JADM490 SENIOR PROJECT I
Week 1 Discussion
DQ1 WHAT ARE THE CRITICAL ISSUES?
Notwithstanding the issue you chose to highlight in your assignment, what do you think are the three most critical criminal justice issues that need to be addressed in the 21st century? Why did you choose these issues? What difficulties can you see to resolving these issues?
DQ2 MEDIA SPIN
We have access to more information from more sources than at any other time in history. How do you know which source will give you accurate and factual information? Should you just blindly accept that what the media tells you is factual? Choose a national criminal justice story reported within the last two weeks. Maybe you read an article in your local newspaper or heard about it on a news broadcast. Take some notes from that initial source. Investigate two other sources and how they have reported on the story.
If you read about it in a newspaper, watch Crime Watch Daily, Nancy Grace, or CNN to see how they report it. If you saw a broadcast about the story, investigate print media sources to see how they reported on the issue (your local newspaper, Time, Newsweek, the New York Times, or the Washington Post, on their websites or through the library). Compare sources and report to the class in the discussions how those sources differed in what they reported. Your first post for the week can be your discussion of the issue and what you learned in the first source; your remaining posts can point out the differences between your sources. Also, be sure to address if you were surprised by how different sources reported the story. Why were the accounts different? Why do you think some facts were emphasized on some sources and not others?
JADM490 SENIOR PROJECT I
Week 2 Discussion
DQ1 IS SCIENCE ALL WE NEED TO SOLVE CRIMES?
Although television and movies depict that forensic evidence abounds at crime scenes, in a study of 400 homicide cases, only 13.5% actually had physical evidence that linked a suspect to the crime scene or the victim. Additionally, biological evidence was only present in 38% of crime scenes, latent fingerprints at only 28% of crime scenes, and DNA in just 4.5% of cases (O'Brien, 2010). Despite this reality, 75% of jurors in criminal cases expect to see forensic evidence believing it to be more reliable than police and witness testimony. Called the CSI Effect, prosecutors often call forensic scientists to testify, even if no forensic evidence was found at the crime scene.
What is the impact of the CSI Effect on the justice system? How can criminal justice professionals compete with inacurate media depictions of crime investigations?
DQ2 PUBLIC OPINION
One of the most significant issues facing law enforcement agencies is to obtain the trust of their communities. The media repeatedly reports on every law enforcement lapse in ethics to the point that many in the community believe that all law enforcement officers are racist and combative. Law enforcement relies on the cooperation of citizens to assist them in solving crimes.
What strategies can a police agency implement to develop relationships with the local community?
JADM490 SENIOR PROJECT I
Week 3 Discussion
DQ1 SOCIAL MEDIA AND THE JOB APPLICANT
Most employers now investigate an applicant's social media. How do you feel about this? Do you think it is appropriate or an invasion of your privacy?
DQ2 INTERVIEW TIPS
In this week's assignment, review Your Complete Guide for Interviewing for the job (Links to an external site.). You have reviewed the tips to help you ace the interview. What other suggestions would you add?
JADM490 SENIOR PROJECT I
Week 4 Discussion
DQ1 PRISONER RE-ENTRY
The reality is that most prisoners will eventually be returned to society. What obligation do prisons have in transforming felons into responsible and productive members of society?
DQ2 CHILDREN OF INCARCERATED PARENTS
Describe the problems of children of incarcerated parents. What is the cost to society of children growing up with a parent in prison?
JADM490 SENIOR PROJECT I
Week 5 Discussion
DQ1 POLICE OFFICER ACCOUNTABILITY
If a law enforcement officer is not charged, or is charged and found not guilty of murder in a citizen death, the public is usually outraged. However, as a justice administration student, you understand the burden of proof in a criminal case. How would you explain to someone that shooting an unarmed subject is not necessarily murder?
DQ2 BODY CAMERAS
Make sure you have reviewed the interactive video from the New York Times that is referenced in the lesson. Were you surprised by how ambiguous body camera video can be? Should police departments mandate body cameras for officers? Are there other strategies departments can use to protect officers and suspects besides body cameras?
