Blog #6 Child Victimization

1. I consider child abuse to be a deliberate and vicious attack towards an innocent child. Most of the time child abuse occurs when a parent feels they are disciplining them, when really their methods are completely inappropriate and extreme. I personally believe that there is a difference between a spanking and child abuse. However, there are circumstances where parents go to the extreme and spank their child to the point of injury, bruises, or trauma. When I think of a spanking (also from my own personal experience as a child), I think of a little hit on the wrist or hand. Although I agree in the sense that children should never have to be physically hurt when being disciplined, I think a small spank on the behind or hand would not be detrimental to a child's upbringing or mental health. I think punishment should become a public concern when it begins to create an uncomfortable environment or when the punishment is obviously harming the child. I think everyone has witnessed a child being disciplined in a grocery store, but almost always everyone turns a blind eye. With those situations, you usually witness the parent scolding, threatening a timeout, or maybe even a spank. What I think would be unacceptable is if a parent is going beyond the norm and is publicly humiliating the child, repeatedly hitting them, or yelling degrading  and inappropriate phrases.

2. In the state of New Jersey, possession of child pornography is a 4th degree crime with imprisonment of up to 18 months and a fee of about $10,000. However, being convicted of distributing child pornography can bump you up into a 2nd degree crime and be sentenced to 5-10 years in prison with a fine up to $250,000. Also, those who are convicted are mandated to register as sex offenders. There is still dispute until this very day to create a harsher punishment for those who also possess child pornography, and not only for those who distribute it.
    New Jersey has recently passed laws only pertaining to minors that will basically give off as a warning if they are caught for sexting. Minors with evidence of sexting on their cell phones will be required to attend a State sponsored program that was created to educate them on the precautions they need to take to avoid any possible risks when texting sexually explicit images. Sexting in the state of New Jersey is considered to be when an individual is sending sexually explicit images or phrases to another individual. I think that sexting should be punishable especially when it comes to minors. There have been so many cases of suicide or bullying because of information that was thought to be private had become public. It only causes humiliation and trauma for the minor who had sent it and certainly does not help in their self esteem or confidence. I really don't think there's such thing as an "offender" or "victim" when it comes to sexting. If two people are willingly showing sexually explicit images of each other, there is no force being exerted in any of their actions. However, if there is a case where someone makes the information public, then it can be appropriate to identify who is the offender or victim in the situation.

3. Authorities had arrested 25 men (one being a juvenile) for the distribution of child pornography. The videos that were being sold and sent via email or file transfers showed the men filming themselves doing explicit acts or raping the children. The article did not make me feel any different from the other child vicitimization acts I had to look up only because I was as equally disgusted. Two of the men arrested had been babysitters for some of the children.
http://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/Child-Porn-Arrest-Ring-New-Jersey-193546861.html


4.

http://www.buzzfeed.com/daves4/the-biggest-sexting-fails-of-all-time
This link includes the "Biggest Sexting Fails of All Time". This article pretty much shows how sexting has really become an accepted aspect of society and can easiliy be portrayed as a funny activity. It also shows how easy it is to send such personal information to someone on accident.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7187SoBl6d0
This link is a parody created by "Smosh" that dramatizes the risks that can happen when participating in sexting with another individual. It shows how "personal information" you think you're sending can virtually be sent to anyone in the world.

Blog #5 Murder

1. Murder and homicide both have to do with killing another individual(s) but the main difference between the two is the intention. A crime is labeled as a murder when there is evidence of premeditation and an intention of killing someone. A crime is determined as a homicide when there wasn't any premeditation of killing someone, but had coincidentally occurred during a crime. For example, a DUI, a death occurred during a felony, or "mercy killing" can be classified as a homicide. However, it's important to consider that every state has their own way of defining what a murder or homicide is. Although there may be several different details to differentiate between murder and homicide in various states, many base their classification under the Common Law. 

2. In the state of New Jersey, a young man was found to have murdered and decapitated two other men. The bodies found had severed hands and were also buried right behind their home. Investigators state that the murder occurred after a dispute the three men had in one of the victims' Mercedes. After the murder, Ibrahim, decided to flee in the vehicle and attempted to torch it in Philadelphia. After being tracked and found by cops, he is now under custody and made his first court appearance in February. 

http://www.nj.com/hudson/index.ssf/2013/02/post_267.html

3. 

- Grand Theft Auto. A role-playing video game that consists of plenty of levels of murder, homicide, and theft. This game has gained a lot of attention because of the liberty that they allow players to openly kill bystanders or civilians. 

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-18560_162-678261.html

- Murder and Suicide Awareness FB Page. I came upon this site and it's created from a mother who's daughter was murdered. She continuously puts up updates or notes that notify others on hotlines or important information. The page has gained over 1,000 followers so far. 

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Child-Abuse-Neglect-And-Murder-Awareness/494013380643977

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Blog #4 Mob Violence

1. Mob violence is a crowd that is out of control or a crowd waiting for a trigger to set them off. For example, if there is a mass of people who are waiting outside of a store or a bank, it will probably take only one employee from said location to come out and yell some derogatory remark to set off that group of people. There is also mobs that occur when if there is someone killed because of a policeman and the community is in an outrage in disagreement.

