Law Enforcement Careers

Archive for the ‘Info’ Category

How would that work?
Before you get too worked up,i asked this because of someone saying unions are the reason jobs are going overseas.

There is a tremendous shortage of nurses in many communities today. Therefore, if you have bee thinking about a career as a nurse, you likely will have a number of different and significant options to choose from when it comes to nursing jobs. In order to assist you determining what type of nursing position will best meet your own goals and objectives, it will be helpful for you to have a general ideal and the different types of nursing positions and careers that are available today. Nursing Informatics- This type of nursing career is for those men and women who both love to provide care and also have an aptitude with computers.

Forensic Nursing Careers

Forensic nursing combines clinical nursing practice with the law enforcement arena. It involves the investigation and treatment of victims of sexual assault, elder, child and spousal abuse, unexplained or accidental death, trauma and assault. It also involves the investigation of perpetrators of these crimes.

Nurses trained in forensic nursing are required to quickly and correctly collect evidence that can be used in a court of law. Not only do they gather forensic information, they also testify in trials of their jurisdictions. Forensic nurses may also serve as legal nurse consultants or attorneys.

Nursing Careers

The duties of a Licensed Practical Nurse are performed under the supervision of a Registered Nurse (RN), and encompass a variety of patient bedside care tasks, such as checking vital signs, preparing and administering injections and enemas, applying bandages and dressings, monitoring catheters, and treating pressure sores. In some states, Licensed Practical Nurses are allowed to administer medications prescribed by a physician and to start intravenous fluids.

There is a demand for Licensed Practical Nurses in a variety of settings throughout the healthcare industry. Demand for LPNs in hospital settings has declined in recent years, but has increased in many other segments of the health care industry. Among the fastest growing areas is the home health care field, due to an increase in older patients with disabling conditions that choose to be treated at home, and advanced technology that makes home care more feasible, even for more complex medical conditions.

Nursing Careers Overseas

Most developing countries are suffering from an increasingly severe nursing shortage. They simply are not training enough nurses each year to replace the nurses that are reaching retirement age. This is an immediate problem for countries which also have an aging population who are putting more strain on the health systems in those countries.

Each country has their own way of registering nurses. And nurses who want to nurse abroad in the United States, Australia or Canada face the added challenge of being required to register with the State Board of Nursing relevant to where they will be working as there is no nationwide system of nurse registration.

Nurses as we know, assist patients and doctors in the field of health care and care giving. As the world becomes more and more exposed to crimes, the role of the nurse evolved. A new branch of nursing has grown and this is a profession, which covers medical care and judicial or legal assistance at the same time. These new breed of professionals convene in what is called a forensic nursing association.

Forensic nurses practice this newest form of forensic science where they gather evidences related to a crime that may have been committed on a patient. The forensic information they gather can be used during trials, which may also call them as professional witnesses.

Forensic nursing is primarily geared towards helping victims of violence by producing the evidences that will help solve the crime. The traditional way to investigate on a patient is to have several people approach and ask questions. These are the social workers, doctors, police, FBI agent, etc. The victim, who may still be traumatized, will only feel worst since the recaps of the crime will have to be repeated over and over again. This can be addressed by having just one person do everything from beginning to end of the investigation. Beginning being, evidence gathering and end being, court trials and possible justice for the victim. The forensic nurse can be all these.

Forensic nurses take charge of cases of abuse and violent crimes and oftentimes, these nurses find their work truly enjoyable and very much rewarding. Owe it to the popularity of related TV programs on cable, or owe it to the increasing crime rate, more and more clinic nurses who feel they could qualify, are enrolling in certification programs.

The American Nurses Association recognizes this new field that is fast becoming popular. Nurses who just graduated as well as the really experienced Registered Nurses can consider this as their career path.

Many experts see the demand for the forensic nurses to grow and grow. This should be a cause for alarm since the growth of these special nurses mean there is increasing crime rate in the country but that’s practically why the field got conceptualized.

Organizations like the International Association of Forensic Nurses (IAFN) have been created to lead this budding group of forensics professionals. Associations like the IAFN provide services to help develop the field. They implement programs that promote the science, and disseminate necessary information about the new practice.

Members of these organizations are registered nurses that are into forensic nursing activities like:

* Scientific investigation of a evidences gathered

* Providing treatment to patients who are traumatized

* Handling interpersonal violence cases like sexual assault, abuses of all kinds, and domestic violence

* Investigation of death

* Managing forensic psychiatric cases

* Correctional nursing in prisons or rehabilitation centers

Most forensic nurses have major roles in the following venues: special hospital units, offices of the medical examiners or coroners, law enforcement agencies, social service units of the government, and other related institutions. This new field has indeed opened more doors for all nurses worldwide.

A forensic nursing association plays a big role in the development of this very significant aspect of forensics, judicial, and medical systems in the society. These groups could be the best media to assist in the fight against violence and crimes.

i want to go to college for forensic science and wanted to know if its in the same field as cj / le

Nurses as we know, assist patients and doctors in the field of health care and care giving. As the world becomes more and more exposed to crimes, the role of the nurse evolved. A new branch of nursing has grown and this is a profession, which covers medical care and judicial or legal assistance at the same time. These new breed of professionals convene in what is called a forensic nursing association.

Forensic nurses practice this newest form of forensic science where they gather evidences related to a crime that may have been committed on a patient. The forensic information they gather can be used during trials, which may also call them as professional witnesses.

Forensic nursing is primarily geared towards helping victims of violence by producing the evidences that will help solve the crime. The traditional way to investigate on a patient is to have several people approach and ask questions. These are the social workers, doctors, police, FBI agent, etc. The victim, who may still be traumatized, will only feel worst since the recaps of the crime will have to be repeated over and over again. This can be addressed by having just one person do everything from beginning to end of the investigation. Beginning being, evidence gathering and end being, court trials and possible justice for the victim. The forensic nurse can be all these.

Forensic nurses take charge of cases of abuse and violent crimes and oftentimes, these nurses find their work truly enjoyable and very much rewarding. Owe it to the popularity of related TV programs on cable, or owe it to the increasing crime rate, more and more clinic nurses who feel they could qualify, are enrolling in certification programs.

The American Nurses Association recognizes this new field that is fast becoming popular. Nurses who just graduated as well as the really experienced Registered Nurses can consider this as their career path.

Many experts see the demand for the forensic nurses to grow and grow. This should be a cause for alarm since the growth of these special nurses mean there is increasing crime rate in the country but that’s practically why the field got conceptualized.

Organizations like the International Association of Forensic Nurses (IAFN) have been created to lead this budding group of forensics professionals. Associations like the IAFN provide services to help develop the field. They implement programs that promote the science, and disseminate necessary information about the new practice.

Members of these organizations are registered nurses that are into forensic nursing activities like:

* Scientific investigation of a evidences gathered

* Providing treatment to patients who are traumatized

* Handling interpersonal violence cases like sexual assault, abuses of all kinds, and domestic violence

* Investigation of death

* Managing forensic psychiatric cases

* Correctional nursing in prisons or rehabilitation centers

Most forensic nurses have major roles in the following venues: special hospital units, offices of the medical examiners or coroners, law enforcement agencies, social service units of the government, and other related institutions. This new field has indeed opened more doors for all nurses worldwide.

A forensic nursing association plays a big role in the development of this very significant aspect of forensics, judicial, and medical systems in the society. These groups could be the best media to assist in the fight against violence and crimes.

Becoming a police officer has become a little more difficult today. With the crimes increasing, police officers are also on high demand. Most police departments require at least two years of college for one to be a candidate to become a police officer. If you have what it takes to be a part of the police department, here is a simple guideline for you on how to become a police officer.

To start with, you must answer these following questions prior to applying to a police department.

Is the police department on the process of hiring?
What are the qualifications needed?
How do I apply?

It would be of great help to answer these questions before your application process.

Most police departments hire new police officers at a specific time in a year. Some may even hire only when vacancies exist. To be able to know when the police department is hiring, you just have to surf on the Web. You may begin your search by typing in www.usacops.com on your browser. When you are on the home page, you will see an interactive map of the United States. Just click on the state you live. The map of the state you live will show up which are then broken down into counties. Compile at least twenty police departments in your area. Click on the county you live and a list of police agencies will show up as well. Write down each of the police department and click on each surrounding county. By doing this, you will easily have at least twenty on your list.

When you already have your complete list, pull up Google and type in the name of the first police department on your list. It is estimated that almost all police agencies have their own website. Once you are on their website, search for buttons such as jobs, careers, employment, join our team, etc. Click on the button that will take you to the agency’s employment page. Police departments would make it clear when they are hiring. With this, you would be able to answer your first question on how to become a police officer, which states “Are they hiring?” In addition, they will also list the dates and deadlines regarding the application process.

Now that you know if the police department is hiring or not you have to answer the second question on how to become a police officer, which states, “What are the qualifications needed?” This is quite easy to know. You just have to look for the position announcement. You will be searching on their college requirements, age, sight requirements, if you have gone through a police academy, etc. If you have determined their qualifications and you are able to meet their criteria, you will most likely be ready to apply for the said position.

Lastly, you have to answer the last question on how to become a police officer, which states, “How do I apply?” There are police departments that will conduct an application process on their websites wherein you can download and print immediately. It is necessary that you fill up the application correctly and neatly. By doing the same process, you will be able to apply as many departments on your list.

These are just basic guidelines on how to become a police officer. It is all up to you to do the rest to achieve your goal.

I wanted to talk to you about passing the law enforcement exam. There are a lot of people out there that want to have a great career as a police officer, but really don’t understand the extent of the hiring process. Applicants are meant to jump through a lot of hoops and since there can be hundreds and even thousands applying for one or two jobs, the exam is going to get rid of a lot of the applicants. That’s right, the exam will fail around two thirds of those that take it. I want to help you get an edge on the competition and I’m going to talk to you about passing the law enforcement exam. Rules and regulations make up the daily activities of a person that enforces the law. It doesn’t matter if you’re a police officer, state trooper, border patrol agent, etc you’re going to have to know the rules and regulations down to a ‘T’. Make sure you spend a lot of time memorizing them. It’s a tedious task, but you’re going to have to regurgitate them at will and you’ll have to know how to apply them to situations. Passing the law enforcement exam will require you to demonstrate that you understand the more mundane aspects of the job. For example, if a question to ask you to describe the process of pulling someone over for ticketing, you might leave out important little things. One of the biggest things is not writing the events in your log book, which every law enforcement agent is required to document.

Introduction

Racial discrimination has been the main entrée at everyone’s dinner table for the past decade. Nowadays, everyone has an opinion about racial discrimination; even researchers have agreed to disagree on many aspects of the question. While various researchers debate on the issue from various approaches, it is evident that racial discrimination is deeply-rooted in the criminal justice system. The term racial discrimination has been used interchangeably with the term “racial profiling,” and the evidence is shown in prosecutorial convictions. Racial discrimination is the result of cumulative unethical practices that have not been properly addressed or redressed within the justice system. These presumed practices include but are not limited to racial profiling, disparity practices, unethical police behavior, along with prosecutorial misconduct. While history cannot be adjusted, it is, however, important to retrospect in order to comprehend the underlying factors leading to racial discrimination within the criminal justice system. Initially, racial discrimination was fashioned in a legal model whereas race was used to control citizenry and individual rights. Such manifestation beamed through the Civil War, the age of Reconstruction and the era of Jim Crow.  Have not we, as a nation learned enough from the past to realize the damaging and costly effects racial discrimination has induced to the justice system? Nonetheless, it is unclear whether racism itself plays integral roles in the justice system. However, researchers have largely concluded that defendants’ social status and prior records do play key roles in the outcome of a trial. Some people argued that such practice is pure racial discrimination and others believe it to be unfounded bias.  Nevertheless, we can all agree that racial discrimination is not systematic and does not lead to automatic convictions. In other words, being Black or Hispanic is not a crime in itself.

Findings 

According to criminologist Robert Staples, the criminal justice system was founded by Whites to safeguard their own “interests.” (Staples, 1975). He furthers and explains that more than ninety percent crimes committed by Blacks never went to trail, and that the alleged criminals have long been convicted without due process. Another study conducted by the U.S. Sentencing Commission in 1990 reckoned that Whites had a higher success rate at plea bargains than Blacks. (USSC, 1990).

The 1983 RAND Corporation study found that convicted African-American was more likely than whites to go to prison, and received longer sentences. “This disparity,” the study concluded, “suggests that probation officers, judges, and parole boards are exercising discretion in sentencing or release decisions in ways that result in de facto discrimination against blacks.”  A study comprising of 2,000 murder cases prosecuted by the state of Georgia during the 1970s, showed that defendants convicted of killing Whites were than four times more likely to receive the death penalty than those convicted of murdering Blacks. The study also revealed that black defendants who murdered whites had by far the greatest chance of being sentenced to death. The study also revealed that black defendants who murdered whites had by far the greatest chance of being sentenced to death.

Racial discrimination is not solely shown in prosecutorial convictions; police brutality has also been linked to racial discrimination and according to Banks, surveys had confirmed that 960 Los Angeles police officers were in fact enforcing the letters of the law through bias behavior, and racist verbiage. (Banks, 2004). Hence, racial discrimination is not just a legal problem, but also, an unethical one. Before the issue of racial of discrimination can be properly addressed, it is crucial that this phenomenon be discussed through a double-edge analysis. First, it must be viewed and scrutinized from a legal aspect and secondly, it must be considered from an unethical facet. Often times, what is considered to be a legal act is not necessarily unethical and vice versa. Objectively, evaluating racial discrimination from these two angles will help design comprehensive measures to reduce racial discrimination and its impacts on the justice system.

In 1985, Cornell law professor Sheri Lynn Johnson reviewed a dozen mock-jury studies. She concluded that “race of the defendant significantly and differently affects the determination of guilt.” In these studies, identical trials were simulated, sometimes with white defendants and sometimes with African Americans. Professor Johnson discovered that white jurors were more likely to find a black defendant guilty than a white defendant, even though the mock trials were based on the same crime and the same evidence. “Because the process of attributing guilt on the basis of race appears to be subconscious,” Johnson says, “jurors are unlikely either to be aware of it or to be able to control it during that the process.” (Johnson, 1985).

 There is no doubt that racial discrimination pervades the justice system; countless studies conducted by researchers in diverse fields have expansively proved that fact. However, varied nuances have been ignored in the process. Racial discrimination should be assessed on a case by case basis or on factual circumstances simply because black defendants do not receive the same treatment in all parts of the criminal justice system. For instance, a black defendant who has been brutalized at the hands of police officers in the commission of a crime may not necessarily be found guilty or even sent to prison or jail, if the court concludes that the force used by police officers outweighs that used by the defendant. Conclusively, racial discrimination is not a sub-system of the criminal justice system, misunderstanding of this fact have led many to believe in a system of dichotomy, where justice is split in two, one for the rich and one for the poor, or even one for blacks and one for whites.  Howsoever, to what extent is the justice system just to the rich and to what degree is it unjust or unfair to the poor? These are the fine distinctions that must be spelled out in order to measure racial discrimination in the criminal justice system.

Conclusion

Racial discrimination is the result of cumulative unethical practices that have not been properly addressed or redressed within the justice system. These presumed practices include but are not limited to racial profiling, disparity practices, unethical police behavior, along with prosecutorial misconduct. While history cannot be adjusted, it is, however, important to retrospect in order to comprehend the underlying factors leading to racial discrimination within the criminal justice system. Racial discrimination is not just a legal problem, but also, an unethical one. Before the issue of racial of discrimination can be properly addressed, it is crucial that this phenomenon be discussed through a double-edge analysis. First, it must be viewed and scrutinized from a legal aspect and secondly, it must be considered from an unethical facet. Often times, what is considered to be a legal act is not necessarily unethical and vice versa. Objectively, evaluating racial discrimination from these two angles will help design comprehensive measures to reduce the impact of racial discrimination in the justice system. After all, being black is not a crime.

 
Reference

David. 2003. “Hispanic Perception of Police Performance an Empirical Assessment.” Journal of Criminal Justice 13: 487-500; Moore, David W. and Lydia Saa

The Gallup Poll Monthly, October: 2-9; the Gallup Organization. 2003. TheGallup Poll Social Audit: Black/White Relations in the United States 2003

Michael. 1978. “Race and Involvement in Common Law Personal Crimes.” American Sociological Review 43 (February): 93-109; General Accounting Office.2003 / Racial Differences in arrests. Washington, DC.

Banks. 2004. Criminal Justice Ethics: Theory and Practice. Thousand Oaks,California: Sage Publications, Inc.

Homeland Security and Disaster Preparedness:
This multidisciplinary minor will integrate principles of early recognition and treatment, mitigation, cultural and spiritual influences, issues related to law-enforcement, and mental health aspects of biological, chemical, radiological and nuclear terrorism as well as natural disasters. Disaster and emergency management will be an integral part of the minor. Students completing the minor should have a basis of knowledge to be a contributor in disasters and emergencies in their communities and places of employment.
Interdisciplinary Family Studies offers classes like the Sociology of Family, Marriage and Sexual relationships, Human Sexuality, Aging.
I don’t want to pair the usual Psychology/Sociology or Psychology/Criminology. I would like something that would possibly give me a broader range of studies to work with and that would make me more marketable when I get into the job field. I realize that I am going to need to go for a masters.

Human life in this world has often seen transitions. These transitions have occurred in every age, in every century. However, the latest transitions, which have been occurring in the twentyfirst have never ever impressed me. The twentieth century was a bit better, but not the best. The nineteen nineties did see some good developments; but it obviously had to be the nineteen twenties which, I feel, every individual of the present age  would have loved to live in. Alas, there are very few from that period who are still alive, and most of them are in their late ninetees or hundreds. Yet, their memories are so sharp; after all could anyone forget the days of America’s golden age.

The Prelude 1918 – 1923

The period of progress and transition which is referred to as the “Roaring Twenties” or the “Jazz Age” had its origins in the optimistic and progressive thinking of a new generation of Americans who emerged from the rigors of the First World War. The Treaty of Versailles of 1919 had destroyed the power of the enemy they had so feared so completely that Americans felt more secure. As a result, the economy soared to new heights. Their purchasing power had increased dramatically and they spent lavishly on enjoyment and dress. This phase of progress was coeval with the passing of the Volstead Act on January 29, 1920 which made the sale of all forms of liquor, illegal. This led to the birth of a prosperous bootlegging business whose captains smuggled in alcoholic drinks from Canada. For this reason, the period starting from 1920 and ending with 1933, when Prohibition was brought to an end by an amendment, is also known as the “Prohibition Era”.

Another major invention which epitomized American thought and culture during the 1920s was the Colt-Thomson sub-machine gun whose inventor General John T. Thomson released a version for the general public in 1919. This gun, known colloquially as the “Tommy gun” was the most lethal weapon ever handled by the American public and soon found favor with the managers of the bootlegging business who used them to effect some of the most gruesome murders ever committed.

The Golden Age 1923 – 1929

Prosperity and development in America was at its peak between 1923 and 1929. Motor cars became the most preferred means of transportation. Ford, Dodge Brothers, Packard, Haynes and Winton were some of the top car manufacturers. Lavish lifestyle, costly vacations and expensive jewellery became the trend of the times.

The year 1923 which saw the death of American President Warren Harding also saw the rise of a hitherto unknown gangster called Alphonse Capone or Al Capone in the distant city of Chicago. Capone rapidly rose in the ranks of organized crime, eventually displacing his boss Johnny Torrio and snatched control of crime syndicates all over the USA. Known popularly as “Scarface”, Capone was the most dreaded gangster of the time and virtually ruled Chicago till the early 1930s with his money and muscle power (at one time, he even had a mayor of Chicago William “Hale” Thomson, popularly known as “Big Bill” in his pay). This period is remembered in Chicago for gangwars, nightclubs where illegal booze and jazz music were served, rampant corruption in the administration and police force and the gruesome civilian murders and police encounters that took place.

Costume

A typical gentleman of the 1920s wore a shirt made of cotton or silk and suspenders. Men belonging to the rapidly growing American middle-class wore buttoned jackets over their shirts and a coat on top of their jackets. Not infrequently, ties or bowties replaced buttoned jackets. Hats, monocles and walking sticks were the fashion of the time and were used even by men who weren’t bald or blind or lame. Sunglasses were sported by film stars.

In women’s fashion, skirts decreased in size during the time. It was a marked deviation from the conservatism of the Victorian Age. A typical woman of the period who bopped her hair and wore short skirts and excessive makeup was known as a “flapper”.

Jazz Music

Jazz originated in the city of New Orleans in the early 1900s as a fusion of Afro-American, Jewish, Italian and post-Victorian European music styles. However, jazz music flourished largely during the 1920s supported by the active patronage of mafia dons as Al Capone who roped in jazz stars to play in their night clubs. Louis Armstrong, arguably one of the greatest exponents of jazz, performed during this period. The fast-paced jazz renditions appeared more glamorous and attractive to the critical and unorthodox American public than the slow-paced classics of 18th century European musicians. Jazz marked the transition from the sonatas and waltzes of Mozart and Beethoven to pop and rock music of our times.

Films

The 1920s saw the transition from black-and-white to color and from silent to the talkies. The film-production business which, during the early 1900s, was the preserve of the adventurous few, grew manifold during the 1920s. Mary Pickford, Douglas Fairbanks, Greta Garbo, John Gielgud, John Barrymore, Charlie Chaplin, Spencer Tracy and Bob Hope were some of the stars whose careers bloomed in the 1920s. Comedian Bob Hope who passed away in 2003 at the age of 100, once recounted his nerve-cracking experience performing for Al Capone. The Toll of the Sea, the first film in Type 2 Technicolor was produced in 1922. The Jazz Singer (1927) was the first talkie while The Viking(1927) was the first film shot in Type 3 Technicolor. On With the Show made in 1929 was the first talkie produced in Technicolor. Following these firsts, there were so many movies filmed in Technicolor that it was estimated that color would replace black-and-white movies entirely by the year 1930. However, this was not to be as the Great Depression struck and Hollywood returned to black-and-white in order to cut down upon production costs.

Walter Elias Disney brought out his first Mickey Mouse animation film in 1928. This was a milestone in the history of motion pictures. Over the next few years, many cartoons were made, mostly by Disney but some also by Metro Goldwyn Mayer and Paramount. Most of these early cartoons were filmed in Technicolor.

Sports

The 1920s saw impressive milestones set in different sports and field and track events of the time. Baseball legend Babe Ruth was at his peak in the early 1920s . He set towering records that have stood for decades. Finland’s Paavo Nurmi set the record for long-distance running (1,500m). Charles Lindbergh made the first non-stop transatlantic flight in 1927 and became a celebrity in his time. However, celebrity status did prove to be a bane to Charles Lindbergh when his toddler son was kidnapped for ransom in 1932 and later, killed.

The Wall Street Crash and the Last Stage 1929 – 1933

On the 24 of October 1929, famous in history as “Black Thursday” the Wall Street crashed. The prices of shares rapidly fell bringing down the American economy. It spelt the doom of millions of Americans and precipitated the Great Depression. Millions were left jobless and destitute. However, the Roaring Twenties lasted well until 1933, when a second fall brought further ruin.

The impact of the Great Depression was widespread. Production of costly color movies were stopped. Car showrooms were filled with unsold motor cars. There were labor movements in the USA. Elsewhere, Communism was increasingly touted as the best alternative to the capitalist system of economy which prevailed in the USA. United Kingdom was another country which was hard hit by the Great Depression. The Government of British India drastically increased the price of salt and other commodities which led to widespread famine. These events indirectly led to M. K. Gandhi’s Dandi March. In Burma, there were nationalist movements calling for the separation of the colony of Burma from British India and for the expulsion of the extortionary Chettiar moneylenders from India.

The strength of the Labor Party increased manifold in Great Britain. A series of Round Table conferences were held to chart out a solution to the India question. There was general disillusionment in all developed countries with the existing capitalist system of economy.

On February 14, 1929, hitmen from Al Capone’s outfit in disguise as police officers “raided” a stockade of illegal liquor belonging to a rival gangster “Bugs” Moran. Assuming them to be police officers, the seven members of Moran’s outfit turned their backs to the “officers” and stood with their arms held up in the air. Immediately, the “police officers” opened machine gun fire killing seven of them on the spot. Forensic evidence showed that the seven victims were almost cut in two by machine gun fire. The “police” later led some men out to the car and left. This act evoked widespread condemnation and public outrage. One newspaper branded Al Capone as “public enemy number one”. The expensive and luxurious lifestyle of these gangsters while the rest of the American population was suffering in poverty at the height of the Great Depression evoked the ire of the general public. Al Capone, however, did escape once again due to lack of evidence, but was arrested in 1932 on charges of income tax evasion. He was found guilty and sentenced to imprisonment for eleven years, the longest prison term ever awarded for income tax evasion. Al Capone, however, did not serve his full term. He was released after six and a half years due to good behavior. However, by the time, he was out of jail, his crime empire had been liquidated. Thus ended the career of one of the most dangerous gangsters of the twentieth century.

