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"What does it matter? All is grace. Grace is everywhere." Bernanos
I wonder if I might begin with an acknowledgement, a confession and a story. First, the acknowledgement. I would like to thank President Stewart for inviting me to deliver this year's Baccalaureate Sermon. I assure you that it is a grace beyond measure, a grace that I will always remember and cherish. Second, the confession. Since I was so flattered by President Stewart's kind invitation, I accepted her invitation on the spot. It was only after I hung up the phone that I found myself wrestling with the question of what I could possibly say to you at the graced moment in your lives that would resonate with you since I did not have the benefit of a Hamilton education. You may, of course, think that I am kidding when I say that. I am not kidding at all. In fact, I have been nervous since the moment that I accepted the invitation. (If the truth were told, I would have to admit to all of you that I have tossed and turned for most of the past week as I worked on what I would say this afternoon.) And so, I stand before you this afternoon wrestling with two very different emotions: awestruck (and surprised) gratitude and runaway nervousness. Good Lord! Third, the story. Some years ago, after graduation had ended at LeMoyne College in Syracuse, as I was making my rounds saying good-bye to the students whom I had taught, I came upon a group of students who were (how can I put it) simply overcome with grief. Locked in a group hug, they were weeping inconsolably. Deeply concerned with their emotional display, I walked over to them and tried both to calm them down and to find out why they were so grief-stricken. One of them finally stopped crying long enough to tell me that they had just realized that college was over, that things would never be the same, and that they would never see one another again. I assumed my most pastoral stance and tried to reassure them that they would be fine, and that they would indeed see one another again. My soothing words only served to set them off again. By this time, a crowd had gathered, and their parents were becoming nervous. "You don't understand," one of them said, "this is the end of everything: college, friendships, road trips, shared secrets. We will never see one another again. Can't you understand anything?" Once again, I reached out to them and tried to soothe them and to reassure them by telling them that they would indeed see one another--at reunions and weddings. To no avail. By this time, they were really wailing. And once again, I was told that I really didn't understand anything. Then, something struck me: all of them lived within ten miles of one another, and two of them lived on the same street in a town in Rockland County. I was sure that they would calm down when I pointed that out to them. Wrong. One of them just glared at me and with a firm voice that elicited more heart-wrenching cries from the others said, " Father, you really are clueless. We may see one another again, but things will be different. The life we have had here will be completely gone." I wandered away a broken man. Far worse, I wandered away a marked man, revealed to all the world as a clueless wonder. God help me.
Against that background, it is with some apprehension that I would like to congratulate the members of the Class of 2013. You've made it. Savor this moment, a moment of triumph in which you are surrounded with the pure and unadulterated love of your families and friends. Savor it. As a result of the experience that I had with my students in 1984, I am sure that that exhortation has fallen on more than a few deaf ears. And with good reason. This, after all, is a moment that you have been looking forward to with a mixture of longing and dread for years. Both reactions are understandable, and (strangely enough) for the same reason. This, after all, is the moment that marks the end of your college careers. It is, therefore, not surprising that you find yourself wrestling with such strong emotions. Longing and dread. To make matters even more interesting, I would be willing to bet that since this is such an emotionally charged moment for you, you are having a strange out-of-body experience right now. That is to say, although your bodies are here, your minds are elsewhere.
What do I mean? Well, I would be willing to bet that for most of the past few weeks you have been running through the images contained in two mental photo albums that you have compiled over the past four years. One album contains images of the major world events that occurred while you were at Hamilton. The other contains images of the events that punctuated your lives at Hamilton. Each set of images is rich in itself. When the images rub up against one another, however, they produce a dizzying collage that captures the lives you have led for the past four years pretty well. The first image comes, fittingly enough, from Opening Day, a blur of hugs, tears and whispered advice. Then, life settled into a comfortable pattern. Classes were dutifully taken. Long nights set in. The Citrus Bowl added spice to your life. The effects of the Great Recession set in. Simon Cowell left American Idol. Your first college exams came and went, with mixed results. Ominously, the money that was supposed to last the whole year disappeared before first-semester midterms. You promised your parents you'd be more careful in the future. The Sopranos ended their run on HBO and slunk off to the Jersey Shore. You fell in love. It ended too soon. Your heart was broken. Apple introduced the iPhone. FebFest fought gave you a respite from the gray, grayer and grayest weather of Central New York. Therefore, your life began to be dominated by serious study, long road trips, endless nights, and afternoon naps. The Arab Spring began and the winds of democracy swept through the Middle East. (The world rejoiced--and held its breath.) The Deepwater Horizon oil platform exploded, fouling the Gulf of Mexico. A second romance blossomed. She dumped you. Your heart was broken (again). In your despair, you forgot to eat regularly. Strangely, however, you still gained the sophomore twenty. The Giants won Super Bowl 46. (Eat your hearts out, Patriot fans.) You landed a spot in Carnegie. Life was good. You made friends with Descartes--and really got him. Wall Street laid more eggs. Lady Gaga appeared on stage in an egg. More exams intruded. General Motors reinvented itself--with government help. The Great Recession shifted into high gear. The Mideast became more and more tense by the day. You discovered that at the end of the semester, it is always three in the morning and you are still on page two of a ten-page paper that is due at eleven. You resolved to be more organized. Then, the following night, The Village Tavern beckoned, and you gave in to temptation. (You hated yourself for it.) Barack Obama overhauled health care in the United States. Lindsey Lohan. (Words fail me.) The Yankees celebrated the opening of their new stadium by winning their 27th world championship. The European economy continued to struggle and sputter along. You landed your first internship and discovered that there really was life after college. Hamilton climbed to #16 in US News. James Bond took Queen Elizabeth on a date during the London Olympics. Haiti was devastated by a deadly earthquake. (You wept and dug deep into your pockets to donate to the recovery effort.) You got an A in your toughest course and celebrated with dinner at Altieri's. Snooki and The Situation. (Speechless again.) You volunteered to do community service. Your heart was strangely warmed. Japan reeled from the effects of an earthquake, a tsunami and a nuclear emergency. Osama Bin Laden was located and killed. The Kardashians. (What can I say?) Hurricane Sandy devastated the East Coast. The massacre at Sandy Creek broke our hearts. Jorge Mario Cardinal Bergoglio of Buenos Aires was elected the first Jesuit and the first Pope from the Americas. Efforts to pass gun control legislation failed. The Boston Marathon was disrupted by a senseless act of terrorism. Class and Charter Day set your spirits soaring. You took your last Hamilton exam, danced your last dance as a Hamilton student. Finally, you slid into Senior Week and began to review the photo albums of your Hamilton careers.
And so, my friends, we come to this moment, a moment that you have looked forward to with a mixture of longing and dread for your whole time at Hamilton. On the surface of it, it might appear that the images that you are playing with in your minds and hearts are merely colliding with one another. I would suggest to you, however, that they are not really colliding with one another. Rather, they enrich one another, and they invite you to develop three habits that will make your lives far richer and far more meaningful than if you just endure life. To what do I refer? Hmmm. I would urge you to be and to become men and women whose lives are marked by reflection, gratitude and generosity. Be true to the motto of Hamilton. Know yourself--and know yourself in the real context of your lives. If you are serious about being men and women devoted to knowing yourselves, you will develop and deepen the capacity for reflection (something that you have, I would be willing to bet, been engaging in quite a bit for the last few months, and especially for the past few days). Indeed, I would encourage you to devote at least a part of every day to reflection on the people and events that you have encountered in the course of the day. If you do so, I would imagine that you will come to the same realization with which I began my remarks this afternoon. That is to say, you will come to realization that (as the hero of Bernanos' Diary of a Country Priest put it), "All is grace. Grace is everywhere." For it really is. You know that--and you know that from your own life--as that life has been experienced at home and here at Hamilton. You have received graces beyond number and beyond imagining: the gifts of love, friendship, a peerless education, opportunities, service, adventures. You have, moreover, come to the realization that all of these graces are simply that: graces. You did not earn them. They have come to you (as they come to all of us) through pure, unmerited love: God's love. And let us be honest here: God has showered you with simply astounding graces. Live your lives with a rich, warm knowledge of those graces. The wise person, however, does not merely reflect on and luxuriate in the possession of many graces. Far from it. Fully aware of the many graces that they have been given, wise people react with gratitude. Therefore, develop and perfect an attitude of gratitude. And let your gratitude begin with gratitude to God, the giver of all good gifts. Then, let it embrace all those through whom God has flooded your life with so many graces: parents, friends, mentors alike. (You have heard it said, "Do not let the sun go down on your anger." I would take it further and encourage you never to let the sun go down on your love. What do I mean? Never let a day pass that you don't thank God and those who have filled your life with grace. And begin to exercise this ministry of gratitude this weekend. Thank your parents for all that they have done for you. Thank the teacher who opened your eyes. Thank the mentor who gave you confidence.) Finally, Saint Ignatius Loyola, the founder of the religious family to which I belong, would say that "Love is shown more in deeds than in words". Therefore, develop a habit of generosity. That is to say, let your gratitude be shown not merely in words, but in acts of saving and redeeming love.
