Coming to the states Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Coming to the states - Essay Example These facts relate to the level of freedom, quality of life, and the cultural diversity here in the US. This is why the United States is a popular destination for students who are seeking a high quality education in a multi-cultural environment. Over time I have realized that the country is so racially diversified that I do not feel as if I have come to an alien place and it automatically helps me integrate into the society over here. Hence, the United States is a perfect location not only to study but also to live in. I have never felt more freedom in any other place than in the United States, which is why I like doing my studies here in the US. Freedom is a major plus point of studying in the United States. Every individual has the freedom to do whatever they want without being restricted. I am guaranteed my fundamental rights in every way including freedom of speech, actions, and thought. This can be clearly witnessed in the fact that no one points a finger at me or my religion even if I practice it openly without indulging others. Moreover, the kind of dressing that I wear does not concern anyone whereas in my country a person is judged upon by the clothes he wears. Similarly at many instances I have freely expressed my notions regarding the American culture without any fear of being suppressed by the nationals. Because I am not always studying, I also get a lot of free time. In my free time, I can travel to other places without any restriction. I can travel wherever I want, even at night, without being afraid of my security at night. This confirms Further there is no restriction on the time; I can eat and sleep any time I want. At the same time, my usual life and studies are also not affected. Furthermore, I am not restricted or inhibited in any way. I am free to do as I like without affecting the rights of others. As a student as well, I have a lot of flexibility in terms of my schedule. After my classes I am free for a considerable amount of time

Management Information System Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Management Information System - Case Study Example It becomes more personalised and gives the customer more accurate information. Making the whole service contract process friendlier and quicker is one way to help gain more service customers because it should result in the sale of more of these contracts. The company wants to automate its entire application process to speed up everything for both APCO and its customers and to eliminate much of the reliance on paper documents. Extract the information as easily as possible, without a lot of IT over- head Use the Internet as a Channel to achieve the above goals Information systems and business strategy now align with each other to deliver Strategic information systems. Such systems deliver Computer system at any level of an organisation; changes goals, operations, products, services, or environmental relationships and helps organisation gain a competitive advantage The Internet is changing the role of information systems in organisations. The Internet is capable of dramatically reducing transaction and agency costs. Businesses are rapidly rebuilding some key business processes based on Internet technology. Internet technology becoming a key component of IT infrastructure. The need of the hour was to have a new Sales Management system and a Claims Processing System that would allow APCO to manage sales more efficiently and process claims with limited overheads and maximum efficiency and modify business processes to align to the new information processing systems. The systems need to use the Internet as a delivery channel to deliver maximum benefits to the new business processes structured around this channel. Both these above systems are Operational level systems. As a first step APCO wants to introduce a comprehensive electronic document- management (or... The Internet is changing the role of information systems in organisations. The Internet is capable of dramatically reducing transaction and agency costs. Businesses are rapidly rebuilding some key business processes based on Internet technology. Internet technology becoming a key component of IT infrastructure. The need of the hour was to have a new Sales Management system and a Claims Processing System that would allow APCO to manage sales more efficiently and process claims with limited overheads and maximum efficiency and modify business processes to align to the new information processing systems. The systems need to use the Internet as a delivery channel to deliver maximum benefits to the new business processes structured around this channel. Both these above systems are Operational level systems. As a first step APCO wants to introduce a comprehensive electronic document- management (or content-management) system.

