What Is Poaching

Poaching is the illegal taking of wildlife, in violation of local, state, federal, or international law. Activities that are considered poaching include killing an animal out of season, without a license, with a prohibited weapon, or in a prohibited manner such as jacklighting. Killing a protected species, exceeding ones bag limit, or killing an animal while trespassing is also considered poaching. Key Takeaways: Poaching †¢ Unlike hunting, poaching is the illegal killing of wildlife.†¢ One of the most common drivers of poaching is the desire for rare animal products such as ivory and furs.†¢ Poaching does not necessarily involve the killing of threatened or endangered animals. Any animal can be poached if it is killed unlawfully. People who poach do so for a variety of reasons, including for food, pleasure, and trophies. In some areas, such as China, poaching is driven by demand for highly valued animal products such as ivory and furs. In other places, poaching is driven by poverty or disregard for hunting regulations. One example of poaching is the taking of eggs from the nest of loggerhead turtles. According to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission,  loggerheads arrive on Florida beaches in April and continue to arrive and lay eggs through September. Anyone caught stealing these eggs and convicted may be sentenced up to  five years in federal prison and/or required to pay a $250,000 fine. Effects of Poaching One of the most dangerous and lasting effects of poaching is the decimation of native animal populations. When a certain animal, such as the African elephant, is targeted by poachers, it can take decades for the animals population to recover. This, in turn, affects the ecosystem to which the animal belongs. A reduction in predators like tigers, for example, may cause prey populations to grow out of hand, while a reduction in fruit-eating mammals may affect seed dispersal, altering the fauna of an ecosystem. Demand for elephant ivory has had negative effects in sub-Saharan Africa, where poaching has increased since 2008. Between 2011 and 2017, for example, poachers in Mozambique killed 90 percent of the countrys elephants. In 2018, nearly 90 elephants were found dead near a sanctuary in Botswana, which had recently ended a strict anti-poaching policy. There were a few million elephants living in Africa in the early 1900s, but today there are believed to be fewer than 700,000. Africas lion populations have also been affected by poaching. Since 1994, they have been reduced by 42 percent, and the species is now vulnerable to extinction. Some of the decline is the result of habitat ross (which reduces access to prey), but much of it is due to poaching and commercial hunting. In the early 1900s, there were about 200,000 lions living in Africa. As of 2017, scientists estimate that only about 20,000 remain. Poaching does not only affect wildlife. Park rangers and game wardens are also victims of violence. In Virunga National Park, an animal sanctuary in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, more than 170 rangers have been killed between 1998 and 2018. One of the misconceptions about poaching is that it must involve endangered animals. This is not the case. In North America, for example, poaching can involve animals as common as lobster. The big event known as mini lobster season takes place every summer in the Florida Keys. During that time, which precedes commercial lobster season, anyone can take to the water and snatch a spiny lobster from its hide hole and toss it in a cooler. When it comes time to head back home, though, officers from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission are sometimes present to inspect the catch. When an officer does an inspection, he uses a standard measuring device. Placing the lobsters side by side on a table, he measures each one in the legally prescribed manner, placing the device on the lobsters carapace to check the size. That state puts a limit on the size of each lobster that can be taken during mini lobster season. According to this state mandate, a lobster with a carapace or body measuring at least 3 inches would be 2-3 years old and old enough to have reproduced at least one season. The penalty for taking such a lobster is a serious one: Upon a first conviction, by imprisonment for a period of not more than 60 days or by a fine of not less than $100 nor more than $500, or by both such fine and imprisonment. Many state wildlife management agencies have hotlines that the public can call to report poaching. Its not always someone in uniform who will catch you, either—there are undercover cops everywhere. Hunting vs. Poaching Unlike poaching, hunting—the killing of wild animals for food or sport—is protected by law. In the United States, meat and sport hunting regulations vary from state to state. In Montana, general deer hunting season takes place between October 20 and November 25. Hunting without a license or out of season is not permitted and is therefore considered a form of poaching. Hunting regulations ensure that hunting is done safely and responsibly, without causing harm to threatened or endangered species and without affecting commercial and recreational activity.

