Professional Dispositions in Educational Environment Essay

Professional Dispositions in Educational Environment - Essay Example I reckon that it is encouraging for students to know that their educator understands and accepts them. Empathy helps me not to judge learners unfairly and instead, accept and respect their perceptions and opinions unconditionally. Empathy is strength in me as it helps me create an environment conducive to harmonious learning. It would be chaotic trying to impart knowledge on to individuals whom I have not taken time to understand. Lack of an understanding of my learners’ subjective worlds would make me judge the things they do and the way they do them. Empathy saves me the trouble of getting agitated by something that my learners do or say and instead savors this energy for helping my learners to rise above their biases and any other opinion that can hinder effective learning (Reid et. al., 2011). As a strength empathy helps me identify the areas in which individual learners need assistance and as such, I can attend to individual needs besides attending to the needs of the larger class. Individualized attention helps students be free and express their fears and weaknesses to me as an educator out of trust. Individualized attention is instrumental in improving the performance of learners. Authenticity is my other professional disposition with which I approach my work as an educator. Authenticity helps me reckon that different learners have different needs and as such, I vary my methods and approaches to teaching. This comes with an understanding that the method or approach that works for an individual learner or group of learners may not work for another. I emphasize originality and uniqueness in the execution of my duties and in the delivery of content to learners. Authenticity helps me accept my weaknesses and shortcomings and allows me to express myself with genuineness and honesty (Reid et. al., 2011).  

Online Marketing Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Online Marketing - Essay Example It critically assesses the distinctiveness of the marketing strategy approach of these companies, when compared to traditional retailers. It also tries to predict the likely future of retailing and the role on online retailers. It finally discusses more general implications for strategy theory and practice of the growth of online retailers. Online retailing refers to the process enabling consumers to buy goods and services through the Internet, with the retailer being referred to as a virtual store, online store, web-store, web-shop, internet shop, e-store or online shop. It is a type of electronic commerce used for business-to-consumer (B2C) and business-to-business (B2B) transactions. This form of shopping has penetrated many aspects of our life, especially since the 1990s, linking us to a capitalist way of life in our everyday living. It enables us purchase whatever we require, whenever we require it. Online stores have the advantage of convenience since they are available round the clock and the buyers can access them from at the convenience of their homes and work. This is unlike the traditional physical stores that can only be accessed during the official working hours. Moreover, many online stores give links to supplementary product information like manufacturer's specifications, demonstrations, safety procedures and instructions. This form of shopping also enables a consumer to search and compare prices among various vendors by use of search engines. Backcountry's success story: A case study Backcountry was founded in 1996 with a mere $2,000 capital as a pure online retailer focusing on outdoor gear. It stated making profits in 1997, exactly a year after its founding, experiencing a triple digit growth six years in a row that culminated to 134 per cent in 2003. In 2004, Backcountry's sales revenue was $27.5 million dollars, an 84 per cent increase from the previous year's $14.7 million. These figures further rose by 89 per cent in 2005, settling at $52 million. The company earned great reputation for providing good quality outdoor gear on its website www.backcountry.com. Moreover, the company created niche sites aimed at addressing specific needs for of target groups and catering for distinct customers. For instance, the price-sensitive athletes had www.explore64.com, bargain seekers www.SteepandCheap.com and www.backcountry.com, snowboarders www.dogfunk.com while hardcore skiers had www.tramdock.com. In 2002 Backcountry implemented a new customer service solution known as 'click-to-chat technology.' This earned the company many chatting interactions that resulted to improved customer satisfaction ratings as well as increased sales volumes. The company was therefore among the very first online retailers to adopt the live chat technology, earning itself the title of an established industry innovator. The company however soon realized that this technology only improved customer satisfaction levels without translating to increased sales. In order to leverage its employees' expertise and maximize its profitability, the retailer ventured into transforming

Evidence-Based Practice among Hospital Nurses Term Paper

Evidence-Based Practice among Hospital Nurses - Term Paper Example In this light, the healthcare leader was categorical that the final decision arrived at must be premised on available data and the rightful conviction that the decision made will elicit the most optimal patient outcome. The healthcare leader was also very categorical that the foregoing differentiates EBP from research-based practice (RBP). This is the case since, unlike EBP; RBP is a scientific method which involves the collection and analyzing traditional practices that are sustained within standards of care.   The import of this is that in RBP, the care being advanced towards the patient has to have been identified as the most effective. This identification is normally carried out by comparing available research with and the established methods. The results available are thus to change the delivery of care, upon the changes having been deemed medically appropriate. Also, the changes that are being made must have been proven to have the capacity for improved outcome. During the in teraction with the healthcare leader, it became very palpable that he felt strongly about the topic. The strong conviction that the health care leader harbors are pegged on the belief that evidence-based research study will pave way for more efficient and productive services delivery in a medical institution and the healthcare sector in general. This is mainly because, according to him, an evidence-based research study is likely to herald certain values. Particularly, employing the use of evidence-based research studies in healthcare puts focus on health care and scientific literature. All this consideration of medical and scientific literature is underpinned by the need to improve: treatment modalities such as appropriate medical technology; safety and quality (including prevention of accidents, errors, and infections); and exercises (as a way of encouraging rehabilitation and exertion).

