title: Exploring individual characteristics related to community-based sentence compliance: Is there an association between neuropsychological functioning, traumatic brain injury, and non-compliance with a community-based sentence?

authors: Macdonald-Norman, Emily Anne

subjects: Non-compliance

abstract: Non-compliance with a community-based sentence can result in serious consequences for an individual, including imprisonment. Probation officers, who supervise those on community sentences, play an essential role in supporting compliance and determining how to respond when non-compliance occurs; however, little research has explored how probation officers use their discretion. Neuropsychological dysfunction and a history of traumatic brain injury (TBI) are overrepresented amongst incarcerated offenders and associated with poorer outcomes (recidivism, treatment attrition, disciplinary infractions). However, much less is known about the neuropsychological function and history of TBI amongst community-based offenders (i.e., supervisees). Thus, this research project sought to understand probation officers’ perspectives on and responses to non-compliance and explore the association between a supervisee’s compliance and current neuropsychological functioning and recent TBI. 
The first study involved two focus groups with 17 New Zealand probation officers; the aim was to explore probation officers’ views on compliance and how they practice supervision. All probation officers reported using ‘social worker’ type, evidenced-based practices such as building quality relationships and using motivational interviewing. Probation officers viewed problems with cognitive skills as a key barrier to sentence compliance and reported using various strategies to support the compliance of supervisees with cognitive issues.  
The second study, involved 106 adult men (n = 82, 77.4%) and women (n = 24, 22.6%) on community sentences who participated in an initial interview that included a screen for a history of TBI and consent to collect compliance (arrests, sentence violations) and related variables (e.g., risk scores) from the New Zealand Department of Corrections database and police records over six months. At the conclusion of  the initial interview, supervisees were invited to return and complete neuropsychological tests. Sixty-four men (n = 47, 73.4%) and women (n = 17, 26.5%) returned and completed the Repeatable Battery for the Assessment of Neuropsychological Status (RBANS), the Comprehensive Trail Making Test, and Color-Word Inference Test, and the Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function- Adult Version (BRIEF-A). Twenty-six probation officers, whose supervisees participated in the study, were interviewed regarding their supervisees’ compliance. 
The first manuscript from this study focused on the executive functioning of this sample compared to a normative sample and investigated the association between executive functioning and compliance with sentence conditions. The results indicated that the community-based sample had significantly poorer executive functioning compared to a normative sample. Still, contrary to what was expected, those supervisees who complied with their sentence conditions had poorer executive functioning than those who were non-compliant. However, exploratory analyses showed that those with poorer executive functioning received more probation officer support to comply with sentence conditions.
The second manuscript described the sample’s neuropsychological function compared to a normative sample and investigated the association between sustaining a TBI in the last year (i.e., within the year prior to joining the study) and current neuropsychological function. We then explored if a TBI in the last year or current neuropsychological function were associated with compliance with sentence conditions and compliance with the law (i.e., being arrested). The results indicated that the community-based sample’s neuropsychological functioning was significantly poorer than a normative sample. Our findings also suggested that a TBI in the last year was a significant predictor of arrest, even when controlling for risk of reconviction and current substance use. However, a recent TBI was not associated with non-compliance with sentence conditions nor with poorer performance on the neuropsychological tests. In addition, no significant associations were found between performance on the neuropsychological tests and either measure of non-compliance.
Overall, the results from this thesis suggested that individual characteristics like TBI and neuropsychological functioning impact compliance with a community-based sentence in different ways: A recent TBI was predictive of re-arrest while serving a community sentence, and poorer neuropsychological functioning was significantly associated with increased support from the probation officer to comply.
The main implications of this research for corrections departments are that supervisees on a community sentence with poor neuropsychological functioning or a recent TBI may need additional monitoring or support to reduce the risk of non-compliance and reoffending. While further research needs to be undertaken to inform any changes in policy or practices, the results from this thesis suggest that community corrections would benefit from the implementation of services and screens to target important responsivity issues like TBI and poor neuropsychological functioning. Corrections departments attention to these issues may help alleviate the risk of individuals getting trapped in the criminal justice system for non-criminal activities (e.g., not attending an appointment).

