The Components of an Intriguing Biography

A biography is a story of a persons life, written by another author. The writer of a biography is called a biographer while the person written about is known as the subject or biographee. Biographies usually take the form of a narrative, proceeding chronologically through the stages of a persons life. American author  Cynthia Ozick notes in her essay Justice (Again) to Edith Wharton that a good biography is like a novel, wherein it believes in the idea of a life as a triumphal or tragic story with a shape, a story that begins at birth, moves on to a middle part, and ends with the death of the protagonist. A biographical essay is a comparatively short work of nonfiction  about certain aspects of a persons life. By necessity, this  sort of essay  is much  more selective than a full-length biography, usually focusing only on key experiences and events in the subjects  life. Between History and Fiction Perhaps because of this novel-like form, biographies fit squarely between written history and fiction, wherein the author often uses personal flairs and must invent details filling in the gaps of the story of a persons life that cant be gleaned from first-hand or available documentation like home movies, photographs, and written accounts. Some critics of the form argue it does a disservice to both history and fiction, going so far as to call them unwanted offspring, which has brought a great embarrassment to them both, as Michael Holroyd puts it in his book Works on Paper: The Craft of Biography and Autobiography. Nabokov even called biographers psycho-plagiarists, meaning that they steal the psychology of a person and transcribe it to the written form. Biographies are distinct from creative non-fiction such as memoir in that biographies are specifically about one persons full life story -- from birth to death -- while creative non-fiction is allowed to focus on a variety of subjects, or in the case of memoirs certain aspects of an individuals life. Writing a Biography For writers who want to pen another persons life story, there are a few ways to spot potential weaknesses, starting with making sure proper and ample research has been conducted --  pulling resources such as newspaper clippings, other academic publications, and recovered documents and found footage.    First and foremost, it is the duty of biographers to avoid misrepresenting the subject as well as acknowledging the research sources they used. Writers should, therefore, avoid presenting a personal bias for or against the subject as being objective is key to conveying the persons life story in full detail. Perhaps because of this, John F. Parker observes in his essay Writing: Process to Product that some people find writing a biographical essay easier than writing an  autobiographical  essay. Often it takes less effort to write about others than to reveal ourselves. In other words, in order to tell the full story, even the bad decisions and scandals have to make the page in order to truly be authentic.

Youth Criminal Justice Act (YCJA) Essay - 872 Words

Youth crime is a growing epidemic that affects most teenagers at one point in their life. There is no question in society to whether or not youths are committing crimes. It has been shown that since 1986 to 1998 violent crime committed by youth jumped approximately 120% (CITE). The most controversial debate in Canadian history would have to be about the Young Offenders Act (YOA). In 1982, Parliament passed the Young Offenders Act (YOA). Effective since 1984, the Young Offenders Act replaced the most recent version of the Juvenile Delinquents Act (JDA). The Young Offenders Act’s purpose was to shift from a social welfare approach to making youth take responsibility for their actions. It also addressed concerns that the paternalistic†¦show more content†¦Youth crime is a tough issue, with many differing opinions. Punishment and rehabilitation, one, the other, or both, all topics of debate within society. If you were to discuss the issues with the parents of a victim, it would be understandable that their opinions would differ greatly than those of the parents of the offender. Many people have formed an opinion without an in depth look at the act. Others simply do not care. The question that needs to be answered is, does the Youth Criminal Justice Act in Canada properly address the victims rights, the rights and needs of the young offender, and does it protect public safety? That question is hard to answer, as some people think that the Act is a more decent and humane way to approach young persons in trouble with the law. On the other hand others feel it offers too much protection to those whom least deserve it -- the young offenders, and very little to those who deserve it -- the victims. The Youth Criminal Justice Act should concentrate on making young offenders aware that they will be held responsible and accountable for their behaviour. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Today, despite the fact that youth crime ratesShow MoreRelatedThe Youth Criminal Justice Act893 Words   |  4 Pagesfire. The youth criminal justice Act (YCJA) provided opportunities for them to reintegrate and rehabilitate, instead of throwing them in jail. YCJA covers kids between the ages twelve to seventeen years old. It s purpose is to handle youth offenders more differently than adults because of their undeveloped minds. The YCJA was released back in 2003. By protecting the rights and providing Youth Canadians the support they need, the YCJA benefits the offenders in a positive way. The act gentrustRead Moreimprovements of our youth criminal justice system Essay1187 Words   |  5 PagesWhen thinking about youth crime do you envision a country with a high rate of young offenders, gang activity and re-offending? Or do you envision a country with a significant increase of young offenders either being successfully reintegrated into society, or help ed by a community when seeking forgiveness for a minor offence that they have committed? Since the passing of Bill C-7 or the Youth Criminal Justice Act on February 4, 2002 by the House of Commons, many significant improvements have beenRead MoreThe Youth Criminal Justice Act879 Words   |  4 Pagesâ€Å"I have always found that mercy bears richer fruits than strict justice† –Abraham Lincoln Why is it that gardeners spend so much time nurturing their precious flowers? Perhaps the answer lies in the satisfaction which is gained from raising beautiful blooms. In like manner, Canada’s government believes that their flourishing youth deserve care and support in their journey of learning morals. The Youth Criminal Justice Act is a system which enforces the punishment of teenagers from the ages of 12-17Read MoreYouth Criminal Justice Act881 Words   |  4 PagesWhen someone mentions the Youth Criminal Justice Act (YCJA), some would argue that there is no purpose for it. Some believe that the age boundary is inappropriate; some believe that children should not have reduced sentences and special rights; and some may think that a youth’s criminal record should be accessible in the future. If one would look at all of the positive aspects, statistics, and examples that apply to the YCJA, then they would better appreciate the statute that applies to the youngRead More Juvenile Delinquency Act ( Jda ) And Young Offenders Act1260 Words   |  6 Pagesetc. Youth Criminal Justice Act (YCJA), a part of Canadian Legislation, determines the process of prosecution for youths under the Canadian Criminal Justice system. This has assisted several young adults reintegrate into society. It contains a set of definitive purposes and principles to aid judges in deciding sentences that are appropriate for youth. Prior to the YCJA, the Youth Justice Legislation was greatly influenced by two major acts: Juvenile Delinquents Act (JDA) and Young Offenders Act (YOA)Read MoreYouth Criminal Justice Act Essay1257 Words   |  6 Pagescontinue the government established the Youth Criminal Justice Act (YCJA) which gives young offenders a chance to better themselves, and. By doing so, the YCJA helps teach youth that their actions are unacceptable and the punishments imposed are lesser then an adult. Through the analysis of their unacceptable actions, lesser punishments and a better future, it is clear that YCJA is highly effective at giving youth a better chance in society. The YCJA teaches youth that their actions were unacceptableRead MoreYouth Criminal Justice Act1532 Words   |  7 PagesThe Youth Criminal Justice Act is a piece of Canadian legislation...that determines the way in which youths are prosecuted under Canadas criminal justice system. The act was implemented April 1, 2003, after 7 years, 3 drafts, and more than 160 amendments. The clearly stated purpose of the Youth Criminal Justice Act is protection of the public through crime prevention, rehabilitation, and meaningful consequences (s.3(1)(a)(I-iii)). For a better understanding on whether the courts were followingRead MoreHow Effective Is The Youth Justice System Essay1709 Words   |  7 PagesIntroduction How effective is the Youth Justice System in responding to youth crime? Since the arrival of the Youth Criminal Justice Act (YCJA) came into effect, the crime rates have decreased. Previously Canada had one of the highest youth incarceration rates in the western world. However since the Youth Criminal Justice Act got put into place in 2003, the crime rates have declined significantly. The Youth Justice System does their best to better and rehabilitate the adolescents that get intoRead MoreThe For Young Boys From Hell s Kitchen New York1657 Words   |  7 PagesHow would you feel if one act of immaturity defined the rest of your life? Not very good one would imagine. However it does happen and in this case it has happened to four young boys from Hell’s Kitchen New York. A simple idea of a funny prank on the local hot dog vender turned into a nightmare for the boys. Their prank got them charged with Criminal Negligence causing Bodily Harm, Theft and Mischief over $5,000. The b oys were sentenced to a young boy’s home where they were sexually and psychicallyRead MoreYCJA841 Words   |  4 PagesMental Illness and Risk-Needs Responsivity Referring to aspects from Goldson and Muncie’s (2006) article on â€Å"a youth justice with integrity† (pp. 99-102), the essay will argue that section 38 of the Youth Criminal Justice Act (YCJA) should incorporate a risk-needs responsivity model (RNR) to the sentencing structure. Moreover, this addition should replace the 2012 amendments of section 38, which incorporated deterrence and denunciation into sentencing practices (s. 38(2)(f)). This amendment has