JADM490 SENIOR PROJECT I
Week 6 Discussion
DQ1 RACIAL DISPARITY
There are a disproportionate number of minorities in prison. Does this mean that minorities commit more crimes? Data demonstrates that Blacks are 20% more likely than Whites to be sentenced to incarceration, even though they are convicted of the same crime (Hansen, 2013). Some might argue that judges are biased against minorities, and this could occur. Are there other reasons why minorities may be treated more harshly? Discuss any charging or statutory causes.
DQ2 FORENSIC SCIENCE AND THE COURTS
The advances in DNA and forensic science have led to the exoneration of some prisoners who were convicted long before this science became available. However, a prisoner who might challenge his conviction by asking for DNA testing must jump a number of legal hurdles to have the issue considered by a court. Even a prisoner who does get a hearing on his request may wait months for the court to rule. How should the process be modified to allow these cases to be addressed more rapidly? It's insufficient to simply say the judges should rule more quickly or that a law should be passed. Can you outline a process that could accommodate these requests and provide that innocent prisoners are released more quickly?
JADM490 SENIOR PROJECT I
Week 7 Discussion
DQ1 COVER LETTERS AND BEYOND
Provide a draft of a cover letter you plan to use when applying for jobs. Critique one another's drafts, and offer your impressions.
DQ2 OVERCOMING FRUSTRATIONS
After reviewing the Overcoming Frustrations video tutorial, what suggestions did you find most helpful to deal with job search discouragement?
JADM490 SENIOR PROJECT I
Week 1 Homework
Chapter 1 identifies a number of issues facing criminal justice professionals. Choose one of those issues to address. Your paper will have several sections.
The Issue Addressed: A succinct statement of the issue you have chosen.
My Opinion About This Issue: Your opinion about why this is an issue and how it should be resolved. Essentially, you may prepare this section of your paper without consulting any data or literature.
Brief Review of the Literature: What does the literature say about this issue? In this section, you must overview the scholarly literature on this issue. This means that you must conduct library research!
Conclusion: In this section, you should discuss what you learned after consulting the literature and whether having more information altered your opinion.
ASSIGNMENT REQUIREMENTS
Your paper will be graded using the rubric below.
Your paper should be two to three pages long, exclusive of the cover page and references page, and it should be double-spaced. It should comply with APA 6th edition formatting.
Cover page
References page
12-point, Times New Roman font
No website references
At least three scholarly references in addition to your textbook
In-text references to sources
Use section headings provided above
As with any written assignment, spelling and grammar are important, and when using references, make sure to properly cite your sources. See the Syllabus section on APA for more information.
JADM490 SENIOR PROJECT I
Week 2 Homework
A local civic group has asked you to make a presentation about forensic science and all of the various scientific tests that are available for criminalistics to examine evidence. To prepare for this presentation you must create a PowerPoint presentation that outlines all of the various tests, the type of evidence that would be tested, and how scientific testing may assist investigators in identifying a suspect.
Assignment Requirements
Your paper will be graded using the rubric below.
Your paper will be graded using the Week 2 Homework Rubric located here.
Your PowerPoint presentation should include 10–12 slides of content plus a cover slide and a references slide.
All Academic Integrity policies are in effect. Do not copy or paste material from any source. You should include in-text citations to any referenced material.
Focus on including concepts and bullet points instead of large blocks of text.
You may use graphics, images, and animations where you feel they will be helpful, but do not overuse images.
If you need assistance on creating PowerPoint slides, view this: http://www.readwritethink.org/files/resources/lesson_images/lesson1063/CreatingPowerPointSlide.pdf (Links to an external site.)
There are several sample PowerPoint presentations under Course Resources.
As with any written assignment, spelling and grammar are important, and when using references, make sure to properly cite your sources. See the Syllabus section on APA for more information.
JADM490 SENIOR PROJECT I
Week 3 Assignment
SPOTLIGHT ON CAREER SERVICES
Spotlight on Career Services Resources
http://learn.devry.edu (Links to an external site.).