As you prepare to develop these three habits, and especially the capstone habit of generosity, always remember that love is the only human treasure that can only grow when it is given away--and given away with a generous heart. (In other words, in the strange calculus of love, selfishness impoverishes but generosity enriches the heart.) Therefore, always choose people over things, service over power, and wisdom over cleverness. Be conspicuous in compassion rather than in consumption. Remembering that you can learn more from a confounding failure than you can from an easy achievement, don't hedge your bets in life. Rather, put your hearts on the line every day and live lives of bold and daring love. Celebrate God's grace in action in your lives, but be forever touched by the world events, and always be bothered by injustice. Embrace the suffering. Champion the poor. If you do, you will be men and women who can and will transform the world with wisdom, learning and love. And may God, the giver of all good gifts, be with you throughout your journey, and may He continue to surprise you with the great, life-changing realization that that captured the heart of George Bernanos: "All is grace. Grace is everywhere."


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Facebook is expected to go public Friday in one of the most highly anticipated IPOs ever. Facebook has become synonymous with the "Like" button, which was first introduced in 2009 and has changed the way we interact with companies and products. According to Facebook's S1 IPO filing,the site "generated an average of 2.7 billion Likes and Comments per day during the three months ended December 31, 2011."
When users click a button to show they "like" a Facebook page, they are effectively signing up for continued interactions with that page and the entity behind it. Corporations have increasingly made social media connectivity an important aspect of their marketing campaigns, allowing them to communicate with their customers, develop their brand and even offer special promotions. The "like" button is one of many ways that Facebook creates value, learning about preferences of its users and allowing companies to target messaging over the social network.
As always, some companies have been more successful than others in drawing a massive online following and millions of "likes" by Facebook users, but succeeding can have a direct impact on the bottom line. A recent study by ComScorefound that users who "like" a page are more likely to make a purchase from that retailer than from a user with no affiliation. In addition, using Nielsen Brand effect studies, Facebook has found that over the past two years, consumers are 65 percent more likely to remember social ads compared to nonsocial advertising.
Brands also gain exposure to users who are "friends of fans," those who are connected with users that "like" pages and will see actions of those users show up on their Facebook news feeds. With the average Facebook user having 130 friends, potential distribution can get very large, very quickly. According to Facebook, for the top 1,000 fan pages, the friends of fans number is approximately 81 times larger than the pure fans number alone.
Although being "liked" offers direct, immediate access to users and their friends, it does not always translate to success on Facebook. To get a measure of how well companies are utilizing their social connections, Facebook launched the "people talking about this" feature, which measures user engagement — a much more valuable metric than "likes" alone. The new measure tracks structured activity on Facebook, such as users commenting on posts or sharing links and photos. When users engage in this brand-related activity, it becomes a mini-endorsement of the company or piece of content and offers immediate visibility to their friends.
"Companies look at 'people talking about this' as a way of understanding something that business has always cared about: chatter or buzz about brand, and how well they're seeding their product or idea," says David Baser, the product manager at Facebook who oversees the feature. "This is a metric that lets you know how much users are talking about and engaging with a brand or topic, what marketers refer to as 'reach,' " he says. "Much of the value you get is having the users to spread the word about you through word-of-mouth."
"Many companies have said they wanted to understand virality and the people who are taking the first step in the viral chain," says Baser. "We wanted businesses to understand that engaging users is important." With this feature, it's easier for companies to target their campaigns to focus on engagement, something some have already done.
Among all corporate brands, Facebook itself would be at the top spot, with approximately 60 million "likes" on its main fan page, but this list includes only non-Facebook companies so the social network is excluded from the list.
So, what are the most "liked" brands on Facebook, and what they are doing right to maintain such a massive following? Click ahead to find out!
By Paul Toscano and updated by Jill Weinberger
Updated 17 May 2012
Note: The figures for total number of "likes" and "people talking about this" were as of the publish date for this story.

subset: commoncrawl


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Just wanted to do my semi-customary season's greetings thing, as we're now at the height of gaming season, though has not been a very good gaming year for me personally heh heh.
All the best to everyone and their families, the best wishes, and enjoy the time off - try to get some gaming done, there's tons of good stuff to enjoy.
Happy holidays and let's hope 2013 is a great year and certainly better than 2012!


text: Core Healing, from a psychological perspective, means to cure dis-eases, meaning not being at ease. People become unhappy with themselves in these ways: when they are not able to alter self defeating behavior; when they often feel frustrated, sad, anxious, lonely, routinely seething with anger, rejected, and, out of control; when they feel unworthy and fear damnation; when illness attacks more often than not; and, when relationships disintegrate. Negative thoughts and beliefs are the culprits that create such problems in these five aspects of one's life: behaviorally; emotionally; spiritually; physically; and, socially. When these types of dis-eases are cured, there is optimal opportunity for healthy cellular regeneration. Such work must be done in the domain of the subconscious mind, which is the individual's computer center. Hypnoanalysis combined with hypnotherapy, as practiced by mental health professionals, are therapeutic approaches of choice for those available for positive outcome.


text: The Travel Inn's close proximity to the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center offers business guests the convenience of entertaining clients and hosting follow-up meetings at the hotel. The large meeting room is ideal for corporate functions and private events. Be sure to take advantage of The Travel Inn's experienced event professionals who can assist you with making meeting arrangements.


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Narrow your search
The SH-2 features a 25-600mm lens backed by five-axis image stabilization and a full set of shooting options to keep your low-light photos and movies bright and clear.
With its improved waterproofing and flip-up display, the rugged TG-860 makes capturing self-portraits anywhere a little easier.
A likeable interchangeable-lens model, the Olympus PEN E-PL7's overall package makes an attractive alternative to an advanced compact and has quite a bit to offer as a first ILC.
Though it doesn't change much from the TG-3, the TG-4 should remain the rugged camera choice for enthusiasts, while the Stylus 1s brings a couple design tweaks and feature updates.
The Olympus Stylus SP-100 is a problem-solver camera, giving zoom fiends a simple -- and clever -- way to keep athletes, wildlife, and other targets in your sights.
Though it doesn't deliver the best photo quality, the sum of the Olympus OM-D E-M10's design, performance and features add up to a nice upgrade from a point-and-shoot.
After 3 long years Olympus overhauls its midrange interchangeable-lens camera with significantly better movie-recording features and performance improvements.
For those who crave an enthusiast compact with more zoom range, the Olympus Stylus 1 should be high on your list for its excellent balance of performance, design, and features.
One of the fastest, most feature-laden cameras you can buy for less than $1,500, you really need to spend some quality time going through all the settings before using the Olympus OM-D E-M1.
The TG-3 is just as tough as its predecessor, but gets a cool new macro trick and accessory, while the 24x compact zoom SH-1 gets styling and image stabilization to match the company's interchangeable lens cameras.


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Grid List
Ladies Hooded Leather ParkaITEM: 5140 This shorter length nappa leather parka features lush furry trim on its zip-off hood. Styling includes a zip closure and snap-front placket, back vent with drawstring, and 2 snap flap pockets. Inside, a drawstring waist for a custom fit with soft quilted poly satin lining and poly fill. Imported. Leather clean.Learn More
Regular Price: $268.75
Special Price $107.50
1 items go top


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Market Day™ Barbie® Doll
Barbie® doll looks ready for a picnic in this adorable green floral print bubble dress. A chic straw hat sits atop ash blond hair. Matching sling back sandals and a faux pearl necklace complete the doll's spring look. And no picnic would be complete without bread, flowers, and a bottle of bubbly, which Barbie® "carries" in an adorable straw tote bag.
Fashion designed especially for the Silkstone® Barbie® doll body. Not for use with other Barbie® dolls.
For the adult collector.
Production doll may vary from the photo shown above. Mattel reserves the right to modify the fashion/fabrics, sculpt, hair color/style, and accessories. Doll cannot stand alone as shown.


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Meteorological Monitoring Companies in Yemen
Category: Monitoring & Testing ×
Subcategory: Meteorological Monitoring ×
Location: Asia & Middle East ×
Location: Yemen ×
LCJ Capteurs
based in Vertou, FRANCE
LCJ Sensors designs and wind sensors manufacturer since 1999. Our weathervanes ranges ultrasonic anemometers are suitable for many applications. Having proven themselves in the Navy, robustness, accuracy and broad configuration possibilities opened them the way to many applications such as weather, industry, security, agriculture and many other.
