Category: Criminal justice

Week 2 – Kennedy
Bobby Kennedy
Good Monday Morning, Professor and Classmates,
This week, we were asked the following questions:
If profilers are able to identify specific traits and/or characteristics of mass murders, how could criminal justice utilize these predictors to prevent future incidents?
Mass murderers and the heinous acts they commit can not be compartmentalized or narrowed down into a strict characterization of traits (Holmes & Holmes, 1992). There are, however, some identifying traits and characteristics of the individuals who commit mass murders. Statistically, Mass murderers often die at the scene of the crime, during or shortly after committing the mass murder (Holmes & Holmes, 1992). Mass murderers often want to be famous and want it to be known who committed the murders (Holmes & Holmes, 1992). At the same time, routinely, serial killers try to avoid being identified but want to prove a point or kill out of some deep-rooted disdain for their victim demographically (Holmes & Holmes, 1992). 
It is difficult to determine the specific traits of a mass murderer as each one has different driving factors that cause them to commit the mass murder. Generally, the mass murderer is not significantly different from the average citizen on the surface, and most times, the individual is closer characteristically to suicidal individuals than they are to serial killers (Lankford et al., 2021). Statistically, most mass murderers are male, live alone or with family, are unmarried, have little to no interaction with other members of society except through the internet or social media apps, and have been reported as quiet (Lankford et al., 2021). A large number of mass murderers, in some form or fashion, will tell others about their plans to commit the act or will have some sort of manifesto ready to explain their actions since they do not plan to survive the act. 
Having identified these traits, could Investigators use these to help solve, prevent, or identify mass murderers and prevent future acts? 
Theoretically, they could. However, the description of most mass murderers is, as stated, not that much different than regular citizens. Many people are single, unmarried, or live with family. Even so, plenty more would be described as quiet, strange, and may be socially awkward. Add in the fact that most individuals will say things in person or online that they have no intention of acting upon. The amount of white noise and excess of individuals that act in line with the specific traits of mass murderers makes it next to impossible to sift through all the individuals and identify the ones who will act prior to a mass murder. 
These indicators, coupled with a narrowed search area based on other factors in an investigation, such as locality, age, family concerns, tips from the public, and more, make the chances of a criminal profiler narrowing the field of possible suspects relatively good. This further solidifies the point that criminal profilers are a resource to help direct an investigation and not the definitive driving factor. 
How might cultural bias threaten the objectivity required to investigate a crime scene?
Cultural biases are a concern in any investigation. Investigators must work to understand the cultures in the area with which they are working. For instance, in some cultures, individuals are more comfortable living with family members in the same home. Likewise, some cultures are less openly social outside of their families and communities; this in and of itself should not scream mass murderer to an investigator if they are well versed in other cultural norms.
In general, no investigator should let any lack of understanding or personal beliefs drive an investigation. Investigations should be driven solely by evidence. The best means to help do this are an individual’s understanding of not only cultural norms but also their own potential biases, as well as the utilization of peers or multiple resources, which help to promote thinking outside the box and drive evidential-based direction in investigations. 
Thanks,
B. Kennedy 
References: 
Holmes, R. M., & Holmes, S. T. (1992). Understanding mass murder: A starting point. Federal Probation, 56(1), 53. https://web-p-ebscohost-com.ezproxy2.apus.edu/ehost/detail/detail?vid=0&sid=23f33c4f-8f1d-408f-8c4c-8d688f77d62d%40redis&bdata=JkF1dGhUeXBlPWlwJnNpdGU9ZWhvc3QtbGl2ZSZzY29wZT1zaXRl#AN=9205184279&db=i3h
Lankford, A., Silver, J., & Cox, J. (2021). An epidemiological analysis of public mass shooters and active shooters: Quantifying key differences between perpetrators and the general population, homicide offenders, and people who die by suicide. Journal of Threat Assessment and Management, 8(4), 125-144. https://doi.org/10.1037/tam0000166

