Abstract This paper examines the use of criminal law for purposes of social engineering. The point is made that criminal law can be used as a tool for social engineering via its prohibitions and the punishments, and can operate to instill virtues. It notes that there are serious ethical and moral concerns associated with this use of the criminal law.
From the Paper "Social engineering is commonly defined as the use of private and or governmental functions and operations to manage population attitudes and behavior on a large scale..."
Abstract This paper looks at the methods used in the past to deal with juvenile offenders through the court, since the establishment of the first juvenile court in 1899.
From the Paper "The problem of dealing with juvenile justice has plagued are country for years, since the establishment of the first juvenile court in 1899. Prior to that development, delinquent juveniles had to be processed through the adult justice system which gave much harsher penalties. By 1945, separate juvenile courts existed in every single state. Similar to the adult system, all through most of the 20th century, the juvenile justice system was based upon a medical/rehabilitative representation. The new challenges of the juvenile court were to examine, analyze, and recommend treatment for offenders, not to deliver judgment fault or fix responsibility. The court ran under the policy of "parens patriae" that intended that the state would step in and act as a parent on behalf of a disobedient juvenile."
Abstract An argumentative essay about the banning of capital punishment in all countries. The history, social problems, cost, and moral responsibility of the death sentence are discussed and used to show that all societies would benefit without this punishment, otherwise seen as law assisted murder. This essay argues that capital punishment lacks proper and moral justification and should not exist because it is morally unjust. Many points are supported by statistics and a common overview of certain communities and their actions.
From the Paper "The death penalty, the poor man's justice, is a negative aspect of a society, promotes murder for murder, and encourages lawful infliction of death. Capital punishment is the lawful execution of a criminal by the state, yet is quite problematic. Many people debate on the issues of morality, with some suggesting that this is not punishment but cold revenge. The law is here to protect us as individuals, and those who commit crimes also have the right to be protected. Lacking proper and moral justification, capital punishment should be banned because it is not a deterrent, it is classified as cruel and unusual punishment, and it is morally unjust."
Abstract This is a paper that looks at prostitution from various perspectives namely historical, biological, psychological, socio-cultural, cross-cultural and multiple perspective, the latter being a combination of all the other perspectives.
From the Paper "Prostitution is often called the world's oldest profession, and with good reason. It has been in existence as far back as the ancient Mesopotamia era where there was temple prostitution. Also, there was ecclesiastical prostitution and lay prostitution during the Middle Ages. In the American West, brothels with their madams and harlots were very much a part of this era and the brothels were frequented by cowboys, miners, small merchants and even town preachers!"
Abstract This paper reports on the Scottsboro lynching of 1930. The case of the Scottsboro Boys was one that showed the tensions between Northerners and Southerners, blacks and whites, poor and wealthy, Communists and Capitalists. The author argues that in midst of these important issues that surrounded this case, many forget the nine young boys, the real victims of this tragedy, a battle of passions, prejudices and propaganda.
From the Paper "Few cases stirred up as much controversy and high emotions among the American people in the 1930's as the one of the "Scottsboro Boys". The case of the nine black boys accused of raping two white women in Alabama produced many retrials, convictions and reversals that followed for two decades after the first trial. The proceedings of the case embodied many issues existing in the country during this period of the Great Depression. The struggle for justice of the innocent young men heightened the major tensions and illustrated the threat of a social, Communist revolution, unrest along race lines, and divisions and hostility between the North and South, the core themes of the decade."
Abstract This paper examines a number of crime cases and how they could have been avoided if drugs were legalized. The author compares the legalization of drugs with prohibition and the anti-phosphate laws. The paper details the harm that illegalizing drugs cause our society as well as the advantages of the medicinal uses of marijuana.
From the Paper "Many people know that most crime in America is directly related to drugs. What most people fail to understand is that there would be no need for most of these crimes if drugs were legal. Why do people have to steal to support their drug habit? Because drugs are expensive. The average cocaine dealer has to spend around ten thousand dollars a week to support his habit. But the pharmaceutical cost of drugs is only about 2% of its? street value.[i]"
Abstract An analysis of the main issues of the death penalty. The author looks at the history of the death penalty, issues of race, the costs of the death penalty, various concerns of the death penalty and its stance today.
