Category: Criminology

To complete this assignment:
You must attend at least one (1) virtual city council meeting in your city or a nearby city with virtual meetings that work with your schedule.  You are expected to stay for the entire city council meeting.  Do this early in the semester because some city council meetings could be canceled at the last minute.
Watch the city council assignment video on Canvas.
You must go to your city’s website to find the meeting schedule and a city council meeting date and time that fits your schedule.  Choose a backup meeting date as well (see #1 above).
Watch the city council assignment video on Canvas to see how to do this.  Remember that there may be other ways to access the meetings (e.g., YouTube), or the webpage may have been updated and look different from the page in the video.  Contact me or the TA if you have questions about accessing a city council meeting.
Before the meeting, you must read the agenda and any special reports related to agenda topics discussed at the meeting you plan to attend.  Check the website at the end of the week to see if meeting notes were added to the meeting you attended.
Write an academic paper (See assignment video) using APA format (see the video in the stylistic section below) along with the remaining stylistic requirements. 
You must identify and discuss one (or more, if necessary) main topic(s) that could be criminal justice-related discussed that was discussed in the meeting.  For example, let’s say the city council meeting you attend discusses a few pedestrian safety issues. 
Next, research information related to the issue you chose.  For example, “side shows” (street car takeovers) are a pedestrian safety issue and a crime issue because side shows or takeovers are illegal.  Next, how do other cities deal with side shows/takeovers based on your research on this issue?  Is this issue increasing or decreasing in your city?
Research and discuss a criminal justice-related policy.  Research criminal justice policies, programs, and initiatives related to the issue (e.g., zero-tolerance policies, court-ordered training for violators, street redesigns).  Discuss any proposed policies the council may discuss.  For example, how will the city punish those involved in street takeovers (e.g., increased fines, jail time, license revocation)?  
Research the history of this issue.  In other words, has this been an ongoing issue with the city council?  Or, can you find news articles on how the city council has addressed similar problems?
What impact or consequence could this policy have on your local criminal justice system (e.g., increased budget, more police, jail overcrowding issues)?
Finally, what is your opinion of the meeting?  What did you think about how your city council members treat community members during these meetings and vice-versa?  Did you find this meeting interesting, concerning, or a waste of time?  You do not need references for this section unless you are making a point that needs scholarly support (e.g., “This issue has increased 500% in the last year…”).

Choose two questions to answer. Be sure to cite sources/facts/statistics/information, and use headings to separate your ideas. 
What, if anything is unique about the transnational crime and illicit goods issues policy makers face in regards to Central and South America? Define terms and provide examples.
Is illicit goods smuggling (not human smuggling) a victimless crime? Why or why not? Define terms and provide examples.
Why do some states become source states, others become transit states, and some become user states? Do these reasons overlap with the differences between developed and underdeveloped economies? Why or why not? Define terms and provide examples.
Realism tells us that we live under anarchy with no overarching international government powerful enough to dictate rules to all states. What does that imply for the resolution of illicit trafficking? Define terms and provide examples.
What is an appropriate role for the U.S. or other governments in addressing the trafficking of illicit narcotics OUTSIDE of their own borders? Don’t forget to address state sovereignty. Define terms and provide examples.
Why is cyber crime such a lucrative criminal venture? Submit and defend one technological advance or policy course of action that would address a specific cyber crime. Define terms and provide examples.
What is the relationship between poverty and human smuggling/trafficking? Can states and NGOs (or the UN and other IGOs) fix the former to eliminate the latter? Why or why not? Define terms and provide examples.
Name one terror group and one transnational crime group who have failed. Explain why they failed. Don’t forget citations.
Name one terror group and one transnational crime group which succeeded. Explain why they succeeded. Don’t forget citations.
What happens to state governance during violent inter or intra national conflicts? How does that relate to the growth of crime? Don’t forget citations and examples. 
Technical Requirements:
Each answer should be 3-4 pages each. Your paper must be a minimum of 6-8 pages (the Title and Reference pages do not count towards the minimum limit).
Scholarly and credible references should be used. At least 6 scholarly sources are required to be used for this assignment.
Type in Times New Roman, 12 point and double space.
Students will follow the current APA Style as the sole citation and reference style used in written work submitted as part of coursework. 
Points will be deducted for the use of Wikipedia or encyclopedic type sources. It is highly advised to utilize books, peer-reviewed journals, articles, archived documents, etc.
All submissions will be graded using the assignment rubric.

