PANEL INFORMATION
Students will be assigned to panels of 3-4 members. Each panel will make a classroom PowerPoint presentation on a recent criminal justice event related to an assigned topical area from the instructor's Police Issues blog (e.g., "Resources, Selection and Training," "Technology," etc.) Events should be selected for their value in illustrating significant, controversial acts by police and other components of the criminal justice system. For example:
- "Use of Force" panel: an incident where excessive force is alleged
- "Crime and Punishment" panel: controversy about capital punishment
- "Strategy and Tactics" panel: police using a heavy-handed approach to fight crime
- "Resources, Selection and Training" panel: budget woes forcing a city to stop hiring police
- "Technology and Forensics" panel: controversy about a physical evidence technique
Students should look for an event by scanning the News Clips section of Police Issues or John Jay College's far more comprehensive Crime Report for the past year. Please note that unless panels come up with new information or insights, specific events that Police Issues already blogged on are off-limits. Check with the instructor if in doubt.
Each student will taken on a specific problematic aspect of the event. They will describe what took place -- the good, the bad and the ugly -- then, referring to what academic authorities in criminal justice have said about such things, discuss what caused the problem and how it can be prevented from recurring. Students may share aspects that are unusually involved (please check with the instructor.)
Keep in mind that reporters can goof and misinterpret what took place, so once you have an event in mind look for coverage by other news organizations and use that information as well. Probably the best approach is to use BOTH a nationally-recognized newspaper (e.g., New York Times, Chicago Tribune, Philadelphia Inquirer, Los Angeles Times and San Francisco Chronicle) AND a newspaper or TV outlet from the geographical area where the incident took place (see "Hints," below.)
External academic resources include:
- Textbooks
- NCJRS website
- Criminology & Public Policy (ISSN 1538-6473, online only through CSUF library portal)
- Journal of Crime and Justice HV 6201 J68
- Journal of Criminal Justice HV 7231 J62
- Justice Quarterly HV 6001 J85
- Policing: An International Journal HV 7551.P6
- Police Chief
- FBI Law Enforcement Bulletin
Panels should split up the work so that each member has an approximately equal burden. The instructor will be available to approve panel topics and help students get started.
Panels must meet with the instructor and get their topics approved NO LATER THAN week 4. On week 8 every panel must bring in a flash drive with a draft of their PowerPoint presentation for approval.
Hints for finding material
1. Map where the incident took place and find the nearest large city. Google that city for newspapers, e.g. "Los Angeles newspapers." Then use key words to search a newspaper's index.
2. If it's a major incident or in the Eastern U.S., always try the New York Times first. If it's in the West, try the Los Angeles Times.
3. In Police Issues go to the pertinent category (e.g., strategy and tactics) and search the posts for references and additional articles relevant to your issue.
4. To find academic references consult your textbook and other criminal justice texts. Also be sure to check out the National Criminal Justice Reference Service, which can be searched using keywords.
6. Go to library and flip through academic journals, or search through them online.
7. Use of Force and Conduct and Ethics panels should become acquainted with the reports section of the L.A. County Office of Independent Review website. For example, see the latest Annual Report and the Report on the LASD Background Investigation Process
Presentations
On their scheduled date panels will present a PowerPoint talk to the class that (a) describes their selected event in depth, (b) identifies issues and problems, (c) suggests what led to these issues and problems, and (d) recommends what can be done to fix the problems and keep them from recurring. Please avoid giving personal opinions. Instead, back up presentations with what experts have to say, giving particular attention to the text and other academic sources such as books and journal articles.
Each panelist should have two or three slides and enough material for a maximum of five fact-filled minutes. Slides are intended to be used as prompts and to help lead students through your talk. Please use text sparingly and confine it to key points. Also avoid reading from slides, your paper or cue cards -- it's painful for the audience and will cause you to lose points.
NOTE: To provide context for what follows, one student should lead off with a general summary of the event, not to exceed three minutes. This summary will not be graded or included in their paper.
Papers
On the day of their presentation each panelist will hand in a typed, well-written and neatly formatted 3-4 page paper that covers their part of the presentation in its full depth (obviously, in more detail that what could be done in class) and lists all outside references.
Papers are individual, not group work. Please use your own words and avoid quoting -- the purpose is to summarize, analyze and explain. Use a recognized style such as APA. Click here for Dr. Mallicoat's excellent guide to writing a research paper
Grading
Twenty points for the paper and ten for the presentation. Each panelist is graded individually. Key points are how well the student covers the issues, quality and integration of references, clarity of expression, grammar and spelling. Please rehearse your presentation. Don't read from cue cards or from the slides (we can read them fine). Students who try to "present" by reading will lose points.
Note about PowerPoint: Please avoid flashy graphics. Keep in mind that your slides aren't there to entertain but to help convey the material and enlighten the audience.