Comprehensive Policy Reform Research Articles

The Future of Children in the Criminal Justice System: Restorative or Retributive Approach

The future of children within criminal justice systems raises fundamental questions about the best approach to both punishment and rehabilitation. This paper explores the competing paradigms of restorative and retributive justice, examining their impact on child offenders. Restorative justice focuses on rehabilitation, reconciliation, and reintegration into society, while retributive justice emphasizes punishment proportionate to the crime. Through an analysis of global case studies, legal frameworks, and criminological theories, this study assesses the effectiveness of each approach. It argues that restorative justice, though underutilized, offers more promising outcomes for reducing recidivism among child offenders, while retributive measures often fail to address the root causes of juvenile delinquency. The paper concludes by recommending a shift towards a more restorative model in juvenile justice systems, emphasizing the need for comprehensive policy reform to prioritize the long-term welfare of child offenders.

Potensi Inovasi Indonesia di Tengah Bonus Demografi: Menjawab Tantangan Global

Indonesia’s demographic bonus, marked by a large working-age population, offers significant potential to drive economic growth and innovation. However, despite this demographic advantage, Indonesia faces challenges in workforce quality, investment in research and development (R&D), and technological infrastructure. According to the Global Innovation Index 2023, Indonesia ranks 62nd out of 132 countries in innovation. The low proportion of skilled workers and the lack of formal training programs within companies exacerbate the innovation gap. To fully leverage its demographic potential, Indonesia needs comprehensive policy reforms in education and R&D, increased investment in human capital, and strengthened technological infrastructure. Without these improvements, the demographic bonus risks turning into a long-term burden rather than a catalyst for innovation and economic growth.

Adolescent mental health services in West Africa: a comparative analysis of Burkina Faso, Ghana, and Niger

BackgroundAdolescent mental health (AMH) is a critical issue worldwide, particularly in West Africa, where it is intensified by socio-economic, cultural, and security challenges. Insecurity and the presence of mining sites expose adolescents to hazardous environments, substance abuse, and adulterated alcohol, further aggravating their mental health. Despite these severe issues, research on AMH in this region remains limited. This study aims to analyze the provision of AMH services in Burkina Faso, Ghana, and Niger, highlighting the unique challenges these countries face within the broader West African healthcare context.MethodsThe study adopted a multi-stage, stratified sampling design to collect data from primary healthcare centers (PHCs) in the three countries. Using STATA.17, Descriptive analysis was conducted on the data related to availability of AMH services, types of mental health disorders treated, resources available, and OPD attendance rates. The analysis also incorporated factors such as the rural-urban divide and the presence of national guidelines for AMH services.ResultsThe findings reveal a significant shortfall in the provision of AMH services across the region, with less than 30% of PHCs across all the countries offering these services. The study also highlights a pronounced rural-urban disparity in AMH service availability, a general absence of national guidelines for AMH care, and low OPD attendance rates.ConclusionThe study highlights the urgent need for comprehensive policy reform and targeted interventions to enhance AMH services in West Africa. Key policy reforms should include the development and implementation of national guidelines for AMH care and integration of AMH services into primary healthcare. Additionally, efforts should focus on capacity building through the training of mental health professionals, increasing public awareness to reduce stigma, and ensuring equitable resource allocation across rural and urban areas. Improving AMH care is essential not only for the well-being of adolescents but also for driving broader socio-economic development in the region.

Free and Compulsory Education as Fundamental Right: A Critical Analysis of Article 25-A of Constitution of Islamic Republic of Pakistan, 1973

Article 25-A of the Pakistani Constitution, introduced in 2010, is a landmark provision that establishes free and compulsory education as a fundamental right for all children between the ages of five and sixteen. This article signifies Pakistan's commitment to providing equitable educational opportunities, regardless of geographical location, gender, or socioeconomic background. While it has led to increased enrolment and awareness, there remain significant challenges related to educational quality, infrastructure, and teacher training. Socioeconomic and cultural factors, such as poverty, rural-urban disparities, cultural norms, security concerns, and language barriers, continue to impact the realization of the right to education. This analysis underscores the need for increased funding, comprehensive policy reforms, and the bridging of socioeconomic and cultural divides to fully implement Article 25-A and provide a brighter future for Pakistan's children and the nation as a whole.

A REVIEW PAPER ON ASSESSING THE EFFICACY OF AGE CARE ADMINISTRATION IN MANGALORE: CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES IN THE INDIAN CONTEXT

The literature review on the efficiency of age care administration in Mangalore highlights current practices, challenges, and cultural influences. It reveals persistent issues like inadequate funding, lack of trained personnel, and cultural insensitivity despite existing innovative efforts. Integrating modern management techniques with traditional caregiving is crucial for improvement. The review calls for comprehensive policy reforms, enhanced caregiver training, and greater community involvement to enhance age care services in Mangalore. This analysis also identifies significant opportunities across management, education, business, real estate, finance, coaching, and social work sectors to contribute to effective age care strategies. KEY WORDS : Age Care Administration, Elderly Care, Cultural Sensitivity, Financial Management in Age Care, Caregiver Training, Policy Impact.

