My Life In Pictures & Words

Random thoughts and images related to my life at the moment

[mrs-serrano]

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I'm raising $5,000 until 08/31/2023 for Help For Jared. Can you help? https://www.paypal.com/pools/c/8Wq5p4u89O

Help For Jared

Jared was born with a rare congenital defect called scimitar syndrome and has had medical problems his whole life. Growing up with one lung,

[mrs-serrano]

Hey

In case anyone is wondering, I'm putting my college research papers online here so I can find them easier and be more organized. If you would like to read and leave a critique I'd appreciate it.

***These have all been turned in and been graded (98% to 100%) on each. Please don't copy. You can cite if you would like to use but don't plagiarize. Thank you ***

[mrs-serrano]

Investigating Street Gangs

By Angela L. Serrano

The gang problems that are found in major urban cities, are found in rural areas as well. There is not any city or town immune to the gangs and the mayhem they can bring. “federal law defines the term “gang” as “an ongoing group, club, organization, or association of five or more persons: (A) that has as one of its primary purposes the commission of one or more of the criminal offenses described in subsection (c); (B) the members of which engage, or have engaged within the past five years, in a continuing series of offenses described in subsection (c); and (C) the activities of which affect interstate or foreign commerce.” (FBI, 2009)

Commonly, a gang, or street gang is well-known in the city or areas it represents. Either because of the way they present themselves out in public, or because everyone usually has family, friends or acquaintances that are affiliated with some form of gang activity. Especially the smaller town or city. The members of the gang can also be recognized by these traits:

• “The group has three or more members, aged 12–24.

• Members share an identity, typically linked to a name, and often other symbols.

• Members view themselves as a gang, and they are recognized by others as a gang.

• The group has some permanence and a degree of organization.

• The group is involved in an elevated level of criminal activity.” (Department of Justice, 2012)

Gangs have been a growing problem for the last 25 to 30 years, especially in more populated urban areas. Lately the crimes they are committing are getting mainstream attention and more media coverage for the crimes they are involved in. “Recent examples include white-collar crimes, human trafficking, prostitution rings, infiltration of governmental and criminal justice agencies, usage of social networking sites and other Internet sites to coordinate criminal activity, and affiliation with domestic extremist groups.” (Department of Justice, 2012)

Recent studies have suggested that gang activity occurs in a cycle. There may be times of low activity and a sense of calm in the streets and neighborhoods. This, unfortunately, bever lasts for extended periods of time. The uptick in violent crimes, such as stabbings, shootings and even assault charges, seem to coincide with movement from rival gangs stepping into the current gang's territory.

The local county and statewide response to gang activity follow a generalized way of action and can include these top five strategies:

1. “Neighborhood mobilization (Ojj Dp B & Ov, 2004)

2. Social intervention, youth outreach programs (Ojj Dp B & Ov, 2004)

3. Provisions for social and economic opportunities, such as at-risk schools, and job training (Ojj Dp B & Ov, 2004)

4. Gang suppression and incarceration (Ojj Dp B & Ov, 2004)

5. Development of organized tasks forces in every police department.” (Ojj Dp B & Ov, 2004)

Neighborhood mobilization is a broad term for community outreach. We need people in the community to care about these young people and try to help them, before they run out of money to join a gang. Setting up afterschool sports, clubs, or homework help through the local community centers or even the actual school site.” Follow the school district rules for how to get involved and get involved. Some police departments have developed community-oriented strategies, with considerable attention to community collaboration, social intervention, and even opportunity enhancement. Some police officers assigned to the gang problem have directly provided counseling, job development and referral, and tutoring, and have engaged in extensive community relations and development activities” (Ojj Dp B & Ov, 2004)

Social intervention and youth outreach programs need willing volunteers, organizers and people who really care about these kids and want to invest in the future of these children and invest in their communities.

Provisions for social and economic development come in step with the community coming together to save the children. Small businesses owners take a chance and hire that teenager to help take out the trash or stock shelves. Giving someone a chance to earn a living or know what being a productive member of society feels like can make a difference.

Once these kids are involved with the gangs, it does not mean it is time to stop trying to reach out. They can be saved from living a gang lifestyle. Using tactics like more diversion programs, community service, “some judges try to use the court as a basis for a community-oriented approach in which a variety of community, school, family, and justice system organizations concentrate efforts to address the special needs of the youth gang member” (Ojj Dp B & Ov, 2004)

The development of gang units, and tasks forces, can be beneficial on both sides, first it allows the officers a chance to familiarize themselves with the members and dynamics of each gang in their authority and it allows the gang members a chance to see if the officer is legit in what he says about wanting to help.

I believe the way to combat gang activity is to prevent it from the start. Stop it before it happens by stopping that kid from becoming a gang member. Finding the necessary funds needed to start outreach programs is only one of the challenges but finding the people in the community who care enough to want to help the kids.

Resources:

Department of Justice. (2012). Frequently Asked Questions About Gangs. National Gang Center; Department of Justice. https://nationalgangcenter.ojp.gov/about/faq#faq-1-what-is-a-gang

FBI. (2009). A Brief Review of Federal and State Definitions. FBI. www.fbi.org/gangs

Ojj Dp B, I., & Ov, J. (2004). S BJA N. https://www.ojp.gov/pdffiles/gangprob.pdf

[mrs-serrano]

Police and the Use of Force

By Angela Serrano

The country’s law enforcement officers have found themselves under scrutiny as of late, due to the high-profile excessive use of force cases that have been highly publicized. The media has shown the worst of the worst-case scenarios, when it is far from that with most law enforcement officers.

