Prison Rape Victims

Meeting the Needs of Prison Rape Victims A Technical Assistance Guide for Sexual Assault Counselors and Advocates PENNSYLVANIA COALITION AGAINST RAPE The mission of PCAR is to work to eliminate all forms of sexual violence and to advocate for the rights and needs of victims of sexual violence. At PCAR's core is the statewide network of sexual violence centers that work in concert with PCAR to administer quality services to survivors and their significant others.PCAR centers provide 24-hour services, seven days a week, including free and confidential crisis intervention; individual and support group counseling; hospital, court, and police accompaniment; prevention education within schools and the community; and information and referrals. In addition to providing technical assistance in a variety of areas, the role of PCAR is to oversee the sexual violence centers' contracts; monitor relevant legislation and public policy issues; provide library resources and educational trainings; and create public awareness/prevention campaigns for statewide implementation.ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS PCAR wishes to thank Rachel Shupp, BSW, Shippensburg University, class of 2006, for her work on this guide. As part of her senior-year internship at PCAR, Rachel researched the issue of prison rape extensively, visiting various prisons throughout Pennsylvania and responding to letters from victims of prison rape. These experiences and Rachel's compassion for victims helped inform this publication.Copyright  © 2006 The content of this publication may be reprinted with the following acknowledgement: This material was reprinted from the Pennsylvania Coalition Against Rape's publication entitled, Meeting the Needs of Prison Rape Victims: A Technical Assistance Guide for Sexual Assault Counselors and Advocates. This guide is available on our website: pcar. org Meeting the Needs of Prison Rape Victims A Technical Assistance Guide for Sexual Assault Counselors and Advocates TABLE OF CONTENTSIntrod uction The Prison Rape Elimination Act Inmates as Victims Ethical Dilemmas: Working with a Victim who is also an Offender Prison Entry: The Basics Collaborating with Correction Staff Inmate Support Groups State Level Responses in Pennsylvania Conclusion 2 3 3 5 8 10 14 18 19 INTRODUCTION P rison rape has gone largely unaddressed by social service programs; correctional institutions; and until recently, lawmakers in this country. When prison rape is mentioned in the media or general public, it is often in the form of a joke or jest. Nothing about rape is funny, regardless of where or to whom it occurs.Victims of prison rape are at high risk of becoming victims again, largely because they may be too fearful to reach out for help or when they do, they find services specific to their needs are unavailable. They often fear experiencing further trauma and shame if they come forward. If they do choose to tell someone, their cries are sometimes ignored or disregarded. When victims of prison rape are released-as the majority of inmates areand rejoin our communities, they often suffer a complex interplay of biopsychosocial effects from their victimization. There is a severe lack of research surrounding the frequency of prison rape.It was approximated that inside correctional facilities in the midwestern region of the country, one in five males experience a pressured or forced sexual incident, and approximately one in 10 males report completed rape (Stop Prisoner Rape, 2006). According to the same study, rates of female sexual assault in prisons in that same region are estimated to range from six percent to 27 percent. Due to underreporting, it is likely that these figures do not capture the full scope of sexual assault in correctional facilities. The incidence of prison rape also varies between institutions, thus increasing he difficulty of acquiring accurate and nationally representative statistical figures. The collection of accurate prison rape data is impeded by lim ited definitions of â€Å"sexual assault† and flawed reporting and response protocol in operation within many correctional institutions throughout our nation. 2 THE PRISON RAPE ELIMINATION ACT (PREA) The problem of prison rape, its underreporting, and lack of appropriate responses to victims were catalysts for the passage of the Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA). Passed in 2003, PREA specifically addresses the issue of rape in correctional institutions and facilities throughout the nation.The main goal of the law is to support the reduction, elimination, and prevention of rape within correctional facilities at the federal, state, and local levels. PREA also mandates national data collection efforts, provides funding for program development and research, and endorses a national commission to develop standards and accountability measures. Anti-sexual violence coalitions, local rape crisis centers, and correctional institutions are currently collaborating across the country in response to PREA and the needs of prison rape victims.For more information on such collaborations, see RESHAPE, a Newsletter on the Prison Rape Elimination Act, Issue #18, the National Sexual Assault Coalition Resource Sharing Project, available at http://www. resourcesharingproject. org/ newsletters. html. The main goal of PREA is to support the reduction, elimination, and prevention of rape within correctional facilities at the federal, state, and local levels. INMATES AS VICTIMS Many people carry strongly-held beliefs about prisoners that are not easy to sway.Some see the inmate population as undeserving of services and that prison rape is a form of poetic justice, or part of the punishment for their delinquent behavior. Prison rape seems to be an accepted norm and almost expected in the prison environment and therefore difficult to address and prevent. Many people blame rape victims for their victimization. Public blame is often magnified when the victim happens to be incarcerat ed. It is difficult for many people to empathize with â€Å"criminals† and to see them as â€Å"victims. † 3 Try to imagine you are living within the walls of a prison.You can almost touch both walls of your cell when you open your arms as wide as they can go. When you close your eyes, you can still see the graffiti that adorns your walls-desperate pleas of the inmates that came before you. The bars on the window allow only a sliver of sunlight into your cell. You have little or no contact with anyone on the outside and no one you can trust on the inside. You committed a nonviolent crime that you deeply regret. You live in fear everyday of being beaten or raped. The trauma of a rape can be especially devastating to someone who already feels isolated and without power or choices.Because of the social stigma and shame attached to the issue, it is difficult to tell even a close friend or family member that you have been a victim of rape. Imagine having to tell your story to a perfect stranger who is likely unprepared for or unsympathetic about such a disclosure. If correctional officers and staff are unresponsive, the victim's mental health status can quickly deteriorate. This can lead to long-term problems that manifest themselves upon this person's release. Rape not only poses a threat to the mental wellbeing of an individual, but also to the physical health of that person.For example, HIV and AIDS are a serious threat to the prison population with higher rates of infection than in the general population (Mariner, 2001). 4 ETHICAL DILEMMAS: WORKING WITH A VICTIM WHO IS ALSO AN OFFENDER Advocates bring many skills to their work with victims-professionalism, compassion, empathy, and resourcefulness are just a sampling. Advocates also bring their personal experiences, values, morals, and beliefs to the work, which can strengthen and sometimes hinder services depending on the situation. On one hand, rape crisis advocates and counselors may feel ethica lly obligated to erve victims of prison rape as well as other traditionally underserved victims such as people of color; males; children; elderly; people with disabilities; people living in poverty; immigrants, refugees, and victims of sex trafficking; lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgendered individuals; and others. On the other hand, rape crisis advocates and counselors may struggle with the idea of helping someone who has potentially hurt another person or has even sexually abused or assaulted someone. It can be a wonderful experience to expand horizons and travel beyond one's comfort zone.At the same time, it can also be upsetting to enter into unfamiliar territory or work. Think about what is possible. Prepare. Listen to one's inner voice and instincts and acknowledge ethical obligations and limitations. Basic Human Rights All humans are entitled to rights, including incarcerated individuals. One basic right that many victims of prison rape do not enjoy is that of safety-wheth er physical, mental, or spiritual. The rape crisis movement has been dedicated to exposing different types of sexual assault, empowering victims to speak out, and providing services to victims in need.As we know well, anyone can be a rape victim. There is no room for discrimination in our quest to help survivors of rape. All victims who reach out should be provided with help for past or present sexual assault. Ethical Decision-Making The offender-victim dichotomy is complex. There is no single answer on how to overcome this ethical dilemma but rather, a process of selfreflection that may produce several options. Before meeting with a victim of prison rape, advocates and counselors should reflect on their personal values, morals, beliefs and biases as well as the mission and policies of their parent agency/organization.Supervision may provide a safe and supportive environment in which this self-reflection and 5 analysis can occur. Discussing the ethical challenges with a trusted coll eague can also be helpful. It is important to explore one's preconceived notions and ideas about the prison population and their sources. Advocates may find the following resource helpful in their ethical decision-making process: Ethics in Victim Services, by Melissa Hook (available from the Sidran Institute, sidran. org). Below are some questions that might help guide advocates in the process of ethical decision-making: 1.What are the needs of victims of prison rape? 2. What are their resources? 3. What is known or believed about the prison population? 4. What is unknown? 5. What is behind one's knowledge or feelings about the prison population? 6. What fears and hopes are at play? 7. What past experiences inform present-day feelings, beliefs, fears, and motivations? 8. What are ways to overcome personal and professional barriers in working with the prison population? 9. What opportunities exist to develop and strengthen knowledge, skills, and awareness? 10. What are the ethical pr inciples at play? 1. Which ethical principles are in conflict? 12. Which ethical principle should take priority and why? 13. Are there certain individuals with whom an advocate cannot and should not work because it would be unethical (due to the negative impact the advocate's personal biases, beliefs, and limitations would have on such individuals)? 14. If an advocate cannot meet the needs of a victim due to the above, who else in the agency/organization can assist the victim? 15. What is the agency/organization's mission? 16. What is the role of the advocate or counselor within that mission? 6 17.How do the needs of the prison population fit into that mission? 18. How can the agency/organization meet the needs of the prison population? Working with a Victim who is also a Sexual Assault Offender The ethical discussion gets more complicated when the victim is not only an offender, but also a sexual offender. It may be easier for advocates to work with victims who are incarcerated for nonviolent crime or crimes not of a sexual nature. It may be more difficult to work with a victim who has sexually assaulted or raped someone. In these cases, it is important to remember the parameters of the advocate's role.In a direct service capacity, the focus of advocacy is on victimization, not on perpetration. The rape crisis advocate's role in the counseling capacity, is to help victims process their trauma and heal from victimization, not to address offender issues. It is critical that advocates clarify their role and purpose with the client from the beginning. If offender issues arise, which they may, advocates should be prepared to refocus attention back to the victim experience. It may be necessary to refer the client to another service provider for offender treatment. Keep referral information handy for this purpose.As always, advocates should consult with their supervisors and agency policies as to whether providing services to victims who are also sexual offenders is even possible. Funding Considerations Advocates may question whether they are able to provide services under provisions of the agency or source that funds their practice. For example, advocates can not use Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) funding to â€Å"offer rehabilitation services to offenders or to support services to incarcerated individuals, even when the service pertains to the victimization of that individual† (US Department of Justice, p. 4, 1999). Agencies may find that they can use alternative funding streams to provide services to the prison population, such as Department of Public Welfare and other monies. Consulting with supervisors and agency policies and mission statements will help advocates determine whether limitations exist for the provision of services to the prison population. 7 PRISON ENTRY: THE BASICS Entering an unfamiliar territory can be intimidating, especially when it is surrounded by barbed wire and locked gates. The prison environment is very diffe rent from other settings where services are provided to victims.Providing services in prisons requires special consideration and planning. It may be difficult to navigate a prison without prior knowledge or experience. Each correctional institution has a complex set of rules and regulations, but there are some basic things to keep in mind when planning services. A Handbook for the Families and Friends of Pennsylvania Department of Corrections Prison Inmates (available at cor. state. pa. us) provides valuable information to people who are entering the prison environment for the first time (Hardesty & Sturges, 2005).This handbook is not a blanket policy for all correctional institutions, so it is best to consult individual facilities before attempting to visit. Visits: Correctional facilities have specific protocols that visitors must follow. To visit or call an inmate, sexual assault advocates and counselors must be on that inmate's approved visitors and phone lists. If an inmate req uests services by letter, advocates and counselors should ask to be placed on these said lists (and notified when this has happened).Remember to request specific information about visiting hours and days, when the inmate is available for contact by telephone, and what kind of assistance he or she would like. For example, does this person need or want information and pamphlets? Does this person want counseling or referrals? When advocates and counselors have been approved to call or visit, they can establish a meeting time. Dress: Each prison has a specific dress code that prohibits certain items of clothing. Short shirts, shorts, halter-tops, and a variety of other articles are deemed inappropriate or prohibited by facilities.Use judgment when determining wardrobe, but consider dressing somewhat conservatively. As visitors pass through a metal detector before entering the prison, it is best to avoid wearing a lot of metal, such as belt buckles 8 and buttons on a coat. This may delay access to the facility. Also, many facilities are quite large and a lot of walking is often required, so you may wish to wear comfortable shoes that are easy to remove if they need to be inspected. Belongings: There are several items that are considered contraband in Pennsylvania prisons, even though some may seem harmless.To avoid complications and delays, take as little into the prison as possible. Weapons are prohibited in the prison and on the property, including the parking lots. Weapons may be defined as anything from the obvious such as guns, pocketknives, and cans of mace, to items that seem less threatening, such as nail files, clippers, scissors, and notebooks with metal spiral binding. Some commonly banned items include wallets, handbags, cell phones, electronic devices, weapons (or anything that can be used as a weapon), food, and medications.For a full list of banned items, contact the prison directly. Your vehicle may be subject to searches as well. A driver's license is required. If available, bring agency or organization identification. Safety Considerations: Some advocates may question their safety when working in the prison environment. While it is critical that advocates trust their gut instincts, especially if they sense danger, it is also important to challenge stereotypes that all inmates are violent or â€Å"bad people. † There are many nonviolent offenders currently behind bars.Nonviolent offenders are more likely to become the victims of sexual crimes inside of prison walls than those who have been convicted for more serious crimes (Mariner, 2001). Self-awareness: Before entering a prison it is a good idea to mentally prepare. During the time it takes to travel to the prison, or sometime before, advocates and counselors may want to think about the steps they need to take while at the prison-everything from entering and walking through the prison, how they might feel as they pass inmates, finding the meeting room, meeting with c lients, and exiting the prison.It is strongly suggested that advocates and counselors request to tour the prison, including where they will be meeting with clients, prior to their first session with victims. 