We are finally addressing the topic that has been on your minds for a long time. Bikies. Is the law still giving everyone the right to a fair legal process and a fair trial or have they bent the rules when it comes to motorcycle gangs or groups? There are three arguments that prove these new laws are unjust. I would like to bring your attention to the fact that a longer sentence is given to the accused only because they are part of an organization. The next point is that what the rights state are interpreted differently by the police and citizens. Finally, police are enforcing these laws because their job requires them, but are they really helping anyone?
If murderers can get away with 25 years in prison, why do bike enthusiasts have to receive more? The new Vicious lawless Associate Disestablishment, Act or the VLAD law, that has recently been implemented states that If the accused has been declared a vicious lawless associate, then they must receive 15-25 years in addition to their original sentence. Police have recently been arresting and holding citizens riding motorcycles with their friends under the assumption of being part of an organized crime. Additionally, normally if someone is accused for a crime, police can only hold them for 24 hours for questioning until they have proof, a confession or they have a solid case. Bikies on the other hand are allowed to be held for 48 hours. This is extremely unfair as they are stereotyping bikies as criminal gangs. This is Ben Adam Wilson. He was recently arrested by the police because he was “associating” with an outlawed bikie gang. He did not have any criminal record but police arrested him and he was found guilty. Thanks to this new law, he now has a criminal record and has to spe...
... middle of paper ...
...ew law. He was reported saying “I will not rest in this war against the bikies until our jails are full of them.” This is yet again another example of the horrific stereotype placed on the bikies. The Crime and Misconduct Commission acted under Mr Campbell’s instruction to give police more authority so that they can gather more information to hold legal hearings.
These new laws have been changed to try and prevent organised crime in particular bikies. In reality, bikies are fighting back because they have been wrongfully accused and now have to suffer for it. If the government want to protect the public by placing laws to prevent crime, they should consult the citizens and consider it for longer than 24 hours. To protect the citizens, the government first need to admit the problem and work with the citizens to find a suitable solution that benefits both parties.
This report is on the subject of the “Northbridge Curfew” policy which was implemented in Western Australia, under the Labor Government in 2003. The report will discuss a number of points, such as, what the curfew is, why it was created, and both the positive and negative reactions from the public after the curfew was put in to action. The report will also include a recommendation as to whether or not the Curfew should be extended to include areas outside of the Northbridge area.
Bibbings , Lois , and Donald Nicolson. 2000. “General principles of criminal law'? A feminist
Throughout the tale of time, thoughts of revenge have corrupted even the most innocent of minds. In Andre Dubus’ “Killings”, Matt Fowler is conflicted by two opposing forces: his own desire and his wife’s demand for the death of their son’s murderer. Through her manipulative words and her emotional meltdowns, Matt Fowler ultimately succumbs to his wife’s request and commits the gruesome act, which causes the audience to reevaluate the appropriateness and cost of vigilante justice.
Hickey, T. J. (2010). Taking Sides: Clashing Views in Crime and Criminology, 9th Edition. New York, NY: The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
According to the National Gang Center, the change is gangs from 2002-2007: +12% in larger cities, +33% in suburban counties, +27% smaller cities and +24% in rural counties (National Youth Gang Center, 2009). The gang problem in the United States of America has been getting worse since the first gang was formed by Irish immigrants in the early 1800s. For low income and areas with high population, gang involvement with youths has also been getting worse. Regarding gang-related homicides, it is for difficult data collection industries to gather correct information because after a murder is committed it must be determined whether the murder is gang-related or not. But despite that, reports of gang-related murders are concentrated mostly in the large cities in the United States of America. Including San Jose, where there are long standing and persistent gang problems, which mean there are a larger number of documented gang members. There are literally thousands of anti-gang advocacy groups because there are so many concerned parents. These groups support politicians who are working to try to create legislation to reduce the gang problem in the United States of America. There are a number of theories on how to combat the gang problem, but a strategy which rarely fails is to take small steps in progress and continue to move forward.. There will never be a perfect solution that solves every aspect of a problem. But one policy that covers a wide range of issues involving gangs is the United States Constitutional bill S.132, “Gang Abatement and Prevention Act of 2009.” It is the most extensive and sophisticated piece of gang legislation to appear in the last decade, it has many objectives on increasing and enhancing law enforcement resources committed to the investigation and prosecution of violent gangs. It has had more supporters from both parties than any anti-gang bill in the last decade. S.132, “The Gang Abatement and Prevention Act of 2009” has the potential to deter and punish violent gang crime, to protect law-abiding citizens and communities from violent criminals, to revise and enhance criminal penalties for violent crimes, to expand and improve gang prevention programs; it will give jobs back to police officers such as those in San Jose who lost their jobs and will help law enforcement indentify gang crimes to be able to put murderers behind bars faster.
