Large Agency Research Articles

Examining the effect of forest certification on timber harvest best management practice implementation

ABSTRACT Forest certification programs are voluntary initiatives emphasizing sustainable forestry and harvest practices. Compliance with certification standards is enforced through third-party audits. One requirement of most forest certification systems is the use of best management practices during harvesting activities. These practices are designed to mitigate potential negative outcomes of forest management and timber harvesting activities. Best management practice implementation has been found to have a variety of positive outcomes on water quality and other resources. However, information relating forest certification to implementation of best management practices and environmental outcomes on certified versus noncertified lands is scant. Here, we examine the role of third-party certification as it contributes to enhanced forest stewardship via implementation of voluntary best management practices. Our study adds to the limited body of research comparing sustainability practices and outcomes on certified vs. noncertified lands. In alignment with previous research on the topic, our study suggests that adherence to best management practices is better on certified versus noncertified forests. Our findings also suggest that for large public agency ownerships, organizationally driven factors beyond forest certification (e.g. institutional policy and trained staff) influence the use of best management practices during timber harvests.

Simulated data for census-scale entity resolution research without privacy restrictions: a large-scale dataset generated by individual-based modeling

Background Entity resolution (ER) is the process of identifying and linking records that refer to the same real-world entity. ER is a fundamental challenge in data science, and a common barrier to ER research and development is that the data fields used for this fuzzy matching are personally identifiable information, such as name, address, and date of birth. The necessary restrictions on accessing and sharing these authentic data have slowed the work in developing, testing, and adopting new methods and software for ER. We recently released pseudopeople, a Python package that allows users to generate simulated datasets with configurable noise approaching the scale and complexity of the data on which large organizations and federal agencies, like the US Census Bureau regularly perform ER. With pseudopeople, researchers can develop new algorithms and software for ER of US population data without needing access to personal and confidential information. Methods We created the simulated population data available for noising with pseudopeople using our Vivarium simulation platform. Our model simulates individuals and their families, households, and employment dynamics over time, which we observe through simulated censuses, surveys, and administrative data collection systems. Results Our simulation process produced over 900 gigabytes of simulated censuses, surveys, and administrative data for pseudopeople, representing hundreds of millions of simulants. A sample simulated population of thousands of simulants is now openly available to all users of the pseudopeople package, and large-scale simulated populations of millions and hundreds of millions of simulants are also available by online request through GitHub. These simulated population data are structured for use by the pseudopeople package, which includes additional affordances to add various kinds of noise to the data to provide realistic, sharable challenges for ER researchers.

Barriers to Implementing a Quality Improvement Program in Low- and Middle-Income Countries: Adequacy of Resources.

Low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) report disproportionally worse cancer mortality. Current global cancer control efforts focus predominantly on expanding access to multimodality treatment for patients, whereas less attention has been spent on implementing strategies to ensure sustained quality assessment and improvement across the cancer care continuum. The goal of this focused review was to examine specific resource barriers to the development and implementation of quality improvement programs in LMICs. In this article, we use a nonsystematic review process to discuss the existing literature on four resource barriers within the context of cancer care delivery in LMICs, focusing on staff, time allocated for quality improvement work, research infrastructure, and funding. We provide possible solutions to address these barriers and share examples of specific quality improvement initiatives implemented across different world regions. Possible solutions to address these resource barriers include investment in human resources by increasing recruitment and training of the workforce, engagement of medical trainees and patients in quality improvement work, establishment of cancer registries and electronic medical records, and prioritization by large international funding agencies to invest in quality improvement research in LMICs. This review highlights four prevalent resources barriers to quality improvement in LMICs. Using examples from Botswana, Colombia, India, and Rwanda, we demonstrate solutions that may help overcome these barriers.

