published_or_final_version / Sociology / Master / Master of Social Sciences

Within the Stockton community there are agencies a) whose primary purpose is treatment of juvenile offenders, or b) whose auxiliary function is the treatment of juvenile offenders . One of the working assumptions of these agencies is that if the juvenile, as a first offender or minor offender, can be diverted from the juvenile courts or even from the probation office, then the juvenile can receive more effective care and treatment. Many juvenile offenses such as truancy, or incorrigibility, or psychological problems can obviously be handled better out of court and out of jail. The purpose of this project is to investigate diversionary attempts within the Stockton community and in San Joaquin County as they apply to Stockton. This project will seek to not only identify diversionary attempts and define diversion in some of its forms, but also to produce a statement regarding the potential for city and related county agencies to achieve coordination of juvenile diversionary services.

To date, police organizations have not been rigorously analyzed by organizational scholars and most analysis of these organizations has been captured through a single construct. The purpose of this study is to develop confirmatory police organizational analysis by validating a multi-dimensional conceptual framework that explains the relationships among three constructs: environmental constraints, the design structures of police organizations, and organizational performance indicators. The modeling is deeply rooted in contingency theory, and the influence of isomorphism and institutional theory on the covariance structure model are investigated. One hundred and thirteen local police organizations from the State of Florida are included in this non-experimental, cross-sectional study to determine the direct effect of the environmental constraints on the performance of police organizations, the indirect effect of environmental constraints on the performance of police organizations via the organizational design structure of police organizations, and the direct affect of organizational design structure on performance of police organizations. For the first time, structural equation modeling and data envelopment analysis are used together to confirm the effects of the environment on police organization structure and performance. The results indicate that environmental social economic disparity indicators have a large positive effect on police resources and a medium effect on police efficiency. Propensity of crime indicators has a large negative effect on police resources, and population density has a small to medium negative effect on crime clearance. Structure has a much smaller effect on performance than the environment. The results of the efficiency analysis revealed unexpected findings. Three of the top five largest police organizations in the study scored maximum efficiency. The cause of this unexpected result is explained and confirmed in the covariance model. The study methodology and results enhances the understanding of the relationship among the constructs while subjecting environmental and police organizational data to two comprehensive analytical techniques. The policy implications and practical contributions of the study provide new knowledge and information to organizational management of police organizations. Furthermore, the study establishes a new approach to police organizational analysis and police services management research called Police Services Management Research (PSMR) that encompasses a variety of disciplines with a primary responsibility of theory building and the selection of theoretical framework.

