Discussion Questions: The Simpson Murder Case

Please answer each discussion question. No sources needed. Be sure to label each response with corresponding number.

1.The Conundrum of False Confessions-please read attached article.

DNA exonerations has uncovered the problem of false confessions now thoroughly substantiated by research. In Instructor Insights are some videos of a proper interrogation technique (Col Williamson) as well as improper techniques involving an 8-year-old.

Read the article “Contaminated Confessions which is an update (2015) of research done by Brandon Garrett. (You can skim it, and there is a chart appendix that summarizes his findings)

What do you think is the leading cause of false confessions? Police misconduct? If so, what specifically? Police lack of training? Is it the drive to find a guilty party no matter what? Is there a solution?

2. In your assignment, there is a question about Ethics of Care (Carol Gilligan) and Peacemaking Criminology. These theories are often cited in terms of “Restorative Justice”. Is the development of Restorative Justice and Community Policing something that can heal the rift between police and communities? Why or why not? What else can be done to achieve balance between public order and community peace?

3. The Three Most Important Principles

• Identify and discuss the three (3) most important ethics principles that you learned in this course, and explain why they are important to you.

• As a future leader in the field of criminal justice, describe how you would ensure that your subordinates learned these three (3) principles and utilized them in their daily activities.

4. The Right to a Fair Trial - Please respond to the following MAIN DISCUSSION QUESTION:

• Select a recent high-profile court case from the past 4 years. Identify and explain at least 2 factors of the trial that could prevent the defendant from receiving a fair trial. Then construct or develop at least 2 policies that could mitigate those issues.

STUDENTS: 2nd reply choice in addition to your main discussion reply

Sometimes celebrity and wealth can be a strong influence in the determination of the verdict. But the main goal of the defense lawyer is to find a loophole in the prosecutor’s case so that he creates a 'shadow of a doubt' in the minds of the jurors. This is what the OJ Simpson 'dream team' of lawyers did when they presented the case to the jurors that, "If the glove don't fit, you must acquit."

It became known as ‘the trial of the century,”

Did any of you watch the 11 episode series ‘The People vs. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story’? or “O.J. Made in America” Real documentary Series aired on ESPN channel.

Was the OJ case really making a bigger statement about race relations in America?

5. Social Policy - Please respond to the following:

• Research the current debates from the past 6 months about Social Security and Medicare. Identify one issue in the Social Security or Medicare debate and discuss two changes that would help address the issue you have identified.

Foreign Policy - Please respond to the following:

• What should be America’s role in the Middle East or around the world? Explain why you think the United States should have this role or not. Identify one or two roles the United States should be engaged in internationally.

• To get you started, here is a video on the situation in Syria and how the United States got involved.