Crime
Learning Objectives Accurately describe the social, economic, and political dimension of major problems and dilemmas facing contemporary American society; 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.
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 8/4 Rubric
About Paper 2 You must submit two copies – in class on the day and time they are due – submitted to turnitin.com via Blackboard by 11:59 PM on the Day they are due. I grade the hard copy, and if this is late, you receive a grade of zero for that assignment
Crime
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
Meeting with the lawyer
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
Arraignment 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
Health Care
Is it a Constitutional Right No – Not Mentioned in the Constitution – Not wanted by the States – It therefore belongs to the people Yes- Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA 2010)
Health Care Has Multiple Goals Being Healthy Living a Long Life Having Good Medical Care Making sure Everyone has this These goals make policy difficult
How Much do We Spend 2.6 Trillion Dollars 8000 Per person
Percent of GDP
A Hybrid System of Public and Private 46% is paid for by the government The Rest is from employers, and individuals
Where the Money Comes From
What the Government Covers Medicaid Medicare SCHIP Veterans Administration Government Employees
Medicaid Health Care as Welfare Single Largest Welfare program for the poor Fraught with problems
Medicare Health Care for Seniors How it worksworks
Medicare Non-Means Tested Increasingly Expensive Fraught with Problems
SCHIP Health Care for Children on the Bubble Increasingly Expensive
Private Insurance Fee For Service Managed Care- 90% of all private insurance
Terms of Health Care Premium Deductable Copayment
How We Get our Health Care
Strengths of the System Best Doctors and Hospitals Most Advanced Treatment Most Research and Development People with Health Care are satisfied With it.
The Problems of the System Access Cost Quality
The Problem of Access
Not 50 Million Americans But 50 million in America
The Problem of Access
Why People do not have insurance Health Care is historically been a private choice Health Care is an opportunity cost
Options for the Uninsured E.R. Self Medicate Do Nothing
Problem 2 Quality Quality is maldistributed We focus on sickness, not health We are overspecialized
Problem 3: Cost Outpacing Inflation Why
Cost- Technology MRI’s Bypass surgery Fake Knees and Hips These help us live longer
Cost- Labor 5.5 People per patient Jobs that require skill and education Recession Proof
Cost- Malpractice Actually not the suits themselves Defensive medicine High Insurance- just in calse
Cost- Greedy people We want to get our benefits back We do not realize the actual costs A “Tragedy of the Commons”
Cost- An Older Population Our last years of life consume much of our health care dollar We are living longer and there are more of us More Care means more $
Cost and Prescription Drugs Average cost is $ in 10 Seniors use a drug Direct to Consumer Ads