Essay on Advocating Rights

Submitted By shizznitt22
Words: 737
Pages: 3
Open Document
Advocating Rights One of the main themes in the criminal justice field is the argument between individual rights versus public order. This theme reflects on historical processes that have molded our legal system and our apprehensions of crime and justice. When a fair consensus is reached, the American Criminal Justice System balances the rights of individuals while protecting the social order of our society. The personal freedoms Americans have such as the right to bear arms are also regulated with a background check and waiting period to access the firearm for public safety.
A strong emphasis on individual rights rose to the forefront of American social thought during the 1960s and 1970s, a period known as the civil rights era. The civil rights era led to the recognition of fundamental personal rights that had previously been denied illegally to many people on the basis of race, ethnicity, gender, sexual preference, and disability. The movement soon expanded to include the rights of many other groups including criminal suspects, parolees, and probationers, trial participants, prison and jail inmates, and victims (Schmalleger 5). Individual rights for criminal defendants was on the rise in the 1970s but today's opinion has swayed toward public safety.
The criminal used to be viewed as an unfortunate victim of poor society with a difficult personal life who had to turn to crime because that was the way he was raised or did not have a choice because of his surroundings. In today's world, however, all that has been thrown out the window and public safety has become the number one concern. Public safety advocates have grown largely and begin putting full responsibility on the criminal, no matter his personal situation. The criminal is viewed as a dangerous social predator who does not deserve to live within society anymore and needs to be locked away at a prison or a mental institution.
Reflecting on the “get tough on crime” attitudes of today, many Americans demand to know how offenders can better be held accountable for violating the criminal law. In late 2010, for example, California state senators passed Chelsea's Law, a bill intended to increase prison sentences and extend parole terms for offenders who commit sex crimes against minors. States across the United States are pulling for harsher and longer sentences for any sexual assault type of crime including rape and molestation (Schmalleger 5).
In the current legislation, the arguments between individual rights advocates and public order advocates form the basis of policy-making in criminal justice. With individual rights activists emphasizing civil rights and a defendants right to fairness, the public order activists stress on the rights of the victimized and society as a whole. When brought together and with a mix of both, correct legislation is passed. In the book, the theme is summarized in one important paragraph which reads:
“There is widespread recognition in contemporary society of the need to balance (1) the freedoms and privileges of
Show More

Related Documents: Essay on Advocating Rights

Jo Freeman Abortions

issue for decades, with advocates and opponents fiercely debating the ethical, legal, and social implications of reproductive rights. Jo Freeman, a prominent feminist and political activist, has played a significant role in advocating for women’s rights, including the right to access safe and legal abortions. This essay will explore the importance of preserving reproductive rights for women to make autonomous decisions about their bodies through an analysis by Jo Freedman and a CNN news article. On April…

Words 586 - Pages 3

Insane Asylums Research Paper

years, mental health has made significant transformations in treatment approaches, societal attitudes toward mental illness, and advocacy efforts for helping the mentally ill. The initial change in mental health that has dramatically moved in the right direction is therapy techniques. Changes in mental health…

Words 965 - Pages 4

The Study Essay

government, including freedom of speech and freedom of religion. Civil rights - A term used for those positives acts of government that seek to make constitutional guarantees a reality for all people, e.g.,prohibitions of discrimination. ● Content neutral - The government may not regulate assemblies on the basis on on what might be said. ● Due Process Clause - Part of the 14 which guarantees that no state denies basic right to its people. ● Establishment Clause - Separates church and…

Words 464 - Pages 2

5 PAGE AP GOV SANTA MONICA ESSAY

Henry’s fourteenth amendment rights, specifically the due process clause would be violated. The plaintiff may also use the first amendment to win his appeal over the City of Santa Monica. The relevant first amendment rights, that apply to this case, are the right to assemble and freedom of speech. The right to assemble allows citizens to gather in public meetings to discuss public affairs and influence public policy. The SMMAMC group can argue that they were simply exercising their freedom of assembly right granted under the first amendment…

Words 1301 - Pages 6

Hull House Research Paper

The Impact of the Hull House Movement on Social Justice and Reform. The Hull House movement, spearheaded by Jane Addams and Ellen Gates Starr in 1889, emerged as a transformative force in Progressive Era America, pioneering innovative approaches to address the multifaceted challenges faced by immigrant communities in Chicago's industrial slums (Addams, "Prefatory Note"). Addams, in her detailed account of "Twenty Years at Hull House," offers insights into the gender dynamics shaping the movement…

Words 1584 - Pages 7

19th Amendment Research Paper

The 19th Amendment to the United States Constitution, ratified in 1920, stands as a pivotal moment in American history, granting women the right to vote and fundamentally altering the nation's electoral landscape. Before its passage, women faced systematic disenfranchisement solely based on their gender, deprived of the fundamental right to participate in the democratic process. The suffrage movement, led by courageous activists such as Susan B. Anthony, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, and Alice Paul, tirelessly…

Words 470 - Pages 2

Morse V. Fredrick: A Case Study

Frederick was suspended for outlawed the encouragement of the use of prohibited drugs. What followed was that Fredrick sued the principal for his suspension. Fredrick sued protesting against the suspension on the basis that it was a violation of his right to freedom of speech. When the matter was taken to the court, the United States District Court for the District of Alaska gave a ruling in favor of Morse (Kincaid,…

Words 842 - Pages 4

Malcolm X Vs Mlk

Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X were two important people in the Civil Rights Movement in the 1960s, each advocating for justice and equality but having different approaches. MLK, believed in nonviolent resistance and civil disobedience as a means to achieve racial equality. His philosophy was deeply rooted in Christian teachings of love, forgiveness, and nonviolence. Through his powerful speeches, such as the "I Have a Dream" speech delivered during the March on Washington in 1963, MLK inspired…

Words 363 - Pages 2

Antoinette Blackwell Impact On Society

November 2016 Antoinette Brown Blackwell Antoinette Brown Blackwell was a very influential reformer in the 1800s. She was involved in many reform movements such as education, women’s rights, temperance, and slavery. Growing up in a very religious home, Religion influenced Blackwell’s position as a reformer. Advocating for the suffrage movement, Blackwell felt obligated to build up her authority in public. Education was very significant to Blackwell. She attempted to make education very important in…

Words 317 - Pages 2

A Rhetorical Analysis Of Benjamin Banneker's Letter

through the use of a historical allusion. The audience of the letter is Thomas Jefferson, one of the creators of the Declaration of Independence, so Banneker refers to a quote in the document saying “that all men are created equal” having “unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness” (Banneker). When this document was…

Words 511 - Pages 3