Perspective Of Officers Research Articles

Rails and responsibilities: Perspectives of railroad police officers in China

Abstract In policing practices, railway policing has an essential role to ensure the public security of extensive railway network. However, limited attention has been given to understanding the perspectives of police officers involved in this specialized field. This study aims to fill this gap by exploring the perspectives of railway police officers. Through in-depth interviews with 31 railway police officers from different regions, this research examines their experiences, challenges, and perceptions regarding their roles and responsibilities. The findings reveal that conflicts of interest within the railway police department pose potential risks to its internal cohesion. These officers used different strategies for response to violent attacks in ordinary and high-speed trains, highlighted instances of avoidance of duties due to internal conflicts, suggesting deficiencies in the evaluation mechanism employed. This study not only contributes to our understanding of railway policing in China but also provides insights for global railway policing and criminal investigation coordination.

Isu dan cabaran dalam pengurusan program bantuan modal zakat untuk usahawan asnaf

Zakat Capital Assistance Program (ZCAP) is a method employed to allocate zakat funds with the aim of enhancing the quality of life of the recipients. It entails providing financial aid without requiring the recipients to repay the funds. Despite the considerable advantages offered by this program, the number of applications for zakat assistance in the capital assistance category is comparatively lower than those for cash assistance. Consequently, the purpose of this research is to investigate the factors and challenges associated with the ZCAP from the perspective of both zakat officers and recipients. This study employs a qualitative approach, utilizing a structured interview tool to engage with the participants. Through interviews conducted with zakat officials and selected recipients, it was determined that attitudes, knowledge regarding financial records, and the structure of the ZCAP itself are among the influential factors that determine the success or failure of the program. The research findings indicate that the ZCAP has the potential to assist the asnaf, although there is room for improvement in order to achieve a more profound impact through this initiative. This study aims to provide valuable insights for the enhancement of the ZCAP implementation, ultimately fostering the emergence of successful Muslim entrepreneurs.

From relevant to usable: Swedish agricultural extension officers’ perspectives on climate change projections

This study investigates the potential relevance, usefulness, and usability of climate change projections for Swedish agricultural planning and management. Although research indicates the importance of specific users acting as knowledge brokers for climate information, there are knowledge gaps concerning agricultural extension officers’ use of climate information. Through a survey and stakeholder workshops, perspectives of Swedish agricultural extension officers on climate change projections were collected. The results provide insights into “what” information in climate change projections that is relevant and “how” climate information may be presented and used. Based on the analysis of the workshop dialogues, four themes outlining the “what” and “how” were identified: (i) a need for additional climate indicators for Swedish agriculture, (ii) the criticalness of temporal precision, (iii) trade-offs between providing precision and an overview, and (iv) a relevance – usability contradiction. These results inform the basis for ongoing research and practical applications focused on agriculturally tailored climate information, as well as the broader development of climate service methodology. The study reveals a latent demand for climate change projections among respondents, indicating a perceived relevance of information on future climates, but limited current use and usability among agricultural extension officers. The requisite for tailored climate indicators is clear – in this case, for Swedish agricultural planning and management – but critical usability challenges need to be addressed to move from providing relevant information to achieving actual usage that can enhance the climate resilience in Swedish agriculture.

Digitization and service delivery in the South African Post Office

This article argues that digitization of services is increasingly becoming an international phenomenon. As a case in point, the South African Post Office by its very nature and as part of the global institution requires a serious conversion from traditional service provision to digital and electronic services provision. This article is based on the study that was conducted in the South African Post Office in the Limpopo and Mpumalanga Province. From the South African Post Office perspective, Limpopo and Mpumalanga Provinces are referred to as North Region. The primary objective of the study was to investigate the implications of digitization on service delivery in the South African Post Office, focusing in the Limpopo and Mpumalanga Provinces (North Region). The study found that service delivery is adversely affected due to non-digitization of postal services. The study recommended interventions that can be employed to improve postal service delivery. The research method employed in the study was of both quantitative and qualitative method. The majority of the respondents strongly agreed that digitization of postal services could improve service delivery and brings more income and service improvement to clients. The article concludes by providing suggestions towards improving service delivery in the South African Post Office by digitizing postal services.

