This assignment is to demonstrate your mastery of how the criminal justice system works. This assignment is designed to give you an opportunity to display your knowledge of the parts and processes of the criminal justice system. The more specific and detailed the paper is, the more effective it will be in demonstrating your understanding of the system.

Step 1. Select one of the three Case Studies below. Where there is more than one person arrested/charged in that case, please focus on ONE of the subjects for the purpose of this research paper.

Step 2. Describe the process that the offender would go through in the criminal justice system, beginning with arrest. For purposes of this assignment you are to assume that the offender will be eventually convicted, thus your paper should also include all stages in the criminal justice process subsequent to conviction. Upon conviction, you must also determine the probable sentence the offender will receive, (institutionalization or community-based supervision); explain why the sentence you have chosen would most likely occur, and what the offender can expect in light of this sentence. Students who exhibit mastery of this project and how the system works will also provide a probable alternative to the selected sentence, fully explaining “why” this alternative could also occur. In essence, this paper will track the offender from removal from the community by police, to return to the community free of imposed supervision.

Step 3. Conclude your analysis by discussing what you believe to be the weakest link in the criminal justice process and the strongest link in the process. Provide explanations to support your assessments for both. Careful critical thinking is required. Invest considerable effort in thinking about what you have learned over the course of the term in addressing this final aspect of the mission.

The sources you are to use to obtain information for your descriptions of the criminal justice process include the course reading material and two peer-reviewed journal articles. As an academic paper it must contain APA formatted citations throughout the paper whenever information is being presented from a source. You can find examples of citations and references through the following links:

http://www.umuc.edu/library/libhow/citationresources.cfm

http://www.umuc.edu/library/libhow/apa_examples.cfm#intext

Even though you may have personal experience in the field (e.g. police officer) or use knowledge obtained in previous courses, information used in this paper must be supported through the use of citations which meet the criteria for sources indicated above.

Here are the sections that should appear in your paper, each of which should be subtitled:

· Introduction

· A brief description of the crime

· Description of the processes in the adult American criminal justice system the offender would go through, beginning with arrest

· Your analysis of the weakest and strongest links in the criminal justice process

– Conclusion

Form and Format Requirements

· Paper should be a minimum of 1,500 words and a maximum of 2,000 words

· Double space

· 12 pt. font

· 1” margins

· Use APA citations for all sources

· Include reference page (not included in word count)

·Additionally –

· Create a cover page for your assignment (not included in word count)

· Include your name

· Course title and number

· Project title

· Topic selected

· Date of submission

Case Study 1 – MURDER

Following an introductory paragraph, your project assignment should start with the arrest of the John Burke.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pOJ1fhX7axA

Case Study 2 – GRAND THEFT

Watch the following YouTube video.

Following an introductory paragraph, your project assignment should start with the arrest of the Sabrina Rodrigeuz.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7VhMR3NWN54

Case Study 3 – DRUG DISTRIBUTION

Watch the following YouTube video.

Following an introductory paragraph, your project assignment should start with the arrest of the Kevin O’Brien.  You may assume the quantities seized are sufficient for criminal charges of Possession with Intent to Distribute a Controlled Dangerous Substabce, a felony in this jurisdiction.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3iEYJxjgE4g