Health Informatics Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Health Informatics - Assignment Example Thus good quality research may be considered an effect of clinical informatics. Alternately, clinical informatics may be identified as a cause of good quality research. We, as health care professionals, should be more involved with the organizations of health care informatics because the research they do and the knowledge they produce is meant to bring an improvement in our own health care strategies, policies, and procedures. As health care professionals, we serve as important sources of information for the health care informatics organizations. â€Å"Clinical Informatics is concerned with information use in health care by clinicians† (American Medical Informatics Association, 2012). They require our input and need us to share our experiences in order to have a detailed in-sight into the problems and identify the correct solutions. Moreover, health care informatics organizations are important to us as they provide us with an opportunity to learn about the latest biomedical knowledge, information technology, and methodologies of knowledge management which we can implement in our work to improve the quality of our work and our performance. He alth care professionals and health care informatics organization are mutually beneficial to each

Biotech Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Biotech - Case Study Example At the beginning of my lessons, I learnt that biotechnology involves the utilization of bioprocesses and living organisms in medicine, technology and engineering. This knowledge shook my lay knowledge of what the term means. I realized that the chief objective of biotech was the modification of the organism in order to fulfill human needs and purposes (Jefferis 47). The application of technical and scientific advances in the development of products is the entire business of biotech. It is imperative to note that biotech does not only draw its entire knowledge from pure biological sciences, but also from information technology, chemical engineering and bio-robotics. I was amazed to realize the numerous fields that biotech finds useful applicability, and this paper will shift its focus to provide a brief overview and highlight these uses. The initial applicability of biotech is in the field of medicine. Although I had a faint clue that biotech was useful in medicine, I was not sure how the two fields were connected. Therefore, I took a keen interest in lessons; the lessons revealed that biotech was the pillar of pharmacogenomics and the synthesis of pharmaceutical products, which can be regarded as essential in medicine (Jefferis 50). Further, biotech solves issues that arise from genetics testing, and it is used to settle cases that involve identity and parenting disagreements. Furthermore, biotech holds the lifeline for gene therapy and cloning; the latter is widely applied to create clones that donate organs to people, prolonging their life. The world faces the danger of food crisis as a result of rapid growth of the population; the rate of population growth beats the capacity of the planet to produce subsistence. Further, pest and crop diseases result to crop failure, not forgetting erratic, unfavorable weather conditions. Biotech stepped in to address the issues that face agriculture. In agriculture, Biotechnology is applied to improve crop yields in a remar kable way; this ensures plenty of yields from a small area of land. I was able to understand how biotech has facilitated the development of drought resistant and pest resistant crops (Jefferis 56). These crops were well advanced that they could withstand environmental stresses, and give yields that have advanced nutritional qualities. Further, biotech has enabled scientists to minimize pesticide and fertilizer dependency. As such, the crops that grow under this technology can be altered to produce plenty of substances that tend to be novel. Livestock breeding and cross breeding has strong associations with biotechnology; it facilitates the production of high producing animals, which are also resistance to diseases and parasites. Furthermore, I learnt how bioremediation facilitates a safe way of reclaiming an environment that has been contaminated through developing organisms that clean up the mess. These organisms do not have negative impacts on the environment. Further, biodegradat ion is extremely significant in decomposing wastes to allow release of humus (Jefferis 62). This process is essential in enhancing the flow of the energy cycle. This technology allows the development of strains of bacteria, which attack wastes and allow for more disposals. The above knowledge was extremely helpful to me because it opened my eyes and my brain to plenty of knowledge, which I had taken for granted for a long

Understanding Sustainability in Architecture

Understanding Sustainability in Architecture Chapter 1: Understanding Sustainability in Architecture Project Objectives The essay primarily intends to investigate inclusion of the sustainable environmental design by architectural professional and school of architecture in their practice and academics. Sustainability has been buzz word from late 60s and continuously becoming and will be important in field of built environment. Lets see some of the definitions of sustainability in built environment. Sustainable design is described as a philosophical approach to design that seeks to maximize the quality of the built environment while minimizing or eliminating the negative impact to the environment (McLennan, 2004, P.P.10). Sustainability in architecture has many facets such as Natural Resource planning, Environmental, Social, Technological and Adaptability/flexibility to the changing world. In practice, design is better able to respond quickly to the here and now and to envisage the future, than is policy development (Williamson, Radford Bennetts 2003). However the implementation of the aspects of the sustainability is quiet debatable in the professional practice at mass level. For the mass level implementation policy level intervention is necessary as the policy is indirectly affecting the project. There are certain aspects of sustainability such as the economic and impact on the environment might be considered to a certain extent. Probably impact on the environment is considered due to statutory requirement for obtaining the development permissions for typically larger development projects. There are no set formula to achieve sustainability in architecture, but a proper balance of appropriate technologies, energy efficient, eco-friendly architecture would show the way us direction. Along with this, the social and cultural aspects should not be overlooked. The answer is probably that we shall never find single satisfactory definition but the searching is more important than finding (Bryan Lawson (2002) Sustainability in the built environment is unremitting process. Therefore we (Architect) need to update our self about all aspect in order response the situation .The conscious evaluation of the buildings should be done with respect the energy efficiency, economy, user response, and impact on the environment. There is need to promote sustainability in all the possible ways, one then would be by designing the sustainable building and transferring, maintaining ethic by educating our future vice versa . Background In 2007, the UK government declared that all new housing and schools should be zero carbon by 2016 and all buildings are expected to be zero carbon by 2019. So students admitting in this year (2009) should equip with sustainable design tools at the time they graduate. The architectural practice as well as academics should be ready for the situation. Students entering architecture programmes in 2009 need to have all the skills necessary to meet these requirements by the time they graduate. The two questions facing the design community are: how can we enable architectural educators and students to respond appropriately to the challenge of climate change and what are the new pedagogic paradigms that are required to facilitate this? The last UK review of architectural education in relation to sustainable design teaching revealed a major split between studio teaching and academic lecturing in technology. At the same time, Guy and Moore have identified that there are many plural approaches to sustainable design in architecture, making it difficult to formulate any changes unless these are directly responsive to the modes and cultures of teaching involved. They have called for symposia and other dialogical spaces that can address matters pragmatically. This paper identifies key barriers and opportunities within the UK architectural edu cation system in relation Problem identification Problem at academic level Problem at practice level Problems at social level The essay intends to find out whether the professional architects and academics believe in sustainable environmental design in their thought process in practice or academics. This would gives clue why this not happening in practice and academics, further this build foundation for what should be done to cultivate values sustainable environmental design in the practice as well as academics. This essay also intends the find out the what is actually helping or retarding the implementation of the sustainable environmental design. This findings of attitudes at practise level is very important in a way, as at professional level architects tends to obtain specific knowledge about sustainability without caring the ethical issues aside There are different views regarding inclusion and exclusion of the sustainable environmental design in practices as well as also in academics. Following relevant arguments from the advisory board meeting which postulates views of architect regarding sustainability in architecture and process of academics as well the accreditation. I am surprised when other practices do not take environmental design and sustainability in to account (Bill Gething RIBA and Feilden and Bradely Studios) Further he argued that sustainable environmental design is personalized approach for design, professionals often learn this from case studies,courses,books,articles. Mr.John Pringle people do not value energy efficiency and carbon reduction it has to come from the legislative framework.I kind of partially disagree on this argument.In my view we cannot change peoples thinking by the legislative framework although its one way of doing it. I partially I feel its partially architects responsibility educate the client. As per Mr. Mario most important aspect is to understands relation of building with environment and teaching the creativity,sensitivity in Architecture.We may have Broad range of interpretations for the word creativity and sensitively. In my view creativity is really something that cannot be taught what the best we can do is we can environment which provoke creativity .Further urges to look at the vernacular architecture and understand the unseen environmental design reasons. The accreditation process in European countries differs in terms of durations and process of accreditation.The environmental design is optional but still possibility of the students to opt.According to him the building regulations are compromising the implementation of the environmental design. In Germany the syllabus is similar to European rules i.e. 4 years degree followed by 2 years of practice. Environmental design is not measurable concept (Mr. Oliver Heiss ). This quiet valid argument in way environmental is truly non quantifiable it is developed thru experience and practice In Belgium the structure of architecture quiet different in way they have two diplomas i.e. architect engineer and engineer architect, years of study is 5 years academic and 2 years of professional practice. The evaluation of accreditation takes place after every 6 years. According to him there is not enough understanding and knowledge about the subject. In United Kingdom the course duration is 7 years i.e. 3 years under graduate studies 2 years diploma and 2 years of the professional practice. RIBA has introduced minimum requirement environmental design in Architecture but it has been interpreted by each school differently. You need registration to practice but you dont need registration for designing building. In Spain its architectural course duration is 6 years. The major hurdle is student lack of interest and lecturers lack of knowledge, further the new regulation approved in Spain is drafted by engineers so doesnt include architectural components. Mr Mario states suggested continuous professional development is a key. While Mr. Simos stressed on sensitivity of the subject. Mr .Geathing spoke about the gap between the code prediction and actual energy used. Mr Simos postulate need of evaluation of the building critically. According to Mr.Sabestian simplification of basics for architecture and can have specialist for environmental design. Mr Jolan urges to consider the heritage conservation in the environmental design. Mr. Brian stressed need built up knowledge at undergraduate level and in his opinion students must get the basics right at undergraduate level. These views expressed are diverse, important and practical. I feel its a collective responsibility of universities; accreditation councils and most importantly need from our society.Although boundary is quiet between these stakeholders. Research question Do Professional Architects and Academics consider sustainable environmental design in their Practice and academic curriculum? Since the sustainable environmental design is broad subjects with many facets to it, for ease of understanding lets grouped this aspects as shown below Ecology and Energy aspects Passive environmental design Energy efficiency and carbon neutrality Renewable energy system Ecological management of resources User aspects Occupant comfort and well being Social sustainability The question investigates the attitudes of the Academics and architectural professionals. Subsequently question would require evidences from the both the worlds that is from the academics and professionals. By answering the question would lead to unveil the changing outlook of the potential architects regarding the sustainable environmental design. The section we would detail out the evidences and draw some hypotheses from the research methods. These hypotheses later tested on the secondary information. In order to answer the question research, the research method cannot be as simple or really straight forward due to the complexity of the problem to address. For the ease of understanding lets divide the question in to two parts. The first part deals with the understanding the thought process and design process of the design professionals. This would give the clue regarding what is going wrong at what level. This can be primarily be done through Semi- structured interviews of Building professionals to know their views and aspirations about the Sustainable environmental design and would also investigates whether they practice the Sustainable environmental design in their practice . Testing their view by analyzing the case studies Second part would be of academics these involves knowing the attitudes of the tutors via semi structured interview and also analyzing the course curriculum for inclusion of the sustainable environmental design in curriculum. Later the I intended look at the list of the thesis of the architecture thesis and dissertation in order understand whether budding architects attitudes towards sustainable environmental design. The further this study intends to reveal if there is differences between the academics and professional world. This would be necessary because professionals relay on their theoretical knowledge in the initial years and their analytical skill. This process of investigation would also revel if architects feel that inclusion of SED may marginalize their creative ability. Lastly the answering of the research question would exposed the changing attitudes of the new generations towards sustainable environmental design. Chapter 2: Literature review In order to solidify the argument of this essay, I have done some literature study of the similar topics. One of which is Learning from practice: a model for integrating sustainable design in architectural education by Maureen Trebilcock Where author has prepared the theoretical model for the integrating the sustainable environmental design in the architecture education. As part of methodology author had selected five case studies from Architects who are well known in the field of sustainable design. Here all the selected buildings were non Residential nature. Reason selecting non residential building is not clarified. Further my opinion there should be at least one residential building to get flavour of the Domestic as well as non domestic building. Reason for this is quantitatively housing forms major portion of any development. The case studies suggest that architectural education requires the development of attitudes, knowledge and skills crossing over intuitive, analytical and social dimensions in order to face the uniqueness and complexity of sustainable design.( Maureen Trebilcock 2008). There has been series of work shop held on the architectural education on climate change . The design of human settlements is a key factor for addressing carbon emissions, finite resource availability, ecological deterioration and climate change. The role of architectural education in promoting the principles and practices which address these issues is significant. New pedagogic paradigms are required to produce graduates endowed with holistic competences including environmental knowledge related to sustainable design.( FIONN STEVENSON1, ANDREW ROBERTS2, SERGIO ALTOMONTE)3 pertaining to this paper would form input to the essay in terms of understanding the barriers to the successful implementation of the Sustainable design in to the curriculum. Primary aim was to contribute to the development of environmental responsibility as a creative factor in the practice and pedagogy of architecture. As concept of the implementing sustainability (envisaging it would be transform in to practise) this paper reviews inferences learning form the workshops and ,and discussing the new methodologies and curriculum and also conflict between the sustainability between the other building sciences and in higher education and professional practise . As concept I like the idea of the representative built environments schools of different universities come together discuss the strength and weakness of the curriculum and form strategies for new teaching methodologies and syllabus which would probably reduce the conflict bet sustainability and other building disciplines in way if feel this concept as the as partially isolated in terms involvement of practise,which are the producer of the building stock. Involving the professions in to the workshop only can get ideal views so in way as concept I feel it kind of stitching and what is required much more intensified to achieve the deadline.

