There has been an increase in crime in America, especially in the cities. The most prevailing crimes are violent crimes such as homicides, robbery, and rape, simple and aggravated assaults. None violent crime includes arson, motor vehicle theft, burglary and drug possession ( Surette, 2014) . As the authority continue to record an increase in crime rate the concern is why there is an increase in crime despite the prevailing favorable economic conditions such as increased employment. The reason for increased crime is not well known, but some of the possible reason would include ease of access of firearms, drug and alcohol use, dropping out of school, increased television and engaging in violent activities such as watching violent programs or playing video games with a lot of violence.
Many theories have been developed to explain why people exhibit criminal behaviors. Because of the large pool of these theories scholars have classified them into three broad categories including sociological, biological and psychological theories according to Surette, (2014) . Sociological theories suggest that criminal behaviors are shaped by external factors that a person interact with frequently which may include experience within the neighborhood, family or a peer group. An example of sociological theory is social disorganization theory. Biological approaches assume that some people are born criminals making them physiologically distinct from non-criminal individuals. Psychological theories rely on the various fundamental assumption such as a person is the primary unit of analysis, and that personality is the major driver of behaviors within a person.
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American justice models: According to Packer (1964), the U.S have adopted two models of criminal justice. The two models are the crime control model and Due Process model. Each of the models makes specific fundamental assertions that are key to the models ( Zaibert, 2016) . Crime control model assertions include: Criminal justice main function should be repression of crime. Criminal justice should focus on vindicating the rights of victims and not protecting perpetrators rights ( Zaibert, 2016) . The model asserts that police authority should be increased to make search, seize, arrest, investigate and convict, that legal technicalities that limit police powers should be eliminated, criminal justice process should operate like a convey-belt in an assembly line and that one should be presumed guilty because the fact-finding process of the police is highly reliable ( Zaibert, 2016) . The models objective should find the truth or establish the factual guilt of the accused. Due process model arguments include: criminal justice main objective should be to provide owing process or critical fairness under the law, Criminal justice should focus on defendants’ rights and not the rights of the victims, police authority should be limited to prevent oppression of persons and constitutional rights should be upheld as they are not mere technicality ( Zaibert, 2016) .
The American prisons have adopted various sentencing theories as a way of discouraging crime by the inmates. Zaibert (2016), says that a combination of these theories includes retribution, incapacitation, and deterrence. Deterrence theory which originated from psychology is the use of fear of punishment to prevent actions or criminal behaviors. Deterrence is categorized in two broad categories including general deterrence use the sentencing of an individual as an example to the public to refrain from engaging in crime and specific deterrence that punishes a perpetrator as a way of dissuading the offender from committing a crime in the future. Incapacitation involves locking up the offenders away from the public. The rehabilitation theory is a method that aims at changing the behavior of lawbreakers via correctional intervention.
American society has do participate in curbing the rising crime rate. Different strategies can be used but the following procedures I feel they are most applicable. Applying strict alcohol/drug abuse policies. Data from F.B.I show that significant violent crimes such as rape happen under the influence of alcohol. By formulating more stringent alcohol policies such as high taxation, reducing alcohol outlets joints, and revoking alcohol offenders the rights to drink can help minimize alcohol use and consequently crime rate. The use of hot spot policing which include saturating crime hotspots with police to prevent crime from happening or arresting perpetrators. The authority can also use focused deterrence policing which is one of the strategies of community policing. The society can decide to raise the age or the grade for dropping out of learning institution. Authorities can also use Behavioral intervention programs and gun control policies ( Surette, 2014) .
B)
New Jersey’s sexual assault laws: the legal term for rape in New Jersey is rape. The element of sexual assaults in new jersey includes engaging in sexual activity with someone who is below the age of 13 years, and you are over 17 years or forcefully committing the act of sexual penetration causing an injury. It is also considered as sexual assault when the victim is under the perpetrator's control or when the victim is between 13 to 16 years, and you are in control of them, or you are four years older than the victim. In New Jersey elements of aggregated sexual assault include a victim is under 13 years of age, the victim is between the age of 13 and 16 and the perpetrator is a family member or have control over the victim or the crime was done during the occurrence of another crime like robbery. When helping someone to commit the crime and also when the act was done using a weapon to threaten the victim are made part of the aggregated assault. The punishment for a general sexual assault in New Jersey includes a maximum of 10 years in jail as it is referred to as a 2 nd -degree crime. However, the punishment for aggregated sexual assault carries up to 20 years in jail as it is a 1 st -degree crime ( Seto, 2008) .
A paraphilia that includes showing an unusual interest in children is referred to as pedophilia according to Seto, (2008) . Paraphilia is an illness whose features include recurrent and increased sexual urges or fantasies relating to sexual arousal involving animals, young children or non-consenting individuals. Therefore, pedophilia can be defined as psychosexual illness in which actual act or fantasy of engaging in sexual activity with prepubertal children is preferred. Research indicates that the rise of pedophilia is as a result of widespread use of sexual contents especially pornography and family breakdown. Ease of access to pornographic material has been closely related to an increase in pedophilia condition among many people. Pornography increases the desire to have sex with minors. Breakdown of families in American society has been closely related to increased pedophilia.
Children victimization, in general, is on increase where kidnapping, rape, exposure to violence or pornography cases are on the rise. Various programs can be used to control and manage the trend. According to Finkelhor, Asdigian & Dziuba-Leatherman,(1995) , parents can be involved in learning and studying the various ways of reducing these activities. Parent is the closest guardians to the children and that way they should be taught on how to make observations in their children that can show signs of any form of abuse. Parents are also required to teach the young kids on how to report things that they see or engage in. Parents are required to screen teachers, babysitters or trip organizers who can help protect the little kids. Guardians are required to teach the young ones the basics. The basics involve teaching the kids their full name, how to use 911 and how to withdraw consent. Extreme measures should include sentencing perpetrators of childhood victimization to set an example to the public. Another strategy is by sending perpetrators to rehabilitation.
References
Finkelhor, D., Asdigian, N., & Dziuba-Leatherman, J. (1995). Victimization prevention programs for children: a follow-up. American Journal of Public Health , 85 (12), 1684-1689.
Packer, H. L. (1964). Two models of the criminal process. U. Pa. L. Rev. , 113 , 1.
Seto, M. C. (2008). Pedophilia and sexual offending against children: Theory, assessment, and intervention . American Psychological Association.
Surette, R. (2014). Media, crime, and criminal justice . Nelson Education.
Whitman, B. (2002). Psychological and psychiatric issues. In A.P Giardino & E.R. Giardino (Eds.), Recognition of Child Abuse by the Mandated Reporter, Third Edition. St. Louis: G.W. Medical Publishing.
Zaibert, L. (2016). Punishment and retribution . Routledge.
