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THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE TRIPM AND SELF-REPORT AND INTERVIEW-RATED MEASURES OF SECTION III ANTISOCIAL PERSONALITY DISORDER TRAITS
Get PDFThe Triarchic Psychopathy Measure (TriPM) was developed to measure the triarchic model of psychopathy. The triarchic model is comprised of Meanness (callousness, manipulation of others), Boldness (low anxiety, social dominance), and Disinhibition (difficulties regulating behavior). Since the publication of the Alternative Model for Personality Disorders (AMPD), research has examined the convergence of the triarchic traits with the AMPD’s Antisocial Personality Disorder (ASPD) and Psychopathy Specifier (PS) facets using largely self-report measures. The current study examines the relationship between the TriPM and self-report and interview-rated Criterion A and Criterion B ASPD and PS facets in a multimethod approach. A sample of 221 undergraduates were recruited from a southern public university in the United States. Participants completed self-report measures of triarchic psychopathy and AMPD Criterion A and B. Evaluators completed the SCID-5-AMPD Module II interview and rated the DSM-5-TR’s LPFS. Correlation coefficients were computed to examine the connection between triarchic traits and AMPD measures. Generally, across both methods, Meanness and Disinhibition correlated positively with ASPD facets and Boldness correlated positively with PS facets and select ASPD facets. Meanness and Disinhibition were related to poorer personality functioning, while Boldness displayed mixed results across both methods. Future studies should examine this relationship with other populations (e.g., clinical, forensic)
Navigating the Culture: Jail Staff Perspectives on Burnout, Substance Use, and Available Treatment Services
Get PDFThe demanding nature of correctional work exposes jail employees to a range of occupational stressors, such as managing high-risk populations, dealing with interpersonal conflicts, responding to violence, and experiencing chronic understaffing. These stressors often contribute to mental health challenges such as anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder, while also increasing the likelihood of substance use/misuse as a coping mechanism. Although research primarily focuses on custodial staff, this study expands the focus to include non-custodial staff, offering a more comprehensive understanding of burnout and substance challenges among the jail workforce. Through in-depth interviews with 38 staff members, this study explores how both custodial and non-custodial jail staff perceive and respond to substance use within correctional institutions. The study also examines staff perceptions of institutional
support services aimed at addressing substance use, mental health, and other work-related challenges. The findings highlight the impact of substance use on the staff and the
workplace, the accessibility and effectiveness of the resources currently offered by their departments, and the barriers staff face if/when seeking help. By examining these key perceptions and experiences, this study provides valuable insight into how organizational experiences and institutional resources potentially influence staff-well-being and the overall functionality of correctional facilities, while also offering some recommendations for improving jail work and staff well-being
Evidence for Hippo Pathway Inhibition in Pre-Cachexic and Cachexic Muscles in a Drosophila Tumor Model
Get PDFThis study seeks to determine if the Hippo signaling pathway is inactivated during and prior to muscle wasting in a model of cancer cachexia. Here we leverage the advantages of Drosophila melanogaster to permit high resolution analysis of the initial onset mechanisms for tumor induced cachexia. Our preliminary analysis of a published bulk transcriptome of muscles from tumor-bearing larval carcasses suggests that the Hippo signaling pathway is an influential regulator of changes in gene expression in cachexic muscle. Notably, we identified that the Hippo pathway effector transcription factor Scalloped (Sd) is a predicted key regulator of the differentially expressed genes. This is potentially relevant to muscle physiology in mammalian systems. The partner of Sd, Yorkie (Yki), is the ortholog of the mammalian protein Yap. In mouse models, Yap has been shown to paradoxically promote muscle hypertrophy when hyperactivated acutely and muscle wasting when activated chronically, respectively. Our investigation into pre-cachexic larval muscles has highlighted several key trends: there is a noticeable trend toward increased nuclear size and muscle length, indicative of early morphological changes. Additionally, Yorkie (Yki) activity shows a modest increase during both pre-cachexic and cachexic stages of muscle wasting, suggesting a nuanced role in muscle cell physiology that warrants further investigation. We hypothesize that different mechanisms may be responsible for activating Yki, which could be critical for understanding its role in muscle health and disease. Moreover, the activation of Yki alone has proven sufficient to induce changes in myosin heavy chain (Mhc) expression and nuclear morphology, aligning with "hypertrophic" phenotypes as defined in existing literature. These findings set the stage for future studies aimed at unraveling the complex interplay of molecular pathways influencing muscle adaptation and degeneration in cachexia