Jurgen Habermass Concept of Public Sphere :: essays research papers

Jurgen Habermas's concept of Public Sphere Jurgen Habermas developed the concept of Public Sphere, an open network to facilitate exchanges, as a part of a larger project dealing with the paradoxical consequences of rational western capitalism. The project is deeply rooted in Weber's reflections on the role of religion (Calvinism) in the development of capitalism in the North-Atlantic Rim, and the Marxist critique of such reflections as laid out by the members of the Frankfurt School (Theodor Adorno and Max Horkheimer). Adorno and Horkheimer, however, found themselves at a deadend when they were unable to de-reify their own concept of culture. It is precisely there where Habermas breaks away from the concerns of the Frankfurt School and begins his own reflection that, on the one hand, de-reifies the concept of culture (culture uiltimately is a product of institutions and human interaction and not a variable with life of its own, as Adorno and Horkheimer assumed at some point). Habermas stand on the development of capitalism leads him to recapture an insight from the old Marx: capitalism, with all its contradictions and fallacies, has the seed of its own transformation (destruction for Marx) in the form of the exchanges that it encourages, but mostly because of its very need of rational domination. If rational domination is required (as opposed to traditional or charismatic), then it is necessary to discoursevely build the agreements that the law embodies. If so, then institutions like the Parliament are unavoidable and with it some discussion of public issues and concerns. Habermas finds the origin of such discussions and concerns in the emergence of coffee-houses all over Europe during the Enlightenment era. Of course, participation in such activities was heavily restricted by class and in some cases (the European Jewish populations are a perfect example of it) by race and/or ethnicity. Habermas finds that even if such restrictions exist, the drive of the Enlightenment project will be enough to allow for progressive openings, that over time will prevent against discrimination. Habermas is well aware of the limitations of his model.

Neocolonialism

Introduction Neocolonialism is the practice of using capitalism, globalization, and cultural forces to control a country (usually former European colonies in Africa or Asia) in lieu of direct military or political control. Such control can be economic, cultural, or linguistic; by promoting one's own culture, language or media in the colony, corporations embedded in that culture can then make greater headway in opening the markets in those countries. Thus, neocolonialism would be the end result of relatively benign business interests leading to deleterious cultural effects.Neocolonialism describes certain economic operations at the international level which have alleged similarities to the traditional colonialism of the 16th to the 20th centuries. The contention is that governments have aimed to control other nations through indirect means; that in lieu of direct military-political control, neocolonialist powers employ economic, financial, and trade policies to dominate less powerful countries. What is the social phenomena neocolonialism?It is a set of political, economic, social and colonial arrangements or systems which continue to exist in a society, managed and controlled by little local property-ruling class on behalf of their corresponding foreign property-ruling class. The arrangement is a phenomenon which is heavily imposed on the majority of the people who remain poor, unemployed, low income-earned, unskilled, and uneducated. These arrangements designate a continuation of colonialism wherein the majority of the people are denied control and management of the bulk of their wealth. Describe the origins of neocolonialism.The political-science term neocolonialism became popular usage in reference to the continued European control the economic, cultural, of African countries that had been decolonized in the aftermath of the Second World War (1939–45). As a political scientist, Nkrumah theoretically developed and extended, to the post–War 20th c entury, the socio-economic and political arguments presented by Lenin in the pamphlet Imperialism, the Highest Stage of Capitalism (1917), about 19th-century imperialism as the logical extension of power to meet the financial investment needs of the political economy of capitalism.What are the effects of neocolonialism? In effect, third world rulers give concessions and monopolies to foreign corporations in return for consolidation of power and monetary bribes. In most cases, much of the money loaned to these LDCs is returned to the favored foreign corporations. Thus, these foreign loans are, in effect, subsidies to crony corporations of the loaning state's rulers. This collusion is sometimes referred to as â€Å"the corporatocracy. Organizations accused of participating in neo-imperialism include the World Bank, World Trade Organization and Group of Eight, and the World Economic Forum. Various â€Å"first world† states, notably the United States, are said to be involved. An insider's first-hand description of the corporatocracy is described in the book Confessions of an Economic Hitman by John Perkins. Name at least one way in which neocolonialism can be rectified?

