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Continued Presence Resource Guide for Submitting Law Enforcement Agencies and Civil Attorneys
From the Document: "Decades of successful human trafficking investigations and prosecutions all point to using a victim-centered approach as a reason for their success. A victim-centered approach places equal value on the investigation and prosecution of human traffickers and on the identification and stabilization of victims of human trafficking. It means considering the victim's rights, safety, and interests throughout the investigation and prosecution. The goal of this approach is to focus the investigation and prosecution around the victim while minimizing stress, harm, and trauma. Requesting CP [Continued Presence] for noncitizen trafficking victims in an investigation, prosecution, or federal civil action as described in this Resource Guide is a critical element of victim-centered law enforcement."
Center for Countering Human Trafficking (U.S.); U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement
2021-07
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Cyber Threats to Canada's Democratic Process, July 2021 Update
From the Executive Summary: "Democratic processes around the world continue to be targeted by cyber threat actors. In this assessment, we review global trends in cyber threat activity against democratic processes (which we define as including voters, political parties, and elections) and evaluate the threat to Canada, with special focus on the impacts of the COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] pandemic."
Communications Security Establishment (Canada); Canada
2021-07
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Securing Wireless Devices in Public Settings
From the Document: "Telework has become an essential component of business, and many people are teleworking from home or during travel. While the owners of home networks can take steps to secure those networks, it can be difficult to ensure public networks (e.g., conference or hotel Wi-Fi®) are secure. Protecting personal and corporate data is essential at all times, but especially when teleworking in public settings. To ensure data, devices, and login credentials remain secure and uncompromised, cybersecurity is a crucial priority for users and businesses. This includes identifying higher-risk public networks and implementing security best practices while in public settings, whether connecting laptops, tablets, mobile phones, wearable accessories, or other devices with the ability to connect to the internet. [...] This infosheet gives National Security System (NSS), Department of Defense (DoD), and Defense Industrial Base (DIB) users the best practices for securing devices when conducting business in public settings. It describes how to identify potentially vulnerable connections and protect common wireless technologies, and lists steps users can take to help secure their devices and data. While these best practices cannot ensure data and devices are fully protected, they do provide protective measures users can employ to improve their cybersecurity and reduce their risks."
United States. National Security Agency
2021-07
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Economic Injury Disaster Loan Program: Additional Actions Needed to Improve Communication with Applicants and Address Fraud Risks, Report to Congressional Addressees
From the Government Accountability Office (GAO) Highlights: "Between March 2020 and February 2021, SBA [Small Business Administration] provided about 3.8 million low-interest EIDL [Economic Injury Disaster Loan] loans and 5.8 million grants (called advances) totaling $224 billion to help small businesses adversely affected by COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019]. Borrowers can use these low-interest loans and advances to pay for operating and other expenses. The CARES [Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security] Act includes a provision for GAO to monitor funds provided for the COVID-19 pandemic. This report examines, among other objectives, the characteristics of program applicants and recipients; the challenges EIDL applicants experienced and the extent to which SBA has addressed them; and the steps SBA has taken to address risks of fraud and provision of funds to ineligible applicants. GAO reviewed documents from SBA, an EIDL contractor, and two of its subcontractors. In addition, GAO analyzed loan application data, conducted five discussion groups with applicants, and interviewed staff from SBA, six Small Business Development Centers, and six business associations. GAO also analyzed socioeconomic, demographic, and geographic data on EIDL program participants."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2021-07
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National Flood Insurance Program: Congress Should Consider Updating the Mandatory Purchase Requirement, Report to Congressional Requesters
From the Government Accountability Office (GAO) Highlights: "Flood insurance plays a key role in helping homeowners reduce the financial effects of floods, reduces the need for federal disaster assistance, and lowers costs for American taxpayers. NFIP [National Flood Insurance Program] makes federally backed flood insurance available to property owners in qualifying communities. The mandatory purchase requirement requires property owners in NFIP communities to purchase flood insurance if, among other things, they have mortgages from federally regulated lenders. GAO was asked to review the implementation of the mandatory purchase requirement. This report (1) describes federal entities' oversight of the requirement, (2) examines the extent to which FEMA uses information about compliance with the requirement, and (3) examines the use of FEMA floodplain maps to determine who must purchase flood insurance. GAO reviewed documentation from federal entities, analyzed data on lender violations of the requirement, and interviewed officials and other stakeholders."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2021-07
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Provisional Life Expectancy Estimates for 2020
From the Introduction: "The National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) collects and disseminates the nation's official vital statistics through the National Vital Statistics System (NVSS). NCHS uses provisional vital statistics data for conducting public health surveillance and final data for producing annual national natality and mortality statistics. NCHS publishes annual and decennial national life tables based on final vital statistics. To assess the effects on life expectancy of excess mortality observed during 2020, NCHS published provisional life expectancy estimates for the months January through June, 2020 in February 2021. This report presents updated estimates of life expectancy based on provisional mortality data for the full year, January through December, 2020. Provisional data are early estimates based on death certificates received, processed, and coded, but not finalized, by NCHS. These estimates are considered provisional because death certificate information may later be revised, and additional death certificates may be received until approximately 6 months after the end of the year."
