Jim Jones Leadership Traits

Examination of SportsScotland and Inactivity in women in Scotland The WritePass Journal

Examination of SportsScotland and Inactivity in women in Scotland Introduction Examination of SportsScotland and Inactivity in women in Scotland IntroductionFundingLinks to Elite Sport and Mega EventsInclusionConclusionReferencesRelated Introduction Inactivity in girls and young women is an increasing public health issue in Scotland. 65% of 14 year old girls do not reach recommended levels of physical activity and 43% of adult women do little or no exercise (Sportscotland, 2011). It is therefore understandable that the government is striving to tackle this problem by implementing initiatives such as Fit for Girls (FFG) in secondary schools across Scotland. The Fit for Girls programme is a joint initiative between the Youth Sport Trust and sportscotland, aimed at increasing physical activity participation among girls aged 11 to 16 years. The programme was piloted in 2008 and is being delivered to 296 mainstream and 11 additional support needs (ASN) schools across Scotland, over a 3 year time schedule. The primary objective of the programme is to bring about sustainable change in schools that moulds a positive future for girls’ participation in physical activity. Fit for Girls aims to achieve this by providing an interactiv e environment for participants, emphasising the importance of consulting girls, working with them to establish reasons for disengagement and developing strategies to enhance future participation. The principles of respect, empowerment and participation are inherent of the programme. Girls who are currently inactive or have low levels of participation are encouraged to express their thoughts, feelings and ideas in a real and honest way. It is hoped that the Fit for Girls programme, coupled with the engagement of PE staff and Active Schools Coordinators, has the ability to make a significant impact on girls’ physical activity levels as well as their perception of physical activity and sport. Funding Sportscotland is a Quango, that is, an organisation that is funded by taxpayers, but not controlled directly by central government. Sportscotland are provided with a budget from the government and they choose how, and where to distribute the funds. A sum of  £530, 000 was invested into the Fit for girls programme in 2008.   This would finance the roll out of the program over a 3 year period. Each participating secondary school was entitled to apply for a  £700 start up grant. There was flexibility in how the grant was spent. However, funding could be used to employ staff or coaches to deliver sessions as this was not viewed as being sustainable in the long term however, the funding could be spent to train staff, volunteers, parents and senior pupils, to provide them with the essential skills and confidence required to deliver the activities. Other uses included modernising changing facilities, upgrading equipment, and providing development pathways for senior pupils. Whilst man y acknowledge the importance of sport and its potential to greatly impact on a nation’s health, culture and pride, it can be argued that for a country in severe economic crisis, the  £46,257,000 savings, which could be achieved from cutting sportscotland may be better invested elsewhere in the public sector. It is due to this controversial issue that many organisations and projects such as FFG are hanging in the balance. They are completely dependant on funding and as FFG has reached the end of its three year schedule, it is not yet known whether their funding will be extended. Links to Elite Sport and Mega Events The links between Fit for Girls and elite sport is limited. It is unlikely that a project of this nature and capacity will unearth a substantial amount of new talent, of the standard to perform at an elite level. The links between this project and events such as the 2012 and 2014 Olympic and commonwealth games appear to be relatively minimal.   These mega events are elite sport and competition at the highest possible level and see countries and athletes from all over the world participate whereas, FFG is sport at a basic, introductory level and is a national strategy within Scotland, exclusive to girls of a certain age. However, by focussing on the foundation principles and objectives of both events, links can be made. â€Å"The most important thing in the Olympic Games is not to win but to take part, just as the most important thing in life is not the triumph but the struggle. The essential thing is not to have conquered but to have fought well.† (Olympic creed). Whilst the Olympic Games and FFG appear to be at polar opposites on the sporting spectrum, they both share a similar philosophy which places great importance on participation and personal achievement. It is evident that hosting the 2012 Olympics and 2014 Commonwealth games provides the nation with a great opportunity to capitalize on the hype and publicity of the games and foster this as a catalyst for change and sporting development. This is recognized by reaching higher which acknowledges that â€Å"Major sporting events such as the Olympic, Paralympics and Commonwealth Games provide electrifying experiences for competitors and spectators. If such events are to provide an enduring legacy, they must be used as catalysts for chang e.† – (Reaching Higher, 2007). In FFG’s 1st year, participation levels in P.E and extra- curricular activities rose from 18- 27% This increased participation, expands the national pool of elite sporting talent for events such as the commonwealths, illustrating that FFG does link to elite sport and its major events. In the same way, these mega events greatly benefit schemes of this nature.   Reaching higher states that, â€Å"Volunteers and professional staff are core to the delivery of our vision. Without their expertise people will not get enthused and involved and our sportsmen and women will not reach their potential.†- (Reaching higher, 2007). Whilst it is unlikely that the programme will produce a wealth of new elite sporting talent, FFG does have the potential to produce girls who are passionate about sport and may pursue a career in the sport and leisure industry, in a voluntary, coaching or management and development capacity. This is perhaps the most prominent link to elite sport and mega events and the project   has a framework in place to promote and develop this. The level 1, Sports Leader Award is offered to s4 core pupils, this allows them to gain leadership experience, work with Active Schools Coordinators and Sports Development, as well as working with talented girls who are at risk of becoming disaffected. Additionally, the ‘Heartstart’ Training, British Heart Foundation program is offered, teaching pupils emergency aid such as CPR and how to recognise heart attack symptoms. It can therefore be drawn that whilst the links between this program with elite sport and mega events are indirect they are still significant. Inclusion The most prominent issue regarding inclusion with this program is that it excludes boys. Through FFG, the young women are receiving higher quality equipment and changing facilities, as well as having a greater deal of input and choice into the curriculum structure. It is evident that this may result in the boys feeling jealous and overlooked, which could have a detrimental effect on male participation levels and motivation. However, Reaching Higher illustrates that with regards to female participation in the 16+ age group: rates stand at 59% against 68% of young men additionally, 40% of girls have dropped out of all sports activity by the time they reach 18 (sportscotland participation survey. 