The U.S. Supreme Court is not the branch of government tasked with making laws and policy. But in maybe its most consequential term in decades, it had an arguably more impactful policy session than Congress, with decisions to overturn Roe v. Wade, expand the rights of gun owners, and curtail the Biden administration’s power to combat climate change.
This term “showed just how much the 6-3 conservative majority will influence and reshape those areas of policy and law,” said Todd Ruger, editor of immigration and legal affairs at CQ and Roll Call, at a recent FiscalNote event. “This one was momentous, not just because of the issues that were decided, which were huge, but how they were decided and what they could mean for the future.”
The ramifications for government relations and advocacy professionals who traditionally looked to influence policy through educating legislators are vast and far-reaching. 
A major case decided by the Supreme Court this term was a victory for gun rights advocates who challenged New York’s concealed carry permitting law, which made it a crime to carry a concealed firearm without a license. New York also required administrative interviews and that a person prove the need to carry a concealed firearm. The Supreme Court found those restrictions unconstitutional in this ruling.
“This also was the opportunity that they took to state that there was a right to carry a firearm for self-defense outside of the home, which was the first time that they’ve done that,” Macagnone said.
Justice Clarence Thomas wrote the opinion for the case and used a method of looking at gun regulation that he said keeps with the history and tradition of the country, “accepting only those gun restrictions that had a longstanding history, going back to the colonial era,” Macagnone explained.
This ruling has many potential implications for future gun regulations. One issue that could arise is whether there are particular places that can actively prohibit carrying firearms, such as churches or public transportation. The court discussed this in its oral argument but didn’t reach a decision this term. Another future issue to watch in gun regulation regards the acceptable limits of the state’s regulation of the right to bear arms.
Based on the information above about the Bruen case and the information that you have acquired this semester, please explain in a one-page memo whether, in your opinion, courts play an increasingly marginal or persistently significant role in American politics and why (or why not).  
https://fiscalnote.com/webinars/on-demand-the-new-policymakers-scotus#entry:61119@1:url

Step 1: Choose a criminological theory that you believe explains this crime.  Choose a different theory than that used in assignment number one.
The first paragraph should explain the case, who, what where when and how, in your own words. Make it clear you understand what the crime is and how it was carried out.  You can access other DOJ documents on this specific case only by doing a google search with the following search phrase:
Add name of primary perpetrator here + DOJ site:gov
The document I have added below may be enough for you to write the paper.
The second paragraph should be a thorough discussion of the criminological theory you have chosen to explain this crime. Make sure you include the name of the person who developed the theory, background, and demonstrate a clear understanding of the theory. You are allowed to use only the course text for this discussion.
The remaining paragraphs must be an argument supporting your claim that this specific theory explains the specific criminal case you have chosen.
The total paper should be about 500 words.
It must include citations for any quoted material.  All verbatim copy must be in quotation marks and properly cited, and under 25% match rate on turnitin.
I am looking for your understanding of the theory and your ability to apply it to the criminal case you have chosen.
https://www.justice.gov/usao-edva/pr/pennsylvania-family-pleads-guilty-fentanyl-trafficking

This week’s discussion assignment is about the Diversity in Criminal Justice System. You must write at least a minimum of 500-word count for the total assignment, usein-text citations, and use three scholarly sources. Be sure to incorporate relevant scholarly research in the body of your response, and to fully cite your sources after your content. APA citation rules must be followed. You may use your textbook as a source for this assignment. All research sources must be current (generally that means published within the past 10 years).
Make sure to follow instructions and answer each part of the question completely, failure to do so will result in a 10-point reduction per question. I will check the word count for each question and deduct an additional 10 points if the explanation/answer does not meet the minimum requirements stated above. Encyclopedias and Dictionaries are not appropriate research sources at this level. No Wikipedia! Do not self-plagiarize from previous assignments!
General Instructions: Assignment Part 1
Visit the websites of “8 Can’t Wait” and “Campaign Zero.” Study the specific reforms in policing practices being advocated by these organizations.
8 Can’t Wait
Ban chokeholds and strangleholds
Require de-escalation
Require warning before shooting
Exhaust all alternatives before shooting
Duty to intervene
Ban shooting at moving vehicles
Require use of force continuum
Require comprehensive reporting
Campaign Zero
End broken windows policing
Community oversight
Limit use of force
Independently investigate and prosecute
Community representation
Body cams/film the police
Training
End for-profit policing
Demilitarization
Fair police union contracts
1. Critically analyze and discuss how each of these changes, if enacted into law, would change the dynamics of the interactions between law enforcement officers and minorities.
*Friendly reminder the reference list does not count towards the (total assignment) word count minimum. You must have 3 scholarly sources, one source can be the textbook provided in the course.
Course Text Book:
McNamara, R., & Burns, R. (2020). Multiculturalism, Crime, and Criminal Justice (2nd ed.). Oxford University Press Academic US. https://savantlearningsystems.vitalsource.com/books/9780190078669
Unit 7 Completion Question
This week for your Unit Assignment you will research and answer the following questions below. The total assignment must be a (minimum of 2,000-word count) and five scholarly sources. Your textbook may be used as a source. Use in-text citations and remember to cite your sources in APA format. Be sure to follow instructions and answer each part of the question completely, failure to do so will result in a 10-point reduction per question. I will check the word count for this assignment and deduct an additional 10 points if the paper does not meet the minimum requirements stated above. Encyclopedias and Dictionaries are not appropriate research sources at this level. No Wikipedia! All research sources must be current (generally that means published within the past 10 years). Do not self-plagiarize from previous assignments!
General Instructions: Assignment Part 2
What are the benefits of multiculturalism?
What are the drawbacks of multiculturalism?
Explain the difference in the term multiculturalism and the more antiquated term melting pot.
Scholarly Reference used in your response.
*Friendly reminder the reference list does not count towards the (total assignment) 2000-word count minimum. You must have 5 scholarly sources, one source can be the textbook provided in the course. Do not forget to number and answer each question separately!
Course Text Book:
McNamara, R., & Burns, R. (2020). Multiculturalism, Crime, and Criminal Justice (2nd ed.). Oxford University Press Academic US. https://savantlearningsystems.vitalsource.com/books/9780190078669

