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• According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, over 3,400 teenagers between 13 and 19 were killed in motor vehicle crashes in 2009.
• In 2007, motor vehicle crashes were the leading cause of death among males and female teenagers.
• In 2009, 16 percent of fatal car crashes involved a driver who was reportedly distracted.
• In the same year 448,000 people were injured in motor vehicle crashes that were reported to have involved distracted driving.
• According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the number of drivers reportedly distracted at the time of the fatal crashes increased from 7 percent in 2005 to 11 percent in 2009.
• Drivers under 20 years of age have the highest proportion of distracted drivers involved in fatal crashes compared to all other age groups.

Road fatalities caused by distracted drivers—especially teens—is an ongoing problem in all motorized countries. Some drivers develop habits while driving that they’re not aware are potentially hazardous. As an ongoing effort to provide the best resources on common driving distractions for teens, compiled below are a list of useful sites that offer information on statistics, laws, and articles on how to avoid these diversions while behind the wheel.

Cell Phone Use

Cell phones present a host of different distractions for drivers of all ages. Handling a cell phone, trying to find one as it is ringing, or being forced to drive with one hand can all lead to compromised driving and less focus on the road. Additionally, the phone conversation itself can distract the driver. A 2006 study conducted by Liberty Mutual Research Institute for Safety and Students Against Destructive Decisions (SADD) found that teens reported texting as their primary cause of distraction while on the road. Due to increasing prevalence of texting-related accidents and fatalities, many states across America have instituted laws to crack down on cell phone use while driving.

Driving while talking or texting is extremely unsafe. Any message your phone receives while driving can wait until you’re at your destination. Crash risk is four times higher while using a hand-held cell phone, according to a 2005 study conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. Although text messaging is banned in 31 states, teens still admit to doing so while driving, and studies have found that the bans have not reduced the number of texting-related car accidents.

The Governors Highway Safety Association offers a list of the different cell phone laws for each state. DrivingLaws.org references studies that have investigated the outcomes of cell phone legislation. CellPhoneSafety.org is another resource that highlights the different dangers that driving while distracted by a cell phone can cause. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety has a list of state laws, research findings, articles and court testimonies related to cell phone usage relative to automobile accidents.

The problem of texting and driving has become so widespread in recent years that it has given rise to numerous websites combating the issue, such as txtresponsibly.org, texting-while-driving.org and dontdriveandtext.org to name a few.

Drugs and Alcohol

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety states that teen drivers are less likely than adults to drive while drunk, but when they do, the risk of getting in a road accident is significantly higher. In 2009, over five hundred drivers between the ages of 16 and 17 had a Blood Alcohol Content of 0.08 or greater when they perished in a motor accident. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety offers alcohol and drugs statistics relative to road accidents.

Driving while underage is illegal as is driving while intoxicated. In most states, getting caught driving while under the influence can result in the loss of your driver’s license. In the state of Michigan, alcohol possession can result in a license being revoked regardless of whether the teen is in a vehicle at the time or not. If you do decide to drink, do not get behind the wheel. You can always get a ride from a friend who has not been drinking, call someone to pick you up, or use a professional driving service to take you home. Safe Ride America is a non-profit driver-for-hire service available to teens that have been drinking.

Friends

For teenagers, a driver’s license represents freedom. Without the restriction of a parent behind the wheel, teens may feel permitted to engage in irresponsible behavior while being driving with friends. The result can be deadly: sixty percent of teenage passenger deaths in 2009 occurred in vehicles driven by another teenager. Among deaths of passengers of all ages, 18 percent occurred when a teenager was driving, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. The DriversEdGuru.com article entitled “Friends Don’t Let Friends Distract Them While Driving” offers tips to parents on how to talk to teens about keeping their passengers from distracting them on the road.

Music

There are two ways that music can distract a driver. Volume can cause a distraction as can changing music while you drive—whether it’s adjusting your iPod or changing a CD—because it forces you take your eyes off the road. Even if it is only for a few seconds, this can be very dangerous. It is best to have the music ready beforehand to avoid putting yourself and other drivers at risk.

This article from Infoniac details the effects that listening to classical and hard rock music can have on driving.

Road Rage

Emotions can also distract drivers with dangerous results. According to the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety Aggressive Driving studies, at least 1,500 men, women and children are injured or killed each year in the United States as a result of aggressive driving. Roadragers.com offers an online test and some statistics on driving with road rage, while MonkeyMeter.com provides aggressive driving statistics of major cities in the U.S.

Other Common Causes of Distraction

Grooming and Preening

Putting on make-up, brushing your hair or checking your teeth for food particles require looking away from the road and can therefore put you and other motorists at risk. Softpedia has an article that discusses the findings of a British study regarding crashes caused by people who were applying make-up while driving.

Being Lost

Drivers can be distracted while reading a map or looking for a particular street adress. It is also easy to become distracted on unfamiliar roads, especially at night. To avoid this, it is best to have the best sense of where you’re driving before you get behind the wheel. Learning or printing out directions from Google Maps, Mapquest or Yahoo! Maps can let you know what to expect. If you have a passenger, it is best to have them assist you with directions. If not, pull over to the side of the road if you need to review or reassess your driving directions.

