After weeks of writing and posting blogs I have learned much about the field of criminal justice. I have explored many aspects of the field and often connected them back to real world experiences.
Learning about your field
Ethics and beliefs are a major part of the criminal justice system we have today. I have learned that these moral codes can be seen throughout all departments of the criminal justice system. Although ethics and codes may vary from state-to-state, and/or from department-to-department, I have learned one very important detail: The ethics, codes, and standards of each individual department must remain constant.
This claim is most apparent in my open blog post titled: "Different Styles of Policing." James Wilson claimed that each style of policing was reflective of the ethics of any particular department. Wilson also stated that the resources available to the department would be a deciding factor in the style of policing.
Wilson brings up a good point that the style of individual officers reflects the style of the department. This is the key to having a moral code that is the staple of each individual department across the United States. I have learned that it is the officer's duty to represent his department in a positive manner.
In the first question of my interview with Mr. Joel Allen, I was able to understand how clearly each department differs in mannerism. Mr. Allen said, "Although I was never a policeman here in East Lansing, I would describe it as a community style. Police are looking to have a positive relationship with people on campus here, and not just enforce the law 100% of the time." It is important to note the fact that Mr. Allen was never a part of the East Lansing Police Department. He was, in fact, previously hired by numerous other departments across the state.
I point this fact out because it shows just how easy it is to separate departments in terms of codes, ethics, and policing style. James Wilson was able to develop a theory that can be applied to each and every agency in the country. Wilson's theory can be used by police agencies, officers, and everyday citizens.
It has been established that each department has it's own codes of conduct, and that the officers of each department share the codes and ethics. A real life example of this would be face-to-face interaction with a police officer. In my post titled: "Practicing Your Knowledge: Police Officers at MSU," there is a real world example of an officer representing his department. The officer conducts himself in a friendly manner, which accurately depicts the community style of policing here at Michigan State University, as described by Mr. Joel Allen.
These examples show that although ethics, codes, and policing styles may vary statewide and nationwide, they remain a constant for each department individually.
Learning about your research/writing
After keeping my personal blog running for a span of 10 weeks, I have experienced a few major components of police work. Policing is a job that is repetitive, yet spontaneous everyday. In order to be successful as an officer, or as a department as a whole, it is vital to stay focused and professional.
One of the first things I was able to relate to police work was my experience of writing. According to Mr. Joel Allen officers must record things such as daily activities, witness statements, victim statements, and self evaluations. These processes have proven to be key factors to success in policing. Through blogging, I feel somewhat prepared for reporting things like daily activities. It is difficult to write about daily activities and findings a few times a week. Although blogging is a much more informal in style compared to police writing, it is important to learn what it is like to write everyday. Blogging has shown me how to grow and expand myself and my ways of thinking. I think that is also a goal of police writing their daily activities.
Through learning about criminal justice and law enforcement, I have also experienced what it is like to turn my findings in research into my own writing. Police officers use research to investigate criminals, evidence, and crime scenes. The police use this research to make their job easier, and to be more effective in their strategies. When I blog I do similar work. Each blog I write starts with a prompt or question (the crime). I use prior knowledge and research to help in answering the question (the research and investigation). Next, I process the facts I have gathered and finish answering the question I have been asked (the solving of the case). Finally I publish my answer online, and move on to a new question (case solved). I understand that writing a blog is not exactly equal to solving a crime, but the two processes can compare in some fashion.
Communication in law enforcement is a critical part of the field. I still have questions as to what terms I will need to know if i would like to become a police officer. I know that words used between officers and in courtrooms are learned through personal experience. Because many of these things are learned on the job, there is no great way for me to experience what it is like beforehand. My criminal justice teacher has said that much of the experience of police work comes through police training. This has given me the knowledge that it is important to work hard in training, because it is where you give yourself a foundation for the rest of your career in criminal justice.
During the blogging experience, I have discovered many things about policing. I have struggled to stay focused, which is something I will need to work on if I want to pursue a career in law enforcement. I have discovered that I am pretty good at answering questions using research I have found. I believe this will make me a good candidate.
The blogging experience was successful overall. It made me realize that maybe a profession in astronomy was not right for me. It also made me realize what some of the ins and outs of police work are like. I am glad I participated in blogging, because I feel as though I have been informed on what policing truly like, and I have also gained critical experiences in the field.
Thursday, November 15, 2012
Thursday, November 8, 2012
Remixing Knowledge: MSU Police on Twitter!
https://twitter.com/msupolice
The above link is the Michigan State University Police twitter page.
On the MSU police twitter, they post articles, links, tips, and a bunch of other stuff to let their followers know how to stay safe and communicate with the MSU police.
Typical ways of communicating with police: laws, face-to-face, getting pulled over in a motor vehicle... you know... that kind of stuff. It is a new era now though. One where police can communicate with citizens in very different ways than they could have 100, 50, 20, and even 10 years ago. Now police can communicate with the simple click of a button, and it has put a remix on how things used to be.
