The Political Corruption Of The United States - 1089 Words

Political Corruption â€Å"All contributions by corporations to any political committee or for any political purpose should be forbidden by law† This quote from Theodore Roosevelt illustrates how corporate money can be disastrous when involved in election cycles. Unfortunately, this is not the case. The Supreme Court decided in Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission that companies and Super PAC’s could donate unlimited amount of money to support candidates. The Citizens United ruling has caused increased political corruption in the United States by giving candidates the money they need to win an election while changing policies that would be beneficial to the company. Pre Citizens United There were several landmark supreme court cases and laws before Citizens United that attempted to regulate campaign contributions. Political corruption can easily be caused by increased amounts of funds going to a candidate. A candidate will be more likely to benefit corporate interests because that will allow them to get more money later to help in reelection efforts. This becomes problematic because average citizens do not have the ability to donate large sums of money to a candidate. This makes the speech of large corporations worth far more than the average citizen. This can have a drastic impact on the marketplace of ideas. John Stuart Mills in his book, On Liberty, creates the marketplace of ideas. This marketplace consists of all speech being able to have equal weight and faceShow MoreRelatedEssay Political Corruption in the United States2518 Words   |  11 Pagesâ€Å"Corruption, improper and usually unlawful conduct intended to secure a benefit for oneself or another its forms include bribery, extortion, and the misuse of inside information. It exists where there is community indifference or a lack of enforcement policies.†(Encyclopedia Britannica). Today political Corruption in all forms exists in every country in the world. In some countries it is more prominent then in others, but no matter where you go it still occurs. Recently in mid 2013 some politicalRead MoreAnalyzing Mexico And United States:. History, Political1432 Words   |  6 Pages Analyzing Mexico and United States: History, Political Culture and Corruption Jeniffer Quintero Political Science 2 My 16, 2017 Abstract: Analyzing Mexico and United States: History, Political Culture and Corruption In 1917, the government of the United Mexican States became a Presidential Federal republic through its Mexican Constitution(Mexican Constitution, 2010). Like all other countries’ constitutions there has been changes that have been made over time. SomewhereRead MoreThe Government Protecting Citizens from Corruption1330 Words   |  5 PagesRegardless if a person is liberal or conservative, Republican or Democrat, the role within the United States government is to carry out essential responsibilities its citizens cannot perform. The United States citizens are responsible of electing politicians into government positions to solve the problems the country faces. One of those problems is corruption. The power of money is at the center of political corruption and even though fraud has been in existence for a long time, in recent years it has becomeRead MoreCitizens United for Arguments1260 Words   |  6 PagesPRO Resolved: On balance, the Supreme Court decision in Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission is undemocratic. We affirm. To better the round, we clarify the following: First, the definition of â€Å"election process† ELECTIONS are based on three organizing concepts: equal respect, free choice, and popular sovereignty are the building blocks of fair and just elections. The democratic process should treat all citizens as free and equal persons. As applied to the electoral process this requiresRead MoreThe Democracy Of The United States Government1246 Words   |  5 PagesRandy Rivas Political Science 1 O’Regan Fall 2015 Voter Turnout In a democracy citizens are permitted to have a significant amount of influence on government through the election of government officials. This is known as Direct Democracy, which means that the citizens play a significant role on the laws and policies of the land. Although the liberty of voting is available, why is the voter turnout so low? Many other countries have a much larger vote turnout than the United States. The reason forRead MoreThe United States Vs. The Federal Election Commission1004 Words   |  5 PagesOne of the most controversial court cases that has pitted the main political forces against each other this past decade has been the controversial Citizens United vs. the Federal Election Commission. The background of the case, as taken from the website of the FEC states the following: â€Å"The Federal Election Campaign Act (the Act) prohibits corporations and labor unions from using their general treasury funds to make electioneering communications or for speech that expressly advocates the electionRead MoreEssay On Nicaraguan Investment Conditionally Act1695 Words   |  7 Pagesdictatorship and influential political dynasty who ruled the country from 1936 to 1979. Anastasio Somoza was the last family member to be President after being overthrown by the political party FSLN. He left Nicaragua and yielded the power to the Junta of National Reconstruction; whose coordinator was Daniel Ortega. Daniel Ortega was elected President in 1984, after spending six years in the presidency he was denied for reelection in 1990. As a result, Ortega’s political influence started to diminishRead MoreShould Global Superpowers Provide Aid From Corrupt Governments? Essay1198 Words   |  5 PagesSLIDE 1 Hello, my name is Kenneth Davis Jr. candidate number 208 from Oakleaf High School, center number 218. Today I will be discussing my group’s question, â€Å"Should Global Superpowers Provide Aid to Corrupt Governments?† I will be focusing in â€Å"Political instability† in corrupt governments. SLIDE 2 Imagine if you were in a country where you constantly, had to scavenge for food, and most nights, you and your family starved. Imagine your stomach rumbling for days, and there was nothing you could doRead MoreSpeech : Is Money Speech?919 Words   |  4 PagesIs Money Speech? The funding of political campaigns and lobbying is one area where the freedom of â€Å"speech† should defiantly be restricted. In the 2000s, a series of court cases that culminated in Citizens United v. FEC have destroyed the ability of the American people to properly regulate election spending. As a result of this, the government has become massively corrupt, the government is now even less accountable to the American people, and the country has been greatly destabilized. Of course,Read MoreJewish Virtual Library ( Bard, 1998 )1482 Words   |  6 Pages readers will gain information on the challenges that impact the way business is conducted in Israel through current culture and political environments, business ethics, and corruption. As well as, trading, Free Trade Agreements, and trends. Historical Background The country of Israel was founded in early 1948 (Bard, 1998). Israel is currently, the only Jewish state in the world and was recently ranked by US News and World Reports, as the 8th most powerful country in the world in 2015 as stated

