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CRIME AND JUSTICE IN THE UNITED STATES

CRIME AND JUSTICE IN THE UNITED STATES. CRIME AND THE MEDIA. New Reports 30% relate to crime stories Entertainment Industry Does the media give an accurate representation of crime in the United States? Crime Clock. Crime Clock. Every 23.1 seconds: One Violent Crime

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CRIME AND JUSTICE IN THE UNITED STATES

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  1. CRIME AND JUSTICE IN THE UNITED STATES

  2. CRIME AND THE MEDIA • New Reports • 30% relate to crime stories • Entertainment Industry • Does the media give an accurate representation of crime in the United States? • Crime Clock

  3. Crime Clock • Every 23.1 seconds: One Violent Crime • Every 32.6 minutes: One Murder • Every 5.6 minutes: One Forcible Rape • Every 1.3 minutes: One Robbery • Every 36.9 seconds: One Aggravated Assault • Every 3.1 seconds: One Property Crime • Every 14.7 seconds: One Burglary • Every 4.5 seconds: One Larceny-theft • Every 25.5 seconds: One Motor Vehicle Theft

  4. DEFINING CRIME • Social Definitions – Norms • Legal Definition • Why is punishment a necessary part of the law? • Unusual Laws

  5. Unusual Laws • In Tennessee you must believe in god to be elected into office. You also are not permitted into office if you were in contendant in a duel. • In North Carolina, it is illegal to hold more than two sessions of bingo per week, and those sessions may not exceed 5 hours each session. • In Baltimore, Maryland, it is illegal to take a lion to the movies. • In Staten Island, New York, You may only water your lawn if the hose is held in your hand

  6. More Weird Laws • An Illinois state law requires that a man's female companion shall call him "master" while out on a date. The law does not apply to married couples. • It is a misdemeanor to shoot at any kind of game from a moving vehicle, unless the target is a whale. CA • If you are convicted of driving while intoxicated, you are no longer allowed to apply for personalized license plates. NJ • In Fairbanks, it is illegal to feed alcoholic beverages to a moose.

  7. LEGAL DEFENCES TO A CRIME EXCUSES FROM CRIMINAL RESPONSIBILITY • Acted under duress • Acted under age • Insanity • Acted in self-defense • Entrapment

  8. MEASURING CRIME DO WE KNOW THE TRUE AMOUNT OF CRIME IN THE UNITED STATES? • Probably the best index of crime is OFFENSES KNOWN TO THE POLICE • Are all crime reported to the police? • Reasons for not reporting crimes to the police • Things that may affect the crime rates

  9. UNIFORM CRIME REPORTS (UCR) Annual Report prepared by the FBI based on CRIMES KNOW TO THE POLICE • Data collected on eight index offenses • Murder and non-negligent manslaughter • Forcible Rape • Robbery • Aggravated Assault • Burglary • Larceny Theft • Motor Vehicle Theft • Arson

  10. FEAR OF CRIME • What do people fear? • Fear is greatest at night when a person is alone and away from home • Who has the greatest fear of crime? • Gender • Race • Age • Community

  11. VICTIMS OF CRIME • Most frequent type of crime – personal or property crimes? • By age, who are the most likely crime victims? • 16-19 years of age have the highest rate • Considering age, gender, race, and location who is the most likely crime victim? • Young black males in the inner cities • Most likely rape victim – girls younger than 18

  12. POLICING IN AMERICA

  13. PUBLIC ATTITUEDES TOWARD THE POLICE ACCORDING TO RECENT SURVEYS • How much confidence do you, personally, have in the police? • “A great deal” – 59% • “Some” confidence – 31% • “Very little” confidence – 10% • However, among blacks only 31% had “a great deal” of confidence in the police.

  14. THE ROLES OF THE POLICE • Role Expectation • What do we expect of our police? • Role Conflict

  15. POLICE QUALIFICATIONS CHARACTERISTICS OF POLICE WORK • Be Decisive • Integrity • Self-motivated • Willing to handle the “Dirty Work” • Willing to face Danger • What is some of the most dangerous work for police officers? • Domestic Disturbance calls

  16. POLICE FUNCTIONS WHAT IS IT THAT POLICE DO? • Patrol – the most time –consuming work • Preventive Patrol • Directed Patrol • Foot Patrol – What are the benefits? • Bicycle Patrol • Investigation • Purpose of the investigation • Role of the Detective – Any advantages? • Traffic

  17. COMMUNITY POLICING • A Partnership • Examples of Community Policing: • Neighborhood Watch • DARE • Foot Patrol • Bicycle Patrol

  18. SENTENCING, APPEALS, AND THE DEATH PENALTY

  19. FIVE TYPES OF PUNISHMENTS USED IN THE UNITED STATES • Fines • Probation • Intermediate Punishments • Imprisonment • Death

  20. PRISON SENTENCING TWO TYPES • Indeterminate Sentencing • Who determines release date? • Parole Boards • Emphasis in on REHABILITATION • Determinate Sentencing • Get Tough Approach • One negative result • Overcrowding problems

  21. PUNISHMENT PHILOSOPHIES RATIONALES FOR IMPOSING PUNISHMENTS • Retribution • Society’s Revenge • Eye for an eye and tooth for a tooth

  22. THE DEATH PENALTY FIVE METHODS OF EXECUTION • Lethal Injection • Electrocution • Gas Chamber • Hanging • Firing Squad

  23. CONSTITUTIONALITY OF THE DEATH PENALTY • Has it ever been declared unconstitutional? • United States Supreme Court Cases • Furman v. Georgia (1972) • Gregg v. Georgia (1976)

  24. STATES WITH HIGHEST RATES OF EXECUTIONS OVER 850 EXECUTIONS SINCE 1977 • MORE THAN HALF OCCURRED IN THREE STATES: • TEXAS (304) • VIRGINIA (99) • OKLAHOMA (64) • Florida, Georgia, Louisiana also rank high. • 38 states have capital punishment statutes

  25. PUBLIC OPINION ON THE DEATH PENALTY • Recent public opinion polls” • A Gallup Poll in 2003 revealed that 74% of the American public favored the death penalty in First Degree Murder cases. • What is your opinion?

  26. INMATE POPULATION IN THE UNITED STATES • Today approximately 2 million inmates in our prisons and jails • United States has one of the highest incarceration rates of any nation in the world.

  27. COSTS OF INCARCERATION TOTAL ANNUAL COST ABOUT $36 BILLION • Approximate annual cost per inmate is $22,000 • Costs Estimates for New Prison Construction: • Minimum Security Facility - $31,000 per bed • Medium Security Facility - $50,000 per bed • Maximum Security Facility - $80,000 per bed

  28. PRISON INMATE CHARACTERISTICS DESCRIBING THE TYPICAL INMATE • Gender – Male • Race – Black • Age Group – Under 35 • Marital Status – Single • Educational Level – Low, many are high school drop-outs • Gang Affiliation

  29. INMATE RIGHTS (cont.) • First Amendment Rights • Free speech and censorship of mail • Religious Freedom • Cooper v. Pate (1964) - Black Muslim Case • Eighth Amendment Rights • Prohibits cruel and unusual punishment • Staff brutality • Medical Care • What about hard labor and solitary confinement? • Totality of Conditions

  30. THE PROBATION PROCESS THE PROBATION ORDER • Standard for Misdemeanors and Felonies • Probation Conditions: • Maintain Employment • Obey all Laws • No association with criminals • Felons cannot possess a firearm • Agree to consent searches • Random drug testing • Restitution • Regular contacts with PO and restricted travel

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