Most law enforcement officials in the country that overlook police officers, want their officers to be prepared for anything, not to panic and to be in control. That comes with training and good leadership. Training from day one should be on a consistent schedule, meaning there should always be training available to every officer, regardless of their label. Whether patrol, Sergeant or captain, everyone should have training consistently.

There is a Use-of-force continuum that many law enforcement officers must follow. This continuum gives the standard for use of force, when to use any, and how much to use. They use policies that describe the use of force and when to escalate it for higher use of force scenarios. These policies show an increase in levels and what is appropriate use of force for scenarios of incidents.

An example of what the levels of force and the reason to use each level is as follows:

• The arrival of an officer; compliance with commands of an officer

o Just the arrival of a police officer gets everyone involved to stop and show respect for the law enforcement officer and is enough to diffuse any situation that may have been starting.

o The police officer is pleasant and nonthreatening, with no commanding statements used.

• Commands / Uses words to command the scene- use of force nonphysical

o Police officers state commands with calm voice, using nonthreatening language. “Such as Let me see your identification and registration." (National Institute of Justice, 2009)

o Police officer may find himself having to repeat commands and with that the increase in volume and less friendly approach is made. Only to gain compliance and to have control of the scene.

• “Empty-Hand Control “— Police officers uses their own body force to gain control quickly of the situation and suspect.

o “Soft technique.” (National Institute of Justice, 2009) Police officer may use holds, grabs, take downs, to secure the individual and to restrain him from hurting himself or others.

o “Hard technique.” (National Institute of Justice, 2009) Police officer may use physical force such as punches or kicks to restrain the individuals

• “Less-Lethal Methods “(National Institute of Justice, 2009) —Police officers use nonlethal techniques to gain control of situation and suspect.

o “Blunt impact” (National Institute of Justice, 2009). Police officers may feel the need to use a baton or nightstick, may also use a projectile, like a rubber bullet on a combative person. (National Institute of Justice, 2009)

o “Chemical.” Police officers may find they need the use of a chemical agent to help subdue a suspect, and will use the appropriate item, such as pepper spray, pepper bullets or other nonlethal manner of control. (National Institute of Justice, 2009)

o “Conducted Energy Devices (CEDs).” (National Institute of Justice, 2009) Police Officers may find they have the need of something more powerful to control the combative suspect and may use “CEDs” to get the suspect under control. They discharge elevated levels of electricity (Taser) (National Institute of Justice, 2009)

• The use of Lethal Force: Police officers find they need to pull their lethal weapon to gain control of the situation when the suspect is an immediate threat to a person or officer.

o Only use deadly force weapons such as their service weapon when it is needed to protect someone or themselves. (National Institute of Justice, 2009)

o

The Use of Force in a police department needs to have clear cut lines when to draw their weapons and when it is okay to use them. It cannot be when drawing their weapons is their first instinct when the suspect is not threatening them or anyone for that matter. There needs to be better techniques to deescalate situations down and not causing more stress by automatically pulling their side arm. (Oliver, 2022)

With these 5 levels of use of force, we should be able to create a standard practice, where people do not have to be afraid of being pulled over for fear of losing their life. We need to show the community that the police are not the bad guys, that does not mean there are no bad guys in the police. Sometimes they slip through, but transparency as to what happens to those problems is needed to continue the trust the community has with the police.

References:

National Institute of Justice. (2009, August 3). The Use-of-Force Continuum. National Institute of Justice. https://nij.ojp.gov/topics/articles/use-force-continuum

Oliver, A. (2022). Use of Force Police Training Simulator. Apexofficer.com. https://www.apexofficer.com/resources/use-of-force

[mrs-serrano]

Positivism and Labeling Theory

By Angela L. Serrano

The criminal justice system of the United States is built on laws and society conforming to these laws. For adults, there are many theories that can easily answer criminologists' questions of why people commit crimes. In the juvenile justice system, it becomes more complicated for a few reasons. The first being the juvenile is under the control of parental figures, the education institutions, and their peers. The second is their brain anatomy is different from an adult. Figuring out the reason for juvenile crime is therefore made more difficult. Looking at the possible theories and considering the two main factors stated earlier, the theories that stand out as the most able to answer questions about the juvenile offender is the positivism theory and labeling theory.

Positivism theory is the criminology theory that can explain delinquency in juveniles because it can be described as linking crime to outside and internal influences, such as psychological factors, that fall upon the juvenile and is the reason, they can commit crimes, and the outside influences that can push a juvenile to commit crimes. This can bridge criminal behavior with both the psychological and sociological influences on the offender.

For example, positivism theory can link the crime the juvenile committed to the neglect and lack of parental care and guidance instead of the predetermined decision of the juvenile. (The Chicago School, 2021) Another example of positivism theory is when a juvenile commits crime because the friends he surrounds himself commits crimes and he finds these friends to have more influence over him at that time.

The differences in positivism theory can be explained in two separate types, individual and sociological. These two types can explain how other forces directly influenced the juvenile and influenced negatively and made committing crimes acceptable.

Individual positivism can connect criminal actions with psychological factors in the juvenile. There are criminologists who can link psychiatric or personality issues that can be found in the juvenile are the cause of criminal behavior. As a result, psychological therapy and treatment could be used to help rehabilitate and mitigate criminal behavior tendencies. (The Chicago School, 2021)

Sociological positivism focuses on social factors found in the juvenile's life “can lead to a higher propensity for crime.” (The Chicago School, 2021) Such sociological factors can be family, poverty, peer pressure and the type of home life they are exposed to. This type of positivism is found to be “mitigated” through a change in their social environment.

