Abstract This paper analyzes whether the policemen, or cops, the police personality, should be judged based on unique and individual traits or through socialization and experience. It takes the stance that police personality is heavily influenced by police culture, and therefore, leads people to view and perceive police traits according to their socialization and experience with the society and the police culture. It focuses on the sociological perspective of police personality and culture in order to illustrate how personalities are shaped according to an individual's exposure to his or her own culture or niche.
From the Paper "In order to understand the influential effect of police culture to police personality, a proper definition of "culture" and "police culture" is needed. In an article on police culture by Stephen Harrison entitled, ?Police Organizational Culture: Using Ingrained Values to Build Positive Organizational Improvement,? culture is defined as "the integrated pattern of human behavior that includes thought, speech, action, and artifacts and depends on man's capacity for learning and transmitting knowledge to succeeding generations" (1998). ?Police,? meanwhile, is defined as an "agency of a community or government that is responsible for maintaining public order and preventing and detecting crime" (Microsoft Encarta 2002)."
Abstract This paper examines the rise of juvenile delinquency, including the factors responsible for the high rise in crime, and suggests steps by which it can be curbed. It discusses how juvenile crime is a major problem for people nowadays, how young children have resorted to acts of brutality and violence, and even acts of rape, assault, robbery, and homicide. It shows how the rates of juvenile crime have been fluctuating throughout the years and how the U.S. government has not done much to counter this problem.
Outline
What is Juvenile Delinquency
Juvenile Crime
Reasons for Juvenile Crime
Family Life
Poverty Line, Discrimination, Lack of Opportunities
Media Factor
Drug Use
From the Paper "Drug usage and substance abuse are one of the strongest factors contributing to juvenile violence. Juvenile delinquents get hooked to drugs or alcohol from an early age. These drugs are easily available to them at their hangout places. Drug usage among delinquents had taken a sharp decline in the earlier years but now the usage has increased drastically. Drug use affects the person as it ruins his/her perception. It enables the person to resort to things they haven?t done before. Due to dependence on drugs a lot of juveniles commit crimes as they need a constant flow of cash to support their habit. This can propel into a very dangerous situation as it can lead to violent crimes such as murders or armed robbery."
Abstract This paper explains that for the United States, the main problem with illegal immigration is from Mexico because of the porous border between these countries. The author points out the problems with illegal immigrants are (1) that they work in the United States but they pay little or no taxes and yet receive the various benefits of citizens and legal immigrants, such as claiming unemployment compensation, resulting in an outflow of money but little or no inflow from income taxes for the U.S. government and (2) people associated or linked with terrorism seep into the United States through these porous boarders. The paper recommends that the resolution of the problem of illegal immigration requires (1) clarification of the law, (2) stricter enforcement necessitating sufficient funding for the border patrol force and (3) elimination of "birthright citizenship", which attracts illegal immigration because it offers any child born in the United States American citizen regardless of the citizenship or immigration status of his or her parents.
From the Paper "Last year President Bush took some steps to solve this problem. In 2004, he planned to allow about eight million illegal immigrants to achieve a temporary work permit that would make their stay in the United States as legal. This was a bold step and many illegal immigrants actually want to become legal in the United States. So they would get their legal status while the country would receive its taxes from them. Moreover, this would bring a lot of illegal immigrant on record and would filter out any terrorists or people with other negative agendas. However, this would only solve the problem of the illegal immigrants who are already within the borders of the United States."
Abstract This paper discusses five factors that are believed to be significant in the occurrence and prevention of juvenile delinquency. It explores the ways in which the family, community, law enforcement, probation and courts can utilize the information to improve the juvenile justice system. Finally, the paper gives recommendations for future improvements to the juvenile justice system.
