The Importance Of The Three Strikes Law Criminology Essay

The Importance Of The Three Strikes Law Criminology Essay The three strikes law is a strict mandatory life sentence without parole on offenders convicted of felony crimes. These crimes include murder, robbery in which a deadly weapon was used, rape, or burglary. Differing opinions suggest that three strikes law is unfair and unjust because the law excessively affects African American and Latino men who have a higher representation throughout the criminal justice system. Others suggest that the three strikes law violates the Eighth Amendment of the Bill of Rights; because the law is unjust when convicted of a minor offense still count as a strike. I believe the three strikes law deters crime and future criminal behavior because it assembles the thought of facing tough consequences. THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK The three strikes law can be best understood within the neoclassical theoretical framework. The theoretical framework is a direct approach to policy making for the prevention and control of crime. It focuses on policies rather than crime causation and less concerned with finding causes of crime, along with finding what deters future criminal behavior. The neoclassical theoretical framework can be coupled with the specific and general deterrence theory. The specific deterrence theory emphasizes a point on the individual itself. The theory explains the discouragement of criminal behavior from future criminal acts by understanding the consequences. General deterrence theory concentrates on the prevention of crime by forging examples of distinguish criminal behavior. It exercises the public view to deter other individuals from committing the same crime. The experience is use to restrain others from perpetrating the same criminal acts. Schafers Argument: 3 Strikes as Deterrence The concept of deterrence is divided into two categories: general deterrence and specific. General deterrence takes place when potential offenders identify the consequences of other peoples actions and decide not to follow into their footsteps. Specific deterrence is triggered when offenders learn from their past. Schafer believes the three strikes laws often are seen as the answer to crime problems in America because it reduces crime either by throwing offenders in jail or deterring potential offenders from committing crimes. (p311) Schafer argues that three strikes law is an effective crime control policy that deters youthful offenders from becoming repeat offenders. In California, statistical evidence is provided by how crime has dropped 26.0 percent since 1994. (p 312) He then proceeds to contend on how juvenile offenders are more likely to be violent throughout their generation. The data he claims suggest that a small number of young offenders commit numerous unpunished crimes because the courts, especially the juvenile justice system, provide the offenders with countless second chances. The three strikes law would reinforce the motivation to change their criminal behavior because the juvenile justice systems do little to rehabilitate or deter young offenders from crime. (p 313) Schafer reinforces his argument by conducting a survey to measures the offenders experiences with the consequences of their crimes. The result of the survey concluded that, 61 percent of the offenders said they would not or probably would not commit a serious or violent crime if they knew their prison sentence would be doubled and 70 percent said that would not or probably would not commit the crime if they knew they would receive life in prison. (p 314) His survey demonstrated a deterrent effect from the root of the source. To conclude Schafers argument, he proved that offenders, who have repeated experiences with the criminal justice system, have learned through their consequences, and the rewards of the criminal act do not outweigh the consequences. Vitiellos Argument: 3 Strikes is not a Deterrent to Violent Crime Vitiello argues that three strikes law have no effect in reducing serious crime and the cost of the law is not beneficial to our society. Vitiello explains three strikes supporters argument is based on empirical data that defines the efficiency of the law. The efficiency of the law is supported by data that does not have a connection with the three strikes law. Reports from California prove that prior to the three strikes law, crime was already declining and after the three strikes, there were no drastic change in crime. Vitiello furthermore argues that when law makers were trying to measure the three strikes deterrent effect, they failed to find a marginal deterrent effect. There was a small change, but there was no significant explanation on the decline in the crime rate. The law itself is not helpful to the criminal justice system. Vitiello compared Californias and the nations crime rate average. He proved that Sectary of State Jones