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STREET LAW UNIT 2: Criminal Law & Juvenile Justice Chapter 7
Crime in America STREET LAW
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A crime is the violation of a law established to protect people & maintain an orderly society
People everywhere are affected by crime; however, certain factors such as age, gender, & location influence the likelihood of becoming a victim of crime Criminals in the U.S. wear many faces, from the teen who steals DVD’s from the electronics store to the career thief planning an armed bank robbery
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Authorities disagree over the causes of crime & what can be done about it
argue poverty, unemployment, lack of education, drug & alcohol abuse, & inadequate police protection are to blame Some people believe that working to end these problems would lead to a decrease in crime rates
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Gangs & gang activity also contribute to the problem of crime
Experts agree that combating the problems of gangs & crime begins with outreach & intervention programs to prevent gang involvement
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The Nature of Crimes A crime is something that a person does or fails to do that violates the law The government establishes penalties for such behavior Crime rates are influenced by many factors, although many people disagree about the causes of crime & the best solutions to the problem
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In recent years, crime on high school & college campuses has become a serious problem
Hate crimes, violent assaults, property crime College Campus Crime Rate Increases [1:48] Violent crimes are up on college campuses in Tennessee [1:01] College Safety – National Campus Safety Awareness Month [3:51] Crime is costly—in addition to the loss of life & property, it costs the government a great amount of money to prevent, investigate, & prosecute crime
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FBI Uniform Crime Reports Crime Clock reports the frequency of crimes
Crime Trends, Crime Clock reports the frequency of crimes Crime Index totals of violent crimes & property crimes
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NCCD The National Council on Crime & Delinquency recommends alternatives to incarceration as one strategy for reducing crime Build safer communities with attention to safer schools, after-school programs, community policing, and prevention of domestic violence and child abuse Reduce costs and improve fairness of criminal justice system Develop cost-effective alternatives to incarceration, reserving prison sentences for those who cannot be safely treated in community- based programs Create effective drug-control policies Reduce funds spent on catching drug sellers and users, expand funding for drug treatment and job training, and repeal laws requiring mandatory prison sentences for drug possession
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Gangs & Crime Gangs are active in towns & cities of all sizes throughout the country Seattle Hoods East Tacoma Gang Graffiti Gangs expose their members & their communities to extreme violence & danger Many youths join gangs because gangs offer a sense of belonging & an opportunity to earn money Beyond the Shadows: Crime in Yakima
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Most people agree that a promising strategy to discourage gang membership is to provide young people with opportunities & community connections that will offer them a greater sense of belonging
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First 3 of Accused Crips Gang Members Sentenced
Gang Risk Factors Poverty School Failure Substance Abuse Family Dysfunction Domestic Violence Community Violence Poor Self-Esteem Little Adult Participation Problem 7.6 – page 84 First 3 of Accused Crips Gang Members Sentenced
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Guns & the Law Most Americans who own firearms own them legally & use them lawfully However, guns are often used in violent crimes
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Experience in the U.S. Prior to the U.S. Constitution
Early English settlers in America viewed the right to arms and/or the right to bear arms and/or state militias as important for one or more of these purposes (in no particular order) enabling the people to organize a militia system participating in law enforcement deterring tyrannical government repelling invasion suppressing insurrection, allegedly including slave revolts facilitating a natural right of self-defense
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The 2nd Amendment 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
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Many people disagree about the government's role in controlling gun ownership
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The U.S. Supreme Court In the twenty-first century, the amendment has been subjected to renewed academic inquiry and judicial interest In District of Columbia v. Heller (2008), the Supreme court handed down a landmark decision that held expressly that the amendment protects an individual right to possess & carry firearms In McDonald v. Chicago (2010), the Court clarified its earlier decisions limiting the amendment's impact to a restriction on the federal government & expressly found that it limits state & local governments to the same extent that it limits the federal government
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Does the Second Amendment protect the right of individuals to own guns?
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Or . . . Does the Second Amendment give the states power to maintain a militia but does not entitle individuals to own guns?
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The U.S. Supreme Court has interpreted the Second Amendment to mean that the state has the right to maintain a militia
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Understanding the 2nd Amendment The Supreme Court &
The Politics of Gun Control [7:37]
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The Federal Gun Control Act of 1968 is the primary federal gun-control law
Congress amended this law in 1993 by enacting the Brady Act Established national system to check backgrounds of persons before selling guns to them Gun laws have also been enacted at the state & local levels
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For Your Information – page 86
Problem 7.7 – page 87
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Problem 7.8 – page 88 Law in Action: Child Access Prevention (CAP) Laws
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Substance Abuse & Crime
Abuse of alcohol & drugs (substance abuse) contributes to many social problems & often leads to other criminal activity Although many adults use alcohol responsibly, alcohol abuse can be very harmful to society Implied Consent Law: the driver agrees to submit to a BAC test in exchange for the privilege of driving WA – DUI Arrest Information & Advice
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Is the best way to handle the drug problem to legalize some or all drugs?
Would legalization allow the government to better regulate drugs & eliminate the problems that are associated with illegal distribution of drugs?
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Problem 7.10 – page 92 Law in Action: Drug Courts
Offer treatment instead of punishment for individuals who commit crimes & have problems with controlled substances Problem 7.11 – page 93 Problem 7.12 – page 94 Law in Action: Drugs in the City
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Victims of Crime Every person is at risk to be a victim of crime
However, teens & young adults are more likely than any other age groups to be victims In 2011, 9,878 people were killed and approximately 315,000 were injured Each crash, each death, each injury impacts not only the person in the crash, but family, friends, classmates, coworkers and more Even those who have not been directly touched help pay the $132 billion yearly price tag of drunk driving But together we can eliminate drunk driving [MADD]
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Victim advocacy groups [MADD] work to protect victims by promoting the concerns & rights of victims
Victims are not a party to the criminal case & their rights & needs are too often ignored
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Problem 7.13 – page 96 Figure 7.3: Violent Crime Rates
Law in Action: Victim’s Rights: Megan’s Law as Advocacy Passed as a result of victim’s advocacy groups Requires the registration of all convicted sex offenders in a community
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Dateline: To Catch a Predator
FOX News: PA - Local Law International Megan’s Law Proposal
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Recidivist (Repeat Offender) Law
Require long sentences—including sentences of life in prison w/o parole—for persons who are repeatedly convicted of the same crime, even relatively minor ones
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Preventing & Reporting Crime
You can help fight crime by learning how to protect yourself Also, reporting crime can help to prevent others from being victims There are many organizations & programs that exist to assist victims of crime & prevent future crime
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Ex Post Facto An ex post facto law (from the Latin for "from after the action") or retroactive law is a law that retroactively changes the legal consequences (or status) of actions committed or relationships that existed prior to the enactment of the law – In reference to criminal law, it may criminalize actions that were legal when committed; or aggravate a crime by bringing it into a more severe category than it was in at the time it was committed; or change or increase the punishment prescribed for a crime, such as by adding new penalties or extending terms; or alter the rules of evidence in order to make conviction for a crime more likely than it would have been at the time of the action for which a defendant is prosecuted Conversely, a form of ex post facto law commonly known as an amnesty law may decriminalize certain acts or alleviate possible punishments Example: replacing the death sentence with lifelong imprisonment) retroactively
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