Financial innovations in terrorism financing: a case study of Malaysian terror financing

PurposeThis paper aims to employ the use of focus groups composed of enforcement officers to explore and identify the financial methods used by terrorism-related organisations in Malaysia.Design/methodology/approachThe study used an open-ended question and focus group methods to gather information from 20 Malaysian enforcement officers with extensive experience in dealing with terrorism-related activities, as they strive to prevent and counter terrorism incidents. In addition, experienced practitioners and field experts also contributed to the study.FindingsThe study reveals various innovative financial methods used by terrorist-linked organisations to evade detection by local enforcement agencies. These findings are consistent with previous research, which highlights the intelligence of these organisations in avoiding detection by financial regulators.Research limitations/implicationsThe findings are based on the perspectives of enforcement officers involved in preventing and countering terrorism activities. Further research could be conducted to gather insights from other government agencies, such as the judiciary or local agencies.Practical implicationsThe study offers practical suggestions for organisations and institutions on effectively monitoring and taking appropriate actions in financial activities related to terrorism.Originality/valueThis study provides unique insights into the financial methods of terrorism-related organisations in an emerging country in Southeast Asia. Its findings can be applied throughout the region, given the country’s global connectivity. Furthermore, the study is distinctive in that it provides information from enforcement officers within terrorism-related government organisations, an area where resources are limited. The study also considers the impact of the pandemic on the development of these financial innovations by terrorist organisations.

Undergraduate Training in Psychiatry: Observational Perspective of Medical Officers Working at Primary Health-care Settings

Abstract Background: Primary care physicians are not adequately trained to tackle mental health problems. The study aimed to evaluate undergraduate training in Psychiatry: An observational perspective of medical officers. Materials and Methods: It was a cross-sectional study conducted in North India. Participants were assessed on a self-designed questionnaire developed by the Indian psychiatric society to assess various aspects of undergraduate training. Other questionnaires measured residents’ satisfaction with the quality of training programs and perceived need for psychiatric training in undergraduate courses. Results: The participant’s mean age was 32.4 years; majorities were male medical officers. About one-tenth reported that there were no separate psychiatry departments and designated psychiatry consultants in their college. Approximately 50% reported: No regular supervision by any psychiatric faculty or having psychiatric disorders discussions in clinical rounds. More than half (50.9%) were not confident enough to identify common signs and symptoms of psychiatric problems. From one-third to half of the participants were unsatisfied with various aspects of the training program, like teaching skills, diagnostic interviews, clinical posting, etc. Majority (77.3%–83.7%) agreed that there is a need to improve the psychiatry training program; during the clinic rounds, psychiatric diagnosis should be discussed, and psychiatry should be a separate subject in under-graduation. Conclusion: Primary health-care physicians were unsatisfied with an undergraduate psychiatry training program. Hence, psychiatry should be an independent subject during the undergraduate training program, with dedicated theoretical and clinical hours for psychiatry training and a separate paper for evaluation.

“How are we gonna get them off the drugs if they’re allowed to stay on it?” correctional officer perspectives on Overdose prevention sites in prisons

ABSTRACT Despite growing support for Overdose Prevention Sites (OPS) in global communities, there is less international support for their implementation in prisons. To interpret the contexts shaping positionalities on and challenges associated with OPS in prisons, in the current study, we analyze interpretations of federal correctional officers (COs) in Canada (n = 134) on OPS in prison and associated harm reduction measures. Data were collected through a longitudinal, semi-structured interview research design. Results indicate how many participants support OPS, especially when caveated as a preference over the Prison Needle Exchange Program (PNEP). Still, participants described challenges and complications with OPS policy, implementation, and safety concerns; namely, that OPS hinder correctional rehabilitation, recovery from substance misuse, and effective reintegration post release. While some COs express understanding and support for harm reduction initiatives such as OPS, they called for clear directives and policies, which will support hesitant staff in facilitating this public health measure in prison settings. We untangle policy requirements and raise a number of key questions to support the successful implementation of prison OPS from the perspective of officers, specifically around issues related to needle possession, liability of officers, substance confiscation and the prison economy, and the health and rehabilitation of incarcerated people.