text: Exploring individual characteristics related to community-based sentence compliance: Is there an association between neuropsychological functioning, traumatic brain injury, and non-compliance with a community-based sentence? Non-compliance with a community-based sentence can result in serious consequences for an individual, including imprisonment. Probation officers, who supervise those on community sentences, play an essential role in supporting compliance and determining how to respond when non-compliance occurs; however, little research has explored how probation officers use their discretion. Neuropsychological dysfunction and a history of traumatic brain injury (TBI) are overrepresented amongst incarcerated offenders and associated with poorer outcomes (recidivism, treatment attrition, disciplinary infractions). However, much less is known about the neuropsychological function and history of TBI amongst community-based offenders (i.e., supervisees). Thus, this research project sought to understand probation officers’ perspectives on and responses to non-compliance and explore the association between a supervisee’s compliance and current neuropsychological functioning and recent TBI. 
The first study involved two focus groups with 17 New Zealand probation officers; the aim was to explore probation officers’ views on compliance and how they practice supervision. All probation officers reported using ‘social worker’ type, evidenced-based practices such as building quality relationships and using motivational interviewing. Probation officers viewed problems with cognitive skills as a key barrier to sentence compliance and reported using various strategies to support the compliance of supervisees with cognitive issues.  
The second study, involved 106 adult men (n = 82, 77.4%) and women (n = 24, 22.6%) on community sentences who participated in an initial interview that included a screen for a history of TBI and consent to collect compliance (arrests, sentence violations) and related variables (e.g., risk scores) from the New Zealand Department of Corrections database and police records over six months. At the conclusion of  the initial interview, supervisees were invited to return and complete neuropsychological tests. Sixty-four men (n = 47, 73.4%) and women (n = 17, 26.5%) returned and completed the Repeatable Battery for the Assessment of Neuropsychological Status (RBANS), the Comprehensive Trail Making Test, and Color-Word Inference Test, and the Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function- Adult Version (BRIEF-A). Twenty-six probation officers, whose supervisees participated in the study, were interviewed regarding their supervisees’ compliance. 
The first manuscript from this study focused on the executive functioning of this sample compared to a normative sample and investigated the association between executive functioning and compliance with sentence conditions. The results indicated that the community-based sample had significantly poorer executive functioning compared to a normative sample. Still, contrary to what was expected, those supervisees who complied with their sentence conditions had poorer executive functioning than those who were non-compliant. However, exploratory analyses showed that those with poorer executive functioning received more probation officer support to comply with sentence conditions.
The second manuscript described the sample’s neuropsychological function compared to a normative sample and investigated the association between sustaining a TBI in the last year (i.e., within the year prior to joining the study) and current neuropsychological function. We then explored if a TBI in the last year or current neuropsychological function were associated with compliance with sentence conditions and compliance with the law (i.e., being arrested). The results indicated that the community-based sample’s neuropsychological functioning was significantly poorer than a normative sample. Our findings also suggested that a TBI in the last year was a significant predictor of arrest, even when controlling for risk of reconviction and current substance use. However, a recent TBI was not associated with non-compliance with sentence conditions nor with poorer performance on the neuropsychological tests. In addition, no significant associations were found between performance on the neuropsychological tests and either measure of non-compliance.
Overall, the results from this thesis suggested that individual characteristics like TBI and neuropsychological functioning impact compliance with a community-based sentence in different ways: A recent TBI was predictive of re-arrest while serving a community sentence, and poorer neuropsychological functioning was significantly associated with increased support from the probation officer to comply.
The main implications of this research for corrections departments are that supervisees on a community sentence with poor neuropsychological functioning or a recent TBI may need additional monitoring or support to reduce the risk of non-compliance and reoffending. While further research needs to be undertaken to inform any changes in policy or practices, the results from this thesis suggest that community corrections would benefit from the implementation of services and screens to target important responsivity issues like TBI and poor neuropsychological functioning. Corrections departments attention to these issues may help alleviate the risk of individuals getting trapped in the criminal justice system for non-criminal activities (e.g., not attending an appointment).

year: 2021

title: Regional Tourism Organisations in New Zealand from 1980 to 2005: Process of Transition and Change

authors: Zahra, Anne Louise

subjects: Regional Tourism Organisations

abstract: This thesis is a historical case study tracing the establishment and evolution of Regional Tourism Organisations (RTOs) in New Zealand. It describes their role, structure and functions and the political processes that have influenced how they have operated and changed from 1980 to 2005. RTOs are examined in the context of government policies, local and national politics and tourism private and public sector relationships. RTOs were central to many of the key recommendations of the New Zealand Tourism Strategy 2010 (NZTS 2010) released in 2001. The NZTS 2010 attempted to address a range of tourism policy gaps created by a policy vacuum in the 1990s whereby the public and private tourism sectors focused mainly on international marketing. This strategy shaped government policy during this decade. The research findings show that although public and private sector institutional arrangements impacting on RTOs have changed, there remains, as in the past, no uniformity in their role, structure, functions and their future financial and political viability remains insecure. 

