Misunderstandings, mischaracterizations, and malicious accusations: A reply to Walby’s (2021) SWAT Everywhere?

2021 ◽  
pp. 0032258X2110089
Author(s):  
Bryce Jenkins ◽  
Tori Semple ◽  
Craig Bennell ◽  
Laura Huey
Keyword(s):  
High Risk ◽  
Academic Integrity ◽  
Financial Support ◽  
Evidence Based ◽  
Community Members ◽  
Patrol Officers ◽  
Police Services ◽  
Evidence Based Policing ◽  
Police Practices ◽  
Tactical Officers

To develop a more informed understanding of why tactical officers are used in Canada, we interviewed patrol and tactical officers from three Canadian police services (Jenkins et al., 2020). Interviewees indicated that tactical officers tend to be used on calls that go beyond the capabilities of patrol officers, including high-risk calls and calls unfolding in special environments, and that their use results in reduced threat to police and public safety. In response, Walby (2021) has argued that evidence-based policing (EBP) research of the sort we conducted is inherently biased. He also criticized our understanding of existing literature, took aim at our research methodology and conclusions, and questioned our academic integrity by claiming that we were paid by the participating police services to conduct the research. While Walby makes some valid criticisms of our research, his response is riddled with misunderstandings, mischaracterizations, and malicious (unfounded) accusations. After setting the record straight with respect to allegations regarding our nefarious motives to conduct the research, we argue that Walby completely misrepresents EBP research when he argues that it aims to support harmful police practices in exchange for financial support. We then correct numerous instances where Walby either mischaracterizes existing research or misrepresents our views (and those of our interviewees) when it comes to the use of tactical officers. We conclude by calling for more inclusive conversations to take place to address the issue of police militarization. These conversations must include community members, but they must also include the police.

An exploration of the use of tactical officers in three Canadian police services

2020 ◽  
pp. 0032258X2096283
Author(s):  
Bryce Jenkins ◽  
Tori Semple ◽  
Craig Bennell ◽  
Laura Huey
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
High Risk ◽  
Thematic Analysis ◽  
Public Safety ◽  
Significant Risk ◽  
Police Services ◽  
Tactical Officers

In order to better understand the use of tactical police resources in Canada we interviewed patrol and tactical officers ( N = 28) from three Canadian police services. A thematic analysis indicated that tactical officers are primarily responding to calls beyond the capabilities of patrol to resolve optimally which included high-risk calls as denoted by the presence of risk-factors and calls unfolding in special environments. Further, tactical officer response is thought to result in a reduced threat to officer and public safety. Our findings suggest that in contrast to previous claims, tactical officers are often responding to calls where significant risk is present.

Examining the Spatial Concentration of Mental Health Calls for Police Service in a Small City

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jacek Koziarski
Keyword(s):  
Hot Spots ◽  
Small City ◽  
Evidence Based ◽  
Limited Capacity ◽  
Police Services ◽  
Calls For Service ◽  
New Methods ◽  
Service Data ◽  
Evidence Based Policing ◽  
Do So

Abstract In recent years, police services have begun deploying more robust responses to calls for service involving persons with perceived mental illness (PwPMI), but at times do so in a limited capacity because of various challenges. Drawing from established evidence-based policing practices, a more efficient use of these responses may be to proactively deploy them instead, focusing their efforts on hot spots of PwPMI calls. Unfortunately, little is known about PwPMI call concentrations. Therefore, this study seeks to contribute to the literature by not only examining the concentration of these calls within a small city, but also by introducing new methods and a new measure of concentration to the literature. Drawing on 6 years of calls for service data, the results reveal that a high proportion of PwPMI calls are concentrated in few spatial units—more so than in larger jurisdictions. Further analyses also reveal dispersion of these concentrations.

Collaboration Consequences: New Public Management and Police-Academic Partnerships

2021 ◽  
pp. 193672442098437
Author(s):  
Carrie B. Sanders ◽  
Debra Langan
Keyword(s):  
Policy Development ◽  
Public Management ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
New Public Management ◽  
Evidence Based ◽  
Organizational Contexts ◽  
Police Services ◽  
New Public ◽  
Academic Partnerships ◽  
Institutional Strategies

