...today’s justice system. The War on Drugs is more important than others because it has many negative trickling effects from the shift to punitive policies. The War on Drugs has made America the leader in incarceration rates (Banks 2005:114). These high incarceration rates within America have also led to overcrowding, racial bias, increase in women in prison, and many other negative effects. The public does need to be educated on the negative effects from the War on Drugs in order to push for change in our punitive policies for non-violent drug offenders. In order to change these negative effects, America needs to get rid of mandatory minimums and the three strikes laws. These laws are placing many non-violent drug offenders in prison. These offenders are in need of substance abuse treatment in order to stop the vicious recidivism cycle. Wrongful conviction is another very important ethical issue that we are facing in today’s justice system. Wrongful convictions are very important when it comes to ethical issues because innocent people are being put on death row by our government. There are organizations with insightful information about this issue on their websites such as the Innocent Project. Wrongful convictions are becoming more prevalent due to the technology of DNA testing (Innocence Project website). However,...
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...Wrongful convictions happen every day within our justice system, according to the , Bureau of Justice Statistics, admits that statistically 8% to 12% of all state prisoners are either actually or factually innocent. One out of every 100 adults in the United States is behind bars. If we take those on parole or probation into account, that ratio jumps to 1 out of 31 adults. America, the Land of the Free, imprisons five times more people than Great Britain, nine times more people in Germany, and 12 times more people than Japan. Only about 8 percent of sentenced prisoners in federal prison were incarcerated for violent crimes, and about 52 percent of sentenced prisoners for state prisons. Within three years of their release, roughly two-thirds of former prisoners are re-arrested, while 52 percent are re-incarcerated. Those statistics only show a small part of the lingering problems with our criminal justice system. What about the reported 1-2 percent of our prison population that shouldn’t be there in the first place? Radley Balko, senior writer for Huffington Post and contributing editor at Reason, says since 1989, “DNA testing has freed 268 people who were convicted of crimes they did not commit.” (HVnews, 2011) We are paying taxes to not only take care of the convicted but also the innocent. With everyone wanting fast justice, many people in power like police, judges and lawyers tend to rush through a case if they feel they are able to get something stick without following...
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...oversight, mistake, or just plain malicious. It raises questions whether our society can have faith in America’s criminal justice system. In Tested: How Twelve Wrongly Imprisoned Men Held Onto Hope, Dorothy Budd writes about twelve men that were wrongly convicted. Billy Smith and Johnnie Lindsey have stories to tell and what they have to say is important for everyone to hear. Billy Smith and Johnnie Lindsey were falsely imprisoned for around 20 years. They were both convicted of a sexual assault offense. What amazed me the most is although two decades or more of their lives were taken away from them, they were both content with what happened to them. Neither of them had hatred or anger towards the criminal justice system. Smith says, “America has the best justice system in the world.” I applaud them on keeping their faith and hope alive, even though the worst had happened to them. It is very hard to keep your faith when the odds are stacked up against you. I personally would probably have lost hope and been faithless, resentful, and angry. So for Smith and Lindsey to stay positive, it can truly be a miracle. Smith and Lindsey are strong...
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...The Innocent Man (TV series). The Innocent Man | | Author(s) | John Grisham | Country | United States | Publisher | Doubleday | Publication date | October 10, 2006 | Pages | 368 | ISBN | 978-0-385-51723-2 | OCLC Number | 70251230 | The Innocent Man: Murder and Injustice in a Small Town (2006) is a nonfiction book written by John Grisham, and his first outside the legal fiction genre. The book tells the story of Ronald 'Ron' Keith Williamson of Ada, Oklahoma, a former minor league baseball player who was wrongly convicted in 1988 for the rape and murder of Debra Sue Carter in Ada and was sentenced to death. After serving 11 years on death row, he was exonerated by DNA evidence and other material introduced by the Innocence Project and was released in 1999. Contents * 1 Synopsis * 2 Book edition * 3 References * 4 External links | Synopsis Ron Williamson has returned to his hometown of Ada, Oklahoma after multiple failed attempts to play for various minor league baseball teams, including the Fort Lauderdale Yankees and two farm teams owned by the Oakland A's. An elbow injury inhibited his chances to progress. His big dreams were not enough to overcome the odds (less than 10 percent) of making it to a big league game. His failures lead to, or aggravate, his depression and problem drinking.[1] Early in the morning of December 8, 1982, the body of Debra Sue Carter, a 21-year-old cocktail waitress, was found in the bedroom of her garage apartment in Ada...