Locked in the Cabinet Essay Example for Free

Locked in the Cabinet Essay Democracy is a form of government where people have a right enabling them to have a say in everything that affects their lives. However, our government is not a direct democracy, and as such, individuals are not empowered or able to have a say in the inner-workings of their government. Their beliefs are not heard as often as they would like, and they are given little to no opportunities to decide what the government will do. The average citizen has little access to political power, and as a result little influence in the government. But if one individual chooses to change the government, and places that as their goal, then they have a chance of altering the system that governs their lives. If one such as Robert Reich works hard towards their goal, then they can possibly change the government to some degree. Robert Reich was an average man who had strong beliefs, and among those beliefs was the belief that to help people was just. His career in law began as a law clerk to a judge, and he eventually worked his way to the position of Secretary of Labor under President Bill Clinton. All of the time that Reich spent in Clinton’s cabinet was dedicated towards attempting to make his idea’s bear fruit. Although in the book Reich is the Secretary of Labor, he did not start out in this position. He worked his way up from the position of a law clerk, as I have previously stated, to a job that came with some measure of power. Reich attained this place in the government through his own efforts, and by showing that he had ideas suitable to fill in the role of Secretary of Labor. Reich is just one example of an ordinary person with true passion for their beliefs who was able to make a difference in the government. In Reich’s book, he talks about how an average person named Steve Wandner had an idea to reduce unemployment. Reich explains that Steve’s idea was when unemployed people claimed that they were unemployed, that they had to be screened to find out whether or not they were permanently laid off so that they could find new jobs faster. Steve worked hard in order for his idea to be heard, and after being ignored several times, Reich gave him the attention his idea deserved. Later, Wandner’s idea became an official law. Anyone can make a difference in the government if they work hard to reach a position where it is possible. During Robert Reich’s stay a part of President Clinton’s cabinet, he followed a strong belief in â€Å"putting the people first†. He cared deeply about helping the unemployed obtain new jobs and to retrain them in order to have better working skills, and in that same vein, better jobs further down the road. Reich also wanted to raise the minimum wage, show people the inequality of income in America, and much more. Reich’s ideas were not in any way offensive or unfair, he simply wanted to help people first rather than putting full attention on government issues such as reducing the deficit. Because of this, many of his ideas were igored and rejected by the members of Clinton’s moderate administration. For example, during one of his meeting with Bill Ford, chairman of the House of Representatives Education and Labor Committee, Reich tried to explain to him the idea of retraining American workers. Reich ended up being yelled at and his idea rejected. Although many of Reich’s ideas were disregarded by other members of government he continued to pursue his goal of helping the working class of America. Reich was rather successful in performing his duties as Secretary of Labor. One of his successes was helping pass the Family and Medical Leave Act. It allowed working class families to have more time off from work if they were injured or had a child. He was also successful in convincing President Bill Clinton in aiding the people rather than the government. In doing so Clinton decided to pass a law in raising the minimum wage 90 cents. This pleased many of the working class of America. Finally, Reich was also able to set up several reforms in order to help provide more jobs for the unemployed. For example, Reich gave 3 million dollars to a job center helping people trying to get employment. Even though he want able to pass a law to retrain workers, he still managed to work hard and complete some of his goals. Reich was ignored by many government officials during his term as Secretary of Labor, and this greatly hindered his chances of getting his goals finished. But while this may be true, this was not the center of his experiences as the Secretary of Labor. Reich was aiming towards retraining Americans, and he is not the only one who has seen this as a valuable idea. Freddie Ray Marshall was the Secretary of Labor for Jimmy Carter, and he shared many similar ideas with Reich. Both men were working to provide jobs for others, and they both were trying to get workers to be retrained. (F. Ray Marshall) If workers could get more training, they can possibly get better jobs. He also is a teacher, like Reich. However, unlike Reich, Marshall was able to pass many programs and to help reduce unemployment. I would say that some of Reich’s experiences were unique to his time as the Secretary of Labor, and that others were not. In conclusion, Reich was a man who fought all alone for his beliefs, and was more successful in some areas than in others. To call him a failure is a little harsh, and to call him a success depends on your political views. All in all, Reich did what he felt would be best for the people who have little say in the government. Reich can be seen as a prime example of one who worked hard to have their voice heard, and as one who made a difference, even if it wasn’t as big a difference as he would’ve liked. Reich really seemed like he was a kind individual (but then again, he wrote the book) and even if he did not succeed in all his plans, he still changed some things for the better.

