Masters in Criminal Justice Management ~ 2.3

A.Exquisite
Aug 29, 2024
16 min read

x AALiYah

Critical Analysis of the 'Criminal Justice System'

week 3-4 objectives:

Critical Analysis
Case Study on Victim Issues
Discussion

discussions on leadership.

excerpt on my additions to the discussion: "Leadership impacts every aspect of the criminal justice system and many of you are already in a Criminal Justice leadership role.

Initial post:

Discussion Questions:

Which of Xxxxx's elements of leadership particularly resonates with you?
How do you see this leadership element exhibited in the actions of Xxxxxx and Xxxxxx?
Give an example of how you could specifically apply one of Chief Behan's leadership suggestions in your current position.

Elements of leadership that resonate with me:

“the key to good leadership is loving what you’re doing, you’re loving the people you do it with, and you take it from there.” (Xxxxx, 0:40-0:50)
- Values (Xxxxx, 1:28-1:36)
- Psychology is necessary for understanding people, how they think, and work. (Xxxxx, 2:02)
- Listening carefully. (Xxxxx, 4:01-5:25)
- Love conquers all.

This element of leadership exhibited in week 3 video actions:

In speech.
- Many of the right things are said, even if they are not practiced. I observed leadership elements expressed in the words said in these resources.

Example of the suggested applied:

Learning through different perspectives is something that I posted previously, and this includes those who disagree with you.
Lifelong learning is something I also expressed previously and is something I continue to often. I reiterate that I like to learn, never feeling like I can learn too much – even as The Leader I never feel like a know it all – and I definitely feel that I can learn from those younger than me. Application of these elements can and should be used in every area of life, enhancing both the personal and professional journeys of life.
Love as the foundation of intent for all actions allows all to flow in the right direction, making for outstanding leadership in various industries and situations, as well as in mending broken trust when this element was initially reprobated.

References:

Xxxxxx

Response1 (add original text in reply)

Hi! This post references elements in this week’s leadership resources that of communication – good listening skills and identifying solutions rather than bickering as components of effective communication – as having highest resonance. Being a good listener is being an effective listener by using active listening. Active listening is about listening to receive the information being given, as opposed to listening just to respond to refute as rebuttal. This comes from the intent of wanting to hear people, in contrast to the intent of wanting to be right, righter, louder, or persuasive. When people are speaking from their truth filled perspective, they can listen to learn from others. Learning from others can be shifting your ideas to accept more experienced or more truth filled ideas that bring you closer to absolute truth. When your ideas are in alignment with absolute truth, is when you are speaking truth. When your ideas are not in alignment with absolute truth, you are seeking to gain missing pieces that can be answered by another person. This learning experience is learning by communication, rather than using communication to bicker or finger point. Learning by communication means that an active listener received the message of the speaker, resulting in effective communication. The recipient must be open to receive and the speaker must have the proper message to give. Learning from others also includes standing on your ideas when you know that what you are standing on is more truth filled than the ideas offered. These builds one’s confidence in being ok with being ignored and strengthens the ability to withstand rejection – especially from wrongdoers – creating a solid individual. As you move forward in your ideas your actions inspire others. This inspiration is soft and sweet, and it reaches people intrinsically rather than trying to extrinsically move them into cooperation by needing them to agree, needing them to move with you. When leading, being the example of your ideas is what inspires people to follow. Listening carefully is an element mentioned in my post.

Taking risks is also referenced in this post as a skill to be used forward. Taking risks is easier done when the above confidence is built. When you can stand alone is when you are in total strength. When others see this individual strength, the inspiration happens that moves them to join affording another type of strength: strength in numbers.

Blame should not be a game. The blame game is a never-ending cycle, that does not lead to resolution as it is not proper in disbursement. This game is often used as another attempt to evade wrongdoing or being put on blast. There is though, responsibility and accountability where blame does belong to the appropriate party – the wrongdoer. The truth is the truth, and, when the intent is not of truth but instead, is of finger-pointing, this causes people to feel the need to defend themselves against an attack. Especially when the wrongdoing has multiple parts with multiple parties. Justice is the appropriateness of each party receiving what they deserve. So, when people are partially to blame, they feel attacked by receiving all of the blame. Though, natural leaders have no problem being accountable for their entire team – this is paying the cost to be the boss.

Response2 (add original text in reply)

Hi! This post emphasizes leadership and lifelong learning, also mentioning that first impressions are lasting impressions, while all interactions are also long-lasting.

Should positively impactful interactions be emulated or intentioned? What components do you think make interactions positive?

Also mentioned in this post is the importance of understanding the history of an organization and its policies for mission achievement to properly lead the organization. Later stated is that specific mindset, regardless of how policies shape the mission, is more impactful. What is the importance of the timeline of history? What do you think is the relationship between mindset and policies?

This post prompted my interest in the etymology of “police officer,” as different words are used to describe this position of leadership, and found obsoleteness. (Harper, D., n.d.). Obsolete – “imperfectly developed; not very distinct.” (American Heritage Dictionary, 2024). Usually is the entire word broken down for origin and history, but in this research, “policy,” is noted. What do you think the reason is for ambiguity? Also, is this the reason for the stated mindset regardless of how policy shapes the mission? What is the essentiality of policy?

References

Harper, D. (n.d.). Etymology of police. Online Etymology Dictionary. Retrieved May 29, 2024, from https://www.etymonline.com/word/police

The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition. Obsolete. https://duckduckgo.com/?q=obsolete+definition&ia=web&iax=definition

Response3 (add original text in reply)

Hi! The emphasis of this post is of listening. Similarly, listening carefully is a resonated element that is featured in my post. This post states that the most significant takeaway from the video is how leadership is obtained stating that leaders are not born. The question in the video is, “do you think leaders are born or are they trained?” (Xxxxx, 1:41). The response is, “They’re not necessarily trained as much as they grow into it.” (Xxxxx, 1:41-1:46) It is not said that a leader is not born. Only the latter part of the question is answered. Always working to improve my skill in listening carefully, is there another portion referred to where the first part of the question is answered? He goes on to mention psychology as a defining element of leadership, to which the interviewer inquires about academic psychology, “not necessarily academic psychology?” (Xxxxx, 2:13) To which the response is, “No, no, no. A feel good for folks…” – ending the conversation that leaders are not necessarily trained. (Xxxxx, 2:13-2:18) Are you able to point me to the part you are referencing in this post?

References

xxxxx

Initial Post:

Discussion Questions:

-- What did the victim in the case study identify as the key issues with the treatment of victims? -- What is a victim impact statement and why is it important? What statutory and constitutional rights do victims now have? (Cite your sources.)-- Most importantly, what can you do as a criminal justice leader to further victim's rights?

For a different perspective, read: Forgiveness

Key issues identified with treatment of victims

Before confirmed to be a victim, Stephanie’s mother called the police panicked after learning that she had been missing for hours. The initial call to the police was met with first impatience, second with deflection due to missing for hours not days, third reluctance to investigate and done-so only after panicked begging, and then with complaining and more deflecting as another runaway. (video 1).

The first 48 hours are key for solving crime. It seems that the preference is to respond after the probability of solution has lapsed.

With first approach to such a serious issue is to write it off and that it would better to face a fatal risk rather than recover what may be a routine runaway
A missing senior in high school is the not same as the call for missing dog, though people feel that their missing property holds their subjective value.

Why is a call for help met with impatience? Key to problem-solving is liking solutions. Also the father was met with agitated officers when retrieving the impounded car as the professionals mentioned having breaking news that the family was to anticipate hearing later (video 1). Only when it was time to deliver the news and details of the missing girl’s death were they met with compassion (video 1).
Suggestions that are deflective are not key to de-escalation, but key to evading.
Observed by this example is that begging is key for conveying serious need of help.

Civilians investigating and solving their own cases

When the initial call did not prompt professional investigation for the missing girl, the family conducted their own investigation – finding her car locked with her bag of clothes inside.

