Crimes and criminal law

Table of Contents Introduction Crimes against the Person: Murder Crimes against the person: Violence Common Law Defenses Conclusion Reference List Introduction There are various types of crimes committed around the world ranging from economical, political, social and crimes against humanity just to name but a few. In order to deal with these crimes and ensure a secure world, different countries have enacted laws regarding to the crimes in their constitutions. Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on Crimes and criminal law specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Therefore, facts on crimes and decisions of the judge is referenced from the constitution, which prescribes the nature and extend of the punishment or fine awarded to an individual found guilty of an offense . As a basic revelation to a world often simplified by many, the detailed explanations delved into prove a sure way to pass some real practical and cri tical thinking putting one ahead of the populous concerning common law trivialities. It is in this light that, taking a look at the most known yet controversial subjects in the constitution and criminal law will in no way become an effort in futility. The paper seeks to address the issue of crimes against persons ranging from murder to violence further highlighting on common law defenses. Crimes against the Person: Murder There exist various crimes considered as against humanity or persons. One of such crime is murder. Constitution defines murder as an unlawful killing of another person with ‘malice aforethought’. As one of the most reported crimes, its statistics are well documented. Different countries further classify murder in different forms as entrenched in their land laws. First-degree murder being a one to one murder in which a death sentence is administered. Nevertheless, for one to be convicted of murder, there stands the need for a prove beyond reasonable d oubt that one intentionally killed a fellow human by means of lying in wait for their victim, poisoning or by any other premeditated action. Other states however stretch the description to include special circumstances such as killing a law enforcement officer, a witness to a crime, a judge and/or where he/she kills more than one person. Murder in the first degree usually carries a death penalty in the states that include capital punishment in their set of rules and a life imprisonment sometimes without the possibility of parole in those that do not. The other form of murder is felony murder also referred to as second-degree murder. The crime covers those who conspire to commit murder also when â€Å"killing occurs in about or as part of an underlying transaction† (Alison Lawrence, 1993, p.58). One of the parties in the conspiracy has to attempt to carry out the crime for a conviction to occur. Advertising Looking for research paper on criminal law? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More The punishment for this crime varies from state to state: most often a life sentence and in some cases long prison sentences. Worthy of note is the fact that some first-degree murders considered as ‘regular’ might fall under this category. Another example of a crime against humanity is manslaughter. In such cases, there stands the need for sufficient evidence from the accused to prove that the death of a person was not murder but manslaughter. Manslaughter, though a murder, the accused faces slightly lenient punishment as opposed to murder because manslaughter refers to a situation where killing proves unintentional. It can be voluntary or involuntary. Manslaughter is punishable by prison sentences, which may vary in length. Sometimes acquittal proves the case especially when the act turns involuntary. Other classifications of murder include infanticide and suicide. Infanticide I results when an infant is killed within twenty-four hours of it being birthed. The perpetrator is usually the mother. In the past, this was classified as homicide but in the recent past legislation has been sought to distance it from homicide and make it a separate crime with a lesser prison sentence for the mother. Suicide however proves a bit tricky because most of the times it involves a person taking their own life, thereby making it hard for a conviction. It may also take other forms such as a suicide pact and mass suicide both of which are handled differently depending on the legislation put in place. Familiarizing oneself with what each murder entails is vital to avoid unnecessary generalization without considering the grounds in which it occurred. Crimes against the person: Violence Crime against a person or rather violence forms one of the forms of crimes that cause physical harm to the victims either visible or invisible. Violent crimes may take various forms all the way from assault to rape and child molestation. According to Allison and Lawrence (1993, p.43) rape proves one of the most controversial and misunderstood form of violence against humanity. Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on Crimes and criminal law specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More In rape, victims are forced to engage in sexual act without their consent. Rape proves a difficult crime to prosecute and obtain conviction because of the difficulty involved in ascertaining the level of force used by the attacker even in the presence of DNA evidence (Wright Scott, 1997, p.232). It gets even harder if the victim knows the attacker or they both had a prior relationship. Nevertheless, measures have been put in place to ensure that victims are not subjected to the stigmatization when they seek justice. For example, â€Å"shield laws†, initiated in the 1990 has ensured that victims do not take part in court proceedings (Davenport, 200 9, p.20). The accused in rape cases usually defend themselves that the sexual act was consented. Other violent crimes are those committed to the innocent and