Switzerland Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Switzerland - Research Paper Example Depiction and Delineation Switzerland is considered to be one of those exceptional countries that are found to be the richest nations by both their economy as well as their beauty. This federal republic is situated in the heart of Europe (Middle Europe) and has been circumscribed by countries including Austria, Germany, Italy, and Liechtenstein. The foundation of Switzerland is an outcome of the concordance of people with diverse racial, cultural and religious origins. This fact reveals the secret of diversity observed throughout this country. It was established as an independent state by the Federal Constitution in 1848. Several great and notorious places are fancied by tourists including the Matterhorn, the Eiger, and the Jungfrau for their exclusive allurement subsumes French, Germans and Italians respectively. The major languages which are being used in Switzerland as national languages include French, German, Italian, and Romansh. However, Romansh does not equally match the stat us of other three languages. The hallmark souvenirs of this country are found to be the Swiss cheese and Swiss chocolate. Commerce and Industries Switzerland is found to be one of those exclusive countries that have the most stable economies in the world and has remained a leading financial and business hub. Along with the stability of its own economy, it has also been proved to be a safe harbor for financiers and business groups. The country has served as a safe heaven not only for depositors, but also for investors to place their funds in different businesses. On the basis of this, it is found that the country’s economy, holistically, is based mainly upon foreign investments. There are various kinds of industries which attract entrepreneurs for business progression (Robinson & Schweizer, 2006). The principal industries running in Switzerland are in the manufacturing sector producing either raw material or finished products, or they are involved in producing innovative high quality finished goods, for instance, watches. After manufacturing industries, industries for machineries and chemicals are dominant over other industries by rank. One of the chief as well as the oldest industries found in Switzerland is the food processing industry embodying processed cheese, condensed milk, baby food and, most substantially, the Swiss chocolate products. They are followed by another oldest industrial sector – the textile industry which is found to be mandatory for raw fabrics. However, the paper and plastic industry has also gained substantial elevation in the commerce of Switzerland. If skimmed economically, then Switzerland has achieved the honor to be one of the economic countries with topmost revenues along with the least rate of retrenchment (Switzerland, 2013). Government The government of Switzerland is considered to be divided into three principal levels: †¢ The Confederation. †¢ The Cantons. †¢ Communes. The Confederation, which is a lso been termed as the federal government, principally deals with the administration of taxes, customs, army, foreign relations, lawmaking of currency, and confederacy communication. The government comprises seven associates possessing comparable rights, and each of them is considered to be foremost in their respective departments. However, decisions are supposed to be adjudicated by voting of the seven members. Nevertheless, these associates are not considered permanent as they are customarily reinstated after four years by the Federal

Applying for masters in architecture Personal Statement

Applying for masters in architecture - Personal Statement Example In the past three years, I have especially been passionate about handling T-squares and drawing boards. Most important, university education in Architecture has opened newer avenues for exploring my passion in the specialty. The new exploit is the use of CAD and other software in survey and executing my architectural drawings. Nevertheless, I still aspire to have a studio where I use drawing boards and T-squares for creating models. I have always done exceptionally well in my studies and been among the top students in my class. My good performances and passion have always inspired me to seek opportunities to improve my skills through practical skills application and to attend higher learning at every opportunity. I have exhibited a passion, the ability to be efficient and innovative in the exploitation of knowledge learned in high school and through to undergraduate level while studying Architecture. During my University foundation, an accomplished architect once asked me my motivation for being an architect. In my response, I said that I wanted to improve the status of the world for better. Asked to elaborate further, I said that, my aim is creating easy and remarkable. The world needs doctors, and I view architects through a similar prism as doctors. Architects are, for this reason, necessary to model concept designs and spaces for utmost fulfilling of and exceeding people’s desires. My passion in structures had begun way before I decided to pursue a career in architecture. Structures have always fascinated me, and I have always tried conceptualizing their creation from infinity to the magnificently completed structures. It is my sincere conviction that I will get a chance in the institution to advance my skills. My confidence in my abilities and astute principals give strength to my resolve to study and be an

