Examine the Argument That Social Identities Are Often...

Describe what table 1 and 2 tell us about local authority decisions about homelessness in England The data in table 1 shows a clear increase in total decisions made between 1998 and 2004. Total number of decisions made in 1998/99 was 244,830 and this figure increased up to 298,390 by 2003/04, an increase of 22%. This increase is seen along all four groups. ‘Unintentionally homeless and in priority need’ increased by 30%, ‘homeless but not in priority need’ by 21% and ‘not homeless’ by 5% however ‘intentionally homeless and in priority need’ more than doubled in this time. From 2004/05 onwards all four groups of figures steadily decreased up until 2009/10. However, ‘intentionally homeless and in priority need’ further increased again†¦show more content†¦Word Count 350 Examine the argument that social identities are often characterised by inequality based on your reading of material in ‘connected lives’ and the article The Act. This essay will look at how social identities are characterised by inequality. It will first look at the meanings of social identity and inequality and then it will further elaborate on how certain groups such as the homeless or ethnic races are defined by these inequalities. Taylor (2012, p 167) defines social identity as ‘an identity given by connections to other people and social situations. (Often contrasted with personal identity). Some examples are group and collective identities, situated identities, given by the immediate situation so liable to change, and relational identities, usually given by a two-sided, possibly unequal, relationship’. Taylor (2012) argues that a collective identity can be that of gender, race, age and many more. However, this does not mean that once a collective identity has been formed that all the people within that collective identity have something in common or share the same interests. People who form part of a collective identity will still have a personal identity ‘an idea of who she or he is’ (Taylor, 2012, p 170). Taylor (2012) argues that social identity is not completely separate from personal identity. For example some people would argue that being sociallyShow MoreRelatedChina in Africa Essay20116 Words   |  81 PagesBeyene Property rights Kjell Havnevik Tor A. Benjaminsen Espen Sjaastad inequality and climate change contents to our reAders AfricAn Agriculture 1 3 november 2007 Carin Norberg African agriculture and the World Bank: development or impoverishment? Atakilte Beyene 5 8 Property rights formalisation in Africa Tor A. Benjaminsen Espen Sjaastad the relationship between inequality and climate change Kjell Havnevik commentAries intervieW 11 14 decoding theRead MoreThe Rise of Social Media and Its Impact on Mainstream Journalism21031 Words   |  85 PagesWORKING PAPER e rise of social media and its impact on mainstream journalism: A study of how newspapers and broadcasters in the UK and US are responding to a wave of participatory social media, and a historic shi in control towards individual consumers. Nic Newman September 2009 Contents Executive summary and key conclusions 1. Framing the debate 2. Mainstream media motivations, doubts and dilemmas 2.1 Definitions and motivations 2.2 BBC 2.3 Guardian and Telegraph 2.4 New York Times

Comparing Oedipus Rex And Death Of A Salesman By Arthur...

