Summative Assessment Project Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Summative Assessment Project - Essay Example Notably, in some countries government regulates the water industries; however, the services of such companies are largely under private companies that are defined within a specific geographical space. Water companies are usually owned differently including by the local government, national government, private ownership, and co-operative. The local government ownership is the commonly structure of ownership known worldwide. The local governments often operate its systems through municipal companies or departments, or inter municipal companies. The local government outsourcing water management from private sectors has increase since 1990 (Pollard, 2008). In the United States, water companies are being managed by state governments that are equally operates as local government. Nonetheless, these companies are obligated to integrate water systems. In other words, they are required to supply, treat wastewater, and ensure sanitation in sewerage systems (Water quality †¦, 2001). Therefore, the water ownership structure must ensure that the water under supply meets water quality standards as well as the environmental standards that relate to wastewater. In the United States, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulates the standards set for drinking water. It standards for the pollution control have been developed jointly by the state environmental agencies and the EPA pursuant to clean water act (NATO Advanced Research †¦, at el., 2009). Despite the set standards and regulation set for water companies, these companies are still facing immense risks ranging from water resources management, rising cost, and changing population among others. Water and wastewater resources are facing numerous challenges across New Jersey as well as other parts of the country. The common challenges that are experienced in the

Financila reporting for Summer bodysuit Ltd (SBL) startup company Essay

Financila reporting for Summer bodysuit Ltd (SBL) startup company - Essay Example This problem is so serious that the bank has requested the company to reduce its overdraft for the next six months, hence worsening its already ailing cash slow. As a member of Drake Management Consultants, who have been mandated to advise the company regarding financial issues, I have undertaken to write this report, citing the key problems and offering some recommendations regarding the problems that the company is undergoing. Analysis of the company’s financial statements Return on capital employed (ROCE) The ROCE for Summer Bodysuit Ltd (SBL) has increased from 15.9% to 23.8%, which is a favorable trend. This shows that the business has efficiently invested its resources to create profits. However, the management should be careful to ensure that this rate is maintained at a higher rate than that of borrowing; otherwise its benefit may not be realised (Baker and Wurgler 30). Year before last Last year Profit before Tax 1,668 3,706 Capital Employed 10,474 15,600 ROCE = ((Pro fit before Tax) / (Capital Employed)) * 100. 15.9% 23.8% Return on Equity (ROE) It is remarkable that ROE has increased from 0.38 to 0.54, because this shows that the company’s profitability is on an upward trend, hence an assurance to the shareholders that their capital is being used efficiently to make profits. This trend should be maintained by continuing to invest in profitable opportunities, though the management should be very careful not to engage in investment decisions that can slow down this positive trend in the future. Net Income 1,248 2,926 Shareholder's Equity 3,274 5,400 ROE = Net Income/Shareholder's Equity 0.38 0.54 Gross Profit Margin The company’s gross profit margin has increased slightly, from 46% to 48%. Although, a slight increase in this ratio is a positive indication of financial health, the management should work hard to ensure the cost of sales is reduced at a more increasing rate so that the company’s growth can be speeded up. Inciden tally, as the company work out on strategies that can increase the firm’s revenue, it should not be forgotten that reducing marginal cost of sales is also very essential. Furthermore, what is left after netting cost of sales from the revenue is used for paying for additional expenses as well as for future savings (Barry 256). Year before last Last Year Revenue 14,006 22,410 COGS 7,496 11,618 0.46 0.48 Net Profit Margin The Net profit Margin has increased from 8.9% to 13%, which is financially very healthy; if this trend continues in the future, the company is likely to grow in leaps and bounds. The management should be on the lookout for the costs that could be increasing at a greater rate than the revenues and control them because this could cause the growth in the net profit margin to decelerate in the future (O’Connor 758). Year before last Last year Net income 1,248 2,926 Revenue 14,006 22,410 Net profit margin = (net income/ revenue)*100 8.9% 13% Inventory Turnove r Ratio The company’s inventory turnover ratio has declined from 5.79 times to 3.85 times. This declined trend can cause alarm if it is as a result of any goods selling slowly. However, if it is caused by a company’s new strategy that has led to increased inventory, and which will lead to overall growth, then this should not be a cause of alarm. However, the management sh

Rehabilitation in Prisons Does it Really Work

Rehabilitation in Prisons Does it Really Work There are many issues that have plagued the criminal justice system for decades. However, the issues of the past are much the same as the issues we are dealing with today. Some of the issues we are currently facing are drugs, the overcrowding of jails and prisons, organized crime, juvenile justice, youth violence, adult probation, parole, re-entry, prison, over-criminalization, and many more. Drug-related offenses have been steadily increasing and reaching record highs for the past few years. In 2006, the United States arrested approximately 1.89 million people for drug-related offenses, up from 581,000 in 1980, (Priority Issues: Substance Abuse, para. 1). Many people arrested for drug-related offenses were incarcerated for non-violent crimes, even though they were not direct threats to society. Incarcerating these offenders seemed to be the best way to insure that they stopped using drugs. Citizens of the United States have the right to question whether or not we are accomplishing that goal through incarceration. One of the major issues in the juvenile justice system is juveniles being tried as adults. Some people think that juveniles are tried as adults because of the nature of the crime, while others feel that juveniles are not mentally and emotionally developed enough to fully understand the impact of their actions, nor how they will affect victims and families. There are also concerns about the lack of intervention methods to help the troubled youths in our communities. Some of these trouble youths simply slip through the cracks and end up in the criminal justice system for the rest of their lives, even though a lot of them could have been saved from a life of crime if there had been intervention methods available to them during important stages of their lives. The need for