Adolf Thies GmbH & Co. KG
based in Göttingen, GERMANY
Innovative for more than 60 years in the Fields of Meteorology and Environmental Measuring Technology.Today, more than ever the measurement, processing and analysis of meteorological data require a high degree of precision and quality with the development and production of sensors and instruments. For more than 60 years, we have been Wind channeldeveloping, producing and ...
Davis Instruments Corp.
based in Hayward, CALIFORNIA (USA)
Davis Instruments, a privately held manufacturing company and developer of exceptional instruments for weather, marine, and automotive use, prides itself on innovative, high-quality products at reasonable prices. We are located in Hayward, California and have consistently continued growing for 50 years. We develop and manufacture three lines of products that offer ...
Texas Electronics Inc.
based in Dallas, TEXAS (USA)
Texas Electronics, Inc. has been a pioneer and innovator in the field of quality meteorological instrumentation. Since our first wind speed and wind direction sensors were designed and built in 1956, our instruments have continually evolved into the comprehensive product line that we now offer. Our tipping bucket rain gauges are research-grade sensors that are specified ...
Oris Solutions / BEE-Line Software
based in Austin, TEXAS (USA)
Bowman Environmental & BEE-Line Software became Oris Solutions, LLC in 2007.Bowman Environmental was founded in 1982 by J. Thomas Bowman. From there Dr. Bowman developed the Bee-Line Software products by rewriting the EPA mainframe guideline for air dispersion models and several emergency release models for use on microcomputers.BEE-Line Software has been providing ...
Vector Instruments (Wind Speed Limited)
based in Rhyl, UNITED KINGDOM
Vector Instruments (V.I.) specialise in the manufacture and sale of quality, robust, professional wind speed and wind direction measuring equipment together with other weather sensors and associated equipment. Our products are available for sale to Trade, Business, Government and Educational customers (B2B sales).
Forestry Suppliers, Inc.
based in Jackson, MISSISSIPPI (USA)
Professional instruments for sampling and monitoring ground and surface water, surveying and engineering, distance measuring, field notebooks, metal locators, personal protection and first aid.
Logotronic GmbH
based in Vienna, AUSTRIA
Logotronic was founded in 1982 and is thus facing already a longterm experience on the field of environmental measuring technology. Beside our head office in Vienna exists a substantial network of international partner companies. This network of international partner companies enables us to offer our products and services worldwide.
KISTERS group
based in Aachen, GERMANY
KISTERS is a worldwide growing IT-company founded in 1963 as an engineering agency. Its 450 employees develop resource management systems for water and air, energy, and information systems for environment protection and safety. Professional competence and operational experience with 1.600 customers in 35 countries make KISTERS an internationally sought-after partner. The ...
Environmental Measurements Ltd
based in North Shields, UNITED KINGDOM
EML are specialist UK manufacturers of precipitation sensors (rain gauges and detectors), wind sensors (anemometers), radiation shields (naturally aspirated stevenson screens), weather stations and other Meteorology/Hydrology equipment. Environmental Measurements Ltd (EML) is a dynamic UK company that has established a worldwide reputation over 25 years. We manufacture ...


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Held in Washington, DC, on January 21–22, 2004 and sponsored by National Institute of Justice, Office of Justice Programs,
U.S. Department of Justice.
Addressing Violence in Criminal Justice Practice, Day 1, January 21, 2004
Addressing Violence in Criminal Justice Practice, Day 2, January 22, 2004
Sarah V. Hart
Sarah V. Hart, Director, National Institute of Justice (NIJ) welcomed participants to the Addressing Violence in Criminal
Justice Practice Workshop. She thanked everyone for coming to the workshop and assisting NIJ staff on topics and issues to
explore. NIJ, the research, development, and evaluation arm of the Department of Justice (DOJ) provides research on a number
of issues involving both social science and technology (beyond the Federal agencies) for the benefit of State and local governments
and practitioners.
NIJ understands that at the intersection of research and practice, the pursuit of knowledge can help improve the criminal
justice system in the United States, including improvement at the State and local levels. NIJ also is mindful that the vast
majority of crime is handled at the State and local level, and the Institute wants to make sure that the its work will be
relevant to State and local level practitioners, including police, prosecutors, and corrections staff. Director Hart was very
pleased to see a wide variety of people among the group, giving balance and perspective to the workshop's agenda and goals.
The purpose of the workshop is to address how violence is reduced and how one ensures that criminal justice policies and practices
minimize violence in communities. For example, with respect to the revictimization of domestic violence victims, what kinds
of activities and programs within the criminal justice system can prevent revictimization and witness intimidation? There
are many issues throughout the criminal justice system for which one needs to have an understanding of the practical aspects
of the system, how it works, and the theories of violence. Director Hart stated that NIJ is immensely grateful to the participants
for taking on this task, and for sharing their insights on these issues. She stated that the meeting is a followup to NIJ's
Violence Theory Workshop, conducted in December 2002, at which theories of violence were discussed. She noted that a few of
the academic researchers who attended that meeting agreed to participate in this second workshop.
Frank Hartmann, Workshop Moderator
Director Hart introduced the workshop moderator, Frank Hartmann. Dr. Hartmann is Executive Director of the Malcolm Wiener
Center for Social Policy at the John F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University. He asked the workshop participants
to introduce themselves.
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Also present were Glenn R. Schmitt, Deputy Director, NIJ, and the following NIJ representatives: Bernie Auchter, Henry Brownstein,
Betty Chemers, Thomas E. Feucht, Jocelyn Fontaine, Catherine McNamee, Lois Mock, Angela Moore-Parmley, Marty Schwartz (NIJ
visiting fellow from Ohio University), and Bryan Vila.
Dr. Hartmann outlined the format of the workshop, which allowed participants to discuss and focus their ideas about preventing
or lessening the effects of violence by having a conversation within the group. At the same time, several key persons, including
Dr. Hartmann, will periodically ask participants to clarify their discussion points in an effort to make sure that participants'
points of view are understood and addressed throughout the workshop. Dr. Hartmann asked participants to address two key questions:
(1) what do you mean by violence and (2) what is it that participants do to lesson violence? Participants also were requested
to closely listen and ask questions, as needed. At the end of the workshop, participants should be able to return to and be
more effective in their communities.
The discussion opened with a conversation about how people live with trauma and violence in their everyday lives. There is
a need for new arrangements of resources and systems to respond to the new forms of violence. Thus, it remains important to
respond at the right time, with the right persons. When this is done correctly, there is a positive effect in terms of reduced
criminal behavior and fewer calls to the police from certain homes. For example, with the use of a social service team, with
licensed professionals, creative measures can reduce the level of harm and trauma taking place in at-risk homes. The participant
also described the critical link to family connections when dealing with violence. It also was suggested that there is less
tolerance for violence at this time.
A participant discussed the issue of girls and violence and alternative programs in State centers working to prevent incarceration
and institutionalization. The media plays a role in portraying girls as predators, but the data show that girls account for
a very small number of violent crimes in the United States, and that there has been a relabeling of girl offenses. For girls,
mutually combative assault and battery offenses happen within the home, and today they are no longer dealt with in the family
courts. Instead, girls are being charged with assault and battery, being removed from the home, and placed in the juvenile
justice system, versus being seen as a victim of violence within the family. It also was reported that girls and boys are
different in their violent behavior practices. When girls use knives and guns, it is typically as a result of personal conflict;
girls are more likely to murder family members and friends, getting involved with relationships that are central in the lives
of girls. For the most part, girls do anything to save a relationship as opposed to boys, who use violence in the context
of stranger violence. Thus, it is important to look at girls with respect to violence against parents, siblings, and friends.
It is important to note one key pathway that leads girls to violence is prior victimization. One out of four girls in the
U.S. general population will be sexually abused before age 18. Girls in the juvenile justice system can have a rate of prior
sexual abuse of more than 90 percent. Moreover, girls with a history of academic and educational failures are four times more
likely to be person offenders than girls without that history.
Efforts have been made to create a safe zone for girls, to address the prior victimization and trauma driving their behavior.
A participant described a program, which is nonresidential and community-based, that operates with the belief that girls should
be kept in their communities and in same sex programs (all girl programs). The program is an educational and remedial one
that allows girls to earn middle and high school credits and their high school diplomas; the program also offers college scholarships.
There also is a comprehensive-care management component to the program, addressing family needs through outreach to the family,
counseling on victimization and resiliency, and addressing the major developmental domains of girls (e.g., physical, emotional,
family, sexuality, family and relationships, intellect, and spirituality). Work also is done with girls to deal with issues
of trust, finding their center, and inner wisdom to deal with prior victimization.
One participant described a new effort funded by a private grant to hire social workers to work with girls in a city public
defender's office. The hope is that a 1-year grant can be used to institutionalize the social worker position, which is linked
to the holistic representation that has been provided in the participant's office, including a full-time attorney for educational
To clarify program services, girls take classes in the public school setting, striving for educational success. Also, they
receive transition services for several years, which helps their families, and professionals who understand their developmental
needs are trained to work with the girls. A participant was concerned that many communities do not have specific programs
for girls, and this is why they enter the adult system.