Abstract B064: Community-informed interventions to address cervical cancer disparities among people experiencing homelessness

Abstract Background: Cervical cancer incidence and mortality rates are up to four-fold higher among people experiencing homelessness (PEH) compared to the housed US population. Even beyond typical social and structural barriers to healthcare, homeless women experience high rates of sexual violence and trauma, often leading to discomfort with cervical cancer screening and delays/refusals of Pap tests. Despite these issues, strategies for appropriate cervical cancer screening in homeless communities are scarce, and no frameworks exist for routine screening in shelters. Methods: Leveraging an established multisectoral community-academic partnership addressing homelessness and health disparities in Indiana, USA, ongoing community-engaged research is examining barriers to cervical cancer screening among PEH and co-designing strategies to address them. Rapid assessment surveys were conducted with PEH at two large homeless service agencies in Indianapolis and Lafayette to document cervical cancer screening coverage and characteristics of individuals who are unscreened/overdue. In-depth interviews explored knowledge of cervical cancer, key barriers and facilitators to screening, and acceptability of shelter-based HPV self-sampling delivered by trusted community health workers (CHW). Results: Of n=167 survey respondents, 48% were white, 38% Black, 7% Hispanic, 7% other. Mean age was 43.18 years, and mean lifetime years of homelessness was 3.18. Nearly half of participants (49%) were unsheltered, 44% stayed at a shelter, the remainder couch-surfed. One third (32%) were unscreened or overdue for screening, far above state and national averages (24% and 22% respectively). The majority (84%) reported wanting to be screened and believing it is important for their health. Provider mistrust and competing priorities surrounding their homelessness were main reported barriers to screening. Qualitative findings identified key benefits, concerns, and preferences for HPV self-sampling, with many participants expressing interest and willingness to adopt this screening method. Conclusion: Despite a vast majority of PEH reporting a desire and willingness to be screened for cervical cancer, key identified barriers limit access for this uniquely vulnerable population. Ongoing qualitative analysis is directly informing community context-specific CHW-delivered cervical cancer education and HPV self- sampling interventions. This work will ultimately lead to broadly implementable strategies for shelter-based routine cancer screening and preventive healthcare delivery for PEH. Citation Format: Natalia M. Rodriguez, Lara Balian, Rebecca Ziolkowski, Xue Case, Kalesia Smith, Janelle Tipton. Community-informed interventions to address cervical cancer disparities among people experiencing homelessness [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 17th AACR Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved; 2024 Sep 21-24; Los Angeles, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2024;33(9 Suppl):Abstract nr B064.

Shades in technological frames: exploring police attitudes toward body-worn cameras in Chicago

PurposeThis study employed technological frames of reference (TFR) theory to explore officer attitudes toward body-worn cameras (BWCs) in the Chicago Police Department (CPD), identifying frames that may undermine compliance.Design/methodology/approachSemi-structured interviews were conducted with 11 officers, focusing on their perceptions of the BWCs’ purpose, adoption catalysts, effectiveness metrics and benefits and drawbacks.FindingsOfficers viewed BWCs primarily as tools for oversight and cited external influences and the department’s desire to be perceived as progressive as key catalysts for BWC adoption. There was widespread uncertainty regarding the criteria CPD uses to gauge BWC effectiveness. The protective feature of the cameras was cited as the primary benefit of the technology, while privacy intrusion and discretion were identified as key drawbacks. Noteworthy nuances were observed across these perceptual domains.Research limitations/implicationsThe study focuses on a single police agency, limiting its generalizability. Nevertheless, it holds value for departments experiencing BWC policy compliance issues and those preparing to implement the cameras.Practical implicationsInsights into officers’ technological frames help identify perspectives that threaten desired use of BWCs and highlight necessary training and policy interventions that align officers' BWC readings with departmental goals to enhance policy compliance.Originality/valueThis study is among the few that employ TFR theory to examine officer perceptions of BWCs in a large urban police agency.