a. Tragedy†¦ we all will go through this at least once in our lifetime. It is inevitable. It has been around since the beginning of time. The ancient Greek’s used it in a manner in which we still use it today in Modern times. b. Today I will be comparing the two works such as Oedipus Rex, which is a playwright written by the great Sophocles and another playwright named Death Of A Salesman written by Arthur Miller. c. Through out the years, there has been a lot of controversy on whether or not Death Of A Salesman is considered to be a tragedy, unlike Oedipus Rex which clearly is. d. I feel these two plays can compare in a multitude of ways despite being written in different historical times. II. Body Paragraphs a. In Oedipus Rex, Oedipus is†¦show more content†¦The only people affected by Willy’s demise are his immediate family members. 1. Willy speaks the language of the consumers; he represents the American middle class that emerged in post war America. Willy blames himself and also the requirement of American society to chase the American dream at the expense of a person’s emotional and spiritual well-being. 2. The words of charley point out the fact that no one deserves the kind of returns Willy was getting at his salesman job. Willy, as the salesman, bought the sales pitch that used by the American society to advertise itself and he paid for it with his own life. 3. The play talks of mortgages, brand names and big multinationals. At the end of the day, he is able to afford his family a house and decent living but Willy believes he is worth more dead than alive. He believes his son Biff would benefit from his insurance compensation following his death. c. The difference as far as Tragedy goes is that in Greek tragedy, the main character is noble or royal and therefore the nation and/or state is at risk because of the main character’s tragic situation. In modern tragedy, the main character is an average person, and therefore there are few people impacted by their tragic circumstances. i. The state in which both the main characters are in when the play begins and ends are the same. 1. In the opening scene of Oedipus Rex, Oedipus the king is confused by what has happened to the city of Thebes. He doesShow MoreRelatedEssay Death of a Salesman, Tragic Hero. Willy Loman.1503 Words   |  7 PagesTo what extent can Willy Loman be considered a tragic hero according to Aristotle’s rules? Arthur Miller presents his play ‘Death of a Salesman’ in the ancient form of a tragedy. Aristotle has defined his idea of the ‘perfect’ tragedy in his text, ‘Poetics’ (350 BC).Here he suggests that the protagonist must fall from an elevated social standing as a result of a â€Å"fatal flaw† within the character; the fall from the main character creates resolution to the play which is seen as just; finally, AristotleRead MoreDeveloping Management Skills404131 Words   |  1617 PagesConflict 375 SKILL LEARNING 376 Interpersonal Conflict Management 376 Mixed Feelings About Conflict 376 Diagnosing the Type of Interpersonal Conflict 378 Conflict Focus 378 Conflict Source 380 Selecting the Appropriate Conflict Management Approach 383 Comparing Conflict Management and Negotiation Strategies 386 Selection Factors 386 Resolving Interpersonal Confrontations Using the Collaborative Approach A General Framework for Collaborative Problem Solving 391 The Four Phases of Collaborative Problem Solving

Technology Is The Most Effective Form Essay - 1437 Words

Between cell phones, Facebook, Twitter, and Snapchat, how much face-to-face communication is done anymore? It seems like there isn’t much. Over the past three decades, there has been a major shift in the way the world communicates. Advances in technology make it possible for someone in the United States to communicate with their next door neighbor and someone half way around the world in Singapore. With all the things to get done, is there even time for face to face interaction anymore or has technology taken over? Some say technology based communication plays a critical role in keeping individuals connected, but others disagree claiming face-to-face communication is the most effective form. While the two sides disagree, they share the importance of communication and that effective communication has a positive effect, thus reaching common ground. Technology-based communication has a place in present day society for various reasons. Many take for granted the ability to eff ectively communicate with those around them without effort and neglect to realize there are individuals who have complex communication needs. In a research experiment done by Emma Grace and several colleagues from different major universities in Australia, adolescents with complex communication needs learned how to use the internet for communication. The study found, â€Å"Young people who used the internet frequently had increased support and help from others enhancing their social adjustment. (142)†Show MoreRelatedAnalyzing Mankins Theory of Utilization of Resources1283 Words   |  5 PagesMankins and the Planet The most valuable thing to Mankins and the planet is to ensure full utilization of resources within the vicinity of humanity. This involves use of technology to utilize the scarce resources in order to meet the needs of the society members. According to Mankins, the