Wrongful Convictions Essay Example for Free

Wrongful Convictions Essay Causes of Wrongful Convictions There are three main causes of wrongful convictions in the United States. This leads to wrongful punishment and causes turmoil for everyone involved. It then creates multiple feelings on everyone’s behalf, therefore; leaving no choice but to choose sides. Should capital punishment be enforced or not enforced. To what extent do you believe the death penalty should be improvised? Wrongful convictions are sought out by lawyers and police to determine if a criminal is guilty. Evidence and DNA is all part of the investigation that leads to an arrest. Once evidence is presented, the jury will then deliberate on what information and the evidence that was given. A verdict will be handed down at that time. Based on what the crime is, what type of punishment is given for the crime. The first cause is based on what evidence is provided. Is it true and accurate, or presentable in court. Drug dealers, child molesters and robberies are all a major crime. These all have particular sentences in place for the crimes they commit. Murderers are looked at in a different way. Honest attorneys present all evidence and information that has been gathered for the case. This in turn could determine the conviction. DNA plays an important role in this evidence if it is acceptable . Today the accusation is the evidence. Thus, the criminal element itself has a big say in who goes to prison. Weak and fabricated evidence is seldom looked at in the eyes of the court. Approximately one case in twenty will go to trial. This effect will cause numerous criminals to walk freely as they choose. The pros are being convicted and tried for the crime and the cons are being offered a simple way out. The effects of this cause is being set free to commit another crime. There is not enough evidence to convict a criminal Plea bargaining is a second major cause of wrongful conviction. Plea bargains are created by fictional crimes in place of real ones. The prosecutors would begin to see a way to game the Wrongful Convictions 3 system back to a conviction Without plea bargaining the case goes unconvincing. This in turn undermines police investigative work. Police evidence is seldom used in the courtroom. Prosecutors have found that they can coerce a plea and elevate their conviction rate by raising the number of serious charges being thrown at a defendant. By releasing criminals known to be guilty, turns the justice system into a lottery for police, prosecutors and criminals alike. The effect of this cause is usually when the defendant gets a smaller or reduced sentence for the crime that has been committed and tried in court. Depending on the crime committed, the pros are convicted, time served and released. The cons are the criminal has enough time to plan and convey another crime. Carrying out another crime only leads to another plea deal to stay out of prison. This will continue to be a pattern of criminal acts. The effects are criminals walk with little or no punishment granted. Evidence is most generally not all that strong of a case. The third cause is the new deal made its own contribution to wrongful convictions. Statutory and enforcement authorities were combined to help regulate police vast discretions. A cooperative â€Å"offender† may get off with a civil penalty, whereas a person who sticks up for their rights may receive a criminal indictment. An asset-freeze is also associated with this new deal. Created to keep drug dealers and mobsters from returning to the neighborhood, local residents have unanimously voted to have a neighborhood watch group. Resident’s properties and or property that has been seized during the investigation will be returned after the deal has been finalized. Residents feel they are personally violated, and are living in fear that these criminals will come back repeatedly. For this cause there are pros, protecting civilians from future harm. The effect of this cause is that the cons are still out there on the streets, however; the evidence is not convincing enough to put the criminal away. These causes have put authorities such as police and attorneys on edge. Causing them to doubt the outcome of all the existing crimes that are happening. Wondering why they are taking Wrongful Convictions 4 such a risk capturing these criminals and watching them all be released back on the streets. Due to the evidence provided they should be punished to the fullest extent of the law. A jury can determine when a witness is giving false information and when they are telling the truth. Weak and fabricated evidence is often tested in court. Therefore; some criminals are wrongfully convicted. Given a plea or plea deal or even a new deal could lead to the conviction of an innocent situation In conclusion wrongful convictions are subject to many decisions. Not only by a judge or jury but by the evidence that is provided in court. Given the facts we will spend vast energies in freeing a few innocent people. We must gird for battle and restore the lost law. The law must be put back in congress where under the system it must reside forever. Giving hope to those who were wrongfully convicted and setting them free. I believe we should stick to the theory innocent until proven guilty. Evidence should be provided and proved to be legitimate before being presented to the courts. If the evidence is true and accurate there should not be any pleas or plea bargains offered. Deals should not even be allowed in a courthouse. If the information is not accurate, why waste tax payer’s money to try and convict an innocent person and send them to prison? We spend more time and money trying to convince the world that wrongful convictions are happening everywhere. As I stated earlier DNA has become a worldwide piece of evidence to link to a crime scene investigation. Wrongful convictions are being overturned as we speak. They may not be criminals but are victims in a wrongful conviction. If I am a robber have valid proof I done the robbery. If I molested a child ,again have valid proof . (DNA) If I am a murderer, then yes I should receive the death penalty. I do not deserve to live if I take another life. Then again have solid proof that I am the one who committed this crime. As I do not wish to be â€Å"Wrongfully Convicted†

