Biographical Interpretation Works In Relation Essay Example for Free

Biographical Interpretation Works In Relation Essay Many literary works come across as hard for explanation, its been a problem since literature has been a main stay in society. Over time many styles of interpretation have been both approached and adapted by readers and critics alike. One of the most popular is the biographical interpretation. This is when a reader makes use of details regarding the life, times and works of an author as a means of solving interpretive problems. The biographical interpretation is a very good way to get inside the readers head because the past, and your past experiences are what shape your mind as it matures over time, even the smallest experience can make a decent sized impact on ones thought process. Mark Twain is a good example of an author that has been analyzed, possibly even over analyzed. By every angle he has been looked at, most notably for his works on The Adventures of Tom Sawyer and The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. If you were to read his book The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn without taking a look at any biographical pieces about Mark Twain you would undoubtedly not get as much out of the novel as you would in contrast, if you were to read the biography. To prove the point the help of the semi-biographical essay The Life of Samuel Clemens and the Reception of Huckleberry Finn and The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn will be called upon throughout the essay. At the beginning of the biographical essay there is an excellent explanation of the personal side of Twain the only clear picture is that Twain was a man of paradox (pg. 19). The reason this excerpt fits the topic of biographical interpretation is because one key word within that quote, that key word being paradox. A paradox is a statement that seems contrary to common sense and yet is perhaps true. With The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn being the novel that we are taking a look at in contrast to the biographical side of Mark Twain this word, paradox, fits perfectly since there are paradoxes running throughout the novel. A good example of a paradox in the novel is from the mouth of Huck Finn himself: When it was dark I set by my campfire smoking, and feeling pretty satisfied; but by-and-by it got sort of lonesome, and so I went and set on the bank†¦ and counted the stars and drift-logs and rafts that come down, and then went to bed; there aint no better way to put in time when you are lonesome; you  cant stay so, you soon get over it. (Pg. 62) The paradox that has been spoken by Huckleberry is that depression and lonesomeness can be slept away. Which when first heard can be looked over and seen as straight out nonsense. However if it is thought about closely most people that are depressed can be get a quick fix from what makes them depressed by sleeping through it as much as they can, sort of like sleep and relaxation was the drug of its time. It may sound inconceivable now, but in the era that The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn was penned the idea of sleeping, or rather lounging around for days was not that inconceivable because they did not live the busy lifestyle in which we live in current time. This is just one of many paradoxes throughout the book that reflect the author in a great way due to the fact that he was known as a living paradox because of the way he lived his life. For a man that made money out of writing about adventures of rafting down the Mississippi and barely getting by money wise seem so interesting. But grew up living in Connecticut for a good amount of time in his life and also seeking to be filthy rich, and have no worries is most likely the biggest paradox of his life. Another way that the book of The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn can be looked at from a biographical perspective and make sense is the fact that the main characters in the novel have a very similar background as to which they grew up in. In a paragraph written by an African American professor of eastern studies and a writer of African-American folktales and poetry. A man by the name of Julius Lester speaks of the relationship between Huck, Tom, and Mark Twain himself in a very unique manner. Just after he speaks of how he does not recollect ever reading the writings of Mark Twain, but then says something to the effect of what American child hasnt read the tales of Huck and Tom so maybe he has, but the literature was not that significant to his life. What Lester has to say is something that most people taking the biographical interpretation approach should use as an approach to all authors in relation to the characters they write of: I do have an emotional memory of going to Hannibal, Missouri with my parents when I was eight or nine, and visiting the two-story frame house where Mark Twain lived as a boy-where Huck and Tom lived as boys. (Pg. 341, Morality and Adventures of Huckleberry Finn) This is a great comment because when you take a novel and  try and put a biographical interpretation onto that novel you need to take a very close look at the characters and their relation to the author. That is the mainstay of the biographical interpretation, how the characters are at all a parallel to the author. With Mark Twain himself growing up for part of his life on the Mississippi it gave him great knowledge of what he was talking about, and it gave him the roots of the characters that are now notable American icons. Him having the knowledge of the Mississippi, and of southern life in America at that time influenced the characters and the novel infinitely. Whether it is a satirical look at the way American life was at that time is a whole different essay. With all of this in mind it can be said that he sure lived the life of Huck and Tom whether it be on a lower level, or a parallel these characters and Mark Twain are one in the same. These are only a few examples of how the biographical interpretation of a novel is a very reliable approach to analyzing literature as long as you know that the biographical information is accurate. Doing this will also make the novel much more enjoyable because if you read the biographical essay, paragraph, novel, etc. Then you will be able to go along the book and be able to not look down upon the book, but look more for the reason that that author had said what he said, and what he really meant by it. It is about looking from the inside and looking out at the novel for the reasons behind what was said, instead of looking into the novel for the reasons to not read the book altogether

