Crime

1. Crime Crime has many faces: the teenager who stole the test, the business person that cheated on his taxes, a father kidnapping his child, etc. Decisions as to what makes a crime is defined by legislatures Legislatures make decisions on what they think will protect the public and make orderly conduct.

2. The goal of law is to regulate human conduct so that people can coexist. • Certain acts are prohibited to protect life and property, preserve individual freedom, maintain government, and uphold the morality of society. • Ideally, the goals of law are to protect human rights for all

3. Nature and Causes of Crime • Crime is a major problem in the United States • In 1991, more than 14.8 million crimes were reported, increasing 45% since 1974, with suspects arrested in these crimes 20% of the time • In 2001, nearly 24.2 million crimes were reported, of which about 24% were violent in nature • Crime victims are also victims of human rights violations • Many crimes go unreported

4. Following a trend that began in 1994, the rate of violent crime declined 10% between 2000 & 01- property crime fell 6% during the same period- lowest crime rate in US history since 1973 • Appx. 50% of victims of crimes against themselves reported the crime to the police • Appx. 40% reported property crimes

5. Crime Rates • Higher in urban areas • Lately, has grown the fastest in suburbs and rural areas • People 15-24 commit more violent than any other age groups • Males committed almost four times more crimes than females • Recent years, crime rate has grown fastest with women

6. In 2001, • 68% of female victims knew their offenders • 45% of males knew their offenders • 35% of victims reported that the offender had been using alcohol • Violent crimes were more likely to occur during the day, but rapes at night

7. The cost of crime • Everyone looses money • Lost or damaged lives • Fear and suffering • Total cost of crime per year is estimated at over $150 billion, costing the average family of 4 taxpayer $1,500 even if they are not victims

8. Causes of Crime • Poverty • Permissive courts • Unemployment • Lack of education • Abuse of alcohol and drugs • Inadequate police protection

9. Rising population • Lack of parental guidance and control • Lost morals • Ineffective correctional system • Little chance of being caught and/ or punished • Influence of the medias

10. Is any one factor causing the crime rate? • Poverty *1990 strong economy, low unemployment, low crime rate *2001-02 weaker economy, rise in crime rates *countries much poorer than US has less crime

11. Permissive courts *Us has some of the toughest criminal laws and the highest incarceration rate of any Western Nation *Recently, only South Africa and Russia have executed and imprisoned more people than the US *compared with the number of crimes, only a small amount result in penalty

12. Inadequate police protection *increase in the number of officers does not necessarily reduce overall crime rate *community policing could build closer connections between the community and police • Influence of the mass media *glamorizes criminal activity

13. high school campus crime • In 2000, nearly 2 million incidents of violent and property crime occurred to students ages 12-18 while at school *of these, 128,000 serious violent crimes (rape, sexual assault, robbery and aggravated assault)

14. 2001 • Appx 10% of male and 3% of female students in 9th-12th grade reported carrying a gun at least once during a 30 day period • 1/3 of students reported that drugs were readily available to them, an increase of 20% from ’93 • Nonfatal crimes declined ’92-01 • Increase in the amount of bullies (grades 6-8)

15. College Campus Crime • Include violent assaults, hate, and property crimes • Many are alcohol related (students spend over $5 billion per year) • Incidence of crimes involving college students off campus is considerably higher • Some colleges may not fully report crimes out of concern for decline in applications

16. Statistics form 2,400+ colleges in 2000 *20 murders (down from 30 in ’92) *1,858 forcible sex offenses (many go unreported) • 1,933 robberies • 3,644 aggravated assaults • 26,543 burglaries • 5,792 motor vehicle thefts

17. Gangs and Crime • At one point, thought to be only in large cities • Truth: Active throughout the United States, even in small towns • Nearly all cities with populations of 200, 000+ report having gang problems

