News

31 January 2018

Deadline: 15 March 2018

Scope

The present Call for Proposals aims at funding projects on preventing and countering radicalisation leading to violent extremism in the area of one of the following priorities:

1. Increasing awareness, protecting, strengthening resilience of individuals and in particular vulnerable groups (such as children, youth, etc…) to polarisation.

2. Developing targeted exit programmes enabling radicalised individuals to deradicalise and disengage and rehabilitate based on an integrated multi-agency approach. Projects must be aiming to achieve for the priority chosen one or more of the following outcomes:

1- Polarisation

•increasing awareness and capacity of first-line practitioners (e.g. police, teachers) to understand the dynamics, recognise and respond to the phenomena of polarisation at grass-roots level especially through awareness-raising and training activities;

•strengthening polarisation detection and response capacities through for example the setting up of mechanisms such as monitoring and polarisation management systems. This could enable to assess the causes and develop appropriate response to changes in community tensions and social unrests for the police and local authorities;

•promoting interaction and cooperation between different local actors from public sectors (law enforcement social services, etc) and NGOs that specialise in working with vulnerable groups and prevention of extremism as well as religious communities and other community-based organisations through the development of cooperation models;

•promoting the views of moderate voices, which are too often muted by more extreme voices through offline channels like organising debates and workshops, supported by online communication activities;

•developing and promoting concrete tools targeting vulnerable groups (e.g. via new media, application) on preventing polarisation.

2- Exit programmes

•setting up and facilitating the implementation of exit programmes building on existing programmes and offering practical assistance to individuals who want to deradicalise, disengage and rehabilitate within society. In particular, it could be done through local actors based on the development of methodological approaches and of quality and assessment criteria for interventions;

•setting up and facilitating the implementation of exit programmes that ensure continuity between interventions in the prison and probation context and further rehabilitation efforts into community in particular through local actors;

•setting up and facilitating the implementation of approaches that sow doubt in the mind of those individuals still not convinced to leave extremist groups and can lead to participation in exit programmes taking into account in the programmes, the ideology dimension (far, left wing, jihadism) but also practical and social living conditions of the individual in an integrated multi-agency approach. 

Authors: DAVID C. PYROOZ, JEAN MARIE MCGLOIN, SCOTT H. DECKER

First published: 28 October 2017

Abstract

The impact of parenthood on leaving a street gang is not well understood. This is likely because researchers in prior studies have not accounted for multiple dimensions of gang exit, possible gender differences, and potential selection bias. In this study, we use a sample of 466 male and 163 female gang members from the National Longitudinal Study of Youth 1997 to consider the within-individual relationship between changes in parenthood and changes in claiming gang membership and offending. These data offer the opportunity to consider gender differences and birth parity (i.e., first or second child). The results from a series of fixed-effects models reveal that motherhood is associated with enduring reductions in both the odds of claiming gang membership and the rate of offending, whereas fatherhood has a temporary beneficial impact on gang membership and offending only for those fathers who reside with their children. In most cases, the beneficial effect of having a child rests in becoming a parent for the first time. On the whole, our study findings demonstrate that parenthood serves as a turning point for a particular group of noteworthy offenders—gang members.

The response to the security situation in the Sahel is undergoing a positive change. Despite numerous challenges and threats, Sahelian governments remain committed to developing their criminal justice systems against illicit trafficking, organized crime and terrorism and are increasingly cooperating with each other, bilaterally and within the G5 Sahel.

"Achieving gender equality and empowering women and girls is the unfinished business of our time, and the greatest human rights challenge in our world."

— UN Secretary-General, António Guterres

International Women’s Day is a time to reflect on progress made, to call for change and to celebrate acts of courage and determination by ordinary women who have played an extraordinary role in the history of their countries and communities.

It is also an opportunity to consider how to accelerate the 2030 Agenda, building momentum for the effective implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals, especially goal number 5: Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls; and number 4: Ensure inclusive and quality education for all and promote lifelong learning.

Some key targets of the 2030 Agenda:

•By 2030, ensure that all girls and boys complete free, equitable and quality primary and secondary education leading to relevant and Goal-4 effective learning outcomes. •By 2030, ensure that all girls and boys have access to quality early childhood development, care and preprimary education so that they are ready for primary education. •End all forms of discrimination against all women and girls everywhere.

•Eliminate all forms of violence against all women and girls in the public and private spheres, including trafficking and sexual and other types of exploitation.

•Eliminate all harmful practices, such as child, early and forced marriage and female genital mutilation.