From the Paper "An important part of any society is crime and punishment. Societies must deal with small crimes such as stealing and much larger ones such as rape, murder and treason. The death penalty is meant to be a punishment for some of the worse crimes that people can commit. The death penalty has its roots in the ancient times, and even the Bible accepts it as a proper punishment for certain crimes. Yet in today's world, a mere mention of the term death penalty excites screaming from extremists on both sides of the argument. Conservatives cry out for capital punishment to be utilized more often, while Liberals and organizations such as the ACLU (American Civil Liberties Union) are constantly protesting for more rights for prisoners and a complete abolition of the death penalty. There are many issues which both sides of this argument need to consider when evaluating the death penalty. These issues include effectiveness as a deterrent, racism, cost, risk of executing the innocent, and defense of the guilty. After evaluating these issues, it can be determined that the death penalty is a necessary evil, and with the growing use of DNA research, will be an important tool of the judicial system in punishing the guilty."
Abstract This paper examines the role of the Italian mafia as a business like any other, and its long history in the United States. The author discuses how the mafia's illegal and legal enterprises help propel our capitalist society, and how their ties with major labor unions enable them to dominate major industries. The paper also looks at how the Italian mafia works with other ethnic crime organizations, such as the Russian mafia, and Colombian drug cartels.
From the Paper "The mafia is a loose term in our country, as we as Americans are fascinated by the mysteriousness of it. Movies, books, plays, and now even a television series have been made depicting different real life stories regarding the mafia. The television show The Sopranos gives a great rendition about life in New Jersey as a mobster. This show allows viewers to see both sides of the story when thinking about gangsters. One is able to see their ruthless side in some situations, and then also the way they conduct business. Much of the business they conduct is with people who know what situation they are in, and are willing to accept the terms, based on a mutual agreement. In recent years, there have been several cases where a mafia member would go against their former family in order to lighten their jail sentence, breaking their code of conduct known as Omerta. The United States is a capitalist and free market society. The mafia helps in the expansion and existence of this capitalist society by their influences in legal and illegal businesses, with the help of political parties and leaders that are best placed to help them."
Abstract This paper presents an in depth examination of the death penalty and the racial influences on the matter. The author argues that the death penalty is administered in a racially disproportionate manner and provides proof of this accusation. Included is a brief overview of other debates around the topic such as moral grounding and fairness.
From the Paper "It is hard to understand how anyone could not view the death penalty as morally problematic, although clearly many Americans do not view the practice as morally objectionable or there would not be so many advocates of the practice. One of the most problematic of all aspects of the death penalty as it is imposed in the United States is that is administered in a racially disproportionate manner. "
An in-depth assessment of the causes of gang formation and underlying attraction of street gangs in order to determine priorities for intervention programs.
Abstract The paper looks at youth gangs: the scope of the problem, statistics, risk factors and prevention strategies. Much focus is placed upon young African-American males and the extent of their gang membership. The author believes that a combination of social opportunities, community organization, and organizational change can be most beneficial in addressing the problem of African-American male youth gangs.
From the Paper "Estimates of the magnitude of youth gang problems in the United States had steadily increased over the last decades of the twentieth century. Once considered largely an urban phenomenon, gangs have increasingly emerged in smaller communities, presenting a challenge that severely strains local resources. Today's gangs are best characterized by their diversity in ethnic composition, geographical location, organization, and the nature and extent of members' involvement in delinquent or criminal activities. Hispanics have the highest percentage of youth gang membership in the US, however, adolescent African-American males represent a large proportion of the gangs, especially those established in the inner city. Causal risk factors must be explored in order to prioritize prevention and intervention programs to reduce youth gang activity among those communities most affected by adolescent black male gang activity."
Abstract Gives a critical analysis of "the war on drugs". Through examination of the history and present motivations of drug laws, this paper argues that the reasons behind drug criminalization are invalid. The paper also shows that the current law enforcement approaches are ineffective in dealing with the drug problem.
From the Paper "The illicit drug problem is seen as a paramount concern within all western communities and is clearly the source of some of society's most major public health issues. The so-called "War on Drugs" is given unprecedented resources in the area of law enforcement and often headlines our major media outlets. The reasons for our community seeking to criminalize drug use will be explored in the following essay by tracing drugs laws to the original sources of public concern and exploring how community concern has evolved since. It will be shown that the original notions that are the basis of drug criminalization have been flawed from their inception. Furthermore it will be illustrated how current and past drug laws have been completely ineffective in achieving the aims that society has sought to achieve through drug criminalization."
