Category: Criminal justice

Over the course of this semester, we have discussed many risk factors and obstacles women face that provide some insight into pathways to female offending.  We have also discussed that women in U.S. prisons face specific pains and deprivations arising from their imprisonment that make their experiences different from those of male inmates. 
The purpose of this assignment is for students to provide a critical exploration and analysis of the underlying themes relating to issues covered in the course (for example, how do the lives and experiences of the people in the book A World Apart and the Podcast Life Jolt tie back to lectures and/or other assigned readings). Points are based on the student’s ability to integrate the themes raised in the course as well as the thought put into your personal responses.  What I am NOT looking for is a recap or summary of the book and Podcast. I am looking for students to explain course concepts and provide examples from the book and Podcast that highlight the concepts. I expect students to reference course materials, additional resources (e.g. academic research or review articles, government publications, websites), and provide appropriate citations to support the points raised. Include in-text citations and reference page.
Your paper should follow the guidelines below.  Points will be deducted if guidelines not followed
Name, Course, and Assignment on title page
Do NOT include your name on any pages other than the title page, do not include a running header.
6-9 pages (not including the title page or the works cited page in the total number of  pages)
A minimum of 4 academic/empirical sources cited (this includes articles assigned by me for this class)
One inch margins
Double spaced
12 point Times New Roman font
Numbered pages
APA format for citations, quotations and reference page (if you are not a CJ major use the format most commonly used for your discipline)
Citing lecture notes
In text citations: (Herrera, Week #)
References: Herrera (2024). Week #. Title of Lecture. CSUF.
Spell-checked and proofread for spelling, grammar, and clarity
Your own original work for this class

For this assignment, you will write a legal policy short paper.
Overview
For this assignment, you will write a short paper proposing a strategy to minimize the negative impact a selected issue may have on the criminal justice system. By beginning to analyze one specific issue, this paper will help prepare you for your Milestone One submission in Module Three.
There are many controversial topics in the field of criminal justice. So far, you have been introduced to a few of these issues, such as improper or excessive use of force, police corruption, disparity in prison sentences based on race, improper training or policies, racial profiling, and civil liability, to name a few. Often, these issues create a negative public perception of the criminal justice system.
After being introduced to the controversial issues of victims’ rights and jailhouse informants in this module’s resources, you will select one such critical issue that is interesting to you and propose a strategy to minimize the negative impact this issue has on public perception of the field of criminal justice.
First, to choose an issue to complete this task.
Next, identify and utilize a problem solving strategy after reviewing the problem-solving strategies and sample document. You may also use your own strategy. Additionally, you need to identify and analyze an evidence-based practice that will be most effective in dealing with the issue you selected. In your paper, analyze the controversial issue and describe how it may negatively affect public perception of the criminal justice system.
Prompt
Specifically, the following critical elements must be addressed:
Issue Presented: Summarize the issue in the form of a brief one-sentence question.
Short Answer: Provide a short answer which summarizes the conclusion of your paper.
Statement of Facts: Describe how the issue may negatively affect public perception of the criminal justice system.
Discussion: Provide a brief discussion of the issue, including the recent history of the issue and any legal precedents related to it.
Conclusion: Provide a conclusion based on the details of the issue outlined in the Discussion section.
Recommendations:
Based on your reading, propose at least one evidence-based practice to minimize the negative impact this issue may have on public perception of the criminal justice field.
Describe what possible successful outcomes might result from addressing this issue by analyzing it with evidence-based practices.
“Both files required to complete assignment is attached”

