Towards a socio-technical understanding of discretion: a case study of Taser and police use of force

This is the final version. Available on open access from Taylor & Francis via the DOI in this recordData access statement: Further information on the data used and findings of this study may be available on request from the corresponding author. The data are not publicly available due to their containing information that could compromise the privacy of research participants.Using a case study of the ‘less lethal’ electric-shock weapon the Taser in English and Welsh policing, this article argues that the notion of discretion as an arena in which police officers are able to exercise free will can be overstated. Drawing on insights from Science and Technology Studies, it is argued that discretionary decisions may well be structured not only by the human agency but also by the presence and agency of nonhumans and the socio-technical networks within which they are embedded. Whilst existing work has recognised the human and societal influences impacting officer decision making, this article draws on Science and Technology Studies to argue there are merits to a distinctly socio-technical approach to discretion. Broader implications for discretion by police officers and other ‘street level bureaucrats’, for STS and criminology and for policies around Taser are also discussed.Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC

‘Taser, Taser’! Exploring factors associated with police use of Taser in England and Wales

This is the author accepted manuscript. The final version is available on open access from Taylor & Francis via the DOI in this recordPolice use of Taser in England and Wales has received little academic attention, despite being the topic of much public controversy. Much of our knowledge comes from the United States of America, but these findings are based on a small number of data sets and little testing has been done to see whether such findings apply internationally. This article uses a novel dataset from a police agency in England and Wales, and pilots new covariates, to conduct a multivariate analysis of factors associated with Taser use: the first time such analysis has been conducted outside of North America. This analysis also provides an ideal opportunity to test long-standing theoretical debates about whether police use of force is affected by ‘who the citizen is’, as the conflict approach would predict, or ‘what the citizen does’, in keeping with the consensus tradition. Variables from both the former (namely gender and mental health issues) and the latter category (including presence or use of a weapon) were found to be statistically significant after the inclusion of controls. The results highlight limitations to the application of the American based literature internationally and demonstrate stronger support for consensus than conflict theories. They also highlight that, under certain conditions, it may be appropriate for officers to take civilian characteristics into account when making use of force decisions.Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC

Strategic Community Engagement as Perceived by Five Superintendents

In these challenging times with school districts facing mandates for accountability, they can only accomplish these ambitious long-term mandates by engaging the greater community. Thus, any superintendent who is planning on improving student academic achievement and being employed in the district long-term will find it imperative to engage the community and develop community partnerships. This study utilized interviewing, a qualitative methodology, to gain insight into how five superintendents effectively engaged their communities. Findings revealed five effective strategies and actions for success: embracing community values, partnering with community organizations, building trust internally and externally, developing a systems approach to communication, and engaging the community strategically. While much has been written and said about the need and importance of engaging the community to lift and support student academic achievement, this study provides the how to to make it happen

NEW YORK COURT OF APPEALS CASE COMPILATIONS: GREENFIELD V. PHILLES RECORDS, INC.

GREENFIELD V. PHILLES RECORDS, INC. (Decided October 17, 2002

Canada-U.S. Trade Options: A View from the Canadian Side

trade--United States and Canad

Body Worn Cameras, use of force and police-civilian interactions: Capturing complexities, documenting the unexpected, and learning lessons

Editorial CommentThis is the author accepted manuscript. The final version is available from Oxford University Press via the DOI in this record.This special issue seeks to present a diversity of research and commentary on a promising yet highly controversial issue in policing: the use of police body-worn cameras (BWCs). [...

Gambling problems and help-seeking in serving United Kingdom military personnel: a qualitative study

Introduction In military personnel are vulnerable to gambling problems, yet many are reluctant to seek help. The aim of the current study was to explore the lived experience of problem gambling and help-seeking among serving members of the United Kingdom Armed Forces. Methods Seventeen individuals from a larger, cross-sectional survey of gambling and wellbeing in the Royal Air Force (RAF) completed semi-structured interviews. Interview questions focused on personal experiences, the context of the RAF and its influence, knowledge and experiences of treatment and support services, and the impact of COVID-19. Results Reflexive thematic analysis revealed four themes: (1) harmful and protective occupational factors; (2) socio-cultural and personal influences; (3) organizational attitudes toward mental health and help-seeking, and (4) current support pathways and provision. Discussion Findings also indicated that gambling and alcohol use are common within the RAF, and that personnel are actively coping with mental health challenges

Dairy Farm Management Business Summary New York State 2015

R.B. 2016-01Business and financial records for 2015 from 168 New York dairy farm businesses are summarized and analyzed. This analysis uses cash accounting with accrual adjustments to measure farm profitability, financial performance, and costs of producing milk. Traditional methods of analyzing dairy farm businesses are combined with evaluation techniques that show the relationship between good management performance and financial success. The farms in the project averaged 761 cows per farm and 25,461 pounds of milk sold per cow, which represent above average size and cow productivity for New York dairy farms. An average New York dairy has a herd size per farm of 128 according to the New York Agricultural Statistics Service. The New York Agricultural Statistics Service reports 22,816 pounds of milk production per cow for New York. Net farm income excluding appreciation, which is the return to the operator's labor, management, capital, and other unpaid family labor, averaged $179,118 per farm. The rate of return to all capital invested in the farm business including appreciation averaged 3.85 percent. Differences in profitability between farms continue to widen. Average net farm income excluding appreciation of the top 10 percent of farms was$764,219, while the lowest 10 percent was $-140,931. Rates of return on equity with appreciation ranged from positive 11 percent to negative 6 percent for the highest decile and the lowest decile of farms, respectively. Large freestall farms averaged the highest milk output per cow and per worker, and the lowest total cost of production. In 2015 the mid sized farms, ranging from 201 to 500 cows, averaged the highest returns to labor, management and capital. Farms milking three times a day (3X) were larger, produced more milk per cow and had higher net farm incomes in 2015 than herds milking two times per day (2X). Operating costs per hundredweight of milk were$0.32 per hundredweight lower for 3X than 2X milking herds, while output per cow was 4,809 pounds higher. Farms adopting intensive grazing generally produced less milk per cow than non-grazing farms; in 2015 however they averaged higher labor and management incomes per operator than similar sized non-grazing farms. One should not conclude that adoption of these technologies alone were responsible for differences in performance