Drug Courts in the United States

Drug Courts in the United States Free Online Research Papers Drug courts in The United States have three main goals which are rehabilitating participants, reducing the use of drugs and reducing recidivism. Drug courts and treatment programs are more effective then the incarceration of nonviolent drug offenders. The use of drug courts are effectively fighting the budget problems that US criminal justice system are experiencing due to the cost of treatment programs compared to the cost of incarceration. Drug courts can be defined as special court calendars or dockets designed to achieve a reduction in recidivism and substance abuse among nonviolent, substance abusing offenders by increasing their likelihood for successful rehabilitation through early, continuous, and intense judicially supervised treatment; mandatory periodic drug testing; and the use of appropriate sanctions and other rehabilitation services (Drug Courts: Overview of Growth, Characteristics, and Results, Government Accountability Office, 1997). Participants for drug courts undergo frequent court appearances, incentives, sanctions, long term treatment and counseling. When treatment programs are successfully completed the participant may get their charges dismissed or reduced. Drug courts not only put legal obligations on drug offenders but the mandatory treatment and counseling they receive grant the participants the necessary tools to rebuild their lives. According to the Bureau of Justice Assistance there were 2,038 fully operating drug courts in The Untied States and 226 that were in the planning stages, as of July 2009. A statistic created by the Bureau of Justice Statistics in 2001 stated that between the years of 1984 and 1999 the number of defendants charged with a drug offense in the Federal courts increased from 11,854 to 29,306. Due to the increase in drug offenses the first drug court was created in1989 in Miami Florida when Judge Herbert M. Klein was troubled by the disabling effects that drug offenses were wreaking the Dade County Courts. Judge Klein became determined to â€Å"solve the problem of large numbers of people on drugs† (Miami’s Drug Court: A Different Approach,1993) Drug Courts across The United States share three primary goals. The first is to reduce recidivism or reduce the revolving door of crime and drugs by providing treatment to drug-addicted criminal offenders. Only 3.3% of participants who completed the treatment programs successfully were rearrested in the first six months after being released compared to the 12.1% of inmates who did not receive treatment. Compared with other offenders, drug court participants have lower recidivism rates, even if they do not finish the program. The second goal is to reduce substance abuse among participants. Drug court participants are less likely to use drugs after completing the treatment programs compared to drug users who are incarcerated and do not participate in treatment programs.20.5% of participants in the drug treatment programs used drugs within six months after being released. 36.7% of drug violators who were incarcerated used drugs within six months of being released. The third goal is to rehabilitate participants by successfully completing the treatment programs. Participants who went through a drug court are 15% less likely to repeat their offences than those who did not go through a specialized drug court. Drug court participants report that interactions with the judge are one of the important influences on the experience they have while in the program. More drug courts are being established to deal with first and second offenders rather than the normal use of the criminal justice system. The motivation has been more of a financial necessity than the need to make America drug free. While analyses on the effectiveness of drug courts are still ongoing, research indicates that drug courts can reduce recidivism and promote other positive outcomes such as saving the country money. Drug treatment programs are less expensive then long term incarceration. In 1998 there were 417,784 drug offenders in federal prison, state prison, and jail. Also in 1998 it was estimated that of the $38 billion were spent on corrections that year more than $30 billion was spent incarcerating individuals who had a history of drug or alcohol abuse, were convicted of drug or alcohol violations, were using drugs or alcohol at the time of their crimes, or had committed their crimes to get money to buy drugs. Drug courts are more cost effective then the standard US courts. Drug courts free up criminal justice recourses to use against violent and other serious criminal offences. On average it cost $5,928 for one person to complete a drug treatment program. It cost more than $20,000 to incarcerate a person for one year. The Average sentence for drug trafficking is 3.5 years, which is a total of $70,000, saving the country $64,072. Drug courts are effectively accomplishing there three primary goals of reducing recidivism, reducing substance abuse among participants and rehabilitate participants, while also saving billions of dollars to be used against serious and violent criminals. In the Spotlight. (2010). Retrieved November 06, 2010 from National Criminal Justice Reference Service: ncjrs.gov. Drug Treatment in the Criminal Justice System. (2008). Retrieved November 04, 2010 from Office of National Drug Control Policy: whitehousedrugpolicy.gov. Drug Court Review. (2010). Retrieved November 01, 2010 from National Drug Court Institution: ndci.org. Drug Courts. (2010). Retrieved November 06, 2010 from Minnesota Judicial Branch: mncourts.gov/. Research Papers on Drug Courts in the United StatesThe Effects of Illegal ImmigrationMoral and Ethical Issues in Hiring New EmployeesThe Relationship Between Delinquency and Drug UsePETSTEL analysis of IndiaCapital PunishmentUnreasonable Searches and SeizuresRelationship between Media Coverage and Social andOpen Architechture a white paperQuebec and CanadaInfluences of Socio-Economic Status of Married Males

