Problem
I. Discuss the methodology and major findings of the study presented in the Alpert, MacDonald, and Dunham chapter (Ch. 9). How did the study impact your view of police discretion?
II. Racial profiling in policing has become a major societal and political issue in the US. Explain why you think this has occurred as well as recommend specific policies or programs you think will help reduce the frequency of racial profiling moving forward.
III. What is Title 42? How has it impacted immigration and the way law enforcement address the issue in practice? How has Title 42 been used by politicians and what do you think will happen with Title 42 moving forward?
IV. Discuss the major findings of the study presented in the Decker, Lewis, Provine, and Varsanyi chapter (Ch. 10). What are your major takeaways from the research and how does it impact your view of how police view the immigration issue?
V. What is the PATRIOT ACT? How has it impacted the ways law enforcement agencies address the issue of terrorism? What are the political reasons for having the Act in place? Since it was enacted, do you believe the PATRIOT ACT is a net positive or net negative for the US (and why)?
VI. Do you agree or disagree with Clarke and Newman's argument that local police have an important role in preventing terrorism? Provide specifics from the chapter to support your position.
VII. Describe what the COP-2-COP program provides and discuss its success rate. What are the areas of the program you think can be improved upon? Research another police treatment program (not mentioned in the textbook) and provide details here.
VIII. Police culture and internal pressures from being in law enforcement contribute to the fact that many officers do not seek help when they need it from job related stress. In your opinion, what are some of the most important outside pressures that come from society, politics, and the way police are currently viewed in the US as a profession? What policies and changes can people outside of law enforcement make to help police cope with stress better?
IX. Summarize the major research findings on the less than lethal weapons of impact projectiles, irritant sprays, and CEDs. Which of the three do you think is the "best" less than lethal force option for law enforcement to use (and why)? Are there any less than lethal weapons you think should be banned (and why)?
X. Locate 3 recent news articles and stories about police using less than lethal force. Describe what you find and how you think it impacts perspectives on police use of force.
XI. Why is it important for a prosecutor to have a positive relationship with the police in an exchange system? What factors influence a prosecutor's decision to refuse a case from the police? How would the relationship between police and prosecutor differ in a crime control versus due process model of justice?
XII. What are the advantages and disadvantages of a defense attorney cooperating with the prosecutor's office? Is it ethical for these opposing roles in the adversarial criminal justice system to have a close professional relationship (Why or Why not)?
XIII. How can the public influence a prosecutor's decision to take a case? Look up a research article that examines the influence of the community on the prosecutor's office. Summarize what the article found and your major takeaways. Provide the article name, journal name, author(s), and year for reference.
XIV. In what ways do prosecutors circumvent the intended legislation of three-strikes or mandatory minimum sentencing guidelines? Do you agree or disagree with prosecutors who execute this? Explain your position.
XV. Based on the readings this week, do you believe the US criminal justice system should increase or decrease prosecutorial discretion? Provide specific examples to support your argument.
XVI. Are prosecutors appointed or elected to their office? What way do you think is best for prosecutors to be placed in their role within the criminal justice system? How do politics influence prosecutors?
XVII. Policing is an evolving profession in the US. Explain the shift Wilson and Kelling see in policing and indicate what you believe to be the biggest shifts in policing in the last 10 years. Provide specific examples and defend your position. What role has politics played in the recent developments?
XVIII. If you were the Chief of Police in a major US city, would you advocate for more or less officers on foot patrols? Explain your position and compare/contrast it to what you believe Wilson and Kelling would do.
XIX. What policy implications can be taken from the results of Maxwell and Fagan's study? In your opinion, would politicians and lawmakers follow these recommendations, or would they rely on ideological or public opinion ramifications more when it comes to intimate partner violence? Explain.
XX. The militarization of police is a divisive topic in the US. Find one article that supports the militarization of the police and one that advocates against the militarization of the police. Explain what you found in the articles and which of the two sides of the debate you fall on (and why)?
XXI. How can the prison boom be explained? In your response make sure to address when the boom started, why it started, as well as look up recent trends (since the early 2000s). What policy decisions would you make if you were a politician regarding prison populations in the US?
XXII. What is procedural justice? What role do legitimacy and public cooperation play in this model? What is the role of police effectiveness in this model? Overall, are you in favor or against procedural justice in the US criminal justice system (defend your position with specifics).
XXIII. Describe some of the common influences on criminal justice policy discussed in Chapter 5. Which do you think impacts the system the most (and why)? How do these influences undercut evidence-based policy recommendations? What is the impact on the effectiveness of the criminal justice system as a result?
XXIV. How does public opinion of the criminal justice system impact the way it operates in practice? Look up recent polling data on people's opinions/perceptions of the criminal justice system and explain what you found. In your opinion, how significant is an individual's political ideology on their views of the justice system and the policies that should be pursued?