Critical Issues in the American Criminal Justice System -...

Critical Issues in the American Criminal Justice System: Sentencing Decisions and the Death Penalty Richard W Ramsay Dr. Allen Lowery CJ 6624 – Court Administration December 1, 2010 Abstract This paper discusses three critical issues in the criminal justice system. It touches on the general issues of punishment philosophies, sentence decision making, and prison overcrowding and focused more specifically on the negative effects of each. Highlighted in this informational paper is the interrelated nature of the issues; each issue affects and is affected by the others. Data and information has been gathered from the FBI Uniform Crime Report, the Bureau of Justice Statistics, Amnesty International, the NAACP Legal Defense†¦show more content†¦375) and by using this hedonistic calculus people will refrain from committing crimes. This concept focuses on the punishment fitting the criminal and on preventing future crimes from occurring. The three most important factors in effectively deterring a criminal from further crimes are the severity of the punishment, the certainty of the punishment, and the swiftness of the punishment. If criminal doesn’t believe he will be punished or he feels the punishment is minor in comparison to the crime or if the punishment is not swift enough, then he/she will not be deterred from committing crimes. Studies on the effectiveness of deterrence have shown to be inconclusive. The deficient areas of deterrence are crimes committed in the heat of passions, crimes committed under the influence of drugs or alcohol, and the massive backlog of cases in the nation’s courts (Neubauer amp; Fradella, 2008). Incapacitation, the removal of the offender from society to prevent them from harming society further, has been in use since ancient times. The incapacitation may be in the form of exile, penal colonies, prison, or placement in a mental institution. Regardless of the form, incapacitation places its focus on the future behavior of the offender and on the characteristics of the offender. It assumes that since that majority of crime is committed by a small number of criminals, removing them from society will redu ce crime. What this theory does not take in toShow MoreRelatedRacial Disparity in Sentencing1728 Words   |  7 PagesDisparity in Sentencing Lori Raynor University of Phoenix Cultural Diversity in Criminal Justice CJA/423 Ron McGee September 06, 2010 Abstract In this paper I will illustrate racial disparity in sentencing in the criminal justice system. The causes of racial disparity and the reasons it is on the rise, the research statistics, and the proposed solutions are discussed. Racial Disparity in Sentencing The intersection of racial dynamics with the criminal justice system is one ofRead MoreDeath Penalty Sentencing and the Criminal Justice System619 Words   |  2 Pagesï » ¿Jpz777 04/15/2013 Order # 2091084 An examination of death penalty sentencing procedures within the American criminal justice system suggests that the legal and moral authority to execute condemned criminals granted to a government has been tested time and time again, only to be reaffirmed by the Supreme Court. While the 1960s saw a series of failed attempts to ban the practice, launched by death penalty abolitionist groups firm in their belief that murder can never be justified, it was not untilRead MoreEssay on Should the Death Penalty be Abolished?3057 Words   |  13 PagesShould the death penalty be abolished? The death penalty does one thing it â€Å"kills.† It temporarily takes away the pain for someone’s loss, but in the end it does not bring back the person you loved. 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Most frequently, theRead MoreRacial Inequality And The Criminal Justice System2318 Words   |  10 Pagesthe significances of these words in the context of the criminal justice system. When assessing these terms as they relate to the criminal justice system, discrimination and disparity of racial and ethnic groups has been acknowledged by many for some time. In some situations disparity can be an outcome of discrimination in the justice system. Disparity refers to injustice of all aspects of the criminal justice system, from arrests to sentencing for certain groups of people; it almost always refersRead MoreCriminal Justice System and Process Essay1347 Words   |  6 Pagesas Criminal Law (Law Library, 2011). Criminal law is also termed as Penal law, it comprises of rules as well as statutes that have been written by the Congress and the state legislators who deal with criminal activities (petty crimes, felonies or misdemeanors) that have a direct o r indirect harm to the general public and is accompanied by penalties of these crimes, (Morrison, 2008). Criminal law is enforced by the government. Criminal law has sub-sections that include: Substantive Criminal LawRead MoreSentencing of Juveniles2625 Words   |  11 PagesThe Sentencing of Juveniles Today, we live in a society faced with many problems, including crime and the fear that it creates. In the modern era, juveniles have become a part of society to be feared, not rehabilitated. The basis of the early juvenile justice system was to rehabilitate and create safe havens for wayward youth. This is not the current philosophy, although the U.S. is one of the few remaining countries to execute juveniles. Presently, our nation is under a presidential administrationRead More Sentencing of Juveniles Essay2553 Words   |  11 PagesThe Sentencing of Juveniles Today, we live in a society faced with many problems, including crime and the fear that it creates. In the modern era, juveniles have become a part of society to be feared, not rehabilitated. The basis of the early juvenile justice system was to rehabilitate and create safe havens for wayward youth. This is not the current philosophy, although the U.S. is one of the few remaining countries to execute juveniles. Presently, our nation is under a presidential administrationRead MoreCapital Punishment Should Be Banned1515 Words   |  7 Pagespunishment has been a part of the nation’s history as it dates back to the British North American colonies. Capital punishment was also used as a way to remove those prosecuted for being â€Å"witches† during the famous Salem Witch Trials. These days the use of the death penalty has become an anachronism. In recent times has capital punishment become a place for argument to those supporting and those opposing the death penalty. Capita l punishment should be federally banned for its inconsistencies in provingRead MoreThe Argument Of Capital Punishment1922 Words   |  8 PagesThe Argument of Capital Punishment There not many issues in the criminal justice system that have caused more heated discussions and arguments as consistent and strong as that of the argument of capital punishment. Capital punishment (death penalty) is one of the most critical issue that has strong defenders and opponents. This kind of punishment is the most severe form in the U.S. todays and it has different type which lethal injection

