Centervale’s Citizens Fear of Crime Here's What Happened FIRST. . . The murder of Cindy Jones, a young woman, stunned the community in Centervale. Five years ago, a young woman was found strangled to death in her car outside a grocery store in Centervale. For the past five years, the Centervale Police Department (CPD) has worked tirelessly to develop leads toward the identification of a suspect. Last year, the CPD officials got a break when the State Crime Lab notified the lead detective that the DNA sample recovered from the purse strap found around Jones's neck indicated the involvement of Jason Rivers. The District Attorney's (DA's) office has never had a case like this before. Jones came from an honorable family in the community and Rivers is a mentally challenged, middle-aged man who lives with his father far from the grocery store. Rivers had been arrested more than twenty-five times before the death of Jones. Centervale detectives have surmised that Rivers happened to be in the area of the grocery store where he supposedly encountered Jones. Upon arrest, Rivers was found to be incompetent to proceed to trial and a judge remanded him to a state custody. Recently, doctors at the State Mental Health Hospital sent a notice that Rivers was no l onger suffering from the effects of substance abuse and is competent to stand trial. A judge ruled in accordance with the doctors and the case was put on the docket for trial. During jury selection, the voir dire consisted of questions about how potential jurors felt about law enforcement-related TV shows. During the presentation of the case, the State introduced the jury to the DNA evidence and other important physical evidence in the case. Rivers did not take the stand and the defense rested on the claim that Rivers' DNA got on the purse strap when he accidently bumped into Jones at the checkout lane of the grocery store while she was putting groceries into her grocery cart. The defense also attacked the CPD because a former detective who worked on the J ones crime scene was convicted of domestic violence and assault on a female since the murder. The defense also called into question the credibility and integrity of the former detective because he was alleged to have been romantically interested in Jones before her death. In fact, Jones had spoken with a CPD official, off the record, about the harassing phone calls she received from the former detective, although nothing was done by the department to stop the calls. Here's What Happened NEXT . . . The murder of Jones sent shock waves through the city of Centervale. Jason Rivers was convicted of second-degree murder and was sentenced to six years in prison. In a strange twist of fate, the state legislature created a new law that addressed multiyear priso n sentences, as the state legislature struggled to meet budgetary constraints, by releasing offenders who serve half their sentence if the offenders had no infractions within ninety days of the time they come up for release. Rivers was released after serving three and half years in prison. Unfortunately, within weeks, Rivers brutally assaulted an elderly female in an attempted robbery and his parole was revoked. The case of Rivers has become the "poster child" for opponents of the new legislation who argue that criminal justice research shows offender recidivism rates are very high for violent offenders. On the other hand, proponents of the new legislation stand on the claim that Rivers is a victim because he did not have adequate programming available to him during his youth that would have steered him clear of criminal behavior; he should be given alternative sanctions to address his issues. Citizens of Centervale approach the mayor and other city officials with concerns about how the police department operates in Centervale. Some of the citizens want a transparent police department and more stringent background checks before officers are hired. This move comes on the heels of the former detective whose off-duty behavior was brought to the forefront during the murder trial of Rivers. Citizens are concerned that crime is out of control in Centervale. Citizens are also disappointed by the new legislation that created the situation for Rivers' release because the elderly female who was victimized in the robbery was a beloved, retired, first-grade teacher in the Centervale Elementary School. Overall, citizens are showing little support for local and state law enforcement and are demonstrating little faith in the criminal justice system after the assault on the elderly woman. As an intern for the DA's office, it is part of your duty to help the DA reach out to citizens in the community. The DA, the Chief of Police, and the Mayor have met on the issues raised by the citizens of Centervale. The DA's office is planning a Citizen's Academy in partnership with the CPD. The goal is not only to address the issues that citizens have with law enforcement and the criminal justice system, but also to educate citizens about the obstacles and challenges that criminal justice professionals face in trying to do the right thing for the community, while balancing numerous variables that are out of their control. I need help with the following three bullets: I. Evaluate and discuss the totality of the situation presented