Category: Criminal homework help

Are crime laboratories required to be accredited?  If no, should they? Posts must be 300 words or more and include research and a reference a

attached is the project in word to be edited.
attached is a pdf of professor feedback
edit it to meet expectations.

Are crime laboratories required to be accredited?  If no, should they? Posts must be 300 words or more and include research and a reference a

https://bookshelf.vitalsource.com/reader/books/0077721691/pageid/57
  
chapters 1-2: Introduction to the Law of Evidence & the Pretrial Process and the trial process. Please look at chapter one and discuss the Rules of evidence and how these apply to the trial process.
Please reference the book 
 Title: Criminal Evidence, 7 th Edition Author: Garland Publisher: McGraw Hill 

attached is the project in word to be edited.
attached is a pdf of professor feedback
edit it to meet expectations.

https://bookshelf.vitalsource.com/reader/books/0077721691/pageid/57
  
chapters 1-2: Introduction to the Law of Evidence & the Pretrial Process and the trial process. Please look at chapter one and discuss the Rules of evidence and how these apply to the trial process.
Please reference the book 
 Title: Criminal Evidence, 7 th Edition Author: Garland Publisher: McGraw Hill 

 
Defendant Demographic and Residence History
Officer Roth: Good afternoon, Mr. Roberts. My name is Officer Roth and I am with the probation department, and I have been tasked with completing your pre-sentence investigation report as a result of your recent criminal conviction. So our time together is going to be a review of information that I have found in the course of my investigation, and then I’ll have a few questions to ask you to help complete this report and this investigation. Do you understand?
Mr. Roberts: I do. I received your packet in the mail, so I’ve I’ve got that. And I did not, I didn’t know what to wear so I wore my best t-shirt, so I hope that’s good.
Officer Roth: Well, I appreciate that. You are, you’re fine. This is, your appearance is not as important as the information I’m able to pull and put into this report for the court.
Mr. Roberts: That’s not what my wife said, but…
Officer Roth: Let’s jump right in, and we’re going to start with your full name. I have your full name is Paul William Roberts, is that correct?
Mr. Roberts: That is correct.
Officer Roth: The social security number of 123 45 6789?
Mr. Roberts: Correct.
Officer Roth: Wow, that is, that’s a lucky draw right there.
Mr. Roberts: Lucky, lucky, lucky.
Officer Roth: So in the course of my investigation, I did not come up with any kind of aliases or AKAs, but do you go by any other name?
Mr. Roberts: Skeeter.
Officer Roth: All right. Skeeter, I don’t think I’ll be adding that to your investigative report. I don’t think that’s going to be a necessary AKA for the judge, but I do appreciate the nickname.
Mr. Roberts: No problem, just some friends call me that.
Officer Roth: Understood. I have your date of birth as January 23rd, 1972. Is that correct?
Mr. Roberts: That is correct.
Officer Roth: And that makes you 51 years of age today?
Mr. Roberts: Yep.
Officer Roth: And place of birth?
Mr. Roberts: 51 years young.
Mr. Roberts: Huntsville, Alabama.
Officer Roth: Huntsville, Alabama. Thank you for that. And I have you as a white male of non-Hispanic origin, is that correct?
Mr. Roberts: That is correct.
Officer Roth: Okay, are you a US citizen?
Mr. Roberts: Yep, since the day I was born.
Officer Roth: All right, thank you. And a current address of 123 Park Avenue in Huntsville, Alabama with a zip code of 35678?
Mr. Roberts: That is correct.
Officer Roth: And that is a residence that you currently own?
Mr. Roberts: Yep.
Officer Roth: Good for you.
Mr. Roberts: Yeah, I know.
Officer Roth: Good for you. All right, your residential history. So again, in the course of my investigation I have found two previous addresses for you. I just need to confirm, need you to confirm whether or not these are accurate. Prior to the Park Avenue address, I have you at 246 Fake Street in Athens, Alabama with a zip code of 35611. Does that sound accurate?
Mr. Roberts: That is correct.
Officer Roth: And I have you as a rented residence of that address from May, 2010 to May, 2011. Does that sound pretty close?
Mr. Roberts: That’s close.
Officer Roth: That’s good enough for court. Prior to the Fake Street address, you resided at 202 West Longleaf Drive in Auburn, Alabama, zip code of 36832. And you rented at that location from August, 2006 to May, 2010. Does that sound correct?
Mr. Roberts: I don’t recollect, but I think so.
Officer Roth: Okay
Mr. Roberts: That sounds about right.
Officer Roth: You can trust me. I’m pretty good at my job. What I’ve kind of gleaned through the investigation is that you lived with your parents until you finished high school and then you went to college. Your address in Auburn was a college address for the four years you were there. And then you lived in a rental before buying your home on Park Avenue. Is that correct?
Mr. Roberts: That’s correct.
Family Information
Officer Roth: All right. Well speaking of your parents, this is actually part of the report. We talk about your, your family, your extended and your immediate family. I have parents of Anthony and Joyce Roberts of 4578 Imaginary Road in Huntsville, Alabama. The zip code of 35678. Does that sound accurate?
Mr. Roberts: That sounds correct.
Officer Roth: And your father’s currently 78 years old and your mother is 77 years old and they are both still married.
Mr. Roberts: God love them.
Officer Roth: Good for you. That is um…
Mr. Roberts: I’m not sure about good for me, but…
Officer Roth: Well that’s, I would say that’s an awesome example. Your father, I have listed as a retired teacher and your mom currently working at Walmart which I guess many old people do as a, as a greeter.
Mr. Roberts: Yeah, I’m proud of her. She’s in good health because of that too.
Officer Roth: I was gonna ask if you could describe the health of both of your parents for our report.
Mr. Roberts: My dad don’t do much, so he’s kind of fair. In fair shape.
Officer Roth: Alright. So moving from your parents again with your extended family, looking at your siblings. I have a brother and a sister. Brother Anthony Roberts Jr. 58 years old of 28 Daydream Avenue in Birmingham, Alabama. Zip code of 35005. And Sylvia Anderson, her married name, 52 years old at 648 Fantasy Road in Lynchburg, Tennessee, 37352. Is that accurate?
Mr. Roberts: That’s accurate, that’s correct.
Officer Roth: And what does your brother do for a living?
Mr. Roberts: He’s a corporate attorney. Lot of stress. Not in that great of shape so I’d put him as good, good health.
Officer Roth: In good health? And your sister?
Mr. Roberts: Well, she is a part-time clown on the weekends so she gets her, moves around a lot. So I’d put her as excellent.
Officer Roth: Excellent health. And it looks like she was the only one in the family to escape Alabama. How did she pull that one off?
Mr. Roberts: Well, you know, sometimes Tennessee needs great people.
Officer Roth: All right. Oh, good answer. So I, I looked for more family information, extended family information. I did not come across anything. I did not come across any kind of stepparent or adopted siblings or illegal guardians. But just so my report is complete, is there any other additional family data on the extended family side that I need to add?
Mr. Roberts: Not that I know of, nope.