2002-2004). This demonstrates that drop out and participation levels are a greater problem in girls than boys. Studies have suggested that the main reasons for girls drop out in P.E are lack of skill, and feeling embarrassed (Fit for Girls Workshop: Bucking the Trend, 2010). On average, girls e nter sport at 7.4 years of age in comparison to boys at 6.8 years old. 47% of girls are reported to be involved with some kind of organized sport by age 6, while 60% of boys of the same age are  participating. (Women’s Sports Foundation Research Report 2008). This illustrates that on average, boys have a head start on girls with regards to sports participation and skill development. Research into the sociological dimensions of girls’ physical activity participation concluded that the â€Å"traditional subject matter of physical education†¦privileges boys while disadvantaging girls†. What is sometimes referred to as the â€Å"hidden curriculum† in physical education, places great importance on skill level and ability, as well as emphasizing competition, rather than promoting sport and physical activity as part of a healthy lifestyle. (Garrett, R. 2004). The curriculum centre’s around team games and competitive activities and this learning cli mate, in turn, has often favoured male pupils due to their greater level of experience in a sports environment. Additionally, their confidence to perform athletic skills, which they are both competent and familiar with lead them to enjoy and excel in P.E classes, while girls often experience anxiety and marginalization. Literature also states that women are far more self-conscious than men when participating in sport and physical activity. (Brudzynski, L., William, E. 2010). The Fit for Girls program aims to combat this by adapting the curriculum to include more expressive and artistic activities, in conjunction with this, evidence suggests that the female only environment assists in reduce anxiety and body image concerns â€Å"Female PE staff makes me feel more comfortable taking part in activities, especially trampolining and dance.† (Bannockburn High School, S3 pupils.) Many would champion the program for seeking activities and teaching environments which increase female p articipation in P.E however, it can be argued that with regards to the modernized changing facilities, which include hair dryers and straighteners, the boys are being unfairly discriminated against and are disadvantaged. In today’s society, young men feel the pressure to look a certain way and conform as well as girls, this could be seen as a luxury which if anything, nurtures stereotypical views and creates an even greater sense of segregation and conflict between male and female pupils. Alternatively, Evidence suggests that whilst boys do care about their appearance and would like upgraded facilities, it has a stronger influence on the take-up of females than their male counterparts. Fit for Girls’ runs in 296 of 376 mainstream high schools, which equates to 79% and only 11 out of 193 ‘ASN’ high schools, equivalent to 6%. Whilst disabled pupils are not completely excluded from this scheme, the figures clearly illustrate that the provision is severely limited. â€Å"People with a disability, who equate to one in five of our population, are also less likely to participate in sport† (Reaching Higher, 2007). Therefore, it can be argued that if anything, they are at a greater need for exposure to projects such as this. Conversely, it is evident that there are many children with additional need who do not attend an ASN school, instead they are included in the mainstream schooling system,(Scottish Education Report 2007), suggesting that whilst the program is only operating in 6% of ASN schools, it is likely to be reaching a larger percentage indirectly. A further issue regarding the inclusion of this program is that it is only delivered in secondary education. It can be postulated that FFG would achieve even greater results if it was to engage with the girls at a younger age i.e. primary school. By interacting with the girls at a younger age, there is more chance of positively influencing their perception of sport and instilling good habits and attitudes however, It has been identified that between the age of 14-18 is the period in their life when most girls drop out of sport, with 40% being completely disaffected by the time they reach 18. With projects such as this, which rely heavily of funding, there is always going to be issues of inclusion. This is a project which undeniably targets a very specific population, thereby excluding many others however, by analyzing the scheme and what they are striving to achieve, it is difficult to condemn or pick fault in their strategy. The nations’ disengagement with sport and the problems that this creates cannot be tackled with one sweeping solution, whilst FFG may isolate certain groups; it is likely to have a greater success rate by focusing on its target demographic and their specific needs, rather than attempting to reach a larger population on consequently limited funding and resources. Whilst the reasons to target such a specific population are justifiable, the project could be made more sustainable and inclusive if it was integrated into the curriculum for excellence. This appears to be the next logical step forward and would enable the program to flourish and prog ress without the requirement of additional funding. Conclusion In today’s society a physically active lifestyle is recognised as an essential component of healthy living. In addition to the long term health benefits, physical activity during childhood supports holistic development, assisting to prevent overweight and obesity and the health concerns associated with these conditions, as well as enhancing psychological wellbeing. With adolescent girls being identified as at risk of becoming disaffected, The Fit for Girls project set out with clear objectives to increase the participation in sport of this population and improve their experience of sport. There is limited literature evaluating the success of the project to date however, from initial figures and case studies, the project appears to have been a success in achieving its primary objectives. With regards to elite sporting pathways and links to mega events, the connections are extremely limited, only by analysing the basic foundation principles can any parallels be drawn and even th en, they are still weak. Undoubtedly there are issues of inclusion with this scheme, by targeting such a specific demographic; it inevitably isolates a wider population. With everything considered, it can be drawn that whilst its links to elite sport are limited and it may be subject to scrutiny over issues of inclusion, the project was successful in achieving its objectives and is a small, but significant stepping stone towards increasing female sports participation. Despite acknowledging the success and importance of this project it could be concluded that the best way forward does not require an extension to the funding, instead, the principle and structure of the project should be addressed and integrated into the curriculum for excellence. References Bailey, R., (2005). Evaluating the relationship between physical education, sport and social inclusion. Education Review, 57, (1), 71-90. Brudzynski, L., William, E. (2010) Garrett, R., (2004). Negotiating a physical identity: girls, bodies and physical education. Sport, Education and Society, 9 (2), 223-237. Ferguson, M., (2009). Call for Scottish PE overhaul after damning report. Future Fitness. Sport and Fitness for today’s youth, July. p.5. Fit for Girls Workshop: Bucking the Trend, (2010) Hardman, K. (2007). Physical Education: â€Å"The future ain’t what it used to be!† University of Worcester, UK. Hardman, K., (2008). The Situation of Physical Education in Schools: a European Perspective. Human Movement, 9 (1), 1-14. Scottish Executive (2003). Let’s make Scotland more active – A Strategy for Physical Activity. The Stationery Office, Edinburgh. Scottish Education Report. (2007) Wallace, J ., Homes, A. (2007). Fit for the Future? Young people’s participation in physical activity in Scottish secondary schools. Scottish Consumer Council, Glasgow. Women’s Sports Foundation Research Report. (2008) Reaching Higher. (2007) www.scotland.gov.uk www.sportscotland.co.uk. www.youthsporttrust.org