Eating and Driving

Eating, drinking hot beverages or rummaging through bags for food can distract drivers and lead to accidents and injuries. It is best to wait until you’ve reached your destination to enjoy your meal. If you cannot wait, park your car and finish your meal.

Fidgeting

Fidgeting with car controls can also cause drivers to look away from the road.

From the U.S. Department of Transportation, Distraction.gov has statistics related to distracted driving. NHTSA Traffic Safety Facts offers a .pdf file with research findings from studies about driver distraction.

Other Edmunds.com Links

Additionally, Edmunds.com contains more information specific to teen drivers. Graduated Driver Licenses discusses the different levels of licenses for teens based on their age and driving experience. Car Insurance for Teen Drivers offers more information on tips for finding the right car insurance for new drivers, just in case something happens on the road.

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With that said, computer users and web surfers shouldn’t solely rely on purchased computer protection services to ensure that their information isn’t exposed or deleted. In an effort to serve as a reliable resource for parents, children, professionals, and all computer users, this guide highlights some practical ways people can protect their privacy online.

Investigate Web Site Privacy Policies

A web site privacy policy is a written document that explains the conditions and regulations that exist between a webmaster and user.  Without reading the web site privacy, one may unknowingly be granting permission for third parties to gain access to personal information, including what kind of computer you are using, where you are using it, what web sites you have accessed in the past and what type of hardware and software is installed in your computer. Generally this type of information is given to companies for marketing purposes. For example, have you ever wondered how random companies got a hold of your e-mail address? That’s probably because you indirectly gave it them whenever a website you visited asked you to enter your e-mail address. So always make sure to read the fine print.

• Wired Safety explains in further detail the importance of an online privacy policy. It includes a sample of giving even the most harmless information can be used by outside sources.
• A Better Business Bureau provides a template for what a web site privacy policy should look like and what type of language should be used.

Create Separate E-mail Accounts

Often employees are given a specific e-mail address that is designed to be used for work-related purposes only. With that said, it is highly important that you don’t abuse your work e-mail address and use it for its true purpose. Meaning, do use your work e-mail to send personal messages. This is because your employer legally has the right to read any and all e-mail correspondences that took place on your work e-mail account/server at any time he or she wishes.

• Washington State Office of the Attorney General offers a complete guide to e-mail safety and etiquette, including tips on how one should properly CC within the workplace to ensure information is not exploited.

Encrypt your E-mail

Even if you separate your work and personal e-mail accounts, that doesn’t mean that your e-mails can’t be accessed by an unwanted third party. This is because e-mails in general are not as safe as many like to believe. Once an e-mail is sent into cyberspace, it can be stored and accessed indefinitely. In fact, anything that is sent into cyberspace can be accessed in any point in time, even if it is “deleted.” But thankfully there are certain programs that allow users to encrypt their e-mails in an effort to protect their privacy and make accessing those e-mails a little tougher.  Note that some e-mail programs such as Internet Explorer Outlook already have encryption.

• University of Colorado at Boulder offers an article that explains how Windows, Macintosh and Unix platform users can encrypt e-mails.
• Electronic Privacy Information Center provides a listing of a variety of secure e-mail programs that use encryption. Some programs are free, others are not.

Warn Children not give Personal Info to Strangers

While federal law mandates that companies are forbidden from collecting personal information from children who are under 13 without parental consent, there are some web sites that choose not to abide by the law and children who proceed to scour certain web sites without their parent’s permission. This can leave a child venerable to an enormous amount of threats, including child predators. Thus it’s important that parents stress to their children the importance of not giving out personal information such as their name, address, phone number or anything else that may jeopardize their safety without asking you first. This should also include sharing information on social media sites such as Facebook and Twitter and “friending” users that your child does not know.

• The Federal Trade Commission provides a pdf that explains who needs to comply with the law and how parental consent must be obtained. Some methods include a toll-free phone call or e-mail with a complying signature for example.
• Electronic Privacy Information Center offers a detailed history of the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act, as well as timely news articles relating to the subject.

Clear the Memory Cache

Many users are unaware that when someone is finished browsing the web, the cache stores and makes copies of all of the web sites, pages and images that one has shuffled through. While this stored information is designed to increase the browser’s loading speed if one decides to look at those particular websites again, this can jeopardize your personal privacy, especially if you share a computer at work or at home for example. Thus it’s usually best to delete your web browsing history by clearing out your cache.

• Information Technology Division provides an article that offers step-by-step directions on how to clear cache’s from the most popular web browsers including Mozilla Fire Fox, Safari, Internet Explorer and Google Chrome.

Make sure that online Web Pages are Secure

Some web pages are left open so that anyone can access the information, while others are purposely encrypted so that only specific users have access to the info—all online shopping pages should be encrypted to protect sensitive banking information. While most companies that deal with the transaction of personal information make an effort to ensure that pages are encrypted, it’s always be to double check that the web page is secure before entering specific data in order to protect your privacy.