Bridging the Gap by Exploring Inequalities in Access to Land and Disparities in Agrarian Law in Indonesia

This article explores the historical underpinnings of unequal access to land in Indonesia, tracing its roots to colonial legacies and the lasting impact of Dutch colonial rule. Through an examination of laws such as the 1870 Agrarian Law, it highlights how indigenous peoples were systematically dispossessed of their land, exacerbating social inequality and perpetuating economic injustice. It also underscores the widespread legal uncertainty faced by marginalized groups, which hinders their access to essential services and deepens social and economic disparities. After the proclamation, Indonesia chose to create new regulations by passing Law No. 5/1960 on the Basic Regulation of Agrarian Principles (UUPA). This law became the legal framework for Indonesia's agrarian reform. Furthermore, this article explores the critical role of agrarian reform in reducing this disparity, advocating for comprehensive policy reforms that aim to strengthen legal protections for the land rights of marginalized communities. By elucidating the historical trajectory of land access inequality and its contemporary manifestations, this article contributes to a better understanding of the complex socio-legal dynamics that shape land tenure in Indonesia. Through a critical examination of colonial legacies and current policy frameworks, it seeks to inform efforts aimed at promoting social justice and equitable resource distribution. Ultimately, the article underscores the importance of agrarian reform that prioritizes the rights and welfare of marginalized communities, hoping to pave the way towards a more inclusive land governance regime and sustainable development. KEYWORDS : Land Access, Inequality, Agrarian Law, Agrarian Reform

Integrating intelligent and sustainable transportation systems in Jeddah: a multidimensional approach for urban mobility enhancement

Abstract This research examines the transportation system in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, specifically focusing on integrating intelligent and sustainable practices to address its current and emerging challenges. Central to these challenges are the city’s heavy reliance on private vehicles, an underdeveloped public transportation network, and the unique climatic conditions that pose additional complexities. This study adopts a multidimensional approach. It analyzes various factors, including technological advancements in transportation, sustainable and environmentally friendly practices, and the cultural and policy landscapes that shape transportation systems. It draws parallels and contrasts with transportation systems in urban settings similar to Jeddah, such as Dubai and Riyadh, to understand the potential and applicability of various solutions. One of the critical areas explored is the potential for intelligent transportation systems to revolutionize traffic management and enhance the efficiency and safety of the transportation network in Jeddah. The study also delves into the prospects of developing a sustainable public transit system that can reduce the city’s dependence on private vehicles and contribute to environmental conservation. Moreover, the research acknowledges the critical role of cultural influences in shaping transportation preferences and practices in Jeddah. It highlights the importance of culturally sensitive urban planning and policy making, ensuring that the proposed transportation solutions are not only technologically sound and environmentally sustainable but also aligned with the social and cultural fabric of the city. The study’s findings agree that a successful overhaul of Jeddah’s transportation system will require a synergistic blend of technological innovation, comprehensive policy reform, and a deep understanding of cultural nuances. The research underscores the necessity of this integrated approach as a blueprint for transforming urban transportation in Jeddah, setting a precedent for other cities with similar challenges.

Exploring how early childhood exclusionary practices persist for multiply marginalized children

The purpose of this study was to critically examine 14 early educators’ descriptions of their classroom discipline policies and procedures. A DisCrit lens was utilized to investigate if and how multiply marginalized young children may still experience exclusion. Participants described the use of discipline policies and procedures that were exclusionary, such as suspensions and ‘soft’ expulsions. Teachers also reported that they continued to be overwhelmed and frustrated by students’ behavior they found challenging, and felt they needed additional supports to effectively meet children's needs. These findings help us understand the need for more comprehensive policy reform, and continued support for teachers so that as we work to eliminate exclusionary practices, we provide teachers with a toolkit of inclusive, anti-biased, proactive, and preventative strategies they can use in its place to promote social emotional competence and prevent 'challenging' behavior.

Assessing Determinants of Shifting Attitudes on Drug Policy Reform in Maine

There is growing recognition that our decades-long “war on drugs” has not only been a policy failure but has made our societal drug crisis worse. This is painfully evident in our response to the opioid epidemic. Efforts at comprehensive policy reform are likely to emerge first at the state and local levels. We collaborated with policy advocates and practitioners to study policy perspectives of registered Maine voters, and to investigate determinants of receptivity to drug policy reforms rooted in decriminalization and harm reduction. Our results suggest that while political ideology still impacts one’s perspective on these issues, increased exposure to those with substance use disorder reduces stigma, resulting in increasingly broad, bipartisan support for policy reform. We conclude with a discussion on how policymakers addressing overdose and substance use disorder at the state and local level should consider implementing and funding evidence-based alternative approaches such as decriminalization and harm reduction.