Writing The Report Roanoke, Virginia Branch Coursework

Writing The Report Roanoke, Virginia Branch - Coursework Example d. Employee’s morale declining day by day- over worked- without salary increment. II. Methods for investigation a. Questionnaires were given to designers and copywriters in order to determine their problems. b. Budget review to determine the reason why the company accepted new orders before accomplishing initial orders. c. Employees were interviewed by members of the department. III. Findings. a. Copywriters and designers had issues regarding their department b. The employees were demoralized hence the quality of the products was substandard c. The company had to accept new orders before accomplishing initial ones. IV. Conclusions: a. Employees demoralized because they were not compensated for the over time hence low productivity. b. The branch also some of its great members. c. The company’s reputation got ruined. V. Recommendations. a. Compensation of over time. b. Improved communication within the organization. c. Collaboration of designers and copywriters. INTEROFFI CE MEMORANDUM TO : GREGORY S. FOREST FROM : HUMAN RESOURCE DEPARTMENT SUBJECT: ROANOKE BRANCH DATE : May 2, 2012 As the vice president of Human Resource Department, I would like to take this opportunity to give you detailed information about Roanoke Branch, situated in Virginia.

Vancouver supervised assisted injection facility Essay

Vancouver supervised assisted injection facility - Essay Example It had strategic purposes to support its mission listed as; improving quality of life for the illicit drug users and their environment, harm reduction and health promotion, empowerment of the illicit users to live productively. This led to the formation of safe injection centers that administer the drugs safely to the addicts. This essay will present a sustained analysis of social and economic impact of the assisted injection facility located in Vancouver. In particular, I argue out the pros and cons of the facility using a two part survey, chronological order. First, I will consider materials crediting this facility, then to those that show its disadvantages written from 2000 till recent. I will show give brief accounts that indicate the demand for these facilities. A rough estimate of 15,000 people inject illicit drugs, this excludes the occasional users. Injection drugs are often accompanied with severe health and social consequences for the users and their society at large. Increased infections, death and the accompanying costs are the distressing indicators of harm experienced within our society. These problems have grown immensely over the years and drastic measures should be taken. Safe injection facilities have remained an integral part of effective harm reduction strategy placed in Europe. They are associated with an array of positive health and social results including; less drug use, fewer drug related overdoses, reduced disease transmission, less public nuisance associated with drug abuse, less drug related crime and more drug users referred for treatment. These centers also help in sustaining contact with the most marginalized and chaotic users who inject in public. Let us now view the Vancouver context. Estimated 10-20% injective drugs users reside in Vancouver. This population has experienced increased HIV/AIDS prevalence, Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C and other

Death Penalty and the Adolescents Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Death Penalty and the Adolescents - Essay Example They argued that the death penalty was needlessly cruel, overrated as a deterrent, and occasionally imposed in fatal error. Along with Quaker leaders and other social reformers, they defended life imprisonment as a more rational alternative. Countries such as Venezuela and Portugal were the first nations to abolish the death penalty altogether (http://www.richard.clark32.btinternet.co.uk/thoughts.html, 2004).1.) Incapacitation of the criminal - Capital punishment permanently removes the worst criminals from society and should prove much cheaper and safer for the rest of us than long term or permanent incarceration. It is self evident that dead criminals cannot commit any further crimes, either within prison or after escaping or being released from it 2.) Cost - Money is not an inexhaustible commodity and the state may very well better spend our (limited) resources on the old, the young and the sick rather than the long term imprisonment of murderers, rapists etc.3.) Vengeance or retribution - Execution is a very real punishment rather than some form of "rehabilitative" treatment, the criminal is made to suffer in proportion to the offence. Although whether there is a place in a modern society for the old fashioned principal of "lex talens" (an eye for an eye) is a matter of personal opinion 4.) Deterrence - There are numerous and great examples that in those countries (e.g. Singapore), which almost always carry out death sentences there is generally far less serious crime. This tends to indicate that the death penalty is a deterrent, but only where execution is an absolute certainty Death penalty has been banned in many countries. In the United States, an earlier move to eliminate capital punishment has now been reversed and more and more states are resorting to capital punishment for serious offenses such as murder (http://www.duhaime.org/dictionary/dict-c.htm, 2004). The arguments for and against death penalty started with the legal issues concerning the U.S. Supreme Court's decision on Furman vs. Georgia case. During this trial it has been argued that capital punishment is a law that is evidently "arbitrary and capricious." Racial bias is one of the strongest arguments for the 'arbitrariness' of death penalty (http://justice.uaa.alaska.edu/death/history.html, 2006).