• GetSafeOnline provides some common ways a user can ensure that a web page is secure; includes a listing  of some common questions that secure web pages will ask its users and how to use the SSL protocol to validate a web page’s identity.

Reject or Delete Unnecessary Cookies

In short, cookies are minuscule pieces of coded computer information that is installed on your hard drive every time you click on a website. While cookies are designed keep track of your online activity and serve as an internet user’s identification card—they keep track of returning user’s passwords, usernames and preferences or registration information to speed up loading time and transactions—companies do in fact use the information to investigate the demographics of particular website and for marketing purposes. In addition, cookies enable third parties to create a profile of you without you even knowing.

About Cookies provides a detailed guide that explains how to delete cookies from the most popular web browsers including Mozilla Fire Fox, Safari, Internet Explorer and Google Chrome.

About Cookies also offers step-by-step directions on how to control or reject cookies for all major web browsers.

Use Anonymous Remailers

Sometimes there are pesky websites that won’t allow you to access information without entering an e-mail address. Other times, you would like to e-mail someone without the letter being traced back to you. For instances mentioned above, a good way to get what you want without having to expose or share personal information is to use anonymous remailers. Like the name suggests, it allows users to send e-mails anonymously. Note that anonymous remailers should only be used for “lawful purposes” not to spam or harass others.

• Government Security offers a further explanation of what anonymous remailers are, who would need to use them, what makes a good anonymous server and explains why there are only about a dozen servers available.
• Global Internet Liberty Campaign offers an active free anonymous remailer.

Use Anonymizers

As you may have already gathered, just about everything you do online can be monitored, including as early as when you type in a web address in the URL. Bottom line: Anonymity is very hard to come across online. However, there are certain programs that can help you disguise information you might not be too comfortable sharing such as your IP address and user information in order to help protect both privacy and anonymity. While there are some programs that are free, a majority of them require a subscription fee like Anonymizer.

• Diglet is a free anonymizer that promises to protect users against harmful content like viruses and spyware by providing a filter designed to hide IP addresses.

Opt-out of third party information sharing

As a legal right, consumers are allowed to “opt-out” of having their information being distributed to outside sources. Or in other words, consumers are able to request that they get off of particular lists that are given to third parties such as marketers. Sometimes online companies will make the process opting out fairly easy, other times companies make consumers jump through huge hurdles before they can get off of the list serves. Whatever the case, always choose to opt-out if you don’t want to be bothered by telemarketers and spam e-mails.

• SelectOut is an organization that is not only designed to allow users to view which companies are tracking them online  but also allows users to “opt-out” of several companies at once.

Just use Common Sense

While these tips mentioned above with the combination of anti-spyware and anti-virus software should help safe guard your protection, if something appears sketchy or suspicious, always trust your gut feeling. For instance, does a particular web site really need your physical address? Does the online vendor or company appear to be legitimate and established? Approaching cyberspace as you would the physical world should be able to ensure your protection and privacy.

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1. Charles Colson

   Charles Colson worked as the former Special Counsel for President Richard Nixon from 1969 to 1973, and was best known for being part of the Watergate Seven. Colson pleaded guilty to Watergate-related charges and to obstruction of justice. He was sentenced for one to two years in prison, but only served seven months at the federal Maxwell Prison in Alabama. Colson made a change for the good while in prison. He converted to Christianity and became deeply impacted by the people he met there. Following his release, Colson started Prison Fellowship, a national ministry that helps prisoners develop or restore a relationship with Christ. Colson’s touching program has helped prisoners live a better life and strengthen their spirit.

2. Martha Stewart

   Martha Stewart is best known as a business mogul and domestic diva, but her image certainly changed when she was convicted of conspiracy, obstruction of justice and two counts of making false statements. Essentially, Stewart lied to investigators about a stock sale and was later sentenced to five months in federal prison. After her release from Alderson Federal Prison Camp, Stewart launched her comeback. She returned to television with The Martha Stewart Show, released a couple books and took on several new projects that helped rebrand her name and reputation.



3. Robert Downey Jr.

   From 1996 to 2001, Robert Downey Jr. was one of Hollywood’s biggest bad boys. The actor was arrested several times during these years for drug-related charges involving possession of cocaine, heroin and marijuana. Downey has battled substance abuse for the majority of his life, and was unsuccessful in his drug treatment programs. He was constantly on probation and spent a year in California Substance Abuse Treatment Facility and State Prison in Corcoran, California. Downey eventually battled his addictions and made a highly successful comeback, staring in several blockbuster hits.

4. Michael Vick

   When Michael Vick was arrested for running an illegal interstate dog fighting ring and sentenced to three years in prison, football fans didn’t know if he’d ever return to the game. Vick pleaded guilty to federal felony charges and served 18 months in prison. After his release, Vick signed with the Philadelphia Eagles and made a successful comeback. During his return season, Vick threw his longest touchdown pass of his career and helped his team win the NFC East title after stepping up as the starter quarterback. As part of his probationary obligations, Vick continues to speak to local youth about his mistakes and how to avoid a troubled life.

