Justice: Recent submissions

Now showing items 21-24 of 24

    • A historical review of forensic science in law enforcement: implications for the enhancements of forensic science within the State of Alaska
      Pomeroy, Shasta (2017)
      According to the 2015 census records presented on the State of Alaska website, Alaska has a population of 737,625 residents. The state of Alaska spans 586,412 square miles (State of Alaska, 2016, 1). With such a vast state, the need for enough law enforcement services is exceedingly important. The Alaskan 2013 Uniform Crime Report (UCR) asserts that there are 1,331 law enforcement officers within the state. Alaskan law enforcement officers have to conduct crime scene evidence collection and analysis along with other necessary tasks such as securing the crime scene, detaining suspects, and rendering aid to victims. With only the Alaska State Troopers, local law enforcement agencies, and the Alaska State Crime Laboratory in the state of Alaska assessing crime scenes, it is the purpose of this research to document the need for more on-scene forensic science services in Alaska. This research will conclude with the proposal of implementation of dedicated on-scene forensic services provided by non-sworn on-scene technicians within the current Alaskan law enforcement structure. This program will allow for a natural expansion of forensic science services in Alaska.

    • Changing police culture: raising awareness of the importance of mental health
      Dombroski, Mary; Daku, Mike; Duke, J. Robert; May, Jeff; Boldt, Frank (2017-08)
      The suicide rate involving police officers has produced alarming statistics for decades. Until recently, however, little has been done to prevent suicide in law enforcement and even fewer efforts have been made to change the root of the problem. This paper reviews why a law enforcement officer may choose to take their life, looks at preexisting programs and resources that departments can choose to embrace, and supplies departments with a new approach to destigmatizing suicide within the police culture starting at the academy level.

    • Bridging the gap between police and citizens: what we know, what we've done, and what can be done
      Colley, Melvin; Daku, Michael J.; May, Jeffrey D.; Duke, J. Rob; Boldt, Frank D. (2017-08)
      There is a long history of distrust between police and citizens and there have been no meaningful and sustained steps to correct this situation. Death and injuries are sustained by citizens and police, but still there has not been a real attempt to prevent this occurring because there is no trust between police and citizens and this lack of trust has created a rift or gap between police and citizens and this projects aim is to address the gap. Research into what causing damage and finding a way to repair the damaged relationship between police and citizens by way of finding approaches that tend to lead to trust between groups of people. Communication, a better ethics base for police, training and education, restorative justice, media, and the studying of social theories will help find a way to repair the damage. A collaboration of all of the aforementioned categories will tend to help bridge the gap between police and citizens. It is believed that by addressing the issues and the roots of the problems between police and citizens, a new relationship built on trust will emerge. By having a more trusting relationship there will be less harm caused to police and citizens.

    • The limitations of service members' constitutional rights
      Leonard, Dene Ray (2003-12)
      This thesis reviews the constitutional rights of service members and how they are limited by the military. These affected rights include the First Amendment's rights to free speech, religious exercise and the ability to petition the government for redress of grievances; the Fifth Amendment's due process clause; and the Sixth Amendment's right to a jury of one's peers. The discussion section of this thesis argues two justifications used by the military for limiting service members' rights. The first justification is in support of good order, discipline and morale. The second justification is in support of uniformity. The latter discussion also identifies the U.S. Supreme Court's treatment of the military as a separate community and how the military is guided by a different standard. To support the separate community justification the U.S. Supreme Court has deferred most of its rulings on the rights of service members back to military leaders. At the conclusion of the discussion section an application of previous U.S. Supreme Court cases and military court cases is used to anticipate the future of the military's body art policy.