defenseless. They take the form of child abuse and neglect, child molestation and child pornography. All respective states have taken it upon themselves to put in place bulletproof legislation to protect the rights of children. One of such initiatives is a law allowing listing and closely monitoring all known sex offenders (The Wetterling Act). The internet has also proved to be quite a playground for sex predators prompting a number of amendments to the existing laws in order to keep up with these developments. Another common form of violence is that of domestic nature. Domestic violence refers to an abusive behavior from either partner in an intimate relationship including friends, family members or cohabitation. Very few cases of this form of violence are reported as statistics put the figures under 2 per cent. Given a num ber of cases degenerate to spousal homicide, the laws put in place against this vice are designed to encourage the victims break their silence before it’s too late for example the advent of mandatory arrest leading to more prosecutions (Lawrence, 1992, p. 23). Assault is another form of violence charged in the courts. American common law defines assault as attempting to carry out battery. It is usually a misdemeanor unless there is a police officer involved in which case it is aggravated to a felony. Some jurisdictions define assault as a physical contact with another person without his/her consent (Smith, 2009, p. 402). The crime of assault requires both perpetrator and victim to be human and in cases where the attack comes from animals, suing for assault is not permitted.Advertising Looking for research paper on criminal law? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Common Law Defenses The Fifth Amendment guarantees due process to be followed when one is indicted for a crime. A defendant may raise a defense in either civil proceedings or criminal prosecutions to avoid liability. There exist an array of defenses worth putting across to counter accusations leveled against persons and if reasonable, they will see exonerated. One of these is justification defense where the said act is justifiable. For instance, when one argues they did not commit murder rather their actions were in self-defense. However, deadly force can only be in retaliation and one always has the option of withdrawing from the fight. Retreat should be in complete safety if one chooses to do so. The battered woman syndrome (Donald, 1996, p. 32) stands out also as a form of justification defense. When a defendant argues that they committed an act out of serious fear or under duress, then they are raising the duress defense. For this to be the case a defendant must have incurred s erious bodily harm or death, the harm must exceed harm caused by the crime, must have a no way out and must have gotten into the situation through no own fault. Insanity defense is raised when the accused is not liable for their actions were because of mental illness or defect (Anne, 1997, p. 597). It may also take the form of temporary insanity where the accused acts on an irresistible impulse charge. It may be hard to convince a jury of this defense due to the likelihood of misuse and the complexities that abound. Other common law defenses include capacity defense where lack of capacity to control one’s actions is argued, infancy defense to be raised by minors who argue their inability to tell right from wrong, intoxication defense raised by those who agree to have been voluntarily intoxicated when committing an act. Competency to stand trial defense ensures defendants permanently or temporarily avoid trial if they have health issues Conclusion In conclusion, crime and cr iminal law stands out as a wide area of study. There exists different types of crimes and every country has set up its own rules and punishments against different crimes committed in its territories. It is of a paramount importance that citizens understand nitty-gritty of these in order to stand a better chance when these crimes are committed against them. Reference List Allison, J., Lawrence, W. (1993). Rape: The Misunderstood Crime. Newbury Park, CA: Sage. Anne, M. (1997). Criminal Law. New York: The Foundation Press. Davenport, A.U. (2009). Basic criminal law: The constitution, procedure, and crimes. Upper Saddle River: Pearson. Donald, A. (1996). More than Victims: Battered Women, the Syndrome Society, and the Law (Morality and Society Series). Chicago: University Of Chicago Press. Lawrence, S. (1992). Policing Domestic Violence. New York: Free Press Smith, H. (2009). Criminal Law, 9th Ed. New York: Oxford university press. Wright, R., Scott, D. (1997). Armed Robbers in Action : Stickups and Street Culture. Boston: Northeastern University Press. This research paper on Crimes and criminal law was written and submitted by user Braylee Conley to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

Biography of Egon Schiele, Expressionist Artist

Biography of Egon Schiele, Expressionist Artist Austrian artist Egon Schiele (June 12, 1890- October 31, 1918) is best known for his expressionistic- and often sexually explicit- depictions of the human body. He was a successful artist in his time, but his career was cut short by the Spanish flu pandemic. He died at age 28. Fast Facts: Egon Schiele Occupation: ArtistKnown For: Sexually explicit paintings that shocked audiences and pushed the boundaries of the art world.Born: June 12, 1890 in Tulln, Austria-HungaryDied: October 31, 1918 in Vienna, Austria-HungaryEducation: Academy of Fine Arts ViennaSelected Works: Kneeling Nude with Raised Hands (1910), Self-Portrait with Chinese Lantern Plant (1912), Death and the Maiden (1915)Notable Quote: Art cannot be modern. Art is primordially eternal. Early Life Born in Tulln, Austria, on the banks of the Danube River, Egon Schiele was the son of Adolf Schiele, a station master for the Austrian State Railways. Trains were the subject of many of Egons early drawings as a child. He