Examine and discuss the nature of hate crime and to what extent the police can effectively respond to it.
Examine and discuss the nature of hate crime and to what extent the police can effectively respond to it. The elimination of hate crime and hate incidents is discussed by the Home office and police stations all around the UK. Hate crime is any crime that the offender commits against a person or their property because the offender hates their gender, religion, disability, race or sexual orientation. Nevertheless, it is not essential that a victim of hate crime belongs to a minority group. A hate crime is any crime that is perceived by the victim or any other person to be the outcome of the offender's hate or prejudice against certain people. Similarly a hate incident, which might or might not be considered as criminal offence, is any incident viewed by the victim or any other person as a result of the offender's hate and/or prejudice. As hate crime can be classified a diverse range of behaviours including verbal abuse, racist graffiti, abusive gestures, damage to property, offensive letters and leaflets, arson, neighbour disputes, physical assault. The police will classify a crime as a hate crime if the victim of crime, or a witness, or a parent, or a carer or a person concerned perceives it as being a hate crime. This essay discusses what hate crime is and how the police address it providing information about hate crime from different areas of the UK. A publication of the
An investigation into the extent of homophobic hate crime and the leaders involved in tackling the problem in Manchester
Part One: MLP Report Title: 'An investigation into the extent of homophobic hate crime and the leaders involved in tackling the problem in Manchester' Introduction: Homophobic hate crime occurs when animosity is expressed toward another individual because of their sexual orientation, which results in verbal insults, assault, murder or even robbery. (Homophobic Hare Crime 2008) What is the current problem? / What needs to change? There has been frequent debate surrounding the question as to whether progress has been made regarding the reduction of homophobic hate crime. Positive action has been taken since the sixties when homosexuality was illegal, resulting in Section 146 of the Criminal Justice Act now requiring a court to look upon homosexuality as a motivating factor when determining the severity of an offence. (Stonewall 2010) However, it is imperative to also acknowledge that offending in relation to homophobia is not considered a specific offence in isolation, whereas an offence motivated by racism is. This indubitably highlights the imbalance of treatment that victims of homophobic crime experience. (Stonewall 2010) In addition to this, albeit politicians of today such as Ed Milliband who advocate the acceptance of homosexuality, others continue to contest this. For example, Melanie Philips, a British Journalist and Author has recently stated in tabloid news,
Forensic Science. The first role of the ballistic expert is to ensure that the weapons are safe to handle, this would involve the removal of any magazines, rounds in the chamber, or the breach and on automatic weapons, change the fire selector to single r
Further Forensic Science Ballistics and Drugs In a fatal shooting, three shots were fired, two from one gun and a single shot from another gun, only one bullet wounded the deceased and it passed right through the victim. All three spent cases, bullets and the two guns were recovered from the scene. The first role of the ballistic expert is to ensure that the weapons are safe to handle, this would involve the removal of any magazines, rounds in the chamber, or the breach and on automatic weapons, change the fire selector to single round. The ballistics expert can then establish the make and model of the weapon found. This is often done with the help of NABIS (the National Ballistics Intelligence Service). The weapons and the cartridge cases will be dusted for fingerprints; this is done before any analysis of the weapon to prevent degradation of the quality of the fingerprint. The weapon will also be swabbed for gunshot residue at the same time. The calibre of the weapon can be identified as this could eliminate which cartridges and rounds came from the weapon. A control round is required, this is gained by firing a bullet into a shooting tank full of water, this retards the bullet reducing the amount of damage to it, it is then recovered and striations can be compared using a comparison microscope with the rounds recovered from the scene. The striations are created by
Is the uncertainty about the deterrent effects of capital punishment an important factor to consider and is this adequately addressed by the theories you have chosen?
Punishment 2007 (Take home exam) Can capital punishment be justified? Outline a response to this question based upon at least two philosophical theories outlined by Cavadino and Dignan or in your lecture notes. Is the uncertainty about the deterrent effects of capital punishment an important factor to consider and is this adequately addressed by the theories you have chosen? Murder is the unlawful killing of another human being with an intentional or criminal intent as defined in section 18 of the Crimes Act 1900 (Austlii 2007: Crimes Act 1900). In modern society, atrocious crimes are being committed daily and many believe that those who commit them deserve one fate: death. Capital punishment, the death penalty, is the maximum sentence used in punishing people who kill another human being - and is a very controversial method of punishment. Australia has signed the Second Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which commits Australia to the eradication of the death penalty (Barry 1968). Furthermore, the Death Penalty Abolition Act (1973) of the Commonwealth provides the legislative foundation for its obliteration, with Section 4 stating 'A person is not liable to the punishment of death for any offence'. However, is this form of punishment justifiable? (Austlii 2007: Death Penalty Abolition Act 1973). Having this national and
Durkheim view of Crime
For durkheim crime engages a functional role in the social structure, having an immense impact upon the strain theory in portraying a very critical and influential analysis on crime and the explanations of it. Durkheims work significantly influenced the Strain theory in that he illustrated the relationship between social structures, cultural context and individual action and linked it back to individualism and criminality within the social dimension (Henry,S Mark M Lanier (2004) Essential Criminology). Durkheims influence on the strain theory has been extremely broad in criminology and sociology, in that his view that social forces caused crime was extremely radical at the time (Robert K Merton (1949) Social theory and social structure). Emile durkheim's work not only influenced the strain theory but also influenced the Chicago school significantly. His thoughts influenced many, in an attempt to explain the reasons and explanations of criminality; he revealed the idea of the many blocked opportunities faced by individuals within the urbanized environment and nature of crime. (Lecture5:http://elearning.uws.edu.au/400681_2005_spr/Lecture%20five.doc). Durkheim focused on the zone in transition and the disorganisation within such an environment in an effort to explain why there was such disorganisation and conflict within. Furthermore, Durkheim's idea of the destructiveness of
What do the police do and how effectively do they do it?