The Community Facilities Provision

The Community Facilities Provision CHAPTER I INTRODUCTION 1.1 Preface Community facilities is the important element in one neighbourhood area because this kind of facilities is the place where the resident used to reach their living needs so this makes the community facilities provision is important in give good living environment to the neighbourhood especially is term of location and accessibility. Other than that, community facilities also are the building or place that provides a particular service such as school, neighbourhood shop and playground. Community facilities also must be located at the strategic place and easy reachable to the people live in the neighbourhood. 1.2 Problem Statement Nowdays, the provision of community facilities in Malaysia is still standardize for all type of neighbourhood area whether in high cost houses, medium cost houses or low cost houses because the guideline used to development the community facilities is based on the guideline for public facilities which is produced by JPBD Malaysia. This provision of community facilities using this guideline for today situation is not suitable because of nowday different neighbourhood area have different kind of living condition such as people in low cost area tends to have different lifestyle compare to medium cost people, this situation will influence the use of community facilities in the neighbourhood area itself because of its location and accessibility to the community facilities. This causes some problem to occurs such as: People in the neighbourhood area feel hard to reach the community facilities by walking especially the medium cost houses area. People in the medium cost housing area take longer time taken to reach the community facilities from the residential area compare to low cost housing area. Some of the neighbourhood lack of community facilities. Climate affects the walking behaviour of resident to community facilities. The community facilities that provided in neighbourhood area are not well used and maintain. 1.3 Aim and Objective The aim of this study is to produce the recommendation for guideline in improving the provision of community facilities towards a walkable neighbourhood. 1.3.2 Objective In order to achieve the study aim, there are a few objectives stated, such as:- To investigate and compared the walking behaviour in low cost housing area and medium cost housing area to reach the community facilities. To investigate safety factors that influence the walking experience in low cost housing area and medium cost housing area. To investigate the convenience factors that influence the walking experience in low cost housing area and medium cost housing area. To propose the recommendation of guidelines to increase the walkability to reach the community facilities in neighbourhood area. 1.4 Scope of Study In order to achieve the objective that is mention above, the scope of study need to be identified. The important aspect that must be considered will determine the limitation of this study. The scopes are as follows: Walking behaviour of people from residential to the community facilities is compared between the low cost housing area with medium cost housing area. From residential to neighbourhood shop From residential to playground From residential to elementary school The accessibility of community facilities is determined by investigated the respondent opinion on how to reach the community facilities from residential area. The location of community facilities from the house in low cost housing area and medium cost housing area is quantify by walking distance within 0.4 km and the time taken to reach the community facilities. The household profile of people in low cost neighbourhood and medium cost neighbourhood area is analysed and the respondent are only people age within the range between 18 years old and above. The safety aspect that influence the walking experience is analysed in term of security, motorist behaviour and crossing exposure between the low cost housing area and medium cost housing area The convenience aspect that influence walking experience is analysed in term visual appeal, pedestrian amenities and coverage and connectivity between the low cost housing area and medium cost housing area. 1.5 Research Methodology Methodology is a guideline and that can describe the process in obtaining all of the information of the study. It also can determine the suitable method in how the research will be conducted. In this study, there are mainly four stages involved which starts from the exploratory study stage, follow with the data collection and data analysis stages and lastly the new proposal stage. Stage 1: Background Study and Literature Review This is the stage where the background of the study and the literature review is being prepared because it is important to understand the topic that has be chosen. Other than that, it is important to investigate the problem of the study area so that it can help in create the aim and objective of the study and also to make the early logical hypothesis. This theoretical study stages also is important because it can help in enhancing the knowledge and get a lot of information for this study. Usually the theoretical study is present materials and secondary data source which can be in form of books, document, report, journal, thesis, magazine, newspaper and internet sources. The source of the secondary data also can be found from library, executive agency office and internet. Stage 2: Field Survey Data collection is stage where the field work study is being done. Usually the data that can be produce is the