Tuesday, April 16, 2013

Child Victimization



Child Victimization
 

Child Abuse

Personally, I firstly consider child abuse to be abuse in the form of physical pain. This is includes spanking. I understand that spanking is often seen as a punishment for bad behavior, however I truly believe that it enforces the idea that such punishment in a person’s later years as an adult is alright. Whereas it is not. If that person so happens to find themselves in an abusive relationship they may not be able to determine if what is being done to them is wrong simply because they may interpret the abuse as a means to correct a bad behavior. Also, I don’t think spanking should be allowed because I don’t think the objective of correcting an unfavorable behavior is achieved. I’ve always thought of spanking to only be the result of the frustration of the caregiver. In turn, spanking will only instill a fear in the child which could cause them to ultimately fear the caregiver and result in a fear of openly communicating with them as they grow because they are scared of a repercussion if the caregiver is not in agreement with them.
Punishment should become a public concern when a child shows signs of victimization. Turning up at school with bruises, sudden changes is personality, or even when the child is openly telling another adult that they are being mistreated. I do think that a parent should be chastised for punishing their children in public if that form of punishment is physical. An acceptable form of public punishment would be a firm word to gain control over their children. As I stated before, an unacceptable form of punishment would be in the form of a physical punishment.

Sexual Victimization: Child Pornography

For starters, the definition of child pornography in the state of Mississippi is as follows:
"Child pornography" means visual depiction of a child engaged in actual or simulated sexual intercourse, deviate sexual intercourse, bestiality, masturbation, sadomasochistic abuse, or lewd exhibition of the genitals.” The prison sentencing for being in possession of or distributing child pornography is one that is lengthy and if convicted the offender must register as a sex offender.
 


Sexting
Sexting is when a person sends sexually explicit messages in the format of a text. This also includes sexually explicit images. I feel that sexting should be punished to a degree. It all really depends on whose sending the message to whom. For instance, if sexting were done between spouses as a way of expressing intimacy (of that nature), then there shouldn’t really be anything wrong with that. However, when dealing with teenagers sexting I do feel that they should be punished. They don’t have to be punished severely but it should be make very clear that what they are doing can come back to haunt them in the future and also lead them into dangerous circumstances if they are sexting with a stranger. Of course, in instances where there is a victim, the victim should not be punished.

Also, “
the State of Mississippi does not a have a specific statute for sexting offenses. In general, anyone who takes creates, distributes or possesses an image of a minor engaged in a sexually explicit action may be prosecuted under the State’s child pornography laws and if convicted, will generally receive a prison sentence and need to register as a sex offender.”

News

I found this example of child abuse to be unusual. It isn’t the kind of child abuse so often represented. A majority of the time the term “child abuse” is immediately thought of to be solely physical or include neglect. In this particular instance, three individuals were caught working three separate meth labs spanning across Jackson County in Mississippi. Of the three subjects, one of the women actually stuffed several packages inside the diaper of a four month old baby. The woman, Amy Pressenos, was charged with child abuse.

 http://www.fox10tv.com/dpp/news/mississippi/suspect-sought-in-meth-investigation


How did the topic affect me?
Of all the topics we had to learn, read, and write about this semester for this class child victimization was by far the worst. However, it was the topic that I felt most passionate about. Truly, it troubled me the most because when you’re dealing with children being violated you really come to grips with the understanding that the victim is completely innocent and most likely is in no way able to escape or gain control of the situation. Out of all the types of victimization of humans, child victimization is by far the worst, the most repulsive, and the most evil.


Media
Both of the following videos are PSA's that acknowledge the truth and hurt behind child abuse. As heartbreaking as it is watch, I kind of wish more commercials like these two would aappear more often on TV, that way a child or another person may recognize and relate to the abuse being portrayed and realize that they can seek help and escape.






Sunday, March 31, 2013

Murder

Murder vs. Homicide
Though one would think murder and homicide would be one in the same there is actually a difference between the two. For one, a murder involves intent. Meaning, a person was intended for death by another person. A homicide is determined by the death of a human, including deaths caused accidentally.

News Article

I've used this article previously in this blog for the topic of hate crimes, and I think it applies to the topic of murder as well. The article was about 47 year old James Craig Anderson who was murdered in Mississippi by a man named Deryl Dedmon and possibly others by beating Anderson and then running him over in the early hours of the morning with a truck. Dedmon was driving the truck.

James Anderson died on June 26, 2011. Deryl Dedmon was given life in prison. James Anderson was portrayed as a helpless victim, which I'm certain he was. Deryl Dedmon and the others involved were deemed as monsters.

