There has been a negative impact on public safety, county jails and state prisons, judge & juror as well as the cost that will be seen by tax payers now and in the future. The Three Strikes Law The habitual offender legislation or better known as, The Three Strikes Law has brought about many different theories. Theories have ranged from a person’s physical attributes to the person’s social interactions as the causation of crime. Policies have ranged from harsh punishments, long incarcerations, incapacitation, rehabilitation, and probation in attempts to stifle the increase of criminal behavior. Recently, conservative theorists have rallied toward “get tough” laws because the consensus is that “criminals are beyond reform and must be incapacitated behind thick walls” (Lilly, et.
This has been the focus of much of the incapacitation discussion because of the large impact associated with policies that increase the need for building, operating and maintaining the prisons necessary for incapacitation. On the other hand, with the exception of some drug treatment analyses, there are fewer discussions and less research examining the costs and benefits of rehabilitation. Yet, such analysis is important. A high quality, intensive treatment program for offenders can be relatively costly. The advantages of the program must be weighed against the costs.
General Strain Theory “Strain theories state that certain strains or stressors increase the likelihood of crime. These strains lead to negative emotions, such as frustration and anger.” (Agnew& Scheverman, 2010) This theory really focuses on who someone deals with certain stressors happening in their life. If someone is angry will they handle the situation in a calm/ prosocial way or a violent/criminal way? I find this theory interesting because stress plays a role in everyone’s daily life, and I am a strong believer in there being a reason for everyone’s actions. I think that a lot of criminals engage in criminal behavior because they are dealing with some pretty intense stuff and they use crime as a way to handle the situation they are in.
High Crime in Urban Areas Travis E. Heath SOC 305 Crime & Society Timothy Knox 5 November 2012 Abstract Crime and our criminal justice system affect everyone in the United States in one way or another, weather you are a criminal or the victim. Impoverished urban areas with a large minority population are disproportionally impacted. Through my research I discovered that a higher number of violent and drug related crime occur in theses areas. I also found that studies show that people within minority groups are more likely to suffer hasher punishment for similar crimes committed by non-minority groups. In this research paper I will analyze the break down the officially recognized races in the US, crimes specifically relate to these urban areas that are not present in more rural and suburban areas, finally how are crimes handled both at the judicial and executive levels in poverty-stricken communities as opposed to upper class communities.
Irwin and Cressey, put forward the Importation models. IT claims that aggression is brought into the institution, because of the characteristics of the individuals. These aggressive and violent traits are imported in to the institution, and this is why it is it is evident rather than the environment. The model is supported by research by Kane and Janus; they found that inmates who had greater periods of unemployment, lower levels of education and a more serious criminal record were more likely to be aggressive in prison. This supports the importation model, as it shows that the aggressive individuals imported these characteristic into the institution due to their background there more likely to be aggressive.
The ‘war on drugs’ has become a harsh and unnecessary measure that frankly costs American taxpayers far too much money. If the type of imprisonment suffered by nonviolent offenders is now deemed cruel and unusual, does the punishment really fit the crime? This is the question American citizens must ask themselves as they consider how far they must go in order to keep drug use and abuse under control. One of the many effects of the severe penalties for drug use is unjust incarceration. The average citizen may correctly point out that everyone has the right to due process and therefore innocent people are not simply sentenced to prison.
However we must be aware that these official statistics are not accurate due to the selective law enforcement, where men are targeted more often as they fit the stereotype of a criminal which leads onto the chivalry factor where men have protective attitudes towards women. Therefore the Criminal Justice System treat women more leniently thus their crime is less likely to end up in official statistics; hence some sociologists argue official statistics underestimate the amount of female crime. Typically female crimes such as shoplifting are less likely to be reported. Similarly prostitution, committed by more women is more likely to go unreported. Even when women’s crimes are reported they’re less likely to be prosecuted or be let off lightly.
The Ethical Point of View in the Three Strikes Law 3 The Ethical Point of View in the Three Strikes Law Over the years, their has been multiple problems in the justice system with repeated offenders,cost, overcrowded prison, and violent crimes across the nation. Many states have implemented programs as a possible solutions to these problems. In some cases, these programs have proving to be a success. On the other hand, in some of these cases offenders reject the programs and continue their violent behavior. This has caused many states to look at other ways to slow these
There are many cause of disparity in the criminal justice system such as legislative decisions, higher crime rates, and inequitable resources. The examples of disparity in legislative decisions the federal, state, and local have created laws that have disproportionate affect the minority community, which should have been seen beforehand. By increasing sentences for the of sale drugs, mainly crack cocaine, the weight
First, it is the society’s interpretation of crime. (Jails and Prisons, 2011) As the society changes, so do crime and the laws governing the specific crimes and how to deal with criminals. (Jails and Prisons, 2011) Secondly, as a result of releasing unrehabilitated prisoners back into the society, recidivism rates tend to increase. Unless the criminal justice system in the country does a review of court procedures and the country’s correctional system, the number of jails and prisoners will continue growing to accommodate a growing number of criminals. However, to reduce the recidivism rate, more rehabilitation programs and preventive programs need to be put into place.