probation for nonviolent offenders is something of an issue. Low-risk and first-time nonviolent offenders are taken away from their families, jobs, and communities and placed in the prison system, which may do them more harm than good. When these types of offenders are placed into the correctional system, they are surrounded by dangerous offenders whom have the opportunity to transform them into career criminals. They are also unable to pay restitution to their victims while they are incarcerated. When spending taxpayer money on criminal justice, it is counterproductive and wasteful to enact policies that create more criminals, rather than enacting policies that reduce the incidence of crime, (Priority Issues: Adult Probation, para. 1). Probation gives an alternative to prison for some low-risk and nonviolent offenders. It is pointless to take offenders off the streets and not think how the prison system will affect their return to society. The most profound issue is one that has been considered off-limits to a reform: prisons. In June 2006, the Commission on Safety and Abuse in Americas Prisons found that at any given time there are more than two million people incarcerated. Over the course of a year, 13.5 million people spend time in jail or prison, and 95% of them eventually return to our communities, (Summary of Findings and Recommendations, pg. 1). It costs the United States more than $60 billion a year to incarcerate offenders, many of which are re-offenders. Offenders should be adequately rehabilitated while in prison in order for them to become productive members of society, to reduce recidivism rates, to reduce costs, and to enhance the safety of communities. Prisons play a critical role in society. In many cases-particularly cases of violent crime-the best way to handle criminal behavior is to incapacitate criminals by incarcerating them, (Priority Issues: Prisons, para. 1). In 2009, there were 760,400 people incarcerated in jails and 1,524,513 people in prisons in the United States. For these more than two million inmates, life can be terrifying and difficult. Some of our jails and prisons are unsafe, unhealthy, unproductive, inhumane and quickly unraveling. Some prisons are overrun with gang violence and extremely overcrowded. Many inmates have to deal with the harsh conditions of prisoner rape, gang violence, excessive force used by corrections officers, contagious diseases, and much more. It is estimated that one out of every 100 adults in the United States are guests of jails and prisons, a total population of about 2.3 million people. Although the United States accounts for only 5% of the worlds total population, American prisons house 25% of the worlds prison population, (A Hard Look, para. 2). Take Indianas prison population for example. Between 2000 and 2010, the prison population increased 47 percent from 19,309 to 28,389. Due to this increase, spending on corrections also increased 37 percent from $495 million to $679 million. The increase in the prison population is nothing new. Over the past 25 years, the war on drugs has caused the prison population to increase tremendously. Based on current estimations, there will not be a change in the number of inmates this year. SCRAMx estimates that there will be a 13 percent increase in the prison population, costing American taxpayers and state and local budgets approximately $27.5 billion. Incarceration is not an equal opportunity punishment, as many people may believe. Many inmates come from disadvantage backgrounds, most do not have a high school diploma, and some can barely even read. Only a portion was actually employed before they went to prison, and some made less than $5,000 a year (Prison Facts, para. 4). As of June 30, 2009, there were 1,309,668 men incarcerated in state prisons; 693,800 were white men, 841,000 were black men, and 442,000 were Hispanic men. Black men only represent about six percent of the American population, but they represent over 40 percent of the American prison population. Black non-Hispanic males, with an incarceration rate of 4,749 inmates per 100,000 U.S. residents, were incarcerated at a rate more than six times higher than white non-Hispanic males (708 inmates per 100,000 U.S. residents) and 2.6 times higher than Hispanic males (1,822 inmates per 100,000 U.S. residents), (Prison Inmates at Midyear 2009-Statistical Tables, pg. 2). Bl ack men between the ages of 30 and 34 had the highest incarceration rate of any age, gender group, or race. In June 2009, there were 101,233 women in state prisons. There were 92,100 white women, 64,800 black women, and 32,300 Hispanic women incarcerated in state facilities. There were also 94,498 non-U.S. citizens in state and federal facilities and another 2,778 inmates under the age of 18 in state prisons. Health care in some U.S. prisons leaves something to be desired. Of the roughly two million state inmates, nearly half suffer from a chronic illness that requires some type of medical treatment, such as diabetes, hypertension, a previous heart attack, or a previously diagnosed cancer. Compared to non-incarcerated citizens, inmates in state jails we 31% more likely to have asthma, 55% more likely to have diabetes, and 90% more likely to have suffered a heart attack, (Many in U.S. Prisons Lack Good Health Care, para. 1). In 2007, there were approximately 3,388 prisoners who died while incarcerated. Of that, 2,860 of those died from illnesses, 120 died from AIDS, 214 committed suicide, 57 were killed, 41 died from drug and alcohol intoxication, 28 died accidently, and 68 died from unknown causes. (See Table 1.) Source: Data from Office of Justice Programs, Bureau of Justice Statistics, 7 February 2011 Prison health care in California was so lacking that in May 2005, a federal judge threatened a takeover of their health care system. Judge Thelton E. Henderson cited the terrible medical treatment inmates received from bad doctors in miserable facilities. He also found that the management of HIV patients was irresponsible. Judge Henderson came to the conclusion that the lack of proper medical attention, bad doctors and facilities, and the mismanagement of HIV patients all contributed to inmate deaths, (Federal Judge Threatens Takeover of CA Prison Health Care System, para. 1). According to the Eighth Amendment concerning cruel and unusual punishment, prisoners have a constitutional right to receive proper health care. Considering the fact that incarceration is so costly, it is alarming that we do not ensure that inmates receive the basic care that would aid in their rehabilitation. According to the Indiana State Constitution, the penal code shall be founded on the principles of reformation, and not of vindictive justice, (Top 10 Department Fact, para. ____). The state of Indiana is required to provide medical and dental treatment to inmates. There is no reason why health care in prison should suffer, especially if proper health care could help reduce recidivism rates. For much of the last 30 years, overcrowding has been a major problem in our prison system. Federal and state prisons and county jails are reaching near-disastrous levels of being over their capacity because we have tried for so many years to incarcerate our way out of crime. However, operating budgets and funding for new