Adaptive Governance: Empowering Data Sharing for Public Health Impact - Insights from North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services

Objective and ApproachAt the 2022 IPDLN Conference, we presented work led by the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHSS), in partnership with university-based researchers, to build legal and ethical processes for routine data sharing. This session provides significant updates on the methods, results, and implications of these efforts–namely, that NCDHHS implemented an enterprise-wide data governance process and a legal framework that has enabled timely, impactful use of cross-sector data. We relied on Participatory Action Research and Deliberative Dialogue methods to engage a diverse range of partners in a data landscape overview and the co-creation of new data sharing processes that better enables the enterprise to adapt to a changing world. ResultsFour key actions were taken as a result of the participatory research process: NCDHHS developed a data strategy, created a data sharing guidebook, staffed their Data Office, and implemented a new legal framework. In addition to describing how these actions support data use across a large US state health and human services agency, we provide three use cases demonstrating the impact of this work. ConclusionsEstablishing routine data sharing presents legal, technical, and cultural challenges, particularly in large agencies. Through a collaborative, participatory approach, the NCDHHS successfully established enterprise-wide data governance and a legal framework to support data-driven policymaking and, ultimately, improve health outcomes for residents. ImplicationsThis research presents a successful, actionable, and replicable framework for developing and implementing processes to support intradepartmental data access, linkage, and use.

An Applied Research Partnership to Improve The Children’s Behavioral Health System Of Care

Objective and ApproachThis session describes a doctoral student-led process to align research, policy, and practice partners around the use of integrated data to address a policy priority—the mounting youth mental health crisis. The project partners engaged in a five-year governance process to leverage integrated administrative data from a large health and human service agency in one U.S. state. Qualitative field notes—collected while conducting quantitative analyses and engaging partners—were analyzed to document a realistic timeline and process for ethical, actionable research using cross-sector data. ResultsFive key lessons for partnership-engaged research emerged, emphasizing the importance of adapting to changes in project themes, leveraging strong partnership to address data quality concerns, nurturing existing and new relationships, balancing data access and data privacy, and supplementing administrative data with contextual data. ConclusionsThough engaging deeply with partners takes substantial time and energy, there are benefits to researchers, policymakers, practitioners, and most importantly, residents whose data are represented. Furthermore, building pathways to legally and ethically access integrated data can promote the efficient, strategic use of data for social policy research, and ultimately, be leveraged to support evidence-based policymaking in an ever-changing world. ImplicationsThis session underscores the value of forming applied research partnerships and building legal and ethical pathways to access integrated data when tackling complex social policy issues.

Initial Defibrillator Pad Position and Outcomes for Shockable Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest

Ventricular fibrillation (VF) or pulseless ventricular tachycardia (pVT) are the most treatable causes of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA). Yet, it remains unknown if defibrillator pad position, placement in the anterior-posterior (AP) or anterior-lateral (AL) locations, impacts patient outcomes in VF or pVT OHCA. To determine the association between initial defibrillator pad placement position and OHCA outcomes for patients presenting with VF or pVT. This prospective cohort study included patients with OHCA and VF or pVT treated by a single North American emergency medical services (EMS) agency from July 1, 2019, through June 30, 2023. The study included patients with OHCA treated by a large suburban fire-based EMS agency that covers a population of 550 000. Consecutive patients with an initial EMS-assessed rhythm of VF or pVT receiving EMS defibrillation were included. Pediatric patients (younger than 18 years), interfacility transfers, arrests of obvious traumatic etiology, and patients with preexisting do-not-resuscitate status were excluded. AP or AL pad placement. Return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) at any time with secondary outcomes of pulses present at emergency department (ED) arrival, survival to hospital admission, survival to hospital discharge, and functional survival at hospital discharge (cerebral performance category score of 2 or less). Measures included adjusted odds ratios (aOR), multivariable logistic regressions, and Fine-Gray competing risks regression. A total of 255 patients with OHCA were included (median [IQR] age, 66 [55-74] years; 63 females [24.7%]), with initial pad positioning documented as either AP (158 patients [62.0%]; median [IQR] age, 65 [54-74] years; 37 females [23.4%]) or AL (97 patients [38.0%]; median [IQR] age, 66 [57-74] years; 26 females [26.8%]). Patients with AP placement had higher adjusted odds ratio (aOR) of ROSC at any time (aOR, 2.64 [95% CI, 1.50-4.65]), but not significantly different odds of pulses present at ED arrival (1.34 [95% CI, 0.78-2.30]), survival to hospital admission (1.41 [0.82-2.43]), survival to hospital discharge (1.55 [95% CI, 0.83-2.90]), or functional survival at hospital discharge (1.86 [95% CI, 0.98-3.51]). Competing risk analysis found significantly greater cumulative incidence of ROSC among those at risk with initial AP placement compared with AL (subdistribution hazard ratio, 1.81 [95% CI, 1.23-2.67]; P = .003). In this cohort study of patients with OHCA and VF or pVT, AP defibrillator pad placement was associated with higher ROSC compared with AL placement.

