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Health & Justice
December 2019 , 7:2 | Cite as
Defining and assessing vulnerability within law enforcement and public health organisations: a scoping review
Iniobong Enang
Jennifer Murray
Nadine Dougall
Andrew Wooff
Inga Heyman
Elizabeth Aston
Historically, police departments focused solely on criminal justice issues. Recently, there has been a dynamic shift in focus, with Law Enforcement professional groups assuming more responsibility for tackling mental health and distress-related issues (that may arise because of mental health related problems and learning disabilities) alongside Public Health departments. While Law Enforcement has become a 'last line of support' and an increasing partner in mental health support, there is partnership working between law enforcement, psychology, and health professions in training and mental health service delivery. The term vulnerability is frequently used across Law Enforcement and Public Health (LEPH) to identify those in need of these services. Effective vulnerability assessment is therefore expected to prevent unintentional harmful health and criminal justice consequences and manage the negative impact of such in cases where prevention is not possible. This scoping review aimed to identify how vulnerability is defined and assessed across LEPH organisations.
Vulnerability is context-specific from a Law Enforcement perspective, and person-specific from a Public Health perspective. Definitions of vulnerability are at best fragmented, while models for assessing vulnerability lack uniformity across LEPH. The implications are two-fold. For "vulnerable groups", the lack of an evidence-based definition and assessment model could prevent access to relevant LEPH services, exacerbating issues of multiple vulnerabilities, co-morbidity, and/or dual diagnosis. All could inadvertently enable social exclusion of vulnerable groups from political discourse and policy interventions. The lack of consistency regarding vulnerability may result in reactive crisis responses as opposed to proactive preventative measures.
This scoping review exposes the complexities associated with defining and assessing vulnerability from a LEPH perspective, which are perceived and prioritised differently across the organizations. Future research must bridge this gap. Building on the establishment of a definition of vulnerability within the empirical literature, researchers ought to engage with service users, LEPH staff, and those engaged in policy making to craft effective vulnerability definitions and assessment models. Only through evidence based, co-produced definitions and assessment models for vulnerability can we ensure that best-practice, but also meaningful and feasible practice, in vulnerability assessment can be achieved.
Law enforcement Public health Policing Vulnerability Vulnerability assessment
There is increasing international recognition that greater emphasis on partnership working across the intersect of policing and public health is a necessity (Police Scotland, 2017; Punch & James, 2017). Despite the different contexts in which policing (traditionally linked to criminal justice and establishing law and order) and public health (provision of physical, mental, and social well-being) operate, both fields share similar complex challenges; necessitating closer partnership working between them (Van Dijk & Crofts, 2017). One of these complex challenges relates to vulnerability.
Vulnerability has been defined in different ways, depending upon the field and literature being discussed. One example which offers an 'all encompassing' perspective outlines vulnerability as a state or condition whereby a person is in danger, under threat, experiencing health challenges, at risk, and/or requiring support/protection (Larkin, 2009). This definition suggests, then, that anyone can be vulnerable at any point in time, and that vulnerability is not a stable state across situations and the lifespan. While this is a useful way to consider vulnerability – as a holistic, variable construct – it may be considered too broad a construct to then develop assessment strategies and protocols, form policies, and indeed understand within the specific remit of law enforcement and public health.
Vulnerability is a key concern across policing and public health partners (Murray et al., 2018), with increasing prioritisation being given to the identification, assessment, and management of vulnerable victims and perpetrators of crime (College of Policing, 2018; Department of Health, 2014). Indeed, Police Scotland Strategy 2026 notes that top priority is to protect vulnerable people (Police Scotland, 2017). Despite this, there appears to be no unified definition of vulnerability across policing and public health practices, or within the policy documentation or literature. This, then, inhibits our understandings of what vulnerability means at the intersect of policing and public health, and makes the identification, assessment, and management of vulnerable people challenging for police and health professionals. Equally, should a unified understanding and shared definition of vulnerability be established and adopted across the intersect of policing and public health, communication, decision making, and management of vulnerable people with complex needs across the criminal justice and health systems could be improved.
The current scoping review aims to identify how vulnerability is defined and assessed in relation to the adult population across Law Enforcement and Public Health (LEPH). It focuses on collaborative partnership working across LEPH. For the purposes of the current review, we will use 'Law Enforcement' in a broad sense, recognising that the role of law and policing professionals is much broader than enforcement. We therefore adopt the broader context of the role, including working with the public and other partners, community engagement, etc. Public Health, again, adopts a broad definition, including any health and social care professional who works with individuals who could be considered or who consider themselves as vulnerable.
Scoping reviews are conducted for a variety of reasons including: conceptual mapping1 (Anderson et al., 2008); literature mapping2 (Anderson et al., 2008; Ehrich et al., 2002); policy mapping3(Anderson et al., 2008); and identification of research gaps (Arksey & O'Mally, 2005), including the extent and nature of research evidence (Grant et al., 2009). From a LEPH perspective, the current review was required and carried out to address three interrelated issues. First, to conceptually map and lend understanding to how the term 'vulnerability' is defined and the context in which it is used in different countries and LEPH organizations (Anderson et al., 2008). Second, to identify the models or methods of vulnerability assessment as presented in these documents (Grant et al., 2009). Building on the first and second aims, the third seeks to identify under-researched areas within the context of vulnerability assessment in LEPH (Ehrich et al., 2002) to identify key research priorities for future research in vulnerability and assessment across LEPH.
The selected methodological approach aligns with Arksey and O'Mally's (2005) six stage framework, and incorporates recommendations provided by Levac et al. (2010). The stages of the framework are: identifying a research question; finding appropriate studies; selecting the studies; conducting content analysis via the synthesis and interpretation of qualitative data; organizing, summarizing and recording results; and stakeholder consultation. Discussions within the current review are structured according to these sections for the readers' ease.
Stage 1: Identifying a research question
The central research question for the current review asks: "What can we learn from extant literature about how LEPH professional groups define and assess vulnerability within the adult population?"
The central research question was divided into two sub-questions to ensure that the critical elements (vulnerability definition and vulnerability assessment) of the study were effectively addressed:
From a LEPH perspective how is vulnerability defined within the adult population?
Considering this demographic, do models for vulnerability assessment exist within or across LEPH professional groups?
Stage 2: Finding appropriate studies
Following the identification of the research question and sub-questions, the next step entailed finding appropriate studies. To this end, inclusion and exclusion criteria were developed as presented in Fig. 1 and Table 1.
Overview of scoping review process
Inclusion and Exclusion Criteria
Articles published in English
Articles published in a language other than English
Articles published between 2000 and 2018
Articles published before 2000
Articles discussing vulnerability and vulnerability assessment
Abstracts without reference to vulnerability
All adult population (> 18 y/o)
Children and young people below 18 years old
LEPH professional groups in any country
Articles without references to LEPH professional groups
Articles retrieved from five key databases: Cumulative Index of Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), Medical Literature Analysis and Retrieval System Online (MEDLINE), Psychological Information Database (PsycINFO), Criminology Collection, and Sociology Collection
Book chapters and non-peer reviewed articles
As indicated in Table 1, articles included for review were published in English, between the years 2000–2018. The year 2000 was selected because the Adults with Incapacity (Scotland) Act 2000 was passed then (The Scottish Government, 2008) and the research team are based within Scotland hence its contextual relevance.
The date of publication of this legislation in Scotland was key as it led the way towards recognising the limitations faced by adults with mental health challenges across LEPH contexts. It is instrumental to the current review because mental health problems are associated with vulnerability across LEPH organizations, although it must be acknowledged that mental health problems are not to be viewed as synonymous with vulnerability, as detailed in the Adult Support and Protection Act (2007) (The Scottish Government, 2018). The years 2010 and 2013 were also of particular relevance to the current review from a healthcare and emergency services policy perspective.
