Discussion Thread: Research and Policy Development
MANAGE DISCUSSION
This is a graded discussion: 60 points are possible
due Apr 20
11 unread replies.11 reply.
After reading Chapter 5 of the Mosher textbook, the article entitled "Internet Development,
Censorship, and Cyber Crimes in China" by Liang and Lu, and the article entitled "'Snitches End
Up in Ditches' and Other Cautionary Tales" by Morris, discuss the following prompts:
Although presented differently, how do the research articles affect the development of
criminal justice public policy?
As a criminal justice leader, does the National Crime Victimization Survey (NCVS)
give you a reason for concern? How/Why?
What are the advantages of the NCVS versus the Uniform Crime Report
(UCR)/National Incident-Based Reporting System (NIBRS) data?
As a criminal justice leader or school safety leader, does the "'Snitches End Up in
Ditches' and Other Cautionary Tales" article cause you to act? In what way?
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Discussion Resources
Internet Development, Censorship, and Cyber Crimes in China Links to an external
site.
“Snitches End Up in Ditches” and Other Cautionary Tales Links to an external site.
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only be able to read and interact with your classmates’ threads after you have submitted your
thread in response to the provided prompt.
Submit your thread by 11:59 p.m. (ET) on Thursday of Module 5: Week 5.
Discussion 5
Although presented differently, how do the research articles affect the development of
criminal justice public policy?
Criminal justice public policy would be challenging to build when looking at the article
on snitches. This is because snitches are rarely eager to communicate with authorities for fear of
retaliation from the individuals they are in the process of snitching on. These respondents had a
deep distrust of the police and expressed an unwillingness to assist law enforcement. Even
though interviewees admitted to being victims, they refused to seek police assistance.
The individuals in question followed a street code in which respect, security, and status are only
granted to those who have demonstrated the ability to manage and take care of their own
personal matters (Morris, 2010). If no one is willing to snitch or report, then there is little to back
up evidence. “A single witness shall not suffice against a person for any crime or for any wrong
in connection with any offense that he has committed. Only on the evidence of two witnesses or
of three witnesses shall a charge be established” (English Standard Version, Deuteronomy 19:15,
2001/2023).
When addressing the article on China's internet censorship, it is difficult to make criminal
justice public policy if China prohibits any crime-related statistics or problems from being made
public or debated in a public forum. This "great firewall" has effectively eliminated the capacity
to report crimes, both locally and inside the government. This can be seen in the various
categories that they must meet for internet viewership requirements including: being seditious to
the ruling regime of the state or the system of socialism; subverting state power or sabotaging
state unity; spreading rumors or disrupting social order; publicly insulting or demeaning others;
and harming the reputation or interests of the state (Liang & Lu, 2010). “The god of this age has
blinded the minds of unbelievers so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the
glory of Christ, who is the image of God” (New International Version, 2 Corinthians 4:4,
1978/2023). This may likewise be said about China's internet restrictions. It's all to distract folks
from realizing the true nature of their government and the corruption that pervades it.
As a criminal justice leader, does the National Crime Victimization Survey (NCVS) give
you a reason to be concerned? How/why?
A series of questions are asked in NCVS incident reports about the crime event, the
offender, and its consequences (Mosher et al., 2011). It is not uncommon for surveys to be
exceptionally long and boring. Particularly if the person taking the survey repeatedly hears the
same questions phrased differently each time. Participants may find a survey redundant.
Participation in surveys will or can be hindered by this. As a result, participants may make up
things or tell the interviewer what they want to hear, just to get the survey done. During the
survey, the question is asked what prevents victims or participants from stating that something is
a criminal offense when it is not? If this data is inaccurate, it can also cause the NVCS data to be
inaccurate. Law enforcement is therefore unable to effectively combat crime in high-crime areas.
The NCVS is cause for concern.
What are the advantages of the NCVS versus the Uniform Crime Report (UCR)/National
Incident-Based Reporting System (NIBRS) data?
In analyzing crime trends in the U.S., these surveys have been considered more accurate
than official statistics in measuring absolute rates of some serious crimes. (Mosher et al., 2011)
They have also been viewed as more accurate measures of absolute rates of some serious crimes.
The surveys provide more detailed information about the factors that contribute to criminal acts
and provide a better understanding of the characteristics of offenders, such as race, gender, and
age (Mosher et al, 2011).
As a criminal justice leader or school safety leader, does the "'Snitches End Up in Ditches'
and Other Cautionary Tales" article cause you to act? In what way?
If the author of this forum were a school safety leader, this article would make her realize
the importance of providing a secure and anonymous mechanism for students, educators, and other
school faculty to report occurrences without fear of retaliation from those being reported. A
plausible way to do this would be to set up a phone number so others may leave anonymous
messages to report anything that may or has occurred that is illegal or against school policy. This
way an individual can anonymously send a message to inform the appropriate individuals so that it
can be investigated.
References
English Standard Version. (2023). Open Bible. https://www.openbible.info/topics/two_witnesses
(Original work published 2001)
Liang, B., & Lu, H. (2010). Internet development, censorship, and cyber-crimes in China.
Journal of Contemporary Criminal Justice, 26(1), 103–120.
https://doi.org/10.1177/1043986209350437
Morris, E. W. (2010). “Snitches end up in ditches” and other cautionary tales. Journal of
Contemporary Criminal Justice, 26(3), 254–272.
https://doi.org/10.1177/1043986210368640
Mosher, C. J., Miethe, T. D., & Hart, T. C. (2011). The mismeasure of crime (2nd ed.). Los
Angeles, CA: Sage Publications, Inc. ISBN: 9781412981811
New International Version. (2011). Bible gateway. https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?
search=2%20Corinthians%204%3A4&version=NIV (Original work published 1978)
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