...We have seen that different countries have different rates of violent crime. Why, in your opinion, is the violent crime rate higher in the U.S. than it is in Canada? "Criminologists calculate crime rates (or rates of incarceration, conviction, or recidivism) by dividing the amount of crime by the population size and multiplying by 100, 000. This produces the standard rate per 100,000; occasionally it is useful to calculate a rate per million or some other figure when looking at less frequently occurring offences" (Linden, pg.91). Crime rate is determined ultimately by population, and the question is why is the violent crime rate higher in the U.S. than it is in Canada, is simply because they have a higher population. According to Countryeconomy.com...
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...Abstract In contemporary culture, an emphasis on a “tough on crime” criminal justice system has been a topic of debate amongst all citizens. In this paper, a comparison of statistical evidence and treatment rates will be discussed. The purpose is to stipulate evidence of declining crime rates, and alternative sanctions to the crime bill c-10. In addition, a consultation of rehabilitation methods and apprehension of why there is a disproportionality of Aboriginal people in the Criminal Justice System will be explored. The data discovered suggests that the legislation was enacted for political reasoning, without the consideration of underlying causes of criminal activity. Furthermore, rehabilitation treatments have shown to lower recidivism, and are used to stress the importance on investigating the root cause of criminal behaviour. Finally, the restorative justice model is adopted to promote the sense of moral wrong in the individual’s crime. A Retreat in the CJS 3 In recent years, the Canadian government has been working on implementing a stricter justice system. The omnibus crime bill C-10, was enacted in order to achieve this measure. The act consists of a concept in which includes harsher sentencing, mandatory minimums and a zero tolerance policy. This legislation attempts to put victims first, instead of defending the rights of offenders. What the government has failed to distinguish is that crime rates in Canada have been decreasing gradually over the past decade. In addition...
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...Would death penalty in Canada reduce the number of violent crimes? The restoration of the death penalty for serious crimes has always been debatable. The causes, effects, and solutions to the problems of violent crimes are a complex issue that can be made even more complicated by the way the crime was evaluated. During this essay I will state statistics and arguements explaining if the dealth penalty would reduce the number of violent crimes in Canada. A survey conducted by Angus Reid found that 63% of the 1,002 Canadians surveyed want the death penalty to be reinstated, but did the death penalty reduce violent crimes when it was already active? No, infact when it was abolished in 1976 the Canadian murder rate declined the following year from 2.8 per 100,000 people to 2.7. During the next few years the rates fluctuated but it was generally downwards. In my opinion I believe that the death penalty isn’t such a bad idea, because my whole life I grew up with the saying, “What goes around, comes around.” It seems a bit cliché to talk about karma but for violent crimes I believe it’s the only reasonable way to resolve something. If someone takes a life, why should they have the right to have one? It seems only fair to have done to you what you have done to someone else. Although executions are sometimes appropriate, they are often cruel. I don’t believe in the torture of someone, or something. Because of this, I might change my opinion on the death penalty. Though it might...
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...Crimes Affecting Society in Canada Student’s name Name of the Institute Table of Contents Crimes Affecting Society in Canada 2 Introduction 2 Law in Canada 2 Future Looks Bright 12 References 13 Crimes Affecting Society in Canada Introduction Canada a federal parliamentary democracy situated to the north of United States of America consists of 10 provinces and 3 territories. It extends from the Atlantic to the Pacific and northward into the Arctic Ocean. At approximately 10 million square kilometers in total, Canada is the world's second-largest country by total area, and its common border with the United States is the world's longest land border shared by the same two countries. Its proximity to sea and to the United States it enjoys the status of both Most favored nation as well as Most riskiest nation to the United States of America. Canada is considered to be a developed country and one of the wealthiest in the world having the eighth highest per capita income globally and also securing the eleventh place in the Human Development Index. It ranks amongst the leaders in international education, government transparency and quality of life (Mann, 1992). It also figures amongst the leaders in crime, a status which surely is not desired by many countries. Law in Canada Like any other country, the Constitution of Canada is the supreme law of the country and consists of guidelines and laws by which the country is to be governed. The Constitution Act, 1867 also known as the...
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...the world with 743 of every 100,000 people behind bars (Levin 2013). On the other hand, Canada, our northern neighbor only has 113 per 100,000 of its citizens in prison (Levin 2013). So the question is, what really is behind the high incarceration rate in the United States? The difference is substantial and cannot be ignored; the incarceration rate in the U.S. is nearly 6.5 times larger. This is a staggering statistic and begins to raise some valid concerns, could it be that the United States court system is structured in a way that unfairly treats criminals? Or could it be that people in the United States just commit more crimes per capita than the rest of the world? The latter doesn’t seem like a plausible explanation, the United States and Canada are so similar it almost seems unrealistic to assume that the crime disparity could be so wide. That leaves us with the idea that the United States court systems unfairly treats criminals or just treats criminals harsher than any other developed country in the world. This thought is certainly very frightening and should be a concern for every United States citizen. Even though most people are good, law-abiding citizens, sometimes these good people make mistakes and when this happens they should face consequences appropriate for the crime that they committed. Giving someone a long sentence in prison for what would be considered a minor crime in other developed countries is cruel and unjust. It goes against what America stands for;...