was known to spend many hours drawing and avoiding other topics in school. Egon Schiele had three sisters: Melanie, Elvira, and Gerti. Elvira often modeled for her brothers paintings. She married Schieles friend, the artist Anton Peschka. Schiele was close to his sister Gerti, the youngest child of the family; some biographical accounts suggest that the relationship was incestuous. Schieles father died from syphilis when the artist was 15. Schiele became a ward of his maternal uncle, Leopold Czihaczek. With the change of households, Schiele experienced support for his interest in art. In 1906, he enrolled at the Academy of Fine Arts Vienna. Career Beginnings In 1907, a teenage Egon Schiele sought out the famed artist Gustav Klimt, the founder of the Vienna Secession. Klimt took a keen interest in Schiele and bought his drawings while also introducing him to other patrons. Schieles early works show a strong influence of art nouveau and the style of the Vienna Secession. Klimt invited Schiele to exhibit his work at the 1909 Vienna Kuntschau. Schiele encountered the work of many other artists at the event, including Edvard Munch and Vincent van Gogh. Shortly after, Schieles work began to explore the human form in a sometimes sexually explicit manner. His 1910 painting Kneeling Nude with Raised Hands is seen as one of the most important nude pieces of the early 20th century. However, many observers at the time considered Schieles frank sexual content disturbing. In later years, Schiele distanced himself from Klimts ornate art nouveau-inspired aesthetic. Instead, his works began to take on a dark, emotional feel, emphasizing the intensity of human psychology. Arrest and Controversy From 1910 to 1912, Schiele participated in a wide range of group shows in Prague, Budapest, Cologne, and Munich. He founded the Neukunstgrupped (New Art Group) as a rebellion against the conservative nature of the Academy of Fine Arts Vienna. The group included other young artists such as Austrian expressionist Oskar Kokoschka. In 1911, Schiele met 17-year-old Walburga Neuzil. Neuzil lived with Schiele and served as a model for many of his paintings. Together, they left Vienna for Krumau, a small town that is now part of the Czech Republic. It was the birthplace of Egons mother. The couple was driven out of the town by local residents who disapproved of their way of life, including the fact that Schiele hired local teenage girls as nude models. Schiele and Neuzel moved to the small Austrian town of Neulengbach, about 35 kilometers west of Vienna. Egons art studio became a gathering place for local teenagers, and in 1912, he was arrested for seducing a young underaged girl. Police searching the studio seized more than one hundred drawings considered pornographic. A judge later dropped charges of seduction and abduction but convicted the artist of exhibiting erotic works in places accessible to children. He spent 24 days in jail. Schiele painted Self-Portrait with Chinese Lantern Plant in 1912. Historians consider it one of his most significant self-portraits. He depicted himself staring at viewers in a confident fashion. It avoids an idealized view of the artist by showing lines and scars on his face and neck. It was exhibited in Munich in 1912 and now resides in Viennas Leopold Museum. In 1913, the Galerie Hans Goltz produced Egon Schieles first solo show. He had another solo exhibition in Paris in 1914. In 1915, Schiele decided to marry Edith Harms, a daughter of middle-class parents in Vienna. He reportedly expected to also keep his relationship with Walburga Neuzil, but when she found out about the intent to marry Edith, she left, and Schiele never saw her again. He painted Death and the Maiden in response to the split with Neuzil, and he married Edith on June 17, 1915. Military Service Schiele avoided signing up to fight in World War I for nearly a year, but three days after his wedding, authorities called him to active duty in the army. Edith followed him to Prague, the city where he was stationed, and they were allowed to occasionally see each other. Despite his military service guarding and escorting Russian prisoners, Schiele continued to paint and exhibit his work. He had shows in Zurich, Prague, and Dresden. Due to a heart condition, Schiele received a desk job assignment as a clerk at a prisoner of war camp. There, he drew and painted imprisoned Russian officers. Final Years and Death In 1917, Schiele returned to Vienna and co-founded the Vienna Kunsthalle (Art Hall) with his mentor, Gustav Klimt. Schiele painted prolifically and participated in the Vienna Secessions 49th exhibit in 1918. Fifty of his works were displayed in the main hall of the event. The exhibition was a rousing success. In 1918, the worldwide Spanish flu pandemic struck Vienna. Six months pregnant, Edith Schiele died of the flu on October 28, 1918. Egon Schiele died three days later. He was 28 years old. Legacy Egon Schiele was a crucial figure in the development of Expressionism in painting. Schiele painted a phenomenal number of self-portraits and executed more than 3,000 drawings. His works often have stark emotional content in addition to the frank study of the human body. He worked alongside both Gustav Klimt and Oskar Kokoschka, other key Austrian artists of the era. Schieles short yet prolific art career, the sexually explicit content of his work, and the allegations of sexual misconduct against the artist himself have made him the subject of multiple films, essays, and dance productions. The Leopold Museum in Vienna has the most extensive collection of Schieles work: over 200 pieces. Schieles work draws some of the highest contemporary prices at auction. In 2011, Houses With Colorful Laundry (Suburb II) sold for $40.1 million. In 2018, the 100th anniversary of Egon Schieles death inspired significant exhibitions of his work in London, Paris, and New York. Source Natter, Tobias G. Egon Schiele: The Complete Paintings, 1909-1918. Taschen, 2017.