In terms of preventing future offending and assisting girls, it is important to avoid having them waved into the system. At
the same time, it is important that girls be held accountable for their actions, while recognizing that they are youth/kids
who have developmental needs and trauma behind the behavior.
A participant defined violence as the use or threatened use of force or pressure against a person, one self, a group, or a
community that results in harm. This definition also is used by the Centers for Disease Control. Several lessons were noted
regarding prevention and intervention. There is a need for (1) organized State level infrastructure and systematic programming
with various systems, (2) working partnerships, (3) appropriate resources for key programs and groups (e.g., early childhood
and reentry prisoners), and (4) dealing with youth's victimization history and its effects on brain development.
Dr. Rosenfeld stated that over the last decade, by any indicator, violence has declined in the United States. There have been
decreases in homicide rates as well as in nonlethal serious violence, including family violence, violence directed at children,
and violence directed at one another by partners. He asked, what is it that happened over that 10-year period that is associated
with these declines, and how might we continue to sustain these declines? In response, it was noted that the overall country's
economic standing overlaps with violence trends, and that the media plays a role in our understanding and lack of understanding
of such violence trends and prevention efforts.
NIJ staff noted the importance of examining an individual's lifetime experiences with violence, because the roots of violence
occur over a lifetime. Staff also noted that the discussion was focused on family violence, and asked participants to look
at incarceration rates to understand which persons are targeted in the criminal justice system.
State statutes, the courts, and public citizens and their belief systems have historically defined violence and how violent
and criminal behavior should be dealt with. It was noted that (1) communities lack the resources for comprehensive intervention
(e.g., more money available to incarcerate), (2) the public has an unrealistic fear of violence, and (3) we have to understand
the trauma behind criminal and violent behavior. In response, participants noted that society should continue to hold people
accountable for what they do. On the other hand, participants noted that youth can easily interact with disjointed criminal
justice systems that fail to truly serve their needs, and that many youth continue to have mental health issues. Another participant
stated that practitioners and law enforcement officials must work together (e.g., the police are the front line on domestic
violence service calls).
A participant defined violence as any act that instills fear and any act that hurts an individual. The participant stated
that local enforcement should (1) better define, understand, and address domestic violence (e.g., do more than look for wounds
and understand that violence continues after the hitting stops) and (2) better understand how to work within communities (e.g.,
do community police/education and recognize violence customers).
Another participant defined violence in terms of physical, psychological, intimate partner, and emotional abuse. It also was
suggested that violence is institutionalized when the systems do not respond to clients. This definition was developed in
the context of reporting high numbers of incarcerated women in the community, where many women have also experienced educational
failure. The participant described working with a program with faith-based support to provide transitional living assistance,
batterer's treatment, legal services, advocacy and outreach (e.g., for boys and girls who disclose dating violence), legal
assistance (e.g., divorce and protective custody), and education support. In this community, systems intervention and change
are relevant; historically different systems have provided different services (e.g., domestic violence versus childcare services).
Efforts to produce coordinated systems have not always worked due to a lack of leaders, but there continues to be a need for
systems change, supported by the courts (e.g., sanction batterer's treatment), the community (e.g., media and court reports),
and support services (e.g., partner check ins).
Another participant discussed violence in the context of crimes against children, such as child sexual abuse, and families
who rely on the criminal justice system for assistance and guidance. It was noted that many systems working in the child abuse
arena fail to adequately define violence against children. Moreover, with children, it is not clear if violence is understood
or even feared. In terms of program development, there is a desire to combine professionalism with compassion, to coordinate
services and responses, and to continue to understand the complexity of child abuse and responses (e.g., children who experience
violence also have biological mothers who have experienced domestic violence).
Dr. Rosenfeld and others noted that the participants had focused many of their comments on systems, systems change, and how
systems do not work together. Thus, the discussion was not focused on individual perpetrators. Participants stated that the
systems discussion helps them to understand how effectively a community deals with issues in the criminal justice arena and
to place into context how a community responds to criminals (e.g., spend money to incarcerate versus educate). A few participants
noted that some communities do not have structured systems; instead, practitioners have to do more work to advocate for their
clients. Dr. Rosenfeld asked the group to be clearer about their thoughts regarding the idea that if a system works well,
then there will be an impact on violence. NIJ staff also asked participants to stay focused on aspects of violence (e.g.,
physical harm/physical contact and the immediate threat of assault) and to keep in mind public acceptance and resources available
within the arena of violence intervention and prevention.
A participant noted that violence can happen in the home and in institutions (e.g., police departments), and that violence
can be active (e.g., violence done has left its mark) and passive (e.g., lingering effects of violence on persons perpetrated
A discussion about law enforcement followed. A participant described a community effort to better train traditional police
officers and judicial officers on how to operate within their program goals and address a community's desire for protection.
The suggestion was to fund programs and services that work. Another participant said that courts are personality driven and
have a community bias. Thus, judges either will have or will lack a commitment to social issues such as domestic violence.
In terms of a definition for domestic violence and how to deal with it, many judges do the best they can to not minimize women's
experiences with such violence and to work on what is important.
In response to NIJ, a participant suggested that the reason people hurt others is their own victimization history; thus, there
is a need to deal with the psychological development of persons, including children. In terms of systems, it was suggested
that changes and repairs are valuable for various systems encountered such as a response system.
Dr. Zahn stated that homicide (e.g., 18-year-old youth are killing other youth) also is important to consider. A participant
suggested that youth should understand the consequences of their behaviors and deterrence messages. Such strategies have helped
decrease the number of youth homicides in some communities. Another participant noted (1) that homicide is the worst crime,
but that it is not the most common one and (2) that victims of domestic violence have lingering problems (e.g., post-separation
from relationship abuse). Use of a broader definition for violence as well as an understanding that violence and exposure
to violence happens across one's life were suggested as the basis for a good strategy.
A participant stated that adult and youth violence continue in correctional facilities. Such facilities essentially manage
violence (e.g., sex offender management, batterer's intervention, and behavioral change), allow for few opportunities for
self-regulation and democracy (e.g., they are authoritarian settings), and lack the best models to work with youth offenders,
including those serving long-term sentences.
A participant described working closely with youth under 17, primarily on sexual and physical abuse, but also on substance
abuse, mental health, exploitation, transportation, childcare, and centralized intake. Several key issues were noted, including
that (1) the law narrowly defines abuse and crime, (2) community partnerships remain important, (3) families do not access
services they are eligible to receive, and (4) that courts have little in the way of resources and funds.
Addressing Violence Problems in a Problem Solving and Theoretical Context, The SACSI/PSN Experience in St. Louis
Dr. Henry Brownstein, Chief, Drugs and Crime and International Research Division, NIJ, introduced Dr. Scott Decker, Department
of Criminology and Criminal Justice, University of Missouri–St. Louis.
Dr. Decker is Co-Principal Investigator for the Strategic Approaches to Community Safety Initiative (SACSI)/Project Safe Neighborhoods
(PSN) initiative, an NIJ-funded partnership with Federal, State, and local law enforcement agencies; prosecutors; and communities,
who are working together to prevent and prosecute gun crime. Dr. Decker is completing a book entitled, Policing Gangs and Youth Violence. He is the author of Life in the Gang: Family, Friends, and Violence (with Barrik Van Winkle), Confronting Gangs: Crime and Community (with G. David Curry), Armed Robbers in Action (with Richard T. Wright), and Burglars on the Job: Streetlife and Residential Break-Ins (with Richard T. Wright).
Dr. Decker described the context for the city of St. Louis, Missouri. The city has a consistent ranking in the top five cities
for homicide, aggravated assault, and robbery rates. Trend data show 71 homicides/100,000 residents in 1993, and 43 homicides/100,000
residents in 2001.
The city also has a policy context, which includes the following key initiatives:
The range of stakeholders includes the Assistant U.S. Attorney's Office (AUSA), the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department,
local prosecutors, research partner/university, Federal probation, Level I Trauma Center/hospital setting, juvenile court
(e.g., Project Sentry), the State police, the jail supervisor, city neighborhood service providers, street outreach workers,
and media relations partners. Dr. Decker emphasized the importance of these partners, noting that the research agenda itself
is not enough to motivate change in the city.
Dr. Decker's research documents that firearms are the most prominent weapons used in the city's homicides, starting in the
late 1980s to the present. The data also indicate that there are key neighborhoods and city locations (e.g., Northwest locations),
which overlap in the total number of homicides, assaults (e.g., the city's District 5), firearm recovery sites, and number
of police service calls reporting shots fired. Moreover, the data demonstrate the need to target both juveniles and adults.
Many of these individuals report that the most important consideration in deciding to carry a gun is their concern that they
will encounter an armed person on the streets.
