Assignment: Criminal Justice Paper
Start by reading and following these instructions:
1. Quickly skim the questions or assignment below and the assignment rubric to help you focus.
2. Read the required chapter(s) of the textbook. Some answers may require you to do additional research on the Internet or in other reference sources. Choose your sources carefully.
3. Consider the discussion and the any insights you gained from it.
4. Produce the Assignment submission in a single Microsoft Word or Open Office document. Be sure to cite your sources, use APA style as required, check your spelling.
Assignment:
1. Define the following three italicized terms and then explain how mens rea and actus reus can be both related to and separate from the corpus delecti.
2. Describe cultural defense. Do you think cultural defenses should be available? If so, under what circumstances should they be used? If not, why not?
3. Research pharmacist Jerome Ersland's murder case. Conduct online research to learn more about the case. Then write a short description of 250-300 words of the case and the verdict. Then include what you would have decided in this case if you were a jury member.
4. Use the internet to locate websites containing state criminal codes. Choose the state you live in and locate the statutes pertaining to the FBI's eight major crimes. (Remember that the terminology may be different. Whereas the FBI uses the term rape, for example, the state you've selected may use sexual assault.) After studying the statutes, describe the corpus delicti of each major offense (list the elements of each offense that a prosecutor must prove in court to obtain a conviction). Now choose a second state, preferably from a different geographic region of the country. Again, list the elements of each major offense. Compare the way in which those elements are described with the terminology used by the first state you chose. What differences, if any, exist? Submit your findings.
Assignment Expectations:
• Length: At least 1500 words (about six double-spaced pages); answers must thoroughly address the questions in a clear, concise manner. Each topic should be discussed in your essay.
• Structure: Include a title page and reference page in APA style. The title page and the reference page are not counted toward the required word count. Be sure to answer all questions. There should be clear headings in your paper that shows each section you are addressing.
• References: At least three scholarly references; include the appropriate APA style in-text citations and references for all resources utilized to answer the questions.