facilities have both been greatly reduced, and over the next few years it will more than likely get worse. On October 5, 2006, because of the overcrowded prisons in California, Governor Schwarzenegger issued an emergency proclamation to allow the transfer of inmates to other states to ease their burden. This emergency transfer of inmates did not ease enough of their burden considering that the prisons were still 70 percent over capacity at the end of 2006. In order to relieve more stress on the prisons, Governor Schwarzenegger announced another plan to release some of the nonviolent criminal early in February 2007. By April of 2007, California legislators approved a program to construct new facilities, costing the state another $8.3 billion. The cost of housing and caring for the more than two million jail and prison inmates has quadrupled over the last ten years. Most states even spend more money on jails and prisons than they do on education. Over the course of the last 20 years, the amount of money spent on prisons was increased by 570% while that spent on elementary and secondary education was increased by only 33%, (Prison Facts, para. 8). We spend upwards of $60 billion a year to house our prisoners, which exceeds any other nation, but we do not receive much of a return on that investment when you take into consideration the crime and recidivism rates. Despite the emphasis put on people in America to seek counseling when they need it, rehabilitation in our jails and prisons has failed dramatically. Rehabilitation is a programmed effort to alter the attitudes and behaviors of inmates and improve their likelihood of becoming law-abiding citizens, (Seiter, pg. 32). Rehabilitation programs in the prison system are important to both recidivism and an offenders re-entry into society. When an offender enters a county jail, the Sheriffs Department uses a special system to classify inmates and assign them to a certain area of the jail. They are classified based on their age, gender, frequency and type of offense, their health and mental state, and sexual orientation. Once an inmate is assigned to their cell, they are assigned to rehabilitation programs, if any are available. Inmate rehabilitation and treatment programs are few and far between in county facilities. County facilities only provide rehabilitation opportunities to a selected few inmates. A general questionnaire distributed to Texas county sheriffs or their administrators indicated that larger jails were more likely to have both inmate education and substance abuse treatment programs than smaller jails, (The Rehabilitation Dilemma in Texas County Jails, pg. 1). There were not many facilities that reported having comprehensive or sophisticated programs, and many reported having no programs at all. The entry process for state inmates is much the same as for county jail inmates. Prison inmates are assessed in a Reception Diagnostic Center where they are scored on the Classification Designation Instrument. Points are assessed according to length of sentence, seriousness of offense, violence in the offense, escape histories, substance abuse problems, conduct while incarcerated, etc, (Top 10 Department Facts, para. 11). Once these points have been assessed, a score is calculated to determine of the inmate should be housed in a minimum, medium, or maximum security facility. The score is then compared to security level criteria of the prisons to ensure the inmate is housed in the correct facility. For example, sex and violent offenders are not eligible to be placed into minimum security prisons; therefore, they would be placed into medium or maximum security facilities based on their scores. According to a Bureau of Justice Statistics Report in Corrections Digest (2001), only 40% of the nations jails and prisons offer drug rehabilitation programs, (The Rehabilitation Dilemma in Texas County Jails, pg. 1). This report also suggests that only about half of the inmates receive drug treatment even though nearly 75 percent have substance abuse problems. The state of Indiana is one state that offers many rehabilitation programs to their inmates, such as substance abuse programs, vocational programs, educational programs, housing programs, family improvement programs, and humanitarian programs. By focusing on character, education, family, housing, employment, and health, the corrections department is able to break down the barriers of re-entry and still be able to promote public safety. These programs focus on reducing recidivism, rehabilitation, and re-entry into our communities. The Indiana Department of Corrections offers substance abuse programs, such as Alcoholics Anonymous, Narcotics Anonymous, and Crystal Meth Anonymous, Clean Lifestyle is Freedom Forever (CLIFF), Outpatient Substance Abuse Program, and Therapeutic Communities (TC). Of these substance abuse programs, Clean Lifestyle is Freedom Forever and Therapeutic Communities have demonstrated a positive impact on recidivism rates which are almost half that of the states overall recidivism rate for the inmates who successfully complete the programs. Clean Lifestyle is Freedom Forever (CLIFF) is designed for inmates whose lives have been impaired by the use of methamphetamines. The programs lasts a minimum of eight months, 12 to 15 hours a day of behavioral counseling. It helps them to overcome their addiction, build social skills that are accepted in society, and job interviewing skills. Therapeutic Communities (TC) is designed for inmates who have severe drug addictions. The format of Therapeutic Communities is much the same as the CLIFF program. Both CLIFF and TC programs also work on inmates personal and peer relationship skills in their recovery process. In order to prepare inmates for successful re-entry into society, Indiana Department of Correction also offers many educational programs. The Department found that approximately 34 percent of inmates are functionally illiterate. In the 2008/2009 school year, 4,658 inmates enrolled in the Literacy Education program. Of those, 1,264 demonstrated a sixth grade literacy level at the end of the school year. GED instruction is also offered to inmates. During the 2008/2009 school year, 4,658 inmates also enrolled in GED programs with 1,660 inmates successfully completed the program. If inmates decide to further their education and obtain a college degree, Indiana has a partnership with six colleges and universities that offer on-site education. Each year there are about 1,000 inmates that receive their associate and bachelor degrees. However, it is up to the inmates to pay for their college education. The Indiana Department of Correction has also partnered with the Department of Labor to create Registered Apprenticeship programs to train inmates in industries such as construction, manufacturing, health care, electric, information technology, and telecommunications. This program connects qualified inmates with employers looking for qualified employees. This supports their re-entry into the community and can help them overcome the obstacles encountered by ex-offenders seeking employment, (Programs, para. 4). There are also Vocational Education programs, ranging from auto body to welding, that are available to inmates. There were 4,237 inmates who enrolled in Vocational