What do the police do and how effectively do they do it? The first police force in Britain was established at Bow Street, London, in the early eighteenth century. The Metropolitan Police Force was founded in 1829 by Sir Robert Peel, Home Secretary, 'to check a state of rampant criminality almost unbelievable to the modern mind'1. The police are people sanctioned by the state with powers to enforce the law and keep the peace this is achieved in an environment constrained by values of civil rights, individualism and respect for the rule of law. However, Reiner (2000) points there is a difference between 'this intuitive notion of what the police are and what policing and police actually involve.' One can argue efficient and effective policing in a democratic society is ultimately a balancing act, which is portrayed in the different aspect of policing running from a police constable to a CID officer. Nonetheless, the core role of the police is something that has been a subject of on-going controversy. This essay shall discuss the different roles police take on in society ranging from the duties of a uniformed officer to a CID officer; this essay shall also discuss the role of female offices in the police force. Finally, the essay shall argue how effectively the police carry out their duties by looking at certain crime cases scenarios showing injustice etc and by looking at the
Examine the contribution of feminism to contemporary criminology
Examine the contribution of feminism to contemporary criminology Introduction Feminist criminology has stood the test of time, from its development in the 1970s it has become an acknowledged field of criminology. This is all due to women believing that the deviance bestowed upon them was worth studying academically. This has lead to contemporary feminist criminologists who have contributed hugely to the modern understanding of women as victims, offenders and of their practice of the justice system. To start this essay I will first address briefly the various different feminist perspectives which are liberal feminism, Marxist feminism, socialist feminism, Existential feminism, Psychoanalytical feminism, post modern feminism and finally Black feminism. After discussing these I will briefly discuss the background of the second wave of feminism and third wave of feminism because feminist criminology developed on the back drop of these and so I will discuss why feminist criminology originally came about and what drove feminists to get involved in criminology. Then I will discuss the contemporary feminist approaches to criminology which will include Women and crime how gender can affect crime and then women and the prison system how inequalities in the system were highlighted and also how women and the criminal justice system are sentenced. And then finally I will discuss how
To what extent to physiological factors explain why people become criminals?
To what extent to physiological factors explain why people become criminals? In this essay the extent to which physiological factors influence peoples behaviour, and primarily whether or not they will become criminals, will be discussed. This area is greatly influential within the nature/nurture debate, which is a core debate in psychology, as it looks at whether behaviour is influenced by genetics more than by the environment or whether it is the other way around. This essay will look at what effect different genetic influences can do to a person. It is also important to point out that the discussion will focus on physiological (or biological) factors of the body and not at mental aspects of the brain. It will look at issues including inherited characteristics and twins. The first item that would be looked at when discussing physiological factors is a persons genetic factors. The first person to look at why criminals are criminals was Lambroso (1876) and he thought the origins of criminality were gene based. Schafer (1976) credited Lombroso as the father of criminality as he was the first person to really look into the reasons for being a criminal. He thought that certain criminals could be identified by body shape and facial characteristics, for instance he thought that all sex offenders had big lips and protruding ears. He originally suggested that criminals were "born
Outline some of the most important critiques of 'Malestream' criminology.
Outline some of the most important critiques of 'Malestream' criminology: By Phil Timmes Criminology is defined by Nigel Walker as "a generic name for a group of closely allied subjects: the study and explanation of lawbreaking; formal and informal ways in which societies deal with it; and the nature and needs of its victims." ( Outhwaite & Bottomore 1994) To apply a feminist model that encompasses all the aspects listed here has been achieved to the extent that female writers have addressed each section of criminology as defined by Walker. From the late 1960s onwards, there has been a growing number of research on women & crime, while acknowledging the very important research that has been undertaken in this area, this essay will argue that mainstream criminology has continued to be 'malestream'. Women do not represent a large proportion of the total of offenders involved with the criminal justice system has been well documented over the years (Heidensohn 1985; Williams 1991; Lombroso 1968). In 1993, there were 1,560 women in custody in England and Wales compared to 43,005 men, a proportion of about 4%. Eaton maintains that because "the majority of women are never involved, personally, with the formal agents of law enforcement." (Eaton 1986) together with the small numbers of women who do become involved with the criminal justice system, has led to the study of women
This essay aims to answer whether or not Honour killings are being condoned by the state and also the society. This essay will also look at different definitions of the meaning of 'honour killing in the UK and Pakistan
Are 'Honour Killings' considered immoral or wrong in a tolerant way, without being criticized by the state and society? Compare your evidence with Pakistan's Honour killings situation. This essay aims to answer whether or not Honour killings are being condoned by the state and also the society. This essay will also look at different definitions of the meaning of 'honour killing' in the UK and Pakistan ; it will then go on to establish the major points which are taken into account as to why honour killings take place and also to what extent do these honour crimes occur. In order to answer the question accurately, the essay will go on to expand on the accurate statistics of the honour crime rate and take a wider look at whether it is increasing or decreasing. The main body and the focal point of the essay is to see what sort of effect does the state has on these crimes and what the state is doing to protect the mishap happening in society. The essay will also go on to develop its argument on whether the UK state has severed the punishment or whether it isn't given that much of an importance today. Different data will be measured and compared with the situation in Pakistan to give a realistic view of the occurring of these homicides. It will go on to reveal various different points when comparing the statistics rate of United Kingdom honour crimes with Pakistan honour crime in