Write an essay of 1,250-1,500 words that thoroughly explores the idea that justice is blind. Address the following in your paper:
The impacts of both the political perspectives and operational perspectives of crime control on minorities and the economically disadvantaged.
From your findings discuss which of the four goals of crime control is better achieved by each perspective? Describe why that goal is better achieved than the others.
Consider these facts: more than 70% of the U.S. prison population is composed of minorities, and minorities are more often victims of crime. Do you believe that minorities are unfairly profiled, arrested, and prosecuted and, therefore, unprotected by the Justice system?
Use the GCU Library to locate four to six peer-reviewed sources in support of your content.

For this paper, you will need to choose ONE specific problem/issue related to women and crime that you would like to help solve, address, or fix. Then, you will explore at least TWO policies, practices, programs, etc. that are currently being used to address this issue. 
For example you can talk about the issue of women being treated more harshly in the criminal justice system than men for certain crimes and the two policies to address the issue could be a re entry program for women going back into society and a victim advocacy program for women accused of committing crimes out of need for survival. Please let me know what specific issue or problem you will choose to address in the paper so I can approve it before you start on the paper. 
Attached below is the rubric for the paper as given by my professor.
Overview:
The paper for this class will give you a chance to explore the different policies and practices that can be enacted in order to address the different challenges related to women and crime that we’ve discussed throughout this semester.  For this paper, you will need to choose ONE specific problem/issue related to women and crime that you would like to help solve, address, or fix.  This can include:
How we can prevent a specific type of gendered victimization or female offending
How we can better intervene or respond to victimization or offending (through the CJ system or other agencies/organizations)
How to increase accountability for gendered victimization or ensure fairness in punishment for female offenders
How to support victims of gendered violence or female offenders
How to support women working in Criminal Justice fields
Then, you will write a short paper (minimum 5 pages) that explores the problem and potential solutions. These policies and practices can include laws, changes in process/policies in organizations, training, services offered, organizations that provide direct support, or any other specific effort to address the issue.   You should avoid overly broad or generic solutions like “raise awareness” unless you are able to find specific examples of how this solution has been effective. 
Sources:
You will need AT LEAST THREE outside sources for this paper.  
One of them MUST BE a scholarly peer-reviewed journal article (published after 2000).  The article can be used to help you describe/explain the problem OR be about a specific policy/practice solution
The other two sources can be journal articles, reports/ publications from a research/advocacy/policy organization, or in-depth news articles/videos (published after 2000).  
Your paper should include the following elements:
A brief overview of the problem or issue and why we should try to address it (including the extent of the issue in the U.S. with at least one statistic)
An explanation for how or why this problem occurs
A discussion of at least TWO specific policies or practices that can be used to address the problem (this section should make up the biggest part of your paper).
This should include specifics of what the policy or practice does and how it helps to address the problem(or how it fixes gaps/limitations of current solutions)
Who the solution targets including- which parts of the CJ system or other agencies/organizations are involved and which women the solution aims to help the most (use an intersectional perspective- race, class, etc.)
Evidence of how effective it has been in addressing the problem in places it has been implemented (this can include international contexts)
The limitations of the policy or practice (i.e what are the challenges to implementing, what parts of the problem still exist, which groups do not have access or benefit as easily from this solution)
A brief conclusion summarizing the main ideas/concepts covered in your paper about the problem and solutions.
Reference Page
A good paper….
Answers all parts of the prompt and provides SPECIFIC details about the policies/practices.  Avoids overly generic summaries of the issue.
Makes connections to the class material (readings, lectures, films, and activities) and incorporates sources appropriately. Does not include extensive quotes. 
Is not simply an opinion or summary, but includes analysis and justifications for your points/ (i.e. back up your statements with evidence from class material)
Uses APA format for any non-class material citations. Please include the citations for outside sources on a reference page. You do not need to formally cite my lectures (you can just say, “as mentioned in lecture…”).