5. Tim Allen

   In the beginning of Tim Allen’s comedic career, he was arrested at the Kalamazoo/Battle Creek International Airport in Michigan for possession of cocaine. Allen had just under 1.5 pounds of cocaine on him and was charged with drug trafficking. Because Allen disclosed the names of the other drug dealers, his original life sentencing was shortened to three to seven years. Allen was paroled after serving two years and four months at the Federal Correctional Institution in Sandstone, Minnesota. The ex-convict quickly turned his life around after prison and became one of America’s favorite comedic actors.

6. Nicole Richie

   Nicole Richie was most widely known for being a troubled teen with a reckless lifestyle until she finally turned her life around. In 2003, Richie was arrested and charged with possession of heroin and driving with a suspended driver’s license. Three years later, she was arrested again for a DUI after failing a sobriety test and reportedly driving the opposite way on the freeway. She was sentenced to four days in jail, but only served 82 minutes at the Century Regional Detention Center in Lynwood, California. After her short stint in jail, Richie enrolled in an 18-month anti-drinking driver education program in order to get sober. Richie gave up her bad girl ways to focus on her career as a fashion designer, author and mother of two.

7. Christian Slater

   Christian Slater’s acting career took a beating when he was arrested three times from 1989 to 1997. His first run-in with the law was in 1989, when he was arrested for drunk driving and assault. In 1994, Slater was arrested for trying to board a plane with a gun in his luggage. His last conviction was for assaulting his then-girlfriend and a police officer who was trying to defend her. He was also under the influence of drugs and alcohol. Slater attended a rehabilitation facility for 100 days and then served 59 days in jail. After his release from jail, Slater made a successful comeback in television and film and turned his life around for the better.

8. 50 Cent

   Rap superstar 50 Cent, also known by his real name Curtis Jackson III, was arrested on drug-related charges and sentenced to three to nine years in prison in 1994. Back then, Jackson was still an aspiring rapper, who was determined to make something of himself after his release. 50 Cent did his time in an abbreviated six-month boot camp and earned his GED. After his release from behind bars, 50 Cent began rapping and his popularity surged with the release of his first album in 2000.

9. Danny Trejo

   Danny Trejo earned his label as Hollywood’s most notable Mexican bad guy from his own experiences in the slammer. The heavily tattooed tough guy spent years in Los Angeles prisons for drug-related and robbery charges. There, Trejo got his life together and finally got clean. Since his release from prison, Trejo has gone on to star in several action films and television series.

10. Marion Jones

    Marion Jones was a world famous Olympian who won five medals in track and field at the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney, Australia, but was later stripped of her medals when she admitted to using performance-enhancing drugs for the competition. She was convicted of perjury and obstruction of justice for her use of steroids and her involvement in a check fraud scheme. She was sentenced to six months in prison and turned it around after her release. In 2010, Jones made a sports comeback as a point guard for the WNBA Tulsa Shock.

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1. Enron collapse

   With revenues exceeding $100 billion and the distinction of being named by Fortune as “America’s Most Innovative Company,” Enron was a seemingly indestructible energy giant during the beginning of the 2000s. However, even during its rise in the ’90s, rumors swirled that it was involved in illegal accounting procedures with its accounting firm Arthur Anderson, then one of the “Big Five” accounting firms. Jeffrey Skilling, who served as president COO and CEO, along with a staff he assembled, hid billions of dollars of debt through poor financial reporting, accounting loopholes and the use of special purpose entities. Andrew Fastow, COO, deceived the board of directors about the company’s accounting practices and convinced Arthur Anderson to go along for the ride. After stocks plummeted, the SEC conducted an investigation that ultimately resulted in the 24-year, 4-month prison sentence of Skilling and six-year sentence of Fastow. Founder Kenneth Lay died of a heart attack before he was sentenced.

2. Worldcom accounting scandal

   Enron’s impressive collapse was followed by the implosion of Worldcom, which was the doing of CEO Bernard Ebbers. His plan to compensate for the downturn of the telecommunications industry in 2000 and Worldcom’s declining stock included the use of fraudulent accounting methods in order to deceive investors into thinking the company was in good health. The underreporting of line costs and inflation of revenues accumulated $3.8 billion in fraud and ended with the company’s bankruptcy, then the largest in U.S. history. Ebbers, who resigned from Worldcom in April 2002, was sentenced to 25 years in prison for conspiracy and securities fraud and filing false statements with securities regulators.

3. Bernie Madoff Ponzi scheme

   The word “Ponzi” was introduced into America’s lexicon in late 2008 when Madoff was arrested and charged with securities fraud. The former lifeguard, sprinkler installer and chairman of NASDAQ managed to build a multi-billion dollar investment firm with false trading reports and without assistance from the major derivatives firms, each of which refused to trade with him. Although he had been suspected of being a sham a decade before, it wasn’t until 2008 that he was arrested after his misdeeds were reported by one of his sons. In 2009, he pled guilty to 11 federal crimes including securities fraud, money laundering, and theft from an employee benefit plan. The penalty: 150 years in prison and $170 billion in restitution — investors lost billions of dollars due to the scandal, and three people involved with the business, including Bernie’s son Mark, committed suicide.