position on how California exceeding the declin e in crime nationwide, cuts both ways was false. The example given was that New Yorks policing polices had problems with crime during the 1990s, but it did not adapted the three strikes law; however, New York, had a higher decline in crime than California. Vitiello also reference the authors of Punishment and Democracy to support his position. The authors of Punishment and Democracy found that the decline in crime rate followed by the three strikes was not the cause of the decline, but the authors found that the decline in the crime rate preceded passage of the law. Even when the law was passed, there was not dramatic change because the crime rate stayed the same. The cause of the crime rate to be neutral was the decline that was operating prior to the passage of the law continued to be the primary reason for the drop in crime rates. Therefore, the three strikes play no role in the decline in crime rate. Overall, Vitiellos argument is based on empirical studies. His research found t hat California would have experience virtually the entire drop in crime without three strikes. ANAYLSIS: Schafers position on the three strikes law deters repeat offenders. Based on his studies, the evidence he provides concludes a convincing argument. Schafer explains how the concept of deterrence reflects on offenders and repeat offenders. Following by his survey, the results created a solid foundation for his argument. The whole idea of general deterrence is very effective. People are likely to commit a crime when the opportunity arises. If the consequence is tough they will be afraid to commit the crime. The creation of three strikes law is to put the fear in peoples mind to make them think twice about violating the law. All it takes a single thought about if its worth it or not. I see the specific deterrence theory as a way to deter repeat offenders. The three strikes helps fix the criminal justice system by putting those who choose to become repeat offenders to stay in jail. Most crimes today are from repeat offenders. From the Bureau of Justice Statistic Special Report, A 2002 st udy survey showed that among nearly 275,000 prisoners released in 1994, 67.5% were rearrested within 3 years, and 51.8% were back in prison. Explaining how more of our prisoners that get convicted are more likely to go back in prison. This is where the three strikes law takes place. We created a barrier for those offenders to think about what they are doing. We make them think about if its worth twenty five years to life. Another effective reason why three strikes is effective is because it targets repeat offenders who fail to change their criminal behavior after the second time. The mandatory twenty five years to life for third time offenders will put them away for a long time and it also keep them off the streets. This type of get tough law has done its part on reducing the crime rate throughout the nation. It serves as a deterrent and its the best weapon we got against repeat offenders. From Analysis of the California Attorney Generals Report, the drop in the crime rate that California has experiences since 1993 is drastically different from the first four year of 1990-1993 where the overall crime rate dropped only 2.4% and the violent crime rate increased 7.3%. When the three strikes law took effect, the crime rate dropped drastically to about 5 %. Some may argue that crime was reducing before the three strikes law. Data shows that crime was dropping before the law was passing, but when the law di d pass, it drastically declined boosting the drop further. Moreover, crime can be seen as a rational choice theory. The theory proposes that offenders measure the opportunities, cost, and benefits of particular crimes. (Hagan.2010. p 101) Hagan referenced Cornish and Clarkes (1986) rational choice theory by explaining how crime is a matter of situational choice and we need to increase the certainty and the severity of the punishment to exclude the temptation and the choice of criminal activity. Therefore, the three strikes law plays that role of decreasing the situational choice, so that crime cannot happen. The cost and benefit of the crime does not equal the punishment. In results, offenders are more likely to disregard criminal behavior because the three strikes law decreases the motivation to commit a crime. CONCLUSION: The three strikes law is used as deterrence. Many argue that its a waste of governments money. Some argue that its the best tool we got against repeat offenders. I personally feel that its the only defense we got against repeat offenders. The theory behind the law supports why the law would work. This law is based on human behavior. The human behavior based on learning from experience and making sure that experience was enough to deter the offender from committing the same act. The three strikes law revolves around the Neoclassical Theory and it deters repeat offenders.