Interviews were the professional method of investigation

Televising negative energy for enhancing emotions seems to be a key trend
“facing literally a gauntlet of media, thrusting a microphone and bright lights in your face, and we were so weary and fragile and it was awful” (video 4)

Many of the pre-trial hearings had to be continued

No one called ahead for notification, the mother found out by going to the hearings to discover the reschedules (video 2)

The state attorney laughed at an inquiry from the family (video 2)

Communication is key and as stated by the mother he was not a good communicator (video 2)

The victim blaming in the video was a tactic to create doubt in the case (video 2)

The mother stated learning the lesson that the opposite was true of her beliefs and expectations, “In my mind a courtroom was almost a sacred place, a place where truth was discovered and justice was imposed. So this first lesson was a very painful one that shattered that belief.” (video 2)
“What I learned is when there is no defense the defense attempts to create reasonable doubt in any way, in any shape or form. When the state attempted to have a photograph of Stephanie shown the defense successfully prohibited that on the grounds that it would be inflammatory and prejudicial.” (video 3)
“There were many things that occurred throughout that process that were so harmful. But eventually we would get to the conclusion of the guilt and innocence phase of the trial” (video 3)
defense attorney asked for a mistrial on the grounds that the father had attempted to assault him when passing by him in a crowded corridor to which the family warned to conform their behavior to the court’s requirement or they would not be allowed to be in the sentencing phase (video 4)

Key issue is, “They assume the state is going to do everything on their behalf. But the state is not their attorney. The state advocates for the state. The state isn’t robbed, isn’t raped, it doesn’t bleed and die, people do. And there has been this gradual shift in understanding that we do need to treat the people who are so essential for the system to survive to treat them better. But it’s a gradual thing and victims are reluctant to question the authority of a prosecutor. Surely he knows the law they think. And we have to gently and carefully explain that these are your rights, it’s not a criticism of the state or the courts or anyone, but these are your rights and we can help you exercise them.” (video 8)

Victim impact statement

Is the written or orally described emotional, physical, and financial impact the victim and others have suffered as a direct result of the crime – important for informing the court of the impact the crime has on victims – and is submitted to the U.S. attorney’s office, then forwarded to the U.S. probation office to be included as part of the presentence investigation report, then submitted to the judge prior to sentencing. These are formal statements, personal narratives, standard forms, written letters to the judge, etc. These are seen by the defendant and defense attorney after redacting personal identifying information. Oral statements are important for the judge to hear the voice of the victim – hearing inflections and to put a face to the crime committed – for consideration before sentencing. The financial report aspect is used to verify and assess the financial impact of the crime upon the victim for the judge to determine any money the defendant may have to pay the victim for the expenses the victim has paid or money the victim owe because of the crime in the from of restitution, though there is no guarantee that the defendant will be able to pay the victim the entire amount ordered. (National Institute of Justice, n.d.).
Statutory rights

Statutory is enacted, regulated, or authorized by legislature (American Heritage Dictionary, 2024).
Right is conforming with justice, law, or morality (American Heritage Dictionary, 2024).
Formally written down and approved
Examples: right to refund, right to access documents, employment rights (LawDistrict, n.d.)

Constitutional rights

Civil rights and liberties guaranteed to the citizens by the U.S. constitution (LawDistrict, n.d.)
Examples: right to freedom of speech, right to privacy, bill of rights (LawDistrict, n.d.)

AaliYah as The Leader in criminal justice:

First is the crime done to someone, so, first is acknowledging that the crime impacted someone, as it pertains to furthering victims’ rights.
Next is Justice – this is the appropriateness of everyone receiving what they deserve.
Weighing the intent of all involved parties is the main element to administering justice. As the scale, this identifies for my team of Truth Enforcers on the disbursement of deserving measures.
I am the fairest of them all, so, Ma’at – meaning Justice – will finally return.