IFRS Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

IFRS - Essay Example The reason for opting for gradual convergence instead of adoption is that the local accounting body may want to become involved in the standard setting process. If IFRS is adopted fully then we will just have to accept what a few people have decided for us. I think we should be involved in decisions that affect us, and other countries have taken a similar approach. In fact, Ramanna and Sletten (2009) indicates that there is evidence to suggests that the more powerful countries like the US are not willing to surrender their authority to set accounting standards to an international body. However, Ramanna and Sletten (2009) found that counties are more likely to adopt IFRS when trade partners or countries within the geographical area in which they operate adopt IFRSs. This is one of the reasons for the importance of the transition to IFRS. Hoogervorst (2013) indicates that 75% of the countries in the G20 group of which Indonesia is apart use IFRS. I found out that the reactions in relat ion to the adoption of IFRS are mixed. There are ongoing changes to IFRS and so the gap between Indonesian Standards will widen as new changes are set for this year. In expressing their views to the Vice President of Indonesia some people indicated that at least a level of convergence with IFRS will help to reduce the level of corruption that prevents change from taking place in the country (Shying 2012). Additionally, at an IFRS Regional Policy Forum which was held in Bali in 2011, participants from 21 countries including Indonesia reaffirmed their commitment to ultimate adoption and to achieve accounting standards of the highest quality (CFO Innovation 2011). One of the concerns expressed at the forum in Bali was the requirement of investors for financial statements prepared in accordance with IFRS. This is particularly crucial for companies that need foreign investors. In fact, Hoogervorst (2013) in a speech indicated that full adoption would assist Indonesia sustain economic dev elopment. Hoogervorst further stated that IFRS is close to becoming the global language of financial reporting. Approximately ten years ago only a few countries were using IFRSs. Now over 100 countries have it as a requirement or permit the use of it. The move to accept IFRS has been made for many reasons including the fact that the creation of a common economic market requires a common financial reporting language. With globalisation the world is now one village and so use of the same financial reporting standards make sense for comparative purposes. I agree with Istiningrum (2011) point that the benefits that companies can derive from transition to IFRS outweigh all costs that are incurred during the conversion process. Giri (2008 cited in Istiningrum 2011) makes a compelling case for adoption with an example of a case where translation of Daimler Benz net profit reported of DM 602 million based on a German Accounting Standards changed to a net loss of DM1,839 million when it was translated to US Accounting Standards. With Indonesia adopting this standard more opportunities are provided for investment in Indonesian companies. However, some stakeholders still see a problem since IFRS takes a principle based approach and so Standards can be applied differently by companies (Elena et al 2009). The adoption of IFRS would therefore provide Indonesian compan

Health and Human Services on Teen Pregnancy Research Paper - 1

Health and Human Services on Teen Pregnancy - Research Paper Example The HHS has addressed this problem through a number of mandates and programs such as comprehensive sex educations, health care, and researchers. Several programs have been greatly effective in lessening the statistics. With more collaboration and resources, future plans will extensively assuage teen pregnancy. Teenage pregnancy is one of the serious challenges that the society has been facing for a number of years. Statistics have shown the veracity of this social issue. Contributory factors range from countless general elements such as culture and poverty to particulars like personal viewpoints and attitude on relationships. To tackle the crisis, Health and Human Services (HHS) have encouraged and implemented programs. Different kinds of strategies have been utilized by a variety of organizations in diverse areas. This paper specifically delves into the matter of teen pregnancy and how the HHS has intervened regarding this problem. Particularly, the following discussions cite how teenage pregnancy has affected the public over time. Certain facts on its history and some alterations of the problem will be mentioned. Furthermore, the various development programs to address the said crisis are mainly considered. Especially, HHS’ strategies will discourse. An example of a best practice will be highlighted. This will be a kind of an approach that is quite efficient in coming up with positive results. This entails plans that seek to work with the target population which considers their peculiarity and lifestyle. Evident effects of changes in the legislation will be looked into. The improvement of the situation as a result of the mandates testify to the significance of the approaches supported by the said laws. The rulings’ competence with diverse populations is likewise noteworthy. Some laws are only particular in certain situations but are not that applicable in other kinds of contexts.

