The information written herein is to inform readers of the pros and cons associated with doubling the maximum prison term for anyone convicted of armed robbery. Furthermore detailing to the reader regarding the author’s professional opinion on doubling the prison sentence for those who commit armed robbery with the threat of force, whether explicitly stated or implied. In further discussion of the topic, alternatives to prison incarceration or additives to legal punishment will be mentioned including education of businesses and the general public as well as rehabilitation and reform techniques.
Armed robbery is, simply, a robbery at gunpoint. The U.S. Department of Justice defines robbery more elaborately as, the taking or attempting to take anything of value from the care, custody, or control of a person or persons by force, threat, violence or by putting the victim in fear. Armed robbery is also known as a heist, stickup, holdup or larceny by threat of violence (Farlex, 2007).
Although gun control is an issue in this case, the topic of gun control is broad and would not focus enough on this aspect to create a heavy impact on the criminal statistics regarding armed robbery. Furthermore, because of the second amendment and the right to bear arms, there may be excessive issues related with the gun control that would assist in prevention of armed robberies. This paper will also focus on the philosophy that those who commit crimes over time are likely to escalate the offenses in severity of the crime (Conway & McCord, 2006).
The Essay on Common Sense Control Not Gun Control
It's late at night, and you're home all alone. You double checked to make sure all of the doors were locked and made sure all of the windows were closed. It's been a quiet night, but for some odd reason you cannot sleep. During your restless night, you hear a bump in the kitchen. At first you dismiss it as the wind. But there it is again, and it's louder this time.You're scared, your pulse is ...
In response, legislation should include larger and more climatic punishments and treatments for repeat offenders.
Committing a crime with a gun instills fear in the victim of armed robbery. The threat of violence against a person is oftentimes enough to make them submissive and give in to the criminals demands. Discharging a gun can ultimately lead to death, legally reported as first degree murder or other possible plea bargain. Although preventing weapon possession among previous offenders would be helpful, this method is difficult to enforce especially with weapons being sold on the black market; the use of a lethal weapon should be reserved for police officers or those using a weapon in self defense measures. A person whom commits crimes with a gun, in general, should be held to a higher standard to deal with harsher prison time than those who commit other crimes because the severity of the intent to instill fear and commit murder.
The recommendation to this bill states that education of potential armed robbery business establishments shall be instated. All small, medium, and large businesses should undergo the prevention training. This educational training will include how robbers choose their target, potential surveillance, and weighing the odds. Other educational information may provide tips when opening or closing the store, avoiding cash build-up, safes, and transportation of cash to and from the financial institution. These educational prevention techniques along with stricter laws putting criminals behind bars for their use of guns in illegal activities will prove to decrease recidivism and lower the armed robbery crime rates in general. Although one might not be certain which action would effectively lower the crime rate, the recommendation is that enacting multiple measures is the proper way to lower armed robbery incidences. Only raising the prison term will not be an effective tool in lowering the crime rate, even the US Department of Justice states that in many cases, increases in incarceration terms will not alone decrease the criminal activity.
The Essay on Hypothesis on the correlation between per capita income and violent crime rate
I am investigating a hypothesis that there is a direct correlation between a state’s income level and their violent crime rate, specifically the higher the income, the lower the occurrence of violent crime. I believe this is an important topic to study because if we can find a way to automatically increase one poor situation in a country (such as a high crime rate) by increasing another poor ...
Between 1991 and 1998, states with above average increases in the rate of incarceration (72%) experienced a 13% decrease in crime rates. But states with below average increases in the rate of incarceration (30%) experienced a greater decline in crime rates, 17%. During this time the notable tough on crime state of Texas experienced a 144% rise in incarceration between 1991 and 1998, and its crime rate fell 35%. However, New York’s crime rate declined by a greater extent, 43% during this period, despite an increase of incarceration of only 24% (Sentencing Project, 3, 2008).
Based on these statistics throughout the US, no parallel in numbers between incarceration rates and criminal activity exists. Rather, it could be said that these numbers contradict the other in the opposite direction.
Although educating the retailers about such incidences and perpetrators, another option would be to provide increased educational programs to Americans. Research shows that quality preschool programs can save the public $17 for each dollar that is invested. Other programs with documented cost-effectiveness include initiatives to improve high school graduation rates and a variety of substance abuse treatment strategies (Sentencing Project, 1, 2008).
Adding an amendment to the bill calling for stricter sentencing guidelines will let the public know that legal gun activity is not the issue; illegal gun activity will be unacceptable and severely punishable. The recommendation does not conclude that doubling the prison term for armed robbery is, by itself, the best action the legislature can enforce. Advocating the educational aspect at the frontline of these occurrences: the retailers is a more accepted and effective method. As most bills in the legislature do not have just one purpose, this bill should not issue a purely rudimentary blanket of doubling maximum prison terms for armed robbery offenses. It should be noted that this recommendation holds in account the need for harsher penalties, especially for repeat offenders; however, only increasing the penalty will not completely safe-guard the community.