9 COLLABORATING WITH CORRECTIONAL STAFF Advocates and counselors who work with victims of prison rape will inevitably have contact with staff at correctional facilities. At a minimum, advocates will rely on the staff for safety and assistance while providing services within the prison environment. At the other end of the spectrum, advocates may find it helpful to collaborate with prison staff in the development and provision of services to victims of prison rape.Whatever degree of collaboration, it is important to be aware of the distinct roles advocates and corrections personnel fulfill and to discuss those differences with each other from the beginning. It is very important to establish strong working relationships with corrections staff. They are a valuable resource in the ad vocate's network and are familiar with the ins and outs of working within a prison system. In cases of uncertainty, staff is often a knowledge source. They may have advice and tips for those who come in from other agencies to work with the prison population.Counselors, psychological staff, and chaplains are especially helpful because they are in tune with the emotional and supportive needs of the inmates and can provide insight into how victims of sexual assault, past or present, may benefit from different types of programs and services. They may also have ideas about what works and what does not work in a correctional setting. Overall, establishing cooperation and mutual respect with corrections personnel from the beginning of the collaboration will greatly enhance advocates’ work with victims.It is very important to establish strong working relationships with corrections staff. They are a valuable resource in the advocate's network and are familiar with the ins and outs of working within a prison system. 10 Training as a First Step towards Collaboration Collaboration may not be possible without adequate training of both corrections staff and rape crisis advocates on the problem of prison rape; the unique needs of its victims; and the differing cultures, goals, and missions of corrections and the anti-sexual violence movement.Corrections staff and administrators may not be aware of the seriousness of rape in correctional settings. They may lack the skills and knowledge to respond to a sexual assault emergency. Furthermore, they may be ill equipped to address â€Å"non-emergency† situations such as rape, sexual abuse, or incest that may have occurred prior to an inmate's incarceration. Advocates and counselors may also have room to grow and skills to develop in meeting the needs of victims of prison rape. When opportunities arise, engage in cross-training with prison staff.These exchanges may help rape crisis advocates teach prison staff about se xual violence, the needs of victims, and the goals and mission of rape crisis services. In turn, cross-training will also help rape crisis advocates integrate their services within the prison environment in an effective and informed way. Understanding the Differing Roles of Prison Staff and Rape Crisis Advocates The correctional facility's staff is primarily concerned with the security of the facility. They are interested in maintaining order and keeping everyone safe.Advocates' primary concern is to meet the needs of victims of prison rape and protect their right to confidentiality. Although the correctional personnel may know the role of the advocate, they must still uphold the rules of the facility to keep order. For example, if advocates are running a group and are using supplies, such as scissors or spiral bound notebooks, they may have a problem. Despite the importance to the work, those items may be prohibited and therefore cannot be brought into the facility. It is not uncom mon to feel frustrated in having to alter or completely change entire plans when working with inmates. 1 Understanding Confidentiality in the Prison Environment Confidentiality and client-counselor privilege may create a challenge in collaborating with corrections staff. By statute, the communications between sexual assault advocates/counselors and clients are privileged, or confidential. However, prison personnel may not be able to live by this ethic if the threat of danger to staff or inmates exists. For example, corrections officers must share most of the information they receive in order to maintain safety in the institution both for themselves and inmates.Confidentiality is a cornerstone of the anti-sexual violence movement. It is important that advocates collaborate with corrections staff while maintaining client confidentiality. For technical assistance on this matter, contact PCAR at 1-800-692-7445 or visit pcar. org. Finding Common Ground It is important to point out the di fferences between correctional staff goals and rape crisis advocate goals. Acknowledging differences is important, but alone it is not an effective way to foster the growth of a professional relationship. It is equally important to identify similarities and common goals.Both corrections personnel and rape crisis advocates try to protect inmates from harm, by their own hand or others. Rape crisis advocates protect mental health and wellness and corrections employees protect physical status and safety of inmates. This common ground leaves room for collaboration and cooperation. With psychological staff, parole officers, and the prison chaplain, a common goal is rehabilitation. All involved are focused on improving the inmate's situation and condition-whether through education, counseling, skill development, or other interventions-so he or she can be a productive and functional member of society upon release.With help, positive changes can occur and the client will become empowered. Em powerment is a goal that both corrections staff and rape crisis seek to realize, just by different means. 12 Developing Positive Working Relationships Rape crisis advocates and prison personnel may not always see eye to eye, but the following tips may help develop positive working relationships: 1. Always show respect for each other. If a person feels respected, he or she will usually reciprocate that respect. 2. Demonstrate tolerance, understanding, and empathy at all times.Try to see the situation from another perspective. 3. Keep communication lines open. Talk about potential problems before they arise. Be a focused listener, ask questions, and try to inform the staff about the role and purpose of advocacy. A person who understands what is happening is usually less resistant and uncooperative. 4. Look for ways to connect with corrections staff before you enter the prison. Serve on task forces and boards together. 5. Attend trainings on serving victims of prison rape and ways to c ollaborate with prison personnel. Engage in cross-trainings with corrections staff. . Remember the distinct roles of corrections staff and rape crisis advocates. Acknowledge when these differing roles are at play and find ways to compromise or respectfully agree to disagree. 7. Seek common ground whenever possible in collaborations. Keep the big picture in mind: the needs of victims of prison rape and the ways that corrections staff and rape crisis advocates are united. A strong working relationship with prison personnel will not only help enhance advocates' experiences and comfort levels inside the prison walls; it will also positively impact victims.By maintaining positive relationships, advocates will have greater access to victims and prison staff may be more likely to appropriately respond to victims. A strong working relationship with prison personnel will not only help enhance advocates' experiences and comfort levels inside the prison walls; it will also positively impact vi ctims. 13 INMATE SUPPORT GROUPS Like community-based support groups, facilitating support groups inside of a prison may be challenging, especially if the group is lacking in participation, both in terms of numbers and members' willingness to share.Advocates might face challenges unique to the prison population when planning and facilitating support groups. For example, in prison populations, the importance of confidentiality may be even more salient, given the high risk that may exist for victims who are unfortunately trapped under the same roof as their offenders. Victims of prison rape may be even more reluctant to come to a group with â€Å"sexual assault† or â€Å"victim† in the name, as being identified with such a group may make victims seem even more vulnerable to existing and potential perpetrators within the prison.Trust may be even more difficult to establish among group members, given the dangers of the environment and the need to look out for oneself. Below are some strategies that may help attract and retain victims of prison rape as well as enhance their experiences with the group. Pick an innocuous name. It may be difficult to attract members to a group with the words â€Å"rape,† â€Å"sexual assault,† or â€Å"victims† in the title. Unfortunately, social stigma surrounding rape and victimization is still potent enough to prevent victims from attending such a group.Being identified as a â€Å"victim† in the prison environment could be dangerous. Choose names that relate to health and wellness, safety, or prevention as opposed to ones that boldly announce they pertain to sexual assault. This may help recruit group members while still leaving room to address the purpose of the group: to address rape and sexual assault issues. Collaborate with prison staff to ensure inmates' access, protection, and privacy. Prison staff members can be pivotal in getting a support group off the ground.They can make the grou ps accessible to inmates by enabling inmates to attend such groups. Furthermore, prison staff members can protect group members' safety and privacy among the larger prison population by keeping their participation in such groups confidential. 14 Combine your resources with allies. When developing a new group, it can be helpful to build upon existing relationships and partnerships with allied professionals. Combining resources with others may help advocates reach a wider audience in a more holistic way, focusing on more than one topic or issue.Collaboration allows allied professionals to address the complex relationships between sexual violence and other social struggles, such as substance abuse, domestic violence, poverty, and other issues. Often, substance abuse and dependency is a form of self-medication or a way to cope with past sexual abuse. Even if the sessions do not directly deal with sexual assault issues, the topics still have potential to bring rape issues into the spotli ght if they are in a related area. Collaborating with allied professionals may help advocates get their programs into prisons.Partnering with other professionals also enables advocates to address multiple issues in the group setting, thereby meeting the needs of individual victims holistically. Screen participants. Advocates should screen each potential group member before he or she enters the group. Screening helps to ensure group membership includes voluntary victims who are ready to address their experiences in a group setting. The following questions may help advocates screen potential group members: 1. What experiences bring you to the group? 2.What do you hope to gain from this group? 3. What do you hope to offer other group members? 4. Would you have any concerns/difficulties in engaging in discussions about sexual violence victimization? 5. Are you prepared to protect confidentiality and the privacy of other group members? Determine if the group will be closed or open. A clo sed group is one in which new members are not allowed to join from week to week, or after the group has been officially established. An open group is one in which members are allowed to join and drop off from week to week.There are benefits and drawbacks associated with each group composition. A closed group may help establish and maintain a stronger sense of trust and group cohesion among members. In a closed group, the curriculum or content of each session can build upon the previous week in a linear way. An open group may reach more victims, 15 as it is available to new members from week to week. Whichever format, advocates should learn about group dynamics and be prepared to address the challenges and build upon strengths of any group.Obtain ongoing training in group facilitation and dynamics. Even the most seasoned advocates can benefit from ongoing group work training. Knowledge is continuously evolving, as are the needs of victims. Advocates new to the field of prison rape ma y benefit from trainings specific to the inmate population. Involve group in establishing ground rules and goals of group. Retaining membership in groups can be difficult, but there are a few things that can be done to increase retention. Involve group members in establishing the ground rules.This generates individual members' investment in the group and its progress. Such ground rules should cover basics such as punctuality, confidentiality, communication during group (one person speaks at a time), the need for breaks or individual support, showing respect for others, and expectations for behavior. Remember, the group can continue to add ground rules to the list as the group unfolds and as the need arises. Structure and rules can help create a safe and inviting atmosphere. Develop and safeguard trust. Allow appropriate time for group members to get to know each other.Inmates may be distrusting of other inmates and especially of staff and other outside authority figures. Give them t he opportunity to warm up before starting intensive work. Keep groups relatively small so that members can build a sense of rapport with facilitator(s) and other participants. Empower group members as active leaders. Listen to group members. Seek their input. People are more likely to keep attending a group if they are involved in decision making. Plan a topic or discussion, but be flexible and go with the flow.Allow group members to lead the discussion rather than pushing a preconceived agenda. Gently guide the group back onto topic if necessary. 16 Lighten up! Balance challenging individual and group processes with fun activities when appropriate and possible. There are plenty of engaging activities that foster personal growth and strengthen bonds between members. Interspersing lighter content between heavier sessions can help the group's cohesion and collective mental health. If the group is not enjoyable from time to time, advocates may lose group members.These ideas are applica ble to working with any group. While it is important to identify and meet the unique needs of the prison population, victims of prison rape deserve and can benefit from many of the same approaches and efforts advocates use with non-incarcerated victims. Victims of prison rape may be even more reluctant to come to a group with â€Å"sexual assault† or â€Å"victim† in the name, as being identified with such a group may make victims seem even more vulnerable to existing and potential perpetrators within the prison. 17 STATE-LEVEL RESPONSES IN PENNSYLVANIASince January 2005, the Pennsylvania Coalition Against Rape (PCAR) has been working with the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections, the Pennsylvania Office of the Victim Advocate, and law enforcement officers to develop prison rape prevention curricula for inmates and corrections staff. It is their goal to increase awareness about sexual crimes that occur during terms of imprisonment, to encourage reporting of and respo nses to sexual assault and rape, and to support prison personnel and rape crisis advocates in meeting the needs of victims.This state-level collaboration has resulted in two sexual assault training curricula-one for inmates and one for prison staff. The inmate curriculum is now provided in all state facilities to inmates at orientation and at annual reviews with counselors. All state corrections staff members now complete a sexual assault training program-which includes an overview of sexual assault, prevention, reporting policies and protocol, the needs of victims, and services in Pennsylvania-by computer as part of their job requirements.The hope is that these two curricula will improve responses and services to victims of prison rape as well as prevent sexual violence from occurring within the prison environment. Additionally, statewide training and technical assistance will be available to both corrections staff and rape crisis advocates as a means to supporting their work with victims of prison rape at the local level. For more information, contact PCAR at 1800-692-7445 or visit pcar. org for more information. 18 CONCLUSION The Prison Rape Elimination Act marks an important shift in our society.Its passage helps place the needs of victims of prison rape on the radar of social service agencies and correctional institutions throughout the country. Victims of prison rape have gone largely unnoticed and worse, ignored for too long. Working with any â€Å"new† group or population can present challenges. Advocacy within the prison setting may pose unique barriers and rewards. While it is important to identify and address potential limitations and concerns, it is equally important to acknowledge and build upon strengths and resources in meeting the needs of victims of rison rape. Collaboration-with corrections staff, community allies, and others-is integral to this work and reaching victims. Victims of prison rape depend on rape crisis centers for support . It is likely that they will not receive help from any other source. RESOURCES ON PRISON RAPE Human Rights Watch (212) 290-4700; hrw. org National Sexual Assault Coalition Resource Sharing Project Newsletter on the Prison Rape Elimination Act, Issue #18, Spring 2006 (319) 339-0899; http://www. resourcesharingproject. org/newsletters. tml National Sexual Violence Resource Center 877-739-3895; nsvrc. org Pennsylvania Coalition Against Rape 1-800-692-7445; pcar. org Pennsylvania Department of Corrections (717) 975-4859; cor. state. pa. us Pennsylvania Office of the Victim Advocate 800. 563. 6399; http://www. pbpp. state. pa. us/ova/site/default. asp The Pennsylvania Prison Society 800-227-2307; prisonsociety. org Stop Prisoner Rape (213) 384-1400; spr. org 19 REFERENCES Hardesty, K. , & Sturges, J. (2005). A handbook for the families and friends of Pennsylvania department of corrections prison inmates.Retrieved February 21, 2006 from www. cor. state. pa. us/portal/lib/bis/Handbook_for _Families_and_Friends. pdf Mariner, J. (2001). No escape: Male rape in U. S. prisons. Retrieved March 1, 2006 from www. spr. org Stop Prisoner Rape. (200). The basics on rape behind bars. Retrieved February 22, 2006 from www. spr. org. US Department of Justice. (1999). Subgrantees’ training guide: Victims of Crime Act assistance grant program (NCJ 175717). Washington, DC: US Department of Justice. 20 This guide was funded in part by a National Institute of Corrections grant.

