Zero Tolerance Research Articles

Graffiti and crime in Belo Horizonte, Brazil: The broken promises of broken windows theory

The landscape of Belo Horizonte, Brazil is heavily graffitied, especially in its downtown area. In preparation for hosting part of the games associated with the Federation International Football Association's (FIFA's) Confederations Cup of 2013 and World Cup of 2014, the local officials implemented a zero-tolerance policy toward graffiti and graffiti writers, seeking to beautify the city and reduce crime. The policy was inspired by broken windows theory, which associates physical disorder, including the presence of graffiti, with serious crimes. This paper examines this association and evaluates the effects of the zero-tolerance policy toward graffiti in downtown Belo Horizonte at three different times (2011, 2015, and 2017). Data on graffiti were collected during three fieldwork campaigns, and crime data came from official police records. Zero-inflated negative binominal regression was used to explore the association between graffiti and serious crime. The results were inconsistent with zero-tolerance policy expectations, as the number of graffiti tags has actually increased after the implementation of the policy, and there were no statistically significant associations between graffiti and serious crimes. Graffiti writers in Belo Horizonte are very selective of where and what they write, seeking areas where their tags can achieve greater visibility and longevity, adopting spatial behaviors contrary to that employed by criminals, who generally seek anonymity and invisibility.

Before #MeToo: The Fight against Sexual Harassment at Ontario Universities, 1979-1994

This article examines the campaign against sexual harassment conducted at Ontario universities between 1979 and 1994, looking closely at four universities: York, Queen’s, Toronto, and Carleton. Sources examined included campus newspapers, national media, and the CAUT Bulletin. The term “sexual harassment” was only coined in 1975, but it was quickly taken up by campus feminists in Ontario who successfully fought to have universities adopt policies and procedures to combat sexual harassment. By the late 1980s, they had broadened their campaign to look beyond predatory instructors, focusing on actions and behaviours that created a sexist climate that hindered women’s learning and their full participation in campus life. The arguments of both the supporters and the opponents of the campaign are examined. The article concludes with the failure of the Ontario government to impose a “zero tolerance” policy on sexual harassment at universities. While sexual harassment continues to exist at Ontario universities, campus feminists made significant progress during these years.

Comparing bacteriological parameters of sachet water samples collected in Nassarawa and Tarauni local Governments, Kano Metropolis, Kano State, Nigeria

Background: Water is a resource that is both invaluable and vital to the existence of all living organisms, but this valued resource is increasingly being threatened as human populations grow and demand more water of high quality for domestic purposes and economic activities. The conducted research was aimed to assessing bacteriological quality of sachet water samples sealed and sold and consumed in some Local Governments. Methods: The bacteriological quality assessment of sachet water samples were determined by Aerobic Plate Count (APC), test for Coliforms and Biochemical Test (IMViC). The tests were preceded by staining technique. Moreover, the Aerobic Plate Count results revealed various values (CFU)/100ml of water samples collected and examined. Results: Going by zero tolerance levels stipulated by regulatory agencies for coliforms in drinking water, a cumulative figure of twenty five percent (25%)meets the standards of drinking water quality and subsequent percentages were satisfactory, suspicious as well as unsatisfactory which were in conformity with that of world health organization, 2010. The total percentage of good sachet water samples based on this research was 90% and that of bad samples was 10% as indicated. It revealed the presence of Pseudomonas aeruginosa in the sample waters. Conclusion: It has been concluded that most sachets water samples sold and consumed in Kano metropolis conformed with world health organiztion (WHO) recommended standards for potable water and the consumption of some sachet waters whose values are either above or below WHO and SON permissible limit may pose health hazards to the consumers.

