Female Offenders

Sample details Pages: 26 Words: 7922 Downloads: 2 Date added: 2017/06/26 Category Statistics Essay Did you like this example? Alternatives to Custodial Sentences for Female Offenders This dissertation questions the increase in the female prison population in recent years. It then goes on to outline some reasons against imprisoning women, looking at the alternatives to custodial sentences, and the past and upcoming policy. It suggests that alternatives should be considered over and above custodial sentences as these may be more appropriate for the needs of women. (2) Introduction In the last few years there has been a widespread concern for the numbers of women that are imprisoned. Between 1993 and 2003, the female population increased by almost 200% . Many have concerns about this, for example, The Howard League for Penal Reform published its submission to the United Nations Congress on Crime Prevention, expressing serious concern at the increase in the use of prison for women and the added problems they face in custody. The Howard League for Penal Reform research shows that 4,394 women were detained in 18prisons in England and Wales on 4 March 2005, almost treble the number held in 1993. The number of women experiencing prison over the year has increased by almost 3,000 as most women are sent to prison for only short periods. The number of women on remand has also increased by about a third. Don’t waste time! Our writers will create an original "Female Offenders | Criminology Dissertations" essay for you Create order This has meant that womens imprisonment has come under the spotlight for both the public and academics alike. In response to the growing concerns for the unsuitability of custodial sentences for the majority of women there have been attempts to find alternatives to imprisonment that are more appropriate. There has been much concern about the greater numbers of women being imprisoned for several reasons. In the past there has been a reluctance to see punishment as gender specific. As Carlen (2002:3) points out: Theories of punishment are usually expected to be gender-neutral: the state punishes, the citizen submits and the legitimacy of the punishment is debated according to the jurisprudential principles of the time. But recently, for example, there has been increasing recognition that the criminal profile of women prisoners is different to that of their male counterparts, and the rehabilitative needs of these women are also different to imprisoned men. In addition the needs of the children of some of these incarcerated women are beginning to be recognised. This dissertation will look at some of these issues that are of growing concern, firstly outlining the main reasons why the female prison population has increased in recent years, and then looking at how custodial sentences are inappropriate for the needs of women. It will then go on to consider a few alternatives to custody that may be more appropriate. In doing so it is necessary to take a look at the policy in this area to establish the problems and make recommendations for the future. Pat Carlen puts forward some questions that are asked each time womens imprisonment comes under the spotlight: Is it necessary to sends many women to prison? Are women treated differently to men by the police, the courts and the prisons? Why are so many poor, black and mentally ill women in prison? And so on (Carlen, 1998: 2). This dissertation will attempt to explore some of these questions and the issues that surround them. It aims to show that there is a vast disparity between the present system of womens imprisonment and the needs of the women being sent to them, and in doing so will examine the alternatives to custodial sentences for women. It is important to consider gender differentials at this point. Carlen (2002: 7) puts forward the question: Are women punished differently to men? and in response suggests that there are six main bodies of literature that attempt to answer this question. Firstly, there is the historical literature which focuses on the quantity and quality of womens punishments; Secondly, sociological literature which places the experience of womens punishment within the wider framework of control, arguing that women appear less frequently in the courts as they are more closely constrained by informal controls of family, factory, fashion, men and medicine (Carlen, 2002: 7). Socio-legal studies endeavour to establish whether women are sentenced more or less harshly than men; criminological studies attempt to ascertain and assess the quality of the confinement experienced by imprisoned women. Also a campaigning literature is identified by Carlen, which argues fore variety of reasons that women receive a harsher punishment than that of their male counterparts; and, the literature that has responded to this criticism, for example that provided by the official Home Office Inspectorates. It can be ascertained from the wide review of this literature that firm evidence that supports the fact that women are more severely punished than men is difficult to find, as Carlen points out, In sum, the findings of all this research and scholarship suggest that there is no strong statistical evidence to support claims that women are sentenced more harshly than men.(Carlen, 2002: 7). In addition to this it would be awkward to ascertain the gender-bias as separate from the bias relating to class or race. However, based on the demographic characteristics of imprisoned women, Carlen (2002: 8) argues that although the majority of women are treated more leniently by the criminal justice system (for example see Lederman and Gels Thorpe, 1997, quoted in Carlen, 2002: 8), certain women, in particular those who have been brought up in the states institutional care, have transient lifestyles, have their own children already in state guardianship, are living out with family and male-related domesticity, or are members of the of ethnic minority groups-are more likely to proceed through the criminal justice system and end up in prison. Although this argument does not contend with the argument that women are treated more leniently with men, it complements the argument of Lederman and Gels Thorpe: The likelihood that female offenders may overall receive more lenient treatment than males does not rule out the possibility that individual women receive unusually harsh treatment. (Lederman and Gels Thorpe, 1994: 4) As can be seen from the following chapter, gender influences are evident within all aspects of crime, criminality and the criminal justice system. Gender stereotypes can inform decisions as to whether person has committed a crime, whether they should be prosecuted and found guilty for a crime, and indeed, gender affects how a person might be punished and how this may affect the criminal and society. Criminal law tends to render women as passive victims, and when they appear as criminal they can either treated as irrational, acting under external factors or as unfeminine monsters (Nicolson, 2000:25). Despite this, its only recently that these gender dimensions have been considered, as Nicolson points out, Traditionally criminal law has been analysed and taught as if its rules are gender blind and as if the gender of both the victims and perpetrators of crime is irrelevant(from Nicolson and Bobbings, 2002: 1). This gender-blind approach to crime and the criminal justice system has now been recognised and analysed by feminists and criminologists alike. Fox (2002) urges that it is crucial for both feminist scholars and students of criminal law to engage with the issue of punishment, as this offers a key to understanding substantive law issues, in the past, she suggests, literature has focussed on women who kill, for example, but has failed to put forward a suggestion for whether these women should be punished and how. This paper will attempt to redress this imbalance. (3) Explanations of the Increase in the Female Prison Population In looking at the explanations underlying the steep increase in womens imprisonment in recent years, the study undertaken by Carlen(1998) offers some useful points to consider. She accumulated several opinions in her study which serve to add understanding. A female Prison Governor suggested that the number of prison sentences are higher despite no significant rise in the number of reported crime due to several reasons; firstly, she suggests that it could be andante-feminist approach that says, well, if you women want equality, youve got to take it; secondly, it could be due to the rising pressure on women in society to cope financially without a partner leading to more crime being committed; thirdly, she suggests, it could be that women in the past have been more likely to go down the route of being admitted to a mental hospital which has suffered cuts in funding. A Prison Officer put forward that women are still being sent to prison for trivial crimes, which is supported by prisoner s comments. Carlen summarises the responses given as thus: (1) more women are committing violent crimes; (2) more women who would not have previously gone to prison are going due to increasing involvement with drugs; (3)more black women are going to prison so racism may be the key; or (4)prison is being used to incarcerate the same social categories for women that it always has the destitute, the most obviously gender deviant, and the mentally disturbed but the numbers of women presenting themselves in these categories have increased with growing economic inequality (Carlen, 1998: 51). Another explanation is that women are becoming more violent, indeed the proportion of female prisoners under sentence for crimes of violence against the person was indeed (at 20 per cent) only two present less than the proportion of male prisoners. Fletcher (1975, in Carlen, 1998: 52) supports this view: It is undoubtedly the case that the level of convictions of violence against the person has increased among women. However, he also points out that, the female prison population has risen steeply whilst serious convictions have actually fallen; suggesting that this may be due to longer sentences being served. As will be seen later, it is much more likely that it is the increase in more punitive sentencing for trivial crimes that is more likely to offer an explanation. It is possible that racism is the key to increases in the female prison population, as the Home Office (1997) points out: In June 1996, there were 10,200 people from ethnic minorities in Prison Service establishments. Ethnic minorities accounted for 18percent of the male prison population and 24 per cent of the female population compared with 6 per cent of the male and female populations of England and Wales (From Carlen, 1998: 54). However, there may be other reasons underlying these numbers, and its impossible to disentangle issues of race, gender, and other forms of inequality. Unfortunately there is no time here to consider all the concerns that this issue deserves, except to say that it may be contributory factor to the increased numbers of imprisoned women, but this view is highly contentious. Carlen (1998: 54) suggests that when women are being considered for tougher sentence rather than a milder sentence, they may be escalated up the tariff towards the custodial end more quickly than a male purely because the range of non-custodial facilities for women is narrower. However, although all these concepts will serve in some way to increase the numbers of female offenders serving custodial sentences, the most likely and supported factor is the economic and social status of women: despite exaggerated claims about increasingly violent and addiction driven female offenders, it appears that there is consensus amongst most analysts and commentators that the steep increases in the numbers of women received into British Prisons in the1990s can best be explained by the increased numbers of women in the social categories of economic need and social deprivation who have traditionally been more vulnerable to imprisonment, and by the increased punitiveness of the courts towards female offenders in general. (Carlen, 1998: 56) (4) Reasons