#2. Identify and describe the common causes of employee
dissatisfaction. Examine the various supervisory approaches to dissatisfaction.
Text:
(S) Supervision of Police Personnel
Nathan F. Iannone, Marvin D. Iannone, Jeff
Bernstein, 2020
Pearson

The text notes that we have a dual court system (state and federal courts). The Fifth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution guarantees, among other things, that no “person be subject for the same offense to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb” (no double jeopardy).  
However, the separate/dual sovereign doctrine has been applied to allow a state and the federal government to both bring charges against an individual for the same crime.
See the video below on Gamble, an Alabama case.  
Discuss the separate/dual sovereign doctrine. Should prosecution for a crime in both state and federal courts be prohibited by the double jeopardy clause? Fully explain your answer.

This 6-7 page paper will be based on the neighborhood you wrote about for your first paper. Or, maybe you spend a lot of time at your workplace, you can write about that neighborhood instead. For this essay, you are expected to collect primary data, by conducting interviews (remember, you will not be able to interview anyone until you have completed your CITI certification). You will use the interview data you collect to include in the essay. For this essay you are expected to state more than your own personal opinion and views (as you did with Essay no. 1). You are expected to conduct some extra research into your neighborhood, such as crime rates, health reports, and community data. The library can help you with this research. You will write an essay similar to the one you wrote for the first paper, but now you will write it with more context – after an entire semester together you will now have an understanding of several perspectives related to the city, how and why are neighborhoods look and feel how they do, the public policies that impact our everyday lives, and how all of these impact how we see our neighborhoods as “safe” or “good” or “bad.” You will also have gone on at least two neighborhood tours with me. Some other things you should keep in mind as you write your essay and interview people about your neighborhood: Who lives there? What is around you? Are there parks? Are there community centers, churches, schools, gardens, etc? Does your neighborhood go by a nickname? Is it known today by a name that is realitively new? Are there changes happening in your community? What are the neighborhood’s demographic makeup over time? What makes your neighborhood unique? Are there any cultural events or activities in your neighborhood? For this paper I also want you to interview 2-3 people and ask them about their perception of crime and disorder in your neighborhood. You can interview anyone: a family member, neighbor, friend, teacher, police officer, librarian, even the local deli owner! You will use quotations from those interviews in your paper. In addition to including the quotes and other interview day, you will discuss in your paper public policy and its relationship to Criminal Justice and the Urban Environment where you live. This is where you will also use the secondary data, to give some context on what the folks are telling you. So, for example, if a person tells you “crime is at an all time high!” Then you will be able to say something about that comment, based on the data you collected on crime rates in your community. This essay will give you an opportunity to write about space, place, and our built environment as it relates to crime, our notions of crime, and our system of criminal justice. You should write this paper within the context of a student who has taken a class on criminal justice and the urban environment, and has read articles and reviewed materials that looks at the role all of the above have on our lives. Things to have in mind as you write this final paper: Spaces and how we navigate them can depend on the meaning we give these areas and whether or not we feel as if we have a sense of belonging or membership, or if others think we belong there. Name 2-3 places that you navigate differently depending on this context. The above navigation can be racialized – meaning, you might feel differently in a space depending on the race of those around you, or, people might make you feel as if you belong or not, depending on your/their race. Name how space is navigated in your neighborhood differently because of race. Discuss both tours taken this semester. Please do not limit your paper to simply responding to the above points. You are expected to demonstrate critical and analysitcal thinking, as well as be able to incorporate the information reviewed during the semster and taken several tours as a way to see firsthand some of the perspectives discusse

