week 3

524 discussions – 300 words each

524 d1

This week’s readings have presented trends in sentencing laws across the U.S. (in Chapter 5) and sex offender registration, notification, and commitment laws (in Chapter 8 of Reddington and Bonham text).

Now choose one of the two issues below and be sure to fully respond to all questions. (You may choose to discuss both, but are not required to).

A. Consider the authors’ positions on sentencing models discussed in Chapter 5, and research sentencing models used in your state.

· In what ways do you agree with the author's positions?  In what ways do you disagree with the author’s positions?

· Conduct online research on your state’s sentencing laws. What models are used in your state? How do you assess the current models in your state?

· Have there been suggested legislative changes? If so, give specific information by discussing the year and reason for the change. What was this change designed to address? Has it met its objectives?

· Include online links to all relevant information in your state.

B. Consider the authors’ positions regarding sex offender registration and community notification law and civil commitment laws in Chapter 8.

· In what ways do you agree with the author's positions? In what ways do you disagree with the author’s positions?

· Conduct online research of your state’s sex offender registration and community notification laws and civil commitment laws. Describe your state’s laws with cites to the pertinent laws.  In what areas do you believe these laws are effective? In what areas can they be improved?

· As displayed on page 167 of Reddington and Bonham text, Congress has conditioned funding to the states by requiring that each state pass sex offender registries. The authors discuss the challenges in creating such centralized registries. Discuss your views on the practice of federal conditioning funding to the states on the passage of federally mandated laws. Explain your areas of agreement or disagreement with this practice.

Textbooks

· Jr., F.P.R. B. (2019). Flawed Criminal Justice Policies: At the Intersection of the Media, Public Fear and Legislative Response (2nd ed.). Carolina Academic Press. https://ccis.vitalsource.com/books/9781531011376

· Welsh, W. N., & Harris, P. W. (2016). Criminal Justice Policy and Planning (5th ed.). Taylor & Francis. https://ccis.vitalsource.com/books/9781317271550

524 d2

There is a lot of information about national special interest groups and their relationship to Congress. Consider the following links that direct the public to various interest groups and track their ratings and campaign contributions to members of Congress.

· Political Parties and Interest Groups

· Top Interest Groups Giving to Members of Congress, 2020 Cycle

· National Special Interest Groups

Having considered the various links, select one special interest group.

· What role does this special interest group play in Congressional criminal justice policy making?

· How has the group sought to influence policy making at the legislative level?

· Has the existence of this group and the role it plays created an enhancement or a hindrance to the creation of effective, responsive criminal justice programs? 

Textbooks

· Jr., F.P.R. B. (2019). Flawed Criminal Justice Policies: At the Intersection of the Media, Public Fear and Legislative Response (2nd ed.). Carolina Academic Press. https://ccis.vitalsource.com/books/9781531011376

· Welsh, W. N., & Harris, P. W. (2016). Criminal Justice Policy and Planning (5th ed.). Taylor & Francis. https://ccis.vitalsource.com/books/9781317271550

Case study

Instructions

Read Case Study 2.2: The Goals of Mandatory Sentencing on pages 108 – 112 of Welsh and Harris text and answer questions 1-3 on page 112

· Write a goal statement for the creation of mandatory sentencing policies. Explain how you defined this goal based on the evidence in the case study.

· Identify and describe any incompatible goals or values of different stakeholders.

· Create specific objective(s) you would use to evaluate the effectiveness of the policy, using the four components of the objective(s).

· Explain how you reached the four components of the objective(s).

Textbooks

Jr., F.P.R. B. (2019). Flawed Criminal Justice Policies: At the Intersection of the Media, Public Fear and Legislative Response (2nd ed.). Carolina Academic Press. https://ccis.vitalsource.com/books/9781531011376

Welsh, W. N., & Harris, P. W. (2016). Criminal Justice Policy and Planning (5th ed.). Taylor & Francis. https://ccis.vitalsource.com/books/9781317271550

Week 3 class 561

300-400 words discussion

CIT in Action

Officer Williams is dispatched to a call about a 28-year-old man, Jason, behaving erratically in a local park. Witnesses report that Jason is yelling incoherently, pacing back and forth, and swinging a metal rod. Upon arrival, Officer Williams observes Jason appearing disoriented and agitated. Rather than immediately escalating the situation, Officer Williams, trained in Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) techniques, uses verbal de-escalation strategies. He maintains a calm demeanor, gives Jason space, and begins a dialogue, asking open-ended questions to determine Jason’s mental state.

Through their interaction, Officer Williams learns that Jason has schizophrenia, is off his medication, and is feeling overwhelmed by recent personal losses. By using CIT principles, Officer Williams avoids the use of force, secures the metal rod safely, and connects Jason with a mental health professional from a nearby crisis team. Jason agrees to go to a local crisis center for further evaluation and treatment, demonstrating the success of CIT in resolving potentially volatile situations without harm.

Initial Post:

Based on this scenario, please address the following in your initial post:

1. How did Officer Williams apply CIT techniques to de-escalate the situation? What specific strategies contributed to the positive outcome?

2. How could the use of CIT principles in this case benefit both law enforcement and the individual in crisis? How might the outcome differ if Officer Williams lacked CIT training?

3. What additional strategies or resources could be used in similar scenarios to enhance the response and outcomes for individuals with mental health issues?

Project

Police and Mental Health: Evolving Roles in Crisis Intervention

In March 2020, Daniel Prude, a Black man experiencing a mental health crisis, encountered police in Rochester, New York. His family had called 911 for help, seeking assistance for his mental health condition. The situation escalated, and Prude died after police restrained him using a controversial method. This incident sparked widespread protests, highlighting issues with police intervention in mental health crises and the need for systemic reform.

This article provides further background and context with respect to the case.

Through this assignment, you will explore the complex dynamics between law enforcement, mental health systems, and communities to propose ways to prevent similar tragedies.

Assignment instructions: This assignment has two parts:

Part 1: Interactive Brochure: Design a digital brochure that addresses the following:

1. Overview of Police and Crisis Intervention

· The traditional role of police in crisis response.

· The growing focus on de-escalation and mental health training.

2. The Daniel Prude Case Analysis

· Briefly outline the key events of the Daniel Prude case.

· Analyze what went wrong (e.g., lack of mental health support, use of force).

· Highlight systemic challenges revealed by the case.

3. Key Takeaways and Recommendations

· Lessons learned from the Daniel Prude case.

· Proposals for improving police response (e.g., Crisis Intervention Teams, mental health professionals co-responding).

4. Community and Mental Health Resources

· Provide links or information about resources such as National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), and local crisis support systems.

For Part 1, submit the brochure as a PDF or an interactive online link in the appropriate dropbox. Here are some resources for you to use:

· Picsart: The Professional Brochure Maker

· Canva: Design and print beautiful brochures

· Adobe: Make a custom brochure

Textbooks

· Shane, J. (2019). Stress Inside Police Departments. Taylor & Francis. https://ccis.vitalsource.com/books/9781000762891

· James, R. (2024). Crisis Intervention Strategies (9th ed.). Cengage Learning US. https://ccis.vitalsource.com/books/9798214125787