Victimology and Alternatives to Traditional Criminal Justice essays

Victimology and Alternatives to Traditional Criminal Justice essays Alternatives to criminal justice system have been the growing part of the debate surrounding the theory of criminology. Shaming: In this arena of alternatives to criminal justice system, the most distinctive contribution has been John Braithwaites theory of regenerative shaming which conjectures the efficacy of re-integrative shaming and the counter-productiveness of stigmatization in controlling crime. John Braithwaite has asserted persuasively that the twin informal controls dissuading most people from offending against their fellow brethren are what he termed social disapproval and pangs of conscience. (Moore, n. d.) The formal criminal justice system in practice in the present modern era is all built upon a model of the state intervening so as to remedy the behavior of reasonable and rational individuals who have made choices that are socially undesirable. Shaming, under the theory of regenerative shaming, on the other hand, stresses upon the interdependency of individuals. It recognizes shame as an emotion which helps in regulating this interdependency. (Moore, n. d.) It is important to appreciate that a society marked by properly regulated interdependency, by the application of correct practices relating to shaming, the quantum of unlawful anti-social activities, i.e. the level of crime must be less. The hypothetical issue of modern criminology, its poor focus on social interdependency, therefore shows an intense issue in the Western approach towards punishment and crime. The basic issue has been that a methodical uncoupling relating to punishment and that of public shaming has been witnessed. In identifying shame as the emotion that controls the attachment between interdependent individuals Braithwaite as well as other theorists who are pioneers in the role of shame are proposing that realistic, effective programs are present. These programs should ...

Idioms and Expressions With Way

Idioms and Expressions With Way The following idioms and expressions with the noun way cover a wide range of topics and meanings. Each idiom or expression has a definition and two example sentences to help to understand of these common idiomatic expressions with way. All the way Definition: the entire distance, do everything necessary We drove all the way to Phoenix yesterday.Im sure they will make it all the way to finals. (Go) all the way Definition: travel the entire distance, achieve everything possible Make sure you go all the way to the end of the hall.Shell go all the way! In a bad way Definition: feeling poorly, in a very negative situation Im afraid Marys in a bad way. She needs our help.That car looks like its in a bad way. In a big way Definition: very much so I believe in that company in a big way.He enjoys tennis in a big way. In a familiar way Definition: pregnant Martha is in a familiar way.Did you know Peters wife is in a familiar way? In a family way Definition: pregnant Mary is in a family way.I hear that Jennifer is in a family way. It cuts both ways Definition: there are two sides to every argument, dont forget someone else is also involved Dont forget that it cuts both ways.Be nice to people when you beat them. Remember it cuts both ways. It cuts two ways Definition: there are two sides to every argument, dont forget someone else is also involved Some people forget that it cuts two ways and treat others poorly.Never forget that it cuts two ways. No way! Definition: exclamation of disbelief when surprised by a statement I like Justin Bieber. - No way!Peter and Jane are going to get married. - No way! Only way to go Definition: the best solution I bought a Wilson tennis racket. Theyre they only way to go.If you go to Hawaii, stay in Maui. Its the only way to go. Out of the way Definition: be in a position to not prevent progress You need to stay out of the way of your kids when they are teenagers.Good bosses stay out of the way of their employees. Swing both ways Definition: to be bisexual Anna swings both ways.Some of the men at work swing both ways. Thats the way the ball bounces. Definition: sentence used to accept defeat, or not achieving something one had hoped to achieve I didnt get the job. Thats the way the ball bounces.Dont get depressed. Thats the way the ball bounces. Thats the way the cookie crumbles. Definition: sentence used to accept defeat, or not achieving something one had hoped to achieve Our football team last the game. I guess thats the way the cookie crumbles.He wasnt accepted into the program. Thats the way the cookie crumbles. That way Definition: in love Peter and Tom are that way.Jasons that way, but she doesnt feel the same. Two-way street Definition: the same for both people Love is a two-way street.Never forget that your business associates are in a relationship with you that is a two-way street. Way down Definition: truthfully, the true feeling Way down he feels he should go back to university.I know she loves me way down. Way off (base) Definition: completely wrong I think your opinion of Tom is way off base.I was way off base about Mary. She really is a great person. Way out Definition: crazy, unbelievable That theory about UFOs is way out.Jack seems a little way out to me. Way to go! Definition: exclamation of praise I won the match. - Way to go!!Way to go, Tom! I knew you would get the job.