To learn more about Career Services and the resources available to you, please review the Strategies for Success recording, explore the resources inside your student portal, complete the following action items and answer the following questions.
Upload your professional headshot inside HireDeVry 2.0 and include a screenshot below. (5 points)
Create your introduction video and upload inside HireDeVry 2.0. Share the link to your video here. (10 points)
Share what you learned about professional associations. Do you belong to any professional associations? If so, list which ones. If not, which ones listed might be helpful to you in your career that you may consider joining? (5 points)
What actions will you take to prepare for a career in Justice Administration or advance within your career? (10 points)
What tool will you use to help you target your résumé for specific job opportunities? (5 points)
What resources do you have available to help you search for a job? (10 points)
How can you reach Career Services with any questions you may have? (5 points)
Assignment Requirements
1. Before getting started, watch the following Webex Recording
https://devry.webex.com/devry/ldr.php?RCID=562d2288899312c582182eb3b6b31fee
2. Questions are worth 5 – 10 points each.
3. Do not copy and paste material from the Career Services Resources.
4. Your paper should be prepared in APA 6th
5. Do not simply list the questions and then answer them. Rather, create concept headings for the various questions. See the information below on how to create headings based on questions.
How to Create Internal Paper Headings Based on Questions
For instance, let’s say you have an assignment that requires you to address the following two issues (not this assignment).
Analyze the relevant literature, and describe whether crime-related television shows influence a person’s attitude about the criminal justice system.
Possible heading: Media Influence on Public Attitudes About Criminal Justice
In the fact pattern, did the officers conduct a reasonable search? Did they have a warrant, or were there any exceptions to the warrant requirement that would apply?
Possible heading: The Search and Warrant Exceptions
Given the evidence at this crime scene, what scientific tests would be most appropriate to test this evidence?
Possible heading: Criminalistics
Should police accept gratuities like free coffee, gifts at Christmas, or a free lunch? Compare and contrast the arguments in favor and against gratuities.
Possible heading: Law Enforcement and Gratuities
What factors in the Supreme Court case of Miranda v. Arizona led the court to conclude that a suspect needs to be advised of his Constitutional rights if he is interrogated in custody? Are there other factors that could lead to a different result?
Possible heading: Constitutional Rights During Interrogation
Two critical issues in corrections are inmates with mental illness and elderly prisoners serving long-term sentences. Should state departments of corrections look at compassionate release for elderly prisoners? Why, or why not? How can prisons deal more effectively with mentally ill inmates?
Possible heading: Challenging Issues in Corrections
Two possible sub-headings: Mentally Ill Inmates, Elderly Inmates
As with any written assignment, spelling and grammar are important, and when using references, make sure to properly cite your sources. See the Syllabus section on APA for more information.
Writing Source (Links to an external site.) Help jump-start your writing assignments! Find videos, a writing glossary, and more.
JADM490 SENIOR PROJECT I
Week 4 Homework
Three of the most pressing issues facing state corrections departments are as follows.
The significant number of elderly patients sentenced to life terms and growing old in prison. The normal aging process brings many medical issues for Americans. Many prisoners are unhealthy before they enter prison and, in growing old, experience illness such as cancer, AIDS, and heart failure, among others. How can prisons best address this population? Should states consider compassionate release for these prisoners regardless of sentence; should state taxes be raised to provide greater access to medical care for these prisoners? What are some of the options that have been adopted in some prisons?
The modification of juvenile codes in many states in the 1990s in response to an increase in juvenile crime resulted in more and more juveniles prosecuted in adult court, sentenced in adult courts, and sent to adult institutions to serve their sentences. The Supreme Court has said that juveniles in adult institutions must be separated from adult inmates. This has resulted in juveniles serving their sentences in de facto solitary confinement. What are the consequences to juveniles who spend significant time in solitary confinement? How can prisons more effectively deal with this vulnerable population?