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...THE DEATH PENALTY Does capital punishment act as a better deterrent to murder than a long prison sentence? The first legal execution of a criminal in America was in 1623 in the Jamestown colony where Daniel Franken was hung for theft. (Frank D.) During the Colonial period, a person could be put to death for a variety of reasons, as opposed to modern times where the crime must consist of willful murder. Hanging remained the primary means of execution until August 6, 1890, when William Kemmler became the first person to be executed by way of the electric chair. Throughout the 20th century additional methods were used, including the gas chamber, firing squad and lethal injection, all of which remain employed today. After centuries of executions, one would think lawmakers would have realized that the death penalty is unequally applied and does not deter crime. All States that employ the death penalty use lethal injection as their primary means. Traditionally, the lethal cocktail has consisted of Sodium Thiopental, to render the condemned unconscious, Pancuronium Bromide to relax the muscles to the point of apparent paralysis, and Potassium Chloride to stop the heart. The manufacturers of these drugs are primarily European companies. Recently, these companies were prohibited by the European Union to export the drugs for lethal injection purposes. This ban has resulted in a mass shortage of the required drugs. Due to the lack of supply...
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...One afternoon, in West Memphis, Arkansas, on May 6, 1993 three eight year boys’ bodies were found. The boys’ bodies were found hogtied, mutilated, and sexually assaulted. As the whole town was rocked by this discovery, the police decided they had to find the killer immediately. They automatically turned to their first suspect, Damien Echols, an eighteen-year-old boy who was known around town for dressing in all black and listening to rock music. The next arrest was made on Jessie Misskelley, a friend Echols, who was coerced into falsely confessing his guilt. The final arrest was made with Jason Baldwin, yet another associate of Echols. The three boys became known nationally as the West Memphis Three (WM3). The boys had rumors around town saying that they participated in Wiccan circles and Satanic rituals. Many believed that the murder of the three eight year olds’ was for a Satanic ritual that Echols, Misskelley and Baldwin were participating in. Even with a complete lack of circumstantial evidence from police, Jessie MIsskelley, at the age of just 17, was found guilty on one count of first degree capital murder and two counts of second degree murder and was sentenced to life in imprisonment without parole. Jason Baldwin was found guilty on three counts of capital murder. The 16 year old was sentenced to life imprisonment with a non-parole period of 40 years. Damien Echols was found guilty on three counts of capital murder and was sentenced to death by lethal injection. (Steel...
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...Introduction to Corrections November 13, 2014 When I look at our justice system and how it works, I cannot help but perceive the death penalty’s main function is retribution. The punishment as a whole is flawed and there will always be a substantial risk of executing an innocent person. This negative aspect cannot be overlooked. Furthermore, the cost of this farce is completely appalling and we should not continue to irresponsibly waste crucial funding of the criminal justice system in this way. Capital punishment is hurting our government more than it is helping. Unless the research proves that it is an effective form of deterrence, we should abolish this form of punishment outright. I do not see how the death penalty would deter anyone from committing a heinous act. This is because someone in the commission of a crime is not thinking about sitting in a court room and being sentenced to death. Many people use the term “eye for an eye” but is this the right way to uphold justice? For the reasons of lack of substantial evidence of capital punishment being an effective deterrent, the wasteful spending of valuable funds, and the potential death of innocent people, I do not support the use of the death penalty. For centuries, governments have tried to utilize the death sentence for deterrence and to keep the crime rate lowered. We must ask ourselves, does executing wrongdoers actually lower the rates of crime punishable by death? In my research, I have come to the conclusion...