Comparative analysis of the social component when assigning an ESG rating

Every year, Russian companies are using ESG (environmental, social, governance) ratings more actively as a tool to increase their investment attractiveness. At the same time, there are no clear standards in the world and domestic practice that should be considered when forming these ratings. In this regard, the ESG methodologies presented on the Russian market are based on extremely subjective criteria and approaches to their assessment. This can lead to dramatically different results of the ESG ratings from different analytical agencies. In order to verify this fact, the authors of the article have conducted a study the essence of which is to calculate and further compare the S-criterion based on the methodologies of several large Russian analytical agencies providing ESG assessment services. This approach has allowed us to assess in practice the degree of differences that underlie the formation of the ESG methodologies. The result of the work is that the results of the S-components of the domestic ESG agencies are highly similar, which has not confirmed the hypothesis made by the authors. Despite the fact that each of the ESG methodologies ha included different, often dissimilar indicators, the result of the study has revealed their remarkable efficiency and consistency with each other. Contrary to the concerns of regulators and researchers, the results of the agency ratings show a high degree of mutual similarity. Further research should be aimed at evaluating the E and G components of the ESG ratings of the Russian analytical agencies, and at summarising the findings obtained for the final refutation or acceptance of the made hypothesis.

Digitization Planning for Large Collections and Agencies with Specify 7

The Specify Collections Consortium (SCC) supports research collections around the world with an intuitive, robust, and highly-customizable software platform to digitize their holdings and manage their collections. For over 25 years, Specify has provided and sustained biological research museums and biorepositories with software for managing, integrating, and publishing collections information (Fig. 1). The SCC has increasingly engaged with very large collections managed by institutions ranging from universities to individual government departments to entire federal agencies, to envision a framework that supports standard computerization workflows and best practices. From our involvement in working with these institutions, which have successfully navigated the transition to Specify, we have gathered insights and learned lessons that may be helpful to others to better anticipate and address key data-related issues in their own institution when embarking on a Specify (or any collections management system) implementation. Understanding how to approach data preparation for import into a collections management system is crucial, as collections often face significant challenges in this area. We will discuss some of the key hurdles that collections encounter and methods to overcome them such as unstandardized data within a single collection and between multiple collections, unparsed names for taxonomy and people, and reconciling pre-existing custom data structures with the fixed structure of a collections management system. We will also cover the decision-making process for determining what collection data should be shared between collections versus what should be managed separately (scoping, data sharing, and data exporting). Large institutions often have multiple collections with diverse needs, and finding the right balance between centralized coordination and individual collection autonomy can be complex. The presentation will discuss the factors considered and the strategies employed to navigate this balance, as it can have significant implications for the overall success of a Specify deployment (Fig. 2). In addition to the technical considerations, the presentation will also delve into the human side of transitioning to a new collections management system. Successful collections management platform implementations require not only technical expertise, but also effective communication and collaboration among the collections staff, volunteers, and management. This presentation offers a framework to help other large collections successfully transition to Specify. Our team at the Specify Collections Consortium has extensive experience in supporting the transition of large research collections to their robust and highly customizable software platform. We have gained valuable insights into the key challenges and best practices for data preparation, system implementation, and change management. By sharing the lessons learned from these institutions and the SCC's experience, the presentation provides valuable insights and guidance to support other organizations in their collections management system implementation projects. A better understanding of this process will ultimately contribute to preserving and improving access to natural history collections (and soon geoscience collections) worldwide.

