process,

including a collection of resources on economic and business development strategies

Educational Achievement And The Successful Integration Of Latinos In Nebraska: A Statistical Profile To Inform Policies And Programs - Ollas Report No. 1, Lourdes Gouveia, Mary Ann Powell

Latino/Latin American Studies Reports

The unprecedented and continuous growth of the Latino population in Nebraka compels us to engage in institutional changes, comprehensive policy reforms, and innovative programs that enhance the productive integration of this population into our state. As an abundant body of research and informed practices make clear, education is the bedrock of successful integration for current and future generations of Latinos. No longer can a job, obtained without a high school or college education, provide the opportunities it may have once provided to older generations of Americans or, for that matter, first-generation immigrants. The latter tend to measure their socioeconomic success …

Citizens Using Technology To Improve Omaha Neighborhoods: Omaha Neighborhood Scan, School Of Public Administration, University Of Nebraska At Omaha, Russell L. Smith, Heather L. Bloom

Publications

No abstract provided.

The Development Of Mexican Nonproliferation Export Controls Cits Special Report, Jonathan Benjamin-Alvarado

Latino/Latin American Studies Reports

This report by OLLAS assistant director Jonathan Benjamin-Alvarado is part of a developing research and outreach project with the Center for International Trade and Security at the University of Georgia. It involved working with Mexican government officials to design and implement national responses to international agreements and obligations to ensure command and control of critical nuclear, biological, and chemical materials in Mexico. Dr. Benjamin-Alvarado conducted a comprehensive survey, which he administered in Argentina and Cuba previously, later in 2005 to assess Mexican export controls.

The Integration Of The Hispanic/Latino Immigrant Workforce State Of Nebraska Mexican American Commission Project Report, Miguel A. Carranza, Lourdes Gouveia

Latino/Latin American Studies Reports

The main purpose of the study was to explore the degree to which Latino newcomers are being effectively and positively integrated into the economic, social, and political lives and institutions of the state and local communities. The project consisted of three phases. The first was based on analysis of Census 2000 figures, government documents, media archives, and published research. The second phase developed a survey questionnaire mailed to a wide array of agencies and organizations directly or indirectly charged with integrating newcomer populations. In the third phase we conducted focus groups with newcomers and key organizations in three Nebraska communities. …

Nebraska Home Rule Project: Nebraska Municipal Survey, Robert F. Blair, Dale Krane

Publications

The purpose of the survey was to collect information from Nebraska municipal officials on how state government affects their operations and to identify potential areas for improvement.

State Of Black Omaha, 2000: Executive Summary, Nebraska Urban League Inc., Center For Public Affairs Research (Cpar)

Publications

The previous section reviewed the results of a survey that asked African American citizens of Nebraska their opinions on several issues and concerns facing Nebraska's AfricanAmerican community. This section uses these results to develop actions and recommendations in several areas: Youth Issues, Government Issues, Jobs and Economic Development, Criminal Justice, and Health. Because some of these areas overlap, actions and recommendations suggested for one area may also apply to another area.

State Of Black Omaha, 2000, Center For Public Affairs Research (Cpar)

Publications

The State of Black Nebraska 2000 is based on a survey sponsored by the Urban League of Nebraska and conducted by the Center for Public Affairs Research at the University of Nebraska at Omaha. The State of Black Nebraska Survey was conducted through telephone interviews with 474 adults from African-American households in Douglas, Sarpy, and Lancaster Counties. Together these three counties account for approximately 97 percent of the African-American population in Nebraska. Among the topics examined in the survey were ratings of the Omaha and Lincoln area's quality of life; problems to be addressed by the Urban League of Nebraska; …

State Of The Profession, 2000: Executive Summary, Center For Public Affairs Research (Cpar)

Publications

The Public Risk Management Association established its State of the Profession survey to provide member entities with comparative information about the compensation, experience, education, responsibilities and challenges of the public risk management function. The PRIMA State of the Profession survey was administered via mail to all 1,580 PRIMA government members. The survey recipients comprise representatives of state and local governments and special districts. This executive summary is based on the answers of 518 respondents representing 32.8 percent of the members.

Evaluation Of The Nebraska Community Development Block Grant Administration Certification Program, Center For Public Affairs Research (Cpar)

Publications

The Nebraska Community Development Block Grant Administration Certification Program, in its fourth year of operation, certifies individuals who administer local grants received from the Nebraska Department of Economic Development (DED). Funds are provided by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Included in the certification program, managed by the University of Nebraska at Omaha (UNO), are annual certification workshops, recertification workshops, and advanced training modules that are part of the recertification process.