Autistic Spectrum Disorder And Offending Behaviour Psychology Essay

Autistic Spectrum Disorder And Offending Behaviour Psychology Essay Speculation is evident within both popular media and scientific literature regarding a possible association in the relationship between Autistic Spectrum Disorder and offending behaviour. The possible presence of antisocial and criminal behaviour in a sub-sample of individuals with Asperger syndrome has been of high interest to both psychological research and the general public. The research reviewed within this study suggests that people with Autistic spectrum disorders are potentially over-represented within the criminal justice system. However an accurate prevalence of Autistic Spectrum Disorder and Asperger Syndrome both within the general population and the criminal justice system is yet to be established as findings between studies are varied. It has been suggested that an individual with Autistic Spectrum disorder who has offending behaviour will be more likely to commit violent, sexual or arson-related crime however there is limited research to support this. Additionally it d oes appear that certain characteristics such as co-morbid psychiatric symptoms are important risk factors Introduction Debbaudt (2004) described how individuals with Autistic Spectrum Disorder are seven times more likely to experience contact with the criminal justice system than the general population. Howlin (2004) argues that the perceived link between Autistic Spectrum Disorder and offending behaviour can be explained by sensational media reporting. Specific stories have highlighted the Asperger syndrome status of offenders in their reports of crime. However the apparent association with offending has been generated by sensationalised, unsubstantiated in diagnostic terms , media reports. News headlines such as Autistic Boy killed baby brother, Apergers Boy locked up for Rape and A 15 year-old boy with Aspergers Syndrome ahs been locked up for an indeterminate period for raping an 8 year-old boy and photographing the attack can be extremely harmful to peoples perceptions of ASD (BBC News, 2001, BBC News, 2007a, Birmingham Post 2007). The purpose of this article is to review what literature is available relating to Autistic Spectrum Disorder and Offending Behaviour. Specifically this article will review what is meant by Autistic Spectrum Disorder, the prevalence of Autistic Spectrum Disorder within the Criminal Justice System, prevalence of offending behaviour in offenders with Autistic Spectrum Disorder, the characteristics of Autistic Spectrum Disorder that might make individuals more vulnerable to offending and the types of crime most associated with the disorder. Additionally there will be a focus on the relevant treatment and policy implications for clinicians and support staff working with this unique population. In order to identify all known studies investigating the relationship between Autistic Spectrum Disorder and offending behaviour a search was conducted of the databases Psych Info, Academic Search Complete and Google Scholar using the key terms Autis* and Crim*, Asperg* and Offen* within the parameters of 1985 to current issues. A search was also conducted regarding News and popular media sites using the key words of Autism, Asperger, offend/offending and Crime. All of the studies are organised in Table 1. Defining Autistic Spectrum Disorders Before examining prevalence rates it is important to define what is meant by Autistic Spectrum Disorder. In the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders ( DSM-IV) (APA, 1994) categories of pervasive developmental disorders (PDD) are autistic disorder, Asperger Syndrome and pervasive developmental disorder not otherwise specified (PDD-NOS). The criteria (DSM-IV) for Autistic Spectrum Disorder include a core triad of impairments. These are impairments in social interaction, social communication and social imagination including restricted repetitive and stereotyped patterns of behaviour, interests and activities. There is variance in diagnostic criteria for Asperger syndrome between DSM-IV and ICD-10. The term Autistic Spectrum Disorder is widely accepted in research and literature. The idea of the autistic spectrum is clinically useful as it illustrates the variation in symptomatology both among and within each diagnostic category. This range can include mild to very severe symptoms in each of the areas of impairment that categorise Autistic Spectrum Disorder. Those on the lower functioning end of the spectrum, such as those with classic autism, may never learn to talk using words, struggle to develop or maintain meaningful relationships and have very ritualistic/obsessional behaviour. Those on the higher functioning end of the spectrum, such as those with AS may have IQ within the average range, be verbally fluent and can be capable of leading independent lives given some support. The majority of literature regarding the relationship between Autistic Spectrum Disorder and offending behaviour has focused on individuals of whom have a diagnosis or show indicators of Asperger syndrome. Langstrom et al (2009) explored characteristrics associated with violent offending among individuals diagnosed with Autistic Spectrum Disorders over a 13 year period taking information from swedish national registers. They found that criminal violence was more common among participants diagnosed with Asperger syndrome relative to participants with autistic disorder. They attributed this factor to the reasoning that those with Asperger syndrome are more likely to have unimpaired intellectual ability, better social skills. It was also concluded that those with Autistic disorder are more likely to live in supervised settings where staff or others may help to resolve conflicts or manage anger. The fact that research study examines both autistic spectrum disorder and Asperger syndrome m ake drawing conclusions and comparisons extremely difficult. Asperger syndrome is defined as a condition which has many features of Autistic Spectrum Disorder however it is displayed in persons of average or above average intelligence. Gillberg (2002) describes features such as a tendency to engage in monologues or special interests around narrow interests, limited or inappropriate non-verbal communication and a compulsive need for routine. The term Theory of Mind has been used to describe the psychological dysfunction underlying the triad of impairments shared by all people with Autistic Spectrum Disorder (Wing, 1996). Theory of mind describes the ability to be able to put oneself in the position of another and be able to appreciate their feelings, wants and wishes. This inability to empathise and put yourself in someone elses shoes means that those with Asperger syndrome, like those with other forms of Autistic Spectrum Disorder, are unable to judge the probable actions or responses of others (Browning Caulfield, 2011). Many studies support the view that the majority of those with Autistic Spectrum Disorders and Asperger syndrome are law abiding and that very few engage in illicit criminalised behaviour. The very features of AS mean that the vast majority of this section of the population are very pedantic in their adherence to the law due to their literal thinking (Wing, 1997, Murrie et al. 2002, Myers, 2004). It may be that speculative assumptions that those with Autistic Spectrum Disorders or Asperger syndrome possess a greater propensity towards violent criminality is generated through media reporting and both factual and fictional film, television and radio. There are relatively few people in the public eye with an Autistic Spectrum Disorder however the reporting of rare acts of violence within the media is potentially harmful serving only to assist in the creation of inaccurate perceptions of affected individuals ( Browning Caulfield, 2011). An accurate prevalence of Asperger syndrome within the general population is yet to be established as findings between studies are varied. Research has indicated the prevalence of Asperger syndrome to be between 2 and 60 per 10,000 (Gillberg 1991, Wing 1996). Murphy, (2003) reported that there is evidence that 3-4 in every 100 children may develop Aspergers syndrome and there is general agreement that the prevalence of Asperger syndrome is low. Current statistics provided by the National Autistic Society estimate that the prevalence of all Autistic Spectrum Disorders in the UK is approximately 1% (NAS, 2008). Attempts to assess the violence and criminality rate have also been made more difficult due to the low prevalence and problems relating to gaining valid diagnosis of Aspergers Syndrome. It must also be recognised that additional problems in this field may stem from specific difficulties. People with Autistic Spectrum Disorder or Aspergers syndrome within the criminal justice system may be being misdiagnosed and being given other labels such psychosis. There may be a form of societal reluctance to link specific disorders within criminality thus meaning an under-estimation of prevalence is given. Berney (2004) also considers the idea that there is an increasing unwillingness within the UK to pursue prsecution unless there is a high possibility of conviction. Data may also not be taking into account large numbers of people who do not enter the criminal justice system as they are subject to diversion or do not get charged (Hawk et al. (1993). Some researchers have proposed that the core features of Autistic Spectrum Disorder such as abnormal development of social interaction and development may expose those on the spectrum to commit offending (Haskins and Silva, 2006). However this does not mean that having Autistic Spectrum Disorder enhances the likelihood of offending. Researchers have used a range of different strategies in order to study any possible association between Autistic Spectrum Disorder and offending. Prevalence of persons with Autistic Spectrum Disorder in the Criminal Justice System In order to better understand if there is any relationship between Autistic Spectrum Disorder and offending behaviour some researchers have focused on Autistic Spectrum Disorder among those who have already been or are still in the criminal justice system. Scragg and Shah (1994) considered a hypothesis that there may exist co-morbid neurological disorders in those with Asperger syndrome that may be an underlying factor