An argumentative paper about drug sentencing. A paper that argues why mandatory minimum drug sentencing does not work as a tactic in the so-called "war on drugs," with quotes, facts, and stories of the convicted.
890 words (approx. 3.6 pages), 2 sources, 2001, $ 31.95
Abstract A paper that argues why mandatory minimum drug sentencing does not work as a tactic in the so-called "war on drugs," with quotes, facts, and stories of the convicted.
From the Paper "Our judicial system is set up so that one is innocent until proven guilty, and so that the punishment fits the crime. This is part of why many view America as the greatest democracy on earth: our laws and punishments, in comparison to some other countries, seem fair and humane. One would think, then, that a convicted rapist or murderer would spend more time in prison than a first-time drug offender charged with dealing a small amount of marijuana, for example. Naturally, right? Not so fast--today's "mandatory minimum" laws, designed to be harsh on all drug offenders, are putting people behind bars for a long time. Spawned by the United States? ?War on Drugs,? these laws leave judges with little choice when sentencing drug offenders, with mandatory minimum sentences for all drug offenders. These laws target everyone from small-scale pot dealers whose clientele consists only of a few friends, to large-scale heroin gangsters. These laws intend to scare drug offenders with a "no tolerance" policy, which, in theory, is a good idea. However, many are asking the question: is this really the most just and effective way of eradicating our country's drug problem?"
Abstract This paper examines the freedom of speech protection right as stated in the First Amendment to the United States. The writer provides an overview of the major exceptions to the First Amendment as ruled by the Supreme Court in issues such as banning tobacco advertisement and ruling against free political speech.
From the Paper "In the beginning of our nation's history, there was just a constitution. This document did no more than lay out the basic format that our government should take: it would be divided into three branches, it would be elected in such and such a way, and conduct its business in this fashion or that. The entire arrangement of the government, with its division of power, and its limited control over the states, was arranged so that it could not abridge the rights of its citizens. However, our founding fathers quickly realized that there was a problem with this arrangement. While it was true that the three branches would be accountable for one another, but what would happen if all three decided to pass into law violations of the citizen's rights? At that point, they put into the constitution a number of amendments carefully crafted to forbid the government from violating the basic rights of its citizens. Among the very first of these inalienable rights to be recognized to the Constitution was the right to freedom of speech. The first amendment reads: ?Congress shall make no law...abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press...? However, this right has been consistently violated and sidestepped throughout American history. Most recently, the first Amendment has been violated by bans on Tobacco Advertising. Regardless of what one feels about smoking habits or the legal use of mind-altering substances, there are many reasons how and why these bans violate first Amendment rights."
Abstract This is a persuasive research paper that suggests that juveniles should not be tried as adults. The author argues that adult sentencing for juveniles will fail to minimize the increasing number of juvenile criminals and may even inhibit rehabilitation. The author stresses the importance of dealing with these criminals according to their age and to approach the issues that cause them to become involved in crime instead of simply punishing them.
From the Paper "As more and more adolescents are committing heinous crimes that were in the past restricted to adults, the society is demanding that these criminals be put behind bars and tried as adults---not as juveniles as they were in the past. The argument is, if the adolescents commit adult crimes then they must be prepared to be punished like adults as well. This is raising cause for a debate that is not as simple as it seems. In 1996, for every 100,000 teenagers, 465 were arrested for violent crime, compared with 318 arrests per 100,000 adults. And the Justice Department reports that if current trends continue, the number of juveniles arrested for violent crimes will more than double by the year 2010. But the question is whether the threat of adult courts and adult jails will deter the would-be youth criminal. (Rambler, 1997)."
The following research paper examines the abortion debate from 1896 until today, focusing on the anti-abortionists, pro-life activists and the right to have an abortion for personal or health reasons.
Abstract This paper covers the different issues in the abortion debate. It covers both sides- pro-choice and pro-life. Although a conclusion is not made, the closing statement reads similar to the beginning. The issues surrounding abortion seem to be questions that must be answered by each individual searching his or her own heart and soul.
From the Paper "Abortion has been, and probably always will be, a very controversial subject among people of all ages. There are many aspects of the controversy: morality, legality, and safety. Many people ask whether abortion is moral; they question whether it is right or wrong. Others ask whether a woman should be permitted by law to have an abortion and, if so, under what circumstances. There are two sides that directly oppose each other. People who are against abortion label themselves as being ?pro-life." Those who are for women's choice concerning abortion are described as being ?pro-choice." Safety is another area of controversy. Many question the hazards involved with abortion- emotional and physical. With these three issues, the abortion controversy continues."