Officer Roth: Okay. Well then let’s talk about your immediate family. I have you listed as married to a Janet Roberts of Huntsville, Alabama. She is 54 years of age with a, a telephone number of 123-4567, working as an office manager. Does that sound accurate?
Mr. Roberts: That sounds accurate. She pulls about 40,000 a year down.
Officer Roth: So $40,000 a year?
Mr. Roberts: Pretty good job, yeah.
Officer Roth: That’s, that’s not bad. And together you have two children?
Mr. Roberts: Yep.
Officer Roth: All right. Well let’s talk about the children. You have a daughter, Tanya Roberts. 30 years of age living at the Park Avenue address the 123 Park Avenue in Huntsville, Alabama with you and your wife. She is not a current student but she is currently employed because she is an adult. We are gonna list her as not in your legal custody and that she provides her own financial support and does that sound correct?
Mr. Roberts: That’s correct.
Officer Roth: And a son, Paul Roberts, Jr. At 27 years of age, also living with you and your wife at the 123 Park Avenue address in Huntsville. Again, as an adult, he would not be in your finan- your legal custody nor receive your financial support. He is not a student but currently employed. Does that also sound correct?
Mr. Roberts: Yep. All four of us live together. It should be two, you know what I mean?
Officer Roth: No judgment here, Mr. Roberts. Of course, I’d be in favor of making those adult children a little bit more independent, but you know, you are their parents.
Mr. Roberts: Yeah, I just sleep a lot, you know what I mean?
Officer Roth: Are there, just so I’m clear for the report, are there any other children that I don’t know about?
Mr. Roberts: Not that I know of.
Officer Roth: Okay. Sometimes I have to ask cuz you never know.
Mr. Roberts: I know, right?
Officer Roth: Right.
Physical Health, Mental Health, and Substance Abuse
Officer Roth: Let’s talk about your own physical condition, and your own health. How would you categorize your own health in general?
Mr. Roberts: Excellent as long as I have hydrocodone, it’s prescribed medicine. I’ve got severe chronic back problems. I guess chronic would be the same, but the hydrocodone helps me a lot. Other than that, as long as I have my pills, I’m good.
Officer Roth: Okay. So let’s kind of talk about that hydrocodone for a moment. So you are suffering chronic back pain and you see a doctor for that pain and, or a doctor group, and they prescribed you hydrocodone for that pain? Can you please identify the physician, or the hospital group that you-
Mr. Roberts: Yeah, I worked, first off, when you say severe and I mean severe pain, Huntsville Hospital Physician Care at Oakwood.
Officer Roth: Huntsville Hospital Physician Care at Oakwood, and I have an address of 1863 Sparkman Drive, also in Huntsville, Alabama, 35816. You can confirm that as best you can. I imagine you don’t know this exact address of your doctor, but.
Mr. Roberts: Just drive it every day or whenever I can.
Officer Roth: I understand. And they prescribed the hydrocodone for the back pain?
Mr. Roberts: Oh, absolutely. I suffered, man.
Officer Roth: All right. Well, outside of the chronic back pain, how would you describe your physical health?
Mr. Roberts: I wouldn’t know ’cause the hydrocodone kind of covers up everything. You know what I mean?
Officer Roth: All right. And that being said, we’re gonna move on to mental and emotional health. So with your physical health in the shape that it is in with the prescribed hydrocodone, how would you describe your mental or emotional health?
Mr. Roberts: I got two grown children living with me. Course, I’m depressed, I’m stressed, so I’m on, I was diagnosed for depression at the, I think it’s called Psychiatric and Counseling Services, and it just, they gave me some medication, I think, that’s called, I had wrote it down here. Fluoxetine, I think that’s what it is. Is that’s F-L-U-O-X-E-T-I-N-E. And I think it goes well with my, it matches well with my hydrocodone.
Officer Roth: Okay. So just so I have this correct, you are seeing the Psychiatric and Counseling Services? I was able to look them up, they are at 100 Jefferson Street in Huntsville, Alabama. And they prescribed for you Fluoxetine, or however it is pronounced. And that is for a diagnosed depression. Do you also receive any counseling from this counseling center or is it just pick up the prescription and use the prescription?
Mr. Roberts: Well, now, that I think of. I have biweekly appointments for counseling.
Officer Roth: Okay, so-
Mr. Roberts: I don’t say anything, but I go.
Officer Roth: Okay. So you go and see a counselor or psychiatrist for the depression as well as receive medication?
Mr. Roberts: Yeah, I don’t need to talk to a stranger.
Officer Roth: I understand. Okay. Well, so we have a couple of medications that are being prescribed. We’re gonna stay on that topic, and talk about substance abuse. Would you say that you currently, or have ever had an issue with substance abuse?
Mr. Roberts: Nope.
Officer Roth: Okay. Let’s talk specifically about some substances then. Do you use alcohol?
Mr. Roberts: Who doesn’t? Right? Alcohol, I mean, I started when, I don’t know, when you become a teenager, junior high school.
Officer Roth: Okay. And just so we’re on the same page, alcohol is a substance, so it can be abused.
Mr. Roberts: Really?
Officer Roth: Yes. So-
Mr. Roberts: Okay, well, I drank this past weekend, so-
Officer Roth: So, okay. I have you as using alcohol as a junior high student as a teenager up into including last weekend. Do you think you have a problem with alcohol?
Mr. Roberts: Come on, man, it’s just beer.
Officer Roth: Okay. Moving on to another substance then. How about marijuana use?
Mr. Roberts: It’s almost legal in every state. I’m not saying any more.
Officer Roth: That’s not what I asked. If you could just share with me your, any kind of marijuana use, if you have used in past, if you are using it currently.
Mr. Roberts: I used it for about four years back in high school, I think. And quit. Drinking was easier, better, legal at the time.
Officer Roth: Okay. Maybe even cheaper. I don’t know.
Mr. Roberts: Cheaper. Uncle Rodney used to buy it, beer for us, ’cause we weren’t old enough. But he said that there was nothing wrong with that, he did it. So.
Officer Roth: Okay. So I have some alcohol use from back in junior high to present, some marijuana use through high school, and maybe some college years. Have you ever had a problem with, or have you ever used powder cocaine?
Mr. Roberts: Nope.
Officer Roth: All right. How about crack cocaine?
Mr. Roberts: Nope.
Officer Roth: And heroin?
Mr. Roberts: I didn’t do those other two. I didn’t do heroin either.
Officer Roth: Yeah, sounds like you stayed away from the big three. But I do, so opiates is also part of this substance abuse record, and because of the hydrocodone, we do have to include that as part of your substance.
Mr. Roberts: But, sir, that’s a prescription.
Officer Roth: I understand that and that is duly noted in the report, but it does have to be included in the substance use section of our investigation. So we have some alcohol use, marijuana use, and the current prescribed opiate use.
Mr. Roberts: That is correct.
Officer Roth: Okay. And you don’t feel as if you have, or have had any kind of substance abuse issue, so you probably have not felt that any kind of substance abuse treatment was necessary?
Mr. Roberts: No, come on, that’s for wimps.
Officer Roth: Do you think treatment going forward might be helpful?
Mr. Roberts: I don’t see it as a problem.
Officer Roth: Okay.
Mr. Roberts: I mean, I function quite well.
