PART 1: Assignment Instructions: After reading the text and watching the videos, please read the discussion questions provided below. Please answer the following questions: 1. Discuss two advantages and two disadvantages of police discretion. 2. What group of people is police discretion more likely to help? Why? 3. What population demographic is most likely to go to jail or prison as an outcome of discretion? Why? 4. As Christians in the field of CJ, how should we navigate through some of these discretions? Specifically, are we serving or helping certain populations in the CJS? Resources: 1.) READ Chapters 4 & 6 IN TEXTBOOK: CRIMINAL JUSTICE A BRIEF INTRODUCTION BY FRANK SCHMALLEGER 2.) WATCH https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uf0ENU2T2Go 3.) WATCH https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XJiaYw3Cq_Y Introduction and Alignment: When police officers perform their official duties, then there is a particular level of discretion they must use when interacting with the public. It is up to each officer to decide at a specific moment as to what to do or how to react to the situation developing in front of him/her. One advantage of discretion is that it permits officers to use their training for the public good. One disadvantage of police discretion is that their decision-making can also lead to situations where there is a higher risk of harm to a civilian. The advantages and disadvantages of police discretion apply at all levels of law enforcement. Upon completion of this assignment, you should be able to: identify the different police functions within the CJS and the community, including the notion of discretion. PART 2: Resources: 1.) READ Chapters 4 & 5 IN TEXTBOOK: CRIMINAL JUSTICE A BRIEF INTRODUCTION BY FRANK SCHMALLEGER Assignment Instructions: Answer the following questions thoroughly using Chapters 4 & 5 of your text. What is the role of interrogation in intelligence gathering? List each of the Miranda warnings. Which recent U.S. Supreme Court cases have affected Miranda warning requirements? (150 words) What are the three major levels of public law enforcement described in Chapter 4? Why do we have so many different types of enforcement agencies in the United States? What problems do you think are created by such a diversity of agencies? (150 words). You do not need a title page or reference page for this assignment. Introduction and Alignment: Being able to discuss some of the major components of the criminal justice system is beneficial for those studying the topic. Each week will contain a few discussion questions that will highlight important areas of the criminal justice system. Upon completion of this assignment, you should be able to: explain how policing developed in America from the colonial era up to today’s community policing era, including the evolution of the Miranda warnings.
