Cultural Perspectives on Crime Essay

Minorities are over represented in the criminal justice system because they are targeted during drives to reduce hooliganism, juvenile drug offenses and crime. Then there are biases against them during prosecution, trial and judgment. Finally, the minorities get harsher sentences than their white counterparts (Davis. A 1998). In my opinion the minorities are over represented in the criminal justice system because of prejudices within the system. Way back in 1991, in LA, police officers beating Rodney King were captured on video. Rodney was a black man and this evidence supported the claims of the Afro-American community that cases of police brutality were a norm. The prejudice in the system was further exposed when in the trial court; the jury did not find the four officers guilty of wrongdoing. This case helped to justify the claims that there was a bias in the justice system and that it was very difficult for colored persons to get justice. This form of discrimination it is alleged is found in the entire justice system. In reality what has happened is that there is a failure of judges, even elected officials to correct the injustices in the criminal justice system. In addition, the criminal justice policy makers have also failed to redress injustice (Lochner. L, 2003). The result is that minority groups in general and black and Hispanic Americans are targeted and victimized by law enforcement agencies. When charging for crimes is done it is the colored persons that are targeted. To add insult to injury colored law abiding citizens are regularly challenged because of racial profiling and police bias. This prejudice has permeated almost everywhere. When the cop is patrolling his attitude towards colored people for the purpose of prosecution and penalty to the treatment of colored by the prosecutors and judges. The essential point is that all individuals should be treated in a similar manner. This is what the Constitution requires the justice system to do. What is the consequence of such police action? The prison inmates are mostly Hispanic and blacks. There are communities of blacks who have actually fallen apart and have dispersed because a large part of the youth has been lost to prisons. This has fostered a belief in these people that the law enforcement system cannot be trusted and should not be supported (Cole. G & Smith. C 2004). This belief has reinforced the prejudice in the law enforcement agencies that colored communities are beds of lawlessness and so should be punished and incarcerated. How is this prejudice reinforced? There are law enforcement policies and tactics that target blacks and Hispanics, moreover, there is the issue of racial profiling. In other words the blacks and Hispanics are usually the targets of suspicion. What happens is that on the basis of bias and suspicions the blacks and Hispanics are blamed for most of the crimes in the area, and ultimately jailed. This system is well ingrained in prosecution. At every step the blacks and Hispanics are treated unfairly. During the first plea bargaining with prosecutors to the final sentencing, there are preconceived notions against blacks and Hispanics. The persons in the justice system especially the judges and prosecutors are all logical and rational persons but there are presuppositions that are introduced in the system which skews the outcomes against blacks and Hispanics (Pratto. F 1994). Till recently sentencing was an important task of great responsibility that was entrusted to judges that were known to be men of integrity and impartiality. Currently, there has been an involvement in sentencing of sentencing commissioners, prosecutors and legislators that has made this process inhuman and mechanical leading to long sentences against the blacks and African Americans. What are the consequences? Several colored people who would otherwise have received shorter or non-jail sentences are now languishing in jail. If those blacks that were eligible for probation had been treated similar to their white counterparts, they would have not been jailed. What is more appalling is that if the courts had taken cognizance of the inequities piled on the colored people injustice could have been reduced (Petersilia. J 1983). The courts in general have refused to investigate into or rectify racial inequality in the system. There are several reasons why the inequity against blacks and Hispanics is being perpetrated. One is that the statistical information about the overrepresentation of minorities in the criminal justice system has not adequately been compiled. In addition, there is not adequate diversification of the law enforcement agencies especially the police (Miller J 1996). Further in light of harsh sentencing against blacks and Hispanics, the death penalty should at least be suspended. Most importantly, the sentencing guidelines are outdated. Finally, the existence of the felony disenfranchisement laws creates and perpetrates prejudice in the system. One area in which the prejudice against minorities is most lucid is the juvenile justice system. There is an extremely harsh treatment against blacks and Hispanics. These youths are tracked and marked in most anti drug campaigns. They are put behind bars. There are more and more black and Hispanics arrested for selling drugs where as arrests of white juveniles has decreased (Bishop. D, 2000). What happens when there is discrimination against blacks and Hispanics? Those minorities who violate a law can expect longer sentences; they can expect fewer leniencies than their white counterparts. In addition, minority youth face harsher sentences and bear the brunt of the efforts of legislators to treat them as adults. The result being that these minority youth because of the machinations of the legislators are more likely to be converted to hardened criminals. Finally whenever legislators or policy makers choose to enforce law more vigorously, there is an increase in the number of atrocities against minority offenders. Even though the constitution requires that two cocaine dealers be treated equally by the law we find that the minority dealer bears the wrath of the law enforcement agencies. Ethnic background and racial heritage is becoming a basis for unfairness. This inequity is pervasive and affects every step of the criminal justice system (Sherman L 2002). What is dreadful is that in the criminal justice system, racial discrimination is increasing and not reducing. This makes a mockery of the progress in civil rights made till now. To sum, black and Hispanics bear the worst rage of the criminal justice system. They are followed by cops, watched and arrested more than their white counterparts. Then they face a criminal justice system that assumes that colored people are more likely to commit crimes. They are dragged to juries, prosecutors and judges who feel that minorities are more likely to have committed crimes. Finally, the legislative machinery ensures that tough sentences are passed against them to root out crime in the country.. They are over represented in the criminal justice system because they have been singled out for ruthless treatment. References: Bishop. D, (2000) Juvenile Offenders in the Adult Criminal Justice System, Crime and Justice, Vol. 27, pp 81-167 Cole. G & Smith. C, (2004) The American System of Criminal Justice, Thomson Wadsworth. Davis. A (1998) Prosecution and Race: The Power and Privilege of Discretion, Fordham Law Review. Vol. LXVII, No. 1. Lochner. L, (2003) Individual Perceptions of Criminal Justice System, Working Paper 9474 NBER Working Paper Series available at: http://www. nber. org/papers/w9474 Miller J (1996) Search and Destroy: African-American Males in the Criminal Justice System, Cambridge University Press. Petersilia. J (1983) Racial Disparities in the Criminal Justice System, Rand Corporation, Santa Monica. Pratto. F (1994) Attenuators and Hierarchy Enhancers: Social Dominance Theory and the Criminal Justice System, Journal of Applied Social Psychology, Volume 24, Issue 4. Sherman L (2002), Trust and Confidence in Criminal Justice, NIJ Journal, Retrieved from: http://www. ncjrs. gov/pdffiles1/nij/189106-1. pdf on January 4, 2007.