The year 2010 was selected because from a Public Health perspective, the Healthcare Quality Strategy for NHS Scotland was published then. This strategy promotes partnership working between key NHS stakeholders including service users (patients, carers, general public) and service providers (local authorities, third sector and the NHS). It aims to provide excellent health services to service users in Scotland (The Scottish Government, 2010). Similarly, the Police and Fire Reform (Scotland) 2012 Act was operational in 2013 and involved merging of policing, and fire and rescue services (The Scottish Parliament, 2012). The reform aims to ensure increased equity of access to specialised services while protecting and enhancing service delivery; improve national capacity in times of crises (for example flooding); and strengthening relationships between service users and providers by promoting the engagement of local councillors in designing and integrating local services with communities (The Scottish Government, 2017). Furthermore, the purpose of policing enshrined within the Police and Fire Reform Scotland Act (2012) is to improve safety and wellbeing by working in collaboration with others, further emphasising the need for shared understandings across working partners in LEPH.
In line with the research question and sub-questions, the articles selected were limited to those which discussed vulnerability including its assessment. This was considered within the context of LEPH. Vulnerability is perceived differently in children and adults within legal definitions. Therefore, focusing on a specific demographic, namely the adult population prevented ambiguity in the research results. While in Scotland, the legislation considers vulnerable adults to be those aged 16 years and over (Adult Support and Protection Act, 2007), this is not the commonly held stance on adulthood internationally, with the majority of countries considering adulthood as 18 years and older. We therefore decided to adopt the wider-adopted 18 years and older definition within the current scoping review to allow international consistency across the literature searching and inclusion. CINAHL, MEDLINE, PsycINFO, Criminology Collection, and Sociology Collection were selected as key databases because they contain articles that address LEPH matters.
This research is targeted at a global audience including LEPH departments, governments/policy makers, and academic researchers. Accordingly, the research findings are intended to:
Raise global awareness of issues relating to vulnerability identification and assessment across LEPH departments. Since vulnerability assessment is a growing concern across LEPH departments, we believe that it is more expedient to focus on findings from contemporary studies which might reflect this new reality; hence the exclusion of papers published before the year 2000;
Guide Governments in strategic decision-making. As government policies and strategic plans typically span a 10-year period, it is necessary to consider contemporary studies focusing on vulnerability definitions and assessments. This is another reason why we excluded papers published prior to 2000.
To some extent, some of the other exclusion criteria (articulated next) constitute research limitations. First, articles published in a language other than English were excluded. This was due to funding and time limitations, including the lack of a multi-lingual member in our six member research team. In so doing, we acknowledge that some relevant papers may have been excluded.
Second, the adult age as articulated in the exclusion criteria, is from 18 years and above. As the Adult Support and Protection Legislation in Scotland categorises people from 16 years and above as adults (Care Information Scotland, 2018), the findings of this review may exclude young adults between 16 years old and those just under 18 years old; constituting a limitation. However, as detailed earlier, the need to consider the international context, rather than only the local context of the authors, was considered desirable for the current review, and as the majority of international legislation considers adulthood to begin at 18 years old, we chose this upper threshold. That said, we would encourage future authors to consider carefully whether to expand the definition of adulthood to begin at 16 years old. Similarly, grey literature was not included because these are not usually peer reviewed.
Third, articles that did not explicitly mention the word 'vulnerability' in their abstract were excluded. As our key focus was on vulnerability, we felt that articles that did not mention vulnerability specifically in their abstract might not discuss vulnerability as thoroughly as required to address out research question. The key purpose of the paper was to identify definitions of vulnerability across LEPH; the use of synonyms to depict vulnerability was considered as a potential confounding factor. Therefore, including only papers with vulnerability in the abstract and which later discussed vulnerability as a construct in depth allowed for definitions across LEPH to be drawn out and considered. For this reason, papers that failed to discuss vulnerability form a LEPH perspective in the body of the article were also excluded. We agree that some relevant papers may have been excluded due to the vagueness of the term in everyday language use, and restrictions to abstract length and content in some journals. Thus, to some degree, the abstract screening constitutes a limitation. We also acknowledge the relevance of bringing together a unified 'language' for understanding vulnerability as a concept. Still, trying to encapsulate every potential descriptor for vulnerable people would be outside the scope of the current scoping review and could be a piece of work in its own right.
Fourth, although there are some excellent peer reviewed book chapters published, many are also not peer reviewed. Peer reviewed articles are typically reviewed by academics, contain subject-relevant terms, subjected to a thorough assessment process and are targeted at researchers and professionals. Book chapters and non-peer reviewed articles were excluded because they do not always meet these criteria. Due to the heterogeneity of peer review and the absence of a process to identify peer reviewed book chapters, we chose to omit all book chapters from this scoping review. Nonetheless, the decision to include only known peer reviewed sources may have led to unintentional exclusion of some relevant sources.
Considering these limitations, we suggest that subsequent reviews should consider including: publications in languages other than English, grey literature to enable deeper insight into vulnerability assessments from LEPH perspectives; synonyms of vulnerability during the search for relevant articles; and book chapters.
Stage 3: Selecting the studies
In applying the inclusion and exclusion criteria, boundaries were established which aided in the selection of relevant studies. See Appendix for the CINAHL, MEDLINE, PsycINFO search criteria which we conducted via the EBSCO platform. As limits were not placed on the country of study or publication, studies from different countries were included in the review. Thus, vulnerability definitions and assessments could be identified from different geographical contexts, enabling analytical breadth and international relevance.
Stage 4: Conducting content analysis
Relevant articles were exported from CINAHL, MEDLINE, PsycINFO, Criminology Collection, and Sociology Collection into Endnote reference management software for storage and referral purposes. Following title and abstract screening, the remaining papers were subsequently exported to NVivo (qualitative data analysis software), to enable effective, efficient and transparent content analysis. Specifically, a Text Search Query was conducted to retrieve discussions on vulnerability. The findings included the following headings:
Author name and date
Research country
Research context (Law Enforcement, Public Health, or both)
Discussions involving definitions of vulnerability and brief descriptions of vulnerability assessment, if any
Vulnerability associations
Research gaps.
Stage 5: Recording, organising and summarising the result
Recording the result
As indicated in Fig. 1, 155 records were identified by searching through the five key databases. Eight duplicates were removed. Following the application of the inclusion and exclusion criteria, an additional 113 records were removed. Of these 113 records, 304 were removed because they were inaccessible, eight because their titles did not align with the research question, and 73 because their abstracts did not refer to 'vulnerable' or 'vulnerability'. After the full paper reading of the remaining papers, two were removed because they failed to address the research question. The 34 remaining records met the inclusion criteria and were considered eligible for screening and content analysis via NVivo 10. The following sections organize the results in terms of vulnerability definitions and vulnerability assessment.
Organising the Results
Vulnerability definitions
The scoping review revealed that definitions of vulnerability are at best fragmented, with only four of the 34 reviewed articles providing explicit definitions of vulnerability as indicated in Table 2.
Explicit Vulnerability (Vuln) Definitions (4). Presentation of articles with explicit definitions of vulnerability
Author/Name/Date
Research Context
Vuln Definitions
Vuln Associated with
Damsere-Derry et al. (2017)
Law Enforcement (criminal justice) and Public Health
Vulnerable road users (VRU) are defined as those who are exposed to the risk of traffic accidents because they lack protective frames. They include pedestrians (over-speeding), cyclists and motorcyclists (failure to use helmet). Of the three groups, pedestrians have higher risks of injuries or deaths owing to an absence of any protective frame. Cyclists and motor cyclists are protected to some extent by their protective clothing and helmets. VRU differ from protected road users because they are sheltered by their vehicles and associated devices like airbags, child restraints and seat belts.
Risk of death
McNeil & Small (2014)
No specific country - Systematic Literature Review and Meta-Analysis.
LE (safer environments interventions); PH
Vulnerable groups defined and identified as injection drug users. Vulnerability seemed to be used as a synonym for susceptible For example, "vulnerability to health harms..." (p.151), and "to drug-related harms" (p.152).
Social and physical risk environments including contextual factors like social, environmental and structural factors.
Whitelock (2009)
PH (mental health)
A 'vulnerable adult' is defined as a person 'who is or may be in need of community care services by reason of mental or other disability, age or illness; and who is or may be unable to take care of himself, or unable to protect him or herself against significant harm or exploitation' (Department of Health, 2000, pgs. 8 & 9). Vulnerable adult identified as those with mental health challenges at risk of abuse within mental health wards and their communities
Feeling at risk of abuse, level of risk, experience of abuse, breakdown,
Wilson (2016)
LE (criminal justice - police, court services); PH (social care)
Vulnerability defined based on age, adaptive behaviour, IQ, inappropriate agreement to irrational requests (Nettlebeck & Wilson, 2002).