Renewable energy deployment in Europe: Do politics matter?

This study analyzes non-hydroelectric renewable capacity across 27 European countries from 2000 to 2020, using advanced econometric techniques like the Dumitrescu and Hurlin panel Granger non-causality method, Panel Autoregressive Distributed Lag and Panel Quantile Autoregressive Distributed Lag estimations. This investigation reveals complex relationships extending beyond immediate variables. These relationships, rooted in pairwise causalities and broader interactions, underpin observed phenomena. Causality tests show that achieving non-hydroelectric renewable capacity is a long-term endeavor, emphasizing persistent policy approaches for effective energy transition. Three key variables emerge as potent policy drivers: maintaining an environment conducive to economic freedom, fostering financial development, and driving non-hydroelectric renewable patents’ research and development. These variables play a pivotal role in capacity expansion. Additionally, the findings of this empirical investigation spotlight the role of political orientations. Leftist governments have lagged in prioritizing energy transition, prompting questions about neglecting environmental concerns and necessitating comprehensive policy reform. In essence, this study offers novel insights into non-hydroelectric renewable energy deployment. By unraveling complex relationships, emphasizing persistent policies, and identifying key variables, this investigation provides a nuanced perspective in line with sustainable energy transition urgency. As global ecological imperatives heighten, our work guides informed policy decisions for a greener future.

A Study on Social Equity in the Education System: Exploratory Study in the Indian Education System Context

Indian education system promotes social equality, embraces an inclusive learning environment, and adheres to a heterogeneous classroom. Besides, social equity in the education system could occur due to gender disparities and inadequate funding. In addition, the Indian government, in terms of providing social equity, aimed to significantly rectify the historical, cultural, and gender inequalities to promote equal educational opportunities for all structures regardless of their background. Furthermore, the digital divide amplifies existing disparities, as socioeconomically disadvantaged children face little or no access to online educational resources during the pandemic. Addressing these difficulties necessitates the implementation of comprehensive policy reforms, augmented financial allocation, active involvement of the community, and an unwavering dedication to the principles of social justice.

The Privatization of Human Research Ethics: An American Story

Abstract In recent decades, there has been a remarkable shift in the governance of human research ethics in the United States. A model once based on review by panels of local volunteers has given way to a system dominated by large, for-profit research ethics committees. America’s reliance on for-profit ethics review is unique among wealthy industrialized countries. How can we account for this anomaly? In this article, I show that for-profit irb s represent only the most visible aspect of the privatization of human research protections in the United States. I suggest that private institutions have emerged as “workaround” solutions to systemic problems, in the absence of comprehensive policy reforms.

Corruption and economic competitiveness: What Greece can tell us

Under the assumption that economic competitiveness has a significant impact on the overall level of corruption in a given country, the present study evaluates the influence that a wide array of national reforms related to the pillars of structural competitiveness has on corruption in the case of Greece. In order to inform national and regional policies against corruption, three indices were calculated that express: (1) the impact of each specific reform on corruption; (2) the required reform effort and (3) the efficiency of the reform index, taking into consideration the competitiveness gap between Greece and Switzerland – the country with the best performance worldwide in terms of competitiveness. These indicators may indicate which reforms have the highest payoff in terms of corruption abatement, which are less costly to undertake and which deliver the greatest reduction in corruption per required effort, respectively. The empirical results of this study suggest that in a number of areas the associated reforms may translate into lower levels of corruption. Under this conceptual framework, institutions seem to be of high importance as they have a substantial impact as far as the reduction of corruption is concerned, with relatively low reform effort. Therefore, a comprehensive policy reform referring to the pillars of structural competitiveness is expected to deliver lower levels of corruption in Greece, allowing the substantial increase of its competitiveness and hence its faster convergence with the more advanced economies in the European Union.

