response ): police courts corrections L a w

response ): police courts corrections L a w

 

PART 1

REMINDER: Throughout this course there are assignments in which you will be exposed to portions of a real case and trial from 2015-2017. Even though it will be easy to find information about this trial from outside sources, it is highly suggested that you limit your exposure to what is presented in class unless specifically instructed otherwise. The progression of the course is intended to give you information about the events from beginning to end as they happened and looking ahead in the case may diminish your overall experience. In the event that you are already familiar with the case, attempt to remain unbiased throughout the semester for tasks involving the case.

This discussion continues the Michael Slager case. Later this week you will take part in mock jury deliberations on the case.

After four weeks of testimonies, the trial entered the closing arguments phase prior to jurors being released for a long weekend prior to starting deliberations. The jury was not sequestered through this trial. To set the scene for this module, watch the following two videos of the closing statements and the prosecution’s rebuttal in the case.

Closing statements:

Prosecution rebuttal statement:

INSTRUCTIONS

For this discussion, you will put yourself in the role of one of the 12 jurors.

Based on the information in the opening statements and what a juror likely had already seen, respond to the following prompts in your initial post by providing an explanation for each topic:

How impactful did you find the closing statements?

Was your opinion swayed at all based on the closing statements or has your mind already been made up?

Heading into deliberations, do you feel like you have a solid understanding of the case both sides tried to make?

After you have made your initial post, be sure to take time to respond to some of your peers’ posts.

Part 2 – 

At this point, you have may already realized that the amendment that most applies in this module is the Fourteenth Amendment.

The Fourteenth Amendment is written as follows:

“All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside. No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.”
-Fourteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution
 

For a brief overview of the Fourteenth Amendment, please watch the following video:

  • KEY CASE
  • Below is a case that is key to understanding how the Fourteenth Amendment applies to the field of criminal justice:
  • Graham v. Connor

Click here for a summary of the case and its conclusion.  (Links to an external site.)

Please watch the explanation below about the Graham v. Connor case and its impact on the Fourteenth Amendment:

INSTRUCTIONS

Engage in a discussion about the Fourteenth Amendment, thinking in both general terms and in regard to the scenarios in this module. Respond to the following prompts in your initial post:

Find two other cases that are important Fourteenth Amendment cases in regard to the field of criminal justice. Share them in your post and explain why they are impactful.

If you can find any videos or other resources to accompany the specific cases, include those as well.

You can model this portion of your post based on the Key Cases section above.

Why do you believe the Fourteenth Amendment is important to the following pillars of the field of criminal justice (choose only one for your response): 

Police

Courts

Corrections

Have there been any instances in your career where the Fourteenth Amendment became an issue?

Now that you know for sure that the Fourteenth Amendments apply to the sexual abuse scenario in M4.2 (SEE SCENARIO) ATTACHED, do you have any further thoughts about that scenario that have not already been discussed?

After you have made your initial post, be sure to take time to respond to some of your peers’ posts. Respond to at least one other student who chose a different pillar of the field of criminal justice than you.