Introduction
Providing a brief review of the background literature (theories, research findings)
Introduce study aims and research question and link to literature
The main purpose of this paper is to find the connection between punitivity, criminal justice, victimization, and people’s security among the public. The survey took into account both males and females starting with the 18 year-olds to those beyond 65 years of age. Generally, the survey analyzed 10 people. The researchers asked various questions and together with the response transmitted through emails. They also looked upon various considerations during the survey. Some of the considerations during the survey included gender, marital status of individuals, people who lived with their partners and the single people. Academic and professional qualifications also mattered during the survey. Given that, some of the participants had leaving certificates, degrees, and other relevant academic and professional qualifications. The media was a matter of concern with the daily mail and Irish Times emerging as the most reliable print media during the investigations. Place of residence was another factor that the survey took into account.
Findings
The statistical analysis findings showed previous public victimization. In a bid to get perfect results from the survey, ten people were involved in the survey. The ten people used had to be from different countries. The survey involved 10 people who were mainly from Saudi Arabia, Irish and American countries. During the selection process of the participants, various factors taken into account. Factors such as, knowledge of the study topic was the main issue during the selection process. This aimed at ensuring that the participants gave out reliable and accurate information. The survey also considered how it would get information from people who had good knowledge regarding punitiveness in criminal cases. During the investigations, the researchers threw questions regarding punitiveness randomly. Here, the group gave different opinions regarding the matter. The participants involved in the survey-included retirees, students, full time employees and part timers.
Some of the findings included; Most of the people strongly disagreed on issues regarding prison being the last resort on criminals. Regarding death penalties, 5 people strongly disagreed on the matter while, only 1 person really wanted criminals to be punished through death sentences. This means that, most people are against punishing criminals through death sentences.
On the issues regarding criminals accessing recreational facilities, most people were strongly against the idea. Only two people agreed with the idea while 3 people did not take any sides. On the same survey, a young man aged 21 years old proved guilty of burglary. Participants responded to questions regarding what sentence should the young man serve. Only one person advocated for fine while two people said taking the young man to prison is the best option. Additionally, 3 participants preferred the suspension of the sentence while 4 people advocated for probation period of the thief. Majority of the participants did not know what punishment court should give. Other options including ensuring the victim does the community service had only five participants advocating for it.
Methods
Research design
The method used in this study was survey, which helped in obtaining information from all the people who had knowledge about punitiveness. The survey majorly involved asking questions regarding the opinion relating to the demographic interest. The survey suited this study because it gives extensive information about the topic of study unlike other methods like observation and experimentation. It provides much information since there is chance for asking the questions that are relevant to the study (Groves et al, 179). Further, it is easy to administer as compared to observation where the researcher would have to stick to one respondent in order to get feedback. Survey method also yielded information that is reliable, as the respondent would only have to stick to answering the questions. The only limitation to the use of the survey was the hostile respondents who were not ready to provide information (Bethlehem, 2009, p 34). However, there was solution to this as there was assurance to the respondents that there will be secrecy for the information obtained. The administration of the survey was in a group of five students thus executing ten questionnaires.
Participants
The research involved administering survey to 10 adult people. The survey questions reached the respondents through the email. The 10 adult people were of ages ranging from 18 years to 64 years. There was consideration of equity between the genders with 5 males and 5 females. In order to get the accurate information that could apply all over the world, the ten adult people were to be from at least three different countries. In this case, the different nationalities of the 10 adult people were Irish, Saudi Arabian and American nationalities. The selection of the participants in the different countries involved accessing the knowledge they have on the topic of study. This helped in ensuring that there was reliable data from the participants. Further, 3 of the participants were students while the rest were employed.
Materials – describe questionnaire and other materials used
Procedures
We divided ourselves into groups with each one going to a specific region to obtain results. Each individual went on to convince the intended participants about the significance of the survey, before administering the survey. We then gave each of the participants the survey questions leaving them to answer on their own. After the feedback, each individual came up with the results, which we then compared in order to gauge the accurate information. We calculated for the average, from the four results, in order to gauge the suitable results.
