According to the 2011 National Gang Threat Assessment created by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, there are more than 33,000 gangs in the United States, cited as being responsible for nearly 48% of the violent crime in the country. Using information drawn from gang-related court cases, this study examines the nature of inter- and intra-gang violence occurring between January 1, 2002-December 31, 2011. An innovative application of network analysis will be used to hone in on rivalries, the existence of possible hierarchy, and the relational and structural characteristics of Blood and Crip gangs in Los Angeles County. Results show that the majority of gang-on-gang violence originates and targets individuals in the city of Los Angeles. Furthermore, more than two-thirds of the violence committed at the hands of Blood and Crip gangs is upon individuals that are not affiliated with a gang. Strategies are offered on how to improve the effectiveness of existing community-based policing or hot-spot policing in areas known to have violent gang-related incidents (Los Angeles City). Furthermore, the implementation of programs designed to assist and deter the formation and proliferation of gangs will result in less gang violence and therefore more time to be spent on creating law enforcement strategies aimed at quelling the more troublesome gang rivalries.

The purpose of this study is to explore the relationship between traditional African-American American parenting and the overrepresentation of African-Americans in America’s jails and prisons. This qualitative study utilized semi-structured interviews of twelve parents who have had a child incarcerated in their adult life to gather data. Study participants were asked their experiences with several traditional happenings, supported by research, in some traditional African-American households. Topics discussed included religion, spanking, and single parenthood. The study found that many of the traditional happenings of African-American parenting occurred within the homes of parents with children who were incarcerated, which supports previous research. Additionally, the study found that negative views of law enforcement officers were held by several participants and passed down to their children. Moreover, the majority of participants believed that race had some bearing on the treatment of their child by law enforcement and the legal system. The findings of the study suggest that there is room for social workers to be more aware of the unique needs of the African-American community and advocacy is necessary for programs and resources to reach this special population. Furthermore, social workers should continue to seek cultural competence and demonstrate racial awareness when working with clients.

Mental Health Courts (MHCs) are a diversion program for mentally ill offenders in lieu of incarceration. The Substance Abuse and Mental Services Administration (SAMHSA) developed these specialized court programs in the 1990’s to assist mentally ill offenders in overcoming barriers to treatment. While new laws have begun to change the way mentally ill offenders are viewed from a law enforcement standpoint, social workers’ attitudes and beliefs about these programs have not been studied. This quantitative study’s purpose was to examine Master of Social Work (MSW) Graduate students’ attitudes and beliefs of mentally ill offenders and MHCs. Social work student participants completed an online questionnaire developed by the researchers using Qualtrics software. We analyzed the data using descriptive and inferential statistics, including a t-test. Our hypothesis that attitudes and beliefs of social work students varied based on the student’s year in the MSW program was not supported by the data. These findings suggest that students’ attitudes and beliefs about MHCs remain consistent throughout their graduate social work training. Although, our findings do not generalize to all social work students or to social workers in the field, these findings suggest students’ exposure to this topic during their MSW program may be limited and may warrant further investigation. We discuss these findings and their implications for social work curriculum and practice.