Should violent images and language be censored or banned from national Essay

Should violent images and language be censored or banned from national media - Essay Example adays, parents have to sneak into the room every now and then to make sure that their innocent child is protected from the impacts of evil forces trying to reach their child through video games. This may also have a negative impact on the parent-child relationship in which the parent has to spy on the child. This may, for the least, inculcate curiosity in the child’s mind regarding the spying parent. In extreme circumstances, the child may become violent and abuse the parent and force him/her out of the room. Even if all the deleterious effects of incorporating sexuality and violence in the video games are overlooked, the fact that these factors are incorporated into the video games on the cost of their quality can not be ignored. Video game makers that do not have a nice strategy in mind for the plot or theme of the game may still have their product do good business in the market by making the audience attracted towards the violence or sexuality incorporated therein. In this sense, makers of such video games are essentially committing the crime of tarnishing the image of video games in the public’s eye. A vast majority of the proponents of violence and sexuality in video games suggest that access to such games should be allowed after a certain age limit. They emphasize that this is a useful way to prevent the minds of innocent children to go wild before they physically mature up. But this argument is totally flawed. Although it apparently seems an easy way to end the debate, yet anyone with the desire to curtail sexuality and violence in the video games can easily challenge this argument for several reasons. This is because of the fact that age restrictions when placed upon something play a fundamental role in making that thing a social taboo, and taboos often happen to be the biggest adventures for juveniles and adolescents to explore. The idea of placing age restrictions on the violent video games makes them all the more exciting and appealing for the

Personal statement Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 22

Personal Statement Example I am registered for an accounting course and I plan to continue with the area of specialization. My desire for a high-level competence and my long-term passion for accounting motivate my application for the transfer. My uncle, who was a chief accounting officer, inspired my dreams to pursue accounting because of his financial and social success that I desired to have. The stories that he told us about the profession and its associated social status captured my interest into the subject. I have therefore had the passion for accounting and this has contributed to my desire for the transfer, into better qualifications. Completing a four-year program will also offer me a better opportunity for advancing my studies in the field. Reputation that your institution has, its qualified academic staff, its resources for research, and its favorable environment for studies are my main reasons for applying for a transfer to the University. These will help me to complete the program within the stipulated period. My application for a transfer to your institution is based on both intrinsic and extrinsic motivational factors. This guarantees my success in the program, if granted the opportunity, and I look forward to your kind