Against Imprisoning Women The Feminist Response In looking at the feminist response to criminal justice for women, firstly it is important to look at the general models of punishment that exist today. Fox (2000: 51) points out that traditionally there are three main theories of punishment retribution, deterrence and rehabilitation. The retribution model is concerned with the notion of vengeance, and balancing the punishment with the level of harm inflicted on the victim. Advocates of this just desert approach(Clarkson and Keating ) claim that it ensures proportionality between crime and punishment, promises limited punishment, helps reduce sentencing disparity and protects rights by restoring due process. However this approach is open to criticism due to its lack of consideration of individual factors such as poverty, unemployment, inequality and gender, assuming that every individual is an autonomous member of society. Similarly, the deterrence model focuses on rational autonomous action through its aim of discouraging crime through the threat and example of punishment, which like the latter model does not take into account individual differences, including the responsibility held by criminals. Fox (2000: 53) suggests that the rehabilitation model appears more promising from a feminist perspective as it aims to secure conformity through inner positive motivation on the part of the individual(Clarkson and Keating ) and its focus on understanding rather than condemning the offender, through treatment. Although it has been debated as to whether this model can be characterised as punishment, but as Fox recognises, treatment oriented approaches can involve punitive interventions under the guise of treatment. The criticism of this approach is similar to that of incapacitation theory whish aims for protective sentencing. By imposing longer or more severe punishments thee criminal may become unable to commit more crimes. Fox discusses that because of the special privations which prison sentences may inflict on female prisoners, it this may have greater impact on women. Therefore it is suggested that a new rationale for punishment that differs from the traditional frameworks to encompass gender differences is needed. Howe takes the view that the definition of punishment needs to be expanded to incorporate broader social control mechanisms, son that it, enables us to forge links between two critical projects: the masculinise one, of analysing the emergence of punishment regimes in the context of the States power to punish, and the feminist one, of mapping the differential impact of disciplinary power on lived female bodies.(Howe, 1994, see footnote 5). This focus on the body as a means of criticising models of punishment is typical of some writers, for example, Wait who argues that the body is a vehicle for control, in regards to examples such as electronic tagging, the forced separation of parents from children and spouses from each other, as well as community service and probation orders that require the body to work in particular ways, he comments that: The pain inflicted upon it may be less direct, the mark it makes and traces leaves less visible; but the exercise of coercive discipline over the body and a recognition of the anguish it is capable of experiencing are still at the heart of punishment(Wait, 1996, from Fox, 2000: 58). Fox puts forward that this can apply to other types of punishment too, namely, forced treatment for drug and alcohol dependency and the use of boot camps, chain gangs and capital punishment in the US. Focus on the body, she suggests, can make the diverse ways in which women are placed under surveillance, disciplined and punished more apparent, and that practices such as imprisoning pregnant women, handcuffing labouring women, separating mothers from their children and strip searching tend to force people to confront the reality of punishment. As can be seen a focus on the body can take forward feminist perspectives in its struggle against the patriarchal nature of the States criminal justice system. Although greater numbers of women continue to receive custodial sentences, proportionally more women offenders in both the US and Receive probation, or absolute or conditional charges. Pat Carlen(1985, quoted in Fox, 2000: 60) puts forward a potential reason for this: the majority of women in trouble are much more likely to be in receipt of medical, psychiatric or welfare regulation than caught up in the machinery of criminal justice, which accounts for the courts readiness to require social and medical reports for female offenders, particularly where the offence is unnatural or violent The Specific Needs of Women This section will outline some of the identified needs of female offenders focussing on those needs associated with family and mental health issues. Family It could be argued that womens identity as mothers is critical in sentencing practice. Fox (2000:62) argues that those women who conform to the traditional stereotype as mothers can more easily avoid being labelled as criminal, whilst conversely, women who do not conform to this stereotype compare unfavourably, and women who are judged to fails wives or mothers, such as young single women who commit offences as members as gangs, for example, are treated relatively harshly. This highlights how gender roles can have an effect on criminal procedure in general, and sentencing. The Home Office report offered by Lederman and Gels Thorpe confirm that this is the case, reporting that the degree to which a female offender conforms to traditional gender roles, especially regarding her marital status, is the most influential factoring how she is regarded by the courts. Therefore it seems that the discrimination faced by women in society carries over to the criminal justice system. Carlen (1998: 74) in her study looked at the different experience of women in prison compared to that of their male counter parts. She found that the most resounding response related to womens role within the family both in terms of ideology and function. This was described mostly in terms of womens role as mothers, although, also included their roles of primary care-giver to other family members, including the dependency that men had upon them. For example, male staff recognised that a powerful mix of biological ties, emotional bonds and family ideologies can affect a womans prison experience (Carlen, 1998:74). One respondent in particular commented that, in 99 per cent of cases when a man comes to prison he has the knowledge that his children are being looked after and the rent will be paid by the DSS, however women tend to lose their homes, and often their children to foster care. Another commented that the females have a closer bond to their children and it affects them far more. In regards to remand, one respondent suggested that, If a woman has a baby while she is on remand in custody, social services will be contacted and the baby would be taken off her. Shes being denied the right to bond with that baby at such a vital stage Another problem that we have is that if they are sentenced we initiate the procedure for applying for a Mother and Baby Unit, but there are not enough mother and baby spaces for them to go to. (A Prison Officer, from Carlen, 1998: 79) Contemporary Criminal Justice policies can have a detrimental impact on families, in terms of both the impact of a mothers imprisonment on their children and the impact upon the mothers. With the striking increase in numbers of women serving custodial sentences the effect that this can have on the children that a proportion of these women have needs to be taken into consideration. Ideology that contends with the view that female offenders do not deserve privileges such as regular contact with their children has a lack of regard of the fact that this also penalizes the children, Clarke (1995) refers to these children as the unseen victims of a mothers incarceration. Although removing a child from the criminality associated with their mothers is often considered to be in the best interests of the child, this removals harmful in itself. Snyder-Joy and Carlo (1998), in their review of some of the research carried out that look at the effects of the child, found that incarcerating mothers may produce serious negative effects for the children. They found that the forcible separation and lack of close contact between mother and child may cause psychological and behavioural problems for the children, such as aggression, poor school performance, attention deficit, anger, poor social skills, depression, and sleep disruptions. In addition to this, children of incarcerated parents area risk of also ending up in the criminal justice system. In fact, Barnhill and Dressers 1991 research notes that, children of inmates are five to six times more likely than their peers to become incarcerated themselves (Snyder-Joy and Carlo, 1998: 132). It can be hard to ascertain whether it is the actual imprisonment of mothers that has these effects, rather than say, the economic and social factors that may also affect their mothers, or the general way in which they have been brought up, however the research findings should not be disregarded and the potential effects of custodial sentences of mothers on children should certainly be considered when debating womens imprisonment. Gabel (1992, taken from Snyder-Joy and Carlo, 1998: 132) sums up this situation for some prisoners and their families: Separations are likely to have been preceded by family turmoil, conflict, and dysfunction in many cases relative to family functioning in intact families Many of these families and children are vulnerable even more to further problems and behavioural disorders subsequent tithe separation itself. The latter may increase social, financial, or personal difficulties with which already dysfunctional families cannot cope. As can be seen, the act of removing children from their mothers my produce social, personal and emotional problems for the child. In addition to this the problems that originate during the imprisonment of their mothers, and that may exist prior, will be further compounded if the relationship between mother and child is so damaged that the child may be looked after by the state after release. This in itself is associated with affecting the personal social and emotional development of children and where possible should be avoided where possible. The suggestions made later when alternatives to imprisonment are considered. Imprisonment has adverse effects on women who are mothers even beyond other considerations that have been made in this paper. It has been found that incarcerated mothers report depression, anxiety and fears about their childrens safety while they are apart, as well as feelings of guilt and inadequacy in addition to concerns about returning to the family structure that existed prior to imprisonment.