18. One reason for the widespread: lure of profits from the sale of drugs (many also buy, steal, and sell firearms) • A survey in 1991, indicated that gang violence is on the rise due to teenagers having availability to cars and weapons • In 2001, 20% of students, 12-18, reported street gangs were present at school • Estimated in 2001, there were over 3,000 jurisdictions that reported youth gang activity • 6 out of every 10 homicides in Los Angeles in 2001 were gang related; 5 out of 10 in Chicago

19. What are gangs? • Groups that close their membership to others for a common purpose that includes violent criminal activity • Ages range from 8-50 • Also called posses or crews • Focus on drug trafficking, firearm sales, auto theft, prostitution • Some use group violence to defend certain beliefs (can be racist/ sexist)

20. Associate themselves with one of several gang “nations” • Choose symbols, emblems, colors, phrases and clothing to identify themselves • Use graffiti to tag territory, intimidate rival gangs, or to install fear in neighborhood citizens

21. Joiners usually have to endure some initiation ritual or test (committing a crime, being beaten, female- having sex with multiple gang members) • Gangs usually concerned with the joiners ability to sell for profit

22. Early US Gangs • Found as early as the 19th century • Primarily composed of adults • Organized along ethnic lines • Had names, rules, emblems, initiation rituals, and distinctive dress • Interested in protection of turf, reputation, and heritage • All did not engage in criminal activity

23. Who joins Gangs? • Majority are male • In most cases, relatives and friends of the member are also involved in the gang • Most are poor with the basic needs not met • Most are unsuccessful in school • Very pessimistic about job and future prospects • Includes all races

24. Substance abusers • Family dysfunction • Domestic and community violence • Poor self esteem • Little parental involvement

25. Why do people join gangs? • To receive attention and have a sense of belonging • Children of gang members • Peer pressure, possibly threats • To be “protected” from other gangs and police • May be the only alternative to someone who does not think they have a future

26. Youth Gangs • Increase in many cities in recent years • Usually neighborhood gangs and not adult drug organizations • Gives youth a sense of stability and pride • Argued that crime rises because youth do things in groups that they would not normally do individually • Recent attacks on other races

27. How can the gang problem be solved? • Prevention • Encourage gang members to become involved in positive activities • Provide greater opportunities for teenagers • Increase awareness of the problem • Organize prevention strategies to place gang members in anti-gang programs • Prosecute gang members for illegal activities

28. Guns and the Law • Most Americans who own firearms own them legally and use them lawfully • Used frequently in violent crimes • Efforts to control firearms are controversial -millions believe that their safety will be at risk if gun ownership is restricted -others believe that easy availability of firearms to young people has added to crime problem -others argue that it is not the guns, but the users, who cause violence

29. 2nd Amendment to the US Constitution • The right to bear arms in conjunction with the state militia • Looked at by some as protection against gov’t attempts to ban or regulate firearms • Others argue that protects a state’s right to maintain a militia, but does not protect citizens against gov’t legislation

30. Has been interpreted by the US Supreme Court several times -ruled the amendment guarantee’s a state’s right to a militia -has not struck down federal, state, or local legislation that controls guns

31. Gun Control Act of 1968 • Passed after the murders of Dr. King and Senator Robert Kennedy • Prohibits certain people (i.e. convicted felons, minors, illegal aliens) from buying or possessing weapons • Requires serial numbers on all guns • Establishes a licensing –fee schedule for firearms manufacturers, importers, and dealers

32. Prohibits mail-order sale of all firearms and ammunition • Prohibits the interstate sale handguns • Set minimum ages: handguns- 21, long guns- 18 • Set penalties for carrying and using a firearm in crimes of violence or drug trafficking

33. Amended in `93 by enacting the Brady Act • required the Attorney General to create a national system to instantly check the backgrounds of people who wanted to purchase guns • Set five day waiting period before selling guns (declared unconstitutional by the US Supreme Court in ’97)