Abstract A comprehensive look at both the pros and cons of the capital punishment system. This paper raises the points of lack of evidence, temporary psychological disorders and injustice when dealing with those who oppose the death penalty. Others claim that it is the only way to deal with violent crime and the only pure deterrent. Religious arguments are also presented.
From the Paper "A man sits down to finish his last meal. It's not the last meal of his day or even his week. He isn't beginning to fast for religious observance. This is the last meal of his life. He is on death row and this is the last meal he will ever eat for his time has come. A jury of his peers, for a crime he commited, have found him guilty. His sentence has been given to him and his sentence is to die."
Abstract It is the argument of this paper that justification for the notification of communities to the presence of sex offenders far outweighs any counter argument. People should most definitely be notified of sex offenders in their neighborhoods. This notification should not only be attempted but should be aggressively pursued to assure total coverage.
From the Paper "To hear on the news of a brutal rape and murder of a small child somewhere across the country is disturbing enough. To hear of such an outrage in your own neighborhood can bring, fear provoking agony. Imagine the reaction of the mother of 7 year old Megan Kanka when she found out that the man who lived across the street and murdered her daughter had two previous convictions as a sex offender. Why hadn"t she been informed" The perpetrator had paid his debt to society and had his right to privacy. But what about Megan's right to life? What about her right to an innocent childhood free of the horrors of sexual molestation? A value judgement must be made on this issue. Protecting the life of an innocent child must be valued more highly than the privacy rights of a convicted felon. People have not only a right to be notified of sexual offenders living in their neighborhoods, but they have a right to demand that officials make an aggressive effort to notify them. The nation as a whole overwhelming seems ready to make this judgement."
Abstract Employees who report illegal or wrongful activities of colleagues are known as "whistle blowers". The paper provides a balanced argument to support both sides of this subject by discussing the positive and the negative aspects of whistle blowing in the workplace. The paper analyzes the similarities as well as the differences with regards to the opinions of whistle blowing. Lastly, this paper offers suggestions one might consider before becoming a whistleblower as well as possible recommendations for the future advancement in the protection of innocent whistleblowers.
From the Paper "We must also consider that corporations in are run with the expectations that they will function in ways that are compatible with the public interest. That they will obey laws governing their activities and not do anything that undermines basic democratic processes. Lest we not forget they must also create a profit for the stakeholders of their company. In accomplishing such feats companies may find it difficult to maintain this high level of honesty. Although companies may have answers for their each and every action they make the action is not always ethical or legal and deserves action."
Abstract The author of this paper reviews the various definitions,approaches, legislation issues and the position of the American Medical Association and the ?Death with Dignity Act" about the need to establish the right to physician-assisted suicide. Arguments against physician-assisted suicide are logically refuted.
From the Paper "When we are young, most of us do not think about making a conscious decision to die. We look forward to years of long and healthy life, and if death ever seems appealing, it is as an antidote to depression. It does not often, if ever, occur to us that there will be a time when we look forward to the "good death" promised by euthanasia."
From the Paper "Drug testing in the workplace has been undertaken by employers who are concerned that drug use by employees poses a danger to coworkers and the public, reduces productivity, costs the company money, and contributes to health problems which adds further to company costs. Drug testing in the workplace conflicts with our view of personal privacy and raises questions about how far employers can go in analyzing personal habits of employees. Workers are concerned that such testing might lead to employees being disciplined or fired, and employers are concerned as well that instituting testing might lead to lawsuits over errors, privacy issues, violation of rights, or unauthorized disclosure of test results. Some feel that the testing itself may not be adequate or accurate, contributing to such problems. The courts have been called in to adjudicate.."
Abstract Jonathan Harr's A Civil Action recounts the story of the action taken by attorney Jan Schlichtmann against the W. R. Grace chemical company and Beatrice Foods on behalf of families in Woburn, Massachusetts whose children had contracted leukemia, the suit claimed, from the ingestion of chemicals, dumped illegally by subsidiaries of the two giant corporations, that entered the wells that supplied a portion of the town. The civil litigation was meant to secure damages for the families but, more importantly, it was intended to "send a message" to large corporations that they could not continue to pollute the environment with reckless disregard for the health and well-being of the people, many of them their own employees, who lived in such areas.
From the Paper "Jonathan Harr's A Civil Action recounts the story of the action taken by attorney Jan Schlichtmann against the W. R. Grace chemical company and Beatrice Foods on behalf of families in Woburn, Massachusetts whose children had contracted leukemia, the suit claimed, from the ingestion of chemicals, dumped illegally by subsidiaries of the two giant corporations, that entered the wells that supplied a portion of the town. The civil litigation was meant to secure damages for the families but, more importantly, it was intended to "send a message" to large corporations that they could not continue to pollute the environment with reckless disregard for the health and well-being of the people, many of them their own employees, who lived in such areas. But what seemed like a fairly clear-cut case dragged on for a decade. The large corporations willingly spent millions..."