of violent acts committed. Their research examined the entire male population (n=392) of Broadmoor hospital using methods such as interviewing staff and patients and screening case notes. They found a prevalence rate for Asperger syndrome of 1.5% significantly exceeding the prevalence rate of 0.36% found by Elthers and Gillberg (1993) in the general population using the same diagnostic criteria. Siponmaa et al (2001) conducted a retrospective study where a much higher prevalence rate of ASD among offenders was found in Sweden. The researchers reviewed case notes of 126 mentally disordered offenders and found that 15% had pervasive developmental disorder, 12% had pervasive developmental disorder not otherwise specified/atypical autism and 3% had Asperger syndrome. However these results cannot be generalised to offender populations as the sample was recruited from a forensic population of offenders who have a mental disorder requiring treatment and the majority had committed violent offences. Hare et al (1999) examined the prevalence of individuals with Autistic Spectrum Disorders within three hospitals in the UK. They found that 67.7% of the total Autistic spectrum disorder population of these prisons had Asperger syndrome. The rough prevalence estimate was 1.6% supporting the hypothesis that there is an over representation of people with Autistic spectrum disorder and in particular Asperger syndrome within forensic hospitals in the UK. In contrast Myers (2004) found very low numbers of individuals with autistic spectrum disorders in secure forensic and specialist settings in Scotland. Through examination of the number of people with learning disabilities with or without Asperger syndrome their findings indicate a prevelance estimate of 0.93% in the prison service; 0.46% in secure units and 1.39% in mental health units It must be recognised that prevalence studies have typically been restricted to highly specialised settings and therefore highly selected samples such as those at Broodmoor prison and secure services (Scragg and Shah,1994). There also appears to be a lack of research which has investigated the prevalence of Autistic Spectrum Disorder in general populations of people who had committed crime. Additionally there is also a failure to acknowledge that the offending behaviour of their research participants could potentially be attributed to other risk factors commonly associated with offending within the general population such as co-morbid mental health issues or social circumstances. There is large variability in prevalence rates across the discussed studies however there does appear to be some sort of association between autistic spectrum disorder and offending behaviour. Differences in types of diagnosis may account for some of the varying prevalence rates between different countries.Even specific studies involving highly specialised settings have found that a diagnosis of Autistic Spectrum Disorder had not been previously made for the majority; making this study of general populations even more difficult. . In making a diagnosis of Autistic Spectrum Disorder this can help in the understanding of reasons that crimes may have taken place and can help to decide on appropriate methods of care and management Detection of Autistic Spectrum Disorder in childhood/adolescence could provide opportunity to manage pre-disposing factors to offending behaviour. In the absence of such systems it could be argued that individuals with an Autistic Spectrum Disorder are at incre ased risk of developing offending behaviours. See Table 1 for an overview of the prevalence of Autistic Spectrum Disorder found in studies within both forensic and community settings Prevalence of Offending Behaviour in individuals with Autistic Spectrum Disorder When reviewing the research a further method of investigating the relationship between Autistic Spectrum Disorder and offending behaviour has been to examine the prevalence of offending behaviour in individuals with Autistic Spectrum Disorder. The question of whether or not a person with Autistic spectrum disorder may be more likely to offend will provide richer information around any possible association. Hippler et al, (2009), completed a study to examine criminal offending in 177 former patients of Hans Asperger. No increased rate of registered convictions was found compared to the general population suggesting that people with Aspergers syndrome are not more likely to commit offences. Mourisden et al, (2008) looked at the prevalence of offending behaviours in individuals with Autistic Spectrum Disorder compared to typically developing controls using the Danish Criminal Register. Register data offers opportunity to analyse data from large populations in a historical, prospective way avoiding recall bias. Overall results found that 9% from the Autistic Spectrum Disorder group and 18% from the comparison group had convictions. This study suggests that rates of convictions are actually lower in individuals with Autistic Spectrum Disorder than in the general population. The research also indicated that criminal offences are very uncommon in childhood autism but more common in Aspergers syndrome. Allen et als (2008) study investigated the prevalence of Asperger syndrome and offending within a large geographical area. A survey methodology was used to identify adults with a recorded clinical diagnosis of Asperger syndrome in the South Wales area of the UK. The services contacted included mental health teams, local health practitioners, forensic practitioners and learning disability teams. Their results were generally not supportive of there being a significant association between Asperger syndrome and offending, attributing this to methodological problems including individuals with learning disabilities skewering the data, the focus on adults and misdiagnosis. Woodbury-Smith et al. (2006) identified that previous research had focused specifically on violent offending and suggested a need for community based research. Their reasoning was that statistical findings of research conducted within high security psychiatric or forensic settings only represented the prevalence of very serious offences therefore failing to be more representative of more generalised common-place criminality. They responded by conducting a study of offending by those with Asperger syndrome and Autistic Spectrum Disorders in the community. Although it must be acknowledged that the sample size was very small it was the first to look at offending patterns of individuals with Autistic Spectrum Disorders in the community. Their findings found that the level of offending occurring within the Autistic Spectrum Disorder group was lower than that of the neuro-typical group. Issues with these particular studies include the difficulties that some studies have such small, unrepresentative samples that make any estimates of prevalence epidemiologically insubstantial. Consequently whilst these studies do not give a true picture, this limited evidence also suggests that individuals with classic autistic disorder are very unlikely to offend and those with a diagnosis of Asperger syndrome are no more likely to offend than people in the general population. Table 1 Prevalence of Autistic Spectrum Disorder studies within both forensic and community settings Study No. of participants Prevalence estimation Ghaziuddin et al (1991) Review of 132 published case studies 2.27% Scragg and Shah (1994) 392 1.5%-2.3% Hare et al. (1999) 22 1.6% Sipionmaa (2001) 135 15% diagnosed with ASD Myers (2004) 0.46% in secure psychiatric units 0.93% in the prison service 1.39% in mental health units Mouridson (2008) 313 0.89% Hippler et al (2009) 177 No increased prevalence compared to the general population Predisposing Risk Factors of Autistic Spectrum Disorder that might make a person more vulnerable to offending In order to examine if there is any relationship between Autistic Spectrum Disorder and offending behaviour it is important to investigate whether there are any innate vulnerabilities that make it more likely that a person with Autistic Spectrum Disorder will offend. It must also be recognised that general vulnerability factors as identified in criminological literature such as low IQ, poor school achievement and Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder will still all be relevant (Farrington, 2002). More general knowledge within this area will enhance both preventative programmes and forms of treatment and rehabilitation. Woodbury- Smith et al. (2006) completed an exploratory study where participants were recruited from different sources in the UK. These adult groups included 21 individuals with Autistic Spectrum Disorder and a history of offending, 23 individuals with Autistic Spectrum Disorder and no history of offending and a general population group of 23 people without Autistic Spectrum Disorder and no history of offending. Cognition areas known to be impaired in people with Autistic Spectrum Disorder such as theory of mind and emotional recognition were compared. Results showed that the Autistic Spectrum Disorder offenders showed a significantly greater impairment in the recognition of emotional expressions of fear, but no difference in theory of mind, executive function, and recognition of facial expressions of sadness. This finding indicates that this lack of ability to recognise fear in others may cause individuals with Autistic Spectrum Disorder to continue behaviour that is distressing to o thers thus possibly increasing the likelihood of offending. Langstrom et al (2009), used data from Swedish longitudinal registers for 422 individuals hospitalised with Autistic Spectrum Disorder during a thirteen year period . Their research compared those committing violent or sexual offences with those who did not. Their results found that violent individuals with Autistic Spectrum Disorder are generally male and diagnosed with Asperger syndrome rather than Autistic Spectrum Disorder. Conclusions also found that violent offending in Autistic Spectrum Disorder is related to similar co-occurring psychopathology as found in violent individuals without Autistic Spectrum Disorder, Limitations to this study must be cautiously interpreted as the sample was based on being hospitalised and are again therefore not necessarily representative of all individuals with Autistic Spectrum Disorder in the community There are very few reports