Articles tagged with Police
A leading forensic toxicologist suggests that cocaine abuse may be behind some deaths in custody, rather than police brutality. The expert's neurochemical test detects a unique brain signature associated with excited delirium (ED), which can cause sudden death due to cardiac arrest.
A decline in burglary rates since 1980 is attributed to a shift towards drug trafficking and various forms of non-index crimes. Researchers suggest that the abundance of stolen goods has reduced demand, making burglary less lucrative, while improvements in security measures have also deterred potential burglars.
Researchers at Sandia National Laboratories have developed a portable X-ray device that can detect explosives and objects in packages using reflected, rather than transmitted, X-rays. The device is designed to be safer for law enforcement officers and can transmit partial images useful in police work even if the package explodes.
The Pacific Northwest National Laboratory is upgrading its HITS database with Microsoft compatibility, enabling police to access shared information on offenders within minutes. The lab also will modify a database for parole supervision, allowing corrections officers to track violations more effectively and encourage compliance.
Alcohol abuse contributes to major causes of death among college-age persons. Raising the drinking age has saved 16,500 lives in traffic crashes since 1975. Comprehensive community interventions involving public officials, private citizens, and student participation can further reduce alcohol-related problems.
A University of North Carolina study found that most NC police officers think the state law restricting tobacco sales to adults only should be changed due to its ineffectiveness in preventing youth access. Only a small percentage of officers try to enforce the law, citing barriers such as lack of manpower and poorly written legislation.
Research suggests that neighborhoods with high poverty rates have significantly higher rates of domestic violence, particularly involving intimate partners. The study found that nine times more incidents of assaultive violence occurred in these areas compared to non-poverty neighborhoods.
A comprehensive review of actuarial assumptions for public sector plans found that actuaries have been highly accurate in making critical demographic assumptions affecting retirement plan costs. The study of over 80 public retirement systems and 100 different retirement plans revealed accuracy rates ranging from 90-100% for key assumpt...
Researchers at Oak Ridge National Laboratory developed a miniature video camera that can transmit to a site up to 100 feet away, such as a police car. The camera features a disguised lens that makes it unobtrusive, and its design enables secure surveillance and protection for law enforcement.
A recent study by University at Buffalo epidemiologists has found that police officers are eight times more likely to die by their own hand than by homicide. The study also revealed that police officers take their own lives at a much higher rate than other municipal employees.