...Introduction. Historically, castration has been often used as a punishment to sex offenders. However, by late 19th Century, most of the castration sentences were disallowed upon appeal (Spalding, 1998). For this reason, legislative systems have made into law legislations that will revive the ancient castration method to condemn such men. However, this procedure has not escaped criticism from psychological, medical and psychiatric professionals. Some critics, such as the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), believe that mandatory chemical castration of sex offenders due to court order is unconstitutional (Spalding, 1998). The opponents of castration also argue that side effects associated with chemical castration such as serious allergic reactions...
Words: 2422 - Pages: 10
...#2 Handling Sex Crimes/Offenders I have learned a lot about sex crimes and sex offenders that I had no recent knowledge of or even knew was possible. I have been informed of different ways that these offenders are handled and how people have looked at sex crimes, whether it was Frank Weber telling us about his new way of rehabilitation or when we were told about what these offenders are supposed to oblige by when they are on probation. We also heard about some of the most famous sexual abductions and crimes when someone from the Jacob Wetterling foundation came in and gave her presentation. These gave me a different outlook on sex offenders and whether locking them up or rehabbing them is the best choice. I think that the most appropriate response to sex crimes and offenders is the exact way Frank Weber does it. Sure he has to go to court and sort through all the lawsuits but I think he is starting a new trend in sex offender rehabilitation since he has such a high success rate. When I was listening to him speak about the way he handles these offenders in his program I couldn’t help but agree with every technique he uses. Whether it’s the polygraph test, the journals, and speaking to the families. I believe that probation is a good choice but not as life changing as rehab. I mean the offenders are being looked upon all the time and being watched so they don’t act out on their impulses. The officers keep pornography and all other triggers away from offenders but I feel like...
Words: 678 - Pages: 3
...Betty Waltermire Critical Issues in Criminal Justice JUS-250 April 10, 2014 Cruel and Unusual Punishment or Effective Control of Sex Crimes In the Bill of Rights we look to the Eighth Amendment to read; Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted. Excessive or disproportionate to the offense committed. A male who has been charged with and convicted of multiple sexual crimes, is going to do his time, get out of prison and offend again. To impose upon him to be chemically or surgically castrated would this procedure stop or prevent the sexual crimes from occurring. In China and the ancient world the rulers kept many wives and concubines so they would have an heir. To protect them from being impregnated by another male they used eunuchs to guard the wives and concubines. They were appointed to guard the royal household and through daily contact with the family they gained immense power (Chinese Eunuchs). According to legend castration has been used to improve the effectiveness of soldiers. The rulers would castrate the men by removing the penis and leaving the testicles. This would cause them enormous sexual frustration and they would become violent and aggressive, which was perfect for the battlefield. Chemical castration is done by injection of the FDA approved birth control drug Depo Provera to lower the testosterone levels in men, thereby reducing...
Words: 824 - Pages: 4
...Urbana-Champaign is the number of sexual offenders that live around the area and their proximity to campus. Sexual offender is someone who has been convicted of a sex crime. Crimes that are considered sex crime include but not limit: rape, sexual assault, child pornography, child molestation, and prostitution. The recidivism of sexual offenders is on average about 14% within the five years after the first time they commit a sex crime (Tillman). Recidivism is when a person repeats the same behavior after they have had negative consequences due to that behavior. Couple of days ago I received an e-mail that was titled “Assistance in Locating Registered Sex Offender”, which was followed by the description of this person, and what to do in case you see him. Also the e-mail contained a bunch of links that informed you what to do in case you were sexually assaulted and how to prevent it from happening. Right after reading the whole e-mail I got chills going down my spine, because it never really crossed my mind that I could be unsafe on campus of my own school. After receiving this e-mail I decided to investigate this issue a little further, but I wasn’t expecting what I discovered. According to crimereports.com there are around 20 registered sex offenders living around campus one mile or less (Crime Reports). The reason this is a problem is obvious, of course; safety is the main concern. Having your own baseball team which consists of sex offenders living on campus is far from ideal....