4. InStock trading scandal

   Another chapter in the white collar crime saga of the early 2000s, the InStock trading scandal made headlines because of the involvement of Martha Stewart, who sold about $230,000 of the company’s stock a day before an experimental cancer drug failed to gain FDA approval. Memorably, she was found guilty of obstruction of justice, conspiracy and lying about a stock sale, and served five months in prison. Founder Samuel Waskal, who advised friends and family to sell stock and attempted to sell his own stock prior to the announcement, pled guilty to charges of bank fraud, securities fraud, obstruction of justice and perjury. He was sentenced to a seven-year, three-month prison sentence in 2009, but was released in 2009.

5. Adelphia collapse

   At the time of its bankruptcy in 2002, Adelphia was the fifth-largest cable provider in the U.S., and in 2003, it generated more than $3.6 billion in revenue — that’s just $1.3 billion more than the off-balance-sheet debt accumulated by the company, which led to its demise. John Rigas, the founder, and Timothy Rigas, his son who ran the company, are currently serving 15-and 20-year prison sentences respectively for embezzling the money from corporate investors and using corporate funds as their own. Adelphia’s run of more than 50 years officially ended in 2006 when the remainder of its revenue-generating assets were purchased by Comcast and Time Warner.

6. Tyco accounting scandal

   A year after he was named one of the top 25 corporate managers of 2001 by Business Week, it was uncovered that Tyco CEO Dennis Kozlowski, along with former CFO Mark Swartz, stole more than $150 million from the company, including $2 million that was used for a birthday party for Kozlowski’s wife that was thrown in Sardinia. The thieving men were spared after their first trial was declared a mistrial because a juror said she received a letter urging her to side with the prosecution. The second trial ended with the convictions of Kozlowski and Swartz as both were sentenced to no less than eight years and four months in prison.

7. HealthSouth accounting scandal

   One of the largest comprehensive rehabilitative services companies in the country, HealthSouth had been suspected of unethical financial practices since its emergence in the late ’80s. Under the leadership of Richard Scrushy, it was discovered that it falsified at least $2.7 billion worth of profits between 1996 and 2002 and later agreed to pay $325 million for allegedly defrauding Medicare and other federal healthcare programs, according to the Department of Justice. Scrushy was acquitted of charged related to the matter, but later sentenced to a six-year, 10-month prison sentence for bribery in mail fraud in an unrelated case.

8. Jack Abramoff lobbying scandal

   In an unmistakably Washington saga deserving of its own movie, Abramoff’s cluster of scandals had far-reaching consequences implicating politicians and even the mob. In 2006, he pled guilty to fraud, conspiracy and tax evasion for his efforts to cheat Indian casino gambling interests out of roughly $85 million in fees. A couple of months later, he was sentenced to 70 months in prison for using a fake wire transfer in order to qualify for a $60 million loan in the purchase of SunCruz Casinos, a deal which resulted in the murder of former owner Konstantinos “Gus” Boulis. Most notably, then-Republican Ohio Representative Bob Ney was sentenced to a prison term for accepting bribes from Abramoff, helping the Democrats in their effort to gain a majority in Congress during the 2006 midterm elections.

9. Countrywide political loan scandal (and contribution to the subprime mortgage crisis)

   Politicians and big businesses need each other. And while their relationships are often too cozy, as evidenced by the Countrywide political loan scandal of 2008 and 2009, as long as campaigns are privately financed and businesses have stake in the political game, those uncomfortable relationships will continue to exist. Former Countrywide CEO Angelo Mozilo can attest to the discomfort, as his Friends of Angelo program, which provided politicians mortgage financing at noncompetitive rates, helped tarnish his already floundering reputation. He resigned on July 1, 2008 and a later reached settlement with the SEC in which he agreed to pay $67.5 million in fines because he misled shareholders regarding the internal dealings of the company.

10. Marcus Schrenker fraud and attempted fake death

    Although he didn’t wield the same kind of power as guys such as Lay, Ebbers or Kozlowski, Schrenker, who owned three financial companies, accumulated a bounty of wealth as an investment advisor responsible for multi-million dollar pension funds. But it all disappeared in an instant. His failure to inform seven investors of high fees for switching annuities, and the resulting loss of $250,000, brought forth a complaint from The Indiana Department of Insurance in 2008 that intensified suspicion of his unethical practices. Ultimately, the expiration of his Indiana state financial adviser’s license prompted an investigation. In 2009, instead of facing the consequences of his action, Schrenker attempted to fake his death by faking a plane crash, parachuting out before the damage was done. He was eventually captured and sentences to four years in prison for the fiasco. He still faces charges of securities fraud.

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1. Senior Risk Manager ($98,829 – $137,632)

   In order to become a risk manager, you should first accumulate experience in the legal or insurance industry working with claims. Once you secure a risk management position, you’ll be responsible for assessing the risk associated with legal liability, risk and property loss. With additional experience and the demonstration of proficiency at the position, you can achieve a senior-level position and thus earn more money.