The Power of Machiavelli’s The Prince :: Machiavelli The Prince Essays

The Power of Machiavelli’s The Prince  Ã‚      Nowadays, it is politically impossible to commit to paper a â€Å"training guide† for leaders. There are innumerable detractors to any possible stance or strategy a leader might adopt. As a result of this, all â€Å"training† must take place behind closed doors, far from the prying eyes and ears of the news media or the public. But this has not always been the case. Niccolà ² Machiavelli was brave enough to give the leaders of his day a how-to guide. In this work, The Qualities of a Prince, we are given a point-by-point description of what a leader should do to effectively lead his country. Machiavelli explains that, because leadership is (obviously) a position of command, â€Å"[war] is the only profession which benefits one who commands. †Ã‚   (p. 33) He goes on to say that, in order to ensure peace, a leader must always be ready for war. He cites a multitude of past, present and even fictitious examples of military leaders who lead peaceful countries. He was writing, however, for the leaders of a heavily taxed, war torn area. His Italy was under constant attack from both French and Spanish soldiers, and at the same time under attack from the inside (the Medici family, Italy's current ruling family) by high taxes that funded the wars. His Qualities is considered by some to be the best manual for pulling a country out of a bad situation much like the one Italy was in. This work was not necessarily meant for a country that is already at peace. The ruthlessness of the leader described in Qualities would almost surely cause dissent among the people of the peaceful country.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Machiavelli chose many important points to bring up in his discussion on the necessity of military prowess. A leader must â€Å"†¦learn the nature of the terrain† (p. 36) that he is meant to protect. Machiavelli probably discusses this because the Medicis were not aware of the advantage that the French and Spanish were gaining by conquering the northern, mountainous regions of Italy. Militarily, higher ground is a much sought after advantage. The leaders of the land could in no way get to know land that was no longer their own, and so, could no longer see the advantages or disadvantages of the land. What they must now do, is gain all knowledge of the land left to them, so as not to loose it.