Environmental Conservation :: essays research papers

There are several problems that affect our world today : crime, war, overpopulation, ? And pollution is one of the most serious problems. It is growing every year. More important, pollution, which we are creating, is destroying our sources of resources. Global warming, oil spills, air pollution,? are resulted from our litter such as exhausted from economies, broken ships. And we are suffering them : shortage of food, shortage of water. If we don?t have the suitable way to prevent pollution, the results won?t stop here. First, let talk about the supporting of our environment. Since prehistoric appeared, they have been depended on the environment. Fruits were the main source of food in this age. After revolutions, in spite of new inventions, we are still harvesting, collecting our food from fields, seas, which belong to environment. Furthermore, we are breathing the air made by trees. Our economies are operated by fossil fuels, or other sources of energy from our environment. In fact, we really need environment, everything surrounding us. Because of its free supporting, we presume that environment is our free servant and it won't be tired. It can become the most serious mistake of the human race. We take everything from environment and we throw them away after taking all of their values. We exploit resources as much as possible. When we have new advantages from new inventions, we use them as the most powerful tools to abuse environment. Under the pressure of development, global environment has been destroying seriously .What we done now leads to the catastrophic problems which we have to cope. The biggest problem is climate changing and reducing of ozone. Economies keep on growing and they release the large amount of carbon dioxide, which creates green-house effect. According to the newest research, world?s temperature increased 0.6 Celsius degree. And it is estimated to increase from 1.4 Celsius degree to 5.6 Celsius degree in 2100. Besides, CFCs has made the hole of ozone become bigger and bigger. Non-processed wastes from producing are dumped directly into rivers and streams. It leads to shortage of clean water over the world, especially in Africa, the continent with the minimum amount of rain. As the UN noticed, about 1.

