New IU Public Policy Institute report shows decrease in Marion County homelessness over 10-year period

Posted on July 11, 2016 by O'Neill at IUPUI

A new report from the Indiana University Public Policy Institute shows that the total number of individuals experiencing homelessness has decreased in the last few years, returning to previous years’ levels. The report, Ten-Year Trend Shows Slight Decrease in Number of People Experiencing Homelessness, is an annual Point-in-Time Count that assesses the current needs of homeless individuals in Marion County and identifies program service gaps.

In 2007, Institute Senior Researcher Laura Littlepage began working with the Coalition for Homelessness Intervention and Prevention (CHIP) to count the number of individuals experiencing homelessness during one night in January. A total of 12 reports detailing the homeless population along with recommendations for policymakers have been released since the Homeless Count project began. (more…)

Former Indy mayor Bart Peterson creates fellowship program for SPEA graduate students

Posted on July 5, 2016 by Michael L. Jackson

Andre Zhang Sonera, who is studying policy analysis in SPEA's graduate program, is the first Peterson Fellowship recipient. — Andre Zhang Sonera, who is studying policy analysis in SPEA’s graduate program, is the first Peterson Fellowship recipient.

Bart Peterson, a former two-term mayor for the City of Indianapolis, has established the Peterson Fellows program at the IU School of Public and Environmental Affairs at IUPUI. The program will provide an immersive, one year paid internship for a SPEA IUPUI graduate student who has a career interest in public service.

Fellowship recipients will work in partnership with the City of Indianapolis’ Mayor Office on select projects that will address specific challenges in the city, while also supporting the mayor’s strategic plan and vision. Peterson Fellows will also have the opportunity to work in other city departments, broadening their exposure to a wide variety of city leaders and service organizations. (more…)

Executive education: Focus on leadership

Posted on June 28, 2016 by Sara M Johnson

As another presidential election campaign races to its conclusion, the topics of public management and leadership are getting a lot of attention and scrutiny. Questions such as “Whom do you trust?” or “Who is the most qualified?” are in the news every day.

For those vying for the top leadership position in the United States, there are obvious differences in style, experience and philosophy. Clearly, there is no “one-size-fits-all” approach to effective leadership of government and other organizations that exist to serve the public.

Still there are common bonds, and perhaps “serve the public” is the key phrase here. If we assume those who seek leadership positions in organizations that “serve the public” are there to truly serve, would we not expect them to be “servant leaders?” Robert K. Greenleaf, who established the Robert K. Greenleaf Center for Servant Leadership, first coined the term in 1970. (more…)

PPI researchers will work with Indiana Judicial Center to evaluate pretrial risk assessment program

Posted on June 24, 2016 by O'Neill at IUPUI

By Brad Ray, Assistant Professor

This summer, researchers at the IU Public Policy Institute will begin work with the Indiana Judicial Center on a three-year study of nine counties in Indiana that are implementing a pretrial risk assessment program. The use of pretrial risk assessments is part of a larger movement in the United States toward the use of evidence-based pretrial practices.

Too often, low risk defendants sit in jail simply because they cannot afford bail. While awaiting trial, they face the risk of additional negative outcomes such as job loss, defaulting on payments, or losing pro-social ties within the community. Evidence-based pretrial practices include enacting policies and practices that eliminate unnecessary incarceration while preserving public safety. All nine pilot sites will administer the Indiana Risk Assessment System Pretrial Assessment Tool (IRAS-PAT) as soon as possible after arrest and use the risk assessment results to inform pretrial release decisions. (more…)

Researchers explore links between hate crimes and terrorism

Posted on June 16, 2016 by O'Neill at IUPUI

By Jeff Gruenewald, Joshua D. Freilich, Steven Chermak and William Parkin

Some are calling the mass shooting at an Orlando gay nightclub an act of terrorism. Others are calling it a hate crime against the LGBT community. President Obama declared it an “act of terror and an act of hate.”

Can it be both?

It’s an important question. How extremist crimes are labeled by officials directly affects how offenders are charged, their likelihood of being convicted and the severity of their sentences.

Labels are also symbolic acknowledgments by the government of the harms inflicted on the nation by terrorists, and on specific social groups by hate crimes. These labels can shape how the public thinks about extremist crimes.

We have been researching terrorism, extremism and hate for more than 15 years and currently direct the United States Extremist Crime Database (ECDB) study. (more…)