The mid-1990s brought sex offenders to the forefront of policy issues due to several highly publicized cases of abduction, sexual assault, and murder involving children. Following these cases, a number of sex offender management policies were passed to quell public concern over the safety of children due to sex offenders. Most notably, these new sex offender management policies mandated the creation of publicly available registries of sex offenders and enacted residence restrictions that forbid sex offenders from residing within certain distances from areas where children commonly congregate. Although current sex offender management policies have been revealed to be largely ineffective in reducing sex offender recidivism and also create a number of collateral consequences for the successful reintegration of sex offenders back into the community, the public has been found to be largely in support of these policies and believe in their effectiveness. The available literature examining the perceptions of professionals toward sex offender management policies, however, has shown mixed support depending upon the specific profession of the sample. Utilizing a sample (n=248) gathered from two professional organizations, this study aimed to explore and compare the perceptions of clinical specialists and non-clinical professionals in three areas: Support for current sex offender management policies, belief in collateral consequences that sex offenders may face due to these policies, and acceptability of collateral consequences as by-products of the current policies. Bivariate analyses revealed significant differences between the professionals groups in all three of the above areas. Given the significant bivariate findings, ordinary least squares regression was conducted to examine the consistency of profession as a significant predictor of the attitudes of the professionals while considering competing variables. Against a number of control variables, profession remained a significant predictor of support for sex offender management policies and belief in collateral consequences involving residence restrictions, however, profession was not a significant predictor of acceptability of collateral consequences. Several other factors, including punishment philosophy and belief in the cause of sex offending, emerged throughout the multivariate analyses as having a significant influence on the perceptions of the professionals.

One of the objectives of any government is the establishment of an effective solution to significantly control crime. Identity fraud in Nigeria has generated global attention and negative publicity toward its citizens. The research problem addressed in this study was the lack of understanding of the dynamics that influenced the adoption and usability of biometrics technology for reliable identification and authentication to control identity deception. The support for this study was found in the theoretical framework of the technology acceptance model (TAM). The purpose of the study was to provide scholarly research about the factors that influenced the adoption of biometrics technology to reliably identify and verify individuals in Nigeria to control identity fraud. The mixed-method descriptive and inferential study used interview and survey questionnaires for data collection. The binary logistic regression, point bi-serial correlation, independent samples t test, and content analyses were performed using SPSS version 18, Microsoft Excel spreadsheet 2007, and Nvivo 7.0 software. The results from the findings indicated statistical correlation between adopt biometrics technology and three other variables, ease of use (r = .38, n = 120, p <.01), perceived usefulness (ri = .41, n = 120, p < .01), and awareness (ri = .33, ni = 120, p < .01). The implications for social change include leveraging biometrics technology for recognition, confirmation, and accountability of individuals to prevent identity scheming, ensure security, and control the propagation of personal information. Beyond these immediate benefits, this research presents an example that other developing countries may use to facilitate the adoption of biometrics technology.

An emerging crisis in the public sector of the United States is that local government organizations are unable to recruit and retain leaders. A large proportion of high-level and mid-management public administrators leave the profession within a 5-year period. The purpose of this phenomenological study was to explore, identify, and describe patterns in the experiences and perceptions of local government administrators to promote career longevity. The central research questions were designed to determine whether work adjustment theory accurately described the lived experiences and perceptions of the subjects' career success in local government. Data collection included in-depth interviews with 10 current high level and mid-management local government leaders in the state of Virginia. Key findings of a thematic analysis of the interviews were that altruism was a strong motivator for career longevity and progression, intrinsic rewards outweighed extrinsic rewards such as salary and compensation, and that most of the participants perceived that an advanced education supports career success. The study further found that reactive adjustment of adaptability was a key driver of the participants' career success and longevity when applied through the theory of work adjustment. This study contributes to positive social change by providing specific recommendations to municipal governments related to the recruitment and retention of existing leadership. Ultimately, this guidance for existing and future public administrators will promote career longevity by utilizing satisfaction formulas, yield career sustainability with success attributes, and frame government leadership for the future by revealing existing experiences and genuine perceptions.

