...The intersection of law and culture is far more complex than it appear. Culture being the beliefs and social behaviour to specific communities and law believed to regulates what behaviour is acceptable and socially right, it is appropriate to assume that both are related in numerous ways. Although to what extent should culture be integrated into law ? This essay will focus on the example of Australia. Australian law was founded, based on the British common law, imposing on the already existing custom of indigenous aboriginals. Additionally with the rise of globalisation, diversities of cultures and ethnic groups immigrated to Australia, leading the country to multiculturalism. In compliance to human rights and International law, Australia is...
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...The following essay will discuss and outline the issues facing minority ethnic groups when they report being victims of crime. The way that I intend on finding this information is by reading a range of different book and journals. Racism play a major part within today's society, to be racist means that your treating another human unequally as they belong to a different race or culture. To treat people unfairly just because of their race is very much illegal. Studies' conducted in Italy, Europe and America show that convicts tend to be darker skinned people living on council estate rather than White people living in the same domain. After realising this information, people started to converse and explore the direct link between Race and crime, the argument that was set up was that certain race groups were targeted to more crime because of the disadvantage of engaging more with it. Britton...
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...The essay focuses on the social construction of crime, and the possible reasons for these social constructions. In the first section, the essay explains what crime is, and the constructionist perspective theory. In the Second section my essay focuses on the crime as socially constructed and why it is socially constructed. In the third section essay explains, three levels of explanation in the study of deviant and criminal behaviour. In the final section, it focuses on the historical theoretical periods, which plays an important role in revitalising past discoveries. Crime is a term that refers to many types of misconduct that is forbidden by law. There are a number of different reasons as to why crime can be viewed as a social construction. There cannot be 'social problems' that are not the product of social construction - naming, labelling, defining and mapping them into place - through which we can 'make sense' of them' (Clarke, 2001). In this essay I will explain what is social construction, also what crime is, and why we think, that crime is socially constructed. Furthermore, I will explain how media construct crime and the stigma of black crime. In the last paragraph I will explore the importance of Marxist and Durkheim's theories on the emergence of crime....
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...| Rastafarians & Muslims | Critical Analysis | | Jedaila Astwood | 9/18/2013 | There are many things that stand out in the world as we have come to know today. As time changes so do the world, our societies are now modern and complex. These societies have majority and minority groups of people. A minority group can be defining as the physical appearance and cultural practices that are different from those of a dominant group. Very often unequal treatment is bestowed upon the minority groups. There are a number of minority groups for example; racial, ethnic, gender, age, sexuality, people with disabilities and religious minorities. In this essay, I will discuss the similarities and differences between the Rastafarians and Muslims, and their struggle of assimilation and dominance. “Islam is the proper name to use when referring to the religion practiced by Muslims. It is an Arabic word that means two things: to surrender your will to God and to acquire peace in your soul. The legitimacy of using this word comes from the Muslim Holy Book, the Qur’an; and it is the only name Muslims use to refer to their religion” (Emerick, 2002). Research by Emerick (2002) states the five pillars of Islam are; Shahadah declaring allegiance to God, Salat daily prayer, Zakat annual charity, Saum month-long fasting, Hajj the pilgrimage to Mecca. According to Muslims, in order to become a Muslim you must believe and practice the five pillars of Islam. Arguably, the central theme...
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...|Department of Law and Criminal Justice Studies |[pic] | | | | |ASSIGNMENT COVER SHEET | | |STUDENT NAME |Nkiruka-Rebecca Elliott |STUDENT No |ELL11053447 | | | |PROGRAMME | |(highlight correct subjects) | |MODULE NAME: | | | |Victims and Victimology | |MARKER’S NAME: |Rashid Aziz...
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...1. Is the nature of crime in our society accurately presented by the media? Discuss. Like every society, Australia has always had its share of criminal activity, from the founding of our country as a penal colony in the 18th century, bushrangers in the 19th century, underworld violence in the 20th century to recent youth violence on our city streets in the 21st century. In this essay, I will be discussing how the media presents crime in Australian society and how this does not necessarily reflect crime statistics. The media presents us with the idea that the majority of crime in Australia is violent, and it is only getting worse. In contrast, statistics show that Australia’s crime rate has remained relatively steady. In fact, most reported crimes are actually non violent, with the majority of crimes actually being property related. It should also be noted that we are exposed to high levels of media coverage on specific types of crime, for example the “Missing White Woman Syndrome” whilst under reporting on similar occurrences that involve males, and females of different culture and social standings. Lastly, I would like to discuss recent television programs such as Underbelly and true crime films that glamorise the criminal sub-culture which in itself causes the media to report even more on Australia’s underworld, violent crimes and infamous criminal cases. The media portrays our crime rate as rapidly escalating, however statistics collected by the Australian Institute...
