Northwestern States

Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)
commentary
When the World Shut Down, She Packed Up and Headed Home
Lisa Davis
Jul 19, 2021
Nebraska Quarterly
With COVID-19, all the advantages of an urban lifestyle for a RAND researcher and her family vanished. So they packed up and moved home to Nebraska for the year.
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Wildfires
commentary
Another Record-Breaking Fire Season Shows the Need for a Comprehensive Strategy
Jay Balagna, Aaron Clark-Ginsberg @aclarkginsberg
Nov 6, 2020
United Press International
Year after year, fires across western U.S. states scorch forests, rangeland, and neighborhoods, wreaking havoc on rural economies and pushing smoke into cities. Policymakers should consider a coordinated and comprehensive effort that brings together the best minds in government, communities, and academia.
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Substance Use Harm Reduction
commentary
Revoking the 'License to Drink': Emerging Evidence on Mandatory Sobriety
Beau Kilmer @BeauKilmer, Gregory Midgette
Jun 29, 2020
Institute of Alcohol Studies
After counties in South Dakota implemented a 24/7 sobriety program, repeat arrests for impaired driving decreased in the counties by an average of 12%. North Dakota implemented a similar program and also saw decreases in impaired driving. Can the same results be achieved outside of the Dakotas?
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Gun Violence
blog
Gun Policy, Cannabis, ISIS: RAND Weekly Recap
Aug 9, 2019
This weekly recap looks at gun policy in America, the cannabis market in Washington state, countering an ISIS comeback, and more.
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The Internet
blog
Cryptocurrency, Russian Social Media, Congestion Pricing: RAND Weekly Recap
Mar 29, 2019
This weekly recap focuses on cryptocurrencies, Russian social media influence, congestion pricing, and more.
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Traffic Congestion
commentary
Congestion Tolls Work in London and Stockholm—Why Not Seattle?
Charlene Rohr
Apr 12, 2018
The Seattle Times
Seattle is considering following in the footsteps of London, Stockholm, Singapore, and Milan to introduce a charge for driving on the city's roads. What can Seattle and its residents learn from other cities that have implemented road user charging?
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Marijuana
q&a
Your Questions About Marijuana Legalization, Answered
Beau Kilmer @BeauKilmer
Sep 13, 2016
At least five states will vote on legal recreational marijuana this November. Drug policy expert Beau Kilmer hosted an “Ask Me Anything” session on Reddit to shed light on this and other issues.
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Alcohol
commentary
Should Some Californians Lose Their 'License to Drink'?
Beau Kilmer @BeauKilmer
Jul 6, 2016
San Diego Union-Tribune
In California, many efforts to reduce repeat drunken driving focus on the driving. What if the state targeted the 'drunk' aspect instead?
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Homeland Security Legislation
commentary
Oregon Standoff Shouldn't Have an Anti-Terrorism Twist
Brian Michael Jenkins @BrianMJenkins
Jan 13, 2016
Slate
Dwight and Steven Hammond were charged under a law enacted to fight terrorism, not rein in wayward ranchers. Anti-terrorist laws should not be used to strengthen prosecutors' hands in nonterrorist prosecutions—it makes national security needs look like an instrument of oppression.
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Alcohol
commentary
Could You Lose Your License to Drink?
Beau Kilmer @BeauKilmer
Jun 23, 2015
CNN
Criminal justice reform requires creating demand for bold ideas about simultaneously reducing incarceration and crime. Given the prominent role alcohol plays in crime — and the strong results from South Dakota's 24/7 Sobriety program — suspending one's “license to drink” seems well worth considering.
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Police-Community Relations
commentary
To Serve and Collect? Police Department Funding, Effectiveness, and Legitimacy
Brian A. Jackson
Mar 16, 2015
Newsweek
Like so many issues in public policy, one of the factors shaping the complex policing challenges facing America—and a potential lever to help address them—is simple and unsurprising. That factor is money.
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Police-Community Relations
commentary
Progress After Ferguson? Good Ideas Need Good Implementation
Nelson Lim, Greg Ridgeway
Mar 9, 2015
The RAND Blog
President Obama's Task Force on 21st Century Policing has done a great service by providing dozens of sound recommendations—good ideas that could help avoid another Ferguson. Now we need good implementation to go along with them.
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Recidivism
commentary
The State of Washington and Its Focus on Rehabilitation
Lois M. Davis @LoisMDavis
Sep 16, 2014
Zocalo Public Square and TIME
California can learn a great deal from the state of Washington, which has implemented a series of reforms focused on rehabilitation--on diverting offenders to treatment and other options and making serving time in prison the last option.
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Police-Community Relations
commentary
Data Key to Tackling Racial Profiling in Ferguson
K. Jack Riley @K_Jack_Riley
Aug 21, 2014
Cincinnati Enquire
Authorities in Ferguson would be wise to consider following Cincinnati's example in dealing with mistrust between police and citizens after the police shooting of a young black man. The city embarked on a thorough examination of racial profiling by its police force and took steps to deal with the perception that bias was influencing the way police officers performed their duties.
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Marijuana
commentary
Are We Entering a New Era of Cannabis Regulation?
Kristy Kruithof, Mafalda Pardal
May 22, 2014
The BMJ
Although international drug treaties prohibit the production, distribution, and possession of cannabis for non-medical and non-scientific purposes, several jurisdictions have implemented new laws and policies, including some that remove criminal penalties for possession of small doses of cannabis.
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Drug Policy and Trends
commentary
The Feds' Role After Legalization
Beau Kilmer @BeauKilmer
Jan 15, 2014
NYTimes.com
Since Colorado and Washington allow profit-maximizing firms to grow and sell marijuana, there is concern they will use advertising to promote consumption by heavy users. With help from the federal government, the states will be better positioned to head off the negative consequences associated with commercialization.
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Community Resilience
commentary
Moore Must Be Ready for Psychological Aftermath
Mahshid Abir
May 31, 2013
CNN
Ensuring the availability of needed mental health resources was critical in the immediate aftermath and recovery phase of the 2011 Joplin, Missouri tornado. Authorities in Oklahoma must ensure that such services are in place early so that Moore's residents can begin the long journey to recovery.
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Health Literacy
commentary
Applying What Works to Reduce Non-Urgent Emergency Department Use
Lori Uscher-Pines
May 22, 2013
The RAND Blog
It is likely that communities with low rates of non-urgent ED use not only have better access to primary care, but patients who are educated about appropriate care seeking and convenient alternatives for acute care, writes Lori Uscher-Pines.
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Drug Policy and Trends
blog
Ask Me Anything: Beau Kilmer Answers Drug Policy Questions on Reddit
Apr 26, 2013
Beau Kilmer, co-director of the RAND Drug Policy Research Center and coauthor of Marijuana Legalization: What Everyone Needs to Know, hosted an “Ask Me Anything” (AMA) session on Reddit this week.
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Controlled Substances and Illegal Drugs
blog
A New Approach to Reducing Drunk Driving and Domestic Violence
Beau Kilmer @BeauKilmer
Nov 15, 2012
Beau Kilmer, codirector of the RAND Drug Policy Research Center, discusses South Dakota's 24/7 Sobriety Project, which requires those arrested for or convicted of alcohol-related offenses to take twice-a-day breathalyzer tests or wear a continuous monitoring bracelet. Those who fail or skip their tests are immediately subject to modest sanctions—typically a day or two in jail.
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commentary
Creating a World Center for Scientist-Explorers
Lee Huntsman, Kenneth Shine, Dean Allen
Sep 30, 2002
Seattle Times
Published commentary by RAND staff
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Most U.S. Drug Shortages Appear to Be Domestic in Scope

