Part One:
Define the terms as they relate to criminal justice:
Social Control
Social Justice
Culture
Answer the following questions:
1 Do you think the news media is obligated to present a balanced picture of the overall crime problem and reduce their presentation of sensational crimes? Why or why not?
2 How much do you think the media influence the public's conception of crime?
3 Given what you know about crime in the United States, do you think that the criminal justice system is a strong institution of social control? Why?
4 Do you think that other institutions such as the family, schools, and organized religion are better institutions of social control than the criminal justice system? If so, which ones? Why?
5 Do you think the criminal justice system "works" in the United States? Why or why not?
6 What improvements do you think should be made to the criminal justice system? You MUST cite ways in which each of the three criminal justice agencies-police, courts, and corrections-can improve.
7 Do you think judges should be limited in the sentences they are allowed to impose? Why or why not?
8 Do you think more money needs to be spent on criminal justice? Why or why not?
9 What do you think are some of the most common myths about the criminal justice system?
10 Do you think the war on drugs is or can be won? Explain your answer.
Part 2:
Assignment # 2:
Applying Critical Thinking
Question 3:
Go through the 8 elements, does your answer to question 3 each satisfy each element? If so state the answer next to each element, if not, state what you could have said to comply with answering the elements.
Identify the Eight Elements:
Purpose:
Questions:
Points of View:
Information:
Inferences:
Concepts:
Implications:
Assumptions:
Apply the Standards to the Elements: Use your handout to answer the questions related to the elements:
Go through the 10 standards, does your paragraph answer each element?
If so state the answer next to each element, if not, state what you could have said to comply with answering the elements.
Clarity
Accuracy
Relevance
Logicalness
Breadth
Precision
Significance
Completeness
Fairness
Depth