Crime in the Information Age Essay Example for Free

Crime in the Information Age Essay Its not difficult to gauge what the popular notions of crime in the United States are. Engage in any polite conversation over dinner or cocktails and one is likely to hear similar themes: crime is out of control, its just not the same world we grew up in, its not safe to walk down the street anymore, its a mean world out there, etc. The underlying theme that can be drawn from these notions is fear. There is a widespread conception that crime is a rampant problem in this country and that violent crime and others are on the rise. However, these beliefs are not supported at all by the facts, even those put forth by our own law enforcement agencies. So why then, are most Americans so concerned with the threat of violent crime in particular? While the answer to this question is a complex one involving many contributors, the focus of this essay is concerned with the impact of popular media on these perceptions, because the media, it would seem, is one of the most influential contributors to the social construction of crime in this country. The coverage of crime, and particularly violent crime, in the news media has increased in frequency of coverage and sensationalized reporting despite statistical proof that violent crime has been decreasing for many years. This phenomenon is of great concern because how we arrive at our perceptions of our world should be critically examined so policy solutions react to truth not manipulated reality. As of 2001 homicides made up one to two-tenths of one percent of all arrests, yet made up 27-29% of crime coverage on the nightly news (Dorfman and Schiraldi). Still one of the most shocking statistics from Dorfman and Schiraldis study states that, Crime coverage has increased while real crime rates have fallen. While homicide coverage was increasing on the network news by 473% from 1990 to 1998, homicide arrests dropped 32. 9% from 1990 to 1998. We can see one indication of the effects of this unrealistic reporting in 1994 when, for example, in a Washington Post/ABC poll respondents named crime as their number one concern (far more than any other issue) with 65 percent of those who responded as such saying that they learned about this issue from the media (Jackson and Naureckas). The fact is, however, that violent crime has been on the decrease for roughly thirteen years and is estimated to be at a roughly thirty year low (U. S. Department of Justice). The following graph rom the De partment of Justice shows a dramatic decrease in the rates of violent crime beginning in the early nineties: ? The National Criminal Victimization Survey, which is conducted differently than the more common Uniform Crime Reports, shows a decrease in violent as well as property crimes in the United States for more than a decade (qtd. in Torny 118). The evidence seems to be overwhelming; no matter what the method used for measuring crime rates there is an obvious decrease in crime, especially with respect to violent crime in the United States. These are just a couple of the statistics researchers and academics have compiled over recent years addressing the discrepancy between media coverage of crime and actual crime statistics. So in light of these multiple studies using different methods, how and why is it that media coverage of violent crime has grown exponentially? Surette explains that crime is both an individual and cultural product (237). There is a correlation between media consumption and support for more harsh criminal justice policies and perceptions of the mean-world view (Surette 196). This supports the theory that the more news a person consumes, particularly television news, the less they know about the actual state of the world. Surette explains that while the media certainly does have an impact it is not the only factor in creating this culture of the fear of crime and impacts those who live in a more isolated environment and consume higher levels of media (200). He also notes that research suggests that those who watch a good deal of television have trouble differentiating between the television world and the real world (204). The media has a relationship with fear that can correlate with fear fore some viewers (Surette 206). One example of this relationship with fear that the media seems to have can be found in a 1994 article in US News and World Report where the authors, despite noting briefly that violent crime by all statistical accounts is actually down, names the previous year as the scariest year in American history seeming to assert that the numbers dont matter (Jackson and Naureckas). The article also makes a good point about the contradiction between perceptions of crime and the reality of crime: the drumbeat of news coverage [that] has made it seem that America is in the midst of its worst epidemic of violence ever. That sense is not supported by the numbers (Jackson and Naureckas). Throughout the rest of the article similar contradictions abound and it is difficult to tell exactly what conclusion should be drawn from it. The causes of crime, as with most crime reporting, are not dealt with in the article while random violence is examined closely (Jackson and Naureckas). Most violent crime is perpetrated by someone whom the victim knows yet the theme of random violence receives much more attention in the media (Jackson and Naureckas). The US News piece illustrates how the media engages in a form of doublethink where despite knowledge of factual evidence indicating a decrease in crime they continue to put forth images that depict violent crime as an epidemic and continue to support perceptions of fear, distrust, and cynicism. This fear mongering often plays into preconceived notions of crime and violence such as racism, ageism, and classism held by some. A 2001 study by Dorfman and Schiraldi found that crimes against African Americans were underrepresented in reporting and overrepresented as perpetrators, white victims tended to receive more lengthy coverage as well. In Los Angeles television news African Americans were 22% more likely to be shown on TV committing violent crimes than non-violent ones despite the fact that arrest reports indicate that African Americans in Los Angeles commit both types of crime almost equally (Dorfman and Schiraldi). The study also shows how youths are also disproportionately covered: 7 out of 10 local TV news stories dealing with violent crime in California had youths as the perpetrators despite the fact that youths commit only 14. 4% of violent crime in that state. Furthermore, half of the stories dealing with minors for any reason involved violence even though only 2% (though due to unreported crimes the actual number may be higher) of California youths have been victims or perpetrators of violent crime (Drofman and Schiraldi). The study also found by looking at news reports over the last decade that in Hawaii there has bee a 30 fold increase in the number of youth crime stories despite a steady decrease in youth crime over that same time period. This increased focus on youth crimes has led to increased support for treating juvenile offenders as adults and, especially in instances of more serious crimes, applying the same retributive punishments previously not applied to young offenders (Glassner 73). These findings show how not only are the medias sensationalized reporting of crime contributing to a false sense or reality for many people, but are also einforcing stereotypes and bigotry. Utilizing these preconceived ideas also intensifies the impact of fear based coverage. This sense of fear that the media is able to conjure up in certain situations can easily be manipulated by politicians and policymakers looking to gain some support. According to Glassner, the more fearful people are of crime the more lik ely they are to support more punitive justice systems instead of rehabilitation programs. This is especially true with respect to juvenile offenders (72). Glassner further argues that it is interesting that as we cut into funding for educational, medical, and antipoverty programs we begin to grow more concerned about crime and there