Incarceration Type and Family Intervention as Determinants of Essay

Incarceration Type and Family Intervention as Determinants of Recidivism in Juvenile Delinquency - Essay Example The risk of facing harsher punishment through possible incarceration in adult prisons blossomed as a way to deter juveniles from engaging in violent crimes. Supporters of juvenile incarceration in adult prisons therefore rely on its supposed deterrent value. Despite the growing concern about juvenile violence, many opponents of the current system have continually pointed out that the risks involved in imposing adult penalties to juvenile offenders far outweigh the presumed benefits. Convicted juveniles are placed in adult correctional centers in the hope that the harsher environment would better rehabilitate them. The opposite seems to be the case. Many opponents of adult incarceration, for example, believe that it does not deter juvenile violence at all. This theory has is supported by several studies. Allard (2002), for example, found that adult correctional centers actually had a negative effect on juvenile delinquents. Compared to their counterparts who were retained in juvenile centers, transferred juvenile offenders released from adult correctional centers have been found to have a higher tendency for repeated criminal behavior. (Allard 2002) In the same study, recidivism was shown to be noticeably more significant among juvenile offenders who had been incarcerated in adult prisons. Such findings are diametrically opposed to the theory that adult punishment would lead to more effective rehabilitation for juvenile delinquents. This stand is further supported more recent work which revealed that the mental states of juveniles being sent to adult prisons did not significantly differ from those being sent to juvenile centers. This finding debunks the notion that juveniles sent to adult prisons are different from the regular juvenile delinquent, a wayward youth whose behavior already warrants harsher measures. Beyer's (2006) study of 50 juvenile delinquents that he had encountered in the course of several years as a psychologist rejected the notion of harsh punishment as the catch-all solution for juvenile crime. His study, instead, forwarded the conclusion that while juveniles sent to adult prisons have almost negligible differences from those retained in juvenile centers, the juveniles which are produced at such prisons come out harder and more prone to recidivism. We may thus logically entertain the existence of a relationship between incarceration type and recidivism or repeated criminal behavior. The truth of this statement would have weighty implications both on the juvenile criminal system as well as the legal policies that are currently being implemented in addressing juvenile violence and crime. Aside from asking ourselves whether harsher punishments are truly effective in curbing juvenile crime, we also encounter questions about alternative mechanisms. Grisso (1996), for one, points out the manifest challenges being faced today in the field of juvenile justice. New ways to discourage juvenile delinquency must be adequately examined. More importantly, Grisso (1996) offers the position that harsher prison conditions for juvenile offenders through incarceration in adult correctional facilities may actually be doing more harm than good. Social

The human cell Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 4500 words

The human cell - Term Paper Example It has organelles for various functions. The chemical processes and complex interactions that occur inside the cell form the bridge between the nonliving and the living (Sherwood 2010). Inside the human body, various processes that go on synchronized to provide an efficient healthy functioning are interrelated and coupled for optimum functional output. This requires organization at various levels. In complex living beings like humans, there are many levels of organization, as opposed to single cellular organisms like bacteria. The study about the cell and its structure was revolutionized with the invention of microscope. The discovery of microscope in 16th century encouraged scientists to study these basic building blocks. It was Robert Hooke who discovered the cell in 1965 and named it Cellulae (Latin: tiny rooms) as he observed box like structures in a thin slice of cork under his microscope (Lee et al 2009). He was the first one to describe the fungus Mucor. Later Antony Van Leeuw enhoek improved the microscope and documented some initial findings about protozoa and bacteria (Gest 2004). The contributions of Matthias Schleiden, Theodor Schwann and Rudolf Virchow lead to the development of ‘The Cell Theory’ in 1839. According to the cell theory: 1. All living things are made from one or more cells. 2. The cell is the basic unit of life. 3. All cells come from preexisting cells. Thus the cell is an essential component of the human body and this paper will explore the organization and cellular membrane of  the cell. It will also analyze the energy processes of the cells accompanied with the enzymes and the metabolic activities of the cells. ORGANIZATION OF CELLS Advances in microscopy and imaging led to further research into the cell structure. It is now established fact that cells are composed of various organelles and there are complex signaling pathways that control the expression of various molecules. The structure and composition of different cell types vary, but certain characteristics are common to all cells. Cells of similar kind together form the tissues (Marieb 2006). There are four basic types of tissues that form the entire organism, epithelium, supporting or connective tissue, muscle and nerve tissue. Organs are formed by two or more tissue types combined together for a specific function. One tissue type forms the parenchyma, the functioning part of the organ, while other tissues provide the supporting frame work, i.e. the stroma (Crowley 2007). The organization of different organs working together to perform a particular function forms the organ system, like nervous system, digestive system, musculoskeletal system and others. Finally, the different organ systems work together in an individual to maintain a state of homeostasis and optimum health functions (Ganong 2005; Guyton et al 2007). Protoplasm and Cell Membrane: The basic cellular structural components are similar in all cell types. Cells are bounded by a plasma membrane (cell membrane) and contain the fluid called protoplasm. The protoplasm is divided in clear cytoplasm and the central nucleus. The protoplasm is made up of five basic substances, water, carbohydrates, proteins, lipids and electrolytes. Water is the basic fluid medium of cell and forms up to 75- 80% of its concentration. It provides a medium for the suspension of particulate matter and in which chemical reactions can take place. Proteins are the building blocks of cells and form up to 10- 20 % of cell mass. They are of two types, functional and structural. Functional proteins are the enzymes that catalyze the cell reactions. They can be present as part of the membranes or can be mobile and catalyze the reactions as