(Snyder-Joy and Carlo, 1998: 135) Punishment is compounded for many female prisoners when they are separated from their children. The majority of incarcerated women are mothers estimates range from 60-80%, and most of these women were providing the primary means of family support prior to imprisonment(research outlined by Dodge and Pogrebin, 2001), Rasche (2000) commented that the harshest single aspect of being imprisoned may bathe separation of mother and child. Mental Health The assumption that women are more likely to require psychological assessment is evident in the recommendations made by the Home Office, which urges sentences to pay particular attention to the treatment of female criminals. Feminists may argue that this emphasis serves to undermine women, for example Carlen and Worrall argue that the normal womens body could be perceived as intrinsically abnormal. Menstruation, pregnancy, childbirth and the menopause result in hormone imbalance which suggests that the women may be imbalanced at these times (From Fox, 2002: 60). However it is argued that this disposition to consider female defendants as medically unsound underpins the trend towards a treatment approach for these women, rather than a custodial sentence which would be deemed as inappropriate for their needs. A further consideration of the mental health issues and needs of female offenders can be seen later. The Efficacy of Prison Carlen (1998: 102) found that overcrowding in prisons meant that the system was unable to care effectively for those inmates that pose special problems of need, danger and risk. In fact it was found that the general consensus of staff working in the prison service was that the most prisons can hope to achieve, due to the combination of overcrowding and increasingly restrictive security measures, was damage limitation rather than equipping inmates to lead good and useful lives when they are discharged. (Carlen, 1998: 149) the incapacitation effect of current levels of imprisonment is not great A general increase in the use of imprisonment, either by increasing the proportion sentenced to custody, increasing the sentences imposed or increasing the proportion of the sentence that offenders spend in custody, would not affect crime levels by any substantial amount. (Tarring, 1993, quoted in Prison Reform Trust1993, in Carlen, 1998:151) The problem with arguing towards a reduction in custodial sentencing for female offenders is that it can be considered a sexist response that is discordant to the attempt of the criminal justice system to treat all equally, and encouraging women to be unlawful without fear of punitive sentence. However, supported by other researchers, Carlen offers a response to this question. She argues that: firstly, the economic, ideological and political conditions in which women break the law are different to those in which man commit crime; secondly, the logic of sentencing tends to be rooted in oppressive and outmoded assumptions about the proper role of women in society; and thirdly, that women who appear before the courts usually will have been subject to informal and anti-social controls (not suffered by their male counterparts) which would already have affected their opportunities for full citizenship, meaning they suffer a double regulation(Carlen,1998: 153). Carlen recommends that unless women have committed very serious crimes, or pose a danger to public which means they must be incarcerated as a matter of public protection, no good can come from imprisoning women, Almost certainly they will require help of some description but always of a kind that no prison can provide. Imprisonment can only damage them further, and make them more likely to break the law in the future. (Carlen, 199: 153) In response to evidence and theories presented by researchers and academics the Government have stated that, Imprisonment is not the most effective punishment for most crime. Custody should be reserved as punishment for very serious offences. (Home Office 1988, taken from Worrall, 1997: 28). However, as can be seen later, government policy has not always reflected this view. (5) Alternatives to Custodial Sentences for Female Offenders As can be seen from the theory and evidence put forward previously, there is increasing support for the majority of custodial sentences for female offenders to be replaced with an alternative method of punishment or control. Alternatives to imprisonment may also supply a better medium for therapeutic intervention than the current prison system. The Howard League for Penal Reform leads the way in alternative thinking in the Criminal Justice System: The Howard League for Penal Reform is today recommending that prison custody for women should be virtually abolished so that only those women who are convicted of serious and violent offences and who represent a continuing danger to the public should be held in custody. For other women offenders community based interventions that make amends for the wrong done and encourage women to change their lives offer the best change of creating a safer society. (Frances Cooke, Speaker for The Howard League, 2005). In the main, alternatives to custodial sentences involve a type of community punishment, in the form of probation, fines, and electronic tagging, for example, or specialist units. Some examples of these alternatives, and their use for female offenders, will be looked at in this chapter. Firstly, though it is important to identify the main barriers to community punishment alternatives, in order to gain a better understanding of the more specific sentences. Worrall identifies many obstacles to community punishment (1997: 13).Firstly she identifies the obstacle of public and media perception that imprisonment is the only way to punish people accordingly, with other punishments viewed as inferior. Secondly, there is the obstacle of unfair or inconsistent sentencing, in that community sentences tend to be reserved for those who can pay, or deemed to be able to benefit from supervision which leaves certain disadvantaged groups in prison. Thirdly, there is the concept of net-widening based on the assumption that alternatives to custody will, rather than defer offenders form prison, draw more people into the criminal justice system that may otherwise have been diverted to another agency. Fourthly, is the problem of enforcement, it is much easier not to comply with on-custodial sentences, and some believe that without the backup of threats of incarceration, community alternatives are not viable. However, despite these drawbacks it is important to consider the benefits of using alternatives to custody. Electronic Monitoring Sections 12 and 13 of the Criminal Justice Act (1991) introduced electronic tagging as a method of supervision and control and could offer a valuable commodity in the criminal justice system. However, electronic tagging systems have had a quite a number of starting up problems, and in some cases offenders under this system have requested to be put into custody as this was deemed preferable, despite Tom Stacey, founder of the Offenders Tag Association suggesting that opposition to tagging was based on wilful ignorance of the appalling nature of prison conditions (Worrall, 1997: 31). The tagging system was criticised for leaving families with very little income due to the restraints upon offenders, and for malfunctioning. According to the Prison Reform Trust (1990) by January 1990, only 46 defendants had been tagged on contracts which cost the tax payer 564,706. Of these 24 had breached the conditions of their bail, been arrested for further offences, or absconded (Worrall, 1997: 32). However, if these problems can be overcome and the system used effectively, electronic monitoring may be recognised as a flexible and cost effective alternative to prison, which may be appropriate for female offenders who have been convicted of less serious, less violent and less harmful crimes. It could provide for effective monitoring and control, whilst being used alongside a programme of support and will allow for family and social ties to be retained to a greater degree than imprisonment Special Units for female offenders who are mothers As can be seen in previous chapters a need for specialist provision for female offenders with children is widely supported. In many cases affine, probation, or a curfew order, monitored by electronic tagging, for example, may be appropriate, however specialist units may also be successful in overcoming some of the problems associated with incarcerating mothers. These would supply an opportunity for female offenders to be punished and monitored without the separation of children from their mothers, whilst also providing support to ensure the issues highlighted earlier, are reduced. Also Carlen (1998: 186) recommends a half-way house, a hostel like establishment to which women could be sent halfway through their sentence and where relevant and feasible their babies and infant children could live with them. This would involve an element of retributive custody, but would recognise womens special needs and those of their children. A similar scheme has been put forward by NACRO after the Woolf report (and discussed by Carlen and Franklin in Prisons 2000). Where imprisonment is the only option, for example for serious offences, better support is needed for mothers and the children affected. Snyder-Joy and Carlo (1998) put forward that parenting classes and a visitation programme may be beneficial in overcoming some of the problems associated with incarcerated mothers, including improving the mother-child relationship and improving the chances of successful parenting post release. The structure of prison life makes it hard for women to maintain or develop those skills that they will need outside of prison, (Snyder-Joy and Carlo, 1998: 135). Weilerstein(1995 ) identifies three issues for women with children in prison: (1)Supportive contact visiting between incarcerated parents and their children is essential for maintaining their relationship; (2) Children need help in the community, especially with social services, to ensure their welfare during their parents absence; and (3), Parents need assistance in better understanding their children and learning to be better parents. Special Units for female offenders with mental health issues Because its more than about just drugs or sex abuse its probably a mixture of both. Its about women who are lacking in confidence, seriously damaged, who dont need to be held in a closed prison, who are quite safe in the community, but who do need really skilled assistance with some of the problems they have here. Thats why Id like to see a small residential unit set up which could have the services of psychologists and medical staff and probation support staff, and with actual programmes to actually address their particular problems. (Governor, 1998, in Carlen, 1998: 164) Small units with access to appropriate treatment and care should be available to all women offenders affected by issues of mental health, although this, as all schemes like it would put financial strain on the criminal justice service, it may be the only way of ensuring that female offenders receive a beneficial sentence, both for themselves and society. A campaign group, Innocent until Proven Guilty outlines the statistics and why there is a need for an alternative to imprisonment for women affected by mental health issues. They point out that the number and rate of mental health issues is much higher amongst women than men. For example, in 2003, 30 per cent of women were reported to have harmed themselves compared with six per cent of men, so that while women make up just six per cent of the prison population they accounted for nearly half (46%) of self harm incidents. Two-thirds of women show symptoms of at least one neurotic disorder such as depression, anxiety and phobias and more than half are suffering from a personality disorder. Among the general population less than a fifth of women suffer from these disorders. In addition they state that thirty-seven per cent say they have attempted suicide. Therefore the group recommends an increase in the provision, and an improvement in the quality of court based diversion schemes for women with serious mental health problems. This could avoid the harm that can be caused by imprisonment, whilst providing better support. Special Units for Female Youth Offenders Specific Young Offender Institutes are not available for women as they are for men. Young women are put into womens prisons and tend not to be held in separate institutions for young offenders(Parliamentary Committee report, 1997). This a grave cause for concern when considering the alternatives to imprisonment, especially for group whose needs almost certainly could not be met in prison conditions. This concern is shared by a prison officer, interviewed by the Howard League in a report named Lost Inside: Prison doesnt deter them. When they leave here they have a criminal record so employment is impossible for them and mostly they will only have a hostel to go to where theyll get little support. If they have a drug problem they will go back to shoplifting or prostitution to fund the drug habit. Its a circle. Its sad. They dont know any other life. Probably the most appropriate incarceration, if this is deemed necessary by the nature of the offence, should be local authority secure accommodation that