When the Campus is the Locker Room: A Queer Analysis of Student Athletics Bias Incidents

This multiple case study analyzes institutional responses to sex and gender bias incidents in student athletics programs and messaging around inclusion and antidiscrimination between 2015 and 2019. This study seeks to uncover, understand, and work to transform the embedded institutional values that harm sex and gender minority (SGM) students on college campuses and in student athletics by investigating three cases at Canisius College, Columbia University, and Harvard University. These cases were chosen due to their active athletics cultures and high-profile incidents involving SGM students. Analysis indicates that institutions are likely to: (a) limit their responsibility for bias incidents; (b) individualize discriminatory behavior to the perpetrators, ignoring embedded institutional cultures; and (c) reiterate “zero tolerance” while failing to enact any material change for the SGM students harmed by both the incidents in question and the institutions’ vague and toothless policies. Institutions must commit to materially support students through proactive measures rather than relying on nominal and reactive action that only further serves to exacerbate discrimination.

Recognizing the Role of Health Care Providers in Dismantling the Trauma-to-Prison Pipeline.

Trauma responses are normal reactions to abnormal or violent events, yet many health care providers treat the challenging behavioral manifestations of trauma with judgment or misunderstanding. As providers who care for vulnerable children, it is our obligation to understand and interrogate our roles within systems that perpetuate the overcriminalization of developmentally appropriate responses to trauma and abuse, which create the trauma-to-prison pipeline. By understanding this pipeline and its impact, we as health care providers can better support our trauma-exposed patients and advocate for systemic change to dismantle and disrupt it. Exposure to trauma and abuse can impact the reactivity of the prefrontal cortex’s “fear circuitry,” perpetuating a prolonged or sudden stress response even if a tangible danger is not present.1 Fear responses can be difficult to manage, particularly in youth, and can lead to substance use, emotional outbursts, self-harm, truancy, or other challenging behaviors to cope with underlying activation.2 Unfortunately, many institutions, including health care, augment the negative impacts of trauma by pathologizing these behaviors rather than recognizing and treating them for what they are: manifestations of trauma. Here we discuss 2 well-described pathways that health care providers should recognize, in which existing systems increase the likelihood for traumatized children to be incarcerated and … Address correspondence to Yuan He, MD, MPH, School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, 423 Guardian Dr, Blockley Hall, Philadelphia, PA 19147. E-mail: yuan.he{at}pennmedicine.upenn.edu

Reproductive Injustice at the Southern Border and Beyond: An Analysis of Current Events and Hope for the Future.

Reproductive Injustice at the Southern Border and Beyond: An Analysis of Current Events and Hope for the Future.

Long-term impact of the U.S. Armed forces Zero-Tolerance drug policy on female veterans

Background In 1980, the U.S. military instituted a zero-tolerance policy for illicit substance use that led to a reduction in such use during military services. Long-term post-military effects have not been studied. Methods National survey data from 2012-2013 were used to compared veteran versus non-veteran differences in sociodemographic, behavioral and substance use and psychiatric diagnoses among women by cohort (i.e., those younger than 52 who would have entered the military under the no tolerance policy, and those older than 52 who would have entered before this policy was implemented). Multivariate interaction analyses between cohorts and veteran status were used to identify significant changes in veteran-non-veteran differences between these age cohorts on during the decades following the implementation of the zero-tolerance policy. Results Significant interactions primarily involved substance use diagnoses which were less frequent among veterans than non-veterans in the younger group of women, in contrast to the older group in which veterans had greater rates of substance use than non-veterans. These patterns were less robust for alcohol than substance use disorders and were not significant for psychiatric disorders. Conclusion The zero-tolerance policy appears to have had a long-term effect resulting in less substance use disorder and, to some extent, less alcohol use disorder among veterans as compared to non-veterans who served in the military after the zero-tolerance policy was implemented.

Europe's Farm to Fork Strategy and Its Commitment to Biotechnology and Organic Farming: Conflicting or Complementary Goals?