Expanding Medicaid: A Simple Way to Assist Police Agencies with Rising Mental Health-Related Calls
Get PDFThis paper explores the intersection of law enforcement, mental health care, and Medicaid expansion, focusing on Texas' challenges in addressing mental health crises and the criminalization of mental illness. The deinstitutionalization movement and limited access to mental health care have left police agencies as default responders to mental health emergencies, straining resources and leading to poor outcomes for individuals in crisis. Evidence from Medicaid expansion in other states highlights significant benefits, including reduced mental health-related arrests, lower jail populations, and improved access to care. Despite these advantages, Texas remains resistant to Medicaid expansion due to political, fiscal, and ideological concerns. This resistance exacerbates the state’s already critical mental health care deficiencies and places an undue burden on law enforcement and local governments. The paper argues that expanding Medicaid in Texas would reduce police involvement in mental health crises, decrease jail populations, and create cost savings by leveraging federal funding and stimulating economic growth. Policymakers are urged to prioritize Medicaid expansion as a fiscally responsible and humane solution to address the state’s mental health crisis and improve public safety.LEMI
Body-Worn Cameras
Get PDFThe use of body-worn cameras by law enforcement has emerged as a pivotal tool in enhancing transparency, accountability, and trust between police officers and the communities they serve. Supporters argue that body-worn cameras can lead to improved conduct among officers. Knowing their actions are being recorded may deter misconduct and encourage conformity to proper protocols. The same can be said for the people they encounter. Furthermore, the presence of body-worn cameras can increase public trust in law enforcement, as the community is assured that their interactions with police are being transparently monitored. Transparency is an important benefit of body-worn cameras, offering a clear account of events during police interactions with the public. This can help resolve allegations of misconduct, as video evidence can clarify situations that might otherwise rely solely on conflicting testimonies and lack of evidence. However, the implementation of body-worn cameras is not without challenges. One important factor is the cost associated with purchasing, maintaining, and storing the data captured by this tool. The cost can be significant, especially for smaller police departments with limited budgets. Another concern centers around privacy and rights infringements. Opposers argue that surveillance can infringe upon the privacy of both officers and civilians, particularly in situations such as inside homes or during interactions with vulnerable populations. In conclusion, all governing bodies should allow law enforcement agencies to utilize body-worn cameras.LEMI
Death Penalty as a Deterrent to Crime in the United States
Get PDFThough many nations have been using the death sentence for several hundreds of years, in the United States of America, it dates to the colonial American era. Before being formally adopted into law, there has been much debate over the notion that capital punishment is unconstitutional. There has been discussion on whether the application of capital punishment has deterred violent crime in this nation since it was adopted into legislation. This white paper will examine both sides of the debate applying different concepts from both proponents of and opponents of capital punishment. The theory that capital punishment gives a sense of justice and closure to the families of innocent victims killed needlessly by criminals will be covered in this work. On the other side of the debate, this article will also address the belief of some anti-capital punishment advocates who claim that executing someone found guilty of violent crimes and condemned to death is cruel, unfair, and a waste of human life. Arguments claiming race, color, and ethnicity prejudices will be compared in this study. Arguments will also be presented of cases when the court sentenced a defendant to death when they were innocent, but, subsequently, had their convictions overturned.LEMI
School Design and Security
Get PDFSchool shootings have been a spotlight in public concern since the tragedy at Columbine High School. Since then, research has been conducted and plans put into action to reduce the number of school shootings, and the number of victims related to those shootings. Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) schools have been a significant help but are not enough to completely stop the ever-looming threat of a school shooting. Law enforcement should be involved in the planning and design of schools to help further reduce or possibly eliminate school shootings. This paper aims to explore law enforcement involvement in school design, and the effects of CPTED designs on school shootings, as well as student and staff perceptions of safety in school.LEMI
Improving Legitimacy and Public Perception
