Introduction. Understanding hate crime: research, policy and practice

In 2013, a group of scholars from Europe and North America came together to form the International Network for Hate Studies (INHS). The key aims of the network included bridging gaps between academics and policy makers/practitioners in the field, and "internationalizing" our understanding of hate crime generally. In the spring of 2014, INHS held its inaugural conference at the University of Sussex in Brighton, the United Kingdom. In this special edition of Criminal Justice Policy Review (CJPR), we bring together expanded versions of four of the keynote speeches from that conference. In distinct ways, each speaks to the key themes noted above, as this brief introduction will illustrate

In Pursuit of Affordable Health Care: On the Ground Lessons From Families in Massachusetts

Based on focus group discussions, compares the coverage and healthcare costs of families with employer-sponsored insurance and those without after the state's 2006 healthcare reform. Draws lessons on eligibility rules, enrollment procedures, and outreach

African Security Challenges: Now and Over the Horizon, Improving African Security Through the Use of Non/Less-Than-Lethal Force: Challenges, Issues, and Approaches

Defense Threat Reduction Agency Advanced Systems and Concepts Office Report Number ASCO 2010-010 DTRA01-03-D-0017, Task Order 0018-08-0

A PHENOMENOLOGICAL INQUIRY INTO VISION LOSS: INVESTIGATING THE LIVED EXPERIENCES OF ADVENTITIOUSLY BLINDED ADULTS

The purpose of this study was to share the lived experiences of four adventitiously blinded individuals. The researcher interviewed participants regarding the events surrounding their vision loss. The researcher used a descriptive phenomenological method to analyze the results. Through analysis, seven themes emerged as essential experiences for experiencing adventitious vision loss: Medical Dysfunction, Others’ Reactions, Ancillary Losses, Rehabilitation, Sensory Enhancements, Benefits of Vision Loss, and Participants’ Advice. The study indicated that participants’ experiences are influenced by how others in society understand blindness. Suggestions included providing a greater awareness to the public for blindness, its effects, and its available rehabilitation options

Women and the Superintendency

The purpose of this study was to determine whether past and present female superintendents in Colorado felt their career paths were gendered. In addition, what strategies they used to navigate their experiences were examined. A qualitative multi-case study design was used to structure this study. A social constructionism philosophy as described by Crotty (2003) guided the study. The multi-case design and epistemology support collecting multiple experiences within a phenomenon (Crotty, 2003). Participants were selected through purposeful snowball sampling. The community of female superintendents in Colorado is small and connected. This study included four retired female superintendents and five who are still currently serving in the role in Colorado. Qualitative data were drawn from three different resources. Interview transcripts, follow-up questions, and newspaper and website publications were gathered, analyzed, and coded for major themes. The data analysis suggested that female superintendents in Colorado have gendered experiences within their path towards and service within the superintendency. The findings regarding whether their experiences were gendered included themes of discrimination, gendered leadership expectations, and what motivated these nine women to pursue the superintendency. The first two were significant challenges for the women. To help navigate their way to the top, the nine women employed various strategies, including hard work, collaboration, and maintaining a strong support system. The participants felt as though they had to work harder to be noticed and had to do others\u27 dirty work at times. They relied heavily on collaborative working relationships with others, and they discussed the need to have a supportive team when reaching the top. The study has significance in helping aspiring female leaders understand the experiences and strategies of these nine female superintendents in Colorado who successfully attained the role that other women find difficult to reach. In Colorado, only about 30% of school district superintendents are female even though women make up the majority of the workforce in education (Carli & Eagly, 2016; CASE contact list; Fitzsimmons & Callan, 2016)

Online Graduates in Clinical Laboratory Sciences: Are They Prepared for the Workplace?

