Solved by a verified expert :Week 1 discussion
Each week, you will have discussions to post and respond to
throughout the eight weeks of study (you must have at least two replies to earn
an 80%; more replies are encouraged and will result in a higher grade; I expect
4 or more replies for full credit. The
discussion posts and replies should be completed by Sunday at 11:59pm each
week. Please participate actively in the
discussions to gain further understanding of the material; active participation
means that you enter the discussions more than once per week to earn full
credit. See the Discussion rubric for
grading.
Discussion threads are posted in the class information for
each week.
Week 1- Discussion Topic #1: After completing the readings
for Week 1: Explain the significance of
this symbol to the Criminal Justice System.
Interpret the meaning of the scales of justice symbol. What is the system trying to balance? Why is this significant to understand the main
goals of the Criminal Justice System?
Scales of Justice
Discussion Topic #2: After reading the articles on
“Social Construction of Crime” and “Ethics”, what are your
reactions to these articles? Why are
these articles pertinent to the Criminal Justice System today?
Week 2 discussion
Topic #1: After
reading “Victims in the System”, note one or more points about
victimology that stood out to you or that you’d like to explore further. Explain why the item(s) were significant to
you.
Topic #2: After reading the Learning Resources for week two,
what did you learn about the role of the victim in the Criminal Justice System
and victim rights in the system?
Week 3 discussion
Topic #1: After, examining the learning resources on Crime
Statistics, what did you learn about crime in the U.S. and data
collection? What questions, if any, do you
still have about this data?
Topic #2: After reading the learning resources for week
three, what did you learn about police training and police-community
relations? Were you aware of all the
different types of police training that exist, including communication?
Week 4 discussion
Topic #1: After reading the resouces on Torts, did you know
what a tort was prior to this course?
What did you learn about torts in this section that you did not know?
Topic #2: The reading on sentencing discusses
“Determinate Sentencing” in detail.
What are your thoughts on this practice?
Week 5 discussion
Topic #1: From the reading on Prisons in the 21st Century,
what did you learn about prisons today that you were unaware of prior to this
course? Were you surprised about this
information? or was it what you expected?
Topic #2: What are your thoughts about Captial Punishment in
the 21st Century?
Week 6 discussion
Topic #1: The reading on community corrections notes that
“70% of offenders are not in jail or prison but supervised within the
community”. Did this figure
surprise you? What are your thoughts
about community corrections?
Topic #2: In the reading on Offender Reentry, the author
states, “Between 1973 and 2005, the number of people incarcerated in state
and federal prisons increased by over 600%. There are now over 1.5 million
people living in America’s prisons, translating to an incarceration rate of 496
per 100,000 population (Sabol, Couture, & Harrison, 2007). If the jail
population is included, the incarceration rate increases to 751 per 100,000
population and the number of people imprisoned in America totals over 2.3
million”.
Discuss your reaction to these figures.
Week 7 discussion
Topic #1: After reading the resources on the “Juvenile
Justice System”, what did you learn about the Juvenile system that you did
not know before this course?
Topic #2: After reading the resources on the “Juvenile
Justice System”, how is the Juvenile system different than the adult
system? Include two or more differences
in your discussion. Explain why you chose those particular differences for your
discussion.
Week 8 discussion
Topic #1:How have cybercrime and terrorism affected the
“Criminal Justice System”?
Topic #2:Share something you learned from this course that
you feel will be beneficial in your future studies.
Mini paper
Instructions
Mini-Papers are single page reflections on a question or
exercise. The paper is an opportunity for the student to demonstrate their
comprehension of the course material and to apply it to the situation
presented. The paper is also an opportunity for the student to demonstrate
composition skills. Feedback will be provided for both content and composition.
The instructor will create one (1) mini-paper topics/questions.
The mini-paper will be scheduled to be available to students
at the beginning of the week corresponding with the mini-paper “Due
Date” in the Course Schedule. A designated Mini-Paper rubric will be used
to grade and provide feedback on this one-page assignments. Although the
mini-paper is NOT a research assignment per se, it may be appropriate to
require at least one outside source. Instructors may choose any course-relevant
topic they wish, including any current event germane to the course.
Assignment: In a week that includes a Mini-Paper, a separate
assignment will appear in the Discussion section of the classroom. These
special Mini-Paper questions are NOT to be answered in the Discussions. The
one-page response is to be submitted as a MS WORD document by the due date
specified.
Format:
One full page, headed with the student’s name (No cover
page)
Narrative must be double spaced, with 1 inch margins, in #12
font type.
References from any supportive resource materials must be
cited in the narrative and on a separate Bibliography page using the American
Psychological Association (APA) format.
Project 1 – Resource Research and
Review
Instructions
Project 1: Resource Research and Review
Project 1 is designed to help prepare you for the final
project at the end of the semester. You
will notice that, for your final project in this course, you will be asked to
trace a crime or criminal incident through the adult criminal justice system,
from initial arrest to the eventual return to the community following
incarceration. As you work on the final project, you will encounter numerous
decision points or stages in the system. Project 1 will assist you in preparing
for your final project by introducing you to topic research. You may then use
the results of this project to support your final project paper.