Labeling theory is when a group or person is labeled and stigmatized as being a certain way, causing them to act that way because it changes the way they see themselves. It can be called a self-fulfilling prophecy. When a label of deviance or criminal is put upon a juvenile, especially a juvenile that is already suffering from other issues, the label can overtake their whole idea of themselves. It can be all they see, and of course what they start to believe. It is what society does to people differently than them and what is considered normal. That automatically means anyone that is a minority, in poverty, looks different and speaks differently, all receive labels from the societal norm. “Those with criminal labels are distrusted and distained widely, and individuals may believe that criminals are completely unable to behave morally.” (Simply Psychology, 2022)

An example of labeling theory is when a juvenile is seen with unkempt clothes and looks dirty, if they are seen around a store, the owner will watch him more closely when he walks the aisles, making sure he does not steal anything. Because of his appearance, the owner automatically labels him a thief. This in turn changes the juvenile’s way of thinking about himself and changes the way he sees himself.

I believe working with juveniles at a younger age and intervening before they fall into the mentality where these issues can affect them negatively. If there is neglect in the home, create after school programs where they can learn to trust adults and learn to bond and feel they matter. If it is psychological instances that influence juveniles, working with them at an early age can help mitigate the negative impact of being without help. Working with juveniles is the only way to stop adult crime in the future.

Resources:

The Chicago School. (2021, July 2). What is Positivism in Criminology? | The Chicago School. Insight Digital Magazine. https://www.thechicagoschool.edu/insight/psychology/what-is-positivism-in-criminology/

US Department of Justice. (2023). Theoretical Perspectives on Juvenile Delinquency: Root Causes and Control | Office of Justice Programs. Ojp.gov. https://www.ojp.gov/ncjrs/virtual-library/abstracts/theoretical-perspectives-juvenile-delinquency-root-causes-and#:~:text=The%20positivist%20view%2C%20on%20the,and%20the%20management%20of%20behaviors.

[mrs-serrano]

The San Bernardino, California Terrorists Attacks

By Angela L. Serrano

On December 2, 2015, the city of San Bernardino was added to the growing list of the nation’s mass shootings. A mid-morning staff training turned Christmas party had over 50 employees in attendance. The Inland Regional Center houses county employees that provide services for thousands of disabled residents of San Bernardino County, was the location where the shooting took place. What was thought to be a disgruntled employee enacting revenge turned out to be so much worse as the evidence was discovered.

Syed Rizwan Farook, 28 was employed at the IRC and had attended the employee Christmas party, until he was in a “dispute with another employee and left angrily” (Nagourney et al., 2015) He returned roughly around 11 am with his wife, Tashfeen Malik, 29, wearing tactical gear, heavily armed with high power rifles and had even planted three explosives that did not detonate.

Entering the building, the two suspects started firing at the employees enjoying their Christmas party, striking victim after victim, killing fourteen people, wounding seventeen, resulting in this country’s “deadliest terrorist attack since 9/11 and the worst mass shooting since Sandy Hook.” (Sage, 2020) The two then fled in a SUV and went on the run. Law enforcement would quickly be in pursuit and with up to 20 police officers involved in the standoff, the suspects decided to go out in a hail of bullets, as they exited their SUV, shooting, resulting in one police officer being shot, and the suspects dead.

The police response was quick, as the first responders arrived 4 minutes after the first shot was reported. Emergency services were called immediately when the first shot rang out, and the quick thinking of those inside the building contributed to the fast response of the police. Everything ran smoothly until off duty officers began to arrive, in civilian clothes, running to the scene to help, adding to the confusion, and adding stress to the officer in command. Some of the officers came from the county probation office, located only 2 miles away, allowing them to arrive before most police officers and start the triage process for the wounded victims, saving lives in the process.

Many first responders did not have tactical or emergency first aid training, and this was changed after this event. Advanced first aid kits and training would be essential and important for a better outcome for the victims.

The FBI became involved when it was apparent the attack was a terrorist's attack instead of just a mass shooting, due to the evidence found at the suspects house and social media posts. The female suspect had posted her allegiance to ISIS and wanted to get their attention, even though ISIS was not directly involved, the shooting was what is known as home grown terrorists act. The amount of ISIS information found on their computers was compiled by the shooters over the last year resulted in the shooting.

Looking back, the law enforcement agencies that became involved all handled the attack with immediate response, extreme care and with the utmost professionalism. Because every agency involved had known what was needed of them, the result was a group effort of agencies who all worked together because of training and planning ahead of time. It was what San Bernardino needed at the time and helped in the healing for the city. The investigation that occurred after resulted in several more arrests and convictions and the FBI was even able to get the life insurance money the shooter had left his mother back.

This is a case that should have been stopped by the internet searches and posts that came from the suspects. The DHS had people listening and watching for red flag words, and this couple slid under the radar. It shows that even if we cannot prevent a tragedy from happening, with proper training and collaboration, law enforcement can still save lives and stop any other attacks from happening.

