Should Police Officers Wear Body Cameras?

Should Police Officers Wear Body Cameras? Abstract In recent years the amount of cases of police brutality has increased significantly. These officers have shown the public that those who are meant to protect us can also hurt us. Those who are supposed to uphold the law can also abuse it. In light of the recent Michael Brown incident the people have finally decided to make a stand against the police officers who believe that they are above the law. This was not the only case that things have escalated this bad before. There are many cases of police brutality that the public had rallied around and made the whole nation aware of the issue. The most recent case of Michael Brown has caused the biggest uproar in recent history. The people have proposed a new law to help fix this issue and it has picked up a huge following and it is demanding the attention of the White House. Introduction Authority has been abused since others were given power over the many. In many cases it is often government officials that have abuse their power in many nations, but in the USA we have the issue of the law enforcers not enforcing the law or enforcing it a little too much. Police brutality cases have been on the rise since the early 2000s (CATO Institute, 2010). We as a people have often ignored the fact that those who are supposed to be upholding the law often break it. As of 2014 we as a people have taken a stand against the rise in police brutality cases. The people have proposed a law, named the â€Å"Mike Brown† law, to try and prevent any more of these cases (Anonymous, 2014). This law proposed that law enforcers wear tiny personalized cameras that captures any sort of misconduct an officer practices while on-duty. Police brutality has become a prevalent issue in American society. In recent years, police brutality cases have come into the public eye. This exposition of these acts is not an uncommon occurrence. In 1992 Rodney King was publically assaulted by a police officer and this event was being publically broadcasted (Skolnick, 1994). This drew attention from the many people that lived in the area and caused a public uprising. These L.A. riots were showcased to the whole nation as a result of a single man being beaten by a police officer. It was at this point that man people across the nation became disgruntled by the injustice. Public uprisings are a devastating aftermath because a simple event, but tragic event resonated with many people. These cases of police brutality can explode into large bouts of anarchy as we saw in 1992. As the number of police brutality cases is on the rise, so it the probability of another devastating event such as the week long L.A. riots. A simple solution has been proposed to solve all of the issues presented by these violent acts. The â€Å"Mike Brown† Law The police use a tactic where they place unmanned vehicles along roads where speeders are common. The â€Å"Mike Brown† law is seemingly trying to mimic that tactic by using these individual police cameras to deter excessive force to arrest the suspect. The â€Å"Mike Brown† law proposes that funds be set aside, so that law enforcement officers (including federal officers) can be assigned cameras that capture the on duty activities of the officers wearing them. If any illegal or illicit activity were to be performed while the officer was on duty, then the â€Å"cop cam† would capture it all on camera and the court would have definitive evidence to put these corrupt law enforcers away. This law was inspired by the shooting of an unarmed eight-teen year old in Ferguson, Missouri. The initial incident was: a police officer had stopped two teens (one of them being Mike Brown) and told them to get down on the floor. Mike Brown had complied and was on his knees with hi s hands behind his head, pleading for the officer not to shoot. The officer was reported to have shot the unarmed teen at least 6 times. Michael Brown was murdered in broad daylight by a police officer. This is another case of police brutality has cause a large amount of civil disobedience and unrest. Police Brutality and Civil Unrest The unrest in Ferguson is only the most recent case of civil unrest due to an unjust act from a police officer. According to Todd C. Frankel (2014), the unrest in Ferguson, Missouri is only due to the recent buildup of mistrust between the people and the law enforcers. According to an interview between Frankel and Antonio French (2014), French has observed that the police have mishandled cases, especially cases dealing with predominantly black neighborhoods, and he believes that this is what the cause of all this unsettlement is. French had also stated that this explosion of anarchy has been bubbling up for a long time and this is true because this is not the only case of anarchy breaking out from a case of police brutality. Rodney King was all over the national news in 1992. He was not a star, he was not a rising celebrity, nor was he an artist of any kind. Rodney King was all over national television because he was brutally beaten by multiple police officers of the Los Angeles Police Department. This was the first real widely known case of police brutality. This was also the case that revealed just how brutal police can be. The majority of Americans were shocked because before this was publicized the police were often depicted as upstanding citizens on television and to watch them beat a mean nearly to death was an eye opener that was well needed to spark a change. After the police officers were acquitted of all charges, L.A. broke out into riots (Skolnick, 1994). These riots were actually considered â€Å"insurrections† because these acts were political instead of anarchic. The amount of people that took to the streets was massive. Many of the people that were taking part in this â€Å"insurrection† were actually brown instead of black. At this point this event was considered to be a multiracial affair because there was many races involved including the Asian population. These people were taking a stand against the racial issues of the area and this is what is happening currently in Fergusson, Missouri. References Simmons, K.C. (2008). The Politics Of Policing: Ensuring Stakeholder Collaboration In the Federal Reform of Local Law Enforcement Agencies. Journal of Criminal Law Criminology, 98 (2), 489-546. Skolnick, J. (1994). No way to delay, trouble in LA Reading Rodney King, Reading Urban Uprising edited by Robert Gooding-Williams / The City in Crisis by Special Advisor to the Board of Police Commissioners on the Civil Disorder in Los Angeles. Contemporary Sociology, 23(4), 475. Ochs, H. L., Gonzalzles, K. M. (2014). Police brutality. Salem Press Encyclopedia, Maney, K. (2014). EVEN FERGUSON’S COPS CAN BE FIXED WITH MORE VIDEO. Newsweek Global, 163(12), 44-45. Anonymous (2014). Mike Brown Law. Requires all state, county, and local police to wear a camera. Retrieved from https://petitions.whitehouse.gov/petition/mike-brown-law-requires-all-state-county-and-local-police-wear-camera/8tlS5czf CATO Institute (2010). 2010 Annual Report. Retrieved from http://www.policemisconduct.net/statistics/2010-annual-report/ Frankel, C.T. (2014, August 12). Why the police-shooting riots in Ferguson, Mo., had little to do with Ferguson. Retrieved from: http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/storyline/wp/2014/08/12/why-the-police-shooting-riots-in-ferguson-mo-had-little-to-do-with-ferguson/ Credo Action (2014). Justice for Mike Brown. Retrieved from: http://act.credoaction.com/sign/mike_brown_justice