Project 1 Assignment:
Using the designated topic listed below (see, Topics), you
will search the UMUC Library Services databases and the Internet for resource
material that explains, clarifies, critiques, etc. the topic.
1. Your Resource Research and Review project must contain
four (4) outside sources (not instructional material for this course), at least
two of which must come from the UMUC Library data base.
2. Locate books, periodicals, and documents that may contain
useful information and ideas on your topic. You may conduct your research with
the assistance of a UMUC librarian, reviewing your own personal materials on
the topic, using the Internet, visiting an actual library, etc. and reviewing
the available items. Then, choose those works that provide a variety of
perspectives on your topic.
Note: You can connect to Library Services by using the
Library link under RESOURCES in the Classroom task bar, or link directly to the
UMUC Library Guide to Criminal Justice Resources link in CONTENT
3. Type the reference “citation” information for the book,
article, or document using the American Psychological Association (APA)
formatting standards. (There are links to APA format standards under Library
Services.)
4. Each reference is to be followed by the annotation. The
purpose of the annotation is to inform the reader of the relevance, accuracy,
and quality of the sources cited. Creating an annotated bibliography calls for
a variety of intellectual skills: concise exposition, succinct analysis, and
informed library research.
5. Write a concise annotation (150 words) for each reference
that summarizes the central theme and scope of the book, article, or
document. This must include:
a) briefly, in your own words, describe the content of the
article
b) compares or contrasts the work with at least one other
article in your research review
Topics
Select ONE of the following topics for all four (4) of your
resources.
(Note: Other
topics may be submitted to your instructor for prior approval.)
Student‘s Last Name A or B: Police discretion
Student‘s Last Name C or D: Community
corrections/intermediate sanctions
Student‘s Last Name E or F: Police corruption (use/abuse of
force, bribery, etc.)
Student‘s Last Name G, H, or I: Preventive detention and
bail
Student‘s Last Name J or K: Plea bargaining tactics of the
prosecutor
Student‘s Last Name L or M: Plea bargaining tactics of the
defense attorney
Student‘s Last Name N, O, or P: Jury selection
Student‘s Last Name Q, R, S, or T: Issues with evidence
(DNA, eyewitness testimonies, direct vs. circumstantial, etc.)
Student‘s Last Name U, V, W, X, Y or Z: Constitutionality of
the death penalty or life without parole
Format
The project paper should begin with an introductory
paragraph and end with a concluding paragraph
Each annotation should contain approximately 150 words
Double space, 12 pt. font, 1” margins
Cover page for your assignment
· Include your name
· Course title and number
· Project title
· Topic selected
· Date of submission
Supportive Resources:
Support Resources
http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/614/03/
https://library.bethel.edu/class/tutorials/writ-cit/1001APA_Ann_Bib_6thEd
http://www.editing-writing.com/articles/annotated-bibliography-apa-style.shtml
http://olinuris.library.cornell.edu/ref/research/skill28.htm
www.iupui.edu/ (Search on Annotated Bibliography)
Help for Writing an Annotated Bibliography
Keeping within the guidelines of the Project 1 instructions,
use the following resources as a guide for analyzing scholarly and professional
articles, and writing your annotated bibliography.
1. See UMUC
Library Services (See Resources on the classroom toolbar) as a source of data
for researching topics. Library Services
has established a direct link to databases most likely to include materials
relevant to Criminal Justice at http://libguides.umuc.edu/criminal_justice
2. Students may
use the synopsis or abstract of an article to assess its value to this
project. However, once the choices are
made the entire article should be read in order to determine its value for
understanding the selected criminal justice concept, how it relates to other selected
articles and other information relative to responding to the four items
required in the Project Description for the annotated bibliography of each
selected article.
See also – Critically Analyzing Information Sources (Cornell
University, n.d.) http://guides.library.cornell.edu/criticallyanalyzing
Project 2
Instructions
In this project, you will conduct one of the following:
practitioner interview, criminal court visit, police ride-along, or
correctional facility visit. NOTE: If you believe it is impossible for you to
complete any of these experiential exercises due to circumstances beyond your
control, contact your instructor who will arrange for an alternative project.
Practitioner Interview
Your task is to interview an individual of your choice
involved in the criminal justice system: a police officer, attorney, judge,
probation officer, researcher, current or former inmate, etc. (Note: Military
personnel have the option of interviewing an equivalent person in the
military.) Should your “expert” not be listed here, contact your
instructor.
1) Provide the purpose of the paper and background information
on the selected person.
2) Record the person’s views on the criminal justice
system—whether the criminal justice system works, in what ways it doesn’t work,
and the future of the criminal justice system.
3) Write the paper in a narrative format, detailing what you
learned as the result of speaking with this person. Do not submit a
“question-answer” paper.
4) Compare and contrast what your expert practitioner had to
say with relevant instructional material from this course. Additionally, include one outside source that
either supports or challenges what your expert practitioner said.
5) When using the instructional material or other sources,
properly document and reference them, and cite all web sources. You must include the name your practitioner.
Criminal Court Visit
Your task is to visit a criminal court session. (Note:
Military personnel have the option of visiting the military equivalent.)