Officer Roth: Okay.
Education and Vocation Skills
Officer Roth: All right, we’re gonna switch gears. We’re gonna talk about your education for a few moments. I have you most recently in a Masters of Business Administration program, in the online school of University of Alabama. Is that correct?
Mr. Roberts: It is.
Officer Roth: Well, good for you.
Mr. Roberts: I know.
Officer Roth: That is excellent.
Mr. Roberts: Roll tide.
Officer Roth: Roll tide as well, yes. Prior to your enrollment at University of Alabama, it looks like you are a graduate of Auburn University with a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration. Is that correct?
Mr. Roberts: Yeah, I don’t remember much of it, but yeah, I got a degree.
Officer Roth: Yeah, I understand that Auburn education, I get it.
Mr. Roberts: Nah, it was those nights, man. But anyway, you know what I mean.
Officer Roth: Before attending Auburn, you were a high school student at Huntsville High School from 2002 to 2006, where you earned your high school diploma.
Mr. Roberts: It is correct.
Officer Roth: All right, is there any other specialized training, licenses, vocational certifications that you may have earned that you would like to share?
Mr. Roberts: Nope.
Officer Roth: Okay, and as far as my investigation shows, you have never served in our country’s military?
Mr. Roberts: Nope.
Officer Roth: All right.
Employment History
Officer Roth: The next section is employment history. It looks like you have quite a bit of employment history. So I’m going to go through and essentially you are just going to confirm roughly the dates that you were employed. The employer’s information that I provide, and provide a reason for leaving. Whatever that reason may be. So currently, I have you listed at working at Bradford Manufacturers at 40100 Corporation Drive in Huntsville, Alabama, as their assistant director of purchasing. Is that correct?
Mr. Roberts: Yup, about 40 hours a week.
Officer Roth: Okay, so that’s a full-time job? And what kind of salary are you pulling at that 40 hour a week [inaudible]?
Mr. Roberts: 55 Gs, $55,000.
Officer Roth: All right, very good. And you’ve been there since roughly June, 2021?
Mr. Roberts: Yeah, about that.
Officer Roth: Okay, thank you. And before that, I have Westcorp Logistics. At one Westcorp Boulevard in Huntsville, Alabama. Working there as a coordinator, from October, 2018 to May, 2021. Is that correct?
Mr. Roberts: Yup, that sounds about right.
Officer Roth: And was that also full-time work?
Mr. Roberts: Yup. No, it was boredom part-time. It was 45 to about 50 hours a week. And made about $2,000 every other week, biweekly.
Officer Roth: Okay. And your reason for leaving that position?
Mr. Roberts: It wasn’t good? Terminated.
Officer Roth: Terminated?
Officer Roth: Okay. And that’s all I need to know. You don’t have to provide any kind of further explanation than that. Prior to that, I have you employed at Amazon. Which it seems like Amazon employs everybody. But Amazon Distributions, at 2500 Memorial Drive in Huntsville Alabama, as a quality control coordinator. And you were there from, it looks like August, 2016 to April, 2018, is that correct?
Mr. Roberts: Yup. And they work you to death? I worked over 70 hours per week.
Officer Roth: Whoa.
Mr. Roberts: And, at $40,000 a year, really? Can you say resigned?
Officer Roth: Right. I was going to ask formally what the reason for leaving was, but I certainly think most people could understand that 70 hours a week is quite a bit of work. Prior to Amazon, I have you at the Home Depot at one Veterans Parkway in Huntsville, Alabama. Roughly from June, 2014 to September, 2016, as a loss prevention specialist.
Mr. Roberts: That is correct.
Officer Roth: And was that full-time?
Mr. Roberts: Yeah, it was 40 hours a week.
Officer Roth: Okay. And how much?
Mr. Roberts: About $800 a week.
Officer Roth: Okay. And your reason for leaving that job?
Mr. Roberts: I just resigned because they cut my hours. There wasn’t that much stealing going on.
Officer Roth: All right, very good. Prior to the Home Depot, Harbor Freight Tools, at 17 University Boulevard in Huntsville, Alabama, from September, 2011 to November, 2014 as the assistant manager. Was that full-time, and how much money did you earn while working there?
Mr. Roberts: Yeah, it was 40 hours a week. I think I made about 32,000 a year. And unfortunately we didn’t see eye to eye. I got terminated on that one.
Officer Roth: All right, fired from that position as well?
Mr. Roberts: Well, I like terminated. Fire is kind of harsh.
Officer Roth: Okay, I’m sorry. We’ll put down terminated.
Mr. Roberts: Thank you.
Officer Roth: Sure. Prior to that, we have TJ Max, also as a loss prevention specialist. At 975 Airport Road in Huntsville, Alabama. From November, 2009 to September, 2011. Was that a full-time job? And how much did you make working there?
Mr. Roberts: No, about 25 to 30 hours a week. It was biweekly and I was laid off again. There just wasn’t that much crime going on.
Officer Roth: Okay, well that Huntsville Alabama must be a safe place to live.
Mr. Roberts: Very. As long as I’m here doing-
Officer Roth: Prior to TJ Max, we have you at the Steaming Cajun Restaurant, from December, 2007 to November, 2009, as a bartender/bar manager. Was that full-time work? And how much did you make?
Mr. Roberts: About 35 hours a week. I stayed there like 70 hours a week, but $400 about I made, and then plus tips and that was weekly. Unfortunately that didn’t work out either. They terminated me.
Officer Roth: All right, well that’s as far back as I went on your work history. Is there anything that you wanted to add or any other jobs that you wanted to include before we move on to the next part of the report?
Mr. Roberts: Nope.
Officer Roth: Okay, very good.
Acceptance of Resposibility Statement
Officer Roth: All right, so the next part of our report is the last part of our report. This is called an acceptance of responsibility statement. This is your opportunity to share with me and the court a statement of how you feel about the crime you’ve been convicted of. Essentially, you are provided an opportunity to make an accountability statement or a responsibility statement regarding this offense. So this is your opportunity to share your thoughts, and I will make sure they get to the court prior to a render of sentencing.
Mr. Roberts: Well, I’ll start off and say I’m sorry that I’m taking up everybody’s time. You know, I regret things, but you know, as far as what I do, and I do what everybody else does, I throw a few back, take some pain medication when I need it, and live a simple life. And I just don’t see what I did wrong when everybody else does it, I just got caught. That’s all that comes down to it.
Officer Roth: Alright, well, Mr. Roberts, with that statement, what I’m gonna do, because it doesn’t provide really an acceptance of responsibility, I’m gonna mark that you’re declining to provide a full statement and we’ll leave that part of it to the courts.
Mr. Roberts: Is that gonna count against me?
Officer Roth: It will not count against you. I think what you just shared would count against you more than by keeping a statement as declined to make a comment. But that is all I have for this report. Before I end our meeting, are there any questions or any concerns that you might have that you would like to share with me?
Mr. Roberts: Nope.
Officer Roth: All right. Well, I thank you for your time. I thank you for your honesty and your candor and I wish you good luck, sir.
Mr. Roberts: Thank you.

 
Overview
For this assignment, you will be tasked with creating a recruitment presentation for the Jurisville Police Department. Keep in mind that for law enforcement agencies to be successful in the future, it is more important than ever for municipalities and departments to identify, recruit, and employ a well-trained and professional police force, that identifies the needs of the community. From making arrests to using proper force to understanding technological devices to dealing with individuals with mental health issues and victims of hate crimes, police officers are increasingly performing many different roles. In their efforts to provide their citizens with a properly trained and professional police force, municipalities need to know that officers are adhering to their training and operating under established policies and procedures.
Today’s police officer is not just one who can perform the basic functions of an officer, but one who also possesses the “intangible skills” or characteristic traits that are necessary, such as empathy, compassion, trustworthiness, adaptability, critical thinking, conflict resolution, and cultural awareness.
Scenario
You are the “new recruiting Officer” for the Jurisville Police Department and the Police Chief has asked you to put together a recruitment presentation to be presented to area high school/college students at the annual Job Fair. The Chief has given you the liberty to identify and focus your presentation on the needs of Jurisville with specific instructions to include a diverse hiring focus (matching the community demographics), as well as hiring individuals who are well-rounded and balanced in both characteristic traits and skills. Keep in mind that today’s Officer is highly skilled in basic police work, but also must possess the ability to deal with all types of crimes and the victims of those crimes.
Prepare
Review the information you collected from the Week 6 Assignment, Recruitment for a Well-Balanced, Modern Police Agency, the Week 6 Activity, Traits vs. Skills, and the Justice Ideology SurveyLinks to an external site. from Week 7. You will use the information to guide you in this assignment.
Instructions
Complete a recruitment presentation (8-12 slides) in which you:
Based on your observations in Jurisville, articulate the skills that will be expected of the recruits during their training in order for them to be successful in all roles of law enforcement. (2-3 slides).

Provide a rationale for your selection.

Examine the traits that the department is looking for to create a well-rounded, balanced agency. (2-3 slides).
Demonstrate what your agency has to offer a police candidate when it comes to training, promotions, and special units. (2-3 slides).
Support your writing with at least 3 credible, relevant, and appropriate sources.

For help with research, writing, and citation, access the library or library guides.
Cite each source on your source list at least once within your assignment.
Format your citations in accordance with Strayer Writing Standards.

Formatting Requirements
Your presentation should meet the following formatting requirements:
Be 8–12 slides in length.
Include 2-3 slides for each of the first three criteria listed under the Instructions.
Include a cover slide and a Source slide (or slides).

Cite each source on your source list at least once within your assignment.
Format your citations in accordance with Strayer Writing Standards.

This course requires the use of Strayer Writing Standards (SWS). The library is your home for SWS assistance, including citations and formatting. Please refer to the Library site for all support. Check with your professor for any additional instructions.
The specific course learning outcomes associated with this assignment are:
Examine management of front-line police officers, including hiring, training, and accountability.
Examine the role of law enforcement agencies in handling modern challenges and recruiting a well-rounded, balanced police officer.
Resources

Microsoft PowerPoint Library Guide.

Traits vs. Skills.

Justice Ideology SurveyLinks to an external site. | TranscriptLinks to an external site..