Critically explore the term postfeminism in relation to any aspect of Essay

Critically explore the term postfeminism in relation to any aspect of contemporary culture in a national context of your choice - Essay Example Others such as Lotz argue that post-feminism is a part of third wave feminism (2001). According to Lotz, post-feminism includes poststructuralism and women-of-colour feminism influenced by poststructuralist, postmodern and postcolonial ideologies. In another representation of post-feminism, Rachel Moseley, a media critic sees post-feminism as a â€Å"re-evaluation of the tension which was often thought to exist between feminism and femininity† (Richardson 2006, p. 163). By this, she implies that post-feminism puts feminity (such as glamour and sexual objectification of women) back into feminist politics that originally are against feminity. 6 Some critics such as Tania Modleski take an opposite stance and argue that post-feminism is in fact discarding the achievements of second wave feminists by â€Å"delivering us back to a prefeminist world† (Richardson 2006, p. 164). Thus, there are paradoxical and opposing representations of the term ‘post-feminism’ and this contradiction is also reflected in the characters played in contemporary media. 6 The first use of the term ‘post-feminism’ was in 1920s press when it stated that feminist activism was not needed any longer and that a post-feminist era had dawned (Lotz 2001). The term’s critical academic use was in the post-second-wave era when it was defined as an emerging ideology and culture which incorporated, depoliticized and revised a large number of fundamental issues put forth by second-wave feminism (Lotz 2001). Faludi later on used the term to state that women no longer cared about feminism (McRobbie 2004). 6 Authors have debated post-feminism in terms of gender politics in popular magazines such as Time and People. However, there is no shared understanding of this term and its theoretical explorations are very expansive and unclear. Earlier representations of women in media, such as Mary Richards in The Mary Tyler Moore Show during the 1980s and 90s

British Literature Women Of Lo :: essays research papers

The star football player was about to be forced off the team because of poor academic grades. In desperation, the coach approached the Dean of the college and swore on his honor that he would give the lad a final exam in one of his subjects, and if the boy didn’t pass he would take him from the team immediately.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The night before the big game the coach met with the boy to test him.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã¢â‚¬Å"What,† asked the coach, â€Å"is the name of the first recorded piece of British Literature?†   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã¢â‚¬Å"Coach,† replied the boy, â€Å"I don’t have the slightest idea.†   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã¢â‚¬Å"That’s right!† exclaimed the coach, â€Å"You don’t! Okay, you’re in the starting line-up tomorrow!†   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  This could be my story. I play sports-any sport-all sports-football, basketball, baseball you name it. The thought of my enjoying British Literature seems hard for even me to believe.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  When faced with this assignment, I found myself in a slight panic. However, much to my surprise, it wasn’t all that bad.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  In going over the choices, I knew I had to choose to write about women, and their roles in these tales. The fact that they were involved in sex, deceit, and adultery had nothing to do with my decision. And as Oscar Wilde said, â€Å"The world is packed with good and evil women. To know them is a middle class education.† I’m certainly a believer in that philosophy! After all, that’s why I’m in school.