week 8 replies

524 d1 reply to doug 100 words

In our text in chapter 11, Reddington and Bonham argue against campus carry, citing concerns over academic freedom, decreased perceptions of safety, and increased risks of suicide or accidents.  They contend that firearms disrupt the "marketplace of ideas" and complicate law enforcement, suggesting that campuses are sensitive environments unsuitable for widespread concealed carry.

They also mention that law enforcement officials fear that the idea of students who carry concealed could increase confusion and cause additional concerns for first responders.  I looked up some numbers from the FBI and The ALERRT websites  and there is no single official database that comprehensively counts every "complication" caused by armed civilians, as law enforcement reports often focus on the resolution of the threat rather than internal tactical difficulties.  However, data from the FBI, RAND Corporation, and ALERRT provide significant insights into how frequently armed civilians are present and the specific risks they pose. 

According to one report, while armed civilians do occasionally stop shooters, it is statistically rare compared to other outcomes.  For example check out the numbers below.  From 2014 to 2024, the FBI reported that armed citizens stopped 14 out of 374 (roughly 3.7%) active shooter incidents identified during this period.  ALERRT/RAND Data on 433 attacks showed that armed bystanders shot the attacker in only 22 cases.  Of those 22, nearly half (10 cases) involved someone with professional training, such as a security guard or off-duty police officer.  The following numbers are hard for me to get my head around but another report relates that physical Force vs. Firearms where bystanders were twice as likely to subdue an attacker using physical force (42 cases) than with a gun (22 cases)!  How bizarre is that? 

In the same report by the FBI stated, “The primary complication documented is the risk of misidentification, often called "blue-on-blue" incidents.  Another astonishing number I uncovered stated in an analysis of 133 school shootings, found that the presence of armed guards or personnel was actually associated with a death rate 2.83 times higher than in schools without armed personnel.  This has to be some corny coincidence.  That just doesn’t even make sense. 

The only example of a bystander being shot and killed by first responders, (That I could find), was in a high-profile case where the confusion occurred when police arrived was in Arvada, Colorado in 2021.  Evidently an armed bystander who had just killed an active shooter was himself shot and killed by responding officers who mistook him for the gunman. Wonky.  But in other examples… approximately 60% to 70% of incidents, the event ends before police even arrive.  When police do arrive during an ongoing event, they must immediately distinguish between multiple people with weapons, which can cause life-threatening delays in neutralizing the actual perpetrator.  However, according to some data this happens at a very low percentage.  So what I suppose we need to do is train people who want to carry on campuses on how to react when the police show up. 

I used to teach people how to react (Run, Hide, Fight) in many different situations.  Grocery stores, schools, other public buildings, even outdoor venues.  Along with this we taught them how to react when first responders showed up.  What to expect, how to act, and so on.  When I came back to Texas and was teaching high school, I was shocked to learn that this very important part of how to behave in an incident like this was not being taught.  Perhaps if we added this little, but very important piece to the training these folks get, when they learn to carry, the numbers may shrink. 

Lastly on the subject, I do not think the Federal government should be making decisions at the state level when many state legislatures differ in their opinions of the Second Amendment.  The problem is, if these institutions do not play along they risk losing federal funding.  In Texas we can open carry today with zero training.  That’s a whole other crazy topic I could talk about but I’ll spare you the details.  However what I am trying to outline here is it should be the duty of the county sheriff to train and license people who wish to carry a concealed hand gun.  I believe most counties do support this level of local training, and for one main reason, they know how their first responders do things, and they can impart this information to those taking the classes.   

~Doug

Jr., F.P.R. B. (2019). Flawed Criminal Justice Policies: At the Intersection of the Media, Public Fear and Legislative Response (2nd ed.). Carolina Academic Press.  https://ccis.vitalsource.com/books/9781531011376 

Reimal, E. (2019). Urban Institute: Guns on College Campuses.  https://www.urban.org/sites/default/files/publication/100963/guns_on_college_campuses_1.pdf.

Online Article (2025). FBI Criminal Justice Information Services Division:  FBI Releases Crime in Schools, 2020-2024, Special Report.  https://www.fbi.gov/news/press-releases/fbi-releases-crime-in-schools-2020-2024-special-report#:~:text=Most%20criminal%20incidents%20reported%20occurred,knife/cutting%20instrument%20and%20handgun.

524 d1 reply to laycee 100 words

Gun control has always been a subject that multiple people have different perspectives on. Use of gun violence is something we are exposed to on the daily basis. Gun violence is seen considered as a debate. The two perspectives that are always debated are having gun control and the right to bear arms. Gun laws are always debated because they can cause blurred lines between individual rights and recent tragedies in this country. School shootings and mass shootings in public places have become common all over the country. It is always devastating to hear about people losing their lives in a devastating event. Shortly after a tragedy takes place, the public begins to express their concerns about gun control and how these rights should be considered limited. Considering college students that have guns on campus, it is a split decision. Some citizens feel like college students have weapons on campus could increase the number of shootings, suicides, and other tragedies. Some people feel like college students that have guns on campus could cause deterrence effect on violent crime. Students being allowed guns on campus should depend on state laws. State laws are developed based on statistics for a specific event or casualty. 

