articles

21 Aug

Posted at 21:34h in articles, Law Enforcement by
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Abstract When an individual commits a crime, there may be several evaluations which are ordered by the court. One of the most important will often be that of criminal responsibility. This speaks to the defendant’s state of mind during the criminal act for which he is to stand trial. There are many reasons a defendant may be found ‘not guilty for reason of insanity.’ However, experts for opposing counsel often disagree on their findings; even when the tools used to conduct the evaluations...

21 Jul

Posted at 21:28h in articles by
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Abstract Lone wolf terrorism has become an increased threat to national security in the United States over the past several decades. As training for law enforcement has become hyper-focused in response to such incidents, prevention has taken a proverbial back seat. Meanwhile, politicians and the media use the term ‘lone wolf’ as nothing short of an excuse, as if the term alone explains why the attack was not thwarted. But is this assessment correct? Could it be possible to prevent an...

05 Mar

Posted at 21:22h in articles by
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Abstract Domestic terrorism has plagued the United States for almost as long as it has been an independent nation. However, it was not until attacks that took place over the last few decades that a need to identify and address the threat was established. The agreement that domestic terrorism is a problem remains a far cry from agreeing on a viable solution. Controversy over how to define it, punish it, and prevent it without impeding constitutional rights continues to provide roadblocks...

13 Dec

Posted at 21:20h in articles by
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The following is a paper I wrote about the behavioral and psychological impacts of violence and covers some of the lesser-known effects. Though it can apply to violence committed anywhere; as you read it, think about violence committed in the workplace. Remember not all workplace violence is physical and that these effects can become the financial responsibility of the employer. Abstract The effects of violence are both physical and psychological. An act of violence against an individual is likely to affect not only...

01 Oct

Posted at 21:15h in articles, Law Enforcement by
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Abstract Workplace violence may take many different forms; however, none grant as much immediate attention as an active shooter event. Also referred to as ‘active threat,' these events are the fastest growing and the most violent type of workplace violence. They can occur with little to no warning and on average, are over before law enforcement arrives. The psychological impact of such events is far-reaching and touches first responders, as well as the victims and their families.  These incidents can cost...

15 Feb

Posted at 14:57h in articles, Law Enforcement by
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McCann (2006), defines lost cause terrorism as “acts of political violence where members of a group have lost a battle and act out in a final display of defiance or rebellion” (p. 9).  In the United States, one of the earliest and most noteworthy acts of lost cause terrorism was the assassination of Abraham Lincoln. Much debate has been had on the mental status of the assassin, John Wilks Booth. However, a political assassin cannot be judged merely by the enormity of the crime...

02 Jan

Posted at 20:17h in articles by
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The Occupations Health and Safety Administration (OSHA) defines workplace violence as “… any act or threat of physical violence, harassment, intimidation, or other threatening disruptive behavior that occurs at the worksite. It ranges from threats and verbal abuse to physical assaults and even homicide. It can affect and involve employees, clients, customers, and visitors.” OSHA further states “Each employer – shall furnish to each of his employee employment and a place of employment which are free from recognized hazards that are...

27 Nov

Posted at 20:12h in articles by
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In 1943 Abraham Maslow proposed that motivation is the result of a person's attempt at fulfilling five basic needs: physiological, security, social, esteem, and self-actualization. According to his theory, these needs create internal pressures that can influence behavior. Many of you may be familiar with the pyramid model that often accompanies this theory, with the absolute basic human need being Physiological. These needs are required for human survival; air, food, water, shelter, clothing, and sleep. These are the needs that must be...

17 Oct

Posted at 14:35h in articles, Education, Law Enforcement by
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The article by Mike Wood I posted a couple of weeks ago Why 'Move, Escape, or Attack' is superior to 'Run, Hide, Fight', generated a lot of interesting chatter. The feedback ran the gamut from “love it” to “same thing” to “hate it”. So many noteworthy opinions on the topic, it became almost impossible to respond to them all. But I would like to address the main points made by so many in our industry and why I found the article particularly interesting. Does the...

03 Oct

Posted at 20:09h in articles, Education by
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Hindsight being 20/20, it is indicative of every Active Shooter event for people to come forward after the fact and report the behavior of the shooter as being suspicious. Virginia Tech - The shooter had gone to the gun range, laid targets out on the ground, and practiced shooting while standing over them. He had walked the halls of the school, counting paces between the classrooms. He measured the distance around the door handles, which during his attack he chained shut. Moore,...