“Time is Now: Rural and urban activists transforming women’s lives”

This year, International Women’s Day comes on the heels of unprecedented global movement for women’s rights, equality and justice. Sexual harassment, violence and discrimination against women has captured headlines and public discourse, propelled by a rising determination for change.

International Women’s Day 2018 is an opportunity to transform this momentum into action, to empower women in all settings, rural and urban, and celebrate the activists who are working relentlessly to claim women’s rights and realize their full potential.

Echoing the priority theme of the upcoming 62nd session of the UN Commission on the Status of Women, International Women’s Day will also draw attention to the rights and activism of rural women, who make up over a quarter of the world population and majority of the 43 per cent of women in the global agricultural labour force.

They till the lands and plant seeds to feed nations, ensure food security for their communities and build climate resilience. Yet, on almost every measure of development, because of deep seated gender inequalities and discrimination, rural women fare worse than rural men or urban women. For instance, less than 20 per cent of landholders worldwide are women, and while the global pay gap between men and women stand at 23 per cent, in rural areas, it can be as high as 40 per cent. They lack infrastructure and services, decent work and social protection, and are left more vulnerable to the effects of climate change. Rural women and their organizations represent an enormous potential, and they are on the move to claim their rights and improve their livelihoods and wellbeing. They are using innovative agricultural methods, setting up successful businesses and acquiring new skills, pursuing their legal entitlements and running for office.

On 8 March, join activists around the world and UN Women to seize the moment, celebrate, take action and transform women’s lives everywhere. The time is NOW.

Brussels, 6 March 2018

The Commission's work on gender equality policy is based on the "Strategic engagement for gender equality 2016-2019", which focuses on five priority areas:

• increasing female labour-market participation and the equal economic independence of women and men; reducing the gender pay, earnings and pension gaps and thus fighting poverty among women; promoting equality between women and men in decision-making;
• combating gender-based violence and protecting and supporting victims;
• and promoting gender equality and women's rights across the world.

In 2017 the European Commission concentrated its efforts on three main areas:

• Reducing the gender pay gap: the Commission presented a concrete Action plan to reduce the gender pay gap by 2019. The Action plan includes, amongst others, a call by the Commission to the European Parliament and the Member States to swiftly adopt the work-life balance proposal of April 2017. It also calls on governments and social partners to adopt concrete measures to improve gender balance in decision-making.
• Violence against women: 2017 was dedicated as to Ending Violence against Women with the No Non Nein campaign. The Commission dedicated €15 million funding to NGO working in this field. The Commission extended the funding to 2018. The 2017 Annual Fundamental Rights Colloquium was dedicated to Women's Rights in Turbulent Times, addressed violence and harassment against women in our societies as well as the economic and political inequality between women and men, particularly focusing on the gender pay gap and on work-life balance.
• The European Commission has also initiated a strategy that will focus on women's participation specifically in the digital sector to address the new challenges that the digital future brings. The strategy will look into three main areas: breaking negative stereotypes, skills and education as well as women's participation in the entrepreneurial scene of the digital sector. These focus areas are based on the upcoming study (to be published on 08/03), whose findings reiterate the issue that not only are there less women participating in the digital sector but also that this number is decreasing.

Authors: Sara Valdebenito, Manuel Eisner, David P. Farrington, Maria M. Ttofi, Alex Sutherland

Published date: 2018-01-09

Coordinating group(s): Crime and Justice, Education School-based interventions for reducing disciplinary school exclusion

"We have recently published a Campbell systematic review examining the impact of interventions to reduce exclusion from school. School exclusion, also known as suspension in some countries, is a disciplinary sanction imposed by a responsible school authority, in reaction to students’ misbehaviour. The review summarises findings from 37 reports covering nine different types of intervention. Most studies were from the USA, and the remainder from the UK. Plain language summaries in both English and Spanish are available"

This project was funded by the Nuffield Foundation, but the views expressed are those of the authors and not necessarily those of the Foundation.

CSG Justice Center © 2018

The 2018 National Association of Drug Court Professionals conference will provide training on critical topics affecting family, youth, tribal, drug, Driving While Impaired (DWI), mental health, and veterans treatment courts. Representatives from the Judges’ and Psychiatrists’ Leadership Initiative and the Criminal Justice/Mental Health Learning Sites will present at the conference along with representatives from the Criminal Justice/Mental Health Learning Sites, and CSG Justice Center staff will facilitate sessions on the Mental Health and Co-occurring Disorder Courts.

