Criminology

What is your opinion of how California is dealing with its overcrowded prison system? Although under a mandate by the U.S. Supreme Court to reduce its prison population, is AB 109, Prop 47 and the Prop 57 the best way to achieve this? Do you think AB 109, Prop 47 and Prop 57 have contributed to the increase of crime in California? If you voted for Prop 47 in 2014 and/or Prop 57 in 2016 do you feel you were well informed about what it was really about and the potential consequences and/or benefits? Do you feel the title of the propositions align with what the proposition actually does or intends to do? Do you think AB 109 really addresses the issue of “non-violent, non-serious, non-sex related” crimes when the offender can have a long history of violent/serious/sex related convictions? Do you think the crime rate has increased because of Prop 47 and Prop 57? Why or why not? Is an increase in crime worth releasing offenders early, reclassifying the seriousness of certain crimes or reducing the punishment of certain crimes? How else can California (and really the rest of the nation) deal with overcrowded prisons?

Explore the NIDA website presented under the required readings this week. You will see that the site has web pages dedicated to a number of drugs of abuse. Choose a drug that you are unfamiliar with and discuss anything you think is relevant regarding the drug. This should include the chemical make- up, method of action, effects on the user, current trends related to use and treatment, and any other information that you think will be useful to a researcher or practitioner. Your discussion should be based not only on the information in NIDA, but also on a minimum of two primary research studies on the drug. The paper should be 4 – 6 pages in length, excluding the title, abstract, and reference page. This paper is geared at exposing you to a drug that you know very little about.

These are meant to be short essay questions. Answers should approximately 1-1/2 pages. You need to answer a total of five questions worth 10 points each. Please do not attempt to write a novel and do double-space your answers. These questions are designed to test your ability to quickly zero in on the key points and to give you a chance to relate the information to your own views. Question must be typed using normal (12 pt.) font and margins. These are essay questions so I expect appropriate use of full sentences and paragraphs. Up to 10% of your exam grade can be deducted for excessive grammatical errors, or errors that interfere with the ability of the reader to understand your arguments. Proofread and edit your papers! In addition, answers should cite to your sources of information. The exam is based on the reading materials from the course and discussion threads. Although you may use outside sources if you wish, they are not required. This is a take home assignment. This means that you may make full use of your readings and materials. This is not, however, a group project. The assignments must be completed individually. Essays are due on Thursday, August 13 by 11:59 pm. Submit them as a Word doc to the assignment dropbox in Canvas. Answer one of the following questions (worth 10 points). 1. Which of the cases interpreting Katz do you most agree with and why? Support your answer with facts from the case. 2. Which of the cases interpreting Katz do you most disagree with and why? Support your answer with facts from the case. Answer two of the following questions (worth 10 points). 3. Address the hypotheticals raised in Note 11 on page 183 (see second full paragraph). Would you find sufficient probable cause for the search for an atomic bomb? The search for a stash of cocaine? Do you believe the existence of probable cause should be based on a sliding scale depending on the seriousness of the crime as suggested in the Note? Why or why not? 4. Identify and describe two of the search warrant exceptions we have studied this semester. Of the two, which one do you believe has most benefitted law enforcement officers? Support your answer. 5. Identify some of the factors that should be considered in determining if a consent to search was given voluntarily. Do you believe that defendants should be warned of their right to refuse consent to search (similar to Miranda warnings)? Why or why not? 6. Suppose that a police officer, based on his or her personal observations, reasonably suspects (but lacks probable cause to believe) that a customer in a store is about to shoplift some merchandise. Under Terry v. Ohio, may the officer briefly detain the customer for questioning? May the officer pat down the suspected shoplifter? Support your answer. In answering this question, think of the original basis of Terry compared to the broader interpretation of the ruling in later cases. Answer one of the following questions (worth 10 points). 7. Under Berkermer v. McCarty, how does the U.S. Supreme Court define custody for purposes of “custodial interrogation”? Based on your readings, do you agree with this definition? If not, how would you determine when someone is in custody? 8. What does it mean when we say defense attorneys are required to zealously represent their clients? Based on the readings and threaded discussions, what, if any, limitations would you put on what attorneys can or cannot do when defending their clients? Support your answer. 9. In the case of Strickland v. Washington, evaluate the decisions that the defense counsel made in that case. If you were Strickland’s defense counsel, which decisions would you have followed and what, if anything, would you have done differently? Do you agree or disagree with the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in this case? Support your answer (do not forget to include page numbers for any verbatim or closely paraphrased quotes). 10. Based on the materials in the readings, what do you see as the most problematic issues with eyewitness identifications, both pretrial and in the courtroom? Design a system that corrects for these problems. Include rules for admitting both pretrial and in-court room identifications into evidence at trial. Support your answer. Answer the following question (worth 10 points). 11. Of all of the cases we have studied this semester (you may include note cases here), which one do you most agree with and why. Do not use a case you used in questions 1 or 2.