The role of e commerce in the era of globalization

The role of e commerce in the era of globalization E commerce is the electronic commerce where business starts with electronically. For using the e commerce transaction must be happen via electronic system. For example someone wants to sell his product then he needs to get the order of that product and also needs to get payment so that he can send the product. In this case the buyer can buy that product through the electronic payment system. But there is some problem for this case such as security issue. If the third party involve on the e payment system then it will be harmful for both buyer and sellers. So the security of e payment system should be strong to protect from third party. Here third party is internet expert hacker. Aim objective: To secure and monitor of the e payment will be increase in the business sector day by day. More than one browser needs to be user friendly. Maintain a good customer service. Different section: Blaise j.(2004)said that Though the Internet has increased the speed and number of victims a fraudster can reach in one attempt, the actual types and techniques of the Internet scams follow the same patterns as scams previously conducted by mail or telephone. As with pre-cyber scams, the number of scams and the subsequent variations make it impossible to mention them all. The primary intent of the fraudster is to befriend the victim, gain their trust, and then obtain money or enough personal information to access financial accounts. Becoming aware of and informed about some of the different types of Internet scams should make consumers more mindful of their on- line actions and transactions. According to the Adi m alwaked.(2008).some questions arisen like: Do the electronic payments securely exist in the Business to Business transactions within the country? What are the governmental security criteria for the e-business transactions? And do I as a work owner and a government have professionals and graduates who can manage e-business departments and projects using the new e-business methodologies as knowledge management and expert systems? And if the e-business pillars are not yet completed or initiated, to what level should the users deal with e-business? Do we have any alternatives? Many of these critical enquiries should be answered when reviewing e-government and e-readiness situations. Failing to answer and solve this ambiguity can result in two unwanted situations: the work owners will not adopt e-business, or the e-business will be initiated based on ambiguous visions that will not achieve the expected propositions and therefore will fail. All the e-business revenues are part of the whole business revenues and they will be part of the final financial statements of the enterprises, and if the governments decided to give these taxation supports to motivate e-business inside the different enterprises, it is recommended that good policies and frameworks applied against frauds that take advantage of the financial facilitations, for instance the fake online contracts and payments in order to delude the authorities and to create an impression that the e-business in a particular company was the main reason for the revenues, and therefore there should be some efficient procedures against these kinds of frauds. The e-business field has become the first target for the e-hackers today, many kinds of frauds in credit cards, stealing identities, and different kinds of frauds are evolving every day, but actually the solution is not always within the responsibility of the governments, but can the governments support the e-business adopters here? Traditionally, this is found in e-business pillars and e-readiness, as the secure e-payment methods in e-billing, and the good regulations to fight the net crimes, and the e-business awareness programmes as mentioned. But as a part of a new strategic e-business policy that keeps and increase the advantages of the e-service and limits the weaknesses, calls for defined e-security criteria in the DNs might be a solution, such criteria that specifies strict standards for e-commerce websites, including all the security aspects, as authentications, IP viewers for more identifications of customers, a strong insist on the ecommerce website owners to include the security awareness issues in the main pages of their websites and to keep reminding their users about them, all these procedures can increase the customers confident about security and solve the ambiguity of these issues. National payment systems are the backbone of a financial sector. Standard protocols for check and electronic payments will facilitate the adoption of electronic payments by banks, retailers, government agencies, and others in the payments chain. Access to electronic payments settlement can be contentious, as banks typically control or influence payment systems and may resist opening access to other financial service providers and retailers (Isern, Deshpande van Doorn, 2005). Avshalom Aderet et al(2007).said security and privacy assesses the degree of customer exposure to the risks involved in the e-shopping process and the likelihood of a product or service not meeting consumer expectations (Dillon and Reif, 2006). The variables discussed in this factor are: the means used to assure data security, the privacy of personal information, and the security guarantee that pertains to each transaction (Chung-Hoon and Young-Gul, 2003). We group privacy and security