Homeless: Who Are They? Essay

In 2005, NCH (National Coalition for the Homeless) estimated 3.5 million people experience homelessness in the US every year (NCH,1). But what is homelessness? Jim Baumohl, a noted author, explained in Homelessness in America, the most common definition of homelessness used by researchers is the â€Å"absence of belonging to a specific place or to people† (NCH, 3). However, there is no set definition, due to the variety of living conditions a homeless person encounters, and the opinions of the researchers. As Baumohl pointed out, â€Å"homelessness is but the latest of many research topics in which the population of interest is not clearly defined† (NCH, 15). Even though there is no clear definition of the homeless, the questions still linger, who are they? Though the image of the homeless is viewed in a negative, there are many homeless persons who are struggling to receive help. Alcoholics, drug addicts, sexual abusers, and gang members have cast an image on homelessness that scares people away from helping. Mary Ellen Hombs, Deputy Director of the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness, wrote, â€Å"At the beginning of the decade the prevailing stereotype of a homeless person was that of a middle-aged, white male alcoholic†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (Hombs, 4). This description is a common view of a homeless man, however, the nation does not see the other minorities crying for help. Homeless persons are growing in numbers in the areas of mentally ill, children, and families. Society is unaware of the problems many of these people are facing, due to the negative image created. These groups go unnoticed and rarely receive the attention and help they need to survive. David Levinson, a noted cultural anthropologist, remarked in Encyclopedia of Homelessness, â€Å"Alice Solenberger classified homeless society in her book as ‘homeless old men, chronic beggars, wanderers, and tramps’† (Encyclopedia, 475). One of the most common-viewed images of a homeless citizen is of an alcoholic or drug abuser. Coincidently, Levinson noted, â€Å"In Finland, until recently, the word for ‘homeless’ and ‘alcoholism’ was puliukko, which derived from the words ukko (old man) and puli (a cheap liquor)† (Encyclopedia, 7). Homeless persons have raised the numbers in substance abuse drastically in the past years. Thirty-eight percent of homeless were dependent on alcohol and 26 percent abused other drugs in 2003 (NCH,1). Homelessness is usually caused by money spent on substances, which then leads to loss of housing. Substance abuse can be looked at as both a cause and a result of homelessness. Alcohol and drug abuse can be the result of homelessness, while being without a home can cause substance abuse to occur. Although the numbers of abusers is over half of the homeless population, there is an explanation to the high percentages. Levinson added that alcohol is generally seen as an adaptation to life on the streets and a way for the homeless to cope with their difficult situations (Encyclopedia, 9). After reviewing the statistics of substance abuse among homeless persons, it is safe to say the homeless population has portrayed an image of negativity towards alcohol and drugs, and will continue to live with this image until the rate of numbers decreases and the minorities are shown the attention they need. Mental illness has generally been a minority among homeless citizens; but with growing numbers in substance abuse, mental illness has also taken a climb up the number ladder in the past years. â€Å"Most studies have found 30 percent of homeless have some mental illness† (Hombs, 43). People affected by mental illness may neglect taking precautions to prevent disease, due to being uneducated about the disease they’re living with (NCH,1). When the mental health problems are combined with poor hygiene and lack of education, many cannot properly care for themselves. The most common mental illness among homeless is schizophrenia or bipolar disorder (NCH,1). Unfortunately, these two diseases put an individual in vulnerable situations and are the most dangerous mental illnesses to live with. They are almost impossible to recover from. NCH explained â€Å"Many programs for homeless with mental illnesses do not accept people with substance abuse disorders, and programs for homeless substance abusers do not treat people with mental illnesses† (NCH, 2). Since substance abuse and mental illness usually coincide among the homeless, treatment facilities are making it nearly impossible for the homeless to acquire correct treatment and housing. Along with mental illness, comes physical health problems; the most occurring disease among homeless persons is HIV/AIDS. People with HIV/AIDS are at a higher risk of becoming homeless and people who are homeless have a higher risk of contracting the disease. There are multiple reasons for the homeless to be the most commonly found with the disease(s). Many homeless people are ones with HIV because of the discrimination shown to the citizens with the illness (Hombs, 49). People with HIV are likely to lose their job, which then leads to lack of income (NCH, 1). With no money and no health care, treating the disease is rarely an option. Another reason for the disease to be so common among homeless is because of survival. NCH publicized, â€Å"Many homeless adolescents find that exchanging sex for f ood, clothing, and shelter is the only way for survival† (NCH, 2). If the only way for an adolescent to survive on the street is to exchange sexual activity, the minorities will never find a stop to the spread of disease. A homeless child known as â€Å"street youth,† faces dangerous situations and resides in risky locations everyday of their life (Encyclopedia, 540). The most common challenge a child has to cope with is lack of cognitive and motor development (Encyclopedia, 75). Missing these important stages of developing the brain will lead to mental illnesses down the road. Growing up with violence and crime will also put them in troubled adult lives. Many homeless children come from troubled families, domestic violence, or neglect. The majority of street youth are with a single parent, most commonly a female (Encyclopedia, 75). With trouble at home, many resort to running away or becoming caught up in drugs or alcohol to deal with the pain of the situations they are faced with. Just like adults, disease is another problem among children. Many children’s parents lack hygiene or education on disease, and many simply cannot provide the correct care for their children. Martha Burt, a noted author and publicist, reported in Homelessness: Programs and the People They Serve, â€Å"Among homeless clients in family households, 10 percent reported that their children needed a doctor but were not able to do so† (Burt, 23). With this being noted, it is clear that children who are born into poverty stricken or homeless families will more than likely never see a doctor. Recently, due to immigration, the race of the homeless population has changed. African-Americans and Latinos are a growing number in homelessness, while whites are falling behind. NCH announced, â€Å"U.S. Conference of Mayor found that the homeless population is 47 percent African-American† (â€Å"Who† 3). African-Americans have dominated almost half of homeless persons but struggle more than whites. Whites are far better off in job markets and income than blacks. Whites have better chances of receiving greater incomes, which puts other minorities into poverty and eventually homelessness. This is why the numbers have gone up and the face of â€Å"homeless persons† is changing. Many different types of homeless categories have been viewed. Unfortunately, the ones needing help are hardly known. Homelessness has wrapped itself up in a negative way and has blocked out the helpless people with negativity. Alcohol, drugs, crime, violence, sex, and white males still dominate the face of homelessness and will continue to until change is made within those negative ways of living. When sexual abuse, crime, substance abuse, and spread of disease decrease among homeless persons, it will then be the start of changing the ways for minorities. The homeless have brought negativity on themselves by presenting their part of society in a stereotyped way. After seeing the facts, it is valid to state that alcohol and crime dominates homelessness and these factors block out the individuals needing help. Works Cited: Burt, Martha R. (1999). Homelessness: Programs and the people they serve. Urban Institute. Retrieved from http://www.urban.org.pdf Hombs, Mary E. (1990). American homelessness. Santa Barbara : ABC-CLIO, Inc. Levinson, D. (2004). Encyclopedia of homelessness . (Vol. 2). Sage Publications, Inc. National Coalition for the Homeless. (2007). Hiv/aids and homelessness . National Coalition for Homeless Retrieved from http://www.nationalhomeless.org National Coalition for Homeless. (2009). Mental illness and homelessness . National Coalition for Homeless. Retrieved from http://www.nationalhomeless.org National Coalition for Homeless. (2007). Substance abuse and homelessness. National Coalition for Homeless Retrieved from http://www.nationalhomeless.org National Coalition of Homeless. (2007). Who is homeless?. National Coalition for Homeless. Retrieved from http://www.nationalhomeless.org

