Nov. 14 - Prosecution disparities; telescope discoveries
Section 1
A late night view down Anteater Drive from the top of the Anteater Parking Structure. Photo by Dennis Melka
UCI ANNOUNCEMENTS AND NEWS
Study to focus on racial disparities in criminal prosecutions
Whether a criminal defendant’s race affects how he or she is prosecuted will be examined by UCI researchers. The team will analyze case records pertaining to charging, plea-bargaining and sentencing decisions in six jurisdictions across the U.S. “It has sometimes been said that prosecutor decision-making is the giant black hole of the criminal justice system,” says Social Ecology Dean Jon Gould, who will help lead the study. “Given the immense power that prosecutors hold, it is important that we better understand how they exercise it.” For example, he says, “One of our findings from past research is that prosecutors turn immediately to criminal records in deciding whether to charge even though almost all criminal statutes do not include criminal history as an element of a crime. In effect, defendants get punished twice – once, appropriately, at sentencing ... but also at the beginning of the case when prosecutors may consider more serious charges” based on prior records. The study will be funded by Arnold Ventures grants totaling $855,000.
Vivian U, assistant research scientist in physics and astronomy, belongs to a James Webb Space Telescope Early Release Science team learning unexpected things about a nearby galaxy. Photo by Steve Zylius/UCI
Astronomers capitalize on early access to space telescope data
First in line to receive data transmissions from the James Webb Space Telescope, a team of astronomers at UCI and other institutions is uncovering the inner workings of a nearby galaxy. In a paper published today, the researchers describe winds from a supermassive black hole and the energy dumped by “shock heating.” Lead author Vivian U, an assistant research scientist in physics and astronomy, says, “What we are seeing in this system has been a surprise for us.”
Passport services relocating
No more trips down Campus Drive for UCI Document Management & Passport Services. On Nov. 28, the office will move to University Research Park at 101 Academy Way, Suite 120.
UC NEWS AND GENERAL NEWS
Student loan forgiveness plan faces mounting legal hurdles
Last week, a federal judge blocked the plan, prompting the U.S. Education Department to stop accepting applications for loan forgiveness. The Biden administration is expected to request a stay on the ruling, but even if that succeeds, the White House faces another roadblock in a separate case pending in a different jurisdiction.
EVENTS
“Racial Innocence: Unmasking Latino Anti-Black Bias and the Struggle for Equality” book talk
Wednesday, noon (co-sponsored by UCI Law)
Dancing on the (Bamboo) Ceiling: Performing While Asian in U.S. Postmodern Dance
Wednesday, 12:30 p.m. (sponsored by Illuminations)
“Suffer the Little Children” book talk
Wednesday, 5 p.m. (sponsored by Illuminations)
UCI Jazz Orchestra
Wednesday, 8 p.m. (sponsored by Claire Trevor School of the Arts)
Visit today.uci.edu to see and submit event listings. Events of general interest will be shared in UCI Digest two days before they occur.
UCI IN THE NEWS
Note: Some news sites require subscriptions to read articles. The UCI Libraries offer free subscriptions to The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Orange County Register and The Washington Post for students, faculty and staff.
Democrats’ Climate Message Isn’t Connecting With Latinos – But It Could
Time, Nov. 11
Co-author: Michael Méndez, assistant professor of urban planning and public policy
Doctors Want You to Know This About Heart Disease
Eat This, Not That!, Nov. 12
Cited: Bernadette Boden-Albala, director and founding dean, Program in Public Health
‘Persuasion Fatigue’ Is a Unique Form of Social Frustration
Scientific American, Nov. 14
Co-authors: Peter Ditto, professor of psychological science, and postdoctoral scholar Jared Celniker
#UCICONNECTED
UCI Archery Club members Noah Esquibel (left) and Kent Nitta competed on U.S. archery teams at the FISU America Games, held last month in Mérida, Mexico. Esquibel just started the sport last fall while Nitta has been involved in archery for 12 years, including national and international contests. Both did well, according to Team USA leader Chris Cheng, and their teams won silver medals.
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