together following Flavià ¡n and Guinalà ­u (2006) who, having reviewed the privacy and security literature, suggest that, although these concepts are often researched as separate variables, there is a close relationship between them in the mind of the consumer and they should therefore be considered as a single variable. Furthermore, in practice, e-vendors tend to handle the protection of privacy and security together. Finally, in public policy these concepts run side by side. Globalization has brought in many changes in the business scenario with the whole world inching towards one big market place. Communication between the buyers and sellers has become critical as each can opt to explore a greater number of alternatives than ever before. E-commerce through Internet, e-mails, websites, and other facilities, enables a businessman to be linked with every corner of the world, and thus opens up greater opportunities in the world market. Important factor is the time required for completing a business transaction. As markets are becoming competitive and information is more readily available, a quick, reliable and replicable transaction implies availing of prevailing opportunities. On the contrary, delays in processing a transaction might become synonymous to wasting an opportunity. Therefore, a fast and alternative mechanism of communication, contract, and payment is an Integral part of a globally competitive business organization. Wasting the customers time Time is the most important commodity in online shopping. You want your customers to be able to find what they want and buy it as quickly as possible. Dynamic pages with changing content may look interesting, but they also make pages take longer to load. When customers have to wait for pages to load, they often give up and go to a faster-moving site. Additionally, some e-commerce sites make the mistake of wasting a customers time during the checkout process by requiring registration or asking for unnecessary info. Once a customer decides to buy from your site you should make the checkout processes as fast as possible with as few clicks as possible. Otherwise, the customer may fail to complete the sale out of frustration. Lack of compatibility with more than one browser While 80% of the market uses Microsoft Internet Explorer, failing to design your e-commerce site to work with other browsers is passing up a huge opportunity. You immediately knock out at least 20% of your potential customer pool, maybe more. Making your website work with a variety of browsers usually only requires a few minor tweaks, but it can make a big difference in the amount of traffic you receive. Poor overall web design -When a website is not well organized or looks unprofessional, many customers will immediately look elsewhere. Online shoppers have high standards these days when it comes to how your e-commerce site looks and functions. Your products should be easy to find and displayed nicely. Customers should be able to search for what they want and find it. Likewise shopping cart use should be a streamlined process. Any hitches in the buying process from start to finish will cost you customers. Poor customer service -All e-commerce sites should make it easy to get questions about products and purchases answered. Too many sites make finding contact information and accessing company policies challenging for the customer. If customers cant find the information they need to feel comfortable about a sale, they will probably abandon the sale. Make sure all of your merchant policies and contact information are prominently displayed on multiple pages of your website. Conclusion: Internet fraud can evidently be defined as an electronic deception and theft. However, as technology advances, the tactics and skills used by fraudsters to commit these crimes will also advance. In 2002, over $14.6 million in losses were reported in the U.S. alone, due to Internet fraud; while it is expected, several million more went unreported. Local, state and federal agencies are actively tracking, investigating, and prosecuting fraud offenders. However, with the limitless capabilities of the Internet, its often difficult to determine if the con artist is in the next apartment, next state, or in a completely different country. These cyber swindles and dot-cons present new challenges to governments. The Internet enables criminals to cloak themselves in anonymity, making it imperative that governments act more quickly to stop newly emerging schemes before the perpetrators can disappear in the World Wide Web. Online consumers need to execute added precaution when surfing, reading e-mail, making purchases, and considering online opportunities. The great thing about the Internet is it is easy to find other information, and consumers should do crosscheck before they become a victim. Legitimate online retailers and credit card companies will also have to make continued efforts to reassure consumers that their Internet activities will be secure. The global nature of the Internet, and law enforcement experience in conducting Internet fraud investigations, have made it increasingly clear that law enforcement authorities need to coordinate their efforts to have a substantial effect on all forms of Internet fraud. Reference: Blaise J(2004), internet fraud: a global perspective,vol4,pp1-9. Anguelov, C., Hilgert, M. Hogarth, J. (2004). US consumers and electronic banking, 1995-2003. Federal Reserve Bulletin, Winter 2004. Retrieved December 10, 2005 from: http://www.federalreserve.gov/pubs/bulletin/2004/winter04_ca.pdf BIS. (2004). Survey of developments in electronic money and internet and mobile payments. Committee on Payment and Settlement Systems (CPSS). Basle: Bank for International Settlements. BIS. (2003). Risk management principles for electronic banking. Electronic Banking Group of the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision. Basel: Bank for International Settlements. Bà ©zard, G. (2005). Low-value payments: Looking for the code cracker. Boston: Aite Group, LLC. Journal of E-Business: Volume VII, No 2 (2007) 45 the United States, Federal Reserve Bulletin, Spring, 180-201. Isern, J. (2007). Launching electronic banking in developing countries: What can be learned from experience in developed countries? E-Business Review, 7. Isern, J., Deshpande, R. van Doorn, J. (2005). Crafting a money transfers strategy: Guidance for pro-poor financial service providers. CGAP Occasional Paper 10. Washington: The World Bank. Lafferty Group. (2005c, November 14). US consumers and corporates reduce cheque usage. Electronic Payments International Newsletter. London: Author. NetBank, Inc. (2004). Annual report. Retrieved December 29, 2005 from: http://www.netbankinc.com/ir_reports.htm Pennathur, A. (2001). Clicks and bricks: E-risk management for banks in the age of the internet. Journal of Banking and Finance (25), 2103-2123. Rombel, A. (2005). The worlds best internet banks 2005. Global Finance 19(8), 31-36. Adi m alwaked.