Weakness and helplessness
The scoping review showed that models for assessing vulnerability lack uniformity across LEPH because it is prioritised differently across these organizations. Tables 3, 4 and 5 show this in more detail. From a Law Enforcement perspective, only one model for vulnerability assessment was identified (See Table 3). It was based on how likely individuals think they may be suitable crime targets, and their ease of accessing social support (Gaitan & Shen, 2018). The assessment model indicated that vulnerability was associated with poverty and perceptions of risk. From a Public Health perspective, five different models for vulnerability assessment were identified. These include:
Psychosocial Recovery and Development in East Timor (PRADET) (Amiral et al. (2004)
Rhodes et al.'s (2005, 2012) framework of socio-structural vulnerability
The use of self-reporting (Thorpe et al., 2011)
The use of Critical Incident Inventory (CCI) which measures exposure to critical incidents (Ward et al., 2006)
The use of vulnerability definitions (Whitelock, 2009)
Models for Assessing Vulnerability (Vuln) - Law Enforcement Perspective. Presentation of articles containing models for assessing vulnerability from a Law Enforcement perspective
Model(s) for Vuln Assessment
Gaitan & Shen (2018)
LE (Criminal Justice)
Vulnerability assessed based on general indicators like the individual's perceptions as suitable crime targets, inadequate social support, and incivilities.
Poverty. Vulnerability associated with reduced sense of well-being manifested as poverty. Feelings of vulnerability reduced/dissipated by the perception of increased social cohesion and accessible social resources. Recursive and interconnected relationship between behaviour on one hand and vulnerability and risk perceptions on the other hand.
Models for Assessing Vulnerability (Vuln) - Public Health Perspective. Presentation of articles containing models for assessing vulnerability from a Public Health perspective
Amiral et al. (2004)
East Timore (Post-emergency phase within post-conflict and post-war, low-income developing countries)
PH - Mental Health
The PRADET (Psychosocial recovery and Development in East Timor) was established to assess social vulnerabilities in mental health patients within post-emergency, post-conflict and post-war East Timore.
Mental disturbances and social risk
Knight et al. (2014)
US - San Francisco
Rhodes et al.'s (2005, 2012) framework of socio-structural vulnerability (p.8). The authors have adapted the framework to assesses how single room occupancy hotels affect the mental health of women in their capacity as "mental health risk environments"
Risk environment
Thorpe et al. (2011)
US - Wisconsin
PH- Healthcare Access
Use of self-report to assess vulnerable elderly people with mental health issues or functional disabilities. Self-report was administered by doctors who asked questions that enabled them identify conditions related to mental health issues. The Health Utilities Index Mark III is used to assess functional health disabilities. Dichotomous variables signifying the existence of reported limitations regarding cognition, dexterity, hearing, speech, ambulation and pain were created by the authors.
Access to healthcare
Ward et al. (2006)
PH - Prehospital emergency and associated mental health outcomes
Exposure to critical incidents assessed by the authors using f, which is a 22-point scale. The Revised Impact of Event Scale was used after the CII to assess post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Critical incident disorder and PTSD
Vulnerability assess based on the vulnerability definition provided in the No Secrets Guidance of the Department of Health which considers people's identity, diagnosis, personal characteristics or service eligibility.
Models for Assessing Vulnerability (Vuln) - LEPH. Presentation of articles containing models for assessing vulnerability from Law Enforcement and Public Health perspectives
Beach et al. (2013)
LE (arrest, incarceration, forensic, community treatment); PH (psychiatric hospitalization)
Four risk factors used to assess and predict vulnerability. They include the risk of incarceration or arrest, homelessness, premature discharge from assertive community treatment, psychiatric hospitalization.
Forensic histories and high-risk population.
Cohen (2016)
LE (counter-terrorism, homeland security); PH (mental health)
The prevention approach which is currently adopted by some local communities. It assesses vulnerable individuals by identifying those at risk of committing acts of terrorism and intervenes before it happens. Law enforcement encouraged to work with mental health at this early stage. (Risk management and collaborative working - co-creation of value)
The paper recommends that investigative and violence prevention protocols by federal agents should include behavioural risk assessment techniques. Also multidisciplinary teams comprising community, law enforcement, and mental health should be established to encourage holistic, structured and cohesive collaboration.
LE (police); PH
Vulnerability assessed based on level of exposure to the risk of traffic-related injuries and death.
Kerr & Jackson (2016)
LE (Criminal Justice - inequitable sentencing and policing); PH (Impact of drug war on HIV vulnerability)
Based on three pathways, the authors developed a Drug War AIDS/HIV inequities model developed to assess how HIV vulnerability in African Americans can increase as a result of the drug war. The pathways are sexual networking, social marginalization and resource deprivation.
Slade et al. (2016)
UK - England and Wales
LE (Criminal Justice); PH (mental health)
Mental health vulnerability assessed via the National improvements in prison mental health services, and diversion and liaison services provided in police stations and courts. Based on clinical need, liaison services include communications with hospitals, communities, or prison services. Diversion services involves referring identified vulnerable groups to either a hospital bed or community service.
Mental health disturbances
Appropriate screening, Vulnerability was also assessed using the Social Vulnerability Questionnaire, developed by Fisher, Moskowitz, & Hodapp, 2012; the Test of Interpersonal Competence and Personal Vulnerability, developed by Wilson, Seaman, & Nettelbeck, 1996; and the Decision-making Video Scale, developed by Hickson, Khemka, Golden, & Chatzistyli, 2008.
Within this context, vulnerability was associated with mental health, social risk, risk environment, risk of abuse, level of risk, access to health care, experience of abuse, and breakdown. From a LEPH perspective, six different models for vulnerability assessment were identified. They include:
The use of risk factors like:
The risk of incarceration or arrest (Beach et al., 2013; Saddichha et al., 2014)
The risk of homelessness (Beach et al., 2013; Glynn et al., 2014)
The risk of premature discharge from assertive community treatment (Beach et al., 2013)
The risk of psychiatric hospitalization (Beach et al., 2013)
The use of risk factors to identify those at risk of committing acts of terrorism (Cohen, 2016)
Level of exposure to the risk of traffic-related injuries and death (Damsere-Derry et al., 2017)
Drug War AIDS/HIV inequities model (Kerr & Jackson, 2016)
National improvement reports in prison mental services provided in police stations and courts (Slade et al., 2016)
Appropriate screening although the type of screening was not specified (Wilson, 2016)
According to our findings, the countries with models for assessing vulnerability were Australia, Canada, East Timor, Ghana, Northern and Southern America (Mexico), South Africa and the UK. This is captured in Tables 3, 4 and 5.
Despite the varying models of assessment across LEPH, the use of risk factors to assess vulnerability appeared in three of the six models identified, as captured in Table 5. From this perspective, vulnerability was associated with forensic histories and high-risk population, risk of death, HIV, mental health, feelings of weakness and helplessness.
Summarising and discussing the results
As illustrated in Table 6, the current review reveals conflicting priorities across LEPH in relation to vulnerability. Essentially, vulnerability is context-specific from a Law Enforcement perspective, and person-specific from a Public Health perspective.
LEPH Conflicting Priorities on Vulnerability (Vuln) Issues. Presentation of articles evidencing conflicting priorities across LEPH as regards vulnerability
Frye and Dawe (2008); Saddichha et al. (2014); Pinedo et al. (2017); Gaitan & Shen (2018); Hyatt & Han (2018)
Physical Health (HIV)
Simic & Rhodes (2009); Syvertsen et al. (2014); Forbes (2015)
Ludwig-Barron et al. (2015)
Amiral et al. (2004); Ward et al. (2006); Whitelock (2009); Knight et al. (2014)
Paramedics/ Pre-hospital Emergency
Racial Profiling and Traffic Stop Risk
Miller (2009)
Studies and discussions on vulnerability from a Law Enforcement perspective revolved around contextual issues. These related to criminal justice, hostage taking, intimate partner violence, racial profiling and traffic stop risk. These issues relate to a specific circumstance, situation and/or place (Table 6). On the other hand, vulnerability studies and discussions from a Public Health perspective addressed personal matters. These relate to patients' physical health, mental health and access to pre-hospital emergency services and/or health care (Table 6).
