Criminal-Justice landing page Criminology Assoc. Prof. Harris-Christopher Christopher Harris researches police misconduct, police accountability, public perceptions of police, and early…, Q: It seems like some big city police departments have undertaken decades of reform efforts, yet new scandals break out that look a lot like the old ones. Why is that?, A:, Sometimes, it’s because the reforms weren’t going to work in the first place. One example is civilian oversight panels – even those that can accept complaints and investigate them independently, in…, Q: You have done research into data-based early intervention systems that are designed to flag officers with problematic behavior and retrain them before the behavior escalates. Are they effective?, A:, Not as they’re currently used by most departments. Generally, these systems will flag an officer who exceeds a threshold number of citizen complaints or use of force incidents within a certain time…, Q: Since Sept. 11, 2001, many police departments have been equipped with military surplus weapons, equipment and training. Has that hurt reform efforts?, A:, Yes, I think so. Giving police military surplus runs counter to policing in a democracy, which should be by consent. And overall, police rarely have to use force, so whether they need military…, Q: Do you think that mentality led to some of the recent clashes between police and protesters that involved police use of tear gas, pepper spray, rubber bullets and bean bag guns?, A:, Yes. It sets a bad tone if police show up to a protest in riot gear. That tells the protesters the police are expecting trouble, and that can escalate the situation. It doesn’t say to the crowd, “We…, Q: Historically, what kinds of reforms have worked, and who’s doing a good job? , A:, States can and should set police certification and training standards. Police departments should also examine their training and policies on the use of deadly force, among other things. But if you…
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In the midst of a COVID-19 pandemic that has disproportionately affected Massachusetts seniors, UMass Boston’s Gerontology Institute is using its research to identify the state’s most vulnerable…
Type: News
USDA’s Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) has awarded a two-year, $300,000 grant to an interdisciplinary group of researchers from UMass Amherst to develop tools to estimate the mass of…
Type: News
AMHERST, Mass. – The University of Massachusetts Amherst Department of Food Science has been awarded a five-year, $482,549 grant to fund an experiential learning program for undergraduates, including…
Type: News
AMHERST, Mass. – A chemist and kinesiologist got on a bus, but this isn’t the set-up to a joke. Instead, kinesiologist and lead author Ned Debold and chemist Dhandapani Venkataraman, “DV,” began…
Type: News
UMass Medical School and Massachusetts General Hospital are the first to safely treat two research participants with a synthetic microRNA, delivered into the spinal fluid, designed to silence a human…
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What if a U.S. Air Force pilot, using a computer chip implanted in her brain, could fly a plane remotely to bomb a target? In this scenario, is it ethical for the Air Force to implant the chip in…
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A beloved high school teacher changed Assoc. Prof. Mitchell-Keith Keith Mitchell ’s life. And now, as a teacher in the English page English Department , Mitchell affects the lives of countless…
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Back in May, two months into the coronavirus pandemic and campus closure, the semester was coming to a close and Music Prof. Shirley-John John Shirley felt the sting of all that he was missing.
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The National Association of Division III Athletic Administrators (NADIIIAA) Thursday named Charlie Titus, the newly retired vice chancellor of athletics and recreation, special programs and projects…
Type: News