The Violence Epidemic in the African American Community: A Call by the National Medical Association for Comprehensive Reform

While much progress has occurred since the civil rights act of 1964, minorities have continued to suffer disparate and discriminatory access to economic opportunities, education, housing, health care and criminal justice. The latest challenge faced by the physicians and public health providers who serve the African American community is the detrimental, and seemingly insurmountable, causes and effects of violence in impoverished communities of color. According to statistics from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), the number one killer of black males ages 10–35 is homicide, indicating a higher rate of violence than any other group. Black females are four times more likely to be murdered by a boyfriend or girlfriend than their white counterparts, and although intimate partner violence has declined for both black and white females, black women are still disproportionately killed. In addition, anxiety and depression that can lead to suicide is on the rise among African American adolescents and adults. Through an examination of the role of racism in the perpetuation of the violent environment and an exploration of the effects of gang violence, intimate partner violence/child maltreatment and police use of excessive force, this work attempts to highlight the repercussions of violence in the African American community. The members of the National Medical Association have served the African American community since 1895 and have been advocates for the patients they serve for more than a century. This paper, while not intended to be a comprehensive literature review, has been written to reinforce the need to treat violence as a public health issue, to emphasize the effect of particular forms of violence in the African American community and to advocate for comprehensive policy reforms that can lead to the eradication of this epidemic. The community of African American physicians must play a vital role in the treatment and prevention of violence as well as advocating for our patients, family members and neighbors who suffer from the preventable effects of violence.

Globalisation and International Competitiveness: The Future of the Caribbean Require Reform Changes

Despite liberalization efforts, compelling evidence suggest that the region is waning in its efforts to create a sustainable development path. This research addressed key the question: Can CARICOM countries maintain positive economic growth rates in an era of increasing globalization under the same modus operandi — without meaningful improvements in their international competitiveness? Analysis of the region's state of affairs reveals concerns regarding the measurements and levels of competitiveness in trade, and a need for compelling swift action. Comprehensive policy reform which enhances regional competitiveness should be the primary role for governments as they embark onto an alternate sustainable development path.

Strategies for Reforming Korea's Labor Market to Foster Growth

While the Korean unemployment rates are currently among the lowest in OECD countries, the labor market duality and the underemployment in some segments of the population are important labor market challenges, and factors contributing to lower potential growth. The paper shows the benefits of comprehensive policy reforms aimed at increasing labor force participation and youth employment and reducing duality are likely to be considerable in the medium term.

Undocumented Immigrants and Access to Health Care: Making a Case for Policy Reform.

The growth in undocumented immigration in the United States has garnered increasing interest in the arenas of immigration and health care policy reform. Undocumented immigrants are restricted from accessing public health and social service as a result of their immigration status. The Patient Protection and Affordability Care Act restricts undocumented immigrants from participating in state exchange insurance market places, further limiting them from accessing equitable health care services. This commentary calls for comprehensive policy reform that expands access to health care for undocumented immigrants based on an analysis of immigrant health policies and their impact on health care expenditures, public health, and the role of health care providers. The intersectional nature of immigration and health care policy emphasizes the need for nurse policymakers to advocate for comprehensive policy reform aimed at improving the health and well-being of immigrants and the nation as a whole.

Strategies for Reforming Korea’s Labor Market to Foster Growth

While the Korean unemployment rates are currently among the lowest in OECD countries, the labor market duality and the underemployment in some segments of the population are important labor market challenges, and factors contributing to lower potential growth. The paper shows the benefits of comprehensive policy reforms aimed at increasing labor force participation and youth employment and reducing duality are likely to be considerable in the medium term.

Strategies for Reforming Korea's Labor Market to Foster Growth

While the Korean unemployment rates are currently among the lowest in OECD countries, the labor market duality and the underemployment in some segments of the population are important labor market challenges, and factors contributing to lower potential growth. The paper shows the benefits of comprehensive policy reforms aimed at increasing labor force participation and youth employment and reducing duality are likely to be considerable in the medium term.

Securing Africa's land for shared prosperity: a program to scale up reforms and investments

This is the first book on land administration and reform in Sub-Saharan Africa, and is highly relevant to all developing countries around the world. It provides simple practical steps to turn the hugely controversial subject of 'land grabs' into a development opportunity by improving land governance to reduce the risks of dispossessing poor landholders while ensuring mutually beneficial investors' deals. The book shows how Sub Saharan Africa can leverage its abundant and highly valuable natural resources to eradicate poverty by improving land governance through a ten point programme to scale up policy reforms and investments at a cost of USD 4.5 billion. The book points out formidable challenges to implementation including high vulnerability to land grabbing and expropriation with poor compensation as about 90 percent of rural lands in Sub Saharan Africa are undocumented, but also timely opportunities since high commodity prices and investor interest in large scale agriculture have increased land values and returns to investing in land administration. It argues that success in implementation will require participation of many players including Pan-African organisations, Sub Saharan Africa governments, the private sector, civil society and development partners; but that ultimate success will depend on the political will of Sub Saharan Africa governments to move forward with comprehensive policy reforms and on concerted support by the international development community. Its rigorous analysis of land governance issues, yet down-to-earth solutions, are a reflection of Byamugisha's more than 20 years of global experience in land reform and administration especially in Asia and Africa. This volume will be of great interest to and relevant for a wide audience interested in African development, global studies in land, and natural resource management.