Words: 1059 - Pages: 5
...when sentencing a sexual offender. However, some provisions of the Florida Sexual Predator Act are harsher than necessary. As discussed in this essay, very harsh sexual predator laws inhibit ability of sexual predators to reintegrate in the society. Thus, considerate sexual predator laws are highly encouraged. Sexual Predator Prosecution in Florida The state of Florida has statutes that define predatory conduct. Thus, the Florida Sexual Predators Act defines offenses and legal circumstances that can qualify an offender as a sexual predator. However, not all sexual offenses are designated as predatory under Florida law. What Types of Crimes are codified into Law, Misdemeanor or Felony? The criminal justice process must rely on elaborate laws that define unlawful conduct (Wright, 2013, p.4). Thus, the Florida Sexual Predators Act codifies several sexual offenses into law and felony. There are three main ways to determine if a sex offender is a predator. Generally, Florida law designates any repeat sexual offender as a predator. As per “one is enough” sexual predator offenses, a person who commits a qualifying sexual offense on or after October 1st, 1993 and gets convicted can be designated as a sexual predator by a court of law. On the other hand, “second strike” defines a sexual predator as a repeat sexual offender who has been previously convicted of a qualifying offense. Thirdly, a civil commitment proceeding may designate a violent sexual offender as a predator who is subject...
Words: 1184 - Pages: 5
...every one can be rehabilitated. The question should be asked; “does rehabilitation really work for everyone?” I will provide statistics on the success and failure rate, as well as which programs are most beneficial to prisoners. Whether rehabilitation and counseling works or not, something has to be done to assist prisoners in order for them to lead a normal life upon their release. I will discuss some of the many programs offered by various states ranging from “Pets in Prison” to obtaining college degrees. I will explain the various types of counseling offered to sex offenders, pedophiles and murderers. Those are a few topics I feel should have special interest in the counseling/rehabilitation area. I am sure most would agree that prisoners should receive some type of counseling and rehabilitation, but where do you draw the line on the rehabilitation services offered? Should the money from taxpayers be used to fund certain types of programs, how does the prison system decide who gets to participate in which programs, and how can counselors and judicial boards ensure there will be no regression? Those are just a couple of questions that will be answered throughout my report. Structural Outline 1. Educational Services Offered 1a. Prison Entrepreneurship 2a. Prison Labor/computer repair program 2. Drug Rehabilitation 2a. Program Steps in detail for the Second Chance Program 3. Sex Offender Therapy 4. Alternative Programs to Prison ...
Words: 3656 - Pages: 15
...rape and murder of a 12-year-old girl. I believe he should be punished for the death of the 12-year-old girl because of the fact he coerced her into having sex, which he then struggled with leading to her death. However, I do not think he should be charged with the death penalty because his intentions were to have sex with her and his goal did not involve wanting to kill her. He did not intentionally, purposefully kill her, as she fell to her own death, in the matter of his hands because he fought her to have sex with him. He should be held responsible though for the intent of being involved at the brothel and trying to bribe and then later coerced her into having sex. He should also be responsible for her death in a matter of “she said no, it means no, do not keep pushing her into it” because now she is dead because of his forcefulness. Any form of rehabilitation would be helpful, “any measure taken to change an offender’s character, habits, or behavior patterns so as to diminish his criminal propensities” (Spohn & Hemmens, 2012, p. 430). However, I would recommend imprisonment at a medium-level facility for a minimum of five years as well as mandatory therapy/counseling, behavioral evaluations and once out of prison, to be registered as a sex offender as well as have probation to prevent further, similar, altercations. Kaytlyn, you make some very strong points in regards to the punishment that “the Brothel Boy” should receive in regards to his murdering the twelve year...