Education programs and 2,133 received recognized certifications during the 2008/2009 school year. In order to enhance the relationship between inmates and their families, Department of Correction offers two programs, The Prevention and Relationship Enhancement Program (PREP) and the Responsible Fatherhood Program. PREP encourages inmates to maintain and strengthen their relationship with their families. The Responsible Fatherhood Program provides inmates with the skills to be better fathers. This programs utilizes materials from the National Fatherhood Initiative, 24/7 Dad, and Inside Out Dad to give offenders the skills they need to be better role models for their children. Indiana Department of Correction also offers a multitude of different humanitarian programs. The dog, cat, and horse rescue programs take hard to adopt dogs and cats from local animal shelters and work with them to become adoptable. The Thoroughbred Horse Retirement program rescues retired race horses from needless abuse and slaughter. Inmates involved in the Indiana Canine Assistant program train assistance dogs for children and adults with physical and developmental disabilities. Shifting Gears refurbishes bicycles for children and adults in need of transportation, and Wheels for the World restores donated wheelchairs and other rehabilitation equipment to be shipped overseas for disabled people. These programs teach the inmates how to work together, gives them skills to use when they get out of prison, and gives them a sense of pride for doing something to positively contribute to the community. The Department also offers a faith-based program, Purposeful Living Units Serve (PLUS) Program. The PLUS Program is a faith- and character-based community that encourages offenders to choose alternatives to criminal thinking and behavior by providing a focus on spiritual and character development, life-skills training, community service, and intentional preparation for living as law-abiding citizens, (Programs, para. 13). The rehabilitation programs in state prisons focus on important areas of character, education, employment, health, and family. However, the road to re-entry does not end there. Prior to an inmates release, there are quite a few steps that need to be taken to improve their chances at succeeding in society. Most prisons offer programs to soon-to-be-released inmates, such as housing programs, health services programs, and workforce programs, to name a few. Some prisons have partnered with state and county departments such as Family and Social Services, Bureau of Motor Vehicles, Department of Workforce Development, Housing and Community Development Authority, Legal Services, State Department of Health, and the Social Security Administration to help inmates have a smoother transition into society. The Bureau of Motor Vehicles issues state identification cards to inmates prior to their release. Family and Social Services helps inmates apply for Medicaid, Food Stamps, and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) so that they have access to medical care, food, and a little money to start their new life. The Department of Workforce Development aids inmates in finding employment. The Housing and Community Development Authority in Indiana has signed a Memorandum of Understanding to implement a program to provide rental subsidies to selected parolees in certain counties. Legal Services provide some legal assistance to inmates for suspende d drivers licenses and child support and the Social Security Administration helps inmates apply for Supplemental Security Income (SSI). When it comes to people in the correctional system, society fears those who escape from prison and those who are released from prison. Even though the idea of an escaped prisoner is terrifying, we all know that law enforcement will have them back in prison before long. However, released inmates can be even more terrifying. They live among us, drive among us, and work with us. Of the thousands of inmates released from state and local facilities each year, approximately 67 percent will re-offend, be arrested again, and get put back in prison. That fact alone is terrifying. Indiana Department of Correction defines recidivism as an offender who is re-incarcerated within three years of being released from prison. There are quite a few theories floating around as to why ex-offenders recidivate. One theory is being labeled as a convict. A person being known as a convict, or even as an ex-convict, makes gaining employment extremely difficult, especially for those who are actually trying to straighten out their lives. If an ex-convict is unable to find employment, they have no money and end up resorting to criminal activity in order to survive. Another theory is that some ex-convicts needed certain rehabilitation programs, but the programs were unavailable to them. Some ex-convicts believe that if they had received the assistance they needed while incarcerated, they would not have recidivated. Based on the most current published data collected from a 1994 study by the Bureau of Justice Statistics, 70.7 percent of released offenders were arrested within three years of being released for committing a new crime, 45 percent were taken to court within two years of their release for committing a new crime, 23 percent were convicted of a new crime within a year of their release, 8.6 percent were put back in prison for a conviction of a new crime within six months, and 27.3 percent were convicted and re-incarcerated for a new crime within three years. (See Figure 1.) Figure 1. Prisoner Recidivism Source: Date from Office of Justice Programs, Bureau of Justice Statistics, Prisoner Recidivism Analysis, 7 February 2011 Prison Reformation Plan The reformation of our prison system is a must if we want to reduce crime and costs, properly rehabilitate offenders, and protect our communities. There are many people in the United States who feel that the prison system puts too much focus on punishment and not enough emphasis on rehabilitation and preparing inmates for re-entry into society. Violence, overcrowding, poor medical and mental health care, and numerous other issues have plagued the jails and prisons in the United States. In order to alleviate some of the problems in the prison system, a few changes are going to have to be made. All states need to have some version of the Three-Strikes Law. The Three-Strike law significantly increases the prison sentences of persons convicted of felonies who have been previously convicted of a violent or serious felony, and limits the ability of these offenders to receive a punishment other than a prison sentence, (The Three-Strikes and Youre Out Law, para. 3). One thing to remember is that all Three-Strikes cases require that the offender has had two previous serious or violent convictions. The prosecutor is also required to file the offenders prior offenses along with the new charges. Judges and prosecutors do have the ability to strike previous offenses in cases that they think the offender is worthy. In most cases, a third strike is 25 years to life, not life in prison without the possibility of parole. As of 1996, there were 24 states with the Three-Strikes Law in affect. In California, the Three-Strikes Law was passed in 1994. A study was done by the