that investigate the importance of co-morbid psychiatric factors when understanding if any relationship between Autistic Spectrum Disorder and offending behaviour exists. Newman and Ghaziuddin (2008), reviewed 37 published cases with violent behaviour and AS in respect to concurrent psychiatric disorders and found that 29.7% of the reviewed cases had a definite psychiatric disorder whilst 54.0% had a probable psychiatric disorder. Subsequently when offending occurs within an individual with Autistic Spectrum Disorder it is important to exclude other psychiatric conditions because these can independently influence the risk of offending, as it does in the general population. Murphys (2003) study examined in the setting of a high-security psychiatric hospital whether male patients with AS could be distinguished from patients with personality disorder or schizophrenia on the basis of admission and neuropsychological details. This study adds to the review of research on Autistic Spectrum Disorder and offending behaviour as exploratory comparisons found that patients with Asperger syndrome were less likely to have a history of alcohol or illicit substance abuse and had lower index violence rations. Qualitative observations in this study suggested that whilst circumstances varied, offending behaviour tended to be associated with particular problems such as externalised misplaced blame, difficulty understanding consequence of their actions and difficulty with prospective taking. Murphy (2006) compared in-patients with schizophrenia, personality disorder and Aspergers syndrome in Broadmoor high security psychiatric hospital. The research indicated that those with AS were less likely to have histories of substance abuse or alcohol misuse and their offences had lower violence ratings than those of other patient groups. Palermo, (2004) examined the relationship between complex developmental disorders and delinquency by analysing three adult patients with Pervasive Developmental Disorder whose admission to hospital was precipitated by criminal behaviour. The patients all shared similar difficulties including struggling to understand social cues, showing mannerisms ad prosodic oddities and all had the presence of a major psychiatric illness whilst meeting the diagnostic criteria for Asperger syndrome. Their findings found that the reported behaviours resulted from co-morbid psychopathology and not as a direct consequence of a developmental disorder. Howlin (2004) suggests that the innate levels of empathy may be associated in particular with violent and sexual offending. Additionally Haskins and Silva, 2006. discuss how the illegal behaviours of a person with Asperger syndrome are predominantly associated with either a deficient theory of mind or an intense preoccupation with a narrow interest. The term weak central coherence refers to the detail focused processing style that is proposed to characterise autism spectrum disorders (Happe and Frith, 2006). A persistent preoccupation with parts of objects is one of the diagnostic criteria for autistic disorder in current practice (DSM-IV, 1994) Subsequently it has been proposed that this weak central coherence may make it difficult for an individual with Autistic spectrum disorder to think about the consequence of their actions. To confirm factors that predispose a person to commit a particular type of crime, further large scale, longitudinal prospective studies are needed. See Table 2 Table 2 Factors mediating offending in Autistic Spectrum Disorders in key studies Study Factors mediating offending in AS Murphy (2003) externalised misplaced blame difficulty understanding consequence of actions difficulty with prospective taking Barry-Walsh and Mullen (2004) narrow focus and preoccupation with a special interest Palermo (2004) struggling to understand social cues Co-morbid psychopathology Lack of empathy Howlin (2004) innate levels of empathy Happe Frith (2006) weak central coherence Haskins and Silva, (2006) deficient theory of mind An intense preoccupation with a narrow interest. Woodbury-Smith et al. (2006) significantly greater impairment in the recognition of emotional expressions of fear Newman and Ghaziuddin (2008) Co-morbid Psychiatric factors Allen et al (2008) Lack of concern and awareness Social naivety Impulsivity and mis-interpretation of the rules Overriding obsessions Types of Crime most associated with the disorder It is difficult to ascertain the types of offending behaviour in individuals with Autistic Spectrum Disorder due to the lack of valid epidemiologic studies. Clinical studies within the case study literature have also explored the hypothesised relationship between Autism and Offending behaviour. The offense type most commonly described within these studies tends to be sexual offences, arson and violent offenses. Studies of single cases and referred samples can provide indications of the types of offending which may be found in people with Autistic Spectrum Disorder (Baron-Cohen, 1988, Barry-Walsh Mullen, 2004, Haskins Silva, 2006, Murrie et al. 2002, Schartz-Watts 2005). Mawson et al, (1985) case study focused on a 44 year old man cataloguing a series of strange violent behaviours including dropping a firework into a girls car, assaulting a crying baby at a railway station by putting his hand over its mouth to stop the noise, following a female teacher, getting close to her at every possibility. The authors speculate that there is an association between Asperger syndrome and violent behaviour however they do not put the offences in context of the mans diagnosis and significant impairments including sensory, theory of mind and inability to read social situations. Palermos, (2004) case studies behaviours respectively included threatening to kill a police officer, threatening to burn down a family members house and touching a prepubescent boy at a playground. Several case reports associated with Arson and Asperger syndrome have appeared in the literature. Mouridsen et als, (2007) study looked at the prevalence of offending behaviours in individuals with Autistic Spectrum Disorder compared to typically developing controls and found that only arson statistically separated Asperger syndrome cases from the comparison group. Haskins and Silva (2006), discuss a range of particular cases highlighting specific issues that might make a person with Autistic Spectrum Disorder have heightened risk for engaging in criminal behaviour. One reviewed case history involved a young man who was accused of starting a fire in his apartment to obtain insurance money. This fire killed his young daughter and nearly killed his wife. Additionally Sionmaa et al, (2001) reported that 10 (63%) of 16 crimes of Arson were perpetrated by individuals with AS. Barry-Walsh and Mullen, (2004), reported on two cases that had a history of fire-starting. Reasons for the offence of arson vary within each study however it is hypothesised that a major reason includes the narrowed fixations that some people with Autistic Spectrum Disorder may have and the lack of understanding of consequences and reasoning. It could be suggested that Arson may be more specifically related to behaviours seen in Autistic Spectrum Disorder . Epidemiological studies indicate that people with AS do commit sexual offences (Hare, 1999; Murphy 2003) but there is evidence that the rates of sex offending and child sex offences in particular are lower than in general populations ( Hare, 1999, Elvish, 2007). It has been suggested that individuals with Asperger syndrome display criminal behaviour due to their sexual preoccupations. Cases include that of a 21 year old male who had a history of stealing cotton lingerie and masturbating whilst holding womens night-dresses (Chesterman Rutter, 1993) and a young male with Asperger syndrome who had a history of recurrent sexual offences including touching the privates of young women; watching women in toilets and making obscene phone-calls (Milton et al, 2002). It appears that when individuals with autistic spectrum disorder do commit crimes they are less likely to involve alcohol, substance misuse and/or drugs (OBrian Bell, 2001). Additionally the offences of individuals with autistic spectrum disorder did not generally provide any direct gain to the individual. Wahlund Kristiannsson (2006) investigated 35 male offenders with diagnosis of ASD or anti-social behaviour referred for psychiatric assessment in Sweden. It was found that those with autistic spectrum disorder were less likely to be intoxicated and did not use knives or guns as frequently as the personality disorder group. It was also hypothesised that individuals with autistic spectrum disorders may offend at an earlier age than other neuro-typical offenders as difficulties in social interaction will start to be marked in early adulthood and youth resulting in a higher risk of offending behaviour. Recommendations to support individuals with ASD with Offending Behaviour There must be recognition that a number of people with Autistic Spectrum Disorder are involved with the criminal justice system whether that be as victims, witnesses or perpetrators of crime. Professionals working within the CJS must be educated regarding the unique diversity that may be found within people with Autistic Spectrum Disorder in order to improve the likelihood that these individuals will be treated more appropriately. Tiffin Nadkarni (2010) discuss how specialised assessments can identify risk factors associated with violent behaviour even if social and communication problems consistent with an Autistic Spectrum Disorder are present. However there is recognition that these tools compliment but do not replace structured clinical assessment. Subsequently a formulation of risk that recognises complexity but accepts limitations enables useful management plans to be made. The treatment of vulnerable groups within the criminal justice system has been focused on within specific research and it must be recognised that the process of arrest, questioning and trial may be more difficult for a person with Asperger syndrome then others. Difficulties may include misinterpreting what they hear, being unable to function effectively in unpractised, unfamiliar environments and using words without fully understanding their meaning (Mayes, 2003, Barry-Walsh and Mullen, 2004) Subsequently these difficulties may be considered to be the individual being un

