Assignment 1. 1000 words total Juvenile Justice
1. Examine the data presented in Figure 3.2 on page 57. What trends in juvenile offending do you see as most pronounced? What is causing the current decrease in violent juvenile offenses? Why are the ?gures for property offenses relatively stable? Do you think the trend in violent offenses will change in the next few years? Why or why not?
2. You have been asked by your teacher friend to analyze how much crime exists in his/her school. What method(s) of measuring crime would you use to determine the level of crime in the school? What characteristics of the method(s) you choose make it/them better than the others? If you believe that the method(s) you have used show the most accurate level of crime in the school, what are your reasons for holding this position?
3. You work in the assessment unit of a juvenile institution for violent juvenile offenders. A juvenile is brought to the assessment unit who has been adjudicated delinquent for robbery and sexual assault. It is your job to ?nd out what caused this individual to commit these acts and then develop a treatment plan for the juvenile. You evaluate the individual and ?nd the following:
a. The juvenile is a well-muscled youth who has an aggressive personality.
b. The juvenile reports that his diet has been primarily comprised of "junk food," especially foods that are high in sugar content.
c. The juvenile reports that his mother is currently in prison for dealing drugs. Upon further questioning, you discover that the mother has been abusing drugs for the past 20 years.
d. The juvenile does not appear to feel anxiety when faced with negative stimuli.
e. During the assessment, the juvenile is inattentive and has had a prior history of hyperactivity and impulsivity.
What factors can explain the juvenile's delinquent acts? What treatment would you prescribe for this juvenile in order to overcome his biological problems? Which of the biological factors cannot be treated inside the institution?
4. You are employed at a facility that provides psychological treatment to juvenile delinquents. A juvenile is in your of?ce who has committed several burglaries and auto thefts. Upon assessing the juvenile, you discover the following:
a. The juvenile does not feel remorse for his actions and argues that he committed the acts because it satis?ed his need for money to repair his car so he could ?nd a job. In addition, he states that committing delinquent acts really is not wrong unless the criminal is caught.
b. The juvenile also says that within the past six months he has been involved in several ?ghts with strangers and acquaintances, and has set two cats on ?re by pouring gasoline on them.
c. The juvenile has not been attending school on a regular basis since he was 12 years old.
d. The juvenile says that his friends also commit delinquent acts and they approve of his actions.
What psychological factors can explain the juvenile's delinquent acts? What treatment would you prescribe for this juvenile?
Assignment -2 Criminal Law 1000 words
1. Sometimes people mistakenly say that the body of a murder victim provides the corpus delicti of the crime of murder. What actually constitutes the corpus delicti of murder?
2. What is the historical basis of the ex post facto and bill of attainder provisions, and why would they have application in today's legal system?
3. Should vicarious criminal liability exist? What are the implications of holding a corporation liable for the actions of its employees? What about holding parents responsible for the actions of their children? Who benefits from such liability, and who can be harmed by it?
4. Narcissa, Carolyn, and Henry are drinking in a bar. All three were laid off from their jobs as bank tellers at 4 EverSafe Bank three months earlier. They remain unemployed in spite of serious efforts by all three to find employment. Unhappy, broke, and drunk, the discussion turns to quick ways to make money. Narcissa comments, "We should rob 4EverSafe. We know how to do it." Carolyn responds, "Really. 4 o'clock is the right time, right before the money is moved into the vault and the guards are transitioning." Henry nods and says, "That is the right time," and waves to the server to bring him another beer.
The conversation about this subject continued for 15 minutes. During that time, they discussed the timing, point of entry, how they would disguise themselves, and where they would hide the stolen money. An hour later they all went their separate ways. The next day Narcissa called Carolyn and asked her to go with her to the store to purchase the disguises they had discussed in the bar, which they did.
While at the store, they decided that they would also need weapons for the robbery, so they each applied for a handgun license. They picked up the handguns together two days later after the background checks were completed. That evening, they met at Narcissa's home to further discuss the plans and texted the following message to Henry from Carolyn's phone: 2moro is the day in re money plan. B @ location at 3: 50. Nrssa & Crlyn. On her way home after leaving Narcissa's, Carolyn was stopped by a police officer for speeding. He observed the mask, the new handgun, and a bag in the back seat of her car. He arrested her for the traffic violation and obtained a search warrant to seize the items in the back seat and to search through her phone. After reading the text sent to Henry, the officer concluded that she was a member of a conspiracy to commit a robbery.
After consulting with an attorney, Carolyn agreed to confess in exchange for a reduced charge. The next day, Narcissa arrived at the bank at the appointed time. Undeterred by the absence of Henry and Carolyn, she donned her mask, put the gun in her purse, and entered the bank, only to be surprised by the police. She was arrested, and all three- Narcissa, Carolyn, and Henry- were charged with attempted bank robbery and conspiracy to commit a robbery.
a. Applying the mere-preparation test for attempt, has Narcissa committed attempted robbery/conspiracy to rob? Has Carolyn? Has Henry? Explain.
b. Applying the overt-act test for attempt, has Narcissa committed attempted robbery/ conspiracy to rob? Has Carolyn? Has Henry? Explain.
c. Applying the substantial test for attempt, has Narcissa committed attempted robbery/conspiracy to rob? Has Carolyn? Has Henry? Explain.