The European Commission's Farm to Fork (F2F) strategy, under the European Green Deal, acknowledges that innovative techniques, including biotechnology, may play a role in increasing sustainability. At the same time, organic farming will be promoted, and at least 25% of the EU's agricultural land shall be under organic farming by 2030. How can both biotechnology and organic farming be developed and promoted simultaneously to contribute to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)? We illustrate that achieving the SDGs benefits from the inclusion of recent innovations in biotechnology in organic farming. This requires a change in the law. Otherwise, the planned increase of organic production in the F2F strategy may result in less sustainable, not more sustainable, food systems.

Importance of Anatomical Efficacy for Disease Control in Neovascular AMD: An Expert Opinion.

BackgroundNeovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD) presents a significant treatment burden for patients, carers and medical retina services. However, significant debate remains regarding how best to manage nAMD when assessing disease activity by optical coherence tomography (OCT), and particularly the significance of different types of fluid and how the understanding of anatomical efficacy can influence treatment strategies. This article provides opinion on the practical implications of anatomical efficacy and significance of fluid in the management of nAMD and proposes recommendations for healthcare professionals (HCPs) to improve understanding and promote best practice to achieve disease control.MethodsAn evidence-based review was performed and an expert panel debate from the Retina Outcomes Group (ROG), a forum of retinal specialists, provided insights and recommendations on the definition, role and practical implications of anatomical efficacy and the significance of fluid at the macula in the management of nAMD.ResultsThe ROG has developed recommendations for achieving disease control through a zero-tolerance approach to the presence of fluid in nAMD as patients who avoid fluctuations in fluid at the macula have better visual outcomes. Recommendations cover five key areas: service protocol, training, regimen, multidisciplinary teams and engagement. This approach facilitates more standardised protocol-based treatment strategies.ConclusionsTargeting a fluid-free macula and aiming for disease control are essential to improve outcomes. As new therapies and technologies become available, drying the macula and maintaining disease control will become even more achievable. The outlined recommendations aim to promote best practice among HCPs and medical retina services to improve patient outcomes.

Correction to: Zero Tolerance for Genital Mutilation: a Review of Moral Justifications

Correction to: Zero Tolerance for Genital Mutilation: a Review of Moral Justifications

The Reconstruction of Accounting Information Disclosure System Based on Blockchain Technology

In recent years, the trust relationship of financial reports in the capital market has been severely challenged. The reliability, relevance and timeliness of the accounting information provided by the company’s financial reports are obviously insufficient, and the efficiency of capital market accounting supervision has been greatly reduced. In the digital economy era, traditional double-entry accounting and financial accounting reports are no longer sufficient to serve the new economy, and it is imperative to reconstruct the accounting information disclosure system. This article attempts to implement the nine-character policy of capital market reform. Firstly, to reconstruct the accounting information disclosure system based on blockchain technology; and under the background of the system with less government intervention, various entities Automatically realize the maintenance of distributed ledger and the disclosure of financial accounting information, based on the principle of self-interest. Finally, in addition to legal restrictions, it is more difficult for untrustworthy persons to participate in the maintenance of distributed ledger, in order to increase their economic costs and achieve zero tolerance for them.

What Went Wrong with National Action Plan in Pakistan? An Analysis

The 2014s APS incident shook the entire state apparatus,which caused all the stakeholders to sit and join hands to effectively deal with terrorism. The ultimate outcome was the formulation of the National Action Plan (NAP), which provided for a twenty points comprehensive plan to uproot terrorism. The plan was the reflection of Government resilience to show zero tolerance for terrorist networks.However, after the passage of almost seven years, it is high time to look into where the NAP missed its stated goals. This paper looks deeply into those factors and causes and, in the end, makes recommendations as to how to improve things. What it concludes is that the real stakeholders, the street-level bureaucrats, have not been included in the consultation process. They are the ones whose opinions must have been listened to as they are much closer to the issue at hand. Data was collected through secondary sources, including books, newspaper articles, and research papers to make a balanced analysis.

The rise, fall and resurrection of chemical-induced resistance agents.