(2008). encouraging e-business investments in the developing nations and the ambiguous road: a proposed vision.vol8, pp12-18, Avshalom Aderet et al(2007). taking customer perceptions of the ethical commitments of e-vendors seriously,vol6 pp12-15

drunken fool :: essays research papers

A Drunken Fool 1. INT. A BAR – NIGHT Sitting at a run-down smoky bar, TOM, a middle-aged photographer, while drunk tells a story to a off-screen character. TOM (Mumbling loudly) What’s my problem? I’ll tell you my problem. See, I work my ass off all day, I’m a photographer and a really shitty one. I can’t seem to do anything right even if I try my hardest. I let my nephew and his friends down. Tom takes a first shot, starting a line of empty shot glasses. Takes a long pause and starts talking again. Looks up and thinks. 2.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  INT. 16th BIRTHDAY PARTY - DAY Camera changes to a dream state to our first glimpse of Tom talking to Brian at Brian’s Birthday party. TOM (Narration) See, I was at my nephews 16th birthday party and I was trying to impress him and his friends. I told them about my job, that I meet a lot of famous people and how good I have it. I told them I’ve met people like Madonna, Steve Gutenberg, Ol Dirty Bastard, and Arnold Schwarzennegger†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.ah fuck you know what I mean. Shot changes to Tom and Brian sitting at the party. TOM (talking to Brian) †¦..So you see, that’s what I do. I meet all sorts of people. BRIAN (impressed by story) So can my friend’s film you and me for our project. TOM Huh, yeah sure. But you have to get your uncle another beer. 3. EXT. CLOSES HIS TRUNK – DAY Tom takes a second shot and adds it beside the first empty shot glass. TOM (Narrating) Brian and his little friends decided to follow me around for the day filming my job and what I do. I got my first tip of the day from my friend Chuck, he told me the great batman himself Adam West was to be having lunch downtown. It was a great tip and was totally hush-hush. So I was on my way. Shot fades to Tom packing his truck and then closing it. The kids are playing around with the camera. Kids become disinterested with Tom and spot a hot woman walking by. The camera quickly pans to the woman walking by. BRIAN (to his friend) Quit it man.. pay attention. We need to be serious. The team arrives at a park. They get out of the car and grab their gear. Tom gets dressed in an outrageous costume. Having a hollow garbage can suspended around him and leaves in his hair he begins to wait. TOM (trying to regain their attention)

A Room of Ones Own by Virginia Woolf Essay -- Virginia Woolf Essays

Virginia Woolf, a founder of Modernism, is one of the most important woman writers. Her essays and novels provide an insight into her life experiences and those of women of the 20th century. Her most famous works include Mrs. Dalloway (1925), To the Lighthouse (1927), Orlando: A Biography (1928), The Waves (1931), and A Room of One's Own (1929) (Roseman 11). A Room of One's Own is an based on Woolf's lectures at a women's college at Cambridge University in 1928. Woolf bases her thoughts on "the question of women and fiction". In the essay, Woolf asks herself the question if a woman could create art that compares to the quality of Shakespeare. Therefore, she examines women's historical experience and the struggle of the woman artist. A Room of One's Own explores the history of women in literature through an investigation of the social and material conditions required for writing. Leisure time, privacy, and financial independence, are important to understanding the situation of women in the literary tradition because women, historically, have been deprived of those basics (Roseman 14). The setting of A Room of One's Own is that Woolf has been invited to lecture on the topic of Women and Fiction. Her thesis is that "a woman must have money and a room of her own if she is to write fiction (Woolf 4)." She creates the character of an imaginary narrator, "call me Mary Beton, Mary Seton, Mary Carmichael or by any name you please, it is not a matter of any importance." The "I" who narrates the story is not Woolf, yet her experiences and thoughts provide the background for Woolf's thesis. The narrator begins her search going over the different educational experiences available to men and women and the more material ... ...s, 1882-1942. v.: ill.; 28 cm. Semiannual. Issue no. 33, 32, 1989. Vol. 1, no. 1, 1973; no.2, 1974. California State College, Sonoma, Dept. of English. Roseman, Ellen. A Room of One's Own: Women Writers and the Politics of Creativity. Twayne Publishing, Inc., New York, 1995. Woolf, Virginia. A Room of One's Own. Orlando: Harcourt, 2005. Print. Internet Sources Consulted Brooks, Rebecca B. â€Å"Timeline of Virginia Woolf’s Life.† The Virginia Woolf Blog. N.p., 19 Feb. 2012. Web. 14 Apr. 2015. . Burt, John. â€Å"Irreconcilable Habits of Thought in A Room of One’s Own and to The Lighthouse.† ELH 49.4 (1982): 889-907. JSTOR. Web. 14 Apr. 2015. Rodriguez, Lara Ma Lojo. â€Å""A New Tradition†: Virginia Woolf and the Personal Essay.â€Å"Atlantis 23.1 (2001): 75-90. JSTOR. Web. 14 Apr. 2015.

