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Criminal Justice Trends
The trends of the past, present and future that outline the borders connecting the criminal justice system components and their links adjoining the society is, beyond doubt, an authentic relationship that the law and society have established. Criminal justice has been affected by various trends in the times gone by. This is because trends keep changing with the passage of time. Therefore, it is exceedingly important for the criminal justice system to try even harder if it wants to achieve success and go beyond such trends that give rise to innovative crimes. It is not easy for anyone to find out the connections linking the criminal justice system and trends of criminal activities as they are inconsistent. As a consequence, the criminal justice system is affected by the continuous changes in crime patterns and trends. However, in the contemporary world of today, the criminal justice system is…
References
Critical Criminal Justice Issues: Task Force Reports from the American Society of Criminology to Attorney General Janet Reno. (1994). NCJRS. Retrieved August 31, 2013, from https://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles/158837.pdf
Gruber, A. (2013, Spring). Leniency as a Miscarriage of Race and Gender Justice. Albany Law Review, 1, 1571+.
Marvell, T.B. (1995). Sentencing Guidelines and Prison Population Growth. Journal of Criminal Law and Criminology, 85(3), 696+. Retrieved August 31, 2013, from http://www.questia.com/read/1G1-17095416/sentencing-guidelines-and-prison-population-growth
Setting a Course for the Future of the Criminal Justice System in Virginia: Environmental Scan. (2008). DCJS. Retrieved August 31, 2013, from http://www.dcjs.virginia.gov/research/documents/08environmentalscan.pdf
Criminal justice system normally refers to the compilation of the prevailing federal; state accompanied by the local public agencies those pacts with the crime problem. These corresponding agencies procedure suspects, defendants accompanied by the convicted offenders and are normally mutually dependent insofar as the prevailing decisions of the single agency influence other supplementary agencies (Cole & Smith, 2009). The fundamental framework of the underlying system is normally granted through the lawmaking, judicial and the executive twigs of the government. The major significant advancements within the criminal justice system within the past decade has been the widespread execution of the corresponding initiatives designed that pertain to the diverting of the populace with mental sickness accompanied by the addictions away from the prevailing imprisonment and their treatments (David, 2008). The development of the existing jail distraction programs, mental health courts and drug courts has been promoted through the belief that these prevailing…
References
May, D.C. (2008). Corrections and the criminal justice system. Sudbury, Mass: Jones and Bartlett Pub.
Cole, George F., & Smith, Christopher. (2009). The American System of Criminal Justice.
Gardners Books.
Dantzker, M.L. (2009). Police organization and management: Yesterday, today, and tomorrow.
Criminal Justice Leadership Strategies and Practices
Leadership Strategies and Practice
Examples and Analysis of oles
Organizational culture
Behavioral Theory
Planning
The criminal justice leadership strategies are also partly similar to business practices followed in commercial organizations. However, the difference in chain of command, organizational culture and theories applicable for criminology are unique. The criminal justice organizations also develop strategies that are relevant for their organizational culture as well as with respect to the community relations. These organizations also establish a unique lesion with civilians as well as with other government and administrative functions of the state. The work below provides examples and information regarding the functioning of criminal justice organizations, their leadership and practices adopted to formulate strategies. The research also analyzes the roles of criminal justice leadership strategies with respect to the organizational culture, behavioral theory, planning, and community relations.
Criminal Justice:
The department of criminal justice is not…
References:
Cole, G., Smith, C., & DeJong, C. (2012). The American system of criminal justice. USA: Cengage Learning.
Cronkhite, C.L. (2012). Law Enforcement and Justice Administration: Strategies for the 21st Century. USA: Jones & Bartlett Publishers.
Hess, K., Orthmann, C.H., & Cho, H. (2014). Introduction to law enforcement and criminal justice. USA: Cengage Learning.
Tatalovich, R., & Daynes, B.W. (2011). Moral Controversies in American Politics. USA: Me sharpe.
Criminal Justice:
On September 18 at around 2:30 PM, the victim, a famous citizen in the community was assaulted and robbed of his wallet by the defendant on his way home. The victim was not only assaulted but he was also pushed against his car and threatened with a knife. The crime generated huge media attention because of the victim's popularity as calls for speedy arrest and conviction of the criminal gained momentum. As heavy pressure was place on the law enforcement officers to arrest the criminal, the defendant was apprehended several days later while carrying the wallet of the victim and knife and was subsequently identified in a lineup by the victim. During preliminary of the case, the defendant was pronounced indigent and offered with a public defender and even denied bail because of the nature of the crime. While he chose not to take to the stand, the…
References:
Carlsmith, K.M. & Darley, J.M. (2002). Why do We Punish? Deterrence and Just Deserts as
Motives for Punishment. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 83(2), 284-299. Retrieved from http://www.law.asu.edu/files/!NoTemplate/why%20do%20we%20punish%20-%20Robinson.pdf
"Double Jeopardy." (n.d.). Criminal Law. Retrieved June 12, 2012, from http://www.enotes.com/criminal-law-reference/double-jeopardy
Gaines, L.K. & Miller, R.L. (2008). Criminal Justice in Action (5th ed.). Belmont, CA: Thomson
Criminal Justice System: Ethics in Criminal Procedure
Ethics refers to the principles of morality that govern an individual's behavior. Ethics, therefore, provides the basis through which an individual defines, and distinguishes between the good and the bad. This implies that it is ethics that provides the framework for the duties and responsibilities an individual owes to himself, and to the community. Today, ethics define how corporations, professionals, and individuals relate with one another. Within the criminal justice system, ethics refers to the standards that govern the conduct of persons working within the criminal justice system (Kleinig, 2008). It defines the professionalism of prison guards, judges, attorneys, prosecutors, and police officers (Kleinig, 2008).
The Process of the Criminal Justice System
There are ten stages involved in the criminal justice system; initial contact, investigation, arrest, custody, indictment, detention/bail, plea bargaining, adjudication, disposition, and post convict remedies (the Legal Dictionary, 2014). Initial contact…
References
Civil Rights. (2013). Justice on Trial. The Leadership Conference. Retrieved from http://www.civilrights.org/publications/justice-on-trial/
Kleinig, J. (2008). Ethics and Criminal Justice: An Introduction. New York: Cambridge University Press.
The Legal Dictionary. (2014). Ethics, Legal. The Legal Dictionary. Retrieved from http://legal-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/Ethics,+Legal
Criminal justice system refers to either the state or federal set of agencies and processes which are created by governments to control crime and to engage in penalties and discipline on those who break the law and who hurt others or damage property. "There is no single criminal justice system in the United States but rather many similar, individual systems. How the criminal justice system works in each area depends on the jurisdiction that is in charge: city, county, state, federal or tribal government or military installation" (NCVC, 2012). Thus, what can make the criminal justice system so tricky and difficult to understand is largely because different jurisdictions have differing laws, agencies and methods of criminal justice management (NCVC, 2012). Thus, the state system is in charge of handling crimes which occur within the state boundaries; the federal system handles crimes which occur in multiple states or on federal property…
References
Ga.us. (n.d.). Benefits of Alternative Sanctions. Retrieved from Georgia State: http://www.dcor.state.ga.us/pdf/tcp21-25.pdf
NCVC. (2013). The Criminal Justice System. Retrieved from The National Center for Victims of Crime: http://www.victimsofcrime.org/help-for-crime-victims/get-help-bulletins-for-crime-victims/the-criminal-justice-system
Pdx.edu. (2013). Psychology plays a role in criminal justice. Retrieved from Pdx.edu: http://online.ccj.pdx.edu/resources/news-article/psychology-plays-a-role-in-criminal-justice/
Criminal justice system is comprised of elaborate pieces of a huge puzzle. The age of "Order," CSI, and various other TV programs has actually all however removed the genuine components of the puzzle that bring about the arrest of the suspect. Prior to being employed, one is enlightened on how this works; he ought to be warned of the jobs that everyone plays and at exactly what phase they are purchased into the scene. Everybody from the cop to the judge comes across the suspect at various phases and there are numerous things that occur to preserve the flow of the justice system.
eview of the Criminal Justice System
Law enforcement agent, Judges, Area Lawyer, and District attorneys all play their own component in the criminal justice system. They all have their own various communications with either the suspicious or criminal defendant. There are various things that have to occur…
References
Israel, Jerold H.; Kamisar, Yale; LaFave, Wayne R. (2003). Criminal Procedure and the Constitution: Leading Supreme Court Cases and Introductory Text. St. Paul, MN: West Publishing.
John N. Ferdico, Henry F. Fradella, Christopher D. Totten. (2008). Criminal Procedure for the Criminal Justice Professional. Cengage Learning Publications.
Criminal Justice Administration
The criminal justice system involves practices and institutions directed by governments in place to ensure that social control is upheld, crime mitigation and deterring or going ahead to sanction those that are in violation of laws through criminal penalties and rehabilitating them.at the same time those who have been accused of any crime are protected against abuse of the powers to investigate or prosecute them. The paper will look at the key issues when it comes to criminal justice administration today.
The criminal justice system today consists of three main parts which are the legislative part, the adjudication part and the correction part. The legislation part has the duty of creating laws which have to be followed by every individual. Incase one does not follow these laws they might find themselves faced with charges against them. The adjudication comprises of courts which are the venues for settling…
References
Roufa, T.(2010). Criminal Justice. Retrieved August 30, 2013 from http://criminologycareers.about.com/od/Criminology_Basics/a/What-is-criminal-justice.htm
American society of criminology. (2012).Criminal justice issues. Retrieved August 30, 2013 from https://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles/158837.pdf
Other Implications
If the issue of pant sagging is not addressed, it will lead to public dissatisfaction, especially from people who have raised concerns. It will also continue the implications on black men as being disrespectful gangsters, or as Cosby says (middle class blacks who are disrespected and despised gangsters, whose egregious behavior is sagging pants). It will also continue the implication that the black represent some unified community which is monolithic so that discrimination to them (blacks) is de-racialized. Other implications are there as seen in the Basketball Association, where they sought to enforce the dress code, stating that hip hop dressing projected an image that tends to alienate middle class members in the audience. The economic implication about sagging pants is that it prevents the youth from getting jobs leading to the high number of unemployed youth especially the blacks.
ecommendations
Some take the ban as a racist…
References
Bawaba, a. (2011). Sagging Pants Sagging Minds. General Interest Periodical Africa.