seems to be what he calls unacknowledged guilt about why crime now seems inevitable (72). While the media is often the target of criticism and blame it has been argued that largely the media mirrors public opinion and can be controlled by it (Gans 76). There is evidence however that particularly brutal crimes or large amounts of coverage of crime can shift public opinion somewhat. For example, polls show an increase in support for the death penalty following news of horrifying crimes (Gans 76). Gans believes that despite the fact that the news media is often thought of as having more power than it actually does it may have long-term effects on public opinion (88). So, even though the media of course cannot shift public opinion overnight in the long run a shift in coverage of sensationalized crime coverage can have long lasting effects of the political climate around crime policy. If the tone of the media is largely controlled by previously held notions of media consumers then how might the news media correct the public when its beliefs are erroneous? Chiricos examines the effect of moral panics which something or someone becomes defined as a threat to societal values or norms (2). Moral panics are signaled by a rapid increase in the volume of media reporting and are often followed by political action as the public feels that something must be done (Chiricos 60). Every so often crime and violence becomes the subject of a moral panic in America. Chiricos examines two moral panics occurring in the early to mid nineties: crack cocaine and violent crime. Both of these stories where covered in much the same way: as inner-city problems leaving the ghettos and threatening the middle-class way of life (63). When this issue was framed as a direct threat to suburban America a moral panic followed. When crime was confined to urban areas and ghettos there was little to worry about until the perception became that crack and violence was spreading into areas that were considered to be safe. During this time 49 percent of Americans then said that crime was the most important issue facing the country compared to only 9 percent before the moral panic began to set in (Chiricos 64). The panic was further compounded by reports that these issues were spreading to children which Chiricos notes is a common component of the rise of a moral panic (65). The reaction to these panics was unsurprising. Panics are viewed as sudden problems and treated with fundamentally inappropriate solutions such as sending more people to prison and building more of them (Chiricos 67). Following moral panics, according to Chiricos, commands are issued by the public (71). The policy ramifications from these moral panics included 9. 7 billion dollars for more prisons, Californias three strikes program, and various repressive laws aimed at adults and children alike in many states (Chiricos 71). These examinations of the medias relationship with public opinion point out how in this age of information the media is an important factor in how we carry out our democracy and decide what issues are important. If this has become the case than there are serious concerns for how the media is serving democracy. Lawrence sees the media as an arena where problems are constructed and there is constant struggle between elites, groups, and the public seek to define and address problems (3). What constitutes a problem is socially constructed. This is also true of crime problems. Lawrence is concerned with how problems are socially constructed in the media because when something is defined as a problem facing the country power is conferred upon the social institutions we would likely look to deal with it (5). So, in the arena of the media if crime is framed by elites as stemming from the degradation of society or loss of opportunities for many people then programs and institutions organized for supporting the poor and communities will be empowered. However, the usual winners in this clash of frames typically define crime as an epidemic problem fueled by a justice system which is too soft on criminals. With this frame politicians must appear tough on crime and power is given to more punitive crime control policies and the prison-industrial complex flourishes as more and more money is spent on warehousing offenders. This further disempowers social welfare institutions as money spent on police and prisons cannot be spent on education, healthcare, or welfare programs. This struggle to define problems can be looked at as a clash of differing realities where vastly different takes on issues exist but one is adopted by the media and then disseminated to the public (Lawrence 5). Lawrence says that the prevailing reality held by the most successful definers typically comes from officials within the government (5). There exists a close relationship between government officials and the news media. They are the primary definers and therefore the strongest factor in how we construct the reality of crime (Lawrence 5). This is unhealthy because, with the issue of crime in particular, officials are quick to define crime as an epidemic issue filled with fearful imagery and then act against criminals in draconian ways. When they construct a reality where they are needed to protect their constituents justice in harmed for the sake of political capital. This manipulation of reality and fear for the sake of power is addressed by Entman but with respect to the war on terror instead of crime and justice. He argues that the elite exert control by hegemony and indexing (4). Hegemony refers to the way officials release only information that supports the narrow reality that they seek to perpetuate and indexing is how the media reflect this narrow debate among elites quite closely (Entman 5). With this control over public perception it is relatively easy for officials to frame issues such as crime or terrorism. When they win the battle to define a problem obvious remedies arise. If terrorism is framed as an attack on our way of life rather than a consequence of our projection of power across the globe then it follows that the remedy is defense and war. Similarly, if elites succeed in defining crime not as a consequence of lost economic opportunities but as a result of naturally deviant personalities then the reaction that follows is to lock up these defective personalities and isolate them from the rest of â€Å"normal† society. The way in which we think about various issues and problems directly affects how we deal with them. Most in society would say that the solution to problems is obvious because it is. What is missed however is the fact that how we think about problems can completely shift the ways in which we deal with them. In order to change policy then the first step is to change the perceptions and the reality surrounding it for officials and the public alike. Lakoff tells us that if we can reframe issues we can create social change (XV). When we change the way the public sees the world, largely through the media, and alter that perceived reality we can change the policies that follow. So why then does the media seem to be so concerned with violent crime and creating feelings of fear and anxiety in its consumers? The reason seems to be sensationalized journalism meant to increase viewership and a system where officials control our perceptions through the media. It needs to be understood that passive consumption of the media is unhealthy and we should think critically about how reality is constructed by elites and the media because, that subjective reality directly affects the solutions that are used to deal with our problems. While so many people are given the impression that crime is rampant the underreported fact is that crime has been decreasing for many years. In order for there to be rational crime control policy in the United States we need to have accurate information about the reality of crime in this country. In order for this to happen the media must provide an accurate depiction of crime that is constructed by a fair debate in the public arena of the media. There is a lot at stake in how we perceive the world around us and how we think about crime and punishment.