Date: May 30–June 2

Location: Houston, TX

2018 International Women's Day Blog Series

Authors: Anita Shankar, Naira Kalra, Rachel Mahmud, Luis Garcia

Johns Hopkins University ; Bloomberg School of Public Health; Global Alliance for Clean Cookstoves; Plan International Spain

Over 135 million people worldwide are in need of humanitarian assistance today, as a result of violence, armed conflict and natural disasters. A large number of these individuals live in camp settings where daily living can be extremely challenging. Women and children often bear the weight of displacement—depending on food and other handouts- the delivery of which is inconsistent and unreliable- spending hours collecting fuel and cooking meals over smoky fires. But the burden of collecting firewood – often illegally- is not the only concern related to cooking with solid fuels: a recent systematic review of the literature by the Global Alliance for Clean Cookstoves (2016) found that during this task, displaced women also face the risk of physical and sexual attacks, and injuries.

The risks of gender-based violence (GBV) are also increased within the home. Women and girls in humanitarian settings are generally at higher risk for experiencing violence at home by their partners. The failure to produce cooked food due to a shortage of fuel may increase this risk. Distributing clean cookstoves is a potential solution, but there is insufficient evidence about the relationship between clean cookstove use and the incidence and risk of GBV. Clean cookstoves are a valuable commodity, and we need more research to understand the benefits and potential unintended consequences of their distribution.

Monday 16th - Friday 27th July 2018

(this course is held only once per year), at the Jill Dando Institute, UCL “This has been one of the best courses I’ve attended. It has really put the application of theory into practice and cemented pre-existing knowledge. I think it will be very important discipline to have in forces and look forward to getting my hands dirty on some real cases. Brilliant stuff” Police Senior Intelligence Analyst

Geographic profiling is an investigative technique that uses the locations of a connected series of crime to work out where an offender most likely lives, or bases their criminal activities. Its application has been significant in supporting investigations of a number of major crime series and its utility is increasing for volume crime investigation (including arson, robbery, burglary, criminal damage, fuel theft, metal theft, and theft from the person). The principles of geographic profiling have also been applied to non-serial crime investigations. The UCL JDI offer the only certified Geographic Profiling Analyst training programme outside of North America. The course is designed to give analysts and researchers the background and skills required to develop and to interpret geographic profiles correctly, and to make actionable recommendations (i.e., when certified, analysts are ‘licensed’ to conduct geographic profiles). Course tutors are Spencer Chainey (certified geographic profiling analyst) and Colin Johnson (Professional Geographic Profiler, formerly of the National Crime Agency)

The registration for the 11th Electronic Monitoring Conference will soon close on the 1st of April. Make sure to register in time. This years theme will be ‘Blurring boundaries: making and breaking connections’ and the conference is jointly organised with the Probation Service in the Republic of Croatia. The conference will take place in Zagreb, Croatia from the 16th of April until the 18th of April 2018.

Over the years the CEP Electronic Monitoring Conference has become known as the platform for being updated on the newest technical developments in EM, to hear the latest experiences with EM from the different probation services, and to exchange ideas on the topic.

Make sure to register in time to be certain that your attendance to the conference is guaranteed.

7–8 June 2018 Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre The preliminary program for the 2018 Crime Prevention and Communities conference is now live on our website. We have a fantastic line-up of speakers for this year’s conference including our confirmed keynote speakers: • Professor Rachel Armitage, University of Huddersfield • Associate Professor Rebecca Wickes, Monash University • Professor Lorraine Mazerolle, University of Queensland • Mr Steve Trigg, National Police Chiefs Council UK This important conference will inform local government, police, urban planners, policy makers, non-government community organisations, researchers and students about best practice, policy, evaluation and research. The conference will feature speakers from a diverse range of backgrounds speaking about the latest developments in effective crime prevention Early bird registrations close 19 April.

Hosted by the National Reentry Resource Center, Michigan State University Innovation Suite TTA and George Mason University, with funding support from the U.S. Department of Justice’s Bureau of Justice Assistance

Date: Thursday, April 5 Time: 2–3 p.m. ET

This webinar will provide a general overview of how to justify the need for a proposed project and the design for the project. The goal is to provide guidance on writing proposals that are responsive to Bureau of Justice Assistance grant requirements. Presenters will provide examples of winning grant proposals. _____________________________________________

◾The Academic Council on the United Nations System, Vienna Liaison Office, is pleased to announce a call for papers for its international conference on peace-making and conflict management, the Vienna Peace Studies Conference 2018. ◾28–29 May 2018, Diplomatische Akademie Wien ◾Abstract submissions are due 15 April 2018. Summary The Academic Council on the United Nations System, Vienna Liaison Office, is pleased to announce a call for papers for its international conference on peace-making and conflict management, the Vienna Peace Studies Conference 2018. The conference will focus on successful examples of peace-making, peacekeeping, trust building. and enhancing dialogue between hostile communities. The conference will provide an opportunity for young academics, graduate students, scholars, practitioners, and subject-matter experts from around the world to come together and share their knowledge and expertise on matters relating to peace, security, development, and the United Nations system. The conference aims to establish itself as a key forum for dialogue on positive and sustainable peace.