Are they the same? Disentangling the concepts of implementation science research and population scale-up.

A new discipline, implementation science, has emerged in recent years. This has resulted in confusion between what 'implementation science' is and how it differs from real-world scale-up of health interventions. While there is considerable overlap, in this perspective, we seek to highlight some of the differences between these two concepts in relation to their origin, drivers, research methods and implications for population impact and practice. We recognise that implementation science generates new information on optimal methods and strategies to facilitate the uptake of evidence-based practices. This new knowledge can be used as part of any scaling-up endeavour. However, real-world scale-up is influenced to a much greater extent by political and strategic needs and key actors and generally requires the support of governments or large agencies that can fund population-level scale-up. Furthermore, scale-up often occurs in the absence of any evidence of effectiveness. Therefore, while implementation science and scale-up both ultimately aim to facilitate the uptake of interventions to improve population health, their immediate intentions differ, and these distinctions are worth highlighting for policymakers and researchers.

Impact of Workplace Violence Against Emergency Medical Services (EMS)

Objectives The objectives of this study were to: (1) understand the personal impact of workplace violence (WPV) on staff within a large multistate emergency medical services (EMS) agency, (2) describe the impact of WPV on subsequent patient interactions, examining how experiences of violence affect the quality of care provided by EMS clinicians, (3) examine the influence of WPV on perceived workplace safety among prehospital personnel and its correlation with retention in the EMS field, and (4) solicit recommendations from staff for the prevention and mitigation of WPV in the future. Methods We conducted virtual focus groups and individual interviews with 22 prehospital personnel using a descriptive qualitative design within a large multistate Midwest EMS agency between 4/5/2023-6/20/2023. Data were analyzed using Thematic Analysis to identify common perceptions among and across participants. Results Major themes of personal impact; impact on patient interactions; influence of WPV on career longevity/sustainability; and relationship between EMS culture and WPV were identified. Overall, participants shared the perception that WPV is “part of the job”, and that verbal abuse was so common that they hadn’t previously considered it as violence. Participants provided several examples of WPV and described how these experiences impacted them personally (e.g., hypervigilance) and impacted their subsequent interaction with patients (e.g., quicker to use restraints, loss of empathy). Participants shared the perception that EMS is no longer valued or respected by patients or communities. Several voiced concerns for the next generation of colleagues and nearly all participants reported the need for education and training in situational awareness, de-escalation, and self-defense tactics. Participants referenced desire for more coordination and communication with law enforcement, change in culture of abuse from patients without repercussions, and improved agency mental health support and peer support/mentoring following a violent event. Despite experiences with WPV, the majority reported plans to remain in EMS. Conclusions Emergency Medical Services personnel are commonly traumatized by violence in their work and nonphysical violence is underappreciated. Despite its impact on staff and subsequent patient interactions, most participants reported plans to remain within EMS. Multi-faceted system-focused efforts are needed to shift toward and support a zero-tolerance culture for WPV.

The Performance of ChatGPT-4 and Gemini Ultra 1.0 for Quality Assurance Review in Emergency Medical Services Chest Pain Calls