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  In beginning to compare and contrast the role of women the The Wife of Bath’s Tale, by Geoffrey Chaucer, The Second Shepherd’s Play, by Wakefield Master, and Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, by Sir Gawain, one needs to look closely at the stories.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The Wife of Bath’s , tale is a brief Arthurian romance incorporating the widespread theme of the â€Å"loathly lady.† It is the story of a woman magically transformed into an ugly shape who can be restored to her former state only be some specific action. It also embodies some surprising traces of the courtly tradition, along with The Second Shepherd’s Play, and Sir Gawain and the Green Knight. All three tales seem to illustrate the transforming power of love for their men. Although they were are different they all showed the effect of their love. That the true lover cannot be corrupted by avarice; love makes an ugly and rude person shine with all beauty. They know how to endow with nobility even one of humble birth. British Literature Women Of Lo :: essays research papers The star football player was about to be forced off the team because of poor academic grades. In desperation, the coach approached the Dean of the college and swore on his honor that he would give the lad a final exam in one of his subjects, and if the boy didn’t pass he would take him from the team immediately.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The night before the big game the coach met with the boy to test him.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã¢â‚¬Å"What,† asked the coach, â€Å"is the name of the first recorded piece of British Literature?†   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã¢â‚¬Å"Coach,† replied the boy, â€Å"I don’t have the slightest idea.†   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã¢â‚¬Å"That’s right!† exclaimed the coach, â€Å"You don’t! Okay, you’re in the starting line-up tomorrow!†   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  This could be my story. I play sports-any sport-all sports-football, basketball, baseball you name it. The thought of my enjoying British Literature seems hard for even me to believe.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  When faced with this assignment, I found myself in a slight panic. However, much to my surprise, it wasn’t all that bad.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  In going over the choices, I knew I had to choose to write about women, and their roles in these tales. The fact that they were involved in sex, deceit, and adultery had nothing to do with my decision. And as Oscar Wilde said, â€Å"The world is packed with good and evil women. To know them is a middle class education.† I’m certainly a believer in that philosophy! After all, that’s why I’m in school.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  In beginning to compare and contrast the role of women the The Wife of Bath’s Tale, by Geoffrey Chaucer, The Second Shepherd’s Play, by Wakefield Master, and Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, by Sir Gawain, one needs to look closely at the stories.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The Wife of Bath’s , tale is a brief Arthurian romance incorporating the widespread theme of the â€Å"loathly lady.† It is the story of a woman magically transformed into an ugly shape who can be restored to her former state only be some specific action. It also embodies some surprising traces of the courtly tradition, along with The Second Shepherd’s Play, and Sir Gawain and the Green Knight. All three tales seem to illustrate the transforming power of love for their men. Although they were are different they all showed the effect of their love. That the true lover cannot be corrupted by avarice; love makes an ugly and rude person shine with all beauty. They know how to endow with nobility even one of humble birth.