Online programs are increasing in the field of clinical laboratory sciences (CLS), however there is limited research regarding how well prepared online CLS program graduates are for the workplace, given that the field is highly hands-on skills based. Prior research suggests that online CLS graduates perform as well as their traditional graduate counterparts on national registry examinations, however, there is no information on their job preparedness and performance in the workplace. A qualitative multi-site case study was performed exploring the job preparedness of clinical laboratory science (CLS) professionals with online degrees in both the Associate in Applied Science in Medical Laboratory Technology (MLT) and the Bachelor of Science in Medical Technology or Medical Laboratory Science (MT or MLS). Data collection involved interviews of laboratory managers, supervisors, educators, and online graduates in four hospital cases and two higher education online programs that provided employees to the hospitals. Interviews of participants were conducted to gain their perceptions of the preparedness and performance online education provides new graduates for the laboratory workforce. Four salient themes emerged from the findings, the first theme regarded participants’ prior experiences with online education. The amount, and the quality, of the experience participants had with online education was related to their perceptions – the more experience, and the better the quality of the experience, the more positive the perception of online graduates. The second theme regarded the nature of online programs and concerns about the lack of handson activities graduates had during their degree programs. The third theme was the importance of online program quality and reputation. Finally, the influence of job market conditions on hospital hiring practices of CLS graduates, online or otherwise, was the fourth theme. Of the four themes, some crossed over MLT and MLS- level education, and others pertained only to MLT or MLS-level education. The implications of these findings for future research for laboratory professionals, and CLS education administrators are included that pertain to hiring practices of online CLS graduates and CLS online education program design

Computation of maximum gust loads in nonlinear aircraft using a new method based on the matched filter approach and numerical optimization

Time-correlated gust loads are time histories of two or more load quantities due to the same disturbance time history. Time correlation provides knowledge of the value (magnitude and sign) of one load when another is maximum. At least two analysis methods have been identified that are capable of computing maximized time-correlated gust loads for linear aircraft. Both methods solve for the unit-energy gust profile (gust velocity as a function of time) that produces the maximum load at a given location on a linear airplane. Time-correlated gust loads are obtained by re-applying this gust profile to the airplane and computing multiple simultaneous load responses. Such time histories are physically realizable and may be applied to aircraft structures. Within the past several years there has been much interest in obtaining a practical analysis method which is capable of solving the analogous problem for nonlinear aircraft. Such an analysis method has been the focus of an international committee of gust loads specialists formed by the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration and was the topic of a panel discussion at the Gust and Buffet Loads session at the 1989 SDM Conference in Mobile, Alabama. The kinds of nonlinearities common on modern transport aircraft are indicated. The Statical Discrete Gust method is capable of being, but so far has not been, applied to nonlinear aircraft. To make the method practical for nonlinear applications, a search procedure is essential. Another method is based on Matched Filter Theory and, in its current form, is applicable to linear systems only. The purpose here is to present the status of an attempt to extend the matched filter approach to nonlinear systems. The extension uses Matched Filter Theory as a starting point and then employs a constrained optimization algorithm to attack the nonlinear problem

CULTURAL HUMILITY: RACIAL DISPARITY AND DISPROPORTIONALITY HOW IT RELATES TO CHILD WELFARE AND MANDATED REPORTER TRAINING AND PREPAREDNESS

The research problem was mandated reporters’ in a public assistance setting and child welfare social workers’ perception of cultural humility and cultural training. The research proposed that the lack of cultural humility training for both mandated reporters in public social service sectors and child welfare social workers has an impact of on the disparity and disproportionality in child welfare cases. A critical theory approach was adopted, and qualitative data was collected via face-to-face interviews. A snowball sampling strategy was used to select study participants. Study findings suggested that there is a cultural humility training provided to child welfare social workers, but it may lack substance and frequency, leaving the social workers feeling disengaged with their clients and community networks. The study also found that there is no training available to mandated reporters in public social services on cultural preparedness and awareness. This raises issues and implications for services to the clients. It is also suggested there may be a connection between the mandated reporter’s hesitation when igniting their responsibility as a mandated reporter to report suspected abuse and their level of preparedness and understanding of cultural humility. All information found through the interviews and the common themes have been shared with both mandated reporters in a public social service setting and child welfare social workers encouraging them to act and advocate for additional training to improve practice and service. Copies of the research data will be made available to all Southern California inland counties to raise awareness of the current concerns. Suggestions are to be given to these inland counties regarding additional trainings and cultural humility and cultural awareness practices