Catcher in the Rye Symbolism

The Dangers of Isolation in The Catcher in the Rye It is normal to want to get away from all of the problems of the world, but it is not normal to want to be completely isolated from people. Holden wanted to have no human contact what so ever, and that is not normal. Throughout the book Holden expresses a rebellious attitude toward the world, and this rebellious attitude comes from his infatuation with being alone. He isolates himself from the world because he has not yet found himself and is searching. Holden feels that he must find himself alone with no one else's help. Holden expresses his rebellious side when he gets kicked out of school, again. Holden doesn't like school because he doesn't like doing activities that he loses patience for and sees no point in doing them. Holden also is rebellious in the way that he smokes and drinks when he is a minor. He is an excessive smoker and turns to alcohol to suppress his feelings of depression, which are signs of alcoholism. This behavior is not unheard of, but is rare for a 16-year-old to become an alcoholic. From this rebellious attitude Holden becomes isolated from those around him. His first act of isolation with a combination of rebellion is when Holden doesn't go to the game in the beginning of the book. Everyone was going to be there and he doesn't want to be like everyone else. Getting kicked out of school is another example of him rebelling and the cause of it being isolation. After he leaves Pency, Holden meets up with an old friend of his, Sally. After hanging out with her for awhile Holden asks her if she wants to run away with him. From this we learn that he has a desire to get away from the world. From this quote that Holden said we can tell how much he wants to run away, â€Å"I thought what I'd do was, I'd pretend I was one of those deaf-mutes. That way I wouldn't have to have any god dam stupid useless conversations with anybody. If anybody wanted to tell me something, they'd have to write it on a piece of paper and shove it over to me. They'd get bored as hell doing that after awhile, and then I'd be through with having conversations for the rest of my life†(p 198). Upon being kicked out of school, Holden decides to go on a little vacation. In this short period of time Holden goes through many tribulations. To get from place to place Holden takes taxicabs. During these rides Holden asks the cab drivers if they know where the ducks go when the pond freezes over. The reactions from the cab drivers are different each time, but his recurring concern about the ducks seems to be symbolic of Holden's desire for purpose and direction. While he is by himself, Holden doesn't stay in one place for very long. He didn't know where to go next just like he didn't know where his life was going. During his time by himself, Holden imagines becoming a deaf-mute and running away. Holden wants to use his imagination to feel more connected to the world and his emotions. He does this because in his fantasy world he can control what happens and in real life he wanted to do the same. Towards the end of the book, Holden loses more and more of his sense of reality. If he had stayed on this path he would have lost all sense of reality. All of these feelings that Holden had were each the cause of themselves. He kept going around in a destructive and unproductive cycle, which would be hard to break. In the end of the book, Holden didn't ride the merry-go-round because he wanted to break that cycle. He wanted to be there for his sister and see her grow up. He wanted to be a part of life, and the world. In order to do that he would need some help, and the mental hospital was the perfect place for the kind of help Holden needed.