Words: 471 - Pages: 2
... kermit the frog CJA-234 Rehabilitation in prison it is a part of a process of bettering offenders and preventing them from further criminal activity and behavior. The goal of rehabilitation is to re-shape the individuals and prepare them to enter the society with a different state of mind and start a new distant from the crime life.” In modern penology, the real purpose of sending criminals to prison is to transform them into honest and law abiding citizens by inculcating in them distaste for crime and criminality” (US-China Law Review; Mar2010, Vol. 7 Issue 3, p15-29, 15p). In United States of America the correction system provides many programs that are designed in order to rehabilitate inmates. Some of those programs include religion related services like Bible study groups or religious congregations. The other forms can include art crafts, sports, found raising activities or prison work assignments. For those offenders that are struggling with addictions, there are drug and alcohol treatment programs that offer anonymous group meetings. Also, definitely as a one of very supportive programs is visitation with family and nonfamily outsiders. Parole it is a supervision that offender receives after being released from the prison. It is a similar to probation method of supervision when it comes to its conditions. Just like on probation, while on parole the convict has to obey...
Words: 1074 - Pages: 5
...PRINCIPLES OF SENTENCING: TOWARDS A EUROPEAN CONVERSATION Paper delivered at Conference on “The Limits of the Criminal Law” at Leiden University, January 23, 2008 and subsequently published in Cupido (ed), Limits of Criminal Law (Nijmegen, 2008).[1] Tom O’Malley Senior Lecturer in Law National University of Ireland Galway First, I would like to extend my warmest congratulations to the students of Leiden Law School for having organised this conference. Thanks to their vision and energy, representatives from several European countries have gathered in this historic venue to discuss some key aspects of criminal law and criminal procedure. More often than not, we think of European law solely in terms of European Union law, the jurisprudence of the European Court of Human Rights or both. Needless to say, the study of European law even in this limited sense is of the highest importance given its impact on our national legal systems and our daily lives. However, growing levels of legal and political integration now demand that we broaden our vision of European law to encompass the domestic legal systems of individual European states. Some work has already begun in this regard,[2] but it is only on rare occasions such as this that we can engage in a meaningful exchange of ideas and information on areas of common concern. Criminal justice is a most appropriate and worthy topic with which to begin. In times past, sentencing would not have featured very prominently...
Words: 9462 - Pages: 38
...Recidivism “America is the land of the second chance – and when the gates of the prison open, the path ahead should lead to a better life” former President, George W. Bush says. Is that statement true? Recidivism is just another word for repeat offender in crime. After sentences, they are tossed back out into the real world. Things may have changed, they can’t get jobs and can’t take care of themselves. Some are afraid to reach out for help. So what do they do? Some are lucky and find ways to stay out of trouble, but for the unlucky ones, they tend to repeat prior actions and are imprisoned again. Government officials have decided to take a stand, and decide to help repeating offenders better themselves with recidivism programs in prisons....
Words: 1053 - Pages: 5
...because the prison officials have yet to be able to control this kind of activity. Another issue that has been affects the prison system is the sentencing that are being handed out for drug charges. This has cause the prisons to be overcrowded. Prison Violence on the Rise Prison violence is on the rise, many prison conditions are a recipe for violence, by being overcrowded, understaffed, insufficient staff training, excessive solitary confinement, insecure facilities, mistreatment of mentally ill inmates, policies that weaken family ties, a culture of disrespect between staff and prisoners, and little accountability for wardens. These facilities are causing concern not only for inmates but, for those employed to supervise the convicted offenders. Inmate population continue to grow, staffing levels in most facilities either have stopped or decreased. Violence has increased in the prisons that carry these conditions. Inmates experience rape by other prisoners and staff, gang rape, gang violence, and excessive force from officers often with no reliable procedure to report violence. Inmates are mistreated by the same staff members, who process their complaint report. There is no uniform way to track violent trends in prison suggesting that the public only...
Words: 2155 - Pages: 9
...Unit 3: Theory and Practice in Courts Stacey Pedroza CRJS300-1203A-04: Proseminar in Criminal Justice Professor Samantha Carlo AIU Online University June 24, 2012 Theory and Practice in Courts In reviewing the court system of the United States there is a definite hierarchy between the trial courts, appellate courts and the supreme courts of both the state and federal levels. However, the actions of the court systems move at such a slow and hindered pace because of the bureaucracy of motions and objections among many others. The following is a review of the type of court system the United States has and why. Along with judges sentencing goals and philosophy; and sentencing innovations. Dual Court System The United States has a dual court system, comprised of the State Courts and the Federal Court Systems. Within both the State and Federal court systems there are several levels of jurisdictions. The state courts have trial courts where there is specific jurisdiction and courts of general jurisdiction, then the appellate courts and finally the state supreme court. The federal court system is similar to the state courts in that there are trial courts, courts of appeals and finally the highest court in the nation is the Supreme Court of the United States. Another piece of the federal court system is the Military trial courts, the Military appellate courts and then they will also report to the Supreme Court of the United States. Why does the U.S. have a Dual...