Constructs of Reality :: essays research papers

â€Å"WAR IS PEACE FREEDOM IS SLAVERY IGNORANCE IS STRENGTH† (Orwell, 1984) â€Å"Necessity is the plea for every infringement of human freedom. It is the argument of tyrants; it is the creed of slaves.† (William Pitt, 1783) . One can argue the existence of a utopia. Argue whether or not a utopia has ever, or will, exist. Webster’s Dictionary defines the term utopia as â€Å"An ideally perfect place, especially in its social, political, and moral aspects†. Then we can explore the term dystopia, the mirror image of a utopia, the exact opposite, a world blinded by utter chaos. However, one does not exist without the other. The majority of politics today is democratic, not to mention the remaining percentage is said to be totalitarian. But what we fail to notice is that there is very little difference amongst the two states, for in both situations the governments and or leaders have absolute power. And according to natural law power leads to corruption. â€Å"Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely.†(Lord Acton , 1834-1902) . So even in the perfectionist living, the slightest bit of corruption destroys any possibility of a utopia. Aldous Huxley’s Brave New World and George Orwell’s 1984 touches this topic, of complete government control in their literary warnings, if not prophesies. The point being, no matter what type of government we live in, it is a place where the politicians are the ringmasters. They then construct reality, a system in which the public lives on, aimlessly, endlessly, and blindly. They prevail over us using technology, psychological manipulation, and the ability to alter any form of information, including history. The following arguments revolve around Huxley’s and Orwell’s portrayals, as well as focusing on the non-literary world, which we abide. The title Brave New World itself portrays a society, which is perfect. Symbolically, Huxley chose this title based on the stereotypical image of a new object. We tend to presume that it is new, untouched, unused and flawless. But is it? The spine tingling atmosphere begins to concern the reader from the very beginning. A horrific tour of the laboratory reveals the very fundamentals of absolute government domination. As the tour Director leads through the lab, the sightings are graphic. The students become aware of incubators and other technological mechanisms to fertilize and grow humans. He further explains how the sperm and ova are separated from the human body. â€Å"The operation undergone voluntarily for the good of society, not to mention the fact that it carries a bonus amounting to six months salary.

