Abstract This paper is a review of "Black Mass, The Irish Mob, The Boston FBI, and a Devil's Deal" written by Dick Lehr and Gerard O'Neill. The paper describes the investigation in the book of two notorious criminals of South Boston's Irish ghetto, Jim 'Whitey' Bulger and his brother, Billy Bulger, where one gets arrested and the other remains on the FBI's 'top ten' list of wanted criminals.
From the Paper "A Review of Dick Lehr and Gerard O'Neill's Black Mass, The Irish Mob, The Boston FBI, and a Devil's Deal. (New York: PublicAffairs, 2000). In 1988, the authors set out to investigate two notorious criminals of South Boston's Irish ghetto, Jim 'Whitey' Bulger and his brother, Billy Bulger. Whitey Bulger was Boston's most powerful crime boss, and his brother had been made President of the Massachusetts Senate in 1978, both men in collusion those of similar background inside Boston's FBI that permitted Whitey Bulger's career to continue. In 1994, Bill Bulger and several near the top of Whitey Bulger's organization were arrested. Whitey Bulger disappeared and has since been on the FBI's 'top ten' list of wanted criminals. Black Mass will interest readers exploring an environmental approach to criminality in its description of a practically tribal south Boston Irish culture."
Abstract The paper discusses the doctrine of separation of powers that requires that each branch of the government not encroach on the domain of the other. The paper compares the British Constitution to the American Constitution. The paper then looks at the establishment of the Gun Courts in Jamaica and the Home Secretary's decision to enforce a greater sentence on the young murderers of James Bulger and explains how these rulings were inconsistent with the separation of powers. The paper shows how when the public outcry is at its height, decisions are taken that override the separation of powers and place the rights of the individual at risk.
From the Paper "The British system has both the judiciary and the legislature creating the law, it is equally difficult to see the separation of power. Starting from the Lord Diplock's statement on separation powers and its firm root in the history of the British constitution, the history of its evolution begins in the mid 5th century. (Knappen p. 3) The study of the development of the constitution is as much a study of the history of the British Isles as it is a legal review. The British constitution is a reflection of the history of the British people. There have been many attempts to have a constitutional convention and produce a single written document, but the constitution is in essence rewritten every time Parliament passes a new piece of legislation. The sovereignty of Parliament has always remained paramount in the establishment of a separation of powers."
Abstract A discussion of the difference between right and wrong and whether society knows how to discern between the two. The author discusses the case of Jon Venables and Robert Thompson who abducted and killed a two year old boy as well as various cases and scenarios to explain the debate.
From the Paper ?In February 1993, in Liverpool, England, two ten year old boys abducted two year old James Bulger and murdered him. In a case which shocked the whole country, Jon Venables and Robert Thompson were found guilty of murder, and were sentenced to imprisonment, at the age of ten. Since then, there has been numerous moral and ethical arguments put forward, contesting the justifiability of their sentence. The trial of Jon Venables and Robert Thompson was held before an adult jury. Witnesses were called, including Irene Slack, the headmistress of the school where the boys attended. In her evidence she said that from the age children enter school, they have a sense of right and wrong.?
Abstract This paper explores the growing rate of juvenile violence, including senseless murders, in the U.S.A and the rest of the world. In particular, it evaluates one current theory, which states that, although the media might contribute to the idea of violence in youngsters, the real cause might be the child's feeling of cultural isolation and lack of personal control.
From the Paper "A leading education expert expresses concerns about the isolation children experience when they are removed from their community to attend school and states that such isolation may be a root cause for increased violence and disassociative disorders. "Holt feels that children are not treated as if they are part of the community, that they are removed from the community for their education, and that they are not ready for it..." (Hausen 163) His observations are as a response to many years as a teacher in public schools. He believes that the challenges students face in a public school are absolutely contrary to their natural development into successful adults."
Abstract This paper is a discussion of the 2001 book "Black Mass" as a revealing account of the use and misuse of two notorious informers by the Boston office of the FBI. The paper contends that the book is a uniquely Boston tale about Italian-Irish rivalries in organized crime, law enforcement and politics.
From the Paper "The pop culture phenomena of reality-based television tabloid journalism and the fascination for true crime adventure seem to come together perfectly in Dick Lehr and Gerard O'Neill's Black Mass ..."
