Abstract The death penalty is one of the most controversial issues in America today, and it cannot fail to elicit mixed responses among individuals. This paper discusses two arguments against capital punishment: one associated with the fact that there have been several historical cases where the death penalty has been employed against those who have later been found innocent of the crimes they were convicted of and the other is the fact that the legal system is clearly administered unfairly, more often than not convicting individuals who lack the financial means for an adequate defense.
From the Paper "For many people the simple evidence that even one individual has been wrongly convicted of a capital crime, sentenced to death and eventually executed should be enough reason for the whole institution of the death penalty to be questioned, yet it is simply not enough for individual states, or the federal government to eradicate it."
Abstract This paper examines how numerous theories have been advanced about the causes of criminal behavior ever since criminology became a serious subject of study in the late 18th century. It looks at how, although most of these theories give us some insight into the mind of criminals and why they commit crimes, there is still no consensus among the experts about most of the reasons advanced to explain the committing of crimes. It explores some of these theories of criminal behavior, including a discussion of serial killers and the possible reasons behind their deviant behavior.
Outline
Background
Classical Criminology
Lombroso's Theory of the 'Criminal Type'
Modern Biological Theories of Criminal Behavior
Psychological Theories
Social Causes
Opportunity Theory
Serial Killers
Conclusion
From the Paper "Serial Killers are the "ultimate criminals" since they are responsible for committing the most heinous of crimes, i.e., of taking another human's life without legitimate cause, perform the dastardly act repeatedly and usually derive pleasure by doing so. It is, therefore, instructive to briefly look at their behavior pattern as it gives us a useful insight into the functioning of the criminal mind. Studies made by FBI reveal that serial killers fall into two fairly distinct categories: the "organized" and the ?disorganized.? (Reed, "Specialists look"?) The organized killer is usually male, white and fairly intelligent, socially adept and ordinary looking who can easily blend into the background. He plans his crimes with great detail, leaving very little evidence behind."
Abstract The paper discusses how the contribution of a positivist methodology to criminology cannot be underestimated and how the very name criminology did not become common until the 1890's and the rise of positivism. It looks at how the work of Cesare Lombroso established a new method of conducting criminal inquiry even though the work of Guerry and Quetelet on French crime statistics and social data had already introduced a positivistic approach into the study of crime especially with regard to the social links with criminal behaviour. It also explores how the work of the Italian School of Criminology (scula positiva) with people like Enrico Ferri used the methodology that Cesare Lombroso introduced but applied them to different areas of inquiry. It shows how this multi-factor scientific approach allowed the science of crime to develop and become an internationally recognised academic field and encouraged people all over the world to try and search for causal links between crime and various factors like poverty and education levels.
From the Paper "The work of Lombroso was new and radical but what is more important to the development of positivism and its subsequent influence on modern criminology were the methods that he employed in his study. The scientific methods he used revolutionised the study of crime, his new model of approach sought to identify, categorise and measure differences between criminals. Lombroso published his findings in 1876 in L?Umo Delinquente (The Delinquent Mind) and his work and methods gave rise to a new international movement. The Italian School of Criminology (scula positiva) emerged and took the methodology of Lombroso and expanded upon them. The work of people such as Enrico Ferri according to David Garland, ?showed a considerable diversity and eclecticism.? The "French School" focused mainly upon the sociological and environmental determinants of crime and the "German School" included the study criminalistics and the development of new forensic techniques."
Abstract This paper explains that an authoritarian military style of management of the police officers used in earlier days worked efficiently as the officers were unskilled, lower educated, and sometimes unethical. Police officers today are more educated and technically competent than they were in the past and require a different style of management. The author believes that the role officers can play in their own motivation is to want to improve and show cooperation with the administrators; the rest of the role in motivation still lies with the police administrators. The paper states that the major challenge in the motivation of police officers lies in reducing cynicism and motivating officers to perform better.
Table of Contents
Relationship between the Amount of Supervision and Control
Balance between Control and Motivation
The Case of Lt. Morse and an Accountability System
Officers Role in Creating a Motivating Environment
Does Motivation Only Come From Within?
Role Of Police Administrators in Motivation
Unique Issues within Police Organizations
From the Paper "As the two of the concerns are indirectly related, it is important for police supervisors to balance the increase in one with the increase in the other. The increasing level of supervision and accountability leaves officer demoralized if motivational measures are not taken up to balance the situation. It is very important that officers are motivated due to the nature of the job. Officers need to be constantly motivated to control crime on the streets. Inefficiencies of officers may trigger a wave of crime in the society. Thus, supervisors must employ various measures to sustain officer morale."
