CJ 560 Final Project Guidelines And Rubric Overview

CJ 560 Final Project Guidelines And Rubricoverviewthe Final Project F

The final project for this course involves creating a presentation on a controversial court case that has generated civil unrest, discord, or significant media scrutiny at the national level. This presentation should demonstrate your ability to communicate effectively, analyze critically, and reflect on the roles of criminal justice professionals and the judicial process.

The project is conducted in three milestones: a draft of the background section (Module Three), causes and reactions to controversy (Module Six), and a comprehensive final presentation (Module Nine). The final presentation must include speaker notes or a transcript, and audio or video recordings are highly encouraged to showcase communication skills. The presentation should contain 12–15 slides, with additional slides as necessary for thorough analysis.

In the final project, you will select a case from options such as the O.J. Simpson murder trial, Martha Stewart white-collar crime case, Emmett Till murder, Jeffrey Skilling/Kenneth Lay securities fraud, or Charles Manson murder trial—subject to instructor approval if choosing another case. Your task is to:

• Describe the facts, legal issues, proceedings, procedural history, and court’s decision
• Identify and analyze the controversy’s underlying causes
• Assess whether alternative judicial approaches could have better addressed or remedied the controversy
• Reflect on what the case illustrates about the role of criminal justice professionals, court operations, and the justice system as a whole

Specifically, your presentation must include:

I. Introduction

• Overview of the Case: Summarize the case, its context, and why it created civil unrest or media attention.
• Selection of Case: Explain why this case is relevant to you as a criminal justice professional and what interests it aligns with in your career.

II. Background of the Case

• Facts: Provide a clear and concise summary of key factual details, including dates, involved parties, and weapons used if relevant.
• Timeline: Develop an accurate timeline of judicial proceedings, legal issues, procedural history, and court holdings.
• Verdict: Defend your position on the court’s verdict with supporting evidence, discussing whether it was appropriate.
• Type of Court: Specify whether the case was tried in local, state, or federal court, and whether it involved civil, criminal, or both proceedings.
• Similarities and Differences: Analyze key procedural similarities and differences between the criminal trial and potential or actual civil trial procedures for the case.

III. Causes of Controversy

• Media Coverage: Evaluate how media influenced public perceptions and possibly the judicial process.
• Fairness: Assess the objectivity and equity of the judicial process and why it became controversial.

IV. Reaction to Controversy

• Reaction Explanation: Describe responses by the judicial system, media, and political figures, including biases and objective coverage.
• Reaction Defense: Justify whether these responses were appropriate and effective, supported by evidence.
• Alternatives Explanation and Defense: Suggest and defend alternative actions the court system could have taken to better handle or resolve the controversy.

V. Conclusion

• Professional Role: Discuss what the case reveals about the duties and roles of criminal justice professionals.
• Systemic Reforms: Argue whether broader reforms are necessary based on your analysis, supported by evidence from credible sources.

Your submission should be well-organized, free of grammatical errors, cite sources using APA style, and include a comprehensive list of references. The final project aims to demonstrate sophisticated analysis, critical thinking, and effective communication skills tailored for a professional audience in the criminal justice field.