will meet the educational, social and emotional needs of young female offenders. This could be achieved in several ways: appropriate role models should be in attendance and appositive peer influence should be present, in terms of treatment and education, plans should be on an individual basis that cater for differing needs, and should be compiled in partnership with the offender to improve the chances of full participation. Inmates should be taught life and social skills, and given the opportunity to improve chances through education or acquisition of job skills. If successful schemes such as these would address the issues that led the young person into crime and decrease the chance of them re-offending. In1999, the Home Office issued a consultation paper concerning the detention of young offenders that recommended that young offenders aged18-20 years should not be detained in young offenders institutions, and rather be sent to prison. This would only reduce the chances of rehabilitation in most cases and can only be detrimental both to the offender and society. The most appropriate action in most cases would be to issue an order that would involve young female offenders with Youth Offending Teams that recognise and address the specific issues of this group. However, these would have to be very well resourced in order that they are effective. (6)The Policy Background Worrall (1997: 8) outlines the major policy developments since the turn of the twentieth century which portray the development of ideas in relation to criminal justice for groups that were thought to be deemed in need of a specialist policy. For example in 1908, The Children Act and The Prevention of Crime Act provided for separate courts and institution (Borstal) for juveniles. The Probation of Offenders Act1907 set up a professional service to supervise offenders, and The Criminal Justice Act 1914 provided a means for paying fines by instalments. Special provision was also made for inebriates (The Inebriates Act 1898) and for mentally defective criminals (The Mental Deficiency Act 1913). More recently, emphasis has shifted in some part toward developments in alternatives to custodial sentences. The most significant developments being the introduction of conditional discharges, attendance centres (Criminal Justice Act 1948), police cautioning (Children and Young Persons Act 1969) and community service(Criminal Justice Act 1972) with compensation orders being introduced in 1988. This brief overview of policy serves to give an idea of the progress that has been made within criminal justice, however more analysis is needed if the effect major policy has had on female offenders is to be recognised. Rehabilitation had been the ideal of much of policy up until the late 1960s when this optimistic approach to criminal justice came under criticism. It was argued that this approach did not work, and at the same time the New Right sought to buttress individualism, familiarise and nationalism by encouraging the stigmatisation of out-groups and emphasising the need for social discipline (Walker and Beaumont, 1985 from Worrall, 1997: 22). The Conservative Government in1979 brought with it thinking about alternatives to custodial sentences, in particular, reform of the probation service. Walker and Beaumont (1981) advocated a radical socialist approach to probation work, emphasising the role of capitalism, poverty and oppression in the perpetuation of crime. However, in 1984, the Home Office, according to Beaumont (as earlier), established priorities by rationing resources between existing activities rather than prioritising desirable movements.(Worrall 1997: 22-23), which may go some way to explain that despite the plethora of research and literature which was starting to become evident, there was only gradual change in implementing any of the ideas. In fact, at this time prison building was expanding and the prison population rising. Skull suggested that far from reducing the convicted offenders chance of receiving a custodial sentence, the alternatives to custody that were being implemented were becoming no more than supplements to custody (Skull, 1977/1984, for Worrall, 197:25). Worrall attempts to categorise these alternatives into three concepts: self-regulatory penalties; financial penalties; and supervisory penalties. The assumption behind self-regulatory penalties is that the identification which comes with a court order is sufficient enough to prevent further offences. Financial penalties rely on the relationship between money and punishment. This historically rooted penalty is regarded as flexible due to its ability to match the seriousness of offence to the ability to pay, although is criticized for giving the opportunity for the offender to not be held accountable as anyone can pay the fine as long as its paid. Supervisory penalties are based on the assumption that an offender lacks the ability to repair harm done unaided, and includes the probation order, the supervision order the curfew order, the attendance centre order, the community service order, and combination orders. It should be noted that there are several types of control or punishment that do not fall neatly into these categories, such as hospital orders and binding over. The 1990s saw a series of important developments in penal policy worth considering in relation to female offenders. The Holliday report(2000) reviewed these changes, in particular the departure from the principles of the 1991 Criminal Justice Act, and it informed the new sentencing framework announced by the Home Office in 2001 . Although penal policy has a limited influence on sentencing (as can be seen earlier, there are many factors which influence the sentencing, for example in regards to female offenders the fact that they are young and single can increase the chances of receiving a custodial sentence), it does inevitably have a significant influence on the courts. The Holliday report found that there had been a shift in the thinking of the just desserts approach of the Criminal Justice Act as it had come under criticism for being too rigid, not allowing for differences in the situations of offenders and not allowing for substituting help for punishment when this was called for, generally the model raised questions about the unlikelihood of doing justice in an unjust society (Hudson, 2002: 24). The 1991 Criminal Justice Act introduced a twin track style of punishment. As Hudson outlines, (2002: 24) most offences were allocated to the proportionality track where penalties were to be in proportion to the offence, and some offences would be on the risk track, where considerations of risk to the public could allow a higher penalty than the proportionality track. As the 1990s proceeded, the risk track became more influential. This displacement of the dominant track of proportionality is particularly relevant for female offenders because of their disproportionate involvement with probation and the focus of risk in this agency. Also during the 1990s, this increased analysis of risk, saw a blurring of the differentiation between violent and on-violent offences which was important for female offenders. By the time of the 1996 white paper Protecting the Public: The Governments Strategy on Crime in England and Wales, the risk of re-offending was seen as to be as important as the risk of physical danger (Hudson,2002:25) which no doubt has been influential in increasing the numbers of women that are imprisoned. After reviewing sentencing to date, the Holliday report moves onto how sentencing should be considered in the future: The severity of the punishment should reflect the seriousness of the offence and the offenders criminal history; the seriousness of the offence should reflect its degree of harmfulness or risked harmfulness, and the offenders culpability in committing the offence; in considering the offenders criminal history, the severity of the sentence should increase to reflect previous convictions, taking account of how recent and relevant they were (Home Office, 2001) The report found that the biggest increases in imprisonment were or the offences that women were more likely to be convicted of, such as theft and handling, fraud and forgery and so women were more likely to be imprisoned. The disregard for personal situations that was one of the worst possibilities of the just desserts approach meshed with the worst potential of the risk-of-re-offending approach meant that more women with children, more women with bleak economic prospects, more women with addictions, were imprisoned for theft and handling, fraud and forgery(Hudson, 2002:32). With a new emphasis on Prison Works in recent rhetoric, it may be expected that future policy will move away from alternatives to custody, however, much research is not recommending this, as can be seen in other parts of this paper, and this may prove influential in sentencing practice if not policy. Perhaps then, policy will begin to reflect the benefits of alternatives to custody, including those applicable to female offenders. (7) Conclusion In conclusion it seems there are many arguments against imprisoning female offenders, and also a variety of alternatives to custodial sentences that could prove to be effective at addressing the issues raised in analysing gender bias in the criminal justice system, including the needs of female offenders. A Womens Offending Reduction Programme, which looks at the causes of womens offending and seeks to reduce the number of women in prison was launched last year by PaulGoggin (Parliamentary debate 2004). Hopefully this will recognise that prison in its present form is totally inappropriate for the needs of female offenders. Although it can be seen that gender bias needs to be considered when looking at sentencing, some of the most significant social characteristics are common to both male and female prisoners. In England, for example, both have disproportionate numbers who have been raised in institutions and both have a disproportionate amount from the most economically deprived social classes (Home Office, 1992, from Carlen, 2002: 9). As Worrall points out: Playing at restorative justice and mediation in a society as grossly as unequal as ours is, to mix the metaphors, applying no more than first aid to a gaping wound. Such approaches are reflections of adjust and confident society but they do not create it. Only when there is a political will to invest in human, social and cultural capital and willingness for sentences to see custody as the alternative the sentence of last resort will things change.(Worrall, 1997: 150) In this quote Worrall, in the use of her metaphor, portrays an important point. It is not satisfactory for small parts of the criminal justice system to be updated, traditional underlying assumptions will prove to make these small changes ineffectual. Reformist schemes that only address certain issues within prisons are more than likely to give short term legitimacy to the prison system. As Carlen puts forward: prison reform should never be piecemeal, and instead, it requires to be undertake ken within a holistic and progressive programme of reduction (of the prison population) and (gender-tested) transformation(of prisons as we know them). (Carlen, 1998: 165) (8) References Carlen, P. (2000) Against the Politics of sex discrimination: Forth politics of difference and a women-wise approach to sentencing in Nicolson, D. and Bobbings, L. (eds.) (2000) Feminist Perspectives on Criminal Law, Cavendish Publishing: London; Sydney. Carlen, P. (1990) Alternatives to Womens Imprisonment, Open University Press: Milton Keynes; Philadelphia. Carlen, P. (1998) Sledgehammer: Womens Imprisonment at the Millennium, Macmillan Press Ltd: Hound mills; Basingstoke; Hampshire; London. Carlen, P. (2002) Women and Punishment, Will an Publishing: Devon. Dodge, M. and Pogrebin, M.R. (2001) Collateral Costs of Imprisonment for Women: Complications of Reintegration in The Prison Journal, March 2001. Hudson, B. (2002) Gender issues in penal policy and penal theory in Carlen, P. (2002) Women and Punishment, Will an Publishing: Devon. Fox, M. (2000) Feminist Perspectives on Theories of Punishment inNicolsen, D. and Bobbings, L. (eds.) (2000) Feminist Perspectives onCriminal Law, Cavendish Publishing: London; Sydney. Nicolson, D. and Bobbings, L. (eds.) (2000) Feminist Perspectives on Criminal Law, Cavendish Publishing: London; Sydney. Snyder-Joy, Z. K. and Carlo, T. A. (2000) Parenting through PrisonWalls: Incarcerated Mothers and Childrens Visitation Programmes inMiller, S. L. (ed.) (1998) Crime Control and Women: feministimplications for criminal justice policy, Sage Publications: ThousandOaks; London; New Delhi. Worrall, A. (1997) Punishment in the community: the future of criminal justice, Addison Wesley Longman Limited: Essex. Electronic Resources Accessed on 21 March 2005 Howard League (2005) Abolish Prison Custody for Women Embargo, 8th March, 2005 Home Office (1999) Detention in a Young Offenders Institute: a consultation paper Comments by innocent until proven guilty campaign group Our Barbaric Jails: The prison system is failing women (2005), The Observer, January 30th, 2005 Standing Committee Debate, House of Commons, regarding Crime and Disorder Bill The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department Debate,18th Oct 2004 : Column 616

