This study develops and empirically tests a model of the determinants of federal spending for crime-fighting policies. An inter-disciplinary approach to building the model is utilized that merges ideas from budgeting, policy analysis and criminology. Four factors hypothesized to impact federal spending for the administration of justice are operationalized as eight variables and tested using ordinary least squares regression analysis on time series data. The factors hypothesized to impact federal spending in this area are economic constraints imposed on government spending, the ideological makeup of Congress and the president, the actual crime rate, and the public's attitude toward crime. Five of the eight variables demonstrated statistical significance at the.10 level or better.

Using a Key escrow agent in conjunction with Voice over IP (VoIP) communication ensures that law enforcements agencies (LEAs) can retrieve the session key used to encrypt data between two users in a VoIP session. However, the use of a single escrow agent has some drawbacks. A fraudulent request by an evil employee from the LEA can lead to improper disclosure of a session key. After the escrow agent reveals the key this evil person could fabricate data according to his/her needs and encrypt it again (using the correct session key). In this situation the persons involved in the communication session can be accused of crimes that he or she or they never committed. The problems with a single escrow agent becomes even more critical as a failure of the escrow agent can delay or even make it impossible to reveal the session key, thus the escrow agent might not be able to comply with a lawful court order or comply with their escrow agreement in the case of data being released according to this agreement (for example for disaster recovery). This thesis project focused on improving the accessibility and reliability of escrow agents, while providing good security. One such method is based on dividing the session key into M chunks and escrowing the chunks with M escrow agents. Using threshold cryptography the key can be regenerated by gathering any N-out-of-M chunks. The value of M and N may differ according to the role of the user. For a highly sophisticated session, the user might define a higher value for M and N for improved, availability, reliability, and security. For a less confidential or less important session (call), the value of M and N might be smaller. The thesis examines the increased availability and increased reliability made possible by using multiple escrow agents. / Med en nyckel förvaringsinstitut som tillsammans med Röst över IP (VoIP) kommunikation säkerställer att brottsbekämpande organ (LEAs) kan hämta sessionsnyckeln används för att kryptera data mellan två användare i en VoIP-session. Däremot har användningen av ett enda förvaringsinstitut visa nackdelar. En bedräglig begäran av en ond arbetstagare från LEA kan leda till otillbörligt röjande av en sessionsnyckel. Efter förvaringsinstitut avslöjar nyckeln detta onda person kunde fabricera uppgifter i enlighet med hans eller hennes behov och kryptera den igen (med rätt sessionsnyckel). I denna situation personer som deltar i kommunikationssession kan anklagas för brott som han eller hon eller de aldrig begått. Problemen med en enda förvaringsinstitut som blir ännu mer kritisk som ett misslyckande av förvaringsinstitut kan försena eller till och med gör det omöjligt att avslöja sessionsnyckeln, vilket förvaringsinstituten kanske inte kan följa en laglig domstolsbeslut eller uppfyller sina depositionsavtalets när det gäller data frisläppas i enlighet med detta avtal (till exempel för katastrofer). Detta examensarbete fokuserar på att förbättra tillgängligheten och tillförlitligheten i spärrade medel, samtidigt som god säkerhet. En sådan metod bygger på att dela upp sessionsnyckeln till M bitar och escrowing i bitar med M förvaringsinstituten. Använda tröskel kryptografi nyckeln kan genereras genom att samla alla N-out-of-M bitar. Värdet på M och N kan variera beroende på användarens roll. För en mycket sofistikerad session kan användaren definiera ett högre värde för M och N för förbättrad tillgänglighet, tillförlitlighet och säkerhet. För en mindre konfidentiell eller mindre viktigt session (telefonsamtal), kan värdet på M och N vara mindre. I avhandlingen analyseras den ökade tillgänglighet och ökad tillförlitlighet möjligt genom att använda flera spärrade medel.

This study firstly focuses on the response to the post-Cold War era with the shift of the focus of intelligence to terrorism, proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, and transnational organised crime. Intelligence cooperation in respect of international crimes, including mercenary crimes, piracy and war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide is analysed, as well as peacekeeping intelligence. Secondly the focus is on intelligence cooperation in response to the events of 11 September 2001 in the United States of America, and intelligence failures in respect of weapons of mass destruction in Iraq. Intelligence cooperation on the national level is analysed with reference to the United Kingdom and the United States of America; on regional level, with reference to the African Union, the European Union and South East Asia; and on international level with reference to INTERPOL and the United Nations. International and regional obligations in respect of intelligence cooperation are described and analysed and both the drivers of intelligence cooperation and the challenges to intelligence cooperation are analysed. Best practices are identified and proposals made to improve intelligence cooperation on the mentioned levels, in combating international crimes, including a high degree of cooperation between crime intelligence and positive intelligence. / Thesis (DPhil)--University of Pretoria, 2010. / Political Sciences / unrestricted