What was the short-term significance of Lord Liverpool's support for Coursework

What was the short-term significance of Lord Liverpool's support for Corn Laws 1815 in affecting support for the Conservative party - Coursework Example On the other end of the spectrum were those who were in favour of free trade and who opposed the Corn Laws as being a government concession to the land barons of Ireland and Britain, against the interest of the poor. The opinion of the latter is perhaps most eloquently voiced by Blake (170, p. 15) who assessed the 1815 corn laws from a distance of more than 150 years as ‘class biased’ †¦ ‘one of the most naked pieces of class legislation in English History, and a clear sign that the capitalist ideal was not going to prevail without a struggle’, a view clearly also later held by the authors of The Black Book.1 Yet, despite the concerns of the parties involved, Lord Liverpool was able to consolidate the opposing political forces within the Houses of Lords and Commons to pass the legislation with a 126 : 26 majority. Predictably, the poorer community fared badly as a result of artificially high corn prices and the next few years were marred by demonstratio ns and riots, followed by the passing of various pieces of repressive legislation in an attempt to control the rioters. Yet, despite these very unpopular measures, support for the conservative party and Liverpool rose - evidenced by the voting numbers during parliamentary business over the next few years. This has generally been attributed to post war problems facing Britain as well as Lord Liverpool’s skills in presenting these to his peers. This explanations is not disputed, however, this paper poses that there is a powerful additional factor, namely that once the corn laws had unleashed unrest, a fear factor developed which did not in fact constitute support for the policies of the conservative party at all but which nevertheless caused members of the parliament to act in semblance. It is also argued that this fear was by far the strongest motivation for giving continued support to the conservative party for as long as there was a danger of further riots. There can be no d oubt that the post-war problems faced by Britain in the aftermath of the Napoleonic wars were grave and that the modification to existing corn laws in 1815 can be understood as a short-term measure to avoid catastrophe. Corn laws had been in place in Britain since the 17th century and had basically consisted of a high rate of import duty imposed on a sliding scale to prevent imports and encourage exports, with import duties decreasing as corn prices increased (Fay, C. R., 1932, pp 28-43). This had kept corn prices relatively low and exports high until the middle of the 18th century when, for a variety of reasons, constant corn shortages forced frequent short-term measures to suspend import duties. In 1773 the government conceded that adjustments were required to reflect the real situation and lowered import duties to operate on a sliding scale, diminishing with increases in corn prices (Fay, C. R., 1932, pp 28-43). The underlying policies were to keep the farmers employed and making profits without inflating the price of corn to put it out of reach of the poor. The acts of 1791 and 1804 served a similar purpose, each one lowering the point at which corn import duties ceased. However, the income that was supposed to accrue from the imports did not eventuate as between 1792 and 1815 the price of corn was so high that virtually no import duty was collected (Hilton p. 3). This state of affairs continued with some further adjustments until 1804, by which time the system had been severely destabilized by the Napoleonic wars 1792-1815, which were fought along economic as well as military lines. Thus both parties engaged in economic blockades, bringing horrendous food shortages for England,