Community Supervision of Law Violators vs. Incarceration...

Community supervision of law violators can achieve similar advantages and prevent the disadvantages of incarceration. There are both advantages and disadvantages to community corrections and incarceration. I support community corrections because I believe it has more positives outcomes and less negative effects than incarceration. Community corrections have more advantages over incarceration and fewer disadvantages. Incarcerating people isn’t working that well and the biggest reason is the overcrowding of prisons. According to a chart in Schmalleger’s book, â€Å"prisoners compared vs. capacity† there has been overcrowding of prisons since 1980. We are putting more people in prisons than how much capacity they can actually hold. Not†¦show more content†¦Parolees also support the government through the taxes they pay. Probationers and parolees can also participate in community service. When offenders are incarcerated, they are in a more hostile en vironment rather than when they get probation or parole. There is also an increase opportunity for rehabilitation. Probation and parole can reward offenders with freedom and give them the chance to correct their behavior. This is usually more difficult to accomplish if they are incarcerated. However probation and parole have increased social costs. â€Å"Probation and parole increase the chance that added expenses will accrue to the community in the form of child support, welfare costs, housing expenses, legal aid, indigent health care, and the like.† (Schmalleger pg 368) While it’s cheap to put someone on probation or parole, it is expensive to incarcerate a person for a year. It costs $45,000 to house and feed an inmate for one year. â€Å"There are approximately 1,325 state prisons and 84 federal prisons in operation across the country today†. (Schmalleger pg 390) If you have 2000 inmates in one prison then that will cost roughly $90,000,000 to support those prisoners for just one year and that is only for one prison. From 1991 to 2007, there was a 37% decrease in the national crime rate and a 62% increase in the rate of imprisonment. The Public Safety Performance Project released a report that predicts the nation’s prison population will rise to more thanShow MoreRelatedPunishment vs Rehabilitation1678 Words   |  7 Pagesto the effectiveness of rehabilitation of convicted offenders in prison and under community supervision. Punishment is defined as a penalty that is imposed on an individual for doing something wrong. T he term rehabilitation is defined as a way to help somebody to return to good health or a normal life by providing training or therapy (StudyMode). If an individual commits a crime serious enough to warrant incarceration, then the individual is sent to prison as a form of punishment. While incarceratedRead MoreDrug Court vs. Incarceration2165 Words   |  9 PagesRebeca Manns ENGL 112 Argumentative Paper September 2, 2012 Drug Court vs. Incarceration Drug addiction has increased drastically across America in the last fifty years. Non-violent drug offenders fill our jails and prisons. Taxpayer dollars are put into a prison system that is proving to be counter-productive. Recidivism rates are high. Drug Court is an alternative to incarceration that offers rehabilitation to criminal offenders. In drug court, the traditional functions of the U.S. justiceRead MoreCorrections: Restorative Justice2151 Words   |  9 Pagesoverseeing individuals who have been arrested and are currently awaiting trial, and those that have been convicted of a crime and sentenced to serve a sentence in jail of prison (Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2010-11). Correctional officers usually have no law enforcement duties outside of a prison of jail facility they work at maintaining order within the institute and they over see many inmates preventing assault, disturbances, and escapes. The job of a correctional officer can be very dangerous and stressfulRea d More Racial Discrimination and Disparity in the United States Justice System2733 Words   |  11 Pagesbased on race and social status. The effect of legislation has impacted racial disparity in law enforcement, the judicial system, and corrections. Minorities in the United States face discrimination at every stage of the judicial process, from arrest to incarceration. The research will show that African Americans, Hispanics and other minorities face unjust profiling and targeting by police and other law enforcement officials. Minorities also face racially biased charging and plea bargaining decisionsRead MoreCriminal Justice Policy And Planning4719 Words   |  19 Pagesin defining what should be done. It is a judicial function to ensure that criminal laws are implemented fairly and in accordance with the law. if an arrested person is found guilty , it is a judicial function to set out the punishment for the individual, this should be on a case-by-case basis guided by the laws set out by the legislature. The goals of punishment set upon the criminals are: deterrence, incarceration, retribution and rehabilitation. Over the years public and political views have changed