Principles of Social Crime Prevention Practices

Principles of Social Crime Prevention Practices This essay shall evaluate the impact of Social Crime Prevention Principles on the Development of Effective Crime Prevention Practices. However, it has been suggested that the underlying Principles of Social philosophy of Crime Prevention have little to offer either towards the Development of Effective Crime Prevention Strategies or the actual Prevention of Crimes. There have been various arguments on this matter however, this essay will re-evaluate various and valid theories to establish the above argument while focusing on such effects on Youth Offending in the UK. Crime is an act or omission that violates the law and is punishable upon conviction. It includes Criminal Code offences against a person or property, drug offences, motor vehicle offences and other provincial or federal statute offences. This definition has also been buttressed by the definition from Oxford dictionary as. An action or omission which constitutes an offence and its punishable by law or an action or activity considered to be evil, shameful or wrong: (Online Oxford English Dictionary, 2010:n.p.). However it has been further explained in the Criminal Justice Reform of British Columbia that not every act could be classed as Criminal act. For instance, à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Disorderly behaviour such as aggressive panhandling, public urination and sleeping in the street are not necessarily criminal acts, but they do affect communities by a gradual erosion of the quality of life. (Criminal Justice Reform, 2010:n.p.). Therefore, it will be important to mention here that some factors have to be present in order to establish weather a Crime has been committed or not. These factors are; suitable target, motivational offender and non availability of capable guardian. (Clark Eck, 2003). Meanwhile, Social Crime Prevention is a Crime Prevention strategy that could adapt to the changing Social environment rather then the physical environment. This strategy involves engaging the offending age in various community based activities which invariably bring together children, youths and some marginalised groups in the community. The term Social Crime Prevention can simply implies the introduction of any program which endeavour to change patterns of behaviour, social conditions, self-discipline or values in order to reduce the possibility of offending. One could argue that amongst some of the viable social crime prevention initiatives are parental support programs, early childhood training such as personal discipline and self respect, publicity programs to change male thoughts about the use of violence in resolving domestic disputes, supports for disadvantaged families and provision of good, relevant education such as inclusion of black history month and extra curriculum support for the children. Social Crime Prevention can be categorised into the following areas; 1. Prevention which focuses on institutions such as schools and employers rather than on individuals. 2. Preventative Diversion programs for at risk groups. 3. Community Development approaches. 4. Media and other publicity aimed at changing Social Values. 5. Early childhood or Developmental Prevention. The aim of Social Crime Prevention is to support community relationships by increasing the levels of informal Social Control, and consequently deterring determined or potential offenders. Social Crime Prevention could centre on making those who are at risk of offending feel more reckon with in the community. For instance, a Youth Social club and activity group. On the other hand a scheme such as Neighbourhood Watch could be designed to strengthening unofficial protection in the community as a way to fight Youth Crime in which community members are keeping an eye out for one another, increasing surveillance. Social Crime Prevention measures also have significant benefit in areas other than Youth Crime. For instance, in encouraging young people to stay at school which reduces truancy, in setting up support networks for people which addresses issues of loneliness and safety. Neighbourhood watch is generally understood to be a community-based activity supported by local police that is directed towards crime prevention. It involves residents becoming more responsive to the risk of crime and taking action to protect their own and their neighbours property. (Heal et al, 1988). Youth offending is not just a question of rational choice by young people, it is also the result of lack of structural opportunities for young people in terms of education, employment, housing, adequate income and construction of leisure opportunities. (Barry McNeill, 2009). Considering various strategies to control Youth offending, Community-focused Prevention programmes could be classified as follows: i) Community organisation This typically build community based associations, and linkages to local schools, churches, etc. which however can provide effective socialisation for young people, to include local adults as positive role models. (Hope, 1995). ii) Community defence This approach is targeted at preventing victimisation by deterring of offending by the people who are not members of the community. For example, this may include housing authorities cordoning and restricting access to problematic estates to residence only. Other crime prevention strategies could be brought to bear through environmental design (CPTED), defensible space measures, and the purposeful organising of community close watch through Neighbourhood Watch; iii) Theory of broken windows which could also be called zero tolerance seeks to control both physical disorder like graffiti, litter, vandalism; rowdy street behaviour and threatening neighbours. iv) Risk based programmes are relatively recent approaches that seek to identify risk factors amid the entire community populations, to identify those most at risk, and to deliver preventive resources specifically for them. However, the pattern and believe behind this concept is that changes in community can be brought about by changing individuals rather than vice versa. This is contrarily to the earlier crime prevention strategies. These strategies include approaches targeted on victimisation, e.g., strategies aimed at the protection of victims and the deterrence of repeat victimisation and those aimed at the improvement. (Home Office Research Study 187, 1998). Structural change has a similar concept to community development. These strategies see the core changes in society with the utmost consequences for crime diminution as stemming principally from the operation of more overall level policies in economic improvement, employment, housing markets, education, health provision, and the delivery of welfare, benefits and other social services. In this view, much of the space for action against community level social dislocation to include crime depends on the interaction of social policies which even though experienced locally may not be agreeable to amend