Clatchy, M. (2008). Sagging Pants Bill Doesn't Hold Up. Business and Economics.
Cole, G.A. (2012). The American System of Criminal Justice. New York: Cengage.
Magwire, M.A. (2010). Critical Issues in Crime and Justice: Thought, Policy, Practice. London: SAGE.
Criminal Justice IT
It is becoming very clear how much of an impact the newest technological advances have on the world. For example, consider how quickly the information spread via the social media about Osama bin Laden's death. Technology innovations are also greatly impacting the criminal justice system in the U.S. By providing significant improvements in the way that agencies find, process, share and utilize information. With the present speed of change, many new information technology advances are still on their way for the 18,000 police departments and several thousand prosecutorial court and correction agencies in the U.S. (Pattavina, 2005). In the future, as the digital world continues to advance in complexity, the criminal justice system will continue to improve in overall effectiveness and capabilities in crime measurement, control and response.
Since the 1960s, criminal justice system agencies have been using information technology to gain a better understanding of the…
References
Boba, R. (2005). Crime Analysis and Crime Mapping. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications.
DNA Initiative (2011). Retrieved May 5, 2011 from http://www.dna.gov/basics/
National Institute of Justice. Retrieved May 5, 2011 from http://nij.gov/
Pattavina, A. (2005). Information Technology and the Criminal Justice System. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications.
" (Weinstein, 2003) This range is dependent upon the charges that are brought against the defendant in the criminal case as well as "some aspects of the conduct underlying the charges." (Weinstein, 2003) Judges are legally required to "impose a specific sentence is subject to the exercise of discretion in two areas" which are those of:
1) the judge makes the determination that the sentence must be within the Guideline range; and 2) in cases which involve downward departures where the sentence imposed may be below the applicable guidelines range. (Weinstein, 2003)
Judges are naturally sought by the public for the purpose of influencing the outcomes in cases which they preside over. And public opinion must surely, at least to some extent, and depending upon the ethics within the specific community, exert some influence upon the opinions and rulings of a judge in some cases. Just as well, the Judge…
Bibliography
O'Malley, T. (nd) Sentencing Values and Sentencing Structures. Judicial Studies Institute Journal. Vol. 203 No. 201. Online available at http://www.jsijournal.ie/html/Volume%203%20No.%201/3%5B1%5D_O'Malley_Sentencing%20Values%20and%20Sentencing%20Structures.pdf.
Weinstein, I. (2003) Fifteen years after the federal sentencing revolution: how mandatory minimums have undermined effective and just narcotics sentencing..(Perspectives on the Federal Sentencing Guidelines and Mandatory Sentencing) 1 Jan 2003. American Criminal Law Review.
Criminal Justice Administration
Does the criminal justice system discriminate? Provide support your position with reference to the various components of the process, and give an explanation for either why the system discriminates, or why it appears to discriminate.
Yes, the criminal justice system discriminates. African-American males are overrepresented in every part of the criminal process, though there has been no good evidence to show that they actually engage in criminal behavior at rates that are so grossly disproportionate to the participation rates of the rest of society.
In fact, enough young adult African-American males are incarcerated that it impacts the African-American community by contributing to single parenthood, making it less likely that African-American women will find spouses, and perpetuating a cycle of violence and incarceration.
In addition to racial discrimination, women who kill their spouses receive sentences that are roughly four to five times as long as the sentences that men receive when…
Criminal Justice: Challenges and Developments
The criminal justice system in the United States, and indeed anywhere in the world, is a governmental tool to ensure the safety and security of the citizens of the country. Certain areas have however been considered in research to steer away from this goal. The public has for example lost a considerable amount of trust in the system as a result of apparent oppressive practices in the system. Furthermore alcohol has been proved to be a problem in many crimes; yet many of the prisoners with drinking problems remain untreated, and crimes are perpetuated as a result. There are also however significant developments within the system, including IT advances, which could help to create an increase in job opportunities in a variety of departments.
Perceived Oppression in the Criminal Justice System
The United States prison system appears to be the icon of years of accumulated…
Bibliography
Parenti, Christian. "The 'New' Criminal Justice System: State Repression from 1968 to 2001." In Monthly Review, July 2001. Society for the Advancement of Education, 2002. Online Article Database: www.findarticles.com.
Polcin, Douglas L. "Factors associated with probation officers' use of criminal justice coercion to mandate alcohol treatment." In American Journal of Drug and Alcohol Abuse, August 2003. Marcel Dekker, Inc., 2003. Online Article Database: www.findarticles.com.
Rogers, James. "Criminal justice modernisation will create hundreds of IT jobs." In Computer Weekly, August 1, 2002. Reed Business Information Limited, 2002. Online Article Database: www.findarticles.com.
Criminal Justice
Law enforcement
Some things are fundamental to the history and progressive development of human society. The evolution of technology brings with it new challenges in the management of the security of the state. For this motive that law enforcement systems is set in the society to maintain and promote law and order (Law enforcement, 2002). Law enforcement systems act in organized manner, in the process of promoting adherence to the law of the country and identifying those who violate the laws and norms that govern the society. Law enforcement engages in the patrols and surveillance in dissuading and discovering criminal activities, investigating and apprehending the offenders. Law enforcement agencies and systems work in conjunction with judiciary services and correctional facilities, following the constitution of the land.
Parts of the Constitution of the United States most relevant to the ethical standards of law enforcement professionals
The United States law…
References
Prenzler, T. (2009). Police corruption: Preventing misconduct and maintaining integrity. Boca Raton: CRC Press.
Barker, T. (2011). Police ethics: Crisis in law enforcement. Springfield, Ill: Chares C. Thomas.
Law enforcement. (2002, Credit Management,, 22-22. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/228275987?accountid=35812
Rosen, M.D. (2004). Exporting the constitution. Emory Law Journal, 53(1), 171-232. Retrieved
This may mean an expansion of white-collar task forces designed to investigate such crimes.
Question
Predictions are that terrorist will continue to commit heinous criminal acts against our citizens in the future. If this prediction comes true, what, if any, effects will this have on the corrections system. ill Criminal Justice Administrators need to rethink what "model" (more punitive or restorative model) of justice should be used if more and more terrorist are incarcerated in our prison system?
hy or why not?
If terrorism becomes the focus of the criminal justice and prison system, this means that more and more non-citizens are likely to be incarcerated in the future. The result of this is that the United States must develop a more clearly defined policy to handle suspected terrorists in a legal and ethical fashion, so as not to draw the anger of the international community, or of congress. A…
Works Cited
Cilluffo, Frank J. (19 Sept 2006). "Prison radicalization: Are terrorist cells forming in U.S. cell blocks?" Testimony before the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Retrieved 9 Jan 2007 at http://hsgac.senate.gov/_files/091906Cilluffo.pdf
Community corrections." (2008). Federal Bureau of Prisons. Retrieved 9 Jan 2007 at http://www.bop.gov/locations/cc/index.jsp
The Juvenile Justice System." (2007). Law Info. Retrieved 9 Jan 2007 at http://www.lawinfo.com/index.cfm/fuseaction/Client.lawarea/categoryid/140
Understanding Community Policing." (1994, Aug). Bureau of Justice Assistance.
Issues of justice and fairness during the trial of offenders could also be found the area of timeliness under the criminal justice systems.
Discussion Two: Issues Arising from Other Issues
At Excelsior College, many areas of specialization have been dwelt on by different students. To be precise, for example, the college covers issues related to homeland security, criminal justices and justice systems and the enforcement of the law. One area that the students indulged in is the treatment of mentally ill offenders during pre-trial, trial and their time in prison. Basically, the area deals with the treatment of criminal offenders and the justice system procedures of trial. Basically, these issues of justice, fair treatment when serving time in prison, and timeliness during trial could also apply in other field of study. In the same way the mentally ill have dissimilar incentives to assist them recover while in custody, other criminals…
Though the assets were seized without any promise or even expectation of individual officers gaining personal financial rewards, the ethical considerations of this problem are fairly obvious. It sets a dangerous precedent for future investigations involving large amounts of cash, expensive cars and homes, and other goods and property that is easily saleable at the completion of an investigation. The wide distribution of the money derived from the seized assets does something to alleviate the ethical problem that this situation clearly presents, but it does not solve the problem.
Journal 6: "RCPD say small percent of offenders produce large percent of crime," Riley County Kansas Channel 49 News
There is strong evidence that criminal offenders, especially those that commit certain types of crimes, have a high rate of recidivism. This article bears out that fact, and includes the rather controversial statement that "If you arrest the right people...the crime rate…
To have an appropriate policy outcome, an investigation is necessary to determine the basis of their relationship. This is necessary since both the attorney and the public will be in a position to justify if he shot his wife unknowingly.
On the third website there is a case concerning a murderous ex-cop who faces cases of murder and hopes to get another chance. In such a case, there has to be evidence on the charges laid against the ex-cop and they are applicable in the case to establish the significant policy outcome. In lack of concrete evidence then it is unnecessary to charge the ex-cop against a series of murder, which is a callous act. The jury has to get proper information and then establish the kind of justice that will prevail on the case.