The Cemetary and Loss in Faulkner’s The Sound and Fury Essay -- Faulkn

The Cemetary and Loss in Faulkner’s The Sound and Fury On the sixth page of the novel The Sound and The Fury, Caroline Compson informs her son Jason that she and her other son Benjy are "going to the cemetery." The sense of loss that runs through much of Faulkner's work, especially The Sound and The Fury, can be found in the quiet, black-and-white world of the dead. In a cemetery one is reminded of lives lost and lost lives. Faulkner honors both in his novel. The story reveals a multilayered cacophony of loss. The trees and the grave stones in the Laurel Grove cemetery have been around for a long time. So has the Compson family. Yet, I get the impression reading The Sound and The Fury that time is running out for Faulkner's fictional dysfunctional family. By the end of the story the...

‘A Passage to India’ by Forster Essay

â€Å"By close analysis of the structure and language of chapter one discuss how Forster expresses his overall concerns within the novel as a whole via this initial description of the Indian landscape.† Through chapter one of ‘A Passage to India’ Forster does far more than introduce the small town of Chandrapore. In this initial section of the novel the construction of the text reflects the tiered Indian society that becomes the basis for Forster’s deeper exploration of mankind and human behaviour. In addition, the ominous significance of the Marabar Caves within the novel is prefigured via the mysterious imagery used to describe them. This is contrasted by the more optimistic language which is used to describe the ‘overarching sky’ that unifies all men and points towards a hope for the future of peaceful co-existence. At the beginning of the chapter the reader is first introduced to the Muslim aspect of Chandrapore, the lowest tier of the Indian society but perhaps the most resilient. Here what Adela will later refer to as the ‘Real India’ is depicted. Through vivid imagery the area appears akin to a wasteland devoid of any significance. Even the holy river Ganges is described as â€Å"Trailing for a couple of miles†¦scarcely distinguishable from the rubbish it deposits so freely.† It is negative language such as this that creates a compounding sense of desolation about the ‘Real India.’ This of course is entirely necessary in order for Forster to create and convey the contrast between the Indian and English cultures which he believes to be incompatible in this context. Graphic and harsh language permeates the whole of this first section of the chapter creating a highly effective image of the squalor in which the Mohammedan Indians are condemned to live by their English rulers. The streets are â€Å"Mean† the â€Å"Temples ineffective† and the â€Å"Filth† of alleyways deters all but the invited guest.† By describing their quarter in such a way Forster makes the Muslim Indian seem almost sub-human to his readers, this of course, is how they are viewed by the English. They are remarked upon as â€Å"Low† but also as â€Å"Indestructible.† Despite their apparent lack of sophistication, the way in which, â€Å"The general outline of the town persists† comes to reflect the similar way in which the Muslim culture, although suppressed by the English, is based upon strong foundations of religious devotion and an inextinguishable spirit. Forster describes them as â€Å"Swelling here†¦shrinking there† and by doing so creates a very evocative image which captures perfectly the way in which the Indian race move ‘en-mass’ and in harmony, united in their angst to recapture their homeland. As Forster remarks, â€Å"Inland the prospect alters† and the Eurasian, Anglo-India described in the second section of the passage could not present a more stark contrast to that of Islamic Chandrapore. Here the houses belonging to the Eurasians â€Å"Stand on high ground† an important symbol which reflects the way in which the English believe themselves to be above the Indian race both morally and intellectually. It is this attitude of ignorance and racial superiority which will be developed and scathingly criticised by Forster as the novel progresses. Indeed it could be argued that humanity’s unwillingness to understand one another is the underlying theme behind the whole text and that in reality Adela and Mrs. Moore’s passage to India is in fact a deeper analogy for a more complex passage of mankind towards understanding itself. On a second rise of land lies the â€Å"Little civil station.† As the focal point for Eurasian society it is remarked that, â€Å"From here†¦Chandrapore appears to be a totally different place.† This observation encapsulates the way in which the station and its social club both seem to be isolated from the rest of India. Immersed in a fantasy world of British high society the station itself is described as, â€Å"Provoking no emotion† and â€Å"Sensibly planned.† This epitomises the logical mindset of the English, which deeply contrasts that of the spiritual Indian and highlights how even at a simple level of human understanding harmony is not possible between the two cultures creating the â€Å"Muddle† which is colonial India. Britain’s attitude of imposing herself upon other nations, typical of this time period before partition, is something heavily attacked by Forster. Throughout the text he is seen to criticise England replicated in India because to him this is unnatural and false. During the entirety of this second section of the passage Forster adopts a tone of negativity towards the English. Their section of Chandrapore is described as, â€Å"Sharing nothing with the rest of the city except the overarching sky† conveying the way in which they consciously isolate themselves from the Indians. In the overall context of the novel this image becomes very important. As gradually relations between the two races come to deteriorate the sky comes to be the only unifying element between Indian and Englishman. Further more, the way in which the image is echoed throughout the text seems to suggest the existence of a more powerful presence beyond man both physically and in terms of significance within the universe. It is Forster’s belief that ultimately the petty quarrels of man are meaningless in such a vast entity. The final section of the chapter is used by Forster to expand on the concept of the overarching sky. It is described as having a â€Å"Persistent blue core† the stars â€Å"Hanging like lamps from the immense vault† which is the sky and it is elevated imagery such as this which comes to symbolise a hope for the future of mankind. In contrast to the â€Å"muddle† and â€Å"misunderstanding† which covers India and the rest of the earth, the sky instead represents an element which unifies all men. Its persistence represents a hope that one day all the problems of man explored within the novel will pale into insignificance. It could be argued the description of the sky evokes an atmosphere akin to that of the Hindu religion. Forster remarks, â€Å"The sky settles everything† and indeed to Godbole and his fellow Hindus this is to a certain degree true. The unanswerable questions, the answers to which are sought by both Muslim and Christian are left to be pondered by Godbole. He seeks to answer questions about his own spiritual existence and the natural world around him. As a result his passage within the novel becomes one of progression as opposed one to of retreat as is experienced by Aziz and Fielding. The Chapter ends with a final short image of the mysterious Marabar caves. All around â€Å"League after league the earth lies flat,† yet in the south, â€Å"A group of fists and fingers are thrust up through the soil.† These fingers are the ‘Marabar hills’ and seem to point mysteriously towards the heavens above. The way in which they seem to separate themselves from their earthly surroundings suggests an equally unearthly presence about them. This of course will be proved true by the supernatural and inexplicable violation which Adela experiences within their walls. Dark and devoid of humanity they represent an aspect of India that the logical English will never be able to conquer. Therefore it is possible to conclude that the first Chapter of ‘A Passage to India’ can be regarded as a template for the novel as a whole. Almost all of Forster’s overall concerns are indicated by its content and it is clear that the varied description of the Indian landscape comes to symbolise differences between those who inhabit the land. This disjointed construction of society will only increase as the novel progresses ultimately leading to the personal retreat of the novel’s two main characters, Aziz and Fielding whom are unable to stand out as individuals and trapped within the confines of their own cultures. It will be only the deeply spiritual Godbole who is shown to have made any real progress via his own ‘Passage to India’ and of course Mrs. Moore, who despite her death becomes a symbol for hope by the way in which she is revered as a Hindu Goddess. Bibliography â€Å"A Passage to India† – E.M. Forster Classic notes – www.classicnotes.com