Frankenstein and Blade Runner Essay

Frankenstein and blade runner essay Which text do you feel better represents the values of the composer? You must refer to both texts in detail Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein and Ridley Scott’s Blade Runner are two texts from different centuries, but they both share the same values, themes and issues including; the natural world, scientific advancement, morality of humans and responsibility. Both texts use a variety of techniques to represent their values, themes and issues. The techniques used in both texts are reflective of their context and are able to strongly represent the values of both Frankenstein and Blade Runner. Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein was written in 1818. This was a period where romanticism was developing, a time which focused on the sublimity of nature and on the individual. This theme is evident throughout the novel and is used to emphasise the emotions of the characters and to suggest the power of nature for both beauty and destruction. Shelley often uses the sublimity of nature as an invigorating device for victor, â€Å"when happy, inanimate nature had the power of bestowing on me the most delightful sensations. A serene sky and verdant fields filled me with ecstasy. The present season was indeed divine; the flowers of spring bloomed in the hedges, while those of summer were already in bud. † Vivid imagery is used here to illuminate the peacefulness and contemplation of the sublime nature that is constantly surrounding victor. Shelley has also illustrated this notion further by the use of alliteration, â€Å"serene sky†, to capture how perfect the world is at that time, which reinforces the peacefulness of nature and how victor feels when he is surrounded by the natural world. Ridley Scott’s Blade Runner is set in a corrupted 21st century world. Similarly to Frankenstein, the natural world is evident but in Blade Runner it is seen as the unnatural world. In the first panoramic shot, the audience sees a destroyed world, a dark industrial urban wasteland which is heavily polluted. Visual irony is created here as it is meant to be Los Angeles, which means â€Å"city of angels†, but we see that it looks more like hell. We see that nature has been destroyed. Animals are rare and are presumed extinct, although the unicorn is seen as a natural creature in a natural setting. The unicorn symbolises the ambiguity of hope, freedom and spirit. There is no sign of any trees or plants except for a miniature Bonsai tree symbolising mans inherent desire to control nature to conform to what humanity believes is a better version. We also see constant darkness and rain, which is known as film noir and are the only aspects the audience sees when in an outside scene. The panoramic shot and film noir speculate the natural is now off world, that there is nothing natural, which creates a post apocalyptic tone. Shelley’s world was moving forward into the direction of industrialisation, exploration and scientific research. This is conveyed through characters such as Victor, Walton and Clerval who are all searching, exploring and attempting to make a discovery. We see in the start of the book Victor has an interest for natural philosophy, â€Å"natural philosophy is the genius that has regulated my fate. † The use of personification suggests that natural philosophy is a person that Victor idolises and wants to know everything he possibly can about it causing his interest to turn into an obsession. i became dizzy with immensity of the prospect which it illustrated, as surprised, that among so many men of genius who had directed their enquiries towards the same science, that i alone should be reserved to discover so astonishing a secret. † This quote establishes that Victor is intelligent and is able to intellectually break barriers beyond those that have ever been broken an d discover the source of life. Hence, now being able to create his ‘monster’. Similarly in Scott’s film we see that 21st century L. A is all about scientific activity and advancements in technology. It is a world based on commerce, as we can see throughout the entire film through the blimp that promotes going off world and big wall signs i. e. the Asian lady taking pills. Technology is also used to detect what is and isn’t human i. e. the Voight Komph test. Disembodied voices are used on the street i. e. when crossing roads it says â€Å"walk† and â€Å"don’t walk†. All these aspects of technology are a way of controlling the population of L. A. Scientific activity is seen through Tyrell, a scientist, who is the creator of all replicant things i. e. humans and animals. â€Å"Commerce is our goal here and our motto is more human than human†, this quote was said by Tyrell and reflects on Tyrell’s attitude towards life. He takes the role of God, creating life trying to make the replicants smarter and stronger than real humans, feeling as though he is dominant over everyone else in the world. This is shown through upwards tilt of the camera on Tyrell’s building, making him appear larger and above everybody else. Victor Frankenstein does not truly contemplate of foresee the consequences of his scientific quest to create life, nor does he take the moral responsibility for his creation afterwards. Victor continually justifies why he refuses to take responsibility for his creation, which is solely because he doesn’t want to incriminate himself and be punished, although he stated â€Å" a new species would bless me as its create and source; many happy and excellent natures would owe their being to me. This shows Victor’s lack of morality and reveals his ego through the use of unreliable narrator. Scott’s film raises concerns of scientific advancements and its lack of morality and responsibility for those it affects. Blade Runner represents its values through ambiguity. Blade Runner leaves it up to the viewer’s own judgement of morality and responsibility within the film. An example of this is through the use of cinematography in the scene where Deckard ‘retiresà ¢â‚¬â„¢ Zhora. Passersby walk past without showing any concern or emotion to what has happened. The lack of morality and responsibility arouses deep emotions of anger and dislike. Scott is not as assertive in representing his values as Shelley is. Through the use of camera shots, cinematography and irony he easily represents his values but through the use of ambiguity he leaves things for interpretation from the viewers. Due to the ambiguity present in Blade Runner, some viewers may be unable to identify the values that are present, so therefore the values stated in Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein are better represented.