References

LawDistrict (n.d.) Statutory Rights. Legal Dictionary LawDistrict.com. https://www.lawdistrict.com/legal-dictionary/statutory-right

National Institute of Justice. (n.d.). Victim Impact Statements. U.S. Department of Justice Criminal Division. https://www.justice.gov/criminal/criminal-vns/victim-impact-statements

xxxxxx

The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition. Right. https://duckduckgo.com/?q=right+definition&ia=web&iax=definition

The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition. Statutory. https://duckduckgo.com/?q=statutory+definition&ia=web&iax=definition

References

LawDistrict (n.d.) Statutory Rights. Legal Dictionary LawDistrict.com. https://www.lawdistrict.com/legal-dictionary/statutory-right

National Institute of Justice. (n.d.). Victim Impact Statements. U.S. Department of Justice Criminal Division. https://www.justice.gov/criminal/criminal-vns/victim-impact-statements

xxxxxxxx

The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition. Statutory.

The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition. Victim.

Response 1 (add original text to reply)

Hi! This post successfully lists insightful key issues for the modern treatment of victims.

As #2 of this list describes victim blaming and shaming, why do you think this is a response? Is the goal to make it difficult for them to come forward? Why do you think this culture has been tolerated for so long? Is the court reduced to the prestige of a game of who can blame or shame someone into giving in, rather than exposition of truth to administer justice?

As #3 of this list describes the lack of understanding the impact of trauma, why do you think these professionals gravitate towards careers where they lack empathy for the work they do which involves people experiencing these types of situations on a daily basis?

As #4 of this list describes the lack of access to justice, why do you think justice must be accessed in a criminal justice system that has the intent of administering justice?

As #5 of this list describes the lack of training for professionals, why do you think someone can be considered a hired professional if lacking the necessary training? Can you think of any other industry that hires untrained professionals for the tasks required?

As #6 of this list describes the lack of coordination between agencies, do you think this lack contributes to an unintegrated system?

As #7 of this list describes the lack of funding, being that the U.S. criminal justices system is, “the governmental response to crime founded in the intergovernmental structure of the United States.” (Bureau of Justice Statistics, n.d.), and money is printed by The Department of Treasury while The U.S. Federal Reserve controls the supply of money and sets based currency amounts (Investopedia Team, 2024), why do you think the supposed integrated system lacks funding? With departments for designated tasks, why do these agencies have the essential issue of coordinating with one another to achieve the goals of justice? Could the key issues within the system be eliminated by the simple coordination?

References

Bureau of Justice Statistics (n.d.) The Justice System: What is the sequence of events in the criminal justice system? U.S. Department of Justice Office of Justice Programs. https://bjs.ojp.gov/justice-system

The Investopedia Team. (2024, May 02). Who Prints Money in the U.S.? Investopedia Dotdash Meredith Publishing. https://www.investopedia.com/ask/answers/082515/who-decides-when-print-money-us.asp

Response 2 (add original text to reply)

Hi! Interesting post you have here. Also interesting is one of the week’s resource readings of forgiveness, did you get a chance to review it? It is interesting because forgiveness is a said to be a psychological concept and is heavily prevalent in religion. What are your thoughts on forgiveness?

· According to one psychology resource, “Forgiveness is the release of resentment or anger. Forgiveness doesn’t mean reconciliation. One doesn't have to return to the same relationship or accept the same harmful behaviors from an offender. Forgiveness is vitally important for the mental health of those who have been victimized. It propels people forward rather than keeping them emotionally engaged in an injustice or trauma.” (Psychology Today, n.d.).

· A trendy resource describes forgiveness as, “Forgiveness, in a psychological sense, is the intentional and voluntary process by which one who may have felt initially wronged, victimized, harmed or hurt goes through a process in changing feelings and attitude regarding a given offender for his/her actions, and overcomes the impact of the offense, flaw or mistake including negative emotions such as resentment or a desire for vengeance.” (Wikipedia, 2024). Noting, to avenge someone means to take action in response to a wrong done to them out of a desire for justice; Avenging is done out of the pursuit of justice; Vengeance is the enactment of avenging. (Osmond, C., 2024).

· With many scriptures, here is one regarding forgiveness from a biblical resource, “1 John 1:9, New International Version: 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” (Bible Gateway, 2011). Regarding vengeance, this biblical resource states, “Deuteronomy 32:35, New International Version: 35 It is mine to avenge; I will repay. In due time their foot will slip; their day of disaster is near and their doom rushes upon them; Romans 12:17-19, New International Version: 17 Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. 18 If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. 19 Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: ‘It is mine to avenge; I will repay,’[a] says the Lord.” (Bible Gateway, 2011).