Hosted by the National Reentry Resource Center, with funding support from the U.S. Department of Justice’s Bureau of Justice Assistance

Date: Wednesday, April 4 Time: 2–3:30 p.m. ET

In this webinar, representatives from the U.S. Department of Justice’s Bureau of Justice Assistance and the National Reentry Resource Center will review the Comprehensive Community-Based Adult Reentry grant program and application process. These grants are designed to support community- and faith-based organizations in developing and implementing comprehensive and collaborative programs that seek to reduce recidivism among people who are reentering their communities from incarceration and have a medium to high risk of reoffending. These grants are for a 36-month project period and are open to nonprofit organizations, tribal nonprofit organizations, and tribal governments with a documented history of administering comprehensive, evidence-based reentry services.

Differences in Evaluation of Organized Crime Groups

Differences in how law enforcement perceives organized crime groups as dangerous linked to factors regarding agency mandate

The threat level an organized crime group poses can be the basis for government policy and police strategies. Therefore, it is important that organized crime groups are evaluated based on the danger they pose using standardized methods of evaluation. One of the standardized methods used to assess the threat level of the group is a threat measurement technique named Sleipnir, developed by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) to compare organized crime groups based on certain rank-ordered characteristics or attributes.

Using the survey results of 157 attendants of a seminar held during a training conference organized by the International Association of Law Enforcement Intelligence Analysts (IALEIA) and the Association of Law Enforcement Intelligence Units (LEIU), 12 characteristics used in Sleipnir were presented to law enforcement officials. Based on a Q-sort methodology, respondents were asked to rank the characteristics of the model from the most important to the group’s success to the least. Each characteristic was scored based on how the respondent had ranked it, with the characteristics considered the most important receiving up to three points and those seen as the least important losing up to three points.

The results showed significant differences in how different regions as well as levels of government differ on traits that lead to organized crime group success. Ranked first by American and second by Canadian respondents was cohesion, having a strong sense of solidarity or bond with other group members. However, the Sleipnir ranks cohesion as the least important characteristic. Canadian respondents and Sleipnir both overall listed corruption as the most important factor, while Americans ranked it ninth. Additionally, state/provincial level agencies viewed money laundering as important, ranking it second, in comparison to local or federal agencies that ranked it tenth and seventh respectively.

This information raises several questions as to why differences in country or level of government would influence the characteristics that are seen as most important to success. The authors suggest that there are distinct differences between what makes a gang successful specifically in Canada compared to the USA. Factors including culture and legislation could influence how an organized crime group needs to act in order to be successful. This could explain the difference in view by the American respondents, given that Sleipnir is a Canadian framework. It is also suggested that federal agencies such as the RCMP or FBI view different characteristics as more significant because their mandate puts them in contact with groups displaying certain qualities more than local agencies would experience. For example, local agencies tend to focus more on violent, high-profile groups while the RCMP tend to look more at lesser-known criminal groups with deep roots.

One area that warrants discussion is the fact that the study is based entirely on the perception of an individual officer. It is not an objective test of how likely groups are to endanger the public in reality, but a representation of how likely the group is to succeed in organized crime as determined by the respondent. Additionally, the respondents came from across the world yet the only options for location were Canada, USA, and other. Regional differences between different states/provinces could range massively depending on several factors such as differences in how federal officers are trained, and the groups that were measured may not be very homogenous. If the study were to be repeated over time, it is unlikely that very similar results would be found. These differences in how characteristics were ranked by law enforcement challenge the idea that universal, objective tests can determine the threat posed by criminal organizations. Different actors may perceive the potential risk of the same group very differently depending on their own position. Further, this calls into question the idea of universal organized crime suppression strategies. If different characteristics are of different importance to an organized crime group depending on the setting, then strategies based on certain characteristics may be considerably less effective than originally envisioned.

Ratcliffe, J., Strang, S., Taylor R. (2014). “Assessing the success factors of organized crime groups.” Policing: An International Journal of Police Strategies & Management, 37(1): 206-227.