Papers by Michelle Hoffmann
In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, it is plain to see that there was inadequate planning... more In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, it is plain to see that there was inadequate planning, preparation and mitigation by the federal government to handle such extreme circumstances as the “storm of the century”. The men and women on Capitol Hill who were placed in charge of assessing the ultimate dangers that a hurricane could, and ultimately did, bring upon the states involved were woefully and inadequately prepared to successfully deal with such a storm and resultant disaster. Not only was the agency, who had been tasked with responding to emergency situations ill-equipped and undermanaged, but it was found that those in charge were inadequately trained to respond to anything as devastating as Hurricane Katrina (A failure of initiative, 2006).
“Corruption is a Western concept and is not applicable to traditional societies, where corrupt... more “Corruption is a Western concept and is not applicable to traditional societies, where corruption does not have such a negative meaning. Many traditional societies with a “gift culture” have a different understanding of civil responsibilities and etiquette. The social structure and political traditions of many countries are based on the beneficial exchange of rewards for services rendered, and cannot survive in its absence.” (Source: iDebate.org)
In the past, the term ‘pedophile’ brought images of a dirty old man in a van who gives out ca... more In the past, the term ‘pedophile’ brought images of a dirty old man in a van who gives out candy to little kids to mind. This is what people imagine the pedophile to be. However, this is not true and it does not include only men. There are plenty of female pedophiles out there as well.
Today, the term pedophile can be used to describe three very distinct categories of criminals, each one being more severe and dangerous than the last. The first category is called the secretive pedophile. This person may appear to be totally normal. He or she may be married, may have their own children, and may never assault a child. Most pedophiles in this category may never act on their sexual urges. However, if they do, they usually simply acquire child pornography to gratify themselves with (Muraski, 2013).
The value of the incorporation of an intelligence unit into our police department would be immens... more The value of the incorporation of an intelligence unit into our police department would be immense. Just to have the ability to decipher events and predict patterns would have a profound impact on our ability to fight crime. From the individual criminal creating a pattern of repeat offenses to the systematic elimination of organized crime, the range is limited only by its application. Imagine the good we could do by being able to “see” things before they happen and intercept the” bad guys”.
The use of children as witnesses in court has been debated repeatedly over the years due to the ... more The use of children as witnesses in court has been debated repeatedly over the years due to the unique challenges that present themselves when dealing with such unadulterated minds. Most children have such an innocent outlook on the things that happen in their lives that they are almost unable to perceive things in the horrific manner that adults do. This outlook is what gives them a unique perspective that can be brought out in their testimony. However, the lines between what is perceived as right or wrong (or real and imagined) are often blurred, and this division may end up being something that perhaps only a psychologist can determine. For the child, the ramifications of testifying in front of a jury and the person who may have hurt them can have a devastating impact. There are also legal, ethical and professional issues that an investigator may have to contend with when they are searching for the truth.
An intelligence unit, along with each of its individual analysts, is one of the most important pa... more An intelligence unit, along with each of its individual analysts, is one of the most important parts of any law enforcement agency. It is their expertise that comes into play when difficult situations come up and a solution is needed. The tools and training that they utilize are far superior to that of any other department.
In it’s most basic and concise form, forensic scientists use two principle formats for the identi... more In it’s most basic and concise form, forensic scientists use two principle formats for the identification of evidence. They are qualitative and quantitative analysis. Either or, or sometimes both, are applied to physical evidence to determine what elements the material is made of (qualitative) and/or how much of each component makes up that material, i.e. quantitative. The results of quantitative and qualitative analyses can then be used to determine the identity of both organic and inorganic substances, the possible relationship to each other or origin, and identify or exonerate a person of interest.
Over the years, the term 'Cold War' has come to mean different things to different people dependi... more Over the years, the term 'Cold War' has come to mean different things to different people depending on what generation they belong to. It seems that each generation has their own interpretation of what is meant by the words 'Cold War'. To those who lived through it, it meant the world was in imminent danger of being destroyed at any moment, due to the tensions between the two Super-Powers, The U.S.A. and the Soviet Union. (History Learning Site, 2000
For those of us who only hear about it in books, it tells of a time when the future of the world seemed dark and ominous.
Military service by qualified individuals as pertaining to the acquisition of U.S. citizenship is... more Military service by qualified individuals as pertaining to the acquisition of U.S. citizenship is a long held tradition, but at this time is only a single option available at this time to perspective immigrants. While the concept of obtaining citizenship through military service is not a new one, and existing legislature and regulations already provide for this path of entry, it has never been a mainstay method or prerequisite for obtaining citizenship. This proposed case study will serve as an outline as to the formulation, structure, and implementation of military service as a basic requirement for any immigrant seeking citizenship and qualified by age or physical limitation to enter the service.
It was not until the events of September 11, 2001 that the attention of the country became laser-... more It was not until the events of September 11, 2001 that the attention of the country became laser-focused on the vulnerability of the United States to terrorism, both domestic and international. Unlike events such as the Oklahoma City bombing, the World Trade Center bombing, Waco, and Ruby Ridge, which the American people did not recognize as domestic terrorism but dismissed as being individual acts performed by mentally ill individuals or rare extremist cultists who exemplified an unusual problem with society that was blown out of proportion by government interference, the 9/11 attacks showed how easy it actually was for foreign terrorists from other countries to infiltrate our borders and cause mass hysteria
Within the auspices of today's society, the subjects of civil rights and diversity go hand in han... more Within the auspices of today's society, the subjects of civil rights and diversity go hand in hand - it seems that there cannot be one without the other. This is true within organizations such as FEMA. With there being such a multifariousness of employees within the different governmental agencies, the need for legislation, guidelines, reviews and revisions to protect the basic human rights of all individuals has become a major point of concern.