Thesis (MPA)--Stellenbosch University, 2012. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: research study was about finding the right sourcing strategy that would work effectively for the South African Police Service (SAPS) garages. Its purpose was to help the SAPS garages deal strategically and effectively with their work load while repairing the SAPS vehicles, as the current evidence indicated that the garages might not have sufficient capacity to cope with the volume of repairs they were receiving. The research was structured as a case study design, in which personal interviews were held with SAPS garage managers, SAPS strategy drivers (Head Office) and executive managers at the City of Cape Town, Western Cape Provincial Government Fleet, and Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (PRASA). To follow up on these initial one-on-one interviews, a further questionnaire comprising similar, information-gathering questions was sent out to various SAPS garage managers to elicit more detailed information on the circumstances of their individual garages. A literature review, which formed the basis of the study, explains the sourcing strategy, and explores different sourcing options including how to make the best sourcing decision. In this study, three models of sourcing strategy were considered, and were supported by the case study of the City of Cape Town, Western Cape Provincial fleet management, and PRASA. This study has proved that what the different authors have written and recommended about in-sourcing and outsourcing can still be considered in conjunction with the current legislative and policy framework. The cost analysis was conducted in order to be able to assess which option would be the more expensive between in-sourcing and outsourcing. The fundamental finding of this research was that the SAPS garages could not handle all the work they were receiving, as they did not have the capacity, for various reasons, to deal with the volume of vehicle repairs that were coming in, and that the variety of sourcing strategies at the different garages were not effectively reducing the backlog. There was no clear sourcing strategy in place from the National office to guide the garages. From these findings, the recommendation is that the big garages should handle all the services and minor repairs including some major repairs, with the majority of the major repairs being outsourced to service providers, while the smaller garages should focus on services and minor repairs only, and outsource all major repairs. The vehicles that are not within a 30km radius of the SAPS garages must be directly outsourced to providers using the RT46 contract, or similar arrangement. Further research studies are needed regarding the demographic structure of the garages, and also regarding the effectiveness and efficiency of the actual running of the garages. A balance then needed to be found between in-sourcing and outsourcing, whilst ensuring that the garages were operating efficiently and outsourcing responsibly. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die navorsingstudie is gedoen om die effektiefste en geskikste verkrygingstrategie vir die voertuigwerkswinkels van die Suid-Afrikaanse Polisiediens (SAPD) te bepaal. Die doel was om die werkswinkels te help om strategies en effektief te werk gegewe hulle werkslading, aangesien huidige bewyse getoon het dat hulle nie voldoende kapasiteit daarvoor het nie. Die navorsing is gestruktureer as ’n gevallestudie, waartydens persoonlike onderhoude met SAPD-werkswinkelbestuurders, SAPD- strategiese drywers (Hoofkantoor), en uitvoerende bestuurders van die Stad Kaapstad, die Wes-Kaapse Provinsiale Regering-vloot en die passasier-spooragentskap van Suid-Afrika (PRASA) gevoer is. Ter opvolging van die oorspronklike individuele onderhoude is ’n verdere vraelys gebruik waarin soortgelyke vrae aan SAPD-werkswinkelbestuurders gestel is om meer inligting aangaande die toestand van hulle werkswinkels te bekom. ’n Literatuuroorsig, wat die basis gevorm het van die studie, verduidelik die verkrygingstrategie en ondersoek verskillende verkrygingsopsies, asook hoe om die beste verkrygingsbesluite te neem. In hierdie studie is drie verkrygingstrategiemodelle oorweeg, wat ondersteun is deur die gevallestudie van die Stad Kaapstad, die Wes-Kaapse Provinsiale Regering-vlootbestuur en PRASA. Die studie het bewys dat dít wat die onderskeie outeurs oor in- en uitkontraktering bevind en aanbeveel het, steeds oorweeg behoort te word, aangevul deur die bestaande wetgewing en beleidsraamwerk. Die kosteontleding is gedoen om te bevestig watter in- of uitkontrakteringsopsies die effektiefste sou wees. Die fundamentele bevinding van hierdie navorsing is dat die SAPD se voertuigwerkswinkels tans nie al die werk wat hulle ontvang, kan hanteer nie, omdat hulle om verskeie redes nie die nodige kapasiteit het om die groot aantal voertuie wat inkom, te herstel nie. Die uiteenlopende strategieë wat die onderskeie werkswinkels volg sover dit uitkontraktering betref, verminder ook nie die agterstand nie. Daar is nie ’n duidelike verkrygingstrategie van die nasionale kantoor wat riglyne aan die werkswinkels verskaf nie. Die aanbeveling na aanleiding van hierdie bevindinge is dat die groot werkswinkels al die versienings en kleiner herstelwerk, met inbegrip van sekere groot herstelwerk, moet hanteer, terwyl die kleiner werkswinkels moet fokus op versienings en kleiner herstelwerk, en alle groot herstelwerk moet uitkontrakteer. Indien voertuie buite ’n 30 km-radius van ’n SAPD-werkswinkel is, moet sodanige herstelwerk uitgekontrakteer word deur gebruik te maak van die RT46-kontrak, of ’n soortgelyke reëling. Verdere navorsingstudies is nodig oor die demografiese struktuur van die werkswinkels, asook die doelmatigheid en effektiwiteit betreffende die werklike bedryf van die werkswinkels. ’n Balans moet gevind word tussen in- en uitkontraktering, terwyl daar verseker moet word dat die werkswinkels effektief bedryf word en uitkontraktering op ’n verantwoordelike wyse geskied.

As of 2007, according to the Census Bureau, there were more than 37 million people over the age of 65 and 38.22 million people with disabilities (5 years and older). In 2008, the National Response Framework (NRF) replaced the National Response Plan (NRP). One of the criticisms that lead to this change in policy is that during Hurricane Katrina, response to a number of vulnerable populations was not effective as should have been. This thesis addresses the concern for vulnerable populations in regards to planning and preparing for emergencies by assessing their inclusion in the state emergency plans of FEMA Region IV. Vulnerable populations is defined (in this paper) as individuals living with a disability, individuals 65 years or older and individuals with combination of the two. This research is based upon the assumption that there is a need for emergency management at all levels of government for all residents. In order to assess the inclusion of specific vulnerable populations in state emergency plans this thesis will look at the policy change made in the national plans. Using a content analysis, comparative analysis of national plans and an overall analysis of FEMA Region IV States, a standard of measurement is identified and significant influences affecting state emergency management are found. The Region IV states being compared are Alabama, Georgia, Florida, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee. The claim is that the inclusiveness of state emergency plans in regards to response to vulnerable populations does not match that of the NRF. This research also suggests there are issues with the guiding documents for state emergency plans. The findings of this analysis can lead to a number of future research endeavors related to how states improve emergency preparedness and response.