California Department of Justice and the California Department of Corrections comparing crime rates ten years before the Three-Strikes Law and ten years after. From 1985 to 1993, there were approximately 8,825,353 crimes committed in California. From 1994 to 2002, there were only 6,780,964 crimes committed. To put the facts into a better perspective, from 1994 to 1996, California had 6,738 less murders; 230,337 less robberies; 1,283,088 less burglaries; 18,571 less rapes; and 101,379 less assaults. This added up to a savings of approximately $28.5 billion in California (A Decade of Difference, pg. 3). Inmates need to be required to have medical insurance prior to their release. Inmates need to be required to show proof of medical insurance to the Department of Corrections before they are released from prison. Some states, like Indiana, have partnered with Family and Social Services to help inmates apply for Medicaid. Many people believe that ex-convicts have a better chance of not recidivating if they have access to proper medical care. Inmates need to have adequate health care in prison. Inmates need to know how to properly take care of their health and the first step to that is good medical treatment while incarcerated. Even small improvements in medical care could help reduce recidivism rates. Even though we can legally deprive inmates of their liberty, we cannot allow them to be neglected the medical care they need. Theres some alarming data that suggests that those inmates with chronic conditions dont get the care they need when incarcerated and thats 8th Amendment illegal, (Many in U.S. Prisons Lack Good Health Care, para. 15). There needs to be an education requirement for all inmates. In order for an inmate to gain employment after their release, they need to have some type of an education. Research has found that released offenders who are employed with sustainable wages are less likely to end up back in the prison system. Whether it be their GED, high school diploma, or a vocational certification, it will help them transition into the community easier and they will be productive members of society. Low-level drug addicts need mandatory drug rehabilitation. Instead of sentencing low-level drug addicts to prison, they need to be given a choice between a prison sentence or a mandatory inpatient drug rehabilitation program, and, after successful completion, they should be put on parole for the remainder of their original sentence. Even if they choose prison over rehabilitation, they would still receive substance abuse treatment, the only difference would be they would be in prison instead of out on parole. If Indiana took 100 low-level drug addicts out of prison and gave them inpatient substance abuse treatment, such as the Clean Lifestyle is Freedom Forever or Therapeutic Communities programs, the state would save almost $2 million a year on prison costs. Judges need to have the flexibility to give shorter sentences to nonviolent offenders. Judges need to have the authority to give nonviolent offenders probation instead of a jail or a prison sentence. It costs an average of $80 per day to incarcerate an offender; however, it only costs about $3.50 per day for them to be on probation. Several states have already shown that it is possible to cut these costs and keep the public safe by keeping nonviolent offenders out of jails and prisons. States need to offer incentives to counties for them to handle nonviolent offenders at the county level instead of sending them into the prison system, which costs much more. States also need to eliminate their minimum sentencing laws for nonviolent crimes. These laws remove all discretion from judges who are the most intimately familiar with the facts of a case and who are well-positioned to know which defendants need to be in prison because they threaten public safety and which defendants would in fact not benefit from prison time, (Priority Issues: Prisons, para. 8). States need to have geriatric release programs. There are approximately 200,000 inmates who are over 50 years old. The cost of keeping them in prison is high because they are in need of more medical treatment due to old age. Prisons are effectively turning into nursing homes for all of these older inmates, all paid for by the taxpayers. Rehabilitation Programs in Prisons. Most prisons have an abundance of rehabilitation programs available to inmates. Instead of prisons spending money to keep programs running that do not have a positive effect on inmate rehabilitation and recidivism rates, states should shut down those programs. By shutting down those programs, prisons can use that money to expand successful programs so that more inmates can benefit from the programs. By doing this, hopefully more inmates will be rehabilitated, which will have a positive effect on recidivism rates. In order to reduce recidivism rates and costs, enhance public safety, and to produce productive members of society, offenders need to be adequately rehabilitated. There are very few county facilities that offer rehabilitation programs and only 40 percent of prisons offer rehabilitation programs to their inmates. Considering the increase in incarceration rates over the past ten years, it is amazing that the corrections system still punishes inmates instead of correcting their behavior. The high cost of prisons might be worth it to the taxpayers if the recidivism rates were much lower, but since almost half of the released prisoners are expected to be back behind bars within three years, it simply does not seem worth it. The medical care for inmates is questionable in American prisons. There are some prisons that outsource medical care to private companies, such as Correctional Medical Services. According to Wil S. Hylton, some of these private companies try to maximize their profits by giving minimal medical care to prisoners (Sick on the Inside, para. 10-11). An inmates medical care is an important part of their rehabilitation. They should be healthy and well taken care of while in prison so they can learn how to properly take care of themselves when they re-enter society. There are too many inmates suffering needless deaths because of a lack of adequate medical treatment. If the prison policies we have are not working even just 75 percent of the time and we know that there are better, more effective ways to rehabilitate, we need to change these policies. For example, crime rates have dropped in almost every state over the past seven years. Over the past seven years, Floridas incarceration rate has increased 16 percent, while New Yorks decreased 16 percent. Yet the crime rate in New York has fallen twice as much as Floridas, (Saving Money, Saving Lives, para. 11). Even though New York spent less on their prisons, their state had better public safety than Florida. Citizens in the United States need to know that we can change our prison system to save money and keep them safe at the same time. We all have a responsibility to create safe, productive, and humane correctional facilities. With so much at stake for our citizens health and safety, with so many people directly affected by the conditions in our prisons and jails, this is the moment to confront c onfinement in the United States, (Summary of Findings and Recommendations, pg. 7).

