Profile of Death Row Inmate Patricia Blackmon

Patricia Blackmon is on death row in Alabama for capital murder in the death of her 28-month-old adopted daughter, Dominiqua.  Blackmon had adopted  Dominiqua nine months before she was murdered. The Crime On May 29, 1999, Patricia Blackmon, age 29, called 9-1-1 in Dothan, Alabama because her daughter Dominiqua was not breathing. When paramedics arrived at Blackmons mobile home, they found Dominiqua lying on the floor of the master bedroom -- she was wearing only a diaper and blood-soaked socks, was covered in vomit, and she was not breathing. There was a large bump on her forehead and blood on her chest. After the paramedics attempted to revive her, she was transported to Flowers Hospital Emergency Room where she died shortly after arriving. Two doctors, one of them being  Dominiquas pediatrician, Dr. Robert Head, examined the child and found that she had multiple bruises and contusions and an imprint of the sole of a shoe on her chest. They also observed several older scars on Dominiqua, that were from previous injuries and in various stages of healing. The Autopsy Included in the 30 separate injuries found on her body, the medical examiner Dr. Alfredo Parades found bruises on the front part of her lower chest and upper abdomen and around the right groin. She had also suffered a fractured leg. He also found that Dominiqua had two broken bones and many other injuries that were in various stages of healing. Parades concluded that her death was due to  multiple blunt-force injuries to her head, chest, abdomen, and extremities.  Another discovery found on Dominiqua was an imprint of the sole of a shoe on her chest that was so clearly defined that it was captured in a photograph taken by the doctor. The Trial Dr. James Downs, chief medical examiner for the State of Alabama, testified that he compared the images taken of the shoe print to sandals Blackmon was wearing on the day of the murder. It was his opinion that the sole of the sandals matched the imprint embedded in Dominiquas chest. Downs also said that he believed  Dominiqua was struck with a pool cue resulting in her most recent injuries. Wayne Johnson, Blackmons father-in-law testimony showed that Blackmon was the only person caring for Dominiqua on the evening of the murder, up until the time the paramedics arrived at Blackmons home at around 9:30 p.m. Johnson testified that on the night Dominiqua was killed, he saw Dominiqua  earlier in the evening and she seemed fine, playing and acting normally. He said Blackmon and Dominiqua left his house at around 8 p.m. A search of Blackmons mobile home uncovered several blood-splattered items. Forensic tests found the blood on a broken pool cue, a childs T-shirt, a pink flat bed sheet, a quilt, and two napkins. The blood found on all of the items matched Dominiquas blood. Blackmons Defense In her defense, Blackmon said that the child was injured when she fell off of the bed. Blackmon called several character witnesses to testify in her defense. Judy Whatley, an employee of the Department of Human Resources, said that in her opinion, Blackmon and Dominiqua had a good relationship. Whatley had contact with Dominiqua and Blackmon once a month for five months before August 1998. Tammy Freeman, Blackmons neighbor, testified that she frequently left her children under Blackmons care. Convicted The jury convicted Blackmon of capital murder. A separate sentencing hearing was held, at which the State relied on the aggravating circumstance that the murder was especially heinous, atrocious, or cruel to support a death sentence. After the sentencing hearing the jury, by a vote of 10 to two, recommended the death penalty. Appeals In August 2005, Blackmon appealed to the court, arguing that the State failed to prove that the murder was especially, heinous, atrocious, or cruel as compared to other capital murders.  She argued that the State failed to prove that Dominiqua was conscious during any of the  attacks and that she suffered. Blackmon believed that Dominiqua was knocked unconscious before Blackmon beat her, and as a  result, the child did not feel the pain of being beaten. Her appeal was turned down. Patricia Blackmon now sits on death row at Tutwiler Prison for Women in Wetumpka, Alabama.