World Music - Authenticity and Ethucs in World Music Essay

World Music - Authenticity and Ethucs in World Music - Essay Example According to Byrne, â€Å"What is considered authentic today was probably some kind of bastard fusion a few years ago.† (â€Å"I Hate World Music†). Similar views are expressed by Sasha Frere-Jones who comments (â€Å"Bingo in Swansea†): â€Å"World music† is a category that does nobody any favors. Entirely disparate performers, like the dapper Brazilian singer-songwriter Caetano Veloso and the African blues guitarist Ali Farka Toure, get lumped together in American record stores simply because they don’t sing exclusively in English. Personally speaking, I do not agree with this at all. I am a fan of fusion music. Not only do such recordings provide us a celestial insight into various vivid and exotic ethnicities of the world, they also offer a unique blend of different cultures to meet our ever-changing tastes. An authentic World Music is spontaneous and preserves the actual events, apart from being directly carried on from cultural tradition. The true music prodigies of the world are those who play not merely for money but primarily for their indomitable passion for music. We talk about ‘Globalization’. Is it only restricted to world business and economical spectrum? If the answer is no, then why can’t we accept the mingling of cultures? In fact, we have already accepted it long time back. If it would not have been so, we would have stuck to burgers and pies rather than extending our taste-buds to pizzas, momos, chowmein, enchiladas, nachos, and endless menu of dishes from all around the globe. For those who are of the opinion that world music is misleading the present youth, I would like to ask, â€Å"When we can encourage multinational companies and rejoice multi-cuisine restaurants, then can’t we have a similar passion for multi-cultured music?† Variety is indeed the spice of life. In our busy and stressful schedules, tuning on to the apt music is a real healer. I

Is capital punishemtn a deterrent Essay Example for Free

Is capital punishemtn a deterrent Essay Running Head: Abstract Indeed statistics will show that capital punishment is not an effective deterrent to crime; effective comparisons show that there is no significant correlation between lowered crime rates and the deterrent effect in states which implement the death penalty even with the incorporation of socio-economic elements as evidenced in comparing Virginia against West Virginia. In fact, the opposite is true that the crime rate tends to be lower in states without the death penalty. The majority support capital punishment although the prevailing attitude which is shared by the government as well, is to implement it more cautiously with regards to certain issues and sectors as legal, ethical and moral challenges have been raised against it and the criminal justice system as a whole. Is capital punishment an effective deterrent as compared between states for and against with similar socio-economic backgrounds? Hypothesis: Capital punishment is not an effective deterrent to crime; this hypothesis will be proven through current studies on the issue as well as criminal justice statistics which will show that there is no significant correlation between lowered crime rates and the deterrent effect in states which implement the death penalty. In fact, the opposite is true that the crime rate tends to be lower in states without the death penalty. I. Brief history of death penalty in United States and Supreme Court decisions The death penalty traces its roots in ancient history, making its first appearance in the Codes of Hammurabi in ancient Babylon where 25 kinds of crime warranted the ultimate punishment of death. From the ancient Hittites to the Draconian Code of Athens, the punishment was more severe as all crimes merited the death penalty. During the time of Jesus Christ, the Roman law of the Law Tablets prevailed and routinely invoked such methods as crucifixion, impalement and even being burned to death as penalties (DPIC, 2008). America traces its use of the death penalty to the British settlers with the first known recorded execution in the colonies carried out for a man accused of being a spy for Spain. The death penalty reached a point where it was even meted out to certainly less serious offenses although each colony was left to its own discretion as to how to implement it. Eventually, the Age of Enlightenment created a movement which felt that the death penalty was totally wrong on a whole