Summary: French Revolution and Modern World

THE UNTOUCHABLES ROUGH DRAFT SUMMARY In the reading â€Å"The Untouchables† written by Friedman, the issue of getting a job and keeping it in the modern world is discussed. The Friedman explains that in order for a person to get a job in the modern world and be able to keep it, one has to have the right mindset. The author supports this by describing the qualities that a person should have, and the work that needs to be put into getting a job and keeping it.Thomas Friedman explains that there will be a lot of jobs, but people have to work hard to get them. He further states that people should take personal responsibility for getting their jobs done, and they have to do jobs that they are passionate about regardless of the paycheck. According to Friedman, in this new modern world, if one does not do his/her job with passion, love, hard work, and devotion, there will always be someone else willing to take over. He asserts that ifAmerican’s do not work hard for their jobs, there are people from all over the world who are qualified and are willing to work for a cheaper pay. Friedman explains that an â€Å"untouchable† is someone in the idle class whose occupation cannot be threaten nor taken over because he/she put so much effort and hard work into his/her job. He explains that the â€Å"New middles† cannot ever be outsourced nor over thrown from their jobs, for they have the right set of mind and determination.He states that people should convert themselves to become â€Å"untouchables† so as to adapt to the new modern world, and be able to do better in the work industry. Works Cited Friedman, Thomas L. â€Å"The Untouchables. † Writing and Reading Across the Curriculum. Eds. Laurence Behrens and Leonard J. Rosen. 11th ed. Boston: Longman, 2011. 238-242. Print.

