Racal Inequalities n the US Justice System Research Paper

Racal Inequalities n the US Justice System - Research Paper Example The current rate of total incarceration in the United States is by a significant degree the highest of any economically-developed Western nation state – around 1% of the adult population is in detention. The prison population of around 2.3 million individuals exceeds the population of some 15 American States, and prompts an Economist lead article to state, justifiably, that ‘No other rich country is nearly as punitive as the Land of the Free’. While the rate at which America incarcerates its citizens has more than quadrupled since 1970, there is little evidence that this approach is having the intended effect on crime rates, which are higher now than in 1970. For young black men, this figure rises to an astonishing 1 in 9 (Economist, 2010). Many of these individuals were given prison sentences or relatively minor drug offences, and so the unnecessary and apparently ineffective harshness of much American legislation has its part to play, as will be detailed below. The proportion of prison inmates from different racial groups demonstrates the blatantly racist bias in the justice system. 38% of those incarcerated in the United States are African-Americans, but the latter make up only 13% of the total population, while 19% of those in prison are Latinos, but the latter account for only 15% of the total population. This has led to the dangerous situation where a black male born in 2001 has a 32% chance of incarceration at some point, a Hispanic male has a 17% chance of being imprisoned, while a while male has only a 6% chance of incarceration (The Sentencing Project, 2008, p.2). Furthermore, while the above figures represent national averages, Human Rights Watch found that in seven States, blacks are incarcerated at more than thirteen times the rate of whites. The United States has found itself in a situation where, in every State, the proportion of blacks in prison is greater than that of whites, and in Minnesota and Iowa it is 12 times greater (Human

Barwa fainancial Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Barwa fainancial - Case Study Example The main amounts are; cash in hand 79, balances with reputed banks 16,663 (7,497+9,166), and wakala placements 942,500 (in thousands of Qatari Riyals). The Barwa keeps comparatively low cash balance in hand as a part of its credit risk limiting strategy. b. Barwa’s total Cash and Cash equivalents at the end of the year 2009 represent 979,217,000 Riyals (Barwa annual report). From Barwa’s consolidated statement of cash flows for the year ended 31st December 2009, it is evident that the organization used cash for a variety of purposes. Accounts payables constitute one of the major cash uses for the year. Similarly, the cash flow statement reflects that the Barwa used cash for ranges of investing activities including payments for acquisitions of property under development and investment property, payments for establishment and acquisition of associates, payments for the purchase of financial assets, and payments for the purchase of plant and equipment (Barwa annual report) . In addition, the organization has dealt with some financing activities include payments for purchase of land and dividend payments. Social contributions, office and administrative expensed and other miscellaneous expenses were the other items that contributed to cash expenditure. c. Barwa mainly practices impairment allowances in its accounting practices. As per the annual report, the impairment allowances represent Barwa’s estimated incurred losses ‘in its receivables and balances from financing activities’. From the framed accounting practices of Barwa, it is obvious that a specific loss component constitutes the main part of this allowance and it is directly associated with individually significant exposures. The element of allowance is visible in the organization’s construction contracts. During the progress of the construction contract, an allowance is maintained for contingency mechanism and it relates to gross margin recognition. It is computed on the basis of percentage of completion certified. Similarly, in order to state the receivables and balances from financing activities, the impaired allowances are deducted from the obtained amortized cost and the resultant figure is recorded. It is observed that due from various parties is not completely recoverable; hence, the Barwa has also marinated impairment allowances for such receivables. d. Barwa has formulated specific provisions for classifying its receivables from financial activities. These formulated provisions clearly comply with the Qatar Central Bank requirements. For this purpose, the Barwa classifies the receivables due for more than 90 to 180 days as substandard; whereas the organization considers it doubtful when the receivables due for more than 181 to 270 days. Finally, those receivables which are due fore more than 270 days are considered to be loss assets (Barwa annual report). This classification seems to be more practical so that it would increase the relia bility of financial statements. The firm does not write off any dues before the maturity period of nine months. This time period gives maximum opportunity to the debtors to clear their accounts; therefore, this provision assists the organization to avoid future corrections to a large extent. Probably,