Journal #5

• List 3 issues dealing with crime that we have in America today.

• What can we do about those issues?

Chapter 7: Crime in America

The Nature of Crimes

• Crime: something one does or fails to do that is in violation of a law

• Crime rates are influenced by location, age, and gender.

• Problem 7.1 (p75)

Crime Rates• Crime rates are higher in urban than

suburban areas• Crime rates are higher in suburban areas

than rural areas• People ages 15-24 commit more violent

crimes than any other group• Males commit almost 4 times more crimes

than females• Problem 7.2 (p76)

Crime is Expensive!

• Crime costs YOU money! • The government spends about $150 billion

dollars a year on crime• Each family pays $1500 a year in taxes

relating to crime• The US has the highest incarceration rate of

any industrialized nation

What Causes Crime?• Poverty• Permissive courts• Unemployment• Lack of education• Abuse of drugs and alcohol• Inadequate police protection• Lack of parental guidance• Breakdown of morals• Ineffective correctional system• Little chance of being caught or punished• Influence of tv, films, and music

Crime on Campus• In 2001 there were nearly 2

million incidents of property and violent crime at school

• 10% of male high school students reported carrying a gun to school at least once in a 30 day period

• 30% of students reported drugs were available to them at school

• Thurston High School• Problem 7.5 (p 81)

Gangs and Crime

• A combination of drugs and guns has led to an increase in gang violence

• Gangs: People who form groups closed to the general public

• Gangs use symbols, colors, emblems, phrases, and clothing to ID themselves

• There is usually an initiation ritual or test as well as a similar rite to get out of the gang…if this is an option

• Usually proves that you are not afraid to commit crimes and deal drugs

Who Joins Gangs and Why?• Mostly males but the number of females is

increasing– Poverty– School failure– Substance abuse– Family dysfunction– Domestic and community violence– Sense of belonging– Peer pressure– Financial gain/fame

How can the gang problem be solved?

• Community intervention/non gang activities• Increase awareness• Work with police to create anti-gang

programs• Increase prosecution of gang members• Neighborhood watch groups• Gangs in Portland

Guns and the Law

• Government Control v. Constitutional Rights

• Right for states to maintain a militia v. protection against government bans on firearms

Gun Control Act of 1968 (passed after deaths of JFK and MLK)

• Prohibits certain persons-such as convicted felons, minors, and illegal aliens- from buying and possessing weapons

• Requires serial numbers on all guns and establishes a licensing fee schedule for firearms manufacturers, importers, and dealers

• Prohibits the mail-order sale of all firearms and ammunitions

• Prohibits the interstate sale of handguns• Sets penalties for carrying and using firearms in violent

crimes • Sets guidelines for certain firearm purchases

Gun Control• Brady Act: (named for James Brady who was shot

and paralyzed by a bullet intended for Reagan)– creates a system to instantly check the background of

persons who want to buy guns• In 2001 8 million applications for guns were

processed…151,000 were rejected• Should citizens be allowed to carry a concealed

weapon?• More Guns Less Crime?• Problem 7.7 (p87)

Substance Abuse and Crime• Substance Abuse: the harmful, overuse of

chemical, like drugs or alcohol• Can cause…

– breakup of families– decreased productivity– injuries in the workplace– automobile crashes– criminal activity

Alcohol• The most widely used substance in the US

(because its socially acceptable)• In some countries it’s a criminal offense to

drink (Saudi Arabia)• Alcohol abuse was a factor in 35% of

violent crimes in the US in 2001

Drunk Driving• Operation of a motor vehicle while

intoxicated, driving while intoxicated, driving under the influence

• Measured by a persons Blood Alcohol Concentration

• OR BAC is .08g/dl

Penalties for Driving under the Influence:

• monetary fine• enrollment in DWI school• community service• license suspended• license revoked• jail sentence

DUI/DWI

• Implied Consent: the driver agrees to submit to a BAC test in exchange for the privilege of driving.

• Refusal to take the test could result in immediate and automatic suspension of the driver’s license for a certain period, even if the driver is not found guilty of DWI

Drugs• Illegal drug industry has led to a

dramatic increase in criminal activity• This has placed a huge burden on the

criminal justice system because so many people ware arrested for selling or possessing drugs

*50-75% of people arrested test positive for drugs at the time of their arrest

Controlled Substance Act• Most states and the federal government have

repeat-offender laws• Recidivist: Repeat Offender• Three Strikes Rule: not cruel and unusual

punishment, after three felony charges the criminal is locked up for life without parole

Legalize or Not to Legalize?• Many people believe the US would be better able

to control the sale and use of drugs if the laws changed from drug prohibition to drug regulation.

• Some favor legalizing certain drugs for medicinal purposes

• Others believe that legalizing drugs would lead to greater drug use, cause more deaths, and increase other drug-related problems

• Legalization would send a message of acceptance• To legalize or not to legalize, that is the question...• Problem 7.12 (p94)

Victims of Crime

• Teens and young adults are more likely to be victims of crime than any other age group.

• Males are more likely to be victims of violent crimes than females

• Members of minority groups, urban dwellers, and those who rent their homes are more likely to be victims of crime than white, nonurban, and property owners.

• Restitution: requiring criminals to pay back or compensate the victims of their crimes

• Advocacy groups help victims of crimes– Ex: Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD)