policy with pop

From Faith to Angel: Rehabilitation for Criminals?

Faith: Rogue Slayer. Murderer. Wanted criminal. After forcibly switching bodies with Buffy and having sex with Buffy’s boyfriend (Riley) while in Buffy’s body, Faith, back in her own body, flees to Los Angeles and faces off with the vampire-with-soul Angel and his crew.

At first, Faith tortures Angel and company. But, after getting the emotional beat down from Angel, Faith surrenders and wants to change. Angel wants to help rehabilitate her, but others have different ideas. Watch the Angel episode "Sanctuary":

Angel’s whole stick is redemption. He wants to rehabilitate Faith. But are rehabilitation and reintegration programs effective at ensuring criminals do not re-commit crimes afterwards?

The studies I have read are inconclusive about rehabilitation and recidivism (relapse into crime). Some studies suggest that rehabilitation and reentry programs (like employment training) in prisons may help reduce recidivism by 20%. However, these studies are criticized for having flawed/weak methodology. Plus, implementing these programs effectively is difficult. Given the money and resources these programs cost (about $1000-$5000 per recipient), is it worth it?

Buffy was all for giving Faith second chances until she became a victim. Now Buffy wants to kick the crap out of Faith and put her in jail. As Angel points out, Buffy wants vengeance. Should the victim have a right to retribution? Or is that unjust?

The Watcher’s Council wants to kill Faith. That sounds like the death penalty to me. Should the death penalty be acceptable, especially for murderers? Or is that cruel and unusual punishment?

Who are you in this debate? Angel? Buffy? The Watcher’s Council?

Or Faith!?!

Spice Girls: More Positive News Headlines

When the Spice Girls reunited last year for a new greatest hits album and tour, they had a new message. Girl power! Well, yes, but that’s been their trademark for quite a while. They decided to make the headlines and declare that friendship never ends (apparently Geri “Ginger Spice” Halliwell’s break from Spice Girl friendship wasn’t added into the equation).

Anyway, while their single “Headlines (Friendship Never Ends)” tries valiantly to bring more positive and happy news to the news, the news media have another issue it would like to raise – namely crime.

According to a report for the Building Blocks for Youth Initiative, news coverage of crime in America increased, while actual crime in America decreased in the 1990’s. Between 1990 and 1998 the network news increased its homicide coverage by 473% when arrest rates actually declined 32.9% in that time. This is just one statistic the report cites to show the unbalanced coverage crime receives.

Is the news media portrayal of crime inaccurate? If so, is it justified?

Should the news media try to show more positive, upbeat news? If so, how do we change the news coverage? Or is this heavy burden the Spice Girls’ responsibility?

The Dark Knight: Vigilante Hero or Future Villain?

The Dark Night. One word: Wow. I saw it on opening night, and the movie was amazingly entertaining and thought-provoking – great material for PolicyWithPop.com. In fact, after it ended, I immediately told one of my friends that I had at least four blog post ideas to write about. Yeah, the unknown girl sitting next to me thought I was way cool…

Anyway, in one of the beginning scenes Bruce Wayne, Rachel Dawes, Harvey Dent and Bruce’s date discuss how Batman works outside the law in Gotham. Harvey, who seems to have a man-crush on Batman, defends his vigilante ways in part because Batman has been successful in reducing crime. He compares Batman’s actions to how the Roman Empire, which had a democracy, changed to authoritarian rule to handle threats to the nation and its people. Rachel points out that the ruler was Caesar, inferring how absolute power corrupts absolutely. Harvey concedes, “You either die a hero or you live long enough to see yourself become the villain.”

The Dark Knight shows the complexities Batman has as a vigilante. But despite the intricate moral dilemmas Batman faces, we – the audience – know that he is one of the good guys.

But how would you feel if there was a real masked crime-fighter in your city without knowing that person’s character, like we do with Batman? Would he or she be welcomed by the public? And how would/should the media and law enforcement treat and portray vigilantes?

Do you think vigilantism is acceptable when the government cannot protect its people? Or does vigilantism ultimately create more chaos, danger and potentially more villains?