At the intersect of LEPH, the selected studies looked at a range of criminal justice and public health issues in tandem. As captured in Table 7, these include but are not limited to policing practices police contact/custody, inequitable sentencing, arrest, incarceration/correctional setting, community treatment, psychiatric hospitalization, parole, forensic, counter-terrorism, victimisation, public health systems, learning disabilities, drug users, court cases, social care and others.
Vulnerability-related issues at the Intersect of LEPH. Presentation of articles discussing vulnerability-related issues at the intersct of LEPH organisations
Law Enforcement & Public Health
Arrest, incarceration, forensic, community treatment, psychiatric hospitalization
Policy and public health
Boeri et al (2009)
Criminal justice and paramedics
Borschmann et al. (2017)
Counter-terrorism, homeland security, mental health
Traffic injury prevention
Criminal justice and mental health
Ferrazzi & Krupa (2016)
Correctional setting and physical health (HIV)
Frisman et al (2008)
Correctional setting and mental health (dementia and cognitive impairment)
Gaston (2018)
Criminal justice, public health systems and clinicians
Glynn et al (2014)
Parole, probation and drug addictive behaviours
Hall et al (2016)
Inequitable sentencing, impact of drug war on HIV vulnerability
Kerr and Jackson (2016)
Safer environments and drug users
Crime and mental health
Morrall et al (2010)
Policing practices and drug injecting deported migrants
Pinedo et al. (2017)
Incarceration, substance abuse and mental health
Saddichha et al. (2014)
Violence, abuse, learning disabilities
Olszowski & Boaden et al (2010)
Incarceration and mental health
Incarcerated rural women, mental health, HIV
Staton-Tindall et al (2015)
Police contact, police custody, mental health (cognitive disability)
Trofimovs & Dowse (2014)
Victimisation, court services and social care
Learning Disability and risk of criminality
Allen (2007)
Essentially, the studies demonstrated that the concept of vulnerability from a LEPH perspective was wide; extending well beyond the concept of mental health. This probably explains the inconsistencies and lack of explicitness in vulnerability definitions and assessments across LEPH. Likewise, the studies captured in Table 7 confirm that partnership working between policing and public health is unavoidable and necessary.
Stage 6: Stakeholder engagement
Stakeholder engagement in this project was in the form of an Expert Advisory Group (EAG). This collaborative partnership comprises 26 individuals within senior roles across LEPH organisations in Scotland, including: Directors, Co-Directors, and Professors of Law Enforcement and Public Health; senior Officers in Police Scotland; senior Public Health Officials across psychiatry, emergency medicine, and substance misuse; Senior members in the Scottish Government; Senior members of voluntary sector organisations and those with lived experience; and academics and researchers working across criminal justice, psychology, health, and vulnerability. The primary purpose of the EAG is to "to inform and support the development of a co-constructed programme of research crossing the intersect of Law Enforcement and Public Health" (Murray et al., 2018, p.1). A follow up EAG vulnerability sub-committee meeting was held to specifically inform the search strategy and research question for the current review, and to identify possible future steps and areas for research which would be a priority in LEPH practice.
Considering LEPH organisations, this review aimed to identify the ways in which vulnerability is defined and assessed across adult populations. The implications of the findings of the current scoping review are two-fold. For "vulnerable groups", the lack of an evidence-based definition and assessment could introduce a raft of problems. These include preventing access to relevant LEPH services; exacerbating issues of multiple vulnerabilities, co-morbidity, and/or dual diagnosis; and impeding effective communication across LEPH partners. All could inadvertently enable the social exclusion of vulnerable groups from political discourse and policy interventions. For LEPH organizations and, by extension, Federal Governments, the inconsistencies in vulnerability definitions and assessments may result in reactive crisis responses as opposed to proactive preventative measures.
During the scoping review, research gaps were identified. From a co-production and social innovation perspective, Whitelock (2009) identified the absence of a personalised definition of vulnerability. The author stressed the need to develop one that includes the service user's voice as a critical step towards the care planning and support process. Similarly, Forbes (2015) argued for the need to explicitly identify marginalised sex-workers as vulnerable people. This may increase their chances of being included in political health discourse and could facilitate the development of effective care pathways.
Considering mental health issues, Borschmann et al. (2017) noted the need for further research on clinical management and epidemiology of reactions to self-harm, clinical outcomes and care pathways for vulnerable patients. Likewise, Cohen (36) noted the absence of behavioural risk assessment techniques and recommended that terrorism violence prevention protocols should include such. Recommendations also included the need for more multidisciplinary teams across community, policing and mental health to encourage holistic and structured collaboration and co-production of services (Cohen, 2016).
From an academic perspective, the scoping study clearly exposes the complexities associated with defining and assessing vulnerability across LEPH. This may be because they are perceived and prioritised differently in both organizations. Future research should attempt to bridge this gap. This could assume the form of a Systematic Literature Review to identify effective models that are currently used to assess vulnerability in LEPH practice. This would be useful in both academia and in practice. The proposed Systematic Literature Review should form the basis of any future intervention or vulnerability/risk assessment development work to ensure rigour and sound operational and theoretical underpinnings. A synthesis of vulnerability models would enable the development of a vulnerability and mental health assessment framework, for example, which could then be tested across LEPH practice.
The Scoping Review also highlights the challenges associated with implementing a universal definition of vulnerability across LEPH organisations. Considering that the goal is to find some commonality with "vulnerable" groups along with policy (Police Scotland, 2017; Van Dijk & Crofts, 2017; Punch & James, 2016), this proposed universal definition would have to be agreed upon by both law enforcement and public health areas since they are two separate entities. We believe that a universal definition would be helpful for a range of law enforcement and public health services and treatment, including the police, courts, control rooms and emergency healthcare. From a LEPH perspective, a universal definition of vulnerability can facilitate universal vulnerability assessment, decision-making processes, and understanding of problems faced across LEPH. Basically, with a shared language in the first instance, and shared understanding of each organisation's role in the 'system', shared decision-making protocols and processes, can be developed. This increases the likelihood of successful and effective partnership working across LEPH.
Ultimately, the ambition is the development of properly linked services, which respect and understand each organisation's role, strength and limitation, and which takes cognizance of mental health and vulnerability issues. Of course, a whole-systems approach to LEPH is ambitious, but we feel that taking it step by step, starting with shared understanding and definitions is a good step forward, together, across the intersect of LEPH. Also, existing assessment models may need to be reviewed and revised to capture the new, more universal definition of vulnerability if or when it is developed.
To understand how and why a term is used, by whom and in what literature.
To carve out relevant literature according to scope. Usually involves synthesizing findings from various studies.
To identify key documents from the public and private sector that concern practice in the related sector.
The cases were excluded after efforts to retrieve them using three Scottish University Library subscriptions (Edinburgh Napier University, Glasgow Caledonian University, University of Edinburgh), google scholar and google search engine failed to provide access to these papers. The decision to include papers that could be reasonably accessed was contingent on the fact that LEPH professionals would likely have even less institutional access to peer reviewed papers. We therefore considered these 30 papers inaccessible to most academics and those working in LEPH practice.
The authors are grateful for the guidance provided by Sheena Moffat, Edinburgh Napier University's Subject Librarian within the School of Health and Social Care, during the design and development of the Search Strategy for the Scoping Review. The authors would also like to thank Police Scotland for their support during the funding application process and throughout the project. In particular, ACC John Hawkins and Chief Inspector Rosie Wright for their insight throughout the development and conduct of the study. The project has also benefitted from an international expert advisory group across LEPH who supported the project team to identify vulnerability-related issues as a shared organisational challenge and a key research priority within the LEPH intersect. As a result, they articulated and provided clarity on the research aim and significance to LEPH organisations, service users, and Governments.
This research was funded by the Scottish Institute of Policing Research. Senior officers within Police Scotland were involved at all stages of the project. They identified vulnerability-related issues as a shared organisational challenge and a key research priority within the LEPH intersect. As a result, they articulated and provided clarity on the research aim and significance to LEPH organisations, service users, and Governments.