primary data. Primary data is the raw data acquired through observation, interview, questionnaire and perception to the study area. In this study, the questionnaire is distributed using certain number of sample that has been calculated. The method used in calculating sample for the questionnaire and the technique used in distributed the sample is well done to produce more accurate data. The sample is calculating based on the variable used for calculating sample involved the total population and interval error. The formula used are n = N/ (1+Ne ²). The technique used in distributing the sample for this study is known as proportionate sampling and simple random sampling. The proportionate sampling is the techniques using the ratio of the population in determine the number of sample need to be used in low cost housing area and medium cost housing area with the total population. The simple random sampling is the technique using the number of population and pick in the random direction. Stage 3: Data Analysis and Finding At this stage, all the data will be analyse and finding is the product of the study. This stage is clear defined to determine the weaknesses of the site. Moreover, the issues and problem of the site area also can be identified. Finding of this study is very important and useful to me to make the study proposal successful. Stage 4: Proposal A proposal is made based on the finding of the study. At this stage also, the proposal can be design and proposed based on the output of the analysis and the summary that have been done earlier. 1.6 Significant of Study This study is done because to know what is the implication of public facilities provision toward the walking behaviour of the people in the neighbourhood area. Analyse the walking behaviour in the neighbourhood area is important in determine are the people actually walk to reach their community facilities and how far are they willing to walk to reach it. This is important because when people tend to walk to reach the community facilities in the neighbourhood, this show that the community facilities is well used and not be abundant. Other than that, this study is important because it can determine the walkability of the neighbourhood between different neighbourhood area because usually people in low cost housing area are more likely to walk compare to people in medium cost housing area. This happen because the density of the people and the availability of automobile of the people in the area. Moreover, this study also helps in making environment of the neighbourhood become the walkable environment because it can make people living in the neighbourhood walk in order to reach their living need, increase the safety and security aspect in the neighbourhood and make people more convenience and pleasant while walking. Other than that, the significant of this study is that it can help in improving the guidelines for neighbourhood concept. It also probably can help in upgrade the neighbourhood concept by Clarence Perry become new neighbourhood concept for the future because even in the modernize era, the neighbourhood concept by Clarence Perry still been used for developing the neighbourhood area for housing development. 1.7 Study Limitation Basically there are limitation in doing the research and primary and secondary data collecting during the survey. The limitations that have to be taken into consideration are:- The total number of sample cannot be completed as it hard to find respondent because people are working and not in their house. The bigger interval error needs to be used in calculating the sample because limited time available. Rainy day makes going to survey need to be postponed . 1.8 Case Study The study area is located in Section 7, Shah Alam and under the local authority of Shah Alam City Council. The study area covers 1080 unit of low cost houses and 566 unit of medium cost houses. The total population for the low cost housing area is 5400 people and the total population for medium cost housing area is 2830 people. The type of houses for low cost housing area is flat while the medium cost housing is the terrace houses. The area is chosen as the site area because Section 7 is has one of the biggest and newest low cost housing schemes in Shah Alam and Section 7 is the only section that consist both type of houses which is the low cost housing area and the medium cost housing area located in one section. Other than that, this site area also is chosen because the community facilities in most of the area are adequate and available. 1.9 Study Work Schedule Table 1.1 : Study Work Schedule MONTH January 2011 February 2011 March 2011 April 2011 WEEK 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 Chapter 1 Study Synopsis Determined the aim and objective of study Identify problem statement Determined the study area for the study Submission of Chapter 1 Chapter 2 Literature Review Preparation the theoretical study related to the case study Collection the secondary data Preparation of questionnaire Submission of Chapter 2 Chapter 3 Data Collection Collection of primary data and survey Submission of Chapter 3 Chapter 4 Analysis and Findings Preparation of the study analysis and findings Finding and determine the current issues and problem at site Submission of Chapter 4 Chapter 5 Summary and Proposal Preparation of study summary and proposal Submission of Study Report (Draft) Submission of Study Report (Final)

Impressions of My Antonia :: My Antonia Essays

