CRJ355 Research Methods in Criminal Justice, Unit 8 Assignment Research Project Reflection, Post University

                                            Does the Death Penalty Deter Crime? 

Are States Safer When They Keep the Death Penalty? 

 

Jackie Phillips 

Criminology, Post University  

CRJ355 Research Methods in Criminal Justice  

 Unit 8 Assignment: Research Project Reflection 

Dr. Lyndon Godsall 

 Due Friday, June 23, 2023

 

Over the course of the term, you have had a chance to share your ideas with others and receive feedback as your research project took shape. Reflecting on your experience, feedback received, and your exploration of ideas leading to the submission of your research project, you will conclude your course experience with a reflection about your experience. Your paper will communicate about your experience with respect to each area noted above and share how your experience challenged and supported your learning about creating a Criminal Justice Research Project. You may use first person for this assignment. 

 

For this assignment you will submit a reflection piece.  

Your submission will be in the form of a two page paper in which you will respond to the following:  

Identify and share your perspectives concerning one area or aspect of your work developing your Criminal Research Project that you found most challenging.  

https://www.jotform.com/report/23163659701205213 

I found working with this JotForm the most challenging because I was not familiar with 

the software at all since I had never used it before. However, I am familiar with spreadsheets, so I tried to use my knowledge of spreadsheets to create this form that has data about a large variety of Death Row prisoners, both past and present. I also had a difficult time trying to decide what information to include and what was important for the accurate description of each prisoner. There was a huge wealth of information on each prisoner, and I had a hard time deciding which to use with the very limited page space. Once I developed the form, I found myself wanting to find more and more prisoners to enter, and luckily, I did find a huge supply of information on the wide variety of Death Row prisoners. The difficulty was picking and choosing which to use. I tried to use people who had a variety to offer with their data and timeframe and outcome.  

Identify and share your perspectives concerning one area or aspect of your work in developing your Criminal Research Project that you found the easiest.  

The primary focus of my paper in the beginning was to determine if the Death Penalty is a deterrence to crime. Does crime noticeably reduce when a state has a Death Penalty? I found a lot of information that does support that crime does not reduce if the Death Penalty is a sentencing option. Here is one resource that I found:  

“Deterrence should not be considered in a vacuum. The critical question is not whether potential criminals will be dissuaded from killing because they would face the death penalty rather than no punishment at all. Other punishments such as life without parole might provide equal deterrence at far less costs and without the attendant risk of executing an innocent person. Whether the death penalty is a proven method of lowering the murder rate has been subjected to many studies over many decades. It is not enough to compare jurisdictions with the death penalty to those without unless the study controls for the many other variables that could affect the murder rate. For example, lower unemployment rates correlate with lower crime rates. More police involvement in the local community seems to reduce crime. The death penalty affects only a tiny percentage of even those who commit murder. Its effect is very difficult to pinpoint, and the National Academy of Sciences has concluded that past studies have neither proven nor disproven a deterrent effect.” #1 (No Author Given, 2023) 

 

Here is another article by an independent group in North Carolina who states that the Death Penalty does not deter crime: 

“Our close work with death-sentenced people, as well as families who have lost loved ones to violence, confirms that there are more effective ways to prevent murder. The vast majority of those on death row committed unplanned crimes arising out of mental illness, poverty, substance abuse, and trauma. Societal efforts to remedy those problems, along with the racial inequities that underlie them, would have a far greater impact on public safety. Many surviving family members also say the death penalty fails to bring them healing, and they ask that the state not kill in the names of their loved ones. Practices like restorative justice are designed to address harm and bring healing, rather than focusing on retribution.” #2 (No Author Given, February 2022)

Identify one major personal “takeaway” or learning outcome that you found most valuable in developing a Criminal Research Project.  

I was disturbed by this article that specifically addresses the innocence of convicted people on Death Row: 

“The great majority of innocent people who are sentenced to death are never identified and freed, says Professor Samuel Gross of the University of Michigan Law School, the study’s lead author. The difficulty in identifying innocent inmates stems from the fact that more than 60 percent of prisoners in death penalty cases ultimately are removed from death row and resentenced to life imprisonment. Once that happens, their cases no longer receive the exhaustive reviews that the legal system provides for those on death row… The research produced an estimate of the percentage of defendants who would be exonerated if they all remained indefinitely on death row, where their cases would be subject to intense scrutiny for innocence… The study concluded that the number of innocent defendants who have been put to death is “comparatively low. … Our data and the experience of practitioners in the field both indicate that the criminal justice system goes too far greater lengths to avoid executing innocent defendants than to prevent them from remaining in prison indefinitely.” #3 (Hannon, Elliot, 2014)  

 