Resources:

Nagourney, A., Lovett, I., & Pérez-Peña, R. (2015). San Bernardino Shooting Kills at Least 14; Two Suspects Are Dead (Published 2015). The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2015/12/03/us/san-bernardino-shooting.html

Sage, N. (2020). A Coordinated Response: Law Enforcement Response to the San Bernardino Attack. https://www.roseinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/Coordinated-Response.pdf

[mrs-serrano]

Domestic Violence

By Angela Serrano

Domestic Violence

The crime of domestic violence, as defined by the Center for Family Justice, is a pattern of controlling, coercive behavior that may or may not include physical violence, verbal, emotional, sexual, or financial abuse and results in the victim being under the complete control of the abuser. This crime has been around since the beginning of people cohabiting and deciding to live their lives together. It was just not considered illegal. From the time before the Middle Ages (753 B.C. to the 1300s), it was considered an obligation of the husband to castigate his wife and children if needed. This was a customary practice so much so that it was written in the rules of marriage: "Rules of Marriage... When you see our wife commit an offense... scold her sharply, bully and terrify her. If this don’t work…take up a stick and beat her soundly, for it is better to punish the body and correct the soul than to damage the soul and spare the body." (Marshall & Baron, 2023) The 1500s were known as the "Golden Age of the Rod" in England, and it was considered normal for the wives and children to be taught that the head of the household came before everyone and must be obeyed, and if they failed, they would be beaten. Later, it was accepted by the common law that women would be beaten by their husbands and that it would be legal only if the rod were not thicker than his thumb, known as "the rule of thumb" (Marshall & Baron, 2023)

It was not until 1829 that the husband’s right to beat his wife was completely abolished in England. In 1871, there was the first state, Alabama, that finally took away the rights of husbands to beat their wives. Massachusetts was next to follow. In 1874, North Carolina’s Supreme Court made it illegal for a man to chastise his wife, yet followed it with, "If no permanent injury has been inflicted, nor malice, cruelty, nor dangerous violence shown by the husband, it is better to draw the curtain, shut out the public gaze, and leave the parties to forget and forgive." (Marshall & Baron, 2023) In 1882, Maryland became the first state to make it illegal for a husband to beat his wife. The difference between Alabama in 1871 and Maryland in 1882 was that in Alabama, it took away the right for a husband to beat his wife, and in Maryland in 1882, it was finally made illegal.

California law established penal code 242, 243.e), and 243.4 as the battery against a spouse or someone who cohabitates with the defendant or used to cohabitate with him. A conviction under this law is a misdemeanor and can be punished with up to a year in county jail and a fine of no more than $2000. The offender must also complete a batterer’s treatment program. (California Legislative Information, 2016) This is what is known as domestic battery, and the victim does not need to be injured.

Another domestic violence law that is considered more serious is "Penal Code 273.5, Corporal Injury to a spouse or cohabitant." (California Legislative Information, 2016b). This requires a physical injury in some way to have occurred. This is a felony and can have a punishment of either two, three, or four years in the state prison system and or a fine of $6000. This also states that if the offender has a prior conviction less than seven years ago, the fine increases from $6,000 to $10,000. (California Legislative Information, 2016b)

For the offender to be guilty of these crimes, the prosecution must prove the elements of the crime:

1. "The defendant touched the victim." (myadmin, 2018)

2. "The victim was a "protected person" under 243(e)(1)." (myadmin, 2018)

3. "The touching was harmful or offensive; and" (myadmin, 2018)

4. "When the defendant touched the victim, the defendant was acting willfully." (myadmin, 2018)

"Willfully" is defined as on purpose; willingly. "Harmful or offensive" is defined as physical force applied to the victim that causes pain or a physical injury. "Note that the slightest touching can be enough to commit this offense if it is done in a rude or angry way" (myadmin, 2018) The protected person is anyone who is or has been in an intimate relationship with the offender. A spouse, fiancé, boyfriend/girlfriend, cohabiting parent of their children, and can be either a same-sex relationship or a heterosexual relationship.

In the last decade, domestic violence has been more commonly referred to as intimate partner violence. It has been prevalent in the media in the last few years due to Johnny Depp and the allegations that were made against him. Watching the trial on television, the evidence that became known showed that domestic violence is not a "wife-beating" crime anymore. The male population of victims of intimate partner violence is higher than people imagine. According to the Office for National Statistics, male victims of domestic violence make up about one third of the total number of domestic violence victims. In 2020, 1.6 million women and 757,000 men reported being abused. (Pirret, 2022).

The effects of this type of crime are long-lasting and can take on several forms. The main priority is to ensure the victim has been removed from the situation and is in a safe environment. The challenge many family members face when a loved one is a victim of domestic abuse is getting them away from their abuser and keeping them away. The victim of domestic violence is not a victim of a one-time occurrence. The abuse is gradual and then can escalate to the point of death in some cases. By the time the family becomes aware of the abuse, it has already been going on for some time. Getting the victim help after they leave their abuser is imperative but may be hard to do. It may be hard to convince them they need help.

The victim, depending on the type and severity of abuse, will take as long as they need to heal and feel safe. The physical, emotional, and mental abuse all leave wounds. The wounds will all take time to heal; the physical wounds will heal far quicker than any emotional or mental wounds, and each wound will leave a scar. The lasting effects of mental abuse range from post-traumatic stress disorder, including symptoms of night terrors and anxiety, to memory loss. There is also a tendency to self-medicate with alcohol and drugs. Depression and low self-esteem are common effects of abuse. (Joyful Heart Foundation, 2022)

Symptoms of emotional abuse can include feelings of not being worthy or unlovable and thinking that everything is their fault. They may feel lost and feel the need to return to their abuser, because of feelings of loneliness and thoughts of always being alone, like their abuser told them. This is the critical time that a victim needs the support system to remind them that they are safe now and the abuser did not love them. Love is not causing pain or hurting the one they claim to love. (Joyful Heart Foundation, 2022)

There are several theories that relate to domestic violence, and depending on where the focus is, one can determine which theory can be used. Deciding if the focus is finding out why the abuser decides to abuse or looking at what causes the victim to find a relationship with an abuser and, more importantly, why a victim stays with the abuser.