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (U.S.); National Center for Health Statistics (U.S.)
Arias, Elizabeth; Tejada-Vera, Betzaida; Ahmad, Farida . . .
2021-07
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'Survey of Prison Inmates, 2016': Alcohol and Drug Use and Treatment Reported by Prisoners
From the Document: "Among all state and federal prisoners (1,421,700), nearly 4 in 10 (38%) reported using drugs and 3 in 10 (30%) reported drinking alcohol at the time of the offense for which they were serving a sentence. Statistics in this report are based on self-reported data collected through face-to-face interviews with a national sample of state and federal prisoners age 18 or older in the 2016 Survey of Prison Inmates (SPI). Nearly two-thirds (64%) of state and federal prisoners reported using at least one drug in the 30 days prior to arrest for the offense for which they were serving time. Among state and federal prisoners who were not incarcerated for the entire 12 months prior to admission to prison for the offense for which they were serving a sentence (916,900), nearly half (47%) met the 'Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders', Fourth Edition (DSM-IV) criteria for substance use disorder in the 12 months prior to admission to prison."
United States. Bureau of Justice Statistics
Maruschak, Laura M.; Bronson, Jennifer; Alper, Mariel
2021-07
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Wildfire Smoke Factsheet: Protect Your Lungs from Wildfire Smoke or Ash
This factsheet describes safety methods to protect your lungs from wildfire smoke and ash. From the document: "Wildfire smoke and ash can irritate your eyes, nose, throat, and lungs. They can make you cough or wheeze, and can make it hard to breathe. A respirator is a device (mask) that covers your nose and mouth, fits tightly to your face, and can filter out smoke or ash particles before you breathe them in. Respirators are not sized for children. The most effective way to protect yourself during wildfire emergencies is to stay indoors or limit your time outdoors when there is smoke in the air. This is especially important if you have heart or lung disease and are at higher risk for adverse health effects. Reducing physical activity and using HEPA [high efficiency particulate air]-filtered air cleaners indoors are other ways to reduce your smoke exposure. Consider temporary relocation out of the smoky area if possible. By limiting your exposure one of these ways, you may not need to wear a respirator."
United States. Environmental Protection Agency
2021-07?