Jr., F. P. R. B. (2019). Flawed criminal justice policies: At the intersection of the media, public fear and legislative response (2nd ed.). Carolina Academic Press.

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524 reply d2 reply Fredrick 100 words

I plan on creating a policy that enforces a standard of having one nurse to work in a lower community or middle class environment. The reason for this is because currently we have more security officers or police officers working in schools instead of having nurses. In the state of Colorado we have a 4 to 1 ratio of officers over a nurse. The policy I want to create will flip that number by creating a support chain for our professional- nurse-. In my policy I plan on creating a staffing team that supports our nurses to the fullest. I want to have a psychologist and social worker in the district that gives answers and guidance to children in need. The teachers will also be apart of the program in the long run but starting off we will send a Aid to help assist children in lower community environments. The parents will also have a direct line to the nurse and to our advisor. That way if they have any suggestions we can add it to our policy. The overall goal is to take away the pipeline of sending Adolescents to jail because families cant really afford the care.

                In my first stage my goal is to create a policy that decreases our recidivism rate by five to ten percent by implanting impactful medical services to lower class and middle class citizen. My time frame is a two year period. The target population: is low class and middle class students in secondary program. (Secodary schools means smaller funded schools or schools who have kids on their last chance). The result: Lower recidivism rates and lower the drop out numbers in lower and middle class communities. In my action plan I plan on creating a system that holds everyone accountable. While also ensuring the correct services get out to the right students. I had a start up cost of one hundred forty seven thousand and five hundred dollars. Once things get rolling I estimate we should hit the million dollar number annually once we get things moving.

                I plan on using the teachers as a data collection method. One of my plans is utilizing teachers to conduct surveys every quarter. This way we can get accurate assessment of what actually works compared to sticking to a plan that fit our desired market of kids. I even added a financial manager which will over see money side of it. That way we don’t lose any money and we can actually turn a bigger profit. As far as the equipment goes I plan on using Service provider data but lean more towards  Participant data targets in my plan.

                I listed a bunch of confounding factors but the two I mention first was socioeconomic change and the second was a major event to happen and I used an example of Covid and how that effected that graduated class and everyone together long terms. I planned on targeting low income households and single parent house holds. The single parent house hold gets priority on the list. I also listed other methods if necessary like bringing in tax documents to verify income and things of that nature. Overall the goal is to help struggling kids who don’t get these opportunities.

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524 d2 reply to chet 100 words

I’ve assembled solid, usable Stage 6 products that should support a robust pilot test. Pairing an impact evaluation (RCT preferred, steppedwedge if necessary) with outcome monitoring and costbenefit analysis positions I did well to answer the “big three” questions of concern to decisionmakers: does PSNP work?, how is it working over time?, and is it worth doing at the county level? My logical start points checklist is comprehensive, and rightly identifies the IT/dataextract/MOU items that should be completed before randomization/full implementation launch; my suggestion would be to ensure you have the DUA signed and conduct a data extract (small, preliminary sample) to confirm variable names/missing values before enrollment. Selected measures are closely linked to program SMART goals, and my plans to conduct interrater reliability audits, code centrally through the DUA, and operationally define fidelity will help ensure measurement validity. Finally, my approach to confounds is grounded in reality: selection, attrition, and history are the biggest threats to validity in your pilot, and my strategies to mitigate them (random assignment if feasible, ITT analyses, multiple pretests, use of contemporaneous controls, and sensitivity checks) are suitable. Advice to past self: Three things I would do next... (1) collaborate with evaluator on power calculations/sample-size estimates to ensure my attrition assumptions are realistic and study is powered on threshold effects, (2) determine if I'll be using a steppedwedge rollout & lock that schedule in (only if stakeholders demand universal interim access) and (3) run a mini formative cohort to stresstest the data flows, fidelity checks, & dashboard cadence before going live. Communication plans should be kept simple but frequent: weekly operational memos and monthly dashboards should keep frontline staff engaged, while 6/12/24month evaluator reports will provide necessary updates to funders and steering committee members. Stage 6 is robust and feasible. Now onto finalizing the DUA and IT setup, then once power calculations are finished, I will be set to go confidently with a defendable evaluation plan.

Shadish, W. R., Cook, T. D., & Campbell, D. T. (2002). Experimental and quasiexperimental designs for generalized causal inference. Houghton Mifflin.

Welsh, W. N., & Harris, P. W. (2016). Criminal justice policy and planning (5th ed.). Routledge.

