Media and society perception on crime
Assignment Description
The purpose of this assignment is to practice separating your personal, emotional reaction to a media article/report from the facts or evidence of the topic/incident being reported. Different articles are written from different perspectives, and the authors perspective is usually evident in the article. Additionally, headlines and articles are written to present a specific viewpoint and to manipulate readers/viewers into seeing that viewpoint. Being able to identify evidence and recognize manipulation are extremely important skills in the field of public safety. This assignment will allow you to tease apart your emotions and perceptions from the facts, and then analyze whether the author tried to manipulate your emotions and opinions in a certain way.
The article we will be reviewing for this assignment is: “In no universe is it appropriate for a child murderer to serve her sentence in a healing lodge”.
This assignment has three parts.
Part A:
In this section of your paper, you are to analyze the emotions, perceptions, and assumptions this article evoked or created in the public (including yourself). Here are some questions that can help to guide this section of your paper:
What emotions did you feel when reading the article? Why do you think you felt those emotions?
Do you think the language used in the article contributes to the publics (and your) emotional response? If so, how?
Public opinion on the topic of this article was quite clear, resulting in a public outcry. What was the political response to this outcry?
Did the reactions of the public impact policy and procedures when it comes to handling these types of cases in the future? If so, how?
Part B:
In this section, you will consider the objective evidence about how this case was handled, from a legal and public safety perspective. This section is not about emotion; it is about reviewing the law and policy surrounding the transfer outlined in the article and objectively assessing the situation. Here are some questions that can help to guide this section of your paper:
What are the purpose and principles of the Correctional system, according to the Corrections and Conditional Release Act (CCRA)?
According to the CCRA, should Terri-Lynne McClintic be treated differently than any other offender?
Was the transfer of Terri-Lynne McClintic legal? Did it abide by policy?
Did the transfer of Terri-Lynne McClintic compromise public safety in any way, based on available information?
Are there examples of cases where high-profile or violent offenders escaped from a healing lodge and put the public at risk? What about examples of escapes that did not endanger the public? Is there any information available that allows you to compare the number of such offenders that did escape vs. the number of such offenders that did not escape? Considering all available information (and considering what information is missing, or unavailable), what does the data say about the transfer of Terri-Lynne McClintic? Is there enough data available for the public to accurately assess this transfer decision?
Finally, does the evidence (including the law/policy at the time of the transfer) support the public reaction that took place? What about the political reaction?
Part C:
This section is a summary of what you have learned through this assignment, considering both the emotional/subjective perspective and the objective perspective. What did you learn about the transfer of Terri-Lynne McClintic? What did you learn about media articles and public opinion? What did you learn about public opinion and political reaction (including changes to law and policy)?
Assignment Content
Your written submission must include:
An APA v. 7 formatting title page.
In-text citations throughout the paper (except when expressing your own emotions or opinions).
An APA v. 7 formatted reference page.
APA v. 7 formatted sub-headings for each of the three parts.
If you would like to include further subheadings you can, but this is not required. This is a style choice that is up to you.
Formatting/length requirements:
12-pt font, double-spaced.
APA v. 7 requires indented paragraphs with no extra spaces between paragraphs. Comply with APA v. 7 formatting guidelines throughout your paper.
Proofread and edit your work prior to submitting it.
Length: no more than 4 pages (plus title page and reference list). If you can address the topic thoroughly in less than 4 pages, please do so. Remember, the goal is to be thorough but concise. Some of the guiding questions listed above can be answered in a single sentence, while others may require a paragraph or two to adequately answer. Use your judgment and spend the time and space necessary to adequately address the question.