This paper will cover issues that young minorities encounter in the movies; Crips and Bloods: Made in America (2008), Gran Torino (2008), A Better Life (2011). Movies will be summarize, and compare and contrast youths experienced. Criminological theories shall be utilized to further elaborate issues. Finally steps and theories will be utilized towards solving issues, also possible methods to correct the issues will be addressed in the end.
In now days, the increase in gun violence troubles many communities in the United States. Many of the high-crime neighborhoods have become a total gang-controlled area. In 2013, the total number of gangs in the United States are 24,500 (Federal Bureau of Investigations). As major cities in America struggle to respond to the growth of gangs and attendant crime and violence, the law enforcement come up with gang injunctions to reduce crimes rates. Although a couple of gang injunctions have been granted in Texas and Illinois, the overwhelming majority of injunctions have been issued in California. In 2005, the total number of violent crimes were 5,985 alone in San Francisco that year, and 31, 767 in Los Angeles (Disaster Center). According to Matthew O’Deane, a police officer, and Stephen Morreale, an Assistant Professor of Worcester State University, a study and review was conducted of 25 southern California gang injunctions to understand if civil gang injunctions reduce crime. As a result, the study found that the crime rate decreased by 14.1% in injunction areas.
According to the 2015 National Gang Report (NGR) from the National Gang Intelligence Center (NGIC) almost half of law enforcement juristictions across the United States reported a rise in street gang membership and street gang activitiy. My communitty is no exception.
Nigel Covington, editor of The National Report gives a brief summary at the end of his article stating that James Holmes, who murdered twelve people in a movie theater, will only be charged with illegally parking his car in a handicapped parking spot when he murdered the victims. After already dropping the charges because Holmes is white, it turns out he is not above the law and will have to pay an eighty dollar fine for parking in handicap parking (Covington). Covington makes a mockery about the fact that the only punishment a man who killed twelve people will get a measly fine for parking in the wrong
In Dick Wolf’s television show Law and Order: Special Victims Unit episode entitled “Home Invasions” the writer conveys the message that people cannot take the law into their own hand. In the episode the detectives from the New York police department’s special victim’s unit investigate the homicide of a gay rights activist and her husband as well as the attempted homicide of their young daughter. As the investigation progressed throughout the show it is discovered that the father was sexually assaulting his daughter. As a result of this abuse the daughter confided in her housekeeper and the housekeepers brother. The daughter conspired with the housekeeper and the housekeeper’s brother to arrange the homicide of her parents. I agree with
Skogan, W., Meares, T. (2004) ‘Lawful Policing’ The Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Science 66 (18)
The ability of police to exercise discretion was originally designed to allow officers to maintain the peace by allowing certain types of crime to remain unpunished in certain circumstances. This essay will aim to explore the issue of police discretion that suggests that the application of discretion works against the interests of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. In drawing this conclusion, this essay will examine the relationship between policing ideals and the use of discretionary powers and the relationship between policing attitudes and the use of discretionary powers. A discussion regarding the use of police discretion towards Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples can scarcely be mentioned without making reference to arguably the greatest failing by a police officer since indigenous Australians were formally recognised as citizens. Further to this, the case of Mulrunji Doomadgee (Cameron) will be examined from the point of view of officer discretionary powers. The penultimate point to be made will involve the Anglo Australian response to this case as well as the ongoing relationship between indigenous Australians and the institutions that govern them. As mentioned, the first point will involve policing ideals and their relationship to discretionary powers.
There are many who believe hate crime should be punished more severely since it ‘’has the potential to cause greater harm.’’ (Hate Crime Laws, 2014) Hate crimes, like racial discrimination, have unfortunately been a part of this country
The House of Lords decision in the Daly underpinned one of Lord Bingham’s eight sub rules which refers to the law providing adequate protection for fundamental human rights. It was held the instruction issued by the Secretary of State violated prisoners right to a legal adviser under the seal of legal professional privilege. By holding the Secretary of State had no right to issue such an instruction, the House of Lords gave due regard to the Lord Bingham’s rule of law. A similar notion was present, in Wheeler where it said the club had a basic “constitutional right … to freedom of the person and freedom of speech” which had been interfered with by the council’s decision to ban use of the
Offenders are protected today by both the rule of law, ensuring that all offenders are treated equally, regardless of their age, sex or position in the community, and due process, which ensures that all offenders are given a fair trial with the opportunity to defend themselves and be heard (Williams, 2012). Beccaria’s emphasis on punishment being humane and non-violent has also carried through to modern day corrections. It is still the case today that offenders must only receive punishment that is proportionate to the crime they have committed and the punishment is determined by the law. The power of the judges and the magistrates to make decisions on punishment is guided by the legislation and they do not have the power to change the law (Ferrajoli,