Hydropower’s Unintended Consequences Essay -- Renewable Energy Environ

Hydropower’s Unintended Consequences As more emphasis is being brought to renewable energy, hydroelectric power is often seen as a viable and clean alternative energy source. Hydro electric has been a longstanding source of power for this and many other countries. In the 1940s dams were supplying 40% of our nation’s electricity, and now they only generate about 10% (science bulletins). Hydro power can be a clean alternative to fossil fuels; however it should not be considered an environmentally friendly alternative of energy production. Dams built for hydroelectric production have had staggering effects on the ecosystems of which they invade, both aquatic and terrestrial, and have rippling effects linked to ecosystems far outside the site of the dam itself. Dams can have adverse effects on water quality, fish species, migration of aquatic animals, and can create biological isolation by cutting off access of species from one side of the dam to the other. Dam building took off in the United States after World War Two. This can be seen in the official slogan of the Bureau of Land Reclamation: â€Å"Our Rivers: Total Use for Greater Wealth† (science bulletins). Since then, the ambitious dam building is fully noticeable. â€Å"At least 68,000 large dams, and up to 2 million small dams, block virtually every American waterway† (science bulletins). The most highly hydroelectrically developed river in the country being the Colorado River (Lang). A river that drains over 259,000 square miles and flows through seven states (Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Wyoming, and Utah) as well as one Canadian province, is dammed by over 400 dams (Lang). These dams create endless barrages for aquatic water life in what... ...worth the environmental toll it takes, and if it is worth the decimation of any particular species. Bibliography Natural Resources Council of Maine (NRCM). Edwards Dam and Kennebec Restoration. Accessed March 29 from: http://www.nrcm.org/issue_edwardsdam.asp Lang, Bill. Columbia River. Accessed march 28 from: http://www.ccrh.org/river/history.htm Banks, John. Penobscot River project gets two boosts. Portland Press Herald, Thursday, February 1, 2007. Accessed march 28 from: http://pressherald.mainetoday.com/viewpoints/editorials/070201penob.html Science Bulletins. Kennebec Dam Removal. Accessed march 28 from: http://sciencebulletins.amnh.org/biobulletin/biobulletin/story1206.html Penobscot River Restoration Trust. Penobscot River Watershed History. Accessed April 1 from: http://www.penobscotriver.org/content/4004/The_River/

College and the Workforce Essay

Most people dream about the opportunity to be able to attend college. They dream about what their college campus is going to look like, who their roommate is going to be, what kind of parties they are going to go to, and what they are going to major in. However, when the time comes to begin the college process, there are many people who give up on their dream about going to college for reasons such as; they think they do not need it or because it is too expensive. Even though college is expensive, it prepares you for your future because many careers require a college education and college offers many different opportunities outside of the classroom. The main thing college prepares you for is your future. It helps you be able to choose a career path you want to pursue. Currently, many careers require some sort of higher education. This is why college is so important. Another reason college is important is because choosing a major is a big decision. Moore and Shulock (2011), along with California State University, believe that students will be more successful if they â€Å"require students to declare a major program of study after a certain amount of time or accumulation of credits, and assign students faculty advisors in their declared major programs† (p.18). Countless students change their majors over and over again before they find the right one for them. A student has the opportunity to discover various types of classes to get a feel for what might be the right career path for them before committing himself or herself to a major. However, if a student changes their major frequently throughout their college career, more time and money is added onto their schooling. They do not want to go out into the workforce and jump around from job to job, because they may be looked down upon. In the work environment, they may be  seen as unstable, unreliable, and unable to commit, even if that may not be the case. Another benefit of going to college is that they learn numerous things, even outside of the classroom. They learn how to make new friends, how to get along with people, learn how to socialize in the proper settings, and also learn how to relax, have fun, and enjoy themselves. These are important skills not only to have in their personal lives, but also to have in the workforce. They will always have to meet new people and learn to get along with all types of people in different environments, even if they may not be people they like or agree with. Students have to learn to set aside their personal differences so that they can show their professionalism. It is also important to know how to socialize properly. There are certain situations where using casual conversation in a professional setting could be appropriate, but there are other times they would want to maintain their professionalism. For example, they would not want to greet a new client by saying, â€Å"Hey! What’s up bro?