Introduction to Criminal Justice - Assignment Example

Chapter 1: Should society attempt to restore law violators to the community, or should violators merely be punished for their misdeeds?

Crime control is the primary aim of the criminal justice system. As such, the criminal justice system operates with a view to not only bringing offenders to justice, but also to deter other violators and to prevent reoffending. Obviously, one arm of this aim can be accomplished through culpability, or just desserts which means that the offender will receive a sentence that is commensurate with the crime that he or she committed. This approach gives the victim and society some satisfaction. However, the offender is eventually released into society and if his or her sentence is purely punitive in nature, the offender is likely to reoffend. Therefore, violators should not merely be punished for their misdeeds.

Rehabilitation is a better alternative. In this regard, while serving his or her sentence, the offender should be rehabilitated in terms of involvement in programs or classes that are calculated to prepare the offender for re-entry into society so that he or she are equipped to be responsible members of society. Rehabilitation may not be accepted by society and victims of crime. This may give the victim and society the impression that the offender, despite committing crimes, is given preferential treatment by the criminal justice system. Therefore, restorative justice is perhaps the better option as it can achieve the aims of crime control to the satisfaction of victims and society. In other words, restorative justice can both rehabilitate the offender and leave society and victims feeling as though the offender received his or her just desserts and can re-enter society with a lower risk of re-offending. Through restorative justice, the offender is not only punished through some form of sentence, but the offender also makes amends and reparations with regards to the victim. Ideally, restorative justice requires an apology from the offender, and demonstrative remorse through restitution, where possible. Thus, given the lower risk of re-offending through restorative justice, offenders should not merely be punished, but should be prepared for reintroduction into society.

Chapter 3:

Part 1: Characteristics of a psychopath/sociopath

The psychopath/sociopath is described as an individual who is ‘dangerous, aggressive, antisocial individuals who act in a callous manner’ (Siegel & Worral, 2012 p.101). The psychopath/ sociopath will make the same mistake over and over again simply because such a person learns nothing of value from mistakes and are prone to ignore consequences. This is because although the psychopath, sociopath is fairly intelligent, he or she are unemotional, do not have empathy for others and do not fall victim to bouts of anxiety. Psychopaths/sociopaths are more likely to abuse drugs and/or alcohol. Violent criminals usually have psychopathic traits including impulsiveness, ‘aggression, dishonesty, pathological lying, and lack of remorse,’ (Siegel & Worral, 2012, p. 102). There is a correlation between serial killing, repetitive offending and psychopathy. For example, repetitive offenders such as serial rapists have been found to exhibit psychopathy traits.

Part 2: Should victims ever be blamed for their victimization?

Victim precipitation theory suggests that victims are partially responsible for their victimization in that they do or say things that provoke criminal behavior toward them. One example might be a scenario in which the victim drives to a store and leaves the car unlocked. In such a case, the car is stolen. However, while the victim might have reasonably foreseen the danger of leaving the car unlocked, the victim should not be blamed for his or her own victimization as he or she is at liberty to decide whether or not she or she wants to leave the car unlocked. It is the criminal’s act, and his or her act alone that is criminal and therefore, the victim should never be blamed for his or her own victimization.

Chapter 4: Entrapment Defence Case Study

Notthingham City Council v Mohammed Amin [1999] 1 WLR 1071

The defendant was a taxi driver who was suspected of driving his taxi in an area of Nottingham for which he was not licensed. In order to test this suspicion, two plain clothes police officers hailed the taxi down and asked the defendant to take them to the destination outside of his licensed area. The defendant, whose English was not fluent, accepted the offer and agreed. The two police officers then entered the vehicle and the defendant drove the officers to their destination. Once the taxi arrived at the destination, the officers paid the defendant the prescribed fare. The defendant was charged with operating a taxi without a proper license in the area. The defendant raised the defence of entrapment, claiming that the officers were agents provocateurs.

Chapter 5:

Part 1: There is concern that history may be repeating itself in policing due to increased reliance on civilian volunteers and privatization. Is this a cause for concern?