A Bergerian Reading and Chris “Ludacris” Bridges Free Essays

The whole of our existence is shaped by our experiences – the various situations that we find ourselves in. Parts of our experiences are influenced by what we see, and what we see takes us to new levels of experiences that allow us to situate ourselves in thoughts or visions represented by what we virtually perceive. Interpretations of visual texts, such as works of art, therefore are based on our perceptions and points of view, consequently leading to subjectivity despite the conventional meanings embedded within these works of art by the artist. We will write a custom essay sample on A Bergerian Reading and Chris â€Å"Ludacris† Bridges or any similar topic only for you Order Now Under these pretexts, various works of art, borne out of the social events, situations, or landscapes in the past, become subjects of mystification. Such are the views or perspectives of John Berger on art, particularly on Franz Hals’ portraits, the â€Å"Regents of the Old Men’s Alms House† and the â€Å"Regentesses of the Old Men’s House† (1580-1666) – that the social construct from which these works were created are mystified because of its incongruity to modern times. Berger, a seasoned art critique, presented a complex yet analytical perspective on the works of Hals, focusing on their being representative of history and how they are inevitably mystified not only by our perspectives as inhabitants of the modern day world but also Hals’, in his own words, oversimplification of what the portraits truly imply. Moreover, because of Berger’s analysis and personal critiques on the work of Hals, we as viewers of the visual text, begin to understand that the portraits are not merely images that represent superficial artistic and social elements such as unity and harmony, the ideas formed from observing facial expressions, gestures, and such. Furthermore, Hals’ works of art are snapshots of the social and economic situations that the artist, the regents and the regentesses found themselves in. The portraits seem to capture the kind of relationship that exists between the artist and the subjects of art, expressing something more – a drama that represents a historical landscape that is shared by Hals and his subjects within a social environment that was illuminated and solidified by large gaps among social groups or classes – brought to life by Hals’ artistry and ingà ©nue in translating emotions and perspectives to visual arts. The analytical perspectives of Berger as explored in his interpretations of Hals’ portraits shall be utilized to describe the messages or arguments evident in a portrait taken of the actor/rapper Chris â€Å"Ludacris† Bridges. In order to do so, it is highly significant to go over Berger’s perceptions or points of view on viewing art, particularly of Hals’ portraits, by creating a framework from which the visual analysis of the Ludacris’ portrait shall be based on. According to Berger, the act of viewing pieces of art may be done in various ways depending on: a) one’s perspective, b) the artists’ perspective, c) other people’s perspectives, d) the social, economic, or political situations within which the piece of art was conceptualized, and e) the present social, economic, or political situations completing a shared link between the past and the present. Moreover, Berger stressed that it is equally important that in order to understand the genuine sense or value of pieces of art, that viewers look or interpret them beyond their personal perspectives and the pictorial nature of the portrait. Viewing art should not adhere to convention of perspectives that was existent during the Renaissance because it limits the span of pieces of art to convey deeper and comprehensive meanings. The convention of perspectives isolates what the viewer might all-inclusively learn cognitively, emotionally or psychologically, socially, spiritually and such. Therefore, reading or interpreting visual texts should be a combination of one’s perspectives as they relate to the artists’ and other people’s perspectives, and the connections between the social, economic, and political situations from past to present. Human beings should also be aware that they are represented by and connected to art, as art is also able to view the viewer because of shared visual perspectives. The key to analyzing Ludacris’ portrait is to view it radically, if we are to align ourselves with Berger’s ideologies and perspectives. Ludacris’ portrait, being an image intended to represent remarkable style to signify celebrity-like success, borders on deception and absurdity. The explicit message that the artist photographer Robert Maxwell intended to express was associated with the vision of Moà «t Chandon; and that is, how adapting elegant, stylish, and distinctive fashion may be translated to remarkableness and success in the limelight that are consequently significant causes for celebration This argument is solidified by the nature of the camera – a narrow and limited perspective of things and situations – utilized by Maxwell in order to represent a specific idea or though restricted by the visualizations or representations of Moà «t Chandon, an well-known international producer of champagne that embodies conceptions of â€Å"splendour, pleasure, and prestige.† (Moà «t Chandon) How to cite A Bergerian Reading and Chris â€Å"Ludacris† Bridges, Papers