‘We get sucked into everybody’s mess’: Protests and Public Order Policing in South Africa

Based on interviews with 43 serving members at four Public Order Police units, this article highlights the perspectives of officers involved in arguably the most contentious and visible aspect of South African policing. As the primary arm of the police responsible for crowd management, Public Order members are at the coalface of a country inundated with protests. Respondents describe an environment in which they are forced to contend with politicians’ negligence and incitement of protest, the vagaries of mediation and the hostility of many protestors, all while they often share the frustrations of the crowds they are required to manage. Examining these representations provides critical insight into how these police, who are a central component of the civil strife afflicting South Africa, interpret the challenges of the job. Public Order Police are an integral element in protests but not just as the strong arm of the state suppressing dissent. Rather, they fulfil multiple functions in an intricate protest landscape over which they exercise limited control.

Exploring the perspectives of young offenders and correctional officers on rehabilitation programmes in Malawi: A mixed methods study

Exploring the perspectives of young offenders and correctional officers on rehabilitation programmes in Malawi: A mixed methods study

The presence of Responsible Research and Innovation in the perspectives of Dutch policy officers regarding innovation with quantum technology

The European Union strives to align research and innovation to the values, needs and expectations of society to address societal challenges. To support this alignment the European Union endeavours to make Responsible Research and Innovation (RRI) part of the governmental policies on science and technology of its member states. If the European Union is effective in this endeavour, then principles that are common in the field of RRI should play a significant role in the perspectives that belong to the member states’ policy officers for research and innovation. In this paper we empirically check this by conducting a Q-method study on Dutch policy officers working on quantum technology-related policies. In this study we found four perspectives on innovation among these policy officers. In all these perspectives some of the RRI principles are present in merely a weak manner, or even absent, casting substantial doubts on whether RRI has become part of the EU member state governmental policies on science and technology.

Maritime heritage and modern national identities in Scandinavia, circa 1900–2020

The Scandinavian nations are maritime nations but this does not mean that ‘maritime’ is a natural and conscious component of modern national identities in Scandinavia. National identities are shaped by diverse historical narratives and experiences, and they fluctuate in time and space. The contributions to this forum attempt to answer the question of to what extent modern national identities in Scandinavia incorporate such a maritime component. They study this question from the perspectives of Swedish naval officers and popular music culture, Danish maritime heritage culture and maritime labour, and Finland's naval diplomacy.

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE: THE PERSPECTIVE OF POLICE OFFICERS