planet is a better place whenever cheap and cost effective technology is in the application to meet the needs of the individuals within the society. Based on the recent and ancient technology of the inventory entityRead MoreTechnology Is Becoming A Bigger Part Of Education847 Words   |  4 PagesTechnology is becoming a bigger part of education daily. Technology has improved the education system dramatically. The traditional forms of communication such as sending letters or phone calls are not as effective as using technology to communicate. Fortunately, technology has paved the path to greater communication between teachers, parents, students and the global community. This paper will highlight four different technolog y tools that would be beneficial in enhancing communication between teachersRead MoreEfficient Business Communications in Companies Today Means Full Use of Social Media and Modern Technologies1411 Words   |  6 PagesIntroduction Communication is one of the most important factors in any organization or relationship. It is â€Å"the process of people sharing thoughts, ideas, information and feelings with each other in commonly understandable ways† (Hamilton, 2011, p. 3). When you can communicate properly in a business then it runs smoothly without communicational mistakes and misinterpretation. The main purpose of efficient business communications is to generate a positive, reliable and consistent reputation withRead MoreThe Fair Street Ib World School Vision835 Words   |  4 Pagesvision of technology is to support our culture of thinking critically, acting compassionately, working meaningfully, choosing wisely, and living joyfully by providing access to technology that empower and educate students. Our vision is to inspire, nurture, challenge, and prepare our students to maximize technology to positively impact student achievement as we educate them to be successful in a 21st century global society. All members of the school community will utilize technology to streamlineRead MoreCommunication Process and Challenges in Global Business Environment1745 Words   |  7 Pages Institute for International Management amp; Technology School of Management and Entrepreneurship ------------------------------------------------- BUSINESS COMMUNICATION Semester 1 2011-2012 Module Leader Ms. Kirti Bhatia Communication Process and Challenges In Global Busienss Environment Submitted By: Kanishk Matta Executive Summary In this report, generic form of communication process is described and types of communication are also there to helpRead MoreDesign Of Audit Trails And Data Quality Monitoring Programs1624 Words   |  7 Pagestrails are highly used in the process of detecting any form of security violations in the system, performance issues, and any flaws in the applications. Some of the key elements of audit trails include original source documents, transaction history database, and safe storage capabilities. For purposes of making sure that the healthcare data is safe, there are a number of policies that have been developed to make audit trials more efficient and effective. In this, some of the policies that have been developedRead MoreTechnology Trends1367 Words   |  6 Pageswell as the wider economy. Further, these technologies are reshaping the future of work and employment and how the most pressing challenges at present will be solved, including in medicine, agriculture and food security, and business. The business landscape has been reshaped significantly in the recent past, supercharging business performance and resulting in the emergence of new innovations in business as well as new forms of competitiveness. The technologies continue to advance, resulting in new wavesRead MoreIntegration of Nanotechnology and Biotechnology882 Words   |  3 PagesTechnology has changed our lives tremendously, when we see the things that we can do with a simple computer or cell phone if we were to go back into time just a few years no one would believe that this technology is possible. Innovative minds of the 21st century have made life a lot easier for us. The advances seen in the 21st century alone are astounding. Advances in technology are even more evident in sciences fields, especially medicine. When we look at technologies such as Medical Robots thatRead MoreEffective Communication Essay1279 Words   |  6 PagesPaper Effective Communication Helena Herbert HCS/325 October 23, 2012 Brian Dufrene Effective Communication â€Å"Communication is the process of sharing information, thoughts and feelings between people through speaking, writing or body language. Effective communication extends the concept to require that transmitted content is received and understood byRead MoreEffective Communication780 Words   |  3 PagesEffective communication is the process of transferring information or thoughts to someone or a group of people by way of speaking, writing or body language. According to â€Å"Livestron.com† (2014), â€Å"Effective communication extends the concept to require that transmitted content is received and understood by someone in the way it was intended. The goals of effective communication include creating a common perception, changing behaviors and acquiring information† (para. 1). It is important that the person

Communication Competence Scale Assessment On Myself And...

