Pregnant people have been criminalized for their pregnancy outcomes even after Roe v Wade established some rights to reproductive autonomy. Fetal personhood theory, changing societal conceptions of motherhood, and existing racial and class-based biases have fueled an increasing and complex patchwork of punitive policies and interpretations. This study analyzed 35...
Oregon has one of the five highest homeless occupancy rates in the U.S., according to the Annual Homeless Assessment Report (2021). Using the current governor of Oregon’s (Tina Kotek) plan to decrease homelessness, which focuses primarily on housing developments and strategies, this study will first examine the merits of permanent...
For university students, academic misconduct policies are designed to promote learning and protect the university’s reputation. Misconduct consequences can impact students’ grades, finances, and even visa status. While elements of such policies are similar across institutions, there are uneven reporting patterns within institutions, leaving some students more vulnerable to these...
Reports, both anecdotal and empirical, indicate a rise in anti-Asian sentiments, including hate crimes, since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. The increase of such discrimination and hate may be attributed to negative perceptions of the origins of the COVID-19 virus. During the pandemic, the use of stigmatizing language, such...
In 2016, the state of Oregon passed landmark legislation that doubles the state’s Renewable Portfolio Standard and eliminates the use of coal-fired electricity for the state’s two major electric utilities by 2030. The legislation was the first of its kind in the country to outright ban the use of a...
Reducing recidivism rates and raising success rates for individuals who experience mental or behavioral distress and have been through the legal system is the key to lowering the expenditure of valuable resources including time and judicial budget. Regardless, little research attention has been given to post-arrest diversion programming and reentry...
At any given time, 60% to 85% of prisoners across the United States are struggling with substance addiction and dependence. Upon release, about two-thirds of former prisoners will reoffend and return to prison. Due to the high rate of substance use and abuse in prisons, drug treatment, specifically Correctional Therapeutic...
The objective of this study is to identify the variation in health care access and utilization among immigrant and U.S. born citizens in California. It aims at finding the reasons behind the disparity so that U.S. health agencies can make more efforts to improve the availability of health care services...
Youth corrections teachers are an under-researched group of individuals who have much to lend to the discussion surrounding youth corrections including teaching methodologies, challenges, and benefits. This report summarizes the available academic literature of the characteristics of effective youth corrections teachers in comparison with teachers who work in traditional public...
An oil and gas extraction technique commonly referred to as “fracking”, “hydraulic fracturing”, “hydrofracking” or “unconventional shale development” has recently emerged as a major national and international policy issue. This combination of new and preexisting technologies has quickly spread around the world, allowing for the development of large, previously unviable...