Newspapers, TV screens and the internet were flooded with reports and images of crowds rampaging through the streets, setting buildings and vehicles alight, fighting with police and smashing and looting from both local shops as well as big name high street shops. Riots are extremely shocking social events where the ordinary rules of society break down. So when London 2011 was gripped by the sight of burning cars and hooded youths looting shops it begged a question of why do riots occur in our modern ‘civilised’ society, and more specifically; why did the riots of 2011 occur and what were the causes? Could it be due to poverty and unemployment? Some could argue that people are currently alienated from society or another argued possibility is that it was simply down to opportunism by criminals.
The riots came about due to racial tensions sparked by the acquittal of three officers accused of police brutality against Rodney King following a high speed chase on March 3, 1991. It would be easy to suggest that the Rodney King trial and verdict was the cause of the rioting, considering the immediate reaction to the news. However, although the acquittal of the police officers was the immediate precipitant, the Los Angeles riots of 1992 were the result of many underlying macro social conditions - specifically racism, social Injustice, and poverty. The living conditions in South Central Los Angeles in the years prior to the riots were below average. The per capita income was less than half that of Los Angeles as a whole, and poverty and unemployment rates were more than twice as high.
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.
In addition, gangs increasingly are smuggling large quantities of heroin, cocaine, and MDMA (also known as ecstasy) into the United States. Local street gangs in rural, suburban, and urban areas transport drugs within very specific areas, most of what seem to be low socio-economical areas. Some gangs collect millions of dollars per month selling illegal drugs, trafficking weapons, operating prostitutions rings, and selling stolen property. Gangs launder their proceeds by investing in real estate, recording studios, motor cycle shops, and construction companies. The extent of gangs/drugs A proliferation in gangs will also mean a growth in drug and violence in our community’s and threatening society in general.
Could steps have been taken to avoid the civil disturbances, the largest seen in the 20th century in Great Britain, that followed? Did the Scarman Report go far enough in highlighting the issues of the black community and address the perception of a racist police force? The riots that occurred in Brixton in 1981 can trace a link back to the riots that had erupted in Bristol in 1980 when the local police entered the Black and White café to apprehend a known criminal. This led to one hundred and thirty people being arrested and twenty-five people hospitalised after a night of violence not seen on the streets of Great Britain since the race riots in the 1950’s. Bristol was experiencing the same issues highlighted by the local populace of Brixton – heavy handed policing using sus law, a lack of adequate housing and job opportunities.
When communicating with CYPA (children, young people and adults), listening to them and showing an interest in what they are saying, is vital for them to feel that what they have to say is worthwhile. If when they are talking to you, you start talking to someone else or start doing something else, they will quickly lose interest and stop talking. This may make the child not want to come to you in future, as they will feel you don’t listen to them. Smiling and looking friendly, displaying open body language, will help CYPA feel more comfortable in approaching you. Appropriate eye contact should be made, which will reinforce your interest to the individual.
One of the largest and most dangerous gangs in America and that is spreading throw out the world is a gang called Mara Salvatrucha 13 aka MS13. MS-13 was organized during the 1980s in Los Angeles by Salvadorans; having grown up with violence, members fled their country's civil war. MS13 is one of the most organized gangs in America. In the US it is estimated there are over 10,000 known members from MS13 and spans over 42 different states and in El Salvador, Honduras, Guatemala and Mexico it is estimated at more than 50,000 members. In conclusion, I have provided a time line of urban gang
However, alcohol is a different story. Alcohol crime rate is always on the rise every year from driving under the influence of alcohol, domestic violence and murders. An issue on alcohol is people can drink until they vomit. Minorities in high school to adults in college suffer alcohol poisoning and commit crimes such as robberies, domestic violence, drunk driving, public intoxication, assault charges, and other crimes. According to former Seattle Washington Police Chief Norm Stamper PhD, “From beat cop to police chief, I saw ample evidence of the harm caused by
1 Unit 5 D B Crime Rates Uniform Crime Report (UCR) one of the earliest national measures of crime incepted in 1929. This Reporting system is used by local and law enforcement officials to report part I offenses. The Hierarchy Rule is a major setback of the UCR system. (Cordner, 2011) The hierarchy rule means simply that if there were multiple offenses committed by an offender at the Same time then the controlling crime (the worst offense) would be reported. For example, If a suspect broke into a home, robbed a victim and assaulted another individual and then murdered Them both.
Police brutality amounts to 23.8% of all annual reported offenses relating to police misconduct (CATO’s Institute, n.d.). Reported acts of excessive force included unnecessary use of physical assault, firearms, tasers, patrol cars, chemical weapons, and police dogs (CATO’s Institute, n.d.). Many citizens argue that racial discrimination is the largest contributing factor towards police brutality on the behalf of unethical police officers. Unethical police officers often target populace whom are