I completed the Communication Competence Scale assessment on myself and calculated my total score to be 98, a low score. I also had a family member complete the same assessment based on his perceptions of my communication competence and that score totaled 132, a high score. The significant disparity of the scores indicates that we definitely have different perceptions about my communication competence. I think this is a very interesting assignment to begin our learning on interpersonal communications, as indicated by our text, â€Å"Whatever the association, personal relationships clearly play an important role in our lives and communications helps us form and maintain them† (Floyd, 2011, p. 6). I look forward to applying this assessment toward improving my interpersonal communication which has certain relational implications. Based on the scale, I do not perceive myself to be a very competent communicator. In fact, I only rated myself highly in a few of the questions that were a part of the calculations in step 2, the questions that would yield a â€Å"positive† result relating to communicating. However, I do believe that I am a competent communicator in a few areas such as business and social gatherings and also when meeting new people. I am one of those people that communicates by maintaining eye contact and with facial expressions such as smiling and nodding my head in agreement to indicated understanding. I think this nonverbal feedback provides the speaker withShow MoreRelatedConflict Management and Emotional Intelligence63003 Words   |  253 Pages  perception  (Berstene,  2004),   personality  (Ambe,   2004)   and   past   rivalry   (Fazzi,   2001).       The   determinants   of   the   relationship   between   IV emotional   intelligence   and   conflict   management   strategy   have   been   identified   as   (1)   communication  and  interpersonal  relationships  (Esin,  1986),  (2)  concern  for  self  (Frak,  2005),    (3)   concern   for   others   (Gourley,   2005)   and   (4)   transformation   and   reinterpretation   of   the   conflict  situation  (Kane,  2004).       Grounded   Theory  Read MoreDeveloping Management Skills404131 Words   |  1617 Pagesmymanagementlab is an online assessment and preparation solution for courses in Principles of Management, Human Resources, Strategy, and Organizational Behavior that helps you actively study and prepare material for class. Chapter-by-chapter activities, including built-in pretests and posttests, focus on what you need to learn and to review in order to succeed. Visit www.mymanagementlab.com to learn more. DEVELOPING MANAGEMENT SKILLS EIGHTH EDITION David A. Whetten BRIGHAM YOUNG UNIVERSITY Read MoreGovernment Of Health Systems : Liberia And Sierra Leone8463 Words   |  34 Pagesinformation in general (86%) and for safe burial information in particular (79%). Other trusted sources for Ebola information were the media, health providers, relatives and friends, and religious leaders. However, trusting disease-specific communication in a crisis situation does not necessarily translate to an abiding trust in the healthcare system. The task facing the Liberian MOHSW, and its partners, is to increase utilization of health services against a background of weakened trust. Liberia’sRead MoreStuden Brand Comparison Betwen Apple and Samsung14106 Words   |  57 Pagestogether in order to give apparent picture of the conceptual framework. Chapter 4: Empirical Material and Analysis In this chapter, the empirical data collected from the students through the questionnaire is presented showing the students’ preference score for Apple and Samsung brand. The empirical material gather were analysis with concept and theories in brand to arrive at conclusion. Chapter 5: Conclusion This chapter presents the conclusion of this research study drawn from the analysis of the empiricalRead MoreCustomer Satisfaction on Maruti Suzuki7751 Words   |  32 PagesFACTORS AFFECTING CUSTOMER SATISFACTION : A STUDY ON MARUTI-SUZUKI Name : PROSEN SAHA 11/MBA/34 AKNOWLEDGEMENT Firstly, I would like to thank my project guide Mr.Subhadip Sarkar for giving me the opportunity to work on this project. His valuable suggestions, guidance and supervision had helped us to a great extent in accomplishing this project. This project has no doubt has given us the knowledge and the experience. I also take this opportunity to thank all the Respondents for theirRead MoreStephen P. Robbins Timothy A. Judge (2011) Organizational Behaviour 15th Edition New Jersey: Prentice Hall393164 Words   |  1573 PagesPersonality and Values 131 Perception and Individual Decision Making 165 Motivation Concepts 201 Motivation: From Concepts to Applications 239 3 The Group 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 Foundations of Group Behavior 271 Understanding Work Teams 307 Communication 335 Leadership 367 Power and Politics 411 Conflict and Negotiation 445 Foundations of Organization Structure 479 v vi BRIEF CONTENTS 4 The Organization System 16 Organizational Culture 511 17 Human Resource Policies and PracticesRead MoreTop 1 Cause for Project Failure65023 Words   |  261 Pagesare the TOP10 causes of Project failure that Mathew can think of (they are not in any kind of order): #1. Lacking Sponsor s Involvement/Ownership #2. Halo Effect (Wrong Man for the Job) #3. Poor HR Management #4. Poor/Inadequate Project Communications #5. Ignoring Project Stakeholders #6. Absence of Risk Management #7. Scope Creep/Unrealistic Expectations ( scope creep: Frequent and uncontrolled changes in the scope or requirements of a project) #8. Lack of Monitoring of Plan #9. AbsenceRead MoreFundamentals of Hrm263904 Words   |  1056 Pages With WileyPLUS: Students achieve concept mastery in a rich, structured environment that’s available 24/7 Instructors personalize and manage their course more effectively with assessment, assignments, grade tracking, and more manage time better study smarter save money From multiple study paths, to self-assessment, to a wealth of interactive visual and audio resources, WileyPLUS gives you everything you need to personalize the teaching and learning experience.  » F i n d o u t h ow t o MRead MoreStrategic Marketing Management337596 Words   |  1351 Pages9 The formulation of strategy – 1: analysing the product portfolio 9.1 9.2 9.3 9.4 9.5 9.6 9.7 10 Learning objectives Introduction The development of strategic perspectives Models of portfolio analysis Market attractiveness and business position assessment Criticisms of portfolio analysis Summary The formulation of strategy – 2: generic strategies and the significance of competitive advantage 10.1 Learning objectives 10.2 Introduction 385 387 387 viii CONTENTS 10.3 Types of strategy 10Read MoreProject Mgmt296381 Words   |  1186 PagesConflict management 9.3.2.6 Recognition and awards Defining the Project 4.1 Project charter 5.1 Gather requirements 5.2 Defining scope 5.3 Creating a WBS 5.4 Tools and techniques 6.1 Define activities 9.1.2. Responsibility matrixes 10.1 Communication planning (.2.3.4) [App. G-4] Chapter 12 Outsourcing 12.1.1 Procurement requirements [G.8] 12.1.2.3 Contract types 9.4.2.3 Conflict management 12.2.7 The art of negotiating 12.2.3.5 Change requests Chapter 13 Monitoring Progress

Because I Could Not Stop for Death free essay sample

Irony is used here because the speaker is not sure whether or not Death has tricked her into going from a busy life, to a peaceful death. Dickinson splits the poem into quatrains. Stanzas 1,2,3 and 5 use the same meter patterns. The first and third line of the stanzas has 8 syllables or 4 feet. Each foot represents two syllables, one unstressed the other stressed. A meter that is iambic is one that is common in the English language; so the poem could be said naturally. There are 4 feet so the meter is iambic tetrameter, tetra meaning 4. be CAUSE/ i COULD/ not STOP/ for DEATH The second and fourth lines in the stanzas only have 3 feet so they follow iambic trimeter pattern, tri meaning 3. Stanza 4 is a special one. There is no particular pattern to it. Stanza 6 is slightly altered by the last line, which has 7 syllables. Otherwise it follows the same rules as the previous stanzas. We will write a custom essay sample on Because I Could Not Stop for Death or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page In stanza one, Dickinson introduces the character of Death without hesitation. Here, Death gives us with the impression that he is a gentleman or a gentle suitor who kindly leads the speaker and encourages her to embark on the journey of death. The tone is peaceful and the speaker appears passive and is co-operative with his decision. Dickinson uses symbolism to depict the journey of death. This is apparent when she uses a carriage in line 3 to transport the speaker, Death and Immortality to the graveyard. Line 4 shows that â€Å"Immortality† is also on the carriage, meaning that the start of the journey to â€Å"Death† is also the start of a journey towards immortality. In Stanza 2, the narrator starts her journey slowly. She has started dying and is not struggling against all the pains; and has also given up all the joys of life, â€Å"and I had put away My labor and my leisure too. † Death is also described as being civil, â€Å"His Civility. Stanza 3 uses anaphora. â€Å"We passed† is repeated to give off the effect that she is watching as life goes by. Alliteration is also used in lines 11 and 12, â€Å"Gazing Grain† and â€Å"Setting Sun. † The setting sun is also symbolic; it represents the end of life. Stanza 4 gives us some eerie imagery. Line 13 suggests that it was the sun that actually passed her. â€Å"Dews† means the dew of the night so â€Å"The Dews drew quivering and chill† means that the speaker is feeling the coldness of the night. This might suggest that the she is already nearing the end of her journey towards death. After, she explains why she is cold. She is wearing a gown and it is described as being â€Å"Gossamer;† a light and thin material. Then she tells us she is also wearing a â€Å"Tippet† made of â€Å"Tulle. † A tippet is an old-fashioned shoulder cape and tulle is a thin silky material. Definitely not the clothes you would wear on a cold chilly night. The speaker tells us about her gravestone in stanza 5. Symbolism is used again in line 17; â€Å"House† represents the gravestone. We are shown here that the gravestone is just poking out of the ground and that it looks like a cornice. Now, we move into the future. It is also revealed that the narrator has been dead for centuries â€Å"’tis Centuries. Paradox is used here because the speaker says that these few hundred years feel shorter than that day she died. She also realised that when she died, it would mean going into eternal life; â€Å"the Horse’s Heads Were toward Eternity. † Dickinson has described, quite clearly, her views about death. She suggests that the afterlife means another life, one that is eternal. While some would disagree with her, she has made a statement that has lasted centuries. The poem is metaphorical, she has used some everyday things to portray one of the scariest things in life: death.