Public Perceptions of Benefits and Risks †MyAssignmenthelp.com

Question: Discuss about the Public Perceptions of Benefits and Risks. Answer: Introduction Vaccinations are always recommended from our healthcare facilities for every child. However,some parents do not necessarily feel the need to give the child these services. As a result the governments globally are making it mandatory for children to be vaccinated from a certain age limit. This although has met mixed reaction from parents being against and others in support for the practice. We will evaluate this as we discuss. Life saving: Over the years diseases will be claiming lots of precious lives if left untreated (Rakita et al 2011).Therefore, this has led to the government to compulsory vaccinate children to avoid cases such as polio. It was once a killer disease around American states leaving children paralyzed but up to recently thanks to vaccination its been eradicated (Diekema, D. S.2014). Numerous advances through the medical department are protecting children against even more fatal disease hence saving lives. Safe than sorry: It has been better for parents to be safe with their children than sorry that they did not do everything possible to save their lives. It is also an effective way to prevent a disease than treat it. A child can be saved from serious side effects like allergies as some diseases are very rare and be discovered through vaccines. Protects loved ones: The vaccines will protect the child from contractible diseases leaving one immune system strengthened. Diseases such as, Whopping cough and measles can only be prevented through vaccination. Save time and money: Vaccination programs are done over a specific time to have the child immune. If not administered the child is likely to face long term illnesses and some vaccine-preventable illness that may lead to a child disability or long time care (Diekema, D. S. 2014). This will affect the mental and physical growth of the child. Vaccinations are also a future investment from insurances by saving money that was intended for care. Protects generations: Many of the viruses that had claimed lives in the past have been eliminated due to the progress in the medical department by developing vaccines (Song, G. 2014). Vaccines have now proved effective as they protect our generations from such viruses like polio that killed many of our seniors. Pregnant women now rest easy as these vaccines have eradicated mother to child viruses with no longer harm befalling the child in the future. Susceptibility is not considered: Following the mandatory vaccinations a child, susceptibility to other medical conditions is not considered. Vaccinations are often generalized which should not be the case. One on one is necessary for knowing the health history of the child considering one can be allergic to some vaccines which is fatal (Diekema, et al 2014). Replacing one disease for another: In different cases it has been reported that once a vaccination has been administered, another disease crops up without knowing hence proving fatal.This can be viewed as replacing one disease for another. Some vaccines posses to same antigens that have led to be fatal. The best example is with the measles vaccines which contains the measles virus. Natural immunity lasts longer: Many of these fatal disease started as a result of poor living conditions in urban areas (Stewart, A. M 2009). Now that we are evolved our standards have improved giving chance for our natural immunity. In some rear cases whereby its better to contract the virus and let our own natural immunity to adapt and cure. This will leave the host (child) better immunized compared to the one medically vaccinated. Such cases include the small pox. Harmful chemicals in vaccines: Vaccines are chemically made and tasted. A lot of these harmful chemical traces have been found in the vaccine that some children might be allergic or sensitive (Ottenberg et al 2011). Chemicals such as, mercury, and formaldehyde of which are known to cause cancer are said to be the primal mixing agent in vaccines. These chemicals should be avoided at all costs for one to preserve life. Conclusion: In summary, the compulsory vaccination will generally be faced by mixed reaction. However, the advantages outweigh the disadvantages. If carefully observed it will in turn preserve the value of life. The government needs to find ways in training the medics whom will observe its citizens freedom of choice. This can be applied through general training in the concerned healthcare department to pay close attention in every child. This will limit the herd kind of way in administering these vaccines and eventually saving lives. Works Cited Rakita, R. M., Hagar, B. A Crome, P.,Lammert , J.K (2010) Mandotory Influenza vaccination of healthcare workers: a 5year study . Infection Control Hospital Epidemiology 31(09), 881-888. Diekema, D. S. (2014).Personal belief exemptions from school vaccination requirements.Annual review of public health, 35, 275-292. Stop mandatory vaccination [Homepage of stop mandatory vaccination]. [2013]. [Online]. https://www.stopmandatoryvaccination.com [accessed 6 may 2017] Song, G. (2014). Understanding public perceptions of benefits and risks of childhood vaccinations in the United States.Risk Analysis, 34(3), 541-555. Stewart, A. M. (2009) Mandatory vaccination of health care workers. New England journal of Medicine 361(21), 2015-2017 Ottenberg, A. L., Wu, J.T., Poland, G.A Jacobson, R.M., Koenig, B.A.,Tilburg. J. C. (2011). Vaccinating health care workers against influenza: the ethical and legal rationale for a mandate. American Journal of Public Health101(2), 212-216.