The NZTS 2010 raised destination management and its alignment with destination marketing as a major policy issue that needed to be addressed in the decade leading up to 2010 with RTOs having a pivotal role. A generic regional destination management model is presented. Structures and processes incorporated into this model include: a national destination management tourism policy; support for tourism by local government at the national level; a well defined destination management team; community collaboration; and tourism being integrated into the wider planning processes of local government. The model identified requisite building blocks to support regional destination management such as: the provision of staff and financial resources for regional tourism; the building of a high tourism profile in the community; the availability of statistics and research data at the regional level; local government planners acknowledging the impacts of tourism; and the existence of a legal mandate for tourism at the regional and/or local government level. When applying this model to the New Zealand context, it was found that a number of the structures and processes required for effective regional destination management were lacking, such as regional statistics and research data, staffing and financial resources for both RTOs and local government, the ability of council planners to understand and integrate tourism into the wider planning processes and a legislative mandate for tourism. The thesis concluded that a vacuum remains in the alignment of destination marketing and management.

The historical and political processes of RTO change were also examined in the context of chaos and complexity theory. Chaos and complexity theory provided a complementary and different means to view change. This thesis also presented the opportunity to reflect upon the research process which led to the adoption of a multi-paradigmatic and bricoleur research methodology. Further reflexivity and reflection towards the end of the research process articulated ontological and epistemological philosophical investigations that underlay the multi-paradigmatic approach. A model is presented emphasising that a multi-paradigmatic research approach rests on ultimate reality (metaphysics) which informs the ontology. The model then highlights that ontology precedes and directs epistemology and that both inform the multi-paradigmatic research framework.

text: Regional Tourism Organisations in New Zealand from 1980 to 2005: Process of Transition and Change This thesis is a historical case study tracing the establishment and evolution of Regional Tourism Organisations (RTOs) in New Zealand. It describes their role, structure and functions and the political processes that have influenced how they have operated and changed from 1980 to 2005. RTOs are examined in the context of government policies, local and national politics and tourism private and public sector relationships. RTOs were central to many of the key recommendations of the New Zealand Tourism Strategy 2010 (NZTS 2010) released in 2001. The NZTS 2010 attempted to address a range of tourism policy gaps created by a policy vacuum in the 1990s whereby the public and private tourism sectors focused mainly on international marketing. This strategy shaped government policy during this decade. The research findings show that although public and private sector institutional arrangements impacting on RTOs have changed, there remains, as in the past, no uniformity in their role, structure, functions and their future financial and political viability remains insecure. 

The NZTS 2010 raised destination management and its alignment with destination marketing as a major policy issue that needed to be addressed in the decade leading up to 2010 with RTOs having a pivotal role. A generic regional destination management model is presented. Structures and processes incorporated into this model include: a national destination management tourism policy; support for tourism by local government at the national level; a well defined destination management team; community collaboration; and tourism being integrated into the wider planning processes of local government. The model identified requisite building blocks to support regional destination management such as: the provision of staff and financial resources for regional tourism; the building of a high tourism profile in the community; the availability of statistics and research data at the regional level; local government planners acknowledging the impacts of tourism; and the existence of a legal mandate for tourism at the regional and/or local government level. When applying this model to the New Zealand context, it was found that a number of the structures and processes required for effective regional destination management were lacking, such as regional statistics and research data, staffing and financial resources for both RTOs and local government, the ability of council planners to understand and integrate tourism into the wider planning processes and a legislative mandate for tourism. The thesis concluded that a vacuum remains in the alignment of destination marketing and management.

The historical and political processes of RTO change were also examined in the context of chaos and complexity theory. Chaos and complexity theory provided a complementary and different means to view change. This thesis also presented the opportunity to reflect upon the research process which led to the adoption of a multi-paradigmatic and bricoleur research methodology. Further reflexivity and reflection towards the end of the research process articulated ontological and epistemological philosophical investigations that underlay the multi-paradigmatic approach. A model is presented emphasising that a multi-paradigmatic research approach rests on ultimate reality (metaphysics) which informs the ontology. The model then highlights that ontology precedes and directs epistemology and that both inform the multi-paradigmatic research framework.

year: 2006

title: Ecological, genetic and cultural status of Solanum aviculare, poroporo (Solanaceae)