Civil War And The Era Of Reconstruction - 1331 Words

Between 1860 and 1877, the era of reconstruction in America had been ineffably prominent with societal and constitutional change. Between achievements such as the Freedmen’s Bureau of 1865, helping recently freed slaves, to the 14th amendment establishing a set equal rights, multiple advancements to the country had been created. While the dilemmas of the reconstruction period were often caused by the Northern versus Southern ideals after fighting a bloody Civil War, or tackling racial inequality, the question of constitutionality of the era’s laws were regarded as the essential piece to the time’s strife. Moreover, there was often argument if whether the federal government, morally and constitutionality, was privileged to decide on laws not explicitly stated in the Constitution. Supporters of federal government heavy ruling often debated with those in support of sovereign states, leading to deeper issues then who was creating rules. Important topics of the era l ike allowing state government to decide on race issues such as black suffrage, or the enforcement of the Black Codes started at the root of power. With these adverse differences in who should first hold and manifest the power of the nation, great revolutionary debates, ideals, and attacks transpired. These various constitutional and social evolutions catalyzed into a revolution regarding the state and federal power in the nation. A large cause to revolution was the argument as to why a federal and central governmentShow MoreRelatedCivil War And Reconstruction Era1145 Words   |  5 PagesCause of Exoduster Migration to the West In the late nineteenth century, as the civil war and reconstruction era drew to an end, newly freed African Americans were still faced with many problems. Slavery had taken up most if their lives and now that they were free with no jobs. Most resorted in being farmers to former slave owners to make a living. The whites, however, who did not agree with African Americans being free created black codes. These were designed to force freed blacks to work on plantationsRead MoreThe Reconstruction Era During The Civil War1370 Words   |  6 PagesThe Reconstruction Era beginning in 1865 marked the period where white men and recently freed African Americans quarreled over the concept of equality on the basis of race as well as where freedom extended to. After the Civil War, there was a power struggle between the Republican and Democratic parties as they had extremely distinct ideas on whether African Americans should be free and hold citizen rights. African Americans were able to achieve ci tizenship as well as have equality through the 14thRead MoreThe Era Of Reconstruction During The Civil War1275 Words   |  6 PagesThe Era of Reconstruction started in 1855. After the Civil war ended the South was left in shambles. Southern states were left in economic and politic distress and faced renewed social issues. The objective of Reconstruction in the South was to restore the South economically, award freed African Americans the rights to be equal citizens in the eyes of the law, and repair the breakage in the Union. Though the people worked to restore the South they were unable to get over the differences and realitiesRead MoreThe Reconstruction Era During The Civil War910 Words   |  4 Pagessports, and many other things. The Reconstruction Era took place after the end of the Civil War. It lasted from 1965 to 1977. It was the North’s way of making peace with not only former slaves, but the South as well. The Reconstruction Era attempted to better the lives of African Americans by making advancements in education and religion. The 15th Amendment gave African Americans the right to vote. 105 African American colleges were created after the Civil War. 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The project was generally meant to assist the South in reintegrating in the Union and in assisting African Americans to become equal to white individuals in the U.S. The Freedmen were apparently one of the main missions that the Reconstruction was designed for and it actually seemedRead MoreCivil War During The Reconstruction Era906 Words   |  4 Pages During the Reconstruction Era, Congress passed many laws to provide equal rights to people of color. But at the local level, specifically in the South, many Democrats took the law into their own hands. They supported the Ku Klux Klan (KKK) hoping to restore the pre-Civil War social hierarchy. The texts in Going to the Source illustrates two groups of individuals who opposed the KKK. In testimonies given by white witnesses, Republicans from t he North felt the KKK posed a political and social dangerRead MoreCongressional Era Of Reconstruction During Post Civil War Reconstruction2634 Words   |  11 Pagesâ€Å"Failure is simply an opportunity to begin again, this time more intelligently.† —Henry Ford. This was the Southern optimist’s view of what the results of post Civil War Reconstruction could be. Unfortunately, once the Congressional era of Reconstruction began, this view was squandered under federal punishment of the South. This policy led to strained relations between Congress and the ex-Confederate states. The difference of opinion was over how harshly the South should be punished for leaving theRead MoreBenefits Of Reconstruction Era During The Civil War Essay2309 Words   |  10 Pagesthe start of the reconstruction era. African American had also gained a voice in government for the first time in American history. These were just some of the many benefits of reconstruction era. The reconstruction era is a period after the civil war had ended which is the new and improved United States. The civil war was a conflict between the North and the South because of economic differences, social and political, but most importantly Slavery was the main cause of this war. Slavery is aRead MoreEssay about Reconstruction in the Post-Civil War Era663 Words   |  3 PagesAfter the Civil War, the South lay in ruins. Streets were lined with the lifeless bodies of Confederate soldiers whilst the buildings smoldered right down to their foundations. In an effort to restore the South to its former charm, the U.S. government plunged the country into what is now called the Reconstruction Era. President Lincoln’s approach towards reconstruction, known as the 10% Plan, was rivaled by the collaborative effort of Henry Davis and Benjamin Wade; known as the Wade-Davis Bill. Both

Island of the Sequined Love Nun Chapter 60~61 Free Essays

string(39) " saw the numbers written on the paper\." 60 Meanwhile, Back at the Ranch Mary Jean sat behind a desk fashioned entirely of rose quartz veined with fool’s gold and stared out the window at the Houston skyline. A brown haze had risen to the level of her fiftieth-floor office as the exhaust of a million cars huddled against the stratosphere and curled around the city like a huge rusty cat looking for a place to nap. It just made her made as a cowpoke wearing bob-wire pants, but not mad enough, of course, to sell her shares of GM and Exxon. We will write a custom essay sample on Island of the Sequined Love Nun Chapter 60~61 or any similar topic only for you Order Now Blue chips was blue chips, after all, and the great state of Texas ran on oil. The intercom beeped and Mary Jean keyed her speakerphone, not because she needed her hands free to work, but because the phone receiver either got caught in her hairdo or her clip-ons rattled against it making all sorts of distracting racket. There’d been a time, before Prozac, when she’d thought for six months that the FBI was tapping her phone line, only to find out it was a pair of twenty-carat ruby cluster earrings banging against the earpiece. â€Å"Yes, Melanie.† â€Å"Tucker Case on the phone, Mary Jean. He’s been calling all day. I’ve tried to put him off, but he says that people are going to die if you don’t talk to him.† â€Å"Does he sound drunk?† â€Å"No, Ma’am. He sounds serious.† Mary Jean took a deep breath and looked up at the Monet hanging on the far wall. Twenty million dollars, depreciated as office furnishings, ap-preciated to twice its value and donated to a museum as a donation write-off at full value, with no capital gains, and there it would hang until the day of her death when it would go to the museum. And it also matched the couch. â€Å"Put him through,† she said. â€Å"Mary Jean, it’s Tucker.† â€Å"I was just thinking of you. How are you, sweetie?† â€Å"Mary Jean, I’m stone sober and I need you to listen.† â€Å"Go on, Tucker. I got more ears than a cornfield in June.† â€Å"First, I know that there were never any criminal charges filed, and I don’t blame you for trying to get me out of the way. But I could really use some help.† Mary Jean blanched. â€Å"Can you hold one second, darlin? Thanks.† She pushed the hold button and then the intercom. â€Å"Melanie, dear, would you mind bringing me a couple of number five Valiums and a little glass of juice? Thank you.† She clicked back to Tuck. â€Å"Go on, honey.† And Tuck did, for fifteen minutes, and when he finished, Mary Jean said, â€Å"Well, that’s just not right. That’s just terrible.† â€Å"Yes, it is, Mary Jean.† â€Å"We just can’t have that,† she said. â€Å"You give Melanie your number there. I’ll see what I can do.† â€Å"Mary Jean, I really appreciate this. If I could go to anyone else, I would.† â€Å"And hurt my feelings? No, you wouldn’t. Tucker Case, I’ve been selling the power to change yourself for forty years. Now, if I don’t believe in the power of redemption, then I’m guilty of false advertising, aren’t I? You sit tight, now. Bye.† She clicked the intercom. â€Å"Melanie, get me Jake Skye on the line, please. Thank you, dear.† 61 Roundhouse Aloha Tuck stood at the arrival gate amid a group of Hawaiian college students wearing grass skirts and sarongs and festooned with leis they were draping on tourists as they came out of the tunnel from the 747. Tuck spotted Jake Skye well before he came out of the tunnel. He was a head taller than most of the tourists and one of the few who had a tan. Tuck waved to him and Jake tossed his head to show he’d seen him. He came out grinning with his hand extended. Tuck smiled and hit Jake with a roundhouse to the jaw that knocked him back into a group of pseudo hula girls. Jake apologized to the girls and rubbed his jaw as he turned to Tuck. â€Å"We done?† â€Å"I guess so,† Tucker said. He knew that Jake would never apologize for selling him out. Jake fell in beside Tuck and they walked through the terminal. â€Å"I didn’t see that coming. You’ve changed, buddy.† â€Å"I guess so,† said Tuck. â€Å"Thanks for coming.† â€Å"I’m just here to take you home.† Jake pulled two airline ticket folders out of his shirt pocket. â€Å"Mary Jean says you can bring your new girlfriend.† â€Å"I’m not going home, Jake.† â€Å"You’re not?† â€Å"No. I need your help, but I’m not going back to Houston.† â€Å"There’s a stop in San Francisco. You can get off there.† â€Å"No. I’ve got some things I need to do.