According to Dr. Decker, the PSN research can be successful by addressing the following critical issues:
The PSN research involves the following initiatives and key elements:
Trauma Intervention Program
The goal of this program is to prevent retaliatory violence and repeat victimization. Several strategies are used, including
(1) system change (e.g., evidence, notification, knives), (2) intelligence (e.g., in and around the ED), (3) followup interventions
in the ED and neighborhood, (4) data analysis (e.g., system convergence of police and ED data), and (5) models from other
cities (e.g., outcomes, similarities, and practices).
In the ED/hospital setting, Dr. Decker described key intervention points where contact can be made with the shooting and stabbing
victims for crime prevention. For example, once the victim is stable or when the victim is being discharged, intervention
may occur (e.g., discuss weapon use or weapon recovery). In the past, no systematic approach was used for this type of intervention
in the ED/hospital setting.
Most Violent Offender Program/WOW Program
This program targets groups of offenders whose criminal histories have been examined for their involvement in gun violence.
A staff team of Federal and local law enforcement and prosecution officials nominates persons. Particular attention is paid
to those persons who were suspected for but not charged with homicide with armed criminal action. The data show some initial
success—8 in 11 persons arrested and some persons charged and held for 3 months. This initiative also integrates the Gun Club
program, which strives to improve working justice systems. To this end, weekly meetings involve the State District Attorney;
AUSA; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF); and local police who review all gun arrests and discuss the
strength of a case and background of the arrestee to determine the most appropriate venue for prosecution. Major outcomes
include increased Federal arrests, increased prosecutions and convictions, and the promotion of a police internship program.
Fifth District Initiative
The Fifth District is located in a 4.34 square mile area with 17,503 city residents. The District experienced 25 homicides
in 2001 (142/100,000 residents). The program involves coordinated, targeted enforcement, and uses gun recovery tactics, including
search warrants, arrests, traffic stops, pedestrian stops, consent searches, a gun buyback program, and gun turn-in campaigns.
Dr. Decker noted that these tactics vary on several indicators, including the probability of gun retrieval, crime reduction,
costs, and the effect on crime (See matrix on slide 23). The program's partnership approach involves (1) Federal prosecution
(e.g., U.S. attorney, PSN, gun cases), (2) Federal law enforcement (e.g., ATF and Federal Bureau of Investigation), (3) local
prosecution (e.g., BJA-funded gun prosecutors), (4) local law enforcement (e.g., district officers, gang, and mobile reserve),
and (5) research contributions, which are viewed as relevant and important.
Initial PSN Findings
Dr. Decker highlighted several initial findings:
Problem Solving Approaches
In closing, Dr. Decker discussed the project's problem solving approaches:
In response to questions, Dr. Decker pointed out that low socio-economic status tends to have a strong correlation with guns
in the community. He also stated that guns are seized by local police and through the use of searches, and that the program
has focused on gun retrieval because of the large number of weapons in this particular community.
A participant stated that the definition of violent crime is no longer clear (e.g., domestic violence versus property crime).
Further, the definition should expand to fully encompass the context of a crime, which is relevant to the understanding and
prosecution of cases. In one community with a concentrated crime area, the definition of violence has to do with the crimes
within relationships (e.g., street and personal relationships versus stranger against stranger crime).
The definition of violence should also expand to include (1) violence incidence associated with hate crimes and the lingering
fear that results from them and (2) child sexual assault, which usually happens more than once. The participant has programs
to deal directly with gun and drug crime and uses aggressive enforcement, including (1) motor vehicle stops, (2) heightened
visibility in concentrated crime areas, (3) removal of offenders from the community using constitutional guidelines, and (4)
building cases to charge and prosecute offenders who are then transferred to the U.S. Attorney's Office, when possible.
Dr. Rosenfeld remarked that two models have been discussed, a model of deterrence (e.g., Project Safe Neighborhoods), and
one of incapacitation for individuals who do not respond to behavioral change (e.g., incarceration of persons so that their
criminal activities can be transferred to correctional facilities).
One participant described violence as being broadly defined in terms of what men do to women; further, it is rooted in and
continues to exist in patriarchy and notions of male supremacy as well as in constitutional, institutional (e.g., educational,
religious), legal, cultural (e.g., sexist, racist, economically unjust), and community backdrops. Also, violence involves
a full range of controlling strategies used by men over women, including the legal ones that men use to control their partners,
and violence must take into account women's perspectives and definitions of violence (e.g., moving beyond counting the number
of men arrested and the numbers of hits, recognizing that women live in fear and with limitations on their lives). In the
context of women who are violent toward men, it was stated that there is a difference and that additional thinking is needed.
With this definition, the participant described how batterer programs strive to disassociate the idea that men who are abusing
women have treatable mental health issues. Instead, program training curriculum is similar to the curriculum used for professional
training for judges, laypersons, and other members of the community. The training involves a discussion of the history of
domestic violence, how to end domestic violence, and the progress of the domestic violence movement in the United States.
It also was suggested (1) that the criminal justice system mandate batterer programs as one in a range of sanctions, giving
the court a chance to see how seriously offenders comply with the court's order and (2) that the courts use the most serious
sanctions or penalties at the earliest possible moment—based on the seriousness of the crime committed—recognizing that domestic
violence is a serious crime. The notion of violence in early childhood was mentioned as an important part of this discussion.
Dr. Zahn asked the group to also think about (1) the distinctive characteristics of male battering which are not the same
as male dominance and (2) the variables that distinguish men who batter and those who do not hit women. The book, Sisters in Spirit, by Sally Roesch Wagner was recommended as a resource.
One participant described recent research that defined "success" as the men's completion of a 6-week batterer program and
by a decreased number of hits to one's partner. There was concern that this type of research would cause harm. The alternative
would be to study what happens to men who are mandated to participate in batterer programs but fail to do so. Also, a participant
stated that more programs can rely on men as the front persons who discuss why male violence against women is unacceptable.
Dr. Rosenfeld asked, why is the most restrictive and punitive sanction recommended as the first step, and does it suggest
something that is qualitatively different about the type of violence under consideration? A participant described past efforts
towards less punitive sanctions, however, it was stated that this has only added to the problem of domestic violence.
A participant, who is working on children and abuse issues, stated that children exposed to violence have posttraumatic stress
disorder, and experience changes in their blood chemistry, impacting brain development. The participant also discussed the
need to prevent institutional violence against children who commit violence. In this context many adolescents are not competent
to stand trial, some need mandatory counseling, and some should not talk to police when they are accused of felonies. Flexibility
that allows courts to send the accused children back to juvenile court was considered beneficial, because it gives the courts
an additional way to assist children. Moving beyond Federal mandates in the area of foster care, permanency and safety for
children were identified as priorities. It also was suggested that parental rights should be reexamined to determine what
is happening to children in the form of accidents and disciplinary practices.
A participant described her own personal experience with violence, noting the importance of family support and the complexity
of exposure to different forms of violence. Participants were encouraged to try to understand this type of personal background,
making relevant links to their current work. Practitioners should build upon the strengths within families and individuals;
for example, treatment does not work without help from the family. The participant stated that (1) the high-risk problems
of children must be addressed to create family stabilization and (2) violence occurs on a continuum. With respect to programs,
the participant works with a victim service center, which is a clinical treatment program, for children who are victims of
all forms of abuse and for children who witness violence. She suggested that this type of work be coordinated with various
systems (e.g., schools and key professionals). Dr. Rosenfeld stated that this perspective is important, because it does not
assume that exposure to violent conditions (e.g., seeing someone get shot) will always lead to negative outcomes, and it suggests
that not all persons who witness violence will be violent themselves.
Another participant described her personal experience with violence, noting that the domestic violence system did not meet
crucial needs. Data and theoretical understandings of the groups served (e.g., adolescent developmental research) remain crucial
for practitioner decisions and the education of judges, probation officers, and systems players. The participant described
the need for (1) holistic representation; (2) restorative justice (e.g., juveniles understand accountability); (3) systems
change via community partnerships, including faith-based organizations and others; (4) data gathering efforts; (5) aggressive
enforcement; (6) community response plans; and (7) rational approaches based on strong research regarding youth to avoid sweeping
transfers of young people into adult systems.
A participant stated that the U.S. constitution is the grounding for practitioners' work. Thus, there is a need to understand
roles (e.g., how prosecution relates to law enforcement; how service providers relate to law enforcement and the courts).
There was a note of caution for participants to avoid inappropriate responses and recognize the rights and positions of such
players, including the victims and perpetrators. Another participant noted that the court must hear both sides, and the practitioners
should be realistic about court outcomes, recognizing the limits to what the courts can and cannot do.
A participant, who has 25 years of experience in the arena of domestic violence, defined violence as a systematic pattern
of behavior used in intimate relationships whereby a person has power over another person. Violence is socially taught and
learned in the home and family (e.g., by learning how to deal with conflict; how to deal with the violence that is observed).
