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Drug courts are a relatively new phenomenon in the American judicial system. Focus your discussion on the following:
Discuss the philosophy and role as well as provide a short history of drug courts.
Does the state in which you reside utilize drug courts, and if so, how successful have they been in reducing recidivism rates?
Would you recommend that all of the states utilize these courts to assist in processing drug cases?
The general rule is that a lawyer shall not reveal information relating to the representation of a client, however, there are exceptions to this general rule, what type of confidential information can be disclosed under the model rules of professional conduct for attorneys, 16-106 NMRA
Discuss whether judicial decisions are based on a) facts, laws, and precedent (the legal subculture); b) public opinion, politics, localism (democratic subculture); or c) both. Provide specific examples and cite any sources used.
Discuss whether the four theories or approaches (cue, small-group analysis, attitude, and rational choice) for analyzing judicial decisions are equally useful. Provide specific examples and cite any sources used.
Explain whether judicial decisions should reflect public opinion, using a specific example, and cite any sources used.
Describe the impact of judicial decisions on law, precedent, and social policy. Provide specific examples and cite any sources used.
‘Discuss contemporary law enforcement issues that police agencies face today’
How did the U.S. Supreme Court decision in Roe v Wade “balance” the interests of the woman to obtain an abortion and the state in protecting the woman’s health and potential life of the unborn fetus? How have later cases challenged that “balance”?
Your professor suggested that “erratic behavior can be a powerful weapon” in a negotiation. Do you agree or disagree? What is the potential value in such behavior and what are the pitfalls? Provide your thoughts in a paragraph or so.
Reread pages 128 through 134 in the book. Explain your position on the value (or lack thereof) of apologies before, during, or after the negotiation process. Provide support for your position.
Why is it a good idea to commit the results of a negotiation (even a simple one) to writing? Can you think of any drawbacks to committing the results to writing?
The book discusses active listening as a means of helping move negotiations forward to resolution. Describe how you understand this process. What are the benefits of active listening during a negotiation? Are there any disadvantages to active listening?
During the lecture, your professor listed five things that you should not let bother you during a negotiation – see if you can remember three of them and list them.
This case study is designed to make you think like a forensic psychologist. Read the following scenario and answer the prompt below, referring to Chapter 10 in your textbook and the B.S. in Criminal Justice Library Guide.
Scenario
I am a college student who went to a friend’s party last month. I have never drunk, smoked, or taken drugs. At the party, I drank some punch and ate some brownies. The police told me that on the way home, I started hallucinating due to the LSD someone had purposely placed in the punch. My hallucination consisted of seeing three Martians who I thought had landed on the planet to kill the President. Due to my drug-induced state, I’m told I ran over the aliens (innocent people) with my car and killed them. I woke up without any memory of these events. The doctors tell me I’ll be fine although I do run the risk of occasional flashbacks. The person who put the LSD in the punch has been arrested. I was charged with negligent homicide and my trial begins next week.
Instructions
Answer the following in a half-page paper:
The New York Legislature passed the New York State Controlled Substances Act of 1971 because of concern about the illegal use of drugs in the state. The act requires that records involving the use of certain prescription drugs be filed by physicians with the New York State Department of Health. These records are kept on computers and include the name and address of patients using the drugs. The concern of the physicians and patients who were plaintiffs was that patients in need of treatment with these drugs would decline treatment for fear of being labeled drug addicts. Was the collection of these records by the state a violation of the patients’ Fourteenth Amendment rights?
The defendant was executive director of Planned Parenthood. A second defendant was the physician who served as medical director for Planned Parenthood. Both gave information, instruction, and medical advice to married persons about how to prevent conception. The defendants were arrested and found guilty of violating a statute that forbade the use of contraceptives. They then appealed, contending that the statute as applied violated the Fourteenth Amendment. Does a law forbidding the use of contraceptives invade the zone of privacy in violation of the due process clause of the Fourteenth Amendment?
Consider what you learned about the significance of effective mediated communication. With so much communication occurring on-line today – in fact, it’s not unusual to find people in adjacent offices using email to communicate to one another – what are some ways to ensure your message is received as it was intended?