Help with HS Sociology project

WHS Sociology Department ^ | 3/27/04 | Self

[CAPPSMADNESS]

Hello to all,

My son has been given an assignment for his Sociology class and thought this forum would be a great place for him to receive some varied input. We have tried not to influence our children regarding politics, preferring them to make their own decisions regarding regarding party affiliation and such. This has not been an easy task.

Matt and I thought it would be great to pose these questions on this forum to gather input from here. The questions are as follows:

1. What Constitutional rights should be required to be given up if one is sentenced to a felony & why?

2. Do you believe that if prisoners are treated more humanely (own TV's, liberal use of telephone priviledges, family/cojugal visits, more activities inside and out, etc.) that they would be less likely to be violent or a danger upon release from prison? Expalin your answer.

3. Do you agree with capitol punishment? Why or why not?

4. How long should someone be allowed to remain on death row before their sentence is carried out?

5. Should lethal injection be the only form of carrying out the death penalty? Expalin.

6. Whould you ever consider a career in law enforcement? Why/Why not?

7. What would be the most difficult part of being a police officer and why?

Thanks to anyone who wishes to add thier thoughts to this. Please keep in mind that although Matt is a very mature 16, civility would be nice

[kilowhskey]

I would like to see Matt's answers before I give my own. I just want to see evidence of effort on his part. Good questions, though.

[Bush Cheney]

Wow. I took sociology in college and those questions look awfully familiar. I think your HS son will be well prepared!

[Bush Cheney]

I agree with kilowhskey, you should first post your son's answers, and then we will critique them, so to speak.

[SauronOfMordor]

1. What Constitutional rights should be required to be given up if one is sentenced to a felony & why?

While in prison: lots

When released, none, including the 2nd Amendment rights. If he's too dangerous to be allowed full rights on release, then he's too dangerous to release

[Bush Cheney]

If he's too dangerous to be allowed full rights on release, then he's too dangerous to release

Which sadly cannot always be determined. That's why you see a lot of repeat offenders back in prison.

[commish]

would like to see Matt's answers before I give my own. I just want to see evidence of effort on his part. Good questions, though.

I may be wrong, but I think his assignment is either to get answers from other people and then interpret them or compare them to his own answers.

[bayourod]

"We have tried not to influence our children regarding politics, "

Why? If not you than who?

The public school?

MTV?

CBS?

NAMBLA?

Have you tried not to influence your kids on topics such as drugs, sex, stealing, religion, finances...?

[xJones]

My son has been given an assignment for his Sociology class and thought this forum would be a great place for him to receive some varied input. We have tried not to influence our children regarding politics, preferring them to make their own decisions regarding regarding party affiliation and such. This has not been an easy task.

Respectfully, follow your own principles and let Matt answer these questions for himself. It would be most interesting to see his answers.

[CindyDawg]

I was reading a thread about Kansas CCW a few minutes ago and I was thinking about number one:') After all states have gun rights restored I believe this felony issue should be addressed . We pass them out like candy now. I know a lot of good citizens who made mistakes in their past. They have paid for their crimes but are still treated as criminals. I believe once you serve your time or punishment you should finish with a clean state and have all rights restored. It keeps good people down. Weapons are just one issue. It also hampers them finding a job. I hear people yell though that "you would arm killers and rapists etc? The issue to me isn't me wanting them armed but "them" releasing if still considered a danger.

[Ciexyz]

Good luck to your son in his project. I give him credit for tackling some tough questions. Since it appears that the purpose of the project is to gather answers from outside sources, I see no need for Matt to pose his own answers to those questions.

1) I agree that convicted felons should lose the right to vote, otherwise they would form a voting bloc that would be susceptible to manipulation by crime-forgiving Democrats.

2) Prisoners should earn the right to have amenities in prison, it should not be an "automatic" right. And no amenities in the first six months, they should definitely experience a life-style change when they go to prison--and that includes Martha Stewart. 3) I believe in capital punishment but I'm also glad that I've never been called to serve on a jury that's deciding a case in which capital punishment could be imposed if the accused is found guilty. I understand that in my state, PA, that the jury must first make a decision on guilt or innocence, before a decision is made on capital punishment issues, although the jury is advised that if the defendant is found guilty, that capital punishment could be imposed. To me, that would be a very difficult position to be in. I believe in capital punishment in theory and have always supported the decision of juries to award it -- but I don't know how I would react if I was placed on a jury and forced to confront that possibility.

I can't respond to the law enforcement questions due to lack of knowledge, although I understand from discussions with people in law enforcement that it's a tough job made even tougher by restrictive rules that limit an officer's freedom to act to protect the public.

[commish]

1. What Constitutional rights should be required to be given up if one is sentenced to a felony & why?
All, while in prison. After release, rights should be granted one a case by case basis with the crime and relative rehabilitation of the perp taken into account. Realize, however, that this this would require the subjective review of a third party. As such, very strict guidelines to how and when rights are restored would have to be codified.

That said, Voting rights should never be restored, and 2nd Amendment rights should only be returned to those whose crimes were not violent.

