Brian A. Jackson

In Mushroom Medicine: The Healing Power of Psilocybin & Sacred Entheogen History, author Brian Jackson describes his personal experiences with psilocybin mushrooms, both recreationally, and as a medicine. The book also discusses the latest research being done on psilocybin at many top universities, which have shown promising results in the treatment of OCD, depression, & anxiety. These studies have also shown a correlation between taking psilocybin and having mystical experiences. Due to these findings, the book also explores how psychedelic plants were used throughout history by numerous religious groups.

The Healing Power of Psilocybin & Sacred Entheogen History

Mushroom Medicine

David R. Frelinger

Robert W. Button

Michael J. Lostumbo

Changes in technology and adversary behavior will invariably produce new threats that must be assessed by defense and homeland security planners. An example of such a novel threat is the use of cruise missiles or unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) by terrorist groups. Individual threats cannot be assessed in isolation, however, since adversaries always have many options for staging attacks. To examine this threat, RAND utilized a ?red analysis of alternatives? approach, wherein the benefits, costs, and risks of different options are considered from the point of view of a potential adversary. For several types of attacks, the suitability of these systems was compared against other options. This approach can help defense planners understand how the capabilities that different attack modes provide address key adversary operational problems. Given the insights this analysis produced about when these systems would likely be preferred by an attacker, RAND explored defensive options to address the threat. UAVs and cruise missiles represent a ?niche threat? within a larger threat context; therefore, defenses were sought that provide common protection against both this and other asymmetric threats. The monograph concludes with a discussion of cross-cutting lessons about this threat and the assessment of novel threats in general.

Unmanned Aerial Vehicles and Cruise Missiles

Evaluating Novel Threats to the Homeland

John S. Hollywood

Dulani Woods

Richard S. Silberglitt

"Future World Wide Web technologies commonly labeled as being part of Web 3.0 and Web 4.0 could substantially change how the criminal justice enterprise operates. These notably include Semantic Web technologies, intelligent agents, and the Internet of Things. In September 2014, RAND conducted an expert panel for the National Institute of Justice to discuss how the criminal justice community can take advantage of (and reduce the risks from) these emerging technologies. The top unifying theme from the panel was to leverage web technologies to improve information-sharing and protection across the criminal justice enterprise, and to address challenges that the new technologies raise. Another major theme was improving practitioners' knowledge of web technologies. Priorities included general education on key web technologies, and model policies and procedures for using them. A third theme was to improve the networking infrastructure needed to support web technologies (and other applications), especially for courts and corrections. Fourth, several needs became apparent related to leveraging wearable and embedded sensors (part of the Internet of Things), with an emphasis on using sensors to improve officer health and safety. Finally, panelists frequently noted the importance of civil rights, privacy rights, and cybersecurity protections in using the emerging technologies for criminal justice. While there were few needs about these topics specifically, panelists noted that more than half of the needs raised security, privacy, or civil rights concerns, or had implied requirements on these topics"--Publisher's description.

Using Future Internet Technologies to Strengthen Criminal Justice

John C. Baker

Understanding how terrorist groups learn may aid in developing strategies to combat terrorist activities

Aptitude for Destruction: Case studies of organizational learning in five terrorist groups

Peter Chalk

Kim Cragin

John V. Parachini

Better ways are needed to understand how terrorist groups become more effective and dangerous. Learning is the link between what a group wants to do and its ability to actually do it; therefore, a better understanding of group learning might contribute to the design of better measures for combating terrorism. This study analyzes current understanding of group learning and the factors that influence it and outlines a framework that should be useful in present analytical efforts and for identifying areas requiring further study.

Organizational Learning in Terrorist Groups and Its Implications for Combating Terrorism

Aptitude for Destruction, Volume 1

The sharing of intelligence and law enforcement information is a central part of U.S. domestic security efforts, yet there are concerns about the effectiveness of information-sharing and fusion activities and their value relative to the public funds invested in them. This report lays out the challenges of evaluating information-sharing efforts that seek to achieve multiple goals simultaneously; reviews past evaluations of information-sharing programs; and lays out a path to improving the evaluation of such efforts.

How Do We Know What Information Sharing Is Really Worth? Exploring Methodologies to Measure the Value of Information Sharing and Fusion Efforts

Sara A. Daly

Case studies of 11 terrorist groups in Mindanao, the West Bank and Gaza Strip, and southwest Colombia show how these groups have exchanged technologies and knowledge in an effort to innovate (i.e., improve their operational capabilities). The analysis provides national security policymakers with insight into the innovation process and suggests ways that government policies can create barriers to terrorists' adoption of new technologies.

Terrorist Groups and the Exchange of New Technologies

Sharing the Dragon's Teeth

Jessica Hwang

Claude Messan Setodji

Lane F. Burgette

Caroline Stevens

Erinn Herberman

Stephanie Ann Kovalchik

Katie Mugg

Meagan Cahill

Joshua Lawrence Traub

In this report, researchers explore measurement methods to assess how information-sharing affects criminal justice outcomes and offer lessons for future policy evaluation and information system design.

Developing Approaches to Measure the Effects of Information-Sharing on Criminal Justice Outcomes

Knowing More, But Accomplishing What?

Joe Russo

Richard Silberglitt

George B. Drake

Brian G. Chow

John S. Shaffer

Mikhail Zaydman

The U.S. corrections enterprise is challenged by a variety of demographic, societal, and fiscal trends, and this report seeks to frame an innovation agenda by identifying and prioritizing potential improvements in technology, policy, and practice.

Identifying High-Priority Technology and Other Needs for the U.S. Corrections Sector

Fostering Innovation in Community and Institutional Corrections

Paul Steinberg

Jeremy M. Wilson

Mel Eisman

K. Jack Riley

U.S. communities depend on reliable, safe, and secure rail systems. Each weekday, more than 12 million passengers take to U.S. railways. This book explains a framework for security planners and policymakers to guide cost-effective rail-security planning, specifically for the risk of terrorism. Risk is a function of threat, vulnerability, and consequences. This book focuses on addressing vulnerabilities and limiting consequences.

Securing America's Passenger-Rail Systems

Better ways are needed to understand how terrorist groups increase their effectiveness and become more dangerous. Learning is the link between what a group wants to do and its ability to actually do it; therefore, a better understanding of group learning might contribute to the design of better measures for combating terrorism. This study analyzes current understanding of group learning and the factors that influence it. It presents detailed case studies of learning in five terrorist organizations and develops a methodology for ascertaining what and why groups have learned, providing insights into their learning processes.

Case Studies of Organizational Learning in Five Terrorist Groups

Aptitude for Destruction, Volume 2

John Gordon IV

James Bonomo

John IV Gordon

Giacomo Bergamo

Examines how terrorists make technology choices and how the United States can discourage terrorists' use of advanced conventional weapons. Concludes that the United States should urgently start discussions with key producer nations and also decide on an architecture needed to impose technical controls on new mortar systems that should enter development soon.

Limiting Terrorist Use of Advanced Conventional Weapons

Stealing the Sword

Brian A. Jackson

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