IE led the development of the search strategy, inclusion and exclusion criteria, managed the day to day running of the project and synthesised the data. IE prepared the first and final drafts of the manuscript. JM was the PI on the project and liaised closely with colleagues at Police Scotland during the early stages of the project's funding application and with IE to develop the search strategy and inclusion/exclusion criteria. JM led the writing of the funding application and contributed to the writing of the drafts of the manuscripts and the final draft. ND provided support and guidance to the team as the senior-most colleague from a public health perspective to ensure the project's relevancy to health settings. ND contributed towards the writing of the draft of the manuscript and supported IE in the data selection stages. AW helped to develop the funding application, the research design, and was involved in shaping the paper providing feedback on the manuscript at key time points. IH was Co-PI on the funding application and was central in gaining the connections and insight of the expert advisory group, which was absolutely central to the design of the study and its focus. IH supported IE in the inclusion and exclusion criteria, with a focus on relevant legislation, and contributed to the drafting of the manuscript via feedback. EG contributed towards the development of the funding application, discussions with the research team at key time points and throughout the project and with the expert advisory group regarding the focus of the study and the manuscript and provided feedback on the manuscript drafts. I will be serving as corresponding author for this manuscript. All of the authors listed in the by-line have agreed to the by-line order and to submission of the manuscript in this form. I have assumed responsibility for keeping my co-authors informed of our progress through the editorial review process, the content of the reviews, and any revisions made.
Four of the authors (ND, JM, IH, IE) contributed a response to the Scottish Government's Suicide Prevention Action Plan (2018), and IH provided extensive input into the Scottish Government's 2018 Collaborative Police and Health Interventions for Mental Health Distress report. EA became the Director of the Scottish Institute of Policing Research after the project began. While these are not directly related to the current project or its outcomes, we feel that they are within the same policy-vein and should be declared.
CINAHL/MEDLINE/PsychINFO Search strategy - August 2018
(N Papers)
AB law enforcement OR AB police OR AB policing OR AB criminal justice
AB public health OR AB mental health OR AB disparity
AB social determinants of health OR AB socioeconomic factors OR AB social inequality OR AB inequality
AB adult protective services OR AB adult protection OR AB incapacity OR AB learning disability OR AB learning disorder
S2 OR S3 OR S4
AB vulnerab* OR AB access
AB risk* OR AB at risk
S1 AND S5 AND S6 AND S7
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1.School of Health & Social CareEdinburgh Napier UniversityEdinburghScotland, UK
2.School of Applied SciencesEdinburgh Napier UniversityEdinburghScotland, UK
Enang, I., Murray, J., Dougall, N. et al. Health Justice (2019) 7: 2. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40352-019-0083-z


text:
Leading Philanthropic Organization Invests in The Hunger Project-India and Women's Empowerment
The Hunger Project-India has been empowering women to hold seats in local government, training them to lead, own and shape development processes since 2000. Now, thanks to a new partnership, The Hunger Project-India will be able to strengthen its commitment to democracy and women's rights.
Dasra, which means "enlightened giving" in Sanskrit, is India's leading strategic philanthropy foundation. Based in Bombay, Dasra has become a major game player in linking non-profits with corporate funding, and will be investing in The Hunger Project's work in the state of Bihar over the next three years, affecting more than 700 elected women representatives through various interventions.
The funding is part of Dasra's Governance Collaborative Funding, which is a pool of corporations and philanthropists mobilized by Dasra to support work on governance and currently supports The Hunger Project and three other organizations.
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Learn about The Hunger Project's work in India
Empowering Women as Key Agents of Change
Invest in women's empowerment

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
Opinion John Downing
Forget 'positive and engaging talks' - TDs just need to pick least worst option
Leinster House. Photo: Tom Burke
April 6 2016 2:30 AM
Forty days since the nation voted, the 158 TDs will return for the third time to Leinster House this afternoon to go through the motions again.
https://www.independent.ie/opinion/columnists/john-downing/forget-positive-and-engaging-talks-tds-just-need-to-pick-least-worst-option-34603241.html
https://www.independent.ie/incoming/4adca/34527281.ece/AUTOCROP/h342/Leinster-House.jpg
In many ways the real talking - discussions between Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil based on real Dáil numbers - will only begin after this afternoon's vote for Taoiseach. Estimates on how long it could take to make a deal vary from a fortnight to a month.
There is no guarantee of a deal. We cannot rule out another election happening before summer is with us.
But the body language and general demeanour of all parties and groups today will give us some indicators on the future.
The last five weeks have been about talks between various Independents and Fine Gael. Less intensive discussions also involved Fianna Fáil and the Independents.
Separately, the 15 TDs from across all parties, groups and Independents have come up with their first proposals to alter the way Dáil business is ordered. These will be delivered to the Dáil today as the first of up to three detailed reports aimed at giving all TDs more autonomy in pursuing the work of parliament.
Among the changes proposed is a committee to take over timetabling of Dáil business.
It suggests Dáil time should be divided between Government and Opposition on a 60/40 basis.
That is important in a changed Dáil as it allows for more than one "technical group," enabling more Independents to combine as a matter of convenience. Speaking time will also be allocated on a proportional basis.
TDs will also be able to appeal to the Ceann Comhairle when they believe that they are being fobbed off with inadequate answers to fair questions to government ministers. The new Ceann Comhairle, Seán Ó Fearghaíl, set out a timetable for more reform plans with a final draft report expected within three weeks.
This work on Dáil reform has progressed at a pace which contrasts with efforts at government-making. A vastly reformed Dáil must be accompanied by attitude changes by all the TDs and the senior government officials who interact with them. But signals of agreement by all TDs are, of itself, encouraging.
Fine Gael has fulfilled its promise to pull together into one document the 15 separate discussion papers worked over in recent weeks with the 15 Independent TDs whose support they are seeking. The areas covered include housing and homelessness; creating a social economy; jobs and rural development; health and mental health; support for people with disabilities; education; crime; agriculture; climate change and political reforms.
The Independents are still hanging tough on all these issues. Most of them want to see an arrangement being worked out between Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil on how a minority government would work. Without that, any policy deals are just aspirational.
Clearly, water charges and Irish Water will be central to a deal on government. Fine Gael has invested too much in the controversial utility, and a majority of householders have stumped up for charges.
Fianna Fáil wants to scrap Irish Water and suspend charges. Deadlock between the two big parties on this issue has been compounded by a reasonable call from rural Independents for comparable support for rural dwellers who have always paid for their water.
It is a very tricky one with the potential to scupper any government compromise. But it carries a very real message to all TDs: It is time to forget about "positive and meaningful talks" and consider "least worst options" here.
If that assessment appears unduly negative, let us contemplate another general election sooner rather than later.
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Carla Patricia Morrison Flores (Tecate, Baja California, July 19, 1986), better known as Carla Morrison, is a Mexican indie-pop singer and composer. She has won two Latin Grammys for her album, Déjenme Llorar, which has also been certified Gold in Mexico.
Carla Morrison was born in Tecate, Baja California, to Mexican parents, Porfiria Flores and Hilario Morrison. Her father, previously surnamed Viera, obtained his last name when he was adopted by William Guy Morrison, born in California to an English migrant named Laura Morrison.
Morrison lived in Tecate during her early years. Since childhood, she was taught in the art of drawing, dancing and singing, expressing a special inclination for the latter. Encouraged by her conviction to dedicate herself to music, she decided to move to Phoenix, Arizona, at the age of 17. In this city, she began her musical studies in the Mesa Community College, but she soon dropped out of school because her approach to music was more spiritual, emotional and self taught, than academic.
Inspired by her teacher David Barrios, Mexican lyric baritone, she started to play her first musical compositions by the name of Babaluca. This project was consolidated as a band with the addition of Nick Kizer and Nichole Petta and soon positioned itself as one of the most important projects of the local music scene.