Previous studies have neglected to focus on the generalized affective satisfaction (diffuse support) to state level courts among Hispanics/Latinos. A western US county was selected for this case study to test a racial and ethnic theory of procedural justice in a region with a large Hispanic/Latino population. Differential experience theory was used as a theoretical foundation and posits that people determine their level of satisfaction with the courts based on their own actual experience with the courts. The main research question was whether Hispanics/Latinos have a different level of satisfaction with their access to, and fairness in, the court when compared to Whites. Data were gathered from 1406 people exiting the courthouse for any reason in 2007 and 2008. The exit survey data were used to test a logistic regression model to empirically investigate whether race or ethnicity is a significant predictor of court user satisfaction. Level of satisfaction was operationalized by assessing responses to questions regarding the accessibility to, and perceived fairness in, the court. Although race/ethnicity proved to be significantly linked to both measures of satisfaction in 2007 these associations were no longer observed in the 2008 data. Mean satisfaction ratings affirmed the findings of other researchers in the field that Hispanics/Latinos have a high level of satisfaction with their access to, and fairness in, the court. This is important because the legitimacy of the judicial branch is dependent upon the good will of the public. This study can directly contribute to social change by informing outreach programs designed to increase voluntary participation in state and local legal systems among members of Hispanic/Latino communities, and thus help to realize more equitable justice for all citizens.

The lack of preparedness by local communities in the event of a biological attack is a predicament that will result in chaos and an increase in casualties. Assessing city preparedness is essential in the event of a biological attack. The potential for an enormous number of casualties is real; it is imperative, therefore, for local communities to be prepared in the event of a biological attack. This descriptive single case study investigated whether one city in the southeastern United States is prepared for a biological attack. System theory provided the theoretical framework for this research, with the unit of analysis being the local Emergency Operations Center, which is responsible for coordination, preparation, and oversight in the event of such a disaster. Data were collected from interviews, documents, public records, and participant observation. Pattern matching and comparative analysis were utilized to analyze data that was collected in this research. This examination of the preparedness of the city for a biological attack is critical because any lack of preparedness would be devastating to the community. The findings of this study revealed that the city is prepared for a biological attack and that the recommendations and best practices identified in this study such as the utilization of virtual technology during a biological attack, the ability to perform random biological exercises, investments in laboratories, bioterrorism training for citizens, and establishing global partnerships in combating bioterrorism, promote social change, and will result in saving lives in the event of a biological attack. This research contributes to social change by promoting security improvements and identifying a model of preparedness for other cities in their own preparation for a biological attack.

According to a recent NYU study, Black Residential Migration in California: Implications for Higher Education, since the 1990s there has been considerable migration within the Black community from urban cities to the South and suburbs. In California, for example, a number of counties that have historically had the highest concentration of Blacks in the state have seen a high numerical decrease in the Black population in recent decades. Southern California is one of the more pronounced regions. The cities of Los Angeles, Compton, Inglewood, and Lynwood had the highest numerical decrease in the Black population; while cities San Bernardino and Rialto experiences significant proportional increases. These trends have significant implication in terms of the education of African American students. The study also reveals a high numerical increase in Black Enrollment between 1985 and 2005 at Rialto Unified and San Bernardino City Unified respectively. Whereas, historically, suburban communities have access to more opportunities and resources (including better schools) than their urban counterparts, recent census data reveals a considerable increase in poverty in U.S. suburbs as a result of the great recession. Considering these recent trends, are Black students “better off” in Los Angeles Unified School District or in San Bernardino County districts: Rialto Unified or San Bernardino City Unified? This study creates and assigns grades (A-F) for each of the districts using six variables: API performance, API improvement, College Readiness, Suspension Rates, Graduation/Dropout rate, and California High School Exit Exam Pass rate. Though all districts performed poorly, LAUSD received the high overall marks.

No description available.

Thesis (M.Soc.Sc.)--University of Hong Kong, 1989. / Cover title. Also available in print.

The National Incident Management System (NIMS) is the result of Homeland Security Presidential Directive 5 (HSPD-5). NIMS requires the Secretary of Homeland Security to develop a national policy template for state, local, regional, and federal agencies to work together during emergencies. One difficulty with NIMS is that state and local agencies interpret and implement NIMS requirements differently. Using Lusier & Achua's theory of integrative leadership and Burns, Bass, Kouzes, and Posner's concept of transformational leadership, this study examined the relationship between the leadership provided by city public safety directors (CPSDs) and effective NIMS implementation at the local level. Two research questions were posed to determine if education, experience, leadership, competency, or knowledge of their position, impacted the required NIMS implementation. The Delphi technique was used to develop 30 survey statements that formed the basis for a survey of 25 CPSDs in a Midwestern state. Data were analyzed using chi-square as a test of association. Results indicated that NIMS knowledge is inconsistent among CPSDs, the cause of which is likely lack of training in NIMS emergency response requirements and not lack of knowledge about leadership styles or techniques. Therefore, the conclusion of this study is that CPSDs have the leadership skills required to lead emergency management organizations, but may lack the specific technical skills related to implementing the NIMS requirements. The results of this study could promote positive social change in NIMS implementation by helping decision-makers to creating training opportunities related to NIMS implementation and to allocate resources more appropriately to protect people from natural and human catastrophic events.

No description available.