The Value of Life Coaching in Uncertain Economic Times Article

The Value of Life Coaching in Uncertain Economic Times - Article Example In fact, everyone tries to maximize his or her benefits at the expense of others since the resources available for the affluent metropolitan lifestyle of the middleclass are scarce and costly. How could one achieve things and conquer life without compromising on lifestyle and personal affluence Once again, the world is facing a financial recess with all its severities and retrogressive effects on the lives of the hard-working people from around the world as it occurred at the time of the Great Depression. Share markets are collapsing. National economies are being bankrupted. The employed looses his/her job on one fine morning and finds nothing for subsistence and survival. How could one still think of a successful career and what could be done for guaranteeing a life with dignity The sophisticated efforts of human resource development that aims to address the complexities life in twenty first century has led to the spawning of innovations such as life coaching. Life coaching enables one to churn one's own life in difficult times with the help of a trained professional as it becomes necessary to 'born again' in order to fight back against the vicissitudes of life in the new millennium. Life coaching not only brings about changes in ones life that could provide him with a place in the class of the fittest that are capable of survival but also empower the trained to sustain such desired changes. Life coaching enhances both physical and mental capabilities and potentials in order to make one competent enough to be successful in all the spheres of life ranging from material to spiritual. Therefore, eminent theorists such as Zeus and Skiffington define life coaching as 'structured and process-driven relationship between a trained professional and an individual to achieve valuable and sustainable changes in life'. Life coaching as a tool of self-realization in this world is designed to assist persons who want to become No.1s at multiple arenas of life such as career, education, relationships, status, health and happiness. It is important to note that life coaching is sought after by professionals and white-collar employees who always seek to go beyond where they are actually placed in and acquire skills that they presently do not have. Significantly, life coaching does not see life in its parts but validates it as something qualitatively and quantitatively greater than its parts. The strength of life coaching lies in the fact that it is a holistic approach towards solving difficult problems in life. One cannot solve the problems s/he encounters at one particular field of life alone since living difficulties are interrelated and interdependent. Therefore, life coaching advocates a combination of techniques and solutions while encountering a particular hardship in life. To be precise, life coac hing is not merely solving one or another problem faced by a person but reforms and renovates a person and redefines his/her existence. One who undergoes such an experience will not be infested by the residues of the 'old' life but will be radiating with the energies of new life. One who gets life coaching could substantially alter his/her abilities, attitudes, values, emotions, and aspirations. Thus, a change from within would lead the person to emancipation and empowerment in the social setting s/he is happened

