Punishment Of Offenders Essays - Sentencing, Criminal Justice

Punishment Of Offenders According to the Bureau of Justice Statistics, in the year 1980 we had approximately 501,900 persons incarcerated across the United States. By the year 2000, that figure has jumped to over 2,014,000 prisoners. The current level of incarceration represents the continuation of a 25-year escalation of the nations prison and jail population beginning in 1973. Currently the U.S. rate of 672 per 100,000 is second only to Russia, and represents a level of incarceration that is 6-10 times that of most industrialized nations. The rise in prison population in recent years is particularly remarkable given that crime rates have been falling nationally since 1992. With less crime, one might assume that fewer people would be sentenced to prison. This trend has been overridden by the increasing impact of lengthy mandatory sentencing policies. The proliferation of harsh mandatory sentencing policies has inhibited the ability of courts to sentence offenders in a way that permits a more problem solving approach to crime, as we can see in the most recent community policing and drug court movements today. By eliminating any consideration of the factors contributing to crime and a range of responses, such sentencing policies fail to provide justice for all. Given the cutbacks in prison programming and rates of recidivism, in some cases over 60% or more, the increased use of incarceration in many respects represents a commitment to policies that are both ineffective and unfair. I believe in equal, fair and measured punishment for all. I dont advocate a soft, or a hard approach to punishment. But we must take a more pragmatic look at what the consequences of our actions are when we close our eyes and blindly carry out sentencing which is neither fair, nor warranted, given the circumstances. I would like to address two primary areas in punishing offenders that I believe need attention, Mandatory Minimums and Three Strikes Policies. Our lawmakers must take on these misguided policies, which have thus far been inefficient and ineffective. They must do this in order to curb our rising prison populations and return us to a level playing field of fair punishment for all persons regardless of race, sex, or ethnic background. The mandatory minimum sentencing policies that now exist in every state have been used disproportionately for drug offenders, who now constitute one of every four inmates nationally. Because of the severe and rigid sentencing scheme mandated by the drug laws, low-level drug offenders face years in prison. According to the Bureau of Justice Statistics, of the total population of drug offenders in custody, the average maximum sentence for first time felony offenders convicted of drug related charges range between 87.6 months for Class B felonies to 42.4 months for a Class E felony. These statistics also reveal that one in five of the drug offenders incarcerated had no prior felony convictions. Nearly two-thirds of these drug offenders also were never convicted of a violent felony in the past. What we are dealing with here is non-violent, first time offenders and judges have no choice in most states but to incarcerate them for lengthy periods of time which only places more pressure on our prison systems. As I stated earlier, I have a down the middle approach to punishment, not too hard or not too soft. Stiff prison sentences can be appropriate for addressing violent crimes and protecting our communities. But such sentences are misguided and destructive when it comes to these types of nonviolent drug offenders. Also, according to the Federal Bureau of Prisons they cost the American taxpayer approximately $20,747 per inmate per year. Another bi-product of mandatory sentencing is a disparate impact on non-white offenders. The United States Sentencing Commission and Federal Judicial Center have found that among offenders who engaged in conduct warranting mandatory minimums, white offenders were less likely than blacks or Hispanics to receive the mandatory minimum term. I belie ve there are better alternatives to this policy that can more effectively express our values and accomplish our goals without increasing our prison populations and disparaging minorities. Another sentencing policy that is having a major impact on punishment and its fairness are the so called 3 Strikes Laws that many states have enacted. These

Compare And Contrast Essay Sample

Compare And Contrast Essay SampleIf you are just starting to write your poetry paper, a compare and contrast essay sample can be a great way to get started. You can find this type of essay at a variety of sites, but many of them will have the same structure and writing samples.Instead of going through the process of choosing a main text or topic for your essay, you will have a couple of paragraphs to work with but still be able to go back and forth in your own head between the two. The process is actually quite easy, but here are a few things to keep in mind.A Contrast A poem or prose piece should really focus on one contrast or idea. One of the best things you can do when starting to write an essay is to begin with a contrast. If you are writing a compare and contrast essay sample you should take a look at some examples and see what you think of the two styles of poems and pieces.You may also want to take a look at the main text to see if there is any contrast. In some cases there i s not any main difference, but you can always come up with some methods that work for your own style. For example, if you are going to write about poetry as a literary work, then you may want to write about the type of poetic prose or poetry you tend to enjoy more.Have Something To Write About When working on a compare and contrast writing sample, it helps to start by deciding what to focus on. Usually this will be one main theme or idea that will guide you throughout the entire essay. This may be your personal history, a relationship, or something to do with nature, such as how trees can reflect the sun or what kind of flowers you like.Once you have a theme in mind, it helps to break it down into smaller parts, so that you can look at the different ways that these themes fit into each other. Doing this allows you to decide on a main theme or concept that you can follow throughout the piece.When you are looking at a compare and contrast essay sample, the main goal is to work with a theme or idea so that you can start to see the other sections in relation to it. However, you want to make sure that each of the sections or ideas you include fit well into the theme or concept that you have already decided on.Comparison and Contrast All of the essays available today will have these similarities, which can make them very easy to learn and use. It may take some time to find the proper ones for you, but you should find it helpful to look through a couple before you begin writing your essay. There are some very good options to choose from.