The most obvious theory is feminist theory. This theory goes into the roles established before the Middle Ages, which put the man in the dominant role, waiting to be served by his wife and child. Men have been found holding onto this perception of what their role of dominance is and, therefore, finding it their right to abuse their wives behind closed doors. This feminist theory is pushing for a complete restructuring of the traditional family unit due to this being a social issue. That society has pushed what they considered appropriate gender roles, elevating the male to the head of the household, creating an inequality between the husband and wife, and giving the male the unrealistic power to be in control. Reestablishing a more equal balance between the two married couples will shift those views away from a dominant husband and subservient wives, who need to be punished for disobeying, to a better partnership where the household is divided equally, with both at the head of the household. This shift will remove the attitude that it is okay for husbands to hit their wives.

Another theory that has some elements that agree with the feminist theory is the social learning theory. This theory states that men abuse because it is a learned behavior. The men who batter "do so because it works for them." (McCue, 1995). They get what they want and maintain control in their home. This theory states that the abusive man had witnessed a male authority figure use violence "successfully" as a child and gotten what he wanted, causing him to learn this behavior and use abuse in a relationship the same way, when he grew up. The same way a victim of domestic abuse is a learned behavior Social Learning Theory holds that "women learn their victim behavior either through victimization as children or by witnessing their mothers' beatings." (McCue, 1995).

The main belief of social learning theory is in direct contradiction to feminist theory, which does not believe that victims learn to be victims by watching their mothers being abused, believing this is victim blaming. The feminist theory believes that the reason victims of domestic abuse stay and participate in the cycle of violence with their abuser is their way to survive. They (feminist theory) believe the social structure is the reason for domestic abuse and "that men choose to batter because they have been socialized to believe they are entitled to superior rights and that society's institutions have traditionally supported men's sense of entitlement." (McCue, 1995).

Another theory is an environmental theory called routine activities theory, or RAT. The focus of RAT is on the three specifics needed for crime to occur. RAT states that:

• A suitable target (Author Unknown, pg. 24, N.D)

• A motivated offender (Author Unknown, pg. 24, N.D)

• A lack of guardianship (Author Unknown, pg. 24, N.D)

Without these exact factors taking place, crime cannot be committed, because any part of this triangle missing will affect the criminal actions needed. For example, a suitable target is anything that makes a good target, either a person or an object. This target will have four characteristics. 1. It needs to be of greater value than the punishment if caught. 2. Inertia, the availability of motion. Is the target easily removable? 3. Visibility makes the target and the valuables visible, making the crime that much more worth it. 4. Access; how hard is it going to be to commit the crime? The access to the valuable targets will determine how much effort will be needed to find valuable items; the more accessible, the less effort needed to commit the crime. An example would be if a burglar broke into a fast-food restaurant, hoping to just get some pocket change, only to find out the safe was left open with the cash still there. Now the value of the target just increased, as well as inertia, because the money was already placed in bags for easy transport. It was viable to make the crime that much easier to commit, and lastly, the access, to the target was effortless to obtain.

A motivated offender is anyone willing to commit the crime. This variable comes into play usually only once, and that is before the first crime has been committed. Usually, after the first crime has been committed, the offender will always be motivated to commit another crime.

The lack of guardianship can be as simple as finding the target alone and vulnerable.

Critics of this theory do not like it for personal crimes, like domestic violence, but more for property crimes. The fact that abusers see their victims as their property must have slipped past these critics. Domestic violence uses each of the aspects needed for RAT: the value of the target, the motivated offender, and nobody around to help her. RAT can be used for domestic violence.

Critical Victimology: This was created by Mawby and Walklate in the early 1990s and was a combination of both positive and radical theories, but it looks at the wider social picture and allows for policies to be examined as well as services for the victim. "It provides for the naming, labeling, and discussion of experiences that were once hidden, allowing the generalities of victimization and the lived experiences of victims to be put into context with each other." (Author Unknown, pg. 23, N.D) This theory gives perspective on social institutions and questions what role they played. It can be seen from an individual or cultural experience of victimization, realizing that to get a better understanding of victimization, both viewpoints are needed.

Lifestyle theory says that personal victimization is more likely to occur when the victim chooses to live certain lifestyles. In domestic violence, lifestyle theory can be used because the victim has chosen to stay with the abuser, knowing what can happen. She has therefore placed herself more susceptible to becoming a victim of domestic violence. She chose to stay with an abusive man.

The resources for the victims of domestic violence have finally started to become available. Compensation for being a victim of domestic violence is becoming more available. Help for victims of domestic violence is finally becoming more readily available now as compared to the past. There are shelters available, counseling, and help in testifying against their abusers. Every district attorney’s office in California employs a victim advocate that works closely with survivors of domestic violence. They attend court proceedings with them, get them counseling, help them apply for benefits, and are with them every step of the way. They then set them up with a case worker after the court process is over, to help them enroll in the VINE program. This is the Victim Information Notification Everyday system. This allows victims of crimes like domestic violence to be notified before they happen when their abuser is moved, up for parole, or released in a timely manner.