Since the discovery that the plant immune system could be augmented for improved deployment against biotic stressors through the exogenous application of chemicals that lead to induced resistance (IR), many such IR-eliciting agents have been identified. Initially it was hoped that these chemical IR agents would be a benign alternative to traditional chemical biocides. However, owing to low efficacy and/or a realization that their benefits sometimes come at the cost of growth and yield penalties, chemical IR agents fell out of favour and were seldom used as crop protection products. Despite the lack of interest in agricultural use, researchers have continued to explore the efficacy and mechanisms of chemical IR. Moreover, as we move away from the approach of 'zero tolerance' toward plant pests and pathogens toward integrated pest management, chemical IR agents could have a place in the plant protection product list. In this review, we chart the rise and fall of chemical IR agents, and then explore a variety of strategies used to improve their efficacy and remediate their negative adverse effects. © 2021 The Authors. Pest Management Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.

Birthright citizenship: reflexiones en torno a familias, menores y la nacionalidad por derecho de nacimiento en los Estados Unidos de América

El presente artículo trata sobre la nacionalidad por derecho de nacimiento en los Estados Unidos de América y expone cómo esta nación es uno de los 34 países que otorgan la nacionalidad por ius soli; es decir, por el hecho de haber nacido en territorio nacional, tal y como se deriva de la Decimocuarta Enmienda constitucional norteamericana, y en este caso, una adquisición de la nacionalidad sin restricciones a pesar de que la tendencia actual es hacia la imposición de condiciones para adquirir la nacionalidad mediante ius soli. Un ejemplo de esta tendencia, plasmada en iniciativas de leyes, la encontramos en la política más reciente estadounidense, a través de la Birthright Citizenship Act (H. R. 140), de 2019. Esta iniciativa de ley de ciudadanía por derecho de nacimiento, negaría la ciudadanía a los niños nacidos en los Estados Unidos, a menos que uno de los padres del niño sea ciudadano, residente legal permanente o residente legal que preste servicio militar en los Estados Unidos. Dicha ley violaría el texto de la mencionada decimocuarta enmienda constitucional, así como leyes secundarias. Como parte de la casuística expuesta, en el mismo tenor, en el artículo se analiza el fenómeno de los bebés anclas y el caso de las familias separadas en la frontera México-Estados Unidos bajo la denominada doctrina de “tolerancia cero”, por la cual todo inmigrante indocumentado se considera un delincuente y se le procesa judicialmente como tal, aunque no tenga antecedentes penales; “motivo” por el cual los niños no pueden seguir junto a sus padres y son separados, con un resultado para los padres que suele ser la deportación. La práctica de separar a los menores de sus familiares no respondió nunca a ninguna ley, y de ahí la orden ejecutiva del 20 de junio de 2018 que paralizó tal medida.

Estimating the Impact of Expulsions, Suspensions, and Arrests on Average School Proficiency Rates in Ohio Using Fixed Effects

Student removal became an increasingly utilized form of discipline since the implementation of zero-tolerance policies during the early 1990s. Evaluative studies have consistently found negative relationships between student removal and academic success. Majority of cases regarding student removal are for minor and non-violent offenses and literature in this field suggests that teachers’ biases and cultural misreadings widen racial disparities in school discipline and academic performance. Our study estimates the effects of suspensions, school-related arrests, and expulsions under zero-tolerance by exploiting within-school variation in school mean proficiency rates of Asian, Hispanic, Black, and White racial subgroups over a 3-year period. Our findings reaffirm consistent evidence that exclusionary policies have negative effects on academic outcomes. We also find evidence of differential effects by racial subgroup. The paper concludes with a discussion and policy implications.

Italian Nurses' experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic: a qualitative analysis of internet posts.