The Essay on Variation in Sentencing with Armed Robbery
There are many questions surrounding the sentencing process in the State of Georgia surrounding several crimes. Why is there a variation in the process depending on where the crime was committed, who committed it, who the victim was, how many cases are on back log? Why do we allow these factors to play a part in the decision making process? Serious violent crimes are subject to a mandatory minimum ...
A downside to a stricter penalty for armed robbery would be putting a young criminal behind bars for an extended period. Florida currently has a 10- 20- life mandate. Using a gun while committing an armed robbery nets the offender 10 years behind bars, with the new legislation this would jump to 20. Should that firearm be discharged during this crime, a mandatory sentence of 20 years will be enforced; the legislation would boost that to 40. Injury or death would result in a 25 to life sentence; which would be doubled with legislation. Florida has seen much improvement over the years with the current 10- 20- life set up (Florida Department of Corrections, 2007).
Calling for tighter penalties could help to decrease the offending rate further. A growing number of penologists believe that prisons have proved unable to reform or rehabilitate their inmates. Inmate treatment options are available and include programs such as:
Homes and Buddies which is focused on children under 18 years of age to provide foster homes and college aged mentors as well as adventure trips that focus on the education of the teen as opposed to the punishment (Time Magazine).
Jobs and Counseling is a program that upon conviction of a minor crime finds the criminal a job and counsels the criminal. If within the first 90-days, no incidences occur, the charges will be dropped and the criminal may remain in the employed position with available counseling if necessary. The recidivism rate in this case is as low as 6.6% (Time Magazine).
Communal Centers which are detention centers within communities. These life-like detention centers are for lesser criminal activities that help the criminal get a full-time job and quarantine them to an area with strict rules on visitors and curfews. This has been implemented in multiple states across the east-coast and has a very low 2% recidivism rate. However, the concern is to the community who likes the idea, but wishes it else-where (Time Magazine).
If a person in his or her late teens or early twenties were to commit their first offense with a gun, a mandatory sentence, under the legislation in Florida, would put that person away for a minimum of 20 years. Although it would be disheartening to see young people put away on their first offense, most offenses escalate as described earlier. If this was to hold true, starting out with a gun offense, or armed robbery, does not say too much about the individuals chances if they were to be released soon after the commission of the crime.
The Essay on State of California’s Penal Codes on Armed Robbery
The crux of the arguments which would be developed for this recommendation paper is in support of maintaining the status quo in the implementation of prison term policies against persons convicted of armed robbery in the State of California. The recommendation, it must be mentioned, is being proposed in view of an impending State legislative vote aimed at amending existing penal codes pertinent to ...
Doubling the prison term for those who commit armed robbery is questionable. In Florida the crime rate dropped after implementing the 10- 20- life standard. In other places, the statistics are not as balanced in terms of incarceration rates and criminal activity. The idea that one law can help lower the crime rate is a compelling reason to approve that law. Adding power behind that law using education, treatment, prevention and other possible alternatives will help to move society forward to a position of maintaining power and control in these types of illegal incidences. This recommendation finds it necessary to add to the legislation doubling the maximum armed robbery sentence term.
References
Conway, K. & McCord, J. (2006).
Co offending and patterns of juvenile crime. Retrieved September 16, 2008, from
http://www.corrections.com/news/article?articleid=12524
Farlex. (2007).
The free dictionary. Retrieved September 17, 2008, from http://www.thefreedictionary.com/armed+robbery
Florida Department of Corrections. (2007).
Officer of department initiatives, bureau of community relations. Retrieved September 16, 2008, from
http://www.dc.state.fl.us/oth/10-20-life/index.html
TIME Magazine. Alternatives to Prison. Retrieved September 17, 2008, from http://www.time.com/time/printout/0,8816906163,00.html
The Sentencing Project. (June 1, 2008).
Do More Prisoners Equal Less Crime? A Response to Gorge Will. 1-3. Retrieved September 17, 2008, from
The Essay on Reaction Order and Rate Law
Data, Calculations, and Questions A. Calculate the initial and final concentrations as needed to complete Tables 1 and 2. Data Table 1: Varying the Concentration of 1.0 M HCl | | | | |Concentrations | | |# Drops |# Drops |# Drops |Initial | |# Drops |# Drops |# Drops |Initial |Initial |Final |Final |Reaction Time (sec) |Reaction | |Well # |HCl |Water |Na2S2O3 |HCl |Na2S2O3 |HCl |Na2S2O3 |Trial 1 ...