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...Homicide Crime Story Analysis – The Tattoo Man Course Code: SOC*2760 Course Name: Homicide Number of Pages (not including title page and references): 5 Peter John Peters is one of Canada’s most dangerous fugitives. Peter was given the name the Tattoo Man because of his numerous tattoos and his affinity to showing them off. Peters murdered a 25 year old woman named Charlene Brittain and left her in his basement apartment naked with a plastic bag over her head. Thus triggered the beginning of his five-day crime spree. Peters then fled to Toronto where he beat a 63 year old man named Albert Philip and stole his station wagon in order to escape. Philips later died in the hospital after undergoing emergency surgery. He then took hostage a young woman named Sandie Bellows and used her car to escape with her. He threatened and proceeded to rape, beat and stab the young woman until a retired police officer noticed what was going on and intervened. Peters escaped and went on to break into an elderly woman’s home and threatened her into providing him with a vehicle. He then held up a local bank in Paris, Ontario. Peters continues to attempt to take more hostages, break into homes and steal more vehicles in order to escape. Finally on the fifth day Peters was caught by the police and surrendered when he realized he was outnumbered. The crimes committed by Peter John Peters were accurately represented in accordance to the course material by the documentary “Crime Stories: The Tattoo...
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...Shrnpreet Sidhu David Mikelberg AHSS 1160 November, 25, 2013 Mental Health and the Criminal Justice System: Individual Summary What is Mental Health? Mental health is the balanced development of an individual's personality and emotional attitudes which enable one to live harmoniously with others (Crocker, et all 2011). Mental health involves the development of a healthy individual towards themselves, towards others and towards the environment in which they live, so one can achieve a maximum amount of self-fulfillment (Crocker, et all 2011). Furthermore, mental health differentiates between countries and cultures, and what is considered abnormal differentiates as well. In some countries schizophrenics are killed because they are the devils child. In comparison, in North American countries schizophrenia is a mental illness that can be treated. A mental illness on the other hand is a medical condition that affects a person's thinking, feeling, mood, ability to relate to others and daily functioning (Crocker, et all 2011). Serious mental illnesses include major depression, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder, panic disorder, posttraumatic stress disorder and borderline personality disorder. Mental illnesses can affect persons of any age, race, religion or income. Mental illnesses are not the result of personal weakness, lack of character or poor upbringing (Crocker, et all 2011). Most mental illnesses are treatable and there are specific institutions...
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...Court Case Analysis of a Young Offender The Canadian public perception of youth crime is that it is growing out of control and that violence crime is common. Sensationalized media coverage, frustrated law enforcement officers and vote-seeking politicians, have tended to portray only parts of the overall reality of youth crime (John Howard Society, 2008). The government of Canada has evolved over the many years to deal with youth crime from installing the Juvenile Delinquency Act in 1908 all the way to the Youth Criminal Justice Act recently amended in 2012. What these acts have accomplished is the separation of youth and adult sentences (Stevenson, 2014). This was done in order to protect children because it is the belief in Canada that children are not responsible for their actions because of Doli incapax or the inability to do wrong. That being said there is still legislation in dealing with youth crime that is punishing and effective (Stevenson, 2014). This paper will analyze a court case decision made under the Youth Criminal Justice Act which involves a young offender who was convicted of a gang-related murder and breached Conditional Supervision Order (R. v. S.(M.), 2014). This court case will be analyzed using relevant research on youth gangs using concept of theories that apply to our young offender. In conclusion, this paper will discuss limitations of laws and possible alternatives that dealt with the young offender. A summary of R. v. S.(M.), the court based...
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...licit and illicit drugs, and the term "substance abuse" is now frequently used because of the broad range of substances (including alcohol and inhalants) that can fit the addictive profile. Psychological dependence is the subjective feeling that the user needs the drug to maintain a feeling of well-being; physical dependence is characterized by tolerance (the need for increasingly larger doses in order to achieve the initial effect) and withdrawal symptoms when the user is abstinent. INTRODUCTION Illegal drug use is “almost automatically”([1]) associated with criminal behaviour. The statistical relationship between illegal drug use and crime is convincing at first glance, but it is not possible to draw a conclusion regarding a definite cause-and-effect link between the two phenomena. The suggestion that drugs lead to crime ignores the impact that living conditions can have on an individual and takes no account, according to Serge Brochu (an expert in this field), of a body of data...