Family Structure in India

Niranjan, S. ; Sureender, S. and Rao, G. Rama. : Family Structure in India Evidence from NFHS. Demography India. 27(2). 1998. P. 287-300. Family Structure in India – Evidence from NFHS S. Niranjan, S. Sureenderand G. Rama Rao Introduction With the increase in the urbanization and industrialization, the concept of family in India, which once was to create and maintain a common culture among the members of the family, is undergoing changes.However according to Beteille (1964), inspite of socio-economic and political changes, family life and family structure have remained as an integral part of Indian society with the ‘spirit of family solidarity' as the sustaining power. Ross (1961) found that many Indians went through changes in the type of family in which they lived in various sequences: large joint family, small joint family, nuclear family, and nuclear family with dependants.D'Souza (1971) argues that, the Indian family has been subjected to stress and strain, and insp ite of resistance to change over the centuries, is slowly undergoing a process of change significantly. According to Cohen (1981) â€Å"households have reputedly been shrinking in size for ten thousand years or more, right up to the present, and this is a result of an evolving technology that requires fewer co-operating people to secure food, rear children, and look after the sick†.Though it is generally felt that joint families, whose members were bound together by ties of common ancestry and common property dominate in the past, there are diverging views regarding the same. Gore (1968) says, â€Å"the fraternal or collateral joint family was never the most common form†. Goode (1968) asserts that the large joint family was not common at any time in India perhaps because of the great forces of fission, initially between daughters-in-law and later between brothers.In a study of three villages located in three different districts in Karnataka state, two-thirds of the fam ilies were nuclear and the rest were different forms of joint family (Rao, Kulkarni and Rayappa, 1986). Although it can be argued that over the years joint family is slowly giving way to nuclear families, a number of studies reveal that despite the fact of living in the nuclear family set-up many functional relationships are maintained with the nonresidential family members (Agarwala, 1962; Desai, 1964; Kapadia, 1969; Gore, 1968).As still in India most of the marriages are arranged by the parents, marital life begins in the parents family and later depending on the situation, a dwelling unit is arranged by the parents or other older members of the family (Richard et 1 al. , 1985). Hence, it is possible that the decisions taken by the members of the nuclear family are guided by their parents and relatives. However, this to an extent depends on the different types of family structure. Generally, family types are classified conveniently in many of the studies as nuclear and joint famil ies.In such a case, it would be rather difficult to conclude meaningfully about the significance of these family types on its family members. To be precise, family types are classified differently by various scholars. Kapadia (1969) have identified two broad family types namely; nuclear and joint/extended, while Richard et al. (1985) and Caldwell et al. (1988) have classified into nuclear, stem, joint, joint-stem and others. To understand this issue further it would be necessary to understand the changes in the family structure at the macro level i. . , India over the years, which to an extent has been attempted in this paper. Objectives The specific objectives of this paper are: (i) to understand the change in family structure at two points of time i. e. , in 1981 (census) and 1992-93 (NFHS), in different states of India, (ii) to study the differentials in family structure by different socio-economic characteristics of the head of the family at the all-India level. Sources of Data The data for this paper is obtained from National Family Health Survey, which was conducted during 1992-93.The primary objective of the survey is to provide national and state-level data on different demographic and socio-economic determinants in respect of family planning, maternal and child health indicators. The survey also collected the information at three levels-Village, Household and Individual levels. The data for this paper is obtained from the Household questionnaire, which contains information, related to age, sex, martial status, education, occupation and relationship to the head of the household for all usual residents as well as for the visitors who slept last night in the house.In addition, the household questionnaire also included information on housing conditions, such as the source of water supply, type of toilet facility, land owning, type of house and various consumer durable goods and characteristics of the head of the household such as religion, caste and place of residence. A total of 88,562 households were interviewed in India over all, of which two-thirds are from rural areas. All these 88,562 households contains more than 5,50,000 persons, of which 4,99,369 are only the usual residents in the survey.Hence, for the present 2 paper the above mentioned particulars are analyzed only for the usual residents in the family. For the comparative purpose, the information on Household Structure in India pertaining to 1981 census published by the Registrar General of India is used (Chakravorty and Singh, 1991). Although the two sources of information are different i. e. , census and survey, and hence not to be compared, due to the lack of other sources of information, this attempt is undertaken.Methodology To know the distribution of family structure in India, following classifications are considered: Type of family Single Member Nuclear Broken Nuclear Supplemented Nuclear Definition The respondent who is alone This type of family includes Nuclea r pair i. e. , Head and spouse with or without unmarried children Head without spouse but with unmarried children It includes three types of families a) Supplemented Nuclear : Head and spouse with or without unmarried children but with other relations who are not currently having spouses. ) Broken Extended Nuclear : Head without spouse but with other relations of whom only one is having spouse c) Supplemented Broken Nuclear: Head without spouse with or without unmarried children but with other unmarried/separated/divorced/widowed relation It includes both lineally extended and collaterally extended families a) Lineally extended family : Head and spouse with married son(s)/daughter(s) and their spouses and parents with or without other not currently married relation(s) (OR) Head without spouse but with at least two married son(s) and daughter(s) and their spouses and/or parents with or without other not currently married relations b) Collaterally extended family : Head and spouse wit h married brother(s)/sister(s) and their spouses with or without other relation(s) [including married relation(s)] (OR) Head without spouse but with at least two married brothers/sisters and their spouses with or without other relations Joint Family 3 Source: Chakravorty, C. and A. K. Singh. , 1991, Household Structures in India, Census of India 1991, Occasional Paper No. 1, Office of the Registrar General of India, New Delhi. Although there are varying definitions for classifying family structure, the above mentioned definitions are considered in this paper mainly to have a comparison with the 1981 census.The various background characteristics considered in the analysis to describe the differentials in family type are: (1) Educational level of the head of family: (Illiterate, Literate-upto Primary, Middle complete, High school and above); (2) Place of Residence (Urban, Rural); and (3) Religion of the respondent (Hindu, Muslim and Others); (4) Caste of the respondent (Scheduled Trib e, Scheduled Caste and Others); (5) Sex of the head of family (Male, Female); (6) Landowning Status (Yes, No); (7) Age of the head of family (less than 40 years, 40-60 years and 60 and above); (8) Size of family (Small i. e. 1-3 members, Medium i. e. 4-6 members, Large i. e. 7-9 members, Very Large i. e. , 10 and above).Results The data for urban areas (Table 1) reveals that in 1992-93; almost half of the urban population in India live in nuclear families and 23 percent, 20 percent in joint family and supplemented nuclear families respectively. The percentage of single member and broken nuclear families together is only 6 percent. As compared to 1981 census, there has been a decline in the single member, broken nuclear and supplemented nuclear families in 1992-93 and the percentage of nuclear and joint families has increased over the years (Graph 1). 4 Table 1: Percentage Distribution of Different Type of Families in States/UTs of India for Urban Areas in 1981 and 1992-93 States 198 1 Census Single Broken Nuclear Suppl. Joint Membe Nuclear Nuclear family r 7. 91 4. 24 46. 77 23. 64 17. 08 5. 76 4. 42 52. 46 24. 47 12. 89 -4. 25 3. 25 4. 31 8. 53 4. 30 4. 39 6. 13 3. 8 4. 09 7. 61 7. 94 5. 41 5. 04 4. 53 3. 11 5. 40 -7. 03 3. 86 5. 27 7. 89 6. 21 6. 19 4. 93 3. 74 8. 81 7. 47 -42. 41 48. 43 49. 09 37. 35 48. 79 44. 13 42. 62 44. 91 44. 20 52. 95 43. 42 45. 46 49. 47 49. 17 43. 57 42. 09 -47. 35 47. 12 45. 52 51. 64 56. 33 49. 30 50. 15 51. 09 45. 06 20. 22 -23. 65 24. 04 20. 14 21. 45 20. 55 30. 06 32. 83 25. 08 19. 80 20. 00 31. 23 32. 52 23. 42 19. 63 24. 82 31. 99 -17. 92 20. 98 26. 44 21. 70 5. 10 21. 64 22. 00 20. 88 26. 78 53. 53 -20. 09 17. 98 18. 16 7. 94 20. 94 15. 06 14. 35 16. 81 21. 07 15. 11 5. 78 2. 60 10. 21 19. 41 19. 72 5. 60 -17. 30 20. 47 12. 94 5. 32 1. 95 8. 33 13. 46 12. 97 7. 35 5. 6 1992-93 NFHS Single Broken Nuclear Suppl. Joint Membe Nuclear Nuclear family r 3. 2 3. 3 49. 8 20. 2 23. 4 1. 5 2. 6 54. 3 20. 3 21. 3 3. 5 1. 1 5. 1 1. 5 5. 3 1. 5 2. 2 1. 5 3. 0 2. 6 1. 4 2. 0 -4. 5 1. 2 3. 6 -2. 8 3. 5 3. 2 5. 0 -7. 6 –5. 1 4. 1 -3. 9 1. 3 3. 5 2. 0 3. 5 3. 3 3. 3 4. 7 2. 7 3. 6 5. 2 3. 0 4. 8 3. 0 2. 8 2. 2 -3. 5 5. 2 3. 2 4. 0 -2. 8 –2. 4 5. 2 -43. 6 44. 3 47. 9 52. 0 56. 2 48. 1 46. 2 50. 6 45. 9 47. 2 54. 2 41. 1 75. 8 55. 0 51. 3 54. 3 -50. 8 48. 5 51. 3 40. 7 -55. 6 –50. 0 52. 3 -21. 3 18. 7 19. 0 18. 0 16. 2 18. 9 24. 8 22. 6 20. 5 20. 5 18. 8 28. 7 9. 7 20. 0 20. 3 17. 2 -25. 7 21. 4 18. 5 22. 3 -20. 1 –17. 6 21. 8 -27. 7 34. 24. 6 26. 5 18. 7 28. 1 23. 4 20. 6 27. 9 26. 1 20. 3 25. 2 9. 7 17. 5 24. 4 22. 6 -17. 2 21. 4 23. 8 28. 0 -13. 9 –24. 9 16. 6 -Total No. of cases 28747 1093 1227 1082 1359 1033 1035 987 1449 1213 1457 1753 345 202 227 1290 937 1096 -1445 229 2302 1080 -144 –3371 1827 — India Andhra Pradesh Assam -Bihar 9. 60 Gujarat 6. 30 Haryana 8. 25 Himachal 24. 73 Pradesh Jammu & 5. 14 Kashmir Karnataka 5. 74 Kerala 4. 04 Madhya 9. 54 Pradesh Maharash tra 7. 87 Manipur 4. 07 Meghalaya 11. 56 Nagaland 14. 