Supreme Court Case of Jacobson v. United States - 805 Words

Jacobson v. United States, 503 U.S. 540 (1992) Prior to the Child Protection Act of 1984, which made the purchase of child pornography illegal, Keith Jacobson of Nebraska, ordered child pornography from a bookstore. At the time of the transaction, the purchase was legal under both state and federal laws. Following the establishment of the Child Protection Act, Jacobson’s name was noted on a mailing list form the bookstore where he made the purchase. The discovery of his name led to Government agencies and â€Å"pen pals† mailing Jacobson as a way to explore if he would break the law. The efforts began in 1985 and persisted for two and a half years. The mailings consisted of various questionnaires, and literature on the legalization of child pornography. One of the letters supplied Jacobson with a list of â€Å"pen pals† that had similar responses to the questionnaires; however, Jacobson did not initiate any contact with them. Following his failure to contact any of the names provided, the Government began to commence communication. Jacobson began to receive letters from these fictitious pen pals but stopped responding after only a couple of them. Government agencies also supplied Jacobson with various brochures advertising pornography of young males. After repeated efforts, Jacobson made the decision to make a purchase. He was arrested upon its delivery. Jacobson pleaded entrapment, that the government agencies induced a behavior that would have otherwise not been committed. HeShow MoreRelatedThe Importance Of Compulsory Vaccination836 Words   |  4 PagesThe first important case regarding compulsory vaccinations was brought before the Supreme Court of the United States in 1905 (Jacobson v. Massachusetts, 197 U.S. 11 (1905)). This case was Jacobson v. Massachusetts. During this time period, there was a recurring threat of a smallpox epidemic (Mariner, Annas, Glantz 2005). In order to prevent the spread of the disease, the state of Massachusetts enacted a statute that granted city boards of health the power to require vaccinations to be administeredRead MoreMandatory Vaccination in the United States: A Past and Present Examination of Jacobson v Massachusetts1136 Words   |  5 Pagestook a Supreme Court decision to ultimately assert whether a state mandating vaccination infringed upon the U.S. Constitution. Compulsory vaccination in the U.S. was established in the federal Supreme Court case Jacobson v. Massachusetts, which ruled that the common good allowed a state to require vaccination (3). This 1905 landmark decision held that the common good – defined as safety and health – could override personal liberty in the matter of vaccination laws (3). Henning Jacobson, a residentRead MoreThe Pros And Cons Of Vaccination1011 Words   |  5 Pageseffectiveness of mass immunization. The courts in the nineteenth century typically supported the enactment of mandatory vaccination programs. Most importantly for the future of mandatory vaccination policy, one important Supreme Court decision in the early part of the twentieth century acknowledged the power of state governments to mandate vaccination. Jacobson v. Massachusetts, was a United States Supreme Court case in which the Court upheld the authority of states to enforce compulsory vaccination lawsRead MoreThe Legacy of Jacobson V. Massachusetts on Public Health2627 Words   |  11 PagesAmerican Military University The Legacy of Jacobson v. Massachusetts on Public Health PBHE426 Professor Lucas February 19, 2012 Abstract In the 1905 Supreme Court case of Jacobson v. Massachusetts, the court ruled that the state had the right to compromise a person’s right to due process in the name of the common good of society. This case was controversial because it brings up a question of whether or not the ruling was ethical. More than one hundred years later, the ruling still playsRead MoreMandatory Vaccinations For School Children Essay1782 Words   |  8 Pagesof the United States, and consequently, should—with few exceptions—continue to be mandated in our school system. Laws and Mandates in the United States To fully understand the argument for mandated vaccinations, it is important to understand how different States define the word, â€Å"mandate,† and the Supreme Court’s reasoning behind upholding vaccination laws. Many would associate the word â€Å"mandate† with an order or command, or something that signifies requirement or inexcusableness, but States’ legislaturesRead MoreShould Public Health Be Mandatory Vaccination?2620 Words   |  11 Pagesthe welfare of the entire population, protect people from being infected by diseases, and provide access to safety and health care for people. For several decades, all 50 states had required parents to immunize their children against various diseases as a requirement before entering public schools (Kitch E, et al), and the courts had already found that the mandatory vaccination statues for schoolkids are constitutional. As a result, the government has struggled finding a balance between protectionRead MoreThe Affo rdable Health Care Act1359 Words   |  6 PagesThe Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) is a United States federal statute that was signed into law by President Barack Obama on March 23, 2010. This particular law has come with much controversy. The law (along with the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010) is the principal health care reform legislation of the 111th United States Congress. PPACA reforms certain aspects of the private health insurance industry and public health insurance programs, increases insuranceRead MoreFederal And State Governments Should Not Mandatory Vaccination Of Adult Citizens762 Words   |  4 PagesThe federal and state governments do not require vaccination of adult citizens. However, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommend certain vaccinations for adults. An employee may require immunizations as a condition of employment (i.e. US military and healthcare workers). In addition, the CDC recommends certain vaccinations for teens and college students that attend school as a means to curtail the spread of highly communicable diseases such as meningitis. Finally, the federalRead MoreWarrantless Search and Seizure Memoranda1299 Words   |  6 PagesLinda Barron-Gronvold CCJS 234-Criminal Procedure and Evidence September 17, 2013 Warrantless Search amp; Seizure Memorandum To: Judge M. Pearson From: Linda Barron-Gronvold Re: Elliott Watson case – Marijuana Possession with Intent to Distribute Prosecution Date: September 17, 2013 Brief Summary: Elliott Watson was arrested for the possession of marijuana with the intent to distribute said illegal drug. Elliott Watson was stopped by Officer Timothy Johnson becauseRead MoreEssay about Buck versus Bell3633 Words   |  15 PagesBuck versus Bell During the early twentieth century, the United States was enduring significant social and economic changes due to its transformation into a commercial and industrial world power. As the need for labor escalated within many urban areas, millions of Europeans emigrated from Southern and Eastern Europe with the hopes of capitalizing upon these employment opportunities and attaining a better life. Simultaneously, many African-Americans migrated from the rural South into major cities