The participant described a particular program, which includes (1) a batterers treatment/intervention program, (2) an advocacy
program within the criminal court system (e.g., laws to identify criminal behavior), (3) a therapy program for victims of
domestic violence and children (ages 4–18), and (4) interventions for adolescent boys and girls. Moreover, the program has
worked with Dr. Jeffery Ellison, University of Minnesota School of Social Work and the Minnesota Center Against Violence and
Abuse, to evaluate the effectiveness of the interventions for this program, generating best practices. Newer projects have
focused on men-as-parents programs and on how to assist men who lack parenting skills (e.g., to understand their violent behavior
in the context of their family of origin). The participant described several measures of success for the program, which include
(1) stopping the physical violence, (2) changing attitudes and beliefs on men and women's social roles (e.g., men's right
to control women's behavior), (3) breaking the social isolation of family members, and (4) changing social attitudes of the
community, including the faith-based community and social systems (e.g., response to domestic violence).
A participant asked about how to incorporate the growing body of knowledge about the impact of trauma on brain chemistry as
well as information on brain functioning. The participant also asked about what leads to violent behavior and what strategies
should be examined to effectively respond to violent behavior. These issues are relevant with respect to people who abuse
children or are sexual predators. In response, it was stated that (1) in the domestic violence field, it is important to understand
that not all batterers are the same and (2) not all men who observe violence are abusive to their partners. There should be
research on why some people do not abuse even when they come from an abusive setting.
Dr. Rosenfeld asked about the involvement of the faith-based community. He wondered about its expertise and what perspectives
it offers. In response, participants described the faith-based community as (1) the moral compass of our society and (2) influential
for a large number of people. It also plays important roles in the Latino and African American communities (e.g., with respect
to how people treat one another). A suggestion was made that practitioners not give up on the faith-based community, even
if its members have made mistakes in the past, as have police officers and judges. One goal would be to educate religious
leaders and to use their positions in the communities as an asset (e.g., to develop messages).
A participant described work in the community corrections field and with violent offenders. Although the participant agreed
with NIJ's definition of violence, there is a need to deal with the psychology of violence. The participant described groupings
of people, including those who (1) come into the system with little hope that they will change their behavior, (2) use violence
as a means to an end (e.g., to obtain control or goods), and (3) are emotionally explosive and lack impulse control and want
control and compliance. It was suggested that there are people who can change and want to change, versus those who cannot
or do not want to change (e.g., those who see nothing wrong with their behavior). Among these persons, the participant identified
recent efforts to positively (1) address substance abuse and educational challenges, (2) direct people to better peers or
associates, (3) show alternatives on how to obtain goods (e.g., prestige without violence), (4) change attitudes (e.g., control
is not a good thing), and (5) teach people that there are consequences to their behaviors.
When asked about how to create a violence prevention initiative, a participant suggested (1) dealing with substance abuse,
(2) using appropriate sanctions which are clearly linked to the crime, (3) having an adequate budget (e.g., people are offered
the opportunity to get treatment), and (4) using motivational enhancement and interviewing to fully understand people's beliefs,
worlds, and settings.
When asked to create a supervision and corrections initiative, a participant suggested that (1) courts should avoid incarcerating
nonviolent offenders, (2) resources should go to community-based systems, (3) more effort should go toward transition from
the corrections system back into the community, and (4) corrections officials should provide violence education programs so
that prisoners with violence in their background would be exposed to violence impact and to perspectives on how their behavior
is part of a social pattern.
A participant said that there is a continuing need for the warehousing of criminals, especially given that the greatest predictor
of violence is criminal thinking and untreated substance abuse. Another participant described three types of criminals: those
who need to be incarcerated, those who have made a mistake and will self-correct, and those that never take responsibility
for their actions. People must work with these groups and make the best recommendations on their futures.
What NIJ Heard
Dr. Hartmann asked NIJ staff to report on what was heard at this point. NIJ staff thanked the participants for their comments
and key members of the NIJ staff for organizing the meeting.
Definitions of Violence
The group focused on the responses to violence versus the underlying causes of violence. The focus also went to particular
types of violence, including family and domestic violence. The group stated that violence was learned and that the learning
occurred within intimate settings such as homes and relationships. There also was a focus on exposure in terms of being a
victim of or witness to violence. There was not much focus on perpetration or what causes a perpetrator to commit violence.
Systems Change
The group focused on system change but did not specify which systems should change. A working hypothesis was that changing
a system would impact violence. The group discussed the justice system and human and social service systems, but there was
no discussion about how changing a system would make a difference. Instead, much of the discussion focused on how systems
come together or how they can come together. The discussion focused on what system change is and what difference it makes.
Macro-level Factors
Patriarchy was discussed in the context of domestic violence and partner violence. The discussions also focused on how macro-level
factors are related to other forms of violence, and why they play an important role in both domestic violence and other forms
of violence. Dr. Zahn asked, if patriarchy is a driving force behind domestic violence, then what about all those other men
who do not engage in domestic violence? NIJ staff asked the group to consider who does most of the violence, what the violence
is about, and what is not being talked about.
NIJ staff also noted that the group focused primarily on family violence with little discussion of homicide, robbery, and
violent crime. NIJ staff wondered if there was a perception that public violence (e.g., violence in the streets) is more under
control, and that this was the reason why the group returned to family or home violence (e.g., violence in households and
in personal relationships).
NIJ staff heard the group (1) describe violence as a discrete event, (2) focus on how systems are organized and/or not organized
to address violence, (3) describe the family as a training ground for violence, (4) discuss helping girls who are offenders
to recapture wisdom inside themselves, (5) share personal experiences with violence, (6) state that infrastructure is critical,
(7) advocate early prevention and interventions with the instant offense program, and (8) describe the country's historical
context with respect to gender relations, noting that there are different correlates of violence and potentials for social
Participants were asked to comment on any missing topics of discussion. The participants asked NIJ staff to keep in mind the
following: (1) the connection between violence and brain development, including the impact of trauma and fetal development;
(2) Internet violence; (3) the idea that all the forms of violence are interconnected with children, families, youth, communities,
and schools; and (4) the idea that family violence is a serious crime. NIJ staff agreed that technology is ignored in violence
research, in part due to the dominance of the social sciences in the study of violence. The staff also asked participants
to understand that different solutions exist because of the differences among individuals. In response, a participant asked
if it was truly possible to "make everybody perfect."
Dr. Rosenfeld shared the following thoughts:
Dr. Zahn asked participants to consider the following questions:
Dr. Hartmann asked participants to think about the previous statements. He also asked the group to start thinking about research
and information that is needed in their fields. NIJ staff thanked the participants for their honesty, and reminded them that
NIJ wants to be part of the work they do.
Dr. Hartmann acknowledged the NIJ staff for their long time service and research efforts, and highlighted the work of Lois
Mock, NIJ.
Dr. Hartmann asked participants to think about information and specific questions that would be helpful, especially in order
to bring value to their work arenas. Participants asked themselves: What would really help me to do my work, and what would
provide key facts, which can be used for policy and programmatic decisions? NIJ staff stated that this type of feedback and
information would assist in ensuring that practitioners get the type of information and research they need, especially for
use in dealing with their own local level contexts and needs.
One participant asked for a brief overview of the facts and data that exist, for example, on children exposed to violence.
Another participant stated that there are also local level data needs, which the national data may not be able to address.
NIJ staff stated that they would make an effort to get this type of information out to the group and public.
Dr. Rosenfeld recognized the desire for local data, noting the connection to local politics; but he asked that the national
level data and changes be viewed as relevant, especially when trends are documented over time. Dr. Rosenfeld mentioned the Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS) Web site. BJS was described as a sister agency of NIJ, and the statistical agency of the Office of Justice Programs (OJP) in the Department
of Justice (DOJ). The Web site has a comprehensive collection of statistics about U.S. crime, victims, criminals, courts,
police, jails, prisons, women in crime, and intimate partner violence. The other recommended database was WISQARSTM (Web-based
Injury Statistics Query and Reporting System) from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). WISQARS is an interactive
database system that provides customized reports of injury-related data including (1) fatal injury reports (e.g., tables of
injury deaths and death rates by particular causes of injury mortality) and (2) leading causes of death reports (e.g., charts
of deaths by common causes of death).
A participant described working with a local advisory committee that was interested in local capacity-building efforts. The
goal would be for local communities to be active participants in various activities and in understanding what works and why
(e.g., how and why is a police chief successful, and what are the variables that contribute to this outcome). The participant
asked NIJ to consider developing a capacity building template, which would empower and assist communities in their work; this
would be different from developing research reports. Also, the participant asked for advice and documentation on how to do
the research. Dr. Hartmann stated that the PSN effort might overlap with this discussion and request.
