HUS 3609

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/05/02/nyregion/4-year-olds-death-focuses-attention-on-two-new-york-city-agencies.html?ref=nyregion

This is a story which had me slightly baffled. This four year old went to the park and shortly there after he died. This article is wondering if two agencies failed this family, of which the mother allegedly failed her children. While it is not conclusive what Juan Sanchez died from, I do find it interesting that so many people are stating that Ms. Morales is not a good mother. I cannot imagine what she must be going through right now.

As human service professionals, if Ms. Morales came to you for assistance what would you do? If you was her ACS counselor what would you do now/ or would you have done differently?

An off-duty New York City police officer shot a motorist six times at a stoplight in Westchester County this week, in what an official called a “completely random” attack. Why do you think this has occurred? Do you think that this has occurred due to alcohol consumption by the police officer? As a human services worker, do you think police officers should take a course in human services about counseling and how the human brain functions in order to help them out when they are on the job?

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/05/01/nyregion/new-york-city-officer-is-arrested-in-shooting-of-a-motorist-in-westchester-county.html?ref=nyregion

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/05/01/us/outrage-across-ideological-spectrum-in-europe-over-flawed-lethal-injection-in-us.html?ref=us

Mr. Lockett’s death penalty was on hold for a while in Oklahoma. The Europeans feel as if putting a gun to Mr.Lockett’s head would have been better than torturing him to death with an injection. Both Britain and France issued official statements condemning the execution in Oklahoma and urging the abolition of the death penalty.

The New York Police Department has arrested a 26-year-old man in connection with the kidnapping and killing of a Brooklyn developer, whose body was found smoldering in a trash container at a gas station in Nassau County on Jan. 3. What do you guys think about this article? It’s extremely sad to see someone die this way. Do you think the murderer could have been counseled and an intervention may have happened before hand if they knew this was going to happen?

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/05/01/nyregion/man-is-questioned-in-killing-of-brooklyn-developer.html?ref=nyregion&_r=0

http://news.msn.com/in-depth/former-ga-technician-falsified-mammogram-reports

Rachael Michelle Rapraeger is a technician who has falsified mammogram’s for approximately 1300 women. The punishment for such a horrific crime was SIX months in jail, ten years probation, and $12,500 fine. I also feel that the punishment does not fit the crime, and it is very hard not to be angry at an individual who treat life so carelessly. My heart goes out to these women, especially if they must have followup treatment as a result of such an apathetic outlook towards human life.

Human service students please read this article, and tell me how would you treat these clients, if they came to you and told you their story? I believe a group setting, as well as individual, especially for those whose results are more severe. How would you treat Ms. Rapraeger is she was sent to you as the client?

http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/bronx/rikers-intern-viciously-assaulted-mental-patient-article-1.1760084

A Rikers Island inmate Joseph McRae, broke the jaw of medical intern Stephanie Porcelli

http://www.ny1.com/content/news/207468/sources–doc-opens-investigation-after-rikers-inmate-attacks-volunteer

Another Rikers Island inmate Duane Belcher, assaulted a volunteer and pulled up her skirt.

The first inmate has previous charges of punching a women. The second inmate has charges of assault and sexual abuse. My question here is how exactly does this criminal system work? Two recent events, almost to close in time, have occurred and why? Most of the post I have read about the system have suggested that there is to much neglect on the inmates but what about the safety of, for example these interns and volunteers? It scares me that the people who are going in to help or learn about our field are being assaulted. How do you guys feel about these articles? Should internships even allow these types of environments? How can we prevent further attacks? As human service workers should we expect these to occur? I don’t think so, what do you think?

http://blogs.wsj.com/metropolis/2014/04/23/williamsburg-neighborhood-watch-members-indicted-for-gang-assault/

Five men were charged for allegedly attacking Taj Patterson, who actually attends City Tech. The men are said to be part of a “Orthodox Jewish neighborhood watch group” and allegedly shouted anti-gay slurs during the attack, which was severe enough to blind him in one eye. I am always shocked to hear stories that hit close to home or in this case close to school and not only that but to hear stories that involve racism till this day. As a human service worker do you guys think we have a responsibility to advocate against racism? In  our field how do you think we should handle this specific case, where racism does seem to play a big role? Should these men only receive jail time or should they receive other services as well?

http://online.wsj.com/article/AP6e4bc04a40e64beebebe80ee2c1056d6.html?mod=WSJ_NY_LEFTAPHeadlines

Raymond Roth was sentenced to 2 1/3 to seven years in prison for faking his own drowning. What amazed me about this article was that he faked his drowning for and insurance fraud and his son also helped him. This article brought me back to the realization of how many people need services but sometimes can’t get any meanwhile others get more than what they even need. Example, public assistance. I have seen many that walk in to fill out an application and have designer everything. My question is as a Human Service worker, what steps can we take to prevent this from happening? Can we ever truly identify who needs what and who is just “faking” the need for help? I am sure that I am not the only one who has seen a scenario where someone is getting help/assistance for the wrong reasons, how is this still going on or better yet why?

Proposing to End Prosecutions for Low-Level Marijuana Offenses

This article is of great concern. The Brooklyn district attorney office has stated that they will stop prosecuting small charges on possession of marijuana. It’s a controversial issue being that in a way it inhibits marijuana use.  Along with this Mr. Thompson is also proposing taking low level misdemeanors cases within the teenage range and engaging these individual’s in short behavioral programs.

The opposing theory known as “Broken windows” suggest that stopping small crimes helps prevent future delinquencies.  Do you guys agree with this? Should we make our laws less lenient and hope that our society adapt to these changes in a positive way?