Do Mandatory Sentencing Policies Lead to Harsher Sentences for African-Americans? How has society/groups/individuals worked to resolve the problem historically and recently?

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Research Paper (Literature Review)
CRIM 174

Students will choose a topic of their choice, as long as it provides an empirical understanding of the relationship between class, race, or gender and crime/criminal justice. In other words, students will choose one of the extralegal factors mentioned throughout the course (i.e., class, race, or gender) and then assess how these factors influence (or are influenced by) criminal justice processes/outcomes. For instance, a student interested in class and crime might assess corporate crimes and how often arrests/convictions occur. A student interested in race and crime might research sentencing outcomes to determine which race is most often sentenced to capital punishment (death penalty). A student interested in gender and crime might evaluate women’s protective measures to avoid victimization. Literature reviews evaluate scholarly articles and books relevant to the students’ chosen topic (at least 5 for this assignment). The purpose is to provide a summary of the published empirical literature.

Details: 8-10 pages (not including the title, abstract, or references), double-spaced, 12-point Times New Roman, APA format

While the paper topic is entirely up to you, there are specific components of the paper that must be present:

– Title page
o Examples of 3 common types of titles

▪ Question
• “Do Mandatory Sentencing Policies Lead to Harsher Sentences for African-Americans?”

▪ Summary
▪ “Male Privilege, Toxic Masculinity, and Rape Myths”
▪ 2-part
▪ “Economic Privilege: Keeping the Poor in their Place”

– Abstract
o Short (50-100 words) summary of entire paper. It should describe the topic, why it is important, and the overall findings (usually done after the paper is written)

– Introduction
o Define topic, prevalence, and importance
o Thesis statement (purpose of the paper—“The purpose of this paper is to examine the how male privilege contributes definitions of rape and the pervasiveness of rape myths”)

– Literature Review
o Body paragraphs:
▪ Include literature that indicates that the your topic exists (in the intro you might include statistics about the problem; here show what is causing it to be a problem; you can use theory if it helps, but not necessary)
▪ How has society/groups/individuals worked to resolve the problem historically and recently?
▪ What else should be done (programs implemented, changes in legislation, etc.)?

– Conclusion
o Summarize your paper, restate key points

Write a research paper on the following ethical case from the perspective of a law enforcement scandal. Begin with a thorough review of the history of the Chicago Police Department and chronologically examine the ethical scandals and systemic corruption within the institution.

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An Ethical Review of the Chicago Police Department

• Must write research paper on the following ethical case from the perspective of a law enforcement scandal. The paper should be 5-6 pages in length and STRICTLY adhere to APA7 writing standards which include a cover page, abstract, well developed sections, and references.

• New APA 7 Formatting https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/research_and_citation/apa_style/apa_formatting_and_style_guide/apa_sample_paper.html

 

Begin with a thorough review of the history of the Chicago Police Department and chronologically examine the ethical scandals and systemic corruption within the institution. It will help to list them by time of by type.

Create an annotated bibliography of five peer-reviewed academic sources in which you discuss the major objective of the research, provide a summary of the main points, and evaluate the overall study and findings.

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Behavioral conditioning

Create an annotated bibliography of five peer-reviewed academic sources in which you discuss the major objective of the research, provide a summary of the main points, and evaluate the overall study and findings.

Write a fact that you think is interesting and/or important from the text. Write a specific question that you have about your fact.

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The format for Journals is always: FQR.

Remember the format for Journals is always: FQR.

F is for Fact: write a fact that you think is interesting and/or important from the text.

Q is for Question: write a specific question that you have about your fact.

R is for Response or Reaction: write your answer or response to your question.

FQR’s should be connected to each other. You should focus them on what you think is most important to the chapter and fits the objectives so that you are creating your own study guide that you can use to prepare for the exam/reflection paper. You should also include the page number in the textbook where you found the fact.

Here is a sample journal to help you understand the proper format. Below is one sample journal and your assignment is to do ten journals per chapter.

F: A better analogy to describe the relationship between the local, state, and federal criminal justice agencies is the picket fence model.

Q: What is important to learn and remember from the picket fence model?

R: I should remember that it shows how the various criminal justice agencies are connected, but also independent.

Identify the facts, including all parties involved. Indicate the rights and responsibilities of each party. Identify relevant values, concepts, social constraints, and any additional information necessary for an accurate understanding of the case.

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Week 4 Discussion: 2nd Ethics and Law Enforcement Case Study

Select one case study from the Ethics and Law Enforcement section of Case Studies in Criminal Justice Ethics and discuss the case, using one ethical system and one concept of justice. Work to select a different ethical system and concept of justice than you have used previously. Select a different case study than you used last week or in a previous discussion. Remember that you are not using your default ethical framework, but are applying a different framework to this case study. Make your argument compelling, even if you disagree with that ethical framework.

Discuss this case, using a different ethical system than you used in a previous discussion question.

Identify the facts, including all parties involved. Indicate the rights and responsibilities of each party.
Identify relevant values, concepts, social constraints, and any additional information necessary for an accurate understanding of the case.
Identify all possible ethical dilemmas for each party involved.
Decide what is the most immediate ethical issue facing the decision-making individual.
Describe one ethical system and apply it to this case.
Describe one concept of justice and apply it to this case.
Resolve the ethical or moral dilemma by using the ethical system and concept of justice you described.
Use evidence from the text, lecture, or outside sources to support your claims.

Write a one-page, single-spaced memo to any one of the entities listed below based on what issue you’ve selected. Keep in mind that for a memo to be most impactful and for appropriate actions to be taken, they need to be directed at the right entity.

