Crime and Criminal Justice 3/20/2012

Learning Objectives Use knowledge and analyses of social problems to evaluate public policy, and to suggest policy alternatives, with special reference to questions of social justice, the common good, and public and individual responsibility. Critically analyze social problems by identifying value perspectives and applying concepts of sociology, political science, and economics;

Opportunities to discuss course content Today-11-2 Monday 10-2

About Paper 2 What it Contains – Revised Paper I paper – A critical analysis and a moral analysis of the Controversial Policy Solution 9-11 TOTAL Pages- 15 Works Cited Due in class on 4/12 Rubric

WHO COMMITS CRMES?

Who commits Crime Age Opportunity Economics

Victims of Crime- Age

Victims of Crime: Race

Hate Crimes Must show that crime is bias motivated. There has to be an actual crime committed Hurt Feelings are not protected under Hate Crime legislation

CRIME AND THE COURTS The Judicial Process

The Bill of Rights Provides Basic Criminal Protections ½ of all felonies are dismissed Unreasonable search and seizures Self Incrimination Exclusionary Rule

So you have been arrested step 1 Read your rights Booked Meet with a lawyerlawyer

Arrested Part 2 Taken before a judge before trial – Bail – Who is denied Bail? – Recognizance

Arraignment The charges are read against you Plea of guilty or not guilty m/watch?v=xsKZiIX- ij0&NR=1 m/watch?v=xsKZiIX- ij0&NR=1

Plea bargaining 90% of cases are plea bargained Cuts down on costs and system overload Critics argue that it disadvantages the poor

Sentencing Duty of the judge to decide who gets what States differ in maximum and minimums This has lead to an increase in incarceration

Where you go Probation Jails- run by county or city Prisons- usually run by state for sentences of 1 year or more Federal Prisons Federal

The Growth of the Prison Population

Incarceration/ Supervison

Race and Ethnicity

Incarceration Rates 750 Americans per 100,000 1 in 30 between 20 and 34 1 in 5 black males 1 in 36 Hispanic Males 1 in 99 adults were in prison or jails

The Growth in the Prison Population It has increased by 4x since 1975 Why the Increase?

More Arrests

Likely To Go To Jail

Tough On Violent Crime

Drug Arrests

Probation and Prison

Prison Overcrowding Locking people up leads to crowded Prisons Why is this a problem?

Goals of corrections Incapacitation Restitution

Goals of Corrections Part 2 Deterrence Rehabilitation

Costs of Corrections How much do we spend – 6.8% of state budgets – $49 Billion nationwide – 3.3. Billion in Texas Why so Costly?

Who is Spending

Costs

The Problem of Recidivism The Repeat of an Offense 2/3-3/4 are RecidivistsRecidivists – Parole, Probation and Rehabilitation do not seem to work.

What can We do? Broad Social Reform More Money for Rehabilitation These are unlikely

Legalizing/Decriminalizing Victimless Crimes Minor Drug offenses It sends a message that society tolerates and supports such activities

Alternatives to prisons Current system is very expensive More unconditional releases More House arrests

Make people less of a target Better home/personal security Decrease environmental opportunities. – More camerascameras – More Police – More lights