Option One Or Two

Module 4: Portfolio Milestone
Submit Assignment
Points 30

Submitting a file upload
Critical Thinking Assignment (30 Points)
Option #1 & 2
As part of your Portfolio Project due in Module 8, this week you will need to provide a rough draft of the introductory paragraph of your Portfolio Project, detailing the subject of your paper. Additionally, you will also submit an outline of your Portfolio Project and provide an annotated bibliography that includes at least five academic sources according to CSU-Global Guide to Writing & APA (Links to an external site.).
Identify how your selected sources are relevant to the major components of your paper.
You will be required to account for the instructor’s feedback in your final version of the project.
Rubric
Portfolio Project (320 Points)
Important! Read First
Choose one of the following two assignments to complete this week. Do not do both assignments. Identify your assignment choice in the title of your submission.
Option #1:
Criminal justice policies in the United States have often been criticized as being overly punitive when compared with the policies of many other nations. Critics contend that our public policy choices focus heavily on punishment rather than rehabilitation. Assume that you are appointed as a key advisor to a newly elected governor who wants to shift the state’s policies toward a more restorative approach. Prepare a briefing paper for the governor.
In your discussion, include the following:
a carefully stated policy rationale for a more restorative based approach;
a discussion of how restorative based policies would differ from the state’s current policies that are based on punishment and incapacitation; and
documentation of scholarly research, theory (if any), that support this restorative-based approach.
Cite at least five sources.
Option #2:
Some criminal justice policies or practices have seemed to endure despite strong evidence that suggests they are ineffective. Using an example of your choice, explore a retributive policy that is known to be ineffective and make an argument for an alternative restorative policy that has been shown to be effective.
In your discussion, include the following:
a description of the existing retributive based policy;
research regarding the retributive based policy (recidivism rates, etc.);
a description of restorative justice generally;
a description of the policy that is your response to the retributive policy; and
research reflecting why this approach is more effective, citing at least five sources.
RRestorative Justice: A Social Movement
Module 8: Victims and Restorative Justice: Toward a Companion
In this module, we will provide a comparative analysis of restorative justice programs and practices across Europe. Criminal policies differ among the various European countries, and adoption of victim-oriented policies began to shift from the earlier offender-oriented retributive policies to restorative justice practices in the early 1980s. Countries with strong organizations toward victim support have poorly developed restorative justice procedures, in large part because their system is already more victim-centered and the needs of the victim are being addressed.
The first implemented restorative justice practices were in the realm of juvenile justice and have expanded into other areas over time.
Next, the experience of the victim in victim-offender mediation will be addressed. Generally, victims across countries were satisfied with all aspects of the mediation process. Two factors were found to likely be indicative of a higher likelihood of feeling satisfaction with the process—these will be discussed on Page 2 of the module.
So, what have victims said about their experience as participants in victim-offender mediation? Generally, victims across countries were satisfied with all aspects: location of mediation, the mediator, and the mediation process. Determining the satisfaction of the offender’s apology to the victim has also been examined. Generally, victims believed the apology from the offender to be sincere. The exception to this depends on the means by which the offender engages in the process. When the offer to participate in mediation is tethered to some criminal justice procedure (i.e., a reduction in offender’s sentence or reduction in charge), the victim is less likely to believe the apology to be sincere.
Learning Outcomes
1. Compare restorative justice program outcomes.
2. Evaluate victims’ experiences in the programs.
3. Examine victim-offender mediation—victim experiences.
4. Assess meaning of the outcomes.
For Your Success & Readings
Well, you made it to Week 8. For the last week, here are some tips to help you cross the finish line.
• Review the Discussion Question and Critical Thinking Assignments prior to starting your required readings so you can start determining the areas where you should focus while you are reading.
• Make your substantive posting as early in the week as possible but remember that to qualify for full credit, initial comments should be posted no later than Thursday at 11:59 p.m. MT. You should also make sure to post two equally substantive replies to two of your fellow classmates’ responses. To qualify for full credit, follow-up comments should be posted no later than Sunday at 11:59 p.m. MT. Any comments posted later than that deadline will not receive credit.
• Engage with the assigned and recommended readings.
• Reach out to your instructor with any questions regarding course material or for assistance with questions regarding your Portfolio assignment.
• For your Portfolio Project, pick one of the two options. Remember to address all the prompts of the assignment. One way to make sure you do this is to use subheadings in your paper. It will help keep you on topic and help the grader verify all prompts have been addressed. The paper should be a minimum of 10 pages in order to qualify for full credit and you should cite 10-12 peer-reviewed sources in the text of the paper. If you feel you need to go over 12 pages, that is fine but try not to go more than 14 pages. It is important to give a certain amount of background on the policy, but remember that the most important part of the assignment is the critical analysis. You should cite two other studies that support your assertions regarding anticipated political response to the policy, whether you believe the goal of the policy was accomplished, and your recommendation(s) to improve the policy.
Required
• Chapter 8 in Victims and Restorative Justice
Recommended
• Murphy, S., & Priz, S. (2017). Restorative justice in Chicago and abroad: Comparing the work of the community of Saint’Edigio to the restorative justice in the United States. The John Marshall Law Review, 50(3), 511-553.
• Wood, W. R., & Suzuki, M. (2016). Four challenges in the future of restorative justice. Victims & Offenders, 11(1), 149-17.
Next
References
Baliga, S., Henry, S., & Valentine. (2017). Restorative community conferencing: A study of Community Works West’s restorative justice youth diversion program in Alameda County. Retrieved from http://impactjustice.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/CWW-Report_Final_6.14.17_electronic.pdf
Foussard, C., Duroy, S., & Seychell, A. (2013). European comparison on juvenile restorative justice practices. International Juvenile Justice Observatory. Retrieved from http://www.oijj.org/sites/default/files/revij_european_comparison_oijj.pdf
Miguel A., Verde S., Berger, R., Yepes-Baldó, M., Garcia Ortiz, V., & Lovelle, I. (2014). Factors influencing participant’s satisfaction in a victim-offender program. Procedia Social and Behavioral Sciences, 159, 1 5. Retrieved from https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1877042814064489
Vanfraechem, I. (2015). Victims and restorative justice. London, UK: Routledge, Taylor, and Francis.
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