The three above proposals are similar in a way that they entail an important part…
Reference
Kraska, P., & Brent, J. (2011).Theorizing Criminal Justice: Eight Essential Orientations (2nd
Edition). Long Grove,
Hancock, B., & Sharp, P. (2004).Criminal Justice in America (3rd Edition).Upper Saddle River,
NY: Prentice
Criminal Justice
Powell, Michael. "Bragging of Safety While Many Live in Fear." New York Times. 22 pril, 2014. Retrieved online: http://www.nytimes.com/2014/04/22/nyregion/bragging-of-safety-while-many-live-in-fear.html
In this article, Michael Powell claims that in spite of New York City's stellar record of crime reduction there remain "sad and bloody corners" of the city, especially in the outer boroughs. In some areas, and especially in low-income housing projects, crime has actually increased. nother problem that Powell addresses in this article is the issue of stop and frisk as a police tactic. This tactic is abused, and is clearly racist in its application. s a result, the administration of Mayor De Blasio confronts several civil rights lawsuits. Powell touches upon a central issue in criminal justice: the need to balance patrols and prevention with an overbearing police presence. Some residents appreciate the strong police presence because it may make their housing developments safer. Yet others feel like…
Although we are not discussing international crime, I wanted to write about this article in a more general sense to show how rates of crime shift in response to changing demographics. This article could apply equally as well to an American city that is rapidly growing and changing. The article focuses on the sudden increasing in crimes in Malaysia, with an emphasis on the capital Kuala Lumpur. The city has always been known to be safe but recently has had a rise in crime, especially thefts and burglaries. Class conflict and strain theory are used to explain the issue, but there are clearly other issues at stake given the simultaneous rise in crimes that are violent too, such as rape and homicide.
Kelly, Heather. "Hyperlocal apps help residents fight crime." CNN Tech. 14 May, 2014. Retrieved online: http://www.cnn.com/2014/05/14/tech/social-media/neighborhood-watch-apps-nextdoor/
In this article, the author discusses the use of technology to empower residents of a community in Arizona. This article shows that community residents can use a simple app on their smartphone, which they are already using, to monitor their neighborhood. It is an app that can easily transfer to other cities. The reason why I selected this article for discussion is that I believe in community policing as a viable model. Applications like this help residents feel responsible for the safety of their community, more responsive to threats, and more willing to take action. This will lead to increased citizen watch patterns, and cooperation with police. As long as this does not lead to the "stand your ground" type approach, applications like this will help make communities safer and can be applied to urban, suburban, and even rural regions.
A variety of methods and designs can be used in criminal justice research. Both qualitative and quantitative methods are valid approaches to the sociological questions researchers will have when faced with presenting problems and issues. Ideally, criminal justice research should remain relevant, grounded in theory, and applicable to public policy or practice. Criminal justice policies and procedures can and should be evidence-based. Scientific research helps to identify which interventions or policies work, and which do not, based on quantitative data or on phenomenological factors like public opinion.
The two main branches of social science research include qualitative and quantitative designs. Qualitative research is not necessarily inferior to quantitative research in the social sciences because measurable outcomes cannot account for all aspects of the human experience. Therefore, researchers will often use qualitative methods like in-depth interviews, case studies, and focus groups in order to gather information, ask open-ended questions, and ascertain…
References
“Criminology and Criminal Justice Research: Methods - Quantitative Research Methods,” (n.d.). http://law.jrank.org/pages/923/Criminology-Criminal-Justice-Research-Methods-Quantitative-research-methods.html
Flom, P. (2018). Five characteristics of the scientific methods. Sciencing. https://sciencing.com/five-characteristics-scientific-method-10010518.html
Maxwell, J.A., Chmiel, M. & Rogers, S.E. (2016). Designing integration in multimethod and mixed method research. In Hesse-Biber, S.N. & Johnson, B. (Eds.) The Oxford Handbook of Multimethod and Mixed Methods Research Inquiry. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
“Quantitative Approaches,” (n.d.). Center for innovation in research and teaching. https://cirt.gcu.edu/research/developmentresources/research_ready/quantresearch/approaches
Research and Policy Development Paper
Introduction
Irrespective of how advanced the devices and systems used in receiving and sending information are, much success would not be achieved in crime reduction until important information and facts about crime is accessible and worked on by policymakers (Andrews & Bonta, 2010). The idea of research, with emphasis laid on the discoveries made from criminal justice investigation, being actively utilized by policymakers forms the subject matter which this paper studies.
Identify the purposes and types of policies within the field of criminal justice
i. Count Policies
An important function of a corrections officer is the knowledge of the location of all offenders and where each one should be at a particular moment in time. All organizations have a different style and number of counts, nonetheless, the role the counts play remain straightforward and it is; to have the knowledge of the exact number of…
The Importance of Appropriate Evaluation Models
Criminal justice policy and program evaluation is not a monolithic or standardized process. In other words there is no one size fits all approach to policy evaluation and assessment. Evaluation of policies designed to reduce domestic violence will be sharply different from those used to reduce rates of recidivism among juveniles. Therefore, when recommending a policy evaluation model, analysts should take into account situational variables, and especially the methods used to design and implement the applicable criminal justice policy. The Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA, n.d.) describes evaluation in general as “a systematic, objective process for determining the success of a policy or program,” in order to determine whether that policy or program is achieving the goals it set out to achieve, or whether the program or policy has proven to be cost-effective (p. 1). In order to perform any type of policy evaluation,…
References
Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA, n.d.). Guide to program evaluation. https://www.bja.gov/evaluation/guide/bja-guide-program-evaluation.pdf
Cattaneo, L. B., & Goodman, L. A. (2015). What is empowerment anyway? A model for domestic violence practice, research, and evaluation. Psychology of Violence, 5(1), 84-94.
“Criminal Justice Program Evaluation,” (n.d.). http://criminal-justice.iresearchnet.com/criminology/research-methods/ program-evaluation/
Janeksela, G.M. (1977). An evaluation model for criminal justice. Criminal Justice Review 2(2): 1-11.
National Criminal Justice Association (n.d.). Program evaluation. http://www.ncjp.org/pretrial/outcome-and-performance-measures
Psychologists serve in various roles within the criminal justice system, as well as at every level of the criminal justice system from law enforcement to corrections. Some of the most common categories of criminal justice psychologist include as applied scientist, basic scientist, policy evaluator, and advocate. Each of these roles can be fulfilled at the levels of law enforcement, corrections, and also within the courts system.
Applied Scientist/Psychologist
Licensed psychologists can work as applied scientists: translating empirical evidence into informed practice at the levels of law enforcement, corrections, or any level of procedural justice. For example, expert witnesses are essentially applied scientists because they directly apply what they know about psychiatric disorders and the behaviors of individuals with these disorders towards helping a judge and jury make educated, informed decisions through witness testimony or consultation. Offering their expertise to law enforcement, an applied scientist would also be able to offer…
References
Day, D.M. & Marion, S.B. (n.d.). Applying social psychology to the criminal justice system. https://www.sagepub.com/sites/default/files/upm-binaries/44552_11.pdf
Scottsdale, B. (n.d.). Criminal justice careers in applied psychology. The Chronicle. http://work.chron.com/criminal-justice-careers-applied-psychology-15599.html
Shelton, S., Goldner, J.A. & Henry, J. (2016). Psychologists in the legal system. The Register Report, Fall 2016, https://www.nationalregister.org/pub/the-national-register-report-pub/the-register-report-fall-2016/psychologists-in-the-legal-system-merging-and-avoiding-collisions-at-the-intersection-of-psychology-and-law/
Criminal Justice Code of EthicsThe code of ethics provided by the Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences has stipulations on the ethical standards and the general principles underlying the professional conduct, responsibility, and behavior of the organizations members, coupled with the procedures and policies that guide the enforcement of the same. This is very crucial to criminal justice and law enforcement. It is particularly essential when conducting any form of research concerning criminal activities and the criminal justice processes (Martinson et al., 2010). Ultimately, ethical research plays a crucial role in providing the correct information and data that the criminal justice system can utilize to solve societal problems and improve the system. As such, adherence to the ethical standards in conducting research is essential, as discussed below.The Meaning of Research Standards- Members of the Academy as ResearchersMembers of the academy should adhere to a high level of technical standards in research.…
References
Bille, T., & Steenfeldt, V. O. (2013). Challenging fieldwork situations: A study of researcher’s subjectivity. Journal of Research Practice, 9(1), M2-M2.
Cho, J., & Trent, A. (2006). Validity in qualitative research revisited. Qualitative research, 6(3), 319-340.
Martinson, B. C., Crain, A. L., De Vries, R., & Anderson, M. S. (2010). The importance of organizational justice in ensuring research integrity. Journal of empirical research on human research ethics, 5(3), 67-83.
Civil versus Criminal Liability
Introduction
Criminal justice practitioners do have a civil liability that puts them at risk of being sued by the public. The purpose of civil liability is to encourage accountability and responsible in the field of criminal justice. For that reason, “local governments can now be held liable for the conduct of police officers and jail personnel. In addition, sheriffs, police chiefs, and mid- level supervisors can be held personally liable for the conduct of their subordinates” (Barrineau, 1987, p. 35). Criminal justice agencies can also be held criminally liable for their actions if their behaviors break the law. This paper will examine the difference between criminal and civil liability and show how each relates to criminal justice agencies and practitioners.
The Principles of Criminal Law
The rule of law principle is what binds all to the laws passed by government in the U.S. In order for…
References
Barrineau, H. E. (1987). Civil liability in criminal justice (pp. 35-53). Cincinnati, OH: Pilgrimage.
