Assignment:
Write a minimum of 7 pages (Times New Roman, double space, 12pt font). As always, use information mainly from our text to answer the questions-but you must also supplement your answers with your own critical thinking and input as well. The following questions are designed to not be 'chapter specific'. Instead, they challenge you to use information from several chapters.
Each answer should roughly be the same length. Be sure to write and provide direct support for your answers from the text and/or other sources (e.g. in-text citations, page numbers, end of document references).
1. Do you think the criminal justice system "works" in the United States? Why or why not? Explain in detail and provide clear examples.
Try to think about the big picture here, and include a discussion about system goals such as crime prevention or reduction, deterrence, rehabilitation cost/benefits, definitions of justice, etc.
2. This course introduced the notion that the criminal justice system and all its players are inherently and generally limited in terms of their ability to prevent or reduce crime. What is meant by this? Provide a robust explanation.
Do you think that other institutions such as the family, schools, and organized religion are better at social control and preventing crime than the criminal justice system? If so, which ones and in what ways? This answer may partially depend upon how efficient you believe the criminal justice system is, and on your personal beliefs regarding the importance of family and other social institutions in regulating behavior-be sure to provide clear support for your answers.
3. Present and discuss some of the most common myths we have discussed in this course about the criminal justice system (e.g. the rationale behind pretrial preventive detention, minorities commit more crime, what the processing of cases looks like-plea bargaining and bail instead of trial, more officers and more technology will reduce crime, the crime rate is going up, criminals are dangerous and commit violent crime, etc.)