Issue Presented: Summarize the issue in the form of a brief one-sentence question. 2. Short Answer: Provide a short answer which summarizes the conclusion of the paper. 3. Statement o

CJ 500 Module Four Legal Policy Short Paper Guidelines and Rubric

Overview: For this assignment, you will write a short paper addressing the controversial issue of obtaining a fair cross section of jurors to serve on a jury. By analyzing this specific issue, this paper will help prepare you for your Milestone Two submission in Module Five, where you will provide an in-depth analysis of the contemporary criminal justice issue that you have selected for your final project.

The continuing underrepresentation of some groups—including minorities, young adults, and the poor—remains a concern in attempting to create a fair cross section of the community represented on juries. One reason for this underrepresentation is obvious racism, bigotry, and prejudice. Another reason is that the poor often cannot afford to be on juries, because they will miss work and be compensated at a much lower wage to serve on the jury. Social class plays a strong role in conflict theory, as the theory suggests socioeconomic status directly affects the selection of jurors and the disparity in social class of those incarcerated in this country. Often, attorneys use peremptory challenges to exclude jurors, which require no show of cause or reasonable grounds to exclude. These peremptory challenges are often utilized when a juror seems apathetic or disinterested in the process. Peremptory challenges are limited in number, whereas challenges for cause (some type of conflict, bias, or affiliation with the involved parties) are unlimited.

Prompt: Address the following critical elements in your paper:

1. Issue Presented: Summarize the issue in the form of a brief one-sentence question. 2. Short Answer: Provide a short answer which summarizes the conclusion of the paper. 3. Statement of Facts: Describe how the issue may negatively affect public perception of the criminal justice system. 4. Discussion: Provide a brief discussion of the issue, including the recent history of the issue and any legal precedents related to it. 5. Conclusion: Provide a conclusion based on the details of the issue outlined in the Discussion section. 6. Recommendations:

a) What recommendations should be in place to make sure that the jury pool contains a fair cross section of the community? b) What are types of evidence-based practices can be employed to have people of lower socioeconomic status more willing to serve on a jury? c) Based on your analysis of the issue using conflict theory, what are the best practices to ensure random selection of individuals to serve on a

jury? d) Address what the impact of this issue is on the criminal justice system. Are more organizations than only courts affected by this? Include

examples of the impact on the different branches of the criminal justice system.

Reference your course readings in your submission to support your answers.

Guidelines for Submission: Your submission should be 2 to 3 pages in length (in addition to title and reference pages) and should use double spacing, 12-point Times New Roman font, and one-inch margins. Use APA style to cite your sources within the text of your paper and on the reference page.

Refer to the Criminal Justice Library Tips for assistance in finding and citing outside sources.

Critical Elements Exemplary (100%) Proficient (90%) Needs Improvement (70%) Not Evident (0%) Value Issue Presented Meets “Proficient” criteria and

question is a succinct and clear summary of the issue

Summarizes the issue in a one- sentence question

Summarizes the issue in a one- sentence question, but summary contains inaccuracies

Does not summarize the issue in a one-sentence question

6

Short Answer Meets “Proficient” criteria and short answer is a succinct and clear summary of the conclusion

Provides a short answer that summarizes the conclusion of the paper

Provides a short answer that summarizes the conclusion of the paper, but summary lacks detail or contains inaccuracies

Does not provide a short answer that summarizes the conclusion of the paper

6

Statement of Facts Meets “Proficient” criteria substantiated with evidence to support description

Describes how the issue may negatively affect public perception of the criminal justice system

Describes how the issue may negatively affect public perception of the criminal justice system, but description lacks detail or contains inaccuracies

Does not describe how the issue may negatively affect public perception of the criminal justice system

12

Discussion Meets “Proficient” criteria substantiated with research to support discussion

Provides a discussion of the issue, including the recent history of the issue and any legal precedents related to it

Provides a discussion of the issue, but does not include the recent history of the issue or any legal precedents related to it

Does not provide a discussion of the issue

12

Conclusion Meets “Proficient” criteria substantiated with evidence to support discussion

Provides a conclusion based on the details of the issue outlined in the Discussion section

Provides a conclusion based on the details of the issue outlined in the Discussion section, but conclusion lacks detail or contains inaccuracies

Does not provide a conclusion based on the details of the issue outlined in the Discussion section

12

Recommendations: Fair Cross Section

Meets “Proficient” criteria substantiated with evidence to support identification

Identifies the recommendations that should be in place to make sure the jury pool contains a fair cross section of the community

Identifies the recommendations that should be in place to make sure the jury pool contains a fair cross section of the community, but with gaps in detail or recommendations that include inaccuracies

Does not identify the recommendations that should be in place to make sure the jury pool contains a fair cross section of the community

12

Recommendations: Evidence-Based

Practices

Meets “Proficient” criteria substantiated with citations from the course readings to support practices

Identifies the types of evidence- based practices that can be employed to have people of lower socioeconomic status more willing to serve on a jury

Identifies the types of evidence- based practices that can be employed to have people of lower socioeconomic status more willing to serve on a jury, but with gaps in detail or with strategies that contain inaccuracies

Does not identify the types of evidence-based practices that can be employed to have people of lower socioeconomic status more willing to serve on a jury

12

Recommendations: Random Selection

Meets “Proficient” criteria substantiated with citations from the course readings to support best practices

Identifies best practices to ensure random selection of individuals to serve on a jury based on analysis of the issue using conflict theory

Identifies best practices to ensure random selection of individuals to serve on a jury based on analysis of the issue using conflict theory, but analysis lacks detail or contains inaccuracies

Does not identify best practices to ensure random selection of individuals to serve on a jury based on an analysis using conflict theory

12

Recommendations: Impact

Meets “Proficient” criteria substantiated with research to support description

Describes the impact of the issue on the criminal justice system, including examples of the impact on the different branches within the system

Describes the impact of the issue on the criminal justice system, but does not include examples of the impact on the different branches within the system, or description lacks detail

Does not describe the impact of the issue on the criminal justice system

12

Articulation of Response

Submission is free of errors related to citations, grammar, spelling, syntax, and organization, and is presented in a professional and easy to read format

Submission has no major errors related to citations, grammar, spelling, syntax, or organization

Submission has major errors related to citations, grammar, spelling, syntax, or organization that negatively impact readability and articulation of main ideas

Submission has critical errors related to citations, grammar, spelling, syntax, or organization that prevent understanding of ideas

4

Total 100%