Anne Hutchinsons Words and Their Later Significance

An Hutchinson's word and its subsequent significance, although Anne Hutchinson was only involved in religious discussions at her house during the trial, but in review of Mrs. Anne Hutchinson of Newton Court it is weakened and unclear A trial took place in 1637, the standards for treatment of women later, followed by speech and writing, Hutchinson confessed that he was guilty, so maintaining the power to the priest (and male) woman To (or to maintain) - to control the power of women and to interpret the human-made meaning from words. Anne Hutchinson is very important for Puritans. Because she teaches the beliefs based on the Bible and the spiritual insight that God's revelation does not end in the Bible but continues through the spirit. Hutchinson has a very important meaning for Americans. Because she follows her belief, despises authority, and begins to realize her dream. Like Hutchinson, Hester Prinn lived an American dream. She is an intricate combination of tradition and extremis m, holiness and sin, purity and sex. In the novel, we saw a small businessman through her skills and her efforts in means. We saw that sympathetic sisters are taking care that they are dying with the sick. We saw a mother raising her daughter in her own faith. We are seeing women help her and love her and give him salvation An Hutchinson's word and its subsequent significance, although Anne Hutchinson was only involved in religious discussions at her house during the trial, but in review of Mrs. Anne Hutchinson of Newton Court it is weakened and unclear In the absence of a basis, This trial was conducted in 1637 for the treatment of future women, the subsequent rhetoric and sentences standardized, Hutchinson confessed guilty by the prosecution law (priest (And men)) or maintain women's power - control the power of women and interpret the human - made meaning from the words. In the 16th pregnancy in 1639, Anne Hutchinson aborted and gave birth to many organizations - she may be diagn osed as a mole today. Hutchinson was expelled from the Boston church a year ago and was exiled from the colony of the Massachusetts Bay. Her numerous believers are threatening the power of the ecclesiastical (and political) elders. That is the heart of so - called opposition debate. John Winslow of the Massachusetts Gulf Colonial Governor asked her about her flat speech during the Ministerial Conference even though he was still worried about the exiled Hutchinson.

Strategic Management of Walmart Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Strategic Management of Walmart - Case Study Example The company has its operations in multiple countries including Mexico, UK, Japan, Argentina, Germany, South Korea, China, Canada and Puerto Rico. However in order to operate in international markets the company has changed its name for some of the international markets. As a result company operates as ASDA in UK, Seiyu in Japan and Walmex in Mexico. The case of the Wal-Mart Stores Inc is cited often for the CRM technology that they have in place for managing customer relations, the innovative JIT based zero inventory management system they have for their stock management and the business model of the company which allows it to benefit from economies of scale while keeping its costs to a minimum resulting in the provision of a large variety of products under one roof to its customers at the lowest prices in the market. The political environment for the Wal-Mart Stores Inc in the United States is relatively stable as compared to its other regions of operations. However the company has significantly contributed to the political environment as well by providing a practice of standardization in the retail industry with fair packaging and labelling as early as 1970. Aside from this the regularised retail industry through bills from the political front enable the company to operate in a relatively easy market. The economic environment for the company has been very volatile. The company itself has contributed in a large way to the GDP of the United States through successful and profitable business and growth in the part years. However the recent financial crisis has effected the Wal-Mart Stores Inc forcing it to reduce its expenses, shut down its below average profit bearing operations and to lay of workers in the United States as well as in the International market to sustain itself through the current economic crisis. However this effect has not been focused on Wal-Mart alone all business and companies operating in the retail sector have been effected similarly by the volatile economic environment. The social environment for the company takes the form of a diverse customer base as well as human right groups and consumer action groups that directly effects the operations of the company. The company has often been criticized for its practices of leveraging male employees over the female employees in the company. Human right activities and feminist consumer action groups have filed lawsuits as well as launched protests against the company in this regard forcing the company to change its management practices to avoid any preferential treatment for the male employees or the practice of an established glass ceiling for female employees. Aside from this the company itself has been providing support to the communities' specific to its regions of operations by providing technological, service based as well as infrastructural development support and by providing a large number of jobs to decrease the unemployment rate in the region of its operations. The technological environment that surrounds the operations

A paper about the nature of religion Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

A paper about the nature of religion - Essay Example What happens when a person dies?, Is there God?. How one should live? Why human beings should not commit sin? There are many different religions in this world; all of them have their separate set of beliefs and rituals, each unique and entirely different from the other. Yet a common thread binds through them all – that religion should stand for the common good of all; that its ultimate aim should be the welfare of all human as opposed to serving the purpose of those who believe in a particular sect. Scholars the world over have viewed religion differently and therefore have promulgated a variety of theories while defining the term religion. However most definitions, the modern scholars think are found wanting in terms of being able to communicate clearly what the scope of the word should really encompass. Some of the definitions are too vague and unspecific that they fail to adequately demarcate religion from other areas of human thought such as law, psychology, and physics etc, while others are too narrow describing religion in terms of a particular religion or culture. The Encyclopedia of Religion describes religion as: â€Å"When more or less distinct patterns of behavior are built around this depth dimension in a culture, this structure constitutes religion in its historically recognizable form. Religion is the organization of life around the depth dimensions of experience — varied in form, completeness, and clarity in accordance with the environing culture." From t his definition it emerges a definite culture and pattern of behavior, and it determines the organization of life within that community. Max Muller a German philologist and orientalist who created the discipline of comparative religion has defined religion as, "The living kernel of religion can be found, I believe, in almost every creed, however much the husk may vary. And think what that means! It means that above and beneath and

'Despite the extenxive advances in integration in the European Union, Essay

'Despite the extenxive advances in integration in the European Union, the member states remain in the driving seat'. How accura - Essay Example ember States are Seen to Remain in the Driving Seat.† How Accurate is this Description of Where Power Lies in the European Union? Introduction The European Union The European Union which is more formally referred to as the European Economic and Monetary Union is essentially an economic and political Union that that comprises of 28 different countries that are seen to primarily located in Europe. The European Union (EU) is seen to primarily operate through a number of institutions that variously include; the European Union Council, the EU court of Justice, the Court of Auditors, the European Commission as well as the European Parliament. The Union essentially serves to establish a common market for use by its different member states, a factor that caused the Union to eliminate the restive border controls that existed between the member states. This has allowed for the relatively free flow of both people and goods although there are however, random checks that are normally conduc ted to prevent drug trafficking and crime between the different members states (Staab, 2013). The common market formed by the European Union is seen to allow for the legal sale of products that have been manufactured in one country in another different country without the restrictive influence of any duties or tariffs. Taxes across the Union’s different member countries are also seen to have been greatly standardized. The EU is also seen to allow service providers in various fields such as medicine, banking, law, tourism, and insurance to freely operate across all the different member countries of the Union. While the formulation of successive treaties is seen to have helped provide the EU with an extensively elaborate foreign policy making machinery, the various member states of the EU are seen to not collectively mobilize their strength to help the Union fully realize its power. It is this position that is seen to raise question surrounding power in the European Union and t he general postulation that â€Å"Despite the Extensive Advances in the Integration of the European Union, the Member States are Seen to Remain in the Driving Seat.† The History of The Formation of the European Union The idea behind the formation of a unified Union Europe is seen to not be a new one. During the 9th Century, the Frankish emperor is seen to have made efforts towards the unification of Europe and ended up dominating much of Europe. During the beginning of the 19th century, Napoleon Bonaparte is seen to have led France in an attempt to try and attain this objective and also ended up conquering a large part of Europe. During the 1930’s, the dream of having a unified Europe is seen to have been borne by Adolph Hitler who sparked the second world war in his attempt to conquer all of Europe. Throughout history, numerous wars