† â€Å"Buy me a drink.† Jake turned and walked into an open cocktail lounge where a twenty-foot waterfall fell over black lava rock among a forest of bromeliads and orchids. â€Å"Cool airport,† Jake said, pulling a stool up to the bar. â€Å"You ever think about living in the tropics?† Tuck whipped around on his stool and Jake held up his hands in surrender. â€Å"Just kidding. Okay, what’s the story?† This time Tuck told the story leaving out none of the details, and to his credit, Jake did not call him crazy at the end. â€Å"So what do you think you can do?† â€Å"Well, first, I thought you could hack the doctor’s computer and erase the database. It might slow up the process if he has to do all the tissue types again.† Jake was shaking his head, â€Å"Can’t do it, buddy. Even if I wanted to.† â€Å"Why not? I’ve got the password.† Jake drained off the last of his third Mai Tai. â€Å"He’s on a satellite uplink net. The connection only goes two ways if he wants it to. I won’t be able to get in. Besides, it’s not in the mission parameters. I’m supposed to come here, get you, and take you home. Period.† Tuck dug a slip of paper from his back pocket and unfolded it. â€Å"I’ve got these. Maybe they can help.† Jake was still shaking his head, but he stopped when he saw the numbers written on the paper. You read "Island of the Sequined Love Nun Chapter 60~61" in category "Essay examples" â€Å"Where did you get those numbers?† â€Å"They were on the bottom of a desk drawer in Curtis’s clinic.† â€Å"They’re not computer codes, Tuck. You see those letters at the end? BSI? You know what that is?† Tuck shook his head. â€Å"Banc Suisse Italiano. Those are Swiss bank account numbers.† Jake tried to snatch the paper and Tuck pulled it out of his reach. â€Å"You willing to expand the mission parameters?† Tuck said. Jake was staring at the paper in Tuck’s hand. â€Å"How much?† â€Å"Half.† Jake scratched his three-day growth of beard. â€Å"And they were getting how much per kidney?† â€Å"Half a mil.† Jake cringed, then relaxed and put his hand on Tuck’s shoulder. â€Å"What did you have in mind, partner?† â€Å"I want to get the Shark People off the island.† â€Å"How many? Three hundred and change? Hire a ship.† â€Å"I want to go sooner. I want to fly them off.† Jake smiled. The wheels were working now. â€Å"It’s going to take a big plane: 747 or L-1011. That island got enough runway for something that size?† â€Å"Can we get something that size?† â€Å"Not legally,† Jake said. â€Å"I’m not worried about legally. I’m worried about logistically.† Jake stood up. â€Å"I’m not flying it. I get you a plane, I get half. Deal?† â€Å"I’ll give you one of the account numbers as soon as we get the plane. You take your chances whether there’s money in it or not. If I don’t make it, and the money’s in my account, you’re screwed.† Jake considered it, then nodded. â€Å"I can live with that. Let’s go watch the big planes take off.† Tuck was amazed at the way Jake’s mind worked. The second he’d accepted that they were going to steal a 747, it became a problem, and when it came to solving problems, Jake was the best. They stood on an open walkway that overlooked the tarmac, watching the 747s taxiing into the terminal. â€Å"The best thing,† Jake said, â€Å"about stealing a 747 is that no one assumes that anyone is crazy enough to try it.† â€Å"I thought people tried to steal them all the time. It’s a league sport in the Middle East, isn’t it?† â€Å"They hijack, they don’t steal. With hijacking, you have to take a pilot with you.† Jake pointed to a row of planes docked at the terminal by rolling walkways. â€Å"These guys? Out of the question,† he said. â€Å"Why?† â€Å"Because they’ve just come in and they’re low on fuel or they’re being fueled to take off again, and most of the time, if you can get in them, there’s a crew on board.† He pointed to some jets parked near hangars at the far side of the airfield. â€Å"Those are our babies. They’ve got fuel, but they’re waiting for a crew and passengers. After midnight nothing goes out of this airport except FedEx. The advantage of a vacation destination. Nobody wants to fly in our out at night.† The planes were a good half a mile away. â€Å"That’s a long way to go across an airfield without the tower seeing us and calling security. And we have to drive a ramp over to it to get inside.† â€Å"No, we don’t. There’s an emergency escape hatch for the pilots in the roof over the cockpit.† â€Å"That’s four stories up. How are you going to get up to it?† â€Å"Down to it,† Jake said. â€Å"Down?† â€Å"The problem is how to get the hatch unlatched. They only open from the inside.† â€Å"I’m still a little unclear on the ‘down’ part of the plan,† Tuck said. At some point he was going to be on top of a 747 and heights made him nervous. â€Å"Let me worry about that,† Jake said. Then he snapped his fingers as if conjuring the answer to his problem out of thin air. â€Å"I’ve got the answer right here in front of me. What was I thinking? I’m working with the master.† Tuck looked around, thinking that Jake was talking about someone else. â€Å"Are you talking about me? I don’t know how to do anything.† â€Å"But you’re wrong, Tuck, you’re wrong. For this part of the plan we need the cooperation of a flight attendant. Come on, let’s get my bag. I’ve got an extra change of clothes you can wear.† â€Å"What’s wrong with these clothes?† Tuck asked. He was still wearing the oversized and now distressed hand-me-downs of Sebastian Curtis. â€Å"Like you have to ask.† Jake spent an hour studying flight schedules and talking to counter people at the different airlines. Tuck took the opportunity to call the hotel to check on Sepie. She answered on the second ring. â€Å"Hello. How much is washer-dryer combination?† â€Å"What?† â€Å"Maytag washer-dryer combination with minibasket and wrinkle guard. How much?† â€Å"I don’t know. Maybe a grand. Are you okay?† She’d put the phone down and he heard her shouting at the TV, â€Å"Is a grand! Is a grand! You fuckin’ mook! Oh, no.† She picked up the phone again. â€Å"You wrong. Is eleven nine nine suggested retail. You lose.† â€Å"You’re watching ‘The Price Is Right’?† â€Å"They give you things if you know how much. Is very hard.† â€Å"Do you need anything?† Tuck asked. â€Å"I can call room service from here and have them bring you some food.† â€Å"Perfume and lipstick,† Sepie said. â€Å"That’ll have to wait. I’ll be back soon, okay?† â€Å"Okay. Tuck?† â€Å"What, Sepie?† â€Å"What is washer-dryer combination?† â€Å"I’ll explain later. I have to go now.† She hung up on him. Evidently, her fascination with plumbing and television didn’t extend to the telephone. He found Jake talking to a girl at the United counter who was obviously taken with the grungy pilot’s charm. He saw Tuck and said good-bye. â€Å"I’ve found our plane and the crew assignments. We have a ten-minute window to get to Gate 38 so you can work your magic.† The plan was for Tuck to spot a flight attendant coming off the plane, get to know her, and convince her to go back into the jet and throw the latch on the emergency hatch before the plane was cleaned and moved away from the terminal. They waited at the tunnel into Gate 38. The passengers had long since deplaned, as had the pilots. â€Å"Remember, you want to go ugly,† Jake said. â€Å"I know,† Tuck said. He’d changed into Jake’s clothes, which fit him, at least, even if he looked like a guitar player for a Seattle grunge band. â€Å"And old if you can get it.† â€Å"I know,† Tuck said. â€Å"You want a woman who looks like she couldn’t get laid in a men’s colony.† â€Å"I know,† Tuck said. â€Å"Would you back off? I haven’t done this in a while.† â€Å"Like riding a bicycle, buddy.† The first flight attendant out of the tunnel was a pretty blond woman, about twenty-five. â€Å"Pass,† Jake said. The next was a man, and the next a tall black woman who could have been a runway model. â€Å"They’re killing us here,† Jake said. â€Å"How would you feel about going for the guy? He’s our best chance so far.† â€Å"Fuck off, Jake.† â€Å"Just an idea.† They waited for five more minutes before a tired-looking woman in her fifties came down the tunnel pulling her flight bag behind her. â€Å"Go to it, stud,† Jake said. He gave Tucker a little shove. Tuck shoved back without taking his eyes off the woman. â€Å"I can’t do this, Jake.† â€Å"What?† Jake Skye grabbed Tuck’s wrist and pretended to be taking his pulse. Tuck pulled away from him. â€Å"I can’t do this.† â€Å"Don’t pull this shit on me, buddy. She’s getting away. This is what you do.† â€Å"Not anymore, I don’t.† â€Å"Well, I sure as hell do.† Jake pulled off the flannel shirt he was wearing open over his black T-shirt and threw it to Tuck. â€Å"Go back to your hotel and wait for me to call. What room are you in?† â€Å"Twelve-thirty.† Jake pushed the T-shirt sleeves up just enough for his biceps to show and took off down the concourse after the middle-aged flight attendant. Tuck went outside and found the shuttle to the Hyatt Regency. During the ride back to the hotel, he realized that he had no idea how to explain a washer-dryer combination to someone who had never worn shoes or a shirt until two days ago. He decided to go with magic. How to cite Island of the Sequined Love Nun Chapter 60~61, Essay examples

Market and Competitive Strategy Plan Free Solution for Students

Question: Discuss about the Market and Competitive Strategy Plan. Answer: Introduction New Zealand is one of the renowned countries specified for the tea drinkers across the world. This small country includes thousands of cafes for the customers who have been usually visiting the place. It is noted that tea drinking has been the old tradition in the history of New Zealand. The rations of early settlers, huts of whalers, and the culture of the immigrants are associated with such tea cultures in Australia (Rashid Ghose, 2015). The review of the statistical report is also confirming the high consumption amount of tea among the people all over the country. It has been noted that the kiwis usually consume more than 3kgs tea in a year. The growth of cafe culture has changed the drinking habits of the kiwis. The emerging sophistication in the tea cafes and tea markets are also considered as the major reason for the growing competitive market in New Zealand. The study will be discussing the marketing and strategic plans for Unilever and Lipton Ice tea in New Zealand market. The analysis of the company background will be presented in this study. The theory based analysis will provide the knowledgeable insight regarding the subject matter. The categorisation of the strategic implementation will be discussed. Depending on such categorisation and discussion, the preferable recommendations will be provided. Background of the Company Unilever and Lipton Ice Tea has been inspiring the tea drinkers since the year of 1890. The rapid growth in the tea industry has become much beneficial for the company to promote and strengthen the brand position globally. The company has even concentrated on promoting a range of teas and iced teas that create the complete refreshments. The brand is much renowned for the high quality tea including green and black tea. Lipton Tea offers different types of the tea ranges, such as bags tea, herbal infusion, black tea, green tea, leaf tea, flavoured tea, and a range of ice tea (Unilever.com. 2016). The company offers Lipton Chai Latte and Lipton Yellow Label in New Zealand market. It is noted that the Tea is a product that is preferably used for refreshing the mind. It is considered as the most widely consumed product all over the world. The report follows that the people in Australia usually consume almost over 22 million cups of tea every single day. Moreover, people prefer the tea for their healthy lifestyle. The company in fact offers a range of ice teas, which is free from artificial colours and refreshed ingredients (Qasim, 2015). The flavours of lemon, peach, and free citrus are also available. It is notified that the company has introduced an array of tea-based drinks and tea soft drinks with zero calorie infusions. Lipton Ice Tea is even much committed towards maintaining sustainability. The company was appreciated as the most committed organisation, which maintains sustainability