First, imagine you are creating a guide to assist a victim of domestic violence in leaving an abusive relationship. You should pick a specific location (e.g., Lancaster, Bakersfield, Los Angeles, etc) that you would like to research. Please note, if you pick a small city or county, there is a good likelihood that few resources will exist and you will have little to write about. Please consider this when selecting a location.
Then, you will write a research report where you will respond to the following questions:
1.) What criminal justice (i.e., law enforcement, court) resources are available to someone leaving an abusive relationship in your selected city? Examples of information to include are:
Process of reporting domestic violence
Process of obtaining a protection/restraining order
2.) What community resources are available to someone leaving an abusive relationship in your selected city? Examples of information to include are:
Housing, food, childcare, etc.
Employment assistance
Restrictions for receiving resources
3.) In your opinion, what should be done to better assist someone leaving an abusive relationship in your selected city? Examples of information to include are:
What gaps do you see in services?
Who is ineligible for services?
What is the duration of services?
Paper Requirements:
Papers must be 6-8 pages (not including references, title page, charts, graphs, etc)
1″ margins
Times New Roman font
Double spaced
Include references for all information
No quotations (see below)
Reference Information:
References can come from any sources. These can include agency websites, social media sites, and news articles. 
A minimum of 6 references must be included in your paper.
What not to include in your paper:
QUOTATIONS OF ANY KIND! This paper should be written fully in your own words. Quotations will not count towards the page length. 
A detailed explanation of what domestic violence is and facts about domestic violence. You should assume that this is already known. Instead, your paper should focus on resources (i.e., criminal justice and community) that are available to victims.
Federal or state resources for domestic violence. You should be focused on your specific location and what is available to victims in that location.
Personal experiences
Free flowing information that is not based upon your research on the issue. For example, you should not have lengthy sections where you simply discuss the topic generally. The one exception to this is the third section of your paper where you discuss improving services for victims.

Develop a 1,050- to 1,400-word plan to implement these cuts in personnel, programs,  and      equipment and explain how the organization will deal with the impact of these cuts.  In your  plan, you should define and analyze the problem and design at least two possible solutions.  Finally, select the best solution and explain why you believe this is the best course of action.

You will conduct independent research on an assigned country/topic to discover more about the Middle East, its people, daily life, and other social, cultural, political and religious aspects of the Middle East today.
You will:
Prepare a slide show on your assigned country/topic, including its history, geography, culture, religion, politics, everyday life, the impact of the Arab Spring, and its present political status.
Include photos, maps, flags, and other graphics to enhance your presentations, and include a 5-10 minute video narration of your slide show.
Submit your Power Point files and video files in the Assignments folder.
A rubric for this assignment can be found under the Progress drop-down menu under Rubrics.
BOOKS:
Arthur Goldschmidt Jr. & Ibrahim al-Marashi, A Concise History of the Middle East, 12th edition
Book for the book review (due at the end of Module 7): Bernard Lewis, The Crisis of Islam: Holy War and Unholy Terror. Crisis of Islam

Supreme Court Case Analysis – 
Please choose a landmark case from the list provided below.  Then, provide a brief description of the case selected.  Next, provide the historical context in which the case was argued (e.g., what events were taking place in society that led the US Supreme Court to hear this particular case).   Provide the historical evolution of the case, from the time it was argued in court to the present time. Finally, discuss the impact and implication the case had in the treatment and management of juveniles in the criminal or juvenile justice systems and provide a personal position with respect the Supreme Court’s ruling.  If you agree with the ruling discuss why there was a need to change the law.  If you disagree with the position, explain the negative implications of this ruling on juvenile offenders.
The analysis should be a minimum of 3-5 pages in APA format and 12 point, Times New Roman font.  Students should use APA style rules and use outside resources to support positions presented in relation to the Court’s decision.  If you agree with the ruling discuss why there was a need to change the law.  If you disagree with the position, explain the negative implications of this ruling on juvenile offenders.
Landmark US Supreme Court Cases:
Kent v. US (1966)
In re Gault (1967)
In re Winship (1970)
McKeiver v. Pennsylvania (1971)
Breed v. Jones (1975)
Stanford v. Kentucky (1988)
Roper v. Simmons (2005)
Graham v. Florida (2010)
J.D.B. v. North Carolina (2011)
Jackson v. Hobbs (2011)
Miller v. Alabama (2012)
Montgomery v. Louisiana (2016)