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Aviation Services: Information on Airports Exercising Their Right as the Sole Provider of Fuel, Report to Congressional Committees
From the Highlights: "FAA [Federal Aviation Administration], through federal airport grants, helps fund airports' capital development and is responsible for overseeing airports' compliance with federal requirements incorporated in airport grant agreements. Under these agreements, airports are generally not allowed to grant exclusive rights to any person or entity to provide aeronautical services--such as fuel--on airport grounds. FAA has determined, however, that airports themselves can opt to be the exclusive provider of such services by exercising their proprietary exclusive right. The FAA Reauthorization Act of 2018 included a provision for GAO [Government Accountability Office] to examine airports that have exercised their proprietary exclusive right. This report addresses what is known about the number and characteristics of airports that are currently exercising their proprietary exclusive right to provide fuel and the factors airports consider when deciding whether to exercise this right to provide fuel. GAO reviewed relevant federal statutes, FAA policies and guidance, airport documents and websites, and conducted a web survey of all 3,010 public use airports in the contiguous United States. GAO interviewed officials at a non-generalizable sample of 26 airports that self-identified as exercising their proprietary exclusive right and at 10 airports that are not exercising their proprietary exclusive right, selected based on a mix of characteristics, including the amount of fuel sales. GAO also interviewed FAA compliance staff at headquarters and regional offices."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2021-07
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Evidence-Based Policymaking: Survey Data Identify Opportunities to Strengthen Capacity Across Federal Agencies, Report to Congressional Committees
From the Highlights: "The Evidence Act created a framework for enhancing the federal government's capacity to build and use evidence in decision-making. The Evidence Act includes provisions for GAO [Government Accountability Office] to review its implementation. This report (1) describes federal managers' reported availability and use of evidence in decision-making activities, and (2) assesses federal managers' reported views on their agencies' capacity for evidence-building activities. To conduct its work, GAO analyzed results from a survey it administered from July to December 2020 to a stratified random sample of about 4,000 managers at 24 major federal agencies. The survey had a 56 percent response rate. Results can be generalized to the population of managers government-wide and at each agency. GAO also reviewed documents from OMB [Office of Management and Budget], OPM [Office of Personnel Management], and relevant interagency councils, and interviewed federal officials."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2021-07
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Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA): A Summary of the Act and Its Major Requirements [Updated July 1, 2021]
From the Summary: "This report provides a summary of the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) and its major programs and regulatory requirements. It reviews revisions to the act since its enactment in 1974, including the drinking water security provisions added to SDWA by the Public Health Security and Bioterrorism Preparedness and Response Act of 2002 (P.L. 107-188), and provisions to further reduce lead in plumbing materials and drinking water (P.L. 111-380, P.L. 113-64, and P.L. 114- 322). It also identifies changes made to the act in P.L. 114-45, regarding algal toxins in public water supplies; the Grassroots Rural and Small Community Water Systems Assistance Act (P.L. 114-98); the Water Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation (WIIN) Act (P.L. 114-322); and America's Water Infrastructure Act (AWIA; P.L. 115-270), which constituted the most comprehensive revisions to SDWA since 1996. It also discusses SDWA-related provisions in the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2020 (P.L. 116-92) regarding per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in drinking water."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Tiemann, Mary; Humphreys, Elena H.
2021-07-01
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Countering Violent Extremism: DHS Can Further Enhance Its Strategic Planning and Data Governance Efforts, Report to Congressional Requesters
From the Government Accountability Office (GAO) Highlights: "Data collected through the Extremist Crime Database show that there were 81 fatal violent extremist attacks in the United States from 2010 through 2020, resulting in 240 deaths. Since 2010, DHS has developed strategic initiatives that address targeted violence and terrorism prevention, which include efforts to counter violent extremism, among other things. GAO was asked to review DHS's longer-term efforts to prevent terrorism and targeted violence. This report examines the extent to which (1) DHS's 2019 strategy to address targeted violence and terrorism prevention includes key elements of a comprehensive strategy, and (2) DHS has developed a data governance framework to help implement its strategy. GAO reviewed DHS documentation and compared DHS's strategy to identified elements of a comprehensive strategy, and compared DHS's efforts to develop a data governance framework to federal requirements for implementing data governance."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2021-07
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Loss Mitigation Toolkit Improvements for Borrowers Exiting COVID-19 Forbearance
From the Document: "Nearly a year and a half since the start of the pandemic, the US economy is on the mend. The vaccine rollout is progressing, allowing businesses to reopen and rehire workers who lost their jobs last year. Consequently, many borrowers are exiting their COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] forbearance plans, which have proven to be an effective addition to the loss mitigation toolkit. Seventy to 80 percent of exiting borrowers are opting for payment deferrals (where missed payments are added to the end of the loan), and the rest are exiting forbearances with a need for loan modifications. This necessitates a closer look at the loss mitigation toolkit to maximize the number of loans that can be cured. In this brief, we identify a few improvements to the loss mitigation toolkit that have received little focus. These improvements aim (1) to maximize the number of delinquencies that can be cured by offering more sustainable payments and (2) to move forward with property disposition most efficiently when all home retention options have been exhausted."