For this assignment, you will write a brief that discusses the use of force in the case of Graham v. Connor.
Overview
Many issues in the United States are focused on the application of force in the field of law enforcement. Questions have been raised as to whether criminal justice professionals are applying the least amount of force necessary to gain compliance from an unwilling subject. Because of several recent controversies surrounding the use of deadly force and the treatment of individuals in police custody, many members of society have been extremely critical of the use of force. These controversial issues have created a negative public perception of law enforcement officers, and there have been demonstrations and calls for reform in both the training and hiring of police officers.
For this assignment, you will first read and analyze the Graham v. Connor  court decision. This decision is the seminal case that articulates when and how use-of-force situations will be reviewed and judged. As you read the case, consider who the key stakeholders are (police officers, police departments, citizens, etc.) in the controversy and how this issue impacts the field of criminal justice.
Prompt
After reading the case, write a brief in which you address the elements listed below. This case brief will help you address the impact of similar decisions in studying your own issue analysis for the final project. Set up your brief as the sample case brief is set up, and include the answers to the questions in the Analysis section of the brief.
Facts: State the facts of the case and why the case went to trial.
Issue: State what is at issue in the case.
Ruling: State the court’s ruling in the case.
Analysis: This section contains the bulk of the brief. In your analysis, address the following:
In this case, what standard did the court use to determine whether the use of force was reasonable? For instance, what did the court say about judging the objective reasonableness of the use of force?
What perspective did the court use in determining whether the officer acted appropriately in the use of force? What did the court say about using hindsight to determine objective reasonableness?
What strategies do you believe should be employed to make sure officers are applying the correct amount of force in any given situation?
Analyze the connection between the issue of use of force and what criminological theory contributed to the understanding—or misunderstanding—of these issues.
Conclusion: Conclude the case brief by summarizing your analysis.
“All required links are provided in the documents files”

The first phase of this learning activity requires you to submit an original post (50% of your grade for this activity) by no later than SUNDAY of WEEK 4 (this week) at 11:59 p.m. (EDT) consisting of at least 500 words of discussion that respond to ALL of the following prompts:
Explain the difference between forensic psychology and forensic psychiatry and their role in demonstrating sanity versus the ability to stand trial.
Explain the role of BEA in investigations.
This week your required reading will consist of the following:
Turvey, Brent E. (2012). Criminal Profiling: An Introduction to Behavioral Evidence Analysis. Academic Press: San Diego, CA.
Chapters 4-6

Post a total of 3 substantive responses over 2 separate days for full participation. This includes your initial post and 2 replies to classmates or your faculty member.
Due Thursday
Respond to the following in a minimum of 175 words:
Define and explain correlation. How is it calculated and what does it tell us about data gathered during a research process? How do we use correlation to help answer research questions? How does correlation differ from causation? Provide an example to explain the role of each in criminal justice.
Due Monday
Post 2 replies to classmates or your faculty member. Be constructive and professional.

Omi and Winant define race as “a concept that signifies and symbolizes social conflicts and interests by referring to different types of human bodies. Although race is not an objective, biologically determined reality, neither is it a mere illusory concept we can dispense with to enter a utopian ‘post-racial’ society. Instead, race is an element of social structure.”
Visit the website: https://understandingrace.org/
Read the sections and subsections for “Race is not Genetic” and “History.”
Race and Human Variation: Do patterns of genetic variation match races?
Prompt: If there is such little difference between humans on a genetic level, why do we conceptualize race as a matter of power, social identity, and placement instead of conceptualizing it as an individual attribute?
Requirements
Minimum 500 words
At least two sources, one source from outside of the course material
Thoroughly addresses the prompt
Adheres to due date

Read the following scenario and then respond with an essay.
Scenario:
After months of surveillance, in 2021, a massive drug bust went down in the Park Heights neighborhood of Baltimore. Local law enforcement, working with the DEA, arrested over 50 alleged members of the “Park Heights Hustlers” gang. The gang was suspected of running a highly lucrative drug distribution network that had been flooding the streets with marijuana, heroin and crack cocaine. 
Many of those arrested were lifelong residents of the impoverished, predominantly colored neighborhood. With few economic opportunities and generational poverty, some had turned to the illegal drug trade as one of the only viable ways to make money and achieve financial stability. 
Police seized over $3 million worth of cash and goods from the alleged gang members, in addition to firearms and other illegal contraband. Police leaders believed that this bust would lead to a temporary drop in the illegal drug trade in the area, as well as drops in violent crime and other gang-related activity.
The bust led to mixed reactions – the police were praised by elected officials for their dedication, while some civil rights advocates criticised the motives behind arresting some people of color who were not involved in the gang at all but were still arrested on charges of drug possession during the operation.
The instrcutions are down below 
Essay Instructions:
The student should write a 2000 word essay examining this situation from any ONE of three perspectives:
(1) the law enforcement or drug enforcement perspective, OR
(2) the policy/lawmaker perspective on drug laws and urban crime, OR
(3) the perspective of a Park Heights community member. 
Include at least 2 APA-style full citations from peer-reviewed sources to support the analysis/ arguments made in the essay.
Suggestions:
The student can draw from sources covering topics like
– hot-spot crime analysis
– racial profiling and discriminatory policing, drawing from the 1970s war on drugs
– urban poverty and crime
– the failures of current drug policies, or need for new approaches such as changes in drug scheduling or legalization
– policing gang activities and risk of crime displacement
– political pressures mayors and city councils face to crack down on crime and drug trafficking.
i would need a plagarism report

