Criminal Justice Opinion Portfolio

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Hi,

My understanding is that the eight questions are the topics that your found interesting. Let's look at arguments from various positions, which you can then draw on for your final copy.

Briefly, each short essay will have an:

I. Introduction (e.g. introduce topic briefly; thesis statement);
II. Body (e..g, three or four arguments supporting your thesis)
III. Conclusion (e..g, restate thesis in different working; sum up main points).

RESPONSE:

The length requirements for your portfolio are from 10-11 pages, meaning the each opinion essay will be about 1 and ¼ pages each.

Now let's look at each of the eight topics.

(1) Does the press have too much or too little freedom?

You will need to choose a position and argue your position, provide four or five pieces of evidence to support your position. Do you think the press has too much freedom, like many people do?

Thesis: Although freedom of speech is part of the American Constitution, freedom of the press has gone too far.

If so, you would need to argue your point avidly, giving several reasons why you take this position. However, you would be arguing against the First Amendments of the Constitution of United States e.g., freedom of speech, etc:

"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances." ( http://www.strike-the-root.com/51/tennant/tennant2.html).

Some arguments to consider are:

a. First Amendment is too much of a good thing! (See http://www.strike-the-root.com/51/tennant/tennant2.html)

b. In allowing the press too much freedom, it often challenges other aspects of the Bill of Rights, the right to privacy, for example. Perhaps, when two values conflict, the government could intervene and prohibit the press from getting over-jealous However, the First Amendment should be familiar, but some argue that it is frequently ignored or misapplied.
They should, of course, be well known to every American, for they form, along with the next nine amendments, the Bill of Rights, which lays down in detail those ways in which the federal government may not infringe on our God-given rights to life, liberty, and property (see http://www.strike-the-root.com/51/tennant/tennant2.html). Take the invasion of celebrities' private lives, such as Brittany Spears, for instance. Did this actually lead to her fall?

c. There has been a growing willingness by many to exchange a little liberty for less interpersonal conflict. You might argue to limit expression when it insults others, the codification of political correctness. It sometimes appears that the land of the free is now the home of the easily offended, but since 9/11 the stakes have gone up (see http://www.ajr.org/Article.asp?id=2621).

In one survey:

d. Almost half of those surveyed said they think the First Amendment goes too far in the rights it guarantees. About 49 percent said it gives us too much freedom, up from 39 percent last year and 22 percent in the year 2000.

e. The least popular First Amendment right is freedom of the press, with 42 percent saying the press in America has too much freedom, roughly the same level as last year.

f. In the past, the results have been fairly consistent, if a bit disquieting. Each year, a majority of Americans have said they would restrict public remarks that might offend people of other faiths or races. About half of those surveyed have said they would restrict the public display of potentially offensive art. Almost four Americans in 10 have told us they would limit the public performance of music that might offend others. (http://www.ajr.org/Article.asp?id=2621).

g. These fundamental freedoms of the press are possible obstacles in the war on terrorism. Rather, it is argued that newspapers should not be allowed to freely criticize the U.S. military's strategy and performance, the American press has been too aggressive in asking government officials for information about the war on terrorism, limit the academic freedom of professors and bar criticism of government military policy, government should be able to monitor religious groups in the interest of national security, even if that means infringing upon religious freedom, and the government should have greater power to monitor the activities of Muslims living in the United States than it does other religious groups (see http://www.ajr.org/Article.asp?id=2621).

(2) Should the media be used to fight crime?

Let's argue that the media should be used to fight crime because: (e.g. Thesis: The media should be used to fight crime).

(a) Guarding against crime is everyone's responsibility. For example, shows like America's Most Wanted have helped in apprehending dangerous criminals.

(b) Public safety and solving crimes are also everyone's responsibility, and the media can be used to advertise and support programs such as Crime Stoppers. . For example, Crime Stoppers is a cooperative effort between law enforcement agencies, the business community, the news media, and the public, and provides law enforcement agencies with valuable information needed to help solve crimes. Crime Stoppers encourages people to provide tips that can be vital in the successful solution of a crime by offering cash rewards for anonymous tips, which lead to the arrest and/or indictment of felony suspects. Crime Stoppers issues a guarantee that the tipster's identity WILL always remain anonymous. Crime Stoppers is strictly a volunteer organization with the majority of its donations received from private citizens, local businesses and organizations (http://www.newsnet5.com/station/1082462/detail.html).

(c) The trend to involve the media in fighting crime is understandable and mostly 'favorable', as crime is clearly the problem that most profoundly impacts citizens' lives. Not only does it leave residents in a state of fear, but high crime also compounds and exacerbates other modern urban problems: destroying neighborhoods, depressing property values, discouraging housing development, scaring off businesses, and even threatening children in the public schools (http://www.ajr.org/Article.asp?id=2621).

(d) For example, you might agree with The Hon. Commissioner, who decried the high spate of criminality in the state and called on journalists to be actively involved in the fight against crime and violence in the state.

(e) "It is the responsibility of government to ensure law and order in the state. Journalists must stand for the truth and ensure that these criminals masquerading as freedom fighters are fought to stand still." Children and parents who have become traumatized due to incessant cases or kidnapping (http://www.thetidenews.com/article.aspx?qrDate=04/26/2008&qrTitle=Media%20should%20fight%20crime,%20violence%20frontally%20%E2%80%93%20Nwuke&qrColumn=SPECIAL%20REPORTS).

(f) Can you think of other arguments that the media should be used to fight crime?

(3) Is police brutality a problem?

Some argue that police brutality is a problem. Why?

(a) As suggested by several high-profile cases of alleged negligence, such as the recent shooting of African immigrant Amidou Diallo by four New York City police officers, there may be dangers inherent in supporting overzealous government law enforcement. Citizens are sick of being victimized by gangs of thugs and thieves, but becoming a victim of local police?and of common police practices like indiscriminate property forfeiture, intimidation, "profiling" of suspects along racial lines, and a national "War on Drugs" that has ...