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...SOCI 2450 A Prof. Darryl T. Davies Bill C-10: Issues of Interest Nidhal Abubakar 100896803 Bill C-10: Issues of Interest Nidhal Abubakar 100896803 2015 2015 There are many issues surrounding the content of Bill C-10. This essay will examine issues that affect the criminal code and provide evidence that the Bill is not progressive for Canada to deal with crime and the judicial process. By looking at the issues such as mandatory minimum sentences and the proposition of the bill we will look at the challenges that will be faced and met. The bill also introduces eliminating conditional sentences and eliminates double credit for time already served as well as introduces changes to the Youth Criminal Justice Act to impose harsher sentences for young offenders. This essay will delve into information that will bring the various issues to light. Firstly an explanation of Bill C-10 will be provided to understand what changes will be made to the Criminal code and who it affects. The dissection of the Bill will open the dialogue for this essay for appropriating topical issues with the concept of progress in a manner that reflects the trouble that this Bill brings to Canadian society. Bill C-10 was introduced by the Minister of Justice on the 20th of September 2011. The Act includes the enactment of the Justice for Victims of Terrorism Act and amendments to the State Immunity Act, the Criminal Code, the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act, the Corrections and Conditional Release Act, the...
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...“Crime and Victimization” Ron Graham Strayer University Henrico Campus Professor: Michael Winborne CRJ100 Date: 7, February 2014 1. Victimization The theory I chose is choice theory where peoples behavior evolve around weighing the consequences and benefits before engaging in a crime before a rational choice is made. The individual perceives chances gain outweighs the punishment, this is what triggers people to engage in criminal activity. The research below show that the male offenders are motivated to commit violent crimes with their spouses because they perceive chances of gain outweighs the perceived punishment or loss, they know that their spouses will not tell the police of the violent crimes committed. Information on violent victimization of Aboriginal women in the Canadian provinces, 2009 provides studies on violence against women in Canada, it is an ongoing issue that has not given lead way to resolution and continues to complicate life for the Aboriginal women of Canada (Brzozowski 2006). The study shows that Aboriginal women were more than three times likely to report being a victim of violent crime verses non-Aboriginal women during 2009. Men perpetrators acting alone committed the violent crimes via spousal violence causing injury to the women. The injured victims would only tell of the event to a family member or informal source. General Social Survey GSS show that many Aboriginal female ...
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...Act This act was for young offenders with a guiding philosophy that juveniles are not criminals but children who need direction. An offender was classified to be between the ages of 7-18 could be tried in this system. The accused does not have a right to a lawyer, hearings were closed; and the charter did not apply. Examples of sentencing options were light and included fines and placements in foster care home. In 1984, the Young Offenders Act was changed to the idea that youths are less responsible for crimes than adults. Some of the amendments of this new act were a narrower range of age, 12-17 year olds and the accused must be advised of right to a lawyer, the Charter rights apply, and the accused could be sentenced to open or closed custody, and could be sentenced to 5 years for murder. In 2002, harsher punishments were introduced to the Act along with a change of name to the, Youth Criminal Justice Act. The driving idea for this act is that tougher sentences prevent crimes but rehabilitation is vital. It has been is debated as to whether or not youth should be given the same sentences as adults. Based on adolescent cognitive abilities and higher chances of repeat offenders, it is important to create and distinguish between adult and youth sentencing. Due to the fact that young people are still developing the main parts of their brain until their early twenties, they should not be given the same sentences as adults. A youth’s brain is not fully developed which may cause...
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...to arouse sexual desires and to facilitate its expression. Whereas, the subsections 159 (1) and 152 (2) of the constitution of Canada refers pornography as an ‘obscene’ matter, i.e. crime, horror, cruelty, violence, and exploitation (Fraser, 1985). Yafee’s definition states pornography as a depiction of sexual pleasures, but on the other hand, the Canadian constitutional definition of pornography reflects the idea of violence and sexual exploitation. The paper centralized on the theme that modern pornographic depiction is a...
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...Even though the exact extent of over-representation of the mentally ill in the Canadian criminal justice system is unknown, evidence clearly points to the fact that it is not only existent, but it is also significant. Although mental illness is invariably defined, the broadest definition which includes substance abuse and antisocial personality disorder leads to the conclusion that at least 90% of offenders in the Canadian criminal justice system in Canada have a history of mental illness. Antisocial personality disorder is the most common diagnosis and is estimated to plague at least 80%of the population of prisoners within the Canadian criminal justice system. In addition, other infrequently diagnosed conditions include brain injuries, low...
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...Chapter 6 - Inequality Based on Sexual Orientation Essay Question - How do the various theoretical perspectives explain inequality based on sexual orientation? Summarize each perspective and then explain which one you find most compelling and why. Gay, Lesbian, Transsexual, Queer, homosexual, heterosexual, bisexual they are all just different words for defining individuals. Sexual behaviour whether heterosexual or homosexual is a learnt therefore the focus is on the development of the identity of which they identify themselves as gay, lesbian, bisexual or straight is the Interactionist perspective. It is assumed that most individuals define themselves as heterosexual because it is the established norm; therefore do not have to struggle over their identity. This thought of having a choice over identity should be disregarded. The individual is caught trying to define whom they are when subconsciously they already know. This theory is based on the journey that individuals take to define themselves. (Kendall, Nygaard, & Thompson, 2004) The feminist perspective theory that has changed drastically over the last 4 decades. in the late 1960s and through the 1970s sexual orientation was debated by radical feminist and the oppression of women in society. Today feminist argue that “Feminism asserts the right of all women to make their erotic choices, and this includes choosing men exclusively. Feminism also rejects the hierarchy of sexual practices, and do does not seek to substitute...
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