M-CHAT IN THE FIGHT AGAINST ASD Essays - Psychology, Psychiatry

M-CHAT IN THE FIGHT AGAINST ASD Author's Name Institutional Affiliation Autism Spe ctrum Disorder (ASD) is a conditio n that is identified by anti-socialism or just abnormal socialisation, display of behaviours that are stereotypical, repetition in words and actions and general lagging behind of the brain among the children (Mayes, Black Tierney, 2013) . One cannot easily identify this defect in young infants for it can be easily mistaken for a mental delay in growth. However, in the later stages of development, if the mind tends to lag as previously noted and repetition of behaviours and even words spoken, there is the need for screening for identification for ASD in order for early treatment (Matson, Kozlowski, Fitzgerald Sipes, 2013) . It is among the neurodevelopmental disorders better termed as Persuasive Developmental Disorders (PDD). These diseases do not interfere with the physical state but rather the mental; examples of similar diseases are childhood disintegrative disorder, Asperger's disorders among muc h more that affect the child like the ASD. Its most definite signs begin to be noticed when a child clocks the age of about 2-3 years but in rare cases, it is possibly identified by 18 months. Parents who identify children with this disorder are strongly advised to report the matter to a medical practitioner as early as possible for early treatment can make it go away as soon as the treatment commences. Possible symptoms include pretending play (though this should be reinforced with other characteristics because not all children who pretend play suffer from autism, others undergo anxiety or loneliness.), proto-declarative pointing and monitoring of gaze for abnormally long periods. Pretend play begins to be noticed at the age of 12-15 months where the child is observed doing strange things like it is not alone. Protodeclarative pointing, however, is noticed at about 9-14 months of age and is one of the most crucial pointers towards autism taking form; this is why the most suitable age for autism screening is 18 months because all the symptoms can be evident for easy identification. The most recent creation of CHAT has greatly aided in the identification of this disease. This " Checklist for Autism in Toddlers " (CHAT) was created to be able to diagnose ASD based on the reports that parents would bring forward with the help of CHAT (Mayes, Calhoun et al., 2009) . It comprises of 14 questions involving the child that the parent should answer, these questions are divided into section A and B. Section A basically asks about the normal behaviours the children with autism display and it comprises of nine questions. The parents are asked how the child conducts itself in matters concerning tumble play, its functional play, if the child displays proto-declarative pointing and if signs of roughness have been noted. This first section will try to determine whether the boy is compliant with it or not (Ravi, Chandrasekaran, Ka ttimani Subramanian, 2016) . Section B with the remaining five questions is for the medical practitioner to answer basing the answers on his personal observation of the child. Autism can be identified by the way the child gazes at objects, how the child keeps itself busy (pretend play), how it socializes with those around or those who come to interact with it and eventually the practitioner will gauge his answers with that of the parent thereby coming to a conclusion based on the questionnaire. These questions take roughly 15 minutes and by the end, the diagnosis is arrived at, this makes it convenient for use even at schools and other places children come to interact. Some children may pass some questions but fail in others, this is normally carefully looked at and if the child has failed in some important areas like proto-declarative pointing or developmental delays noted, the screening is done once again to minimise chances of error (Mayeset al., 2013) . With the assistance of CHAT, a sample of about 16,000 children was compiled and scrutinised and from that 10 children were found to have autism that were slightly above 3 years but not more than 4 years of age. There are two levels of autism screening that aid in the diagnosis. Level

Combining Principles and Pragmatism

Combining Principles and Pragmatism One of the most challenging attributes of leadership is balancing between principles and pragmatics. The two attributes are a contrast of each other, yet are both important to successful leadership. The main question thus is if it is actually possible to attain a perfect balance between principles and pragmatism, and when do principles override pragmatism and vice versa.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Combining Principles and Pragmatism specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More There are valuable lessons learnt from historical leaders, such as Thomas More, a fifteenth century British fictional moralist. Each of the lessons learned from Thomas More’s story shows that other than striving to seek a balance between pragmatism and principles, leaders ought to understand when to be principled and when pragmatism is the more appropriate approach to leadership. This is attained through the use of a variety of techniques that enable leaders to achieve balance between pragmatic and principled leadership. Suffice to say that each of the two attributes to leadership separately plays an important role in leadership. Despite the fact that people prefer to be led by morally upright pragmatic leaders, it is easier if leaders understood that it is almost a futile attempt to combine the two. Leaders can however be more effective if they understand when to be pragmatic and when to be principled. Choosing to be principled means that a leader’s objective is to motivate and be inspirational to others. As such this is how mentors are born. Mentors thrive on principles. This is due to the fact that people who are being mentored are attracted to principled mentors, rather than pragmatists, as unlike pragmatists, principled leaders are able to stick to given principles, an attribute that makes it hard to fault them. Other than in mentorship, being principled is also vital in parenthood. Parents have to be fairly p rincipled to effectively run stable homes. Principled parenting means that one is able to appeal to the senses of ones’ children. Parents who run the risk of being pragmatist are too nice to their children and as such may end up destroying their homes, rather than building them (Badaracco, 2006). The relationship between pragmatism and principles has also been brought under spotlight t in military expeditions especially in war torn regions. Effective management of war time conflict means that the military has to decide when to be pragmatic and when to stick to war principles. This enables the military to deal with civilian as well as military issues effectively (Cordaid, 2006).Advertising Looking for essay on public administration? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Modern day leaders have to learn when to be pragmatic or principled. They must also be able to make critical choices, between pragmatism of principle s, according to their convictions and stick to those choices even under greatest duress. They also have to know that the choices they make will at times come to test. As such modern leaders have to learn that making such choices also comes with dire consequences. While this is a valuable lesson, it has been exemplified in fictional characters rather than real life characters. A fifteenth century British icon of moral leadership, Thomas More exemplified this. Despite the fact that More was both a pragmatic and principled leader, he chose to live, and die by his conviction of principled leadership even when it meant going against the king’s decree. The result of More’s choice of principled leadership was his beheading. More’s choices and subsequent beheading is seen as one of the greatest sacrifices by a person in the history of England. Thomas More was canonized and knighted posthumously and his values of principled leadership have remained an inspiration to many to date (Badaracco, 2006). This implies that modern day leaders have a mentor in Thomas More on principled leadership. Leaders must also learn that there are consequences that come along with making such choice. Even though More’s story is a great inspiration on principled leadership, it does not mean that principled leadership overrides pragmatism. Thomas More life exemplified the values of principled leadership but More was also was an icon artful balance between principles and pragmatism, a situation that Guyatt (2003) refers to as the realism of pragmatists. Ambitious Modern day leaders have to learn how to attain this through a variety of tactics such as humor, seeking to be understood and being dramatic. This implies that if modern day leaders acquire these skills they will become leaders for all seasons. Furthermore, more approach of seeking artful balance is a reelection of how the world of leadership is a complex place. Despite the fact that Thomas More sacrificed p ragmatism with tragic effects, for effective day to day leadership, understanding the using a little bit of principles and pragmatics, is more beneficial than choosing either.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Combining Principles and Pragmatism specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More It is thus impossible to attain a perfect balance between being a pragmatic leader and a principled leader. This is captured in Badaracco’s question ‘How well do I combine pragmatism and principles’. The perspective of balance is altered by the use of the term well in this title. This implies that a perfect balance is almost impossible, but an artful balance can be attained through certain skills in what is referred to as achieving artful balance. Reference List Badaracco, J. (2006). Questions of character. Boston: Harvard Business School Press. Cordaid. (2006). Principles and pragmatism Civil-military action in Afghanistan and Liberia. Retrieved from https://reliefweb.int/report/liberia/principles-and-pragmatism-civil-military-action-afghanistan-and-liberia Guyatt, N. (2003). Another American century? The United States and the world since  9/11. London: Zed Books.