 References  

#1, No Author Given, 2023, “Deterrence: Studies show no link between the presence or absence of the death penalty and murder rates.” Death Penalty Information Center, https://deathpenaltyinfo.org/policy-issues/deterrence 

 

#2, No Author Given, February 2022, “Why End the Death Penalty? The Death Penalty Does Not Keep Us Safe,” North Carolina Coalition for Alternatives to the Death Penalty, https://nccadp.org/reasons-to-end-the-death-penalty/failure-to-deter-crime/ 

 

#3, Hannon, Elliot, 2014, “Big Data Study: 1 in 25 Given Death Penalty Sentence Are Likely Innocent,” Slate.com Magazine, https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2014/04/a-new-study-estimates-error-rate-of-death-penalty-sentences-in-u-s.html 

CRJ331 Community Corrections, Unit 6 Assignment Restorative Principles, Post University

                                                    What is Restorative Justice? 

What Are its principles? 

 

 

Jackie Phillips 

Department Name, Post University  

CRJ331 – Community Corrections  

Unit 6 Assignment: Restorative Principles 

Professor Terri Johnson 

Due Date: 11:59 pm EST Sunday of Unit 6

 

In your own words, what is “Restorative Justice” and what are its principles?  

Restorative justice is a community-based, victim-centered approach in a justice environment that focuses on repairing harm caused by criminals and then makes the offender accountable for their crimes and towards the victims. The offender accepts responsibility for their actions and is held accountable to repair the harm done. 

“A great way to understand the Restorative Justice Community Group Conference process is to look at it through the lens of the 5 R’s: Relationship, Respect, Responsibility, Repair, and Reintegration 

Relationship: 

At the heart of every restorative justice process is a damaged relationship. The person who caused harm has negatively impacted the lives of real people and real communities. 

Respect: 

Respect keeps the process safe. All involved parties are trusted to show respect for themselves and for others at all stages of the process. 

Responsibility: 

We ask that everyone is honest with themselves and searches deeply in their hearts to discover how they might have had a hand in the matter. 

Repair: 

The repair principle replaces thoughts of revenge and punishment, instead focusing on moving forward in a more positive direction. 

Reintegration: 

By accepting responsibility and agreeing to repair the harm, the person who caused harm creates space and trust to be reintegrated into the community.” (Capstick, L., 2018) 

 

How do you feel that these principles differ from traditional criminal justice practices?  

 

Restorative Justice has a different viewpoint than Traditional Criminal Justice. Restorative Justice sees that harm has been done to people, families and a community, compared to Traditional Justice who sees only that laws are broken. Restorative Justice seeks to rebuild communities affected by crime and rebuilding relationships, compared to Traditional Criminal Justice that wants to assign consequences to the offender.  

 

“The differences between TCJ and RJ principles, models and programs are significant.  The major difference is that TCJ is primarily concerned with retribution against the offender, whereas RJ focuses on the needs of the victim, offender and the community and their interrelationships; the obligations of the offender and the community vis a vis the victim; and on engaging all of the parties involved. In the last 40 years, RJ programs have been growing in popularity worldwide, and research shows that in most cases RJ programs are more effective than TCJ.” (Horodeckyj, S., 2020) 

 

I think that Restorative Justice is a great idea if the offender is willing and mature enough to understand what is expected of them and that they agree to follow the guidelines. They should also be made aware of what will happen if they choose not to follow the guidelines. I think that the offender should be allowed to follow the RJ program if their Community Service officer believes it is a good fit for the offender. The more options a person has to improve, the better a society we will become.  

 

“Restorative Community Conferencing”  

Through Make it Right, eligible young people are given the option, before their cases are charged, to participate in “restorative community conferencing.” In this process, the youth come together with their victim and their supporters (including family/caregivers, youth services, schools, coaches, and others) in a community-based facilitated dialogue to develop an agreement for the young person to repair harm, address root causes, and make amends. This collective agreement identifies concrete actions the youth will take to address harm caused to the victim, the community, the youth’s family, and him/herself. With support from a community-based case manager, the young person has a six-month period to complete their agreement. If successful, the case is not prosecuted.” (No author given, 2024) 

 

References  

Capstick, L., 2018, The Conflict Center, The Five R’s of Restorative Justice, https://conflictcenter.org/the-5-rs-of-restorative-justice/ 

 

Horodeckyj, S., 2020, IJ4J For All, Traditional Criminal Justice vs Restorative Justice, Internet Journal of Restorative Justice, https://www.rj4allpublications.com/product/traditional-criminal-justice-vs-restorative-justice/ 

 

No author given, 2024, San Francisco District Attorney, A New Approach to Juvenile Delinquency in San Francisco, https://sfdistrictattorney.org/policy/restorative-justice/make-it-right/ 

CRJ331 Community Corrections, Unit 5 Assignment Intermediate Sanctions, Post University

                                                What Are Intermediate Sanctions:  

When Are They Used and Do They Keep Communities Safe? 