Due to increasing media focus, there has been growing concern that U.S. students and the school environment are increasingly violent, leading the public to believe that school discipline should become more strict and punitive (Giroux 2003; Schept, Wall, & Brisman 2014). However, scholars argue that there is little evidence that current practices of school discipline have made the school environment safer, but instead have criminalized the school and are disproportionately targeting students of color and disabled students (Beger 2002; Civil Rights Project 2000; Gregory, Skiba, & Noguera 2010; Hirschfield 2008; McNeal & Dunbar 2010; U.S. Government Office of Accountability 2018). The expansion of zero-tolerance policies and the surveillance culture in schools have played a large role in the creation of the school-to-prison pipeline, in which students are increasingly being suspended and expelled from school and coming in contact with the juvenile justice system. This research explores the relation that zero tolerance policies function as the neoliberal social control mechanism to control students who are seen to have “no market value and [are] identified as flawed consumers because of their associations with crime and poverty, redundancy and expendability” (Sellers & Arrigo 2018, p. 66). Zero-tolerance policies function as the latest manifestation of capitalist reconstitution of educational institutions, through curricula, student conduct codes, disciplinary procedures, and the hidden curriculum, constructed of the language of capitalism, disproportionately targeting students of color (Bowles & Gintis 2011). A series of OLS regression analyses were conducted to analyze how community partners and school resource officer involvement impact the rate of suspension, expulsion, and combined school disciplinary measures using the School Survey on Crime and Safety Survey 2005-06 data. It was found that community partners and school resource officers have a positive and negative relationship with disciplinary rates. This research further substantiates that racial and ethnic minority students receive disproportionate rates of discipline.

Victims of childhood bullying often use passive coping strategies and experience depression, substance abuse use, anxiety, and suicidal thoughts. The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study was to examine adults' lived experiences of coping methods they used as victims of bullies during adolescence. Lazarus and Folkman's transactional theory of stress and coping provided the framework for the study. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 11 young adults who were bullied as adolescents. Coding analysis indicated 7 emerging themes for coping: confrontation, self-controlling, seeking social support, accepting responsibility, escape-avoidance, problem-solving, and positive reappraisal. Participants reported that some coping methods were perceived as effective. The results suggested that self-support and the support of friends and family were key factors in overcoming childhood victimization. Findings may be used by parents, teachers, counselors, and community members to assist bullied or at-risk adolescents in developing coping methods to support their ongoing personal development.

Dexter Morgan is a serial killer, but he may not be blameworthy for his actions There are two possible explanations that could absolve Dexter of moral responsibility: (1) His inability to empathize with others makes it so that he cannot make appropriate moral decisions. Or (2) his serial killing tendencies are determined in nature, set off by events of which he had no control. I conclude that Dexter is, in fact, morally responsible for his actions because he is capable of second order desires

This research was completed to deal with many unanswered questions regarding drug use, specifically drug use in areas of rural poverty. Look at any "Faces of Meth" billboard or listen to any corporate-news program and one might assume there is a drug epidemic in rural areas. Without research, this allows the viewer to assume that poverty is the fault of the drug user who happens to live in rural places. This study sought to take a qualitative and ethnographic methodology to "embed" the researcher in this setting to see for himself whether these views were valid or invalid. The questions of functional drug use were at the forefront of the study, as was the possible relationship between drug use and rural poverty. This study transformed into a serious analysis of a network of drug users in the town of Mulch Valley. While standard sociological (and policy issues) concerns are dealt with, this thesis moves beyond such concerns. Theoretical concerns are brought into questions as new concepts, such as: cultural narrative of addiction, master sociality, slave sociality, and Derridity." "Crushing. Cheating. Changing. Am I deaf or dead? Is this constricting construction or just streets with rusty signs of something violent coming?" (Manson, 2012)