AimTo investigate the experience of Italian nurses during the first wave of the COVID‐19 outbreak by analysing professional social media posts.BackgroundThe COVID‐19 outbreak has overwhelmed health care institutions; as a consequence, nurses’ lives and psycho‐physical health have been affected.IntroductionThe COVID‐19 pandemic forced nurses to work in physically and psychologically stressful conditions impacting on their life.MethodsA qualitative descriptive study. All narratives (texts and videos) posted by nurses from the 23rd of February 2020 to the 3rd of May (from the start of the outbreak to the end of the first lockdown) were analysed and published on the five most popular Italian professional social media platforms. The Consolidated Criteria for Reporting Qualitative research guidelines were followed.ResultsFive themes emerged from the 380 narratives explored: ‘Sharing what is happening within myself’; ‘Experiencing unprecedented working conditions’; ‘Experiencing a deep change’; ‘Failing to rehabilitate the image of nurses in society’; and ‘Do not abandon us’. Even though nurses appreciated the recognition of their communities, they still felt devalued and not recognized as professionals.DiscussionSeveral psychological, physical, social and professional implications emerged from nurses working during the COVID‐19 pandemic. Despite being highly praised, nurses perceived they had failed in rehabilitating the image of nurses in society.ConclusionThe experience of working during the COVID‐19 pandemic represented a traumatic event for nurses but it offered them personal and professional growth opportunities.Implications for nursing practice, nursing policy and health policySupporting nurses’ mental health is highly recommended, together with a cultural investment on nurses’ role recognition, and a zero‐tolerance policy towards violence and aggression towards nurses.

“BARBARIC” CULTURAL PRACTICES: CULTURALIZING VIOLENCE AND THE FAILURE TO PROTECT WOMEN IN CANADA

The introduction of Bill S-7, the Zero Tolerance for Barbaric Cultural Practices Act, in 2015 garnered major critical attention across Canada. Amid an already tense climate of anti-immigrant sentiment in the post-9/11 era, the title chosen for the bill by the Conservative-led government catalyzed xenophobia, perpetuated the “us versus them” rhetoric, and culturalized violence. While originally touted as an opportunity to enhance protection for girls and women against the “foreign” horrors of polygamy, early and forced marriage, and “honour”-based killings, Bill S-7 instead fanned the flames of xenophobia on a mass level, failed to protect women, and, in fact, created higher risk of harms for women who are victims of gender- or family-based violence. In this commentary, we provide an overview of Bill S-7, the amendments to legislation made as a result of its passing, and some of its many problematic elements. We address the barriers to disclosing violence in racialized communities and subsequently provide suggestions on how to effectively address gender- and family-based violence in Canada in an effort to support survivors and prevent further harm.

Competition for space in a structured landscape: The effect of seed limitation on coexistence under a tolerance‐fecundity trade‐off

Abstract Life‐history trade‐offs are important coexistence mechanisms in plant communities. In particular, a trade‐off between seed quality and seed output may explain coexistence among species with a wide variety of seed sizes in heterogeneous landscapes with varying degrees of local stresses such as shade, drought and browsing. Under spatially implicit formulations of the tolerance‐fecundity trade‐off, species diversity is only bounded by community size and environmental heterogeneity. However, these formulations leave unanswered the question of how dispersal limitation, an important aspect of real communities, impacts the ability of the tolerance‐fecundity trade‐off to support coexistence. Here we show using stochastic cellular automata that coexistence under the tolerance‐fecundity trade‐off in a spatially structured landscape is strongly modulated by the interactions between the spatial scales of species dispersal and environmental variability. Specifically, coexistence in a patchy landscape is higher under short dispersal scales relative to the scale of environmental variation. These conditions allow species to segregate spatially and thus avoid interspecific competition. In addition to dispersal limitation, coexistence under the tolerance‐fecundity trade‐off is promoted by a sharp drop in tolerance as local environmental stress increases, a high overall seed output across species, local homogeneity in environmental conditions and weak age structure in fertility. In particular, coexistence is much higher when species have full tolerance to stress levels below a threshold and zero tolerance above that threshold, with nothing in between. This steep gradient contributes to coexistence because it maximizes niche separation between similar species. Synthesis. When plants compete for space, dispersal limitation and landscape spatial structure can conspire to boost coexistence and diversity. Our results show that the tolerance‐fecundity trade‐off is a strong niche differentiation mechanism when species experience a well‐defined distinction between suitable and unsuitable environments, and supports higher diversity when dispersal scales are shorter than the scales of variation in the environment. We conclude that the trade‐off is more likely to be a relevant coexistence mechanism in the context of large‐scale environmental variation, such as topography, than small‐scale variation, such as in litter cover and canopy shading.