Prison and Recidivism free essay sample

One issue that has created controversy and influenced correctional policy over the past twenty-five years is correctional treatment programs. Although the public supports the concept of rehabilitation and treatment programs, there is an expectation that such programs reduce recidivism. In New York City, the recidivism rate in the jail system is as high as 65%. Out of 340,000 males, 200,000 black males are arrested yearly by the NYPD out of a population of 1,200,000 black males. Rehabilitation is a programmed effort to alter the attitudes and behaviors of inmates and improve their likelihood of becoming law-abiding citizens. It focus is on preventing future crimes and return someone to a prior state. An offender who completes their criminal punishment (i. e. sentence to X amount of years in prison, rehabilitation, etc†¦) and continue to commit crimes, committed Recidivism. Correctional officials try to reduce recidivism and rehabilitation in many ways. First, correctional programs aim at trying to reduce offenders’ motivation to commit further crimes. Second, correctional agencies offer psychological counseling to help offenders understand the factors that trigger certain behaviors, anger management, etc†¦ Finally, correctional programs may simply have a goal of improving offenders’ decision making. The term Recidivism is frequently used for substance abuse or criminal behavior. No person or program can force offenders to change their behavior or to make good decisions to avoid crime, especially months after they leave the supervision of correctional officials. There are a few isolated relationships between a treatment program and a reduction in recidivism. Also, there are no consistent findings that any single treatment program significantly reduced recidivism. Care for rehabilitation decreased after the early 1970, by Martinson and his colleagues’ review of the usage of correctional treatment. There are many methodological concerns about the early work of Martinson and the ability to actually evaluate correctional treatment programs based on recidivism. One concern is that many question the power of using recidivism as a measure of the use of correctional programs, considering it unfair to expect correctional treatment to have a long-term effect by reducing recidivism. Another concern is that social science research designs often have difficulty controlling for the many external and internal factors that can affect recidivism rates. In a 1975 analysis of the studies reviewed by Martinson, Palmer noted that 48 percent of the studies cited found a positive effect on recidivism. And in 1990, Andrews and colleagues found that of the better-controlled studies, 40 percent found that treatment had a positive effect. Meta-analysis has identified positive effect of correctional treatment programs in reducing recidivism as well. Meta-analysis is a statistical measure of the average effect an intervention has on recidivism across all studies, while identifying and controlling for various study conditions. In a 1993 analysis of the effect of correctional treatment, Lipsey and Wilson reviewed ten meta-analyses and identified 25 percent reduction of recidivism by psychological, educational, and behavioral correctional treatment programs. And, in 1995, Losel reviewed thirteen meta-analyses and found that the average effect from the treatment intervention would result in a recidivism rate of 45 percent for the treatment group and 55 percent for the control group. In 2005, the Washington legislature directed the Washington State Institute for Public Policy to find evidence-based options that could reduce recidivism and avoid the need for expensive prison construction. Boot camps are expensive to operate because they require a high staff to inmate ratio, and they are especially expensive compared to minimum-security prisons, where most of the boot camp offenders would otherwise be incarcerated. Daily per-inmate costs for operating boot camps in thirty-one states and the federal system in 2000 were $67. 85, even higher than the average cost for all prisons during 2001 of $62. 22. Several recent findings have been very critical of the impact of boot camps on reducing recidivism. A review by the U. S. General Accounting Office (GAO) reported that boot camps only marginally reduce recidivism, and difference between boot camp and non-boot camp offenders diminish over time. GOA study found that the impact on recidivism to be best negligible. As a result of the negative findings, several states are questioning their usefulness and reconsidering the idea, and New Hampshire, Connecticut, and Arizona have all closed their boot camp operations. In The Pew Report One in 31 notes, â€Å"Recidivism rates are discouragingly high. Every state is focusing on ways to improve the programming and transition for inmates coming out of prison, hoping to reduce recidivism and thereby reduce the costs for incarceration. Governor Doyle believes that additional focus on reentry, community treatment, and diversion programs will reduce recidivism and the number of offenders. Intermediate sanctions should reduce the level of recidivism for