General Principles of Criminal Law. (2018). Retrieved from https://www.lawhandbook.sa.gov.au/ch12s02.php
Nolo. (2018). Civil liability. Retrieved from https://www.criminaldefenselawyer.com/resources/civil-liability.htm
Office of Justice Programs. (2018). Civil liability. Retrieved from https://www.ncjrs.gov/app/abstractdb/AbstractDBDetails.aspx?id=104921
Ross, D. (2009). Civil liability in criminal justice. Retrieved from https://www.sciencedirect.com/book/9781422461396/civil-liability-in-criminal-justice
U.S. Courts. (2018a). Overview—rule of law. Retrieved from http://www.uscourts.gov/educational-resources/educational-activities/overview-rule-law
U.S. Courts. (2018b). Civil cases. Retrieved from http://www.uscourts.gov/about-federal-courts/types-cases/civil-cases
Both qualitative and quantitative research methods have the potential to yield reliable, valid, and important information that can be used to inform public policy. Criminal justice researchers use a wide range of research methods, which vary depending on the research questions, the purpose of the study (applied versus pure research) and the overall paradigm and theoretical framework. Research can be used to validate or disprove an existing theory, alter or enhance an existing theory, generate a new theory based on phenomenology, or evaluate the effectiveness of a policy, program, or intervention (“Criminology Research Methods,” n.d.). Qualitative research methods are best used when the researchers are interested in participants’ perceptions, or seek open-ended answers to questions. Quantitative research methods are best used when the researchers want hard data in numerical form, which can be used to generate statistical analyses. Mixed-methods approaches can be tremendously helpful for criminal justice and social science…
References
Barnes, G.C., Hyatt, J.M. & Angel, C.M. (2013). Are Restorative Justice Conferences More Fair Than Criminal Courts? Comparing Levels of Observed Procedural Justice in the Reintegrative Shaming Experiments (RISE). Criminal Justice Policy Review 26(2): 103-130.
“Criminology Research Methods,” (n.d.). Criminal Justice. Retrieved online: http://criminal-justice.iresearchnet.com/criminology/research-methods/
Higgins, G.A. (2009). Quantitative vs. qualitative methods. Journal of Theoretical and Philosophical crimninology 1(1). Retrieved online: http://jtpcrim.org/January_Articles/Quantitative_Vs_Qualitative_Methods_George_Higgins.pdf
Loughran, T.A., Wilson, T., Nagin, D.S. & Piquero, A.R. (2015). Evolutionary regression? Journal of Experimental Criminology 11(4): 631-652.
“Research Methods in the Social Sciences,” (2017). Lynn University Library. Retrieved online: http://lynn-library.libguides.com/c.php?g=549455&p=3771805
Weisburd, D., Lum, C.M. & Petrosino, A. (2001). Does research design affect study outcomes in criminal justice? Annals of the AAPSS 578(Nov 2001). Retrieved online: http://cebcp.org/wp-content/publications/Does%20Research%20Design%20Affect%20Study%20Outcomes.pdf
Criminal Justice Organizations
The entire criminal justice system is made up of numerous organizations which are inherently independent. Some of the criminal justice organizations in various counties include, but they are not limited to, Juvenile Justice Department, Reentry and Integration Department, Probation Department, etc. Although independent, these criminal justice organizations cannot operate in isolation. This is more so the case given the complex and multifaceted nature of the criminal justice system.
County-wide criminal justice organization: Riverside County Probation Department
The County Probation Department, which I manage as the Chief Probation Officer, has three core missions; serving courts, protecting the community, and changing lives (Riverside County, 2018). In seeking to fulfill its mission, the department interacts with various other agencies within the system. These include, but they are not limited to, Riverside County Sheriff, the Law Offices of the County Public Defender, and the Office of the District Attorney. While these…
References
Hollis, M.E. (2016). Community-Based Partnerships: Collaboration and Organizational Partnerships in Criminal Justice. Journal of Family Strengths, 16(2), 1-17.
Riverside County. (2018). Home. Retrieved from https://rcprob.us/index.html
Stojkovic, S., Kalinich, D. & Klofas, J. (2014). Criminal Justice Organizations: Administration and Management (6th ed.). Stamford, CT: Cengage Learning.
Criminal Justice: Crime Rate ComparisonCrime rates in the United States (US) have been rising. Certain rates for certain crimes are available for the previous years. The recent data has also corroborated the same trend (Disaster Center, n.a.); however, particular crimes for which the increase or decrease are still not clear. The purpose of this paper is to compare the crime rates of two selected states of the US, Nevada, and Arizona, specifically for aggravated assault, so that trends over the years and future prospected outcomes could be compared easily.Prevalence of the Crimes ExaminedFor Nevada, Boulder City Police Department is selected for taking a clear view of the aggravated assault in the county. In contrast, for Arizona, Apache County Sheriff was selected for the same objective. The latest data available on both these pages were for the year 2005, in which Nevada had 14 aggravated assault crimes while Arizona had 12…
References
Canfield, M.D. (2004). Bureau of alcohol and drug abuse 2004 annual report. State Health Division Department of Human Resources. https://www.leg.state.nv.us/73rd/interim/statcom/healthcareTreat/BADA/2004AnnualRpt.pdf
Disaster Center. (n.a.). The Disaster Center crime pages. https://www.disastercenter.com/crime/
Hakansson, A. & Jesionowska, V. (2018). Associations between substance use and type of crime in prisoners with substance use problems- A focus on violence and fatal violence. Substance Abuse and Rehabilitation, 9, 1-9. https://doi.org/10.2147/SAR.S143251
Lammers, S.M.M., Soe-Agnie, S.E., Haan, H.A., Bakkum, G.A.M., Pomp, E.R. & Nijman, H.J.M. (2014). Substance use and criminality: A review. Tijdschrift Voor Psychiatrie, 56(1), 32-39.
Today, social science researchers have a wide range of research methods available for criminology and criminal justice applications, divided generally between quantitative and qualitative methods. Although quantitative and qualitative research methods share some commonalities with respect to their overarching objectives, there are some fundamental differences involved that must be taken into account when selecting an optimal research strategy for a given research enterprise. The purpose of this paper was to provide an overview of quantitative and qualitative research methods applied to criminology and criminal justice settings, including a discussion concerning the similarities and differences involved in these two research paradigms. Finally, a summary of the research and important findings concerning research methods for criminology and criminal justice studies are provided in the paper’s conclusion.
Review and Discussion
Quantitative Research
Many of the same types of quantitative research methodologies that are used for other social science studies are also appropriate for…
References
Goertz, G. & Mahoney, J. (2012). A tale of two cultures: Qualitative and quantitative research in the social sciences. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press.
Gratton, C. & Jones, I. (2009), Research methods for sport studies. New York: Routledge.
Groat, L. & Wang, D. (2003). Architectural research methods. New York: John Wiley & Sons.
Guinto, W. (2011). Criminology and criminal justice research: Methods - quantitative and qualitative research methods JRank Articles http://law.jrank.org/pages/923/Criminology-
Li, J. (2008, March). Ethical challenges in participant observation: A reflection on ethnographic fieldwork. The Qualitative Report, 13(1), 100-104.
Neuman, W. L. (2008). Social research methods: Qualitative and quantitative approaches, 6th ed. New York: Allyn & Bacon.
Observational versus experimental studies. (2016). Institute for Work & Health. Retrieved from https://www.iwh.on.ca/what-researchers-mean-by/observational-vs-experimental-studies.
Richards, L. (2011, July). Seek and ye shall find. ABA Bank Marketing, 33(6), 87-90.
Introduction
Without any set moral guidelines and stipulations, a country’s criminal justice system is not capable of accurately meeting the needs of its people. The role of the system is to penalize poor conduct and make sure that victims of crime are well compensated for any of their losses (Braswell, McCarthy & McCarthy, 2017; Souryal & Whitehead, 2019). Ethics are valuable in such systems because they offer both the victim and the accused fair justice application (Kramer, 2018). In this essay, the significance of ethics within the criminal justice system is discussed. Also, instances of unethical behavior, as well as the legal responsibilities suffered by the doers of such action, are presented.
Importance of ethics within the criminal justice
Ethics offers answers to several questions within the system. What is considered bad behavior or conduct? What is the most suitable compensation for victims of crime, and what is the befitting…
Mental Health Support for Inmates in For Profit Prisons
The thesis of this project is: The prison industry needs to do a better job of addressing the mental health needs of prisoners.
What makes this an issue is that, as Morgan et al. (2013) and Semenza and Grosholz (2019) show, the criminal justice system is not doing enough to treat the mental health issues of inmates. Instead of focusing on the mental health aspects of crime, the system instead focuses on punitive justice. This is partly because of a conflict of interest at the heart of the criminal justice system, which is the fact that a private prison industry profits off the imprisonment of convicts. The labor of these convicts is outsourced to competing companies, which pay pennies on the dollar to inmates who have no choice but to work for them while incarcerated (Pelaez, 2014). There is no incentive…
References
Evans Cuellar, A., McReynolds, L. S., & Wasserman, G. A. (2006). A cure for crime: Can mental health treatment diversion reduce crime among youth?. Journal of Policy Analysis and Management: The Journal of the Association for Public Policy Analysis and Management, 25(1), 197-214.
Morgan, R.D., Flora, D.B., Kroner, D.G., Mills, J.F., Varghese, F. & Steffan, J.S. (2013). Treating Offenders with Mental Illness: A Research Synthesis, 36(1), 37-50.
Pelaez, V. (2014). The prison industry in the United States: big business or a new form of slavery?. Global Research, 31, 1-2.
Semenza, D.C. & Grosholz, J.M. (2019). Mental and physical health in prison: how co-occurring conditions influence inmate misconduct. Health and Justice, 7(1), 101-107.
