Abstract
There are hundreds of ways to threaten a person’s safety. Their sources may vary greatly, as well as their outcomes. This paper specializes in a variety of threats to safety and security that exist. It consists of two parts. These two essays are actually two answers to questions given as an assignment. The first part identifies the threat in three areas: accident, disaster and crime. A brief description of every threat, discussion of potential damage and prevention strategies that may be applicable to each threat are included in the essay. The second part is a mock court cause, in which the case of Brooks family is discussed. It includes the key elements of courtroom presentation in a civil trial: stipulated facts, claims, defenses and reliefs, applicable law, witnesses to appear before the court and petition and affidavit for a Civil Protection Order.
Question 1. There is a wide array of threats to safety and security that exist. However, the sources of those threats vary (e.g., accidents, disasters, health disorders, civil disorders, and crime). Identify a threat to safety and security from each of the three following areas: accident, disaster, crime. 1) Briefly describe each threat you identified, 2) discuss the similarities and differences in the sources and the potential amount of harm and damage associated with each threat, and 3) outline prevention strategies that are applicable to each threat discussed.
We live in the world of systems. Most things actually consist of a system – cars are a sort of system, our houses are a sort system. A system is a convenient method of structuring things and it has become a necessity for modern life (Ericson, 2005). If a system safety is impossible to enable, a hazard risk occurs, which may lead to the threat of safety and security.
Actually, hazard has a direct connection to accidents. An accident occurs when a hazard or complex casual hazard factors take place together at the same time. Accidents usually happen on a working place, when safety rules and hazard recognition fail to perform for some reasons. Construction industry is a sphere, where the largest number of accidents happens. According to data, 81% of fall injuries in the US construction industry are caused by ladder falls (Lipscomb, Schoenfisch, Shishlov & Myers, 2010). This fact is related to specific working conditions that are characterized by this occupation, as well as lack of proper safety training. The potential harm level in the this case in very high. To ensure construction safety prevention, one needs to strictly follow Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s Laws and regulations, as well as undergo appropriate additional training concerning safety measures on their working place.
As accidents belong to human factor risks, natural disasters are something we are not protected from. Floods and droughts, earthquakes and hurricanes, tornadoes and tsunamis, volcanic eruptions – all these bad weather aspects are often unpredictable and need awareness of probable life risks in order to protect oneself and one’s families. According to statistics, there have been 39 earthquakes in the USA in the last 15 years. In 2015, there were 317 fatalities due to natural disasters in total (Number of fatalities due to natural disasters in the United States in 2015, 2016). Preventive measures from these terrible events are mainly a personal responsible attitude to them. Learning as much as possible about these specific threats is the best way to prepare yourself for any possible emergency case.
In comparison with two previous threats, crime is the strongest one, belonging to violation of legalized social norm and justice. Compared to the same period in 2014, the number of violent crimes has increased in 2015 by 1.9 per cent, at the same time all the other crimes’ rates raised from 0.1% (burglary) to 3.2% (arson) respectively ("Table 3", 2016). The safety of citizens is above all for a state, therefore the preventive measures for public safety should be issue number one for every country’s government. Developing crime prevention strategies, law enforcement, crime surveillance and crime mapping is the minimum program for the authorities to effectively confront crime increase.
Question 2. Create a mock court cause in which you discuss the key elements of courtroom presentation from the vantage point of the defendant and security personnel in a criminal trial or the plaintiff and respondent in a civil trial.
On February 2nd, 2016, petitioner, Kelly Brooks, filed a petition for alleged acts of domestic violence.
Petitioner, Kelly Brooks, age 30, and respondent, John Brooks, age 35, got married in 2006. The Brooks have two children: Amy (age 9) and Sam (age 4). Respondent was born in Chile and moved to the USA in 1997 to complete his studies at the California University. John is unemployed at the moment. Kelly Brooks, the US citizen, is a successful accountant in a small software company, while children attend nursery school.
The Brooks family has lived in marriage happily for 9 years, then, after the first child was born, difficulties began. Due to her husbands’ character peculiarities, Kelly has suffered from emotional and consequently physical abuse.
Claims, defenses and reliefs
This issue has been brought to court by petitioner, Kelly Brooks, that respondent, John Brooks, was engaged in two separate acts of domestic violence. Mrs. Brooks claims that on December 20th, 2015, Mr. Brooks “threw me on the ground and kicked me several times” and that on January 3rd, 2016 he “hit me with his fist twice and I couldn’t move my fingers for several days”.
The petitioner asks the court to issue two Civil Protection Orders, and also the court to order respondent to attend domestic violence counseling based on these incidents.
The respondent denies that he threatened Mrs. Brook’s safety as well as committed any acts of domestic violence since his actions were entirely under the law.
Applicable law
Statutory law: Sec. 18-2800 Definitions; Sec. 18-2801 Civil Protection Order; Sec. 18-2802 Defenses; Sec. 18-2803 Relief.
Rules of the family court of New Columbia
Rule 5: Children Witnesses; Rule 8: Family Immunity; Rule 10: Limited Immunity.
Witnesses to appear before the court
For the petitioner Kelly Brooks:
Kelly Brooks, petitioner and alleged victim of domestic violence
Amy Brooks, a nine-year-old daughter of the petitioner.
Officer Ian Brown, Police Officer, Domestic Violence Unit
For the respondent John Brooks:
John Brooks, respondent
Sam Brown, a friend of respondent
Jeanne Sherman, linguistic sociologist.
Petition and Affidavit for a Civil Protection Order
The Petitioner asks the Court to issue an Order for Civil Protection against the Respondent, as specified by New Columbia Code sec. 18-2801.
References
Ericson, C. (2005). Hazard analysis techniques for system safety. Hoboken, N.J.: Wiley-Interscience.
Lipscomb, H., Schoenfisch, A., Shishlov, K., & Myers, D. (2010). Nonfatal tool- or equipment-related injuries treated in US emergency departments among workers in the construction industry, 1998-2005. Am. J. Ind. Med., n/a-n/a. http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/ajim.20839
Table 3. (2016). FBI. Retrieved 28 March 2016, from https://www.fbi.gov/about-us/cjis/ucr/crime-in-the-u.s/2015/preliminary-semiannual-uniform-crime-report-januaryjune-2015/tables/table-3