Urban Institute
Kaul, Karan; Goodman, Laurie S.; Neal, Michael
2021-07
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Immigration Enforcement: Actions Needed to Better Track Cases Involving U.S. Citizenship Investigations, Report to Congressional Requesters
From the Government Accountability Office (GAO) Highlights: "In recent years, some U.S. citizens have claimed that they were mistakenly detained or removed by ICE [U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement] and held by CBP [U.S. Customs and Border Protection] on administrative immigration charges. Such charges are based on civil violations of U.S. immigration law, but these charges are not applicable to U.S. citizens. GAO was asked to review issues related to U.S. citizens detained by ICE or held by CBP on administrative immigration charges. This report examines (1) the extent to which ICE and CBP have developed and implemented policies and procedures for investigating the potential U.S. citizenship of individuals its officers and agents encounter; (2) ICE and CBP data on U.S. citizens detained by ICE or held by CBP on administrative immigration charges; and (3) the extent to which ICE has developed and implemented policies and procedures for investigating the potential U.S. citizenship of individuals its officers identify for detainers. GAO analyzed DHS documents and record-level enforcement data, and interviewed DHS officials at headquarters and in the field."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2021-07
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Reimagining Manufacturing for Pandemic Preparedness: Non-Paper on Public Private Partnerships for the High-Level Independent Panel on Financing the Global Commons for Pandemic Preparedness and Response
From the Summary: "The COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] pandemic illuminated longstanding challenges in our global ability to respond to pandemic threats, including a global biopharmaceutical manufacturing ecosystem unprepared for crisis response. The lack of manufacturing capacity for vaccines and therapeutics poses a public health risk to the world and prevents new medicines from reaching patients as fast as possible. As the global community looks to prevent, prepare for, and respond to future pandemics, it must commit to a new future for biopharmaceutical manufacturing that reimagines how medicines are made. A sustainable ecosystem for biopharmaceutical manufacturing requires new manufacturing technologies and flexible, distributed production systems that can respond to diverse disease threats at speed and at scale. Public-private partnerships play a vital role in bringing together the innovation, infrastructure, and human capital that make this new ecosystem possible. This non-paper outlines how biopharmaceutical manufacturing must be enhanced and ways the public and private sector can partner to build flexible, multi-modality manufacturing capacity, invest in novel technologies, and advance manufacturing science."
National Resilience, Inc.; G20 High-Level Independent Panel (HLIP)
2021-07
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Widening the Framework for Regulation of Dual-Use Research in the Wake of the COVID-19 Pandemic
From the Executive Summary: "In the wake of the COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] pandemic, the global scientific community has directed increased resources and attention towards the study of viruses and emergency medical countermeasure development. Our analysis of publicly available data on publications, preprints, and clinical trials coupled with the Global Health Security Index [GHSI] measure of dual-use oversight suggests that some research activities raise dual-use concerns that have gone unaddressed. [...] We argue that certain categories of research that receive more attention following a pandemic pose unique dual-use risks that must be addressed by a comprehensive approach involving: 1) a broader definition of dual-use research of concern that captures experimental techniques that could feasibly be translated to harmful pathogens. 2) creation of regulatory frameworks to oversee the funding and publication of dual-use experiments, especially in countries with large biomedical research output and countries where the GHSI has highlighted shortcomings in national dual-use policies. These policy changes must also be accompanied by stronger social norms among grant makers and scientists alike, in order to effectively address biosecurity concerns in advance of the next outbreak."
American Biological Safety Association
Sandbrink, Jonas B.; Musunuri, Sriharshita; Monrad, Joshua T.
2021-07?
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U.S. Department of Homeland Security -- Availability of Appropriations for Migrant Protection Protocol Hearing Facilities
From the Document: "The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) established facilities along the southwest border so that individuals enrolled in the Migrant Protection Protocols (MPP) could participate in the video teleconference removal proceedings conducted by the Department of Justice (DOJ), Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR). DHS used its FY 2019 operations and support appropriation for the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to establish the facilities even though DOJ had appropriations for EOIR facilities. Because DHS established these facilities to achieve the objectives of MPP, DHS's appropriation was available for this purpose. [...] At issue here is whether DHS may use its FY 2019 ICE operations and support appropriation to establish facilities where enrollees in MPP may participate in EOIR's video teleconference hearings."