authors: Weavers, Graeme Morris

subjects: Solanum aviculare

abstract: Solanum aviculare, endemic to Australasia, is an opportunist pioneer secondary successional plant occupying disturbed and open lowland habitats, and was an important medicinal and cultural species to Māori known as poroporo. It is currently in 'decline', the ecological decline appearing to correspond to a decline in knowledge and cultural use of the species. To gain understanding of the reasons for the decline, enhance ecological knowledge, assist conservation and cultural restoration of Solanum aviculare this research documented the successional role and cycle of regeneration dynamics and tactics, established morphological characteristics, investigated the genetic diversity and recorded cultural and conservation information.
The successional status and role was identified. Growth data identified cohort development and inter-site differences, metadata found height and crown spread growth to be significantly correlated and likely part of an early reproduction and dispersal strategy. Germination of soil cores from differing depths confirmed a viable seed bank exists sufficient for species maintenance. Viable seed spread via animal gut passage was determined by germination and chemical tests, results showed rats passed higher rates of viable seed than birds. Seed germination trials with stratified and fresh seed confirmed temporal and depth behaviour, flowering observation documented temporal differences with the closely allied species Solanum laciniatum, indicating a relationship to stasis induction. Leaf morphology studies documented differences between the two allied species and proposed further nomenclature.
Genetic diversity was investigated through the use of PCR/ISSR techniques. Chloroplast DNA was extracted by CTAB and DNA kit protocols. CTAB extraction was unable to effectively remove RNA, although use of DNA samples with high quantities of RNA confirmed that RNA was not an inhibiting factor in PCR production. The production of consistent reliable ISSR bands proved difficult, with no technical explanation found. ISSR findings indicate that Solanum aviculare is highly monomorphic, consisting of predominant invariant monomorphic loci. Twenty primers were tested with no polymorphic loci
identified and no intra species variation documented. Indications were also that Solanum aviculare and Solanum laciniatum are inter species invariant on monomorphic loci. Monomorphic loci may possibly be the evolutionary markers of generic differentiation within Solanum.
Surveys identified Solanum aviculare as uncommon and rare, existing mainly as single plants or small groups in the majority of areas surveyed. The Threatened and Uncommon Plant listing of Solanum aviculare as an 'at risk declining' species is confirmed and a further Recommendation category proposed. Ecological decline and corresponding decline in cultural use and knowledge of Solanum aviculare was identified through specialist interviews; appearing to be related to removal from Māori of control over their land. The name poroporo being now associated mainly with non indigenous Solanum species. Māori cultural concepts in practice were highlighted as fundamentally important to reversing the decline, with an example of a successful traditional practice based (tikanga) integrative collaborative restoration program being documented.
This research forwards that optimal collaborative solutions, programs integrating scientific and tikanga knowledge and practices, provide the best opportunity of reversing the declining trend and for increasing and maintaining knowledge associated with the traditional role of poroporo.

text: Ecological, genetic and cultural status of Solanum aviculare, poroporo (Solanaceae) Solanum aviculare, endemic to Australasia, is an opportunist pioneer secondary successional plant occupying disturbed and open lowland habitats, and was an important medicinal and cultural species to Māori known as poroporo. It is currently in 'decline', the ecological decline appearing to correspond to a decline in knowledge and cultural use of the species. To gain understanding of the reasons for the decline, enhance ecological knowledge, assist conservation and cultural restoration of Solanum aviculare this research documented the successional role and cycle of regeneration dynamics and tactics, established morphological characteristics, investigated the genetic diversity and recorded cultural and conservation information.
The successional status and role was identified. Growth data identified cohort development and inter-site differences, metadata found height and crown spread growth to be significantly correlated and likely part of an early reproduction and dispersal strategy. Germination of soil cores from differing depths confirmed a viable seed bank exists sufficient for species maintenance. Viable seed spread via animal gut passage was determined by germination and chemical tests, results showed rats passed higher rates of viable seed than birds. Seed germination trials with stratified and fresh seed confirmed temporal and depth behaviour, flowering observation documented temporal differences with the closely allied species Solanum laciniatum, indicating a relationship to stasis induction. Leaf morphology studies documented differences between the two allied species and proposed further nomenclature.
Genetic diversity was investigated through the use of PCR/ISSR techniques. Chloroplast DNA was extracted by CTAB and DNA kit protocols. CTAB extraction was unable to effectively remove RNA, although use of DNA samples with high quantities of RNA confirmed that RNA was not an inhibiting factor in PCR production. The production of consistent reliable ISSR bands proved difficult, with no technical explanation found. ISSR findings indicate that Solanum aviculare is highly monomorphic, consisting of predominant invariant monomorphic loci. Twenty primers were tested with no polymorphic loci
identified and no intra species variation documented. Indications were also that Solanum aviculare and Solanum laciniatum are inter species invariant on monomorphic loci. Monomorphic loci may possibly be the evolutionary markers of generic differentiation within Solanum.
Surveys identified Solanum aviculare as uncommon and rare, existing mainly as single plants or small groups in the majority of areas surveyed. The Threatened and Uncommon Plant listing of Solanum aviculare as an 'at risk declining' species is confirmed and a further Recommendation category proposed. Ecological decline and corresponding decline in cultural use and knowledge of Solanum aviculare was identified through specialist interviews; appearing to be related to removal from Māori of control over their land. The name poroporo being now associated mainly with non indigenous Solanum species. Māori cultural concepts in practice were highlighted as fundamentally important to reversing the decline, with an example of a successful traditional practice based (tikanga) integrative collaborative restoration program being documented.
This research forwards that optimal collaborative solutions, programs integrating scientific and tikanga knowledge and practices, provide the best opportunity of reversing the declining trend and for increasing and maintaining knowledge associated with the traditional role of poroporo.

year: 2010