The increase in crime and the sophistication of criminal conduct, especially with improvements in technology has made it necessary for police to improve and increase its resources for detecting, preventing and solving crimes. With lower budgets and limited assets, police officers are forced to put their best resources in the most urgent crimes and areas. As a result, the police are unable to follow all crimes or suspicious of crime as closely as they need to. Therefore, the use of civilian volunteers and privatization helps police to collect and analyze evidence, detect, prevent and solve crimes while they put their resources to use in the more urgent crimes and areas. Therefore, the only concern is that police may be inundated due to the rise in criminal activity and the improved sophistication of criminals. At the same time, the use of civilian volunteers and privatization informs us that crime is being watched, detected, prevented and solved despite its increase.

Part 2: Private police outnumber public by a factor of three to one. Is this beneficial or harmful?

With private police outnumbering public police by three to one, there is an immediate cause for concern. This indicates that the public police are either incompetent or underpaid, or is for some other reason, not an appealing or attainable or sustainable career. Regardless this is not harmful because, for whatever reason there are not enough police employed in the public sector, the use of private police indicate that the rule of law is still upheld. This is beneficial in that it indicates that crime is being fought regardless of the fact that the public police officers fall far short of the required numbers for combatting crime.

Chapter 6:

Part 1: Do the disadvantages of proactive policing outweigh the advantages?? Explain.

The primary and most important disadvantage of proactive policing is the fear that it creates among citizens who may see proactive policing as an indication of danger. In addition, it is also feared that proactive policing creates antagonism on the part of citizens toward police and this is detrimental to police work since citizen cooperation is necessary for detecting, preventing and prosecuting crimes. However, the reality is, evidence shows that proactive policing does in fact deter crimes as police presence does scare off would-be criminals. Moreover, police can be trained to use tactics that improve relationships with citizens. Therefore, the disadvantages of proactive policing do not outweigh the advantages.

Part 2: Can the police and the community ever form a partnership to fight crime?? Why or why not?? Does the community policing model remind you of early forms of policing?? Explain.

It is entirely possible for the police and the community to form a partnership for the purpose of fighting crime. In order for this to happen, police have to develop a relationship of trust and loyalty with the community. For example, mere visibility is not enough to develop trust and loyalty. This may give individuals in minority areas the impression that they are unfairly targeted by the police. However, if the policy through community policy model interact with citizens, inquiring of their wellbeing and not merely communicating with them when they are investigating a crime, this will improve loyalty and trust. The community policing model seeks to take the police officer out of the patrol car and into more intimate contact with the community. This reminds me of the early forms of policing where the officer was observed walking the beat at night.

Part 3: What are the relationships among community policing, problem-oriented policing, and intelligence-led policing? Are they similar or fundamentally different?

Community policing, problem-oriented policing and intelligence-led policing are all related in that they require close contact with the community and in some degree, empowers the community in crime fighting initiatives. Community policing is based on a partnership between the police and the community and this requires community cooperation and participation. Problem-oriented policing is based on the policy identifying and dealing with the root causes of crime within the community. Intelligence-led policing requires the collection of information on offenders and this also requires community cooperation. However, these policing models are also different in that community policing requires a consistent and ongoing partnership and relationship between the community and the police. Problem-oriented policing does not require whole community involvement as with community policing. Police need only target those areas and individuals where problems have been identified. Intelligence-led policing shares very little in common with community policing and problem-oriented policing outside of its need for community cooperation. Intelligence-led policing is more analytical in that the information is collected and the focus is on the subsequent analysis.

Chapter 7: Managing Stress: Police Officers

Do not work in excess of 12 hours each day.

Take the most stressful part of your work day first and move toward less stressful tasks.

Shift from crime scenes to regular work tasks where it is possible to do so.

Take advantage of counseling opportunities at work.

When visiting a crime scene, drink lots of water and eat fruit, energy and whole grain snacks.

Take as many short breaks as possible from a crime scene.

Express your feelings, through communication and through rituals such as memorials and symbols.

Reach out to family and friends as often as possible.

When off duty, rest, relax and do other things that help you to protect your physical and mental health.