Having a strong Emergency Operations Plan (EOP) in place in case of man-made or natural emergenci... more Having a strong Emergency Operations Plan (EOP) in place in case of man-made or natural emergencies is vital to the survivability of all involved. Without such a
In May of 2008, Christian William Carney, age 25 and Alvin Lovely, age 24, shot and killed a fell... more In May of 2008, Christian William Carney, age 25 and Alvin Lovely, age 24, shot and killed a fellow marine officer, Stephen Serrano, age 20, in retaliation for the theft of Carney's drug money from the room at Camp Pendelton where Carney was stationed and lived. Carney had been a cocaine and ecstacy dealer at Camp Pendelton, which is located in Southern California. Were they criminals because they killed Serrano, or were they simply retaliating to the theft of the drug money in the only way that they knew, because of their military training? Most people would say that they are cold blooded killers, but some would say that they just wanted their money back and when they didn't get it, went into a rage and simply retaliated by using their military training.
It was about 7:45 on the morning of Monday, February 27, 2012 at Chardon High School, about 30 mi... more It was about 7:45 on the morning of Monday, February 27, 2012 at Chardon High School, about 30 miles east of Cleveland, Ohio when a 17 year old male named Thomas (T.J.) Lane allegedly walked into the school cafeteria and pumped 10 shots from his .22 caliber into a table full of high-school students, murdering Daniel Parmentor, Russell King, Jr., and Demetrius Hewlin and injuring 2 other students whose names have been withheld. (Engle, 2012)
Disaster response and recovery cost the state of Wisconsin millions of dollars each year. By uti... more Disaster response and recovery cost the state of Wisconsin millions of dollars each year. By utilizing hazard mitigation activities which would help to lessen the impact that these hazards have and thereby reduce costs. Hazard mitigation would also have a positive impact on the community as a whole; allowing the community to be better prepared to respond and recover in the face of a disaster. The purpose of this plan is to identify Wisconsin's major hazards, complete a risk assessment and vulnerability of area for the potential for each type of hazard, and ultimately recommend any actions deemed necessary to mitigate the occurrences of such hazards (Wisconsin Emergency Management, October 2011).
The history of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) was brought to fruition in the aftermath... more The history of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) was brought to fruition in the aftermath of September 11, 2001. Within days of that horrific event, Pennsylvania Governor, Tom Ridge was chosen to be the first Director of the newly created Office of Homeland Security (Department of Homeland Security, September 24, 2015). The commission of this new office was to supervise and contribute to a national strategy to secure the country against threats of terrorism, as well as to assist in safeguarding against any attacks in the future. The President, by amalgamating the various departments and offices that were already in existence into a unified bureau whose job it is to protect the country, created a single structure whose sole enterprise it was to ensure that the country was protected against threats, both now and in the future (Bush, June 2002).
One of the most infamous trials in recent American history was the trial of United States V. Oliv... more One of the most infamous trials in recent American history was the trial of United States V. Oliver North. It was a trial that captured the attention of the American public in a way that had not happened since the Watergate scandal in 1972.
Oliver North was one in a litany of highly ranked individuals who were accused of the sale of weapons to Iran with the money being given to the Contras – “a military organization dedicated to overthrowing the leftist government of Nicaragua” (Iran-Contra Affair)
The subsequent trial ended up being a media circus and Oliver North, having been pardoned for the crimes which he was charged with in return for cooperation and testimony, has gone on to become a celebrity and a very “in demand” speaker.
Each of us has some impact on the environment around us, some of us more than others. Most of... more Each of us has some impact on the environment around us, some of us more than others. Most of us now realize the detrimental impact that our species has been incurring and are consciously trying to lessen this impact. Each time we turn on the lights, drive to work, smoke a cigarette, throw away a coffee cup or a pop can, we leave a footprint that contributes to the growing amount of damage we are doing to our Earth. If each one of us were to simply change one thing in our daily routine to minimize our own carbon footprint, we would be able to make the worlds' resources last a little longer and minimize the resulting damages.
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Papers by Michelle Hoffmann
Today, the term pedophile can be used to describe three very distinct categories of criminals, each one being more severe and dangerous than the last. The first category is called the secretive pedophile. This person may appear to be totally normal. He or she may be married, may have their own children, and may never assault a child. Most pedophiles in this category may never act on their sexual urges. However, if they do, they usually simply acquire child pornography to gratify themselves with (Muraski, 2013).
For those of us who only hear about it in books, it tells of a time when the future of the world seemed dark and ominous.
Oliver North was one in a litany of highly ranked individuals who were accused of the sale of weapons to Iran with the money being given to the Contras – “a military organization dedicated to overthrowing the leftist government of Nicaragua” (Iran-Contra Affair)
The subsequent trial ended up being a media circus and Oliver North, having been pardoned for the crimes which he was charged with in return for cooperation and testimony, has gone on to become a celebrity and a very “in demand” speaker.
Today, the term pedophile can be used to describe three very distinct categories of criminals, each one being more severe and dangerous than the last. The first category is called the secretive pedophile. This person may appear to be totally normal. He or she may be married, may have their own children, and may never assault a child. Most pedophiles in this category may never act on their sexual urges. However, if they do, they usually simply acquire child pornography to gratify themselves with (Muraski, 2013).
For those of us who only hear about it in books, it tells of a time when the future of the world seemed dark and ominous.
Oliver North was one in a litany of highly ranked individuals who were accused of the sale of weapons to Iran with the money being given to the Contras – “a military organization dedicated to overthrowing the leftist government of Nicaragua” (Iran-Contra Affair)
The subsequent trial ended up being a media circus and Oliver North, having been pardoned for the crimes which he was charged with in return for cooperation and testimony, has gone on to become a celebrity and a very “in demand” speaker.