 

 

 

Jackie Phillips 

Criminology, Post University 

CRJ331 – Community Corrections 

Unit 5 Assignment: Intermediate Sanctions 

Professor Terri Johnson 

Due Date: 11:59 pm EST Sunday of Unit 5

 

 

In this assignment you will examine the Intermediate Sanctions and how they aid in the rehabilitation of offenders being supervised in the community.  

 

For this assignment you will answer the following:  

In your own words, what are “Intermediate Sanctions” and what is their purpose?  

 

Examples of Intermediate sanctions can include intensive supervision probation, financial penalties, house arrest, intermittent confinement and incarceration, community service, work camps, electronic monitoring including GPS tracking, and treatment.  

 

They are an alternative to jail and used along with Probation and help to give judges more flexibility when sentencing. They are more severe than unsupervised probation, but less restrictive than incarceration. 

 

Some examples would be: 

• “Intensive supervision probation (ISP): A more intense alternative to standard probation that involves increased interaction and oversight by probation officers 
• Home confinement: With or without electronic monitoring 
• Community service orders: Allow offenders to participate in the community during rehabilitation 
• Prison boot camps: Also known as shock incarceration 
• Day fines: Also known as monetary penalties 
• Day reporting centers (DRCs): Also known as halfway houses” (Whitehead, S., 2022) 

 

 

How do you feel that these sanctions aid in the rehabilitation of offenders being supervised in the community?  

 

Whether the sanctions help or hinder the offenders is up to the choices of the offenders and whether they choose to accept the help and follow the rules and regulations.  

 

For example, if the offender is required to attend rehab for drugs or alcohol due to their crime being related to drugs or alcohol, then it is up to the offender to attend these classes. Their rehabilitation will improve if they attend the classes and if they don’t attend the classes, then their rehab will be stalled.  

 

The more choices that an offender has to help them entering back into society, the better their chances of starting over. In addition, it allows the offender to see the difference between being in prison and working on their rehabilitation outside. The threat of returning to prison can be a huge motivator to anyone.  

 

In addition, the protection of the community is important, and these sanctions must provide both rehabilitation to the offender and protection to the community.  

 

 

“Intermediate sanctions were developed for offenders whose crimes were not serious enough for incarceration, but who merited a punishment harsher than ordinary probation. The stated objectives of intermediate sanctions are to provide cost-effective alternatives to incarceration, deter offenders, protect the community, and rehabilitate offenders. Detractors claim that intermediate sanctions also create an appearance of correctional reform, institute a mechanism for reclaiming limited resources for parole and probation, and provide administrators with a response to the more punitive orientation of the public.” (Byrne J., Lurigio AJ., Petersilia J., 1992) 

 

I do believe that juveniles should be treated differently with their sanctions and that their sanctions should not equal those of adult offenders. Rather than prison, rehabilitation should focus on education and job training, counseling and therapy and community service geared toward undeveloped bodies and minds that have a better chance of changing and improving than adults set in their ways.  

“Rehabilitation programs can help juveniles develop a sense of hope and a positive outlook for the future. Through rehabilitation programs, juveniles can gain the skills, education, and support they need to succeed, which can help them develop a sense of hope and a positive outlook for their future.” (Walsh K., 2023) 

References 

 

Byrne J., Lurigio AJ., Petersilia J., 1992, Office of Justice Programs, Smart Sentencing: The Emergence of Intermediate Sanctions, https://www.ojp.gov/ncjrs/virtual-library/abstracts/smart-sentencing-emergence-intermediate-sanctions 

Walsh K., 2023, Law Offices of Katie Walsh, The Benefits of Rehabilitation Programs for Juvenile Offenders in Orange County, https://www.katiewalshlaw.com/blog/the-benefits-of-rehabilitation-programs-for-juvenile-offenders-in-orange-county/ 

Whitehead, S., 2022, Oxford Bibliographies, Intermediate Sanctions, https://www.oxfordbibliographies.com/display/document/obo-9780195396607/obo-9780195396607-0323.xml#:~:text=The%20primary%20forms%20of%20intermediate,purpose%20in%20penalizing%20an%20offender 

CRJ331 Unit 4 Assignment Issues Surrounding the Revocation Process, Post University, 2024

                                                        Prison Overpopulation: 

What Can Be Done? 