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...upbringing, especially if it is a child or a teen committing a crime. Others want to blame social media and gaming or our society. While all of these can play a role in criminal behavior, so does genetics. Let’s repeat that, genetics play a role in criminal behavior, not make a person become a criminal. Genes do not cause behavior, but they affect tendencies to behave in certain ways (Nurnberger, Aug 10, 2006, para. 3). Anything can influence an individual to act and behave like a criminal, but those things do not make individuals commit crimes. That is entirely a choice. Genes contribute to an individual’s patterns because genes affect learning. Saying that something is influenced genetically is not saying environmental factors are not relevant. Saying a behavior is influenced genetically is not saying that it is unalterable or inevitable. “A predisposition is not predestination (Jones, pg87). Several components that contribute to criminal behavior are looked at; however, genetic factors are often overlooked as an important attribute. Some genetic influences are children who have behavior or disruptive disorders, such as ADHD. Other genetics can come from parents. Tests and studies have been done on adoptees and twins to shows how criminologist scientists have come up with this conclusion. Since genetics can play a role in criminal behavior, this means that gender and race may also be included. It is crime, not race that leads to more stops in minority neighborhoods. Children...
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...future in fighting crime. The responsibilities of the state and local police are to fight crime by enforcing the law, apprehended offenders, prevent crime, and preserve the peace among societies. On September 11, 2001 police responsibilities changed because of the attack on the United States. State police expanded their responsibilities to fight terrorism, new laws, and new types of crimes. The criminal justice system has two main aims, which are to manage crime and to guarantee due process. This paper will discuss past, recent, and future trends, contemporary issues that are affecting the criminal justice system, and the criminal justice system in a changing society. Past Trends In the 1960’s the general downward crime rates that been marked since the 1930’s came to an end. Crime report rose, more arrests were being made, lawmakers started passing tougher laws that increased penalties, cases prosecuted by the court increased, more people was placed in prisons and jails, or placed on probation or parole, and spending by the government grew for criminal justice institutions. The Federal Government changed in an effort to fight crime. In the 1960’s, the use of illegal drugs became widespread. The government responded with broad programs with arrests, large numbers of incarceration, blocking illegal transport over the borders, working with other countries to stop criminal organizations, and making an effort to reduce demand for drugs. In the 1980’s crimes commit by juveniles...
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...SOCIOLOGY – AQA – UNIT 4 - CRIME AND DEVIANCE The exam is split into 3 questions: • Q.1 is a pure methods section which contains two parts a) 12 marks and b) 21 marks. You should spend 45 minuets on this question. • Q.2 is a method in context question. Part a) is for 9 marks [could also be a 3 and 6 mark question] and part b) is for 15 marks. You should spend 30 minuets on this question. • Q.3 is a theories essay for 33 marks. THIS QUESTION IS SYNOPTIC! You should spend 45 minuets on this question. Below is a list of all the areas and studies you need to know for each section of the exam. Don’t worry if you don’t know all the studies, each college/school are likely to teach slightly different ones, just make sure you know about that amount for each section. Q.1 For the first two pure crime parts you need to know: Functionalist theories of crime and deviance Durkheim – Social control, social regulation including suicide Merton-Strain theory, blocked aspirations Cohen – Status frustration Cloward and Ohlin – Deviant subcultures New Right/Right Realism James Wilson – Strict law enforcement needed Wilson and Kelling – Broken windows, zero tolerance Murray – Cultural deprivation, single parents and ineffective, the underclass Erdos – Families without fathers Subcultural theories Cohen – Delinquent subcultures Cloward and Ohlin – Delinquency and opportunity, criminal, conflict and retreatist...
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...to go when faced with difficulty and if it wasn’t taught that way then don’t do it that way. Democracy is something we hear more and more since the beginning of the Iraq war up to the next presidential election. But one question this book asks and as scholars we must ask ourselves, “Is our society, in all aspects, really democratic?” In the first essay of the book Giroux discusses how universities have become bedfellows with the American war machine. Giving the reader a raw look at how far universities have become militarized. The beginnings can be traced back to the post-WWII years. Giroux argues that even though it has been at least 50 years since this invasion of militarism into universities, since 911 this militarism has spread beyond the walls of the university into mainstream society. The concept of militarism is the dominance of the military over the state or the broader culture, militarization is more fundamental and pervasive part of a basic military philosophy and its underlying assumptions. The author contends that the two meanings are becoming one and is now used as solutions for everything from “drugs, crime, homelessness, obesity, poverty and a number of other social problems” (32). Giroux writes of how it has...