Legacy

The 1920s typified the inter-war mindset of America. It marked the transition from the Industrial Revolution to the Age of Computers. Most of the gadgets that we come across in our daily lives today as vacuum cleaners, refrigerators, tube lights, lawn movers, televisions, washing machines and elevators gained widespread acceptance during this period. There was also an increase in the popularity of amusement parks and roller coasters. A number of path breaking inventions were made during this time. John Logie Baird invented the television in 1927; Alexander Fleming invented penicillin in 1928. The Zippo, the first modern cigarette lighter was invented in 1932.

The 1920s witnessed a spurt in the demand for motor cars which were available at far cheaper prices. The horseless carriages of the early 1900s with their heavy and costly brass fittings and headlight were shunned for more compact, fashionable and cheap cars. Ford released its Model A in 1927. This was perhaps the first motor car which targetted the lower-middle class American population.

By the early 1930s, roadways were expanded to cover the whole of America. This, gradually threw railway companies out of business. The durability of vintage-era cars made long distance travel easy and comfortable.

This period also witnessed many political changes. Imperialism was universally condemned and human rights and values respected. Monarchism was shunned in favor of democracy. Apparently, there were many movements for democracy all over the world. There was an astonishing amount of racial equality in America where Afro-American artistes and Afro-American culture were held in high esteem for the first time, notwithstanding the fact that the ultra-racist Ku Klux Klan was at the zenith of its popularity during this period. Almost all popular jazz musicians of the period were of Afro-American ethnicity and received extravagant amounts of money as salary. In Europe, the period saw the rise of rightist movements as Fascism in Italy and Nazism in Germany. In India, the Montagu-Chelmsford reforms were passed in 1919. According to the provisions of these acts, free and fair elections were held for the first time in Madras province. The League of Nations was established in 1919 to arbitrate in disputes between different countries in the world. Drastic growth in transport and communications fostered globalization and inter-cultural dialogue.

The 1920s are viewed by some as a dark age where there was widespread degeneration and immorality. To some, it was a golden age when one could aspire for the sun and the stars and yet get them. America was at the zenith of its prosperity. Monarchs had lost much of their power and influence worldwide as the general inclination of popular thought was in favor of democracy only to be replaced by film stars, bootleggers, inventors and businessmen who lived in regal splendor. However, we can never chose to ignore the twenties, as the nineteen twenties made the America we know today. This was probably the period when the United States surpassed the United Kingdom in the quest for leadership among the world’s nations. Above all, the 1920s more than any other period in American history, exemplified the great “American Dream”.

“The poorhouse is vanishing from among us. We have not yet reached the goal, but, given a chance to go forward with the policies of the last eight years, we shall soon… be in sight of the day when poverty will be banished from this nation…. When the war ended, the most vital of all issues both in our own country and throughout the world was whether governments should continue their wartime ownership and many instrumentalities of production and distribution. We were challenged by a peacetime choice between the American system of rugged individualism and a European philosophy of diametrically opposed doctrines — doctrines of paternalism and state socialism. The acceptance of those ideas would have meant the destruction of self-government through centralization of government. It would have meant the undermining of the individual initiative and enterprise through which our people have grown to unparalleled greatness. By adherence to the principles of decentralized self-government, equal opportunity, and freedom of the individual, our American experiment in human welfare has yielded a degree of well-being unparalleled in all the world. It has come nearer to the abolition of poverty, to the abolition of fear of want than humanity has ever reached before. Progress of the past seven years is the proof of it. This alone furnishes the answer to our opponents, who ask us to introduce destructive elements into the system by which this has been accomplished.”

-Herbert Hoover, President of the United States of America, 1929 to 1933.