veitnam war :: essays research papers

THE VIETNAM WAR Do you know why the Viet Nam war started, or when it really began? Well, it may surprise you to know that the war actually began shortly after the end of World War II. When WWII ended many countries had taken control of smaller countries in Asia. Vietnam was controlled by the French, but after WWII Vietnam wanted it’s independence. France did not want to give up it’s colonies because they needed the extra income to help rebuild it’s country after WWII. A man named Ho Chi Minh, who declared their independence from the French after the end of WWII, led Vietnam. His resistance force was first called the Viet – Minh, which stood for the Vietnam Independence League (DRV). Ho Chi Minh formed a government called the Democratic Republic of Vietnam, although he was a true communist. Vietnam became divided into North and South Vietnam, with the French controlling South Vietnam and the DRV the North. As the French moved into North Vietnam fighting br oke out and the French became involved in a new kind of war. The General in charge of the DRV, a man named Giap used â€Å"guerrilla warfare† to defeat the French. In this type of war the General used small groups of men to kill or wound French soldiers and then run away into the jungle before the French could use a large army to fight back. This fighting lasted for years and the people in France did not like having French soldiers killed again as in WWII. By 1954 the French knew that they could not win a war against the DVR. They were defeated in a big battle at Dien Bien Phu and quickly left Vietnam. After this defeat a meeting was held in Geneva Switzerland and Vietnam was divided into North and South Vietnam along the 17th parallel of latitude. This was supposed to last two years and then the people of Vietnam would vote on whether to reunite the country and what kind of government all the people wanted. Well suddenly Dominos decide to help decide Vietnams fate. Yes, that ’s right, you know the game of Dominos. Well I’m sure many of you have seen or maybe even tried the trick of standing Dominos up and making all of them fall over. The United States thought of the countries in Southeast Asia as Dominos. They thought that if Vietnam became a Communist country all countries in the region would soon also become Communist’s.