lot of levels. The abolitionist movement which arose from this period strongly voiced its opinion that there was no way to justify the taking of a person’s life regardless of what he may have done against society. But even as there were formal attempts towards the reformation of the penalty in terms of actually changing the specific death penalty mandates of some states, it wasn’t until the mid-19th century that more successful strides in this regard was made; the first calls were for the imposition of the death penalty on truly serious crimes; later, states in this context began to review the crimes which they felt really warranted the death penalty; changing the manner of executions from being very public to more private confines within newly built correctional penitentiaries (DPIC, 2008). Eventually, an American state finally mustered its constituency to abolish the death penalty with Michigan taking this distinct honor in 1846 followed later by several more states. But even as some states still held onto capital punishment, general reforms on the issue began to shape not only the concept of death penalty, but of the entire criminal justice system as well. There followed greater distinction and sensitivity as to what crimes necessitated the death penalty. The establishment of statutes for one made the justice system more objective and fair; instead of an automatic imposition of the death penalty on capital crimes regardless of the facts surrounding the case, discretionary statutes allowed for an examination of the facts before sentencing was made. But it was only in the latter part of the 20th century that much of the spirited discussion on the death penalty took a more significant turn when the United States Supreme Court took a major role in threshing out some of the thornier points of contention in the debate. Some of its major decisions include; 1. Ruling out the unconstitutionality of the death penalty specifically under the Eighth Amendment; in 1958 in the case of Trop v. Dulles (356 U. S. 86), it was argued that the death penalty at this point in time (1958) was indeed cruel and unusual punishment and as such, that it can no longer be considered as something in keeping with America’s â€Å"standards of decency† and should therefore be abolished (DPIC, 2008). 2. That the death penalty can be imposed only when a jury recommends it was rendered unconstitutional by the Supreme Court in two cases where the prosecutor and the jury had important roles to play in the meting out of the death penalty in capital crimes; in U. S. v. Jackson (390 U. S. 570), the Court upheld that the practice was unconstitutional because it encouraged defendants to waive their right to a jury trial to ensure they would not receive a death sentence (DPIC, 2008). In Witherspoon v. Illinois (391 U. S. 510) the Supreme Court held that a person’s mere hesitancy or reservation towards the death penalty is not enough reason to have him or her disqualified from being part of the jury in a death penalty case; disqualification could only be possible if it can be proven that more substantial display of attitudes can actually affect the outcome of the case. Later similar cases such as in Crampton v. Ohio and McGautha v. California tackled the issue of whether the jury as both the power to not only impose the death penalty as they see fit, but that they could also determine in a single deliberation, the verdict as well as the resulting sentence; in this regard, the Supreme Court in favor of the jury having the ultimate discretion (DPIC, 2008). But in the landmark case Furman v. Georgia (408 U. S. 238)), the Supreme Court again was compelled to decide on these same issues, the result of which was the voiding of 40 death penalty statutes (DPIC, 2008). This had a double edged outcome; even as the death penalty had been deemed unjust (and reinforcing statutes voided in this regard), it still allowed states who still wanted the death penalty to keep it reinstated by simply re-writing their death-penalty statutes. In later years, the debate has shifted equally on both sides. As the United States has opted to keep the death penalty in a global circle of adherents which keep on shrinking, it has however imposed limitations with regards to controversial areas. Special areas of concern with regards to the imposition of death penalty include issues in cases of mental illness and retardation; the factor of race with a disproportionate number of blacks on death row; the constitutionality of executing juvenile offenders. Another important issue is wrongful convictions. As addressed in the case Herrera v. Collins (506 U. S. 390 (1993)) the Supreme Court has mulled over the possibility that people on death row who profess their innocence could actually be innocent (DPIC, 2008). An important outcome of the case was that new evidence for possible innocence could be weighed and a new trial possibly considered. Numerous inmates on death row have been released because of this and their innocence subsequently affirmed through new