Analyze the impact of court decisions on criminal justice policy and professional practice
Scenario
The U.S. Department of Justice (DoJ) recently recruited law enforcement professionals from around the world with the intent to resettle them in different communities around the United States in order to diversify local police forces. These professionals have a background in criminal justice practices, but they lack knowledge of specific U.S. criminal justice practices and need instruction in how specific U.S. Supreme Court cases dictate the actions of professionals in police, courts, and corrections. You have been asked to create materials that will be included in a handbook these professionals will use as a part of their onboarding.
Directions
For your materials, you will summarize the decision of the identified court cases and explain the impact they have had on different policies, procedures, or practices in different branches of the criminal justice system.
Analyze what impact these landmark cases have had on police policies, procedures, or practices. In 50 words, summarize the decision. Then, in 150 words, explain the impact of the case:
.Mapp v. Ohio
Analyze what impact these landmark cases have had on court policies, procedures, or practices. In 50 words, summarize the decision. Then, in 150 words, explain the impact of the case:
.Gideon v. Wainwright (See Hemmens et al., p. 343–344)
Analyze what impact these landmark cases have had on corrections policies, procedures, or practices. In 50 words, summarize the decision. Then, in 150 words, explain the impact of the case:
.Furman v. Georgia and Gregg v. Georgia
Analyze what impact these landmark cases have had on policies, procedures, or practices relating to juveniles. Choose one of the cases below, and in 50 words, summarize the decision. Then, in 150 words, explain the impact of the case:
.Roper v. Simmons
.In re Gault
Impact of Court Decisions on Criminal Justice Policy and Professional Practice
Police Policies, Procedures, or Practices: Mapp v. Ohio
Summary: In Mapp v. Ohio, the U.S. Supreme Court held that evidence obtained through an illegal search and seizure, in violation of the Fourth Amendment, cannot be used in state criminal prosecutions.
Impact: The decision in Mapp v. Ohio had a significant impact on police policies, procedures, and practices. It established the exclusionary rule, which prohibits the use of illegally obtained evidence in court. This decision ensured that law enforcement officers must obtain search warrants based on probable cause and follow proper procedures to protect individuals' constitutional rights during searches and seizures. As a result, police departments implemented stricter guidelines for conducting searches, emphasized the importance of adherence to the Fourth Amendment, and provided training on proper search and seizure procedures. This landmark case also led to increased accountability within law enforcement agencies and the development of internal affairs units to investigate misconduct allegations.
Court Policies, Procedures, or Practices: Gideon v. Wainwright
Summary: In Gideon v. Wainwright, the Supreme Court ruled that state courts are required to provide legal counsel to defendants who cannot afford an attorney.
Impact: The decision in Gideon v. Wainwright had a profound impact on court policies, procedures, and practices. It established the right to counsel for indigent defendants and ensured equal access to justice. As a result, courts implemented systems to provide public defenders or appointed counsel for defendants who cannot afford their own representation. This decision led to a significant increase in the availability of legal representation for defendants, ensuring a fair trial and protecting defendants' constitutional rights. It also prompted improvements in the training and resources allocated to public defenders, as well as the establishment of standards for effective legal representation. Overall, Gideon v. Wainwright played a crucial role in enhancing fairness and due process within the court system.
Corrections Policies, Procedures, or Practices: Furman v. Georgia and Gregg v. Georgia
Summary: In Furman v. Georgia, the Supreme Court ruled that the death penalty, as applied at the time, was unconstitutional due to its arbitrary and discriminatory nature. Subsequently, in Gregg v. Georgia, the Court upheld revised death penalty statutes that contained specific guidelines and safeguards.
Impact: The decisions in Furman v. Georgia and Gregg v. Georgia had a significant impact on corrections policies, procedures, and practices regarding the death penalty. Furman v. Georgia led to a temporary moratorium on capital punishment across the United States and prompted states to revise their death penalty laws to meet the constitutional standards outlined by the Court. Gregg v. Georgia provided a framework for states to reinstate the death penalty by establishing specific guidelines and procedural safeguards, such as bifurcated trials and automatic appeals. These cases resulted in a shift towards more regulated and standardized capital punishment practices in the United States. They also led to increased scrutiny of death penalty cases, with a focus on ensuring fairness, proportionality, and adherence to constitutional rights.
Policies, Procedures, or Practices Relating to Juveniles: Roper v. Simmons
Summary: In Roper v. Simmons, the Supreme Court held that it is unconstitutional to impose the death penalty for crimes committed by individuals who were under 18 years old at the time of the offense.
Impact: The decision in Roper v. Simmons had a significant impact on policies, procedures, and practices relating to juveniles in the criminal justice system. It established that juveniles are categorically exempt from receiving the death penalty due to their diminished culpability and greater potential for rehabilitation compared to adults. This decision influenced states to revise their laws regarding juvenile sentencing, leading to an end to juvenile capital punishment across the United States. Additionally, Roper v. Simmons highlighted the importance of treating juveniles differently within the criminal justice system and prompted reforms focusing on rehabilitation and age-appropriate sentencing options for juvenile offenders. These reforms included increased use of diversion programs, specialized juvenile courts, and alternatives to incarceration for young offenders.
Policies, Procedures, or Practices Relating to Juveniles: In re Gault
Summary:
In re Gault established that juveniles have many of the same due process rights as adults when facing delinquency proceedings, including the right to notice of charges, legal representation, confrontation of witnesses, and protection against self-incrimination.
Impact: The decision in In re Gault had a significant impact on policies, procedures, and practices relating to juveniles in the criminal justice system. It ensured that juveniles are afforded fundamental due process rights during delinquency proceedings, protecting them from potential abuses within the system. As a result, courts implemented reforms to guarantee notice of charges, legal representation for indigent juveniles, and fair hearings. This landmark case also emphasized the importance of rehabilitating rather than punishing juvenile offenders and led to the development of specialized juvenile justice systems focused on rehabilitation and treatment rather than solely punitive measures. It shifted the focus towards individualized sentencing options and diversion programs tailored to address the underlying causes of juvenile delinquency while protecting their constitutional rights.