Assignment Guidelines In a paper of 600–800 words, discuss each of the following: What are 3 core cultural values and beliefs that you were raised with in your family? In your community? Describe and explain them in detail. Identify the role models you had growing up. How and why were they meaningful to you, your family, and your community? What power did they have for you and for others? In what ways were you taught to express major feelings in your home and in your community? Was there a difference between these two realities? For men? For women? In what ways were you taught that expression of violence was acceptable or not acceptable, and under what conditions? In what ways were you taught to regard religious belief, self-motivation, and your spiritual self? In what ways were you taught to view others’ religious beliefs, self-motivation, and spiritual selves? Do you see any similarities to the ways that you were influenced as child or young adult compared to the way children and young adults are recruited by terrorist organizations? Explain why or why not. All sources must be referenced using APA style.

Write a research paper on any topic on Crime and Criminology. The topic does not need prior approval from the instructor. The heart of the paper should be a fairly comprehensive review of the published literature. The body of the paper, not including the title page and bibliography, must be 10 pages typed with double spacing. Follow the American Sociological Association (ASA) or the American Psychological Association (APA) format.

Officer Williams asked the neighborhood’s regular trash collector to put the content of the defendant’s garbage that was left on the curb in plastic bags and to turn over the bags to him at the end of the day. The trash collector did as the officer asked in order to not mix the garbage once he collected the defendant’s garbage. Then, Officer Williams’ partner, Officer Martinez, searched through the garbage and found items indicative of narcotics use. Officer Williams and Officer Martinez then recited the information that was obtained from the trash in an affidavit in support of a warrant to search the defendant’s home. Officer Martinez and Officer Williams encountered the defendant at the house later that day upon execution of the warrant. The officers found quantities of cocaine and heroin during the search and arrested the defendant on felony narcotics charges. Write a 1- to 2-page paper in which you: Identify the constitutional amendment that would govern Officer Williams’ and Officer Martinez’ actions. Analyze the validity and constitutionality of the officers’ actions. Assess if the officers’ actions were justified under the doctrines of plain view, abandonment, open fields, or border searches. Support your response by citing specific case law and/or contemporary cases. Use at least three quality references. Note: Wikipedia and other similar websites do not qualify as academic resources. Your assignment must follow these formatting requirements: This course requires use of new Strayer Writing Standards (SWS). The format is different than other Strayer University courses. Please take a moment to review the SWS documentation for details. Be typed, double spaced, using Times New Roman font (size 12), with one-inch margins on all sides; citations and references must follow SWS or school-specific format. Check with your professor for any additional instructions. Include a cover page containing the title of the assignment, the student’s name, the professor’s name, the course title, and the date. The cover page and the reference page are not included in the required assignment page length. The specific course learning outcomes associated with this assignment are: Research and analyze procedures governing the process of arrest through trial. Critically debate the constitutional safeguards of key amendments with specific attention to the 4th, 5th, 6th, and 14th Amendments. Describe the difference between searchers, warrantless searches, and stops. Write clearly and concisely about the criminal procedure using proper writing mechanics.