Stringer, H. (2019). Improving mental health for inmates. American Psychological Association, 50(3), 46.
Vogel, M., Stephens, K.D. &Siebels, D. (2014). Mental Illness and the Criminal Justice System. Sociology Compass, 8(6), 627-638. DOI: 10.1111/soc4.12174
Yi, Y., Turney, K. &Wildeman, C. (2016). Mental Health Among Jail and Prison Inmates. American Journal of Men’s Health, 11(4), 900-909.
One of the specific issues the Women’s Prison Association (WPA) addresses is how incarceration affects mothers, and how the criminal justice system can better address the needs of pregnant women, mothers, and children. One report published by the WPA summarizes a 2008 data set compiled by the Bureau of Justice Statistics. The document, “Incarcerated Mothers and Their Children: Highlights from the New Federal Report” reveals three main facts. The first is that more mothers than ever before are being imprisoned in the United States, invariably impacting greater numbers of children than ever before. Second, the majority (77%) of mothers provide all or almost all of their children’s daily care needs and/or live in a single-parenting household. Third, children with incarcerated mothers live with their grandparents or a foster family many times more often than children of incarcerated fathers. The results show that incarceration has a net deleterious effect on society…
Epistemology and Duty Ethics in Criminal Justice
Ethical Issues
1 Ethics in Law Enforcement Agencies
As Roufa (2019) notes, ethics in law enforcement are essential to prevent behaviors from going unchecked and bad reputations from being developed. Ethics in law enforcement agencies can provide guidelines, identify values that should be promoted, and dictate what sort of actions, behaviors and attitudes law enforcement agents should demonstrate. The Law Enforcement Oath of Office focuses on protecting, upholding and defending the Constitution of the US. It also contains terms regarding how officers should conduct themselves: soberly, honorably and honestly.
Law enforcement agencies tend to codify the ethics they want their officers to follower. The reason for this is that they want their officers to engage in ethical decision making, which means making the right decision morally. Sometimes officers can have an unconscious or implicit bias and this can affect their decision making (Hehman,…
Prison Industrial Complex and the Private Prison System
1
Legal paternalism is the idea that the state can coerce individuals into doing something for their own good, whether it is preventing them from engaging in self-harm by holding them in a mental health facility against their will, or obliging an entire nation of free-thinking adults to wear surgical masks so that everyone feels safe from a flu virus. As Feinberg (1971) notes, legal paternalism robs the individual of the ability to think for himself and can cause them to “lose the power of rational judgment and decision” (p. 105). By treating people like children, the state turns adults into children. This is a backwards approach to governance. Even children, as Feinberg (1971) points out, are not treated as children after a certain period because society expects them to grow up. Yet grown-ups are expected to give up their rights and…
References
Feinberg, J. (1971). Legal paternalism. Canadian Journal of Philosophy, 1(1), 105-124.
Greene, J. R. (2000). Community policing in America: Changing the nature, structure, and function of the police. Criminal justice, 3(3), 299-370.
Hagerty, J. (2017). ‘Making a Murderer:’ Was There Really A Conflict Of Interest In The Steven Avery Case? Retrieved from https://www.inquisitr.com/4483799/making-a-murderer-was-there-really-a-conflict-of-interest-in-the-steven-avery-case/
Pathranarakul, P. (2006). Conflict of interest: an ethical issue in public and private management. Thai Journal of Public Administration, 4(1), 11-11.
Compare and Contrast the Current Dominant Approaches to Crime Prevention
Introduction
Given the diverse definitions of crime prevention, Schneider looks at it from the consequences approach. He defines it as a program or strategy that serves the purpose of preventing the occurrence of criminal acts or behaviors from emerging (2014). The outcome of such a definition has seen crime prevention defined as a “reduction in or prevention of specific criminal events” (Schneider, 2014, p. 6). Moreover, it is defined regarding reduction in the number of criminal offenders showing that the harm has been either reduced or prevented. Furthermore, the definition looks at the strategy as having reduced the number of harmed victims. Moreover, prevention is the fourth pillar and other institutions like courts, police, and corrections fall in that category. Crime prevention has dominant approaches used by law enforcement, courts, corrections, family, or community, which are all components of the…
References
Ad Hoc police practices review commission. (2015). Final report. Retrieved from https://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/chairman/pdf/adhoc-final-10.8.15.pdf
Barga, A. A., & Weisburd, D. (2010). Policing problem places: Crime hot spots and effective prevention. New York, NY: Oxford University Press.
Bureau of Justice Assistance. (2014). Crime prevention. Office of Justice Programs.
Shaw, M. & United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime. (2010). Handbook on the crime prevention guidelines: Making them work. New York, NY: United Nations.
Schneider, S. (2014). Crime prevention: Theory and practice (2nd ed.). Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press.
The significance of ethical leadership in criminal justice and correctional organisations cannot be overemphasised. These organisations must put in place and enforce policies to ensure officers constantly act in accordance with the law and the expected ethical standards (National Institute of Corrections, 2014). Based on the Clinton Correctional Facility scenario, this paper provides a plan for implementing employment laws and policy to enhance ethical leadership at the organisation. In the scenario, correctional staff engaged in personal relationships with two felony inmates who subsequently escaped (De Avila, 2015). Such relationships have the potential to undermine the work of criminal justice and correctional relationships, underscoring the importance of ethical leadership. The plan specifically highlights the employment and policy issues in the scenario and their associated consequences, and recommends necessary steps to address the issues.
Legally and ethically, correctional officers are not allowed to have intimate relationships with inmates. Nevertheless, staff-inmate personal…
References
Bennett, J., Crewe, B., & Wahidin, A. (2012). Understanding prison staff. 2nd ed. New York: Routledge.
Carlson, P., & Garrett, J. (2008). Prison and jail administration: Practice and theory. 2nd ed. Boston: Jones and Bartlett Publishers.
De Avila, J. (2015, July 28). Former New York prison worker Joyce Mitchell pleads guilty, agrees to up-to 7-Year prison term. Wall Street Journal. Retrieved from http://www.wsj.com/articles/former-new-york-prisonworker-joyce-mitchell-pleads - guilty-agrees-to-7-year-prison-term-1438097115
National Institute of Corrections. (2014). Correctional leadership competencies for the 21st century. Charleston, SC: Bibliolife DBA of Bibilio Bazaar II LLC.
Lawyer Misconduct and the Sixth Amendment Rights of the Accused
1
The responsibility of the law in preventing harm to oneself and upholding social morals varies from state to state. For example, in parts of Nevada, prostitution is legal; in other parts, it is not. The same goes for drug use. In some states, like Colorado, marijuana use has been legalized. In other states, it is still illegal and even under federal law it is illegal. Thus, in a democracy, the people are ultimately the ones to determine what their laws will be. However, there are definitely organizations that lobby for certain laws to be passed. For instance, prior to Prohibition, there were organizations that lobbied to have alcohol banned and eventually their voices were heard at the federal level.
The responsibility of the law in preventing harm to oneself is ultimately a controversial one in a liberty-loving society. People…
Criminological Perspectives
Criminological perspectives explain why people commit crime and why some people are more predisposed to engage in criminal activity than others. The trait, social, and classical/choice perspectives are among the most common criminological perspectives. This text describes the core arguments of these three perspectives and how they dictate the sentencing model used at trial.
The Trait Perspective
The trait perspective argues that an individual’s predisposition to commit crime is influenced by their biological or genetic makeup (Siegel, 2015). According to the trait perspective, humans are born-criminals. However, individuals have certain traits such as blood chemistry disorders, neurological problems, defective intelligence or psychological disorders that determine whether or not they engage in crime when under duress or pushed in a certain direction. Traditional trait theorists believe that these biological and psychological attributes explain all criminality (Siegel, 2015). Contemporary theorists, however, believe that environmental factors such as disorganized neighborhoods, socioeconomic…
The Need for Criminal Justice Reform and Bail Reform
When it comes to incarceration, the U.S. has the worst record in the world: the U.S. is only 4.4% of the world’s population, but it makes up 22% of the entire planet’s prison population. 716 people for every 100,000 in the U.S. will be incarcerated; moreover, 70% of those in prison will be there simply because they cannot afford to pay for bail (ACLU, 2019). Since most people live paycheck to paycheck in the U.S. it is not surprising to find that anyone accused of a crime is unlikely to be able to post the average cost of bail, which in the U.S. is $11,000 (ACLU, 2019). For these reasons, there is a need to establish both criminal justice reform and bail reform in the U.S. The American Gulag is like that of the Soviet Gulag: people lose their entire lives…
Restorative justice asks fundamentally different questions, and is based on a different set of assumptions, than the current criminal justice paradigm (Restorative Justice for Oakland Youth, n.d.). The most notable and important difference between the current criminal justice paradigm and the restorative justice paradigm is that restorative justice does not focus on the punishment and does not advocate a punitive criminal justice system. Instead, the restorative justice model is based on several different points of views including how to repair harm. Restorative justice is solution-focused and also victim-centric in its approach to criminal justice. The National Institute of Justice (2007) describes restorative justice as being “grounded in community involvement,” which places a considerable degree of responsibility upon the members of the community in addition to the victims. As the Insight Prison Project (2017) puts it, restorative justice is “a philosophy and a social movement which provides an entirely different way…
References
Crawford, A. & Newburn, T. (2011). Youth Offending and Restorative Justice. New York: Routledge.