Impressions of My Antonia My Antonia has been called nostalgic and elegiac because it celebrates the past. The inscription on the title page of My Antonia is a quotation from Virgil: "Optima dies... prima fugit." This sentence, meaning "the best days are first to flee", helps incorporate all the elements of the novel I would like to discuss. It not only makes clear that Willa Cather will deal with memories of a glorious past, but also allows suitable basis to show how nature can change and affect a relationship. It also hints at the Hellenic, to a large extent pastoral tone the novel will be set in. A pastoral work retreats to an ideal rural setting. Jim Burden not only goes back to the prairie, but more importantly, he retreats to the innocent days of his very first memories. While this reflects on the focus of the paper, I will use two characters, Jim and Antonia, to illustrate these issues, and show why they make this book such a delightful work of art. My Antonia is told from the point of view of Willa Cather's fictional friend, Jim Burden. He writes in the first person, and his use of the pronoun "I" makes you feel his personal involvement. The point of view is immediate and subjective. Looking back on his memories, he knows what is eventually going to happen to the characters. He persuades you to sympathize with all of them. His perception, being broad and persuasive, sets the tone for the whole book. What is the purpose of having the story told by Jim Burden thirty years later? From that perspective he can present with great clarity and tenderness the highlights of his memories. A man of the world, he is reinvestigating his values. Jim Burden sets down everything the name of Antonia brings back to him. Antonia represents to him the most fundamental, traditional way to lead one's life, including the virtues of hard work, charity, love, optimism, pride, and sympathy with nature. The prairie makes one think of the forces of nature--immense, cyclical, and unpredictable. When Jim Burden arrives on his grandparents' farms, he is awed by the sight of "nothing but land." His parents are both

Free College Admissions Essays: Law, Politics, and Skepticism :: College Admissions Essays

My summer internship at United States Senator Connie Mack's office, my recent volunteer efforts for a local school board campaign, and my previous volunteer efforts for a gubernatorial campaign are representative of my personal interests and long-range goals. My future ambitions and goals are evidence of my interests in and attraction to such subjects as law and politics. While many people consider these subjects to be uninteresting, I am fascinated by how these topics affect our society.    Therefore, it is my desire to study political science while in undergraduate school and then continue my education by attending law school and earning a degree in constitutional law. Ultimately, however, it is my desire to have a career in politics. I sincerely believe that by being actively involved in politics, government and law, I will become better equipped to defend our Judeo-Christian faith from modern skepticism and also better able to serve our nation.    Other unrelated interests of mine include athletics, particularly cross-country running and basketball, drama, music, and reading.    As far as strengths are concerned, I am respectful of others and their feelings, self-disciplined, considerate, appreciative, and goal-oriented. Also, I sincerely believe in the commandments and moral standards set forth in the Scriptures and try to live accordingly, which I hope makes me a Godly example to my peers. I wish to become even more Christlike and grow to be a man of unquestionable integrity. My weaknesses include difficulty expressing my emotions and a tendency to be a little self-conscious.    I am seriously interested in Harvard   due to its advocacy of traditional values and principles upon which our nation was founded.

Response of the Criminal Justice System to Victims of Corporate Crime

Essay Title: With the use of at least 3 real life stories reported in newspapers, discuss the response of the Northern Ireland Criminal Justice System to victims of corporate crime. There is no time limit on the stories and they may be accessed via the internet. Within this essay I will look to discuss victims of corporate crimes experiences within the Criminal Justice System. In order to do this I will first define the Criminal Justice System and then corporate crime. I will then address the task by using 3 real life stories about victims’ experiences of the operation of the Northern Ireland Criminal Justice System. The Criminal Justice System (CJS) is a series of practices and institutions that are used â€Å"to deliver justice for all, by convicting and punishing the guilty and helping them to stop offending, while protecting the innocent. It is responsible for detecting crime and bringing it to justice; and carrying out the orders of court, such as collecting fines, and supervising community and custodial punishment† (frontline. jsonline. gov. uk) In criminology, corporate crime refers to ‘crimes committed by corporations, or by influential individuals within corporations, where the illegal act is carried out with the intentions of furthering the goals of that organisation. ’ (Newburn. 2007. 