Essay on Characterization in Rappaccini’s Daughter -- Rappaccinis Dau

Characterization in â€Å"Rappaccini’s Daughter†Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚        Ã‚   The dialogue, action and motivation revolve about the characters in the story (Abrams 32-33). It is the purpose of this essay to demonstrate the types of characters present in Nathaniel Hawthorne’s â€Å"Rappaccini’s Daughter,† whether static or dynamic, whether flat or round, and whether portrayed through showing or telling.    The tale takes place in Padua, Italy, where a Naples student named Giovanni Guascanti has relocated in order to attend the medical school there. His modest room is in an old mansion watched over by the landlady, Dame Lisabetta, a two-dimensional character given to religious expletives like, ``Holy Virgin, signor!'' She seeks to make the customer content with his lodging; she answers Giovanni’s curiosity about a garden next-door: ``No; that garden is cultivated by the own hands of Signor Giacomo Rappaccini, the famous doctor. . . .† As a character, old Lisabetta never develops beyond this single aspect of her personality of trying to make the customer happy. Later she sells information to Giovanni so that he can enter the garden by a secret entrance.    Giovanni in his room can hear the water gurgling in Dr. Rappaccini’s garden, from an ancient marble fountain located in the center of the plants and bushes; this sound â€Å"made him feel as if the fountain were an immortal spirit that sung its song unceasingly and without heeding the vicissitudes around it. . . .† Of particular interest to Giovanni is â€Å"one shrub in particular, set in a marble vase in the midst of the pool, that bore a profusion of purple blossoms, each of which had the lustre and richness of a gem.† As striking as the plant of the purple gems is â€Å"a tall, emaciated, sall... ...ed nature,† at the feet of her father and Giovanni. Beatrice, in the course of the story, passes from isolation to love and to a full realization of the truth, thus she is very dynamic; not static like her father. Giovanni is equally dynamic in developing into a loving person, and then reverting into an almost hating person because of the acquired malady.    WORKS CITED    Abrams, M. H. A Glossary of Literary Terms, 7th ed. New York: Harcourt Brace College Publishers, 1999.    Hawthorne, Nathaniel. â€Å"Rappaccini’s Daughter.† ElectronicText Center. University of Virginia Library. http://etext.lib.virginia.edu/etcbin/browse-mixed-new?id="HawRapp"&images=images/modeng&data=/texts/english/modeng/parsed&tag=public    Kazin, Alfred. Introduction. Selected Short Stories of Nathaniel Hawthorne. New York: Fawcett Premier, 1966.            

Gun Violence in America

Gun violence in America is not at all as bad as it is in Sierra Leone and other countries with war and little law enforcement as we read about in the book a long way gone. In the book the main character Ishmael discovers that America is not at all like he heard through rap songs. When he moves to America and tells his story of being a soldier and killing people the people he talks to about it think that it is cool and Ishmael states in the book â€Å"violence in America is romanticized. I do agree with this statement that we do make war look easy and fun through movies and video games. We do not understand what it is like to be in a war and witness killing and bloodshed every day. Gun violence in America is not understood by very many people most people blame guns for killing people but it is not the guns that kill people it is people that kill people either by accident or on purpose in a murder. This is seen in the statistics â€Å"gun violence has gone up from 10,000 victims in 1975 to 15,000 victims in 1995.† This information proves that violence has gone up with the increases in gangs and the lessening of guns in households and teaching of gun safety. Also, 98% of gang homicides involve guns. Gun violence in America has been on the increase, since 1975 when there were less than 27 gun related death. In 1999 it increased to 80 deaths every day. http://www .gun-control-network.org/GF01.htm. Gun deaths are not only homicides nearly 58% are suicide. Another statistic is one hundred cities with populations of 250,000 or more have reported a tremendous amount of gang activity. When there is gang activity there is an increased amount of homicides. There are so many active gangs in the United States. They range from the crypts to the bloods and they are known worldwide. These are not the only gangs there are many more not mentioned. However, 94% of gang members are male and only 6% are female. It’s not a surprise that 77% of murdered juveniles were killed by a gun. With the increased gang activity in the United States 39% of households have a gun. In the United States many people have a fear of guns but guns aren’t something to fear. If everybody had a gun and knew how to use it then we would all have protection from people that want to harm us with a gun. If guns were outlawed then there would be riots and the murder rate would go up because the people that want to do good with them would not be able to protect themselves and others, the people that want to harm others with a gun would not turn in their gun and would be able to harm other people with little fear. Violence is seen everywhere in today’s society on the news, movies, videogames, and in our lives. This violence lends the illusion to our society today that violence is cool and fun and only portrays the faà §ade that our society has created. The general public does not even begin to understand the traumatic images that our soldiers have come back with and we think that the war we see on the news is like the movies that we watch on T.V. but we cannot begin to imagine.

Becoming a Social Worker

Becoming A Social Worker Sindy Griffin Rasmussen College Author Note This research is being submitted on June 10, 2011, For Ian Provo HS100/HUS1001 sec01 Introduction to Human Services at Rasmussen College by Sindy Griffin Growing up in the 1970’s where there were limited resources, and having an abusive father was very difficult for my mother and us four children. Having such difficult times as a child though no fault of my mothers and then being married to an abusive husband for 18 years myself, has given me the strength and desire to become a Human Service Worker. Becoming a Caseworker will be fulfilling a lifelong dream to help those in need no matter the crisis they may be seeking to cure. In realization becoming a Caseworker has many responsibilities. Some of the main responsibilities include:† Verifying information through interviews, applications, and applying regulations and memoranda to provide income to individuals and families. † (US Department of Labor, 2010-11). Optimizing client functioning by providing quality services in an efficient and effective manner to people with complex needs. Being a caseworker requires a strong foundation of training, values, knowledge, theory and skills. Clients who have been identified as in need as the result of an outreach or referral service can be assisted by a caseworker, which must then conduct face-to-face assessments of the client’s strengths and weaknesses, as to conduct research for financial and or institutional recourses that may be available for the client’s individual needs. Many resources may be used in this process to insure the client receives some if not all the requested needs. Some of the responsibilities are as follows: In a case where a client came to me and requested assistance to escape from an abusive husband, I would assist her first by analyzing her situation to properly resolve her