offenders are one of the goals of Intermediate sanctions. Recidivism is not significantly affected by simple community surveillance unless it is combined with participation in treatment programs. Petersilia, in reviewing studies of intermediate sanctions, concluded, â€Å"The empirical evidence regarding intermediate sanctions is decisive: without a rehabilitation component, reductions in recidivism are elusive. † When the two components are combined in a quality fashion, intermediate sanctions have proved effective in reducing recidivism. There are identifying programs that show evidence of success in reducing recidivism and funding those for intermediate sanctions in the past decades. There are mixed results concerning the effect of correctional education on post-release recidivism. Several studies have indicated a positive relationship between participating in prison education programs and lower recidivism. A study of post-release recidivism of inmates released from Texas prisons during 1991 and 1992 found that inmates at the lowest levels of educational achievement benefited most from participation in academic programs as indicated by lower recidivism rates. Vito and Tewksbury evaluated a program in Kentucky to increase the literacy levels of state and local inmates and to reduce recidivism; wasn’t much of an affect. Study show that Vocational training is shown to be effective in reducing recidivism. Vocational training is specific training in a trade area to prepare students to work in that area. Saylor and Gaes found that those who participated in either vocational or education training were 33 percent less likely to recidivate through the observation period. Lattimore and colleagues also found a reduction in recidivism rates by vocational training participants in too North Carolina prisons for young offenders. Female inmates have a link between their criminality and substance abuse, unlike male inmates. Recidivism rates for female offenders are high, yet thought to be less than recidivism rates for comparable male offenders. Murderers have very low rates of recidivism. Inmates who have committed murder and then had their death sentences commuted indicate that offenders who commit murder have a very low rate of recidivism, and less than 1 percent later committed another murder. Several programs have been found effective in improving the success of prisoner reentry and reducing recidivism. Work release programs are effective in reducing recidivism and improving job readiness skills for ex-offenders. Recidivism of releasees from a private prison is lower than those released from public prisons, and of those who reoffended; the crimes were less serious for the private prison releasees. Sex offenders are difficult group to rehabilitate. Recidivism rates generally attributed to sex offenders are not as high. Sex offenders’ inmates in state prisons in 1991 who were recidivists are 24 percent of those serving time for rape and 19 percent of those serving time for sexual assault; had been on probation or parole at the time of the offense for which they were incarcerated. In the study of Bureau of Justice Statistics of recidivism by probationers, rapists on probation were found to have a lower rate of rearrest for new felonies (19. 5 percent) than other violent probationers (41 percent). (Recidivism,†). Lower rearrest, reconviction, and reincarceration rates for ex-inmates who had served a sentence for rape or sexual assault than for those who served a sentence for all violent offenses. Management and treatment of sex offenders are difficult and often unsuccessful, even though offenders convicted of rape and sexual assault have lower recidivism rates than other violent offenders. Almost two of every five offenders are returned to prison. Intensive treatment and monitoring in the community, often lead to revoking supervision as a preventive approach to avoid further criminality. A Supreme Court case that deals with recidivism: 10/2003-Ohio Prison: Inmate Gets Death Sentence In Strangling An Ohio prisoner convicted of strangling his cellmate will be executed. The prisoner, Timothy Hancock, 33, initially got a life sentence for the November 2000 slaying. However, Warren County prosecutors appealed to demand stiffer punishment, and a new sentencing was ordered. Hancocks death sentence will be automatically appealed to the Ohio Supreme Court, which is required in capital cases. Hancock was convicted two years ago of killing Jason Wagner, 25, of Lancaster. They shared a cell at Warren Correctional Institution near Lebanon. Hancock was serving a life term for a 1990 murder. Recidivism is the state of relapse that occurs when offenders complete their criminal punishment and then continue to commit crimes. When an offender committed a crime and has paid for the punishment, it is more likely that the offender will commit the crime again in the future. Correctional treatment programs are effective, but don’t work on all offenders; cannot change their thinking pattern. Although the recidivism rate is decreasing, the correctional treatment programs needs to improve their programs and come up with other methods and strategies. No matter how much we improve our programs, we can never know the mind of every criminal; therefore, recidivism will always exist.