01 Orissa 11. 76 Punjab 6. 92 Rajasthan 8. 74 Sikkim 14. 92 Tamil Nadu -Tripura 8. 00 Uttar Pradesh 7. 47 West Bengal 9. 82 Union Territories A. & N. slands 13. 45 Arunachal 24. 77 Pradesh Chandigarh 14. 54 D. & N. Haveli 9. 46 Delhi 9. 34 Goa, Daman & 11. 39 Diu Lakshadweep 12. 92 5 Mizoram 5. 64 7. 43 42. 46 36. 54 7. 93 1. 8 5. 7 49. 6 27. 5 15. 5 561 Table 2: Percentage Distribution of Different Type of Families in States/UTs of India for Rural in 1981 and 1992-93 States 1981 Census Single Broken Nuclear Suppl. Joint Membe Nuclear Nuclear family r 5. 15 4. 58 42. 79 26. 19 21. 18 5. 85 4. 88 48. 82 24. 03 16. 42 -4. 72 3. 35 4. 28 8. 35 4. 42 5. 29 7. 14 3. 67 4. 67 6. 91 10. 11 8. 84 5. 66 4. 55 3. 24 7. 94 -5. 99 4. 12 4. 17 4. 62 7. 74 3. 18 3. 75 2. 98 11. 15 -40. 73 43. 92 42. 32 33. 8 42. 11 41. 79 46. 06 37. 83 42. 64 59. 63 56. 04 59. 82 47. 56 45. 03 36. 65 48. 32 -53. 05 39. 51 49. 07 51. 21 61. 73 42. 65 48. 98 43. 13 41. 79 -25. 47 25. 92 24. 20 31. 43 24. 62 29. 92 30. 01 28. 58 19. 77 17. 30 20. 66 17. 98 24. 58 23. 80 32. 64 25. 40 -18. 55 27. 57 25. 58 19. 65 4. 06 22. 80 21. 84 23. 54 28. 42 -24. 84 21. 98 25. 79 16. 97 24. 76 17. 71 13. 36 23. 09 27. 08 13. 05 6. 68 4. 85 16. 96 22. 25 22. 41 9. 65 -16. 07 23. 29 16. 74 7. 75 9. 93 12. 24 18. 94 22. 29 8. 68 1992-93 NFHS Single Broken Nuclear Suppl. Joint Membe Nuclear Nuclear family r 2. 5 3. 2 46. 3 20. 7 27. 4 2. 3 3. 0 47. 2 22. 4 25. 1 2. 9 2. 1 3. 3 0. 9 3. 1. 2 2. 7 2. 2 2. 6 2. 5 1. 4 1. 1 0. 2 2. 9 2. 1 1. 6 -4. 2 2. 4 2. 4 1. 7 -3. 7 –13. 3 4. 7 5. 1 1. 8 2. 8 1. 7 3. 4 3. 2 3. 9 4. 8 1. 9 2. 3 6. 4 4. 2 5. 1 3. 3 2. 3 1. 5 -5. 4 4. 3 2. 2 3. 2 -3. 8 –1. 0 7. 3 49. 8 40. 6 46. 4 43. 7 44. 4 49. 9 43. 4 48. 6 41. 5 43. 1 58. 6 54. 9 73. 8 47. 7 50. 6 43. 4 -53. 6 46. 9 41. 0 48. 0 -49. 7 –49. 7 45. 9 23. 7 18. 3 19. 8 18. 4 20. 5 18. 1 24. 6 21. 9 18. 6 23. 0 16. 2 19. 3 9. 4 21. 6 18. 4 18. 6 -22. 3 26. 7 20. 4 22. 6 -19. 1 –15. 7 25. 5 18. 6 37. 1 27. 7 35. 3 28. 2 27. 6 25. 3 22. 5 35. 5 29. 1 17. 4 20. 4 11. 5 24. 6 26. 6 34. 9 -14. 5 19. 7 33. 9 22. 4 -23. 7 –20. 3 16. 6 Total No. f cases 59534 3106 2021 3627 2509 1702 2074 1850 2813 3162 4391 2306 740 788 828 3288 2276 3901 -2837 908 7738 3141 -815 –300 1888 India Andhra Pradesh Assam -Bihar 4. 24 Gujarat 4. 83 Haryana 3. 33 Himachal 9. 47 Pradesh Jammu & 3. 59 Kashmir Karnataka 5. 08 Kerala 3. 43 Madhya 6. 39 Pradesh Maharashtra 5. 80 Manipur 2. 92 Meghalaya 6. 45 Nagaland 8. 51 Orissa 4. 90 Punjab 4. 16 Rajasthan 5. 00 Sikkim 8. 69 Tamil Nadu -Tripura 4. 26 Uttar Pradesh 5. 47 West Bengal 4. 42 Union Territories A. & N. islands 16. 77 Arunachal 11. 03 Pradesh Chandigarh 19. 13 D. & N. Haveli 6. 49 Delhi 6. 40 Goa, Daman & 9. 54 Diu 6 Lakshadweep 9. 24 Mizoram 3. 60 11. 27 6. 72 17. 22 49. 85 61. 07 27. 45 1. 20 12. 38 -1. 9 -3. 2 -61. 5 -21. 7 -11. 6 -525In rural areas, while 46 percent and 27 percent of families belong to nuclear and joint types respectively in 1992-93, and the percentage of families in supplemented nuclear, broken nuclear and single member type are 21, 3 and 3 respectively. As compared to 1981 census, the pattern of change in urban areas in different family types is almost the same as in the rural areas in 1992-93 (Graph 2). As compared to urban areas, the single member households are less frequent in rural areas. It is obvious that persons who migrate to urban areas have to stay single for quite a long period of time, hence this type of families is found to be slightly more in the urban areas. In different states of India, in 1992-93, the percentage of nuclear families in the urban areas, is high in Nagaland (76 percent) and low in case of Bihar (44 percent) and Uttar Pradesh (51 percent).In the less developed states like Bihar and Uttar Pradesh, a high proportion of joint families could possibly indicate the traditional nature of the society and the lack of sign ificant occupational mobility found among the people of the state. In case of Nagaland, it could be that the tradition, which normally demands newly, weds to set up as a separate family and also along with the absence of large landholding result in higher proportion of nuclear families. Although, there is an increase in joint families in 1992-93 as compared to 1981, it is found to be more pronounced in urban areas than in rural areas in most of the states of India. In the states of Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka, Orissa, Goa, Daman & Diu, Meghalaya, Mizoram and Arunachal Pradesh, the proportion of supplemented nuclear type of families are higher than the joint type of families in 1992-93.A few plausible reasons for the same are given below: 7 (a) Migration is an important component which forces the members of the natal family to stay together usually revolving around one married couple and sharing the economic assets and income. For instance, when a person migrates for work he leaves his wife, children behind with his parents, hence in such a society the supplemented nuclear families are expected to be more. Similar is the situation, in case of a person who migrates to urban areas and is forced to stay with his relatives, due to lack of housing. (b) The increase in the socioeconomic development of the society also leads to increase in the status of women.And as the status of women in the family and in the society being high, it is expected that the chances of divorce/separation would also be high in case of marital incompatibility between the partners. This is found to be true in case of Kerala where the status of women and the divorce rates are high (Sureender et al. 1992). In this situation too, there is a possibility of the supplemented nuclear families to be more in the society. In general, there has been a decline in single member, broken nuclear and supplemented nuclear type of families, while an increase is observed in nuclear and joint families as compa red to 1981 in most of the states of India.While the decline in the proportion of single and broken nuclear families could be largely attributed to improvement in the health conditions of the population over the years, whereas the following reasons could be thought of for the increase in nuclear families. †¢ The decline in the interest of the individual towards satisfying the groups (families) interest; The problems related to housing especially in case of migrants to urban areas; The lack of adjustment between the family members especially when a bride/groom enters into the family. According to Caldwell et al. (1996), the ultimate reason for the break-up of the joint family is the friction between mother-in-law and daughter- in-law and between daughters-inlaw themselves.In the case of increasing joint families, problems related to housing could be cited as an important factor especially in urban areas, which force the couples to stay in joint families. Further, low age at marr iage among girls also force the couples to stay with the parents till they attain economic independence. This implies an addition of married women in the same family, which results in the classification of the family as a joint family. Joint family also gave security to widows, physically handicapped, economically non-productive and other insecure members †¢ †¢ 8 of the society. They were thus, the ideal type of household meeting all the requirements of society in the past (Chakravorty and Singh, 1991).According to Mandelbaum (1970), people tend to remain in joint families longer when economic factors favour such families. He also argues that the poorest and the lowest groups tend to have fewest joint families, but even at these social levels, most families become joint for at least for some time after son marries. Further it was argued that even if a whole society strives towards ideal of joint families, there will inevitably be a very considerable proportion of simpler f amilies at transitional stages in a demographic cycle because of deaths among the older generation, the departure from the joint family of surplus married brothers and other factors.Hence, even a considerable proportion of nuclear families in a population is evidence neither of change nor of the forming of that type of families. In additions to the above-mentioned ones there are obvious socioeconomic characteristics of head of the family which result in changes within the family structure. Some of these characteristics which are analysed with the family structure in this paper at the all India level are: Education, Age, Religion, Residence, Caste, Sex, Land owning status, and the size of the family. Differentials The results in Table 3 show that there is not much difference in family structure for both urban and rural areas in India as a whole.However, a considerable increase is observed in the proportion of nuclear families in urban areas compared to rural areas. This statement str engthens the hypothesis that the urban respondents are more likely to choose the nuclear family than the rural respondents. Table 3: Percentage Distribution of various type of Families According to the Background Characteristics of the head of Household (1992-93 NFHS Survey) Background Characteristics Type of Family Single Broken Member Nuclear 3. 7 1. 9 2. 0 2. 4 2. 5 1. 9 2. 9 5. 1 2. 6 1. 7 1. 1 3. 3 3. 8 3. 1 Number of househol ds 36067 24267 8562 19385 10587 10759 669635 Nuclear Suppl. Nuclear 21. 0 20. 2 21. 3 19. 7 20. 20. 3 20. 6 Joint Family 27. 6 27. 2 22. 8 23. 5 24. 7 22. 5 26. 9 Education Illiterate Literate-primary Middle Complete High School + Caste Scheduled Caste Scheduled Tribe Other Castes 42. 7 48. 1 52. 2 53. 3 49. 2 51. 5 46. 5 9 Religion Hindu Muslim Sikh Others Place of Residence Urban Rural Sex of the Head Male Female Land Owning Yes No Age of the Head ; 40 years 40-60 years 60 + Marital Status Married Separated Widowed Divorced Never married Family size Sma ll Medium Large Very Large 2. 9 2. 2 2. 1 2. 9 3. 2 2. 5 1. 7 11. 7 2. 0 3. 5 2. 3 2. 1 5. 0 0. 8 21. 4 12. 4 12. 9 23. 2 14. 6 —- 3. 1 2. 7 4. 7 2. 5 3. 3 3. 2 0. 8 24. 2 2. 4 4. 2. 5 4. 3 2. 5 -34. 3 27. 4 30. 4 1. 5 9. 5 2. 5 0. 8 0. 1 46. 7 47. 3 52. 9 49. 2 49. 8 46. 3 51. 1 16. 1 42. 6 52. 2 57. 7 50. 3 22. 7 55. 0 —-56. 8 59. 5 30. 6 6. 6 20. 7 20. 1 19. 9 19. 3 20. 2 20. 7 18. 7 36. 2 20. 8 20. 3 23. 7 18. 2 20. 6 15. 7 37. 9 49. 4 50. 0 59. 2 15. 5 22. 7 24. 4 9. 9 26. 6 27. 7 20. 4 26. 0 23. 4 27. 4 27. 8 11. 9 32. 2 20. 1 13. 8 25. 7 49. 3 28. 5 6. 4 10. 8 6. 7 15. 5 3. 7 15. 3 44. 2 83. 