Essay on Professional Communication Cultural Sensitivity

Professional Communication Cultural Sensitivity Paper Linda Ginder Grand Canyon University - NUR 502 July 10, 2013 Professional Communication Cultural Sensitivity Paper No culture is growing at a faster pace than the Hispanic population, surpassing African Americans as the largest minority population in the United States. The Hispanic population increased from 35.3 million to 50.5 million in 2010. The intention of this paper is to increase the awareness and understanding of cultural competency and cultural sensitivity toward the Hispanic culture. Cultural competency cannot be overemphasized as it plays an imperative role in the quality of care that is given to different cultures. A culturally insensitive encounter can lead to†¦show more content†¦If translators are used, they should be of the same sex if possible. To communicate trust and respect, sit close to the patient, use indirect eye contact, and formally address them. Key cultural differences that Hispanics have from non-Hispanic people include how they perceive time. The Western culture is very time specific and always in a hurry. The Hispanic culture does not perceive time as a driving force. They live in the present and for them to be 30 minutes or an hour late is actually not considered late. Therefore, if speaking of time schedules for giving medications, nurses need to be specific and address time by a specific number – â€Å"by five o’clock† so they understand that it is important to give this medication by a specific time. Another key difference is related to how they perceive family dynamics. The family unit, including the extended family, is considered the most important social unit and support system. Excluding them in the decision process, will only increase the distrust of the patient with the health provider. A very specific social order and respectfulness goes along with age, gender, and social class. 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The second factor is space, the views of space variesRead MoreCultural Sensitivity And Culture And Other Practices1347 Words   |  6 Pages Cultural Sensitivity Khader Salami Cultural sensitivity refers to the awareness as well as the sensitivity to culture and other practices. Cultural sensitivity can encompass examining different cultures and how they should be accurately approached in the health care. It also includes how to communicate according to within the health care setting. Cultural sensitivity is important area because it can

No Face free essay sample

Have you ever looked in the mirror and seen nothing? No face, no fire, when you looked in the mirror the only thing to be seen was the complete absence of an identity. My early circumstances set back identity formation. While most little girls were finding out what they liked, I was working to simply keep myself safe. I had to grow up fast because there was no alternative. I experienced more fear, pain, and dispair at the hands of my father than the rest of my life combined. FatherI don’t think that was his title. A father keeps you safe. A father will scale mountains to make their little girl happy. He was not my father, he was my warden. He created an environment akin to most prisons, if not worse. Youth is supposed to be free, uninhibited, and without the chains of maturity and responsibility. At eight you should be fashioning a ship capable of interstellar travel from cardboard or breaking your arm because you didn’t have the foresight to know jumping out of a large tree would end badly. We will write a custom essay sample on No Face or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page I’m not saying I never experienced moments of innocence but they were always shrouded with underlying fear and mitigated by the need to avoid â€Å"discipline.† Discipline and lessons at the hand of my father were brutal and scarring in all aspects: physical, mental, and emotional. Memories of them still causes shivers of fear down my spine. When I lived with my dad, living was accomplished only in the physical sense. I simply was marking time until death or freedom-whichever came first. Looking in the mirror I didn’t see an individual. It was at that cataclysmic realization that I finally embraced my humanity, my rights, and my needs. Things I had never considered relevant prior to that moment. Thus my battle for freedom began. It was a long arduous process but eventually my imprisonment ended as his incarceration began. I have chosen to consume life with fervor. I have found passion and purpose in my life. I found talent and dreams in performing arts; dancing, music, and theater pulled me out of my head and cut the chains from a mundane lifestyle and taught me I can feel and aim for stars. Debate has given me confidence with voicing my own beliefs, moral and political, even if they counter the conservative culture I have been raised in. The refugees may have had the most substantial impact by introducing my desire to aid in whatever way I can. There were other evils to conquer now. Years later and I can’t claim to be â€Å"over it.† Scars are still there and some wounds are opened by other events and people in my life. However, I will never be without an identity again. The person I have developed into is strong, ambitious, independent, kind, and above all else unencumbered by anyone but myself. Who am I? Is a question I continually ask myself. Sometimes the answer changes but now I have one.