Domestic violence is a multifaceted issue within today’s society. Acts of violence perpetrated against individuals constitute a blatant infringement upon human rights. The majority of such instances are directed at women and children. The legal regulation of domestic violence is defined in Lithuanian and international legal acts. However, shortcomings within the legal framework concerning domestic violence hindered the effectiveness of police assistance to victims. It is of utmost significance to highlight that the new Law on Protection from Domestic Violence came into effect on July 1, 2023. This legislation has introduced a novel legal mechanism in the form of a Domestic Violence Protection Order. The legal aspect of domestic violence is examined in the scientific literature; however, it lacks analysis of the personal positions of police officers who are the first to go to the crime scene after receiving a domestic violence call. Thus, the aim of the article is to reveal the peculiarities of legal regulation of domestic violence and empirically investigate the insights from the perspective of police officers. In order to achieve this goal, the analysis of scientific literature and legal acts were used for defining the concept of domestic violence and the peculiarities of legal regulation. A written survey was conducted for the empirical investigation of police officers’ insights about domestic violence; the collected data were processed using quantitative analysis methods. The analysis has shown that domestic violence is understood as all intentional physical, mental, economic, sexual and other actions of the abuser towards the victim, if these actions violate the victim's constitutional rights and freedoms, and cause economic, physical, mental or moral damage to the victim. Police officers must respond immediately to a call of domestic violence and be the first to arrive at the crime scene. The newly adopted 15-day order restraining the abuser from the victim is a very important tool for solving the problems of domestic violence. However, as the experience of foreign countries shows, even after the adoption of appropriate laws to solve this problem, there are psychological and organizational obstacles in providing qualified assistance to victims of domestic violence. After conducting a survey of police officers, it was found that in most cases the reasons of domestic violence are alcoholism, drug addiction, unemployment and poverty. Most frequently the age of abusers is between 31-40 years; in most cases violence occurs in families after living together from 1 to 12 years. The victims of violence are mostly women. When preventing domestic violence, first of all, continuous prevention is necessary. Police officers lack psychological and practical knowledge the most when solving these issues. Police officers are not capable of solving these problems alone, the involvement of the prosecutor's office, courts, psychologists, and social workers is also needed here.

An intuitionistic fuzzy-based model for performance evaluation of EcoPorts

The EcoPort performance level serves as a basic indicator to determine the environmental status of a port and its achievement of certification standards. The European Sea Ports Organization has defined ten essential EcoPort criteria that contribute significantly to the assessment of EcoPort performance. The primary motivation for this study is to determine the importance of the criteria from the perspective of academics and chief officers, as well as to evaluate the EcoPort performance of six port authorities that comply with three basic certification standards for environmental management systems. The research methodology and application are conducted in four phases. In the first phase, experts, criteria, and alternative ports are identified. In the second phase, the importance levels of experts are determined using neutrosophic sets, while the criteria are weighted using the intuitionistic fuzzy weighting averaging operator. In the third phase, the alternative ranking order method accounting for two-step normalization (AROMAN) based on the intuitionistic fuzzy sets is introduced to evaluate the EcoPort performance of the ports. In the fourth phase, the results are supported by sensitivity analysis scenarios. The research results identified air pollution as the most critical criterion, while the Valencia Port Authority secured the highest rank in terms of EcoPort performance. Ultimately, this research contributes to the literature by developing and applying the new IF-AROMAN method for EcoPort performance evaluation.

People Living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) based on clinical characteristics

Background : Since it was discovered and identified ten years ago, the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) has the potential to produce the immunodeficiency syndrome condition known as Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS). In the 2020-2024 National Medium-Term Development Plan (RPJMN), one of the policy and strategy directions is to increase access and quality of health services towards universal health coverage. Improving disease control, where HIV AIDS and sexually transmitted infections are part of the policy direction. In order to improve the quality of services for PLWHIV, it is necessary to have a comprehensive perspective of the medical officers, so there is a need for patient mapping based on the characteristics of the patients being treated.Purpose: To determine the description of the clinical stage based on characteristics of PLWHIV at the Sukabumi Public Health Center, Bandar Lampung in 2021.Method: This study is a quantitative descriptive observational study with a cross-sectional approach.Results : The results of the study, it is known that the characteristics of PLWHIV based on gender that's male are 67%, there 41.7% of PLWHIV are 31-40 years old, level of education PLWHIV are 67% have a senior high school, 52.4% as private employees, and 62,1% of PLWHIV live in cities. The results showed that at stage 1 the age group was 21-30 years old, the clinical stage 2 patients were 31-40 years old, the clinical stage 3 patients were 31-40 years old, and the clinical stage 4 patients were 21-30 years old. The results of the study also revealed that most of the patients in stages 1–4 had a senior high school education, worked as private employees, and lived in urban areas

