Punishment Of Offenders Essays - Sentencing, Criminal Justice

Punishment Of Offenders According to the Bureau of Justice Statistics, in the year 1980 we had approximately 501,900 persons incarcerated across the United States. By the year 2000, that figure has jumped to over 2,014,000 prisoners. The current level of incarceration represents the continuation of a 25-year escalation of the nations prison and jail population beginning in 1973. Currently the U.S. rate of 672 per 100,000 is second only to Russia, and represents a level of incarceration that is 6-10 times that of most industrialized nations. The rise in prison population in recent years is particularly remarkable given that crime rates have been falling nationally since 1992. With less crime, one might assume that fewer people would be sentenced to prison. This trend has been overridden by the increasing impact of lengthy mandatory sentencing policies. The proliferation of harsh mandatory sentencing policies has inhibited the ability of courts to sentence offenders in a way that permits a more problem solving approach to crime, as we can see in the most recent community policing and drug court movements today. By eliminating any consideration of the factors contributing to crime and a range of responses, such sentencing policies fail to provide justice for all. Given the cutbacks in prison programming and rates of recidivism, in some cases over 60% or more, the increased use of incarceration in many respects represents a commitment to policies that are both ineffective and unfair. I believe in equal, fair and measured punishment for all. I dont advocate a soft, or a hard approach to punishment. But we must take a more pragmatic look at what the consequences of our actions are when we close our eyes and blindly carry out sentencing which is neither fair, nor warranted, given the circumstances. I would like to address two primary areas in punishing offenders that I believe need attention, Mandatory Minimums and Three Strikes Policies. Our lawmakers must take on these misguided policies, which have thus far been inefficient and ineffective. They must do this in order to curb our rising prison populations and return us to a level playing field of fair punishment for all persons regardless of race, sex, or ethnic background. The mandatory minimum sentencing policies that now exist in every state have been used disproportionately for drug offenders, who now constitute one of every four inmates nationally. Because of the severe and rigid sentencing scheme mandated by the drug laws, low-level drug offenders face years in prison. According to the Bureau of Justice Statistics, of the total population of drug offenders in custody, the average maximum sentence for first time felony offenders convicted of drug related charges range between 87.6 months for Class B felonies to 42.4 months for a Class E felony. These statistics also reveal that one in five of the drug offenders incarcerated had no prior felony convictions. Nearly two-thirds of these drug offenders also were never convicted of a violent felony in the past. What we are dealing with here is non-violent, first time offenders and judges have no choice in most states but to incarcerate them for lengthy periods of time which only places more pressure on our prison systems. As I stated earlier, I have a down the middle approach to punishment, not too hard or not too soft. Stiff prison sentences can be appropriate for addressing violent crimes and protecting our communities. But such sentences are misguided and destructive when it comes to these types of nonviolent drug offenders. Also, according to the Federal Bureau of Prisons they cost the American taxpayer approximately $20,747 per inmate per year. Another bi-product of mandatory sentencing is a disparate impact on non-white offenders. The United States Sentencing Commission and Federal Judicial Center have found that among offenders who engaged in conduct warranting mandatory minimums, white offenders were less likely than blacks or Hispanics to receive the mandatory minimum term. I belie ve there are better alternatives to this policy that can more effectively express our values and accomplish our goals without increasing our prison populations and disparaging minorities. Another sentencing policy that is having a major impact on punishment and its fairness are the so called 3 Strikes Laws that many states have enacted. These

Sample Essay on Literary Genre

Sample Essay on Literary GenreWriting a sample essay on literary genre is not a simple task. In fact, it can be hard to decide on what genre you want to write about.The first thing you need to do when you are writing a sample essay on literary genre is to decide on the subject you would like to cover. This is very important because this will dictate the theme of your article. You want to be as specific as possible in this step so that the rest of the process is not so difficult.You can start by choosing a topic that you know about and have read about. You can do a little research about the topic and then find out more about the type of writing that you would like to do to better understand your chosen genre.Once you have your topic in mind, you can now choose how to structure your essay and where to place your heading and paragraphs. By having a clear idea of the way the essay will be structured, you will be able to create a better draft and will be less likely to make any mistakes o r fall behind.Writing a sample essay on literary genre does not necessarily mean you have to go with a specific theme. In fact, you may decide that you want to write a more informal piece that doesn't follow a strict pattern. However, you should still follow your theme throughout the essay.This helps the reader understand the kind of style you are going for and makes it easier to follow along with the flow of the essay. It is also important to make sure that the words you use in your essay are all clear and accurate. You don't want your readers to miss important details that might make a difference in their decision to buy the product you are selling.There are some basic rules you can follow while writing your essay. First, make sure that your heading is clear and the paragraph gets to the point. This helps the reader understand what the entire essay is about and allows them to follow the entire argument.If you follow these rules, you will have a much easier time while writing a sam ple essay on literary genre. With these simple tips, you will find that you can produce a quality article that you can use to help you sell your products.