Objectives This study assesses the feasibility, inter-rater reliability, and accuracy of using OpenAI's ChatGPT-4 and Google’s Gemini Ultra large language models (LLMs), for Emergency Medical Services (EMS) quality assurance. The implementation of these LLMs for EMS quality assurance has the potential to significantly reduce the workload on medical directors and quality assurance staff by automating aspects of the processing and review of patient care reports. This offers the potential for more efficient and accurate identification of areas requiring improvement, thereby potentially enhancing patient care outcomes. Methods Two expert human reviewers, ChatGPT GPT-4, and Gemini Ultra assessed and rated 150 consecutively sampled and anonymized prehospital records from 2 large urban EMS agencies for adherence to 2020 National Association of State EMS metrics for cardiac care. We evaluated the accuracy of scoring, inter-rater reliability, and review efficiency. The inter-rater reliability for the dichotomous outcome of each EMS metric was measured using the kappa statistic. Results Human reviewers showed high interrater reliability, with 91.2% agreement and a kappa coefficient 0.782 (0.654-0.910). ChatGPT-4 achieved substantial agreement with human reviewers in EKG documentation and aspirin administration (76.2% agreement, kappa coefficient 0.401 (0.334-0.468), but performance varied across other metrics. Gemini Ultra’s evaluation was discontinued due to poor performance. No significant differences were observed in median review times: 01:28 min (IQR 1:12 − 1:51 min) per human chart review, 01:24 min (IQR 01:09 − 01:53 min) per ChatGPT-4 chart review (p = 0.46), and 01:50 min (IQR 01:10-03:34 min) per Gemini Ultra review (p = 0.06). Conclusions Large language models demonstrate potential in supporting quality assurance by effectively and objectively extracting data elements. However, their accuracy in interpreting non-standardized and time-sensitive details remains inferior to human evaluators. Our findings suggest that current LLMs may best offer supplemental support to the human review processes, but their current value remains limited. Enhancements in LLM training and integration are recommended for improved and more reliable performance in the quality assurance processes.

Facilitators and barriers to the implementation of emotionally focused couple therapy in a large mental health agency: A preimplementation study.

Facilitators and barriers to the implementation of emotionally focused couple therapy in a large mental health agency: A preimplementation study.

Police reform from the top down: Experimental evidence on police executive support for civilian oversight

AbstractThe accountability of police to the public is imperative for a functioning democracy. The opinions of police executives—pivotal actors for implementing oversight policies—are an understudied, critical component of successful reform efforts. We use a pre‐registered survey experiment administered to all U.S. municipal police chiefs and county sheriffs to assess whether police executives’ attitudes towards civilian oversight are responsive to 1) state‐level public opinion (drawing on an original n = 16,840 survey) and 2) prior adoption of civilian review boards in large agencies. Results from over 1,300 police executives reveal that law enforcement leaders are responsive to elite peer adoption but much less to public opinion, despite overwhelming public support. Compared to appointed municipal police chiefs, elected sheriffs are less likely to support any civilian oversight. Our findings hold implications for reformers: we find that existing civilian oversight regimes are largely popular, and that it is possible to move police executive opinion towards support for civilian oversight.

We Rely on Relationships: Homeless Service Providers' Experiences in Coordinating Care Transitions During COVID-19.

Care coordination occurring across multiple sectors of care, such as when professionals in health or social service organizations collaborate to transition patients from hospitals to community-based settings like homeless shelters, happens regularly in practice. While health services research is full of studies on the experiences of case management and care coordination professionals within health care settings, few studies highlight the perspective of nonclinical homeless service providers (HSPs) in coordinating care transitions. This study explores the experience of nonclinical HSPs, employed in a large homeless service agency in New York, United States, responsible for coordinating care transitions of patients presenting to a homeless shelter after hospitalization, with attention to COVID-19 impact. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with providers at three hierarchical levels (frontline, managerial, and executive). The data were analyzed using qualitative content analysis. The implementation science framework Normalization Process Theory was used to structure semi-deductive coding categories. The findings included three major themes that highlight promoting and inhibiting factors in care coordination, including a reliance on informal relationships, the impact of strong hierarchical structures, and a lack of collaborative cross-sector information exchange pathways. Altogether, findings offer insights from an infrequently studied professional group engaging in cross-sector care coordination for a high-risk population. Operational insights can inform future research to ensure that the implementation of interventions to improve cross-sector care coordination is evidence-based. This study of nonclinical HSPs facilitating care transitions demonstrates the importance of understanding this critical provider population. Opportunities for acute care case managers and administrators include the importance of relationships, reciprocal education on the differences in work settings, and the need for administrative structure to ensure complex clinical information is effectively translated.