Comparison of Alphaville with Today Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Comparison of Alphaville with Today - Essay Example The plot unleashes gradually when a secret agent is sent to catch Alphaville who is controlled by a computer Alpha 60 and the creator of this invention, Professor Von Braun (Constantine and Karina, 1965). This movie is basically symbolic of the fact that human beings have been dominated by the scientific inventions. They have lost their ability to feel and think. They have become robots like Alphaville and their behavior is termed as â€Å"outlandish†. In this scenario the relationship between Natacha Von Braun and Lemmy Caution, the secret agent, is quite significant because Natacha is unable to voice her feelings. It is not that she does not want to. She just doesn’t have the words to describe what she feels. On the other hand the poignancy of the scene touches the audience immensely where Natacha tells Lemmy that he is looking at her in a strange way to which he agrees. Then she asks if he is waiting for her to say something to him and to this also he agrees. Here, N atacha admits that she is clueless because she has never been taught the words to say what is expected of her here and that Lemmy should help. Lemmy replies that he will not be able to help her because she needs to help herself; that is the only way she will be saved. However, if she doesn’t, she would be â€Å"as lost as the dead ofAlphavile† (Constantine and Karina, 1965). ... The fact that a person, Alphaville, is being controlled by a computer also reflects the concept of totalitarianism. This is a concept or phenomenon according to which a state or government has the right to interfere with the private life of the citizens and the opinion of the citizens do not matter. The same idea has been portrayed in the 1965 film. The computers decide what is good and bad for the human beings and the human beings are not allowed to have any say in their own lives. According to Professor Bon Braun who is the creator of Alpha 60, everything is in control of science and machines(Conquest, 2001). It can be said that this movie was way ahead of its time but it still managed to capture the very essence and causes of the human decline, which is evident today. This movie made it clear that there is a very thin line between the human world and machine world and that time is not very far away when this line will be crossed by the human beings. A famous essayist,Professor Sus an Greenfield opines that people will have to wake up from their gadget-drugged and â€Å"pharmaceutically enhanced† slumber that has made their brains immune. According to him, soon there will be little if any difference between humans and machines. This quote can be related to â€Å"Alphaville† as well. The characters portrayed in the movies are expressionless and emotionless. They even talk like robots, without pausing and without much feeling with a poker face. Like Natacha Van Braun speaks rarely and whenever she does, it is on the professor’s command. For instance, when she is asked about how she is, she says, â€Å"I’m very well thank you you’re welcome.†(Greenfield, n.d.). If on one hand, this film is

Rhetoric & Stereotypes Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Rhetoric & Stereotypes - Essay Example Others stereotyped them as corrupters. And the latest new stereotype is that they are the â€Å"new gays instead of hairdressers† (Somelikeitscott) because of laws passed that made homosexual marriage legal. A tattooed male, likewise, is typically stereotyped as â€Å" a punk rocker, or a biker, or a criminal, while tattooed females are stereotyped as either biker chicks, punk rockers, and of course, have loose morals† (Delaney55). On the other hand, feminists were dubbed as man-haters, masculine women, â€Å"hard-nosed lesbians† (Deanoman777) who think that men and women should have equals rights. Senior citizens are stereotyped as â€Å"slow-moving, ineffective members of the society,†(Deanoman777) and the latest – â€Å"senior citizens are greedy ninnies who will do anything to protect their monthly benefits check.†(Ecenbarger) Although there are truths about these stereotypes, they are still harsh, annoying, and hurting and these groups do not invoke the same image to all persons. While many people see these groups in the negative stereotypes, a portion of the society looked at them in the positive side. For others, politicians are â€Å"saviors,† (Deanoman777) or life changers, as in the case of Barrack Obama, when large portion of the American society voted him as the next President of the United States of America with the belief that he can save and change the sagging economy and image of this country. Tattoos nowadays are becoming a mainstream that even persons in their late 50’s get it done in their body because of the belief that it is a freedom of expression. Tattoo nowadays is looked to as an art. People are now dying to have it and they feel beautiful if they have at least two or three. People of all ages and sex even idolize people with tattoos like rockstars, actors, and actresses . In the corporate world, it does not matter if you have tattoos to be hired as long as it is covered by your corporate attire. Because of these

The Meaning of the Patriotism Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

The Meaning of the Patriotism - Essay Example There is a close connection of patriotism with nationalism; however, the difference between the two is pretty much clear and open to all. This means that a man’s love and commitment towards a nation is not limited to only the area of land which he calls it his homeland rather the aspect of patriotism is much more than what is imagined. It is certainly a rule which needs to be connected with his thinking and patriotic individual always remains loyal to his country. It is a fact that the aspect of patriotism has remained different in a number of important ways. It is considered in different meanings and tones all over the world but the basic meaning is similar to everything. It is the bond of love or attachment that one has with his own country. Socially this concept has also had different consequences and meanings in the background of various movements, wars and where patriotism could change the way in which these events have been started. Patriotic movements usually last for a longer period of time since these aim to get the rights which have been denied. Thus patriotism is something more of a trend than anything else if seen broadly. The societal connotation of patriotism is somewhat close to what is noticed for nationalism yet the difference as stated above is there. However, the society keeps a strict check on the levels of patriotism which usually do not change every now and then.

System of Inquiry Essay Example for Free

System of Inquiry Essay In an age where truth is relative and compromise is the norm , where people are afraid to take a stand on the thorny issues like Bioethics , Euthanasia , Racism , Abortion etc that clutter our daily horizons – it’s high time now to face these vexing issues boldly and set – up a firmer Code of Ethics at the conscious level of a human . No matter how many laws you make but unless it is dwelled at the conscious level it won’t be that effective ; as ethics is not limited to specific acts and defined moral codes , but encompasses the whole of moral ideals and behaviours – a person’s philosophy of life to be precise . A high performing compliance and ethics program is best organized as an integrated capability assigned to the individuals with overall accountability. As far as the ethics in the system of inquiry goes – reflection , decision making under circumstances of complexity , skills of analysis , synthesis and evaluation as well as communication skills are some of the hallmarks. An ethical system of inquiry program supports the organization’s business objectives, identifies the Ethical and legal boundaries to establish an alert management system. Once an issue is detected, management must be prepared to respond quickly and appropriately . It will enable the organization to better prevent, detect and respond to similar problems in the future. An effective systems of enquiry should include reasoning and conclusions that can be reduced to a form that can be effectively communicated plus a systematic approach that goes a long way in handling any sort of inquiry. Appreciative Inquiry seeks what is right in an organization. It is a habit of mind, heart, and imagination that searches for the success, the life-giving force, the incidence of joy. Every system of inquiry needs to be ethical and ethics is not the same as feelings. Feelings provide important information for our ethical choices. Some people have highly developed habits that make them feel bad when they do something wrong, but many people feel good even though they are doing something wrong. And often our feelings will tell us it is uncomfortable to do the right thing if it is hard. Ethics is not religion. Many people are not religious, but ethics applies to everyone. Most religions do advocate high ethical standards but sometimes do not address all the types of problems we face. Ethics is not following the law. A good system of inquiry does incorporate many ethical standards, but law can deviate from what is ethical. Law can become ethically corrupt, as some totalitarian regimes have made it. Law can be a function of power alone and designed to serve the interests of narrow groups. Law may have a difficult time designing or enforcing standards in some important areas and may be slow to address new problems. A robust system of inquiry should have mechanisms for making good ethical decisions which further requires a trained sensitivity to ethical issues and a practiced method for exploring the ethical aspects of a decision and weighing the considerations that should impact our choice of a course of action. Having a method for ethical decision making is absolutely essential. When practiced regularly, the method becomes so familiar that we work through it automatically without consulting the specific steps. The more novel and difficult the ethical choice we face, the more we need to rely on discussion with others about the dilemma. Its only by careful exploration of the problem, aided by the insights and different perspectives of others, can we make good ethical choices in such situations. Work ethics is relative to the time period in which it is measured and the variables are not independently predictive. We must redefine work ethics to reflect the attitudes, desires, and behaviors of today’s employed if we are to develop pedagogy that will foster changes in worker behavior that will be sustained as situations change. Most contemporary research focuses on teaching skills and knowledge, and not attitudes. Work-related social skills and habits are the most important entry-level skills sought in employees. As business, industry, and education face challenges to produce workers and students who perform at optimum levels, all are faced with the issue of the work ethics. Nearly all discussions with emphasis of linking or improving businesses and education captures work ethic somewhere in the discourse. Underlying questions concerning work ethics is the development of an acceptable definition that is current with today’s environment, the determination of whether work ethics is a teachable characteristic, and the development of acceptable and practical pedagogy.