Ethics
We were conscious of the research ethics during the study to ensure that we did a successful study. For instance, we had to enlighten the participants, about the research, before administering the questionnaire. This allowed them to digest and agree that the research could be useful (Greaney, 2012, p 39). Further, we ensured that there was no component, in our study, that could harm the participants. These enabled us to gain the participant’s loyalty triggering them to give use the accurate information.
The Results
Clear overview of results
The groups involved in the survey include students, retirees, and those serving in employment full-time and part-time. In one of the surveys, there were three students and seven individuals employed on a full time basis. There were variations in response to the critical questions of the survey in relation to the students. Two students out of the three who participated in this survey indicated that they agree with the introduction of the death penalty for serious crime. The employed individuals also recorded variations in addressing the vital questions of the survey.
The second survey of ten individuals consisted of four employed individuals on a full time basis. Four respondents indicated that they were retired while two of the remaining participants were seeking for work or employment. The third survey of the ten respondents recorded seven full time employees, two students, and one part time employee in relation to the third question of the survey. In the fourth group of respondents during the survey revealed three retired individuals, two students, and five individuals employed on a full time basis. In the fifth survey group, the results indicated that there were six students and four respondents fully employed.
Key Analysis of the Results
Two students out of the three who participated in this survey indicated that they agree with the introduction of the death penalty for serious crime. In the first group of surveys, about 40 percent of the participants agreed to the fact that the death penalty should be reintroduced to curb serious criminals. In the same exercise, 30 percent of the respondent in the first survey group strongly disagreed to the fact of reintroducing death penalty. Only one individual was neutral on the issue. Majority of the individuals in this exercise disagreed to the fact of condemning more and understanding less by the offenders.
Majority of the respondents were of view of providing recreational facilities in prison. This reflection of the 90 percent that agreed and 10 percent strongly agreed to the question. Majority of the respondents during the five crucial survey exercises disagreed to the fact that prisons should be used sparingly and as the last option to other legal means. This represents about 75 percent of the total participants who contributed towards the achievement of the research. In relation to the scenario of the 21-year old, majority of the participants indicated that, the person should serve a jail term through identifying prison as the effective sentence. Discussion
Few of the individuals supported the issue that relates to adoption of the death penalty as a method to curb serious problems. This is mostly attributed to the cost of the death penalty approach and lack of humanity in its application. The process of the death penalty also takes much longer thus causing mental torture to the individual involved. This is through numerous court cases, and the duration offenders take on the death row causes mental problems. Death penalty is also an ineffective approach since it does not guarantee elimination of crime from the society thus a waste of resources within the economy.
These setbacks of the death penalty as an archaic approach towards dealing with crime is the main reason why majority of the respondents during this survey disagree with its reintroduction in curbing serious crimes within the society. Prisoners also have rights, as human beings hence should enjoy improved living conditions within the prisons. This is through adoption and implementation of recreational facilities such as gym. This is to ensure that they stay fit and contribute productively to the society through healthy living. Most offenders need to understand the concept of punishment in order to participate towards its implementation and effectiveness in eliminating crime within the society.
This is a promotion of justice within the society, as offenders understand their roles and the subsequent punishments. Prison proves to be an effective approach towards prevention of crime within the society because of its cheap and efficient approach in implementation. This indicates that prison should be given much priority than the death penalty in curbing crime in the modern society.
Conclusion
A majority of the youth most live in the city with most of them having completed their education to degree level. Majority are fulltime employed in various fields. Many people who are involved in crime are mainly the youth. They do this as a way of earning a source income to sustain their daily needs. The youth have the desire to get rich early so that they can have an early retire. They end up doing crime when they find out that formal employment will not give them what they want. The surveys conducted represent the majority of the world not only in Ireland.
Police and prosecution
For the police to prosecute a person there must be presence of relevant evidence against the defendant. There should be a conditional caution for youths, adults thereby giving a warning and a conditional cause. A reprimand can also be issued to the defendant. The prospect for conviction is mainly an objective test. It is a realistic prospect. A judge hearing a case or a bench of magistrates doing the same with accordance to the rule of law set in the country has a higher chance of convicting a person charged with a certain crime. This should be done only if the magistrates are 100 percent sure that the person is guilty of the said charges.