4 68948 8623 8880 1830 28747 59534 79003 9273 43720 44545 32670 37152 18459 76013 688 9261 194 2110 16596 43274 20123 8288 10 A positive association is found between education of the head of the family and family structure.When the head of the family is illiterate, only 43 percent families are nuclear, the relative percentage for the heads who are educated upto high school a nd above, is 53 percent (Graph 3). Similarly more percentage of scheduled tribes stay in nuclear families as compared to scheduled caste and other caste people, i. e. almost 52 percent of nuclear families were found in scheduled tribes compared to 49 and 46 percent in scheduled caste and other caste people. As evidenced, more proportion of low waged population are prevalent in low caste, so always the head of the family tries to push away the married children from his house to make the family with reduced burden.This could be the plausible reason why the nuclear families are more found in low castes. Srivastava and Nauriyal (1993) also noted in Uttar Pradesh that the joint family system is found to be more popular among the higher castes than the intermediate and lower castes. It is possible that, since the land holding are more among the non-scheduled caste/tribe people, they tend to stay more in joint families compared to scheduled caste/tribe people (Caldwell et al. , 1988). In a study conducted in Karnataka, Caldwell et al. (1984) show that, among those with no land at all, 71 percent are found in nuclear families; with land upto one acre, 65 percent; with land from one to four acres, 58 percent; with over four acres 46 percent.With more resources and a need for more labour, there is more point in keeping a larger family together. A study of 5,200 households throughout Karnataka state, conducted in 1975 by the Bangalore Population Centre, recorded the percentage of different types of families as follows: 57. 3% nuclear, 30. 8% stem, 4. 7% joint, and 3. 4% joint stem. The same picture is found in this study too, i. e. , those who possess land, higher percentage stay in joint families than those with no land (Graph 4). It could be that the requirement of manpower in agricultural families and the practice of property staying with the senior citizen of the family tend to keep the joint families intact. Nimkoff (1959) also writes that in India, he joint family system is traditionally most common among the elite, the higher castes and those with more property. It is often held that joint families are especially appropriate for peasants who cultivate land, that such families, especially those who till their own land, favour large families and favour joint families, because the excess numbers form labour pools (Kolenda Pautine et al. , 1987). The sex of head of the family is having a significant relation in forming a particular type of the family. While 51 percent of the male headed families are found to be nuclear type and only 16 percent of nuclear families have female as head of the family. However, the picture is found different in case of the supplemented nuclear and broken nuclear families.Female-headed families are found to be more in supplemented nuclear and broken nuclear family types. While, migration of males in search of jobs could be one of the reasons which forces the females to head the supplemented nuclear families, the death of the 11 husband and to an extent the increasing divorce rate (especially in urban areas) could be some of the plausible reasons in case of more females heading the broken nuclear families. Religious differentials clearly indicate that more percentage of Sikhs (53 percent) are living in nuclear families compared to all other religions (i. e. , 46. 7, 47. 3 and 49 percent from Hindu, Muslim and other religions respectively).It has been observed in the analysis that the proportion of illiterate heads of the family in Sikh religion is considerably less as compared to the other religions. Also, it was supported that the education of the head of the family has a positive association with family structure as the education increases, the proportion of nuclear families increase. Hence, it could be one of the plausible reasons; the nuclear families are more in Sikh religion. Though, it has been found in the analysis that in India as a whole, the proportion of nuclear families are more in S ikh religion compared to other religious groups. Independently, in Punjab and Haryana the proportion of Sikh religion is more, but it comprises only 25 percent of India's Sikh population.Our results support the contention of Kingsley Davis; â€Å"Sikhs took more seriously to education, as they are more literate than either the Hindus or the Muslims. Their high percentage in the Indian army has doubtless helped their literacy†. Also a district wise analysis of selected states in India by Kolenda Pauline et al. (1987) reveals that high joint family districts have more Hindus and substantially fewer Christians than the low joint family districts. These figures according to the authors suggest that Hindus have a preference for joint family living compared to other religions. As expected, age of the head of family is having a significant association with family structure.Joint families are found to be more among the older ones where the age of the head of family is over 60 years ( 49. 3 percent). While only 25. 7 percent of the middle aged beads maintain joint families, and the corresponding percentage among younger ones is 14. It is 12 felt that, always the old persons prefer to maintain their family as joint type, because to fulfil their psychological satisfaction through the youngest in the family. This finding is found to be similar to an earlier study conducted by Driver (1962) in Nagpur district of Maharashtra. A study by Morrison (1959) reveals that nuclear families are generally small and medium in size, whereas joint families are large and very large.It is equally obvious that there is considerable overlapping in the medium and large size categories so that it is not possible to say that medium sized families are always nuclear and large sized are always joint in composition. Similar type of results were noticed in this study too, that, nuclear families are generally small and medium in size and joint families are large and very large in size. To be precise, while percentage of small and medium size in nuclear families are 56. 8 and 59. 5 respectively and among the joint families are 3. 7 and 15. 3 respectively. On the other hand, the percentage of large and very large size families in nuclear type are 30. 6 and 6. 6 percent respectively as compared to 44. 2 and 83. 4 among joint families.These results clearly show that broken nuclear families and nuclear families are usually small and medium in size, whereas joint families are large in family size. Conclusion Keeping in view that the changes in family structure are inevitable partly as a result of continuing demographic change, this paper examines the changes in family structure from 1981 to 1992-93 in India. The results reveal that over the years, there has been an increase in the nuclear and joint families, although nuclear families are leading in both the rural and urban areas. On the other hand, a decline is observed in the single member, broken nuclear and supplemented nu clear families. Nuclear families are found to be more in case of Nagaland as compared to rest of the states of India.The differentials in family structure reveals that the socio-economic background of the head of the family has a definite role to play in the growth of nuclear families in India. These changes in the family structure calls for the examination of its plausible consequences on the attitude and behaviour of the family members at the micro level. References 1. Agarwala, B. R. , 1962, Nature and extent of social change in a mobile commercial community. Sociological Bulletin, 11. 2. Beteille, A. , 1964. Family and social change in India and other South Asian Countries. Economic and Political Weekly, Annual. XVI: 237-244. 13 3. Caldwell, J. C. ; Reddy, P. H. and Caldwell, Pat. , 1984.The determinants of family structure in Rural South India. Journal of Marriage and the Family, 46 (1): 215-230. 4. Caldwell, J. C. ; Reddy, P. H. and Caldwell, Pat. , 1988. The Causes of Demogra phic Change : Experimental Research in South India. University of Wisconsin Press, Madison. 5. Caldwell, J. C. , Reddy, P. H. and Caldwell, Pat. , 1996, The family in South India : Past, present and future. Social Change, 26(2) : 116-129. 6. Chakravorty, C. and Singh, A. K. , 1991. Household Structures in India. Census of India 1991. Occasional Paper No. 1. Social Studies Division, Office of the Registrar General, India. 7. Cohen, Yebudi A. , 1981. Shrinking Households.Society 48-52. 8. Desai, L. P. , 1964. Some Aspects of Family in Mahuva. Asia Publishing House, Bombay. 9. Driver, E. D. , 1962, family structure and socioeconomic status in Central India. Sociological Bulletin, 11:112-120. 10. D'Souza, A. , 1971. The Indian Family in the Changes and Challenge of the Seventies. Sterling Publisher Private Limited, New Delhi. 11. Gore, M. , 1968. Urbanization and Family Change. Popular Prakashan, Bombay. 12. Goode Willian, J. , 1968. Foreword in M. S. Gore, Urbanization and Family Chang e. Popular Prakashan, Bombay. 13. Gould, H. A. , 1968. Time-dimension and Structural Change in an Indian Kinship System. In: M.Singer and B. S. Cohn (eds. ). Structure and Change in Indian Society, pp. 413-42 1. Chicago. 14. Kapadia, K. M. , 1959. The family in transition. Sociological Bulletin, 8 (2): 68-99. 15. Kapadia, K. M. , 1969. Marriage and Family in India. Oxford University, Press, Bombay. 14 16. Khatri, A. A. , 1972. The Indian family: An empirically derived analysis of shifts in size and types. Journal of Marriage and the Family 34 (4): 725-734. 17. Kolenda, Pauline and Haddon, Lorraine. 1987. Marked Regional Differences in Family, Structure in India, In: Pauline Kolenda (ed. ), Regional Differences in Family Structure in India. Rawat Publications, Jaipur. 18.Krishna Moorthy, S. and Kulkarni. P. M. , 1985-86, Family formation and structure. Journal of Family Welfare. 32 (1). 19. Mandelbaum, David G. , 1970. Society in India – Continuity and Change (Vol. 1). Univers ity of California Press, London. 20. Morrison, W. A. , 1959. Family types in Badlapur: An analysis of a changing institution in a Maharashtrian Village. Sociological Bulletin, 8 (2): 45-67. 21. Nimkoff, M. F. , 1959, The family in India. Sociological Bulletin. 8 (2): 32-58. 22. Nimkoff, M. F. and Middleton, R. 1960. Types of family and types of economy. American Journal of Sociology, 66 (3): 215-225. 23. Rao, N. Bhaskara, Kulkarni, P. M. , Rayappa and P.Hanumantha, 1986, Determinants of Fertility Decline: A Study of Rural Karnataka. South Asia Publishers, New Delhi. 24. Reddy, P. H. and others, 1975, Dual Record System. Population Research Centre, Bangalore. 25. Richard, J. , et al. , 1985, Family type and the aged. The Journal of Family Welfare, 31 (4): 31-38. 26. Ross, A. D. , 1961, The Hindu Family in its Urban Setting. Toronto: Oxford University Press. 27. Srivastava, K. K. and Nauriyal, D. K. 1993, Family structure and child survival among Jamsaris of Uttar Pradesh. Social Chan ge, 23 (2&3): 159163. 28. Sureender, S. et al. , 1992. Divorce in India: A macro level analysis. Social Change, 22 (2). 15

