Assignment:
"Picking Cotton" Writing Assignment
"Picking Cotton" illustrates many elements of the criminal justice system from the crime victim's perspective, as well as the defendant's perspective. The book begins with the crime itself and then highlights situations involving police procedures, court procedures and correctional procedures and experiences. Choose 3 criminal justice system legal procedures or issues that are described in the book, (one from police, one from the courts and one from corrections) and analyze the issue using the following questions Provide a summary of the facts (one paragraph each). Describe the situation, how it occurred and what you think the procedure or issue is that is important to discuss. How is this procedure or issue significant to the criminal justice system?
Should the procedure or issue have been handled differently? Give support using information from the course. Identify whether the procedure or issue is a function of the police, courts or corrections. How do these components of the criminal justice system work together (or not)? What did you learn about the criminal justice system? Give your concluding thoughts or reflection. Organize your paper so that each procedure or issue is discussed separately (1 to 2 pages each) and include the pages where it is discussed in the book.
General Paper Requirements:
• Each procedure or issue should be 1 to 2 pages & begin on a separate page
• State the procedure or issue in your title at the beginning of the page
• The completed paper should be 5 to 6 pages (not 3 pages)
• Use 11 or 12 point and 1-inch margins
• Double-space your writing
• Include your last name and page numbers in the upper right hand corner
• Use APA style for citations in the text and in the reference section (separate page not included in the 5 to 6 pages)