History Of Skateboarding :: essays research papers

Skateboarding has rich history of innovation and is full of intriguing stories. Many of these stories are documented in this book in great detail. However, this essay will provide you with an overview of the last nine decades. The first type of skateboards were actually more like scooters. These contraptions, which date back to the early 1900's featured roller skate wheels attached to a two by four. Often the wood had a milk crate nailed to it with handles sticking out for control. Over the next five decades kids changed the look of the scooter and took off the crate and started cruising on two by fours with steel wheels. Tens of thousands of rollerskates were dismantled and joyfully hammered on to planks of wood. In the 1950's modifications were made to the trucks (the device that hold the wheels) and kids started to maneuver more easily. Towards the late 1950's, surfing became increasingly popular and people began to tie surfing together with cruising on a board. By 1959, the first Roller Derby Skateboard was for sale. Clay wheels entered the picture and sidewalk surfing began to take root. By the time the 1960's roll around, skateboarding had gained an impressive following amongst the surf crowd. However, when Larry Stevenson, publisher of Surf Guide begins to promote skateboarding, things started to take off. Larry's company, Makaha designed the first professional boards in 1963 and a team was formed to promote the product. The first skateboard contest was held at the Pier Avenue Junior School in Hermosa, California in 1963. In 1964, surf legend Hobie Alter teamed up with the Vita Pakt juice company to create Hobie Skateboards. While most skaters took to the street or sidewalk, some brave souls decide to ride empty swimming pools. By 1965, international contests, movies (Skater Dater), a magazine (The Quarterly Skateboarder) and cross country trips by teams of skateboarders elevated the sport to enormous heights. Over fifty million boards were sold within a three year period and then all of a sudden skateboarding died in the fall of 1965. The first crash of skateboarding came about due to inferior product, too much inventory and a public upset by reckless riding. The manufacturers were so busy making product that little was done in the way of research and development. Although some companies developed better quality wheels, clay wheels were the cheapest to manufacturer. However, clay wheels did not grip the road well and skaters fell everywhere.

How to Write a Reflective Account Essay

This is only guidance on what you need to include in your reflective account to provide evidence for the units you are doing, you will need to look at the units you are doing and be guided by the Assessment Criteria Ensure that when writing your account write reflectively, using â€Å"I† statements, i.e I recorded in the clients daily notes, not it was recorded. You need to ensure you are writing what YOU did, HOW you did it and WHY you did it the way you did. A brief history of the candidate, what you have changed the name to, and a brief description of your role in supporting the client, how did you find and: How you found out about the clients’ needs, wishes and preferences regarding communication and language, religion, personal care and any other activities you are responsible for How did you confirm with the client this was preferred language and communication method? How did you find out about any risks to the client, and your role in protecting them. How did you record and share information about the clients communication needs? How did you build your relationship with the client? How did you ensure that you valued the client as an individual, with respect for their dignity and privacy and respect the client’s culture, valves and diversity. How you carried out your work i.e personal care, and why you did it the way  you did, how you found out what support the client wanted from you. Did you support the client to use the toilet, with bathing, dressing and grooming, eating and drinking etc, how did you do this, what H&S precautions did you take and why. How did you encourage the client to identify what they can do for themselves and what they needed assistance with and who they needed the assistance from? Were there any changes in the client’s needs, circumstances etc, what did you do about these. How you ensured that the environment was sage and that you adhered to H&S procedures i.e when moving and handling, dealing with contaminated waste, storing equipment and hazardous materials etc. did you carry out H&S checks. What H&S issues did you identify during your work, how did you manage these, how were they reported and recorded. How you encouraged independence How did you protect the client and yourself from the risk of infection? How you talked to the client, encourage the client to talk about their daily life etc, what methods of communicating did you use, how did you ensure good eye contact during communicating with the client. How did you ensure that the client understood you and you understood them? How did you respond to any questions or concerns the client had, did you listen appropriately, did you need to seek advice about the clients or key peoples question or concerns where did you seek this from. Did you identify any discrimination, what did you do about this? How did you ensure that the client had the information about how to make a  comment or complaint. How did you obtain feedback from clients and key people on how you were working with them, and from your colleagues and supervisors. How did you identify any new knowledge or skills that might help you with training was identified, a after attending training, how did you use the new skills and knowledge, and was this of any benefit to you in your work. How did you review what you had learnt and how this new knowledge and skills have been useful? Did you observe any sign or symptoms of harm or abuse, what you did about this, how you reported and recorded this etc. Did you have to manage an accident or emergency, how did you do this how did you support the client and others involved, how and where did you record the incident

The Difference Between Perpetrate and Perpetuate

The Difference Between Perpetrate and Perpetuate If you are having trouble understand the differences between perpetrate and perpetuate, youre not the only one. These verbs are commonly confused. The  verb perpetrate means to commit, carry out, or bring about. The verb perpetuate means to prolong the existence of or to cause to last indefinitely. Examples of the Two Words The link between  perpetuate  and  perpetual  suggests the long-term association of the first word. Similarly, the connection between  perpetrate  and  perpetrator  helps to clarify the meaning of that verb.(Philip Gooden,  Whos Whose: A No-Nonsense Guide to Easily Confused Words. Bloomsbury, 2004)This whole baby thing baffles me. I mean you have it, you raise it, you inevitably screw it up, it resents you, feels guilty for resenting you and then it has a baby, which only perpetuates the vicious cycle.(Demi Moore as Samantha Albertson in Now and Then, 1995)The blogger attempted to  perpetrate  a fraud on his readers.Every business that leaves the city helps to  perpetuate  a cycle of rising unemployment, diminishing city services, and increased crime. Test Your Knowledge (a) My office computer was used to _____ a crime.(b) The children decided to _____ the memory of their father by publishing his biography. Answers to Practice Exercises (a) My office computer was used to  perpetrate  a crime.(b) The children decided to  perpetuate  the memory of their father by publishing his biography.