Free Essays on Prisons In Th US

Many prisons throughout the United States have been experiencing the problem of over crowdedness. This is not a new issue though; in April of 1978 New York State was already feeling the affect of crowded prisons. In an attempt to alleviate the problem the state tried to buy Richers Island from New York City. Since then a rise in population and in poverty have increased the problem. The main problem was coming up with programs that kept criminals off the streets without overpopulating the prisons. One example of how the government tried to make the streets safer was by imposing mandatory minimum sentences. They were designed to put people behind bars that until then were being released with nothing more than a slap on the wrist. The problem began when they realized that although fewer criminals were on the streets there were also more in prison, which took up space for new prisoners, who in some cases should be there before the ones that already inhabited the jail. There have been man y new experimental programs in which the government is trying to keep the prison population down. Some of these have proved to be very successful while others have failed. Although not everybody agrees on what the solution they do agree that something has to be changed. Although many agree that mandatory minimum sentences are out dated and should not be imposed any longer, there are those who approve and support them. Those in favor of them have two strong reasons for their beliefs. First, they believe that the sentences act as a deterrent to possible criminals. The sentences are especially aimed at drug related crimes. The idea was to deter people, especially teens; from looking to make some money in the drug business by weighing it against the jail time they would receive if the were caught. This also directly makes the streets safer by scaring people away from a life of crime. Another argument people have in favor of the sentencing is it speeds up t... Free Essays on Prisons In Th US Free Essays on Prisons In Th US Many prisons throughout the United States have been experiencing the problem of over crowdedness. This is not a new issue though; in April of 1978 New York State was already feeling the affect of crowded prisons. In an attempt to alleviate the problem the state tried to buy Richers Island from New York City. Since then a rise in population and in poverty have increased the problem. The main problem was coming up with programs that kept criminals off the streets without overpopulating the prisons. One example of how the government tried to make the streets safer was by imposing mandatory minimum sentences. They were designed to put people behind bars that until then were being released with nothing more than a slap on the wrist. The problem began when they realized that although fewer criminals were on the streets there were also more in prison, which took up space for new prisoners, who in some cases should be there before the ones that already inhabited the jail. There have been man y new experimental programs in which the government is trying to keep the prison population down. Some of these have proved to be very successful while others have failed. Although not everybody agrees on what the solution they do agree that something has to be changed. Although many agree that mandatory minimum sentences are out dated and should not be imposed any longer, there are those who approve and support them. Those in favor of them have two strong reasons for their beliefs. First, they believe that the sentences act as a deterrent to possible criminals. The sentences are especially aimed at drug related crimes. The idea was to deter people, especially teens; from looking to make some money in the drug business by weighing it against the jail time they would receive if the were caught. This also directly makes the streets safer by scaring people away from a life of crime. Another argument people have in favor of the sentencing is it speeds up t...

Free Essays on Hitchhiking Through The Galaxy

Do you know where your towel is? You’ll need to find it if you plan to join Arthur Dent and Ford Prefect on their crazy adventure through space in Douglas Adams’s The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy. England resident Douglas Adams wrote this hysterical piece of literature in the late 1970’s after a real hitchhiking experience through Europe. The book differs only in the fact that it is set in space. â€Å"Space†, according to the Hitchhiker’s Guide, â€Å" is big. Really big. You just won’t believe how vastly hugely mind-bogglingly big it is. I mean, you may think it’s a long way down the road to the chemist, but that’s just peanuts to space. pg 76† Adams has successfully created some of the most interestingly strange characters to grace the pages of a book. The main, and most unlikely, character is Arthur Dent. Arthur lived in a small house outside Islington, England. His friend, Ford Prefect, takes him off the Earth just moments before it’s destruction. From there you are whisked away to the opposite spiral arm of the galaxy where you meet Zaphod Beeblebrox, President of the Imperial Galactic Government, and his Earth friend Trillian. Arthur quickly finds himself in desperate need of knowledge so Ford directs him to the Hitchhiker Guide to the Universe. The Guide â€Å"is a book. Not an Earth book, never published on Earth, and until the terrible catastrophe occurred, never seen or even heard of by any Earthman. Nevertheless, a wholly remarkable book. pg 2.† You will be propelled through space and time, and much improbability, as you go with Arthur and Ford as they are thrown into the vacuum of space, retrieved by the Heart of Gold’s Infinite Improbability Drive, and then taken to most mythical planet known to not exist, Margrathea. There Arthur will be told how dolphins warned of the attack and how they are second in intelligence only to mice. Soon everything he had known to be true is revealed to have been ... Free Essays on Hitchhiking Through The Galaxy Free Essays on Hitchhiking Through The Galaxy Do you know where your towel is? You’ll need to find it if you plan to join Arthur Dent and Ford Prefect on their crazy adventure through space in Douglas Adams’s The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy. England resident Douglas Adams wrote this hysterical piece of literature in the late 1970’s after a real hitchhiking experience through Europe. The book differs only in the fact that it is set in space. â€Å"Space†, according to the Hitchhiker’s Guide, â€Å" is big. Really big. You just won’t believe how vastly hugely mind-bogglingly big it is. I mean, you may think it’s a long way down the road to the chemist, but that’s just peanuts to space. pg 76† Adams has successfully created some of the most interestingly strange characters to grace the pages of a book. The main, and most unlikely, character is Arthur Dent. Arthur lived in a small house outside Islington, England. His friend, Ford Prefect, takes him off the Earth just moments before it’s destruction. From there you are whisked away to the opposite spiral arm of the galaxy where you meet Zaphod Beeblebrox, President of the Imperial Galactic Government, and his Earth friend Trillian. Arthur quickly finds himself in desperate need of knowledge so Ford directs him to the Hitchhiker Guide to the Universe. The Guide â€Å"is a book. Not an Earth book, never published on Earth, and until the terrible catastrophe occurred, never seen or even heard of by any Earthman. Nevertheless, a wholly remarkable book. pg 2.† You will be propelled through space and time, and much improbability, as you go with Arthur and Ford as they are thrown into the vacuum of space, retrieved by the Heart of Gold’s Infinite Improbability Drive, and then taken to most mythical planet known to not exist, Margrathea. There Arthur will be told how dolphins warned of the attack and how they are second in intelligence only to mice. Soon everything he had known to be true is revealed to have been ...