During this stage of her artistic life, the singer collaborated with Mark Erickson –a multi- instrumentalist musician and member of Colorstone, a band from Phoenix, Arizona–, producer of Babaluca's first album, which never came out. Morrison and Mark Erickson also worked together to perform the song "Tragos de Amargo Licor" by Ramón Ayala at a country music festival. This song was later included in her first EP, Aprendiendo a Aprender. Furthermore, Marck Erickson invited her to record vocals for the album Go Away Closer that he produced for Lonna Kelley. Following a short, but productive career with Babaluca, Morrison decided to abandon the project and return to Mexico to pursue her solo career.
In 2009, Morrison released her first EP, entitled Aprendiendo a Aprender, produced independently in the home studio of Jordan Beriault (http://sdarrstudios.com) in Tempe, Arizona. Soon after, this album caught the attention of the public and media, positioning Morrison among the most interesting projects of the new Mexican scene and taking her to perform in most of the country. The record contains 6 songs composed and produced by herself, plus an additional theme in which she covered Ramón Ayala's song "Tragos de Amargo Licor". The singles "Esta Soledad" and "Lágrimas" were used in the television show "Soy tu Fan". Later, the mexican singer and composer, Natalia Lafourcade offered to produce Morrison's new EP and invited her to be the opening act on the presentation of her album Hu Hu Hu at Teatro Fru Fru. This was Morrison's first official performance in Mexico City and it helped her to conquer the public of this city.
By 2010, Morrison released her second EP, entitled Mientras Tú Dormías, produced by Natalia Lafourcade. This album led the singer to continue harvesting more success, performing in major cities of the Mexican Republic and conquering some scenes in the United States and Colombia. It is worth noting that this record was nominated for a Latin Grammy Award; at the same time, due to this EP, most of her performances, including those at Teatro Metropolitan and Lunario of the Auditorio Nacional, were sold out.
In 2011, Morrison began working on her first full-length studio album entitled Déjenme Llorar, in conjunction with Juan Manuel Torreblanca –frontman of the band Torreblanca– and Andrés Landon –Sonido Landon-soloist–, in the record's production, and Alejandro Jiménez – Jandro-soloist–, in the coproduction of demos, arrangements and recording engineering.
Déjenme Llorar was released on March 24, 2012, within the Vive Latino Festival. It was nominated for the Latin Grammy Awards in five categories and was nominated for a Grammy Award in the category of Best Latin, Rock, Urban or Alternative Album. The album won a Latin Grammy Award in the category of Best Alternative Album and its title track was a winner of the same award in the category of Best Alternative Song. In addition, the album was certified Gold in Mexico.
At once, Morrison carried out the "Déjenme Llorar and Huéspedes del Orbe" tour along with the Mexican alternative rock band Enjambre, visiting almost all of the Mexican Republic. Most of the concerts were sold out. Both projects closed this tour appearing at Palacio de los Deportes on August 31, 2013, before 20 thousand people. The opening act was led by Banda de Turistas. This presentation was also completely sold out.
After concluding this tour, Morrison started the international tour, "Sin Despedir", visiting the United States –Austin, New York, San Francisco and Phoenix–, South America –Guatemala, Costa Rica, Panamá, Lima, Santiago de Chile, Buenos Aires, Montevideo and El Salvador– and Europe – Madrid, Zaragoza, Barcelona, Bilbao and London. Most of these concerts were sold out days before the show, which leads to the conclusion that the public of the visited countries was conquered by the artist before her presentations.
Morrison has performed at major music festivals in America and Europe. Among them, the Vive Latino Festival is noteworthy for having taken part in it for three consecutive years. Her debut at this festival was in 2011 at Carpa Intolerante, breaking the attendance record by getting 9 thousand people to gather in a tent that was designed to rally up to 5 thousand people. In 2012, Morrison sang at Carpa Danup in front of 30 thousand people, on that occasion, her presentation was broadcast in the displays of the Festival for the great interest she had aroused among the audience. In the Vive Latino Festival 2013, Morrison performed her songs on the main stage in front of 65 thousand people just before the presentation of two international bands, Tame Impala and Blur.
Morrison has also participated in the Viva La Canción Festival 2012 (Europe), the Centro Festival 2012 (Colombia), the Pal Norte Fest 2012 (Monterrey), the Lollapalooza Festival 2013 (Chile), the Estéreo Picnic Festival 2013 (Colombia), the Pachanga Latino Music Fest (Austin, Texas), the Latin Alternative Music Conference 2012-2013 (New York) and the Neon Desert Festival 2013 (El Paso, Texas). In 2013 she recorded a track; "Qué Bello", with La Unica Internacional Sonora Santanera for their CD, Grandes Exitos De Sonora (Sony).
In early 2013, Morrison created Pan Dulce Productions, an executive producer that supports independent music projects. The purpose of the singer through this production is to help and guide independent musicians who are just entering the music scene. This support takes place through promotion, tips on how to "Do It Yourself", and in some cases through monetary support. Currently, the projects supported by this producer are Jandro, Ramona and Mariel Mariel.
^ a b According to Biography of Carla Morrison Official Website Archived December 13, 2014, at the Wayback Machine.
^ a b c "Guest DJ: Carla Morrison Shares Her Favorites Of 2010". NPR.org(Alt.Latino). 4 November 2010. Retrieved 8 December 2014.
^ "Latin Grammys: The complete list of nominees". Los Angeles Times. Tribune Company. November 10, 2011. Archived from the original on October 7, 2012. Retrieved October 5, 2012.
^ "Final Nomination List : 57th Grammy Awards" (PDF). Grammy Award. Retrieved February 21, 2015.
^ "Nominees 17th Annual Latin Grammy Awards". Latin Grammy Award. Retrieved November 17, 2016.
^ "Los Mejores: Alt.Latino's Favorite Musicians Of 2015". NPR.org(Alt.Latino). 13 April 2016. Retrieved 13 April 2016.


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Featured Preserve
Palm Canyon Wash
Protecting CNLM's Manchester Preserve: Agency support
CNLM staff discuss conservation science and stewardship at three-day workshop
CNLM Cooperates with Cahuilla Tribe to rename geographic feature
Ranger Gabe in the News
CNLM Receives Grant from State Coastal Conservancy Grant
Introduction to PAR
CNLM's PAR App
Introduction to "PAR" – Property Analysis Record
CNLM's core mission of protecting and managing properties with substantial conservation value, listed or vulnerable species, and rare habitat types, has also created a need to determine the costs for protecting and managing these resources. Ideally, such costs are determined in advance of acquisition, and a funding source (endowment) is established that can provide sufficient income, in perpetuity, to provide appropriate stewardship. With variables that include species, habitat type and condition, current and ongoing threats or influences, and property size and dimensions, among others, this cost determination does not lend itself to an easy formula or 'cost-per-acre' extrapolation. Every conservation property is unique.
In the early 1990s, shortly after being founded, the Center for Natural Lands Management (CNLM) developed software and a due diligence process that provide a structure for detailed and objective determination of perpetual stewardship costs of a specific property. Called the "PAR" (for Property Analysis Record), the software prompts provision of detailed information on the acquisition transaction, conservation values and stewardship tasks, and unit costs of items and services involved in providing stewardship. The stewardship services and costs are necessarily influenced by the intended land manager and their business model. The PAR software then calculates the average annual stewardship costs. Using financial parameters provided by the user, that average annual cost is also parlayed into a perpetual stewardship amount (endowment). The PAR report or product provides a detailed and transparent justification for the stewardship endowment, allowing discussion and revision or negotiation, as appropriate, among the interested parties. The report serves as a perpetual record of the factors affecting stewardship cost determination.
The PAR software, although not complicated in its computations, was novel in its approach to perpetual stewardship costs. Prior to CNLM's development of this tool, the methodology used within the conservation community for such determination was subjective and superficial. The software was designed with the objective of providing a more objective and comprehensive approach to determining perpetual stewardship costs. Its structure reflects:
Deconstructing 'stewardship' into many tasks and items, each individually assigned an appropriate cost.
Provision of 'initial costs' as distinct from 'perpetual costs'—the distinction not only being one of some differences in stewardship tasks and costs but the fact that an endowment, once established, could not immediately supply stewardship funding; some initial funding was required.
Allowance for uncertainty, represented as 'contingency' expenses.
Calculating an endowment from an average annual stewardship cost using an appropriate and inflation-adjusted average longterm return on investments.
