Crime

Crime And Deterrence For Deterrence to work, threats must be made credible –The GodfatherGodfather –Certain –Swift –Severe If Benefits from Crime outweigh the costs, we have crime

The Police and Deterrence Community Policing Broken Window Theory

Guns and Gun Laws 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. 30,000 gun deaths per year

Federal Gun Laws Bans on interstate commerce involving guns The Brady Law The Impact of Gun Laws

The Courts and Guns U.S. vs Miller (1939) DC vs Heller (2008)

Who are our criminals Men- the biggest predictor of whether someone commits a crime Age Economics

Who commits Crime Race Location Most WantedWanted

Who are the Victims Race Plays a role Gender Plays a role

Race and Victimization

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

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

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 Jails- run by county or city Prisons- usually run by state for sentences of 1 year or more Federal PrisonsFederal

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?

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

Probation and Prison

Race and Ethnicity

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?

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.

The Growth of the Prison Population

Drug Arrests

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 More cameras Decrease environmental opportunities.

Links to More Info Pew Center on the StatesStates University of MichiganMichigan

Health Care

Is it a Legal Right No –Not Mentioned in the Constitution –Not wanted by the States –It therefore belongs to the people

How Much do We Spend 2.2 Trillion Dollars 8000 Per person 16.2% of the 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

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

It is not “46 Million Americans”, but 46 Million in America

The Problem of Access

Why People do not have insurance Who are they?they 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