Communicating about the Counterinsurgency Program in the Philippines: Local Government Communication Practices

Government agencies play a critical role in addressing societal issues and rely on effective communication strategies to inform and engage the public. However, research on government communication practices in the Philippines is limited. To bridge this gap, this study aims to explore the Philippine government’s communication practices and the influence of environmental attributes on communication efforts regarding the counterinsurgency program. Drawing on the government public relations model, a qualitative research approach was employed to gain in-depth insights into the experiences and perspectives of local information officers. The study utilized semi-structured interviews as the primary data collection method. By engaging local government communicators in the Philippines, the study identified four major themes: common media strategies, pressure to meet public information needs, lack of financial resources, and the impact of external legal frameworks. The findings revealed that government communicators employ various media strategies and face significant pressure to meet public information needs. Furthermore, the study highlights the intersection of external legal frameworks with other environmental constraints, such as politics and professional development, impacting government communication practices. This paper contributes to the limited scholarship on government communication practices in the Philippines, offering preliminary insights into the complex dynamics of government communication to address societal challenges.

The role of the corporate purpose and how investor relations officers make sense of it

This article addresses the role of the corporate purpose in strategic financial communication from the perspective of investor relations officers (IROs) with particular reference to their sensemaking process. Strategic financial communication increasingly includes intangible assets that contribute to the value of the company. At the same time, more and more companies are publishing corporate purpose statements that are intended to express their relevance. The article acknowledges those trends and aims to assess how IROs make sense of the corporate purpose and how they strategically use it in investor relations communication. Eleven qualitative in-depth interviews with IROs from German DAX40 companies were conducted and analyzed with an abductive method. The results show that IROs focus on cues when making sense of the corporate purpose, especially links to intangible assets and organizational values can be identified. The corporate purpose is only partially used in communication with the financial public. Deepened reflection on the corporate purpose, fueled by discussions and cues, supports the sensemaking process of IROs which can be guided by the organization. The role of the corporate purpose turned out to be complex with – although not always explored – the potential to be used as a descriptive and normative tool in strategic financial communication.

Divergence and Convergence on Police Transparency: Comparing Officers’ and Citizens’ Preferences on Body-Worn Camera Footage Release

The adoption of body-worn cameras (BWCs) by law enforcement agencies is commonly viewed as a means of enhancing police transparency, holding officers accountable, and building trust with the communities they serve. The effectiveness of BWCs in promoting police transparency, however, is still debatable, with many jurisdictions still lacking clear BWC footage disclosure policies. Following a mixed-method design, this article investigates the perspectives of officers and citizens on police transparency and, more specifically, the divergences and convergences in their expectations regarding BWC footage release. The data were collected from 78 police officers (through interviews and focus groups) and 1,609 citizens from the province of Quebec (through phone surveys). The two groups share the belief that the public release of BWC footage is significant in promoting police transparency. Yet they hold differing views on its use to reach accurate assessments of police interventions. While citizens expressed worries about the integrity of BWC footage, officers appeared more concerned about the potential misunderstanding of events following the release of BWC footage. The variations in expectations between officers and the public highlight the multifaceted nature of police transparency, which should serve to inform future BWC footage disclosure policies.

The implementation of value-based frameworks, clinical care pathways, and alternative payment models for cancer care in the United States.