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...people seem to be more worried by crime, the research evidence suggests crime rates are not increasing. How can we explain this apparent contradiction? Word Count: 1973 We have a strange situation in Australia. At a time when people seem to be more worried by crime, the research evidence suggests crime rates are not increasing. How can we explain this apparent contradiction? Current crime rates in Australia do not reflect the public’s perception, as criminal activity is steadily decreasing year after year. However, the public’s view is that crime is on the rise. Due to this unwavering perception of increased crime rates, some people have developed a fear of becoming a victim and apprehensive of crime and all of its components. Influences that can create or enhance these emotions can be born from a number of areas for each individual. Some of these can be due to personal experiences, the media, as well as a person’s geographical location. All of these factors can impact a person’s viewpoint of crime. This essay will examine the perception and how this fear has come to be, despite statistics proving that crime is in fact not increasing. The definition of ‘perception’ as per the Oxford dictionary is “the ability to see, hear, or become aware of something through the senses” - essentially what people see and hear will mould their opinions and emotions as to what is happening in the world around them. If a person has a fear of crime as well as that of becoming a victim...
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...of operant conditioning used to decrease the probability of a behavior or response by causing a change in the environment (Singer, B.F. 1970). This essay will discuss aspects of punishment such as methodology, effectiveness and its effects on behavior. It will review the effectiveness of punishment methodology by studying the variables such as age, gender, socio-economic status and exposure to crime. In the direct context of speeding, contemporary punishment includes ‘positive punishment’ whereby giving the offender a fine and ‘negative punishment’ by suspension of their license. This essay will also assess the effectiveness of punishment. Attempts to neutralize the issue of speeding include implementing warnings showing the severity and consequences of speeding. However, many young irresponsible drivers cannot relate to the seriousness by influence of their peers whom they value higher than authority figures of the law. Golias, J., Kanellaidis, G., & Zarifopoulos. K. (1995) shows that the major reason for speeding is the belief that speed limits are unreliable with a mean grade of 6.67 thus; this supports the idea that people do not perceive road authorities as an influential figure. At a younger age, influential figures are not ones that are necessarily responsible, but they appeal to them in anintrinsic way. In many cultures, speeding is acceptable; growing with this idea leads many drivers to have a habit of speeding (Blincoe, K.M., Jones, A.P., Sauerzapf, V., Haynes,...
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...Michael T. Slager, was charged with murder based on a cellphone video. In Baltimore, the driver of the police van in which Gray died, Caesar Goodson, was charged with second-degree murder, with lesser charges for five other officers. There have been no indictments in the earlier cases. These follow other recent incidents and controversies, including an April 2014 finding by the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), following a two-year investigation, that the Albuquerque, N.M., police department “engages in a pattern or practice of use of excessive force, including deadly force, in violation of the Fourth Amendment,” and a similar DOJ finding in December 2014 with regard to the Cleveland police department. In March 2015, the DOJ also issued a report detailing a pattern of “clear racial disparities” and “discriminatory intent” on the part of the Ferguson, Mo., police department. As the Washington Post reported in July 2015, a...
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...After the attacks on the Twin Towers, I joined with other Americans, calling for a war on terrorism and the Muslims. I researched the Koran to see what all the hoopla was about and discovered that there are two acceptable versions, one that calls for a Jihad (holy war), and one that teaches peace among all people. I found that only a handful of Muslims are radical and believe in the Holy War, and that most want to live in peace with others. By learning this about the Muslims, I also learned that many whites in America are still biased toward other races and ethnicities. While some embrace the diversity on our country, there are still those that look down unapprovingly at other races. While I am proud of who I am, and my race, there are those that still embarrass me. According to projections by the U.S. Census Bureau, non-Hispanic whites could be a minority by 2043, due in part to the doubling of Hispanic and Asian populations. Races that are considered minorities today comprise 37 percent of the population, by 2060, it is projected to be 57 percent. Not only will our population be more diverse, it will be older, as the bureau predicts that the elderly population will also double in that time (Cline, 2012). I feel that this is due in part that people are concerning themselves more with their health and living longer than ever before, and that infant...
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...because of legal controls are more cosmetic than deeply embedded into our social structure. Key questions (AO1) What evidence is there of ethnic inequality in UK? (AO1) How are ethnic inequalities being challenged by government policies? (AO2) To what extent is British culture racist and ethnically unequal? (AO2) What are social implications of racism in our society? Summary of Key Points 1 2 What is racism? Racism is the belief that some ethnic groups are superior and others inferior. This belief is often associated with notions of skin pigmentation or the minor physical differences that are sometimes apparent between different groups of people. However, racism is not always associated with skin colour, but also with culture, ethnicity, with religious belief or language differences. The notion of racism itself is also a very recent idea in our society. In the past, the idea that people from certain ethnic groups were superior to and different from others was so deeply ingrained into much thinking that it was not seriously questioned. There is a long and deep history of racism in European culture. We often ascribe negative characteristics to people of different ethnicities and nationalities so that they are used as terms of abuse. Many jokes rely on negative assumptions about people's national characteristics. Ethnocentrism is the tendency to see the...
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