Economy of United Kingdom Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Economy of United Kingdom - Case Study Example Services, particularly banking, insurance, and business services, account by far for the largest proportion of GDP while industry continues to decline in importance. GDP growth slipped in 2001-03 as the global downturn, the high value of the pound, and the bursting of the "new economy" bubble hurt manufacturing and exports. Output recovered in 2004, to 3.2% growth, then slowed to 1.7% in 2005 and 2.7% in 2006. " (Exxun.com, 2007) The Economy of the United Kingdom can be classified as the "capitalist" economy. The most prominent characteristic of the capitalist economy is the control of few people on a large amount of Capital. These people are also responsible for taking important economic decisions. With the changing international circumstances the Governments of the world including United Kingdom felt the need of restricting the use of power of a specific group of people for their own commercial interests. This intervention resulted in shape of the British economy which can described as a "mixed" economy, with government playing an important role along with private enterprise. Although British people often disagree about exactly where to draw the line between their beliefs regarding, both free enterprise and government management, the mixed economy they have developed has been remarkably successful. The natural resources are considered as the most important ingredient of a nation's economic system. The United Kingdom is blessed with enormous reserves of minerals. The fertile soil and the moderate climatic conditions effectively eke the farming process.The labour plays vital role in the growth of an economy. Higher level of working population is considered as an important indicator of a progressive economy. The labour market of the U.K has always remained competitive due to an abundant supply of productive labour. A unique characteristic of the labour force is diversity. The 20th century British labour force constituted Asians and Latin Americans as the major part. This supply of the immigrants in the British job market also resulted in some periods of high unemployment. Many of these immigrants provide their services on relatively lower wages as compare to the native citizens. With the abundant supply of labour and the factors of production the economic growth multiplied increasing the chances for immigrants to find more job opportunities (Conte & Karr, 2001). British economy was facing boom before being hit by the events of 9/11. The economy had fastest growth rate and the lowest unemployment rate which was kept low for thirty years to a level of 3.8% in 2001 but after 9/11 the unemployment rate rose to 6.4% in 2003 more than a million jobs were loss lost during that period. The Government has applied different policies in order to address the issues facing the economy. Govt. has been trying to stable the economy by using cutting of taxes and lowering the interest rates, but these options are for short-term period. There are also some long-term issues to be reviewed. The U.K. economy has benefited from privatisation of industry, free market policies and the development of its oil and gas sector, the largest in the EU. (The Galt Global Review, 2007) Speeding the recovery: For the policy makers the main issue was to accelerate the

MANAGEMENT PRINCIPLES Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

MANAGEMENT PRINCIPLES - Term Paper Example He said, â€Å"Will the principles have any management code?† in his discussion, it shows that his principles came to shape the management of most organizations that were in existence and those to come. To date, his principles have formed the basis of management. However, management is not complete without leadership principles. Good leaders are managers and know what and how to manage. In espoused Stauffacher leadership principles, it is the full integration of management principles. Division of work: - it is clear that specialization by employees increases the output since they become increasingly efficient and skilled. The idea is to produce more and better outcomes using the same effort. This principle forms the basis of the modern economy which allows an increase in productivity. When my father bought another new car, I thought he would give me the old model. Ironically, he showed no interest to my plea. One day, we organized for a trip to the coast. As we were three sons, he decided that he will assign us various duties. It was not a punishment, but it was a way of making us learn something. He had been a senior manager for nearby tea estate and more often he had been applying his skills. I washed the car; my younger brother fetched the water while my elder brother dusts the seats. Since we wanted to go, we had to prove our desire by working diligently and committedly. In my little knowledge, I did my work because of the reward- going for a trip. Little did I know that it was one way of managing a small family. This will make every worker perform efficiently in his/her area. The overall outcome would be higher than no division of duties. In our house, we have employed people to assist us in daily chores. Since they cannot perform equally, we have assigned them duties according to their specialization. Some may work in the kitchen while others in the garden. The results would be

Desistance Rehabilitation And Reintegration

Desistance Rehabilitation And Reintegration When a criminal is able to stop the behavior that characterizes his or her criminal activities, the gradual process involved is what is termed as desistance. Apart from the fact that it has practical applications for probation workers with criminal offenders from the community, desistance also has a strong link and connection in the rehabilitation of a criminal. However, theories of desistance when compared to the theories of the onset of criminal behavior have been much neglected and underdeveloped in the history of criminology (Smith, 2007). It is therefore a good sign when studies of desistance increase drastically especially since the last twenty years; this has been particularly noticeable after the development of the life course theory that was done by Sampson and Laub. But as Piquero (2004:103) explains, continued research has been significantly affected by methodological and theoretical issues. Moreover, theorists in the field have not been able to come up with a universal de finition of desistance. Consequently this paper endeavors to create a workable definition of desistance and to furthermore give a preview of the updated main facts and theories of desistance. Understanding desistance Oxford Dictionary defines desistance as, to desist or to stop doing something; cease or abstain. Applying this definition to criminology is however a bit technical. The big question is usually about time, if a criminal is able to stop a certain criminal behavior for four weeks for example, is it correct to classify him or her as an accomplished case of desistance? What is the recommended time for one to be sure that he or she is free from the crime? If future behavior can best be predicted by looking at past behavior, and if recidivism and relapse are the rule rather than the exception, then how does a precise definition of desistance be