Prison Term Police Recommendation Proposal CJA/314 April 8, 2013 Paula Rutkowski Armed robbery is considered to be a serious offense in the United States and I would imagine that being robbed at gunpoint or with a big sharp knife would be a terrible experience for anyone to have to endure. In an effort to reduce the amount of armed robberies each year it is important to research different methods that would aid in the reduction of violent crimes that take place each year. As a criminologist advisor to a member of the state legislation, it is important that any recommendation be extremely solid.
In my opinion, an extremely solid recommendation is not based solely on popularity; it is based primarily on statistics. Armed robbery is a violent offense that can have a devastating effect on a person’s life. These crimes are detrimental to the growth of society, which means that society needs to do as much as possible to decrease these acts of violence. It would be nearly impossible to eliminate armed robberies completely but that does not mean that it should not be attempted.
After careful consideration and tedious research it is my recommendation that anyone convicted without reasonable doubt by their peers in a court of law of armed robbery should have to serve double the maximum prison term. This type of deterrence, I believe, will prove to have successful results. According to the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Unified Crime Report, guns were used to commit armed robberies a majority of the time. The Unified Crime Report recorded that guns were used in 42. 6 percent of all reported armed robberies, knives were used 7. 7 percent of the time, dangerous weapons were reportedly used 8. percent of the time, and the remaining 41. 1 percent of robberies were by brute force or strong arm tactics. The Federal Bureau of Investigation defines armed robbery as “taking or attempting to take anything of value from the care, custody, or control of a person or persons by force or threat of force or violence and/or by putting the victim in fear” (FBI, 2010). Deterrence has been around for ages and has proven to be successful, to an extent, in most cases. Deterrence is used to prevent the criminal from performing a criminal act. For example, the driving under the influence DUI) law in Arizona has proven to be a great deterrent. Every person that is arrested in Arizona for driving under the influence must serve mandatory time in jail. If you live in Phoenix, Arizona then you are more than likely going to spend time in what is known as “Tent City”. The Maricopa County Sheriff, Joe Arpio, partially owes his fame to the tents that he ordered constructed in the middle of the scorching hot desert to house his inmates. In the summer, temperatures can reach 120 degrees. This punishment, which is a major deterrent for people that would normally choose to drink and drive, has proven to be successful.
Another deterrent that Sheriff Joe Arpio has implemented would be pink underwear. All inmates must wear pink underwear while they are in his desert facility. Fortunately for those busted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation pink underwear and jail cells out in the scorching hot desert are not anything that they must endure. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) shows in their Unified Crime Report that in 2009 there were 408,217 robberies reported nationwide. This is an 8. 8 percent decrease when compared to convictions one year earlier in 2008 (FBI, 2010).
I believe that this decrease in crime, robberies to be specific, is mainly due to a crackdown nationwide on this type of violent crimes. People are sick of being victimized and or having a loved one be victimized by a person with a deadly weapon. This type of violent act is unacceptable and can have a devastating effect on a person. Imagine having your personal belongings taken from you while staring down the barrel of a gun. It would be a terrible experience that can change a person’s life forever. People often suffer from post-traumatic stress, which has an effect on our great economy.
A person that suffers from this sort of stress is often times missing work, which results in missed wages and lower production. Also, the person that is suffering from post-traumatic stress is often times receiving some sort of treatment, such as personalized therapy, at the tax payers’ expense. I do agree that this therapy is in most cases warranted due to the fact that the victim underwent a life altering experience. However, if something can be done to prevent the crime from happening in the first place, which in return will save the victim, the tax payer, and the economy, then it is important that this law be implemented right away.
Doubling the mandatory sentence for each and every criminal that is convicted of armed robbery will, in my opinion, greatly reduce the amount of armed robberies that take place in this country each year. If the criminal decides that they are still going to commit the robbery but decides to leave the weapon at home due to the consequences they must face if caught then passing the bill that will double the sentence for armed robbery will prove to be a great achievement for our great country. Deterrence will have then proven to be effective in the fight against this type of violent crime.
The “would be” victim does not become a victim, which in return benefits our communities, our states, our great country, and the world. The recommendation to double the sentence imposed for armed robbery will prove to be a great success if you take my advice and pass this bill. Reference Federal Bureau of Investigation. (2009). Robbery. Retrieved April 8, 2013, from http://www2. fbi. gov/ucr/cius2009/offenses/violent_crime/robbery. html Supreme Court of the United States. (2000). Carter v. United States. Retrieved April 8, 2013, from http://www. law. cornell. edu/supct/html/99-5716. ZS. html