Understanding Prescription Drug Supply Chains

Negotiating with TTP—A Different Perspective

Army Enlistment Waivers in the Age of Legal Marijuana

Afghanistan’s Refugee Crisis: Forty Years in the Making

The Policy Currents Podcast

Developing Strategies for Summer Learning

Improving Psychological Wellbeing and Work Outcomes in the UK

Helping Coastal Communities Plan for Climate Change

Getting to Know Military Caregivers and Their Needs

Northwestern States

When the World Shut Down, She Packed Up and Headed Home

Another Record-Breaking Fire Season Shows the Need for a Comprehensive Strategy

Revoking the 'License to Drink': Emerging Evidence on Mandatory Sobriety

Gun Policy, Cannabis, ISIS: RAND Weekly Recap

Cryptocurrency, Russian Social Media, Congestion Pricing: RAND Weekly Recap

Congestion Tolls Work in London and Stockholm—Why Not Seattle?

Your Questions About Marijuana Legalization, Answered

Should Some Californians Lose Their 'License to Drink'?

Oregon Standoff Shouldn't Have an Anti-Terrorism Twist

Could You Lose Your License to Drink?

To Serve and Collect? Police Department Funding, Effectiveness, and Legitimacy

Progress After Ferguson? Good Ideas Need Good Implementation

The State of Washington and Its Focus on Rehabilitation

Data Key to Tackling Racial Profiling in Ferguson

Are We Entering a New Era of Cannabis Regulation?

The Feds' Role After Legalization

Moore Must Be Ready for Psychological Aftermath

Applying What Works to Reduce Non-Urgent Emergency Department Use

Ask Me Anything: Beau Kilmer Answers Drug Policy Questions on Reddit

A New Approach to Reducing Drunk Driving and Domestic Violence

Creating a World Center for Scientist-Explorers

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