Considering the procedures for behavior in courts; considering the behaviors and actions of the defendant (Penelope Soto); Were the judges actions more for the service of justice or more to serve his emotions? Did he overreact? Or did he act within his right?

Respond to the following in a minimum of 175 words: 
What is mixed methods research and why is it important for criminal justice agencies?
Which mixed methods research strategy is best suited for criminal justice agencies? 
How can mixed methods research be implemented in criminal justice agencies? 
Response Requirements
Respond to the prompts above in a minimum of 175 words.
Include at least one peer-review (scholarly) source to support your discussion response. Your peer-review source must be published from  2000 -present. NOTE: News articles, Wikipedia, websites, and blogs are not peer-reviewed sources.

Critical Thinking Assignment Directions:
DO NOT write a title/cover page.
DO NOT write other identifier information (ex. your name, date, which assignment, etc.) in your entry as Canvas automatically tags that information automatically.  
No attachments!
DO NOT define anything.  CT requires you to know what the topic is & prove it by applying it, not defining it.
Your entry must exceed the minimum required word count of 200+ words. Please submit it by typing it into the text box.
You must write your word count at the bottom of EVERY assignment to earn credit. 
Your entry must demonstrate your comprehension of the topic & demonstrate critical thinking skills.  Do more research on your own if needed to master the subject. 
If your assignment fails to follow the abovementioned requirements, it will not earn credit.  
Remember to include your word count on every post & follow ALL directions for your submission so you earn credit.  Any entry not demonstrating critical thinking (CT) skills or knowledge of the topic as required for the CT assignment & will not be awarded credit.  
This CTA continues what you wrote for your DQ on the previous page.
Pre-work:  Research the job of a Detective first from legitimate sources (ex. NOT Wiki or About.com or blogs) to be able to answer the questions below.
There are numerous types of investigators (ex. sworn or non-sworn) & Detectives (ex. sworn).  They work in every level of the government (ex. city, county, state & federal).  Very few agencies have dedicated “homicide” or “violent crimes” units because they are not large enough.  Most Detectives are “generalists” who handle a wide variety of crimes in a single day, from credit card fraud, burglary, child abuse, robbery, etc.).  Often students tell me they are going into Criminal Justice so they can be a “Detective” without realizing you have to be a road patrol officer (ex. requires completing a six month FT police academy & earn a FDLE certificate from passing the academy & state exam) for many years & take “advanced training courses.”  In any public safety career (ex. CJ, Fire, EMS, paramedic), you are a permanent student during your entire career.  You always go to school & are responsible for your learning to improve your skillset to keep your job.  Whether your agency pays for your training or you pay on your own, an investment in your life-long training can result in a better job within your agency or a better schedule.  Review the “Advanced Training, Special Courses and Exemption from Training (EFT)” by scrolling down on this link:  Advanced Training & Specialized Courses at PBSCLinks to an external site.. Review a few of the classes & their associated fliers before answering the questions below.
Critical Thinking Question:
(A) Research on your own using resources not provided on what additional training Detectives must undergo to be considered for a Detective position.  Discuss your findings & cite the resources used.
(B) Using the PBSC-AT&SC list provided, what two trainings would you attend if your agency sent you to go?
(C) After completing those two trainings, what impact would those training have on your ability to go into a specialized unit (ex. DUI, motorcycle, community policing, K9, Detective, etc.)?  
(D) How would changing from a road patrol officer to a specialized unit increase your work hours, pay, schedule, or quality of life? 
(E) How would using your vacation/personal time & attending/going to a non-FDLE training course out of the county or state & paying for it on your own make you more competitive & potentially advance your career/pay/opportunities?   
(F)  How would going to college on your own time & using your agency’s reimbursement benefit to earn the next level college degree (ex. AA => BA or BA=>Master’s Degree) potentially advance your career/pay/opportunities in the short, medium & long term?