title: The problem with 'the problem with gangs': Reflections on practice and offender desistance

authors: Tamatea, Armon J.

abstract: Gang membership is considered to be a criminogenic factor that negatively impacts an individual’s ability to successfully desist from offending and presents special management challenges across Corrections’ service delivery. Despite the durability of gangs in New Zealand, these groups are poorly defined with little known about disengagement processes that may inform broader criminal desistance pathways. This paper argues that a theory of gangs is a necessary step to inform constructive and sustainable behaviour change practices. A transitional perspective of gang-centred lifestyles is proposed as a starting point to considering efficacious intervention efforts with offenders who identify with these complex and challenging groups.

text: The problem with 'the problem with gangs': Reflections on practice and offender desistance Gang membership is considered to be a criminogenic factor that negatively impacts an individual’s ability to successfully desist from offending and presents special management challenges across Corrections’ service delivery. Despite the durability of gangs in New Zealand, these groups are poorly defined with little known about disengagement processes that may inform broader criminal desistance pathways. This paper argues that a theory of gangs is a necessary step to inform constructive and sustainable behaviour change practices. A transitional perspective of gang-centred lifestyles is proposed as a starting point to considering efficacious intervention efforts with offenders who identify with these complex and challenging groups.

year: 2015

title: Accurate low-cost expanded-scale analog voltmeter with novel charge/discharge indication for monitoring single Lithium-ion cells

authors: Scott, Jonathan B.

abstract: This manuscript presents a very low-cost circuit using a PIC12F683 microcontroller and an LM285 bandgap voltage reference that provides an expanded-scale to an analog panel meter suitable for monitoring a single Lithium-ion battery. Charge or discharge of the cell is indicated by periodic twitches of the needle to the left or the right. The design is especially suitable for small devices subject to intermittant use or that recharge by power-harvesting. The design is open-source, with circuit, board layout, and source code provided.

text: Accurate low-cost expanded-scale analog voltmeter with novel charge/discharge indication for monitoring single Lithium-ion cells This manuscript presents a very low-cost circuit using a PIC12F683 microcontroller and an LM285 bandgap voltage reference that provides an expanded-scale to an analog panel meter suitable for monitoring a single Lithium-ion battery. Charge or discharge of the cell is indicated by periodic twitches of the needle to the left or the right. The design is especially suitable for small devices subject to intermittant use or that recharge by power-harvesting. The design is open-source, with circuit, board layout, and source code provided.

year: 2016

title: Viewing restorative approaches to addressing challenging behaviour of minority ethnic students through a community of practice lens

authors: Wearmouth, Janice

subjects: restorative practice

abstract: The disproportionately high rates of school exclusion and lower levels of academic achievement of students from particular minority ethnic groups have been a focus of investigation in educational research across the world for some time. This articles uses a communities of practice framework to examine how restorative practice can draw on family and community values to support students whose behaviour is unacceptable in schools to recognize their own agency in behaving for good or ill and reintegrate them into the school community. At the same time, it acknowledges hurt that may be done to victims of wrong-doing and emphasizes putting things right between all those affected. The examples here are from Aotearoa New Zealand. They relate to practices influenced by traditional Māori cultural values. However, the principles and process associated with restorative practices that aim to restore harmony between the individual, the victim and the collective rather than to punish and exclude may be relevant within other student groups where high rates of exclusion from school are problematic.

text: Viewing restorative approaches to addressing challenging behaviour of minority ethnic students through a community of practice lens The disproportionately high rates of school exclusion and lower levels of academic achievement of students from particular minority ethnic groups have been a focus of investigation in educational research across the world for some time. This articles uses a communities of practice framework to examine how restorative practice can draw on family and community values to support students whose behaviour is unacceptable in schools to recognize their own agency in behaving for good or ill and reintegrate them into the school community. At the same time, it acknowledges hurt that may be done to victims of wrong-doing and emphasizes putting things right between all those affected. The examples here are from Aotearoa New Zealand. They relate to practices influenced by traditional Māori cultural values. However, the principles and process associated with restorative practices that aim to restore harmony between the individual, the victim and the collective rather than to punish and exclude may be relevant within other student groups where high rates of exclusion from school are problematic.

year: 2012