With increasing pressure on public organizations to demonstrate accountability, police services and public universities are being tasked with demonstrating how their institutional strategies are effective and economically efficient. In this paper, we draw on our own research collaborations with two different Canadian police services (Bluewater and Greenfield) on a similar community crime prevention strategy, Situation Tables. We illustrate how new public management practices are embedded in the political, economic, and organizational contexts that have inspired police-academic partnerships and invigorated the evidence-based policing movement in Canada. Our analysis illustrates how our partnerships were influenced by the performance strand of new public management that prioritizes the quantification of measures of outputs over qualitative evaluations of impact. We argue that these practices, if not interrogated, can jeopardize the integrity of evidence-based practice and policy development. Academic freedom must be retained when partnering with the police to ensure an examination of the implications of police practices.

scholarly journals Text-Messaging, Online Peer Support Group, and Coaching Strategies to Optimize the HIV Prevention Continuum for Youth: Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Trial

10.2196/11165 ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 8 (8) ◽  
pp. e11165 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dallas Swendeman ◽  
Elizabeth Mayfield Arnold ◽  
Danielle Harris ◽  
Jasmine Fournier ◽  
W Scott Comulada ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
High Risk ◽  
Hiv Prevention ◽  
Peer Support ◽  
Text Messaging ◽  
Behavioral Interventions ◽  
Homeless Youth ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Evidence Based ◽  
Transgender Youth ◽  
Sti Testing

Background America’s increasing HIV epidemic among youth suggests the need to identify novel strategies to leverage services and settings where youth at high risk (YAHR) for HIV can be engaged in prevention. Scalable, efficacious, and cost-effective strategies are needed, which support youth during developmental transitions when risks arise. Evidence-based behavioral interventions (EBIs) have typically relied on time-limited, scripted, and manualized protocols that were often delivered with low fidelity and lacked evidence for effectiveness. Objective This study aims to examine efficacy, implementation, and cost-effectiveness of easily mountable and adaptable, technology-based behavioral interventions in the context of an enhanced standard of care and study assessments that implement the guidelines of Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for routine, repeat HIV, and sexually transmitted infection (STI) testing for high-risk youth. Methods Youth aged between 12 and 24 years (n=1500) are being recruited from community-based organizations and clinics serving gay, bisexual, and transgender youth, homeless youth, and postincarcerated youth, with eligibility algorithms weighting African American and Latino youth to reflect disparities in HIV incidence. At baseline and 4-month intervals over 24 months (12 months for lower-risk youth), interviewers monitor uptake of HIV prevention continuum steps (linkage to health care, use of pre- or postexposure prophylaxis, condoms, and prevention services) and secondary outcomes of substance use, mental health, and housing security. Assessments include rapid diagnostic tests for HIV, STIs, drugs, and alcohol. The study is powered to detect modest intervention effects among gay or bisexual male and transgender youth with 70% retention. Results The project was funded in September 2016 and enrollment began in May 2017. Enrollment will be completed between June and August 2019. Data analysis is currently underway, and the first results are expected to be submitted for publication in 2019. Conclusions This hybrid implementation-effectiveness study examines alternative models for implementing the CDC guidelines for routine HIV/STI testing for YAHR of acquiring HIV and for delivering evidence-based behavioral intervention content in modular elements instead of scripted manuals and available over 24 months of follow-up, while also monitoring implementation, costs, and effectiveness. The greatest impacts are expected for coaching, whereas online group peer support is expected to have lower impact but may be more cost-effective. Trial Registration ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03134833; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03134833 (Archived by WebCite at http://www.webcitation.org/76el0Viw9) International Registered Report Identifier (IRRID) DERR1-10.2196/11165

scholarly journals Incentives and Support Programs to Improve Adherence to Tuberculosis Treatment

2021 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Charlotte Wells ◽  
Melissa Severn
Keyword(s):  
High Risk ◽  
Methodological Quality ◽  
Clinical Effectiveness ◽  
Conclusive Evidence ◽  
Active Tuberculosis ◽  
Tuberculosis Treatment ◽  
Support Programs ◽  
Evidence Based ◽  
Evidence Based Guidelines

Three overviews of reviews and 11 systematic reviews were identified regarding the clinical effectiveness of adherence incentives in those who require assistance to complete their tuberculosis treatment. Four evidence-based guidelines were identified that provided recommendations regarding the use of adherence incentives in those who require assistance completing their tuberculosis treatment. The reported clinical effectiveness of adherence incentives for patients with tuberculosis was mixed. There were no detrimental effects of providing incentives, but there was also no conclusive evidence pointing to a clinical benefit. The overall quality of the included reviews was moderate to high. The included guidelines recommended that incentives and enablers be included as a part of a patient-centred strategy for treatment and for patients with active tuberculosis or patients at high risk; however, the evidence formulating these recommendations was of low certainty or quality. Two of the included guidelines were of high methodological quality, and 2 were of lower methodological quality.

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