immediate needs, such as shelter, food, clothing and etc. We would then progress to other needs such as legal, emotional and psychological support. Researching outside sources would become the most of priority to give the client the help she is requesting. We will also have many clients come forth with substance abuse problems as well. Again we must analyze his or her situation to determine what resources are available for the client. Whether it be simple counseling or a rehab center. We must then try talking to the client about what they think the best treatment plan would be for themselves to overcome their addiction. These situations have to be handled gently as not to scare the client away. Developing a relationship to the client is very important in this situation. Once this has been accomplished the client will be more acceptable to change and be prepared to move on to outside agencies or support groups to assist with their addiction. A Caseworker must also meet the required education standards which are as follows: â€Å"The social work case manager shall have a baccalaureate or graduation degree from a social work program accredited by the council on social work education. † (Workers, International Federation of Social) A social worker must also use professional skills for all clients they attempt to assist, while keeping the information confidential. They must also be knowledgeable as to the resources that are available to the client, as well as knowing the cost of such resources. The caseworker should be sure they can handle the caseload they attempt to assist as to not leave anyone out. Being very committed to our job is one of the main keys to being a successful caseworker. A Caseworker will also experience many challenges along the way. These challenges will have to be handled with a smile and lots of patients as to not let the client see that you may be distressed. Although there are many challenges we will face along the way, one of the main ones is the case overload. Many caseworkers today have an over abundance of cases at one time. This problem causes the paperwork process to be slow and seem as though we are not doing our job, causing the client to become frustrated and feel as if they are not getting your full attention. Being able to communicate with the client should be of utmost importance as well as assuring them that you will in fact complete their case as soon as possible. There are also many stress outlets that come along with our profession as well. We may face this on a daily basis as well. One of the most common in our field is rude clients and emotional attachment. The loyalty of a caseworker is often in the middle of a conflicting interest. † (Workers, International Federation of Social) Meaning that as we do our jobs as caseworkers, we may also come across situations that we have encountered ourselves as a non-caseworker and actually experience some sort of favoritism to the case at hand, in turn we this could cause a conflict with the interest of your remaining clients. Caseworkers must re member the urgency of all of their cases not just the ones that mean the most to them. Clients that become rude may only be acting in this manner because they feel as if they are being ignored and that they will not receive the proper assistance as quickly as they anticipated. This type of action may cause undue stress on the caseworker to complete their case. We must be able to some how assure the client we are working on their case as quickly as possible and they will be contacted as soon as it is complete. Handling stress that comes with being a caseworker can be quite challenging in itself. One of the first things I may try and do is try and remind myself of the reasons I chose to become a caseworker. Though our jobs may be stressful in many ways we have to remember the desire we had or have to help those in need. We may also learn that just simple things like taking a walk or stopping and making a phone call to a friend or colleague can reduce the amount of negative energy we may be experiencing. Co-workers can be great stress relievers as they too experience the stress that is closely related to what you may be feeling at that time, after all we are here to help one another not only help the client in need, but those who work closest to us as well. The reason I have chosen to become a Social Worker is that I have a strong desire to help those in need. No matter what their issue may be. I believe there is help out there for everyone. I want to be part of the reason some of the ones that are struggling in this world today will be able to find hope and succeed in their lives. Although my job will come with many challenges, requirements, and responsibilities, it will not let me forget the reward I will feel in my heart that someone somewhere is beginning a new life because we stopped long enough to let them no that they could. Just as â€Å"Jane Addams, who is considered the mother of all social workers said: Civilization is a method of living, an attitude of equal respect for all men. She is known for being one of the most famous social workers of all times, using her training and education to do only good. † (Article Pros , n/d) . I too hope I can be one of the greatest Social Workers of all times. Conclusion Although there are many responsibilities and requirements in the caseworker field of employment, and the job consists of lots of commitment and research to assist clients with their psychological and physical needs. Case Workers must understand the complexity of all cases they have, as well as knowing who and where they need to refer the client to for their specific needs. Keeping in consideration the Caseworker poses so many challenges, stress and stress outlets, We as Caseworkers must remember that we are here to help those in need. They are like harmless children waiting to be saved from the world. Overcoming the many challenges and stressful situations is what we have been waiting to do our entire lives. We just have to remember the compassion and desire to be a Caseworker is instilled in us and we should never forget its value to the client in need or ourselves. By doing all these things we can make a difference in the world one case at a time. Becoming a Caseworker is my life long dream. Being able to help those in need will give me the fulfillment in my life I have been missing for so many years. Just waking in the morning and knowing that I could possibly save someone’s life or even just give them a sense of belonging makes all the esponsibilities, requirements, challenges, stress and commitment worth the effort. References Bibliography Article Pros . (n/d). Retrieved May 2011, from www. articalpros. com/self-improvement/phycology/artical-665318. htm. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Us Department of Labor. (2010-2011). Occupational Outlook Handbook 2010-2011 Edition, Social Workers. Retrieved May 2011, from http://www. bls. gov/oco/ocos060. htm. Demand Media Inc. (1999-2011). http://ehow. com/about_514504_ caseworker-description-job-html. Retrieved May 2011 http://www. careerinformation. tml/e-p-a-c-s-c-a. (n/d). Retrieved May 2011 NASW National Association of Social Workers N. A. (2007). Retrieved May 2011, from www. socialworkers. org/pubs/code. asp. US Department of Labor. (2010-11). Http://www. bls. gov/oco/ocos060. htm. Retrieved May 02, 2011, from Bereau of labor Statistics: Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2010-2011 Edition, Social Workers Workers, International Federation of Social. (n. d. ). International Association of Schools of Social Work. (FSW, Editor) Retrieved May 2011, from http://www. ifsw. org/f38000032. htm.

