reforming the system essays

reforming the system essays There are many areas within the criminal justice system that warrant attention, but it would be impossible to formulate solutions for all the problems at once. I have chosen to discuss three problems that I think should be addressed. One is the publics ignorance of their rights, the second is community notification of sex offender arrival, and the third is the competition between prison industries and public industries. Most of the public is very ignorant about their basic rights as guaranteed by the Constitution. This is a very fundamental problem that results in the abuse of citizens by authority figures and each other. If citizens were more aware of their rights, they could better protect themselves from exploitation and abuse. There are several simple ways to ameliorate this problem. One way is to include or improve the section on basic rights in high school civics classes. The rights need to be explained in terms that the students can understand and remember. Another way to educate the public is to run community service television and radio commercials featuring a new right each week. Bulletin boards that explain rights in simple terms could be posted in schools and other public places. Personal stories of violations of these rights could be used in the classes and commercials, as well as on the bulletin boards, to capture the attention of the audience. I think explaining citizen s rights in simple, interesting ways could improve their understanding of these rights and could help them better protect themselves. The problem of notifying communities of the arrival of sex offenders is very controversial. Convicted sex offenders are required to register in a new community, but is this a great enough precaution? Some of these offenders are very deceitful and predatory in nature, and it is very easy for them to take advantage of the trusting nature of others. I think the com ...

North American Birch Tree Identification

North American Birch Tree Identification Most everyone has some recognition of the birch tree, a tree with light-colored white, yellow, or grayish bark that often separates into thin papery plates and is characteristically marked with long horizontal  dark raised lines (also known as lenticils). But how can you identify birch trees and their leaves in order to tell different types apart? Characteristics of North American Birch Trees Birch species are generally small- or medium-sized trees or large shrubs, mostly found in northern temperate climates in Asia,  Europe, and North America.  The simple leaves may be toothed or pointed with serrated edges, and the fruit is a small samara- a small seed with papery wings. Many types of birch grow in clumps of two to four closely spaced separate trunks.   All North American birches have double-toothed leaves and are yellow and showy in the fall. Male catkins appear in late summer near the tips of small twigs or long shoots. The female cone-like catkins follow in the spring and bare small winged samaras drop from that mature structure. Birch trees are sometimes confused with beech and alder trees. Alders, from the family  Alnus, are very similar to the birch; the principal distinguishing feature is that alders have catkins that are woody and do not disintegrate in the way that birch catkins do. Birches also have bark that more readily layers into segments; alder bark is fairly smooth and uniform. The confusion with beech trees stems from the fact the beech also has light-colored bark and serrated leaves. But unlike the birch, beeches have smooth bark that often has a skin-like appearance and they tend to grow considerably taller than birches, with thicker trunks and branches.   In the native environment, birches are considered pioneer species, which means that they tend to colonize in open,  grassy areas, such as spaces cleared by forest fire or abandoned farms.  You will often find them in meadowy areas, including meadows where cleared farmland is in the process of reverting to woodlands.   Interestingly, the sweet sap of the birch can be reduced into syrup and was once used as birch beer. The tree is valuable to wildlife species that depend on the catkins and seeds for food, and the trees are an important timber for woodworking and cabinetry. Taxonomy All birches fall into the general plant family of  Betulaceae, which are closely related to the  Fagaceae  family, including beeches and oaks. The various birch species fall into the  Betula  genus, and there are several that are common North American trees in natural environments or used for landscape design purposes. Because in all beech species the leaves and catkins are similar and they all have very much the same foliage color, the main way to distinguish the species is by close examination of the bark.   4  Common Birch Species The four most common birch species in North America are described below.   Paper birch (Betula  papyrifera): Also known as canoe birch, silver birch, or white birch, this is the species more widely recognized as the iconic birch. In its native environment, it can be found in forest borders across the northern and central U.S. Its bark is dark when the tree is young, but quickly develops the characteristic bright white bark that peels so readily in thick layers that it was once used to make bark canoes. The species grows to about 60 feet tall but is relatively short-lived. It is susceptible to borer insects and is no longer used widely in landscape design due to its susceptibility to damage.  River birch (Betula nigra): Sometimes called black birch, this species has a much darker trunk than the paper birch, but still has the characteristic flaky surface. In its native environment, it is common to the eastern third of the U.S. Its trunk has a much rougher, coarser appearance than most of the other birches, and it is bigger than the paper birch, sometimes growing to 80 feet or more. It prefers moist soil, and although short-lived, it is relatively immune to most diseases. It is a common  choice in residential landscape design.   Yellow birch (Betula alleghaniensis): This tree is native to forests of the northeast U.S. and is also known as the swamp birch due to the fact that it is often found in marshy areas. It is the largest of the birches, easily growing to 100 feet in height.  It has silvery-yellow bark that peels in very thin layers. Its bark does not have the thick layers seen in paper birches nor the very rough texture seen in river birches.  Sweet birch (Betula lenta): This species, also known in some areas as the cherry birch, is native to the eastern U.S., especially the Appalachian region. Growing to 80 feet, its bark is dark in color, but unlike the dark river birch, the skin is relatively tight and smooth, with deep vertical scores. From a distance, the impression is of a smooth, silver bark marked by irregular vertical black lines.

Changes in Homosexual Identity and Christianity Term Paper

Changes in Homosexual Identity and Christianity - Term Paper Example This paper will look at various methods that are related to homosexuality in Christian counseling. The concept will begin with looking at traditional viewpoints and how these have altered in the current time frame, specifically with the integration of psychology and biological factors related to homosexuality. This will be combined with the diversity that is growing in the community which is pushing Christian churches to re-examine their beliefs about homosexuality. There will then be an examination of the main methods that are being used by Christian counselors to assist those who are facing the identity of homosexuality, specifically with perspectives that relate to the responses and assistance which is given. The paper will also examine alternative perspectives that relate to this, specifically which pertain to the environment which one is in, social status of homosexuality in the church and the changes which are being made. An examination of the limitations and potential of Chris tian counseling for homosexuality will also be looked into, specifically to provide a well – rounded perspective about homosexuality and how it currently is linked to growth and development in the church and for Christian counseling. The initial reaction from most Christian branches was based on the rejection of homosexuality. Many believed that the concept of being gay or lesbian was also one which rejected higher spirituality and religion and which didn’t provide integration into the main associations with religion. However, many current changes are beginning to be approached, specifically with the understanding that there are newer problems and types of social groups which are also Christian. Without approaching individuals that are in this specific area, there is the inability to create a difference in one’s life while providing an examination of deeper spirituality. This main problem has led to new ideals in Christianity, specifically by examining the psychological perspective and how it relates to Christianity. It is from this main attribute of combining both experiences that many Christian counselors have been able to find a new perspective to homosexuality and the way in which it should be looked into within society (Stevenson, 2007). The changes with counseling which occurred were not only based on the ideology that spirituality and psychology both related to the other. There were also many who began to discover that there was more to homosexuality than being of a higher or lower s pirituality. There were many churches which began to find that gay and lesbian individuals would regularly come to the church and were not condemned from the practice of spirituality because of the altered lifestyle. Other denominations began to find and discover the biological processes, scientific explanations and other ideologies from the psychology of an individual were associated with the practice of homosexuality. These several new