Demand and Supply Concept Of Certain Resources In Australia-Case Study

Question- How Demand and supply of certain resources in Australia and factors other than price which affect demand and supply? Contents Introduction Mechanism of Demand and Supply Analysis of demand and supply of certain resources of Australian Market: Conclusion Refrences Introduction Demand and supply are two important tools of microeconomic analysis. Demand refers to how much quantity of a product is desired and purchased by a buyer at a given price-level, where supply of a product represents how much quantity of a product that a market can offer at a given price-level. Demand and supply of a product depends on different factors. Demand of a product (suppose, X) depends on the price of that product (PX), price of the related commodities, consumers income, population or number of consumer, test and preferences of consumers etc., while supply of a product ( suppose, X), depends on the price of that product (PX), production cost, price of production factors, future expectation about the price level etc. Before discussing about the demand and supply of certain resources in Australia and factors other than price which affect demand and supply, the mechanism of demand and supply in microeconomic analysis should be done. Getting Tired of Never-Ending Assignments? Hire an Expert from MyAssignmenthelp and Get the Necessary Assignment Help at a Reasonable Rate. Mechanism of Demand and Supply According to Marshal, all other factors that determine the demand of a product, remaining constant, if the price of the product increases, then demand will decrease and if the price decreases, demand will increase. That means there is a negative relationship between price and quantity demand. On the other hand, all other factors that determine the supply of a product, remaining constant, if the price of the product increases, then supply will rise and if the price decreases, then supply will fall. Hence, there is a positive relationship between price and supply of that product. If this demand and supply forces of market can work freely, then we can get the equilibrium market demand at equilibrium market price, where demand and supply of the product is equal. Therefore, demand and supply forces determine the market price in a free market economy, in the absence of government intervention (Pindyck and Rubinfeld, 2005). This can be shown in the following diagram of demand and supply (Fi gure: - 1). If there is excess demand in economy, price level will increase and with the increase in price level, suppliers will increase the supply, which will meet the demand at equilibrium level (Hyman, 1988). Now, if other factors of demand except its own, price change, then demand curve will shift to upward or downward. For example, if income of an individual increases, then at the same price level demand will increase and demand curve will shift upward and if income decreases, then demand will fall and the demand curve will shift toward down as in figure:- 2. On the other hand, if other factors of supply except its own price, change, then supply curve will shift towards up or down at the same price level (McTaggart, Findlay and Parkin, 2012). For example, if production cost of a product increases, then the supply will decrease and the supply curve will shift towards down and if the production cost decreases, then supply will increase and the supply curve will shift towards up, as shown in figure:- 3(Fernandez and Lagunoff, n.d.). Now, from the above analysis of demand and supply, the analysis of demand and supply of certain resources in Australia can be done as follows. Analysis of demand and supply of certain resources of Australian Market:- In Australia, there exist different resources like agricultural resource, mining resource, human resource etc. Though, demand-supply analysis for these resources in Australia, is more or less same, but there exist slight differences between these analysis. Though the demand- supply analysis for the agricultural sources is same as the above analysis, but in case of mining resources and human resources, the demand supply analysis is different (Abowd and Freeman, 1991). There exist some exogenous factors of the economy which bring different results in demand supply analysis of various resources of the economy (Anon, 2015). For example, in case of Eastern Australian Gas market, there exists an asymmetry of option in demand-supply analysis. Before, 1990s, the demand in Australian Gas market was not so high because of international market pressure, and not because of its price level. From 1990s, due to the large scale development of export, both the demand and supply of Eastern Australian Gas market have increased throughout the phase of time. Now, if we consider, the case study of Bowen Surat gas fields in Australia, we can see that in next twelve years, the supply of LNG from this gas field was completely unavailable for the domestic market, though there was no common reason for fall in supply of LNG. This situation occurred completely due to an external reason. For this twelve years, all the gases produced in this field, were fully contracted to LNG export. Though there was enough gas in the eastern reserve to meet the domestic supply and there was no shortage in demand zone, there was deficit supply o f gases in the market (Musgrove and Stocks, 1985). Again, if we concentrate on mechanism of demand and supply of human resource of Australia, we can see that the demand for human resource in Australian market is excess than the supply of skilled labour, which results a hike in the wage level of workers. But, inspite of this high wage-level, increased supply cannot meet the demand as there is a lack of skilled labour in Australian market (Human Resource Management Australia, 1988)). Conclusion Hence, form the above analysis we can say that the demand and supply of any commodity, not only depends on the price level of the product, but also on some endogenous and exogenous factors. References Abowd, J. and Freeman, R. (1991).Immigration, trade, and the labor market. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.Anon, (2015). Fernandez, J. and Lagunoff, R. (n.d.).Three Essays on Microeconomic Dynamics. Human Resource Management Australia. (1988).Asia Pacific Journal of Human Resources, 26(1), pp.113-114. Hyman, D. (1988).Modern microeconomics. Boston, MA: Irwin. McTaggart, D., Findlay, C. and Parkin, M. (2012).Microeconomics. Frenchs Forest, N.S.W.: Pearson. Human Resource Management Australia. (1988).Asia Pacific Journal of Human Resources, 26(1), pp.113-114. Pindyck, R. and Rubinfeld, D. (2005).Microeconomics. Upper Saddle River, N.J.: Pearson Prentice Hall.