561 d1 reply to eugenia 200 words

Trevor Bickford's 2022 machete attack during the Times Square New Year's Eve ball drop raises questions about the rise of lone-actor terrorist attacks driven by extremist ideologies. This incident illustrates the ease with which people can be radicalised without social networks, making it more difficult for local police agencies to identify and prevent. To counter this threat, law enforcement agencies should look for behavioural red flags. Crisis Intervention Strategies identifies preliminary indicators as isolation, interest in violence, atypical changes in behavior, and "leakage" of intent through verbal or digital means. The establishment of Behavioral Threat Assessment Teams (BTATs) can assist in assessing these indicators from a multifaceted perspective that includes law enforcement, mental health, and community-based experts. Partnering with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) through Joint Terrorism Task Forces helps agencies share information and stay up-to-date with intelligence trends. But we need to look within. As Stress Inside Police Departments details, stress can affect officers' decision-making and situational awareness, so departments must prioritise officer well-being and training to enhance awareness of potential threats.

Engagement with the community is also vital to prevent radicalisation from turning deadly. Few people live in a bubble - parents, friends, or teachers may be the first to spot a behaviour change. Community policing strategies that prioritise fostering trust can empower communities to report suspicious behaviour. Anonymous reporting and culturally sensitive outreach help to deepen this trust. It is important that this be done in a way that does not focus on particular groups, as this can lead to distrust and a lack of cooperation. Another challenge is maintaining public access while ensuring security in large public events, such as Times Square on New Year's Eve. Police need to implement multiple, yet non-intrusive, security measures. This might involve deterrents such as a visible police presence, entry points with screening, and plainclothes officers trained in detecting suspicious behavior. The aim is to keep people safe while enabling them to assemble and enjoy the event without being too constrained or monitored. Respect for civil liberties and safety is critical to gaining public trust.

In the aftermath, communication is critical to avoid fear and divisions. Police should communicate information promptly, transparently, and accurately to avoid disinformation. As highlighted in James (2024), communication in a crisis should be trauma-informed - recognising public fear and promoting feelings of safety and control. Also, communication should not stigmatise a community because of the acts of one person. Consistent law enforcement and government messaging builds trust and resilience.

Ultimately, the key to preventing an attack like the one in Times Square is a multifaceted strategy that incorporates behavioral threat assessments, community engagement, event security, and communication. Through a focus on behaviours, trust and transparency, law enforcement can combat the rising threat of lone-actor terrorist attacks while protecting the civil rights it is charged with upholding.

References James, R. (2024). Crisis Intervention Strategies (9th ed.). Cengage Learning US.  https://ccis.vitalsource.com/books/9798214125787 Shane, J. (2019). Stress Inside Police Departments. Taylor & Francis.  https://ccis.vitalsource.com/books/9781000762891

561 d1 reply to troy 200 words

The machete attack in Times Square in 2022 highlights the challenges that modern policing faces, particularly during major public events. Local police departments are facing challenges beyond just traditional crime now. They are also facing challenges related to lone-actor extremism, online radicalization, and threats that can emerge rapidly with minimal notice. Trevor Bickford made his way from Maine to New York, where he assaulted three NYPD officers close to the security area for New Year’s Eve. Later, investigators indicated that he had been swayed by jihadist propaganda and aimed to target law enforcement (Reuters, 2023). From a prevention perspective, local departments should prioritize behavioral threat assessment, engage in community outreach, and enhance intelligence sharing. Departments need to equip officers and analysts with the skills to identify warning signs like violent fixation, ideological obsession, online leakage, travel for violent purposes, and threats against law enforcement. The National Institute of Justice (2024a) has observed that violent extremism frequently intersects with various types of targeted violence. This indicates that departments should focus on behaviors and patterns rather than solely relying on labels. Community outreach plays a crucial role because family members, teachers, neighbors, and faith leaders often notice changes well before law enforcement does. Prevention is more effective when the community views the police as approachable individuals to whom they can express their concerns, without the immediate fear of arrest. During a critical event such as Times Square, officers must ensure public safety while respecting the public's right to come together in shared spaces. I believe that a layered security strategy is the most effective. This includes having visible officers, controlled access points, bag screenings, plainclothes personnel, and a quick medical response team on standby. These measures can enhance safety in the area while maintaining a welcoming atmosphere. Following an attack, effective communication is equally important. Agencies should respond promptly, provide accurate information, and maintain a composed demeanor. James (2024) discusses how effective crisis communication can alleviate fear and help individuals regain a sense of control. In situations like this, it’s important to clearly distinguish the suspect's actions from those of any broader religious or ethnic group, ensuring the public receives accurate information without imposing unfair stigma.

References

James, R. K. (2024). Crisis Intervention Strategies (9th Ed.). Cengage Learning US.

National Institute Of Justice. (2024a). Comparing Violent Extremism And Terrorism To Other Forms Of Targeted Violence. https://nij.ojp.gov/topics/articles/comparing-violent-extremism-and-terrorism-other-forms-targeted-violence

National Institute Of Justice. (2024b). Evaluating And Assessing Terrorism Prevention Programs. https://nij.ojp.gov/library/publications/evaluating-and-assessing-terrorism-prevention-programs-what-research-sponsored

Reuters. (2023, January 10). Teen Charged With Attempted Murder In New Year’s Eve Attack In New York. https://www.reuters.com/world/us/teen-charged-with-attempted-murder-new-year-eve-attack-new-york-2023-01-11/