Leveling digital threats as a means of ensuring economic security in the modern world

In the era of digitalization, where the development of technology is closely linked to economic prosperity, it is important to realize the threats posed by the modern world. Indeed, digital transformation opens up new horizons for public spheres of life, intertwining innovative technologies with everyday tasks, actively stimulating social progress. However, as dependence on new technologies increases, the impact of digital threats on economic stability and security increases. The attractiveness of such incidents is based on the relative cheapness and accessibility, which makes them more preferable for intruders compared to other types of crimes. Various kinds of attacks and malicious actions, such as viruses, phishing, malware, cyberattacks, can disrupt not only the work of companies, but also undermine their financial situation as a whole. At this stage, the problem of digital threats is turning into a global phenomenon affecting everyone – from ordinary citizens to large companies and government agencies. It is important to be aware of this problem, because without proper counteraction to these challenges, economic losses from cybercrimes will only increase. Preventing such attacks and reducing their consequences requires a comprehensive approach. That is why the article considers not only the question of what negative consequences digital threats have, but also suggests the necessary, according to the authors, methods and strategic solutions aimed at reducing economic losses in the process of constantly changing conditions.

The Role of Stigma and Confidentiality in Police Officer Utilization of Stress Relief Programs

Police officers face challenges from operational and organizational stressors. Officers often have access to stress relief programs offered by their employers, such as peer support programs, employee assistance programs, or chaplaincy programs. Using survey data from 247 police officers in a large metropolitan agency in CA, this exploratory study examines police officers’ likelihood to utilize stress relief programs (SRPs) based on prior utilization, perceived stigma, and confidentiality of the process. Additionally, officer selection of program is assessed. Findings illustrate that officer utilization of SRPs is negatively influenced by perceived coworker stigma, while supervisor stigma was not influential. Belief in the confidentiality of the program and prior utilization of an SRP is positively associated with SRP utilization. In terms of selecting a specific SRP, only prior utilization was found to be a factor. Suggestions for department policy to promote utilization and confidentiality and reduce stigma are discussed.

Curators of digital futures: The life cycle of pioneer communities

Research typically considers corporate actors such as large tech companies or government agencies as drivers of deep mediatization, the increasing saturation of society by digital media and their infrastructures. This article aims to focus on another group of collective actors: pioneer communities, exemplified by the Maker, Hacks/Hackers, and Quantified Self movements. They are characterized by their experimental practices and their visions of media-related, digital futures. On the basis of published research, the article discusses their life cycle, starting with their formation, when they emerged from the context of social movements and technology-related communities, through their peak phase, during which they receive media attention, to their dispersion phase, a stage in their development characterized by their “becoming everyday” as their experimentation is absorbed into everyday practices. It is argued that the role pioneer communities play in processes of deep mediatization rests in their ability to curate experimentation and visions of digital futures.

Reconciling Legal and Empirical Conceptions of Disparate Impact: An Analysis of Police Stops Across California

We evaluate the statistical and conceptual foundations of empirical tests for disparate impact. We begin by considering a recent, popular proposal in the economics literature that seeks to assess disparate impact via a comparison of error rates for the majority and the minority group. Building on past work, we show that this approach suffers from what is colloquially known as “the problem of inframarginality”, in turn putting it in direct conflict with legal understandings of discrimination. We then analyze two alternative proposals that quantify disparate impact either in terms of risk-adjusted disparities or by comparing existing disparities to those under a statistically optimized decision policy. Both approaches have differing, context-specific strengths and weaknesses, and we discuss how they relate to the individual elements in the legal test for disparate impact. We then turn towards assessing disparate impact of search decisions among approximately 1.5 million police stops recorded across California in 2022 pursuant to its Racial Identity and Profiling Act (RIPA). The results are suggestive of disparate impact against Black and Hispanic drivers for several large law enforcement agencies. We further propose alternative search strategies that more efficiently recover contraband while also exerting fewer racial disparities.