† They need to learn how to differentiate the social situation from the people who are in that social situation. It is also important to relax, have fun, and enjoy yourself. This can be key in the workforce because they want to enjoy the work they are doing, but they do not want it to completely over power your life. They should be able to find the balance of discipline and fun in doing your job. Committing to College Once a person decides to commit to attending college, they need to come up with a personal plan that fits their style of learning. There are many different skills that help them become a master student. Some of these skills include; time-management, organization, communication, and having a positive attitude. Time-management is one of the most effective strategies a person can have. It is important because in order to be a successful student they need to stay on top of their schoolwork, and not procrastinate. Managing their time can also help them in the real world because they are learning to balance out everything that needs to get done. Organization is additionally another central aspect to being successful. They should keep their workspace neat and clean, whether it is a laptop, desk, or just a  notebook. Having a clean space can help a student be more successful. Communication is also a key factor when becoming a master student. It is important to communicate with their peers and their professors. They need to ask questions, speak up if they have concerns, and always take the initiative. It will show that they care about their grades and their success. Finally, it is important to have a positive attitude. It is very easy for things to go wrong, or not the way they want. What they need to remember is that they should keep a positive attitude. Someone who sees the glass as half full is going to enjoy life a lot more then the person who sees the glass as half empty. Cox (2012) said, â€Å"motivated people are happy people† (p.142). Once they set their mind to accomplish something, such as a college degree, they become a happier person because they have goals they are working toward. Conclusion College can be a fun, yet scary step in a person’s life. Even though it may be expensive, college offers the student a chance to explore who they are and who they want to be. College also offers them opportunities and skills that they are able to apply in the professional world. Once a person decides that college is the right decision for them, there are many skills that they are able to develop to help them become a master student. References Cox, B. (2012). College Students, Motivation, and Success. International Journal of Learning & Development. 2(3), 139-143. doi:10.5296/ijld.v2i3.1818. Moore, C., Shulock, N., & California State University, S. (2011). Sense of Direction: The Importance of Helping Community College Students Select and Enter a Program of Study. Institute For Higher Education Leadership & Policy. Retrieved from http://web.b.ebscohost.com.ezproxy.apollolibrary.com/ehost/detail/detail?vid=14&sid=81a06a850563430ba39210e85133be18%40sessionmgr112&hid=109&bdata=JnNpd GU9ZWhvc3QtbGl2ZQ%3d%3d##db=eric&AN=ED524216.

An Alternative to Incarceration for Nonviolent Offenders Essay

Community corrections is a range of alternative punishments for nonviolent offenders. There are two basic community corrections models in the United States. In the first model, integrated community corrections programs combine sentencing guidelines and judicial discretion with a variety of alternative sanctions and parole and probation options. In the second model, some states have instituted programs in which correctional officials may direct already sentenced offenders into alternative sanction programs and parole and probation options. Both models are designed to help reduce prison overcrowding and are less expensive alternatives to prison. Widespread development of community correction programs in the United States began in the late 1970’s as a way to offer offenders, especially those leaving jail or prison, residential services in halfway houses. The first state community correction programs began in Oregon, Colorado, and Minnesota as pilot projects with very little government-funded support. They diverted nonviolent offenders in selected pilot project areas from jails and state prisons into local alternative punishment programs. These programs allowed judges to sentence offenders to a community-based punishment rather than jail or prison. Rehabilitation programs were the preferred punishment option. In the late 1980’s, prison systems across the country began experiencing serious overcrowding of facilities. The overcrowding served as a catalyst for lawmakers to develop new options for sentencing criminal offenders. Nineteen states have now enacted various community correction programs. Community correction programs provide many communities with local punishment options as an alternative to prison or jail. These sanction programs are lower cost alternatives to increased prison and jail construction, based on the cost per offender. They provide local courts, state departments of corrections, and state parole boards with a broad range of correctional options for offenders under their jurisdiction. The goal is to match the appropriate punishment with the crime. Community corrections programs are integrated sanctioning strategies which seek to achieve the following goals: †¢The offender is punished and held accountable. †¢Public safety is protected. †¢Victims and local communities receive restitution from felons who work in their present jobs and/or in restitution programs. †¢Community service work increases. †¢Collection of court costs and fees increases due to contractual agreements with offenders who remain in their present jobs. Eight states have adopted comprehensive Community Correction Acts which create a network of correctional programs for specific types of offenders. The acts create mechanisms by which state funds are granted to local governments and community agencies to encourage local sanctions in lieu of prison or jail. While no two state programs are alike, a comprehensive community corrections program generally includes the following elements: †¢A locally integrated criminal justice system which supports a network of decentralized or centralized correctional programs for specific types of offenders. For instance, in Minnesota, local community corrections advisory boards composed of county sheriffs, chiefs of police, prosecutors, judges, defense lawyers, probation agents, and other local officials create comprehensive correction plans to improve the administration of justice at the local level. The plans detail the various options of punishment in the community which are available to judges and other criminal justice officials