Journal #5
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Transcript of Journal #5
Journal #5
• List 3 issues dealing with crime that we have in America today.
• What can we do about those issues?
Chapter 7: Crime in America
The Nature of Crimes
• Crime: something one does or fails to do that is in violation of a law
• Crime rates are influenced by location, age, and gender.
• Problem 7.1 (p75)
Crime Rates• Crime rates are higher in urban than
suburban areas• Crime rates are higher in suburban areas
than rural areas• People ages 15-24 commit more violent
crimes than any other group• Males commit almost 4 times more crimes
than females• Problem 7.2 (p76)
Crime is Expensive!
• Crime costs YOU money! • The government spends about $150 billion
dollars a year on crime• Each family pays $1500 a year in taxes
relating to crime• The US has the highest incarceration rate of
any industrialized nation
What Causes Crime?• Poverty• Permissive courts• Unemployment• Lack of education• Abuse of drugs and alcohol• Inadequate police protection• Lack of parental guidance• Breakdown of morals• Ineffective correctional system• Little chance of being caught or punished• Influence of tv, films, and music
Crime on Campus• In 2001 there were nearly 2
million incidents of property and violent crime at school
• 10% of male high school students reported carrying a gun to school at least once in a 30 day period
• 30% of students reported drugs were available to them at school
• Thurston High School• Problem 7.5 (p 81)
Gangs and Crime
• A combination of drugs and guns has led to an increase in gang violence
• Gangs: People who form groups closed to the general public
• Gangs use symbols, colors, emblems, phrases, and clothing to ID themselves
• There is usually an initiation ritual or test as well as a similar rite to get out of the gang…if this is an option
• Usually proves that you are not afraid to commit crimes and deal drugs
Who Joins Gangs and Why?• Mostly males but the number of females is
increasing– Poverty– School failure– Substance abuse– Family dysfunction– Domestic and community violence– Sense of belonging– Peer pressure– Financial gain/fame
How can the gang problem be solved?
• Community intervention/non gang activities• Increase awareness• Work with police to create anti-gang
programs• Increase prosecution of gang members• Neighborhood watch groups• Gangs in Portland
Guns and the Law
• Government Control v. Constitutional Rights
• Right for states to maintain a militia v. protection against government bans on firearms
Gun Control Act of 1968 (passed after deaths of JFK and MLK)
• Prohibits certain persons-such as convicted felons, minors, and illegal aliens- from buying and possessing weapons
• Requires serial numbers on all guns and establishes a licensing fee schedule for firearms manufacturers, importers, and dealers
• Prohibits the mail-order sale of all firearms and ammunitions
• Prohibits the interstate sale of handguns• Sets penalties for carrying and using firearms in violent
crimes • Sets guidelines for certain firearm purchases
Gun Control• Brady Act: (named for James Brady who was shot
and paralyzed by a bullet intended for Reagan)– creates a system to instantly check the background of
persons who want to buy guns• In 2001 8 million applications for guns were
processed…151,000 were rejected• Should citizens be allowed to carry a concealed
weapon?• More Guns Less Crime?• Problem 7.7 (p87)
Substance Abuse and Crime• Substance Abuse: the harmful, overuse of
chemical, like drugs or alcohol• Can cause…
– breakup of families– decreased productivity– injuries in the workplace– automobile crashes– criminal activity
Alcohol• The most widely used substance in the US
(because its socially acceptable)• In some countries it’s a criminal offense to
drink (Saudi Arabia)• Alcohol abuse was a factor in 35% of
violent crimes in the US in 2001
Drunk Driving• Operation of a motor vehicle while
intoxicated, driving while intoxicated, driving under the influence
• Measured by a persons Blood Alcohol Concentration
• OR BAC is .08g/dl
Penalties for Driving under the Influence:
• monetary fine• enrollment in DWI school• community service• license suspended• license revoked• jail sentence
DUI/DWI
• Implied Consent: the driver agrees to submit to a BAC test in exchange for the privilege of driving.
• Refusal to take the test could result in immediate and automatic suspension of the driver’s license for a certain period, even if the driver is not found guilty of DWI
Drugs• Illegal drug industry has led to a
dramatic increase in criminal activity• This has placed a huge burden on the
criminal justice system because so many people ware arrested for selling or possessing drugs
*50-75% of people arrested test positive for drugs at the time of their arrest
Controlled Substance Act• Most states and the federal government have
repeat-offender laws• Recidivist: Repeat Offender• Three Strikes Rule: not cruel and unusual
punishment, after three felony charges the criminal is locked up for life without parole
Legalize or Not to Legalize?• Many people believe the US would be better able
to control the sale and use of drugs if the laws changed from drug prohibition to drug regulation.
• Some favor legalizing certain drugs for medicinal purposes
• Others believe that legalizing drugs would lead to greater drug use, cause more deaths, and increase other drug-related problems
• Legalization would send a message of acceptance• To legalize or not to legalize, that is the question...• Problem 7.12 (p94)
Victims of Crime
• Teens and young adults are more likely to be victims of crime than any other age group.
• Males are more likely to be victims of violent crimes than females
• Members of minority groups, urban dwellers, and those who rent their homes are more likely to be victims of crime than white, nonurban, and property owners.
• Restitution: requiring criminals to pay back or compensate the victims of their crimes
• Advocacy groups help victims of crimes– Ex: Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD)