Sunday, February 23, 2020

Criminal Justice Corrections Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Criminal Justice Corrections - Essay Example There are a wide variety of sentencing options available to judges today that range from community service to the death penalty. The type of crime, severity of the crime, the philosophy of the court, and the law all impact the sentence that a criminal will receive when convicted of a criminal act. There are a wide range of options that a judge has when considering the sentence that a criminal deserves. Minor crimes, such as shoplifting or prostitution, are often handled by sentencing the offender to a fine or probation. Probation dates back several centuries and has evolved from an informal monitoring procedure to a highly evolved system procedure (County of Suffolk NY, n.d.). Probation is the suspension of a sentence in favor of community monitoring, where the offender has the opportunity for rehabilitation. In addition, the offender may be sentenced to house arrest in which the convicted criminal is restricted in mobility and is only allowed in their home or at their place of employment. This gives the courts a high degree of accountability and restriction, while keeping the criminal off the streets and away from the public. Both probation and house arrest can be effective alternative sentences for first time offenders or petty criminals who have hope of rehabilitation. Typically, when we think of sentencing for a criminal act, we think of it in terms of incarceration. For more severe crimes such as felonies or crimes of violence, the risk to society of re-offending makes incarceration an effective tool. Criminals may be jailed at a local, state, or federal facility depending upon the nature of the crime and the jurisdiction. Incarceration rates have risen sharply in recent years from 150 per 100,000 in 1980 to 500 per 100,000 in 2005 (After sharp increases, 2007). The increased rates of incarceration have come not only as a result of an increase in criminal activity, but also from conservative attitudes that believe in a get tough policy on crime (Mears et al., 2007). On the more severe end of sentencing is the death penalty. This sentence is reserved for the most heinous and vicious crimes and serves to demonstrate society's condemnation of certain criminal acts. The criminal, the crime, and the court will come together to determine an appropriat e sentence. The sentence handed down in a court is often the result of the philosophy of the court, and especially of the residing judge. Sentencing can be viewed as either restorative or retributive. Retributive sentencing seeks to punish the offender without compassion or hope of rehabilitation. Advocates of retributive sentencing believe that stiff sentences act as a deterrent, and when a criminal is deterred there is no need for rehabilitation. They see sentencing as a punishment. In contrast, restorative sentencing seeks to repair the harm done by the crime and reintegrate the criminal into the community. The sentence may consist of restitution, drug treatment, or community service. Advocates contend that "the one who did the harm gains stronger skills and community connections, the opportunity to develop empathy, and the knowledge that they have corrected their mistake" (Ball, 2003, p.51). While retributive sentencing is based on the concept of 'an eye for an eye', "restorative justice fin ds pain/punishment often counterproductive for both victim and offender" (Mosak, 2006, p.3). These are the issues that face the criminal judge when determining

Thursday, February 6, 2020

Europes power is inevitably declining relative to other powers Essay

Europes power is inevitably declining relative to other powers - Essay Example The most applicable technique used to determine this phenomenon is to pose an overarching question, which enables the placement of Europe in an intelligible conceptual milieu: When does a super power cease to be â€Å"super†? This question obliges the re-interrogation of superiority, power and decides, as well as revalidation of historical perspectives, which underpin the current disquiet concerning the shifting international order. In Europe, concerns regarding its superiority, decline and power continue to be a staple component of popular and scholarly discourse, but they are rising in intensity because of current financial crisis experienced in Europe. Europe’s power is inevitably declining as the individual states, as well as their societies and production systems continue to decline. The military and economic criterion explores a nation or region’s capacity to fit the description of greatness or superiority. Military power has a notable economic basis since heavy defense spending has significant effects on a nation’s or region’s economy. Europe’s decline is perhaps most notable in international politics, and these effects emerged with stark clarity in the events concerning the Balkan crises, as well as the war in Iraq. In the case of the Iraq war, Europeans only watched helplessly as the senseless war, which they did not even desire, transpire and had to sustain a substantial share of the mammoth costs generated by the war. It is quite evident that Europe no longer carries any significant weight on the topic of international politics and is currently subject to the US’ hegemony (Rifkin 112). This reality became quite apparent at the end of the World War 2 and the Cold War. Notably, the hegemony of the US had a prominent rival in the USSR, which prevented Europe from feeling dominated by the US. US’ subtle domination of Europe gave Europeans the inaccurate sensation that they were making contributions to the realization of a joint project and defense of shared values. Today, the danger lies not in USSR domination but in terrorism, funded by fundamentalist Islamic groups whose networks extend throughout the world. Today, American hegemony does little to guarantee European security in light of this danger. It is evident that Europe could play a pivotal role in eradicating terrorism at grass root level, favoring economic development, unity and a democratic evolution Middle Eastern and North West African country with which Europe enjoys positive relations. This positive relationship is characterized by Europe’s geographical proximity, as well as close interdependence with nations in the region. However, Europe’s impotence prevents it from playing its role effectively in this area and other sensitive global regions (Manners 238). As a consequent, Europe finds itself more and more often, serving to make up the numbers that create international equilibrium while new actors such as India, China and Brazil enter the world and old actors such as Russia make an unmistakable comeback. Europe is rapidly exiting the scene as it continues to count for less than other powers in terms of strategic calculations regarding international events. On the other hand, Europe is inevitably declining on the economic front. This is notable in the declining trend experienced by the leading eurozone countries, which are currently showing, relative to their GDPs, relatively weak and negative growth trends. Unemployment rates in most European nations are current sky high. The countries’ production systems are inevitably becoming unable to fend off the