How to Critically Analyse your Essay Free Essays

This guide will look at ways to improve the critical analysis in your essay. As explained in another of our guides, there are important differences between descriptive and critical / analytical essays. As critical analytical work attracts higher marks, it’s important to understand what makes a critical analytical essay and how best to write one. We will write a custom essay sample on How to Critically Analyse your Essay or any similar topic only for you Order Now A critical analysis essay develops an argument, putting forward a particular point of view and dealing with objections. It uses descriptive material to gather evidence for the point of view it puts forward. It should be well structured and logical, clear and easy to understand Types of Question to Ask in your Critical Analysis Essay Writing a critical and analytic essay means asking the right sort of questions. Questions about theory. You need to discuss existing theoretical perspectives critically. How does the writer understand what she / he is trying to explainWhat is the theoretical background against which they writeHow does the theoretical background influence what they say Questions of definitions. Very often, definitions of seemingly unambiguous terms are confusing, and different authors use the term in different ways. It is often useful to unpick key terms. Are the concepts used clear, or are they vaguely defined and ambiguous Questions of evidence. Consider the evidence that exists to support an author’s point of view. Is there enough evidence, and can the point the author is making be supported by the evidenceConsider individual research studies. Is the methodology flawed or soundHow was the population included in the research selected, for example. Were the conclusions drawn warranted by the actual data collectedHow was the data analysed Questions of implication. Look at the implications of an author’s argument. Are they positive or negativeAre there any absurd conclusions which can be drawn from their premises Do the author’s conclusions really follow from their premises Structuring a Critical Analysis Essay To a large extent, critical analysis essays share structure with other types of essay. For example, they will include an introduction, main body and conclusion. However, there are some features which you should note: The introduction should identify the main thesis under discussion, preview the argument you will use, and explain the context The main body should include a summary of current understanding of the field, before moving on to your argument. You might consider using a structure whereby each section of the main body considers a different point of your argument, first setting out the argument point before considering objections. Your conclusion should summarise the main points, and explain how you have demonstrated your thesis. Tips for Improving Critical Analytic Essays To summarise, there are several ways in which you can improve the critical and analytic qualities of your essay: Make sure you understand what you have been asked to write about, and have identified the focus of the task. As well as understanding what question you’ve been asked, you need to analyse the language the question was framed in, read through any associated course material, and try and uncover the expectations your tutor has of your essay. Identify your personal point of view. What is your own perspectiveThat is, what is your position on the issueIt’s fine for your position to change, but you have to be clear at all times what it is. And your position should be supported by the evidence you present. Understand how to persuade others that your point of view is right. That is, you need to know how to present an argument in a logical and well reasoned way. You not only have to be able to argue for your point of view, you also need to show how your arguments are rooted in evidence. That is, you need to know how to first identify and then evaluate the evidence that’s available. This means the ability to do research effectively, quickly and appropriately. You also need to be willing to engage in debate, that is, acknowledge points of view other than your own and show why (in your opinion, and backed up with argument and evidence) they are wrong. Your essay should be well structured. You might have good arguments and plenty of evidence, but unless these are presented in a clear and cohesive way, you risk your essay sounding muddled and confusing, and convincing no-one. Bibliography Palgrave MacMillan (2013) ‘Critical Analysis’ [online] (cited 13th February 2013) available from http://www.palgrave.com/skills4study/pdfs/critical%20analysis%20.pdf London School of Journalism ‘Writing Critical Analysis Papers’, [online] (cited 13th February 2013) available from http://depts.washington.edu/pswrite/Handouts/CriticalAnalysisPapers.pdf How to cite How to Critically Analyse your Essay, Essay examples