Evaluation of Hospital Audit Report

Evaluation of Hospital Audit Report Josefina B. dela Cuesta   Executive Summary This paper will critically evaluate the audit report of CHT St Johns Hospital which was conducted last September 2015 which is the Certificate of Audit under the Health and Disability Auditing New Zealand in accordance of the standard of the Health and Disability of the Health and Disability Services (Safety) Act 2001 for the compliance of the Ministry of Health. On this study it will tackle the key findings of the audit report of the CHT St John Hospital. The key findings will focus on six areas which are the consumer rights, organizational management, continuum of service delivery, safe and appropriate environment, restraint minimization and safe practice lastly the infection and prevention and control. As a result of the audit done in CHT St John Hospital they have fully attained the six areas that adhere to Health and Disability Services (Safety) Act 2001. In addition, this paper study also discusses the four auditing principles, the consumer focus, outcome focus, system and process focus and transparency and openness. Furthermore, this paper report includes recommendation and conclusion for the organization. Introduction Health is very important to every individual thus it is very vital to evaluate every program implemented to different organization, facilities, or a health program to view the effectiveness   and make necessary interventions for specific program. Health care audit is defined as the review of an existing practice against standards in any part of Health care and it includes clinical and non- clinical Audit. Furthermore the key purpose of a health care audit is to monitor to what degree of standards for any given health care activity are achieved or met (Daly, 2008). In New Zealand, heath care sector are basing from the Health and Disability Standard Service standard which is the Safety Act of 2001 which required auditing the different health programs in New Zealand. The major purpose of this Act are, first to promote the safe delivery of health and disability services to all New Zealanders, second establish a consistent and reasonable standard in giving health and disability services to the public safely, thirdly, reassure providers of health and disability service to take accounts for providing those services, lastly reassure providers of health and disability services to endlessly improved the quality of services (Ministry of Health, 2017) Health and Disability Auditing New Zealand Limited conducted the auditing for Aged rest home, hospital and other residential facilities designated by the Health and Disability of the Health and Disability Services (Safety) Act 2001, for the compliance to the Ministry Of Health. The CHT St John and Hospital where I worked   as a part time care giver is the audit report to be used and it is located at Epsom Auckland which has 70 residents during the auditing last September 14-15 , 2015. This paper report will discuss the audit report of CHT St John Hospital and to critically evaluate to its significance, methodology, contribution to topic and quality. Moreover, it will also tackle the four audit and evaluation processes and approaches. Background of the Organization Christian Health Trust (CHT) St Johns Hospital is an independent healthcare trust which caters residential care to aged people. The company is located at Epsom Auckland and it was established in the year 1962. Furthermore, CHT St John offers a calm and peaceful sense of home for residents. The facility is redeveloped in 1999 and second floor is added in the year 2003 which has 8 and 10 bed suites (Eldernet, 2017) CHT St John concentrates all energy and resources into caring for residents and their respective families and communities. In addition, CHT St John have been serving over the fifty (50) years and leading provider of residential care in Auckland New Zealand. Furthermore, they have different amenities provided to their residents like Gardens, outdoor seating spaces, BBQ area, shared lounge spaces, Shared dining room, activities programme , organized outings. Moreover, the organization had opened their dementia unit in early 2016. Auditing and Critical Evaluation of CHT St John Hospital The Audit report of CHT St. John Hospital has conducted by the Health and Disability Auditing New Zealand which is the Certificate of audit surveillance that was done last September 2015 this is under the section of the Health and Disability Services (Safety) Act of 2001 ( Ministry of Health,2014). The auditing report comprises of review of their policies and procedures, interview and observation with the residents and staff. Furthermore the certificate of audit also reviews the sustainability of the ten (10) suites that provide aged and hospital care to residents. Moreover, as result of their auditing report CHT St John Hospital the auditing in charge did not find any areas of improvement and they exceeded with the standard set by the Health and Disability Auditing New Zealand (Ministry of Health, 2014) Continually, in conducting the audit of an organization or a health program it requires the different principles like with fair performance, ethical conduct, professional care and support, independence and an evidenced approach as required by the Ministry of Health. The different principles are consumer focus, outcome focus, system and process focus, openness and transparency (Ministry of Health, 2016). The first principle is consumer focus, which concentrate on the care for patients, support services with updated standard of practice and being consistent with the consumer. The auditing committee will make use of technical and clinical skill to gather audit evidence straightly form the consumers, families , providers which includes the review of the care and support received both on the individual components of care and care of   patients ( Ministry of Health, 2016). In CHT St John Hospital auditing on consumer focus was done through face to face interview with the residents, families and the staff and the providers and this area was fully attained by the organization. The second principle is the outcome focus that describes that outcome can be accomplished by several inputs, practices, and outputs in rendering service to the clients. Moreover, the audit evidence should comply with requirements of the Health and Disability Services Standards in providing care and services to the consumers. The CHT St John Hospital when it comes to outcome focus they have updated standard of care and risk management committee comprises of philosophy, goals and planners to continually serve their clients with outmost respect, dignity and best quality care. Third principle system and process focus concentrates on how an organization is effective in terms of service delivered. In addition, on this principle the auditors consider the evidence of audit based on the standard of service and care and services do not rely on one person but on the system implemented and process (Ministry of Health, 2016).The CHT St John Hospital had competent staff and clinical manager who manage the system and they attained it well specially on the different policies and procedures. Lastly, the openness and transparency principle describes as the gathered information is communicated effectively throughout the audit process and ensures the stakeholders are involved in the auditing process. Furthermore, organization should adhere to Health and Disability standard the quality of care and CHT St John Hospital has achieved this area of principle (Ministry of Health, 2016). Method of Evaluation The CHT St John used Certification of Audit as method of evaluation; this audit has been conducted by the Health and Disability Auditing New Zealand that is chosen under section thirty two (32) of the Health and Disability Services (Safety) Act 2001 for submission to the Ministry of Health. Certificate of Audit is   done every 1-4 years, after the audit, rest homes are certified for   a given set of time but it depends how the rest home performed during the   certification of audit and once expired the facility should again renewed and evaluated ( Ministry Of Health, 2014). The audit happened last September 2015 and there were 65 residents and the service is overseen by the unit manager and supported by the clinical coordinator and the area manager. The clients and the resident physician shared their positive outlooks about the service. Furthermore the audit process comprises of examination of policies and procedures, to the residents and employees files, observation and interviews with the residents, staff and management. Moreover, as a result of this audit, the auditing team did not recognize any areas that require an improvement; their service was exceeded with the necessary standard (Ministry of health, 2014). Key findings 1. Consumer Rights The outcome audit of CHT St John as to consumer right contains thirteen (13) standards that support the outcome where clients obtain safe   services of an right standard that comply with consumer rights. The services offered in CHT St John are provided in way that is respectful of the clients rights, facilities, informed choice, lessens harm and recognizes the cultural and individual values and principles. Moreover as to their audit report, staff of CHT St John do their best to ensure that their care is being provided that focuses on the individuals, values, maintaining the privacy of the patients and their own choices. Furthermore, their service functions conform to Health and Disability Commissioners (Ministry of Health, 2016) (Ministry of Health, 2015) (Ministry of Health, 2014) Code of Consumer Rights, their cultural needs of the patients is achieved. Continually, policies were implemented well to upkeep the residents rights. In addition, care plans includes their families and complaints and concerns had been accomplished and their complaints were maintained (Ministry of Heath, 2015) 2. Organizational Management The CHT St John comprises of nine (9) standards that support the outcome where patients, receives services in accordance with the legislation and are achieved in a harmless, effective and well-organized manner. Moreover, they have fully attained their standards with exceeded some of their standards. Furthermore, CHT St John has a unit manager and a registered nurse, clinical coordinator, and health care staff support. Their quality and risk management comprises of service philosophy, goals and quality planner. In addition, quality activities were piloted and this produces improvements on their practice and service delivery (Ministry of Health 2014). The CHT St John conducting meetings to tackle quality and risk management process and residents meetings with their own families are conducted every year. Furthermore, health and safety policies, system and process are implemented to cope with risk. The incidents and accidents were conveyed and followed -up. There are also complete education and training program and it has been implemented well. Continually, precise employment processes are observed to and all employees have yearly appraisal and their rooster of staff were sufficient to meet the quality of service (Ministry of Health, 2014). 3. Continuum of Service Delivery The CHT St John comprises of thirteen (13) standards that support the outcome of clients and receive appropriate assessment followed by their services that are well planned, organized and   conveyed in a timely and correct method with compliance to the current legislation and all standards suited on this service were fully attained with some standards exceeded ( Ministry of Health, 2014) In CHT St John the clinical coordinator manages the services offered with assistance from the registered nurses. Moreover, first hand-in assessment were accomplishes by the nurse which includes the InteRAI assessment and complete the care plan evaluations within the mandatory time. In addition, care plans are centered on InteRAI findings and each of their patients or residents are being interviewed and involved in the care planning and review process (Ministry of Health, 2014). Furthermore, medicines are kept and managed properly in accordance to legislation and guidelines. The resident physicians review the patients every three months and more frequently if needed. Continually, their meals were prepared on the site by a contracted agency under the direction of a dietitian, and menu are wide-ranging and appropriate, and patients were interviewed and they were satisfy about the food service offered by CHT St John (Ministry of Health, 2014). 4. Safe and Appropriate Environment As to safe and appropriate environment CHT St John have achieved their service are fully attained which includes eight (8) standards that supports the outcome where their services are offered in a clean and safe environment that is applicable to the age or need of the residents, make certain physical privacy and it is well maintained. Sufficient space and amenities to conduct independence is appropriate to meet the needs of people with disabilities (Ministry of Health, 2014). Moreover, the building of CHT St John has a up-to-date warrant fitness and emergency evacuation plan and ongoing maintenance problem are solve and being addressed. The facility has eight (8) suites that comprises of eight to ten patients and bedrooms are single occupant and they their own suite. Furthermore, there is enough space to permits residents to move around freely and the facility utilized mobility aids for the residents. In addition there is an open lounge and dining area in each suite, outdoors section is safe and certainly  Ã‚   accessible. The maintenance departments are able to provide the appropriate services and the employees of St John have planned and strategies in case of emergency and emergency system are in place in the event of a fire or exterior disaster (Ministry of Health, 2014). 5. Restraint Minimization and Safe Practice The CHT St John comprises of three (3) standards that support outcomes where the clients received and experienced services in the least and safe way through restraint minimization and this standard of practice in the facility was fully attained. The CHT St Johns Hospital has a restraint minimization and safe practice policies and procedures wherein the employees received trainings on restraint for patients who have challenging behavior. During the audit last September 2015 there were six patients with restraint and three with an enabler. The restraint management procedures were applied (Ministry of Health, 2014). 6. Infection and Prevention and Control The CHT St John has six (6) standards that minimize the risk of infection to their clients, service providers and visitor. The Infection Control Policy and procedures is practical, safe and appropriate for the type of service rendered that adheres to the legislative and accepted good practice. In addition, the facility offers significant education on infection control to all the service providers and clients and surveillance of the infection control is done as well. The standard of infection control of CHT St John service is fully attained (Ministry of Health, 2014). Moreover, the documentation evidence that is related to infection control education is provided to the service providers as a part of the orientation and as a part of an ongoing in service education program. Furthermore, the type of surveillance carry out is suited for the organization as to its size and complexity and standardized definitions were utilized for the identification and classification of infection events. The results of the surveillance were acted upon, assessed and reported to the relevant person in a well-timed manner (Ministry of health, 2014). Recommendation In CHT St. John Hospital certificate of audit is done last September 2015 which they have fully attained the different areas conducted by the Health and Disability Auditing New Zealand. This shows that the organization had achieved a success in providing quality of care to their consumers. Nevertheless, it is recommended that CHT St John Hospital should expand more their services like putting up additional building so that it could cater more patients to care. Moreover, the organization should add more services like for emergency procedures and minor operations that will help the residents instead of referring to other facility. Conclusion In conclusion, CHT St John Hospital certificate of audit was done as a result they have attained or achieved the different standard set by the Health and Disability Services (Safety) Act of 2001. Furthermore, it is very fundamental in every organization to conduct an audit because it measures the effectiveness and accuracy of the services rendered and to measure the competency of the staff as well as the providers and stakeholders. Moreover, auditing plays an important role especially in the delivery of care to the clients because this would determine the success of the organization through the feedback of the clients and family involved. Having a positive feedback of the organization can raised the confidence of the staff as well as the organization thus success of the organization will be visible. References Daly, M. (2008). Healthcare Audit Criteria and Guidance. Retrieved March 2017, from http://hse.ie/eng/about/Who/qualityandpatientsafety/resourcesintelligence/Quality_and_Patient_Safety_Documents/guid.pdf Ministry of Health. (2013). Rest home Certification and Audits. Retrieved March 2017, from Ministry of Health: https://www.health.govt.nz/your-health/services-and-support/health-care-services/services-older-people/rest-home-certification-and-audits Ministry of Health. (2014, April). Health and Disability Service Standards. Retrieved March 2017, from Ministry of Health: https://www.health.govt.nz/our-work/regulation-health-and-disability-system/certification-health-care-services/services-standards Ministry of Health. (2015, September). Christian Health Trust St John. Retrieved March 2017, from Ministry of Health: https://www.health.govt.nz/sites/default/files/prms/audit_summaries/AuditSummary_PRMS_CommunicatePublish_000001594001.pdf Ministry of Health. (2016, December). Designated auditing agencies. Retrieved March 2017, from Ministry of Health: https://www.health.govt.nz/our-work/regulation-health-and-disability-system/certification-health-care-services/information-providers-health-care-services/designated-auditing-agencies Ministry of Health. (2016, July). Designated Auditing Agency Handbook. Retrieved March 2017, from Ministry of Health: http://www.health.govt.nz/publication/designated-auditing-agency-handbook Ministry of Health. (2017, February 14). Health and Disability Services (Safety) Act. Retrieved March 2017, from Ministry of Health: https://www.health.govt.nz/our-work/regulation-health-and-disability-system/certification-health-care-services/health-and-disability-services-safety-act