A detailed description of the conservation property in additional to the financial information—the financial information requiring this context for verification and discussion.
CNLM uses the PAR software and its due diligence process, which has improved steadily over time and with experience, for its preserve acquisitions. CNLM has also made this software available for purchase by others. Licenses have been purchased by city, county, state, and federal government entities; conservation banks and other for-profit entities; and land trusts, among others.
"PAR" has, over time, become the commonly accepted approach for professional estimation of perpetual stewardship costs. Although many who use the term may have long forgotten its origin, 'PAR' has become synonymous with a detailed, comprehensive, defensible approach to endowment calculation and a 'PAR' or 'PAR-like analysis' is often a requirement for such determinations within a mitigation context.
Although the PAR software provides a rigorous structure for stewardship endowment calculations, as with any software it is the knowledgeable selection of appropriate data that determines the value of the PAR output. Two interest groups – regulatory agencies and conservation land owners – have shown such interest in CNLM's PAR software and methodology, that CNLM has also provided workshops and seminars when there is compelling conservation value in doing so. Provided under contract, these services have helped regulatory agencies to better understand the inputs to perpetual stewardship costs and the elements of endowment construction, thus enabling them to more effectively review 'PARs' or PAR-like plans when submitted to them in relation to permit requirements. Workshops or other services provided to land-holding nonprofits, city governments, utility companies, open-space districts, and others, have assisted them in longterm financial planning to appropriately manage their current and future conservation lands or conservation easements. If these services are of interest, please contact CNLM's Director of Conservation Science and Stewardship, Deborah L. Rogers, PhD at drogers@cnlm.org or 510.799.7701.
CNLM's PAR App
Property Analysis Record' (PAR) has been a fundamental approach and tool for CNLM's cost analysis for perpetual management of conservation lands since the organization's establishment in 1990. Until 2017, the software was provided on CD and loaded onto individual computers. Revised twice, the programming language upon which PAR3© (and previous releases) was based—Visual FoxPro—was discontinued in 2007 and, as of 2015, was no longer supported by Microsoft. Seeing this as an opportunity rather than a problem, CNLM staff set about revising CNLM's PAR3© software—both its platform and functionality. Data structure and content were revisited and revised, with a focus on providing data fields that were less vulnerable to misinterpretation and more logically arranged. With support from CNLM's Board of Directors, staff explored options for recreating PAR as a cloud-based program, worked with Veilsun Inc. for the revision, and entered into a subscription with Quick Base to host the new CNLM PAR Application ('PAR App' or 'App'). In 2018, CNLM released the PAR App to the public, now on a subscription basis rather than CD.
As compared with the FoxPro-based versions, the PAR App has somewhat more flexibility and functionality (Comparison of CNLM PAR App and PAR3©). First-time PAR preparers will probably find this App more user-friendly and logically structured than they would have experienced with PAR3©. Those with PAR3© experience should be able to quickly learn the new App. An example of a PAR report that has been generated with the PAR App is available, here.
Access to the PAR App: While those who have purchased PAR3© or earlier versions can certainly continue to use those programs, CNLM discontinued its sales of PAR3© with the public offering of the PAR App. The App is available on a subscription basis—for either a six-month or twelve-month term. Because of the Quick Base platform and subscription-based access, when a subscription ends (and is not continued with a renewed subscription), any PAR data are not retained. As such, an important practice for PAR subscribers is to retain their PAR Reports (in pdf) and, if desired, export data tables to (csv) spreadsheets. Pricing is related to the type of business as well as the term of the subscription (PAR App prices). To use the App, you'll need internet access and the Google Chrome internet browser (free). If interested in purchasing a subscription, click on the Subscription Information tab.
Please review the following information prior to submitting a PAR App subscription form:
The CNLM PAR App is available on a subscription basis—for either a six-month or twelve-month term.
When a subscription ends (and is not continued with a renewed subscription), any PAR data are not retained. As such, an important practice for PAR subscribers is to retain their PAR Reports (in pdf) and, if desired, export data tables to (csv) spreadsheets.
Pricing is related to the type of business as well as the term of the subscription (PAR App prices).
To use the App, you'll need internet access and the Google Chrome internet browser (free download).
If interested in purchasing a subscription, please fill out the PAR App Subscription form and submit for an invoice. You will then be contacted by the CNLM Administrator to provide access to the PAR App upon receipt of payment.


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Varda Caivano, Marie Cool Fabio Balducci — Is resistance Useless ? — Marcelle Alix Gallery — Exhibition — Slash Paris
Varda Caivano, Marie Cool Fabio Balducci — Is resistance Useless ?
Film, installation, painting
Varda Caivano, Marie Cool Fabio Balducci
Is resistance Useless ?
Past: February 2 → March 31, 2012
Is Resistance Useless ? à la galerie Marcelle Alix La mise en regard des œuvres de Varda Caivano avec les œuvres de Marie Cool et Fabio Balducci audacieusement orchestrée par l'expos... 2 - Bien Critique
The reader will have to negotiate with a non-exhaustive series of figures that we use as projection spaces when approaching the works of Marie Cool Fabio Balducci and Varda Caivano. The beautiful opacity of their respective work has made us wish to describe nuances. In this apparent discontinuity, our thoughts?and those of authors dear to us — meet to express the pleasure we find in these fixed and mobile images, which fight petrifaction. The abstraction at play in Varda Caivano's paintings and drawings and that of Marie Cool's filmed gestures at precarious objects, isn't fake. It is an abstraction that literally falls out of language.
What position does interior life occupy today? The relationship between a repressive society and the melancholic flight from it has always been a worthwhile subject. In her book about acedia, the art historian Anne Larue explains that its origin is to be found with the solitary monks in the Egyptian deserts at the end of the third and beginning of the fourth century of the Christian era. This form of melancholia reduced to its essence was replaced by the noble melancholia of the Renaissance: the melancolia generosa, associated with the painful condition of the genius. It's the radical acedia, this "obliquely subversive force", found in the medieval monastic texts, which interests us, as a response to an incredible oppression. The Fathers of the Church (and in particular the bishops who contributed to establish and defend the Christian doctrine) fought against the ghost of interior life, in order to exterminate intellectual life. The monastic texts of the time display plenty of allusions to the necessity to remain in one's cell. There are numerous examples of monks who developed-through acedia-the possibility to represent themselves in their mind, and to free their desire and their boredom of any limit. To prefer oneself to one's nation or to the State, to be more than a simple cell in a collective body: melancholia will always be an essential force of opposition.
A fire-raiser, this is how I represent the role of Marie Cool within the duo Marie Cool Fabio Balducci to myself. Literally, a female activist. An arsonist. Of course we can evoke the delicacy and care with which Cool seizes the objects and manipulates them, but it would not be totally fair to miss the violence contained in these gestures. This repetition of gestures means: not to think, to block speech, a moment in which only action will be efficient. Against discourse and virtuosity, the artist positions herself next to the worker, the doer, the resistant. The action exists in opposition to what we would like to do with it, to the way we could appropriate it. The repetition is a closed time which imposes itself on the spectator. A sort of hostage-taking.
"Five bony branches. They tightly clasp to form a compact block, a real bone rock" (Henri Focillon, Eloge de la main, Quadrige/ Presses Universitaires de France, 1996, p. 104/105)
Eroticism — ritual
Marie Cool's body adopts the shape of manipulated objects: thread, pencils, folded paper tissues, sheet. These very simple processes, presented as short films, belong to a system that could be defined as erotic. The body and the objects become one. This series of renewed, hypnotic gestures express a wish for continuity (the continuity that lies at the core of the erotic relationship, according to Georges Bataille), as social relations and constituted beings dissolve to form a continuous loop. Objects are used for their intrinsic properties and thus appear as mere body extensions.
Moving forward from the eroticism of the body, to that of the heart, then to sacred eroticism. Rituals help human beings prove their potential continuity and ward off their discontinuity. This closed loop-body-object-is like a mantra, which leads us up to infinity. The sacred at stake here is closer to Durkheim's concept developed in The Elementary Forms of Religious Life than to Buddha's. It is an expression of our society. Marie Cool then appears as a modern prophetess, trained to express the essence of our world. Through skilled worker's gestures, she expresses a kind of contemporary, universal and essential truth.