scientific evidence and technology. II. Stating the problem Does capital punishment deter crime? The pivotal question would seem to be, does capital punishment really deter crime? If public opinion were to be taken as a simplistic barometer to answering this question, it would show that capital punishment as deterrence is perceptual, not factual. The Gallup Poll news service has recorded surveys beginning from 1936 up to the present day which show that public perception is reactionary- people tend to favor it more when confronted with violent and sensational crimes and then falling to record lows when there aren’t any (cited in Gallup Poll, 2004). The fact that the United States is showing declining numbers in death sentences being meted out, from 300 in 1998 down to roughly half of that (143) in 2003 (DPIC, 2008) doesn’t reveal anything except the fact that there are numerous challenges against the criminal justice system which makes for the handing out of death sentences far more difficult than it used to be. Pro-abolitionists are pointing out however that the single most convincing evidence against the death penalty may be the fact that crime statistics and trends show that of the dozen states that have chosen not to enact the death penalty have not had higher homicide rates than states that still impose the death penalty (Bonner, 2000). Highly revealing is the fact that the 10 of the 12 states without capital punishment have homicide rates far below the national average while contrastingly, more than half the states who still impose death have rates above the national average (Bonner, 2000). A state-by-state analysis found that during the last 20 years, the homicide rate in states with the death penalty has been 48 percent to 101 percent higher than in states without the death penalty (Bonner, 2000). Other interesting factual points include the fact that â€Å"homicide rates have risen and fallen along roughly symmetrical paths in the states with and without the death penalty† which means simply that the death penalty as a deterrent doesn’t really work (Bonner, 2000). Critics who are pro-death penalty point out however that there may be other factors which contribute to lower or higher crime rates which are not solely the effect of having or not having the death penalty. They point out other factors contributory to homicide rates such as the state’s demographics, unemployment and police or state defense and security profile. But the analysis found that the demographic profile of states with the death penalty is not far different from that of states without it. The poverty rate in states with the death penalty, as a whole, was 13. 4 percent in 1990, compared with 11. 4 percent in states without the death penalty (Bonner, 2000). III. Virginias death penalty vs. West Virginias life imprisonment A significant point of comparison to make would be between Virginia which still upholds the death penalty as against West Virginia which chooses to mete out life imprisonment. In Virginia, there have been so far 94 executions as of 2005 since the 1976 reinstatement of the death penalty; to be â€Å"eligible† for the death penalty in this state, one must have committed a capital crime under specific circumstances which can include among other things; robbery or attempted robbery; rape or attempted rape or sodomy, or attempted sodomy, the killing of a law enforcement officer; a multiple homicide; murder for hire; murder while incarcerated, etc (VADP, 2005). Virginia Crime Demographic Vs. West Virginia Crime Demographic In the year 2000 Virginia had an estimated population of 7,078,515 which ranked the state 12th in population; this is compared with West Virginia which had an estimated population of 1,808,344 putting it at a ranking of 37th over-all. In that same year, Virginia’s total crime index was 3,028. 1 reported incidents per 100,000 people, ranking it 41st overall. In comparison, West Virginia had a total Crime Index of 2,602. 8 reported incidents per 100,000 people ranking it at 47th highest over-all (DC, 2007). In terms of violent crime, Virginia had a reported incident rate of 281. 7 per 100,000 people ranking it 37th overall; in comparison, West Virginia had a reported incident rate of 316. 5 per 100,000 people ranking it 34th highest occurrence for Violent Crime among the states (DC, 2007). For crimes against Property, the state had a reported incident rate of 2,746. 4 per 100,000 people, which ranked as the state 41st highest. In comparison, West Virginia reported incident rate of 2,286. 3 per 100,000 people, which ranked it 47th highest (DC, 2007) Also in the year 2000 Virginia had 5. 7 Murders per 100,000 people, ranking the state as having the 20th highest rate for Murder; its 22. 8 reported Forced Rapes per 100,000 people, ranked it 45th highest; for Robbery, per 100,000 people, its rate at 88. 9 ranked the state as having the 28th highest for Robbery. In comparison West Virginia’s figures are the following; at 2. 5 Murders per 100,000 people, it ranks 38th highest rate for Murder; for 18. 