The United States Presidential Election Essay Example for Free

The United States Presidential Election Essay The recent victory of Barack Obama in the United States Presidential Election of 2008 is one of the biggest issues among many other big events that have occurred in America this year. Early on, even during the presidential primaries, the topic of whether or not then Presidential candidate Obama would be influential enough to win the electoral vote was an issue. It was undoubted that the Democratic Party enjoyed the support of the popular vote yet the bigger was issue was whether or not they would be able to gain enough of the Electoral College votes. The events and debates leading up to the election have also brought about a controversial election topic which is that of Electoral College reform. This brief discourse shall tackle the issue of Electoral College Reform and whether or not a different method for the selection of the United States president should be used. To arrive at a better understanding of the issue, it is important to first discuss the pros and cons of the current system. As such, there will be a discussion into the historical antecedents and the impact of such electoral changes. Finally, this discourse will highlight the reasons why the method used by Maine and Nebraska is more effective. Electoral College Reform In 1888, the election of Benjamin Harrison was controversial because for the first time in American History the winner of the Electoral College lost the popular vote. This raised a lot of questions because it was thought to symbolize the lack of support for the President by the American public. It would also mean that the mandate of the public was not for the President and it would make it very difficult to pass reforms and laws. This is because the United States has a democratic government. It must be remembered that a democratic system is often mistakenly characterized as the rule of the majority (Davenport 380). While there is usually a large group of middle class individuals that comprise this democratic system, it does not necessarily mean that the majority rule. This only means that the majority usually elects the representative to office but the hallmark of any democracy is still the protection of the rights of the minority. As such, the system of Electoral College ensures that while the majority may influence the outcome of an election it also makes sure the people are able to freely select their representation at all levels, most especially at the level of the presidency. Most recently, the issue of Electoral College Reform once again made the headlines as President George W. Bush narrowly won the electoral vote but had lost the popular vote. This victory raised a lot of questions and even the former Senator Hillary Clinton called for a constitutional amendment that would allow for the selection of the President to be through popular vote and not the electoral vote. It is clear that this measure did not pass yet it certainly did bring to the consciousness of the public the necessity of reviewing the issue of Electoral College Reform. Pros and Cons It stands to reason why such a system, which has been in place for so long and been the reason for the election of several Presidents, should be replaced with an antiquated election style. In order to arrive at a better understanding of the issue, it is important to first discuss the concerns of the Electoral College system. This is with the goal of proving that there is a need for Electoral College Reform and the adoption of the Congressional District method which is being used in Maine and Nebraska. The first reason is that it is argued that the system of Electoral College Reform does not accurately reflect the sentiment of the public. This is because as the examples in the recent elections have shown an individual can still be declared as the President of the United States even if he or she does not have the support of the majority or the popular vote. Under the Electoral College system, as long as the candidate enjoys the support of the States with the heaviest weight, he is virtually assured of victory. This is because of the fact that the framers of the Constitution sought for equality in representation and wanted to ensure that the voters in the sparsely populated states would have more weight as compared to those in the more densely populated states. This was done to ensure that those in smaller states would be able to be heard and have representation. This was also done to ensure that the majority would not overwhelm the minority. Another peculiar aspect of the Electoral System is that a candidate can win the election if he so happens to accumulate wins in many states that are relatively small in size even if his opponent is able to get larger wins in smaller states. The reason for this is that the Electoral System also features the â€Å"winner take all† system which rules that the proportion of the electoral vote often bears little resemblance to the popular vote. The winner take alls system also creates a few problems because the smaller number of electoral votes creates a discrepancy with the amount of random round offs which has been stated as an error. The presence of this error is also problematic because most studies have shown that it reduces voter turn out in areas and states where there are dominant parties. Seeing that they are not able to swing the vote either way, certain voters do not even attempt to exercise their right to vote for fear that it will all be for naught because of the numbers involved. Being the minority party in the state, they are aware that if their state uses the Electoral College System they will be unable to sway the outcome of the election either way. This is the reason why there is a voter apathy problem in most of these states. Perhaps the main problem with the Electoral College arises from the fact that in case there is no candidate who gets the majority of the electoral votes, it falls upon the House of Representatives to settle the issue. From this point alone, it is clear that there are several ramifications from such a method. The first is that the results of the election will not matter in any case because it will be the House of Representatives that will determine the winner. This may also be interpreted as a situation wherein the party which is able to get the most number of seats in Congress will decidedly determine the outcome of the election. The resulting partisan battle is no longer representative of the will of the public but rather the will of a representation that does not effectively carry the approval of the majority of the voting public. The second reason is because it often results in horse trading in order to determine the next President of the United States. Since the House of Representatives is composed of several congressmen, it boils down to trading votes for concessions when determining the leadership of the country. This totally disregards the electoral process and in a way can be construed as frustrating the will of the voting public. As such, the entire electoral process boils down to which side is able to gain more support for their candidate and which candidate is able to give more concessions to the parties. This is similar to events that transpired in 1824 and 1876. The leadership of a country boils down to tax measures and funding instead of what it is really supposed to be about, the will of the voting public. This system also creates another problem by limiting the choices of the public. Since it has been determined that the party which has a better network generally wins, the Electoral System leaves out the alternative parties such as the liberals. In the past elections, it has been shown that it is only the Republican or the Democratic Party that is able to field the candidates. While the liberal party has shown more strength, the realistic candidates are generally from the two party systems which in effect limit the choices of the voting public. One of the other problems in an Electoral College comes from the fact that there is a necessity for primary elections. This means that the long drawn out process of Elections is really simply just a process that was already more or less decided when the primaries were cast. As the recent elections have shown, when there are primary elections it already becomes clear where the popular votes are and where the electoral strengths are. This also results in a frustration in the vote and the will of the electorate because having the primaries means that in most cases the votes of the last states does not really matter, except when it is a really close election but in most cases this is not often the case. The reason for this is that the results of the elections have been decided because most of the candidates have conceded even before all the votes have been cast due to the projections of certain candidates having insurmountable lead. The end impact of all of these negative aspects is quite simple. It means that the electoral process is frustrated and the right of the voters to be heard and make a difference with their vote is disregarded. This is based on the fact that when the electoral process is determined before it is over it sends the signal that the vote of those who have not voted is no longer necessary in determining the results. This may, in the long run, lead to voter apathy and lack of support from certain states. From the point of view of the electoral process, it is not a real electoral process because it does not allow for the real sentiments of the public to be reflected. Through the electoral process, the foundations of a democratic system become all the more evident. The right of the people to vote and to choose who they will elect as president is one of the important foundations of a representative democratic system (Lijphart 139). Without these foundations in place, there would be no way to ensure that the rights of the people are protected. The right to select a representative ensures that everyone has a chance to be heard. In the wise words of Abraham Lincoln, Democracy is the government of the people, by the people and for the people.