Free Essays on Well Of Loneliness

Leslie Feinberg once said, â€Å"More exists among human beings than can be answered by the simplistic question I’m hit with everyday of my life: ‘are you a man or a woman?’† Our society has yet to develop a term for a gender that is neither male nor female, a person whose characteristics are neither masculine nor feminine. Often times it is the case that if a woman does not appear feminine she is perceived as masculine. In The Well of Loneliness, by Radclyffe Hall a story of character unravels in which one female sexed person lives in a society where she feels that she is not accepted for who she is. Hall develops this sensitive lesbian and as the story unravels the reader is invited to look closer into the soul of this character and what being a lesbian entails to her. From the beginning of Stephen’s life there was something different about her. She resembled her father Sir Phillip almost uncannily, which made her mother uneasy. She played rough with her father, riding on his back as if he were a bucking bronco. In Hall’s description of Stephen’s early adolescence, she is supporting a view point that a lesbian is born intrinsically gay. In the ongoing debate of nature or nurture it seems that Hall believes that it is predetermined at birth what one’s sexual orientation will be. To further strengthen this belief, Stephen’s first crush is on a female housekeeper. When Stephen is only five years old she develops what can only be understood as a crush on Collins and does everything in her power to be near her. At the same time that this crush is developing Stephen has taken toward dressing us as a young boy. When dressed as â€Å"Nelson† she realized how much more comfortable she was as this boy. At age seven she asked her father â€Å"Do you think that I could be a man, supposing I thought very hard-or prayed, Father?† (Well of Loneliness p. 26) This was only the start of a heartbreaking struggle for Stephen to discover h... Free Essays on Well Of Loneliness Free Essays on Well Of Loneliness Leslie Feinberg once said, â€Å"More exists among human beings than can be answered by the simplistic question I’m hit with everyday of my life: ‘are you a man or a woman?’† Our society has yet to develop a term for a gender that is neither male nor female, a person whose characteristics are neither masculine nor feminine. Often times it is the case that if a woman does not appear feminine she is perceived as masculine. In The Well of Loneliness, by Radclyffe Hall a story of character unravels in which one female sexed person lives in a society where she feels that she is not accepted for who she is. Hall develops this sensitive lesbian and as the story unravels the reader is invited to look closer into the soul of this character and what being a lesbian entails to her. From the beginning of Stephen’s life there was something different about her. She resembled her father Sir Phillip almost uncannily, which made her mother uneasy. She played rough with her father, riding on his back as if he were a bucking bronco. In Hall’s description of Stephen’s early adolescence, she is supporting a view point that a lesbian is born intrinsically gay. In the ongoing debate of nature or nurture it seems that Hall believes that it is predetermined at birth what one’s sexual orientation will be. To further strengthen this belief, Stephen’s first crush is on a female housekeeper. When Stephen is only five years old she develops what can only be understood as a crush on Collins and does everything in her power to be near her. At the same time that this crush is developing Stephen has taken toward dressing us as a young boy. When dressed as â€Å"Nelson† she realized how much more comfortable she was as this boy. At age seven she asked her father â€Å"Do you think that I could be a man, supposing I thought very hard-or prayed, Father?† (Well of Loneliness p. 26) This was only the start of a heartbreaking struggle for Stephen to discover h...

Party of Liberals Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Party of Liberals - Essay Example We don't believe in the theory that supporters of abortion should be called anti-life, immoral or unethical. We never advocate killing of human life but only believe in the full fledged form of women's liberation. Termination of pregnancy should not be misunderstood as killing of human life. Our party is strongly of the opinion that any human embryo carried by a pregnant woman up to the medically terminable stage should not be considered life. Even though spermatozoa, ovum, pre-embryo, embryo, fetus, newborn, and infant are different forms of human life, they don't carry the equal value in relation to its meaning (Definition of terms, human life). The issue of abortion has once again come to the fore with the Mayoral elections nearing. You may recall that we have severely condemned the practice of abortion as unethical at our last delegates meeting. We once again reiterate our commitment to stand by the resolution adopted unanimously at that meeting in which we pledged to ban all abortion clinics in our city if our party candidate became the Mayor of the city. We assure you we will go to any extent to protect your traditional rights and cultural aspects on which the society has built up the social and moral fabric over a period. Abortion is equal to killing the innocent and it is unethical and immoral too.

Importance of Accurate Bloodstain Spatter Analysis in Crime Scene Research Paper

Importance of Accurate Bloodstain Spatter Analysis in Crime Scene Investigations - Research Paper Example Due to the certification of more technicians, a lot of information on the shape of bloodstain is being used in the conclusion of crime events. Blood stain pattern analysis is the assessment of the nature, position, and distribution pattern of bloodstains that should enable an investigator to deduce the physical actions that took place at the scene. The outcomes obtained from the analysis give extra information to medical practitioners when determining the time the victim died. Certified bloodstain pattern analysts are normally used in offering explanations on blood spatter patterns and supplementary verifications at the crime scenes. This assists in the disclosure of vital exploratory information; like the positions of the casualty, the attacker, the items at the scene; the weapon that created the spatter and the number of blows, blast, or stabs the victim received. It can also be used to agree or contradict the report the wounded, suspects or observers give, hence ensuring that an i nnocent person is not condemned. Basically, inert bloodstains are as a result of the gravitational pull. They are normally evident on the various surfaces like the floor, wall, or the clothing. In carrying out crime Scene investigation therefore, documentation of all stains must be done. During blood stain pattern analysis, investigators always apply the physics, mathematics, and trigonometry laws, which assist the investigators to acquire information which enables them to determine the actions that took place; the individuals who were there, and the authenticity of the self defense declaration of the alleged doer. In the crime scene, there may be numerous areas with blood spatters. Identification of all locations with blood spatters and carrying out the necessary analysis is therefore vital. Moreover, after the scene has been documented, the resolution of the course and succession of actions enables the CIS in laying strategies for the collection of blood samples from the most rati onal sites. When careful analysis of the scene is done, accurate representative blood samples will be presented to the crime laboratory for analysis. Introduction Blood pattern analysis assists investigators in the determination of the source of the blood, the distance through which the blood traveled before landing, the form and the bearing of the force that caused the blood stain, the object used to produce the bloodstain, and the position of the casualty and the attacker during and after the bloodshed. Normally small blood spatters are as a result of a lot of force having been used. In order to obtain accurate results, blood pattern analysts must be careful in doing the assessments. Blood spatter as evidence Due to the gravitational pull, the shape of a free falling drop of blood is spherical. The force of gravity results in surface tension which makes the blood molecules to adhere on one another. Due to surface tension, the distance through which the drop of blood falls does not affect the spherical shape (Chisum & Turvey 374). The drop of blood will only break after hitting another surface or when force is exerted on it. When a blood drop hits an impermeable, smooth, and firm surface for instance floor tile, the probability of it forming a spatter in minimal. Freely dipping blood forms huge circular stains. Rough surfaces interfere with the surface tension of the blood drops, thus resulting in spatters and uneven stains having serrated edges. Presentation of precise