United States. Government Accountability Office
Armstrong, Thomas H
2021-07-01
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Economic Development: Opportunities Exist for Further Collaboration Among EDA, HUD, and USDA, Report to Congressional Requesters
From the Government Accountability Office (GAO) Highlights: "States spend billions of dollars annually in business incentives to attract and retain individual businesses or industries. EDA [Economic Development Administration], HUD [Department of Housing and Urban Development], and USDA [U.S. Department of Agriculture] administer programs that support states' economic development goals and encourage strategic planning. In previous reports, we have identified concerns related to fragmentation in these agencies' efforts to collaborate on economic development programs with each other. GAO was asked to review issues related to these state and federal economic development efforts. This report examines the use of federal economic development programs to support state business incentives and how selected federal agencies collaborate on these programs, among other issues. GAO reviewed information on federal economic development programs and business incentives in four states (selected because the states offer incentives of $50 million or more and vary geographically). GAO interviewed federal and state agency officials and policy organizations."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2021-07
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Unequal Pandemic, Fairer Recovery: The COVID-19 Impact Inquiry Report
From the Introduction: "The COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] pandemic has had a profound impact on people's health and their livelihoods. By mid-March 2021, the pandemic had led to 119,000 excess deaths in the UK and in 2020 caused a 9.9% drop in GDP [gross domestic product]. The UK government and devolved governments have taken far-reaching action in attempts to suppress the virus: schools closed, routine health care suspended, and businesses and community facilities shut down. People's experiences of the pandemic have varied greatly. Not everyone faced the same risk of exposure to the virus nor equivalent severity in health outcomes. The measures taken to suppress the virus have affected people's lives and livelihoods differently - with both immediate and longer term consequences for people's health and wellbeing. [...] This report explores how the same factors contributing to this widening of health inequalities exposed the UK to a high death toll and reduced people's ability to deal with the subsequent economic shock. Drawing on an extensive body of evidence, this report identifies what has driven such outcomes during the pandemic."
Health Foundation (Great Britain)
Suleman, Mehrunisha; Webb, Caitlin; Sonthalia, Shreya . . .
2021-07
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Federal Partner Newsletter (Volume 3, Issue 3, July 2021)
This July 2021 edition of the Federal Partner Newsletter contains the following articles: "National Artificial Intelligence Research Institutes" by Maria Fernanda Pembleton; "Weighing the Benefits and Risks of AI [artificial intelligence] in a Government Context" by Steven Babitch; "Developing OPSEC [operations security] Expertise" by Wendy Elder; "National Counterintelligence Task Force"; "The Counterintelligence Implications of Neural Language Models" by Adam Jungdahl; "NCSC [National Counterintelligence and Security Center] Special Security Directorate Overview"; "NCSC Updates" by Vera S.; and "National Intelligence University Degree and Certificate Programs."
National Counterintelligence and Security Center (U.S.)
2021-07
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How ACL's Disability and Aging Networks Can Help People with Long COVID
From the Document: "While most people with COVID-19 [coronavirus 2019] get better within weeks, some continue to have symptoms--or develop new ones--after their initial recovery. The technical term for this is 'Post-Acute Sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 [severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2],' or PASC, but it is more commonly called 'long COVID.' People with long COVID are often called 'long-haulers.' Long COVID [hyperlink] can happen to anyone who has had COVID-19, even those who had only mild symptoms. It can persist for a long time, and severity can range from mild to incapacitating. If you have long COVID, you may need assistance to do things you did by yourself in the past. You also may need to make changes in your life or to your home to adapt to the changes in your abilities. [...] We compiled this guide to help you connect to services and supports in your community."