Ces travaux portent sur la commande et l’analyse de la stabilité d’un système électropneumatique constitué d’un axe linéaire commandé par deux servodistributeurs régulant le débit massique entrant dans chaque chambre de l’actionneur. La problématique générale est motivée par l’apparition d’un phénomène de redécollage sur ce système électropneumatique difficilement pris en compte par les études actuelles en automatique. Ce problème, rencontré depuis de nombreuses années, concerne toutes les commandes linéaires et non linéaires mono et multidimensionnelles étudiées au laboratoire. Il se traduit par des mouvements saccadés du vérin au voisinage de l’équilibre. Ce phénomène est dû à la présence de frottements secs et aux dynamiques des pressions dans les chambres pneumatiques de l’actionneur, qui continuent à évoluer (intégrer le débit massique entrant délivré par les servodistributeurs), même après l’équilibre mécanique. La première partie de ce mémoire propose une commande non linéaire commutée afin d’éviter le phénomène de redécollage de l’actionneur électropneumatique notamment vis-à-vis des variations de frottements secs qui peuvent à tout moment causer ce phénomène. Cette technique est finalement mise en œuvre et son efficacité est constatée. La plus grande partie de ce mémoire traite l’analyse de l’actionneur électropneumatique avec sa loi de commande commutée. La présence de frottements secs et l’application d’une loi de commande commutée nous a amené à concilier une démarche d’analyse de stabilité, en considérant une classe de systèmes commutés appelée systèmes affines par morceaux. La principale difficulté de cette démarche réside dans l’obtention de fonctions de Lyapunov adéquates, qui se transforme en un problème d’optimisation sous contraintes LMI (Linear Matrix Inequality) en utilisant la S-procédure. Afin d’analyser la stabilité d’un système PWA (PieceWise Affine), la première démarche proposée permet le calcul d’une fonction de Lyapunov quadratique par morceaux sous la forme d’un problème d’optimisation sous contraintes LMI, en imposant des conditions suffisantes de stabilité. Ces dernières permettent, contrairement aux méthodes classiques, d’assurer la convergence de trajectoires d’état non pas vers un point d’équilibre, mais vers un ensemble des points d’équilibre d’un système PWA. L’approche proposée permet aussi l’étude de la robustesse vis-à-vis des variations paramétriques dans le système. Nous proposons aussi une deuxième approche pour la construction d’un type de fonctions de Lyapunov dites polynomiales par morceaux, via l’utilisation des "sum of square" et de la "power transformation", afin d’analyser la stabilité d’un ensemble de points d’équilibre d’un système PWA, en présence de phénomènes de glissement et de variations paramétriques. Cette approche propose des conditions suffisantes moins conservatives que celles imposées par les fonctions de Lyapunov quadratique par morceaux. En effet, sur des exemples de systèmes PWA présentant de dynamiques discontinues sur les frontières entre les cellules, pouvant générer à tout moment des phénomènes de glissement, ces dernières s’avèrent inefficaces et ne permettent pas d’assurer la stabilité des systèmes PWA en présence de ces phénomènes. Par conséquent, les résultats sur la fonction de Lyapunov quadratique par morceaux sont étendus pour pouvoir calculer des fonctions de Lyapunov polynomiales par morceaux d’ordre supérieur, en résolvant un problème d’optimisation sous contraintes LMI. Ces dernières permettent de garantir des conditions plus générales et moins conservatives par rapport à celles développées dans la littérature. Ces deux approches ont été appliquées afin d’analyser la stabilité de l’ensemble des points d’équilibre du système électropneumatique, en considérant à la fois un modèle de frottements sous la forme d’une saturation et un autre sous la forme d’un relais présentant une dynamique discontinue. [...] / This work focuses on the control and stability analysis of an electro-pneumatic system, i.e. a linear pneumatic cylinder controlled by two servo valves regulating the mass flow entering each chamber of the actuator. The general problem is motivated by the appearance of stick-slip on the electro-pneumatic system, hardly taken into account by the current studies in automatic control. This problem, encountered throughout the years, concerns all mono- and multidimensional linear and non-linear controls systems studied at the laboratory. In pneumatic cylinders, the phenomenon consists in a displacement of the rod a while after it has come to a rest ; this is due to the fact that the force acting on the rod initially becomes smaller that the threshold which is necessary for a motion, and then this threshold is overcome later on. In this case, stick-slip is caused by the presence of dry friction and by the pressure dynamics in the chambers, which continue to evolve (integrating the net incoming mass flow from the servovalves) even after the rod has stopped. The first part of this thesis proposes a nonlinear switching control law in order to avoid stick-slip on pneumatic cylinder, taking into account with the variations of dry friction that may occur at any time causing this phenomenon. This technique is implemented and its effectiveness is recognized. The greatest part of this thesis deals with the stability analysis of the pneumatic cylinder with its switched control law. The presence of dry friction and the application of a switched control law requires an appropriate method for approaching the stability analysis ; this method is based on considering the closed-loop system as belonging to a class of switched systems called piecewise affine systems (PWA). The main difficulty in this approach lies in obtaining adequate Lyapunov functions for proving stability, which turns into an optimization problem under LMI constraints (Linear Matrix Inequality) using the S-procedure. In order to analyze the stability of a PWA system, a first method is proposed allowing the computation of a piecewise quadratic Lyapunov function through an optimization problem under LMI constraints. The methods takes into account, in contrast to conventional methods, that the states might converge not to a single point but to a set of equilibrium points. The proposed approach allows also the study of robustness with respect to parametric variations in the system. A second method is also proposed for the construction of a type of Lyapunov functions called piecewise polynomial, using the “sum of squares” and “power transformation” techniques. This approach proposes less conservative sufficient conditions than those imposed by the piecewise quadratic Lyapunov functions, yielding a more succesfull stability test when for PWA systems featuring sliding modes and parametric variations. In fact, on PWA systems with discontinuous dynamics (which can generate sliding phenomena), piecewise quadratic Lyapunov functions might prove ineffective to prove the stability. Therefore, the results on piecewise quadratic Lyapunov functions are extended in order to compute piecewise polynomial Lyapunov functions of higher order, by solving an optimization problem under LMI constraints. These functions are more general and allow less conservative conditions compared to those formerly developed in the literature. Both of these methods have been applied to the stability analysis of the set of equilibrium points of the pneumatic cylinder, considering first a friction model in saturation form and then a model in relay form with a discontinuous dynamics. The application of the methods is successful, i.e. the robust stability is proven under dry friction threshold variations, with possibility of sliding modes.