Police Brutality Persuasive Essay Example For Students

Police Brutality Persuasive Essay Description:It was April 29, 1992 and it was my twelve birthday. My mom gave me a little chocolate cake with a plastic surfer riding a wave on top of it. We were watching television while I was getting ready to blow out my candles. There was a disturbance in South Central Los Angeles that the news helicopters were covering on every channel. There were crowds of people flooding the intersection of Florence and Normandy acting rowdy and getting aggressive toward passing cars. They stopped cars and pulled people out of them. The news cameras were right on top of it all of the way. Reginald Deny was taken out of his semi-truck and severely beaten. You could see people enthused about beating this defenseless man. One man grabbed a brick and threw it at Denys head then began to dance with enthusiasm. The majority of the crowd were black and they were harassing any other race that happened to go through their neighborhood. The crowd got out of control setting fire to cars and the violence w as quickly spreading to other blocks around the neighborhood. I continued to eat my cake as I watched the news broadcasting the surging violence. The crowd was reacting to the acquittal, just hours earlier, of the four police officers in the beating of Rodney King2 . People couldnt believe the outcome. The beating of Rodney King was videotaped and shown over and over to the public. People believed that finally there was going to be justice. They believed that there was clear-cut evidence showing what has been complained about for years. Finally people who had never believed the accounts of police brutality existed witnessed it for themselves. Finally the public as a whole could react and try to control the officers that abuse their power. But instead, the officers were acquitted, and the Ngo 2public felt betrayed. Especially the black community who was fed up with their complaints falling on deaf ears. They were fed up and they resorted to rioting. For five days the violence persist ed and spread further and further out of the ghetto reaching across the borders of the black communities of South Central and into adjacent neighborhoods. The subject of police brutality was thrown into the eyes of the public. People could no longer ignore the problem and the city of Los Angeles was made the example of citizens frustrations in clouds of smoke and looted communities . Police brutality is defined as the unauthorized exercise of police discretion where the policeman acts without the formal capacity to impose legal sanctions (Rucheelman 133). The officers are given the power to use their best judgment in all situations. The main complaint is that the police often use force that is unnecessary. The police argue that they use force in order to protect themselves. The Law Enforcement Code of Ethics (International Association of Chiefs of Police) begins as follows: As a Law Enforcement Officer, my fundamental duty is to serve mankind; to safeguard lives and property; to protect the innocent against deception, the weak against oppression or intimidation, and the peaceful against violence and disorder; and to respect the Constitutional rights of all men to liberty, equality, and justice (Ruchelman 17). It later addresses prejudices and violence stating: I will never act officiously or permit personal feelings, prejudices, animosities or friendships to infl uence my decisionsI will enforce the law courteouslyNgo 3and appropriately without fear or favor, malice or ill will, never employing unnecessary force or violence and never accepting gratuities (Ruchelman 17). The line between police brutality and the proper force used in any situation is not always clearly drawn. Police officers are in constant danger and need to control people in order to handle certain situations. Police officers need to calculate the amount of force needed as their situations develop. Their are two kinds of police brutality. One occurs when emotions run high for example, during mass demonstrations or riots. The other kind is carried out systematically and regularly in the line of duty and is often times fueled by stress, frustration, racial intolerance or for intimidation. The second type of misconduct is deliberate and calculating and is potentially more disturbing to society because it causes more distrust and animosity between the community and law enforceme nt (Ruchelman 134). Causes:Police misconduct or corruption has been in the front lines of the news and in the thoughts of citizens since it was officially made public through the lenses of a video camera in the Rodney King beating. Yet, police misconduct has been complained about for years. It is often hard to believe the tales of police misconduct because they are given by people who have committed crimes and have been taken into custody. To prove that an officer has committed a crime, the person would need to convince a court room as well as other officers that an unlawful