There are also several shelters that take women and children and are there to help women leave dangerous situations. They provide a room with beds and dressers and a private bathroom; they provide clothes for the victim and children, if they must leave without anything. They provide three meals a day and snacks, transportation to any DR. appointments or court cases, and childcare for any appointments the mother has. They provide counseling and group classes to learn about domestic violence. They are a catholic based home that will give a place for victims to be safe and allow up to three years to stay and get back on their feet. I know about this shelter because I stayed here after I left my domestic violence experience.

In conclusion, I think this subject needs to be discussed more. There needs to be a shift in the perspective that it is a "personal matter" and that it is "none of my business what happens" between two people in their home. Yes, it is the person’s business if they could step in and stop the abuse being witnessed. They may save a life that day. I have experienced being ignored as I was screaming for help, watching people look outside and then close their door, not wanting to get involved, as I was being dragged across the floor by my hair. Nobody stepped in to help me. I am only glad I survived that time. The next victim might not be so lucky.

References:

Author Unknown. (n.d.). Victimology. e-text. Chapter 1 and page numbers 23-30

Birdsall, N. (2018). Intimate Partner Violence Victimology: Factors Affecting Victim Engagement with the Police and Criminal Justice System Volume 1 of 2. https://core.ac.uk/download/pdf/161125147.pdf

California Legislative Information. (2016a). Codes Display Text. Ca.gov. https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displayText.xhtml?lawCode=PEN&division=&title=8.&part=1.&chapter=9.&article=

California Legislative Information. (2016b). Codes Display Text. Ca.gov. https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displayText.xhtml?lawCode=PEN&division=&title=9.&part=1.&chapter=2.&article=

Green Haven 4 Help. (2020). The Impact of Domestic Violence on Victims - Green Haven 4 Help. Green Haven 4 Help. https://greenhaven4help.com/the-impact-of-domestic-violence-on-victims/

Joyful Heart Foundation. (2022). Effects of Domestic Violence. Joyful Heart Foundation. https://www.joyfulheartfoundation.org/learn/domestic-violence/effects-domestic-violence

Kawson, J. (2012). Sociological Theories of Intimate Partner Violence: Gateway Search for Eastern Gateway Community College Library. Journal of Human Behavior in the Social Environment., 22(55), 572–590. https://eds-p-ebscohost-com.egcc.ohionet.org/eds/detail/detail?vid=11&sid=7161cfb4-0d9a-4245-83aa-7f81f15c7290%40redis&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWRzLWxpdmU%3d#AN=77441204&db=sih

Kelly, U. (2011, July). Theories of Intimate Partner Violence: From Blaming the Victim to Acting Against Injustice... ResearchGate; Lippincott, Williams & Wilkins. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/51552535_Theories_of_Intimate_Partner_Violence_From_Blaming_the_Victim_to_Acting_Against_Injustice_Intersectionality_as_an_Analytic_Framework

Marshall, N., & Baron, S. (2023). INTRO TO DOMESTIC VIOLENCE History, Types, Impact & Other Key Issues. Ca.gov. https://www.courts.ca.gov/partners/documents/dvintro2.ppt#:~:text=Senate%20passes%20Domestic%20Violence%20Act%20of%201978.

myadmin. (2018). What Is A Domestic Battery? Los Angeles Criminal Lawyer. https://www.losangeles-criminallawyer.com/criminal-defense/domestic-violence/domestic-battery

Pirret, J. (2022, June 14). Why are men often overlooked as victims of domestic abuse? The Centre for Social Justice. https://www.centreforsocialjustice.org.uk/newsroom/why-are-men-often-overlooked-as-victims-of-domestic-abuse

Shouse California Law Group. (2022, October 3). Shouse Law Group. Shouse Law Group. https://www.shouselaw.com/ca/defense/penal-code/243e1/

Stratemeyer, G. (2019, July 5). Domestic Violence Theories and Mediation. Mediate.com. https://mediate.com/domestic-violence-theories-and-mediation/

victims.ca.gov. (2021, May 12). CalVCB Highlights Resources Available to Victims During National Domestic Violence Awareness Month - CA Victim Compensation Board. CA Victim Compensation Board. https://victims.ca.gov/news-releases/calvcb-highlights-resources-available-to-victims-during-national-domestic-violence-awareness-month/

[theplottery]

20 World building Questions

Here are 20 key questions to help you shape your story world.

What is the name of your world?

Countries? Territories? Any important cities?

What is the geography like?

What is the climate like?

Who runs the world?

What is the political situation?

What is the economical divide? Have you got any classes?

Are there any minorities? How are they treated?

Are there any religions?

What does a typical day of a commoner look like?

What do people do for entertainment?

Any important recent historic events that impact your current world?

Where do people eat, and what type of food is considered a luxury?

Are there any popular groups or people that act as idols?

What does a typical family look like?

How are children taken care of? Where do they study?

Is there any unique mode of transport?

Any typical animals that show up? Do people keep pets?

How advanced is the technology?

Is there any magic or supernatural creatures? How are they treated?

Want more planning tools? Grab my FREE novel plan through the link HERE or below!

The Ultimate Novel Plan

Free interactive & fillable workbook to keep you clear-headed and organized through your writing journey!

