CRIME AND JUSTICE IN THE UNITED STATES

CRIME AND THE MEDIA New Reports New Reports 30% relate to crime stories 30% relate to crime stories Entertainment Industry Entertainment Industry Does the media give an accurate representation of crime in the United States? Does the media give an accurate representation of crime in the United States? Crime Clock Crime Clock

DEFINING CRIME Social Definitions – Norms Social Definitions – Norms Legal Definition Legal Definition Why is punishment a necessary part of the law? Why is punishment a necessary part of the law? Unusual Laws Unusual Laws

LEGAL DEFENCES TO A CRIME EXCUSES FROM CRIMINAL RESPONSIBILITY Acted under duress Acted under duress Acted under age Acted under age Insanity Insanity Acted in self-defense Acted in self-defense Entrapment Entrapment

MEASURING CRIME DO WE KNOW THE TRUE AMOUNT OF CRIME IN THE UNITED STATES? Probably the best index of crime is OFFENSES KNOWN TO THE POLICE Probably the best index of crime is OFFENSES KNOWN TO THE POLICE Are all crime reported to the police? Are all crime reported to the police? Reasons for not reporting crimes to the police Reasons for not reporting crimes to the police Things that may affect the crime rates Things that may affect the crime rates

I.UNIFORM CRIME REPORTS (UCR) Annual Report prepared by the FBI based on CRIMES KNOW TO THE POLICE Data collected on eight index offenses Data collected on eight index offenses 1. Murder and non-negligent manslaughter 2. Forcible Rape 3. Robbery 4. Aggravated Assault 5. Burglary 6. Larceny Theft 7. Motor Vehicle Theft 8. Arson

FEAR OF CRIME What do people fear? What do people fear? Fear is greatest at night when a person is alone and away from home Fear is greatest at night when a person is alone and away from home Who has the greatest fear of crime? Who has the greatest fear of crime? Gender Gender Race Race Age Age Community Community

VICTIMS OF CRIME Most frequent type of crime – personal or property crimes? Most frequent type of crime – personal or property crimes? By age, who are the most likely crime victims? By age, who are the most likely crime victims? years of age have the highest rate years of age have the highest rate Considering age, gender, race, and location who is the most likely crime victim? Considering age, gender, race, and location who is the most likely crime victim? Young black males in the inner cities Young black males in the inner cities Most likely rape victim – girls younger than 18 Most likely rape victim – girls younger than 18

POLICING IN AMERICA

PUBLIC ATTITUEDES TOWARD THE POLICE ACCORDING TO RECENT SURVEYS How much confidence do you, personally, have in the police? How much confidence do you, personally, have in the police? “A great deal” – 59% “A great deal” – 59% “Some” confidence – 31% “Some” confidence – 31% “Very little” confidence – 10% “Very little” confidence – 10% However, among blacks only 31% had “a great deal” of confidence in the police. However, among blacks only 31% had “a great deal” of confidence in the police.

THE ROLES OF THE POLICE Role Expectation Role Expectation What do we expect of our police? What do we expect of our police? Role Conflict Role Conflict

POLICE QUALIFICATIONS CHARACTERISTICS OF POLICE WORK Be Decisive Be Decisive Integrity Integrity Self-motivated Self-motivated Willing to handle the “Dirty Work” Willing to handle the “Dirty Work” Willing to face Danger Willing to face Danger What is some of the most dangerous work for police officers? What is some of the most dangerous work for police officers? Domestic Disturbance calls Domestic Disturbance calls

POLICE FUNCTIONS WHAT IS IT THAT POLICE DO? Patrol – the most time –consuming work Patrol – the most time –consuming work Preventive Patrol Preventive Patrol Directed Patrol Directed Patrol Foot Patrol – What are the benefits? Foot Patrol – What are the benefits? Bicycle Patrol Bicycle Patrol Investigation Investigation Purpose of the investigation Purpose of the investigation Role of the Detective – Any advantages? Role of the Detective – Any advantages? Traffic Traffic

COMMUNITY POLICING A Partnership A Partnership Examples of Community Policing: Examples of Community Policing: Neighborhood Watch Neighborhood Watch DARE DARE Foot Patrol Foot Patrol Bicycle Patrol Bicycle Patrol