Abstract The United States government has been in existence for hundreds and hundreds of years. During its success, there has been one department in charge of law enforcement. This department is called the Justice Department. Within the Justice Department, there are several agencies that up hold and enforce the laws of the United States government. One of these agencies that fall under the jurisdiction of the Department of Justice is the U.S. Marshal's Service. This paper provides an overview of the history of the agency, covers its current issues and resources, and discusses some of the challenges it will face in the future.
From the Paper "On September 24, 1789, President George Washington appointed the first U. S. Marshals to the service. There were thirteen individuals appointed as Marshals by President Washington. Thus was the birth of the Marshals service. The Marshal Service is the oldest law enforcement agency in the nation. It is the image of how America governs its self. In 1790 the Marshals Service was assigned to carry out death sentences on suspects that were sentenced to death by federal courts."
Abstract Criminal identification procedures in the 21st century is an ever-changing and remarkable endeavor that has become something that law enforcement has been leaning towards for some time now. This essay entails how DNA testing and advance fingerprinting has taken law enforcement into the next century.
From the Paper "The criminal identification process is a long, but unique way that our justice system strives to make sure that individuals are not mistaken for crimes committed in an act of an offense. For example; DNA based identification is a topic that either excites people, or strikes fear into them. In the past, DNA identification systems were looked upon with much skepticism and took much criticism due to the inaccuracy in its predictions."
Abstract This paper acknowledges that public order versus individual rights is not a new controversy and how, since time immemorial, governments and individual citizens have had to walk a thin tightrope between the two ideals. It looks at how this controversy was the catalyst that sparked the first ten amendments of the Constitution that we know as the Bill of Rights and how, in addition to these rights secured by America's forefathers, a number of organizations have arisen to ensure the protection of individual rights in an increasingly complex world. In order to add balance to this equation, this paper contends that the criminal justice system should focus on dealing with public order.
From the Paper "Private and autonomous liberty and collective authority are naturally diametrically opposed. As such, it's helpful to first have an understanding of what individual rights are. Individual rights is a multipurpose legal term that refers to what an individual is allowed to do and what can legally be done to them. It is the concept of individual rights that is the central theme in the 'due process model' of criminal justice. "The idea of individual rights is closely related to the idea of individual capital in some theories of political economy, in which the individual enhances his or her own creative capacities (as opposed to measurable productive capacities, which is usually called the theory of human capital), and must remain free to do so in any way she or he sees fit" ("Individual rights", 2004)."
Abstract This paper explains that Gacy began his murders of young men in 1972; in December, 1978, police found 33 victims. In March 1980, Gacy was found guilty of all of the murders, and on May 10, 1994, Gacy was executed by lethal injection. The author points out that, throughout Gacy's life, he had been evaluated by psychiatrists and doctors who came up with the same conclusion: Gacy had antisocial personality disorder, was obsessive compulsive, had abused both alcohol and drugs, and had a sexual identity crisis possibly stemming from his abusive childhood, and possibly from a childhood injury to his brain. The paper states concern about the "very sloppy" police work related to this case, which began with a charge against Gacy of attempted rape of a young man in 1971.
From the Paper "Gacy would eventually marry and settle down in Waterloo, Iowa in 1966. Two years later in May of 1968, he was being held on charges of coercing a young employee into homosexual acts, which spanned a period of months. He was sentenced to ten years in prison, however he proved himself a model prisoner and was released after only 18 months. While in prison his wife divorced him. After being paroled he moved back to Chicago. He eventually would remarry in May of 1971 and moved into a house. He quickly started up his own construction business. It appeared as though Gacy only hired young boys to work for him. He started bringing boys to his home, and would sometimes spend hours with them in the garage. Gacy told his second wife in 1972 that he was bisexual; however she was convinced that he was homosexual, and subsequently divorced him."
Abstract This paper compares and contrasts the merits of public and private prisons, identifying the challenges each sector faces and the relative merits of each approach to incarceration.
From the Paper "A major shift in prison administration is the move made in many locales toward privatization described by the Alabama Policy Institute as a result of the dramatic increase in the number of individuals incarcerated ..."