Distance Education Essay - 1550 Words

Distance Education Traditionally, in the field of education, courses have been designed and student/teacher interactions have taken place through the teaching/learning process where the student and teacher are in the same location at the same time discussing the same topic. Students and teachers usually meet in this predetermined location at a predetermined time to interact in a classroom setting. The absence of either party usually has a negative result. Distance education has captured the interest of educators because it removes the restrictions of time and location for the involved learner and the teacher. Distance learning is taking instruction to the student through technology rather than the student to the instruction (Cohen,†¦show more content†¦222). In asynchronic learning, the teacher and students interact but do not deal with the same topic at the same time (Cohen, 1999, p. 222). Non-interactive learning is mainly represented by the World Wide Web where the media transfersthe knowle dge to the learner. Distance education in its many forms is organized so that it is at some point between totally interactive and completely non-interactive learning. Many reasons have emerged showing the need for developing, implementing, and evaluating distance learning programs. Schools in the modern world have found it important to improve their efficiency. Educational achievements, economic growth, and international competitiveness are bound together (Offir Lev, 1999, p. 132). However, education throughout the world is not equal for all people for many varying reasons. The lack of good teachers is cited by Offir and Lev (1999) as the main reason for a lack of equality in education. Additionally, many underdeveloped countries have not developed good educational systems to benefit the learner. Oftentimes, the student is not in close proximity to an institution of higher learning or the student is not available to take courses at times when courses are offered due to job and/or family obligations. So it has become the goal of distance education to provide degree granting programs, to battle illiteracy in developing countries, to provide trainin g opportunities forShow MoreRelatedFice Of Distance Education1121 Words   |  5 Pagesbenefits for each of these styles of learning. The Ohio State University should become a blended school in order to capitalize on the strengths of both forms of schooling, and recently they have taken steps in this direction. The Office of Distance Education and eLearning is a recently adopted strategy at OSU as an attempt to aid students from foreign countries in keeping up with other students. The ODEE is primarily utilized as a resource for students in which English is a second language. HistoricallyRead MoreThe Impact Of Distance Education On Education2180 Words   |  9 Pagestechnology helped form a new type of education. This type of education is an alternative to the more traditional approach to education. Some individuals oppose the new form of learning stating that it is ineffective. While those who favor it assert that it’s a type of learning that is beneficial to students. This new form of learning commonly occurs exclusively through cyberspace and is referred to as distance education. Distance education is a type of education that combines typical teaching methodsRead MoreFice Of Distance Education1110 Words   |  5 Pagesbenefits for each of these styles of learning. The Ohio State University should become a blended school in order to capitalize on the strengths of both forms of schooling, and recently they have taken steps in this direction. The Office of Distance Education and eLearning is a recently adopted strategy at OSU as an attempt to aid students from foreign countries in keeping up with other students. The ODEE is primarily utilized as a resource for students in which English is a second language. HistoricallyRead MoreOnline Education Is A Type Of Distance Learning1142 Words   |  5 PagesIntroduction Online education is a type of distance learning that involves taking college courses without attending the campus. Instead students and professors interact over the Internet. It utilizes the Internet or video conferencing to create learning communities. Course materials are provided on a Web site and are occasionally found on CD-ROM; email, bulletin boards, forums, and chat rooms are used to interact with other students and teachers. (â€Å"Online Learning?† 2015) In 1873 the first officialRead MoreEssay on Distance Education1173 Words   |  5 PagesDistance Education Since the dawn of the Industrial Revolution in the nineteenth century, advances in technology have provided people with the means for a new form of education, known today as distance education. In recent decades, the wondrous array of electronic communications technology has given distance education new status. It seems to have something to offer almost everyone. It is now a normal form of education for those in employment, for homemakers and for those who choose not toRead MoreDistance Education Essay1547 Words   |  7 PagesDistance education has changed and grown a lot from external studies and correspondence education during the last century. Distance education has become a recognized phenomenon today, thanks to technology which has shortened the physical distances. DEVELOPMENT OF DISTANCE EDUCATION The evolution of Distance education could be divided in four periods. The first period was from 1850 to 1960, this generation used correspondence classes which used radio and instructional television. The secondRead More Distance Education Essay2074 Words   |  9 PagesDistance Education The American Education System over the years is developing a new way of schooling. Many colleges are resorting to this type of learning which is called Distance Education. Distance Education is possible through the new advancements and technologies of computers. This new ideal learning has beneficial and negatives attributes, raises the differences between teaching in a classroom verses distance education, key players that are involved and schools who are offering thisRead MoreDistance Education Means Online Education812 Words   |  4 Pagesin the 21st century, distance education means online education, the use of the Internet to create a computer-based learning connection between instructor and student (Larreamendy-Joerns Leinhardt, 2006). In today’s increasingly technological world, nearly 70% of top academic leaders agree that online learning is part of the academic world’s future, and as of 2013, nearly 1/3 of higher education students were enrolled in an online course (Kentnor, 2015). Although distance education’s rapid evolutionRead More Distance Education Essay1630 Words   |  7 PagesDistance Education Distance education is a process that creates and provides access to learning when time and distance separate the source of information and the learners(Zhang, 1998, p.1). Distance education defies time and space and can help create a virtual schoolhouse, or a ‘classroom without walls’(Wheat, 1998, p.1). The need to take the distance out of education has not been driven largely by sheer need to bridge physical separations. It has been based mainly on providing accessRead MoreThe Education Of Distance Education929 Words   |  4 PagesToday when one hears words like online learning or distance education, thoughts of digitized content, and images of different types of technological media frequently come to mind. However, traditionally it has been revealed that distance education is actually not a new phenomenon at all. Historically speaking one could actually uncover that distance education was practiced in the United States in the form of correspondence schools as early as the eighteenth century. In fact, one of the first