Invitation to Sociology Essay

Peter L. Berger (1963, pp. 23–24) [2] noted in his classic book Invitation to Sociology, â€Å"The first wisdom of sociology is this—things are not what they seem.† Social reality, he said, has â€Å"many layers of meaning,† and a goal of sociology is to help us discover these multiple meanings. He continued, â€Å"People who like to avoid shocking discoveries†¦should stay away from sociology.† As Berger was emphasizing, sociology helps us see through conventional understandings of how society works. He referred to this theme of sociology as the debunking motif. By â€Å"looking for levels of reality other than those given in the official interpretations of society† (p. 38), [3] Berger said, sociology looks beyond on-the-surface understandings of social reality and helps us recognize the value of alternative understandings. In this manner, sociology often challenges conventional understandings about social reality and social institutions . For example, suppose two people meet at a college dance. They are interested in getting to know each other. What would be an on-the-surface understanding and description of their interaction over the next few minutes? What do they say? If they are like a typical couple who just met, they will ask questions like, What’s your name? Where are you from? What dorm do you live in? What’s your major? Now, such a description of their interaction is OK as far as it goes, but what is really going on here? Does either of the two people really care that much about the other person’s answers to these questions? Isn’t each one more concerned about how the other person is responding, both verbally and nonverbally, during this brief interaction? For example, is the other person paying attention and smiling? Isn’t this kind of understanding a more complete analysis of these few minutes of interaction than an understanding based solely on the answers to questions like, What’s your major? For the most complete understanding of this brief encounter, then, we must look beyond the rather superficial things the two people are telling each other to uncover the true meaning of what is going on. As another example, consider the power structure in a city or state. To know who has the power to make decisions, we would probably consult a city or state charter or constitution that spells out the powers of the branches of government. This written document would indicate who mak es decisions and has  power, but what would it not talk about? To put it another way, who or what else has power to influence the decisions elected officials make? Big corporations? Labor unions? The media? Lobbying groups representing all sorts of interests? The city or state charter or constitution may indicate who has the power to make decisions, but this understanding would be limited unless one looks beyond these written documents to get a deeper, more complete understanding of how power really operates in the setting being studied.

