Reference no: EM133341774 , Length: word count:450

Overview: Many issues in the United States are focused on the application of force in the field of law enforcement. Questions have been raised as to whether criminal justice professionals are applying the least amount of force necessary to gain compliance from an unwilling subject. Because of several recent controversies surrounding the use of deadly force and the treatment of individuals in police custody, many members of society have been extremely critical of the use of force. These controversial issues have created a negative public perception of law enforcement officers, and there have been demonstrations and calls for reform in both the training and hiring of police officers.

For this assignment, you will first read and analyze the Graham v. Connor court decision. This decision is the seminal case that articulates when and how use-of- force situations will be reviewed and judged. As you read the case, consider who the key stakeholders are (police officers, police departments, citizens, etc.) in the controversy and how this issue impacts the field of criminal justice.

Prompt: After reading the case, write a brief in which you address the elements listed below. This case brief will help you address the impact of similar decisions in studying your own issue analysis for the final project. Set up your brief as the Sample Case Brief is set up, and include the answers to the questions in the Analysis section of the brief.

1. Facts: State the facts of the case and why the case went to trial.
2. Issue: State what is at issue in the case.
3. Ruling: State the court's ruling in the case.
4. Analysis: This section contains the bulk of the brief. In your analysis, address the following:
a) In this case, what standard did the court use to determine whether the use of force was reasonable? For instance, what did the court say about judging the objective reasonableness of the use of force?
b) What perspective did the court use in determining whether the officer acted appropriately in the use of force? What did the court say about using hindsight to determine objective reasonableness?
c) What strategies do you believe should be employed to make sure officers are applying the correct amount of force in any given situation?
d) Analyze the connection between the issue of use of force and what criminological theory contributed to the understanding-or misunderstanding-of these issues.
5. Conclusion: Conclude the case brief by summarizing your analysis.

It should use single spacing, 12-point Times New Roman font, and one-inch margins. Follow APA style for in-text citations and the reference list.

Legal Policy Short Paper

Overview: For this assignment, you will write a short paper proposing a strategy to minimize the negative impact a selected issue may have on the criminal justice system. By beginning to analyze one specific issue, this paper will help prepare you for your Milestone One submission in Module Three.

There are many controversial topics in the field of criminal justice. So far, you have been introduced to a few of these issues, such as improper or excessive use of force, police corruption, disparity in prison sentences based on race, improper training or policies, racial profiling, and civil liability, to name a few. Often, these issues create a negative public perception of the criminal justice system.

After being introduced to the controversial issues of victims' rights and jailhouse informants in this module's resources, you will select one such critical issue that is interesting to you and propose a strategy to minimize the negative impact this issue has on public perception of the field of criminal justice.

This assignment may be related to the issue you will ultimately select in Module Three for your final project, and should certainly get you thinking about controversial issues in the criminal justice system. First, to choose an issue to complete this task, refer to the module's resources and the following optional resource for Module Two: A Criminal Quartet: The Supreme Court's Resolution of Four Critical Issues in the Criminal Justice System. This resource examines four recent U.S. Supreme Court rulings related to controversial issues in the criminal justice arena. You may also select your own issue.

Next, identify and utilize a problem solving strategy after reviewing the Problem-Solving Strategies and Sample document. You may also use your own strategy. Additionally, you need to identify and analyze an evidence-based practice that will be most effective in dealing with the issue you selected. In your paper, analyze the controversial issue and describe how it may negatively affect public perception of the criminal justice system.

Prompt: Specifically, the following critical elements must be addressed:

1. Issue Presented: Summarize the issue in the form of a brief one-sentence question.
2. Short Answer: Provide a short answer which summarizes the conclusion of your paper.
3. Statement of Facts: Describe how the issue may negatively affect public perception of the criminal justice system.
4. Discussion: Provide a brief discussion of the issue, including the recent history of the issue and any legal precedents related to it.
5. Conclusion: Provide a conclusion based on the details of the issue outlined in the Discussion section.
6. Recommendations:
a. Based on your reading, propose at least one evidence-based practice to minimize the negative impact this issue may have on public perception of the criminal justice field.
b. Describe what possible successful outcomes might result from addressing this issue by analyzing it with evidence-based practices.