The United States is known worldwide for its serious crime problem. “Nobody knows exactly what the actual crime rate is in America but everybody knows it is too high.”1 In fact, total crime rates in the USA are significantly higher than in other industrialized countries. By 1998, nearly six million people – almost 3% of the adult population – were under some form of correctional supervision.2 These developments have had important consequences for criminal justice institutions. More than 1000 new prisons have been built in the United States since 19803. Today state prisons are forced to operate above their capacity.
If you have a closer look at the criminal justice system of the United States you could get the impression that crime is the product and punishment is the answer. Especially conservative politicians, together with the mass media and activists in the victim rights movement advanced that the criminal justice system has become more and more punitive since the late 1960s. This development is documented at great length. In order to explain the increasing crime rates, most criminologists and sociologists have devoted their attention to examining the causes of crime. The scientific and public discussion about how to stop crime is going to be continued because there is no definitive recipe for a safer society. Nevertheless, it is undisputed that crime must be prevented.
This paper deals with Megan’s Law which was enacted in the United States to prevent the victimization of children. It is America’s first law authorizing public notification when dangerous sex offenders are released into the community. Firstly, I will define the terms crime and crime prevention to come to a better understanding of this complex theme. Secondly, I will examine several attempts to define crime prevention. Thirdly, I will compare the arguments for and against Megan’s Law in order to answer the following questions: Is this law really helpful to protect the society against sexual abuse? And, if this is not the case: what could be done to prevent and even reduce sexual abuse? Finally, I will make a concluding assessment and give a short summary of the themes explored in this paper.
Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- 1. Introduction
- 2. Definitions
- 2.1. Definition of crime
- 2.2. Definition of crime prevention
- 3. Classifying crime prevention
- 4. Megan's Law
- 4.1. The history of Megan's Law
- 4.2. Different versions of Megan's Law
- 4.3. The pros and cons of Megan's Law
- 5. Conclusion
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
This paper aims to analyze Megan's Law as a strategic approach to crime prevention in the USA, focusing on its effectiveness in protecting society against sexual abuse. It investigates whether the law is a helpful tool and explores alternative strategies if it proves insufficient.
- Definition and classification of crime and crime prevention.
- Historical overview and variations of Megan's Law.
- Evaluation of the effectiveness of Megan's Law.
- Discussion of the arguments for and against Megan's Law.
- Exploration of alternative approaches to preventing sexual abuse.
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
1. Introduction: This introductory chapter establishes the context of high crime rates in the USA, particularly focusing on the disproportionately high rates compared to other industrialized nations. It highlights the growth of the American correctional system and the increasing punitive nature of the criminal justice system since the late 1960s. The chapter introduces Megan's Law as the subject of the paper, emphasizing its purpose of preventing child victimization through public notification of released sex offenders. The author outlines the paper's structure, promising to define key terms, examine different crime prevention strategies, and analyze the arguments surrounding Megan's Law's effectiveness.
2. Definitions: This chapter tackles the complex task of defining "crime" and "crime prevention." It begins by acknowledging the varying interpretations of "crime," both legally and practically, distinguishing between felonies and misdemeanors in the US legal system. The chapter further categorizes crimes as mala in se (inherently evil) and mala prohibita (wrong because prohibited), illustrating the complexities of defining and classifying criminal acts based on their nature and societal perception. The definition of "crime prevention" is similarly explored, highlighting the challenges in creating a universally accepted definition due to the wide range of activities that could potentially fall under this umbrella. The chapter emphasizes the limitations of simply defining crime prevention as any activity that reduces crime, suggesting a need for more specific parameters.
3. Classifying crime prevention: (Note: The provided text excerpt does not include the content of Chapter 3. A summary cannot be provided without this information.)
4. Megan's Law: This chapter delves into the history, variations, and controversies surrounding Megan's Law. It explores the historical context leading to its enactment, highlighting the significant role of public outcry and victim advocacy. The chapter would likely analyze different versions of the law across various states, examining their specific provisions and potential variations in implementation. A crucial aspect would be the analysis of the arguments for and against Megan's Law, exploring its benefits in terms of public safety and potential drawbacks, such as stigmatization, and the accuracy and reliability of risk assessment tools used in determining who is subject to the law.
Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
Megan's Law, crime prevention, sexual abuse, child victimization, crime rates, criminal justice system, public notification, sex offenders, risk assessment, crime definitions, mala in se, mala prohibita, felonies, misdemeanors.
Frequently Asked Questions: Analysis of Megan's Law as a Crime Prevention Strategy
What is the purpose of this document?
This document provides a comprehensive preview of a paper analyzing Megan's Law as a crime prevention strategy in the USA. It includes a table of contents, objectives and key themes, chapter summaries, and keywords. The analysis focuses on the law's effectiveness in protecting society against sexual abuse and explores alternative strategies if needed.
What topics are covered in the document?
The document covers definitions of crime and crime prevention, classifications of crime prevention strategies, a detailed examination of Megan's Law (including its history, variations across states, pros and cons), and a discussion of alternative approaches to preventing sexual abuse. The introductory chapter establishes the context of high crime rates in the USA and the evolution of the American correctional system.
What are the key themes of the analysis?
Key themes include the effectiveness of Megan's Law in preventing sexual abuse, the debate surrounding its benefits and drawbacks, the challenges of defining and classifying crime and crime prevention, and the exploration of alternative strategies to combat sexual abuse. The analysis also considers the impact of public notification and the accuracy of risk assessment tools used in conjunction with Megan's Law.
What is Megan's Law?
Megan's Law refers to a set of state and federal laws in the United States that mandate the registration of convicted sex offenders and, in many cases, the public notification of their presence in a community. The laws are named after Megan Kanka, a young girl who was murdered by a convicted sex offender who lived in her neighborhood.
What are the different versions of Megan's Law?
The document notes that there are different versions of Megan's Law across various states, with potential variations in their specific provisions and implementation. The details of these variations are not provided in the preview.
What are the arguments for and against Megan's Law?
The document mentions that the analysis will explore the arguments both for and against Megan's Law. The "pros" likely relate to increased public safety and awareness, while the "cons" could include issues like stigmatization of offenders and potential inaccuracies in risk assessment.
What are the chapter summaries included in the preview?
The preview includes summaries of the introduction and the chapters on definitions (of crime and crime prevention) and Megan's Law. A summary for Chapter 3 (Classifying Crime Prevention) is missing from the provided text.
What are the keywords associated with this analysis?
Keywords include Megan's Law, crime prevention, sexual abuse, child victimization, crime rates, criminal justice system, public notification, sex offenders, risk assessment, crime definitions, mala in se, mala prohibita, felonies, and misdemeanors.
What is the overall conclusion of the paper (as per the preview)?
The overall conclusion is not explicitly stated in the preview, but the analysis aims to determine if Megan's Law is an effective crime prevention tool and explore alternative strategies if it is found insufficient.
- Citar trabajo
- Ariane Peters (Autor), 2005, How to stop crime? Megan’s Law as a strategic approach to crime prevention in the USA, Múnich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/37208