Davis, M. (2013). Restorative justice: resources for schools. Retrieved online: https://www.edutopia.org/blog/restorative-justice-resources-matt-davis
Insight Prison Project (2017). What is restorative justice? Retrieved online: http://www.insightprisonproject.org/a-restorative-justice-agency.html
Mahoney, S. (2011). Teen shoplifting. Family Circle. Retrieved online: http://www.familycircle.com/teen/parenting/discipline/teen-shoplifting/?page=2
National Institute of Justice (2007). How to build community support for restorative justice. Retrieved online: https://www.nij.gov/topics/courts/restorative-justice/perspectives/pages/how-to-build.aspx
Restorative Justice for Oakland Youth (n.d.). Restorative justice. Retrieved online: http://rjoyoakland.org/restorative-justice/
Understanding why individuals or groups engage in deviant or criminal behavior helps better inform therapeutic interventions and public policy. No one theory of crime can explain all criminal behavior. However, each theory does offer the potential for better understanding individual criminal acts or patterns of criminal behavior that take place within specific cultural or historical contexts. Integrating multiple theories can be helpful, too, showing how biology, psychology, politics, culture, and sociology intersect.
Biological Theories of Criminal Behavior
Some of the earliest theories of criminal behavior evolved out of biological determinism and evolutionary theory, which suggested that some people have a genetic predisposition towards criminality. Biological theories of criminal behavior can be based on different perspectives, including those that focus on neurochemistry, genetic conditions, developmental disorders, and even nutritional deficiencies (The Scottish Centre for Crime & Justice Research, 2016). Although the original biological theories of crime like those of Lombroso have…
References
Engelen, P., Lander, M.W. & van Essen, M. (2016). What determines crime rates? The Social Science Journal 53(2): 247-262.
Hirschi, T. (2014). On the compatibility of rational choice and social control theories of crime. In Scott, M. (Ed.) The Reasoning Criminal. New York: Routledge.
Miller L. (2017) Psychological Theories of Criminal Behavior. In: Van Hasselt V., Bourke M. (eds) Handbook of Behavioral Criminology. Springer, Cham
Newsome, J. (2014). Biological theories of crime. The Encyclopedia of Criminology and Criminal Justice. Blackwell: https://doi.org/10.1002/9781118517383.wbeccj225
The Scottish Centre for Crime & Justice Research (2016). Theories and causes of crime. University of Glasgow: http://www.sccjr.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/SCCJR-Causes-of-Crime.pdf
From my knowledge in taking this course thus far as well as with my knowledge of being certified as a police officer, my position for how Dripps model would work is that it would not work. From reviewing and researching his model, I believe his model is very anti-police and seems to take the stance that all police departments and judicial systems have some type of buddy system that embraces corruption in criminal justice. That is something that I completely disagree with. In his article it states that, “The judge is not offering to cancel the suppression order if the police department mows the judge's lawn or provides free security at rock concerts. The judge is offering to rescind one, purely deterrent, remedy if and only if the government submits to another remedy that deters equally and compensates better” (Dripps, 2001). This to me is incredibly offensive that one would…
Restorative Justice: How Just is the Philosophy?
The principle of restorative justice was first created as an alternative to the two dominant philosophies of corrections: retribution and rehabilitation. The retributive view of corrections suggests that the purpose of corrections is to punish the offender. The rehabilitative view suggests that the purpose of corrections is to change the character of the offender for the better and prevent future crimes from taking place. Both neglect the needs of the victim, however, which is how the principle of restorative justice arose. According to the Centre for Justice and Reconciliation’s definition of “What is Restorative Justice” (2018), the philosophy: “emphasizes accountability, making amends, and — if they are interested — facilitated meetings between victims, offenders, and other persons.”
For some crimes, the principles of restorative justice would seem to be highly appropriate. A good example of this is vandalism, in which perpetrators are required…
References
Nusrat, N. (2013). What is—and is not—restorative justice? National Centre for Crime and Delinquency. Retrieved form: https://www.nccdglobal.org/newsroom/nccd-blog/what- and-not-restorative-justice
What is restorative justice? (2018). Centre for Justice and Reconciliation. Retrieved from: http://restorativejustice.org/#sthash.Zpiqhc3d.fnSlqRx5.dpbs
Drugs: A Big Problem in Criminal Justice
The problem of drug use in America is one that has been around for many years. However, with the recent passage of marijuana laws in states like Colorado, Oregon and California (to name just a few), the way the nation views drug use has shifted. Recreational marijuana use has become accepted in Colorado, where it is legal to buy and sell a substance that is still considered a schedule 1 narcotic by the federal government. In fact, in states like Colorado, there is a clear conflict between the state laws and the federal laws: the states says cannabis is legal, while the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) says it is still prohibited. Researchers would like to research the drug to better understand its medicinal qualities, but they are afraid of violating federal law, so do not. Thus, the problem of drugs and how to…
References
James, T. (2016). The failed promise of legal pot. Retrieved from
https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2016/05/legal-pot-and-the-black-market/481506/
Miroff, N. (2015). Losing marijuana business, Mexican cartels push heroin and meth.
Retrieved from https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/the_americas/losing-marijuana-business-mexican-cartels-push-heroin-and-meth/2015/01/11/91fe44ce-8532-11e4-abcf-5a3d7b3b20b8_story.html?utm_term=.ba83c8a0f036
Roeder, O. (2015). Releasing drug offenders won’t end mass incarceration. Retrieved
from https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/releasing-drug-offenders-wont-end-mass-incarceration/
Behavioral Influences
There are many behaviors that can influence change in criminal justice organizations. Social behavior influences change because the social systems that exist within an organization can help to disseminate change, or build resistance to it (Qian, 2007). Organizational change requires buy-in from the people that comprise the organization, so social behaviors such as the formation of social groups, gossip and other social communication and behavioral norms will all play a role in how quickly buy-in to the change occurs.
Political behaviors also matter, not just in terms of how the leaders leverage the formal political systems within the organization, but how informal systems are leveraged as well. Within any organization, there are key influencers, and they are not always in positions of formal power. The ability of management to leverage both these influencers and the formal political systems to disseminate a change program will have an influence on…
References
Duan, L., Sheeren, E. & Weiss, L. (2014) Tapping the power of hidden influencers. McKinsey Quarterly. Retrieved May 8, 2018 from https://www.mckinsey.com/business-functions/organization/our-insights/tapping-the-power-of-hidden-influencers
Gupton-Krumweide, R. (2018) Observable aspects of organizational culture. Brainmass. Retrieved May 8, 2018 from https://brainmass.com/business/organizational-culture-and-structure/workplace-observation-organizational-culture-conflict-resolution-126085
Qian, Y. (2007). A communication model of employee cynicism toward organizational change. Scripps College of Communication. Retrieved May 8, 2018 from https://etd.ohiolink.edu/!etd.send_file?accession=ohiou1195512463&disposition=inline
Forensic science evolved as an attempt to introduce scientific methods into criminal justice. From the 18th century onward, advancements in chemistry, biology, and physics paved the way for forensic science (Gaensslen & Larsen, 2019). Likewise, the routine use of autopsy and forensic pathology helped improve the ability to understand the causes of death (Gaensslen & Larsen, 2019). Forensic science steadily evolved, in conjunctions with advancements in scientific instruments and the methods used for data collection and analysis. DNA evidence and analysis has made a huge impact on forensic science. Current concerns in forensic science include the need for increased reliability and validity of forensic science methods, as well as public perceptions of forensic science. Because perceptions of forensic science could have a direct impact on juror decisions, distinguishing real from junk science becomes one of the most important issues in criminal justice.
Scientific Methods in Forensic Science
Forensic scientific methods…
The 2012 Ken Burns documentary entitled The Central Park Five offers disturbing insight into institutionalized racism and the criminal justice system. Co-produced by Sarah Burns and David McMahon, The Central Park Five is about five children of color—teenagers—who were wrongfully convicted of multiple charges including sexual assault. In addition to illuminating the way the media can feed into racial stereotypes about criminality, the documentary also shows how law enforcement uses unethical tactics of interrogation to secure a conviction at all costs. Pressures to arrest and convict are shared among all members of the law enforcement team, even though individual officers will claim that they were following orders. Therefore, The Central Park Five is also instructive for the way it shows how police organizational culture needs to change. The practices and tactics used by New York police undermine the constitutional rights of citizens to due process.
Essentially, the five teenagers referred…
References
Drake, K.E., Gonzalez, R.A., Sigurdsson, J.F., et al. (2017). A national study into temperament as a critical susceptibility factor for reported false confessions amongst adolescents. Personality and Individual Differences 111(2017): 220-226.
Drizin, S.A. & Leo, R.A. (2004). The problem of false confessions in the post-DNA world. 82 N.C. L. Rev. 891 (2003-2004).
Duru, N.J. (2004). The Central Park Five, the Scottsboro Boys, and the myth of the bestial black man. 25 Cardozo L. Rev. 1315 (2003-2004).
Kassin, S.M. & Kiechel, K.L. (1996). The social psychology of false confessions. Psychological Science 7(3): 125-128.
Functions, Issues, and Objectives in Corrections
Introduction
The functions of the historical state correctional system have changed since the founding of the nation more than 200 years ago. The Jacksonian Era, the Era of Reconstruction and the Progressive Era on up to the reform of the 1970s all effected different changes to the function—i.e., the goals and activities—of the correctional system. Pennsylvania’s state correctional system was the first to introduce solitary confinement as a way of removing the deviant element from society. This was part of William Penn’s attempt at social reform, a fundamental characteristic of his Quaker ideals (Fantel, 1974). The goal of Penn’s plan was to promote moral rehabilitation and it was believed that through the inmate’s lengthy time alone to reflect on his misdeeds he would begin to develop the moral resolve to reform himself and become a better contributing member of society. Today, solitary confinement is…
Pros and Cons: Juvenile Justice
Introduction
There are pros and cons to indeterminate sentencing. As Portman (2018) points out, prison officials like the idea of indeterminate sentencing because they feel it provides prisoners with an incentive to behave, show progress towards reform, and serve time quietly with the hope of getting an early release from the parole board. While this may be true, it also places a great deal of power into the hands of the parole board, the members of which essentially determine the fate of the incarcerated every time the individual is up for review. If the board holds any sort of prejudice or if the individual has few supporters on the outside to intervene on his behalf before the board, it could mean that there is less chance of early parole. For these reasons, it is important to weigh the pros and cons of indeterminate sentencing, especially…
References
ACLU. (2018). End juvenile life without parole. Retrieved from https://www.aclu.org/end-juvenile-life-without-parole
Johnson, T., Quintana, E., Kelly, D. A., Graves, C., Schub, O., Newman, P., & Casas, C. (2015). Restorative Justice Hubs Concept Paper. Revista de Mediación, 8(2), 2340-9754.