Depending on when you attend, you could see a series of cases or only one case.
Write your reflections on what you observed and how the proceedings seemed to
affect the administration of justice.
1) Begin with a cover page with your name, project title,
course, and date submitted.
2) Write an introductory section explaining the purpose of
the paper.
3) Write your reflections on what you observed and how the
proceedings seemed to affect the administration of justice.
4) Compare and contrast what you observed with relevant
material. Additionally, include one
outside source that either supports or challenges what you observed.
5) When using the text or other sources, properly document
and reference them. The name of the court
you visited must be included.
Police Ride-Along
This is an observational assignment that focuses on the use
of discretion by the police officers who patrol our communities. (Note:
Military personnel may participate in a ride-along with a military police
officer.) Your task is to ride with a police officer for a few hours and
observe who is stopped and why. Who is arrested and why? How does the use of discretion
play into the patrol officer’s job?
1) Begin with a cover page with your name, project title,
course, and date submitted.
2) Write an introductory section that includes the purpose
of the paper and information on the assignment of the officer, his or her
department, and the date, time, and duration of the ride-along.
3) Using a narrative format, provide the officer’s views on
the use of discretion in his or her job, then follow this with your
observations and conclusions based on his or her performance. Use the questions
above to guide your observations and questions.
4) Use research information from class materials to analyze
the information obtained. Additionally,
include one outside source that either supports or challenges what your officer
said.
5) When using the text or other sources properly document
and reference them. The name of your
officer must be included.
Correctional Facility Visit
Your task is to visit a correctional facility (adult,
juvenile, military) and compare and contrast what you see with what the text
indicates.
1) Begin with a cover page with your name, project title,
course, and date submitted. 2) Write an introduction that provides the purpose
of the paper and information concerning the facility visited.
2) If possible, interview residents, administrators, and
correctional officers. How do they view the correctional process? What are the
pros and cons of the types of facilities we have in the United States? How has
corrections changed over the past ten years?
3) Write the information down in a narrative format.
4) Compare and contrast the information obtained with course
material. Additionally, include one
outside source that either supports or challenges what you observed.
5) When using the text or other sources properly document
and reference them. The name of the
correctional facility you visited must be included.
Format Requirements for all Experiential Project reports
· Paper should be a minimum of 1,500 words or about six
pages
· Double space
· 12 pt. font
· 1” margins
· Use APA citations for all sources
· Include reference page (not included in word count)
Additionally –
· Create a cover page for your assignment (not included in
word count)
· Include your name
· Course title and number
· Project title
· Topic selected
· Date of submission
Due Date
Final Project – An Application of the
Criminal Justice System
Instructions
This assignment is to demonstrate your mastery of how the
criminal justice system works. This assignment is designed to give you an
opportunity to display your knowledge of the parts and processes of the
criminal justice system. The more specific and detailed the paper is, the more
effective it will be in demonstrating your understanding of the system.
Step 1. Select a current events case, in the last ten years,
to analyze in the American criminal justice system. The case should be one
where a life sentence or death sentence was the outcome.
**Your case must be submitted to the instructor for approval
in week four. Please submit your topic and briefly explain how the topic meets
the project criteria. Topics must be approved before moving forward with the
project.
Step 2. Describe the details of the case, including the
nature of the offense, background of the offender, and an analysis of each
component in the criminal justice system: advantages/disadvantages of police
procedures, details and/or issues with court proceedings, and whether the
correctional sentence was appropriate based on the nature of the offense and
background of the offender.
Step 3. Conclude your paper by thoroughly analyzing the
impact this case has had or will have on future criminal justice outcomes.
Careful critical thinking is required here. Invest considerable effort in
thinking about what you have learned over the course of the term in addressing
this final aspect of the mission.
The sources you are to use to obtain information for your
descriptions of the criminal justice process include the course reading
material and two peer-reviewed journal articles. As an academic paper, it must
contain APA formatted citations throughout the paper whenever information is
being presented from a source. You can find examples of citations and references
through the following links:
http://www.umuc.edu/library/libhow/citationresources.cfm
http://www.umuc.edu/library/libhow/apa_examples.cfm#intext
Even though you may have personal experience in the field
(e.g. police officer) or use knowledge obtained in previous courses,
information used in this paper must be supported through the use of citations
which meet the criteria for sources indicated above.
An example of the correct page header and title page format
can be found in Unit 3 of the APA Tutorial in the Course Content.
Here are the sections that should appear in your paper, each
of which should be subtitled:
· Introduction
· Description of the case (including the nature of the
offense and the background of the offender)
· Police procedures
· Court proceedings
· Correctional sentence
· Analysis of the impact this case has had/will have on the
American criminal justice system process
· Conclusion
Form and Format Requirements
· Paper should be a minimum of 1,500 words and a maximum of
2,000 words
· Double space
· 12 pt. font
· 1 margins
· Use APA citations for all sources
· Include reference page (not included in word count)
·Additionally –
· Create a cover page for your assignment (not included in
word count)
· Include your name
· Course title and number
· Project title
· Topic selected
· Date of submission
If you have any questions about this assignment, please
contact your instructor.
