The United States Peace Index

from the website of the Institute for Economics & Peace:

The United States Peace Index (USPI) is the first national peace index and is the only statistical analysis that offers a comprehensive nation-wide measurement of crime and its costs to all 50 states.

The index uses five key indicators to measure peace: the number of homicides, the number of violent crimes, the incarceration rate, the number of police officers and the availability of small arms.

Jul 31, 2012 Values, Region: North America and Caribbean, Policy, Design, Evaluation, Country:USA

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School's disciplinary message: We want you here

from Anne Stuhldreher's article in the San Francisco Chronicle:

The head of security at Richmond High School is Darryl Robinson. But everyone there knows him as "Coach D." When he started 15 years ago, fights broke out nonstop. Students roamed the halls. And things didn't improve much over the years.

Robinson remembers standing in front of a classroom and asking how many students had ever seen someone get killed.

"Every hand in the room shot up," he said.

Jul 23, 2012 Story, School, Region: North America and Caribbean, Policy, Country:USA

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Marin grand jury calls for more alternative justice programs

from the article by Gary Klien in the Marin Independent Journal:

The Marin County Civil Grand Jury is calling for broader use of "restorative justice," a law enforcement philosophy that emphasizes reconciliation over punitive retribution.

In a new report, "Restorative Justice: Its Time Has Come in Marin County," the grand jury acknowledged that the practice strikes some as "soft on crime."

Jul 11, 2012 Support, Region: North America and Caribbean, Policy, Politics, Country:USA

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Study: Zero tolerance policies may have negative health implications for students

from the article by James Swift in Juvenile Justice Information Exchange:

A new report based on research of three California school districts suggests that school children exposed to so called, “zero tolerance” policies may be taking a toll on their mental health and wellbeing.

Jul 02, 2012 School, Region: North America and Caribbean, Policy, Evaluation, Country:USA

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