The above stated in reference to the resource from one of the week’s readings of forgiveness, cross-examining victim issues in this week’s discussion, do you think it is likely that Stephanie’s mother will achieve this level of display and forgiveness given the process endured for the case? The victim issues for this week’s discussion is by an unknown person, and in the case of Conor and Ann – they were reportedly in a relationship when he killed her following an argument (Lutz, 2016). The parents of victim Ann, are reportedly religious noting their reason for forgiving Conor and, in addition, choosing to reconcile via advocating on his behalf through restorative justice. (Lutz, 2016). Used in court, is the bible for swearing upon to tell the truth, why do you think this is? What are the connections between forgiveness, truth, justice, and God?

References

Lutz, R. (2016, September 18). Conor McBride lives with regret, searches for redemption. Tallahassee Democrat Part of the USA TODAY Network. https://www.tallahassee.com/story/news/2016/09/16/conor-mcbride-restorative-justice-offers-chance-forgiveness/90351808/

Osmond, C. (2024). Avenge vs. Revenge vs. Vengeance – Difference, Meaning, & Examples. Grammarist. Found First Marketing Company. https://grammarist.com/usage/avenge-revenge/

Wikipedia. (2024, May 18). Forgiveness. Wikimedia Foundation, Inc. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Forgiveness

Response 3 (add original text to reply)

Hi! This post identifies key victim’s issues, concluding with ideas for training as improvement. Training seems to be the most used word in each of these weekly discussions. More training, seems to be the ideal solution offered most. This post mentions continuous training in annual increments as an idea for ongoing improvement measures. In this ideology, if you were to estimate having fully reached improvement, rather than striving for it, when do you suggest it reach achievement?

To add to further discussion, rather than simply agreeing or disagreeing or reiterating for 3 responses what it is my initial post, my methodology of asking prompted questions can also serve as food for thought. As a straight-shooter and one who truly values solutions, I tend to identify the root of the problem which is most often the foundational structure that all additional problems branch off from. Likewise, when healing is aimed at the foundation, all additional solutions branch off and into the leaves to bear optimal fruit. Core structure unveils intent. With the chosen symbol of this modern criminal justice system, a blindfolded woman, holding scales that are unbalanced at rest before anything is weighed, what does this convey of this organization’s intent?

Why is she blindfolded? If she represents justice, shouldn’t she be able to see what is being done? Why are the scales built for imbalance? Shouldn't it be sought to administer justice – being one getting what one deserves? If this has not been blindly achieved, is more training the answer that will remove the blindfold?

Privately Funded Seminars Disclosure System (Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts., n.d.)

As this class critically analyzes this system, the overall conclusion of more training being the solution, would it not makes sense to rearrange the problem to solve this equation with what is known?: the structural design is for injustice – rather than, with more training the organization can seek to continuously improve processes, rights etc although traits such as accountability, empathy, and righting wrongs instead of projecting defense mechanisms due to experiencing embarrassment of being wrong goes against human nature yet justice is a goal to steadily strive and reach for

References

Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts. (n.d.) United States Courts. https://www.uscourts.gov/judges-judgeships"

Yah's Judgment:

"I ain't got opps, I got all fans." x King Von

MFs is scared of me.

Yah's notes

I said wassup, they said umm hey mrs ma'am, you hungry? the temperature ok? how are you? you ok, right?
hmmm
Von say wait, I wait. Von say go bih i'm on
War... mmmmm
soon as we get on live... "nigga ask me if i'm hungry, if i'm thirsty, nigga A bitch." you was just cool
aquarium of goofy coward fanned out worms
sssssss sssssss
keep it moving if you not the victim, cuz shit can get crazy

x AALiYah

Masters in Criminal Justice Management ~ 2.3

Critical Analysis of the 'Criminal Justice System'

excerpt on my additions to the discussion: "Leadership impacts every aspect of the criminal justice system and many of you are already in a Criminal Justice leadership role.

Privately Funded Seminars Disclosure System (Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts., n.d.)

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