when sentencing offenders. †¢These integrated systems generally include restitution programs for nonviolent offenders. Offenders’ wages are applied directly to restitution, court-ordered fines and fees, and room and board. Placement in the work programs usually lasts from three to six months. †¢Programs are administered by local governmental or nonprofit agencies at the county or regional level, and are funded by the state under a single system which provides for local punishment options. Funds are provided contractually or directly depending on the involvement of nonprofit agencies. †¢Sentencing guidelines for local, district, or regional judges prescribe a uniform sentencing structure with a variety of punishment options for offenders. They differ from determinate sentencing by targeting alternative punishments for the non-violent offender population. †¢The punishment authorized under sentencing guidelines is generally tailored for the crime and applies to all similarly-situated felony offenders. For example, judges must follow a rating system based on the severity of the offender’s crime, the frequency of violations, and the nature of the crime. Rating scales are adjusted periodically by sentencing commissions to reflect statewide sentencing patterns. Non-violent crimes have the lowest criminal rating, allowing judges the broadest range of sentencing options. In contrast, judges must impose very specific sentences for violent or serious crimes. Serious or violent felons sentenced to prison receive very little if any good time credit, and must serve a specified term while in prison. †¢Responsibility for community correctional service is delegated to local units of government. This joins sentencing and punishment in one administrative level, with incentives for the most efficient use of local and state correctional resources. †¢A post-prison release program, operated through a parole or probation system, is an integral component of a local community corrections treatment system. Community corrections sanctions may include: †¢24-hour residential programs which provide a structured living environment for offenders who require supervision when not working or looking for employment; †¢Non-residential drug and alcohol treatment programs; †¢Electronic monitoring of offenders placed on home detention (offenders must wear bracelets that allow parole officials to monitor their movement); †¢Diagnostic evaluation and counseling ordered by the court as part of a pre-sentence process; †¢Pre-trial intervention which provides close supervision and support services to selected offenders prior to trial; †¢Community service programs; †¢Day reporting centers where offenders are required to discuss the progress of their job search and daily activities with parole officials; and †¢Mandatory education programs. There are several key elements to an integrated community-based correctional program: †¢Collaborative long range planning by local and state law enforcement officials to reduce the use of prisons for felony sentencing; †¢Coordinated use of local and state correctional resources; †¢A state funding mechanism to ensure a local level of correctional services; and †¢Ensuring public safety in community correction facilities. One of the goals of sentencing guidelines is to match the community sanction with the offender. The types of offenders which are considered for community sanctions include the following: †¢Offenders who might benefit from prevention services, and are of criminal activity in the future: school drop-outs, urban youth gang members, and juvenile offenders with learning disabilities. Prevention services could include mid-night basketball leagues, big brother programs, special education programs, and other activities. †¢Offenders who might benefit from early intervention services. This group is generally composed of first time offenders. Early intervention may reduce their chances for committing future crimes. They generally require services related to education, work-skill development, and substance abuse and alcohol counseling. †¢Offenders who might be eligible for diversion programs. This group is basically those people in jail or prison who may safely be diverted to alternative programs and services. They generally are second or third time offenders who have failed on probation and have been convicted of a number of non-violent offenses. Under California’s â€Å"three strike’s law†, they could face life imprisonment if their first two felonies are violent and/or if the third felony is violent. The goal of sentencing guidelines is to match target offender groups with the appropriate community sanction. While there are some variations among state sentencing guidelines, most establish punishment by the severity, frequency, and nature of the crime committed. For example, in Michigan, if an offender is arrested for burglary and has a previous drug arrest, state sentencing guideline ratings provide a range of sentencing options from alternative community corrections to up to a 24 month prison sentence. The community correction option allows the judge to sentence the offender to a secured community-based substance abuse treatment program for six months, followed by a short probation period. The judge has the discretion to choose from an array of options. On the other hand, if an offender is convicted of a serious felony and has previous non-violent felony convictions, sentencing guidelines provide that alternative community corrections is not an option, and require a minimum 24 month prison sentence. While offenders sometimes violate the terms of a community correction sentence, so far there is no evidence that the offenders currently entering these programs are a danger to communities. Evaluation studies are currently randomly tracking offenders who participate in community correction programs to determine the success or failure of the programs. The eight states which have enacted comprehensive community correction laws require a well-defined local implementation strategy that targets specific offender populations, and seeks to match their needs with the correct community sanction and service, before state funds are