This paper discusses police brutality: The Rodney King incident, excessive force, civilian complaints, statistics, shootings, legal issues and the social impact.
1,800 words (approx. 7.2 pages), 5 sources, 1991, $ 63.95
From the Paper "Police brutality has long been a topic of concern in American society. The police face a difficult and dangerous job in maintaining law and order on the streets. From time to time, deadly force is necessary in order to carry out that job. Nevertheless, most people agree that the use of deadly force must be controlled. Usually, an officer is expected to practice restraint so that the use of force is appropriate rather than excessive. The problems of excessive force made the national news on March 3, 1991, when a group of Los Angeles police were videotaped while beating a suspect. The suspect, Rodney King, was a black man who had given the police a high-speed chase before finally being stopped. Unbeknownst to the officers, a citizen videotaped the incident from a nearby home. The tape showed some of the officers repeatedly kicking King and beating ... "
Abstract This paper introduces, discusses and analyzes the topic of legalizing marijuana. Specifically, it discusses the current United States' policies, the uses of marijuana, and the arguments for and against legalizing marijuana. Includes an outline.
Legalization of Marijuana
I. Current U.S. Policy regarding legalization of Marijuana
a. State law overview
b. Penalties
c. Pending legislation
II. Uses
a. Medical
b. Recreational
c. Environmental
III. Arguments
a. Pro legalization
b. Against legalization
c. National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws
From the Paper "The legalization of marijuana is one of the most controversial and volatile topics facing Americans today. In 2001, 34 percent of adult Americans believed marijuana should be legalized, the largest percentage since 1969, and up to 70 percent of adults approve of the use of medicinal marijuana (Cauchon, 2001, 01A). However, in November 2002, voters in Nevada turned down a measure to make the drug more readily available in the Silver State. Opposition is strongest among conservative Americans, while younger adults favor decriminalization. "The USA TODAY/CNN/Gallup Poll found that support for legalization is highest among 18- to 49-year-olds, people in the West and independent voters. Opposition was greatest among the elderly, regular churchgoers and Republicans" (Cauchon, 2001, p. 01A)."
Abstract Intellectual property rights, including patents and copyrights, have been a key factor for the success of many companies. It provides them with an opportunity to protect their ideas and concepts, preventing others from copying them. The paper shows that with the boom in e-business, there have been many cases of infringement because of the relative ease in sharing information over the Internet. This paper briefly outlines the basics of intellectual property before providing a detailed discussion on e-business and intellectual property. The paper shows several cases of infringement to illustrate how intellectual property is important in e-business.
From the Paper "Since the Internet is a huge interconnection of computers, information can be shared very easily. It is this very advantage that leads to many problems in protection of intellectual property. For example; pictures, music and literary works can be copied, modified and even distributed easily through the Internet. Such activities affect and violate copyright protection. There are several dangers in electronic business and organizations have to be very cautious and watchful. Copyright does not protect ideas but protects the forms in which they are expressed. Thus documents and material available on the Internet can be protected by copyright. According to the Copyright Act, even storing of material in a computer corresponds to reproduction of material. This implies that viewing a page on the Internet leads to infringement because the web browser would make a copy of the page in the computer."
Abstract This paper explores the variety of reasons why Sarbanes-Oxley will fall short in meeting many of its objectives for making companies more accountable.
From the Paper "The future of the accounting profession will be very different under the Sarbanes-Oxley Act (How the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 impacts the accounting profession 2002). First, auditors will report to an audit committee, not management. This committee must pre-approve all services provided by its auditor. The auditor will need to keep the audit committee informed if accounting policies and practices to be used, alternative treatments of financial information within GAAP that have been discussed with management, accounting disagreements between the auditor and management and other relevant communications between the auditor and management."
Abstract This paper is a legal issue analysis of a newspaper or magazine article that discusses a legal aspect of a specific diversity issue - workplace harassment. This article offers a summary of the diversity issue, analysis of the legal issues and a presentation of thoughts and beliefs regarding this issue. The presentation is contextualized in terms of the challenges of managing that diversity issue within the workplace.
From the Paper "Restaurant Business revealed that the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission is suing Cracker Barreland its parent for the alleged sexual and racial harassment of ten employees in three Illinois units of the restaurant chain. The E.E.O.C. alleges that the female workers had been subjected to sexual assaults, sexual propositions, obscene jokes and the circulation of pornography. The suit also alleges that some of the African-Americans among the ten employees represented by the E.E.O.C. were subjected to racial discrimination and harassment."