A Biography of Richard the Lionheart

A Biography of Richard the Lionheart Richard the Lionheart was born on September 8, 1157, in Oxford, England. He was generally considered to be his mothers favorite son, and has been described as spoiled and vain because of it. Richard was also known to let his temper get the better of him. Nevertheless, he could be shrewd in matters of politics and was famously skilled on the battlefield. He was also highly cultured and well-educated, and wrote poems and songs. Through most of his life he enjoyed the support and affection of his people, and for centuries after his death, Richard the Lionheart was one of the most popular kings in English history. Early Years Richard the Lionheart was the third son of King Henry II and Eleanor of Aquitaine, and although his eldest brother died young, the next in line, Henry, was named heir. Thus, Richard grew up with little realistic expectations of achieving the English throne. In any case, he was more interested in the familys French holdings than he was in England; he spoke little English, and he was made duke of the lands his mother had brought to her marriage when he was quite young: Aquitaine in 1168, and Poitiers three years later. In 1169, King Henry and King Louis VII of France agreed that Richard should be wed to Louiss daughter Alice. This engagement was to last for some time, although Richard never showed any interest in her; Alice was sent from her home to live with the court in England, while Richard stayed with his holdings in France. Brought up among the people he was to govern, Richard soon learned how to deal with the aristocracy. But his relationship with his father had some serious problems. In 1173, encouraged by his mother, Richard joined his brothers Henry and Geoffrey in rebelling against the king. The rebellion ultimately failied, Eleanor was imprisoned, and Richard found it necessary to submit to his father and receive a pardon for his transgressions. From Duke to King Richard In the early 1180s, Richard faced baronial revolts in his own lands. He displayed considerable military skill and earned a reputation for courage (the quality that led to his nickname of Richard the Lionheart), but he dealt so harshly with the rebels that they called on his brothers to help drive him from Aquitaine. Now his father interceded on his behalf, fearing the fragmentation of the empire he had built (the Angevin Empire, after Henrys lands of Anjou). However, no sooner had King Henry gathered his continental armies together than the younger Henry unexpectedly died, and the rebellion crumpled. As the oldest surviving son, Richard the Lionheart was now heir to England, Normandy, and Anjou. In light of his extensive holdings, his father wanted him to cede Aquitaine to his brother John, who had never had any territory to govern and was known as Lackland. But Richard had a deep attachment to the duchy. Rather than give it up, he turned to the king of France, Louiss son Philip II, with whom Richard had developed a firm political and personal friendship. In November of 1188 Richard paid homage to Philip for all his holdings in France, then joined forces with him to drive his father into submission. They forced Henry- who had indicated a willingness to name John his heir- to acknowledge Richard as heir to the English throne before he died in July 1189. The Crusader King Richard the Lionheart had become King of England; but his heart wasnt in the sceptred isle. Ever since Saladin had captured Jerusalem in 1187, Richards greatest ambition was to go to the Holy Land and take it back. His father had agreed to engage in the Crusades along with Philip, and a Saladin Tithe had been levied in England and France to raise funds for the endeavor. Now Richard took full advantage of the Saladin Tithe and the military apparatus that had been formed; he drew heavily from the royal treasury and sold anything that might bring him funds- offices, castles, lands, towns, lordships. In less than a year after his accession to the throne, Richard the Lionheart raised a substantial fleet and an impressive army to take on Crusade. Philip and Richard agreed to go to the Holy Land together, but not all was well between them. The French king wanted some of the lands that Henry had held, and that were now in Richards hands, which he believed rightfully belonged to France. Richard was not about to relinquish any of his holdings; in fact, he shored up the defenses of these lands and prepared for conflict. But neither king really wanted war with each other, especially with a Crusade awaiting their attention. In fact, the crusading spirit was strong in Europe at this time. Although there were always nobles who wouldnt put up a farthing for the effort, the vast majority of the European nobility were devout believers of the virtue and necessity of Crusade. Most of those who didnt take up arms themselves still supported the Crusading movement any way that they could. And right now, both Richard and Philip were being shown up by the septuagenarian German emperor, Frederick Barbarossa, who had already pulled together an army and set off for the Holy Land. In the face of public opinion, continuing their quarrel was not really feasible for either of the kings, but especially not for Philip, since Richard the Lionheart had worked so hard to fund his part in the Crusade. The French king chose to accept the promises that Richard made, probably against his better judgment. Among these pledges was Richards agreement to marry Philips sister Alice, who still languished in England, even though it appeared he had been negotiating for the hand of Berengaria of Navarre. Alliance with the King of Sicily In July of 1190 the Crusaders set off. They stopped at Messina, Sicily, in part because it served as an excellent point of departure from Europe to the Holy Land, but also because Richard had business with King Tancred. The new monarch had refused to hand over the bequest the late king had left to Richards father, and was witholding the dower owed to his predecessors widow and keeping her in close confinement. This was of special concern to Richard the Lionheart, because the widow was his favorite sister, Joan. To complicate matters, the Crusaders were clashing with the citizens of Messina. Richard resolved these problems in a matter of days. He demanded (and got) Joans release, but when her dower was not forthcoming he began taking control of strategic fortifications. When the unrest between the Crusaders and the townfolk flared into a riot, he personally quelled it with his own troops. Before Tancred knew it, Richard had taken hostages to secure the peace and begun constructing a wooden castle overlooking the city. Tancred was forced to make concessions to Richard the Lionheart or risk losing his throne. The agreement between Richard the Lionheart and Tancred ultimately benefited the king of Sicily, for it included an alliance against Tancreds rival, the new German emperor, Henry VI. Philip, on the other hand, was unwilling to jeopardize his friendship with Henry and was irritated at Richards virtual takeover of the island. He was mollified somewhat when Richard agreed to share the monies Tancred paid, but he soon had cause for further irritation. Richards mother Eleanor arrived in Sicily with her sons bride, and it was not Philips sister. Alice had been passed over in favor of Berengaria of Navarre, and Philip wasnt in either a financial or military position to address the insult. His relationship with Richard the Lionheart further deteriorated, and they would never recover their original affability. Richard couldnt marry Berengaria quite yet, because it was Lent; but now that shed arrived in Sicily he was ready to leave the island where he had tarried for several months. In April of 1191 he set sail for the Holy Land with his sister and fiancà © in a massive fleet of over 200 vessels. Invasion of Cyprus and Marriage Three days out of Messina, Richard the Lionheart and his fleet ran into a terrible storm. When it was over, about 25 ships were missing, including the one carrying Berengaria and Joan. In fact the missing ships had been blown further on, and three of them (though not the one Richards family were on) had been driven aground in Cyprus. Some of the crews and passengers had drowned; the ships had been plundered and the survivors were imprisoned. All of this had occurred under the governance of Isaac Ducas Comnenus, the Greek tyrant of Cyprus, who had at one point entered into an agreement with Saladin to protect the government hed set up in opposition to the ruling Angelus family of Constantinople. After having rendezvoused with Berengaria and secured her and Joans safety, Richard demanded restoration of the plundered goods and the release of those prisoners who hadnt already escaped. Isaac refused, rudely it was said, apparently confident in Richards disadvantage. To Isaacs chagrin, Richard the Lionheart successfully invaded the island, then attacked against the odds, and won. The Cypriots surrendered, Isaac submitted, and Richard took possession of Cyprus for England. This was of great strategic value, since Cyprus would prove to be an important part of the supply line of goods and troops from Europe to the Holy Land. Before Richard the Lionheart left Cyprus, he married Berengaria of Navarre on May 12, 1191. A Truce  in the Holy Land Richards first success in the Holy Land, after having sunk an enormous supply ship encountered on the way, was the capture of Acre. The city had been under siege by Crusaders for two years, and the work Philip had done upon his arrival to mine and sap the walls contributed to its fall. However, Richard not only brought an overwhelming force, he spent considerable time examining the situation and planning his attack before he even got there. It was almost inevitable that Acre should fall to Richard the Lionheart, and indeed, the city surrendered mere weeks after the king arrived. Shortly afterward, Philip returned to France. His departure was not without rancor, and Richard was probably glad to see him go. Although Richard the Lionheart scored a surprising and masterful victory at Arsuf, he was unable to press his advantage. Saladin had decided to destroy Ascalon, a logical fortification for Richard to capture. Taking and rebuilding Ascalon in order to more securely establish a supply line made good strategic sense, but few of his followers were interested in anything but moving on to Jerusalem. And fewer still were willing to stay on once, theroretically, Jerusalem was captured. Matters were complicated by quarrels among the various contingents and Richards own high-handed style of diplomacy. After considerable political wrangling, Richard came to the unavoidable conclusion that the conquest of Jerusalem would be far too difficult with the lack of military strategy hed encountered from his allies; furthermore, it would be virtually impossible to keep the Holy City should by some miracle he manage to take it. He negotiated a truce with  Saladin  that allowed the Crusaders to keep Acre and a strip of coast that gave Christian pilgrims access to sites of sacred significance, then headed back to Europe. Captive in Vienna The tension had grown so bad between the kings of England and France that Richard chose to go home by way of the Adriatic Sea in order to avoid Philips territory. Once again the weather played a part: a storm swept Richards ship ashore near Venice. Although he disguised himself to avoid the notice of Duke Leopold of Austria, with whom he had clashed after his victory at Acre, he was discovered in Vienna and imprisoned in the Dukes castle at Dà ¼rnstein, on the Danube. Leopold handed Richard the Lionheart over to the German emperor, Henry VI, who was no more fond of him than Leopold, thanks to Richards actions in Sicily. Henry kept Richard at various imperial castles as events unfolded and he gauged his next step. Legend has it that a minstrel called Blondel went from castle to castle in Germany seeking Richard, singing a song he had composed with the king. When Richard heard the song from within his prison walls, he sang a verse known only to himself and Blondel, and the minstrel knew he had found the Lionheart. However, the story is just a story. Henry had no reason to hide Richards whereabouts; in fact, it suited his purposes to let everyone know that he had captured one of the most powerful men in Christendom. The story cannot be traced back any earlier than the 13th century, and Blondel probably never even existed, although it made for good press for minstrels of the day. Henry threatened to turn Richard the Lionheart over to Philip unless he paid 150,000 marks and surrendered his kingdom, which he would receive back from the emperor as a fief. Richard agreed, and one of the most remarkable fund-raising efforts began.  John  was not eager to help his brother come home, but  Eleanor  did everything in her power to see her favorite son return safely. The people of England were heavily taxed, Churches were forced to give up valuables, monasteries were made to turn over a seasons wool harvest. In less than a year nearly all of the exhorbitant ransom had been raised. Richard was released in February, 1194, and hurried back to England, where he was crowned again to demonstrate that he was still in charge of an independent kingdom. The Death of Richard the Lionheart Almost immediately after his coronation, Richard the Lionheart left England for what would be the last time. He headed directly to France to engage in warfare with Philip, who had captured some of Richards lands. These skirmishes, which were occasionally interrupted by truces, lasted for the next five years. By March of 1199, Richard was involved in a siege of the castle at Chalus-Chabrol, which belonged to the Viscount of Limoges. There was some rumor of a treasure having been found on his lands, and Richard was reputed to have demanded the treasure be turned over to him; when it was not, he supposedly attacked. However, this is little more than a rumor; it was enough that the viscount had allied with Philip for Richard to move against him. On the evening of March 26, Richard was shot in the arm by a crossbow bolt while observing the progress of the siege. Although the bolt was removed and the wound was treated, infection set in, and Richard fell ill. He kept to his tent and limited visitors to keep the news from getting out, but he knew what was happening. Richard the Lionheart died on April 6, 1199. Richard was buried according to his instructions. Crowned and clothed in royal regalia, his body was entombed at Fontevraud, at the feet of his father; his heart was buried at Rouen, with his brother Henry; and his brain and entrails went to an abbey at Charroux, on the border of Poitous and Limousin. Even before he was laid to rest, rumors and legends sprang up that would follow Richard the Lionheart into history. Understanding the Real Richard Over the centuries, the view of Richard the Lionheart held by historians has undergone some notable changes. Once considered one of Englands greatest kings by virtue of his deeds in the Holy Land and his chivalrous reputation, in recent years Richard has been criticized for his absence from his kingdom and his incessant engagement in warfare. This change is more a reflection of modern sensibilities than it is of any new evidence uncovered about the man. Richard spent little time in England, it is true; but his English subjects admired his efforts in the east and his warrior ethic. He didnt speak much, if any, English; but then, neither had any monarch of England since the Norman Conquest. Its also important to remember that Richard was more than the king of England; he had lands in France and political interests elsewhere in Europe. His actions reflected these diverse interests, and, though he didnt always succeed, he usually attempted to do what was best for all his concerns, not just England. He did what he could to leave the country in good hands, and while things sometimes went awry, for the most part, England flourished during his reign. There remain some things we dont know about Richard the Lionheart, beginning with what he really looked like. The popular description of him as elegantly built, with long, supple, straight limbs and hair a color between red and gold, was first written nearly twenty years after Richards death, when the late king had already been lionized. The only contemporary description that exists indicates that he was taller than average. Because he displayed such prowess with the sword, he could have been muscular, but by the time of his death he may have put on weight, since the removal of the crossbow bolt was reportedly complicated by fat. Then theres the question of Richards sexuality. This complex issue boils down to one salient point: there is no  irrefutable  proof to support or contradict the assertion that Richard was a homosexual. Each piece of evidence can be, and has been, interpreted in more than one way, so every scholar can feel free to draw whatever conclusion suits him. Whichever Richards preference was, it apparently had no bearing on his ability as a military leader or a king. There are some things we  do  know about Richard. He was very fond of music, though he never played an instrument himself, and he wrote songs as well as poems. He reportedly displayed a quick wit and a playful sense of humor. He saw the value of tournaments as preparation for war, and although he rarely participated himself, he designated five sites in England as official tournament locations, and appointed a director of tournaments and a collector of fees. This was in opposition to numerous decrees of the Church; but Richard was a devout Christian, and diligently attended mass, evidently enjoying it. Richard made many enemies, especially through his actions in the Holy Land, where he insulted and quarreled with his allies even more than his foes. Yet he apparently had a great deal of personal charisma, and could inspire intense loyalty. Though renowned for his chivalry, as a man of his times he did not extend that chivalry to the lower classes; but he was at ease with his servants and followers. Although he was talented at acquiring funds and valuables, in keeping with the tenets of chivalry he was also notably generous. He could be hot-tempered, arrogant, self-centered and impatient, but there are many stories of his kindness, insight and goodheartedness. In the final analysis, Richards reputation as an extraordinary general endures, and his stature as an international figure stands tall. While he cannot measure up to the heroic character early admirers depicted him as, few people could. Once we view Richard as a real person, with real foibles and quirks, real strengths and weaknesses, he may be less admirable, but he is more complex, more human, and much more interesting.