formulated? (LeBel et al, 2004). Laub and Sampson (2001) as a matter of fact agree that a definition of desistance cannot be made, they support that the questions in a particular research best deduce the definition of desistance for the researcher (cited in Maruna, 2006). According to Shadd Maruna, for a habitual offender, any recognizable time spent without doing any crime is called primary desistance. However studies on recidivism and relapse cannot be complete without an outline of achieving long term desistance. Maruna goes on to therefore state that secondary desistance is when a criminal is able to change his identity and take an almost permanent direction to a life free of the initial crime that was a norm in his behavior. Studying secondary desistance is important as it seeks to understand how initial offenders can be able to keep a distance from their crimes. Desistance is therefore not the final result of the end of a crime; it is actually the process that is gradual and continuous till the end result of successful desistance. Sampson and Laub (2001) acknowledge that there is a huge difference between the stopping an offence and the continuous change to a crime free lifestyle. They mark that as compared to theories of offending, desistance theories have not yet been fully studied and explained, however desistance is now understood as the procedure necessary for acquiring a n accomplished state of non-offence. It is important that a criminal who wants to change must be willing to change his or her self identity and concept to be able to grasp the full context of change. Gottfredson and Hirschi (1990) explain that on the contrary it is a common occurrence to find ex-offenders who have undergone desistance commit other acts of deviance, (cited in Sampson and Laub, 2003: 298). Desistance is therefore basically the ability of a former criminal to be able to completely withdraw from a crime and to maintain being in that state regardless of the challenges involved when trying to keep away. Some of these challenges are social stigma, return to criminogenic environments after release from prison, homelessness, addiction, and limited career and educational opportunities (Richards and Jones, 2004). Career criminals are those who have been criminal offenders for a considerably long period of time (Maruna, 2001). According to Laub and Sampson (2003), career criminals rather than small time offenders should be given more attention in researches on desistance. However another major problem in the study of desistance is the availability of completely successful offenders in desistance to the researchers in the field (Maruna, 2001; Burnett, 2004). Total desistance to many ex-offenders is quite a hard step as most of them usually end up going back to their initial criminal tendencies (Piquero, 2004). Addiction is a very significant factor that is more often overlooked yet its contribution to the whole process of desistance has a major impact on the ability of a criminal to completely change. It is therefore important to understand the connection between the two before arriving at a definition of desistance. From a number of researches it has been recognized that the link between addiction and criminal activities is actually very strong. A drug addict is therefore more likely to engage in crimes (Maruna, 2001). Moreover the cause of addiction and criminality are as a matter of fact very similar. Frisher and Beckett (2006:141) found that a large percentage of drug abusers are very active members in criminal gangs. Therefore, when defining desistance, it is necessary to note that the complete resistance of both criminal offending and drug abuse must be realized (Maruna, 2001). To achieve the purpose of this paper desistance can be described and defined as the initial process allowing quality desistance from drug abuse, criminality and other forms of deviance for an ex- criminal. Quality desistance in this case is the is the total termination of previous criminal behaviors together with other possible forms of deviance like drug abuse for at least ten years accompanied by a change in the identity of an individual. Desistance theories Ageing Age has been found to be a significant factor in criminology, as one grows older it is noted that their level of criminality greatly reduces. (Smith, 2007; Sampson and Laub, 2003; Gluecks, 1943; cited in Sampson and Laub, 2003; Gottfredson and Hirschi, 1990; cited in Sampson and Laub, 2003). In 2000 in the United Kingdom 19 year olds were found to have committed crimes fifty times more those which men of over fifty years had committed. According to research the total lifespan of a criminal is usually general considering factors like early deaths, imprisonment and when a criminal is evolving to avoid being detected (Maruna, 2006). In a research of 411 criminal males in London, Farrington (1990) found that as the criminals grew older, their crimes reduced greatly with time but this however depended on different types of crimes (cited in Smith, 2007). For example, burglary is at its highest at age 20 while fraud and drug abuse offences record their highest at the age of 25 all the way to 30 as burglary sets on a steady decline afterwards. Nevertheless for the persistent hardcore criminals into their 70s, there was a clear connection between their age and their crime rates according to studies by Laub and Sampson (2003, 2005, 2005b). Furthermore they realized that alcohol and drug offences were their highest in the mid- thirties as compared to other offences. They finally came to a conclusion that both age and the type of crimes affect the whole process of desistance as well. However there have been different explanations to the not clear age crime curve. Developmental criminologists have been able to link the ag e of an offender and the capability of total desistance to childhood related issues. (Mulver et al, 1988; cited in Sampson and Laub, 2003; Nagin, 2005; cited in Sampson and Laub, 2005a) Offenders are therefore divided into two distinct groups, the adolescent and the persistent adult offenders. As a result it will be evident that in their late teens the adolescents will be able to grown out of crime and will be able to work on their social circles basically due to their education and good social integration skills. Academic failure, broken relationships and neuropsychological handicaps on the other hand doom the adult offender to a life of deviancy (Moffitt, 1993; 1994; cited in Sampson and Laub, 2003). This theory therefore separates offenders into two distinct groups each with very unique characteristics determined by childhood factors, and only those who fall into the correct group have any hope of desistance. Sampson and Laub (2003; 2005a; 2005b) have strongly criticized this developmental approach to explaining desistance, and state that, there is no such thing as a fore-told life course persister (2003:179). They explain that desistance is achievable for ant type of offender no matter which group they are in whether adolescent or adults. According to them childhood fa ctors of offence do not determine desistance but instead help to explain the whole process of desistance. Gottfredson and Hirschi claim that offenders simply stop offending because of the natural aging of the individual (1995; cited in Sampson and Laub, 2003). They point out that