Biological Anthropology Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Biological Anthropology - Assignment Example H. Sapiens was able to outcompete and survive than the Neanderthals because the Neanderthals were not wise enough to adapt to cultural and physiological advancements. Although the Neanderthals’ brains can be compared to that of H. Sapiens and of a modern man but their brains were solely focused on the needs of their massive bodies, leaving them unable to think logically on how they could innovate and survive as species. The case of the Neanderthal is more physiological than cultural: because they used their brains to identify the needs of their bodies, intercommunication was never part of their exercise and could have caused their extinction. During the Ice Age, H. Sapiens were more clever enough to speak complicated languages and build operations far from their locations but the Neanderthals were limited in these aspects. 2. According to the textbook, the biological definition of race is a population with individuals that have defining and measurable biological descriptions with an Fst of at least 0.25 virtual to other populations of the species. Among Humans, however, the Fst is only 0.17. This goes to say that Homo Sapiens do not have biological races. Furthermore, there is also no way to look at the genetic cards and identify race. Race, in my opinion, is just a matter of personal view. If you can certainly believe that you can categorize humans into groups based on their colors – whether it is a shade of brown or black or white – then that is a matter of personal standpoint. Nevertheless, categorization of humans based on color does not guarantee accuracy and uniformity among all people: how would you be able to distinguish an African person to an Australian aborigine? There is not enough variation in human population that could be used as basis for classifying humans into races or subspecies, much less, if