Case study on vodafone Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

On vodafone - Case Study Example This constitutes what is known as diversification, a strategy for business growth through starting up or acquiring businesses outside the firm’s current products or markets (Kotler and Armstrong, 2010). This strategy has significantly paid off for Vodafone. It has managed to gain competitive advantage and has also managed to expand in different global markets. There are many advantages that can be derived by the company through diversification. It is in a better position to attract many customers and it can also customize the products and services offered to suit the different needs of the customers. In the event that I am the CEO of Vodafone, I think I would need to focus on differentiation in order to create supreme customer value in the products and services it offers. Differentiated products are unique and they are often seen as valuable by the customers. The other advantage of differentiation is that the products offered are outstanding and they can be hardly imitated by the other competitors. This strategy has been adopted by other successful companies in the telecommunications industry such as Apple. This company has gained a large market share through its innovative and differentiated products such as the iPod and its iPhone. These products are unique and they have superior value which appeals to the interests of the targeted customers. The company can also be in a position to charge premium prices for the products that are differentiated. This can also help the company to gain competitive advantage over the other players in the same industry. 4. The potential threat facing Vodafone is related to the aspect of competition. It has been observed that the deregulation of the mobile telecommunications industry has enabled the other players to enter into the market. This has seen a significant rise in the number of players intending to operate in

The impact of information technology on accounting world Essay

The impact of information technology on accounting world - Essay Example BACKGROUND Accounting is as old as mankind and people used accounting to settle their scores even when the barter system was in place. People used different methods of keeping records of their transactions and claims to settle their exchanges as monetary transactions. When accounting was revolutionized, people brought up several new ways of book keeping which were beneficial and easy to go about. Different rules and principles came in to being when people gave rise to concepts of accounting such as accrual, matching, fair presentation and consistency etc. With progress in this field, people adopted the use of profit and loss statements as well as balance sheets to conduct their accounting but even then paper records were maintained. This was a hectic exercise which required a lot of time and tracking of records to keep them up-to-date with their daily transactions. This need of time gave rise to Information technology to come and level up the score where the requirement of time savin g and keeping track of records could be maintained. Not just that, the way conventional accounting used to take place could also be revolutionized and new and easy ways of book keeping can be brought up where standards and ease are both maintained simultaneously. BEGINNING ERA In the beginning era when information technology was introduced in the field of accounting, people started opting soft databases in place of hard copies of their records for the purpose of book keeping and tracking the transactions. This not only helped the hectic procedures of keeping the accounting records secure but also helped in the reduction of storage cost. The use of software that can calculate the results better and more accurately were used to make the calculations simpler and quick. Presentation was shifted from paper based presentation to soft copy presentation which required little time to make and edit the changes. New software was developed to cope up with the requirements as new standards of ac counting came into play and the level on complexity was increased. Both accountants and auditors started relying on the information technology far more than the paper work as it gave them time and cost saving and thus a new era on information technology was introduced in the field of accounting as well as that of auditing. CURRENT STATE OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY IN ACCOUNTING The current state of information technology in the field of accounting is very diversified and wide as the companies and information technology agencies have developed several ways of countering the needs and requirements of today’s fighting era. As the information technology has grown up in today’s era, it has persuaded the managers to implement it in their companies to manage their duties and responsibilities in a more appropriate and designed manner. The current state of accounting involves the use of following accounting software and techniques: Database management systems Spreadsheets Audit t echnique software Word processing and graphic presentations Tax assessment software Decision support systems Inventory and sales management systems Data evaluation and management software etc These are the major software that is implemented today in the field of accounting and management which have given this era of advancement a new dimension. The new era of accounting has also given rise to the in-house development of software and the companies have started their own software houses in

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Compulsory civil admission - Essay Example New Mental Health Act will put the importance on better community treatment. This paper sketches some of the themes that emerge from Mental Health research, explains how such themes can update Mental Health legislation and some impediments to Mental Health plans. Through keen experiment of relevant British legislation, this study argues that mental health policy at a national level lacks a defined role which the new legislation may provide, thereby enhancing the profession's voice in overall mental health legislation enactment. Moreover, the inherent complexity of the relationship means that the modification of one point in either the mental health or legal system or policy has an enourmous impact on the criminal justice system as a whole. By abandoning its plans for a new Mental Health Act the government has limited its scope for innovation. As a result of the increasing points of contact in mental health policy and legislations processing, the systems have become particularly evide nt from the proposed NR (nearest relative) provisions. In spite of the obtainable debate about the mental illness and incapability in mental health legislation, there is surprisingly little systematic link between criminal justice and mental health issues dates back to common law and has long been a somewhat problematic relationship. The legal meaning of incapacity, though, remained in vague. There are some legal rulings on the moderation of those with illness under common law in near future. A person is not responsible for criminal conduct if at the time of such conduct as a result of mental disease or defect he lacks substantial capacity either to appropriate the criminality (wrong fullness) of his conduct or to conform his conduct to the requirements of law. "Health or safety" is interpreted in practice to include the mental health of the person, essentially embodying a "need for treatment" approach to commitment criteria (Code of Practice). The enactment of only legislative scheme administrating nonconsensual treatment of both 'phys ical' and 'mental' illnesses, founded on incapacity principles, has been unsettled in recent law reform debates in the UK. In 1995 recommendations from the Law Commission for a 'Mental Incapacity Act' were published (Law Commission, 1995).1 The legislation proposes a definition of incapacity as being 'unable by reason of mental disability to make or communicate a decision' (where mental disability includes 'any disability or disorder of mind or brain, permanent or temporary, resulting in an impairment or disturbance of mental functioning') (Lord Chancellor's Department, 1999: p. 8). The definition of incapacity includes the presence of mental disability (rather than mental disorder, as required by the Mental Health Act 1983) means those with transient states of impaired judgement caused by pain may be included. The propose of legislation that combines the strengths of both incapacity and civil obligation designs can be enthusiastically anticipated, based on the criteria for interfer ence in England and Wales found in the Mental Capacity Act 2005. Such legislation would diminish inexcusable legal discrimination against mentally disordered persons and pertain to reliable moral or ethical principles athwart the medical

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