 
Introduction
You have been designated by the Chief of Police to put together a presentation (power point slide show) to recruit from the local colleges and high schools. Your recruiting presentation should focus on the highlights of the community and identify the need for diversity. Consider what you know about your own community and what you feel would be necessary for Jurisville, and incorporate these ideas into your presentation.
While engaging with this activity, observe the various interaction between the Jurisville Police Department and community, and identify the qualities needed from their officers. To develop a successfull recruitment presentation, you should incorporate the aspects of justice ideology and traits vs. skills that are important in recruiting candidates that will contribute to a well-rounded, balanced police agency. You should also take notice of the levels of command (promotional opportunities) and the skills and traits demonstrated by the Officer(s) in this activity.
Reflection Activity:
Download the Recruitment Worksheet [DOCX] and document your observations about the Jurisville community and the qualities needed from their police officers.
Recruitment Worksheet
Police Department
Jurisville Police Department has 120 sworn Police Officers and a support staff of about 30 civilian positions. Recently, the City Council has passed a budget increase for the Police Chief to hire 24 new Officers or 20% of the current workforce. The City Council is concerned with the uptick in drug crimes and hate crimes and wants a police department that more reflects the community. Diversity in hiring is important to the Police Chief, while finding quality applicants with positive characteristic traits.
Officer Jones meets with a potential recruitment candidate in the Jurisville Police Presinct.
Officer Jones greats a recruitment candidate conducting research on policing.
Officer Jones:
“Hello, welcome to the Jurisville Police Department. We are excited to have you with us today and hope your time with us is informative and helps you to better understand what the Jurisville Police Department is all about.”
Recruitment Candidate:
“Thanks for having me. I’m very excited to learn what departments/units the Jurisville Police Department offers for a new police recruit.”
Officer Jones:
Walking over to a bulletin board posted in the area.
“As you can see here on our organizational chart, the Jurisville Police Department offers several specialized units for a new police officer to grow and expand their career. We have a community policing unit, a K-9 unit, SWAT team, Undercover narcotics Officers, Crime Scene Technicians, Detectives, Drone Operators, Marine Officers and much more.”
Recruitment Candidate:
“Wow, I didn’t know you guys used drones!”
Officer Jones:
“Yes – drones are one of the many new technologies we offer to help better serve our community. Drones help us to see in places that we would not be able to see from the ground. We also use drones to help find lost children or elderly citizens.”
Sergeant Tuffskin:
Walks by and snarls at Officer Jones and the Recruitment Candidate.
“Officer Jones, quit wasting time talking about drones and get back to work. There’s tickets to be written and people to be arrested.”
Fact Sheet
Jurisville Demographic Details
Jurisville, USA is a typical mid-sized city in the United States. The population of Jurisville is 180,000 people. The demographics of the community are:
Race:

55% non-hispanic white
22% Hispanic and latino
14% black
9% other races

There are various religions represented in the community.
The unemployment rate is average at about 3%.
There are 4 high schools and two community colleges within the city limits of Jurisville.
The city is a mix of industrial manufacturing plants and tourism from the 15 miles of water front on a very large lake.
Jurisville Crime Details
Jurisville has about 10 murders per year, usually associated with the drug trade, which has risen dramatically in the past 20 years.
Gang violence is also on the rise (also related to the drug trade).
Officer Jones and the Recruitment Candidate continue to walk down the hallway.
Lieutenant Smith:
Talking to another Officer about his report writing skills.
“So, when you are writing your narrative report for the breaking and entering complaint you took, you have to be concise and to the point. A police report should not have your opinion or thoughts, unless they can be supported with facts.”
Officer:
“Ok, that makes a lot of sense. Thank you for taking the time to discuss this with me, Lieutenant.”
Captain Johnson walks by and posts a “Recruiting” poster on the bulletin board. The words COMPASSION, EMPATHY, CULTURAL AWARENESS are predominantly visible.
Captain Johnson:
“We are looking for well rounded, balanced Police Officers.“
Public Park
Officer Jones and the recruitment candidate stop at the community park during a ride along. There are groups of children playing, and a report of someone living in the park. Homelessness is rising in Jurisville, as many jobs have shifted out of the area and the demographics of younger workers has taken over the job market.
Two kids in the park – one of the kids is pushing the other kid and saying, “your too small to play football with us”. The kid being pushed is trying to push back and yells, “I’m faster than you”. The kids continue to push each other.
Officer Jones:
Officer Jones steps in and starts talking to both of the kids. “Hey guys, what seems to be the problem?”
Younger Kid:
“Tommy keeps telling me I’m too small to play football with the other kids.”
Officer Jones:
“Hey Tommy, maybe he could play a position that doesn’t require a big guy, what do you think?”
Officer Jones and the Recruitment Candidate approach a woman who appears to have been living in the park with her infant.
Woman:
“My boyfriend has left us and I have no where to live.”
Officer Jones:
“Is there anything I can do to help you and your child?”
Woman:
“I don’t think so, but we haven’t eaten any food in a couple of days and we have been living in this park.”
Officer Jones:
“Ok. Grab your stuff and I will give you a ride to the women’s shelter so you and your child can get cleaned up and get something to eat.”
Recruitment Candidate:
“Are you supposed to do that?”
Officer Jones:
“Typically, we don’t get involved in our homeless people’s lives on the streets, but in this case this woman and child may be in danger staying in this park and not having any food. It is the right thing to do!”
School
Jurisville has seen a dramatic rise in hate crimes related to race and transgender citizens. Today, an officer has been dispatched to the local middle school, where there has been a report of vandalism.
Conversation Between School Principal and Police Officer About Racist Graffiti on School Wall.
Principal:
“Good morning, Officer Johnson. Thank you for coming. We have a serious matter to discuss regarding racist graffiti that was discovered on our school wall yesterday.”
Officer Johnson:
“Good morning, Principal. I’m here to assist you in any way I can. So, what happened?”
Principal:
“Yesterday morning, our custodian found offensive racist slurs and symbols spray-painted on the exterior wall of our school building. We take this incident very seriously, as it goes against our school’s values of respect, inclusivity, and equality. Not to mention, this is hate crime! ”
Officer Johnson:
“Did you happen to capture any surveillance footage or witness accounts that could help with the investigation?”
Principal:
“Yes. Our video surveillance system captured the two subjects as they painted the wall.”
Officer Johnson:
“That’s great. Can you have the footage sent to me, right away.”
Principal:
“Yes and thank you, Officer Johnson. We appreciate your prompt action. Our students, parents, and staff are understandably upset by this incident, and we want to ensure their safety and address the issue effectively.”
Officer Johnson:
“Absolutely, Principal. I assure you that we take hate crimes seriously and will do everything in our power to identify the culprits. It’s important for us to work together to send a clear message that racism and discrimination have no place in our community. We will also be working with our prosecuting attorney, from the start of this investigation, to make sure proper prosecution is made of the offenders.”
Principal:
“That’s really great. We also plan to hold an assembly to address the incident, emphasize the importance of tolerance, and provide support to affected students. We want them to feel safe and supported during this challenging time.”
Officer Johnson:
“That’s an excellent idea, Principal. If you need any assistance in organizing the assembly or providing resources, please let me know. I can also arrange for a police officer to attend the assembly to speak about the impact of hate crimes and the legal consequences.”
Principal:
“Your support would be invaluable, Officer Johnson. It’s crucial that we educate our students and reinforce the severity of such acts. We must foster an environment that promotes respect, acceptance, and diversity.”
Officer Johnson:
“Absolutely, Principal. Let’s continue to collaborate closely throughout this investigation and its aftermath. Together, we can create a stronger community that rejects racism and supports equality.”
Principal:
“Thank you, Officer Johnson. Your dedication and commitment are deeply appreciated. I will keep you updated on any developments and eagerly await your assistance in resolving this matter.”
Officer Johnson:
“You’re welcome, Principal. I’ll stay in touch and ensure that we exhaust all available resources to bring the individuals responsible to justice. Let’s work together to make our school a safe and inclusive place for everyone.”
Principal:
“Thank you again for your support. Let’s take a stand against racism and work towards a brighter future for our students.”
Gas Station
Officer Gonzalez visits a gas station that is popular with many of the police officers.
Station Owner and Police Officer Discussing Free Coffee for Officers.
Gas Station Owner (GSO):
Good morning, Officer Gonzalez! How can I assist you today?
Police Officer (PO):
Good morning. I wanted to discuss something with you regarding the policy of offering free coffee to police officers.
GSO:
Of course, Officer Gonzalez. What’s on your mind?
PO:
Well, I appreciate the kind gesture, but I think it would be best if we discontinued the practice of receiving free coffee. We need to ensure there is no perception of favoritism or preferential treatment.
GSO:
I understand your concern, Officer Gonzalez. We certainly don’t want to create any misconceptions or compromise the integrity of law enforcement. However, I must emphasize that offering free coffee is our way of showing appreciation for the difficult and important work that you and your fellow officers do.
PO:
I appreciate the gesture, GSO, but it’s important for us to maintain a professional and impartial image in the community. Accepting freebies could be misinterpreted as compromising our duty or influence our decision-making.