Should Marijuana Be Legalized - 923 Words

According to Time Magazine, 44% of people in the United States have tried marijuana at least once. Marijuana was listed in the United States Pharmacopoeia from 1850 until 1942 and was prescribed for various conditions, including labor pains, nausea, and rheumatism. It wasn’t until 1970 when the Controlled Substances Act passed, classifying marijuana along with heroin and other illegal substances as a Schedule 1 Drug. Yet, people argue that marijuana prohibition is unfair and goes against their civil liberties; others think that marijuana use is dangerous and addictive and believe it shouldn’t be legalized. Numerous studies demonstrates that no one has ever died of a marijuana overdoes and experiments found that marijuana is less addictive than alcohol, cigarettes, and even coffee. With Colorado and Washington both passing state laws to decriminalize marijuana, I think it’s time for marijuana to be recognized nationally. The United States should legalize marijuana for it can bolster the economy, reduce incarceration rates, and because it’s proven to be relatively safe. State and local governments would acquire significant new sources of tax revenue from regulating marijuana sales. Instead of spending hard earned tax payer money to fund the â€Å"war on drugs†, we can fund resources that could be better used to protect public safety while reducing corrections and court cost. An online reporter stated that approximately â€Å"37 marijuana stores across the state of Colorado †¦ earned $5Show MoreRelatedShould Marijuana Be Legalized?849 Words   |  4 Pageswhether marijuana should be legalized. Around 23 states have legalized marijuana for medical and recreational use. In the state of Illinois, medicinal use of marijuana has been passed on April 17, 2013. Since January 2014, patients are able to obtain marijuana with a doctor s recommendation. The new debate is whether marijuana should be legalized for the general public as a recreational drug. Although some believe that marijuana is harmless, and that it has beneficial medicinal uses, m arijuana shouldRead MoreShould Marijuana Be Legalized?1715 Words   |  7 PagesMarijuana in Society Cannabis, formally known as marijuana is a drug obtained from the tops, stems and leaves of the hemp plant cannabis. The drug is one of the most commonly used drugs in the world. Only substances like caffeine, nicotine and alcohol are used more (â€Å"Marijuana† 1). In the U. S. where some use it to feel â€Å"high† or get an escape from reality. The drug is referred to in many ways; weed, grass, pot, and or reefer are some common names used to describe the drug (â€Å"Marijuana† 1). Like mostRead MoreShould Marijuana Be Legalized?1489 Words   |  6 Pagescannabis plant or marijuana is intended for use of a psychoactive drug or medicine. It is used for recreational or medical uses. In some religions, marijuana is predominantly used for spiritual purposes. Cannabis is indigenous to central and south Asia. Cannabis has been scientifically proven that you can not die from smoking marijuana. Marijuana should be legalized to help people with medical benefits, econo mic benefits, and criminal benefits. In eight states, marijuana was legalized for recreationalRead MoreShould Marijuana Be Legalized?1245 Words   |  5 PagesMarijuana is a highly debatable topic that is rapidly gaining attention in society today.   Legalizing marijuana can benefit the economy of this nation through the creation of jobs, increased tax revenue, and a decrease in taxpayer money spent on law enforcement.   Ã‚  Many people would outlaw alcohol, cigarettes, fast food, gambling, and tanning beds because of the harmful effects they have on members of a society, but this is the United States of America; the land of the free and we should give peopleRead MoreShould Marijuana Be Legalized?1010 Words   |  5 PagesThe legalization of marijuana became a heated political subject in the last few years. Twenty-one states in America have legalized medical marijuana. Colorado and Washington are the only states where marijuana can be purchased recreationally. Marijuana is the high THC level part of the cannabis plant, which gives users the â€Å"high† feeling. There is ample evidence that supports the argument that marijuana is beneficial. The government should legalize marijuana recreationally for three main reasonsRead MoreShould Marijuana Be Legalized?1350 Words   |  6 Pagespolitics in the past decade would have to be the legalization of marijuana. The sale and production of marijuana have been legalized for medicinal uses in over twenty states and has been legalized for recreational uses in seven states. Despite the ongoing support for marijuana, it has yet to be fully legalized in the federal level due to cultural bias against â€Å"pot† smoking and the focus over its negative effects. However, legalizing marijuana has been proven to decrease the rate of incrimination in AmericaRead MoreShould Marijuana Be Legalized?1231 Words   |  5 Pagesshows the positive benefits of marijuana, it remains illegal under federal law. In recent years, numerous states have defied federal law and legalized marijuana for both recreational and medicinal use. Arizona has legalized marijuana for medical use, but it still remains illegal to use recreationally. This is absurd, as the evidence gathered over the last few decades strongly supports the notion that it is safer than alcohol, a widely available substance. Marijuana being listed as a Schedule I drugRead MoreShould Marijuana Be Legalized? Essay1457 Words   |  6 PagesSHOULD MARIJUANA BE LEGALIZED? Marijuana is a drug that has sparked much controversy over the past decade as to whether or not it should be legalized. People once thought of marijuana as a bad, mind-altering drug which changes a person’s personality which can lead to crime and violence through selling and buying it. In the past, the majority of citizens believed that marijuana is a harmful drug that should be kept off the market and out of the hands of the public. However, a recent study conductedRead MoreShould Marijuana Be Legalized?1596 Words   |  7 Pages But what needs to be known before a user can safely and completely make the decision if trying Marijuana is a good idea? Many do not want the drug to be legalized because they claim that Cannabis is a â€Å"gateway drug†, meaning it will cause people to try harder drugs once their body builds up a resistance to Marijuana, because a stronger drug will be needed to reach a high state. This argument is often falsely related to the medical si de of the debate over legalization. It is claimed that this wouldRead MoreShould Marijuana Be Legalized?985 Words   |  4 PagesLegalize Marijuana Despite what people believe about marijuana, it hasn’t once proved to be the cause of any real issue. It makes you wonder what the reason as to why there is a war on drugs. Why is marijuana the main concern? Since the time that alcohol and tobacco became legal, people wonder why marijuana isn’t legal yet. The fact that marijuana is illegal is mainly caused by the amount of money, jobs, and pride invested in the drug war. Once the government starts anything, they stick to it. At Should Marijuana Be Legalized - 923 Words Cannabis has many slang terms such as weed, pot, dope, Mary Jane, reefer, however it is most commonly referred to as marijuana. Marijuana and its many forms can be taken in multiple fashions. The most common of them is smoking them as a joint or a blunt, but it can also be vaporized, eaten, applied as a cream, and even consumed as a tea. With elections coming up, marijuana use has recently been making headlines for its popularity in propositions and proposed bills, which would legalize recreational use of marijuana in many states if passed. These bills however, do not take into consideration the many negative effects of marijuana use on the body, the wide availability to underage children, and potential harm to others. All of these†¦show more content†¦Like cigarettes, inhaling the smoke is obviously not good for your lungs, but the method in which â€Å"weed† is smoked is different. â€Å"Marijuana smokers tend to inhale more deeply and hold their breath longer than cigarette smokers, which leads to a greater exposure per breath to tar.†(Marijuana Lung Health). This form of smoking will lead to more tar in the lungs and it also could cause a higher chance of cancer and other lung diseases.With all of these negative aspects, imagine a world where marijuana is just as common as tobacco. While the harmful effects of marijuana use on adults is well known, the effects are certainly worse on the developing mind of a child under the age of 18. With the legalization of recreational marijuana use, anyone of legal age can walk into a â€Å"pot-store† and buy rolling paper, bongs, and most important, marijuana. This freedom makes it easy for a person of legal age to distribute marijuana to minors. This wide availability would also cut down cost, making a high quality â€Å"joint† cheaper for minors to purchase. On Colorado’s state website it is stated, â€Å" Since Amendment 64 went into effect in late 2012, adults 21 and old er have been allowed to possess up to 1 ounce of retail marijuana.†(Residents Visitors). In an article written by abovethelaw.com, Justice Sonia Sotomayor says, â€Å"We