3 reported Forced Rapes per 100,000 people, its ranking stands at 49th highest; for Robbery, per 100,000 people, its rate at 41. 4 ranks it as having the 41st highest for Robbery (DC, 2007) For about 164. 3 Aggravated Assaults for every 100,000 people, Virginia ranks at the 40th highest position for this crime among the states; every 100,000 people had about 429. 9 Burglaries, which ranks it at the 46th highest standing among the states. In comparison, West Virginia had 254. 2 Aggravated Assaults for every 100,000 people, which indexed the state as having the 24th highest position for this crime among the states; for every 100,000 people there were 546. 9 Burglaries, which ranks it as having the 36th highest standing among the states (DC, 2007). In larceny, Virginia had theft reported 2,064. 8 times per hundred thousand people which ranks it as the 38th highest among the states; broken down Vehicle Theft occurred 251. 6 times per 100,000 people, which makes it good for 38th highest for vehicle theft overall. For West Virginia, Larceny Theft were reported 1,556. 1 times per hundred thousand people which ranks it 50th highest among the states; broken down, Vehicle Theft occurred 183. 3 times per 100,000 people, which ranks the state as having the 43rd highest for vehicle theft overall (DC, 2007). In terms of economy and socio-economic indicators, it is significant to note that the expectation of poverty indicators as suggestive of influencing higher crime rates does not hold true in this comparative analysis of crime demographics between Virginia and West Virginia. Economically, Virginia dwarfs West Virginia in economic size and strength; According to the 2004 U. S. Bureau of Economic Analysis report, Virginia’s gross state product was $326. 6 billion. The per capita personal income was $35,477 in 2004. In 2006 and 2007, Forbes Magazine voted Virginia as having the [ best climate for business] in the United States citing economic growth, business costs/incentives and quality of life (Wikipedia, 2007) In comparison, West Virginia’s has been described as â€Å"very fragile and that according to the U. S. Census Bureau is the third lowest in per capita income ahead of only Arkansas and Mississippi and ranking last in median household income† (Wikipedia, 2007). While it is simplistic to assume that other factors don’t come into play such as the dynamics of crime with changing median incomes, it is hard to ignore the consistency by which the state of West Virginia has bested Virginia in the incidence of various crimes, both capital or lesse in nature across the same population samples. This gives some credence to the argument that even as it cannot be entirely proven that the death penalty does not outrightly deter crime, its use doesn’t give any clear or dramatic evidence that it as as effective as other means of deterents. The fact as proven by the comparison between two states with entirely different socio-economic profiles and crime demographics tends to affirm that those states who don’t use it, do have lower crime rates as a whole. IV. Ethical and moral issues race factor/exonerations/ juvenile/mental health issues The ethical and moral discussions over capital punishment have strong universal resonance; almost since its inception, the the United Nations General Assembly for its part has adopted a Universal Declaration of Human Rights which inevitably promoted a right of life. It was one of the first institutions to recognize and point out attention to the implications of applying the death penalty to juveniles, pregnant women, and the elderly. The international community followed in its footsteps with progressive endeavors in drafting treaties which included the issue of capital punishment and the right to life; it has to be noted though that these treaties to some extent allowed death as punishment, but only in certain extreme circumstances. Despite this exception, many nations throughout Western Europe stopped using capital punishment, even if they did not, technically, abolish it. As a result, this de facto abolition became the norm in Western Europe by the 1980s. (cited in Schabas, 1997). While still holding on to its belief in capital punishment, the United States however has moved towards limitations which it has effectively applied to the ethical and moral questions of the death penalty being applied to juveniles, women, blacks and even the mentally challenged. Some limitations though such as the one evidenced from the 1977 Coker v. Georgia case still stirs up debate as to how the court can stretch the boundaries of limitations. In this case, the U. S. Supreme Court established that the death penalty was an unconstitutional punishment for the rape of an adult woman simply because the victim wasn’t killed. In Ford v. Wainwright, the Supreme Court ruled that extreme care should be taken in capital punishment cases where it can be established that the defendant might be certified to be either mentally ill or mentally retarded; as a result, the Supreme Court in this