The widespread image of American culture is seen to hold a...

The widespread image of American culture is seen to hold a strong base for globalisation. The extensive connectivity of the modern world, confirms Marshal McLuhans prediction of the global village. Globalisation is commonly seen as western culture imputing international cultures. Internet and television have also created transnational media whereas globalisation is commonly seen as a flow of information impending of western culture. Whereas, how will the younger generation will not be able to enjoy immerging products like Apple, Krispy Kreme and Hip-Hop. Hence, the strength globalisation has on the developing world. However, this develops a dispute between globalisation and its effect on international cultures. Early mass media impact on†¦show more content†¦The influence on international progression and communication can be seen as a positive and powerful aspect by culture imperial structures. Although, the notion of globalisation has overtaken the imperial structure as a m ain concept, therefore, underlining the studies and ideas that take hold in international communication. There is a purpose for the change from cultural imperialism to globalisation. To start, the conclusion of the cold war, the United States of America re-established the outline and agenda in competition with their international socio-political, philosophical and commercial rivals. This empowered the United States of America to become a giant. Consequently, counties started to separate. Therefore, the close of the Cold War was escorted with a massive take on international unity and local separation. As time progressed, this was no longer the case, as the period became composite, the United States and other industrialised countries decelerated as leaders of intellect and supply. Since, transnational media arose in communities locally and internationally. Therefore, cultural imperialism is seen to come under globalisation due to it being applicable to cover a wider approach to the theories of knowledge in this era. Additional, according to†¦ â€Å"Globalization replaced cultural i mperialism because it conveys a process with less coherence and direction, which will weaken the culturalShow MoreRelatedMarketing and Guinness3528 Words   |  15 Pagesconstantly striving to reach new goals, to improve the Guinness brand and quality of the product. In recent times the global economic environment has taken a downturn, which has meant that the company has had to do their best to stay competitive and hold their place in the global market. In recent years the sales of the iconic Irish drink have been falling on a domestic level so Diageo decided that it would have to look further a field to developing markets for new sales. 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