Cette thèse s'intéresse à l'adaptation des lois de pilotage d'un avion de transport civil aux différentes incertitudes qui peuvent affecter sa dynamique. Le procédé de pilotage adaptatif est censé fonctionner en temps réel à bord de l'avion afin d'optimiser la performance boucle fermée en fonction des conditions dans lesquelles il évolue. Les incertitudes peuvent être liées à la méconnaissance des conditions de vol (par exemple la vitesse et l'altitude), à des non-linéarités aérodynamiques inconnues ou encore à la méconnaissance du pilote aux commandes. Les procédés adaptatifs qui répondent à ces problèmes se doivent d'être performants sur l'ensemble du domaine opérationnel de l'avion en présence de perturbations réalistes. D'autres contraintes spécifiques peuvent être ajoutées en fonction du contexte (par exemple des charges limites, la stabilité aéroélastique, etc.). Plusieurs méthodes adaptatives sont testées afin d'adapter le système aux larges incertitudes qui le composent. Elles associent en général un estimateur en ligne (aussi appelé loi de mise-à-jour) à une loi de commande structurée. La synthèse de ces deux éléments peut être réalisée simultanément pour les méthodes adaptatives dites " directes ", comme par exemple le Model Reference Adaptative Control qui utilise la stabilité au sens de Lyapounov. Mais cette synthèse peut aussi être découplée pour les méthodes adaptatives dites "indirectes", ce qui offre un large choix de techniques pour chaque élément (comme les Moindres Carrés pour l'estimation de paramètres physiques incertains et la synthèse sous forme LFR pour le correcteur). Le choix de la méthode dépend fortement du contexte applicatif et des nombreuses contraintes associées. Trois applications sont au cœur de ce mémoire. Elles traitent de l'ajustement de lois de guidage à un modèle pilote inconnu, du contrôle longitudinal de non-linéarités de l'avion, et de la mise au point de lois longitudinale et latérale de pilotage manuel qui s'adaptent à des conditions de vol inconnues. Des méthodes avancées d'analyse linéaire et non-linéaire (dérivées de la µ-analyse et d'algorithmes d'optimisation) sont aussi mises en place pour valider ces systèmes sophistiqués adaptatifs en temps réel. D'une façon générale, les méthodes adaptatives indirectes ont donné le plus de satisfaction. Leur performance est aussi bonne que celle des méthodes directes, mais le fait qu'elles estiment en ligne des paramètres physiques facilite la surveillance temps réel du procédé adaptatif et sa validation. / This thesis deals with adapting flight control laws of a civil transport aircraft to various incertainties which can affect its behaviour. The adaptive flight control system is supposed to run in real time onboard the airplane so that its closed-loop performance is optimized with respect to the current conditions. These incertainties may be linked to unknown flight conditions (e.g. unknown airspeed and altitude), or unknown aerodynamics non-linearities or even unknown behaviour of the pilot in command. The adaptive schemes that are derived to answer these problems must be valid on the whole flight envelope with realistic disturbances but other additional contraints may exist depending on the context (e.g. loads limits, aeroelastic stability, etc.). To accommodate for large uncertainties on the system, adaptive methods are investigated. They usually combine an online estimator (also called an update law) with a structured flight control law. The synthesis of both elements may be simultaneous on 'direct' adaptive methods, e.g. on Model Reference Adaptive Control, using Lyapunov's stability theory. But it can also be decoupled on 'indirect' adaptive methods, giving a full spectrum of techniques for both elements (such as Least-Squares for estimating unknown physical parameters and the LFR framework for designing controllers). The choice of a specific method really depends on the application context and the related constraints.Three applications are the core of this report. They deal with adjusting guidance law to the pilot's unknown behaviour, controlling a longitudinal non-linearity, and providing manual longitudinal and lateral flight control laws which adapt to unknown flight conditions. Advanced linear and non-linear analysis techniques (based on µ-analysis or on optimization algorithms) are also applied to validated these sophisticated real-time adaptive systems. Results showed that indirect adaptive schemes were generally the most satisfactory. Their performance is similar to the one of direct schemes but as indirect methods provide physical parameter estimates, real-time monitoring and offline validation seem quite easier.