2. Lobbyist ($80,369 – $119,795)

   Needless to say, the best lobbyist jobs are highly sought after given their power and, of course, compensation. Employed by public interest groups, trade organizations and PR firms, they utilize their contacts with lawmakers to persuade them to push certain policies. Lobbyists must be well-versed on the issues and possess excellent communication skills, neither of which are problems for most aspiring lawyers.

3. Legal Publishing ($79,354 – $117,916)

   Former aspiring lawyers can utilize their legal knowledge by entering the field of legal publishing, where they can contribute to newsletters, brochures, blogs, legal journals and other publications related to law. Graduates from law school are already proficient writers and researchers, so entering the field of publishing should come naturally.

4. Political Campaign Manager ($73,698 – $111,910)

   The fields of law and politics go hand-in-hand, so it shouldn’t come as a surprise that many JD holders have pursued careers in politics, including as campaign managers, who coordinate the campaign and ensure its goals are reached. Despite having completed three rigorous years of law school, you’ll have to pay your dues before reaching the position, possibly by starting out as an entry-level coordinator.

5. Senior Compliance Officer ($65,800 – $105,338)

   With state and federal regulations constantly changing, it can be a difficult task to ensure a business is operating within established standards. That’s why compliance officers are so valuable, especially given the fate of institutions such as Enron. Of course, each new field you enter requires its own unique knowledge and skills, which can be gained by researching the concerns of regulators and enrolling in courses in data processing.

6. Executive Recruiter ($64,514 – $94,718)

   The duties of an executive recruiter include composing job descriptions, screening candidates, meeting with them and extending an offer to the one who’s most qualified. The entire process is overseen by the executive recruiter, who has accumulated experience in recruiting prior to landing the position.

7. Procurement Manager ($64,114 – $96,241)

   A procurement manager purchases commodities, goods and services on behalf of the organization for which they work, enabling it to continue to operate efficiently. They must work within the limitations of a budget and determine the best quality and quantity of the objects they wish to purchase. Research and negotiation skills are a must, as finding a good deal often requires time and effort.

8. Landman or Land Woman ($64,094 – $117,916)

   The best explanation of the duties of landmen and land women, who work in the oil and gas exploration industry, is provided by the American Association of Professional Landmen (AAPL): “Company landmen negotiate deals and trades with other companies and individuals, draft contracts (and administer their compliance), acquire leases and ensure compliance with governmental regulations.”

9. Labor Relations Specialist ($55,955 – $78,611)

   Serving as a liaison between employees and management, labor relations specialists focus on labor negotiations, contract interpretation and grievance procedures. More specifically, they’re required to research, draft and prepare for negotiations for collective bargaining agreements. Travel is frequently involved with this occupation, as specialists often work with different branches of their company.

10. Public Policy Analyst ($54,100 – $78,344)

    Public policy analysts research and find solutions for the political issues about which they’re most passionate. Working for research firms, think tanks and interest groups, their objective is to craft viable policy solutions that’ll facilitate change in their area of interest. Typically, individuals with graduate level degrees, such as a JD, meet the qualifications for entering the field.

11. Labor Union Business Representative ($53,386 – $79,363)

    Those committed to the union cause may become labor union business reps so they can promote membership, coordinate functions and deal with employers and the press. They negotiate with management on work-related matters such as wages and hours. Ultimately, they ensure the work environment is suitable for employees.

12. Human Resources Management ($52,828 – $77,987)

    The evolution of human resources departments have brought forth the demand for even more individuals capable of hiring employees and implementing policies and procedures that enhance work environments. Excellent negotiation and communication skills are required for this position, which often can be achieved after experience is gained as a human resources generalist.

13. Career Services Director ($51,956 – $72,695)

    A career in career services shouldn’t be a last resort, but a goal for someone who genuinely wants to help students find the jobs for which they’ve been striving. A director of career services has several years of experience in the department, and has cultivated relationships with employers and recruiters. They oversee the operation of the department, including programs that help students with resume composition and job interviews.

14. Contract Administrator ($50,547 – $77,840)

    The duties of a contract administrator or manager are pretty self-explanatory. They conduct contract negotiations, ensuring the terms and conditions are acceptable to both parties and compliant to regulations. Their ultimate goal is to reduce risk and enhance operational performance. The areas of contract management include authoring and negotiation, baseline management, commitment management, communication management, contract visibility and awareness, documents management, and growth.

15. Legal Office Administrator ($50,296 – $76,571)

    Although there are limited associate opportunities, you may be able to join a firm in another important position. After securing an entry level job as a recruiting assistant, for example, you can work your way up into a manager’s position, serving an essential role in the composition of the firm for which you work. Remember, a law firm is a business, and it requires several key components to make it operate.

16. Law Librarian ($49,910 – $74,808)

    Law school grads who enjoyed the information gathering process of school can become law librarians. Their job is to maintain the library’s collection of legal-related texts and materials, assisting lawyers and law students with their research. The position requires a graduate degree, and none is more fitting than a JD.

