Journal #5

1. Journal #5 • List 3 issues dealing with crime that we have in America today. • What can we do about those issues?

2. Chapter 7: Crime in America

3. The Nature of Crimes • Crime: something one does or fails to do that is in violation of a law • Crime rates are influenced by location, age, and gender. • Problem 7.1 (p75)

5. Crime Rates • Crime rates are higher in urban than suburban areas • Crime rates are higher in suburban areas than rural areas • People ages 15-24 commit more violent crimes than any other group • Males commit almost 4 times more crimes than females • Problem 7.2 (p76)

6. Crime is Expensive! • Crime costs YOU money! • The government spends about $150 billion dollars a year on crime • Each family pays $1500 a year in taxes relating to crime • The US has the highest incarceration rate of any industrialized nation

7. What Causes Crime? • Poverty • Permissive courts • Unemployment • Lack of education • Abuse of drugs and alcohol • Inadequate police protection • Lack of parental guidance • Breakdown of morals • Ineffective correctional system • Little chance of being caught or punished • Influence of tv, films, and music

8. Crime on Campus • In 2001 there were nearly 2 million incidents of property and violent crime at school • 10% of male high school students reported carrying a gun to school at least once in a 30 day period • 30% of students reported drugs were available to them at school • Thurston High School • Problem 7.5 (p 81)

9. Gangs and Crime • A combination of drugs and guns has led to an increase in gang violence • Gangs: People who form groups closed to the general public • Gangs use symbols, colors, emblems, phrases, and clothing to ID themselves • There is usually an initiation ritual or test as well as a similar rite to get out of the gang…if this is an option • Usually proves that you are not afraid to commit crimes and deal drugs

10. Who Joins Gangs and Why? • Mostly males but the number of females is increasing • Poverty • School failure • Substance abuse • Family dysfunction • Domestic and community violence • Sense of belonging • Peer pressure • Financial gain/fame

11. How can the gang problem be solved? • Community intervention/non gang activities • Increase awareness • Work with police to create anti-gang programs • Increase prosecution of gang members • Neighborhood watch groups • Gangs in Portland

12. Guns and the Law • Government Control v. Constitutional Rights • Right for states to maintain a militia v. protection against government bans on firearms

13. Gun Control Act of 1968 (passed after deaths of JFK and MLK) • Prohibits certain persons-such as convicted felons, minors, and illegal aliens- from buying and possessing weapons • Requires serial numbers on all guns and establishes a licensing fee schedule for firearms manufacturers, importers, and dealers • Prohibits the mail-order sale of all firearms and ammunitions • Prohibits the interstate sale of handguns • Sets penalties for carrying and using firearms in violent crimes • Sets guidelines for certain firearm purchases

14. Gun Control • Brady Act: (named for James Brady who was shot and paralyzed by a bullet intended for Reagan) • creates a system to instantly check the background of persons who want to buy guns • In 2001 8 million applications for guns were processed…151,000 were rejected • Should citizens be allowed to carry a concealed weapon? • More Guns Less Crime? • Problem 7.7 (p87)

15. Substance Abuse and Crime • Substance Abuse: the harmful, overuse of chemical, like drugs or alcohol • Can cause… • breakup of families • decreased productivity • injuries in the workplace • automobile crashes • criminal activity

16. Alcohol • The most widely used substance in the US (because its socially acceptable) • In some countries it’s a criminal offense to drink (Saudi Arabia) • Alcohol abuse was a factor in 35% of violent crimes in the US in 2001

17. Drunk Driving • Operation of a motor vehicle while intoxicated, driving while intoxicated, driving under the influence • Measured by a persons Blood Alcohol Concentration • OR BAC is .08g/dl

18. Penalties for Driving under the Influence: • monetary fine • enrollment in DWI school • community service • license suspended • license revoked • jail sentence

19. DUI/DWI • Implied Consent: the driver agrees to submit to a BAC test in exchange for the privilege of driving. • Refusal to take the test could result in immediate and automatic suspension of the driver’s license for a certain period, even if the driver is not found guilty of DWI

20. Drugs • Illegal drug industry has led to a dramatic increase in criminal activity • This has placed a huge burden on the criminal justice system because so many people ware arrested for selling or possessing drugs *50-75% of people arrested test positive for drugs at the time of their arrest

21. Controlled Substance Act • Most states and the federal government have repeat-offender laws • Recidivist: Repeat Offender • Three Strikes Rule: not cruel and unusual punishment, after three felony charges the criminal is locked up for life without parole

22. Legalize or Not to Legalize? • Many people believe the US would be better able to control the sale and use of drugs if the laws changed from drug prohibition to drug regulation. • Some favor legalizing certain drugs for medicinal purposes • Others believe that legalizing drugs would lead to greater drug use, cause more deaths, and increase other drug-related problems • Legalization would send a message of acceptance • To legalize or not to legalize, that is the question... • Problem 7.12 (p94)

23. Victims of Crime • Teens and young adults are more likely to be victims of crime than any other age group. • Males are more likely to be victims of violent crimes than females • Members of minority groups, urban dwellers, and those who rent their homes are more likely to be victims of crime than white, nonurban, and property owners. • Restitution: requiring criminals to pay back or compensate the victims of their crimes • Advocacy groups help victims of crimes • Ex: Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD)