Reality and the Existence of God Essay

When Descartes decided to tear down his beliefs and start fresh, he needed a foundation upon which to build his ideology. When judging what reality is, God must be considered. He/she must be taken out of a religious concept and proven to exist, exist in a way in which we cannot be deceived into only thinking is real. The proof of the existence of God in this way forms the backbone of Descartes’ further forays into proving what is reality. God, being the supremely powerful, all-knowing all-seeing force that created the world and everything in it, was central in most 17th century philosophies. When investigating the importance of god in Descartes’ philosophy, one must first understand the science of the times. The basic principle of mechanism is that everything in the universe could eventually be explained in terms of mechanical laws, and with these laws there is no free will. The universe moves like a complex clock, with everything pre-determined and in accordance with the laws of matter. Pierre Simon de Laplace stated â€Å"We may regard the present state of the universe as the effect of the past and the cause of the future. An intellect which at any given moment knew all of the forces that animate nature and the mutual positions of the beings that compose it, if this intellect were vast enough to submit the data to analysis, could condense into a single formula the movement of the greatest bodies of the universe and that of the lightest atom; for such an intellect nothing could be uncertain and the future just like the past would be present before its eyes. † (http://en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Mechanism_%28philosophy%29) Unfortunately for mechanism, the mind is impossible to define in mechanical terms, as it is not a corporeal substance that can be measured. Descartes responds to this problem with dualism, saying that the mind is a â€Å"thinking thing† which is the essence of himself. This â€Å"thing† doubts, believes, hopes and thinks, all the while existing only in a metaphysical sense as a non-extended, thinking thing; while the body is a non-thinking, extended thing. With this he had a clear and distinct idea of both mind and body, and whatever he could conceive, God could create. This led him to believe that the mind could be separate from the body, a substance whose essence was thought. Thus the idea of dualism was founded by the existence of God. As Descartes did not completely agree with mechanism or materialism, he had to essentially obliterate all his beliefs, wipe his proverbial slate clean, and start again. To reevaluate what was real and what was false, Descartes had to doubt everything, including the existence of God, and if he/she exists, whether or not God was a deceiver. Descartes put forward the question of whether or not there are any attributes to the idea of God which couldn’t have originated in himself, God being â€Å"infinite, eternal, unchangeable, independent, supremely intelligent, supremely powerful†¦Ã¢â‚¬  He came to the conclusion that none of these attributes could have come from him alone, as he possesses none of them. In this sense, God must exist. He then postulates the hierarchy argument, where the idea of God could not have been thought of by him, or man in general, as the attributes seen in God belong to some higher form. It does not matter that he cannot â€Å"grasp the infinite†, or touch the attributes of God as he himself is finite; the very nature of something being infinite is that it cannot be grasped by something finite. Thus, since the ideas of God are in some higher form, they must be the truest and most clear and distinct of all Descartes’ ideas. He then decided to ask how he could have received the idea of a perfect being from God, as he has never encountered such from the senses. He comes up with the idea of a craftsman, who, when he invents something, may fiddle and change parts of his creation as he chooses. The idea of God, in Descartes’ mind, could not be changed or interfered with; therefore he could not have created it himself. This leads to the belief in the idea of God being innate in him. He again uses the idea of a craftsman, with the idea of God as a â€Å"mark of the craftsman† stamped on his work, man. Descartes’ then postulated that he could not exist with the innate idea of God in his mind without God existing. This fostered his belief that God could not possibly be a deceiver, since for something to be fraudulent or deceitful it has to have some defect, which in God there is none. This began to form the foundation on which Descartes would continue to prove existence through methodical doubt. After he determined that yes, God exists, Descartes turned his attention to truth and falsity. He has determined that God would never deceive him, as wanting to deceive is a sign of malice or weakness, traits not pertaining to God. If God, then, does not deceive him, errors on his part must be of his own judgment. He uses God as a benchmark, saying he is somewhere between God and nothingness, between supreme being and non-being. In meditation number four, again he uses the craftsman analogy, that the more skilled the craftsman, the more perfect the creation. Since God created Descartes, he must be perfect, which leads him to believe that his making mistakes may be better than not doing so. Human free will is an issue that philosophers of every generation tackle in some form or another, and Descartes was no exception. When dealing with will, he believed that will is simply one’s ability to do or not do something, to accept or reject a proposition. This will is such that when a decision is presented to us, we have no sense that we are pushed one way or another by any external forces. He believed that freedom is strengthened by natural knowledge and divine grace, and that since God gave him the power of willing, it cannot be the cause of his mistakes. Simply, a mistake is made when one’s will extends beyond their intellect, when one applies will to matters they do not understand. This philosophy states that God has given him the freedom to choose his destiny in situations of which he does not have complete understanding, a view quite inconsistent with the beliefs of the time. Descartes could not have been an atheist and have come to the conclusions he did. The science of the time was a rigid belief that everything in the universe was bound by the laws of matter, and that it moved like a complex clock, everything pre-determined from the time it was created. A strong supporter of the idea of dualism, Descartes believed that the mind was not bound by the laws of matter and was intangible, a substance whose essence was thought. Since God created him, whatever he could conceive could also be created by God which is the founding principle of dualism. When he began to tear down his belief system, he needed a foundation on which to build his new knowledge. He proved the existence of God by using the hierarchy theory, that since none of the traits of God could be attributed to himself, they must have come from God. With this knowledge, Descartes tackled truth and falsity, the essence and existence of material things, and the real distinction between mind and body. All of which in some for or another were based on his foundation: that God exists and is not a deceiver. If he could prove the existence of God through methodical doubt, he could prove anything. He made this quite clear near the end of his fifth meditation; â€Å"I see plainly that the certainty and truth of all knowledge depends strictly on my awareness of the true God. So much that until I became aware of him I couldn’t perfectly know anything.

buy custom RFID in Pharmacy essay

buy custom RFID in Pharmacy essay Introduction According to Hunt, Puglia, Puglia (2007), Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) is defined as a technology that makes use of electrostatic or electromagnetic coupling which is found in the radio frequency part of the electromagnetic spectrum, for the purpose of uniquely identifying an animal, person, or object. The use of RFID system has become very common in various industries because it has been found to be more efficient and effective than the barcode technology (Hunt, Puglia, Puglia, 2007). Unlike the barcode technology, RFID does not require close proximity and line of sight to identify RFID tags. The tags can be read even when they are within a carton or any other container, and with this technology numerous objects can be identified simultaneously. RFID is comprised of two main parts: a reader which consists of a transceiver and an antenna, and a tag which is known as a transponder (Hunt, Puglia, Puglia, 2007). By use of radio frequency waves, the antenna transmits a signal to activate the tag which in return transmits data back. The transponder contains the RF circuitry and data to be transmitted, and the transceiver transfers the data to a computer system (Paret, 2005). The transmitted data may provide location or identification information, or the specifics regarding the commodity tagged, like color, date of purchase, and price. Some products like drugs need additional network known as the Electronic Product Code (EPC) network (Maynor, 2006). The EPC identifies objects as unique entities and can enhance tracking of the product throughout its lifecycle (Maynor, 2006). This can always reveal the manufacturer of the tagged objects as well as their nature and condition. Many patients have been dying in hospitals because of medical errors that can be prevented (Brown, 2006). The health professionals need safer systems in hospitals to achieve their goals of treating patients successfully. RFID is very effective and efficient when dealing with health care issues such as accurate identification of patients, identification of specific drugs and apparatus, appropriate action of treatment, avoidance of theft, and avoidance of counterfeit drugs and apparatus (Brown, 2006). This paper is meant to show how radio frequency identification technology can contribute to establishing a smart hospital through reduction of errors, improvement of patient safety, and optimization of business processes (Rosenberg, 2006). RFID Compliant Hospital According to Rosenberg (2006), many actors and assets of the hospital facilities need to be tagged with the RFID tags. So that the RFID technology can be meaningful: the medical apparatus must contain specific RFID tags, and it will be very important if the manufacturers put the standardized tags into the apparatus; the caregivers, nurses, doctors and other members of the medical staff should put on a smart badge which stores their employee identity number; before admission, each patient should be given a wristband that has the RFID tag containing information such as the patients unique code and digital picture; medical histories for all patients and other crucial documents must contain RFID self-adhesive labels with a unique number; all packages for drugs should bear RFID labels and these tags should preferably comply with EPC; and the blood bags should contain RFID self-adhesive labels that hold a unique identifier and specific information regarding the type of blood (Brown, 2006). The application of the RFID technology can maximize the workflows, improve the care for patients, minimize the operating and unnecessary costs, reduce thefts, and avoid the misidentification of patients. Identification of patients According to Burke, Weill (2008), it has become common that many patients remain misidentified during medical treatment at hospitals and other medical institutions. Health professionals are concerned with this issue because identification errors may result in prescription of wrong drugs or wrong dosage which may lead to health complications of the patient or even death. This usually happens when the laboratory results for the first patient, are taken to be the results of the second patient who is suffering from a different disease altogether. Healthcare professionals have found RFID technology as a technique that will be used to reduce the clinical errors and improve productivity and administration (Rosenberg, 2006). All patients are given wristbands that contain RFID chips during the time of admission. The RFID chip contains the patients unique identity number and relevant medical data such as the blood type of the patient, for efficient and effective treatment (Burke, Weill, 2008 ). However, care should be taken to avoid disclosing patients medical records. This is achieved by storing patients medcal data in a more secure database and not in the RFID chip. The database links the relevant medical data to the patients unique identity. Through RFID technology, the patients can receive correct medication and in correct dosages (Brown, 2006). Blood tracking Patients have been transfused with wrong blood type which leads to agglutination of the patients blood in the circulatory system. This is as a result of misidentification of both the blood and the patient to be transfused. Errors in blood transfusion frequently result in death of the patients (Burke, Weill, 2008). Typically, blood transfusion errors occur during bedside check before transfusion. Studies have shown that errors in blood transfusion are common for surgical patients because of distraction and urgency (Rosenberg, 2006). Health professionals perform the bedside check by use of eye readable data which is unmanageable in operating theater. The surgical patients are usually unconscious and they may not be able to state their names. Bedside check during blood transfusion should be addressed by the RFID technology (Brown, 2006). This technology can be used to track the specific bags of blood for each patient to ensure the patients are transfused with the correct blood type. Th e RFID chip at the wristband contains the required information which corresponds with the information in the RFID self-adhesive label on the bag of blood. RFID self-adhesive labels contain unique identification numbers and the information of the blood type contained in the bag (Shepard, 2005). The identification numbers and information must be saved in a more secure database that contains details regarding the origin of blood and the intended patient. The data from the RFID chip on the bag must match with that in the RFID chip on the patients wristband before blood transfusion takes place (Rosenberg, 2006). Operating theatre The most common surgical errors that are reported involve surgery on the wrong site or part of the body, wrong patient, or improper surgical procedure (Rosenberg, 2006). RFID technology will be the best option to ensure that proper operations are done on the right individuals. This can be achieved when the patients are given wristband containing RFID tags on admission. The RFID chips in these tags contain the patients digital picture and relevant personal information (Ahson, 2008). The digital photo enables the concerned health professional to confirm that they are dealing with the right patient, while the electronic record enables them to perform the right procedure of treatment. Health professional are instantly warned by the RFID computer system if there is a mismatch. Therefore, the operating theatre is made more efficient and safer because of the RFID tagging. RFID technology significantly reduces the costs and mistakes that occur during surgery. Anti-Counterfeiting of Drugs A very serious issue that pharmaceutical companies and health care institutions are experiencing is the drug counterfeiting. The counterfeit drugs are dangerous to patients because they may contain harmful substances. It has been found that the pharmaceutical companies are losing millions of money to the counterfeiting companies every year (Burke, Weill, 2008). Manufacture of counterfeit drugs and medical facilities can be avoided by use of RFID technology in the pharmaceutical companies and medical institutions (Reyes, 2011). The drug manufacturers should pack the prescription drugs together with specific RFID tags before the drugs are ferried to hospitals and other medical institutions. In some cases, bottle, pallets and cases are manufactured with RFID tags which bear a unique number that is used to record the information regarding all transactions the product is involved in (Ahson, 2008). This gives an electronic lineage through the entire supply chain of the drug from the drug manufacturer to hospitals and other health care institutions (Reyes, 2011). According to Reyes (2011), most manufacturers, drug stores, wholesalers, hospitals, and small retailers have acquired the RFID system and they can be able to verify the authenticity of their products by checking the database of the manufacture through the web. According to Maynor (2006), it will be crucial for the packaging of some products such as drugs be associated with additional networks like the Electronic Product Code (EPC) network in hospitals. The EPC compliant hospitals can be able to identify original drugs as unique entities and can easily track the product throughout its lifecycle to ensure that it is the right drug (Maynor, 2006). This can always reveal the manufacturer of the tagged objects as well as their nature and condition. These measures ensure that patients are given appropriate medication for good results. Tracking Staff, Patients, Medical Equiipment and Medical Documents The RFID technology has been found very effective for the fast and automated tracking of animals, people and assets (Shepard, 2005). This quality makes hospitals and other health care institutions to use the technology for efficient and effective tracking. The RFID compliant hospital is equipped with transceivers and antennas at strategic points such as entrances of recovery rooms, operating theatres, exists of important corridors, medical libraries, and main doors (Rosenberg, 2006). Due to the fact that important medical documents and histories are RFID tagged, the asset tracking application such as the RFID Locator makes it possible to locate the documents. This will significantly reduce the loss of medical documents both for patients and for the medical institutions asset records. Therefore, this technology will avoid unnecessary costs as well disclosure of patients medical information (Rosenberg, 2006). Assets tracking application makes it very efficient to trace and locate patients as well as staff members within the premises of large hospital. This can improve the workflow of nurses, doctors and other hospital staff (Rosenberg, 2006). They can also be located in real time and this is very important in hospitals with huge buildings. The RFID technology introduces an accurate and efficient inventory system because the tagged medical equipment can be traced and located easily. According to Want (2006), many corporate have used the RFID technology for updating their inventories. The RFID technology has been found to reduce assets loss which is considered the most often positive consequence. Finally, the tracking is very significant in averting vices such as theft. Avoid Theft of Equipment Expensive and sophisticated equipment are purchased for use in hospitals and this calls for maximum security. Lots of medical equipment is stolen or misplaced within hospitals every year because most hospitals lack efficient locating and tracking techniques like the use of RFID tags and transceivers (Rosenberg, 2006). Before the stolen equipments are declared as stolen, employees will be required to search for the equipments everywhere within the premises and in the neighboring environment which wastes many hours. Some employees may also be required to re-order for the missing equipment and therefore they will be diverted from management tasks or patient care for some hours. Therefore, the misplaced or stolen equipment may waste many other resources such as time, apart from money. The use of RFID technology will be the most effective way to avoid this issue of stealing or misplacing the medical equipment in hospitals and other medical institutions (Rosenberg, 2006). When the medical equipment contains the RFID tags, they can be tracked and traced easily which can save time and money for additional investment (Want, 2006). This can significantly reduce the risks of thefts because the technical staff will be aware of every apparatus exact location within the hospital premises. RFID tagging can be useful in identifying the stolen equipment and materials just like it can be used to detect the counterfeit equipment as well as drugs. If RFID tags are put at various points within the hospital premises like the main gate, they can help alerting the security personnel that medical materials and equipment stolen from the premises (Want, 2006). Earlier actions will then be taken to retain the medical equipment and avoid incurring unnecessary costs in re-ordering them. It has been found that the equipment and materials with more RFID tags will be detected easily therefore minimizing the chances of being stolen. Numerous RFID tags ensure that the thief canno t remove all the tags. It is also very important for the equipment to be manufactured with inbuilt RFID chips so that the thieves cannot be able to remove them (Yang, Rida, Tentzeris, 2009). Conclusion It is very critical to successfully manage large medical institutions like hospitals without employing advent technologies such as the Internet and RFID systems. These technologies can help reduce or avoid various problems that occur more often in hospitals other medical institutions. Some of these issues include accurate identification of patients, identification of specific drugs and apparatus, appropriate action of treatment, avoidance of theft in hospitals, and avoidance of counterfeit drugs and apparatus. RFID technology has been found very effective when dealing with these issues. Lives of many individuals have been saved because of better identification techniques, availability of enough medical facilities which are not stolen, doctors can be traced in real-time, and because the counterfeit drugs have been avoided due to RFID tagging. Therefore, RFID technology is a necessity for improved health services to patients. Buy custom RFID in Pharmacy essay

The Experience of the Black and Minority ethnic group (BME) community in accessing mental health services The WritePass Journal

The Experience of the Black and Minority ethnic group (BME) community in accessing mental health services Literature Review The Experience of the Black and Minority ethnic group (BME) community in accessing mental health services from:   www.audit-commission.gov.uk/reports/NATIONAL-REPORT.asp?CategoryID=ProdID=EA59CF1B-0157-4cdb-BCA5-D9579C4DBFE5 Belliapa, J. (1991). Illness or Distress? Alternative Models of Mental Health, London: Confederation of Indian Organisations. Black and Minority Ethnic (BME) Positive Practice Guide (2009), Improving Access to Psychological Therapies, January (2009). Bowes, A., Dar, N., and Srivastava, A. (2000). Family Support and Community Care: A Study of South Asian Older People. Scottish Executive: Central Research Unit, Edinburgh. Bowl, R. (2007). Responding to ethnic diversity: black service users’ views of mental health services in the UK. Diversity in Health and Social Care, 4(3), 201-210. Bradby, H. (2010). Institutional Racism in Mental Health Services: The consequences of compromised conceptualization. Sociological Research Online, 15, 8. Burke, A. W. (1984).  Racism and psychological disturbance among west Indians in Britain.  International Journal of Social Psychiatry,  30,  50  -68. Caught between Stigma (2005). Black and minority ethnic communities and mental well-being in Kensington Chelsea and Westminster. Recommendations for improved service delivery and partnership with local communities. A report by the BME Health Forum and the Migrant Refugee Communities’ Forum, January 2005. Chakraborty, A., McKenzie, K. and King, M. (2002). Discrimination, ethnicity and psychosis – qualitative study. Culture, Medicine and Psychiatry. Chamba, R., Ahmad, W. Jones, L. (1998). Improving Services for Asian Deaf Children, Bristol: Policy Press. Chandler-Oatts, J., and Nelstrop, L. (2008). Listening to the voices of African-Caribbean mental health service users to develop guideline recommendations on managing violent behaviour. Diversity in Health and asocial Care, 5(1), 31-41. Commission for Healthcare Audit and Inspection, 2005, Count me in, Results of a national census of inpatients in mental health hospitals and facilities in England and Wales, November 05. Corrigan, P. (2004). How stigma interferes with mental health care. Am Psychol, 59, 614-625. Department of Health (2005). Delivering Race Equality in Mental Health Care: An Action Plan for Reform Inside and Outside Services and The Government’s Response to the Independent Inquiry in to the Death of David Bennett. London: DH. Desai, S. (2006). Accounting for difference: analysis of nine murder inquiry reports involving black people with mental health problems, Diversity in Health and Social Care, 3(3), 203-210. Edge, D. (2011). ‘It’s leaflet, leaflet, leaflet then, ‘see you later’: black Caribbean women’s perceptions of perinatal mental health care’. British Journal of General Practice, 61(585), 256-262. Fearon et al. (2006) Incidence of Schizophrenia and other Psychoses in Ethnic Minority Groups: Results from the MRC AESOP Study. Psychological Medicine, 36(11), 1541-1550. Fernando, S. (1984). Racism as a cause of depression. International Journal of Social Psychiatry,  30,  41  -49. Harrison, G. (2002). ‘Ethnic minorities and the Mental Health Act’, British Journal of Psychiatry, 180, 198-199. Hastings, R., Sjà ¶strà ¶m, K. Stevenage, S. (1998). Swedish and English adolescents’ attitudes toward the community presence of people with LD. Journal of Intellectual Disability Research, 42, 314. Hatton, C., Azmi, S., Emerson E. And Caine, A. (1997). Researching the needs of South Asian people with learning difficulties and their families, Mental Health Care, 1, 91-94. Jervis, M. (1987). Across the cultural divide. Mental Handicap Bulletin 65, 10. Kirkbride, J. B., et al. (2008). Psychoses, ethnicity and socio-economic status. British Journal of Psychiatry, 19(1), 18-24. Link, B. G., Phelan, J.C. Bresnahan, M. (1999). Public conceptions of mental illness: labels, causes, dangerousness, and social distance. American Journal of Public Health, 89, 1328-1333. MacPherson, W. (1999) The Stephen Lawrence Inquiry: report of an inquiry by Sir William Macpherson of Cluny. London. Home Office, 4262-I. Obtained 26 July 2012 from: archive.official-documents.co.uk/document/cm42/4262/4262.htm McKenzie, K. and Bhui, K. (2007). Institutional Racism in Psychiatry. Psychiatric Bulletin, 31, 397. McLeod, M., Owen, and Khamis, C. (2001). Black and minority ethnic voluntary and community organizations: their role and future development in England and Wales, Policy Studies Institute, London. McGrother, C. W., Bhaumik, S., Thorp., C. F., Watson, J. M. Taub, N. A. (2002). Prevalence, morbidity and service need among South Asian and White adults with intellectual disability in Leicestershire, UK. Journal of Intellectual Disability Research, 46, 299-309. Mhemooda, M. (2011) Enjoy, achieve and be healthy : the mental health of black and minority ethnic children and young people. Africa Trust, London. Modood, T., Berthoud, R., Lakey, J., et al (1997). Ethnic Minorities in Britain: Diversity and Disadvantage. London: Policy Studies Institute. Nazroo, J. (1997)  Ethnicity and Mental Health. London: Policy Studies Institute. Netto, G. (2006). Creating a suitable space: a qualitative study of the cultural sensitivity of counselling provision in the voluntary sector in the UK. Journal of Mental Health, 15(5), 593-604. Neeleman, J., Mak, V. Wessely, S. (1997)  Suicide by age, ethnic group, coroners verdict and country of birth. A three-year survey in inner London.  British Journal of Psychiatry,  171,  463  -467. Norfolk, Suffolk and Cambridgeshire Strategic Health Authority (2003). Independent Inquiry into the death of David Bennett. Cambridge: Norfolk, Suffolk and Cambridgeshire SHA. O’Hara, J. (2003). Learning disabilities and ethnicity: achieving cultural competence. Advances in Psychiatric Treatment, 9, 166-176. Oommen, G, et al. (2009). Ageing, ethnicity and psychiatric services. Psychiatric Bulletin, 33(1), 30-34. Patel, K., and Heginbotham, C. (2007). Institutional racism in mental health does not imply racism in individual psychiatrist. Psychiatric Bulletin, 31, 367-368. Real Voices (2003) Survey findings from a series of community consultation events involving Black and Minority Ethnic groups in England, Department of Health. Retrieved July 27, 2012 from: lincoln.ac.uk/ccawi/esc/esc_web/assets/pdfs/mod5-realVoices.pdf Rethink (2007) Our voice: the Pakistani community’s view of mental health and mental health services in Birmingham: report from the Aap Ki Awaaz project, Care Services Improvement Partnership. Rimmerman, A. (1998). Factors relating to attitudes of Israeli corporate executives toward the employability of persons with intellectual disability. Journal of Intellectual and Developmental, 23, 245-254. Sasidharan, S.P. (2003)  Inside Outside: Improving mental health services for black and minority ethnic communities in England.  London: Department of Health. Singh, S. P. (2007). Institutional racism in psychiatry: lessons from inquiries. Psychiatric Bulletin, 31. Soteri, A. (2002). Funding in London Women’s Organisations: A First Report. Centre for Institutional Studies, University of East London, Working Paper. Yee, L., and Mussenden, B. (2000). Best Value for Black Communities. Race on the Agenda, London.

Individual theories of delinquency Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Individual theories of delinquency - Essay Example The choice theories have their basis on criminology classical school. The main emphasize here is on one’s potential to come up with certain choices. According to these theories, delinquency and various antisocial behaviour results from different traits and processes that are biological such as the dysfunction of the brain and several others. The psychological theories just like the choice theories mainly traces the delinquency causes on different factors in an individual. However, the key focus is mainly on the individual’s intelligence, temperament and juvenile personality. According to Siegel and Welsh (2010), the first explanation of crime was that individuals make various choices with regard to their behaviour. The assumption was that every individual has the free will in choosing behaviour and that those who opt to violate the law were driven mainly by their own greed, survival, vengeance or even morals. Cesare Beccaria and Jeremy Bentham who were utilitarian philosophers argued that in most cases individuals consider their action’s consequences before making any move on behaviour course. The scholars’writings formed the ancient classical criminology basis. Currently it is known as the rational choice theory. Choice theory assumption is that individual’s behaviour is a consequence that is directly linked to one’s conscious decisions either to be involved or not in a specific behaviour. According to the criminology classical school, the juveniles are people who are rational and intelligent with great potential to come up with different choices. Hence, this theory insists that before any action, young individuals calculate their behaviours costs and benefits. This theory further adds that crime is the outcome of supposing that greater gains will result from disobeying the law rather than following it. In most

Jefferson State Community College Birmingham, AL Campus Police Research Paper

Jefferson State Community College Birmingham, AL Campus Police - Research Paper Example This essay will review the campus police department at the Jefferson State Community College Birmingham, addressing several factors about the police department. These factors include issues such as the jurisdiction that the department covers, the primary crime problems and measures taken to prevent them, the campus crime trends over the past five years, how the department interacts with other law enforcement agencies, qualifications of officers in the department, training and certification of the officers and campus statistics among other issues. Introduction Campus or university police in the US and other countries are sworn law enforcement agents deployed to colleges and universities with a view to provide protection in the campus and its environs, and persons who visit, work or live in it. In Jefferson State Community College, the Jefferson State Police Department is tasked with upholding law and order in the community. These officers are sworn personnel who work in collaboration with campus security officers to contain and prevent crimes and civil unrest problems such as riots and other unruly behavior by students in and around the campus premises. While campus police sometimes employ and train students to serve as escorts to other students, campus police in Jefferson State Community College have the ultimate task of ensuring overall security throughout the entire campus. Jefferson State Community College campus police have immeasurable merit in the performance of their duties within the diverse college community. Discussion Jurisdiction Covered by the Campus Police Department The Jefferson State Community College campus police has jurisdiction over all accidents that take place on campus grounds. The campus police are tasked with completing all the necessary accident reports necessitated by state and federal law. In addition, the campus police assist students who encounter vehicular problems while on campus grounds. In addition, the campus police departmen t entails the protection of life and property within the campus. This encompasses students and college faculty and the college’s property, as well as individuals’ property (JSCC, 2011). It is also within the campus police jurisdiction to keep up a successful and efficient parking system within the campus and maintain a viable traffic system that allows for easy movement in and around the college premises. The police also provide driving directions for those who work, visit, or live on the college premises. It is also the campus police department’s work to report serious crimes to law enforcement agencies and assist the latter in conducting investigations. Moreover, the campus police officers, who have fully-fledged arresting powers, ensure law and order by arresting disorderly and unruly members of the college community and presenting them to the school’s disciplinary committee. The Jefferson State Community College campus police are also mandated with th e response, investigation, as well as prosecution of criminal indignations that take place on campus grounds. Crime Problems and Preventative Measures The predominant crime problems within the campus are burglary, road accidents, possession and distribution of drugs, disorderly conduct and possession of firearms. In order to prevent the incident of in-campus road accidents, the campus requires that all students

Linking pay to employee performance ( related pay performance ) Assignment

Linking pay to employee performance ( related pay performance ) - Assignment Example For the government, pay levels have an impact on macro-economic factors, such as employment, inflation, purchasing power and socio-economic development.   Even though basic pay makes up a significant portion of the total compensation, the employer is also affected by the benefits offered to the employees, such as fringe benefits, cash and non- cash benefits. In the majority of developed countries and countries with high personal tax rates, the benefits component of executive compensation has been consistently increasing over the past few years (Silva, 1998).   Performance related pay (PRP) â€Å"links reward or salary progression to some form of performance rating. This could be part of a performance management or appraisal system, or it could be based on a separate appraisal of performance exclusively for pay purposes.† (Armstrong, 2001). PRP has assumed growing significance in the present times with more and more organisations adopting measures to motivate their workforce. The objective is to drive performance levels by linking employee rewards with organisational goals and objectives (CIPD, 2011).   Pay can have one or more objectives that can be categorised under four heads. The first objective is equity. This can be achieved through various means, such as adjusting income distribution in such a way to reduce the disparity in income levels; bringing the pay levels of the lowest paid employees on par with the rest of the organisation; safeguarding real wages, and ensuring uniform pay for work of equal value. Even differences in pay is made on the basis of skills or performance levels, it is connected to equity (Silva, 1998). The second objective of efficiency has a relationship with the first objective of equity. Efficiency objective comes into play when a part of the pay is linked to employee performance and contribution to the organisation. Macro-economic stability is the third

Does fair play have an important role in competitive sport Essay Example for Free

Does fair play have an important role in competitive sport Essay From the time of gods and goddesses, they have been competing in friendly sports and throughout time, it evolved into sports and even Olympics. From the time that sports were invented, the concept of fair play or sportsmanship was not yet apparent. But when sports were finally considered of great importance, the concept of fair play became universally understood. Basically, fair play is sportsmanship. For some, both players and audiences alike, consider it as the â€Å"golden rule† in sports. In fair play, you treat your team mates and opponents as someone you would like to be treated as. You show respect for yourself, your team mates, and your rivals. You should also demonstrate respect for both coaches of the opposing teams and other important figures in the field like the umpires, judges and other officials. (Sanders, 2005) But in modern times, it does not only apply to the players; consequently, it now also applied to the people watching the game. It now developed into an attitude that may influence the players, audiences and the game. (Sanders, 2005) In every sport, there is always a loser and a winner. But, the greatness of the game relies on how the players played the sport. And consequently, their sportsmanship should also be apparent in their game. It is undeniable that winning feels great but being a sport has a great role in a winner’s game. It can make or break a game. Today, when sports become an alley for talented players to become superstars, the spirit of sports become plagued. In retrospect, we have to keep in mind that being a sport has its advantages—and winning the game is one of it. While playing, playing fair not only helps to win a game but it also builds character. With the help of the coach, the athletes can reach their highest potential and so, they become better players and human beings. (Fakehany) Since sportsmanship is an attitude, it also teaches valuable lessons and builds character to a person. It has become a way of life both in and out of the field. And these very same attitudes help a person to be ready not just in the court but also outside (i. e. corporate life). How we play a game makes us introspective in a sense that it assists us to re-evaluate ourselves and reflect on our behaviors. www. yogiberramuseum. org, 2005) Sportsmanship is also vital so as not have massive brawls and misunderstanding in a competition. Fair play creates a friendly atmosphere wherein athletes can really enjoy the game from the beginning until the end. Unconsciously, it creates the mood of the entire game and it lessens the tendency of the players to have arguments. It makes both the opposing teams feel as if that they are not competing at all but more of a friendly competition. Peak) Research analysts have also done studies wherein it supports that indeed, fair play is a factor to win or how the team approaches the game. Apologists of sports say reiterate that fair play is a great way to avoid addiction and violence. For them, it is a mere socialization of the players with one another. And thus, it implies that because of fair play, players have more blissful and energetic strategy as compared with players who does not have a sense of sportsmanship. (GA. , 2005) Earlier, we have said that winning is a big part of a game. But definitely, there are always two sides in a story. Generally, competitors view winning as unimportant but the more aggressive view is that, it is the only thing. And, the main reason why we compete in a sport is to ultimately win the game. We usually strive to win. This very same reason makes us ponder why fair play plays an important role in a competitive sport. Firstly, when we want to compete, we assume that our competitor will also give his/her one hundred percent and they will also strive to win. And to eventually win the game, both of you will give your best. When we give your best, alongside with it comes all your athletic ability and might hoping that in the end, you will be successful. This is the mere essence of competition and sports—to win—but more importantly, to play the game fair. (Feigley, 2007) This philosophy is vice versa—for the player to win, he must give his best so that his best will let him win. Additionally, when both players give their best efforts, there will always be another chance where the two of you will meet again. This will be an advantage on both parts because through this, you now both know the strengths and weaknesses of each other. And because of this, both of the players can now plan their strategies so that they can beat the opponent next time they meet. And in so doing, they can also improve their skills and sports. In conjunction with such, the player must play fair so that both can give their best efforts that will eventually give them a sense of satisfaction. Also, as mentioned