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...| Death Penalty: | What’s the problem? | | Michael Stender (14354787) | 11/27/2012 | What is the good of killing our inmates if the violence around us continues to grow more and more out of hand? This paper examines a single perspective of societies position on a difficult but necessary evil. | Death Penalty: Why do so many citizens oppose the death penalty? In today’s society the rate of crime, specifically those that involve crimes which can be tried as a capital punishment cases, continue to increase; domestic killings, predatory crimes against children and innocent victim crimes have all continued to rise; Meanwhile the public’s belief and support in our justice systems ultimate punishment continue to fall. The death penalty although looked at as cruel or inhumane by some, can be viewed as a necessary evil. Society as a whole must feel that our system of laws is protecting us. Locking up non-violent and common criminals and attempting to rehabilitate in order to join society is a continuing effort and with some success. However, most studies have found that an increasing number of prisoners today are repeat offenders with sentences for more violent crimes. A study recently done found that 56% of violent felons are repeat offenders and 61% of all felons are repeat offenders. The study also found that most are being punished outside the walls of prison due to their criminal past. After the inmate is released he’s sent back out to society...
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...Regina Woodford CJ 100: Preparing for a Career in Public Safety January 29, 2014 The three key social issues that contribute to the need for criminal justice practitioners are sex offenders, drug abuse, and gun control. The first key social issue is sex offenders. Sex offenders are required by state law to register in the system and allows the public to know where they live and what offense was made (Perlam 2006.). A sex offender is an adult, or child having consensual or nonconsensual sex with a minor. Having a sex offender in your neighborhood can prove not to be a good thing for schools or homes because of the children. When individuals register as they are supposed to, it allows people in the community to be aware of them. The second key social issue is drug abuse. This issue requires a need for criminal justice practitioner in for different reasons. Drug abuse is a social and physical problem. The physical problem is the pain that a person inflicts upon themselves intentionally and unintentionally while high. Drug abuse can lead to life threatening addictions and can also kill a person. Therefore, it contributes for a need of a criminal justice practitioner; the CJ practitioner can promote a lack of narcotics to prevent individuals from spending the rest of their lives jail. When a person abuses drugs, they do not see their problem as an issue. A criminal justice practitioner role would be to help drug abusers by, sending them to rehabilitation centers or locking...
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...Areiann Johnson Final Paper April 16, 2012 False Confessions She was killed Mr. Cope. She was raped and murdered! You are in shock. You are confused. You feel indescribable, unbearable pain. This pain is so emotional that it affects you physically too! Someone has ripped your heart out of your chest and made you watch as they relentlessly take a knife to it. All hope is lost. You will surely die from this ordeal. At least you wish you could! Your heart is weak; it drops into your stomach making you nauseated. How will you ever heal? You have been broken. Now every thought that runs through your mind is consumed with your desire for revenge. You want nothing more than to catch the person that has taken someone so precious from you; to make them suffer as you have. Police ask you to come in for questioning. You want to help them do their job and find the perpetrator. You have no idea that the real reason they asked you to come in is because you are their main suspect. They believe you did it. They think that you have taken your own daughters life and have sexually abused her, your little princess…impossible! Billy Wayne Cope is a religious man and has spent numerous hours in church activities with his twelve year old daughter Amanda. On November 29, 2001 Amanda was found on her bed raped and strangled to death. Billy Wayne Cope became police detectives’ main suspect. He initially thought he was helping catch the person that has done this horrific thing...
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...Pathos Essay – The Abolishment of Capital Punishment Desmond Tutu, a South African activist, once famously said, "To take a life when a life has been lost is revenge, not justice." I cannot emphasize enough how much I concur with his statement, and how much I feel against the death sentence. After all, it clearly sends out the wrong message: Why kill people who kill people to show that killing is wrong1? The use of capital punishment, frequently known as the death penalty, has extended to the beginning of recorded history. Used by nearly all societies, it has served as a punishment for the most heinous of crimes; ranging from murder to rape, from treason to espionage and even corruption2(Yes, in China!). Through the years, capital punishment has evolved and there were extensive movements towards a less painful and more humane execution. However, can the use of capital punishment ever be justified? There is no doubt it has served its duty of crime deterrence(partly), but I deeply believe that it is time we walk out of the dark history of mankind and into civilisation. As a Singaporean, I am ashamed to say that capital punishment is still legal in my country. Just last year, four people were sentenced to the gallows; two for murder and the other two for drugtrafficking. Despite pressing calls from the public to abolish the death penalty, the government has repeatedly reiterated its position, saying that ‘it is only reserved for very serious crimes3.’ Until the time when capital...