2. Do you believe that if prisoners are treated more humanely (own TV's, liberal use of telephone priviledges, family/cojugal visits, more activities inside and out, etc.) that they would be less likely to be violent or a danger upon release from prison? Explain your answer.
Short answer, NO. Prison should be a punishment, and should be a deterent to all who would commit the same crime. Prison should be 3 hots and a cot, with 10-12 hours of HARD WORK in between. The only relief should be Sunday's -- Prisoners should be allowed to attend services, visit with family for a short time, and relax with sporting events or a good book. A prisoner should leave there after 30 days or 30 years saying "I never want to go back to that hellhole"

3. Do you agree with capitol punishment? Why or why not?
Yes. A person who willfully takes the life of another has forfiet his own life -- eye for an eye.

4. How long should someone be allowed to remain on death row before their sentence is carried out?
The appeals process should be designed to be completed within a period of one year, no longer. As I have said, Prison should be a deterent. Well, for Capitol Punishment to truly be an effective deterent punishment must be handed out swiftly and justly.

5. Should lethal injection be the only form of carrying out the death penalty? Expalin.
Form of execution shouuld be up to the state - be it hanging, electrocution, firing squad or lethal injection. I have heard all the "humane" arguments, and I say to those "How humane was the killer to the victim"?

6. Whould you ever consider a career in law enforcement? Why/Why not?
Yes and NO. would I be a beat cop, detective, etc. NO -- up close and personal is not my style. That said, I work in computer security, and do partake in computer investigations. So in a way I do work in law enforcement of a type. 7. What would be the most difficult part of being a police officer and why?
Dealing with the namby/pamby whiney ass rules that are out there. I cannot imagine looking a battered woman in the face and saying "Sorry ma'am, there is nothing we can do" or going to a domestic dispute and seeing children involved that there is no hope or option for.

[CAPPSMADNESS]

"Why? If not you than who? The public school? MTV? CBS?NAMBLA?"

It is my job as their mother to instruct them on what is right and what is wrong. What is Godly and what is not. It is not my job to force party affiliation down their throats. I don't want my children to be carbon copies of me or my husband - I want them to be able to partake of information and make wise decisions - their own decisions.

And the above poster is corect - Matt is to gather many ideas and also add his own. We are relatively new to this area so we do not know amy people. I am also unable to leave the confines of my home at this very moment to help him. Do not fear, so far my son is to the far right of Ronald Reagan.

[dpa5923]

We have tried not to influence our children regarding politics, preferring them to make their own decisions regarding regarding party affiliation and such.

What a foolish position. Your child will be influenced concerning politics. If not by you, them by the NEA, ACLU, MTV, CBS, ABC, NBS, CNN, DNC and liberal professors and politicians who rely on a population with little parental influence or guidance.

I can understand a desire to teach your children to review all sides of an issue and come to a reasoned position, but even this is a form of political influence as liberals count more on emotion than reasoned thought.

I humbly suggest you start influencing your children

[CAPPSMADNESS]

Matt's answers so far.....

1. Constitutional rights to be frofeited: voting, gun $ weapon ownership, military duty (as it takes personal honor to serve in the military)

2. Prisoner's being given more liberties? - NO, other wise it would be summer camp and not prison, hence no lesson learned.

3. Capitol Punishment - Agree, great deterrent to repeat of crimes

4. Death row - five years tops - cost taxpayers too much money and appeals should be done by then.

5. Lethal Injection: Manner of execution should be left to the states.

6. Law enforcement - Maybe

7. Worst part? Ignorant laws defending criminals rights while ignoring and blaming victims. Crimes involving children, elderly or otherwise infirmed.

but this is just his draft so far - he needs other views as well to compare.

[monocle]

Questios 1-5 appear predicated on rehabilation as the sole reason for sanctions against criminal behavior. There are at least three other reasons which are not mutually exclusive - protection of society, deterrence and retribution. Protection of society and deterrence are rarely, if ever, mentioned when sentencing convicted felons. Protecting society by restricting only the free movement of prisoners while providing them with luxuries does nothing for rehabilation and even less for deterrence.

[bboop]

As a parent, I'd only say -- You HAVE to influence your son's thinking. Otherwise his peers, his teachers, the media will. If he is left to flounder, he will not have the opportunity to test his thinking against yours and will have to test it against the outside world. Home is where they cut their teeth, so to speak. It doesn't mean that he automatically will follow your thinking -- gives them something to rebel against if they so desire. But if you don't say what you believe, you are not stepping up to the plate. imho. I think kids are desperate for clear, common sense thinking about the world, and who would you prefer to give him that?

[CAPPSMADNESS]

"What a foolish position"

And you have a right to that opinion, even if I find it insulting.

We do discuss our beliefs and convictions with out children, but I also refuse to place blinders on them so that they do not see any other opinions. As I said before, I don't want carbon copies - I am enjoying watching my children grow into individuals through a combine effort of our guidance and their own explorations, much as all children do.
And no - we don't have MTV, VHI, BET and they have no interest in DU or Nambla. etc.

[CAPPSMADNESS]

please see my post at #18

[templar]

. If he's too dangerous to be allowed full rights on release, then he's too dangerous to release

Perhaps it would be more practical to have a period of years in which he can demonstrate that he is no longer a danger and deserves his rights back?