DIRECTIONS
Using what you have learned thus far in the course, your task is to critically analyze the criminal legal system (CLS) by answering the questions below. Be sure that your responses are detailed, thorough, and clearly demonstrate specific things you have learned and your ability to use your sociological imagination. Your response should be at least 750 words.
Be sure you complete your work in Google Docs, number your responses so they correspond to the prompts/questions below, and then save them in a PDF format for submission. And avoid at all costs doing anything that might compromise the academic integrity of your work.
PROMPTS/QUESTIONS
- What are the various components of the criminal legal system (CLS) — sometimes referred to at the criminal justice system (CJS) — and what are their functions?
- (A) What is incarceration? (B) What is meant by mass incarceration? Why is mass incarceration considered problematic?
- What justification(s) for punishment does incarceration meet?
- Does incarceration actually help reduce crime? Why or why not? Support your position.
- What would Sutherland say about using incarceration as a form of punishment? Based on his theory of differential association, would he be for or against incarceration? Support your position.
- What would Hirschi say about using incarceration as a form of punishment? Based on his control theory, would he be for or against incarceration? Support your position.
- If you could change one thing about the CLS in order to make it more effective, what would you change and why?
YOUR NUMBERED RESPONSES TO THESE QUESTIONS SHOULD BE ATTACHED AS A PDF FILE. FAILURE TO FOLLOW THESE GUIDELINES MAY RESULT IN A ZERO.
| CLS Critique (1) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Criteria | Ratings | Pts |
|
CLS Components |
10 pts Full Marks 5 pts Adequate Marks 0 pts No Marks |
/ 10 pts |
|
Mass Incarceration Discussion |
10 pts Full Marks 5 pts Adequate Marks 0 pts No Marks |
/ 10 pts |
|
Justifications for Incarceration |
10 pts Full Marks 5 pts Adequate Marks 0 pts No Marks |
/ 10 pts |
|
Effectiveness of Incarceration |
10 pts Full Marks 5 pts Adequate Marks 0 pts No Marks |
/ 10 pts |
|
Sutherland |
15 pts Full Marks 7.5 pts Adequate Marks 0 pts No Marks |
/ 15 pts |
|
Hirschi |
15 pts Full Marks 7.5 pts Adequate Marks 0 pts No Marks |
/ 15 pts |
|
Proposed Change |
10 pts Full Marks 5 pts Adequate Marks 0 pts No Marks |
/ 10 pts |
|
Properly Formatted/Numbered |
10 pts Full Marks 5 pts Adequate Marks 0 pts No Marks |
/ 10 pts |
|
Mechanics |
10 pts Full Marks 5 pts Adequate Marks 0 pts No Marks |
/ 10 pts |

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