United States. Department of Health and Human Services. Administration for Community Living
2021-07
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Sexual Assaults Recorded by Law Enforcement, 2019
From the Webpage: "This report presents statistics on sexual assault victimizations [hyperlink] that were reported to the National Incident-Based Reporting System (NIBRS) in 2019 by law enforcement agencies in 20 states. NIBRS captures detailed information on four types of violent sexual assault recorded by law enforcement: rape , sodomy , sexual assault with an object , and fondling . This report contains interactive charts that compare the demographic characteristics of sexual assault victims to those of other serious violent crimes, present estimates of sexual victimization rates by victim demographic characteristics, and provide statistics on police clearance and arrest outcomes for sexual assaults. Data for this report were submitted by state and local law enforcement agencies from 20 states certified by the FBI to report all of their 2019 crime data to NIBRS."
United States. Bureau of Justice Statistics
Martin, Kimberly
2021-07
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Science and Health Misinformation in the Digital Age: How Does it Spread? Who is Vulnerable? How Do We Fight it?
From the Introduction: "Society has long struggled with the spread of inaccurate or misleading information. However, rapid advancements in communications technology and the development of online networks have rapidly magnified this problem. As enabling as these developments have been for the sharing and dissemination of credible information, the same is true of misinformation. [...] This report synthesizes existing academic research and perspectives shared by academics and practitioners to answer three questions: 1. How is misinformation spread? 2. Who is most likely to fall prey to misinformation? 3. How do we combat misinformation and its effects? In answering these questions, the report highlights three case studies of science communication and misinformation -- climate change, vaccines and COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019]. It concludes with recommendations for practitioners and government agencies to combat misinformation and its effects in science and health policy."
Public Policy Forum (Ottawa, Ont.)
Merkley, Eric; Loewen, Peter John, 1979-
2021-07
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Recidivism of Prisoners Released in 34 States in 2012: A 5-Year Follow-Up Period (2012-2017)
From the Document: "Among state prisoners released in 2012 across 34 states, 62% were arrested within 3 years, and 71% were arrested within 5 years (figure 1). Among prisoners released in 2012 across 21 states with available data on persons returned to prison, 39% had either a parole or probation violation or an arrest for a new offense within 3 years that led to imprisonment, and 46% had a parole or probation violation or an arrest within 5 years that led to imprisonment. The Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS) used prisoner records from the National Corrections Reporting Program and criminal history data to analyze the post-release offending patterns of former prisoners both within and outside of the state where they were imprisoned. This study randomly sampled about 92,100 released prisoners to represent the approximately 408,300 state prisoners released across 34 states in 2012. These 34 states were responsible for 79% of all persons released from state prisons that year nationwide."
United States. Bureau of Justice Statistics
Durose, Matthew R.; Antenangeli, Leonardo
2021-07
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Remote Work Wanted? Evidence from Job Postings During COVID-19
From the Abstract: "As the COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] pandemic pushed firms to comply with social distancing guidelines, the relative demand for work that could be performed from home was expected to increase. However, while employment in 'remotable' occupations was relatively resilient during the pandemic, online job postings -which measure demand for new hires- for these occupations dropped disproportionately. This apparent contradiction is not explained by prior job 'churning' in 'non-remote' jobs, nor by the recomposition of the labor market across economic sectors. The underperformance of postings in 'remotable' jobs during the pandemic concentrates in essential occupations and occupations with high returns to experience."
Brookings Institution. Global Economy and Development
Morales-Arilla, José; Daboín, Carlos
2021-07-01
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Tribal Crime Data Collection Activities, 2021
From the Document: "The Tribal Law and Order Act (TLOA) of 2010 requires the Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS) to (1) establish and implement a tribal crime data collection system, (2) consult with Indian tribes to establish and implement this data collection system, and (3) report annually to Congress on the data collected and analyzed in accordance with the act. The act specifies data collection and analysis of crimes committed on federally recognized reservations, in tribal communities, and on identified trust lands, commonly referred to as Indian country. In 2010, there were 334 federally and state-recognized American Indian reservations in the United States, with an estimated 4.8 million persons living on these reservations or in Alaska Native villages."