above, playing fair is also a form of socialization. When we enter into a competition, we should also bear in mind that after every after game, there will always be another chance wherein the two of you will meet again. It will also be an advantage to know your opponent not just on the court but more so, personally. You cannot just discuss your strategies but also, you can also create camaraderie, connections and friendships. This is an advantage for both players because you not only gave the audience what they are craving for; but also, it also shows that you can be defeated gracefully, which is commendable in the audiences point of view. Being a sport also gives the player a sense of â€Å"self-improvement†. Further elaborated, when the player becomes the loser, this gives him a lesson that he should constantly improve his sport or craft so that next time, he will win. Now, in view point of the winner, this does not mean that he should always be confident in his abilities. He should also be constantly honing his talent because there will always be someone out there that is better than him that might outshine him one day. Fair play serves as a constant reminder for both the player to always sharpen their respective craft to improve themselves and consequently, achieve their primary goal—which is, to win. Now, like mentioned from above, fair play does not only apply to the player. It should also apply to the other people that are prominent in a game like the coaches and other officials. There is no denying that coaches are a huge factor to develop a character and sense of sportsmanship of a player. They serve as the primary teacher which teaches us to be not just great players but also, as the ones that we take our basic course in sports. Now, since they are considered as the first teachers, it is inevitable that they should also serve as role models for players. Players should not be treated as the only stars in the game. The coaches and officials should also be a sport. This does not only break the rule of being a â€Å"teacher’ but also, it conforms to the notion of fair play. Coaches should also be able to accept winning and defeat gracefully. This does not only generate respect from the audience but more importantly, they also earn the respect of their fellow coaches and officials. And when they have already earned that respect, they should also learn to repay it to their players. With every lesson or new technique or strategy that they teach their players, it should also be accompanied with the constant lesson that the players should also learn how to be humble, or, in other words, be a sport. The whole concept of fair play will not be complete without being empathetic with the audiences. We have seen in televisions how the audiences react whenever their favorite soccer team makes a goal. The audiences should also have a proper etiquette whenever they watch their favorite team play. More often than not, audiences get too excited for their teams and eventually, it causes chaos in more ways than one. The audience should also have a concept of fair play so that there will be no casualties (both physical and egoistical) in the end. Just like their idols, they should also learn to accept defeat gracefully and understandingly. The concept of fair play or sportsmanship has been a â€Å"golden rule† in the world of sports ever since time in memoriam. Basically, it only states that players should show respect and should be fair in following the rules of the game. Not only should it apply for the players but also, for the coaches, officials and the audiences as well. Practicing fair play plays a great role in winning a game because it becomes a part of the whole game itself. Being fair implies a big responsibility not just for the players but also for the coaches, officials and the audiences as well. In playing fair, the player can re-evaluate his abilities and the strategies that he is employing if ever he losses a game. But this does not mean that the winner should now be always confident; he should rather practice more so as to hone his skills and so that, he can maintain his winning streak. Also, being fair builds camaraderie amongst players. For some, it is a form of socialization. Not only does it create friendships but also, it can also be a foundation of connections and a little bit of fame. Still, in a player’s point of point of view, it builds character. Generally, in sports, the coaches are considered as the first teachers of the athletes. They are the ones that should be responsible for how players behave and carry out the game. More importantly, they are the ones that sportsmanship should be highly visible because after all, they are the ones that created great, responsible and humble players. They should also know how to accept defeat gracefully because after all, in every game, there is always a winner and a loser. This should also be true for the officials because it is in their hands that the whole flow of the game lies. Also, they are considered as the â€Å"big boss† in a game and consequently, they can serve as a door for opportunities and a great entertainment for the audience. Lastly, to make this whole philosophy be holistic, it should also apply with the audiences. Around the world, there have been hundred reports that a simple game between two rival soccer teams causes many casualties and even suspensions for both teams. Audiences should know how to act properly in a game and should not be over excited regarding their respective teams. They should practice the concept of sportsmanship so that everything will be fair. In conclusion, the concept of sportsmanship has long been around and it is practiced since time in memoriam. It is an unwritten wherein it can save or break a game (or in some cases, even players and managers). Since it is a rule, it should be respected; but there are also situations where it has been violated and the violators have paid their price. To break it down, it is just a simple rule but pertains a heavy load of responsibility and consequences. And these consequences are downright heavy so it is will be much better for the players to just practice this philosophy so as not to get their selves into a big trouble and maybe one day, save their lives.