Problem
1. How do television programs like "CSI " influence our understanding of criminal investigations? Has perception become reality?
2. Should prosecutors not be elected but should be civil servants as they are in most other countries? What are the advantages and disadvantages of each approach?
3. What are some of the ways in which we could reduce wrongful convictions? Which seem the easiest to implement? Which seem to be the most effective? What are the barriers for implementing these changes?
4. You are given a task of reducing your state's correctional population by 10% by diverting offenders away from prison or releasing inmates through parole. What approach would you take? Provide a rationale for your approach. What community services would help your offenders?
5. "If you build it, they will come." Jails and prisons are capacity driven institutions - if there is room, more will be sentenced. Can we keep building more prisons to house the increasing number of new inmates? Where will the money come from? Should we look at execution for more crimes as an alternative? If so, what types of crimes should be eligible to impose the death penalty?