34. In 2001, 8 million applications were processed in the US for guns- 151,000 rejected • States, including LA, have enacted their own legislation -training courses and/ or test • concealed weapons laws became the trend in the ’90s(justifed as self-defense) -by 2002, 30 states had laws making it relatively easy to get the permit -13 states make the process more difficult by requiring a specific need (i.e. security officer) -6 states and DC do not allow concealed weapons -Vermont does not regulate in any way

35. Substance Abuse and Crime • Used to describe different chemicals that are abused by society (i.e. alcohol and drugs) • Has always plagued America • Contributes to social problems- breakup of the family, injury in the workplace, decreased productivity, auto accidents • Also leads to criminal activity

36. Alcohol • Most widely abused substance in the US • One reason, drinking is socially accepted • Has always been legal in the US with the exception of Prohibition (1920-33) • Not acceptable in all countries (i.e. Saudi Arabia-criminal offense to drink)

37. Detrimental to society- contributes to: -poor functioning of some families -spousal and child abuse -committing of other crimes while under the influence • Annual cost of alcohol abuse to the American society is estimated at nearly $150 billion

38. Alcohol abuse was a factor in 35% of violent crimes in the US in ’01 • 2/3 of victims who suffered violence by a significant other reported that alcohol was a factor

39. Drunk Driving • Driving while intoxicated (DWI) (in Louisiana) and Driving while under the Influence (DUI) • Refers to a person’s blood alcohol concentration (BAC) -indicates the grams per deciliter of alcohol in the blood -can be determined through breath, urine, or blood samples

40. Since alcohol is a mind-altering drug, reaction and thinking times are affected at varying degrees by the level of alcohol in the blood system • Impaired in Louisiana is .08 BAC • All states and DC have DWI/DUI laws • Nearly 1.5 million people were arrested in ’99 for DWI/DUI

41. In LA, in 1999, there were 445 alcohol related deaths • Variety of penalties: -fine -attendance at DWI school -license suspended/ revoked -jail sentence

42. Most states have implied consent laws where the driver agrees to submit to a BAC test in exchange for driving privileges • Young people, as the driver or passenger, is at the greatest risk of being injured or killed -alcohol affects teens faster -less experienced drivers -40% of all highway deaths in ’01 involved alcohol

43. Organizations to help: • Mothers against Drunk Driving • Students Against Destructive Decisions • Remove Intoxicated Drivers • The National Commission Against Drunk Driving • The national Coalition to Prevent Impaired Driving

44. These organizations have resulted in greater public awareness • Arrests peaked in the early ’80’s but started to decline by the early’ 90s • Total arrests for DUI declined by 20% from ’91-00 • Underage drinking continues to be a problem • All states have a uniform 21 drinking age • Arrests for under 18 who are caught driving under the influence rose 14% from ’91-00

45. Drugs • Effects nearly everyone in American society • Illegal drug use costs society billions per year • Illegal-drug industry has led to dramatic increase in criminal activity (from murder to gov’t corruption)

46. Placed burden on the criminal justice system b/c so many people are arrested for possessing or selling -50-75% of people arrested test positive for 1 or more drugs • Trends are difficult to determine -varies from city to city (cocaine, weed, heroin, meth)

47. Reports show a particularly close relationship between increased use of crack and increased violence • Drug abuse arrests, prosecutions, and convictions rose during the early ’90s • Possession, distribution, or sale of certain drugs is a crime that may violate federal law, state, law, or both

48. Now carry harsher penalties for offenders than once did • Those who sell or posses large amounts with the intent to sell face mandatory jail sentences (even for first offenses) • Under federal law and some state laws, those found guilty of being major drug traffickers

49. Some state laws treat simple possession of small amounts of some drugs as felonies • In addition to federal laws, some states, including LA, allow for forfeiture of property that were used for or acquired with drugs- sale of property profits enforcement agencies

50. More than 40 states have recidivist laws -passed primarily in the ‘90s -require longer sentences for repeat offenders, even for minor offenses -US Supreme Court ruled in ’03 that the CA Three Strikes law did not violate the 8th Amendment