SENTENCING, APPEALS, AND THE DEATH PENALTY

FIVE TYPES OF PUNISHMENTS USED IN THE UNITED STATES Fines Fines Probation Probation Intermediate Punishments Intermediate Punishments Imprisonment Imprisonment Death Death

PRISON SENTENCING TWO TYPES Indeterminate Sentencing Indeterminate Sentencing Who determines release date? Who determines release date? Parole Boards Parole Boards Emphasis in on REHABILITATION Emphasis in on REHABILITATION Determinate Sentencing Determinate Sentencing Get Tough Approach Get Tough Approach One negative result One negative result Overcrowding problems Overcrowding problems

PUNISHMENT PHILOSOPHIES RATIONALES FOR IMPOSING PUNISHMENTS 1. Retribution Society’s Revenge Society’s Revenge Eye for an eye and tooth for a tooth Eye for an eye and tooth for a tooth

THE DEATH PENALTY FIVE METHODS OF EXECUTION 1. Lethal Injection 2. Electrocution 3. Gas Chamber 4. Hanging 5. Firing Squad

CONSTITUTIONALITY OF THE DEATH PENALTY Has it ever been declared unconstitutional? Has it ever been declared unconstitutional? United States Supreme Court Cases United States Supreme Court Cases Furman v. Georgia (1972) Furman v. Georgia (1972) Gregg v. Georgia (1976) Gregg v. Georgia (1976)

STATES WITH HIGHEST RATES OF EXECUTIONS OVER 850 EXECUTIONS SINCE 1977 MORE THAN HALF OCCURRED IN THREE STATES: MORE THAN HALF OCCURRED IN THREE STATES: TEXAS (304) TEXAS (304) VIRGINIA (99) VIRGINIA (99) OKLAHOMA (64) OKLAHOMA (64) Florida, Georgia, Louisiana also rank high. Florida, Georgia, Louisiana also rank high. 38 states have capital punishment statutes 38 states have capital punishment statutes

PUBLIC OPINION ON THE DEATH PENALTY Recent public opinion polls” Recent public opinion polls” A Gallup Poll in 2003 revealed that 74% of the American public favored the death penalty in First Degree Murder cases. A Gallup Poll in 2003 revealed that 74% of the American public favored the death penalty in First Degree Murder cases. What is your opinion? What is your opinion?

INMATE POPULATION IN THE UNITED STATES Today approximately 2 million inmates in our prisons and jails Today approximately 2 million inmates in our prisons and jails United States has one of the highest incarceration rates of any nation in the world. United States has one of the highest incarceration rates of any nation in the world.

COSTS OF INCARCERATION TOTAL ANNUAL COST ABOUT $36 BILLION Approximate annual cost per inmate is $22,000 Approximate annual cost per inmate is $22,000 Costs Estimates for New Prison Construction: Costs Estimates for New Prison Construction: Minimum Security Facility - $31,000 per bed Minimum Security Facility - $31,000 per bed Medium Security Facility - $50,000 per bed Medium Security Facility - $50,000 per bed Maximum Security Facility - $80,000 per bed Maximum Security Facility - $80,000 per bed

PRISON INMATE CHARACTERISTICS DESCRIBING THE TYPICAL INMATE Gender – Male Gender – Male Race – Black Race – Black Age Group – Under 35 Age Group – Under 35 Marital Status – Single Marital Status – Single Educational Level – Low, many are high school drop-outs Educational Level – Low, many are high school drop-outs Gang Affiliation Gang Affiliation

INMATE RIGHTS (cont.) First Amendment Rights First Amendment Rights Free speech and censorship of mail Free speech and censorship of mail Religious Freedom Religious Freedom Cooper v. Pate (1964) - Black Muslim Case Cooper v. Pate (1964) - Black Muslim Case Eighth Amendment Rights Eighth Amendment Rights Prohibits cruel and unusual punishment Prohibits cruel and unusual punishment Staff brutality Staff brutality Medical Care Medical Care What about hard labor and solitary confinement? What about hard labor and solitary confinement? Totality of Conditions Totality of Conditions

THE PROBATION PROCESS THE PROBATION ORDER Standard for Misdemeanors and Felonies Standard for Misdemeanors and Felonies Probation Conditions: Probation Conditions: 1. Maintain Employment 2. Obey all Laws 3. No association with criminals 4. Felons cannot possess a firearm 5. Agree to consent searches 6. Random drug testing 7. Restitution 8. Regular contacts with PO and restricted travel