Tale of Troy or Iliad - The Story Behind the Trojan War

Tale of Troy or Iliad - The Story Behind the Trojan War During the time when gods were petty and cruel, three of the leading goddesses had a contest to determine who was most beautiful. They contended for the prize of Eris golden apple, an apple no less dangerous than the one in the story of Snow White, despite its lack of consumable poison. To make the contest objective, the goddesses hired a human judge, Paris (also called Alexander), son of the Eastern potentate, Priam of Troy. Since Paris was to be paid according to the largesse of the winner, the contest was really to see who provided the most attractive incentive. Aphrodite won hands down, but the prize she offered was the wife of another man. Paris, after seducing Helen while a guest in the palace of her husband, King Menelaus of Sparta, went blithely on his way back to Troy with Helen. This abduction and violation of all rules of hospitality launched 1000 (Greek) ships to bring Helen back to Menelaus. Meanwhile, King Agamemnon of Mycenae, summoned the tribal kings from all over Greece to come to the aid of his cuckolded brother. Two of his best men one a strategist and the other a great warrior were Odysseus (aka Ulysses) of Ithaca, who would later come up with the idea of the Trojan Horse, and Achilles of Phthia, who may have married Helen in the Afterlife. Neither of these men wanted to join the fray; so they each devised a draft-dodging ruse worthy of M.A.S.H.s Klinger. Odysseus feigned madness by plowing his field destructively, perhaps with mismatched draft animals, perhaps with salt (a powerful destructive agent used according to legend at least one other time by the Romans on Carthage). Agamemnons messenger placed Telemachus, Odysseus infant son, on the path of the plough. When Odysseus swerved to avoid killing him, he was recognized as sane. Achilles with blame for cowardice conveniently laid at the feet of his mother, Thetis was made to look like and live with the maidens. Odysseus tricked him with the lure of a peddlers bag of trinkets. All the other maidens reached for the ornaments, but Achilles grabbed the sword stuck in their midst. The Greek (Achaean) leaders met together at Aulis where they awaited Agamemnons command to set sail. When an inordinate amount of time had passed and the winds still remained unfavorable, Agamemnon sought the services of Calchas the seer. Calchas told him that Artemis was angry with Agamemnon perhaps because he had promised her his finest sheep as a sacrifice to the goddess, but when the time came to sacrifice a golden sheep, he had, instead, substituted an ordinary one and to appease her, Agamemnon must sacrifice his daughter Iphigenia .... Upon the death of Iphigenia, the winds became favorable and the fleet set sail. Â   Trojan War FAQs [Summary: The head of the Greek forces was the proud king Agamemnon. He had killed his own daughter, Iphigenia, in order to appease the goddess Artemis (big sister of Apollo, and one of the children of Zeus and Leto), who was angry with Agamemnon and so, had stalled the Greek forces on the coast, at Aulis. In order to set sail for Troy they needed a favorable wind, but Artemis ensured the winds would fail to cooperate until Agamemnon had satisfied her by performing the required sacrifice of his own daughter. Once Artemis was satisfied, the Greeks set sail for Troy where to fight the Trojan War.] Agamemnon did not stay in the good graces of either of the children of Leto for long. He soon incurred the wrath of her son, Apollo. In revenge, Apollo the mouse god caused an outbreak of plague to lay the troops low. Agamemnon and Achilles had received the young women Chryseis and Briseis as prizes of war or war brides. Chryseis was the daughter of Chryses, who was a priest of Apollo. Chryses wanted his daughter back and even offered a ransom, but Agamemnon refused. Calchas the seer advised Agamemnon on the connection between his behavior toward the priest of Apollo and the plague that was decimating his army. Agamemnon had to return Chryseis to the priest of Apollo if he wanted the plague to end. After much Greek suffering, Agamemnon agreed to the recommendation of Calchas the seer, but only on condition that he take possession of the war prize of Achilles Briseis as a replacement. A minor point to think about: When Agamemnon had sacrificed his daughter Iphigenia, he hadnt required his fellow Greek aristocrats to give him a new daughter. No one could stop Agamemnon. Achilles was enraged. The honor of the leader of the Greeks, Agamemnon, had been assuaged, but what about the honor of the greatest of the Greek heroes Achilles? Following the dictates of his own conscience, Achilles could no longer cooperate, so he withdrew his troops (the Myrmidons) and sat on the sidelines. With the help of fickle gods, the Trojans began to inflict heavy personal damages on the Greeks, as Achilles and the Myrmidons sat on the sidelines. Patroclus, Achilles friend (or lover), persuaded Achilles that his Myrmidons would make the difference in the battle, so Achilles let Patroclus take his men as well as Achilles personal armor so that Patroclus would appear to be Achilles in the battlefield. It worked, but since Patroclus was not so great a warrior as Achilles, Prince Hector, the noble son of Trojan King Priam, struck Patroclus down. What even Patroclus words had failed to do, Hector accomplished. The death of Patroclus spurred Achilles into action and armed with a new shield forged by Hephaestus, the blacksmith of the gods (as a favor for Achilles sea goddess mother Thetis) Achilles went into battle. Achilles soon avenged himself. After killing Hector, he tied the body to the back of his war chariot, The grief-maddened Achilles then dragged Hectors corpse through the sand and dirt for days. In time, Achilles calmed down and returned the corpse of Hector to his grieving father. In a later battle, Achilles was killed by an arrow to the one part of his body Thetis had held when she had dipped the baby Achilles into the River Styx to confer immortality. With Achilles death, the Greeks lost their greatest fighter, but they still had their best weapon. [Summary: The greatest of the Greek heroes Achilles was dead. The 10-year Trojan War, which had begun when the Greeks set sail to retrieve Menelaus wife, Helen, form the Trojans, was at a stalemate.] Crafty Odysseus devised a plan that ultimately doomed the Trojans. Sending all the Greek ships away or into hiding, it appeared to the Trojans that the Greeks had given up. The Greeks left a parting gift in front of the walls of the city of Troy. it was a giant wooden horse which appeared to be an offering to Athena a peace offering. The jubilant Trojans dragged the monstrous, wheeled, wooden horse into their city to celebrate the end of the 10 years of fighting. Who Really Built the Trojan Horse?What Is the Trojan Horse? But beware of Greeks bearing gifts! Having won the war, the filicidal King Agamemnon went back to his wife for the reward he so richly deserved. Ajax, who had lost out to Odysseus in the contest for Achilles arms, went crazy and killed himself. Odysseus set out on the voyage (Homer, according to tradition, tells in The Odyssey, which is the sequel to The Iliad) that made him more famous than his help with Troy. And Aphrodites son, the Trojan hero Aeneas, set out from his burning homeland carrying his father on his shoulders on his way to Dido, in Carthage, and, finally, to the land that was to become Rome. Were Helen and Menelaus reconciled? According to Odysseus they were, but thats part of a future story.