BACKGROUND: Cancer treatment is a significant driver of rising health care costs in the United States, where the annual cost of cancer care is estimated to reach $246 billion in 2030. As a result, cancer centers are considering moving away from fee-for-service models and transitioning to value-based care models, including value-based frameworks (VBFs), clinical care pathways (CCPs), and alternative payment models (APMs). OBJECTIVE: To assess the barriers and motivations for using value-based care models from the perspectives of physicians and quality officers (QOs) at US cancer centers. METHODS: Sites were recruited from cancer centers in the Midwest, Northeast, South, and West regions in a 15/15/20/10 relative distribution. Cancer centers were identified based on prior research relationships and known participation in the Oncology Care Model or other APMs. Based on a literature search, multiple choice and open-ended questions were developed for the survey. A link to the survey was emailed to hematologists/oncologists and QOs at academic and community cancer centers from August to November 2020. Results were summarized using descriptive statistics. RESULTS: A total of 136 sites were contacted; 28 (21%) centers returned completed surveys, which were included in the final analysis. 45 surveys (23 from community centers, 22 from academic centers) were completed: 59% (26/44), 76% (34/45), and 67% (30/45) of physicians/QOs respondents had used or implemented a VBF, CCP, and APM, respectively. The top motivator for VBF use was "producing real-world data for providers, payers, and patients" (50% [13/26]). Among those not using CCPs, the most common barrier was a "lack of consensus on pathway choices" (64% [7/11]). For APMs, the most common difficulty was that "innovations in health care services and therapies must be adopted at the site's own financial risk" (27% [8/30]). CONCLUSIONS: The ability to measure improvements in cancer health outcomes was a large motivator for implementing value-based models. However, heterogeneity in practice size, limited resources, and potential increase in costs were possible barriers to implementation. Payers need to be willing to negotiate with cancer centers and providers to implement the payment model that will most benefit patients. The future integration of VBFs, CCPs, and APMs will depend on reducing the complexity and burden of implementation. DISCLOSURES :Dr Panchal was affiliated with the University of Utah at the time this study was conducted and discloses current employment with ZS. Dr McBride discloses employment with Bristol Myers Squibb. Dr Huggar and Dr Copher report employment, stock, and other ownership interests in Bristol Myers Squibb. The other authors have no competing interests to disclose. This study was funded by an unrestricted research grant from Bristol Myers Squibb to the University of Utah.

Police officer Perspectives on a Pre-booking Diversion Program for People who use Drugs in Philadelphia

Pre-booking diversion enables police officers to divert individuals to supportive services in lieu of prosecution for minor crimes related to substance use. We surveyed 204 Philadelphia Police Department officers authorized to initiate pre-booking diversions. We used bivariate x2 tests and multivariate logistic regression to examine differences in respondent perspectives. 78% agreed that pre-booking diversion provides important services to people who use drugs, 69% wanted to expand the geographic score of programming, and 52% wanted to expand eligibility. Yet 59% questioned whether diversion is “what police should be doing”, and only 27% believed that it will improve public safety. In logistic regression, the perceived value that the police department places on referrals correlated with agreement that PAD improves safety, provides important services for people who use drugs, and fits within officers’ role. Tension between beliefs that the program provides important services but may not improve safety reflects both potential value and inherent challenges of pre-booking diversion models.

Mediate or litigate: An evaluation of citizen and police officer perspectives on the use of mediation to resolve citizen-police conflict in Trinidad and Tobago

Given the confrontational nature of citizen-police interactions, conflict between both groups is inevitable. On one hand, it is argued that citizen-police conflict and complaints against the police must be properly ventilated; however, on the other hand, it is argued that existing dispute resolution mechanisms are biased in favor of the police. With this in mind, police departments and community residents are increasingly seeking alternative mechanisms to resolve citizen-police conflicts as well as citizen complaints against police officers and mediation has emerged as a forerunner. Using a quantitative approach, this exploratory study concurrently evaluated citizen and police officer perspectives regarding the role of mediation as an alternative to judicial and other legal based mechanisms to resolve citizen-police conflicts in Trinidad and Tobago. The study is premised on ‘islandness’ and the findings indicate that generally, both citizens and police officers are willing to utilize mediation to resolve citizen-police disputes, however, there are some disparities over the issue by gender. The paper concludes by advocating for a complaints management system that includes mediation within a consultative framework focused of behavioral improvements to be implemented within the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service.