by sourcing tea in a large amount of scale. It is presumed that by the year of 2020, almost 100% of the tea of this brand will be sustainably sourced. In this current time, the company is planning to expand and promote the brand in New Zealand market. The market is quote preferable for the tea business, but it has several challenges as well due to high competency level. The study will be formulating the strategic marketing plan for promoting the brand in New Zealand market. BCG Growth Share Matrix Unilever has captured the third largest position in world for offering high quality consumer goods. The BCG matrix tool is one of the most preferable marketing techniques to understand the portfolio management. Shanbhag, Dutt Bagwe (2016) mentioned that the principles of such marketing tool are classified into categories, market growth, and shares. Figure 1: BCG Matrix (Source: Shanbhag, Dutt Bagwe, 2016) Star (High market Growth and High market share): The star category is based on the products, which have the high market value and share (Preczewski, McNatt Abecassis, 2014). It is noted that there are several products associated with Unilever Brand are holding a large market share for strengthening the position. Due to the innovative approaches and new competitors in the market, the company may face several challenges. Therefore, it is essential for the company to invest more capitals for bringing innovations in the marketing process. For example, Lipton is one of the famous brands of Unilever. This brand is the world class tea brand that has captured the significant place in the world. Even though the brand has the strengthened and competitive position in the market, the company continued investing on an innovative technology. This particular technology is named as TESS technology, which is used for the fresh fragrance from the picked leaves. The application of such technology is e nabling the re-launch of Lipton Yellow Label, which brought much success to the brand in last few years. Cash Cow (Low Market growth and High market share): The cash cow defines the products, which has already introduced and has reached to the saturation point. This category is essential for Unilever, as the brand requires further investments for generating more revenues (Kotler, Berger Bickhoff, 2016). The profits derived from such investments can then be allowed for re-investment to promote the Star and Problem Child Brands. Problem Child (High Market Growth and Low Market Share): This particular segment stands for the future growth of the products. It is noted that some of the newly launched brand requires much investments for maximising the potentiality in the competitive market (Kozlenkova et al. 2015). It is more like value added services that are useful enough to attract more customers and strengthen the competitive position in the market. It is also signified that the Cash Cow products usually grows further and more frequently (Tao Shi, 2016). Therefore, the company invest more efficiency in this problem child product to exploit those cash cow products. For example, Unilever invested more capital on Marmite brand, and the profit gained from these products are used for re-investing in a brand like T2. Dog (Low Market Growth and Low Market Share): These products have lost the time and no more exciting for the customers. In fact, the company may not receive much profitability by investing resources in these products. If the company happens to keep these products in the market, it will just waste the resources, which are generated from the effective products. If this particular product segment can contribute any benefit to the company, then it may exist for long. However, having no such investment return, Unilever had eliminated many brands, which were wasting the resources in spite of generating any profit. Corporate Growth Strategy Unilever and Lipton Tea together has been focusing much on the sustainable future on the business. The maintenance of the sustainability is one of the major weapons for implementing the strategic business. It is to be noted that in this current scenario, the world has been facing several troubles like scarcity of water, lack of food supplies, high temperature, and increasing rate of the unhygienic atmosphere. On the other hand, the population is also growing much frequently (Hasan, 2015). Therefore, each day, the companies have to face several environmental challenges, which are creating the significant impact on business. In keeping concentration on such troubles, the company has undertaken several environmental welfare initiatives that are providing the fruitful solutions to such challenges. In the year of 2010, the company launched the Unilever Sustainable Living Plan, which is considered as the blueprint for the future sustainable growth of the business. In fact, it is noticed that the Lipton Ice Tea is introduced in a new refreshing bottle. The brand tries to reduce the use of plastics while preparing the containers. Moreover, the tea is prepared such a way that it consumes less water, less energy, and less emission of Greenhouse Gas. The leaves are picked fresh and then prepared by taking advices from the experts. It generally adds more flavour and tastes for minimising the environmental footprints. The brand has undertaken such sustainable strategy in order to strengthen the competitive position and ensure the business growth. Competitive Landscape In the year of 2015, Unilever brand started dominating the RTD tea in New Zealand. The ratio of value share increased up to 57% in that particular year. The brand was then specified as the first brand in that category and was built in off-trade and on-trade channels. The company introduced a bigger volume plastic pack of 1.5 litre bottle (RTD Tea in New Zealand. 2016). In the year of 2015, the Best Beverage Company broke the record by initialising the biggest value chain share in RTD tea. The AriZona Brand made the profitable approaches in both off-trade and on-trade channels (Khamis, 2012). It is noted that the brand is much convenient in retailing channels for its distinctness. It is even available in 500 ml bottle as well. Hence, apparently, it is seen that the competitive landscape is much prominent for tea business in New Zealand. Market Categorisation: Miles and Snow and Porters Generic Strategy Raymond Miles and Charles Snow introduced a new typology of the marketing strategy that considers four different functional areas. According to Walker (2013), these four functional areas are based on the specific rate at which each organisation determines to change the market or products. In case of Unilever and Lipton Ice Tea, there is no exception found. These four functional areas are described further: Prospectors: Prospector is the main responder to the changes that are going to be undertaken by an organisation (Miles, Miles Cannon, 2012). Mostly, the organisations, which seek for the better opportunity and the higher market shares, undertake such prospector strategy to strengthen the business position. It is notified that Unilever and Lipton Ice Tea is introducing new technologies to develop the product value in New Zealand market. The innovative use in the business functionalities is thus prominently shown in the launch of teas in New Zealand. Defender: Many of the firms pay most attention towards acquiring supports from defenders instead of implementing growth and innovative strategies. These organisations usually maintain customer retention policies and stable growth for the existing products. These organisations thus fall under the categories of defender. However, Unilever and Lipton Ice Tea is more fascinated about the innovations and growth opportunities. Hence, the company does not follow this category. Analyser: It is seen that few of the organisations follows the analyser strategy for maintaining market share and the innovative approaches as well. However, these organisations still cannot match the innovative level of the prospectors (Walker, 2013). Unilever and Lipton Ice Tea found that the brand requires more investments on innovations, which became the major focus for the company. Hence, it did not acquire such analyser strategy to promote the products in New Zealand market. Reactor: The Miles and Snow theory explains that the reactor strategy does not maintain consistency in making strategic approaches. Several organisations react to several environmental events, but fail to anticipate those events. Therefore, Unilever and Lipton Ice Tea has not accepted this strategy, as the company is much focused on innovations. Porters Generic Strategy Delmas Pekovic (2015) implied that the business-level strategy indicates the achievement of the organisational core competencies. The organisations keep the focus on satisfying the customers preferences and strengthening the competitive position. However, Unilever and Lipton Ice Tea has undertaken the porters generic strategy to establish the business in New Zealand. The generic strategy includes three different metrics, such as cost leadership, focus, and differentiation. Cost Leadership: Unilever and Lipton Ice Tea has concentrated on the wider range of the customers by focusing on the pricing strategy. It is noted that the internal efficiency is mainly based on the pricing parameter for obtaining the margin that helps in acquiring the sustainable business. This cost leadership strategy is based on the standardised products, which have certain generic qualities. Therefore, the company has concentrated on such pricing strategy of tea that is launching in New Zealand market. Differentiation: Unilever and Lipton Ice Tea is much concerned about the needs of the customers. It is analysed that drinking tea has been the old tradition in New Zealand. Accordingly, the tea market is much competitive. Hence, the company started thinking about the fruitful differentiation strategy that can add the unique value to the offered products. The company started preparing the tea with several refreshing flavours and fresh leaves. In fact, the brand has engaged several experts to ensure more effective tastes of the ice tea that will be offered to the customers (Ibrahim, 2015). In order to maintain the parameter of the carbon footprints, the company started using the ingredient, which consumes lesser energy, lesser water, and amount of plastic is also reduced. The products include the high quality ingredients and definite features. Focus: It is noted that Unilever and Lipton Ice Tea has fixed the concentration on the demographic feature of the overall population. Tea is a product that is consumed by the people of all age group. Hence, the target customers Unilever and Lipton Ice Tea include men, women, young, and adults of all ages. The tea market in few years ago is also comparable to the current emerging market. The changes in the customers preferences and demands are also highlighted accordingly. The innovation is thus associated in using technicalities for ensuring the customers satisfaction. Marketing Strategy (Downstream and Upstream Activities) Niraj Dawar defined that upstream activities involve many of the organisational resources, which are associated with the production and products. The divisions, profitability, and the measurement associated with the products and productions are explained in the upstream activities (Leavy, 2015). On the other hand, downstream activity includes the satisfaction, retention, and acquisition of the customers. If the organisations can undertake the efficient upstream activities, it will be beneficial in managing the downstream activities (Langie, 2014). Hence, it can be inferred that both the activities are interlinked to each other. Similarly, Unilever and Lipton Ice Tea has been maintaining the upstream functions by obtaining ideas from the experts while preparing the tea from tea leaves. The flavours are added to satisfy the customers and draw their attention. Moreover, the competition is much higher in the New Zealand tea market. Hence, the improvement of the companys upstream activiti es can generate supports from the customers by achieving the satisfaction level. Strategic Marketing Theory Varadarajan