{"id":1015,"date":"2026-10-26T19:42:46","date_gmt":"2026-10-26T19:42:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.tarleton.edu\/crime-analysis\/?page_id=1015"},"modified":"2026-10-26T19:58:20","modified_gmt":"2026-10-26T19:58:20","slug":"local-governance-and-public-safety","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.tarleton.edu\/crime-analysis\/local-governance-and-public-safety\/","title":{"rendered":"Local Governance and Public Safety"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignfull has-text-color has-background has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-1b5221c4 wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\" style=\"color:#FFFFFF;background-color:#4F2D7F;padding-top:64px;padding-right:28px;padding-bottom:64px;padding-left:28px\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns are-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-02e41962 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:60%\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"font-size:14px;font-weight:800;letter-spacing:1.4px\">LOCAL GOVERNANCE \u2022 FUNDING \u2022 PUBLIC SAFETY<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h1 class=\"wp-block-heading has-texan-white-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-1\" style=\"font-size:clamp(25.984px, 1.624rem + ((1vw - 3.2px) * 2.649), 44px);font-weight:800;line-height:1.15\">Local Governance &amp; Public Safety<\/h1>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"font-size:clamp(14.642px, 0.915rem + ((1vw - 3.2px) * 1.082), 22px);line-height:1.6\">Examining how municipal institutions and dedicated funding mechanisms shape crime prevention, policing, and the delivery of public-safety services.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link has-text-color has-background wp-element-button\" href=\"#project\" style=\"border-radius:50px;color:#4F2D7F;background-color:#FFFFFF\">Explore the Project \u2193<\/a><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link has-text-color has-background wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/www.tarleton.edu\/crime-analysis\/\" style=\"border-radius:50px;color:#4F2D7F;background-color:#FFFFFF\">Institute Home \u2192<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:40%\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1408\" height=\"768\" src=\"https:\/\/www.tarleton.edu\/crime-analysis\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/233\/2026\/10\/Gemini_Generated_Image_khx1crkhx1crkhx1.jpg\" alt=\"A group of workers gathered beside.\" class=\"wp-image-1021\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.tarleton.edu\/crime-analysis\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/233\/2026\/10\/Gemini_Generated_Image_khx1crkhx1crkhx1.jpg 1408w, https:\/\/www.tarleton.edu\/crime-analysis\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/233\/2026\/10\/Gemini_Generated_Image_khx1crkhx1crkhx1-300x164.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.tarleton.edu\/crime-analysis\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/233\/2026\/10\/Gemini_Generated_Image_khx1crkhx1crkhx1-1024x559.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.tarleton.edu\/crime-analysis\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/233\/2026\/10\/Gemini_Generated_Image_khx1crkhx1crkhx1-600x327.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.tarleton.edu\/crime-analysis\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/233\/2026\/10\/Gemini_Generated_Image_khx1crkhx1crkhx1-768x419.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1408px) 100vw, 1408px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-ea773cfd wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\" style=\"padding-top:24px;padding-right:28px;padding-bottom:24px;padding-left:28px\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"font-size:clamp(14px, 0.875rem + ((1vw - 3.2px) * 0.294), 16px);line-height:1.8\"><a href=\"#project\">Project Overview<\/a> \u00b7 <a href=\"#research-lead\">Research Lead<\/a> \u00b7 <a href=\"#white-paper\">Practitioner White Paper<\/a> \u00b7 <a href=\"#student-research\">Student Research<\/a> \u00b7 <a href=\"#contact\">Contact<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignfull is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\" style=\"padding-top:24px;padding-right:28px;padding-bottom:24px;padding-left:28px\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-3b74bf83 wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\" style=\"margin-right:auto;margin-left:auto\">\n<p class=\"has-text-align-left wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"font-size:clamp(14px, 0.875rem + ((1vw - 3.2px) * 0.294), 16px);line-height:1.8\"><a href=\"#project\">Project Overview<\/a> \u00b7 <a href=\"#research-lead\">Research Lead<\/a> \u00b7 <a href=\"#white-paper\">Practitioner White Paper<\/a> \u00b7 <a href=\"#student-research\">Student Research<\/a> \u00b7 <a href=\"#contact\">Contact<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"project\" class=\"wp-block-group has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-fc7ae378 wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\" style=\"padding-top:40px;padding-right:28px;padding-bottom:56px;padding-left:28px\">\n<p class=\"has-text-color wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"color:#6D6E71;font-size:14px;font-weight:800;letter-spacing:1.4px\">FEATURED RESEARCH<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-color\" style=\"color:#4F2D7F;font-size:clamp(22.041px, 1.378rem + ((1vw - 3.2px) * 2.053), 36px);line-height:1.2\">The Effects of Crime Control and Prevention Districts on Criminal Justice Outcomes: Evidence from Texas Municipalities<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"font-size:clamp(14px, 0.875rem + ((1vw - 3.2px) * 0.588), 18px);line-height:1.7\">Led by Dr. Jie Tao, this project examines how Crime Control and Prevention Districts affect crime and criminal justice outcomes in Texas municipalities. It anchors the Institute\u2019s Local Governance &amp; Public Safety research initiative.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-4ab3db7f wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-color\" style=\"color:#4F2D7F\">Municipal Institutions<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"font-size:clamp(14px, 0.875rem + ((1vw - 3.2px) * 0.441), 17px);line-height:1.7\">Examining the role of local government institutions in crime prevention, policing and public-safety service delivery.