M.Sc. (Psychology) / Increasing attention has over the past decade been directed at sexual abuse in the form of media exposure and the formation of specialised units for the protection of children's rights. In this manner the South African Police Service have, since the first Child Protection Unit was formed in 1986, established units country wide in an attempt to erradicate this phenomenon. An overwiew of the literature makes it apparent that there are lots of conflicting opinions pertaining to sexual molestation. Not only do researchers differ in their definitions of sexual molestation but also on the incidence, typology and ethiology thereof. Flowing from the diverse and far reaching consequences suffered by the victim coupled to the accompanied legal and ethical aspects, child molestation presents as an extremely complex phenomenon to fully address. The Child Protection Unit of the South African Police Service thus appears to be the most appropriate place for the handling of child molestation because of the law inforcement context thereof. The goal of the study was thus to identify the needs of this unit in an effort to help the unit achieve the highest possible standards of effectiveness. To realise this study a phenomenological investigative method was used in the form of a need assessment questionnaire which was sent to the Johannesburg and Pretoria units. Data was collected in the form of completed questionnaires and was evaluated and interpreted in a qualitative manner. Needs determined, amongst others, were for more extensive training in specialised areas as well as a need for the direct involvement of a social worker and a psychologist at the Child Protection Unit. The above mentioned needs in conjunction with other identified needs and criticism voiced by the respondents, formed the basis for the recommendations proposed at the end of this thesis.

El uso de redes sociales es una herramienta que ha despertado el interés de muchas instituciones públicas porque pueden ser utilizadas como un vehículo de comunicación para un público que busca estar actualizado a las tendencias digitales como son los jóvenes. La presente investigación cualitativa busca determinar la percepción de jóvenes limeños sobre la comunicación de los servicios policiales brindados en Facebook. Por ello, se entrevistó a 10 jóvenes entre los 18 a 28 años que vivan en Lima Metropolitana y 5 miembros del equipo que gestiona las redes sociales de la institución policial. Las conclusiones más resaltantes son que los jóvenes no perciben que la institución policial esté difundiendo estos servicios correctamente en su fanpage. Ellos no recuerdan los mensajes de las publicaciones, pues estos no son explícitos; tan solo rememoran el aspecto visual de las mismas. Frente al contexto de la COVID-19, durante la cual se desarrolló la presente investigación, la entidad policial tuvo la necesidad de cambiar sus contenidos humorísticos por concientizadores y preventivos en su página de Facebook. No obstante, los jóvenes no percibieron este cambio en los contenidos, pero sí son conscientes de que estos se enfocan ahora en temas relacionados a la pandemia. / The use of social networks is a tool that has aroused the interest of many public institutions because they can be used as a communication vehicle for a public that seeks to be updated to digital trends such as young people. This qualitative research seeks to determine the perception that young people from Lima have about the police services reported by the National Police of Peru on its Facebook page. Therefore, 10 young people between the ages of 18 and 28 who also live in Metropolitan Lima and 5 members of the team that manage the social networks of the police institution were interviewed. The most striking conclusions are that the perceptions of young people regarding the content about police services published on Facebook did not perceive that the police institution is disseminating these services correctly. They do not remember the messages of the publications, as these are not explicit; they only recall the visual aspect of them. Faced with the context of COVID-19, during which this investigation was developed, the police entity had the need to change its humorous content for awareness-raising and preventive on its Facebook page. However, the young people did not perceive this change in the content, but they are aware that they are now focusing on issues related to COVID-19. / Tesis