 

 

Jackie Phillips 

Criminology, Post University  

CRJ331: Community Corrections 

Unit 4 Assignment: Issues Surrounding the Revocation Process 

Professor Terri Johnson 

Due Date: 11:59 pm EST Sunday of Unit 4 

 

In this assignment you will examine the issues surrounding the revocation process and its alternatives. For this assignment you will answer the following:  

In your own words, explain how revocation contributes to jail overcrowding?  

Obviously, when probation and parole are revoked and offenders are now forced back into jails and prisons, then that puts a lot of extra strain on the prisons to continue to care for these people. One option might be to transfer some inmates to prisons that are out of their area that might not be as crowded as say prisons and jails in urban and suburban areas where populations are higher. Another option would be to transfer offenders to other types of facilities like secure camps or workstations that do still require confinement but reduce the population of jails and prisons.   

“For many offenders, parole supervision fails to disrupt the cycle of crime and imprisonment and offers little hope for behavioral change. There is evidence of significant progress and a willingness of State correctional leaders to reform the system; however, there are substantial organizational, political, and structural obstacles to the success of these efforts. Proposals are to concentrate supervision and services in the first 6 months of parole; expand the use of early and earned parole discharge; match parolee risk and supervision levels; use a parole-violation decision making matrix; expand options for intermediate sanctions; encourage criminal prosecution when new parolee felonies are alleged; track extra-level factors that impact revocation; and expand substance abuse and mental health programs for parolees.” (Grattet, R., 2008) 

 

What alternatives could be tried to remedy the problem of overcrowding?  

California took a huge leap to reduce prison over population and in 2011 passed The Public Safety Realignment Act, which basically moved inmates and their supervision from overcrowded state prisons and state programs to more distant and less crowded county prisons and camps and county Probation Departments.  

“The Public Safety Realignment Act 

To abide by the federal court's order, California legislature passed Assembly Bill 109 in April 2011. The resulting Public Safety Realignment Act changed how the California state government deals with low level felonies, with the goal of reduced recidivism. Effective October 1, 2011, certain felonies would carry a condition of imprisonment in county jails, as opposed to state prisons. In general, the crimes that qualified for jail sentences, labeled N-3, are non-violent, non-serious, and do not require the accused to register as a sex offender. Parole violations would also be served in local jails. The act also funded post-release community supervision, shifting responsibility for N-3 criminals to the local level. Each county created a Community Corrections Partnership to oversee the implementation of realignment.” (No author given, 2023) 

The most important way to alleviate overcrowding in prisons is to become more creative to initially bringing people into jail, both before and after sentencing. These could include electronic monitoring devices, work camps, halfway houses and home detention.  

“Alternative Custody Programs in Use 

These include placement in a non-custodial setting during a term of punishment (e.g., split sentence, work release, home detention, electronic monitoring, earned discharge, medical release), probation, supervision by a specialty court in lieu of custody, community service, placement in a half-way or sober-living house, fines, and mandatory treatment or training. Alternatives can be established as a matter of law and policy; they can also result from offender initiative (e.g., offenders can apply for out-of-custody placements), or from discretionary decisions (e.g., early release to electronic monitoring program, referral to treatment in lieu of revocation). (Grattet R. and Martin B., 2015) 

Another creative aspect to remedy jail overcrowding is what California calls Split Sentences.  

“Split Sentences. Under realignment, judges can impose split sentences-county jail terms followed by mandatory supervision in the community. In addition to structuring and supervising offenders’ reentry to the community by allowing for rehabilitation to start during the offender’s jail term and continue while in the community, split sentencing is designed to decrease pressure on jail and prison space. The judge has full discretion in splitting a sentence between incarceration and community supervision phases.” (Grattet R. and Martin B., 2015) 

In conclusion, in a creative and humane society, ways can be discovered to reduce prison populations and allow offenders to remain outside as long as they follow the rules and regulations set forth in their Probation or Parole. For people who choose to follow these rules and regulations, then they should be rewarded with more freedom. For others who choose to breaks the rules, then they should return to some type of confinement and restrictions, which does not necessarily include prison or jail.  

 

References 

  

Grattet, R., 2008, Office of Justice Programs, Parole Violations and Revocations in California, https://www.ojp.gov/ncjrs/virtual-library/abstracts/parole-violations-and-revocations-california 

 

No author given, 2023, Wikipedia, Public Safety Realignment initiative, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Public_Safety_Realignment_initiative#:~:text=California's%20Public%20Safety%20Realignment%20initiative,that%20population%20to%20county%20jails. 

 

Grattet, R. and Martin, B., 2015, Public Policy Institute of California, Alternatives to Incarceration in California, https://www.ppic.org/publication/alternatives-to-incarceration-in-california/#:~:text=These%20include%20placement%20in%20a,way%20or%20sober%2Dliving%20house%2C