at the local level. (Home Office research, 1998). Crime Prevention through Social Development or Social Crime Prevention as contained in the UN Guidelines 2002 could be; promote the well-being of people and encourage pro-social behaviour through social, economic, health and educational measures, with a particular emphasis on children and youth, and focus on the risk and protective factors associated with crime and victimization. (Para, 6a). It is progressively more known that modernization and adaptation of initiatives are essential rather than modification, if they are to be relevant to solving problems faced in developing contexts, the resources available, and the capacity of the local state or civil society. International organizations in particular have stressed the scale of the challenges presented for developing countries. Young populations, rapid socio-economic changes, lack of education and/or sufficiently good quality and relevant training, inequality of opportunity, poverty and social exclusion, rapid urbanization and globalization, have all contributed to high rates of offending among young people, and on a scale beyond that experienced in the North. (Shaw Travers, Ed. 2007). The nature of interventions that can be integrated into social and educational crime prevention may include those that are of general programmes, or those targeted specifically to areas or individuals, long or short term programmes, one-off events such as education or training programmes, and could also be targeted on family, community or schools or institution-based. However, many early-intervention schemes have afterwards been introduced in other countries e.g. Nurse Family Partnerships in the US, the Netherlands (Every opportunity for every child-youth and family programme 2007-2011); and the UK (Pilot schemes were extended to 20 sites in 2008); The Healthy Families programme in the USA, Canada; Switzerland; Germany and the Czech Republic. (Crime Prevention Strategy 2008-11). It is believed that children who are given clear standards of behaviour and have positive social bonding with adults are less likely to get involved in crime. (Crawford A, 2007). Sports, cultural and learning have long been integrated into crime prevention strategies. International organizations such as UNESCO, UNODC and UN-HABITAT have all sustained such initiatives in recent years. The use of youth sports and leisure activities in the prevention of crime has a long history, and that it has sometimes been criticized or dismissed as unsuccessful or that is limited when considering the long-term value it has in preventing offending. Much of the criticism was as a result of failure to evaluate programmes, and simple assumptions that playing basketball at midnight will by some means keep young people out of violence. It has been observed in a recent study of sports and leisure industry in the UK, that most councils and local agencies have commissioned sport and leisure activities targeted to at risk groups, rather than providing universal activities. (Audit Commission, 2009). The review stressed the need for coordinated long-term national and local funding of such activities in areas of high deprivation, and for young people to be consulted in the planning of activities to ensure that they are accessible and relevant, as well as attention to evaluation (only 27% of the schemes could be evaluated). Beyond their objective of diverting youth from the temptation of committing a crime, sports and cultural activities are seen to encourage self expression and esteem, life skills and social skills, and education, as well as providing diversionary activities to reduce opportunities for offending, or exposure to risks of offending. Examples included programmes developed by local authorities or services, which aim to reduce the risk of street gang recruitment Projet Les Couleurs de la Justice,Montreal, Canada.(National Crime Prevention Strategy, Public Security Ministry, Quebec). In Brazil, young people have themselves set up innovative initiatives, such as the AfroReggae Cultural Group, Brazil. This group seeks to improve relations between police and young people in disadvantaged areas, teaching the police about reggae, drumming, break dancing and graffiti art. The results have been positive, and have led this group to work in partnerships with other countries such as Haiti and the UK to develop similar projects (e.g. Afro Reggae Partnership, UK). (http://www.favelarising.com/about-afroreggae.html). There is considerable diversity in the aims and provision of sports and cultural projects. In any way, causes of Youth Offending motivational factors shall also be looked into in this context. Quantitatively, there is no single cause of youth crime that can be pointed out. However, researches in a number of countries have consistently identified factors in childhood, adolescence and early adulthood that could increase the risk of a young person offending. These risk factors can be categorised under the following sub-categories; Family When the parents are involved in criminal activities; Or poor parental supervision and control; Neglect from parents and those acting in the capacity of guardianship, Exposure to erratic discipline or being treated harshly Low family income or partial isolation from the community; Family conflict and domestic violence; School Lack of motivation and commitment to go to school Truancy in school without the knowledge of parents Disruptive behaviour at school (including bullying) Low achievers as role models Expulsion from school due to attitude or behaviours Community Lack of unity amongst the dwellers in the community Conspicuous opportunities for crime Easy access to drugs and weapons High children population densities Personal Their personality Lack of sense of belonging in matters that concerns or affects the society Early participation in irrational behaviour Associating with peers that are involved in anti-social behaviour Exposure to hanging out with friends unsupervised. Early adulthood They have no academic or vocational qualifications They have no work experience or any tangible skill Unemployment or on a low income They receive no advice or support or lack of mentoring Homelessness, or are threatened with homelessness However, is worth mentioning here that the list is far more comprehensive that this but have limited the extract to just a few for the purpose of this essay. (Bienhart et al, 2002). Effective monitoring of the youth justice system is necessary for a successful delivery of the aim of preventing offending by children and young people. It is very essential to understand the patterns of youth crime, its causes and the success of different strategies of intervention in preventing further offending which can help in planning youth justice services, target resources and inform sentencing decisions. Amongst the duties of Youth Justice Board is monitoring the function of the youth justice system and the work of youth offending teams across England and Wales. Local monitoring and the sharing of