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-color\" style=\"color:#4F2D7F\">Dedicated Funding<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"font-size:clamp(14px, 0.875rem + ((1vw - 3.2px) * 0.441), 17px);line-height:1.7\">Studying how dedicated funding mechanisms relate to criminal justice outcomes across Texas municipalities.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group has-background has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-4c9f5642 wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\" style=\"border-radius:16px;border-left-color:#00B1E1;border-left-width:5px;background-color:#F4F4F4;padding-top:24px;padding-right:28px;padding-bottom:24px;padding-left:28px\">\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-color\" style=\"color:#4F2D7F\">Research Support<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"font-size:clamp(14px, 0.875rem + ((1vw - 3.2px) * 0.441), 17px);line-height:1.7\">The Russell Sage Foundation grant is expected to support two graduate research assistants once the award is finalized.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.russellsage.org\/research\/grants\/effects-crime-control-and-prevention-districts-criminal-justice-outcomes-evidence\">View the Russell Sage Foundation project description \u2192<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignfull has-background has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-78713b81 wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\" id=\"research-lead\" style=\"background-color:#F4F4F4;padding-top:56px;padding-right:28px;padding-bottom:56px;padding-left:28px\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns are-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-02e41962 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:28%\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full has-custom-border\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"248\" height=\"248\" src=\"https:\/\/www.tarleton.edu\/crime-analysis\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/233\/2026\/10\/cropped-Jie-Tao-2023.jpg\" alt=\"Another headshot of professors Tao.\" class=\"wp-image-1020\" style=\"border-top-left-radius:10px;border-top-right-radius:10px;border-bottom-left-radius:10px;border-bottom-right-radius:10px\"\/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:72%\">\n<p class=\"has-text-color wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"color:#6D6E71;font-size:14px;font-weight:800;letter-spacing:1.4px\">RESEARCH LEAD<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-color\" style=\"color:#4F2D7F;font-size:clamp(22.041px, 1.378rem + ((1vw - 3.2px) * 2.053), 36px);line-height:1.2\">Dr. Jie Tao<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"font-size:clamp(14px, 0.875rem + ((1vw - 3.2px) * 0.588), 18px);line-height:1.6\"><strong>Assistant Professor of Public Administration<\/strong><br>Tarleton State University<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"font-size:clamp(14px, 0.875rem + ((1vw - 3.2px) * 0.441), 17px);line-height:1.7\">Dr. Tao studies local government management and innovation, with a focus on how municipal institutions, funding arrangements and emerging technologies shape public service delivery and performance. His current work examines the effects of Crime Control and Prevention Districts on crime and criminal justice outcomes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"font-size:clamp(14px, 0.875rem + ((1vw - 3.2px) * 0.441), 17px);line-height:1.7\">He also studies local governments\u2019 adoption of artificial intelligence and its effects on citizens and public employees. He uses causal inference and spatial analysis to evaluate government innovations and policy outcomes.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"white-paper\" class=\"wp-block-group has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-78713b81 wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\" style=\"padding-top:56px;padding-right:28px;padding-bottom:56px;padding-left:28px\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns are-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-02e41962 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:40%\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1408\" height=\"768\" src=\"https:\/\/www.tarleton.edu\/crime-analysis\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/233\/2026\/10\/Gemini_Generated_Image_r6f4mgr6f4mgr6f4.jpg\" alt=\"The pulbic sagety and city hall.\" class=\"wp-image-1023\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.tarleton.edu\/crime-analysis\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/233\/2026\/10\/Gemini_Generated_Image_r6f4mgr6f4mgr6f4.jpg 1408w, https:\/\/www.tarleton.edu\/crime-analysis\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/233\/2026\/10\/Gemini_Generated_Image_r6f4mgr6f4mgr6f4-300x164.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.tarleton.edu\/crime-analysis\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/233\/2026\/10\/Gemini_Generated_Image_r6f4mgr6f4mgr6f4-1024x559.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.tarleton.edu\/crime-analysis\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/233\/2026\/10\/Gemini_Generated_Image_r6f4mgr6f4mgr6f4-600x327.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.tarleton.edu\/crime-analysis\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/233\/2026\/10\/Gemini_Generated_Image_r6f4mgr6f4mgr6f4-768x419.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1408px) 100vw, 1408px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:60%\">\n<p class=\"has-text-color wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"color:#6D6E71;font-size:14px;font-weight:800;letter-spacing:1.4px\">RESEARCH FOR PRACTICE<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-color\" style=\"color:#4F2D7F;font-size:clamp(22.041px, 1.378rem + ((1vw - 3.2px) * 2.053), 36px);line-height:1.2\">A Practitioner White Paper on Crime Control and Prevention Districts<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"font-size:clamp(14px, 0.875rem + ((1vw - 3.2px) * 0.588), 18px);line-height:1.7\">Dr. Tao is developing a practitioner-oriented white paper for police chiefs and public managers considering the creation or operation of a Crime Control and Prevention District.