for any organism there is always a stage of discontinuity that applies to criminology and the study of desistance and its links with age. Therefore desistance is a natural process for any offender. Maruna (2001) however does not fully agree with this because according to him desistance, especially at the beginning, takes a huge amount of emotional, psychological and even physical effort and resources. Gluecks (1943) agrees with this too because he highlighted that desistance was the result of a process of maturational reform, meaning, an offender gradually grows out of crime (cited in Sampson and Laub, 2003). This maturation process usually starts after age 25 when a criminal is able to settle down as the crime rate reduces gradually. However this theory has similarly been criticized as it does not probe into th e meaning of age; instead it assumes that the process of aging itself is responsible for desistance (Maruna, 2001; Sampson and Laub, 2003). Acknowledging that age is a significant factor in desistance, Sampson and Laub (1992) state that maturational reform does not satisfactorily explore its significance in relation to social bonds and life turning points (cited in Maruna, 2001). Life Course Theory A significant study on 500 men up to the age of 32 was carried in the 1930s and 1940s by the Gluecks (1943; cited in Sampson and Laub, 2003; 2005a; 2005b). Sampson and Laub later on in an impressive research followed up on 52 of these men and investigated on their criminal career to the age of 70. They found out that the causes of desistance and persistence are actually opposites, namely the development of social controls, structured routine activities and purposeful productive human agency (Sampson and Laub, 2003; 2005a; 2005b; 2006). Their finding indicated that job stability, military service and marriage were able to positively contribute to achieving desistance. These turning points were realized in the process of desistance whereby an offender seeks to start a new life by changing location or even starting a new job like entering the military for example. This however does not necessarily involve starting over, sometimes these offenders work to gain back and maintain their orig inal contacts like a job or a marriage in their quest to stop their criminal tendencies. Whichever path desistance takes these turning points often lead to: a knifing off of the past from the present opportunities for investment in new relationships that offer social support, growth, and new social networks forms of direct and indirect supervision and monitoring of behavior structured routines that center more on family life and less unstructured time with peers situations that provide an opportunity for identity transformation and that allow for the emergence of a new self or script These factors, they explain are true and are not affected by the type of marriage and the crime life of an individual , though informal, cohabiting and parenthood have also been linked to successful desistance (Sampson and Laub, 2006; Katz, 1999). Individuals with none of these social bonds are also more able to stop offending because, they have nothing to lose. Rebecca Katz (1999:13) indicates that, families of procreation may play a significant role in developing desistance since family influences self control and delinquency. Life course theory emphasizes on the strong influence of the social environment to offending explaining that absence of criminal peers reduces the chances of an individual ever engaging in offences and consequently attitudes and beliefs favorable to conformity will develop (Warr, 1998; cited in Sampson and Laub, 2003). Life Course Theory contradicts the link between developmental theories in criminal careers and desistance. It agrees that adulthood experience s are essential as well but to some point more significant in establishing the possible trajectory of desistance (2003). Offenders desist as a result of individual actions (choice) in conjunction with situational contexts and structural influences linked to key institutions that help sustain desistance. As such we argued that desistance is a process rather than an event, and that It must be continually renewed. This fundamental theme underscores the need to examine individual motivation and the social context in which individuals are embedded. (Sampson and Laub, 2003:171) Agency Yet another essential element that has been pointed out as key in achieving successful desistance is agency. (Burnett, 2004; Maruna, 2001; McNeill, 2006; Maguire et al, 2006; Maruna, 2001; Sampson and Laub, 2005 a). The theory of rational offence understands the fact that a criminal is able to make decisions based on his judgment of what is good or bad according to him in his crime life. Agency therefore works hand in hand with rational choice in the key decision making processes of a criminal. Agency is important since it assists in the overall process of making a rational choice. Furthermore, considering the often irrational patterns of offending of many criminals, and the many economic and social constraints offenders live under, rational choice theory alone cannot account for decisions to desist (Burnett, 2004; Sampson and Laub, 2005b). In their study of the Gluecks men Sampson and Laub (2005a) found that agency was a vital component in successful desistance. There is more to the structural support in the process of desistance, agency is required to offer the determination and persistence part of the equation. Agency determines the will to keep moving on and only those who are persistent will be able to manage the whole process. This will to desist and the internationalization of responsibility to overcome the challenges offenders face as they undergo desistance (Maruna, 2001), is very difficult to measure or predict and introduces a seemingly random component into life course turning points, making neat prediction inherently a difficult endeavor (Sampson and Laub, 2005a:177). Moreover it is a quintessential component in the study of desistance and persistence in a criminal career that has however not been fully researched to date. In their research of the life course theory of life Sampson and Laub assert that they have been seeking to explain the importance of the human agency as an aid in understanding desistance and other deviance forms (2003:177). Knifing offà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã… ¸ ones past, has come out to be a vital element to describe the ability to be able to accomplish a successful desistance for some individuals. To achieve this voluntarily, agency is necessary since it is one of the most difficult things to do and needs a lot of determination. It is a process that is more often accompanied by cutting all past contacts and establishing new ones for example geographical location and family. Most importantly though, Maruna et al (2006a) explained that it can as well involve internal change, or a change in the way the offender views themselves, their past, and their environment. This change in the individuals thinking is vital for the maintenance of long term desistance (Maruna, 2001; Sampson and Laub, 2003; 2005a; Maguire et al, 2006). Contemplation time was found to be a crucial moment that assisted in creating a turning point to desistance according to a study by Margaret Hughes (1998). And it was found