2. In Newark, New Jersey, a mob of teens attacked and robbed five people who were leaving a concert at the Prudential Center one Saturday night. The attacks were captured on video and it shows the group of teens (all roughly around 15 years old) rushing down the street, punching and kicking people that were in their way. The media is definitely focusing on the violence that had occurred during the attack, going into detail about what happened to the five victims (identities withheld).

3.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D74Xs1VuYAE
This first link is group of protestors for healthcare that quickly become irate when Fox news reporters are seen coming up to document them.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BrFVjg79_iM
This second link is an angry mob going after members of the Westboro Baptist Church. This church is known for protesting at the funerals of fallen soldiers and for racist remarks.

Blog #2: Hate Crimes

1. 

Incidents: 510
Population: 8.819,533

2. 

The state of New Jersey covers bias-motivated violence and intimidation, civil

action against race, religion, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender, and

disability. There is also institutional vandalism, data collection, and training for

law enforcement personnel for hate crimes.

3. 

New Jersey defines hate crimes as when someone attempts to commit,

conspires with another to commit, or threatens the immediate commission of an

offense to intimidate an individual or group of individuals because of race,

color, religion, gender, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or

expression, national origin, or ethnicity. It also covers if anyone or group of

people were to feel intimidated or if they feel that a crime was committed

because of any of the options listed in the previous sentence. Institutional

vandalism is another form of hate crimes in the sense that you can be charged

for vandalizing any public monument, insignia, symbol, or structure, or place of

worship or burial.

ARTICLE

In Sayreville, New Jersey there was a hate crime assault that involved two white supremacists from the group known as the Aryan Terror Brigade. After a New Year's Eve meet-and-greet during a white supremacist event, the two gentlemen drove off to a random apartment complex with the intention of assaulting any non-whites. The crime committed was towards three middle eastern men as they were injured by a knife, brass knuckles and were shouted with anti-Arab slurs. The hate crime is punishable by a maximum of ten years in prison and both men face a $250,000 fine.

http://www.nj.com/middlesex/index.ssf/2012/12/second_nj_white_supremacist_ch.html

MEDIA

- PSA against bullying towards LGBT youth community. It was created by the NoH8 campaign whose mission is to promote human and gender equality.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MhFZ7qjrw5U&feature=share&list=UUFZVP0mMLEe46HHIPD6znTg

- A scene from the television series of The Walking Dead. This certain scene shows an assault that happened over a racist refusing to take orders from another man of color.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u0dmVA9HGFU

Blog #1

Article:

In the case of 45-year-old Sandra Turner of Jersey City, New Jersey, she was charged by police for stabbing her boyfriend in the stomach whom she claimed had been physically abusive. Although she states it was never her intention to harm him, she says that it was her way of reacting to his relentless abuse. The actual charges against Turner were aggravated assault, possession of a weapon for unlawful purposes, and domestic violence. As for the boyfriend, he was found very weak and incoherent then hospitalized immediately.  

- Article link:

http://www.nj.com/jjournal-news/index.ssf/2012/10/jersey_city_police_charge_woma_4.html

1. 

In the state of New Jersey, domestic violence is dealt with very strictly and has an uncommon legal structure when compared to most states. The main difference is New Jersey includes all First Degree, Second degree, Third Degree, and Fourth Degree crimes to be considered felonies since they are all eligible to be incarcerated for over six months. Police officers are allowed to arrest and take into custody an individual who is suspected of domestic violence only if the victim shows any sign of physical or internal injury. Weapon seizure can also be up to the officer's discretion if they feel it is necessary. New Jersey follows the Prevention of Domestic Violence Act, which does not define a victim of violence by age, physical or psychological condition or sex. The act provides the victim with two options of relief which include civil relief (ability to obtain restraining order) or criminal relief (victim able to file criminal complaint against perpetrator).

2. 

No Wrong Door New Jersey is an organization that provides a number of services and programs to victims of domestic and sexual violence. No Wrong Door is a result of a collaboration between several organizations that continue to battle domestic violence as well as treat those who suffer from mental illness after being victims of violence. This particular organization caters to women and hope to out their integrated system where survivor scan receive appropriate treatment and service. Along with help centers such as No Wrong Door, there is also the Prevention of Domestic Violence Act which makes it much easier for victims to create a restraining order (whether it be temporary or a longer period of time). One of the largest coalitions in New Jersey that work to prevent domestic violence is the New Jersey Coalition for Battered Women (NJCBW). It is one of the organization that help support No Wrong Door and provides a 24-hour hot line for victims.

- No Wrong Door New Jersey:

http://www.njcbw.org/programs_NoWrongDoor.html
(609) 584 - 8107

- New Jersey Coalition For Battered Women

http://www.njcbw.org/

- NJ Domestic Violence Hotline:
800- 572-SAFE (7233)

3. 

- Domestic Violence PSA. "It Rarely Stops"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WL3rfk2iFww

- "Enough" Movie Trailer. 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W0pDKQ_HSGM