Managing Conflict In The Work Place

Workplace conflict is common in every working environment. It arises from many causes and can have an extremely destructive effect on productivity. Recent studies have even found that in more and more cases it is leading to violence. It is obviously very important for managers to quickly and effectively manage any conflict that arises. 1. 1 The causes of conflict in work are as follows; Conflicting resources, this is when employees are forced to share the use of certain resources.Conflicting styles, everybody works differently according to their own personality, strengths and weaknesses however this can often cause conflict because other employees may not like that particular style of working. Conflicting perceptions, we all see the world differently and differing opinions can often result in conflict. Also, certain people may have access to different or more information than others and so are able to perceive things differently. Conflicting goals, different people in our team may ha ve different goals which they are working towards which could possibly be a hindrance to someone else’s goals.Also, different managers might have different priorities when it comes to how work is completed. Conflicting pressures, is very similar to conflicting goals although usually involves urgent tasks. If you need a staff member or team to complete a piece of work quickly for you but they are already working towards another urgent deadline it puts pressure on the individual or team. Conflicting roles, sometimes staff will have to take on work that they may feel doesn’t fall within their job responsibility, or they may feel that another person is being given a task that should belong to them.Different personal values, a person might be asked to complete a job that conflicts with their ethical values. Unpredictable policies, when polices or practices change within an organisation and those changes are not properly communicated conflict can arise. 1. 2 Stages in the de velopment of conflict are as follows; No conflict, this is the ideal state for an organisation however it is likely that conflict will arise at some point. Latent conflict, people have differing values and ideas and while this is not a problem in itself, it is likely that an event will occur that will make such differences more noticeable and then conflict can arise.Emergence, at this stage team members will start to recognise that they have different ideas and values and difference can start to cause discord and tension. Escalation, if team members involved in conflict cannot find a resolution, conflict can escalate. Tensions will rise and people will start to pick sides. Stalemate, at this point conflict has escalated to a point where tensions are running high and neither party is willing to back down. De-escalation, even the most intense conflict will eventually calm down and parties will reluctantly begin to negotiate. Settlement and resolution, parties will find a solution to t he problem.As a manger you may have to work closely with the team to help reach this stage amicably. Peace building and reconciliation, once parties have reached a solution it is important to repair and strengthen working relationships to prevent future conflict. 1. 3 Explain the effects of conflict on individual and team performance in the workplace. A substantive conflict relates specifically to team performance and goals. Substantive conflicts in the workplace can have a positive impact on individual and team performance by helping to refine best practice and creating a little healthy competition between teams and individuals.Working through conflicts can also be seen as a key phase of group development. However they can cause slower performance if individuals or groups are not working in ways which are compatible with the best and quickest completion of set tasks. An affective conflict tends to be about personal disagreements or dislikes, or in a group setting may relate to the assigned task. These can have a detrimental effect on a group’s ability to work together and communicate with each other effectively. When conflicts are based on personal dislikes and disagreements this can also to exclusion and bullying in the work place and staff forming cliques.This can greatly impact on employee job satisfaction, staff turnover which lead to company prosperity suffering or even litigation. 1. 4 Explain any recognised technique a manger could use to minimise and resolve conflict in the work place. Mediation is one form of conflict resolution were an impartial third party will meet with two conflicting individuals to discuss a settlement. The meeting will be private and confidential and each individual is given an equal footing and encouraged to discuss their issues freely.Mediation is a voluntary process  and conflicting parties are able to work together to find a mutual agreement. There is a high rate of compliance in mediated conflict resolution becaus e both parties have equal say in finding a solution. 1. 5 Describe how a manager could create harmony at work and engender a positive atmosphere in order to minimise the adverse effects of conflict. Firstly and most importantly try to stamp out gossiping. Gossip has the most detrimental effect on workplace harmony. Just listening to gossip, even when not engaging in it will almost certainly affect people’s views and opinions of someone else.Ensure that all employees are treated equally and that you are not seen as playing favourites with certain staff members. Ensure staff have adequate and appropriate resources to complete their work. When hiring new staff, try hire people that you think will be a good fit with the current team. If a team member is not pulling their weight or not working to a high enough standard, make sure this is dealt with quickly to avoid leaving the situation to fester and cause discord. Have an open door policy so your staff feel like they can come to you with any problems and be listened to and supported.