Table of Contents:
Abstract
Family
Education
Environment
Social Status
Religion
Law Enforcement
Courts
Probation
Conclusion
From the Paper "With the recent influx of juvenile crime, especially serious crimes, the juvenile justice system has taken a lot of criticisms as to its mission and effectiveness. Society as a whole is becoming more interested which prompts law makers and law enforcers to take a harder look at the current system. During this paper, we are going to discuss five concepts that we believe to be the most significant social facts in the occurrence and/or prevention of juvenile delinquency. Those five concepts are family, education, environment, social status, and religion. Finally, we are going to discuss ways that we believe may help reduce juvenile delinquency in the future."
Abstract The paper examines the seven classifications of crime listed in the Uniform Crime Reporting Program. The paper determines which crimes might be considered "mala in se", crimes that are inherently dangerous or "mala prohibita", crimes not inherently wrong, but are considered criminal because their prohibition is necessary to regulate the general welfare. The paper asserts that the crimes in which human life is lost, in threat of being lost or violated in any way, should be considered "mala in se." The paper posits that crimes in which property or belongings are lost or taking away, should be considered "mala prohibita" because property is less valuable than human life.
From the Paper "Murder and nonnegligent manslaughter, as defined in the Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) Program, is the willful (nonnegligent) killing of one human being by another. (www.fbi.gov) There are some homicides that are reduced to a lesser crime because there was no intent evident in the act. The intent to kill is where the defendant consciously desired to cause death or where the defendant intended to cause great bodily harm. There are other crimes of murder that are justified or excusable. An example of this is if an intruder entered a home with a gun, the occupants could murder the intruder and not be charged with a homicide. The occupants could argue that they were protecting their family from being murdered by the intruder."
An examination of the psychological correlation between various psychological disorders, such as schizophrenia, depression, and paranoia, and criminal behavior.
2,770 words (approx. 11.1 pages), 18 sources, 1996, $ 82.95
From the Paper "There are many different psychological theories in criminology. However, I have chose to narrow down the categories to mental illness and its relation to crime. Are mentally disordered individuals more culpable of committing crimes than "normal" individuals? If so, what are the types of disorders? Which types of disorders have the highest rate of criminality, and why? Is the rate of crime shown to be higher in the mentally ill rather than the sane? Do mentally disordered offenders walk freely from their crimes? Do they go to jail, or are they sanctioned to institutions for help? Are mental disorders a cause of crime? Empirical findings show that if anything, there may be a correlation between the two."
Abstract A statistical analysis of the incidences of juvenile delinquency according to juvenile arrests. Gender, socioeconomic status, and ethnicity is compared in the prevalence rates. A brief history of the juvenile courts in relation to development and social policy.
From the Paper "Juvenile delinquency can be defined by numerous definitions implying a wide variety of law-and-norm violating behavior. According to Bartol (1999), juvenile delinquency is defined as "behavior against the criminal code committed by an individual who has not yet reached adulthood"(p. 25). Some states include the definition of juvenile delinquency to include status offenses, that are only applicable to juveniles (persons under the age of 18) and do not involve behavior against the criminal code. Some of these behaviors would include: running away, liquor law violations, and curfew law violations. Additionally, social definitions of juvenile delinquency include aggressive behavior, cruelty to animals, fire setting, dishonesty, truancy, larceny, vandalism, and substance abuse, behaviors that possibly have not come to the attention of law enforcement (Bartol, 1999)."
This paper explores drug prohibition in America. It is written from a point of view that supports the legalization of drugs. Political, constitutional and financial affects on American government are discussed.
3,087 words (approx. 12.3 pages), 11 sources, 2001, $ 90.95
Abstract This paper examines the repercussions of drug prohibition. This paper is written from a point of view that supports the legalization of drugs. It explores the history of America's "War on Drugs" from a political and financial standpoint. Crime, civil liberties, foreign countries economies and medical uses for illegal drugs are discussed. Many of the statistics that are studied in this paper are taken from the DEA's web site and proven to be invalid through outside sources. This paper looks at where the government funding for drug prohibition goes; it also looks at drug prices, crime rates and statistics pertaining to the inmate population of drug offenders.