act has occurred. But the claim would be stereotyped before it was even heard, solely on the grounds that it is coming from an individual that is in a position to say whatever it takes to get themselves off the hook. For example, theNgo 4case of Mumia Abu Jamal, who claims to have been falsely accused and incarcerated for the December 1981 shooting and consequent death of a Philadelphia police officer. According to the World Wide We b site of The Case of Mumia Abu Jamal, police arrested Mumia with false evidence and for the fact that he was a harsh critic of the police department. The police harassed and withheld witnesses and evidence. There were suspects that were never investigated. Mumia was also defended by a court appointed attorney which he disagreed with and who was later disbarred. The facts behind his case make a point that police can use their extensive leverage to create a case that can stick and place a man on death row despite mounting evidence and widespread public support (Bisson 1). In Los Angeles the police department has been ridiculed extensively since the Rodney King incident, but other complaints have received less notoriety. On July 14, 1995 a jury found Los Angeles County sheriffs deputies in Lynwood guilty of systematic abuse, brutality, and racism. The class action litigation began in 1990 when mostly black and Latino residents of Lynwood accused deputies of systematic acts of shooting , killing, brutality, terrorism, house-trashing, and other acts of lawlessness and wanton abuse of power (B-1). The Lynwood suit involved fifty residents and seventy deputies. The jury awarded $611,000 to three African American men who were only the first plaintiffs to have their cases heard. This one decision took five years and cost the county $4.9 million in attorney fees alone. The decision only paves the way for other lawsuits which are pending and will soon follow (B-1). This case seems to be a turn in the right direction for the prosecution of officers abusing their powers, but another case that is much moreNgo 5publicly visible, due to the media coverage, is the case of the Riverside County sheriffs deputies who were videotaped beating two illegal immigrants with batons after a high speed chase in 1996 on the Pomona freeway. Riverside County was ordered to pay $370,000 to each of the victims, but the courts refused to prosecute the officers on the grounds that there was insu fficient evidence to prove that they violated federal civil rights laws (A-15). The Justice Department indicated that the deputies were in violation of policy, but even that was not enough to force legal action against the officers. The decision not to prosecute drew protests from civil rights groups in the United States as well as the Mexican government. The U.S. attorneys office met privately with Mexican American community leaders in hopes of easing tensions over the decision, but it was to no avail. The president of the Mexican American Political Association, Steve Figueroa, was outraged and heavily criticized Attorney General Janet Reno for refusing to prosecute. Figuoeroa plans to continue to push for the prosecution of the officers and is attempting to organize the public to force action against the police department (A-15). The animosity blacks and Latinos have toward the LAPD began in the fifties when police chief William H. Parker headed the department. Before Parker the L APD used community-based policing which allowed the officers to interact with the community by walking through the neighborhoods and getting to know the residents. Parker wanted his officers off the street and into squad cars where they could be aggressive, mobile, and make more arrests. Parker believed in intimidation and discouraging crime before it happened, he called it proactive policing (Corwin 232). Residents in the black and Latino neighborhoods considered proactive policingNgo 6harassment. Entering white neighborhoods they were routinely tailed, stopped, then searched. Without any provocation they complained of being bullied, intimidated, and beaten. Later in the eighties, when police chief Daryl Gates took over the department, Proactive policing was pushed even harder. Anti-gang sweeps resulted in the arrest of tens of thousands of black and Latino men, who were never charged with crimes and later released (240). Gates claimed that LAPD officers had to be aggressive becaus e they were outnumbered. The LAPD had the lowest ratio of officers to residents of the nations six largest cities and LAPD officers, by using gunfire, killed or wounded more civilians than any of the nations largest cities (234). In 1991 Warren Christopher, a prominent Los Angeles attorney, who latter became secretary of the state, headed an investigation into the LAPD in response to the Rodney King beating. The results of the investigation further tarnished the reputation of the LAPD, it concluded that the department was out of touch with the minority communities and tolerated racially motivated brutality. It