UNO and DED decided in 1998 to undertake a comprehensive evaluation of the certification program. UNO contracted with the Institute for Social and Economic Development (ISED) and …

Intergenterational Readings/Resources (1994-1998), Anita Johnson, Danielle Quinnette

Bibliographies

This selective bibliography of intergenerational materials reflects the mission and activities of Generations Together, an intergenerational studies unit of the University of Pittsburgh's Center for Social and Urban Research. The items selected for inclusion focus on the literature that describes" ... mutual beneficial interaction between young and old through community outreach, education, research, and dissemination of knowledge." (Generations Together. 1999. "Mission Statement")

This list covers the five-year period of 1994-1998 and follows an earlier bibliography that covered the period 1980-1994. The two bibliographies are similar in size, mirroring the growth of intergenerational studies as a dynamic field of research and …

Omaha Conditions Survey: 1998, Center For Public Affairs Research (Cpar)

Publications

The Omaha Conditions Survey: 1998 is the fifth in a series of studies conducted by the Center for Public Affairs Research (CPAR) at the University of Nebraska at Omaha. The purpose of the Omaha Conditions Survey is to produce and disseminate quality information about issues of importance to the community. The 1998 survey focused on measuring detailed characteristics of the local labor force. This information is intended to help members of the community address issues related to labor availability and employment needs.

Lb 1085 Report To The Nebraska Unicameral For Dodge, Douglas, Sarpy, Saunders And Washington Counties: Multi-County Shared Services Project, Center For Public Affairs Research (Cpar)

Publications

The 1996 session of the Nebraska Unicameral enacted several bills focusing on the organization and cost of local governments. One bill-LB 1085--provided new, more specific language and procedures governing county consolidation and service cooperation. Coupled with the new language and procedures was a requirement that each county complete by January, 1998 a study of whether property taxes might be reduced through the consolidation of offices, services and/or county governments.

Intergenerational Service Topic Bibliography, Robin Vue Benson, Robert D. Shumer, Madeleine S. Hengel, Craig Hollander

Bibliographies

America is changing. More of our citizens are moving into the "senior" portions of their lives. Within twenty years, a significant segment of our population will be retired or nearing retirement. With this retirement comes a tendency to live in retirement communities, separated from mainstream society. At the same time, our youth are experiencing greater isolation from adult life and from interaction with older individuals. Because of our mobile population, many children grow up today without regular contact with a grandparent or an older adult.

This scenario suggests that there is perhaps no greater need in our society than to …

Midlands Institute For Non-Profit Management: Building A Solid Foundation, Center For Public Affairs Research (Cpar)

Publications

Agenda and material from the Midlands Institute for Non-Profit Management - Building a Solid Foundation Conference, July 7-11, 1997.

Journal Of The Community Development Society Vol. 28 No. 01, Center For Public Affairs Research (Cpar)

Publications

Community Development Journal covers political, economic and social programmes that link the activities of people with institutions and government. Issues covered include, for example, community action, village, town and regional planning, community studies, and rural development.

Local Governments And Public Facilities Construction In Nebraska: Expenditures, Cooperation And Operation Of Joint Facilities, Center For Public Affairs Research (Cpar)

Publications

This study of public facilities construction was completed by the University of Nebraska at Omaha, Center for Public Affairs Research for the Nebraska Commission on Local Government Innovation and Restructuring.

Omaha's Public Libraries, Center For Public Affairs Research (Cpar)

Publications

The Omaha Public Library began as a subscription library in 1872. The "library" was located in a rented room on 14th Street between Douglas and Dodge with a collection of 2,600 donated books. The Library Association charged an annual fee of $3.00 for membership. In 1877 the State Legislature approved an act allowing the establishment of "free public libraries and reading rooms." That same year the Omaha City Council established the Omaha Public Library at the urging of the Omaha Library Association. The Library opened with a budget of$1,274.80, a librarian, and nine appointed directors, the precursor of the Library …

Midlands Institute For Non-Profit Management: Building A Solid Foundation, Center For Public Affairs Research (Cpar)

Publications

Agenda and material from the Midlands Institute for Non-Profit Management - Building a Solid Foundation Conference, July 8-10, 1996.

Omaha Area Gambling Survey December 1995, Center For Public Affairs Research (Cpar)

Publications

The purpose of the 1995 survey was to establish baseline information on area residents' attitudes toward and participation in gambling. Our intention is to conduct at least one follow-up survey to measure changes in attitudes and gambling participation among area residents. To facilitate the establishment of a "panel" for future surveys, participants were asked if they would be willing to be interviewed again.

Journal Of The Community Development Society Vol. 27, No. 02, Center For Public Affairs Research (Cpar)

Publications

Good Bye. This editor's note completes my five years as the editor of the Journal of the Community Development Society. It has been a fast and a very important five years. Like most things in this dramatically changing world, in those five years the practice of community development has changed. Likewise the Community Development Society has changed, and I think so has its Journal. Two of these changes are worth noting. First, while still retaining its social science character, the Journal has published articles with broader research questions. In other words, the goals of the articles have changed. While many …