Assignment
Using scholarly internet sources, CPS Library, and Chapters 2 and 4 of your text, research the consequences of crime and the rule of law in the United States. Write an essay of your research. Use a minimum of three sources for your research and a minimum word count of 1200. In your essay, discuss in detail the following topic aspects.
a. Discuss in detail whether illegal drug use, prostitution and gambling fit the seven elements of a crime (as listed in the text.). Include in your discussion whether these three crimes should be considered mala in se or mala prohibita.
b. Explain the concepts of legal precedent and stare decisis.
c. In response to the sexual assault and murder of 7-year old Megan Kanka by a convicted sex offender out on parole and the public uproar that ensued, the state of New Jersey enacted "Megan's Law." The law, as originally passed, required sex offenders, upon their release from prison, to register with New Jersey law enforcement authorities, who are to notify the public about their release. The public was also to be provided with the offender's name; a recent photograph; a physical description; a list of the offenses for which he or she was convicted; the offender's current address and place of employment or school; and the offender's automobile license plate number. Currently, all 50 states and the federal government have Megan's laws that require sex offenders released from prison to register with local law enforcement authorities. Megan's laws are not uniform across states. For example, not all states require active community notification; many of them (including the U.S. government) only make the information available to the public. Research your state's Megan's Law. Based on the ideal characteristics of a criminal law (see pages 96-97 in the text), is Megan's Law a "good" law? Discuss each characteristic as it relates to the statute.
d. Describe the procedural guarantees of the Fourth, Fifth, Sixth and Eighth amendments to the Constitution
Format your assignment according to the give formatting requirements:
a. The answer must be double spaced, typed, using Times New Roman font (size 12), with one-inch margins on all sides.
b. The response also includes a cover page containing the title of the assignment, the course title, the student's name, and the date. The cover page is not included in the required page length.
c. Also include a reference page. The references and Citations should follow APA format. The reference page is not included in the required page length.