Get PDFModern policing is amid a pressing crisis of legitimacy with public confidence plummeting. This urgent situation demands immediate and decisive action. While external factors such as news reporting have played a role, the root of the problem lies in a lack of training and outdated police practices that prioritize crime-fighting over community needs. In the fast-paced, technologically advanced world, police executives must act swiftly to bridge the gaps that have been widening. The key to a more effective law enforcement organization in this context is openness, transparency, legitimacy, and public confidence. The President's Task Force on 21st Century Policing: Final Report (2015) has been a guiding light for police agencies, offering a comprehensive roadmap to enhance policing through a community-oriented approach. This approach, which prioritizes community trust, presents its own set of challenges. However, it is the responsibility and power of police agencies to not just face but rise to these challenges and actively work towards improving community relations. By fostering better communication and engagement, agencies can play a pivotal and empowering role in rebuilding the trust that has been lost. Police agencies should implement policies that promote and enhance legitimacy through use-of-force policies, transparency, training, and procedural justice. Despite challenges, such as financial burdens, the benefits of these policies are significant and promising. Moreover, budget constraints are a cop-out excuse since state and federal grants are available to implement initiatives that foster better community relations. These policies, like police training, albeit costly, reduce liability, thereby enhancing legitimacy and improving public trust. The potential benefits of these policies far outweigh the initial costs.LEMI
Black Swan Events: Protecting Critical Infrastructure from “Unknown Unknowns”
No full textAs defined by Nassim Nicholas Taleb, a “Black Swan” is an extremely rare but highly impactful event. Reliance on prior knowledge to conclude that a Black Swan event could never occur is a logical fallacy, and when such an event does happen human nature inclines us to devise a reasonable post-hoc explanation that makes it seem more predictable in hindsight. Because Black Swans are so uncommon and their features are unknowable, preparing for them may be neither rational nor efficient; yet, ignoring them entirely could prove catastrophic. As a result, Black Swans present a conundrum for risk management and the protection of critical infrastructure. Some social science research has examined extremely rare events and people’s responses to them, but conventional approaches to understanding patterns in human behavior often break down when applied in this context. This report aims to: (1) define the concept of Black Swans in theoretical terms, highlighting several prominent examples of high-impact/low-probability threats to critical infrastructure (e.g., terrorist attacks, natural disasters, and pandemics); (2) briefly review the existing research from several social science disciplines that has focused on rare events; and (3) discuss some proposed strategies for reducing uncertainty in decision-making and preventing cascading failures
Perceptions of Social Class Identity and Family Social Capital Among University Students
Get PDFAmerican universities often reflect middle- and upper-class norms. Like ethnic bicultural individuals, college students coming from low-income backgrounds experience a shift in cultural contexts, which enables them to be identified as bicultural. The Social Class Bicultural Identity Integration (SES-BII) framework suggests that acculturation to middle-class culture is crucial for the success of both first generation (FG) and continuing generation (CG) college students. While FG students are less likely to come from middle and upper social classes, family social capital could be a potential mitigating factor for acculturative stress and a facilitator for integration into the higher education environment particularly for FG students. OBJECTIVE: The main objective was to investigate the influence of family social capital on the FG and CG students’ SES-BII. It was hypothesized that family social capital will be a positive predictor of the variation in SES-BII. Validating the Family Social Capital Questionnaire (FSCQ) in English was the other objective, along with the comparative analysis of family social capital and SES-BII of freshmen who reported doubts about their success in college. PARTICIPANTS: In total, 545 undergraduate students were recruited, the sample size changed across analyses due to missing values and SES-BII being collected from only low-income students. For the main hypothesis testing, 57.3 % of participants reported to be FG (n =143). The mean age of the participants was 20.31 with 77.2% female. The sample was diverse: 28.9% White, 32.9% Hispanic American, 30.9% Black or African American, 11.7% other. METHOD: Within a cross-sectional design, SES-BII scale and the FSCQ-English (FSCQ-E) were administered via a secure online platform. Demographic information and doubts about success in college were also among the data collected. RESULTS AND IMPLICATIONS: Family social capital was shown to be a significant predictor of the variation in SES-BII (β = .268), regardless of FG status. FSCQ-E was validated to have six factors. The implications can serve to bring further interest and research surrounding student family social capital, SES-BII, and its influences on their success in higher education. Additionally, the results can inform interventions and produce resources for diverse populations of students acculturating to higher education