that the opportunity to contemplate came as a result of a change in geographical location, imprisonment and residential treatment programmes. Hughes participants found their desire to change develop when they removed from the usual environments and being able to get ample time for self actualization. Social identity Researchers have tried to explain the phenomenon whereby some individual are able to sustain long term resistance while others do not, and it has been discovered that apart from agency, an individuals self identity change is similarly necessary. The chance of an ex-offender remaining crime free very much depends upon developing a new identity, and new values and beliefs that were not compatible with criminal offending (Burnett, 2004). For sure, a significant amount of work done in rehabilitating offenders and addicts, such as 12 Step and cognitive behavioral therapy, targets change in the individuals self-perception (Maruna, 2001). Each and every individual, whether an ex-offender, offender or normal citizen has a unique self identity through which their actions are guided upon, it is therefore as a result of this mechanisms that give people the different circumstances they exist in. Crucially, self-narratives provide a subjective account of the meanings that offenders place upon changes and turning points in their lives (McNiell, 2006).More often though not a fact; self narratives have been of assistance when people seek to explain their actions. Narratives very often change throughout the life course and understanding narratives, helps individuals realize the significance of past and present events in our lives (Sampson and Laub, 2005a). In a desistance study in Liverpool, Shadd Maruna investigated the different self narratives of two distinct groups of offenders whereby one persisted and the other desisted, to account for the changes in ex-offender identities (Maruna, 2001). He was able to find out that both the desisting and persistent criminals actually had more or less the same personality characteristics and were not as agreeable and conscious as the general population. Self-narratives are the only components that divided the two groups after thorough interviews. Active offenders had what Maruna described as a, condemnation scriptà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã… ¸ (2001), meaning, they saw life as an unfortunate abyss of hostility and uncertainty. They believed that circumstances had pushed them to their present situation and there was nothing they could do to change things and that the authority pushed them even further away. Desisting ex-offenders on the other hand had a positive outlook on their past and present and this is wha t assisted them to continue with their desistance process. It is this self-narrative that may be the tool needed for successful desistance. The self-narrative of the ex-offenders holds a version of the truth that is often quite different from historical truth (Maruna et al, 2007). This self narrative attaches a psychological component to the real facts of the past and creates a purpose and meaning in the life of an offender. This is what brings about the positive outlook and assists in achieving desistance. In a study focused completely on religious changes of rehabilitated offenders, Maruna et al discovered that their self-narrative was interestingly changed by their conversion experience (Maruna et al, 2006b). As a result the importance of this self narrative is once more highlighted as it helps an offender realize that the past can be changed and that the future has a hope even for those in long sentences. The offender is therefore able to have a new sense of identity, empowerment, purpose and forgiveness. The self narratives of most offenders in the desisting group have a common characteristic Maruna describes as, the redemption scriptà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã… ¸ (2001). This is basically the belief that an offender is a good person and that his or her past was merely as a result of circumstances of crime, recidivism and addiction. As a result of this, the offenders are able to endeavor to live new lives as they continue in with their desistance. They are then able to view themselves as role models with the necessary knowledge and experience to advice and educate the next generations, something Maruna calls, Making Goodà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã… ¸. The major difference therefore between the desisting offenders and the persistent ones is the positive energy they surround themselves with. Confidence and self belief are as a result pointed out to be essential qualities as they guide an offender to understand that their past was a necessary component for them to be where they are at the present. This redemptive narrative helps them realize that they are not their past and that their future is what that matters. The acknowledgement of a supreme power beyond them has also been a contributing factor in the lives of these offenders. This is because they realize that their past might have been a plan to give them the positions they hold in the present, like being counselors and youth leaders. This moral superiority and change from the past, according to Maruna, is to make up for long stretches of lost life. During desistance according to Stephen Farrall some offenders undergo long periods of creating new social identities (2006:85). However much these offenders change, it is not forgotten that they acknowledge they are responsible for their criminal past. The idea that reformed criminals accept blame and feel shame for all of their crimes is not supported by research (Maruna, 2007). Successful offenders in desistance often admit to the guilt of their past but they however rationalize their actions and justify or blame themselves and accept that circumstances might have pushed them to criminality. Sometimes however they do not accept their actions and believe that the society pushed them to crime. Such a belief system would not encourage an ex-offender to accept responsibility for breaking laws that they perceived to be based on middle class values, and representative of a society that had neglected and mistreated them (Maruna, 2001). The Liverpool Desistance Study prove that a concurrent characteristic of the redemption script is an offender accepting to take control of changing his future however they do not acknowledge their past crimes. An internalization of full responsibility for their future, including the determination to overcome the many obstacles they will face, seems to be a defining feature of successful desisting ex-offenders. Maruna (2001:88) summarizes the themes of the desisting persons narrative as: an establishment of the core beliefs that characterize the persons true self an optimistic perception (some might say useful illusion) of personal control over ones destiny the desire to be productive and give something back to society, particularly the next generation Moffitt Adolescence-Limited and Life-Course-Persistent Antisocial Behavior: A Developmental Taxonomy Moffitts (1993) concept of dual taxonomy of offending similarly tries to explain the processes of desistance and persistence. Moffitt (ibid) outlined that offenders can be grouped into two; adolescent limiteds and life persisters. Moffitt proposes that the two groups are