investigating three major areas involving the three branches of criminal justice, Final Paper

JUS 101 Final Project Guidelines and Rubric Overview For the final assessment, you will create a career path investigation in which you answer questions related to each of the br anches. You may complete your project as either a Word document or as a presentation. Your investigation will be 4 –5 pages or approximately 10 –15 slides. From your investigation into each of the branches, you will be able to reflect on and determine a potential career path within the criminal justice field. If you choose to follow a presentation format, these are some recommended programs : PowerPoint, Prezi, Pixxa Perspective, or Haiku Deck. I n your presentation, be sure to utilize the speaker n otes section of each slide for the bulk of the content. The speaker’s notes are to be used to explain why you put the information on the slide, and you will be assessed heavily on this information. The speaker notes are the words you would say if you were presenting the slides to an audience. The tone of these notes should be professional. View this document for additional details on guidelines for presentations . You will now be investigating three major areas involving the three branches of criminal justice. Before you proceed, conside r your career aspirations in criminal justice and where you might possibly see yourself upon completion of your degree. After each section, you will be given the chance to reflect upon your decision based on your findings. The project is divided into three milestones , which will be submitted at various points throughout the course t o scaffold learning and ensure quality final submissions. These milestones will be submitted in Modules Two, Four , and Five . The final product will be submitted in Module Seven . In this assignment , you will demonstrate your mastery of the following course outcomes:  Describe how the three branches of criminal justice operate as a cohesive system by analyzing their collaboration and communi cation practices  Identify the impacts of historical aspects of law enforcement, courts, and corrections on shaping the current role of the criminal justice practitioner  Illustrate how the use of emerging technology impacts the performance of the criminal justice practitioner  Apply basic principles of criminal an d constitutional law to common criminal justice situations in a way that adheres to ethical and professional standards  Differentiate between the roles of practitioners in each of the three branches of the criminal justice system for making info rmed career path decisions Prompt Choosing a career within the criminal justice field is a major, life -changing decision. Once you complete your criminal justice degree, you are then considered a criminal justice professional . From this point forward, you will be evaluated, assessed, and analyzed as a person who is dedicated to a profession where y our actions are always being scrutinized. There is a tremendous weight and responsibility on those who choose this path , and you mu st learn whether or not you are capable of doing what is required of these professionals . By the end of this course, you should know whether or not you should stay with this major. This assessment will act as a guide as you investigate the three branches o f criminal justice to make a decision concerning your career path. The specific branches you will be examining are law enforcement, courts, and corrections. In investigating these, you should be able to decide where yo ur interests lie within the criminal justice field and whether or not you would like to continue on your potential career path. Specifically, the following critical elements must be addressed: I. Communication and Collaboration The branches of criminal justice may appear to function autonomous ly, but there is a lot of interaction and collaboration between them. In this part of the career investigation, you will need to think about some scenarios where communication and collaboration would be required for these branches to function effectively a nd which branch appears to be more in line with how you approach communication and collaboration. a) How does the ability to conduct legal searches differ between the police officer, probation officer, and prison guard in the performance of their duties? Give an example of interagency collaboration when conducting a legal search . b) A police officer was conducting an investigation involving an incarcerated prisoner. The police officer would like to know wh o the prisoner spoke to on the phone and who visited him. Describe who the police officer would need to collaborate with to obtain that information, explaining why. c) Lou, a suspect the officer was investigating in a burglary case, was just convicted for that crime. Prior to his sentence, a pre -sentence report must be conducted. Who is most likely to conduct the investigation: the police officer, probation officer, or the prison guar d? Who will he or she collaborate with to complete the report? Support your response by explaining how this process impacts intera gency collaboration. d) Use the case study you selected for Milestone One , where communication and collaboration were driving factor s, and discuss the impact of that case in reshaping the role of the corrections practitioner. e) Based on your findings regarding the differences in how each branch communicates with each other, which career path is most in line with your communication and c ollaboration practices and why? II. Technology As technology evolves, criminal justice organizations need to be on the cutting edg e of what i s available to aid them in their investigations. In this part of the career investigation, you will need to think about the use of emerging technology in some scenarios involving each of the criminal justice branches to see which of the branches utilizes technology that interests you the most. a) A police officer is assigned to conduct a burglary investigation. He describes the scene and says they found drops of blood, a hammer, shoeprints, and a handprint. What types of technology are available for him, and how does the technology impact his ability to co nduct a thorough investigation? b) A prison guard is assigned to the visitors’ entrance at the prison. What types of technology are available to him, and how does the technolo gy impact his ability to p revent visitor s from smuggling in contraband? c) A probation officer has been told that due to overcrowding in the state prison, nonviolent offenders will be released and put on probation. What types of technology are available to her, and how does the techno logy impact her ability to maintain contact with these probationers? d) Use the case study you selected for Milestone Two , where the use of