dispersed. Several states have also enacted on-going performance evaluation reviews to identify problem areas and fine-tune sentencing options. The other four states do not offer financial incentives or disincentives, although local implementation strategies are closely monitored by state legislatures. Four of the 8 states also offer formula-based incentives which require community agencies to develop comprehensive, integrated long-range community correctional plans. The greater local resources and services available under the plan, the higher the state funding. Most local plans are coordinated at the county level and identify all available community treatment programs, including prevention and intervention programs, training programs, and diversion programs. Local plans must include data detailing how the community correction programs are expected to reduce commitments to prison. The formula grants include a disincentive for sending certain kinds of felons to state prison, in the form of a per-diem fee which is deducted from the local grant. Grantees are also required to monitor offenders for possible parole violations after they complete the community corrections program. Louisiana has the oldest state boot camp program in the country. The Intensive Motivational Program of Alternative Correctional Treatment (IMPACT) has as its goals: †¢Provide an alternative to long-term incarceration for youthful first- and second-time offenders. †¢Reduce costs without undue risk to public safety. †¢Develop participants’ self-discipline, self-confidence, self-respect, individual responsibility, and respect for others. In order to participate, an offender must meet the following eligibility criteria: †¢Male and female offenders under the age of 40 serving sentences in state prison. †¢First time felony offenders committed to state custody for 7 years or less for an offense with parole eligibility. †¢Second-time felony offenders who have not previously spent time in state prison and who have been committed to state custody for 7 years or less for an offense carrying parole eligibility. †¢No offenders with outstanding felony charges, numerous outstanding misdemeanor charges, outstanding immigration detainers, mental or physical health problems, history of assaulting behavior or escape, overt homosexuality, sex offense against a child or any violent sexual offense, or absence of post-release plan. In 1987, the Louisiana Department of Public Safety and Corrections began operating a 136-bed military-style boot camp program at the medium-security Hunt Correctional Center (Up to 20 female slots are also available at the Louisiana Correctional Institute for Women; these inmates are bused to the boot camp daily). The 90- to 180-day program uses a three-phase approach to promote its philosophy of discipline and treatment. Regular program activities include military drill and ceremony training, physical training and organized recreational activities. Treatment programs include a re-education therapy class that requires participants to evaluate their beliefs and values, substance abuse education classes and activities, and prerelease (life skills) preparation. Extra duty or incentive physical training are required for minor disciplinary infractions. More serious infractions may result in reduction in rank, additional duties, or, in some cases, dismissal from the program. About 55 percent of participants graduate from the program. On release, all IMPACT parolees are assigned to 3 months of intensive parole supervision where, in addition to the regular conditions mandated for all parolees (maintain employment or full-time educational training), they must satisfy the following requirements: a minimum of 4 face-to-face contacts with a supervision officer each week, adherence to a curfew, 100 hours of unpaid community service work and random drug and alcohol screenings. After 3 months, supervision standards are gradually relaxed. Depending on individual performance, at the conclusion of this period, the parolee will continue receiving intensive supervision or is placed in regular parole supervision. According to the Multi-State Evaluation of Shock Incarceration report to the National Institute of Justice, Louisiana is one of three states who’s program results in lower recidivism rates relative to comparison groups. Failures are more often for technical violations of parole than for new crime violations. It is estimated that each 100 inmates completing the program result in a cost savings of $750,000 to the state (Nieto, Marcus: Feb. 1996). REFERENCES Travis Hirschi, and David Rudisill, An Evaluation of California Probation Subsidy Program, Vol. 1: Commitment Reduction and Probation Subsidy: A Summary of Available Data, Center on Administration of Criminal Justice, University of California at Davis, (Davis), 1977. Probation/Parole Survey, Corrections Compendium, The National Journal for Corrections, August, 1994. U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs. A Survey of Intermediate Sanctions, Washington, D.C. September, 1990, and Nieto, Marcus, California Research Bureau, The Changing Role Probation In California’s Criminal Justice System, April, 1996. Peters, G.T., Intermediate Sanctions: A Discussion of Illustrative Programs. Office of National Drug Control Policy. Washington D.C. 1990. Stone, Susan and Fulton, Betsy, Achieving Public Safety Through Rehabilitation and Reintegration: The Promise of a New ISP, Presented at the Academy of Criminal Justice Science Conference. Kansas City, Missouri. 1995. Nidorf, Barry, Chief Probation Officer, Los Angeles County, â€Å"Los Angeles County, Varied Uses of Electronic Monitoring: The Los Angeles Experience†, Edited by John Ortiz and William Selke. Intermediate Sanctions: Sentencing in the 1990’s. Anderson Publishing Company, 1995. Bourque, Blair, Han, B, Hill, Mei, and Sarah, M,. U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs. An Inventory of Aftercare Provisions for 52 Boot Camp Programs. NCJ 157104. Washington, DC. January, 1996. Nieto, Marcus, California Research Bureau, Community Correction Punishments: An Alternative to Incarceration for Nonviolent Offenders, Sacramento, CA., February, 1996.