explained the strategic marketing framework by explaining the Resource-Advantage Theory, which is widely known as R-A Theory of Strategic Marketing. This R-A Theory includes four major dimensions, which are needed to be considered by the organisation. These dimensions are domain, definition, foundational premises, and fundamental issues (Varadarajan, 2015). The further explanations are provided below: Domain: In the field of strategic marketing, the first concern is to focus on the domain of the products. Lipton Ice Tea is a brand of Unilever, which prepares the tasty flavoured tea with refreshed leaves. The experts put their knowledge to mix the high quality ingredients that are healthy for humans. The brand identity is also much effective for strengthening the competitive position in the New Zealand market. Definition: Definition is generally indicating the specifications of the decisions undertaken by the organisation while developing market or products (West, Ford Ibrahim, 2015). In case of Unilever and Lipton Ice Tea has decided to evaluate the tea market in New Zealand. With the addition of more flavoured ingredients and refreshments, the company is trying to maintain the environmental welfare besides launching such products. Hence, the market definition represents the decisions undertaken by the company. Foundational Premises: The foundational premises refer to the generalisation of the products, markets, and the time schedules (Lee, 2014). Unilever and Lipton Ice Tea is launching the tea products in New Zealand market in a short time span. The company is mainly focusing on the business-to-customer or B2C process for introducing the new flavoured tea in the market. Fundamental Issues: The observed differences in the market are referred as the fundamental issues. The major obstacle that Unilever and Lipton Ice Tea might face in the New Zealand market is the enormous threats from the competitors. The focus on the high quality and the customer satisfaction level can mitigate such issues in a significant way. Recommendation It is true that Unilever and Lipton Ice Tea has been maintaining the environmental welfare by reducing the carbon footprint level. However, it is also noted that the New Zealand market has been following the tradition of drinking teas since ages. The tea market is widely accepted by the consumers of all age. Accordingly, the competitors are also a major concern for the business sustainability. However, reviewing the different tactics undertaken by the company, it can be recommended that Unilever and Lipton Ice Tea requires focusing on more capital resources. Investment on the upstream activities will be much beneficial for the company to gain the attention of the customers. Moreover, the structured pricing strategy will also be much fruitful for the company to ensure the strengthened competitive position in the business market. It is noted that the investment on the production will gather more revenues that can be invested for the other brands. Hence, focus on such strategic marketin g process may derive profitability to the company in a significant way. Another recommendation is to undertake the attractive promotional activities. If the company can facilitate the effective promotional activities with the help of different latest technologies, it would be easier to draw the attention of the customers. The featured broadcasting of the tea preparing style would gather the interests of the customers in a significant manner. Conclusion The study is analysing the marketing strategy undertaken by Unilever and Lipton Ice Tea, which is introducing the special flavoured ice tea in the New Zealand market. The company follows a set of marketing strategies for adding the efficiency. Reviewing the different typologies of the theories that are preferable for the strategic marketing process, it is noted that the company requires focusing on the upstream activities more. The achievement of the customer satisfaction level would be beneficial for the sustainable development of the company in this competitive market. References Delmas, M. A., Pekovic, S. (2015). Resource efficiency strategies and market conditions.Long Range Planning,48(2), 80-94. Hasan, M. M. (2015). Marketing Analysis of Unilever.Total Quality Management,11, 13. Ibrahim, A. B. (2015). Strategy Types and Small Firms' Performance An Empirical Investigation.Journal of Small Business Strategy,4(1), 13-22. Khamis, S. (2012). Putting the tea in australia: The Bushells brand 19982006.Australasian Journal of Popular Culture,2(1), 9-22. Kotler, P., Berger, R., Bickhoff, N. (2016). Strategic Frames of Reference: The Key Tools of Strategy Determination, Their Principles, and How They Interact. InThe Quintessence of Strategic Management(pp. 23-53). Springer Berlin Heidelberg. Kozlenkova, I. V., Hult, G. T. M., Lund, D. J., Mena, J. A., Kekec, P. (2015). The role of marketing channels in supply chain management.Journal of Retailing,91(4), 586-609. Langie, T. (2014). Comparing the success of two joint ventures in the ready to drink tea market: implications for alliance management theory. Leavy, B. (2015). Three ideas for creating new value through managing risk in todays dynamic environment.Strategy Leadership,43(1), 16-25. Lee, Y. (2014). Improving customer equity through value creation and value appropriation. Miles, P., Miles, G., Cannon, A. (2012). Linking servicescape to customer satisfaction: exploring the role of competitive strategy.International Journal Of Operations Production Management,32(7), 772-795. Preczewski, L., McNatt, G., Abecassis, M. (2014). Transplant Center Management and Leadership.Textbook of Organ Transplantation, 1533-1541. Qasim, M. S. (2015). Study of competitive strategy and promotional scheme of Lipton Green Ice Tea.International Journal in Management Social Science,3(4), 96-101. Rashid, S., Ghose, K. (2015). Organisational culture and the creation of brand identity: retail food branding in new markets.Marketing Intelligence Planning,33(1), 2-19. RTD Tea in New Zealand. (2016). Euromonitor.com. Retrieved 28 September 2016, from https://www.euromonitor.com/rtd-tea-in-new-zealand/report Shanbhag, M., Dutt, M. L., Bagwe, S. (2016). Strategic Talent Management: A Conceptual Analysis of BCG Model.Imperial Journal of Interdisciplinary Research,2(7). Tao, Z. Q., Shi, A. M. (2016). Application of Boston matrix combined with SWOT analysis on operational development and evaluations of hospital development.European review for medical and pharmacological sciences,20(10), 2131-2139. Unilever.com. (2016). Unilever global company website. Retrieved 27 September 2016, from https://www.unilever.com/brands/our-brands/lipton.html Varadarajan, R. (2015). Strategic marketing, marketing strategy and market strategy. Journal Of The Academy Of Marketing Science, 38(2), 119-140. Walker, R. M. (2013). Strategic management and performance in public organizations: Findings from the miles and snow framework.Public Administration Review,73(5), 675-685. West, D., Ford, J., Ibrahim, E. (2015).Strategic marketing: creating competitive advantage. Oxford University Press.

Macbeth Diary Entries free essay sample

I am weary and suspective of Macbeth as he questions much of my movement with Fleance that afternoon. I really feel something amiss. Maybe it is just Macbeths insecurity for all i know. It is late and Fleance is waiting for me in the woods. I must go now. Macbeth and I just had just came back from a battle. A great one indeed. We had came ashore and were proceeding back to Forres when we came upon this desserted and gloomy heath where we were most shcoked to be greeted by three witches that had long beards strecthing from their ragged cloaks. I was uncertain what gender they were, but i knew something was wrong. At first sight, the three creatures greeted Macbeth Thane of Glamis. They then started chanting prophesis that concerned Macbeth and me. The first witch chanted,All hail,Macbeth! Hail to thee,Thane of Glamis followed by the next All hail, Macbeth! Hail to thee,Thane of Cawdor and the last of which chanted All hail, Macbeth ,that shalt be king hereafter! Hail they chanted three times together and continued prophesising. We will write a custom essay sample on Macbeth Diary Entries or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Lesser then Macbeth, and greater. the first witch chanted. Continued the second Not so happy, yet much happier. Thou shalt get kings ,though thou be none So all hail, Macbeth and Banquo. Chanted the last of witch. I was overwhelmed by suspision when i heard those prophesies whilst Macbeth was, I should say rather engrosed and interested in their prophesies. Macbeth wanted them to stay but in a blink of an eye, they suddenly disappeared into thin air. Macbeth was furious. Stay you imperfect speakers, tell me moreMacbeth Was truely interested in these creatures prophesy, but i just got a bad feeling about this. Dear Diary, The news my cousin brought filled me with an unimaginable grief. My family, brought to the graves by such feeble means, so defenceless and alone while I was off in England arguing with Malcolm about my loyalty, which how dare he question it! Only a monster would kill innocent children and women, there was no reason for it! How can they live with themselves? As I write I am miles away from Fife for how could I stay when that atrocity happened in the place where I would have rested? I can never forgive myself for what happened that day, that fateful day which has brought me nothing but pain. I lay in my bed last night feeling alone and confused. My thoughts were in flux; I had ranged between crushing, overwhelming depression, during which I had shed countless tears onto my blankets, and anger so volatile I got up to put on my armour and immediately head to Fife (thrice), in hopes of catching the perpetrator only to remember my family, take off my armour, and lay back down. My wife would not have liked me to be dwelling on avenging their deaths but it is the only thing my mind has been set on. I have thought of killing myself, taking away the pain but I cannot do that! What would people think? I have no heir to my title or wealth, they would think I killed my family myself! Then I think of that assassin and him off gallivanting killing more innocent people and breaking other peoples hearts and I know hes got to be finished. If I ever find out who has killed my loved ones, I will be the death of them or they be the death of me. Macduff I am writing this entry, sitting at a desk in Scone. I have recently witnessed my dear friend Macbeth crowned King of Scotland. I am still in shock after the strange happenings of the past few days, so I am not yet overcome with neither joy nor grief. I should be happy for Macbeth, yet I feel that something inside me will not allow me to be so. These events, I fear, have not happened by chance, but that something evil, something supernatural is at work. Macbeth and I felt immense pride, on that fateful day as we rode, victorious, over the moor. We had just defeated the ghastly Norwegians, though by uncivilized means. Macbeth rightly said So foul; and fair a day I have not seen. Not far into our journey, we came upon three weird sisters. They all hailed Macbeth Thane of Glamis, Thane of Cawdor, and king hereafter. True, he was Thane of Glamis, but we were puzzled, to say the least, about the other two statements. As I was intrigued, I questioned them about my future. In reply, they told me that my sons would me kings, and that I would be Lesser than Macbeth, and greater. This confuses me greatly, for had they not just said that Macbeth would be king? Of course, I chose not to believe these instruments of darkness. Amazingly, minutes after the sisters had vanished, Macbeth was announced Thane of Cawdor. We were both quite taken aback, for the beings had foretold that very thing. I think our minds both raced towards the third prediction, All hail Macbeth, that shalt be king hereafter! I believe that Macbeth began to think about how to make the third prophecy a reality. We spoke no more about it. Surprisingly, Malcolm was named Duncans successor, though Macbeth was firm favourite in my mind, at least.