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

 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

 FBI Uniform Crime Reports FBI Uniform Crime Reports Crime Trends,  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

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

Experience in the U.S. Prior to the U.S. Constitution Early English settlers in America viewed the right to arms and/or the right to bear arms and/or state militias as important for one or more of these purposes (in no particular order)  enabling the people to organize a militia system  participating in law enforcement  deterring tyrannical government  repelling invasion  suppressing insurrection, allegedly including slave revolts  facilitating a natural right of self-defense

The 2 nd Amendment A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed

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

The U.S. Supreme Court In the twenty-first century, the amendment has been subjected to renewed academic inquiry and judicial interest

 In District of Columbia v. Heller (2008), the Supreme court handed down a landmark decision that held expressly that the amendment protects an individual right to possess & carry firearms

In McDonald v. Chicago (2010), the Court clarified its earlier decisions limiting the amendment's impact to a restriction on the federal government & expressly found that it limits state & local governments to the same extent that it limits the federal government

Despite these decisions, the debate between the 'gun control' & 'gun rights' movements & related organizations continues

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

Understanding the 2 nd Amendment The Supreme Court & The Politics of Gun Control [7:37]

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 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

Gangs & Crime  Gangs are active in towns & cities of all sizes throughout the country  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

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

Gang Risk Factors PovertySchool FailureSubstance AbuseFamily 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 National Gang Center  Framework for Delinquency Prevention & Early Intervention (Page 10) Framework for Delinquency Prevention & Early Intervention (Page 10)  Gang Prevention & Intervention Strategies (Page 11) Gang Prevention & Intervention Strategies (Page 11)  Ch. 7 – Analyzing (HO)

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 Implied Consent Law ○ WA – DUI Arrest Information & Advice WA – DUI Arrest Information & Advice

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 In 2011, 9,878 people were killed and approximately 315,000 were injured Each crash, each death, each injury impacts not only the person in the crash, but family, friends, classmates, coworkers and more Even those who have not been directly touched help pay the $132 billion yearly price tag of drunk driving But together we can eliminate drunk driving [MADD]

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

 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

 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