monitoring information locally are also important. Local agencies need to have an accurate measure of local youth crime and the related risk factors. The basic test must be are we reducing youth crime (Home Office document, 1998). There are various Youth crime prevention strategies which are backed by government and organisations. However, Government plans to build on and support existing initiatives such as Grants for Education Support and Training which was aimed at providing  £1.5 million to support drug education and crime prevention programmes between 1997-1998. There is Home Office-sponsored Safer Cities programmes and Crime Concerns, Youth Crime Prevention work, including Youth Action Groups which entails using young people to tackle problems such as bullying, graffiti, vandalism and drug misuse. Crime Concerns work is partly funded by an annual Government grant of  £750,000. However, work with the National Neighbourhood Watch Association and the National Association for the Care and Resettlement of Offenders to encourage young people to be part of the solution to crime, not part of the problem. (Audit Commission, 1996. ISBN 1862400075). It was considered by the government that it will be necessary to reform the criminal justice system in England and Wales to enable them have more constructive outcomes with young offenders. Its proposals for reform build on ideology underlying the concept of restorative justice which is restoration, reintegration and responsibility; Restoration involves young offenders apologising to their victims and making amends for the damage they have done while Reintegration is all about young offenders paying their debt to society, putting their crime behind them and integrating into the law abiding community. The responsibility of the consequences of their offending behaviours lies in their hand and their parents who need to ensure that further offending is prevented. Meanwhile, the new approach is intends to ensure that the most serious offenders continue to be dealt with in a criminal court to provide punishment, protect the public and prevent re-offending. Also, provide an opportunity for less serious offending to be dealt with in a new non-criminal panel, enforced by a criminal court. It aims at allowing young people to be actively and effectively involved in decisions about themselves by encouraging them to admit their faults and face the consequences of their behaviour in whatever way it comes. This also involves the victim in proceedings, but only with their active permission; and Concentrate on preventing offending. (Mirrlees-Black et al, 1993). Television and movies have made popular the cult of heroes, which promotes justice through the physical eradication of enemies. Many researchers have concluded that young people who watch violence behaviours or acts tend to behave more aggressively or violently, principally when annoyed. This is mainly characteristic of 8- to 12-year-old boys, who are more susceptible to such influences. Individuals are brought into violence by the Media in three ways. First, movies that show violent acts which excite viewers and the belligerent energy can then be transferred to everyday life, causing an individual to be involved in physical doings on the streets. This type of influence is momentary, which could last from several hours to several days. Secondly, television can portray ordinary daily violence committed by parents or colleagues or peers. It is very common nowadays to find television shows that do portray such patterns of violence, because viewer endorsement of this type of programming has ensured its continuation. As a result, children are repeatedly exposed to the use of violence in different circumstances and the number of violent acts on television appears to be ever-increasing. And lastly, violence depicted in the media is illusory and has a surrealistic quality but the real pain and agony resulting from violent actions are very hardly ever shown. The penalties of violent behaviour often seem negligible. Over time, television causes a shift in the system of human values and indirectly leads children believe and think violence as a desirable and even courageous way of re-establishing justice. It has been concluded by The American Psychological Association that television violence accounts for about 10 per cent of violent behaviours among children. (APA Commission on Violence and Youth, Washington, D.C., 1993). In conclusion, it appears there are disparities among the theoretical nuances uttered through the various Social and developmental based programmes propounded by the academics with vested political enterprise such as the succession of theories provided by the home office intelligentsia and the perpetual re-offending by some Youths especially in deprived Communities. Although vast sums of tax payers money have been thrown on such initiatives without much to show for it in terms of impeding the tide to re-offending it appears therefore especially in recessionary times such as this when the government is concerned more about savings than anything else, one could perhaps take solace on Lord Judge the Lord Chief Justice contentions that re-offenders should be brought to justice without considering the costs which could undermine the rule of law.

American Gun Laws

Gun laws in the United States of America need to be altered in order to make American society safer. The Second Amendment of the Constitution reads â€Å"A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed. † This means that from the point any American child is born they have the right to possess a gun and use it for their own safety. How can a child as young as the age of ten years old know the difference between using a gun for their safety and playing with a gun putting themselves into danger? One state in America called Virgin has its very own law that every person must possess a gun. The law in the United States approves of blind men or woman having the right to possess a gun. If you are mentally affected you are also eligible to possess a gun. How can this be legal? Semi- automatic and automatic guns can be legally purchased in most US states by anyone who doesn’t have a violent criminal record. What is a violent criminal record? The law itself is not worded correctly. Semi-automatic guns are weapons which perform all steps necessary preparing the weapon to fire again after one shot. Automatic guns are firearms which keep firing bullets until the trigger is released. Why should every day American citizens need these sorts of weapons to â€Å"protect themselves†? Ammunition for guns can be purchased at nearly every store around the United States including Kmart and even in a barbers shop. Not only are you able to buy ammunition for very powerful guns but you are also legally allowed to buy as many sets of ammunition as you desire. Seventeen cents is all you need to purchase one bullet in America. If Americans wanted fewer people dying from guns every year they would change the price and the fact that guns are so easy to access