(a) Based on Healy and Barker’s analysis, do you agree or disagree with the experts? Explain your answer. 
(b) Why now? According to journalist Jenna Wortham, what are the reasons behind the success of the movement to do something about police shootings and racism? 
(c) Compare and contrast the positions of Mariame Kaba and Andrew Yang on defunding versus reforming the police. Summarize each writer’s position, indicate whether you favor defunding the police or reforming the police, and give at least two reasons in support of your position.  
(d) Do you agree or disagree with the Brookings Institute that defunding police and prison systems adds value to Black communities? Explain. (Please see this article) 
(e) What does Ibram X. Kendi say that conservatives and liberals get wrong about antiracism? (Please see this article)
Resources:
Jack Healy and Kim Barker, “Other protests flare and fade. Why this movement already seems different. New York Times, June 7, 2020. https://www.nytimes.com/2020/06/07/us/unrest-protests-minneapolis-ending.html.
Jenna Wortham, “A Glorious ‘Poetic Rage’: This time it’s different. Here’s why.” New York Times, June 5, 2020 https://www.nytimes.com/2020/06/05/sunday-review/black-lives-matter-protests-floyd.html. (About Black Lives Matter)
Andrew Yang, On Police Brutality. But what can we DO? Six ideas for police reform
Bryan Stevenson / Equal Justice Initiative
https://eji.org/bryan-stevenson
“Mildred Brown and the De Porres Club” 
Ibram X.Kendi, “What Conservatives – and Liberals – Get Wrong About Antiracism”

This is an essay of 1000 words (+/- 10%), excluding references. Therefore, the student will need to write in a succinct manner to get a good mark

For your final critical reaction paper you will be asked to analyze the documentary, The Prison WithinLinks to an external site., using theories, concepts, and ideas from the course. The goal is to demonstrate how the course material can be applied to the documentary in thinking critically about social issues related to punishment, politics, and justice. Papers should be between 8-10 double-spaced pages not including references.
To successfully write your paper, you will need to provide a brief summary of the documentary and select concepts, theories, or ideas from the class material which you will use to analyze the film in a thoughtful and comprehensive way. While you get to decide what of the course content you integrate into your paper, you must engage 7 ideas/concepts that we discussed throughout the semester. At least four of the ideas/concepts must be taken directly from the Simon, Davis, and Gilmore readings – this material must be cited direclty from the texts themselves. Additional ideas and concepts can come from lecture, group discussion, and other materials (i.e. podcasts, news articles, videos and other readings) and must be cited accordingly. In-text citations for lecture should be (Strong, week or date of lecture) and group discussion should be (group disc., week or date of discussion). The analysis will conclude with general thoughts and takeaways from the documentary. Please be sure to review the rubric throughout your preparation for and writing of the paper. The final portion of your critical reaction paper will provide a brief reflection on your overall takeaways from the course.
*You may select which formatting guidelines to follow. However, in-text citations must be properly notated i.e. author last name and year. If you use direct quotes then you must provide page numbers. A cover page is not necessary.
**Late papers will be assessed a point reduction. Papers will not be accepted after May 19th.
***Violations of academic integrity, such as plagiarism or papers written by artificial intelligence will result in a zero for the paper.

Read the summary of the background facts and holding in Texas v. Johnson (Links to an external site.) (note this has two pages to it) and analyze whether flag burning should be a crime. As you approach this discussion, do not provide what you personally feel to be the correct answer. Instead, reflect on the purpose of criminal law and the constitutional limitations that apply as you formulate your analysis. Further, address the approach taken in another country and whether it is legal to burn their country’s flag, and explain the reasoning.
Source 1
https://www.thoughtco.com/united-states-flag-burning-laws-history-721207
Source 2
https://www.casebriefs.com/blog/law/constitutional-law/constitutional-law-keyed-to-sullivan/freedom-of-speech-how-government-restricts-speech-modes-of-abridgment-and-standards-of-review/texas-v-johnson-3/

Address the general idea in relation to the topic for your initial post. Address each other with a minimum of two responses to your peers’ posts. 
Critique every thought.
Clarify your arguments.
Cite each of the lecture materials at least once in your posts.
Submission Instructions:
Your initial post should be at least 200 words, formatted and cited in current APA style with support from at least 2 academic sources. 
Sources:
-PDF attached
-https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IqAjAEPSVwM
-https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ry5jTjBhZpA