946-947) Experiences within the criminal justice system are undoubtedly going to vary with each person’s own experiences and perception. Some may hold the view that it is a just and worthwhile organisation while others will not share the same optimism. For example, there is an article in the Belfast Telegraph about the rape in Colin Glen Forest Park. The incident took place on the 12 April 2008. The article shows the complete dissatisfaction and faith within the criminal justice system but praises the work of the PSNI. The victim stated that the days between her reporting the crime and attending the trial she had no contact or information relating to the trail until just 2 week before hand â€Å"The criminal justice process leading up to the trial was not much better from a victim's perspective. I did not hear from my prosecuting barristers until two weeks before the scheduled trial — leaving me to spend 11 months in confused anxiety about the prospect of testifying. † â€Å"How can rape victims be expected to assist the criminal justice system in convicting their attacker, when there isn't even a proper counseling service to help them through this very harrowing process? †(www. belfasttelegraph. com) It is easily seen from this specific example that the criminal justice system is simply focused on one thing, which to convict the criminal and punish them accordingly. There seems to be no regard to the victims feelings, concerns or anxieties, but simply referrals and advice, on where to go to achieve help and comfort in an attempt to deal with the traumatic event of being raped. â€Å"No one told me that a service like Victim Support existed until a few weeks before my trial (and 10 months after my attack). † (www. belfasttelegraph. com) (2009) It has been seen as standard practice to observe that the ‘victim’ has long been the forgotten party in criminal justice as the Colin Glen Forest Park victim’s story demonstrates. Victims appear very often appear as complainants and applicants for compensation, or as a witness giving evidence, but thereafter they are unfortunately very much neglected. It is only recently that the victim now forms the focus of a substantial area of enquiry within criminology. There is now a requirement for sufficient attention to be paid to the needs and rights of the victims. (Newburn. 2007. Pg. 342) Crimes vary in their nature and therefore the impact of the crime on the victim can vary also. Goodey (2005: 121-2) lists a range of emotional, material and social needs that victims may need to have met in the aftermath of crime. This list consists of: reassurance and counselling; medical assistance; financial and practical assistance to secure property; information about case programs; guidance about what to expect in court; the chance to express how the crime affected them; and information about the release date of the offender. (Newburn. 2007. Pg. 353) In is only in recent years that these needs of victims have been taken into account and there is now such a thing called ‘victims policy’. This policy ensures that the needs of the victims are being met and there is now a substantial raft of services now provided to protect the victim and their rights. (Newburn. 2007. Pg. 358) Duff (1988) argues that there are two discernible trends which illustrate the impact of the ‘victim movement’ on the Criminal Justice System. The first is the introduction of state funded compensation schemes. These schemes had the aim of trying to strengthen the relationship between the offender and the state. The second was the introduction of compensation by the offender to the victim. This aimed to increase the importance of the victim-offender relationship. This therefore became the start of criminal injuries compensation, and it was through these schemes that the needs of the victims were officially being recognised. (Newburn. 2007. Pg. 358) In 1959, the government published ‘Penal Practice in a Changing Society’; this is what resulted in the setting-up of a party which were to examine the proposal of introducing the schemes for payment of compensation to victims of violence. The proposal was then passed and was called the ‘Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme’, also known as CICS. It came into operation on the 1st August 1964. (Newburn. 2007. Pg. 358) An example of a recent payment of compensation to a victim is that of Lucas Da Costa, 32, while working for Lindon foods meat processing company, suffered severe head injuries when he was hit by 255 kilos of crates as he lifted them using an electric pallet truck at the Granville Industrial Estate plant on 25 February 2010. The father-of-four was rushed to hospital and then transferred to the Royal Victoria Hospital where he was treated for bleeding onto the brain as well as multiple fractures to his skull and facial bones. Linden Foods Ltd pleaded guilty to breaches of health and safety legislation at a previous hearing at Omagh Crown Court, in the case which was brought against the company by the Health and Safety Executive. The company were ordered to pay ? 25,000 after an employee was left â€Å"close to a vegetative state†. (www. u. tv. co. uk) Also Northern Ireland Water has been fined ? 2,000 after pleading guilty to polluting a major river. A blockage in the sewerage system caused poisonous discharge to pollute the Six Mile Water River at Clotworthy Bridge in Antrim. The fine was imposed on 4th May 2011 at Antrim Magistrates Court where NI Water pleaded guilty to making a polluting discharge to a waterway and breach of consent. Antrim mayor Pam Lewis welcomed the fine saying she hoped it would act as a deterrent. (www. belfasttelegraph. co. uk) In another incident, two construction companies have been fined over the collapse of a building owned by the Law Society in Belfast. The building collapsed in March 2008, injuring six workers. JH Turkington and Sons Ltd and Ripley Developments Ltd were fined a total of ? 