Abstract This paper reviews the advantages and disadvantages of many of new law enforcement technologies, including DNA analysis, biometric identification, wire tapping and intra-agency databases for reviewing DNA. The paper then assesses the impact each of these technologies has on the constitutional rights of those involved in the criminal investigations. The author points out that surveillance technology, including DNA analysis, database compilation and wire tapping, may prevent major criminal disasters or alert law enforcement agents to potential threats, including terrorist threats, at a stage where early intervention may protect human lives; however, multiple costs, such as increasing paranoia and impeding the public's ability to maintain their privacy and anonymity, are associated with the implementation of such technological advances. The paper stresses that law enforcement agents need to educate better the public about the potential advantages of certain technologies, including offering the public information about crime fighting statistics in relation to this technology.
Table of Contents
New Technologies and Criminal Justice
Recommendations
From the Paper "Those in favor of new technologies claim that much of technology including DNA databases are used for identification purposes only and to enhance the efficiency and efficacy of crime fighters at work. Such information databases may prove very beneficial for example in supporting law enforcement agents interested in early interaction and intervention to help defend the population from serious threats including terrorism. Such practices however may go too far when they include surveying the population at large with little regard for privacy or respect."
Abstract This paper will list the pros and cons of specialization, describe what a SWAT team consists of, and also describe a typical canine unit.
From the Paper "The pros and the cons of specialization help to explain why specialized police units are formed. Many people have different opinions about specialization in law enforcement. Efforts to specialize teams in larger agencies can have both positive and negative effects on the agency or department."
From the Paper "Mary Jane, Marijuana, Cannabis, Pot, Weed, Chronic, Trees, Herb, Hydro, Kine bud, and many others are commonly used names for the budding flowers of the Cannabis plant. These buds when dried and smoked cause different effects to a person's mind and body. Although the drug is not deadly or chemically addicting (like a controlled substance, which is a chemical addiction, meaning you go through a state of withdraw when you stop using that drug) it is still classified a type one drug. This means that it has been deemed illegal to use and has absolutely no medical benefits. Many people and organizations have been working hard for many decades to try and get the United States government (and states) to reform the laws regarding marijuana."
Abstract The paper defines types of ballistics and goes into depth on terminal ballistics, velocity, and one-stop shots. The author discusses the effects and actions of the projectile upon impact of a target specifically the human body. What happens when a bullet strikes human flesh? Dismisses several theories in the field using FBI research.
From the Paper "The study of the firing of projectiles, their flight and how they strike a target is called ballistics. There are several categories of ballistics including internal ballistics, external or exterior ballistics and terminal ballistics. Internal ballistics is concerned with the behavior of the bullet or projectile from the moment it is fired until it leaves the gun barrel. Exterior ballistics deals with the flight of a projectile after it leaves the barrel. One major effect of the bullet's flight is the pull of gravity, which causes the bullet to immediately drop after leaving the barrel and fly on a parabolic path. Terminal ballistics however, is concerned with when the bullet hits a target and the effects produced by that bullet."
Abstract A detailed look into the world of drug use and how governments in different countries deal with drug problems. The author looks at the approaches of countries such as Denmark, England, and Holland.
From the Paper "There are approximately five million "hard drug" users in 12 European countries, and another four million casual users. There are far more "soft drug" users than "hard drug" users. Soft drugs include marijuana and hashish, while hard drugs include heroin and cocaine. Cannabis, a "soft drug" is the most widely used illicit drug in the Europe. "Hard drugs" are used by a smaller amount of people. In Europe, there have been several strategies developed for dealing with drugs. Some countries, like Sweden, Belgium, France, and Germany, follow a "zero tolerance" policy. In these countries, drug possession is a criminal offense. Other countries, like Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, Spain, and Switzerland, have legalized drugs for personal use, and concentrate their police efforts on drug-dealing cartels. For years, foreign experts and governments have criticized lenient policies, such as the Dutch policy of tolerance and health rather than criminalization and legislation. Recently, as people began to realize that prohibition does not work, they have been drawn to these countries for guidance. By offering a more humane alternative to incarceration for drug users, many European countries have been able to keep drugs from having a major effect on other aspects of life in their countries."
Abstract This paper is written in the satirical style of Jonathan Swift. The author jokingly proposes remedies for fighting or responding to juvenile crime. This paper is fictional.
From the Paper "There has been a definite increase in juvenile crime in recent years. Many professionals believe that this increase is due to a myriad of things including economic and social factors, race and racial profiling, media influence, unjust laws on the books, poverty, and a loss of basic, conservative morals. I happen to disagree. I believe that the increase in juvenile crime is due to an increase in the number of juveniles. Instead of waiting for these juveniles to commit a violent, property damaging crime, we should arrest and imprison them all as soon as they turn 12. Twelve years is the age at which these so-called "children" go bad."