Poverty must be understood as Franciscan simplicity (Luciano Fabro)
Poetry as an expression of a desired continuity (again, Bataille's concept of eroticism) is at play in Varda Caivano's paintings. Rimbaud's words 'It is the sea / Fled away with the sun' find their equivalent in her motifs which cover up other abstract motifs. 'It has been found again. What? Eternity'. Caivano's canvases conceal many mysteries, which only the initiates to an unknown cult can decipher. If Cool Balducci's work resembles rituals of pagan origins, Caivano's painting seems closer to Orphic mysteries cults, in which initiation leads to an ever-increasing perceptiveness, maybe that of Rimbaud's "visionary" poet. "There is a sense in Caivano's paintings of something searched for and not quite found" (Jennifer Higgie, Frieze, 2005): like an initiatory process in which the artist acts as a guide.
How can we speak about form without evoking things outside of it? Isn't the autonomy of the artwork a despicable thing? Doesn't it amount to talk about its "power" or about the timeless "genius" of the artist? Or do we mix up different things? In fact, some works exist that speak for themselves, that don't need to be told, and that simultaneously carry a political thought. They are monolithic and non-narrative. It is the exact impossibility to translate them into speech that makes them the best political tools and the expression of absolute freedom: to be exactly oneself, to feel no need for self-justification, to have no wish to follow a role model. Caivano's and Cool Balucci's works display the same capacity to be themselves outside of any social idea of art or of the artist, and that is what brought them together in this show. It seems to me that what we want today"and what seems so difficult to us"lies exactly here: how do we live in the world while letting the absurdity of our idea of it impose on us as little as possible? How to be free and become oneself when entire nations are bound to death to such immaterial and abstruse structures as the "financial markets"? How to position oneself outside of the system in order to reconsider it or, how to "change the world" without creating a new one? Caivano's and Cool Balducci's closed systems constitute brand new worlds, without a program. They make radical choices that bar any wish to communicate outside of a form that imposes itself on us.
Varda Caivano (1971, Buenos Aires) works in London. A graduate of Goldsmith and The Royal College of Arts, she participated to the last British Art Show (2011). She has had different solo exhibitions: at Kunstverein Freiburg (Germany) in 2006, at Chisenhale Gallery (London).
Marie Cool Fabio Balducci work together in Paris. Their work was shown at La Maison Rouge, Paris and Attitudes, Geneva (cur. Jean-Paul Felley and Olivier Kaeser) in 2008, at The South London Gallery in 2009, at CAC Brétigny (cur. Pierre Bal-Blanc) in 2010 and at Villa Medicis, Roma (cur. Eric de Chassey) in 2011.
Very special thanks to: Émilie Catalano, Patrick Scemama, Victoria Miro gallery, London, castillo/corrales, Paris
Marcelle Alix Gallery Gallery
20 Paris 20 Zoom in 20 Paris 20 Zoom out
4, rue Jouye-Rouve
www.marcellealix.com
Tuesday – Saturday, 11 AM – 7 PM
Marie Cool & Fabio Balducci
Varda Caivano


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Camaras a possibility in CDTA buses
By Shawn Charniga |
PUBLISHED: June 11, 2005 at 3:19 p.m. | UPDATED: July 22, 2021 at 2:31 a.m.
TROY – A spokeswoman for the Capital District Transit Authority said Friday CDTA would be willing to discuss with the Rensselaer Count Legislature the installation of security cameras on buses.
The Legislature is expected to vote Tuesday to request the authority to install the cameras on buses running routes in the county.
In the wake of a serious assault against an Albany County bus driver, and another incident where a bus window was shattered by several shots from a pellet gun, it is necessary to assess whether video surveillance cameras should be installed on buses, the resolution says.
Transportation agencies nationwide are installing or considering cameras on buses, the document says.
"We're interested in working with others, which, of course, includes the Rensselaer County Legislature, to enhance security on our buses in the best way possible and with the appropriate funding sources," CDTA Manager of Corporate Communications Margo Janack said Friday.
The Authority is willing to sit down and discuss funding for the plan, but haven't reached that point yet, even with the Albany County Legislature, who recently expressed interest in a similar plan and met with CDTA staff, but who have yet to take further action, she said.
An authority safety manager told Janack other security possibilities exist but was not immediately able to detail them.
Shawn Charniga


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Fraud News U.K.
Enforcing the Rules on False Records, False Information and Other Aviation Offences: the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA)
By Vaz Gopinathan
Aviation Regulation and Enforcement Department (ARED)
The Aviation Regulation and Enforcement Department (ARED) within the UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) is a small investigative department who carry out criminal investigations involving breaches of aviation legislation.
The ANO offences tend to relate to licensing matters and range from registration and airworthiness of aircraft to Air Operators Certificates (required for transportation of public for consideration) and prohibited behaviour (drunkenness and endangerment, etc). The ANO also creates offences in relation to falsifying aviation records and providing false information to obtain aviation documents.
The RAR offences generally relate to the use of the aircraft and markings on aircraft and airfields. Also, the dangerous goods regulations relate to the transportation of hazardous cargo by air and the ATOL regulations protecting the consumer from unscrupulous travel agents providing package holidays.
The Investigators, by virtue of being authorised persons under the regulations, have the power to prevent UK registered aircraft from flying, require aircraft commanders and air operators to provide certain aviation documents, and have right of access at reasonable times to aircraft, airfields and certain buildings to carry out their duties. Section 239 of the ANO also makes it an offence to intentionally obstruct or impede an authorised person performing a duty under the order.
As a result of a number of recent reviews of the CAA, a draft Civil Aviation Bill is currently being considered by Parliament incorporating recommendations from these reviews. The bill will give the CAA an important new role in civil aviation, and if enacted, will also provide the CAA with increased civil sanctions powers and incorporate the CAA as another regulator in the Regulatory Enforcement and Sanctions Act 2008. To learn more about the CAA, visit CAA.co.uk.
Contact the ACFE
For more information, contact the ACFE at PR@ACFE.com or (514) 478-9000.


The Listener asks….Can you feel me?
In Life; listening is good.
I am often faced with people in conversation who are not always the best listeners. What I have learned to repair this is to be a great listener myself first, putting the other person before myself, and foremost, making sure they are and feel understood. I do this by repeating back to them what they have just said. This technique helps in communication immensely. It makes the other person feel like what they are saying and how they are feeling, is getting through. Once they feel understood, it usually allows me an opening to then communicate my feelings.
If a person in conversation is in their own head, while I speak; I ask, did you understand what I just said? Please would you repeat it back to me? Sometimes they do not like this request, but it is an important one. It demonstrates willingness to understand me as well.
Conversation is a two way street.
Both people in conversation should feel completely understood for the best results.
When we get to heaven, every loving, encouraging and helpful word we speak will be rewarded.
People look up to positive people for guidance into love and light.
Not darkness, lies, irreverence or disinterest.
When we are first and foremost a good listener, then we can be a good guide.


Groom's Name: John Fulton Jr.
Tell us your love story: Both: We first met through mutual friends at church.
When did you know that your partner was the one? Bride: I knew that John was the one because he was the literal answer to a prayer that I had prayed four years prior to us dating. He knew how to love me unconditionally and loved my son as his own. Groom: I knew Sharita was the one for me because she taught me how to love again. She was able to penetrate my heart and life in ways that no one has ever done before.
How did he propose? Bride: John proposed to me on his birthday in Dayton Beach, Florida.We were sitting on the balcony of our hotel room overlooking the beach. I went into the room to grab John some water and a towel and when I came back out to the balcony, he was down on his knee with the ring in hand. It was one of the most selfless things he has done.
What's the key to the success of your relationship? Both: We have a few keys that have helped to make our relationship successful. They are friendship, communication, prayer and being able to laugh together.
Why do you want to be included in JET love? Both: We want to be included in JET Love because we know that our love story is truly one of a kind. We shared a unique experience while dating. We remained celibate and because of that, it allowed us to be able to really get to know one another and fall in love with each other's personalities not just the physical aspect of love. We want people to know that you can be young, Christian and date successfully.