Federal and state sentencing laws changed in the 1980s to address drug and other nonviolent crimes by mandating long prison terms. As a result, more people enter prisons every year than are released, resulting in overcrowding that has an inmate's constitutional rights diminished. Additionally, many argue that these sentencing changes resulted in people of color sent to prison in disproportionate numbers. Should sentencing laws be changed? How? Building more prisons is not the answer; no state has monies that can be used to build prisons. How can this issue effectively be addressed?
Assignment Requirements
Your paper will be graded using the rubric below.
Choose one of the three issues above as the basis of your paper. It is not sufficient for you to answer these questions solely based on your opinion. If you believe sentencing laws should be changed, for example, how would that occur? Which government agencies have to make those changes? If you argue that more prisons should be built, how will that occur? Where will the money come from? To fully address these issues, you must consult the relevant literature to understand the challenges, what has already been tried, and what is shown to be the most effective. Although you may discuss your opinion on which options will be the most appropriate, your opinion must be based on the literature.
Your paper should be two to three pages long, exclusive of the cover page and references page, and it should be double-spaced. It should comply with APA 6th edition formatting.
Cover page
References page
12-point, Times New Roman font
No website references
Include at least three scholarly references in addition to your textbook
Include in-text references to sources
Use the section headings provided above.
As with any written assignment, spelling and grammar are important, and when using references make sure to properly cite your sources. See the Syllabus section on APA for more information.
Writing Source (Links to an external site.) Help jump-start your writing assignments! Find videos, a writing glossary, and more.
JADM490 SENIOR PROJECT I
Week 5 Homework
Many posit that the deaths of unarmed people at the hands of law enforcement officers over the last few years are the result of law enforcement training that has framed the prevention of crime as engaging in warfare, such as the "war on drugs, terrorism," and so forth. Do you agree or disagree? Is the current paradigm that law enforcement officers are warriors? Should this be the paradigm moving forward? Why, or why not? If there should be a new paradigm, what do you think it should be?
Assignment Requirements
Your paper will be graded using the rubric below.
Although this assignment asks for your opinions, they must be opinions based in the literature. What is the literature saying about law enforcement training and philosophy?
Your paper should be two to three pages long, exclusive of the cover page and references page, and it should be double-spaced. It should comply with APA 6th edition formatting.
Cover page
References page
12 point, Times New Roman font
No website references
Include at least four scholarly references, including at least two of the references listed below.
Robison, P. (2015, July 6). The policeman's ID. Business Week, 58-61. Retrieved from http://www.businessweek.com (Links to an external site.)
Bauer, S. (2014). The warrior cops suit up. Mother Jones, 39(6), 18. Retrieved from http://www.motherjones.com (Links to an external site.)
Stoughton, S. (2015). Law enforcement's "warrior" problem. Harvard Law Review, 128(6), 225-234. Retrieved from http://www.harvardlawreview.org (Links to an external site.)
(Links to an external site.)Maskaly, J., & Donner, C. (2015). A theoretical integration of social learning theory with terror management theory: Towards an explanation of police shootings of unarmed suspects. American Journal Of Criminal Justice, 40(2), 205-224. doi:10.1007/s12103-015-9293-7
Include in-text references to sources
Use the section headings provided above.
As with any written assignment, spelling and grammar are important, and when using references, make sure to properly cite your sources. See the Syllabus section on APA for more information.
Writing Source (Links to an external site.) Help jump-start your writing assignments! Find videos, a writing glossary, and more.
Don't forget to submit your assignment.
JADM490 SENIOR PROJECT I
Week 6 Homework
In 2012, the Supreme Court held that it is unconstitutional for a court to sentence a juvenile to life without the possibility of parole (Miller v. Alabama). In 2016, the Supreme Court determined that the Miller decision should be applied retroactively (Montgomery v. Louisiana). The general rule is that a court's decision that changes practice, or a new law that changes a penalty, are not applied to cases that have gone before. To do so every time the law changes would be a logistical nightmare. In this instance, the reviewed scientific and psychological evidence demonstrates that juveniles have diminished capacity due to their age and are more susceptible to peer pressure, and because of their youth, are more likely to change in the future.