Criminal Justice Ethics Essay

Lon L. Fuller, former Carter Professor of Jurisprudence at Harvard Law School, observed in The Morality of Law, â€Å"Even if a man is answerable only to his conscience, he will answer more responsibly if he is compelled to articulate principles on which he acts. † To me this means that you have to answer to your own self and that you judge yourself on your thinking and possible actions. You have to weigh the outcomes and ask yourself what you can you live with doing? It’s what your moral thinking is and how it is applied. Scenario 1 – Drugs at a Friend’s House There is a moral dilemma for this situation. I am an off duty police officer and observe several other people at a friend’s party using the recreational drug, cocaine. The friend of mine is outside with others and I don’t know if she knows that illegal activities are being done in her home. I would ask myself, do I call my supervisor and make them aware even though I’m off duty? Or do I ask my friend if she knows anything about the activities being done in her home and if she does, do I call it in and make arrests for what I observed and learned or let it slide with a warning because she’s a friend? My instincts are to go question my friend. I would still call it in, but depending on whether or not she knows about the activities, would mean if I would make an arrest on her with the others or not. Cocaine is an illegal drug and I have seen what it can do to people. I might lose a friend over it, but arresting them would not only get the drugs off the street, but it will also possibly help those being caught using the substance. There are rehabilitation programs out there to help them. If I chose to let it slide, it could be a slippery slope and lead to me letting it slide more often and letting criminals and possible addicts go. It would play on my conscience to know someone actually partaking in such activities and me not try to help them recover. Yes, I might feel bad for losing a friend, but I’d rather not lose my job and put my children at risk of being homeless. I think it would be for the greater good to call it in versus letting it go. Scenario 2 – Accepting a Gift There is a moral problem in this situation. I am a community police officer and the day before Christmas, an owner of a small marker that has been sociable towards me calls me behind the counter and hands me a fruit basket for my family, and a Christmas card with $30 gift certificate. The moral question is whether or not I accept the gifts. If policy allowed gratuity for officers, I would accept the kind gesture as professional discretion. After all, the owner has participated consistently in community crime-prevention meetings. If policy didn’t allow it, I would have to decline and explain it’s against policy to do so and thank him for his gesture. I strive daily to do the right thing. If it’s against policy to accept a gift given as appreciation for my friendship and service as an officer, then sadly, I would have to decline. If I didn’t, that could lead to a slippery slope. You never know what a person does behind closed doors. He could be the prominent community member he portrays or he could be hosting illegal activities. Scenario 3 – Homosexual Partner You are a supervisor on a medium-size police department. Office Ted Jones is an excellent officer and has been on the force for 16 years. He is also a homosexual and hangs out at a known gay bar in his off time. You have two person patrols and Jones was recently teamed with Officer James Davis. Officer Davis comes to you and asks to be assigned to another partner because Jones is a homosexual. Is there a moral problem presented in the scenario? If so, what is it? I don’t believe there is a moral problem for me personally regarding this situation. I’m a supervisor of a police department. An officer approaches me to ask to be assigned to another partner because the current partner is homosexual. Personally, I don’t care about a person’s sexuality. The homosexual office, Officer Jones, is an excellent officer and has been here for 16 years. I would ask the officer requesting reassignment with a different partner, Officer Davis, whether or not Officer Jones harassed him, and if he didn’t, I would tell him deal with it. If he did, I’d pull in Officer Jones for disciplinary action. There isn’t a policy that stops a homosexual person from having a partner. It’s discriminatory. Officer Davis may hate me after that, but unless Officer Jones harasses him or assaults him, it’s out of my hands. Consciously, I’d be okay letting Jones and Davis stay partners.

Financial Incentives in Health Care Essays

Financial Incentives in Health Care Essays Financial Incentives in Health Care Paper Financial Incentives in Health Care Paper In Delivering Healthcare in America, a book by Leiyu Shi and Douglas Singh, the author explains that although in the US healthcare the primary payer is the government, the systems has a disproportionate amount of health plans and insurance policies that only complicate the system. The current financial incentive policies in place that attempts to control the delivery of health care has also been seen to promote demand creation, where an artificial demand is prompted by healthcare providers who have financial gain in mind (Shi Singh, 2008). In an effort to curb the tendency of healthcare providers, who are operating under financial incentives, to require unnecessary care or too little care in the interest of financial gain, managed care programs have been introduced in the system. : These care programs are organized in such a way that care providers received a fixed salary as opposed to a financial incentive, affecting care provision in that the provider’s focus in removed from their financial gain.   According to Chaix-Couturier, Durand-Zaleski, Jolly and Durieux (2000), this system has greatly improved the provision of care, where the focus has moved from treating illnesses to promoting wellness. Similarly, Shi and Singh (2008) explains that in an effort to cut the cost of health care spending, the government has implemented heavy regulations that have cut reimbursements to health care providers, as a response care providers have by limiting inpatient care, promoting outpatient alternatives and creating new modes of healthcare delivery such as home health care and long-term care. In evaluating financial incentives in the healthcare system in relation to its effectiveness and its influence on type of care provided collection of data is not enough, there must be a theoretical evaluation based on the idea of professional practice. Chaix-Couturier, C.,   Durand-Zaleski, I., Jolly, D. Durieux, P. (2000). Effects of Financial Incentives on Medical Practice: Results from a Systematic Review of the Literature and Methodological Issues. International Journal for Quality and Healthcare volume 12:1,133-142. Shi, L. Singh, D. (2008). Delivering Healthcare in America: A Systems Approach. Sudburry, MA: Jones and Bartlett Publishers, Inc.