NIJ staff stated a desire and willingness to work on capacity building efforts as well as to inform the public and consumers
about NIJ resources and knowledge. NIJ staff continue to address and negotiate ideas and strategies on how to get information
out to the public, including practitioners. A participant recommended that NIJ develop brief documents outlining key information
and facts on specific topics to assist with information dissemination.
Several participants stated that even when given the facts, many local constituents disregard key facts. A participant described
conducting local-level research to help his community accept key facts as well as have a basic understanding of these facts.
Another restated the need to know what research is available and asked NIJ to keep in mind that local research is always needed.
Dr. Rosenfeld stated that many communities have locally-based research centers focusing on violence and various aspects of
violence, establishing the capacity for joint efforts. He further noted that such centers are driven by local commands and/or
requests for research. In response, a participant described the difficulties with such joint efforts, citing turf issues and
the difficulty of working within these settings.
A participant requested information and research about youth transitions into drug court for participation in treatment versus
incarceration. NIJ staff stated that they would provide this type of information. Another participant discussed the need for
NIJ to provide research and information in concise formats, noting that information located in sidebars or text boxes is useful
in recalling major research findings and in policy and program development. Participants noted that paper copies of research
findings remain relevant and time efficient and that effective indexing is crucial in ensuring readability and accessibility
of electronic resources. The Web site by SafetyLit (at www.safetylit.org), which provides information from many disciplines about the occurrence and prevention of injuries, was recommended as a
source. SafetyLit staff and volunteers regularly examine more than 300 journals and reports from government agencies and several
Dr. Hartmann summarized the discussion as follows: (1) participants want to understand what information already exists, (2)
participants want to know how the Federal government and its agencies (e.g., NIJ and BJS) get their information out to the
public, and (3) with respect to NIJ's mission, participants were asked to consider what research and information would be
helpful in their fields.
Dr. Hartmann asked the group to return to the task of developing research questions for NIJ to use in the future. He summarized
key topics and preliminary questions discussed on Day One, January 21, 2004 as follows:
It was mentioned that not all programs are able to develop comprehensive interventions (e.g., PSN); instead, some communities
use their resources to focus on instant intervention even when there is a desire to provide comprehensive program development
focusing on violence intervention and prevention.
Dr. Hartmann asked the participants to work in three small groups. NIJ staff participated in the group discussions. Each group
was asked to select one person who would report the group's comments back to the larger group. The participants were directed
to answer the question, what do you really want to know in guiding NIJ's future research directions? The participants were
asked to focus on several key issues (e.g., two to three per group).
After meeting in the small groups, each group was asked to report back, starting with Group A, then Groups B and C. The group
spokespersons were asked to use only a few minutes in their presentations.
Report From Small Group: What Group A Wants Answered
The group developed a series of questions regarding reentry of ex-offenders and services: What do we need to do about reentry?
What kind of innovative policies and practices should be developed, including programs that build human capital (e.g., a program
that expunges the records of adults that have felony convictions in order to enable then to secure employment; a program that
studies employment placements)? What policies and programs build human capital in ex-offenders, and which ones promote successful
reentry of juveniles and adults into their communities? What policies and programs assist ex-offenders not to recidivate?
What should be done first or are all services essential? For this work, Group A also strongly advocated the use of experimental
designs/research methods and was interested in studying areas such as employment, family support services, family relations,
and substance abuse treatment.
To further clarify the research agenda, participants described an interest in learning more about the differences between
(1) people released from prisons with structured reentry programs and (2) people released with no structured reentry programs.
The goals would be to examine the successful reintegration of these persons and understand what is happening. A participant
expressed a desire to examine the various models for reentry support, including models that encourage immediate employment
placement as compared to models that address substance abuse issues. When asked about experimental design, Group A agreed
that the correctional programming provided to the ex-offender should also be examined or considered in this type of research
Group A also was interested in studies about early intervention, especially for children exposed to all forms of violence,
and in knowing about other programs and their impact on preventing future violence. The group wants research on what works
in terms of intervening with children to reduce the risk factors associated with exposure to violence and associated with
future violent behavior. In this area, Group A asked: What works to enhance and build up the protective factors? What can
we learn about resilience from children in these families who do not seem to suffer in the same ways (e.g., sibling differences)?
The group also identified the challenge of getting families to access services, and asked what we can learn about motivation
to access services? Finally, Group A asked what role do law enforcement and criminal justice systems play in helping families
access services, and what role do they play in identifying children and families in need of support and services?
Dr. Rosenfeld asked the group to consider the current models of organization of reentry. He identified several models: (1)
one model operates with the sentencing judge running the reentry process, (2) another model operates with conventional community
agents (e.g., parole agency or officer as the reentry monitor), and (3) another model operates with one or more community
organizations serving as the reentry monitors. Dr. Rosenfeld stated that there is a nuance to the reentry topic, and one could
also ask: What is the social organization of reentry that is most effective and most cost efficient?
NIJ staff reported that $11 million has been awarded to RTI International and the Urban Institute to study reentry. Group
A appeared to understand this background, but their focus was on using an experimental design. Group A understood research
being done by the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, but noted that the integration of experimental designs
could (1) assist with funding issues and (2) ensure more time to conduct research (e.g., tracking research participants for
more than 18 months to 2 years).
At this point, a participant asked NIJ staff to explain how these questions would be useful to NIJ, and what processes were
available to help NIJ secure additional funds to conduct research. NIJ staff were participants in the small groups, taking
notes and listening. Their notes will be summarized into a cohesive document, and this information will be part of NIJ's strategic
planning. Staff will examine what already exists and provide this information to participants. The information also will be
used for future solicitations. In the past, the information from such meetings has directed NIJ's solicitation processes,
projects, and funded research; but this process will take time. NIJ staff also stated that budget items must be justified.
Thus, the participants' research questions and feedback will be used in this context. With respect to funding, NIJ staff noted
that they can make recommendations, and that their agency has to compete for resources and go through the appropriate approval
process. Several participants were interested in assisting NIJ staff in securing funding. Dr. Hartmann stated that the participants'
feedback will be used by NIJ to formulate information.
Report From Small Group: What Group B Wants Answered
Two major recommendations were presented. The group recommended research identifying the effectiveness of sanctions and interventions,
including cost-effectiveness. The research would take into account gender, culture, offence type, age, and issues related
to trauma (e.g., women/girls and trauma) in the individual's past. Also, the research would study what works for girls versus
boys and what works for domestic violence offenders versus other offenders. Finally, the research would pay close attention
to the specific needs of different categories of people and how to target resources (e.g., judicial, prevention, and intervention
Group B suggested that the intervention resources, including new and innovative programs, should be examined (e.g., trauma
programs for violence victims and the outcomes of such programs). The group believes that this is a good time to determine
what is known, especially considering State level funding issues and efforts to be cost effective. The group understood that
some interventions would be more expensive, but also more effective; they suggested that the research deal with the sub-question,
"Can we afford to do this?"
NIJ staff stated that much more work has been completed on juvenile justice than on the adult area. In the adult area, research
has been focused on drugs, drug wars, mental health, and domestic violence. The staff stated that the group's perspective
was important, because practitioners and others lack this type of matrix overview. The staff noted that studies in the juvenile
justice area are often driven by the fact that youth are transferred to the adult system (e.g., youth do less well in the
adult system). NIJ staff also noted that practitioners in the violence area might have to work with fewer resources.
Group B also developed a series of questions focused on systems analysis, including the following: (1) Is a coordinated response
more effective? (2) How does one measure this type of effectiveness (e.g., would measures include the amount of response time
that people have to put into this process)? (3) Who should participate in efforts for system improvement and why does their
participation matter? (4) Is system coordination equally effective across different kinds of offenses (e.g., domestic violence,
child homicide, gun violence, or child abuse)? and (5) Why is coordination important?
Group B also considered the role of key players and leaders. The group stated that not much is known about leaders and asked,
what are the characteristics of such leaders, and what characteristics are needed to move forward on systems change. Also,
with respect to readiness for change, the group would like to see studies on what makes a community, an organization, and
a leader receptive to change, because these measures of change may pinpoint communities, leaders, and system elements that
will be most effective in bringing about change.
NIJ staff responded to the readiness-to-change question by stating that NIJ has funded some studies in specific communities
(i.e., not generalizable) to examine these types of issues, including factors involved in the readiness to change. Such research
addresses (1) how to move a community and (2) where the communities are in terms of their readiness to address a particular
problem. The results showed that communities were on a continuum, and if the community identified violence against women as
a serious social problem, then they had more resources and a better response to this social issue/problem. Also important
to this process was community mobilizing and getting the word out about the social issue. NIJ staff noted that there is a
need for more resources and work in this arena.