From the Paper "Every year America's drug policies are debated in Washington. These drug policies are never debated seriously, the only aspect our elected representatives focus on is how much more money should America spend battling drugs. Outside of Washington there is a growing unease about the war on drugs. Many Americans are concluding that the drug war has been given a fair chance to work and has failed. America's war on drugs is an unsuccessful battle, and it's time for a governmental reform."
Abstract This paper explains how domestic violence refers to both mental and physical violence between adult intimate partners. It explores the indication that rape is used to regulate the power relations between the two genders and tries to maintain a certain cultural order between the genders in a culture with ever blurring boundaries.
From the Paper "In the United States, at the end of the millennium, "domestic violence" is a code for physical and emotional brutality within intimate relationships, usually heterosexual. As a code, it glosses the intricate, layered connections of power relationships built on race, class, and gender hierarchies, each tied in unique fashion to requirements of female dependency. These power hierarchies recede as the discursive focus abstracts acts of violence as pathology to be remedied, separate from a critique of the relationships of dominance through which it is constituted. It is possible to oppose "domestic violence" and at the same time oppose all other efforts to restructure relations of dominance, including women's subordination. (Warr, M. 1985)"
Abstract An attempt to determine whether or not there is a bias shown to blacks and other minorities. This paper also examines whether or not the poverty level of the defendant is also a factor in the sentencing severity and how this can be overcome.
From the Paper "America has waffled on the topic of capital punishment since the nation's infancy. There are some eras in which the nation's people stood firmly behind the death penalty and believed the adage "an eye for an eye", while at other times the voters have stopped the allowance of execution as a punishment. With each change there are those who are advocates and those who are detractors from the principle itself. Whether or not the death penalty is a viable solution for crime diversion is still under debate. In addition to the use of the death penalty being debated there is a large debate in America about the bias shown to whites when it comes to the use of the death penalty. Many people believe that the minority and the poor in this country are executed at a far more frequent rate than their white counterparts."
Abstract The paper shows that with the rise in violence among American teenagers, the media has been quick to link this trend with violent video games. The paper argues that this assumption is premature and inconclusive and looks at several studies done on the subject to prove this point.
From the Paper "Since the tragic incident in Littleton, Colorado where two troubled young boys killed and wounded many of their classmates and themselves, our society has been looking for an answer to what happened. What would make two young boys kill other students and themselves? It is well known that the boys played video games, and Doom was a favorite. Doom is a first-player action game where the gamer makes his or her way through a series of levels killing opponents. In the search for answers, the media was quick to link the game and its violent content to the cause of what went wrong for these boys. This is too simple of an answer and is not a fair assessment of video games, at least based on current research. While research in other media has shown links between violent content and aggressive behavior, this is not true about violent video games."
Abstract This paper explores aspects of the mentally ill in correctional facilities. It discusses why the number of mentally ill in prisons and jails is rising. It discusses problems the mentally ill face in prison, such as abuse, suicide, the inability of prisons to care for them properly, and release and recidivism. The paper also discusses some solutions to these problems.
From the Paper "Correctional facilities face many problems when dealing with different types of inmates. Many inmates have different or special needs. One of these groups of inmates is the mentally ill. The number of mentally ill offenders in correctional facilities is rising and because of this, prisons and jails have become one of the primary types of psychiatric treatment centers. In fact, "Jails in most major cities contain a larger number of severely mentally ill people than the local mental health hospitals" (Sigurdson, 2001, p70). Mental illness affects the inmate's behavior in prison and how they are treated by other inmates and the staff. This creates problems for the correctional facilities as well as the inmates. Some problems include abuse, busing, suicide, and recidivism. Topics that will be discussed are the rise of mentally ill in correctional facilities, problems that this creates, and some solutions to these problems. The staff do not know how to deal with the mentally ill and, as a result, the mentally ill often do not receive the treatment they need in order to be rehabilitated so that they can function normally in society. Changes need to be made in correctional facilities in order to provide treatment for mentally ill offenders so that they can receive the help and rehabilitation that they need."