Same Day Voter Registration :: essays research papers

Same day voter registration, as the name implies, is the process of registering to vote on the day elections are held. Because of the way this would and does affect the results of elections, it is a â€Å"hot topic† among many in the government.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Proponents of the issue use the argument that same day voter registration would increase voter turnout, which in fact, it has been proven to do. The three states that have currently adopted same day registration, Maine, Minnesota, and Wisconsin, have seen voter turnout increase by about 5%. This is due to the reduction in the cost of voting to the voter. Pre- registration requires time and effort, something so many Americans seem unwilling to spend. By allowing same day registration, the voter no longer has to have the foresight to register, nor take the time to find the registration place and then actually send in the registration card.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Same day registration also places less of a premium on permanent residence. Many lower class Americans who have no stable residence, along with those people who just move a lot, would find same day registration very convenient, and it might be the difference as to weather or not they vote.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Despite the many up-sides to same day registration, many feel it would be detrimental to the voting process. Along with same day registration comes a higher possibility of voting fraud. It would be easier for a voter to vote multiple times at different precincts.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Republicans are more likely to be against same day registration. They feel as if the people who take advantage of it, those who didn’t get around to registering, would probably not be republicans. Many, republican or not, feel as if same day registration would also lead to â€Å"snap-decision† voting, voting for a cartoon character or a wrestler, or, god forbid, a third party candidate. Many opposed to same day registration feel that the people who are voting now without it are the people that need to be voting, and we don’t need to involve anyone else.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Despite my initial feeling of indifference, I am for same day voter registration. I think that the more people that get involved and cast a vote, the more the elected official can properly represent those he or she serves.

Government Capital Punishment Essay

Theories of punishment have significant role to play in the ongoing debate on capital punishment, especially for murder. Some retributivists appeal to the lex talionis, the law of retaliation, to determine the appropriate amount of punishment . This principle specifies that the punishment should inflict on offenders what they have done to their victims; â€Å"an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth†, and â€Å"a life for a life†. Capital punishment is therefore the only appropriate punishment for murder. But the lex talionis is deeply flawed. It focuses on the harm done by offenders without regard to their mental states. A life may be taken intentionally or accidentally; a person may be killed for personal gain or in order to relieve him or her of the agony of a terminal illness. Even if we restrict the scope of the lex talionis to cases in which the wrongdoing is fully intentional, there is still the problem about the level at which the punishment should imitate the crime (Singer, 1993). Should murderers be killed in exactly the manner that they killed their victims? In any case, it is impossible to apply the lex talionis to many offenders; the penniless thief, the tooth assailant who knocks out his victim’s teeth, the tax evader, etc. If conscious of the defects of the lex talionis, retributivists merely insist that the punishment should be appropriate to the moral gravity of the offence, then this requirement can be satisfied so long as the murderer is punished more severely than less serious offenders. There is no need for capital punishment. From the utilitarian point of view, capital punishment can only be justified if it produces better consequences than less severe forms of punishment. This condition would be satisfied if capital punishment is a superior deterrent to alternative forms of punishment such as long periods of imprisonment. So a utilitarian will try to settle the issue on the basis of the evidence about the effects of capital punishment. The statistical evidence is based on comparisons of murder rates in countries where there is capital punishment with those in socially similar countries where there is no capital punishment, and no comparisons of the murder rates in one and the same country at different times when it had capital punishment and when it later abolished it, or when it restored capital punishment after a period of abolition. The evidence does not show that capital punishment is a superior deterrent. However, the utilitarian approach is rejected by those who wish to place greater value on the lives of the innocent victims of murder than on the lives of convicted murderers. It is suggested that the evidence does not conclusively rule out the superior deterrence of capital punishment, and in the presence of such uncertainty, it is better to have capital punishment. If there is capital punishment, and it turns out that capital punishment is not a superior deterrent, then convicted murderers have been unnecessarily executed. If, on the other hand, we abolish capital punishment, and it turns out that it is a superior deterrent, then there would be additional victims of murder. But this argument is unacceptable because where there is capital punishment, it is certain that convicted murderers will die, but in the absence of capital punishment and in the light of available evidence there is only a remote probability that there would be more innocent victims of murder (Conway, 1974). In any case, there is a risk of a few innocent people being wrongly convicted of murder and executed if there is capital punishment. This has to put on the scales against capital punishment.