went on to criticize the department for leniency in disciplining officers guilty of excessive force. The investigation found that officers with numerous complaints against them had these reports left out of their files and were often promoted quickly through the department. The Christopher commission concluded that The failure to control these problem officers referring to tho se guilty of misconduct, is a management issue that we see as the heart of the problem of excessive force. (236). A Personal Experience with Fear EssaySolution: Working in an emergency room in a hospital, I see and speak with sheriffs deputies on a daily basis. For the most part they are all decent people trying to do theirNgo 7jobs and live their lives. When I speak with them they are usually warm, polite, and eager to being open and humorous. I dont feel intimidated or nervous around them. But, on the other hand when these same deputies approach me on the streets or pull me over in my car they take on a completely different persona. They are often intimidating and they treat you as if you are a criminal and guilty of a crime. I asked a deputy why they act so different out there on the streets and he replied because we are scared. The police have a bad reputation, especially in the Los Angeles area, but the officers are doing little to change that perception. The solution needs to begin with the officers themselves. The officers need to make a conscious effort to show people that they are try ing to protect society and that they are not looking to harass people. One option that might be a step in the right direction is to bring back more community-based policing which is recognized as a good way to fight crime and defuse tension in the inner cities (Corwin 232). Knowing residents in the cities, such as store owners and community leaders can only help build a relationship in which each side can try to trust one-another and work together to eliminate crime. The written guidelines that police officers have for the use of force is outlined in the World Wide Web site of Amnesty International. The officers may only use a minimum amount of force that is necessary to achieve a legitimate purpose. There are five stages in the use of force. (1) Verbal persuasion. (2) Unarmed physical force. (3) Force using non-lethal weapons (mace or pepper spray). (4) Force using impact weapons (batons). (5) Deadly force may be used only when an officer or another persons life is inNgo 8danger (A mnesty International). This is a rough outline of their evaluation of the guidelines, but it seems to be easy steps that can prevent the abuse of power. Another action could be to watch the police more closely through the use of an expanded internal affairs department. The Pittsburgh Police Department, under orders from the federal government, has begun tracking complaints against officers with a computerized system that will notify police supervisors that they may have a problem with certain officers. The police department is highly opposed to such measures calling it spying on the people hired to protect the public(Coates A-14). But the police are constantly spying on people in order to catch them at crimes, so in essence the system is only treating the officers the same as the other residents. The problem of police brutality is eventually going to be lessened by weeding out people that are not suitable for the responsibility. According to the Police Employment Handbook, to become a California Highway Patrol officer the basic requirements are a high school diploma or GED equivalent, twenty-three weeks of basic training, US citizenship, and good moral character. The annual salary is a minimum of $31,000 and a maximum of $38,000 (15-16). There is no educational incentive pay and the only other means of added salary is to work overtime. The amount of risk that is involved in this line is work is hardly worth the average payment that is received. The patrol officers work twelve-plus hours a day protecting society only to earn as much money as any minimally skilled person at an office job. The police department must get applications from people who are eager to help society or from people who are out to help themselves in an environment in which they can be in control, aggressive, and can get Ngo 9away with the use of force by excusing it as part of their job. There are plenty of good people who work in law enforcement, but on the other hand there are plenty that are not suitable for there responsibilities. The government needs to increase the salary of the officers and in turn require higher education. If individuals are motivated enough to help society, by becoming officers and in turn risking their lives to do so, then they deserve to be compensated equally. If the departments start hiring more quality personnel, then they should have less suits filed against them. The money they save by eliminating lawsuits can could be substantial to the amount they would need to increase the officers salaries. Legal Issues Essays