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...The Use of the Death Penalty A Paper Presented by the National Policy Committee to The American Society of Criminology National Policy Committee James Austin, Chair Kitty Calavita Roland Chilton Jeffrey Fagan Calvin C. Johnson Delores Jones-Brown Mark Moore Ira Schwartz Linda Teplin Franklin Zimring November 2001 The findings and opinions contained herein are those of the National Policy Committee and do not necessarily reflect the official position or policies of the American Society of Criminology. Ronald Weitzer, Professor of Sociology, Dana Coleman, Research Assistant, and Sarah Benatar, Graduate Research Assistant at the Institute on Crime, Justice, and Corrections at George Washington University provided substantial assistance in the preparation of this document. Introduction Capital punishment is among the most hotly debated issues in American politics. Passions run high for both those who want the death penalty abolished and those who seek to preserve or expand its use. What follows is a summary of key issues in the death penalty debate, research findings on the application of capital punishment, and a discussion of policy considerations. The American Society of Criminology (ASC) is greatly concerned with the death penalty and its application in the United States. This year, ASC President Ronald Huff and the ASC Executive Board authorized the ASC’s National Policy Committee (NPC) to develop a policy paper that would focus on...
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...voting rights to redistricting reform, from access to the courts to presidential power in the fight against terrorism. A singular institution – part think tank, part public interest law firm, part advocacy group – the Brennan Center combines scholarship, legislative and legal advocacy, and communications to win meaningful, measurable change in the public sector. ABOUT THE BRENNAN CENTER’S LIBERTY AND NATIONAL SECURITY PROJECT The Brennan Center initiated its Liberty and National Security project two years ago to foster better public understanding of the importance of accountability, transparency, and checks-and-balances in the formulation and implementation of national security policy. We have since been at the forefront of advocating for sound, rights-respecting policy prescriptions based on broad public participation and informed discussion. Our staff engages in a spectrum of public education, legislative advocacy, litigation and scholarly activity. ABOUT THE AUTHOR Jonathan Hafetz is Litigation Director of the Liberty and National Security Project at the Brennan Center. He is actively involved in post-9/11 litigation involving detainee rights and other national security issues, and is lead counsel in several leading detention cases. An expert on habeas corpus, Mr. Hafetz has authored numerous scholarly and popular articles on the subject and frequently serves as an expert commentator. He is writing a book on post-9/11 detentions to be published by NYU Press....
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...criminal procedure, examining cross-fertilisation and the extent to which these trends are resulting in converging practices across national jurisdictions. The second part explores the epistemological environment of rules of evidence and procedure. The third part analyses human rights standards and the phenomenon of hybridisation in transnational and international criminal law. The final part of the book assesses Professor Damaška’s contribution to comparative law and the challenges faced by comparative law in the twenty first century. Crime, Procedure and Evidence in a Comparative and International Context Essays in Honour of Professor Mirjan Damaška Edited by John Jackson, Máximo Langer and Peter Tillers Published in North America (US and Canada) by Hart Publishing c/o International Specialized...
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...------------------------------------------------- Top of Form The Rise and Fall of Enron | The rise and fall of Enron is an important, complex story. In its early days Enron did the right things for the right reason and garnered substantial credibility. Later successful operations were replaced with the illusion of successful operations. In the last phases Enron milked its credibility to sustain operations through loans. When its credibility with lenders crumbled the loan funds dried up and the corporation imploded. It is reminiscent of the old cartoon of the wily coyote who runs off a cliff. For a period of time after the coyote leaves solid ground he is suspended and tries by furious windmilling to stay suspended but eventually plummets to the ground. In Enron's case the magical period of suspension after it had left the solid ground of economically profitable operation lasted for years. The History of the Natural Gas Industry Natural gas, primarily methane, was originally an unwanted byproduct of petroleum extraction. For many years when an oil well vented gas it was simply flared; i.e., burned off. But people eventually learned the uses and virtues of natural gas and built pipelines to convey it to the cities where it took the place of coal gas for residential and industrial lighting and heating. The market for natural gas has three major types of economic units: 1. Suppliers, 2. Customers, 3. Pipeline companies. In a competitive market the fluctuations in the supply of...
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