UNIT 2: Criminal Law & Juvenile Justice Chapter 7 Crime in America STREET LAW

A crime is the violation of a law established to protect people & maintain an orderly society People everywhere are affected by crime; however, certain factors such as age, gender, & location influence the likelihood of becoming a victim of crime Criminals in the U.S. wear many faces, from the teen who steals DVD’s from the electronics store to the career thief planning an armed bank robbery

Authorities disagree over the causes of crime & what can be done about it They argue that poverty, unemployment, lack of education, drug & alcohol abuse, & inadequate police protection are to blame Some people believe that working to end these problems would lead to a decrease in crime rates

Gangs & gang activity also contribute to the problem of crime Experts agree that combating the problems of gangs & crime begins with outreach & intervention programs to prevent gang involvement

The Nature of Crimes   A crime is something that a person does or fails to do that violates the law The government establishes penalties for such behavior Crime rates are influenced by many factors, although many people disagree about the causes of crime & the best solutions to the problem

In recent years, crime on high school & college campuses has become a serious problem Hate crimes, violent assaults, property crime Crime is costly—in addition to the loss of life & property, it costs the government a great amount of money to prevent, investigate, & prosecute crime

FBI Uniform Crime Reports Crime Clock reports the frequency of crimes Crime Index totals of violent crimes & property crimes

The National Council on Crime & Delinquency recommends alternatives to incarceration as one strategy for reducing crime

Problem 7.1 – page 75 Problem 7.2 – page 76 Problem 7.3 – page 78 Problem 7.4 – page 80 Problem 7.5 – page 81 “The Case of Weapons at School”

Gangs & Crime   Gangs are active in towns & cities of all sizes throughout the country Seattle Hoods East Tacoma Gang Graffiti Gangs expose their members & their communities to extreme violence & danger Many youths join gangs because gangs offer a sense of belonging & an opportunity to earn money Beyond the Shadows: Crime in Yakima

Most people agree that a promising strategy to discourage gang membership is to provide young people with opportunities & community connections that will offer them a greater sense of belonging

First 3 of Accused Crips Gang Members Sentenced Gang Risk Factors Poverty School Failure Substance Abuse Family Dysfunction Domestic Violence Community Violence Poor Self-Esteem Little Adult Participation Problem 7.6 – page 84 First 3 of Accused Crips Gang Members Sentenced

Prevention, Intervention & Suppression National Gang Center National Gang Center - Chapter 6 Framework for Delinquency Prevention & Early Intervention (Page 10) Gang Prevention & Intervention Strategies (Page 11) Ch. 7 – Analyzing (HO)

Guns & the Law   Most Americans who own firearms own them legally & use them lawfully However, guns are often used in violent crimes

Many people disagree about the government's role in controlling gun ownership

Does the Second Amendment protect the right of individuals to own guns?

Or . . . Does the Second Amendment give the states power to maintain a militia but does not entitle individuals to own guns?

The U.S. Supreme Court has interpreted the Second Amendment to mean that the state has the right to maintain a militia

The Federal Gun Control Act of 1968 is the primary federal gun-control law Congress amended this law in 1993 by enacting the Brady Act Established national system to check backgrounds of persons before selling guns to them Gun laws have also been enacted at the state & local levels

For Your Information – page 86 Problem 7.7 – page 87

Problem 7.8 – page 88 Law in Action: Child Access Prevention (CAP) Laws

Substance Abuse & Crime Abuse of alcohol & drugs (substance abuse) contributes to many social problems & often leads to other criminal activity Although many adults use alcohol responsibly, alcohol abuse can be very harmful to society Implied Consent Law: the driver agrees to submit to a BAC test in exchange for the privilege of driving WA – DUI Arrest Information & Advice

Is the best way to handle the drug problem to legalize some or all drugs? Would legalization allow the government to better regulate drugs & eliminate the problems that are associated with illegal distribution of drugs?

Problem 7.10 – page 92 Law in Action: Drug Courts Offer treatment instead of punishment for individuals who commit crimes & have problems with controlled substances Problem 7.11 – page 93 Problem 7.12 – page 94 Law in Action: Drugs in the City

Victims of Crime Every person is at risk to be a victim of crime However, teens & young adults are more likely than any other age groups to be victims Victim advocacy groups [MADD] work to protect victims by promoting the concerns & rights of victims Victims are not a party to the criminal case & their rights & needs are too often ignored

Problem 7.13 – page 96 Figure 7.3: Violent Crime Rates Law in Action: Victim’s Rights: Megan’s Law as Advocacy Passed as a result of victim’s advocacy groups Requires the registration of all convicted sex offenders in a community

Dateline: To Catch a Predator FOX News: PA - Local Law International Megan’s Law Proposal WA Megan’s Law Website WA Assoc. of Sheriffs & Police Chiefs – Registered Offenders

Recidivist (Repeat Offender) Law Require long sentences—including sentences of life in prison w/o parole—for persons who are repeatedly convicted of the same crime, even relatively minor ones

Preventing & Reporting Crime You can help fight crime by learning how to protect yourself Also, reporting crime can help to prevent others from being victims There are many organizations & programs that exist to assist victims of crime & prevent future crime

Law in Action – page 99 Good Samaritan Laws WA - 911 Good Samaritan Law Problem 7.14 – page 99

Ex Post Facto An ex post facto law (from the Latin for "from after the action") or retroactive law is a law that retroactively changes the legal consequences (or status) of actions committed or relationships that existed prior to the enactment of the law – In reference to criminal law, it may criminalize actions that were legal when committed; or aggravate a crime by bringing it into a more severe category than it was in at the time it was committed; or change or increase the punishment prescribed for a crime, such as by adding new penalties or extending terms; or alter the rules of evidence in order to make conviction for a crime more likely than it would have been at the time of the action for which a defendant is prosecuted Conversely, a form of ex post facto law commonly known as an amnesty law may decriminalize certain acts or alleviate possible punishments Example: replacing the death sentence with lifelong imprisonment) retroactively