Effects of Environmental Pollution Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Effects of Environmental Pollution - Essay Example This paper analyses these effects with regard to air pollution, water pollution, soil pollution noise pollution, light pollution as well litter pollution. Environmental pollution presents both physical and biological effects. Physical effects of pollution are those that we can see. Nonetheless, they sometimes include environmental effects that do not cause physical damage. Biological effects on the other hand, are the most serious effect of environmental pollution. More than often, pollution has induced harmful biological effects on human health, and on the food chains of animals, marines and other living organisms. Thus, pollution can lead to a serious disruption of the balance of nature. In some extreme instances, pollution has caused death of human beings, both directly and indirectly. At this juncture, it is important to analyze the effects associated with each individual form of environmental pollution. The first and most prominent form of environmental pollution is air pollutio n. It refers to the introduction of chemicals and other biological material in the atmosphere. Air pollution causes harm and discomfort to human beings and other living organisms as well. ... Other health effects attributable to air pollution include asthma, reduced energy levels, headaches and dizziness, disruption of the endocrine and immune systems, cardiovascular disorders as well as neurobehavioral disorders. According to the World health organization, close to three million deaths worldwide can be directly attributed to air pollution (Hill 82). Chlorofluorocarbons emitted in the air are also known to cause severe damage by depleting the ozone layer hence contributing to global warming. Consequently, global warming has presented more adverse effects on humanity. Global warming refers to ecological as well as social changes which have transpired as a result of a rise in global temperatures. The global warming has caused a plethora of adverse effects on human health. Scientists have evidence that global warming has generally the escalated prevalence of certain diseases is intricately interlinked to global warming. In this regards, the soaring deaths due to diseases suc h as diarrhea, malaria and dengue fever have been attributed to the adverse effects of global warming. Secondly, we have water pollution. This refers to the contamination of water bodies. In most cases, water pollution occurs when various pollutants are directly of indirectly released into the water bodies. It is also caused by the disposal of industrial waste products into lakes, rivers, oceans and other water bodies. Acid rain is also another palpable contributor of water pollution. This has adverse effects on both plants and water-dwelling organism besides human beings. According to Hill (63), water pollution is known to cause an estimated fourteen thousand death per day. Most of these occur as a result of direct

American Political Thought Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

American Political Thought - Essay Example Ever since Cain killed Abel, it became necessary to protect future Abels, and to restrain the Cains. And after the concept of private property became established, it became crucial to protect that as well. Thus was born the 'state'. The government is the manifest spirit of the state - constituted by a group of people who represent it. The legitimacy of the state and its government is thus based on the interests of the people it serves; and this dictum holds true for even the most autocratic state governed by the most despotic of rulers. Is the role of the government, one of mere maintenance - of peace and security, and private property, or should it concern itself with much more than that Let us examine this question, with reference, primarily, to the views of Henry David Thoreau (1817-1862) a naturalist and 'philosopher cum political theorist' (perhaps the term reminds us of the Platonic, 'Philosopher-King Though Thoreau himself would have been quite appalled to have himself be compared to any 'king', despite the addition of the title 'philosopher'!) Thoreau's views on the state, which are set down in his work Civil Disobedience, influenced not only Mohandas Gandhi and Martin Luther King, but also those who struggled for the abolition of apartheid in South Africa, and more recently into the '70's and till today - those (especially in America) who have taken an ethical stand against war. Thoreau unequivocally rejected the right of the state to impose taxes, and stated that "that government is best which governs the least" (website thinkexist.com) The immediate reason for Thoreau's writing, summarily rejecting the authority of the state was on account of his being imprisoned (this was only for a day, as he was bailed out by his family, much to his discomfiture!). He had refused to pay a poll tax, and his refusal was a deliberate act of defiance, as he stated that the government had no right to tax him. He declared that it was against his conscience to pay taxes to a government, which indulged in acts he did not approve of. Although the government, especially in a democracy, represented the voice of the people, Thoreau stated that it also stood for the interests of elite politicians, which he was in no way ready to support. He went to the extent of arguing that even if the government did right, and followed the will of the majority, those who chose to disagree with the majority also had their right to not follow the diktats of this majority as expressed through the government; they (the minority) should be permitted to live on their own, unconnected with the state. (McElroy) He was, in fact, recommending a situation of peaceful and constructive anarchy, where each individual could choose to dwell within or without the 'confines' (in the abstract and not a physical sense) of the state, as he pleased. What did Thoreau find so repugnant with the government of his day He objected to the government's support and continuance of slavery and also the Mexican-American war. Thoreau wrote his Civil Disobedience roughly fifteen years before slavery was abolished in the US, and the debate over its abolition was just gaining momentum. Apart from this, the government had embarked on a policy of expansion, based on a common perception that it was the "Manifest Destiny" (McElroy) of America to expand and bring under control the native populations. In this process, Texas was annexed, and this led to a

Patricia Benners Nursing Theory Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Patricia Benners Nursing Theory - Essay Example This is an excellent perception in the field of nursing and draws on concepts from Nightingale as well which make it even more powerful. The main points of this research with regard to this theory will emphasize that patients deserve the best quality of care that can be given and nurses can only do this by drawing upon the knowledge and experiences that they have gained through clinical areas and on into areas of more pronounced nursing care from their past as well. All of these experiences help the nurse become better attuned to her nursing duties and more prepared to know what to do in times of great stress also. As the conclusion will point out, sharing this knowledge with other nurses and medical professionals is what strengthens the nursing care that patients are meant to receive. It helps the knowledge and acquired skills to grow, moving certain forms of nursing over from novice care givers to care givers who are full of excellence and continue to grow in order to provide even more improved supportive services to those who need it the most. Patricia Benner states "Knowledge development in a practice discipline consists of extending practical knowledge (know-how) through theory based scientific investigations and through the charting of the existent know how developed through clinical experience i... Benner's theory expects nursing to gradually improve the care we provide through academics and experience. She also believes that nursing only benefits if that knowledge learned is shared. Processes can only be improved with the knowledge of what is wrong. Clinicians and leaders should develop programs in their facility to allow for discussion of patient observation, mistakes and mishap to enhance the clinical judgment of the entire nursing staff. Following a strategic theorization such as Benner's emphasizes the power to minimize medical mistakes and errors resulting from misguided care, especially due to the fact that much of the knowledge is shared among the medical practicing team (American Nurses Association 2000). Such accidents are errors that could be avoided, which are considered to be sentinel events that stem from an unexpected occurrence involving death or serious physical or psychological injury, or the risk thereof due to lack of knowledge, experience, or even shared knowledge among the nursing staff (Ballard 2002). Benner's theory defines that the top recommendation for nursing leaders is to come to the forefront and recognize errors and near misses as learning tools to prevent future errors. The basic premise is that nurses do not go to work to harm patients, but the processes that are in place put everyone at a greater risk. This shows that this theory focuses heavily on patient safety and the concerns of the patient; as well it should since there are so many errors that take place in the medical environment in current day (Institute of Medicine 2000). For instance, in terms of lives lost, patient safety is as important an issue as worker safety. Every year, over 6,000 Americans di e from

Project Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words - 3

Project - Essay Example I tried to engage three people in general conversations such as politics, sports and movies. Of the three two didn’t amount to much but one, a colleague at work, seemed to amount to something. I actually summoned the courage to ask for her phone number without feeling as if I was crossing the line. At the close of the day, I did not remember the two failed conversations, but I was happy I could make a friend. I said ‘NO’ to a colleague, who was asking for my time, since I had other commitments at that particular time, and I did not feel guilty about it. And as much as I thought he would be disappointed in me, he wasn’t. I was broke, but I summoned the courage to borrow some money from a colleague without feeling embarrassed about it. I actually accepted that I am not more respectable just because I appear self-sufficient. I attended a staff party that involved taking alcoholic drinks and dancing. I did not take any alcohol despite the pressure, and I realized that they did not mind it; in fact, they thought it was respectable to stand by my

The current economic situation will force every one to consider Essay

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