You are commissioned to speak to your local community about gang violence prevention. The forum would also discuss the family’s role in preventing gang-related problems in children. Create a 5 page informational report for community distribution that includes answers to the following questions: Why do juveniles join gangs? What are some social characteristics (psychological profile) commonly associated with an individual involved in a gang? Describe these characteristics. What can parents do to help their children stay clear of gangs? What should parents do if they find out their children are involved in gang activity? How can the community and schools help prevent juveniles’ involvement in gang activity? Research resources (hotlines, websites, etc.) for parents to contact if their children are involved in gang activities. Describe the kind of information and resources available to parents, provided by such contacts. What approaches are the best for addressing prevention and helping kids get out of gang membership? To best illustrate your response, provide an example of one such approach utilized by a community program or delinquency prevention program. Support your responses with examples. For more information on gang violence, visit the RESOURCES section of the website of the National Alliance of Gang Investigators’ Associations.

For this assignment, you will examine constitutional protections for defendants prior to trial by providing a detailed analysis of the criminal justice process from arraignment to the setting of a trial for a defendant. At a minimum, your paper must detail how a criminal charge is filed, the pre-trial process, the parties and players of the criminal justice process, and the defendant’s rights through pre-trial proceedings. Your paper must Be three to five double-spaced pages in length (not including the title and references pages) and formatted according to APA style as outlined in the Ashford Writing Center  (Links to an external site.) . Include a separate title page with the following: Title of paper Student’s name Course name and number Instructor’s name Date submitted Use at least three scholarly sources in addition to the course text. Document all sources in APA style as outlined in the Ashford Writing Center. Include a separate references page that is formatted according to APA style as outlined in the Ashford Writing Center.

Defense attorneys must draft arguments convincing the court that Samantha is not guilty of manslaughter     You must cite to at least one case besides Beardsley     Discuss the facts of the case you cite, the law, and how it compares to Samantha’s issue         Timothy and Samantha met several years ago. They had a very “casual” and “carefree” relationship for a couple of years. They would have secret encounters at bars, night clubs, and motels, while consuming large amounts of drugs and alcohol. Their “partying” relationship went on for almost five years.       Eventually, they both came to realize that they honestly loved one another, and decided to stop partying. They moved in together and settled down. As time went on, they fell deeply in love, and developed a very loving, trusting relationship.     After living together for one year, Samantha wanted to surprise Timothy with a romantic get-away. She purchased 20 ecstasy pills (a very popular “love” drug), and rented a night at a very romantic hotel on the beach. When Timothy learned of her plans, he became ecstatic!     They arrived at the hotel around 8 PM, and began to consume two pills per hour. By 1 AM they were both extremely high and enjoying each other’s company. Around 1:30 AM, Samantha noticed that Timothy was coming in and out of consciousness. She tried yelling his name to keep him awake. However, he was completely unconscious by 2 AM. He then began to have seizures, and started to bleed out of his mouth.     Samantha became very nervous and did not know what to do. In a state of panic, she ran out of the hotel and went home. The following day, the sheriff questioned Samantha and informed her that Timothy had passed away. She was arrested and charged with manslaughter.     Read People v. Beardsley, 113 N.W. 1128 (Mich. 1907). Go to www.westlaw.com, pull up the case, and read it entirely in order to do this assignment correctly.

Option 3: Right to Counsel Article You are a guest writer for a legal aid blog. You noticed in the comments several people have asked questions about the right to counsel and whether they have a right to counsel based on their situation. To address this need, you decide to write an article on the topic.  Analyze two cases involving the right to counsel and refer to these cases in your article. Write a 700- to 1,050-word article about the right to counsel that addresses the following topics: The aspects of the right to counsel for these cases How the historical development of the right to counsel relates to the cases When the right to counsel attaches to criminal procedure for the cases Whether the defendants in the cases exercised their right to self-representation The role of the attorneys in the cases as it applies to the right to counsel Format your selected option consistent with APA guidelines.