17. K-12 Teacher ($49,570)

    Some may cringe at the idea of becoming a teacher after completing three years of law school, but compared to the stressful work performed by lawyers, with their long, arduous hours, the environment can be refreshing. Teachers who actually enjoy interacting with kids find the job fulfilling, especially if they teach a subject in which they’re interested, such as government or economics. Private schools allow more flexibility with the classes they offer, so you could even teach a class on law.

18. Trust Administrator ($44,219 – $63,710)

    After a trust is created, a trust administrator manages the assets, protecting that person’s property until they’re old enough to do it on their own. They act only according to the instruction provided in the trust document, and carry out duties such as paying taxes, record keeping and composing reports for the beneficiaries. Trust administrators must have integrity, as they serve someone else for an extended period of time.

19. Political Fundraiser ($43,543 – $78,613)

    Money is the lifeblood of a successful political campaign, as evidenced by President Obama’s record-shattering numbers in 2008 when he raised almost $750 million. A capable political fundraiser knows how to network, establishing connections with potential donors. Using their excellent social skills and charisma, they must convince those donors that the cause is deserving of their support, a task that can present quite a challenge.

20. Court Administrator ($43,158 – $66,129)

    An understanding of how the judicial process works is helpful for court administrators. Additionally, management skills are needed as they oversee the budget, hiring of staff and general day-to-day operations of the court. It’s another great way to become involved in the process of law without enduring the stress as a lawyer.

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1. Refuses to Provide Important Documentation

   If a charity refuses to provide tangible documentation of its identity, mission, costs and how the donation will be used, you’re most likely dealing with a charity scam. All charities should have a name, contact person, phone number and address in which they can be reached.

2. Doesn’t Provide Proof of Tax-Deductible Contribution

   Charities that cannot provide the paperwork needed to claim a contribution is tax deductible, may reveal themselves as a charity scam. In order to claim a tax deduction for your monetary donation, you need to have written confirmation from the charity that includes: the charity’s name, date of contribution and donation amount. Just like you need a receipt to return an item, you need these documents to get a tax deduction.

3. Pressures Donors to Hurriedly Give Contributions

   If a charity pressures you to donate in a hurried manner, then you might be dealing with a charity scam. Organizations that use high-pressure strategies to get money before a donor has had an adequate amount of time to decide are often up to no good. These bogus charities may also offer to send couriers or overnight delivery services to collect donations as quick as possible.

4. Thanks You for Pledging to Donate When You Haven’t

   If a charity thanks you for pledging to donate when you can’t recall ever doing so, you are most likely dealing with a bogus charity. This is another kind of high-pressure tactic that’s used to guilt people into donating even when they can’t remember pledging to donate. Avoid falling for this sneaky trick by keeping a record of all pledges and past donations on hand for these particular phone calls.

5. Uses Similar Sounding Names

   If a charity sounds oddly similar to another organization, you might be dealing with a phony charity. These bogus charities often copy the names of legitimate and respected organizations in hopes that you’ll recognize the name and be more willing to donate. If there is a slight difference between the name of the charity, your best bet is to call the organization to inquire on their name, mission, costs and additional information.

6. Promises Sweepstakes Winnings in Exchange for Donation

   If a charity guarantees sweepstakes winnings in exchange for a contribution, you are most likely dealing with a charity scam. You should never have to give money or any type of donation to be eligible for a sweepstakes. Bogus charities promise sweepstakes winnings as a way to lure you into donating in hopes of winning money in return.

7. Asks for Bank or Credit Card Information Before Agreement Has Been Made

   If a charity asks you for your bank account or credit card information before you’ve even agreed to donate, then you could be dealing with a charity scam. This is another example of a pressure tactic used by bogus charities to get you to donate immediately. Do not give anyone your personal banking or credit information until you’ve done your research on the charity and have agreed to contribute.

8. Asks for Cash Only Donations

   If a charity asks for cash only donations, it could be a scam. Organizations that only ask for cash donations are likely to use the money for undisclosed reasons, and it could get lost or stolen. In order to have documentation of payment for security and tax record purposes, you should pay the charity, not the solicitor, by check.

9. Claims 100 Percent of Collected Funds Goes to Charity’s Cause

   Charities that claim to give 100 percent of collected funds to their organization’s cause can be a cause for concern. All legitimate charities incur operating and administrative costs, which comes out of the donation pool. All accredited charities have to meet the 65/35 split, meaning a minimum of 65 percent of donations have to go to the cause in which you’re donating and a maximum of 35 percent can go to administrative expenses. So, in essence, no legitimate and actively-running charity will be able to give all 100 percent of donations to their cause.

10. Online Messages or E-mails About Donations

    If a charity sends you messages and e-mails asking for donations online, you may have encountered a charity scam. These online requests for donations are most likely spam or completely bogus. In order to avoid this scam and make sure your money goes to the right people, contact the charity yourself or go to their website to inquire on donations.

The post 10 Ways to Spot a Charity Scam appeared first on Criminal Justice USA.

