The objectives of the Justice Policy Institute Essay

The objectives of the Justice Policy Institute - Essay Example [internet]) Yes, giving a chance to a jailed convict is understandable. But questions have to be answered. Is it worth it Is any program to that effect deserving of support Is incarceration really not the solution Whatever the answers are, does the Justice Policy Institute have a definite, determined and clearly streamlined missions and visions With its objectives focused on offering or proposing alternatives to incarceration, the Justice Policy Institute, a non-profit organization, believes that the options incorporated in its goals and missions are safe, effective and fair and these are achieved, among others, through researching into the roots and outcomes of incarceration. (Schiraldi, Vincent Schiraldi, Jason Colburn and Eric Lotke. An Examination of the Impact of Three Strikes Laws. THREE STRIKES AND YOU ARE OUT. [internet].) It also is a proponent of changing the perceptions of the public regarding the issue of jailing. Furthermore, it commits to assist the government and the communities along that line. Interestingly, the organization, even giving it the benefit of the doubt that it has the sincerity in proposing alternatives better and more worthwhile than prisons, the goals it has outlined seem to be overshadowed by the attendant vagueness. It even takes serious issue on the so-called three strikes laws which incr ease the penalties of three-time offenders stating that the subsequent infractions are usually non-violent and, therefore, there is really not much necessity of added punishment. The Arguments of the Proponents The institute defines its mission as one to rally the promotion of solutions allegedly more effective than reliance on incarceration or imprisonments in fixing social problems. The proponents and advocates of the Justice Policy Institute further claim that, as a matter of fact, the United States of America has had remarkable rise in the numbers of prisoners and that its rates of incarceration top world statistics. They also criticize political hyperboles regarding declarations of getting tough on crimes. The institute leadership further raises the issue that social predicaments such as mental health and substance abuse can better be addressed by sending the patients not behind bars but in some other places where they can instead be better taken cared of. The institute stresses that the country is paying for more than two million incarcerated people. Owing to those dynamics, the leaders of the group advance the idea that better solutions are at hand and need to be applied. Such appro aches as supportive of treatment and other options involving the communities are claimed to promote safety and save money. The organization expresses the view that there are wiser ways to rehabilitate criminals. It says more work must be done. (Our Mission. Justice Policy Institute. [internet]) Going over its website postings, one can see the activities of the institute: the reports it renders opposing development in the prison system, the researches it makes on jail statistics and other seemingly relevant items. One issue tells of

Culture and Diversity in Latin America Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 3

Culture and Diversity in Latin America - Essay Example Much of what is now taken as their culture originated from the Portuguese and the Spaniards who conquered the land. Their colonization blurred and made complicated the cultural and racial mixture that existed at the time. A great diversity within followed with the influences of other European countries, Africans and Indians being ingrained in both the culture and the language. In order to organize the diversity created by their stay, the Spaniards formed hierarchies with the varying ethnic groups through ranking. This did not sit well with many writers and artists whose feelings for the Spanish and Portuguese conquerors are quite ambivalent. Said racial hierarchies are still present and is in fact still very strong during the 19th and 20th centuries. Thought the media, the arts and other intellectuals, e.g., writers and artists, the Latin American identities are reshaped particularly those of the people with the mixed racial background and the indigenous Africans. The interplay of various cultures from different countries played a huge part in forming the Latin American culture. This is what is represented by Chapter 14 of the book. It made mention of the the â€Å"Colossus of the North†, no other than the United States, which had an effect especially on the cultural production of the region in the 20th century. It also discussed the ironic fact that Brazilian modernism relied on the European nations for its inspiration yet argued that its own artists should be able to create artwork that is uniquely Brazilian. Also in the 20th century, the communist parties in the Latin American region, instead of gaining notoriety, gained much appeal to many artists. All these facts as written in the subject chapter brought to light what made up the culture that the Latin Americans have and why though diversity is present.