The media, of course, was in a frenzy. The realty of murder and hate crimes occurring as a result of racism in the millennium is just absurd. Yet, it clearly can and does occur.

Here is a link to this particular article:
http://www.cnn.com/2013/01/03/justice/mississippi-hate-crime


Media

 
1
I've chosen this particular video since it is not only relative to the state of Florida, but also because the discussion in the video emphasizes the "reasoning" leading up to the murder of Treyvon Martin by George Zimmerman which was profiling.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NkANrwUT7Qw

2
 This is a link to a youtbue video about the case against Jodi Arias. She was suspected of murdering her boyfriend. It relates to the discussion of murder because I think her case highlights on the fact that anyone could be responsible of murder no matter how seemingly innocent or harmless.




Sunday, March 17, 2013

Mob Violence


What is mob violence? 

Mob violence is when a people in numbers of several or more assemble and act out violently. Riots are an example of mob violence.
 
Why does this type of group violence exist?

I feel that this type of violence exists because being angry, upset, or moved by a certain common issue in life results in little change or action in society when brooded over alone. However, when people come together with similar mindsets it is more likely that they cause they are fighting for (good or bad) will not only be heard by others in society but will also result in the change they are seeking. Obviously, things can turn violent for a number of reasons. For instance, the group fuels its anger and it can erupt in a violent clash in an instant. It’s also possible that actions from law enforcement to control the crowd could be deemed threatening by a member of the group and result in a violent outburst.


NEWS
In the state of Mississppi, a riot broke out on the University of Mississppi’s campus. It involved 300-400 students who were upset and angry over the reelection of president Barack Obama. According to the article, photos were posted on twitter of rioters burning Obama campaign signs. Students were shouting slurs against Obama and African Americans as well. It doesn’t appear that anyone was arrested because it was difficult for police to discern actual protestors from those who were spectators to the riot.

It’s important to note that the article also mentioned that plans of riots by black youths were heard of if Obama did not go on to win the election.

In this particular instance, it would appear that African American’s and the president even were victims of the riot, though indirectly harmed.

Media
1. This is a link to a clip of the riot that occurred in Mississppi post 2012 reelections as I mentioned above.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/11/07/university-mississippi-students-riot-obama-election_n_2088176.html

2. This video above is from the riots that occurred in London in the summer of 2011. I was actually in England on holiday when this happened. Luckily, I wasn’t anywhere near the riots however I heard some awful stories about youth who were looting and hurting each other in an attempt to make police feel inadequate. (There is profanity in this video)



Sunday, February 24, 2013

Sexual Assault/Rape

The Facts...
In the state of Mississippi a total of 865 rapes were reported in a population consisting of
2,978,512. 

Statute of Limitations...
Regards Statutory Rape, Mississippi appears strict. (Which is very good!) Basically, a rape qualifies as a Statutory Rape when a person, 17 years old and over, engages in sexual intercourse with another person under the age of 14. The law goes on to state that there can be a gap no larger than 3 years without intercourse becoming rape. 


Also, it's important to note that "even if the crime took place years ago, there may still be time to prosecute" according to Mississippi state law.
http://www.rainn.org/public-policy/laws-in-your-state


The Laws...
From my understanding, rape in Mississippi mainly concerns Statutory Rape. The weight of age is heavily enforced. Mississippi state law clearly states that an offender cannot be over 3 years older than the victim. It is also very clear about not marrying if you are under the age of 15 years. I found it strange that I was able to found information on requesting legal assistance regards rape which included aggravation, yet the main topic on many of the sites I looked up spoke of Statutory Rape.



Oh! Almost forgot
! In the state of Mississippi, forced sex in a marriage apparently doesn't constitute as rape. (Yikes!)


This Actually Happened!!!
In July of 2012, a 21 year old woman was carjacked, raped, and shot in Mississippi. The woman was driving home after a late night movie when she was caught off guard as a man entered her car and told her to drive at gunpoint. She was then raped, and shot twice as she tried to escape. She was able to hide until the man left. Once he did leave the scene, she managed to find a home where the police were contacted. The man was caught and taken in, but on other charges. There wasn't a follow up on this particular article of what became of the offender.


http://www.wlox.com/story/19074580/woman-survives-carjacking-rape-shooting-in-lamar





Media to Munch on...
This is a small but important public announcement, in my opinion, because it is all about how Date Rape is NOT okay. Using drugs to take advantage of another person is just absurd and low. Also, the ad emphasizes that you can in fact go to jail for Date Rape. It isn't something that you think you can just get away with.

 


 






This video highlights how drugs are made to take advantage of unsuspecting victims of Date Rape. It relates to the previous video I posted. It's important to be educated. Knowledge and instinct are key to avoiding such occurances from happening to you.