[spaghettificationandpretzels]

Engagement 101

Not to beat a dead horse but this has been brewing in my brain for months and I can't hold it in any longer, considering there are now people here for Twitter I feel the need to reiterate what has been said a million times. Content creators need engagement if you want them to post on a regular basis.

A few points first.

Hearts are good but they mostly just let someone know you stopped by.

Comments are wonderful and can make someone day. They don't need to be long or make sense, I like a string on letters or emojis just as much as I like long comments. It's just that I will return to long comments when I'm feeling down about my writing or need some motivation.

Reblogs are what get people's work out there, if you're going to reblog, do it with tags. One or two is fine.

Here are some general guidelines, these are based on my own feelings but any writer/content creators that see this are welcome to add to it.

First and foremost, we are not robots that churn out content for you. Asking when something will be updated but not engaging otherwise is a good way to make someone like you don't value them. This is the same with requests, the bare minimum is a please and a thank you. Sending the character with a prompt or scenario and nothing else feels like a demand.

Spam liking is great but if someone goes through all my stuff and never says anything, it's kinda strange because I have no idea why you're here. Did you read it? Are you saving it?

Follow the rules of someone's prompt/request list. It feels pretty shitty when I put in the rules "you must comment and/or reblog", and the person uses the loophole of doing a blank reblog and nothing else. I shouldn't have to explain every single thing, it should be assumed that if I'm doing something for you, you let me know you liked it.

There is a difference between giving constructive feedback and just being an ass. @withmyteeth gave me some advice in a DM and @darklydeliciousdesires gave me some advice when she reblog the request I made for her, this greatly helped me, and I'm now going through and fixing my mistakes. If you want to give feedback, remember that most people do this do it for fun, and some of them have different brains from you. Don't ick someone's yum by being a dick about it.

Similarly, be nice. We are people and if you don't have anything nice to say don't say anything at all.

Respect when someone says their requests are closed, most people make it pretty clear.

Don't steal shit, if fucking sucks and I've seen content creators leave because of theft.

Similarly, don't read or talk about anything on another platform without asking first. if I found out someone was reading my stuff on TikTok, I would have a heart attack.

This might be the most important one. YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR YOUR OWN MEDIA CONSUMPTION AND YOUR TIME ONLINE, BLOCK PEOPLE YOU DON'T LIKE AND MOVE ON.

[daily-prompts]

I want everyone’s best one liner writing advise!

Mine is that you have to know the ending of your story before you start it.

[mrs-serrano]

Write what you want to read, the best things you like from a book, that make you keep turning the page, write like that and don't worry, if you want to read it, chances are so does someone else.

[projecttreehouse]

I just found you. And I think you saved my life. Or at least my novel. Thank you

yay!!! happy to help! if you have any specific questions you know where to find us :)

[mrs-serrano]

81 votes and 19 comments so far on Reddit

Save these dogs please 😭😭🙏🙏

[cedar-west-deactivated20230408]

If your plot feels flat, STUDY it! Your story might be lacking...

Stakes - What would happen if the protagonist failed? Would it really be such a bad thing if it happened?

Thematic relevance - Do the events of the story speak to a greater emotional or moral message? Is the conflict resolved in a way that befits the theme?

Urgency - How much time does the protagonist have to complete their goal? Are there multiple factors complicating the situation?

Drive - What motivates the protagonist? Are they an active player in the story, or are they repeatedly getting pushed around by external forces? Could you swap them out for a different character with no impact on the plot? On the flip side, do the other characters have sensible motivations of their own?

Yield - Is there foreshadowing? Do the protagonist's choices have unforeseen consequences down the road? Do they use knowledge or clues from the beginning, to help them in the end? Do they learn things about the other characters that weren't immediately obvious?

[badwritermedia]

the elusive 7 act Structure

[coffeebeanwriting]

Writing Imagery

Here are some tips when it comes to writing immersive and beautiful imagery! We don’t want something too flowery, but we also don’t want something very stiff.

1) Reveal character through their surroundings and how they react to the world around them.

A young wizard walks into their dorm after a long day at the academy. Their living conditions can reveal a lot about them. Is their bed twice the size of their roommates and spotlessly made? Or are they sleeping on a cot in the corner? What’s on their nightstand? Bottles of stolen potions? Or an old photo of someone they really care about?

2) Use all the senses.

What does your character see, feel, smell, taste, or hear in your scene? I like to think of it as an imaginary checklist. Using all of the senses in a single scene might be overkill depending on its length, but it is definitely wise to mix and match a few of these together! 

Fire for example feels hot against the skin, can smell like burning wood and ash. We see red and wild flames. it crackles and snaps, roars and pops, whips and bellows. It can taste like the smoke and ash that you breathed in.

3) Use adverbs wisely as they can “tell” instead of “show”

In its most simplistic definition: adverbs modify a verb, typically by adding an “-ly” to an adjective. 

“The monster growled loudly.” If we want to make this imagery more descriptive and full of life, let’s drop the adverb and instead think about how to show something being loud.

“The monster unhinged its jaw and let out a growl that rattled the cabinet doors and tightened the knot in my stomach.”

4) Metaphors and similes

Metaphors and similes can be wonderful for showing how something relates to another thing. Depending on your wording, they can also make writing more flowery and poetic. 

“His eyes were an ocean full of mysterious blues, and I was lost at sea.”

5) Relatability 

Even if you’re writing about a place or scene that the reader has never experienced, relatability has to tie in somewhere. It creates believability and a connection to the character.