Thesis (MPA.)) -- University of Limpopo, 2020 / Refer to document

Cette recherche s’intéresse à la représentation sociale de l’itinérance chez les policiers et son influence sur leurs conduites auprès des personnes itinérantes. Depuis quelques années, on reconnaît l’importance d’optimiser et d’adapter les interventions auprès des personnes itinérantes, ainsi que de favoriser une meilleure cohabitation avec les divers acteurs sociaux, dont les policiers (ministère de la Santé et des Services sociaux [MSSS], 2014; Parazelli, 2012). La cohabitation entre les personnes en situation d’itinérance et les policiers n’étant pas toujours facile; elle ne se fait pas sans heurts et fait souvent l’objet d’attention dans les médias (Despatie, 2014; Myles, 2013; Ricard-Châtelain, 2011). Par le biais d’une méthodologie qualitative auprès de neuf policiers municipaux de la ville de Québec, l’objectif de ce mémoire était d’explorer la représentation sociale qu’ont les policiers de l’itinérance et de saisir l’influence de leur représentation sur leurs conduites auprès des personnes itinérantes. En analysant les conduites qu’ils adoptent et les facteurs qui justifient le choix de ces conduites, les résultats de la recherche suggèrent que certains thèmes associés à la représentation sociale influencent en effet les pratiques policières auprès des personnes itinérantes. Toutefois, les liens entre ces thèmes et les conduites adoptées ne sont pas si simple et plus d’une dizaine d’autres facteurs sont aussi considérés lorsqu’il est temps de justifier une conduite. Au final, il en résulte que l’intervention des policiers auprès des personnes itinérantes est une réalité complexe qui comporte plusieurs défis. D’ailleurs, les résultats de la recherche amènent à formuler certaines recommandations, telles que de procéder à l’évaluation de la portée des pratiques policières, de concerter davantage les policiers et les acteurs du milieu communautaire et de réfléchir à la pertinence de mettre sur pied une équipe mixte d’intervention.

Subjective career success has been the focus of research for a number of years. The term refers to the individual’s personal perception of how successful he/she is in a career. In many qualitative studies subjective career success is found to be a multi-dimensional construct. Although there are quantitative instruments that measure subjective career success, they do not measure the construct on multiple dimensions. The first objective of this study was to determine the validity and reliability of two existing multi-dimensional instruments that measure subjective career success, especially in the South African context. These are the Perceived Career Success Scale (Gattiker & Larwood, 1986) and the Life-success Measures Scale (Parker & Chusmir, 1992). The second objective was to determine which predictors can be found for subjective career success. Literature differentiates between three broad categories of variables, namely demographical (gender, language group, marital status and age), human capital (job tenure, level of education and career planning) and organisational variables (perceived organisational support and training, and development opportunities). A convenience sample of 754 personnel from the South African Police Service was taken at stations and training colleges in the Free State, South Africa. A measuring battery that assesses subjective career success was used. This entailed the Perceived Career Success Scale as well as the Life-success Measures Scale. In addition, questions were used to ascertain the three types of variables demographic (gender, language group, marital status and age), human capital (job tenure, level of education and career planning) and organisational variables (perceived organisational support and training and development opportunities). The following statistical analyses were done to analyse the data: descriptive and inferential statistics, Cronbach’s alpha coefficients, product-moment correlations, confirmatory factor analysis and linear regression analysis. The results of these analyses indicate that subjective career success is indeed a multi-dimensional construct. Three dimensions (job success, interpersonal success and non-organisational success) of the Perceived Career Success Scale (Gattiker & Larwood, 1986) could be established. These dimensions yielded good reliability, but the validity remained problematic. In contrast, the Life-success Measures Scale (Parker & Chusmir, 1992) yielded four dimensions (security, social contribution, professional fulfilment and personal fulfilment). The psychometric properties of these dimensions were acceptable and showed to be reliable and valid. In addition, various demographic, human capital and organisational variables were found to be predictors of subjective career success. Career planning, training and developmental opportunities, as well as perceived organisational support, explained the most variance. Various recommendations were made for the context of the South African Police Service, and also for future research. The organisation is advised to apply the results from this study to adjust policies and practices in such a way that employees will experience higher levels of subjective career success. Furthermore, career discussions may be held in order to enhance opportunities for career planning and provide opportunities for relevant training and development that are aligned to the business drive of the organisation. Interventions that will increase perceived organisational support and congenial relationships could be implemented and maintained. More research on the two subjective career success measures is needed, in order to 1) verify the validity of the Perceived Career Success Scale and 2) to apply it and the Life-success Measures Scale to other sectors and industries. It is also recommended that a more heterogeneous sample be utilised as well as longitudinal research designs in future research studies relating to subjective career success. / MCom (Industrial Psychology), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2014