The Pricing of Health Costs and its Effect on the Poor in the United Dissertation - 1

The Pricing of Health Costs and its Effect on the Poor in the United States - Dissertation Example These families must forcibly cut down on their health care costs, which may ultimately lead to dangerous health consequences. In this context, the researcher will conduct a qualitative study (secondary research), that will explore the aspect of the monetary costs and quality of life,  as regards the present US health care system. Monetary costs and quality of life  in the context of US health care: in US, health care occupies an important position within the U.S. economy graph (Fig 1). Observations by various experts reveal that every year the health related expenditure keeps on growing, often moving ahead of the expenditure made on the other service sectors. This implies that each year the percentage of the health expenditure within the overall US economy pie keeps on growing. As the cost prices within the health care system increase, there is bound to be some sort of a repercussion within the average household, especially amongst the families that fall below the federal poverty line. ... Even for those people that have insurances, rising health care costs translate into getting less benefits each year, for the same amount of money. Fig 1: The US spends more healthcare than any country in the world. The figures as shown in the graph above represents health care expenditure for the year 2006, and during this year it was observed that an average US person spends more on health care than on food, oil, or even gasoline (Source: Mckinsey & company, 2008, 13). At an average estimate, America spends nearly $7,400 annually on health care per person, which comprises of about a 16% share within U.S. economy pie (fig 2). A look at the year 2007 will show us that US health care spending was then nearly $2.2 trillion, which when evenly spread over the entire population amounted to about $7421 per head expenditure (Figure 2). This $2.2 trillion represents 16.2 percent of the nation’s total economic activity, referred to as the gross domestic product or GDP. While the spendin g figures are by themselves impressive, however the chief area of concern is their rate of rapid growth over the last few years. Fig 2: National Health Expenditures per Capita and Their Share of Gross Domestic Product, 1960-2007 (Source: Health Care Costs- A Primer, 2009, 2). The graph (fig 2) shows the rising cost of health care per person in US. The growth in the last decade, starting from around 1990, and has been exponential. In 2009, the $7421 per head spending increased to more than $8000 per head, showing a jump of more than $500 per person, in just 2 years time (Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, 2010). Observations show that the rapidly increasing health care expenditure in US is becoming a

Organizational Forms Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Organizational Forms - Essay Example The major characteristics of sole proprietorship are as follows: Liability: Liability is the biggest disadvantage in sole proprietorship organizational form. In sole proprietorships, if the business suffers huge amount of dues which cannot be recovered from revenue, the owner will be personally liable for paying the entire amount. On the flip side, if proprietor possesses unpaid dues, the creditors can even realize those from the business assets (McGuire, Woods & McLean, n.d.). Income tax: Sole proprietorship business is a taxable unit. In this business form, there is little opportunity for tax planning, as the owner is completely liable to pay all the taxes derived through income (McGuire, Woods & McLean, n.d.). Longevity or continuity of the organization: The longevity of sole proprietorship business depends largely on the existence of its owner (Beatty, Samuelson & Bredeson, 2012). Control: In sole proprietorship, the business owner has the entire control over the resources and bu siness decisions which is a significant advantage of sole proprietorship (AllBusiness, 2007). Profit retention: The other advantage of sole proprietorship business is that it allows the business owner to enjoy complete profit retention (McGuire, Woods & McLean, n.d.). ... p business is quite easy to set-up with minimum capital; however, it significantly depends on the financial ability of the proprietor (McGuire, Woods & McLean, n.d.). General Partnership General partnership is the second type of organizational form which denotes business relationship between individuals forming independent organization through mutual contracts. Liability: Liability is an advantage in general partnership because each business associates are mutually and individually responsible for every facet of the business including profit/loss or major decisions (McGuire, Woods & McLean, n.d.). Income taxes: Similar to sole proprietorship, general partnership organizational form has a single level of taxation. This type of business does not fall under the taxable unit, rather it is considered as a tax reporting unit (McGuire, Woods & McLean, n.d.). Longevity or continuity of the organization: Longevity is a significant disadvantage of general partnership. There is supposed to be s pecific time duration for the term of general partnership. The longevity of general partnership depends on the contract. Whenever a partner is discharged from the contract, the other existing partners can take over the vacant place or they can even decide to wind-up the complete business (McGuire, Woods & McLean, n.d.). Control: Each business associates possess equal level of control on business decisions (McGuire, Woods & McLean, n.d.). Profit retention: Business associates share the gross profits in between themselves and are taxed independently (McGuire, Woods & McLean, n.d.). Location: The taxation in general partnership relies on the principal regulations location where revenue has been generated (Beatty, Samuelson & Bredeson, 2012). Convenience or burden: A common burden in general