Abstract Conflict theory in criminal justice is based on the assumption that society is grounded in inherent conflict that cannot be resolved. This paper discusses how conflict theorists argue that those who hold power and wealth in a capitalist economy force the less-powerful to abide by their established rules with the purpose of protecting their own property and physical safety. It explains that the theory relies on a Marxist interpretation of the function of a capitalist society. It also shows how the theory argues for a broader definition of crime to include offenses and actions intended to maintain the ruling structure. This paper addresses how the theory and models of punishment based on the theory require an understanding of criminal justice that takes into consideration the social and political causes of crime, particularly models of treatment based on a concept of restorative justice.
Table of Contents
History and Definition of Conflict Theory
Human Nature
Social Order
Causal Logic of Conflict Theory
Conflict Theory and Criminal Justice Policy
Conflict Theory and Criminal Justice Practice
Evaluation
Bibliography
From the Paper "Before the 1960s, most criminology research and theory was conducted under the rubric of structural-functionalism, which assumed the primacy of the social system and the inter-relationship of social institutions without much focus or consideration for the individuals or groups who made up the institutions. However, critics of these theories argued that by minimizing the social conflict and tension inherent within society, these theories supported a politically conservative agenda within sociology and criminology."
Abstract This paper puts forward the argument that prostitution should be legalized. It examines how up until now, banning prostitution has not only failed to eradicate the trade, but has transformed the trade into a seedy world of criminals, pimps, and disease-ridden prostitutes contributing to the health risks of society. It looks at the advantages of its legalization such as the savings by the government of a tremendous amount of time and money in their attempts to enforce prostitution laws which could be diverted to more serious crimes, such as homicides and how in a regulated setting, the government can also benefit from the taxes it collects from the prostitutes and the brothels. Most importantly, it brings the trade of the prostitution into the open, freeing it from the domination of criminals who govern the underground world.
From the Paper "Legalization of the prostitution industry will give the authority the upper hand to regulate it, thus issuing brothels licenses and guidelines, while eliminating undesirable elements. By implementing these laws, the government will be protecting the well-being of prostitutes, customers and society. Holland provides a good example with the legalisation of its prostitution industry. Under the regulations erected for this industry, licenses are issued to brothel owners who have registered their workers and complied with strict safety standards. The brothel owners are subjected to police screening, Those who employ under-age prostitutes or illegal immigrants risk being arrested by the authorities (Sissons, 1999, p. 27)."
This paper discusses the challenges confronting social workers and other counseling professionals in providing intervention and prevention services to juvenile delinquents and other adolescents referred to juvenile rehabilitation centers.
Abstract This paper explains that working alliances between disparate rehabilitation system caregivers, justice system professionals and parents are the most effective means of achieving desirable behavioral and attitudinal changes. The paper states that acting-out or delinquent behavior is recognized as an associated feature of adolescent depression disorders. The author believes that the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI) is a valuable tool in assisting caseworkers, social workers and counselors in developing effective treatment regimens.
From the Paper "Miser (1996) commented that difficulty in the assessment and treatment of juvenile delinquents can be explained by social labeling theory. In this theory, it is posited that any delinquent act, regardless of underlying causes, is a legal construct that carries a label capable of influencing the clinical judgment of those who assess and then treat such clients. Abnormal behavior is defined in terms of a legal violation and some type or degree of punitive treatment or response is then required. The mere act of labeling the youthful offender as "delinquent" produces adverse effects on self-concept, which is believed by some to insulate against delinquency. Lower levels of self-concept are associated with deviant labels. Counseling the youthful offender therefore often focuses on development of a positive self-concept or image."