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"font-size:clamp(14px, 0.875rem + ((1vw - 3.2px) * 0.441), 17px);line-height:1.7\">The completed draft will be submitted for review and consideration as an Institute resource. Publication plans will be determined following review.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignfull has-background has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-78713b81 wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\" id=\"student-research\" style=\"background-color:#F4F4F4;padding-top:56px;padding-right:28px;padding-bottom:56px;padding-left:28px\">\n<p class=\"has-text-color wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"color:#6D6E71;font-size:14px;font-weight:800;letter-spacing:1.4px\">GRADUATE RESEARCH<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-color\" style=\"color:#4F2D7F;font-size:clamp(22.041px, 1.378rem + ((1vw - 3.2px) * 2.053), 36px);line-height:1.2\">Student Participation in the Research Team<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"font-size:clamp(14px, 0.875rem + ((1vw - 3.2px) * 0.588), 18px);line-height:1.7\">Two graduate research assistants are planned for the project. Once the award is finalized and the assistants are hired, they will join the initiative\u2019s research team as student members.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-516358f9 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-color\" style=\"color:#4F2D7F\">Primary Responsibilities<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"font-size:clamp(14px, 0.875rem + ((1vw - 3.2px) * 0.441), 17px);line-height:1.7\">Assistants will coordinate and track a substantial number of open-records requests in support of the research.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-color\" style=\"color:#4F2D7F\">Relevant Skills<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"font-size:clamp(14px, 0.875rem + ((1vw - 3.2px) * 0.441), 17px);line-height:1.7\">Strong communication, interpersonal, organizational and record-management skills will be particularly valuable for this work.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"font-size:clamp(14px, 0.875rem + ((1vw - 3.2px) * 0.441), 17px);line-height:1.7\">Recommendations of potential graduate research assistants are welcome. Contact the Institute to discuss a potential candidate.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignfull has-text-color has-background has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-78713b81 wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\" id=\"contact\" style=\"color:#FFFFFF;background-color:#4F2D7F;padding-top:56px;padding-right:28px;padding-bottom:56px;padding-left:28px\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-texan-white-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-2\" style=\"font-size:clamp(22.041px, 1.378rem + ((1vw - 3.2px) * 2.053), 36px);line-height:1.2\">Connect With the Institute<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"font-size:clamp(14px, 0.875rem + ((1vw - 3.2px) * 0.588), 18px);line-height:1.7\">Contact the Institute about the Local Governance &amp; Public Safety initiative, practitioner resources or graduate research participation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link has-text-color has-background wp-element-button\" href=\"mailto:semukhina@tarleton.edu\" style=\"border-radius:50px;color:#4F2D7F;background-color:#FFFFFF\">Contact the Institute \u2192<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>LOCAL GOVERNANCE \u2022 FUNDING \u2022 PUBLIC SAFETY Local Governance &amp; Public Safety Examining how municipal institutions and dedicated funding mechanisms shape crime prevention, policing, and the delivery of public-safety services. &#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":973,"featured_media":903,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"functions-assets\/subsite-hero-page-template.php","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"inline_featured_image":false,"advgb_blocks_editor_width":"","advgb_blocks_columns_visual_guide":"","footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-1015","page","type-page","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"acf":[],"coauthors":[],"author_meta":{"author_link":"https:\/\/www.tarleton.edu\/crime-analysis\/author\/semukhina\/","display_name":"semukhina"},"relative_dates":{"created":"Posted 2 weeks ago","modified":"Updated 2 weeks ago"},"absolute_dates":{"created":"Posted on October 26, 2026","modified":"Updated on October 26, 2026"},"absolute_dates_time":{"created":"Posted on October 26, 2026 7:42 pm","modified":"Updated on October 26, 2026 7:58 pm"},"featured_img_caption":"","featured_img":"https:\/\/www.tarleton.edu\/crime-analysis\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/233\/2026\/08\/Gemini_Generated_Image_rc73vprc73vprc73-1.jpg","series_order":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.tarleton.edu\/crime-analysis\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1015","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.tarleton.edu\/crime-analysis\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.tarleton.edu\/crime-analysis\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tarleton.edu\/crime-analysis\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/973"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tarleton.edu\/crime-analysis\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1015"}],"version-history":[{"count":8,"href":"https:\/\/www.tarleton.edu\/crime-analysis\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1015\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1040,"href":"https:\/\/www.tarleton.edu\/crime-analysis\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1015\/revisions\/1040"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tarleton.edu\/crime-analysis\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/903"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.tarleton.edu\/crime-analysis\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1015"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}