technology was a driving factor, and discuss the impact of that case in reshaping the role of the law enforcement practitioner. e) Based on the differences in available and emerging technology in each of the branches, which career path uses technology that you have the most interest in l earning and utilizing, and why? III. Ethical and Professional Practice When people see criminal justice practitioners, they expect them to have strong ethical beliefs and act professionally at all times. In this part of the career investigation, you will now think about some scenarios where each of the branches must act ethic ally and professionally to see which of the professions fits best with how you think and act. Read the following scenarios and answer each prompt. a) While on duty, a uniformed police officer went to a crowded neighborhood deli at lunchtime to buy a sandwich . The deli owner, Ari, told the officer that it was on the house and payment was not necessary. What professional and ethical standards should be in place from the police department to assist this officer in his decision making, and why should they be put in place? b) A prison guard was assigned to patrol Cell Block 4. One of the guard’s high school buddies, Ray, is incarcerated on the same cell block for possession of narcotics. Cigarettes are not allowed on prison property. While the guard was patrolling the cell block, Ray was smoking a cigarette. If Ray is reported by the guard, he will not be eligible for parole. Ray pleads the guard to not report him. What professional and ethical standards should be in place from the prison administration to assist this guard with decision making , and why should they be put in place? c) What basic principle of constitutional law must a police officer, but not always a probation officer, follow when conducting an ethical and legal search of a probationer’s house? Explain why this law i s applicable to this situation. d) Us e the case study you selected for Milesto ne Three , where ethics or professional practice was a driving factor, and discuss the impact of that case in reshaping the role of the practitioner in the court system. e) Based on the ethical and professional practices of each of the branches, which career path is most in line with your ethical beliefs and pro fessional disposition, and why? IV. Career Revision Based on your investigation of the three branches of criminal justice, describe how your findings solidified or changed your career aspirations . If you have opted to choose a different career path entirely than criminal justice, explain why. Milestones Milestone One : Communication and Collaboration In Module Two , you will submit a draft of Section I above. Remember, you may complete your project as either a Word document or as a presentation. If you select a presentation , it should be submitted as 2 –3 slides. If you select a W ord document , it should be 1 –2 pages. This milestone graded with the Milestone One Rubric. Milestone Two : Technology In Module Four , you will submit a draft of Section II above. Remember, you may complete your project as either a Word document or as a presentation. If you select a presentation , it is submitted as 2 –3 slides. If you select a Word document , it should be 1 –2 pages. This milestone is graded with the Milestone Two Rubric. Milestone Three : Ethical and Professional Practice In Module Five , you will submit a draft of Section III above. Remember, you may complete your project as either a Word document or as a presentation . If you select a presentation , it is submitted as 2 –3 slides. If you select a Word document , it should be 1 –2 pages. This milestone is graded with the Milestone Three Ru bric. Final Submission : Career Path Investigation In Module Seven , you will submit your career path investigation . It should be a complete, polished artifact containing all of the critical elements of the final product , including Section IV above, Career Revision . It should reflect the incorporation of feedback gained throughout the course. This submission is graded with the Final Product Rubric . Deliverables Milestone Deliverable Module Due Grading 1 Communication and Collaboration Two Graded separately; Milestone One Rubric 2 Technology Four Graded separately; Milestone Two R ubric 3 Ethical and Professional Practice Five Graded separately; Milestone Three Rubric Final Submission: Career Path Investigation Seven Graded separately; Final Product Rubric Final Product Rubric Guidelines for Submission: You may complete your project as either a Word document or as a presentation. Your career path investigation essay should be 4 –5 pages, double -spaced, and use 12 -point Times New Roman font, or your presentation should be between 10 and 15 slides , with speaker notes . The speaker notes are the words you would say if you were presenting the slides to an audience. The tone of these notes should be profess ional. Instructor Feedback: This activity uses an integrated rubric in Blackboard. Students can view instructor feedback in the Grade Center. For more information, review these instructions . Critical Elements Exemplary (100% ) Proficient (85% ) Needs Improvement (55% ) Not Evident (0% ) Value Communication and Collaboration: Legal Search Meets “Proficient” criteria and cites specific, relevant examples and differences in a detailed description Explains how the ability to conduct legal searches differs among the different roles listed in the performance of their duties and gives an example of interagency collaboration when conducting a legal search Explains h ow the ability to conduct legal searches differs among the different roles listed, but does not give an example of interagency collaboration , or the example does not fully relate to the interagency collaboration Does not explain how the ability to conduct legal searches differs among the different roles listed in the performance of their duties 6 Communication and Collaboration:

Collaborate Meets “Proficient” criteria and cites specific, relevant examples and differences in a detailed description Describes who the police officer would need to collaborate with and why Describes who the police officer would need to collaborate with, but does not explain why Does not describe who the police officer would need to collaborate with 6 Communication and Collaboration: Presentence Report Meets “Proficient” criteria , and explanation is exceptionally clear and contextualized Identifies who would be most likely to conduct the investigation and who he/she would collaborate with, and supports response Identifies who would be most likely to conduct the investigation, but does not identify who he/she would collaborate with or does not support response Does not identify who would be most likely to conduct the investigation 6 Communication and Colla boration: Court Case Meets “Proficient” criteria and uses industry -specific language to establish expertise Selects a court case and discusses the impact that case had in reshaping the role of the corrections practitioner Selects a court case, but does not discuss the impact that case had in re shaping the role of the corrections practitioner Does not select a court case 6 Communication and Collaboration: Career Path Meets “Proficient” criteria , and rationale is well supported with specific examples Identifies which career path is most in line with personal collaboration and communication practices and provides an explanation Identifies which career path is most in line with personal collaboration and communication practices, but does not provide an e xplanation , or explanation is illogical Does not identify which career path is most in line with personal collaboration and communication practices 6 Technology: Police Officer Meets “Proficient” criteria and uses examples to substantiate the technology described Describes the types of technology available to the police officer and how they impact his ability to conduct a thorough investigation Describes the types of technology available, but does not describe how they impact his ability to conduct a thor ough investigation Does not describe the types of technology available to the police officer 6 Technology: Prison Guard Meets “Proficient” criteria and uses examples to substantiate the technology described Describes the types of technology available to the prison guard and how they impact his ability to prevent visitors from smuggling in contraband Describes the types of technology available, but does not describe how they impact his ability to prevent visit ors from smuggling in contraband Does not describe the types of technology available to the prison guard 6 Technology: Probation Officer Meets “Proficient” criteria and uses examples to substantiate the technology described Describes the types of technology available to the probation officer and how they impact her ability to maintain contact with the probationer s Describes the types of technology available, but does not describe how they impact her ability to maintain contact with the probationer s Does not describe the types of technology available to the probation officer 6 Technology: Court Case Meets “Proficient” criteria and uses industry -specific language to establish expertise Selects a court case where the use of technology was a driving factor and discusses the impact that case had in re shaping the role of the law enforcement practitioner Selects a court case, but technology was not a driving factor or does not discuss the impact that case had in reshaping the role of the law enforcement practitioner Does not select a court case to discuss its impact 6 Technology: Career Path Meets “Proficient” criteria , and rationale is well supported with specific examples Identifies which career path uses technology that would be the most interesting to learn and utilize, providing rationale Identifies which career path uses technology that would be the most interesting to learn and utilize, but does not provide rationale , or rationale is illogical Does not identify which career path uses technology th at would be the most interesting to learn and utilize 6 Ethical and Professional Practice: Standards Meets “Proficient” criteria and offers insight into how police departments benefit from having such standards put in place Determines which professional and ethical standards should be in place and explains why they should be put in place Determines which professional and ethical standards should be in place, but does not explain why they should be put in place Does not determine which professional and eth ical standards should be in place from the police department 6 Ethical and Professional Practice: Decision Making Meets “Proficient” criteria and offers insight into how prisons benefit from having such standards put in place Determines which professional and ethical standards should be in place and explains why they should be put in place Determines which professional and ethical standards should be in place, but does not explain why they should be put in place Does not determine which profess ional and ethical standards should be in place from the prison administration 6 Ethical and Professional Practice: Principle Meets “Proficient” criteria and uses industry -specific language to establish expertise Accurately identifies the basic principle of constitutional law and explains why the law is applicable in this situation Identifies the basic principle of constitutional law, but does not explain why the law is applicable in this situation or is inaccurate in which basic principle applies Does not identify the basic principle of constitutional law 6 Ethical and Professional Practice: Court Case Meets “Proficient” criteria and uses industry -specific language to establish expertise Selects a court case where ethics or professional practice was a driving factor and discusses the impact that case had in reshaping the role of the practitioner in the court system Selects a court case, but ethics or professional practice was not a driving factor, or does not discuss the impact that case had in reshapin g the role of the practitioner in the court system Does not select a court case 6 Ethical and Professional Practice: Career Path Meets “Proficient” criteria , and rationale is well supported with specific examples Identifies which career path is most in line with personal ethical beliefs and professional disposition and provides rationale Identifies which career path is most in line with personal ethical beliefs and professional disposition, but does not provide rationale , or rationale is illogical Does n ot identify which career path is most in line with personal ethical beliefs and professional disposition 6 Career Revision:

Career Aspirations Meets “Proficient” criteria , and description is exceptionally clear and contextualized Describes impact of investigation on career aspirations based on findings Describes impact of investigation on career aspirations, but aspirations are not based on findings Does not describe impact of investigation on career aspirations 6 Articulation of Response Submission is free of errors related to citations, grammar, spelling, syntax, and organization and is prese nted in a professional and easy -to-read format Submission has no major errors related to citations, grammar, spelling, syntax, or organization Submission has major errors related to citations, grammar, spelling, syntax, or organization that negatively impact readability and articulation of main ideas Submission has critical errors related to citations, grammar, spelling, syntax, or organization that prevent und erstanding of ideas 4 Earned Total 100%