This non-experimental study examines the issues of over-representation of minorities in the criminal justice system due to drug-related incidences, race relations, and the impact such representation has on families, children, and communities. The exploration of the current criminal justice efforts against drugs is presented through a meta-analysis qualitative lens in an effort to disseminate the information on those arrested, sentenced, and subsequently incarcerated for various drug offenses. In an attempt to understand the encyclical racial disparities that promulgate the criminal justice system, the study relies on information from several key theorists to cement the discussions in the research. Qualitative data from scholastic and governmental resources will be presented from which the exploration of how drug sentencing and race may be closely related. By examining various case studies, both historical and current, the goal is to clarify the various processes on which different actions have attempted to transform social relationships and the various constraints these movements faced when trying to implement and adapt these transformations. The outcomes of this multi-layered study reveal the evolution of race relations and "identity formation" with which America attempts to change through various systematic processes. The study will examine how the implementation of governmental programs on incarceration impacts social classes and increases racial division. Three research strategies will be utilized: (1) qualitative analysis that covers racism from the media's portrayal of minorities, (2) review of the writings of theorists' addressing whether drug-related crimes or racism adds to disparity in the criminal justice system, and (3) examination of multiple case studies dealing with incarcerations' impact on minority children and communities. Data have been gathered from pre-published reports, newspapers, journals, and experiments conducted by social science theorists dealing with the new drug war and racism, and also the practices of restorative justice. This study suggests that racism is a phenomenon in the lives of every American or immigrant. Even with time and evident changes within society, racism still dominates and determines people's lives. Restoration is not inconsequential, and while various movements link social change with the governing of a new and different leader in America, this study will look at how it is possible to revisit race relations, and implement forgiveness through conflict resolution in an effort to enact systematic changes. These enactments have potential to preserve institutions and save future social infrastructure.