Immigration Persuasive Essay Example For Students

Immigration Persuasive Essay For many immigration to the United States would be a new beginning during 19th to early 20th century. There were many acts and laws to limit the number immigrating to the United States. Many of these acts were due to prejudice and misunderstanding of a culture. One such act was the Chinese Exclusion Act. Form this one act many immigration laws and acts were made against foreigners. They hoped to control the number of immigrants arriving on the American shores. The Chinese Exclusion Act of May 6, 1882 was just the beginning. This act was the turning point of the U.S. immigration policies, although it only directly affected a small group of people. Prior to the Chinese Exclusion Act there was no significant number of free immigrants that had been barred from the country. Once the Chinese Exclusion Act had been in acted, further limitations on the immigration of ethnic groups became standard procedure for more than eight decades. Irish catholic, Mexican, and other races were not allowed the same freedoms that others were allowed. Even after a family had been here for generations there were not given the same freedoms. Since the arrival of the first Chinese Immigrants, racist hostility towards the Chinese always existed. They were predominantly male laborers, concentrated in California. They were vital to the development of western mining, transportation, and agriculture. Other races were also discriminated against, the Irish were not allowed to get jobs or live in certain areas of the cities. By 1880, the great fear of German-speaking and Irish-Catholic immigrants was over. Employers, who still sought worker-immigrants, and not just temporary workers, looked increasingly to southern and eastern Europe. When Italians, Greeks, Turks, Russians, Slavs, and Jews arrived in the United States in numbers, however, new anxieties arose about making Americans of so many different kinds of strangers. An 1880 this act gave the United States the one sided right to mandate to limit or even stop the immigration of Chinese laborers. In effect canceling the right of the Chinese to enter the country. Congress quickly complied and made a ten-year bill that the President signed on May 6, 1882. While exempting teachers, students, merchants, and tourists the Act suspended immigration of Chinese laborers for ten years. The law was renewed for a second ten-year period in 1892 and then made quot;permanentquot; in 1902. Chinese Exclusion Act had set a pattern for many other immigration laws and acts to come. The Immigration Act of March 3, 1891 was the first comprehensive law for national control of immigration. It established the Bureau of Immigration under the Treasury Department to administer all immigration laws (except the Chinese Exclusion Act). This Immigration Act also added to the inadmissible classes. The people in these classes were inadmissible to enter into the United States. The people in these classes were, those suffering from a contagious disease, and persons convicted of certain crimes. The Immigration Act of March 3, 1903 and The Immigration Act of February 20, 1907 added further categories to the inadmissible list. Immigrants were screened for their political beliefs. Immigrants who were believed to be anarchists or those who advocated the overthrow of government by force or the assassination of a public officer was deported. This act was made mainly do to the assassination of President William McKinley in 1901. On February 5, 1917 another immigration act was made. This Act categorized all previous exclusion provisions and added the exclusion of illiterate aliens form entering into the United States. This Act made Mexicans inadmissible. It insisted that all aliens pay a head tax of $8 dollars. However, because of the high demand for labor in the southwest, months later congress let Mexican workers to stay in the U.S. under supervision of state government for six-month periods. .ubbca9cbce4b3fa40debed9346a7415c5 , .ubbca9cbce4b3fa40debed9346a7415c5 .postImageUrl , .ubbca9cbce4b3fa40debed9346a7415c5 .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .ubbca9cbce4b3fa40debed9346a7415c5 , .ubbca9cbce4b3fa40debed9346a7415c5:hover , .ubbca9cbce4b3fa40debed9346a7415c5:visited , .ubbca9cbce4b3fa40debed9346a7415c5:active { border:0!important; } .ubbca9cbce4b3fa40debed9346a7415c5 .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .ubbca9cbce4b3fa40debed9346a7415c5 { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .ubbca9cbce4b3fa40debed9346a7415c5:active , .ubbca9cbce4b3fa40debed9346a7415c5:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .ubbca9cbce4b3fa40debed9346a7415c5 .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .ubbca9cbce4b3fa40debed9346a7415c5 .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .ubbca9cbce4b3fa40debed9346a7415c5 .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .ubbca9cbce4b3fa40debed9346a7415c5 .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .ubbca9cbce4b3fa40debed9346a7415c5:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .ubbca9cbce4b3fa40debed9346a7415c5 .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .ubbca9cbce4b3fa40debed9346a7415c5 .ubbca9cbce4b3fa40debed9346a7415c5-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .ubbca9cbce4b3fa40debed9346a7415c5:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Solar Energy Essay The Gold Rush in California brought a large influx of Chinese laborers and was ended abruptly by the Chinese Exclusion Act in 1882. In between this time Thousands of Chinese immigrated or traveled freely from China and San Francisco. They were mostly young male peasants that left their villages to become contract laborers in the American West. They were recruited to extract minerals and metals, construct a vast railroad network, reclaim swamplands, build irrigation systems, work as migrant agricultural laborers, develop the fishing industry, and operate highly competitive, labor-intensive manufacturing industries in the Western States. These Chinese Americans did not mix with other Americans they began their own cities such as Chinatown in San Francisco were Chinese worked, shopped and owned business. After 1882, only diplomats, merchants, and students and their dependents were allowed to travel between the U.S. and China. Before the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882, the patterns of Chinese settlement followed the patterns of economic development of the western states. Since mining and railway construction dominated the western economy, Chinese immigrants settled mostly in California and states west of the Rocky Mountains. As these industries declined and ant-Chinese feelings intensified, the Chinese retreated and sometimes were forced by society into small import-export businesses, labor-intensive manufacturing and service industries in such rising cities as San Francisco, New York, Boston, Philadelphia, Chicago, Los Angeles, Seattle and sometimes in the Deep South. Although many sought the American Dream due to racial prejudice and bias many did not get to become part of society. They were forced to live in poverty working for low wages and never making it ahead. Many were forced in to low paying jobs in unsafe conditions. Many did not survive to see their children grown.