Group B restated their working hypothesis—if a problem is viewed as a critical problem (e.g., if child homicide becomes a
critical problem), then there is more receptiveness to change. Moreover, the group felt like this would be an easily tested
hypothesis. A participant asked for a clearer definition for the term coordination. Group B stated that understanding coordination
was a goal of the research program. Another participant stated that coordination is practiced effectively in some areas and
ineffectively in others. The goal would be to learn about (1) where coordination is effective and (2) what the essential elements
are that make it effective.
Dr. Rosenfeld mentioned several critical questions: For any given problem, which players are most important, and should one
move ahead even when one does not have consensus or guaranteed participation on the part of the potential players? The group
discussed the assumption that coordination is better than no coordination and recognized the importance of addressing these
types of questions.
A participant stated that the term coordination is often overused and no longer has any functional meaning. Participants were
cautioned to avoid using coordination as a generic term that would provide no essential meaning or value. Thus, it was suggested
that the research be definite about whose activities are being coordinated and what form the coordination takes. Noting the
intensity of coordination and understanding the relationships of the entities whose actions are coordinated also are important
(e.g., law enforcement and an advocate). Another participant suggested that we view systems as mechanisms for planning and
prevention, which may be effective for capacity building and prevention efforts.
Report From Small Group: What Group C Wants Answered
Group C would like a social and system network analysis and suggested that violence has the element of clustering (e.g., among
individuals, among families, within the criminal justice system, and among health and human services systems). The group suggested
working with one to three neighborhoods (e.g., with a size of 20,000 persons), and then identifying individuals and families,
including extended families and people from different generations, who could provide new ideas, tools, or pathways for better
intervention. Dr. Hartmann commented on the methodology and noted the small sample size. He stated that even if the sample
were small, this type of study would provide important information.
Group C also recommended a study of different types of interventions, asking (1) are different interventions needed to address
different forms of violence and (2) what would these include?
Finally, Group C recommended the following questions: (1) what happens to men found guilty of domestic violence offenses who
are non-compliant and fail to follow through on their court-ordered sanctions and (2) does anything happen to them when they
do not comply with the sanctions? This research would exclude men sent to prison upon conviction. Group C further added that
the outcome being studied also includes the community response (e.g., is the community taking its own orders seriously, and
what is done when the participant does not follow through with the sanctions). The group believes that this has not been studied
in the past. A participant suggested that we also clearly define the systems for this research and include both the criminal
justice and other health and human services systems (e.g., schools). Also, it was suggested that researchers look at the behaviors
in the context of a broad life span (e.g., looking at early manifestations of aggression and violent behavior, how systems
responded, and what evolved in these circumstances). It was suggested that we continue to learn more about those streams within
the lifespan.
Dr. Hartman asked NIJ staff to start thinking about their responses to these recommendations in an effort to make sure that
the NIJ staff correctly heard the statements.
NIJ staff asked about the scope of research regarding offenders who do not follow through with their sanctions. Group C had
not discussed this issue; however, a participant thought that the research could be national in scope and look at the programs
and court systems. Another participant noted concern that many programs are currently developed as moneymaking operations.
Another issue was the need to know whether these programs work because the judges and the courts rely on them, hoping that
positive outcomes emerge via sanctioned participation in such programs.
Group C asked participants to stay focused on what happens to persons who do not follow through with sanctions, and to what
extent the community understands that domestic violence is a crime that will be punished. NIJ staff noted that the group's
research is about a system of accountability focused on making sure that the offender gets sanctioned. NIJ staff also stated
that the question was concise. In closing, a participant linked this discussion to the dysfunctional state of the probation
system, noting that non-compliance is part of the probation system at this time; this also may be true for domestic violence
Dr. Hartmann asked the NIJ staff to summarize the statements made by the three groups, and to clearly state what NIJ heard
from the groups.
What NIJ Staff Heard From Group A
Group A considered two continuums. On the first end, the question is what do we do about reentry for juveniles and adults?
How do we build our human capital? For this research, the group advocates the use of an experimental design in a study that
would examine policies, practices, and protocols as well as the different types of models for reentry. The group also asked
where the social reorganization of reentry should be located (e.g., with judges, community supervision and services, or parole
On the other end, Group A focused on early intervention with children exposed to all forms of violence. The question is, what
works to enhance protective factors (e.g., resiliency, motivation)? The group wanted to study the criminal justice system's
role in assisting individuals and families in accessing services and resources, and asked, what role does the criminal justice
system play in the process to help families access services and resources?
What NIJ Staff Heard From Group B
Group B asked, what works for different types of offenders, and discussed the need to look at the effectiveness of interventions
(e.g., from deterrence to incarceration) and sanctions. The group also is interested in a study that examines interventions
that are age-, gender-, culture-, and offense-specific. The group also advocated studying the impact of trauma on victims
and cost-effectiveness.
The group asked a series of questions about system response, including the following: Is a coordinated response more effective?
What do we mean by coordinated response and coordination? How do we measure and operationalize these concepts? How is readiness
to change linked to these issues? What is essential with respect to coordination? What elements must be in place in order
for a coordination process to be effective? How is leadership relevant? What is not needed in terms of leadership (e.g., if
a collaboration includes twelve partners which ones are not essential)?
What NIJ Staff Heard From Group C
Group C recommends a study regarding social and system network analysis on violence and violence prevention. The second recommendation
focuses on the system's interventions for different types of violent offenders. Third, the group wants to study what happens
to batterers who do not follow through with sanctions, and what the system does about them.
Regarding the memo drafted by Dr. Hartmann, which was based on the earlier discussions of data and information needs, the
participants decided to return the memo to Dr. Hartmann with their signatures. Everyone understood that the signed copies
would be delivered to NIJ directors and senior staff and be used to understand the context of the recommendations presented
by the three groups.
Dr. Hartmann asked participants to share their final substantive comments.
NIJ staff discussed the Institute's ability to respond to the recommendations. They regarded the research focusing on reentry
and perhaps early intervention from Group A as achievable. Also, the research focusing on accountability for batterers who
do not follow through with sanctions (from Group C) also seemed achievable. On the other topics, NIJ staff felt a greater
need for further discussion on how these issues would be presented and developed in the future.
NIJ staff also mentioned work currently being done in the areas of reentry and early childhood intervention, but noted that
the group's recommendations could be used as the basis for improvements. In terms of coordination and cooperation, NIJ staff
noted the work being done with PSN, which includes process evaluation and examination of partnerships. In this research, NIJ
will learn (1) what is important about partnerships, (2) what partners are valued at what stages, (3) how to include the best
partners and motivate them, and (4) how to sustain motivation.
Participants were asked to comment on what research was missing. Dr. Zahn noted that there was much discussion about interpersonal
violence, but there also was a need to discuss collective violence, keeping in mind September 11, 2001. Further, it was added
that future violence research (1) needs to include some discussion of those motivated to do violence for social or political
change and (2) needs to consider an internationalization platform as opposed to a single focus on the United States. In response,
NIJ staff mentioned research on domestic and international terrorism, including work on how to respond to these forms of violence.
One participant discussed the need for and availability of local data and asked if there was a role for NIJ. For example,
could NIJ assist practitioners with respect to methods for collecting local data, including data that would assist in the
research mentioned by the groups? Another participant asked if there was any interest among participants in serving as advocates
to ensure appropriate resources are available to accomplish the research agenda developed by the groups. Participants will
contact each other in the future, as needed.
One participant stated that there was no clear discussion in the group about ethnic, cultural, and religious groups and differences.
The participant (1) wanted to make sure this was not missing from discussions and research and (2) asked the group to avoid
dropping diversity questions from studies.
Dr. Hartmann provided additional closing remarks. He mentioned that the meeting included NIJ staff, practitioners, and academics,
and that the group had created a strong base for research. In the process, NIJ staff really listened to the academics and
the practitioners, who were essential to the conversation. He thanked the group for its work and for the information it produced
during the meeting. The participants also thanked Dr. Hartmann for his work during the meeting.
Dr. Rosenfeld stated that the group was exceptional and thoughtful. NIJ staff were encouraged to inform other staff that the
group broadly represented the concerns in the various communities and was thoughtful about its work. One concern raised was
that NIJ senior staff would have the impression that the participants do not represent other practitioners. However, it was
strongly stated that the group raised issues that are of general concern.
Several participants asked about the selection process for participants. It was explained that NIJ staff had been informed
about the goals of the meeting, and that staff made recommendations for potential participants. A working list was developed
with participants who were viewed as experts in their fields and who would be willing to actively participate. A matrix also
was used to strive for a mixture of participants and participants also were also identified as persons who would think outside
the box, negotiating their ideas and thinking more broadly. As needed, phone calls were made to professionals in the field,
asking for recommendations. Several meeting participants noted that the group seemed representative of people in the field,
especially concerning ideas and attitudes.
Participants thanked NIJ and its staff for putting the meeting together. Dr. Hartmann also was thanked for his participation.
Back to Violence Against Women Workshops home


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