United States. Bureau of Justice Statistics
2021-07
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Abuse and Misconduct at the Commerce Department
From the Executive Summary: "In early February 2021, U.S. Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee Minority Staff launched an investigation into alleged misconduct in the Investigations and Threat Management Service (ITMS) at the Department of Commerce. The investigation began after whistleblowers reported a variety of improper activities dating back to the mid-2000s involving abuses of authority, mismanagement, and reprisal against Department employees. Minority Staff conducted over 100 interviews and reviewed thousands of documents supporting allegations from over two dozen whistleblowers. The Department of Commerce established the ITMS to provide security services to the Secretary during the George W. Bush administration. Soon after it was established, the unit began performing a law enforcement mission. Under the Obama administration, the ITMS began regularly conducting criminal investigations related to threats against the Secretary and departmental assets, and eventually began using counterintelligence tools to gather information about both foreign visitors and U.S. citizens. The unit continued these activities until early in the Biden administration, despite lacking proper authorization to perform law enforcement functions on behalf of the Commerce Department."
United States. Congress. Senate. Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation
2021-07
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Toward a Global Pathogen Early Warning System: Building on the Landscape of Biosurveillance Today
From the Executive Summary: "Over the past several decades, the world's ability to detect, track, and analyze disease threats has improved considerably. Driven by damaging viral outbreaks that quickly spread around the globe, the World Health Organization's 2005 update to the International Health Regulations set a vision of increasing every nation's capacity for early detection and alerting of emerging outbreaks. Today, the international community has developed new data-sharing systems, analytical methods, and other tools that can help spot emerging infectious diseases faster than ever before. [...] This report aims to contribute to our understanding of the current landscape in pathogen early warning and biosurveillance, an oft-used term referring to a broad range of approaches to collecting and analyzing disease-related information. It highlights examples of this landscape in action today, including where a strong early warning foundation exists. It also identifies gaps and challenges stemming from current fragmentation and lack of interoperability (e.g., different systems don't always connect, and the data within them are often not easily combined)."
Council on Strategic Risks; Janne E. Nolan Center on Strategic Weapons
Beaver, Bill; Bajema, Natasha; Parthemore, Christine
2021-07
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Social Assistance and Information in the Initial Phase of the COVID-19 Crisis: Lessons from a Household Survey in India
From the Abstract: "Together with a lockdown and an information campaign, India's early response to the Covid-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] pandemic included the launch of PMGKY [Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Yojana], a major social protection package. This built on previous digital investments including in direct benefit transfer to financial accounts as well as on several established programs. The paper reports on the implementation of PMGKY, based on a household survey conducted 4-6 weeks after the lockdown and launch of the program. PMGKY successfully delivered benefits to millions of households, including food rations. At the same time, in spite of the information campaign, people did not always realize that payments had been delivered into their accounts while some also faced logistical difficulties in reaching cash-out points because of the severe disruption related to the pandemic and the lockdown. These factors constrained the immediate realization of benefits. Performance was broadly uniform across different groups of recipients, with few systematic major differences in the receipt of benefits reported by gender, urban/rural location and category of ration card. The study also flags the importance of the increasing spread of smartphones across the population."
Center for Global Development; MicroSave (Organization)
Gelb, Alan; Giri, Anurodh; Mukherjee, Anit, 1972- . . .
2021-07
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Pipeline Safety: Information on Keystone Accidents and DOT Oversight, Report to Congressional Requesters
From the Highlights: "Since it began operating in 2010, Keystone has transported over 3 billion barrels of crude oil from Canada to refineries in Illinois, Oklahoma, and Texas, according to its operator, TC [TransCanada] Energy. Prior to construction, TC Energy requested and obtained a special permit from PHMSA [Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration] to operate certain portions of the pipeline at a higher stress level than is allowed under PHMSA's regulations. Since TC Energy was the first and remains the only hazardous liquid pipeline operator to request a waiver of this particular regulation, the Keystone special permit is unique. GAO [Government Accountability Office] was asked to review PHMSA's oversight of the Keystone Pipeline. This report discusses: (1) PHMSA's actions to approve the Keystone special permit and allow the pipeline to operate at a higher stress level, (2) how Keystone accidents compare to accidents on all U.S. crude oil pipelines since 2010, and (3) PHMSA's actions in response to Keystone safety issues."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2021-07