Prosecutors must make sure that the charges against the defendant are correct and not falsehoods. The prosecutor makes sure that the charges reflect on the serious nature of the crime committed. The extent of the offence should be reflected. The prosecutor should give the court sufficient powers that will enable it to sentence the offender fully according to the nature of the crime committed. A prosecutor has the power to alter and change the charges faced by an individual. If a certain charge suits well with a certain situation then the prosecutor has the mandate to focus on the charge. The prosecutor must allow the case explained to the court that in a clear, decisive and simple manner.
In some cases, a defendant may want to plead guilty to the charged that have been laid out to him in a court of law. The prosecutor should agree to this if and only if the punishment that the defendant will be charged with matches the seriousness of the crime committed. A lesser punishment should not be passed to the defendant. The prosecutor however, has no power or right to ask a bench of magistrates or a judge what kind of punishment is best suited for a crime committed. This decision is for the judge to decide and not the prosecutor. In presenting the case in court, the prosecutor should put into consideration the interests of the victim’s family members. This move influences a prosecutor’s decision in accepting or denying a plea.
Courts and sentencing
The court has three main sentencing systems: determinate sentencing statutes, indeterminate sentencing statutes and mandatory sentencing statutes. Determinate sentences have a possibility to be reduced to a parole. Confinement will still be present for a certain period then a parole is granted. A legislature fixes the charges that are different for all charges and crimes prohibited by a constitution. The judges are stripped of their sentencing discretion. The judge has the power to rule out whether the charges that a person is convicted with will make him go to prison or not. The only thing that a judge cannot influence or decide is how long the prison sentence will be. Inmates in prison institutions do not fully serve their full terms in prison. They serve parole. A legislature establishes a maximum and a minimum term for an indeterminate sentencing. A judge decides as to what the maximum and minimum term will be for a particular case. A mandatory sentence is close in relation to a determinate sentence.
References
Bethlehem, J. G. (2009). Applied survey methods: A statistical perspective. Hoboken, N.J: Wiley.
Fowler, F. J. (2002). Survey research methods. Thousand Oaks, Calif. [u.a.: Sage Publications.
Groves, R. M., Fowler, F. J., Couper, M., Lepkowski, J. M., Singer, E., & Tourangeau, R. (2009). Survey methodology. Hoboken, N.J: Wiley.
Greaney, A, Sheehy, A, Heffernan, C, Murphy, J, Mhaolrúnaigh, S, Heffernan, E, & Brown, G 2012, ‘Research ethics application: a guide for the novice researcher’, British Journal Of Nursing, 21, 1, pp. 38-43, CINAHL Plus with Full Text, EBSCOhost, viewed 21 November 2012.
Greene, j., Pranis, K., & Frost, N. (2006). The punitiveness report hard hit : the growth in the imprisonment of women, 1977-2004. New York, Institute on Women & Criminal Justice, Women’sPrison Association. http://www.wpaonline.org/institute/hardhit/HardHitReport4.pdf.
Koziol, H., & Wilcox, V. (2009). Punitive damages: common law and civil law perspectives. New York, N.Y., SpringerWien.
Savage, G. T., & Ford, E. W. (2008). Patient safety and health care management. Bingley, UK, Emerald JAI.
Stein, H. (2004). Buchenwald concentration camp, 1937-1945: a guide to the permanent historical exhibition. Göttingen, Wallstein.
Sunstein, C. R. (2007). Punitive damages: how juries decide. Chicago, The University of Chicago Press.
Ask, K. (2010) ‘A survey of police officers’ and prosecutors’ beliefs about crime victim behaviours,’ Journal of Interpersonal Violence, Vol. 25(6): 1132-1149.
Hoyle, C. and Sanders, A. (2000) ‘Police response to domestic violence,’ British Journal of Criminology, Vol. 40(1): 14-36.
Edwards, I. (2001) ‘Victim participation in sentencing: The problems of incoherence,’ The Howard Journal of Criminal Justice, Vol. 40(1): 39-54.
Roberts, J. (2009) ‘Listening to the crime victim: Evaluating victim input at sentencing and parole,’ Crime and Justice, Vol. 38.
