Assignment:
Case Study
"You are the police chief of a city with about a million inhabitants on the east coast of Florida. The changing climate and the resulting rise of the sea level, as well as recent weather events, have caused the local leaders and government officials to consider building dikes and sea walls along particular sections of the beach to prevent beach erosion and destruction of oceanfront property. Along with the sea wall and dikes, officials have considered plans to dredge an inlet presently used for recreational boating and fishing to build a major seaport for cruise ships and ocean-going freighters. Private investment will be sought to build hotels and other commercial properties within the new seaport. Sand from the dredging would be used to replenish the eroding beaches. The rising sea levels and building the sea wall, dikes, and commercial port would eliminate many current roads and require building new roads to accommodate the structural changes. To obtain property for the projects, the city will have to use the process of eminent domain.
According to the plan, around 1,000 low-income homes will have to be razed to allow the building of the seaport. The residents of those homes will have to be relocated. To finance the major changes, property and sales taxes for city residents also would have to be raised. In addition to eroding beaches and oceanfront property, rising sea levels also will contaminate local water tables. Hence, the supply of water for household and commercial use may be reduced. Water use for farms that surround the city also may become scarce.
Also, the changing "climate will cause the winter dry season to be longer and more severe. The rainy season is predicted to be shorter, but it will have a higher number of severe rainstorms with high winds causing damage and possibly more severe local flooding. The land contiguous to the city is owned by the local Seminole tribe and is part of their reservation. The tribe stated that they would build a casino if the city followed through with its plans to build the Oceanport. But the tribe would only do this if the city promised to build a four-lane highway from the downtown area to the casino.
CASE STUDY QUESTIONS
1. Make two lists and identify the issues in the scenario that will affect the criminal justice system and the police directly and indirectly. Exhaust all possibilities
2. Cross-check your answer to question one by making two more lists: How will the criminal justice system be affected by climate change and the planned changes?
3. What are the major threats and opportunities for the police department that will result from the changing climate and planned changes?
4. Given the effect the changes will have on the criminal justice system, what steps must your police department take to deal with the changes?"
Resources
Read/review the following resources for this activity:
? Textbook (Stojkovic, Kalinich, & Klofas): Chapter - Case Study: Climate Change
? Minimum of 3 academic resources
Introduction
This case study requires the assessment of the impact of climate change on components of the American criminal justice system, something most criminal justice practitioners do not consider.
Activity Instructions
Read the Chapter Case Study. Then, answer the Case Study Questions at the end, integrating outside academic resources.
Writing Requirements (APA format)
? 2 to 3 pages (approx. 300 words per page), not including title page or references page
? 1-inch margins