in the above scenarios. What patterns and cycles can you identify that relate to patterns and cycles in the trends of the US Criminal Justice System? a. Discuss a minimum of two patterns from the historical perspective to create a foundation for the remainder of your report on the overarching issues. II. Discuss a minimum of two paragraphs about how the legislature defines criminal behavior and how money influences every decision they make for the criminal justice system's daily functions. a. (Often, citizens have no idea of the events going on in their state capitals until new legislation is signed into law. This was the case in Centervale when citizens learned of Rivers' release.) b. Suggest a plan on how Centervale's criminal justice professionals can help to bridge the gap between the legislature and the citizens by bringing more awareness about legislation that might affect them before it is signed into law (that is, public safety legislation, sentencing trends in legislation, and crime control legislation). III. Create at least two recommendations as supported by research and examples for how Centervale officials, including the DA's office and CPD employees, can work together to restore the confidence of the citizens. This move comes on the heels of the former detective whose off duty behavior was brought to the forefront during the murder trial of Rivers. The detective used personal information he collected during investigations to purchase personal items For your review only, but NO additional help is needed- these are all the questions that are part of this assignment: • Evaluate and discuss the totality of the situation presented in the above scenarios. What patterns and cycles can you identify that relate to patterns and cycles in the trends of the US Criminal Justice System? Discuss a minimum of two patterns from the historical perspective to create a foundation for the remainder of your report on the overarching issues. • Compare and contrast the current trends surrounding the murder of Jones and violent crimes against individuals in the U.S. In addition, identify and discuss issues surrounding the mentally challenged and crime, specifically violent crimes against individuals. Support your position with empirical research from academic sources. • Define and discuss the CSI effect. What challenges might the court face as a result of the CSI effect? Identify and analyze two challenges that the prosecution might face and two challenges that the defense might experience due to the influence of the CSI effect in the courtroom. • Evaluate the importance of credibility and integrity of law enforcement professionals. Analyze and discuss the role a law enforcement officer's off-duty behavior plays in the establishment of his or her credibility and integrity in the courtroom. • Compare and contrast the issues in the Jones murder case with a similar case you find online. • Analyze and discuss the damaging effects of corruption on law enforcement by relating this issue to the arrest of a law enforcement officer for a high-profile crime—property, violent, or white collar. Explain how an officer's choices and behavior might affect an entire law enforcement agency, its reputation in the community, agency funding, and other community or criminal justice-related issues. • Discuss a minimum of two paragraphs about how the legislature defines criminal behavior and how money influences every decision they make for the criminal justice system's daily functions. (Often, citizens have no idea of the events going on in their state capitals until new legislation is signed into law. This was the case in Centervale when citizens learned of Rivers' release.) Suggest a plan on how Centervale's criminal justice professionals can help to bridge the gap between the legislature and the citizens by bringing more awareness about legislation that might affect them before it is signed into law (that is, public safety legislation, sentencing trends in legislation, and crime control legislation). • Support your position on the early release of violent offenders from prison with criminal justice research on recidivism and other pertinent topics, such as budgetary constraints. • Based on what you know about the criminal justice system's current trends in the courts and corrections, predict the outcome of the trial of Rivers. If Rivers is convicted of first -degree murder, then mention the type of sentence he might face. 1. Use your state's statute as a guideline for sentencing structure in this type of case. 2. Compare your state's general sentencing guideline with another state's sentence for first degree murder. • Analyze and discuss the citizens "fear of crime" concern that they have brought to the Mayor and other city officials from the violent crime standpoint. • Create at least two recommendations as supported by research and examples for how Centervale officials, including the DA's office and CPD employees, can work together to restore the confidence of the citizens. This move comes on the heels of the former detective whose off-duty behavior was brought to the forefront during the murder trial of Rivers. The detective used personal information he collected during investigations to purchase personal items
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