different and unique from each other in their offence and desistance processes, with the life course persisters having a different aetiology to the adolescent limited offenders. It is explained that they may be suffering neurological problems that affects their cognitive and learning skills. This is therefore evidenced by poor social skills even in the family leading to the various forms of anti social behavior and poor self control Gottfredson and Hirschi (1990). Early signs of antisocial behavior are a common characteristic of life course persisters (for example under-age drinking, premarital sex) as a result they are often excommunicated from their initial societal setting because of poor behavior, development and social bonds. Early signs of antisocial behaviors like these are normally a clear indication of a persistent criminal career in the future. This will be in connection to the age graded theory meaning there patterns of crime will be different and theirs will be a continuous cycle of events of affected marriages, work, education and relationships. Moffitt continues to explain that unlike life course persisters, adolescent limited offenders are not affected by any neurological problems and are able to successfully develop their social networks and cognitive skills. Therefore the causal factors for their criminality are connected to the gap between social development, age and desires. Age for example prevents them from engaging in adult behavior like sex or drinking. As a result of deviance from their desires, they tend to associate with the life course persister leading to the growth of their deviance. However, due to their developed social skills and academic success they are likely to be able to change more easily if they choose desistance. This is because they will be able to depend on their strong social bonds for support. Maruna (cited Laub Sampson 2001) explains that finding continuity in the criminality maybe be caused by methodology, by concentrating on dispositional traits to the exclusion of other personality traits. People can be able to change as Laub and Sampson write, even if their characteristic personality traits do not change radically with time. In order to understand desistance , researchers need to explore other aspects of personality such as offender self-perceptions or personal strategies Maruna (cited ibid). Narrative script There are two distinct narrative script types in the desistance literature that highlight how criminals really view themselves and their societal roles. For the persisters their script usually has a concurrent theme of condemnation. More often they blame external conditions like poor family relations and lack of education for their criminality. They generally have an external locus of control. In contrast the offenders who finally become successful in desistance have a redemption script. They are complete opposites of the latter and are fully responsible for their actions. As a result they make a positive choice to stop the crime by accepting rehabilitation programmes. They are described to have an internal locus of control. Factors that influence the particular narrative script that gets adopted by a criminal are majorly internal factors such as personality and genetics especially after rehabilitation. A higher chance of a redemptive script is noted to be as a result of intense rehabilitation. A probation workers relationship with an offender has also been linked to affect desistance. It is there important for these officers to have empathy skills that are crucial in the process of guiding an offender to desistance as they strive to be able to re-integrate back into the society. Relevance of desistance theory The desistance theory is relevant in a number of different applied and academic professions. The desistance theory to researchers may provide a foundation to be able to examine the different factors that contribute to the cessation of a criminal offence from a theoretical view. The desistance theory allows for a number of different crimes in history and their approaches like the Lombrosian biological positivism, to have consideration in the present society which has an evident difference in its ways of thinking. As a result criminology is more understood and its relationship with other disciplines like psychology, politics and social policy acknowledged. This will consequently allow the development of collaboration for a positive cause of reducing re offence rates. The desistance theory on a practical level has assisted the criminal justice system (CJS) to identify possible solutions to cases of reoffending of successful candidates of desistance through for example initiating community based sentences. This kind of programme is sure to gradually decrease the number of criminals in HM Prison Service institutions for short periods. Studies have shown that short-term sentences in prisons for example (those for less than six months) often lead to increased crime rates after release. This is well explained by the fact that these short-term prisoners to not undergo complete metamorphosis from not covering all the rehabilitation programs. Their exposure to the hard core criminals in the prisons who have been there for longer and have been experienced criminals also contributes to their overall change. In addition desistance theory assists in the continuous development of training programmes for the respective professionals responsible for working with ex-offenders in the community. For example the Probation Service (see Narrative script section, above). Controversies It is important for the general public to realize that desistance is achievable and takes time. Offenders should therefore not be viewed as bad people who cannot live with others even after rehabilitation programs. The public is therefore advised not to discriminate these groups of people in their society. Reintegration cases of offenders back into the society have always caused massive outrages by a large percentage of the public community. There are numerous related cases of such circumstances that have often been quite difficult and delicate to handle. For example in 2011, the case of the reintegration of Jason Owen who was initially convicted of playing some part, albeit minimal, in the widely reported death of Baby P (now known to be Peter Connelly) in 2007, and after serving his sentence for causing or allowing the death of Peter he was later released in 2011. The Sun newspaper immediately kicked off a campaign to find him. Readers were urged to write and report to the newspaper of any knowledge of his whereabouts. There was an article in the same newspaper that sent sentiments of outrage over the fact that the ex-convict had actually tried to find a job. This is a clear indication of how the effort of successful psychological research can be nullified by news reports in the popular media. This kind of outrageous reporting is especially a common characteristic of Tabloid newspapers. Their influence over the public is often impressive and they are as a result able to manipulate and affect the attitudes of the wider public towards their view of desistance and offenders. As a result of this, future recidivism is often developed gradually due to the ill-informed public. Newspapers then use this recidivism as proof of their initial correctness. Conclusion