Incidence of Head Contacts, Penalties, and Player Contact Behaviors in Youth Ice Hockey: Evaluating the "Zero Tolerance for Head Contact" Policy Change.

Background:To reduce the risk of concussion in youth ice hockey, Hockey Canada implemented a national “zero tolerance for head contact” (HC) policy in 2011. A previous cohort study revealed higher concussion rates after this implementation in players aged 11 to 14 years. However, it is unknown whether the elevated risk was due to higher HC rates or factors such as increased concussion awareness and reporting.Purpose:To compare the rates of primary and secondary HCs and HC policy enforcement in elite U15 ice hockey leagues (players <15 years) before (2008-2009) and after (2013-2014) the zero-tolerance policy change.Study Design:Cohort study; Level of evidence, 3.Methods:A total of 32 elite U15 games before (n2008-2009 = 16; 510 players) and after (n2013-2014 = 16; 486 players) HC policy implementation were video recorded. Videos were analyzed with validated criteria for identifying HC types (primary/direct contact by players [HC1], secondary/indirect contact via boards, glass, or ice surface [HC2]) and other player-to-player contact behavior. Referee-assessed penalties were cross-referenced with the official Hockey Canada casebook, and penalty types were displayed using proportions. Univariate Poisson regression (adjusted for cluster by team game, offset by game length [minutes]) was used to estimate HC incidence rates (IRs) and incidence rate ratios (IRRs) between cohorts.Results:A total of 506 HCs were analyzed, 261 before HC policy implementation (IR, 16.6/100 team minutes) and 245 after implementation (IR, 15.5/100 team minutes). The HC1 rate (IRR, 1.05; 95% CI, 0.86-1.28) and HC2 rate (IRR, 0.74; 95% CI, 0.50-1.11) did not significantly differ before versus after implementation. Only 12.0% and 13.6% of HC1s were penalized pre- and postimplementation, respectively. Before implementation, HC1s were commonly penalized as roughing or elbowing penalties (59%), while after implementation, HC1s were penalized with the HC penalty (76%), and only 8% as roughing or elbowing.Conclusion:Despite implementation of the “zero tolerance for HC” policy, there was no difference in the rate of HC1s and HC2s or the proportion of HC1 penalized from before to after implementation. This research is instrumental in informing Hockey Canada’s future referee training and rule enforcement modifications.

Policing cities: Incivility, disorder, and societal transformations

AbstractOver the past 30 years, we have been witnessing a rise in incivility policing across western but also non‐western cities. The term “incivility policing” refers to bans and exclusion aimed at drinking alcohol, begging, loitering, sitting in public, and many other kinds of subcriminal conduct. Scholars have observed an increasing readiness to demand legal “solutions” aimed against these kinds of conduct. In this paper, I review two major strands of scholarship dealing with the origins of these calls: First, a rising punitiveness and a “law and order” mentality, inspired by the Broken windows theory and Zero tolerance policies. Second, privatization of space and the rising influence of private actors over public spaces are discussed with references to the concepts of neoliberalism, revanchism, and the right to the city. The effect of incivility policing on vulnerable groups is examined using the example of homeless people in public space. In the final part, I suggest new factors which could help us understand the rise in incivility policing: These include general trust, everyday trust, and the imaginaries of community.