Showing papers by "Cynthia Lum published in 2008"
TL;DR: The findings indicate that while drugs and violence often exhibit overlapping spatial patterns, important variations exist in the spatial relationship between the two.
Abstract: The pervasiveness of interest regarding the theme of a relationship between street-level drug activity and violence has been reflected throughout criminal justice research, policy, and practice as well as in public opinion. Most research has focused on the connection between the two at the individual level. This study extends previous research by examining the place-based relationship between drugs and violence. To do so, this project employs three spatial statistical approaches—measures of spatial intensity/density, measures of spatial dependence for drugs and violence separately, and a modified spatial dependence approach for non-homogenous populations to explore the relationship between drug activity and violence. The findings indicate that while drugs and violence often exhibit overlapping spatial patterns, important variations exist in the spatial relationship between the two.
37 citations
TL;DR: In response to a crisis of heightened crime and lowered public confidence, Trinidad and Tobago has embarked upon a package of reforms intended to transform the governance, and ultimately the performance, of its Police Service.
Abstract: In response to a crisis of heightened crime and lowered public confidence, Trinidad and Tobago has embarked upon a package of reforms intended to transform the governance, and ultimately the performance, of its Police Service. Trinidad and Tobago's governance problems issue from its colonial heritage and conflicts between cultural groups in the society. The old system of governance created the appearance of governance, but dysfunctional results. Adapted from the model of the Independent Commission on Policing for Northern Ireland, Trinidad and Tobago's reformed system consolidates more administrative authority in the office of police commissioner, enhances the Government's capacity to provide policy direction, while creating independent watchdog entities to hold the Police Service accountable. These arrangements afford the opportunity to strengthen the legitimacy of all governing entities, greater internal and external control, transparency and effective technical management. But success ultimately requires major changes in the habits of all governing entities, changes that only committed leadership in Government, the police and party politics can ensure.
32 citations
TL;DR: It is concluded that counter-terrorism policy is not evidence-based and the need for government leaders, policy makers, researchers, and funding agencies to include and insist on evaluations of the effectiveness of these programs in their agendas is emphasized.
Abstract: Is counter-terrorism policy evidence-based? What works, what harms, and what is unknown. One of the central concerns surrounding counter-terrorism interventions today, given the attention and money spent on them, is whether such interventions are effective. To explore this issue, we conducted a general review of terrorism literature as well as a Campbell systematic review on counter-terrorism strategies. In this article, we summarize some of our findings from these works. Overall, we found an almost complete absence of evaluation research on counter-terrorism strategies and conclude that counter-terrorism policy is not evidence-based. The findings of this review emphasise the need for government leaders, policy makers, researchers, and funding agencies to include and insist on evaluations of the effectiveness of these programs in their agendas.
29 citations
Journal Article•
TL;DR: This paper conducted a general review of terrorism literature as well as a Campbell systematic review on counter-terrorism strategies, and concluded that counterterrorism policy is not evidence-based and emphasized the need for government leaders, policy makers, researchers, and funding agencies to include and insist on evaluations of the effectiveness of these programs in their agendas.
Abstract: Is counter-terrorism policy evidence-based? What works, what harms, and what is unknown. One of the central concerns surrounding counter-terrorism interventions today, given the attention and money spent on them, is whether such interventions are effective. To explore this issue, we conducted a general review of terrorism literature as well as a Campbell systematic review on counter-terrorism strategies. In this article, we summarize some of our findings from these works. Overall, we found an almost complete absence of evaluation research on counter-terrorism strategies and conclude that counter-terrorism policy is not evidence-based. The findings of this review emphasise the need for government leaders, policy makers, researchers, and funding agencies to include and insist on evaluations of the effectiveness of these programs in their agendas.
29 citations