ANGLAIS CPGE - M.Delaby

Fiches culturelles

CHAPITRE 34 La lutte contre la criminalité et la violence urbaine aux Etats-Unis et en Grande-Bretagne

IN THE US The issue of criminality divides both US and British citizens between tolerance policy or rigour laws.

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1993: Rudi Giuliani elected Mayor of NY 1994: “three-strikes-and-you’reout” law in California (all people who appear before the judge for three times can be sentenced to life imprisonment whatever the gravity of the offence) 1998: The Crime and Disorder Act (UK) 2003: The anti-Social Behaviour Act (UK) Rudy Giuliani : mayor of NYC between 1994 and 2001, famous for his fight against crime and his courage during 9/11 The COMPSTAT : Computerized Statistics program designed to help reducing criminality The RICO Act : intended to destroy the Mafia and jail the Godfather ASBO : it is a civil order tailored against “anti-social” act Teenage Curfew : Imposed for everyone under 16 years old unless accompanied by an adult between 9pm and 6am. Files: http://rue89.nouvelobs.com/ 2008/05/30/grande-bretagne-cameraspartout-resultats-nulle-part

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In the US low-income families live in areas fled by the others classes because of the criminality rate. Hence the government made housingprojects, rose the welfare and services and security to fight against urban segregation. Indeed Rudi Giuliani made New-York one of the safest cities in the USA although before his election large areas of the city were offlimit to visitors due to urban violence. He implemented a “zero tolerance” policy and improved the police performance by developing precincts to guarantee neighborhood quality of life and adjust the surveillance to the area needs. But he’s also known to have invested in education system and promoted the quality of education, launched a successful welfare-to-work initiative and developed the Administration for Children’s Services. To improve security, the punishments have become more severe and a “noweapons” policy has been initiated. Furtheremore the reduction of crime, welfare reforms and the economic growth due to the zero tolerance policy has inspired several other US cities. The Boston police comissioner has raised teenagers’ awareness and promised them jobs if they respected laws. Nevertheless punishments are extremely severe even for petty crime. Police also fights against more formal criminal organizations such as mafia: since 1993 the violent crimes have declined while the number of prisoners increased to close to seven million. IN THE UK Face to the crime figures trebling in Britain between 1970 and 1995, the urban violence has become a way for politicians to attract votes. In 1998 the Home Office Crime Prevention Unit supported prenventions programms to fight criminality. In fact most British towns today use CCTV surveillance which has proved its efficacy in public areas, neighborhoods, car parks... More than 4 million cameras are currently used to fight all sorts of criminality. Tony Blair did a commitment to contend with nuisances (burglary, drunkenness, car theft, ...) that wear out communities. Moreover as an alternative to imprisonment, an offender can be confined at home with an electronic device which monitors his movements: it’s the house arrest. In 2000 a curfew was organized for teenagers under 16 years old between 9 pm and 6 am. As a result of its prevention policy, the number of crimes recorded by the police has fallen by 7 % a year. However people have not noticed any amelioration for anti-social behaviour.