McCarthy, P., Schiraldi, V., & Shark, M. (2016). The future of youth justice: A community-based alternative to the youth prison model. US Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, National Institute of Justice.
Mears, D. P., Kuch, J. J., Lindsey, A. M., Siennick, S. E., Pesta, G. B., Greenwald, M. A., & Blomberg, T. G. (2016). Juvenile court and contemporary diversion: Helpful, harmful, or both?. Criminology & Public Policy, 15(3), 953-981.
Portman, J. (2018). Indeterminate vs. determinate prison sentences explained. Retrieved from https://www.criminaldefenselawyer.com/determinate-sentences.cfm
Roach, M., & Schanzenbach, M. (2015). The Effect of Prison Sentence Length on Recidivism: Evidence from Random Judicial Assignment. Retrieved from http://www.americanbarfoundation.org/uploads/cms/documents/specific_deterrence_abf_presentation.pdf
Sentencing Guidelines Commission. (2005). Recidivism of Juvenile Offenders Fiscal Year 2005. Sentencing Guidelines Commission.
Walsh, N., & Weber, J. (2014). Measuring and using juvenile recidivism data to inform policy, practice, and resource allocation. The National Reentry Resource Center.
The High Incarceration Rate: A Significant Issue Faced by the Criminal Justice System
Abstract
This paper examines the problem of the high rate of incarceration in America. This is a major challenge for the criminal justice system, as many people, families and communities suffer as a result of this high rate. It prevents individuals from improving their lives and can lead to the deterioration of families and neighborhoods. The paper discusses some of the policies that have been put in place in recent years to address this issue. It also discusses alternative solutions and how the rate could be brought down by way of decriminalization of drug use and the implementation of diversion programs or restorative justice programs.
Introduction
The problem of the high incarceration rate is one that affects more than prisoners and the prison population. It affects communities as well as the economics and politics of the nation.…
References
Brewer, R. M., & Heitzeg, N. A. (2008). The racialization of crime and punishment: Criminal justice, color-blind racism, and the political economy of the prison industrial complex. American Behavioral Scientist, 51(5), 625-644.
Davis, A. (2012). The Meaning of Freedom. San Francisco, CA: City Light Books.
Gramlich, J. (2018). America’s incarceration rate is at a two-decade low. Retrieved from https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2018/05/02/americas-incarceration-rate-is-at-a-two-decade-low/
Johnson, T., Quintana, E., Kelly, D. A., Graves, C., Schub, O., Newman, P., & Casas, C. (2015). Restorative Justice Hubs Concept Paper. Revista de Mediación, 8(2), 2340-9754.
Mears, D. P., Kuch, J. J., Lindsey, A. M., Siennick, S. E., Pesta, G. B., Greenwald, M. A., & Blomberg, T. G. (2016). Juvenile court and contemporary diversion: Helpful, harmful, or both?. Criminology & Public Policy, 15(3), 953-981.
Peters, R. H., Wexler, H. K., & Lurigio, A. J. (2015). Co-occurring substance use and mental disorders in the criminal justice system: A new frontier of clinical practice and research. Psychiatric Rehabilitation Journal, 38(1), 1-6.
Smith, E., & Hattery, A. (2006). The prison industrial complex. Sociation Today, 4(2), 1-28.
Soyer, M. (2016). A dream denied: Incarceration, recidivism, and young minority men in America. Univ of California Press.
Forensic Pathology
Introduction
Forensic pathology is a field in criminology and medical jurisprudence that focuses on the study of a corpse to determine evidence that can be used in criminal justice or to determine the cause of death. The post mortem conducted by a forensic pathologist serves as the source of information for the autopsy report that is generated at the conclusion of the investigation. Having trained previously in anatomical pathology, the forensic pathologist will be able to determine the cause of death by examining the body and determining the process by which the person died. This paper will discuss forensic pathology in detail and show how it is of use in criminal justice.
Meaning of the Terms
The history of forensic pathology is rooted in the terminology: as Choo and Choi (2012) point out, “forensic” comes from the Latin term “forum,” which means “public.” Pathology is Greek in its…
References
Catts, E. P., & Goff, M. L. (1992). Forensic entomology in criminal investigations. Annual Review of Entomology, 37(1), 253-272.
Choo, T. M., & Choi, Y. S. (2012). Historical development of forensic pathology in the United States. Korean Journal of Legal Medicine, 36(1), 15-21.
Finkbeiner, W. E., Ursell, P. C. & Davis, R. S. (2009). Autopsy pathology: a manual and atlas. Philadelphia: Saunders.
Houck, M. & Siegel, J. (2010). Fundamentals of forensic Science. Burlington:Academic Press.
Joseph, I., Mathew, D. G., Sathyan, P., & Vargheese, G. (2011). The use of insects in forensic investigations: An overview on the scope of forensic entomology. Journal of Forensic Dental Sciences, 3(2), 89.
Maio, V. D. & Maio, D. D. (2001). Forensic pathology. Florida: CRC Press.
Newell, R. (1995). Follow the royal road: The case for dissection. Clinical Anatomy: The Official Journal of the American Association of Clinical Anatomists and the British Association of Clinical Anatomists, 8(2), 124-127.
Prayson, R. (2007). Autopsy: Learning from the dead. Cleveland, OH: Cleveland Clinic Press.
DNA Analysis
Abstract
This paper discusses the history of DNA analysis, how it came about, how it was first used in a criminal case, and some of the limitations of DNA analysis as shown by later criminal cases. It looks at how DNA analysis is currently used today, including a recent criminal investigation in Europe in which DNA analysis played a crucial role, and provides a description of the various directions that DNA analysis could be taken in the future in the field of forensics. The paper concludes with a summation of the main points of the paper.
Keywords: dna analysis, dna profiling, dna forensics, dna criminal justice history
Introduction
DNA analysis, also known as DNA fingerprinting in the beginning, came about in the latter half of the 20th century through breakthroughs in scientific investigation. It has been used in forensics ever since and is defined as “comparison of the…
References
Austin, E. (2015). DNA evidence can be faked. Retrieved from https://www.forensicmag.com/news/2015/02/dna-evidence-can-be-faked
Jeffreys, A. J., Wilson, V., & Thein, S. L. (1985). Individual-specific ‘fingerprints’ of human DNA. Nature, 316(6023), 76-79.
Roewer, L. (2013). DNA fingerprinting in forensics: past, present, future. Investigative Genetics, 4(1), 22.
Worth, K. (2018). Framed for murder by his own DNA. Retrieved from https://www.themarshallproject.org/2018/04/19/framed-for-murder-by-his-own-dna
Solitary Confinement
Introduction
As Clark (2017) points out, solitary confinement is typically a disciplinary, administrative or personal measure employed to punish, control or protect the individual who is isolated from others. However, the practice can have lasting and devastating effects on the psychology and health of individuals who thus confined—especially for juveniles. The reason for this damaging effect is that human beings are essentially social creatures and need sociality in order to feel whole. Exceptions to this rule have existed through history by primarily because one individual or another chose to live in solitude and was not confined against his will. Confinement against one’s will can be damaging and debilitating and numerous examples of this exist, especially in cases where the individual is left in confinement for a long period of time: the case of Stephen Slevin, who was arrested for drunk driving and possession of a stolen vehicle—but never…
References
Allen, N. (2013). \\'Forgotten\\' solitary confinement prisoner wins $15.5m. Retrieved from https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/9917429/Forgotten-solitary-confinement-prisoner-wins-15.5m.html
Clark, A. B. (2017). Juvenile Solitary Confinement as a Form of Child Abuse. The Journal of the American Academy of Psychiatry and the Law, 45(3), 350-357.
Dimon, L. (2014). How Solitary Confinement Hurts the Teenage Brain. Retrieved from https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2014/06/how-solitary-confinement-hurts-the-teenage-brain/373002/
Gonnerman, J. (2015). Kalief Browder, 1993-2015. Retrieved from https://www.newyorker.com/news/news-desk/kalief-browder-1993-2015
Gordon, S. E. (2014). Solitary confinement, public safety, and recidivism. U. Mich. JL Reform, 47, 495.
Grassian, S. (2006). Psychiatric effects of solitary confinement. Wash. UJL & Pol\\'y, 22, 325.
Hayes, L. M. (2009). Juvenile suicide in confinement: A national survey. Diane Publishing.
Moore, M. (2011). Michael Moore goes to Norway and visits a prison of the future. YouTube. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=01mTKDaKa6Q
Debating the Value and Ethical Concerns of Psychological Profiling
Introduction
A psychological profile is created by combining individual profiles, such as a victim profile with an offender profile or a geographical profile and even a DNA profile. Through the combination of individual profiles, the psychological profile emerges with a comprehensive view of the type of person most likely to be found at a particular place at a particular time with such and such type of victim or such and such type of crime/offense being committed. Psychological profiling is both an “investigative aid” and a “conceptual tool” that is used by police to understand cases and create leads (Wilson, Lincoln & Kocsis, 1997, p. 1). Vorpagel (1982) described psychological profiling as the exercise of identifying “behavioral patterns, trends, and tendencies” used to develop a complete picture—not just of the individuals involved in a crime—but of the type of individuals who would…
References
Egger, S. A. (1999). Psychological profiling: Past, present, and future. Journal of Contemporary Criminal Justice, 15(3), 242-261.