Dental Amalgam and the Risks Essay

What is amalgam? Amalgam is a combination of metals that has been used in dentistry for more than 100 years. It is still commonly used today. Although it sometimes is called â€Å"silver amalgam,† amalgam actually consists of a combination of metals. These include silver, mercury, tin and copper. Small amounts of zinc, indium or palladium also may be used. How safe is amalgam? Many studies on the safety of amalgam fillings have been done. In 2009, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) evaluated this research. It found no reason to limit the use of amalgam. The FDA concluded that amalgam fillings are safe for adults and children ages 6 and above. Why is mercury used in amalgam? Mercury is used in amalgam because it helps make the filling material pliable. When it is mixed with an alloy powder, it creates a compound that is soft enough to mix and press into the tooth. But it also hardens quickly and can withstand the forces of biting and chewing. Why the concern about mercury in amalgam? Everyone is exposed to mercury through air, drinking water, soil and food. Concerns have been raised, for instance, about the amount of mercury building up in fish as a result of pollution. Mercury enters the air from industries that burn mercury-containing fuels. Mercury from all sources can build up in body organs. As with most substances, the degree of harm caused by mercury in the body is related to the amount. Very low levels don’t cause any ill effects. At higher levels — for instance, when workers are exposed to mercury through their jobs — mercury can cause several symptoms. These include anxiety, irritability, memory loss, headaches and fatigue. Studies have shown that the amount of mercury you are exposed to from your fillings is less than the amount that most people are exposed to in their daily environment or in the food they eat. Do some people have reactions to amalgam? In rare cases, people have allergic reactions to the mercury in amalgam. The American Dental Association says that fewer than 100 cases of this type of allergy have ever been reported. People allergic to amalgam can receive other filling materials. Should pregnant women be concerned about amalgam feelings? Research has not shown any health effects from amalgam fillings in pregnant women. However, mercury can cross the placenta. In general, dentists advise pregnant women to avoid unnecessary dental care. Women should not get amalgam fillings during pregnancy. Dentists can suggest other materials for any pregnant woman who needs a cavity filled. If amalgam is safe, why does my dentist take precautions when handling it? Because dentists work with mercury almost every day, they must take safety precautions. Without protection, dentists can inhale mercury vapors. Over time, this exposure can produce symptoms of mercury toxicity. How is dental amalgam made? To make dental amalgam, dentists mix liquid mercury with a powder containing silver, tin and other metals. Dentists buy special capsules that contain the powder and the liquid mercury, separated by a membrane. They use special machinery to puncture the membrane and mix the amalgam while it is still in the capsule. Once mixing is complete, the capsule is opened. By the time the amalgam is placed in your tooth, the mercury has formed a compound with the other metals. It is no longer toxic.

Injection molding essays

Injection molding essays Injection molding is a process used to form products from plastic. The process requires a mold, clamping component, injection unit, and some sort of plastic. As time has advanced so has injection molding by developing new techniques and new products to aid in the manufacturing of the injection molded parts. Injection molding was used as early as the 1860s. It can be used to form many different products. Whether the products are small, large, complex, or simple they can be produced. Injection molding has derived from metal die casting. However, the polymer cant just be poured into a mold, it has to be forced into the mold cavity. The polymer is forced into the mold and pressure is held on it to avoid shrinkage in the mold cavity as it cools. Injection molding is capable of producing a large number of parts with very high precision. All thermoplastics except polytetraflouroethylene (PTFE), polyamides, and some aromatic polyesters can be used by the injection molding machine. Some thermosetting plastics can also be used. The typical fabrication process can be done by one of two different types of injection molding equipment. Either a plunger, or reciprocating screw type machine can be used. The process starts by melting the polymer resin. Once the resin is melted, a mold is placed in the clamping unit. The clamping unit is to hold the mold together. The plunger or reciprocating screw then force the polymer resin into the mold. In the plunger operated machine, the plunger is hydraulically operated. This forces the plastic through a heated area, where it is then spread into a thin layer by the torpedo. Then the melt comes to the nozzle and is injected into the mold. The reciprocating screw rotates, this moves the polymer resin forward for injection. As the screw rotates it acts to melt, mix, and pump the polymer to prepare it for injection. The reciprocating ...