If you’re writing about a princess who is about to marry an evil king… most likely, none of the readers have been in this situation before! 

But we can create relatability through the way the princess thinks, reacts, and feels. We can relate to her fidgeting fingers, the way she curses her heels for hurting her feet, and the drop in her stomach before she must present herself to hundreds of people.

These details create detailed imagery and also relatability to the character, which in return gives us a connection to them. And that’s definitely important if they’re your protagonist!

Instagram: coffeebeanwriting

📖 ☕ Official Blog: www.byzoemay.com  

[projecttreehouse]

tips for setting the scene

it’s easy to get caught up in dialogue or a character’s internal dialogue and forget altogether that they, too, exist in their own physical world. as authors, it’s primarily our job to convey the exact amount of information: the reader is on a need to know basis, but they also need to know enough to draw their own conclusions. i’ll admit, it’s a difficult task, but here are some tips to help set a scene:

- imagine the world from the eyes of your character: how do they see things? do they see the big picture first or are they drawn to smaller details that others don’t often notice? what’s pulling their attention away from the action or their own thoughts?

- breathe life into your scenes: i don’t mean the english teacher’s equivalent of “the curtains were blue means that the character is sad.” i’m talking about the blue filter in Twilight that conveys the “constant cover of clouds and rain” and the shift from the Arizona desert to the cool Pacific Northwest. think about all the small details that convey information about a scene and allow the readers to make inferences. if the character walks along a street and the yards shift from overgrown hedges with frayed yard chairs and a birdbath containing a mini swamp to yards with freshly cut grass with white picket fences and ornate wreathes hanging on the doors, you’re providing all of the details for readers to make an inference. context is needed, too, but that will be provided in the whole of your novel or short story. don’t be afraid to provide details and use figurative language.

- spread out your details: did you feel bombarded in the last tip? i provided a lot of details quickly, all at once, without spreading them between action, dialogue, or internal dialogue. i’m not going to stop you from being the next J.R.R. Tolkien if that’s how you like to write, but try not to overwhelm the reader with details all at once. it will feel more natural if you spread things out and allow the reader to feel as if they, too, are with the character in their environment. this is more of a stylistic tip, so take it with a grain of salt and think about what will work best for your novel. always go back to that and to what your character is seeing. how is this all playing out for them? how can you put feeling into the scene?

- place your characters within the scene: where are they in their environment? how are they interacting with the people or objects in it? what do they think about these things? you don’t need to tell the reader everything your character does, but provide enough information so that we don’t get lost in their movement or stagnation. it helps to have someone else read your work if you’re struggling with this part. if they’re lost as to where the character is or what they’re doing, chances are a good portion of your readers will be confused, too. check out your prepositions. are there too many? too few? use them, but don’t abuse them.

happy writing! if you need help setting a scene or have any questions, our ask box is always open!

[projecttreehouse]

to outline or not to outline

whether you're a seasoned writer or writing a novel for the first time, every new novel poses its own challenges. one novel may require a detailed outline that turns your wall into a pepe silvia conspiracy theory board; another novel may tell you, "that conspiracy board's crazy! pepe silvia's the state of pennsylvania."

if you take george r.r. martin's approach, "there are two types of writers, the architects and the gardeners."

no one should make an argument for what you should do because that's ultimately up to you and your novel. that's why it's important to understand the pros and cons of outlining to determine how you'll begin and move through your novel.

the benefits of outlining:

predictability; you will know what happen in your novel. you've essentially written out your novel without the embellishments.

structure; while the act of writing can be the hardest part of novel writing, an outline ensures that you have structure. because you know how the novel is supposed to go and how it fits into the plot-mountain structure, it might be easier to jump straight into writing.

simplification; outlining also helps to simplify what may originally seem complicated or convoluted; if you have an intricate plot, outlining using notecards or post-it notes on a wall might help to connect all of the pieces together, ensuring that everything flows or makes sense.

what outlining may make difficult:

flexibility; outlines don't always work out for the best, even after you've already written them. if you're extremely rigid and like to stick to the plan, a detailed outline might make it difficult to be flexible. a rough outline might be more beneficial to you in this case.

spontaneity; as you write, you'll begin to deeply understand your characters and their motivations. you may realize that you need to redirect or re-write the plot altogether or include another plot-point that doesn't directly fit into your pre-existing outline. be prepared to fail, and be prepared for change. you can plan as much as you want with an outline, but there will always be something new that you won't originally see.

if you don't outline:

to begin a story, you obviously need a seed, so you start with a world, a character, a theme, an idea. you may start your novel with only one of these or all of them, and you let them grow. you write, not knowing where your novel will go.

edit; you're already going to have to edit any novel. no writer is absconded from the act of editing, but you may need to edit more than most. if we use martin's analogy, you'll have to prune your wild garden of a novel and shape it into the novel you desire.

motivation; writing a novel is hard enough, and finding inspiration or motivation can be even more difficult at times. be prepared to have a routine so that when motivation is lacking and you have no plan or outline to stick with, you at least have your routine.

surprises; be prepared to write without knowing much about what you're writing. this is the fun part or the most daunting part, depending on how you look at it. you get excavate your story and uncover what makes it shine, the twists and turns that are yet to come. you get to experience your novel just as much as any other unsuspecting reader.

are you architect or the gardener? the pirate who hides the treasure for your readers or the adventurer, letting your novel guide you whichever way it takes? is writing about the product or the experience?

happy writing! let us know what approach you decide to take, and reblog if you find this helpful!