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Environmental Justice

Write Memo: Write a one-page, single-spaced memo to any one of the entities listed below based on what issue you’ve selected. Keep in mind that for a memo to be most impactful and for appropriate actions to be taken, they need to be directed at the right entity.

3 a) Write to one of the below entities:

California Governor Gavin Newsom
Secretary for California Environmental Protection (CalEPA), Jared Blumenfeld
Administrator/Head of the USEPA, Andrew Wheeler
Director of the Fresno Department of the Environment, Debbie Raphael
Fresno University President Lyn.
A journalist from the local paper

3 b) Format your letter / memo:

Address the memo to the person you chose.
Include a subject line (like in an email) on the purpose of the memo.
Body of the memo (see 3c)
Sign off/ conclude the memo by including your name and affiliation (ex. ENVS student, Fresno) at the end of the memo

3 c) Include and address the following in the memo:

A definition of environmental justice.
One or two examples of environmental injustice in the community influenced by your audience. In other words, if your focus is someone at the City of Fresno (i.e., Debbie Raphael), then the issue should be within the greater Fresno community; if you are choosing someone from the federal government, it can be an issue occurring anywhere within the United States. For a memo to have maximum impact – you should address it to the right person – this is something I will look out for while grading your work – so pay attention to this aspect. For example, if there is an issue of concern relating to something environmental within Fresno campus, writing a memo to Fresno president or Facilities department would have the maximum chances of getting the problem addressed (in this case I wouldn’t write a memo to Fresno Environment – within the City of Fresno).

A proposed solution for reversing or ameliorating the injustice.
Anticipated challenges in implementing the solution.

Identify the facts, including all parties involved. Indicate the rights and responsibilities of each party. Identify relevant values, concepts, social constraints, and any additional information necessary for an accurate understanding of the case. Identify all possible ethical dilemmas for each party involved.

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Week 6 Discussion: 2nd Ethics and the Courts Case Study

Select a case study from the Ethics and The Courts section of Case Studies in Criminal Justice Ethics. Discuss the case, using one ethical system and one concept of justice. Select a different case study than you have used previously. To the extent possible, select a different ethical system and concept of justice than you have used previously. The more you practice discussing different ethical systems and different concepts of justice, the stronger your ethical framework will be.

Identify the facts, including all parties involved. Indicate the rights and responsibilities of each party.
Identify relevant values, concepts, social constraints, and any additional information necessary for an accurate understanding of the case.
Identify all possible ethical dilemmas for each party involved.
Decide what is the most immediate ethical issue facing the decision-making individual.
Describe one ethical system and apply it to this case.
Describe one concept of justice and apply it to this case.
Resolve the ethical or moral dilemma by using the ethical system and concept of justice you described.
Use evidence from the text, lecture, or outside sources to support your claims.

Create an annotated bibliography of five peer-reviewed academic sources in which you discuss the major objective of the research, provide a summary of the main points, and evaluate the overall study and findings.

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Behavioral conditioning

Create an annotated bibliography of five peer-reviewed academic sources in which you discuss the major objective of the research, provide a summary of the main points, and evaluate the overall study and findings.

What do you think Weber means by this statement? Was Weber correct in his assessment? Using Weber’s assessment of bureaucracy, support your response.

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Discussion 3: Intellectual Heritage

Earlier in the course, you were introduced to Max Weber. He was a German Sociologist that examined the German Army of WWI and made his observations in the famous work of Bureaucracy. He outlined several criteria inherent to bureaucracies because it is efficient. With his “Ideal Type” bureaucracy, he outlines three types of legitimate authority 1. legal authority, 2. traditional authority, and 3. charismatic authority.

Weber, also, stated “The ruled, for their part, cannot dispense with or replace the bureaucratic apparatus of authority once it exists. For this bureaucracy rests upon expert training, functional specialization of work, and an attitude set for habitual and virtuoso-like mastery of single yet methodically integrated functions. If the official stops working, or if his work is forcefully interrupted, chaos results, and it is difficult to improvise replacements from among the governed who are fit to master such chaos. This holds for public administration as well as for private economic management. More and more the material fate of the masses depends upon the steady and correct functioning of the increasingly bureaucratic organizations of private capitalism. The idea of eliminating these organizations becomes more and more utopian.”

Here is some additional information to help guide your response: https://www.zambianguardian.com/characteristics-of-bureaucracies/ (Links to an external site.)

What do you think Weber means by this statement? Was Weber correct in his assessment? Using Weber’s assessment of bureaucracy, support your response.

Provide a case law example involving a forensic discipline that faced Daubert challenges other than Daubert v. Merrell Dow Pharmaceuticals or General Electric v. Joiner and Kumho Tire Co. Provide supporting materials to demonstrate/acknowledge the source of the information utilized to formulate the response.

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Week 6 Discussion

1. Provide a case law example involving a forensic discipline that faced Daubert challenges other than Daubert v. Merrell Dow Pharmaceuticals or General Electric v. Joiner and Kumho Tire Co.

Discussion Guidelines

Discussions open the Saturday prior to the official start of the week.

Note: The discussion questions have been designed so that a response of approximately 500 words is typically needed to fully address the subject.

  • Students are required to make at least three (3) postings per week for the current Discussion topic which is the minimum and to receive full credit you must provide 5 total posts, one initial post and four responses to others.

One initial posting responding to the topic
At least four responses to classmate postings that are substantive, relevant, and engaging

  • Students should provide supporting materials (references/citations) to demonstrate/acknowledge the source of the information utilized to formulate the response.

 

Participation evaluation and assessment are at the sole discretion of the instructor.

Discussion Forum Rubric

  • Updated 211109
  • Not Demonstrated
  • Beginning
  • Developing
  • Accomplished
  • Exemplary
  • Substance (Possible 40 points)