Abstract This paper discusses whether drug testing is a valid and ethical concept adopted within the workplace. The author looks at how if it is conducted in an orderly and open manner it can only benefit the organization and its employees.
From the Paper "Ethical issues are confounding the organizations in an era where globalization, cultural change and technology have completed radicalized the traditional theories of management. Managers are finding it hard to deal with the issues that are arising in the workplace from sexual harassment to drug testing in the workplace. While the former has largely been handled through the years with specific guidelines being set by the courts that help managers understand the nature of the problem and the manner in which it should be tackled, drug testing is a relatively new issue that has given rise to controversial debate in the society."
Abstract This paper analyzes and evaluates the effectiveness of imprisonment in rehabilitating criminals. In Part II, theories underlying criminal punishment are discussed. Part III examines the history surrounding incapacitation. In Part IV, the effectiveness of incarceration in rehabilitating offenders is analyzed. Lastly, this paper concludes with recommendations for ways to improve how the criminal justice system handles punishment.
From the Paper "Crime is an issue of paramount importance, one that impacts each and every member of society on both a micro and a macro level. Over the past two decades, public concern has vastly increased over specific aspects of the crime problem, namely juvenile crime, prison reform, the role of television in producing violence, and urban gangs. Crime exacts more than financial costs; emotional costs are incurred when a criminal murders an individual's close friend, family member, or loved one or when an offender is incarcerated, depriving his or her family of emotional and financial support. Imprisonment is one of the oldest and most widely accepted responses to crime. However, while incapacitation is an effective mechanism for removing criminals from society, opponents argue that incarceration does not truly rehabilitate offenders."
Abstract This paper discusses the more recent incidents of violence led to by loose gun control laws, such as school shootings. It discusses the problems with the current situation and deals with the holes in the laws which allow dangerous people to purchase guns. It suggests possible ways to fix the problem.
From the Paper "America is considered to be the greatest nation in the world. Despite such prosperity, America still faces many problems, one of the biggest being gun control. Despite many rules regulation gun sales, guns can be easily attained by anyone who wants. Unfortunately, the government can?t outlaw people from keeping guns in their homes because of the 2nd Amendment which gives citizens of the United States the right to bear arms. The government has been attempting to control gun violence, but to no avail."
Abstract This paper analyzes a survey that appeared in "The Economist," which examined the economic and social impact of the legalization of drugs around the world. It focuses on the microeconomic effects legalization would have and analyzes data presented in the survey using tools and methods that are taught at intermediate level economics classes. This paper examines the effects of legalization on price, demand, consumption and distribution.
From the Paper "Regardless of the moral or political positions one takes on the use or trade of illicit substances, one has to appreciate the complexity and the organization of the world drug trade. The drug trade is a truly global industry, as the production and distribution of illegal substances requires participation from, and relatively unmatched cooperation between, different groups from nearly every corner of the world. As impressive as the geographic scope of the drug trade is the economic prowess of the industry, which generates annual sales of somewhere between $150 and $400 billion, based on different estimates. The industry's illegitimate status also makes it one of the most dangerous in the world for those who participate at all levels, from producers to distributors, and even to consumers. The drug trade also causes enormous problems, both financially and socially, to nearly every nation involved - and not just from the questionable nature of the drugs themselves, but also because of the tactics employed by the world's most powerful governments, especially by the United States, to eliminate, curb, or otherwise control the flow of illegal substances. In the survey in The Economist, powerful arguments are presented that try to establish that the policies and enforcement strategies of the world's powers against the drug trade cause far greater harm than the industry does itself. Further, the survey argues a great deal of the problems caused by the drug industry to nations and peoples around the world are more a result of these policies and tactics than anything inherent in the industry or the substances themselves. The survey presents a number of arguments from both a social standpoint and an economic perspective as to how the United States and the rest of the world might benefit from the legalization of illicit substances. In this paper the focus will be on the economic evidence presented in the survey and its correlation with the theory of the firm and the consumer in microeconomics."