Read the Court's opinion that can be found below. What factors do you believe the Court relied on most heavily, and why? On what data did the Court rely, and why?
http://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/15pdf/14-280_3204.pdf (Links to an external site.)
Assignment Requirements
Your paper will be graded using the rubric below.
The Issue Addressed: A succinct statement of the issues to be addressed
My Opinion About This Issue: Your opinion about why this is an issue and how it should be resolved. Essentially, you may prepare this section of your paper without consulting any data or literature.
Brief Review of the Supreme Court's Analysis and Conclusions: Make sure you address the questions posed above in this section.
Conclusion: In this section, you should discuss what you learned after reading and analyzing this opinion.
Assignment Requirements
Writing Source (Links to an external site.) Help jump-start your writing assignments! Find videos, a writing glossary, and more.
Your paper should be two to three pages long, exclusive of the cover page and references page, and it should be double-spaced. It should comply with APA 6th edition formatting.
Cover page
References page
12-point, Times New Roman font
No website references
Supreme Court opinion as your reference for this assignment
In-text references to sources
Section headings provided above
References
Miller v. Alabama, ___ U.S. ___, 132 S. Ct. 2455, 183 L. Ed. 2d 407 (2012).
Montgomery v. Louisiana, 577 U.S. _______ (2016).
As with any written assignment, spelling and grammar are important, and when using references, make sure to properly cite your sources. See the Syllabus section on APA for more information.
JADM490 SENIOR PROJECT I
Week 7 Assignment
JADM490 Career Assignment
Explore the tools and resources available through Career Services as you approach graduation and prepare to act upon your career goals. Please plan to complete all steps outlined below during Weeks 3 – 7.
Week 3: Register for and attend the Career Services Live Lecture or listen to the recording.
Week 7: Career Assignment
1. Access the Kaltura UserGuide in Course Resources and Download CaptureSpace Lite
2. Find a degree-related job posting that you are interested in (and qualified for) and create a practice interview video recording using Kaltura CaptureSpace Lite.
3. Please answer each of the following questions in your recording:
a) Introduce yourself to the hiring manager - share your professional brand message. Explain why you are interested in the position (the one you chose for this assignment) and why you believe you are a strong fit. Share the value you will bring to this position/organization.
b) Share how previous supervisors/colleagues would describe you.
c) Describe a time when you were creative in solving a problem.
d) Describe a time when worked effectively under pressure.
e) After conducting research on this company, share one question you want to ask the hiring manager that you cannot find the answer to on their website or in LinkedIn.
4. Submit the recording and the job posting to the Week 7 Assignment box. To attach your Kaltura video, click on the symbol shown above.
5. In Week 8 share the video and your job posting with your classmates to the Week 8 Looking Ahead Discussion
6. After you have posted your recording and job posting, provide constructive feedback your peers on their videos and job postings.
JADM490 SENIOR PROJECT I
Week 8 PORTFOLIO
Your final assignment in this course—due Week 8—is a Portfolio of polished, final drafts of the papers you write in Weeks 1, 2, 4, 5, and 6. Once you receive the graded paper from each week, you should do the following.
Review all feedback.
Using the instructor feedback, rewrite each week's paper to create a more polished draft of the paper.
Your Week 8 Portfolio will consist of the following.
Week 1 paper—first draft; final polished draft
Week 2 paper—first draft; final polished draft
Week 4 paper—first draft; final polished draft
Week 5 paper—first draft; final polished draft
Week 6 paper—first draft; final polished draft
To submit your Portfolio, create a Portfolio folder into which you submit all items identified above.
You will submit one running document, that includes all your papers. Your final submission will
be in APA format, include one cover sheet, a table of contents, and all references listed at the end.
Break your paper into sections following this format:
• Cover Sheet
• Table of Contents
• Week 1: Title of Paper (draft)
• Week 1: Title of Paper (polished submission)
• Week 2: Title of Paper (draft)
• Continue this format until you have a draft and polished submission for Weeks 1,2,4,5,6.
• References
Don't forget to submit your assignment.