Dyslexia Essay -- Biology Essays Research Papers

Dyslexia Choosing a topic for my research project was quite easy. Dyslexia naturally presented itself, probably because I have a mild case myself. I thought of it as a good omen when typing the word â€Å"dyslexia† into an internet search engine, I spelled it â€Å"dsylexia†. Of course I was troubled when the computer reported zero matches, but I caught my mistake, and tried again, this time more successfully. My dyslexia is really very minor, and has not presented too much difficulty for me. I often reverse numbers, which is annoying when dealing with phone numbers, and I am a terrible speller, which may well be related to my dyslexia. However, people with severe cases are presented with a serious handicap, making reading, writing, listening and language comprehension difficult (1,2). Despite normal intelligence levels, dyslexics often feel stupid and have self-esteem problems, because of the difficulty they experience in reading and writing (1). Dyslexia was first described in 1896 by Pringle Morgan of Sussex, England, who described a 14 year old boy who â€Å"has always been a bright and intelligent boy, quick at games, and in no way inferior to others of his age. His great difficulty has been--and is now--his inability to learn to read.†(5) This was the first description of the disorder, which exposes the curious problem of intelligent, motivated people unable to learn basic reading skills. Dyslexia’s most diagnosable feature is a pronounced disparity between intelligence and scholastic success, particularly reading. Reading involves rapid association of symbols (letters and letter combinations) with the 44 phonemes ( the smallest unit of discernible sound) of the English language, which must in turn be assembled into... ... 1) http://www.dyslexiao nline.com/dyslexia.html#what From Dyslexia Online 2) http://www. ldonline.org/ld_indepth/reading/reading-4.html From Orton Dyslexia Society 3) http://www .ldonline.org/ld_indepth/reading/nih_report.html From Learning Disabilities Online 4) http://www.ldonline.o rg/ccld/ld/ldresearch.html From Learning Disabilities Online 5) http://www.sciam.com /1196issue/1196shaywitz.html From Scientific American Dyslexia article 6) http://www.dyslexia.com/ From Dyslexia.com an advocate site 7) http ://www.kidsource.com/kidsource/content/news/brain7_9_96.html From a review of an article published in Nature 8) http://www.merck.com/!!ucy831YlLucy831YlL/pubs/mmanual/html/iomhgeeg.htm From the Merck Manual 9) http://www.interdys.org/ articles.stm#content From the International Dyslexia Association Dyslexia Essay -- Biology Essays Research Papers Dyslexia Choosing a topic for my research project was quite easy. Dyslexia naturally presented itself, probably because I have a mild case myself. I thought of it as a good omen when typing the word â€Å"dyslexia† into an internet search engine, I spelled it â€Å"dsylexia†. Of course I was troubled when the computer reported zero matches, but I caught my mistake, and tried again, this time more successfully. My dyslexia is really very minor, and has not presented too much difficulty for me. I often reverse numbers, which is annoying when dealing with phone numbers, and I am a terrible speller, which may well be related to my dyslexia. However, people with severe cases are presented with a serious handicap, making reading, writing, listening and language comprehension difficult (1,2). Despite normal intelligence levels, dyslexics often feel stupid and have self-esteem problems, because of the difficulty they experience in reading and writing (1). Dyslexia was first described in 1896 by Pringle Morgan of Sussex, England, who described a 14 year old boy who â€Å"has always been a bright and intelligent boy, quick at games, and in no way inferior to others of his age. His great difficulty has been--and is now--his inability to learn to read.†(5) This was the first description of the disorder, which exposes the curious problem of intelligent, motivated people unable to learn basic reading skills. Dyslexia’s most diagnosable feature is a pronounced disparity between intelligence and scholastic success, particularly reading. Reading involves rapid association of symbols (letters and letter combinations) with the 44 phonemes ( the smallest unit of discernible sound) of the English language, which must in turn be assembled into... ... 1) http://www.dyslexiao nline.com/dyslexia.html#what From Dyslexia Online 2) http://www. ldonline.org/ld_indepth/reading/reading-4.html From Orton Dyslexia Society 3) http://www .ldonline.org/ld_indepth/reading/nih_report.html From Learning Disabilities Online 4) http://www.ldonline.o rg/ccld/ld/ldresearch.html From Learning Disabilities Online 5) http://www.sciam.com /1196issue/1196shaywitz.html From Scientific American Dyslexia article 6) http://www.dyslexia.com/ From Dyslexia.com an advocate site 7) http ://www.kidsource.com/kidsource/content/news/brain7_9_96.html From a review of an article published in Nature 8) http://www.merck.com/!!ucy831YlLucy831YlL/pubs/mmanual/html/iomhgeeg.htm From the Merck Manual 9) http://www.interdys.org/ articles.stm#content From the International Dyslexia Association

The Cuban Legend of the Owl and the Sijú Essay -- Urban Legends Siju

The Owl and the Sijà º The legend of "La lechuza y el sijà º" ("The Owl and the Sijà º") is a popular and old Cuban legend. I collected this legend on March 17th, when I first talked to Denise Corte, my co-worker at my campus job, about this particular class assignment. She is a Brazilian doctoral student whose thesis is based on a Cuban theater group. She traveled to Cuba to follow this theater group that primarily focuses their plays on Cuban legends. When she heard about my assignment she was enthusiastic, as her dissertation is based on the exploration of Cuban legends. She generously told me about a legend that she had included in her own work, concerning an owl and a sijà º, a nocturnal bird native to Cuba. This legend was told to her in Spanish, so she graciously translated it into English. The patakà ­n (legend of Yoruba) concerns the story of a beautiful, mysterious, and wise princess who lived in a very small country. After a war to expel a tyrant, it was proclaimed that all citizens would be equal. Anyone who wanted to put an end to tyranny would find a home in that land. One day, a traveler from a country enveloped in eternal darkness arrived in search of light. The princess saw him and thought he was sick. Confused, she asked her grandmother what to do: "Oye tres dà ­as al zunzà ºn, otros tres dà ­as al canario. La verdad solo tà º la sabes. El remà ©dio està ¡ en tus manos" ("Listen to the zunzà ºn for three days, and other three days to the canary. Only you know the truth. The remedy is in your hands") answered the grandmother. The princess did as recommended, but the only thing she heard was "mal de amor se cura amando" ("lovesickness is cured by loving"). The traveler also sought the old woman, received the same counsel, and heard ... ...n and achieving equality. Also, the legend focuses on how the truth lives on forever and can be heard only by those who are pure at heart. This is demonstrated by the tree of eternal truths, where the princess told the story about her lover, that would not seem "different than any other tree" to liars. This could lead to the interpretation that, despite the tyranny that they were suffering under, the slaves still had hope that their traditions and beliefs would last forever and would only be heard by those that would understand and appreciate them. Works Cited Ayorinde, Christine. Afro-Cuban Religiosity, Revolution, and National Identity. Gainsville: University Press of Florida, 2004 Brown, David. Santeria Enthroned. Chicago: The University of Chicago Press, 2003. Clark, Mary Ann. "Santeria." 2000. 09 Apr. 2005 http://sparta.rice.edu/~maryc/Santeria.