Kocsis, R. N. (2003). Criminal psychological profiling: validities and abilities. International Journal of Offender Therapy and Comparative Criminology, 47(2), 126-144.
Snook, B., Cullen, R. M., Bennell, C., Taylor, P. J., & Gendreau, P. (2008). The criminal profiling illusion: What\\\\'s behind the smoke and mirrors?. Criminal Justice and Behavior, 35(10), 1257-1276.
Vorpagel, R.E. (1982). Painting psychological profiles: charlatanism, coincidence, charisma or new science. Police Chief, 3(8), 156-59
Wilson, P., Lincoln, R., & Kocsis, R. (1997). Validity, utility and ethics of profiling for serial violent and sexual offenders. Psychiatry, Psychology and Law, 4(1), 1-11.
Evolution over the Years
To a majority of individuals, arrest and detention within a law enforcement facility may be counted among the worst of life’s experiences; being coerced into confessing, at times under torture, is much more terrifying. However, citizens’ rights in the US ensure sound constitutional rules limit criminal law enforcement. Amazingly, a large number of these safeguards provided to citizens have only been put in place during the last few decades. The rest are entrenched in the nation’s colonial history.
From the start of the 60’s era, the US Supreme Court commenced efforts in the area of extensive expansion of defendant rights, way beyond the Constitutional Bill of Rights (BOR) developers’ grasp. For instance, though several portions of the BOR deal with law enforcement behavior, regulations pertaining to improper detention, warrants and searches (that English common law was unfamiliar with) were implemented during this period. The protection against…
References
Amar, A. R. (1995). Sixth Amendment First Principles. Geo. LJ, 84, 641.
Cummings L. (2018). Pros & Cons of the Criminal Justice System. Retrieved from https://legalbeagle.com/6587752-pros-cons-criminal-justice-system.html
Mott J. (2018). Rights of the Accused. Retrieved from http://www.thisnation.com/textbook/billofrights-accused.html
Rights of the Accused. (1999). In American Journey. Civil Rights in America. Woodbridge, CT: Primary Source Media. Retrieved from http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/EJ2163000455/UHIC?u=oldt1017&xid=f297f5e2
ushistory.org (2018). Crime and Due Process. American Government Online Textbook. Retrieved from http://www.ushistory.org/gov/10c.asp
According to the National Gang Center’s (2011) National Youth Gang Survey, the majority of gangs are comprised of non-white minorities, especially Hispanic/Latino (46 percent of all gang members) and African American (35 percent of all gang members). Because of these statistics, law enforcement has been tempted to rely on racial profiling to fight gang formation, reduce gang membership, and control gang-related crimes. As tempting as it may be to rely on ethnic or racial strategies in law enforcement, these shortcuts undermine the fundamental principles of the criminal justice system.
The use of racial and ethnic profiling and related techniques is illegal as well as unethical, presenting clear procedural justice problems for law enforcement departments that use these tactics (American Bar Association, n.d.). Using racial and ethnic strategies threatens to undermine public trust in, and the credibility of, law enforcement. Racial and ethnic strategies also defeat the purpose of more effective…
References
American Bar Association (n.d.). Report to House of Delegates Commission on Immigration, Center for Racial and Ethnic Diversity. https://www.americanbar.org/content/dam/aba/publishing/criminal_justice_section_newsletter/crimjust_policy_am08104c.authcheckdam.pdf
National Gang Center (2011). National youth gang survey analysis. https://www.nationalgangcenter.gov/Survey-Analysis/Demographics
White, R. (2008). Disputed definitions and fluid identities. Youth Justice 8(2): 149-161.
Introduction
In so far as academic studies are concerned, the field of forensic entomology is relatively new in the West—but so, too, for that matter is the field of criminology. Forensic entomology is a subset of criminology in that it focuses on the study of insects and anthropods and what they reveal about the death of a victim. This highly specialized science takes the field of entomology and combines it with the field of forensics, bringing together two very different but very useful bodies of knowledge that, when they intersect, provide valuable insights that can help investigators solve murders. This paper will define and discuss forensic entomology, examine its history and how it has developed over the years, and describe how entomology has affected the field of forensics with a few examples to illustrate this point.
History
The history of forensic entomology begins, as far as historical records show, in…
References
Amendt, J., Krettek, R., & Zehner, R. (2004). Forensic entomology. Naturwissenschaften, 91(2), 51-65.
Benecke, M. (1998). Six forensic entomology cases: description and commentary. Journal of Forensic Science, 43(4), 797-805.
Benecke, M., Josephi, E., & Zweihoff, R. (2004). Neglect of the elderly: forensic entomology cases and considerations. Forensic Science International, 146, S195-S199.
Byrd, J. H., & Castner, J. (2001). Forensic Entomology: The Utility of Arthropods in Legal Investigations. Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press.
Catts, E. P., & Goff, M. L. (1992). Forensic entomology in criminal investigations. Annual Review of Entomology, 37(1), 253-272.
Goff, M. L., & Odom, C. B. (1987). Forensic entomology in the Hawaiian Islands. Three case studies. The American Journal of Forensic Medicine and Pathology, 8(1), 45-50.
Greenberg, B. (1985). Forensic entomology: case studies. American Entomologist, 31(4), 25-28.
Greenberg, B., & Kunich, J. (2002). Entomology and the Law. United Kingdom: Cambridge University Press.
Law enforcement has a direct ethical responsibility to preventing wrongful convictions, no matter how heavy the pressure for a conviction may be from a political standpoint. Wrongful convictions represent a miscarriage of justice and draw attention to procedural problems in law enforcement. One of the problems that has been shown to lead to wrongful convictions is the method by which eyewitness testimony is secured. Recent criminal justice policy and procedure have changed somewhat to prevent problems with false eyewitness testimony, but these changes have been irregularly implemented (Norris, Bonventre, Redlich, et al, 2017). Therefore, the onus remains upon individual departments to develop an ethical culture that prevents wrongful convictions.
As helpful as eyewitness accounts have been in securing rightful convictions, “eyewitnesses make mistakes and that their memories can be affected by various factors including the very law enforcement procedures designed to test their memories,” (Committee on Scientific Approaches to Understanding…
References
Committee on Scientific Approaches to Understanding and Maximizing the Validity and Reliability of Eyewitness Identification in Law Enforcement and the Courts (2014). Identifying the culprit. National Research Council. https://www.innocenceproject.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/NAS-Report-ID.pdf
Desai, A. (2017). Actual innocence and wrongful convictions. Virginia Public Law and Legal Theory Research Paper No. 2017-20. https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=2959570
“Eyewitness Identification,” (n.d.). Innocence Project. https://www.innocenceproject.org/causes/eyewitness-misidentification/
Norris, R.J., Bonventre, C.L., Redlich, A.D., et al (2017). Preventing wrongful convictions. Criminal Justice Policy Review. https://doi.org/10.1177/0887403416687359
Second Chance Kids Documentary Response
1
The major issue addressed by the documentary Second Chance Kids is whether kids who commit violent crimes like murder should get a second chance at life. The documentary shows that teens who are convicted of murder and basically given life sentences with no chance of parole. Thus, before they are even really adults their lives have been forfeited to the state. The question this documentary asks is whether this is a fair approach to criminal justice. The documentary looks at both sides of the issue, showing that from one perspective it does not seem fair that a mistake—even one as bad as murder—should be something that a kid has to spend the rest of his life paying for behind bars; on the other hand, what if society is really dealing with an evil human being? Should it risk the safety of the rest of…
Abstract
This paper discusses the origins of fingerprinting and the usage of fingerprint analysis in the field of forensics. It traces the history of the practice from the 19th century on into the 20th and discusses the methods used to obtain fingerprints from a crime scene. It also examines some of the problems of fingerprint analysis and how it is not a foolproof manner of identification and never has been. It shows why fingerprint analysis should be used as a tool and not as an end-all-be-all means of identification for investigators conducting a criminal investigation. The numerous cases of mistaken identity based upon faulty forensics applied in the case of fingerprint analysis are sufficient to indicate the merit of this claim.
Keywords: fingerprint analysis, forensics fingerprinting, crime scene investigation
Introduction
The unique characteristics and contours of the fingerprint were first noted by 17th century anatomist Marcello Malpighi, who highlighted the…
References
Hawthorne, M. (2008). Fingerprints: Analysis and understanding. Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press.
Henry, Edward R., Sir (1900). Classification and Uses of Finger Prints. London: George Rutledge & Sons, Ltd.
Herschel, W. J. (1916). The Origin of Finger-Printing. Oxford University Press.
Innocence Project. (2018). Fingerprint analysis. Retrieved from https://californiainnocenceproject.org/issues-we-face/fingerprint-analysis/
National Academy of Sciences. (2009). Badly fragmented\\' forensic science system needs overhaul; evidence to support reliability of many techniques is lacking. Retrieved from http://www8.nationalacademies.org/onpinews/newsitem.aspx?RecordID=12589
NFSTC. (2013). Fingerprint analysis. Retrieved from http://www.forensicsciencesimplified.org/prints/how.html
Reid, D. L. (2003). Dr. Henry Faulds – Beith Commemorative Society. Journal of Forensic Identification, 53 (2).
Zabell, S. L. (2005). Fingerprint evidence. Journal of Law and Policy (Brooklyn College Law School), 143–77.