case, banned the execution of insane persons pending establishment of mental incompetence. Notable was Penry v. Lynaugh in 1989 where the Court upheld that executing persons with mental retardation was not a violation of the Eighth Amendment; but it later reversed itself when in Atkins v. Virginia in 2002, the Court pointed out that national and collective consensus against the meting out of the death penalty on the mentally challenged did indeed qualify it as being cruel and unusual punishment under the Eight Amendment (DPIC, 2008). Race has become a controversial issue due to the fact that as Amnesty International reports: Even though blacks and whites are murder victims in nearly equal numbers of crimes, 80% of people executed since the death penalty was reinstated have been executed for murders involving white victims. More than 20% of black defendants who have been executed were convicted by all-white juries (Cited in Amnesty Report). In Virginia, a study by Civil Liberties Union has branded the state’s administration of capital punishment as â€Å"unequal, unfair and irreversible† and citing that â€Å"race is a controlling factor in the way the death penalty is administered in Virginia† (cited in ACLU, 2003). It is in this context that the Supreme Court in Batson v. Kentucky (1986) provides for scrutiny against a prosecutor who might be biased through striking out jury members of a similar case in a disproportionate manner. In the 1987 case of McCleskey v. Kemp (481 U. S. 279), statistical analysis was used as evidence to point out racial discrimination in Georgia state’s administration of the death penalty. The Supreme Court however ruled it out saying; â€Å"that racial disparities would not be recognized as a constitutional violation of equal protection of the law unless intentional racial discrimination against the defendant could be shown (DPIC, 2008). With regards to the application of the death penalty on juveniles, three significant cases allowed the Supreme Court to rule that the execution of offenders aged fifteen and younger at the time of their crimes was unconstitutional. However, juvenile offenders under the age of 16 who have committed capital offenses can be executed if the state that has jurisdiction over their case does not have a minimum age in its death penalty statute; furthermore, the Supreme Court also held that under the Eighth Amendment, there was no effective prohibition for the imposition of capital punishment for offenders aged 16 or 17. V. Conclusion: Death penalty not a deterrent according to statistics, however majority support capital punishment. Indeed statistics will show that capital punishment is not an effective deterrent to crime; effective comparisons show that there is no significant correlation between lowered crime rates and the deterrent effect in states which implement the death penalty even with the incorporation of socio-economic elements as evidenced in comparing Virginia against West Virginia. In fact, the opposite is true that the crime rate tends to be lower in states without the death penalty. The majority support capital punishment although the prevailing attitude which is shared by the government as well, is to implement it more cautiously with regards to certain issues and sectors as legal, ethical and moral challenges have been raised against it and the criminal justice system as a whole. References ACLU (2003) New ACLU Report Finds Virginia Death Penalty System Riddled with Flaws, Recommends Sweeping Changes.Retrieved January 10, 2008 from http://www. deathpenaltyinfo. org/ Amnesty Report (2003) United States of America: Death by discrimination the continuing role of race in capital cases. Retrieved January 10, 2008 from http://www. deathpenaltyinfo. org/ Bonner, R. (2000) States Without Death Penalty Have Lower Homicide Rates. Retrieved January 10, 2008 from http://www. sfgate. com/ DPIC (2008) Death Penalty Information Center. Retrieved January 10, 2008 from http://www. deathpenaltyinfo. org/. Disaster Center (2007) Virginia Law Enforcement Agency Uniform Crime Reports 1980 to 2005. Retrieved January 10, 2008 from http://www. disastercenter. com/crime/vacrime. htm Disaster Center (2007) West Virginia Law Enforcement Agency Uniform Crime Reports 1980 to 2005. Retrieved January 10, 2008 from http://www. disastercenter. com/crime/wvcrime. htm Gallup Poll Service (2004) Public Support Figures for Capital Punishment. Retrieved January 9, 2008 from http://www. deathpenaltyinfo. org/. Schabas (1997) The Abolition of the Death Penalty in International Law, Cambridge University Press. Retrieved January 10, 2008 from http://www. deathpenaltyinfo. org/ VADP(2005) Virginia Death Penalty Information. Retrieved January 9, 2008 from http://www. vadp. org/info. htm Virginia Economy (2008) Wikipedia. org. Retrieved January 9, 2008 from http://en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Economy_of_Virginia West Virginia Economy (2008) Wikipedia. org. Retrieved January 10, 2008 from http://en. wikipedia. org/wiki/West_virginia.