An Analysis of ?The Meanings of Seneca Falls, 1848-1998? :: essays research papers fc

While being born in the modern times, no woman knows what it was like to have a status less than a man’s. It is hard to envision what struggles many women had to go through in order to get the rights to be considered equal. In the essay The Meanings of Seneca Falls, 1848-1998, Gerda Lerner recalls the events surrounding the great women’s movement. Among the several women that stand out in the movement, Elizabeth Cady Stanton stands out because of her accomplishments. Upon being denied seating and voting rights at the World Antislavery Convention of 1840, she was outraged and humiliated, and wanted change. Because of Elizabeth Cady Stanton’s great perseverance, the Seneca Falls Convention of 1848 was a success as well as a great influence on the future of women’s rights. The convention had several attendees with notable assiduousness to the cause. The founders were Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Lucretia Mott, a highly acclaimed speaker and abolitionist. She was even founder of the Philadelphia Female Anti-Slavery Society and its long-term president! Martha Wright, Jane Hunt, and Mary Ann McClintock were all women who worked in anti-slavery fairs that also wanted women’s rights (203). Among other attendees, Frederick Douglass was also present! With the notable group assembled, a road to change was starting to form. The women had very limited rights compared to men of the time. Women had no voice when it came to the law, they were deprived rights of citizenship, and deprived of their property and wages. They were also discriminated when the matters had to do with payment for work and divorce and were declared civilly dead up on marriage (204)! Finally, women were kept out of professions, and were to be kept as a dependent of the man. Half the population had their rights withheld because of the role that they were born into. The Seneca Falls Convention sought out to have these rights changed so that women could have the freedom that they deserved. The outcome of the meeting had a great effect. The movement started at Seneca Falls requested the concepts by demanding legal, property, civil rights, and changes in gender-role definition and the woman’s rights to her own body (205). At the time, it was known that â€Å"all men are created equal†. When the definition is taken literally, the rights of women are demeaned. However, the women believed that as citizens and members of society, they had the rights to be treated equal as any other man.

How Indian Cinema Evolved over the Years Essay

A hundred years ago on this date, India’s first film Raja Harishchandra was released. Over the past hundred years, our cinema and its facets have evolved and how!! The hero From mooch to macho From a bulky mustached Raj Kapoor in the 40s to a six-pack flaunting, butt-baring John Abraham now, the Bollywood hero has had quite a makeover. The 50s was the era of method-acting with the likes of Dilip Kumar, while in the 60s, Rajesh Khanna and Dev Anand epitomised romance on screen. After Khanna’s guru kurtas and fluffy hairtop, Amitabh Bachchan brought the angry young man into the picture in the 70s and 80s with Zanjeer, Deewar and Agneepath, also bringing to the fore, bell bottoms and side burns. The 90s was the time of the lover boys Shah Rukh Khan, Aamir Khan and Salman Khan dancing in exotic foreign locales. Now, the Bollywood hero is not restricted by genre or style and fits into every mould. He is a looker, chocolatey, experimental and total paisa vasool, read Ranbir Kapoor and Imran Khan. The heroine From feeble to fabulous In the early decades, the heroine in Indian cinema had only one objective in life, that of being a sati-savitri, who never looked beyond her family and husband. The kitchen was her cocoon, and she epitomised all things good. Through the 1940s, 50s and 60s, heroines such as Mala Sinha, Meena Kumari, Madhubala, Nanda and Asha Parekh ruled these roles. It was only in the 80s and 90s that she evolved as a strong character (Rekha in Khoon Bhari Mang, 1988), (Meenakshi Sheshadri in Damini, 1993). While in the early 2000s, she was still the demure girl, she managed to live her life on her terms like Rani Mukerji in Kabhie Alvida Naa Kehna. And the heroine today is the sexy, uber cool woman who cares for little more than her own life. Way to go girl! The villain From scary to suave From the usual lot of wicked village zamindars, smugglers, murderers, rapists, dacoits and terrorists, the larger-than-life Bollywood villains have become rare in new age cinema. Thus the traditional villain, Loin, Shakal, Mogambo, Dr Dang and Badman, has died a natural death. The wigged, cigar-smoking avatars played by the likes of Pran, Prem Chopra, Amrish Puri, have made way for smart and sometimes more-adorable-than-the-hero kind of villains. Exhibit A- Saif Ali Khan (Omkara) and Shah Rukh Khan (Don). No lines are drawn now and black characters have became grey with lead actors playing antagonists in films, almost replacing the dedicated villains. This marked the end of ever reverberating iconic one liners like â€Å"Kitne aadmi the?† and â€Å"Saara sheher mujhe Loin ke naam se jaanta hain.† The maa Rona-dhona to supercool From the God fearing and homely mum to a party freak, mothers in Bollywood have come a long way since 1930s. While Nargis in Mother India (1957) played a mother who went through hardships and struggled to bring up her offsprings, Nirupa Roy in the 70s became synonymous with white saris and a melancholic look. Then came Reema Lagoo, with her bindi and sindoor, an ideal middle class Indian mother in Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak (1988) and Maine Pyar Kiya (1989), who tried to be a friend to her son. But now, mothers are the uber cool women who are ready to accept even same-sex couples, case in point, Kirron Kher in Dostana (2008). And now there are mom who drink and dance at weddings, ala Dolly Walia in Vicky Donor (2012). The item girl Taboo to must-haves The dancing girl evolved from the Cabaret seductress, the free-spirited banjaran, the sensuous courtesan to dancing temptresses in half-saris. In the 40s and 50s, Cuckoo Moray, hotted up the screen with her innocent charm. The 50s saw Vyjayanthimala woo the audience in songs such as Chad Gayo Papi Bichua in Madhumati (1958) in ghagra cholis, and junk silver jewellery. Helen ruled the 60s and 70s, emerging in a bold avatar with dramatic ensembles. The 80s saw the trend of heroines appear in item numbers with Zeenat Aman in Qurbani (1980). Madhuri Dixit’s Choli Ke Peeche Kya Hai became the ultimate tease in the 90s. The item girls of 2000s are sexy, not afraid to show skin and love to play hard to get, be it Malaika Arora Khan in a mid-riff baring choli dancing atop a train or Katrina in Sheila Ki Jawani. The comedian Funny face to frontman The comedian in the 40s, was the fat man with funny facial expressions, whose mere presence made audiences laugh. In the 1950s, the lean Johnny Walker broke that trend and managed to win hearts with his slapstick humour. Kishore Kumar, essentially a singer, redefined comedy by using his songs like Meri Pyari Bindu (Padosan 1968) as elements of fun in films. But it was Mehmood, with his fringed hair and impeccable dialogue delivery who became the king of comedy in the 1970s. The next big thing in comedy was Johnny Lever, who left audiences in splits with his body language and dialogues in films like Raja Hindustani (1996) and Dulhe Raja (1998). Now, it’s the heroes — Akshay Kumar (Hera Pheri), Ajay Devgn (Golmaal) who are doubling as comedians. The friend Sidekick to the right-hand man The side kick or hero’s best friend, every Bollywood film has had one. The role could be that of a fun buddy who provides comic relief to the film or that one jigari dost who stays with the hero through thick and thin (in other words, fights for the hero and often dies in the end). From the days of Mukri and Mehmood, who played the hero’s good friend in the 1950s and 60s to the current time where actors like Arshad Warsi and Sharman Joshi play as powerful characters as the hero himself, this portrayal has had a sea change. Mehmood in Humjoli (1970), for instance, played a sidekick who brought the house down with his antics, but Arshad Warsi in the Munnabhai series (2003/06) played the ideal Robin to Sanjay Dutt’s Batman, and got some of the best lines in the films. The romance Touch-me-not to pre-marital sex Romance in Bollywood turned from bold to coy and back to racy and bold. The silent film, ‘A Throw of Dice’ (1929) saw actor Seeta Devi kiss actor Charu Roy. Post-independence, in the 1940s, romance became conservative. The Cinematograph Act in 1952, called kissing on screen indecent and romance became associated with clasping hand and staring into each other’s eyes. Kissing was shown with two flowers coming together or honey bees sucking nectar from flowers. 1970s was Raj Kapoor’s era that brought a passion back to romance with movies such as Bobby (1973), Satyam Shivam Sundaram (1978). It was the 90s that romance took a pure and sweet form the two blockbuster hits Hum Aapke Hain Kaun (1994) Dilwale Duhaniya Le Jayenge (1995). Now, in the 2000s, pre-marital sex shown in films like Salaam Namaste (2005) and Rockstar (2011), is considered cool. The music Melodies to racy tracks The 1930 and 40s, were defined by nasal renditions by the likes of KL Saigal (Jab Dil Hi Tooth Gaya, Shahjahan, 1946) and Noorjehan. The 50s were all about soul-soothing melodies. Songs like it Pyaar Huya Ekraar Huya (Shree 420 1952) or Jaane Woh Kaise Log The (Pyaasa 1957) became epics. However, it was R D Burman, who single-handedly changed the course of Bollywood film music, and introduced westernised tunes in songs in the 60s. While 70s remained the decade of a mix of soft and fast numbers, the 80s turned Bollywood music on its head, as Bappi Lahiri brought in disco music. Disco Dancer (1982) marked the beginning of a range of high-on-noise, low-on-lyrics songs. The 1990s churned out several hugely forgettable numbers, except for musical hits like 1942 a Love Story (1994), Saajan (1991). The 2000s have been the decade of experimenting – thus Sonu Nigam and Yo Yo Honey Singh both find place in the same film. The dialogues Melodrama to quirky Power-packed dialogues get the maximum seetis from the audience, and why not. A film is often remembered for its iconic dialogues. Kaun kambakth bardasht karne ke liye peeta hai, from Devdas that’s a favourite even with the ‘daarubaaz’ of today. However, dialogues like Kitne aadmi the, and â€Å"Kuttey main tera khoon pi jaunga† from Sholay, â€Å"Pushpa, I hate tears† from Amar Prem and â€Å"Mere paas maa hai† from Deewar; have gone on to become epic. In the 1990s, heroes impressed their lady love with dialogues. Thus came, â€Å"I love you Kkk†¦ Kiran† (Darr), â€Å"Bade bade shehron mein aisi chhoti chhoti baatein hoti rehti hain.† (DDLJ 1995). In 2000, quirky dialogues such as, Main apni favourite hoon (Jab We Met), Picture Abhi Baki Hai Dost (Om Shanti Om) are the big hits among film buffs.