dramatically. If bullets were 7,000 dollars each they would be used more carefully. This would influence a massive change in people dying per year from â€Å"gun accidents† as Americans would become very cautious in using their ammunition wisely. In 1999 two boys, Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold went on a shooting rampage at Columbine High School. They purchased their weapons legally from the local Kmart. They used semi-automatic guns, shot guns and even possessed 99 explosives and 4 knives. They shot 900 rounds of ammunitions killing a total of 12 students and one teacher and then themselves. The massacre started a debate over gun laws and the availability of firearms to high school students. It resulted in an increase emphasis on school security. Students in American schools now must go through metal detector before entering their daily lasses. Security also checks for any sharp metal such as nail clippers but they do not focusing on the fact that guns are a large cause of death. One child was suspended from his school because he was carrying around a stapler. Guns are still legally allowed in schools. 45% of US households have at least one gun. Around 59. 1 million adults in the United States own a gun. There is no law stating that you need to register your gun so it is impossible to know exactly who owns a gun and how many guns are being sold. 31,593 helpless lived were killed in 2011 by guns. This is a clear message. Guns are not doing any good. Therefore they should not be allowed. Guns should not be used to take others lives. They should be used in the military to protect the country not to kill. They should be used for people that like to go hunting. Semi-automatic and automatic guns are not used to kill a dear so why are they allowed to be sold to any civilised person in the United States? It is said that the availability of a gun makes it more likely that you will have feelings of anger or thoughts of suicide. 381 people have died from gun shooting in Germany, 255 in France, 165 in the UK, 59 in Japan and 39 in Australia. Why is it that approximately 100,000 American people die every year from guns? This is 300 people per day losing their lives because of guns. This is screaming out to Americans that they have to act now. Waiting another year is just losing 100,000 more lives. The news in America impacts greatly on the way society looks at their safety. The TV advertises violence sending a bad message across to any children in the United States. One hour before the Columbine shooting America bombed a school and a hospital in Iraq. This is not setting a good example. Changing the gun laws is a battle between freedoms and safety. It is a battle between freedom for the American people as they have lived their whole lives with the idea that they are safe as they have possession of guns. They have grown up with parents teaching them how to use a gun and in many cases this can lead to good and bad. It can be bad because a child might accidently use a gun for the wrong reasons or their parents have taught them the wrong way of using one. Putting themselves into danger and for good as some families might be smart enough to tell their children there are other ways of protection over guns. It is a battle between safety for all the reasons above. Guns have been seen to be used for nothing but bad in the past and this needs to change. 20 people in America are dying every single hour from a gun. This is not only telling us that they are not used for safety precautions but it is telling us that the American citizens are not very educated in their actions and the way they act. Most Americans might be very good at handling guns and not using them for the worse but to think that so many are dying from one machine and nothing is changing is not good at all. In Australia around about 65 people are killed by guns every year. In America around about 11,127 people are killed by guns every year. 40% of guns sold are not sold without a background check. This means that people with criminal records are easy accepted to own a gun when they are said not to be. The Law says that is you have a criminal record you are unable to possess a gun but many Americans are still easily getting one. This is a wakeup call. America should not be allowing possession of guns for the safety of their own country. Where there are more guns, there are more deaths. America has to start acting now before another 100,000 people are dead.

Muslim Night Essay

An event called ‘Muslim Night’ was held on Saturday, May 7, at MLIC 3rd Floor, IUJ. This annual event starting from 7 pm was initiated and implemented by Muslim Student Association (MSA). Some of students at IUJ come from Muslim countries; they are from Soth East countries : Indonesia and Malaysia; Middle East : Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, and Tajikistan; South Asia : Bangladesh, Pakistan; and Africa Sudan. Those countries have a value or culture influenced by Islam. Entitled ‘Muslim heritage in our world’, the event is expected to be cross-cultural understanding and value sharing for Muslim. Muslim culture has many heritages to the world, especially some inventions that still used till today. The inventions are from many aspects such as economy, science, engineer,etc. A short opening speech was delivered by Professor Ahmed. He said that more than 3 billion people in the world hold Islam. â€Å"This contributes significant influence to enrich world culture† added he. Islamic values cannot be separated from the way of Muslim life. Islam which means submission brings peaceful to any human beings. This is reflected from Islamic greeting ‘Assalamual’aikum’ which means to give peace upon to the addressee. The President of MSA – Nur Adib Najamuddin in this occasion said that †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ (mohon diisi ya mas, maaf waktu saya lagi moto di luar) President of IUJ, Masakatsu Mori through his email is welcome this event. However, he was absent due to his scheduled appointments in Tokyo. This event is open for all IUJ’s community. More than 250 participants – student, staff, and faculty members were joining in. Much information about Islamic values and culture are available in the form of booklet and poster. Nasheed song describing Islamic culture was heard during the event. The Muslim Night 2011 provided some activities such as (1) a short movie presentation with the title â€Å"1001 Inventions and the Library of Secrets’ which tells about pioneering scientists and engineers from the history of Muslim civilization, such as Al Zahrawi, Al Jazari, and others. The film starred by Sir Ben Kinsley has won Cannes Festival France 2010 for best educational film and New York Film Festival 2010 as the best movie. (2) Islamic corner provided a free writing name in Arabic calligraphy for the participants and it was recorded that almost 200 participants wanted to be written their name in Arabic, (3) and ethnic food and drinks from various Muslim countries, such as South East Asia, Middle Asia, and South Asia.