Write a minimum of 8 pages (double space, 12pt font) to answer 4 out of the following 6 questions. As always, use information mainly from the book to answer the questions but you must use critical thinking and your own input as well. Some of the following questions are designed to not be 'chapter specific' but instead challenge you to use information from several chapters as well as what you have learned in class, information from the videos, and your critical thinking skills. Be sure to write and provide direct support for your answers directly from the text and/or other sources (e.g. in text references, page numbers).
1. Do you think the criminal justice system “works” in the United States? Why or why not?
Your answer may be based upon the values that you assign to individual factors such as
deterrence, rehabilitation, crime prevention, and crime education. You may feel that the system
works overall, but nearly everyone can find room for improvement. Also, does the system seem to work better for some populations than others? Does it disproportionately affect some populations, like minorities for example? In what ways?
2. Do you think that other institutions such as the family, schools, and organized religion are
better institutions of social control than the criminal justice system? If so, which ones? Why?
Your answer will partially depend upon how efficient you believe the criminal justice
system is. It also depends on your personal beliefs regarding the importance of family and other
social institutions in regulating behavior. You may also cite family, schools, and organized
religion as more important institutions because of their consistent influence on a young person’s
life.
3. Discuss some of the most common myths about the criminal justice system (e.g. minorities commit more crime, more officers will reduce crime, the crime rate is going up, criminals are usually dangerous and commit violent crime, etc.)
4. Discuss the role that the war on drugs has played in incarceration rates. Explain whether and how minorities are disproportionately affected by this ‘war’.
5. What happens when criminals return to their communities? How can we change the system to make the transition back to our society more successful? Do you think the current way of incarcerating people keeps us safe, if so how? If not, why not?
6. What improvements do you think should be made to the criminal justice system?
You can cite ways in which each of the three criminal justice agencies—police, courts,
and corrections—can improve. These can include better training, better community relations, less
procedural errors, and many other suggestions.
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IntrotoCrimeandCriminalJusticefinal1.docx
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