1. The U.S. has an incarceration rate of 743 per 100,000 people (2009)

   That’s the highest rate in the world, an astonishing fact that can’t be repeated enough. However, it should be noted that crime in the U.S. in general has decreased over the last 20 years. For example, from 1980 to 2009, the murder rate decreased from 10.2 per 10,000 inhabitants to 5.0 in 2009; the violent crime rate decreased from 596.6 per 10,000 inhabitants to 429.4; and the robbery rate decreased from 251.1 per 10,000 inhabitants to 133. Now, whether or not the improvements are a result of harsher punishment has yet to be proven. For comparison, from 1925 to 1975, the crime rate stayed at about 110 per 100,000 people, excluding those kept in state and local jails.

2. The U.S. houses a quarter of the world’s prisoners (2008)

   The U.S. population is 311,341,000, roughly 4.5 percent of the world’s population, and in 2008, it kept 2.3 million people behind bars. China, the world’s most populous country with 1,339,725,000 people, kept 1.6 million people behind bars the same year, though it should be noted that it had hundreds of thousands of people in administrative detention. During America’s younger years, it was regarded around the world as more relaxed on criminal justice, hence the Wild West reputation. But as the population has grown, particularly in cities, we’ve taken more drastic measures to control crime.

3. The U.S. houses more inmates than the top 35 European countries combined (2010)

   Europe, which has a denser population than the U.S., is well-below the U.S. when it comes to incarceration rates. In England and Wales, for example, 139 people are imprisoned per 10,000, one of the highest rates in Western Europe. Harsher sentencing in recent years is blamed for the rise in prison population in the U.K. Nevertheless, it pales in comparison to America’s rate; only Easter Europe’s Belarus comes close, with a rate of 385 people imprisoned per 10,000.

4. The federal prison population has more than doubled since 1995 (2010)

   Because the federal system is generally stricter than state systems and has expanded its jurisdiction over certain offenses, it has seen a drastic increase in the amount of people it houses. In particular, an increase in immigration cases since 1994 has been a main contributor, as they accounted for 28.2 percent of all federal sentencing in 2008, for example.

5. The number of state prisoners declined by 4,777 from December 2008 to January 2010

   Possibly due to the recession, many have attributed the decline in state prisoners to large state budget deficits, which have forced states to release inmates to save money. However, according to the Pew Center on the States, the decline actually started just before the economic downturn due to a reduction in the amount of people sent to prison for new crimes, while the number of people released from prison increased. Of course, prison rates vary from state to state.

6. The most significant decreases in state prison populations from 2008 to 2009 occurred in California (-4,257), Michigan (-3,260) and New York (-1,699)

   Overall, 26 states saw a decrease in prison population. California led them all, as the state has made an effort to cut the number of low-risk parolees returning to prison by expanding the use of intermediate sanctions. Overcrowding has been a problem for California; so much so that a deferral court in 2009 ordered the state to reduce its prison population by 40,000 in just two years. Michigan has cut its prison population by decreasing parole revocation rates, improving its reentry planning and supervision, and reducing the number of inmates who serve more than 100 percent of their minimum sentence.

7. The most significant increases in state prison populations from 2008 to 2009 occurred in Pennsylvania (+2,122), Florida (+1,527) and Indiana (+1,496)

   During the last three decades, Pennsylvania’s prison population has expanded from 8,243 to 51,326. In recent years, the increase can be attributed to former Gov. Ed Rendell’s 2008 moratorium on paroles in response to the killing of a Philadelphia police officer by a paroled felon. The state also transferred prisoners out of state due to overcrowding. In Florida’s case, some attribute the rise to legislators failing to cut corrections spending like in many of the states that saw reductions in their prison populations.

8. Those who have spent time in prison earn 40 percent less annually (2010)

   Universally, crime is associated with people from poor economic backgrounds who have few options in life. In many cases, those who’ve been incarcerated grew up around family members and friends who suffered the same fate. Their ability to escape the rut decreases greatly after their first offense, as their annual earnings are almost slashed in half because many employers refuse to hire them. Most unsettling is the fact that more than half of those incarcerated were the primary financial providers for their children.

9. One in every 28 children has an incarcerated parent (2010)

   A quarter of a century ago, one in every 125 children had an incarcerated parent. The rise, of course, can be attributed to the implementation of harsher laws for lesser crimes; two-thirds of today’s incarcerated parents committed non-violent offenses. The above stat is one of the most disconcerting of all U.S.-related prison stats because common sense dictates that a child’s chances of growing up as a productive, law-abiding adult are greater when both of their parents play significant roles in their life.

10. More than one in three young black men without a high school diploma are in prison (2010)

    Additionally, more black men without a high school diploma are incarcerated than employed. As previously mentioned, it’s more difficult to secure a job once a person has spent time in prison, further limiting the options of the already less fortunate. In fact, black men earn 44 percent less after they’ve been incarcerated, four percent less than the average for all races/ethnicities.

Sources: WebCite, The New York Times, The Pew Center on the States and Pew’s Economic Policy Group

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