Words: 1069 - Pages: 5
...cannot come back from. The juvenile sex offender’s registry and notification laws are controversial and proponents of these laws feel they act as deterrents to future offending even though there is no evidence to support this claim. In many cases recidivism has decreased with the proper assessment and treatment. Our country has an overzealous sex crime legislation dating back to the 1880s. In the United States there are three types of legislation dealing with sex crimes. The first was pre-World War II when offenders were subjected to indefinite institutionalization and sterilization. These policies were jointly influenced by the fields of sexology and eugenics (Ordover, 2003). Sexologists promoted the view that minor forms of sexual misbehavior would predict future sexual violence and homicide (Jenkins, 1998), whereas eugenicists promoted the view that criminal behavior was genetically determined (Ordover, 2003). Both of these fields developed the view that sexual offending was considered intractable, resistant to change and escalating, therefore, new legislation was established to enact extreme interventions by institutionalization offenders. In order to keep society safe from future exposure and danger from an offender’s offspring thus forced sterilization (Letourneau, 2013). This method has large economic costs to our government in funding for the physical care and procedure costs, which outweigh the benefits for this treatment. The offender and his family had to endure his...
Words: 2431 - Pages: 10
...inspiration. Remember that your topic should be something important to you. This is not a complete list of ideas! Be creative and let your interests guide you. 1. Should marijuana be legalized? 2. Should instructors teach morality? 3. Should college athletes be paid? 4. Is affirmative action fair? 5. Should the Greek system remain on college campuses? 6. Are professional athletes overpaid? 7. Do you support recreational hunting? 8. Do you believe in euthanasia? 9. Should sex education be left to parents? 10. Should knowingly transmitting an STD be punishable by law? 11. Should condoms be given out at school? 12. Should RU-486 be allowed in the U.S.? 13. Should gay marriage be legal? 14. Do you believe in gun control? 15. Should there be regulation of the internet? 16. Do video games instill violent behavior? 17. Do you approve of capital punishment? 18. Should the current drinking age be lowered (or raised)? 19. Are mandatory attendance policies justified in college classrooms? 20. Should cell phone use be banned in vehicles? ... restricted in public places? 21. Do you believe that intelligent life exists on other worlds? 22. Should evolution be taught in schools? 23. Is affirmative action still needed in the workplace? 24. Should you become an organ donor? 25. Does political correctness take away from our freedom of speech? 26. Should drug babies be able to go home with...
Words: 404 - Pages: 2
...change that occurs after a behavior that reduces the likelihood that that behavior will occur again in the future. Rehabilitation is a treatment and training to an offender so that he or she is made capable of returning to society. There are differences between the effectiveness of punishment compared with the effectiveness of rehabilitation of convicted offenders in prison and under community supervision. Punishment and rehabilitation both are effective with the deterrence of crime, effects on victims and offenders, society and the fiscal effect on society. Deterrence Deterrence is the act of preventing a particular act or behavior from happening. In the criminal justice system deterrence is used to prevent an individual from committing a future crime. Punishment can be an effective deterrence when an individual is sent to jail. Prison is a form of punishment. Prison is a temporary solution while the offender is incarcerated. The highest form of punishment in the criminal justice system is capital punishment. The death penalty is used to deter people from committing crimes. Capital punishment is defined as a form of putting one to death because of a crime a person has committed. The seriousness of the crime determines the punishment. In a mitigating circumstance a sentence will be lighter considering factors of an offender played a minor or passive role in the offense or participated under circumstances of coercion or duress (Gaines & Miller, 2008). Mitigating offenses prevents...
Words: 1603 - Pages: 7