GSO:
Officer Gonzalez, I respect your commitment to professionalism, and I want to support law enforcement without causing any unintended consequences. How about we find a middle ground? Instead of providing free coffee to all officers, we can offer discounted rates to police personnel. We offer these same discounted rates to many other professionals in our community. What do you think?
PO:
That sounds like a reasonable compromise, GSO. Discounted rates would still be a token of appreciation while avoiding any potential issues. It also ensures that officers who genuinely need a pick-me-up during their shifts can still have access to affordable coffee.
GSO:
Absolutely, Officer Gonzalez. I’ll work on implementing the discounted rate immediately. We’ll offer the discounts to any officer (in uniform), as to avoid any abuse of this discount.
PO:
That sounds fair and straightforward, GSO. It addresses our concerns while still acknowledging the support from local businesses. It’s important for the community to see that we’re treated like any other customer.
GSO:
I appreciate your understanding, Officer Gonzalez. We’ll make sure the discounted rate is clearly communicated to all officers, and we’ll handle any inquiries or clarifications promptly. Is there anything else you’d like to discuss?
PO:
That covers my main concern, GSO. Thank you for being open to finding a solution that balances our professional responsibilities and community support. I’m confident that this revised approach will be beneficial for everyone involved.
GSO:
Thank you, Officer Gonzalez. It’s always a pleasure to work with law enforcement and contribute to our community’s safety. If you have any further suggestions or concerns in the future, please don’t hesitate to reach out.
PO:
Will do, GSO. Thank you for your cooperation. Have a great day!
GSO:
You too, Officer Gonzalez. Stay safe out there!
City Hall
A member of the City Council has requested a consultation meeting with local police department. Officer Southland meets with the city representative.
Discussion between a Police Officer and a City Council Member about Budgets and the Need for More Tickets and Arrests.
Officer Southland is back at City Hall and has a meeting with Council Member Johnson.
Officer Southland:
Thank you for taking the time to meet with me, Council Member Johnson. I wanted to discuss the budget allocation for our police department and address the need for generating more revenue through tickets and arrests.
Council Member Johnson:
Of course, Officer Southland. I understand the importance of budgetary concerns. Please go ahead.
Officer Southland:
Currently, our department is facing financial challenges, particularly when it comes to updating our equipment and maintaining adequate staffing levels. We believe that increasing our efforts in issuing tickets and making arrests could help bridge that gap.
Council Member Johnson:
I appreciate your concerns, Officer Southland. However, as a city council member, my role is to ensure the well-being and safety of our community while maintaining a balanced budget. I’m curious about the underlying reasons for the need to generate more revenue through tickets and arrests.
Officer Southland:
The increased revenue would primarily go towards improving our outdated equipment, such as updating our patrol vehicles and investing in updated technology for crime prevention and investigations. Additionally, it would help us recruit and train new officers to ensure the safety of our residents.
Council Member Johnson:
I understand the importance of equipping our police force with necessary resources. However, relying solely on generating revenue through tickets and arrests may inadvertently create a perception that our officers are focused on revenue generation rather than community safety. This could lead to strained relations between law enforcement and our residents.
Officer Southland:
I completely understand your concerns, Council Member. Our primary goal is indeed community safety, and we value our relationship with the residents. However, without sufficient funding, we won’t be able to provide the level of service our community deserves.
Council Member Johnson:
I acknowledge the need for adequate funding, but I believe it’s crucial to explore alternative solutions as well. Have you considered collaborating with community organizations or seeking federal or state grants that can help alleviate the budgetary constraints?
Officer Southland:
We have explored some avenues for additional funding, but they haven’t proven as fruitful as we had hoped. I agree that seeking grants and partnerships with community organizations is a viable option, and we will continue to pursue those opportunities.
Council Member Johnson:
Excellent. It’s crucial that we find a balance between financial sustainability and maintaining a strong relationship with our community. I would encourage you to continue exploring alternative funding sources while keeping community engagement and safety at the forefront of your efforts.
Officer Southland:
Thank you for your guidance, Council Member Johnson. We will work towards finding a solution that ensures the well-being of our community while addressing the financial challenges we face. Your support is appreciated.
Council Member Johnson:
I appreciate your dedication, Officer Southland. Let’s work together to find a sustainable approach that benefits our residents and supports the police department’s needs. Feel free to reach out if you require any further assistance or guidance.
The meeting concludes, and Officer Southland and Council Member Johnson agree to maintain an open line of communication to address the budgetary concerns and explore alternative funding options.
Conclusion
Observing the day-to-day interactions of police officers provides valuable insights into the multifaceted interactions that police officers have with their communities. By exploring these diverse scenarios, we develope a deeper understanding of the essential skills and qualities required in this profession. From communication and conflict resolution to empathy and cultural competence, you have witnessed the significance of these skills in forging positive relationships and ensuring the fair and just application of the law.

Prior to beginning work on this discussion forum,
Review Chapter 1: Identifying and Defining Problems of the course textbook One Step at a Time: A Roadmap for Problem Solving & Making a Difference.
Review A Closer Look: Week 1: Stating the Problem.
Read Participatory Action Research: Improving Professional Practices and Local SituationsLinks to an external site..
Select a problem you have personally seen or experienced in your community or workplace.
In this discussion forum, you will answer a series of questions to help you identify a problem you have personally seen or experienced in your community or workplace. Consider the problem carefully as you will be focused on this problem throughout the course.
In your discussion post,
Briefly describe the problem you have personally seen or experienced in your community or workplace. 
Answer the following questions, following the 5WH1 method:

What are the details of the problem?

Who is impacted by the problem?

When did this problem begin, and when could it reasonably be resolved?

Where is this problem taking place?

Why is this problem important?

How could you potentially or partially address or resolve this problem?