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Identifying behaviors that are either counterproductive work behaviors (CWBs) or organizational citizenship behaviors (OCBs) may assist law enforcement agencies in selecting and aligning police officers for the various roles asked of them. The 6 dimensions of personality are not currently being used in law enforcement agencies to predict overall job performance of police officers. The purpose of this quantitative study was to examine the extent to which the 6 personality dimensions as measured by the HEXACO Personality Inventory Revised (HEXACO-PI-R) predicted overall indicators (OCB and CWB) of police officer job performance. A sample of 51 police officers from a variety of Canadian police agencies completed a survey that included the HEXACO-PI-R, the Organizational Citizenship Behavior Scale, and the Workplace Deviant Behavior Scale. Findings from Pearson and Spearman correlations and multiple regression models indicated statistically significant relationships between the HEXACO-PI-R and OCB and CWB scores in police officers. Findings may be used to inform the law enforcement community on best practices for utilizing the 6 dimensions of personality to predict indicators of police officers' job performance.

In 1994 Congress enacted the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act, which in part gave the Department of Justice, Civil Rights Division (DOJCRD) the power to investigate local law enforcement agencies for Constitutional and civil rights violations. Researchers have found these investigations are expensive, time consuming, and highly intrusive to a law enforcement agency. To understand how these investigations are impacting communities, data were gathered on cities with local law enforcement agencies that have experienced an investigation by the DOJCRD. Using a quasi-experimental, multiple time-series research design with a paired samples t-test, the dependent variables (violent crime and arrest rates) were analyzed for any differences before and after the introduction of the independent variable (the commencement of a DOJCRD investigation). With an established a = .05, adjusting for non-reported crime, and comparing to a non-equivalent control variable (national crime rate), the research findings indicate increased violent crime with the commencement of these investigations. The results also show that arrest rates significantly decreased indicating the possibility of de-policing. The negative impact to communities with increased violent crime rates and decreased arrest rates calls into question the efficacy of DOJCRD investigations. By supporting the recommendation for Congress to repeal this power given to the DOJCRD, this research can lead to positive social change by preventing federal government intrusion into local government that is negatively impacting communities.

Media and activist groups have recently exposed the problem of negative interactions between law enforcement officers and civilians. Many of these civilians have a mental illness. Various researchers attribute these negative interactions to insufficient officer knowledge of mental illness due to a lack of training, education, and personal experiences. Very little research addresses how insufficient knowledge of mental illness may influence interactions. The purpose of this phenomenological study was to explore and analyze self reported law enforcement knowledge using Malcolm Knowles' conceptualization of adult learning theory and andragogy as the theoretical framework. This framework bases self-directed learning/training on a needs assessment of the individual's knowledge. The main research question was: 'What factors related to officer knowledge of mental illness impact interactions between law enforcement and people with mental illness?' Data were collected through recorded and then transcribed in-depth interviews with 8 law enforcement officers with experience interacting with mentally ill people. Using aspects of modified Van Kaam method of data analysis, word recognition computer programing identified repetitive words and phrases from the data. This resulted in significant common themes, namely: the need for more effective formal training on mental illness and the influence of personal lived experiences in the interaction with people with mental illness. The implications for social change are positive for officers and people with mental illness, as this study will inform the development of more effective officer training models about mental health, which will reduce the number of negative interactions.

First responders, especially law enforcement, frequently encounter individuals experiencing substance use concerns. Previous research has documented that a greater understanding of substance use disorders promotes a decrease in stigmatizing perspectives. We present a novel approach to training law enforcement officers to improve their interactions with community members exhibiting substance use disorders, while also promoting their professional well-being. The present study sought to evaluate the feasibility and acceptability of the Stigma Reduction and Resiliency Training for First Responders (SRRT-FR) in a sample of law enforcement officers, as well as its efficacy in decreasing stigmatizing perspectives towards substance use disorders and increasing professional resiliency. One hundred and ten law enforcement officers participated in SRRT-FR and completed pre-, post- (n = 77), and four-month follow-up (n = 42) surveys that assessed their perceptions towards individuals with substance use disorders, as well as their well-being within their profession. Preliminary results suggest that SRRT-FR is feasible and acceptable amongst officers and may decrease some stigmatizing perspectives and increase resiliency. The findings warrant replication with larger sample sizes and randomized controlled trials involving law enforcement officers, as well as other first responders.

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