1,000 for health and safety breaches. A Health and Safety Executive for Northern Ireland (HSENI) investigation found that the collapse of a temporary supporting structure, known as false work, caused the incident. It was estimated that approximately 150 tonnes of concrete, 25 tonnes of steel reinforcing bars and four tonnes of false work all came down in the collapse. (www. bbc. co. uk) This increased recognition of victims needs developed even further; there became an increased desire to protect children who had been victims. Many of the child victim’s experiences were particularly traumatic itself; never mind the trauma of having to give evidence in court also. After numerous protests, the requirement in ‘The 1988 Criminal Justice Act’ was abolished that stated that the child had to give evidence in court. This was enforced in order to protect the child and instead the use of video recordings was introduced. (Newburn. 2007. Pg. 362-363) In 1986 in government then took the decision to provide core funding to victim support. In the first years the scheme mainly focused on the victims of conventional crimes, such as burglary. During the 1980s they became progressively more involved in providing support for a wider range of victims. This came to include victims of racial harassment, families of murder victims, rape and serious sexual assault. Victim support demanded that victims had the right: to be heard; to be kept informed about the progress of ‘their case’; be protected by law enforcement agencies; to receive compensation as well as ‘respect, recognition and support’. Newburn. 2007. Pg. 363-364) This led to an increased interest in victims within the criminal justice system. Victims support started running a series of victim/witness support programmes in seven Crown Court centres, and now, the organisation provides a witness service in every criminal court in England and Wales. The first victim’s charter was published in 1990. This was the first acknowledgement that som e victims may have entitlements (not rights) because of their victimisation. In 1996 the second victim’s charter was published. The charter covered police responsibilities for providing information to victims, familiarisation with the courts, together with details of the complaints procedures if the standards set out were not met. From this charter victims could expect to get: contact details for police officers and leaflets on ‘Victims of Crime’, information on case progress, chance to explain how the crime affected them, information on the offenders release, treatment and support if attending court as a witness, expenses for attending court, and also emotional and practical support. (Newburn. 007. Pg. 364-365) In 2002, a White Paper, ‘Justice For All’, was published by the Home Office. Its aim, it said, was to rebalance the Criminal Justice System in favour of the victims, witnesses and communities. Their aim was to increase detection rates, reduce delays, and increase the conviction rates. (Newburn. 2007. Pg. 365 & 669) Northern Ireland has numerous areas in which victims can rece ive support. These include the PSNI Victim support, The Public Prosecution Service, NICS, PBNI Victim Information Scheme, and The Prisoner Release Victim Information Scheme. These aim to help people affected by any type of crime. They provide emotional support, information and practical help to victims, witnesses and others affected by crime. (www. victimsupportni. co. uk) The Northern Ireland Justice Minister made this response in July 2010. â€Å"Northern Ireland must have a Criminal Justice System which puts victims and witnesses at the core. As part of this, it is of paramount importance that victims are provided with the necessary support and that they have confidence in the service they are receiving†. Although many improvements to victim support had been made, there are still many changes to be made. The NI Criminal Justice System has made commitments for 2010/2011 to: provide victims and witnesses with easier access to information; ensure that specific and timely information is provided to victims and witnesses in relation to their cases; continue to work with relevant voluntary agencies; recognise and be responsive to victims and witness’ individual needs and also to make victims and witness’ views made know to the CJS. It seems to be a simple solution to ensure that the victims of crimes should be put at the fore front of the investigation, ensuring that they receive the best care and guidance possible in an attempt to raise the comfort and awareness of the conviction process, therefore raising the belief in the criminal justice which in turn, will allow other victims to follow suit thus raising the level the convictions, instead of concentrating on just the legal aspects of getting the conviction, which seems to be the case at present. People are very often not aware of the services and support groups available to them in the event of a crime, and they are relaying on the people within the legal profession and their knowledge and the CJS to inform them of such services. It’s bad enough that they have to suffer at the hands of the criminals, but to suffer at the hands of the criminal justice system is totally unacceptable. It is beyond doubt that the criminal justice system needs a reform, so that it takes into account all aspects of crimes, from the victim to the sentencing. They may see an increase in assistance from the victims if they focus their attention on them rather than being simply focused on one thing, which to convict the criminal and punish them accordingly. Bibliography Newburn, T. (2007) Criminology. Cullompton. Willan Publishing. (frontline. cjsonline. gov. uk) http://www. belfasttelegraph. co. uk/lifestyle/bt-woman/as-a-tourist-in-belfast-my-rape-was-shock-news-so-why-did-you-forget-about-it-and-me-so-quickly-14484709. html#ixzz15CJWLv3H