The audience: @MSUpolice followers of course. These are the people that read the tweets that show up on the twitter feed. The audience is a younger (more college aged) demographic. I would argue that most people who follow an account like this are up-to-date on today's technology.
The purpose: As I stated earlier, the purpose is to be able to communicate in a new way. This is a way that college students have become very familiar with over the past few years, so it may come a little easier for them.
The success: I would say that the account is very successful. It comes off in a way that is friendly to students. Most people carry some sort of fear towards police and this account is put in place to do two things: get information out, and show it in a friendly/efficient way.
The above link is the Michigan State University Police twitter page.
On the MSU police twitter, they post articles, links, tips, and a bunch of other stuff to let their followers know how to stay safe and communicate with the MSU police.
Typical ways of communicating with police: laws, face-to-face, getting pulled over in a motor vehicle... you know... that kind of stuff. It is a new era now though. One where police can communicate with citizens in very different ways than they could have 100, 50, 20, and even 10 years ago. Now police can communicate with the simple click of a button, and it has put a remix on how things used to be.
The audience: @MSUpolice followers of course. These are the people that read the tweets that show up on the twitter feed. The audience is a younger (more college aged) demographic. I would argue that most people who follow an account like this are up-to-date on today's technology.
The purpose: As I stated earlier, the purpose is to be able to communicate in a new way. This is a way that college students have become very familiar with over the past few years, so it may come a little easier for them.
The success: I would say that the account is very successful. It comes off in a way that is friendly to students. Most people carry some sort of fear towards police and this account is put in place to do two things: get information out, and show it in a friendly/efficient way.
Exploring Writing Process: Mr. Joel Allen
Mr. Allen is my Intro to Criminal Justice teacher this semester at MSU. I was going to conduct an interview Judy Mathews, but as I have stated before, I have changed my field from astronomy to criminal justice. Therefore, it is more appropriate for me to interview someone in the field of criminal justice.
Here are a few questions my professor was able to answer for me:
Q: How would you describe the style of policing here at MSU?
A: Although I was never a policeman here in East Lansing, I would describe it as a community style. Police are looking to have a positive relationship with people on campus here, and not just enforce the law 100% of the time.
Q: What are some advantages and disadvantages to using Uniform Crime Reports?
A: Advantages: We are able to compare with past performance
Disadvantages: If you don't have your own method of crime reporting, you can be late when turning in files each year.
Q: Besides UCR's, what are some other things officers have to write down or put on file?
A: Daily activities, witness statements, victim statements, and self evaluations.
Q: How would you describe the style or form of writing that is used in law enforcement?
A: I would describe it as a formal style of writing. Using formal styles can reduce the amount of bias an officer may have when writing UCR's.
Q: Where do you see law enforcement in 10-15 years in terms of police/citizen relations?
A: I see improvement. Info sharing will also improve along with improvement of technology. Citizens will be able to go online and see what agencies are doing and how they are doing it.
Here are a few questions my professor was able to answer for me:
Q: How would you describe the style of policing here at MSU?
A: Although I was never a policeman here in East Lansing, I would describe it as a community style. Police are looking to have a positive relationship with people on campus here, and not just enforce the law 100% of the time.
Q: What are some advantages and disadvantages to using Uniform Crime Reports?
A: Advantages: We are able to compare with past performance
Disadvantages: If you don't have your own method of crime reporting, you can be late when turning in files each year.
Q: Besides UCR's, what are some other things officers have to write down or put on file?
A: Daily activities, witness statements, victim statements, and self evaluations.
Q: How would you describe the style or form of writing that is used in law enforcement?
A: I would describe it as a formal style of writing. Using formal styles can reduce the amount of bias an officer may have when writing UCR's.
Q: Where do you see law enforcement in 10-15 years in terms of police/citizen relations?
A: I see improvement. Info sharing will also improve along with improvement of technology. Citizens will be able to go online and see what agencies are doing and how they are doing it.
Works Cited
Allen, Joel. Personal interview. 31 Oct. 2012.
Observing Community: An Open Blog Post
S.P.O.T. is the Spartan Prison Outreach team.
I stumbled across this group as I was browsing through our University's 600+ student organizations. I was looking to find a community that would fit my newly chosen Criminal Justice career path. I was going to do the 'Observing Community' post through the Science Theatre club, but after I changed my field from astronomy to criminal justice, it just didn't fit.
After exchanging a few emails with a member of SPOT, I was able to learn about some of the group's ethics and morals. The group aims to help incarcerated individuals. They look to help specifically in the rehabilitation process of these individuals. After talking with SPOT, I really got the sense that they believe all beings have a good side. SPOT looks to bring that good side out of these individuals by using theatre as its tool. SPOT actually works WITH prisoners, they don't just perform for them. This is a key step towards showing the prisoners that SPOT is there to help, and get them through it as a team. SPOT shows a lot of faith in people, even those that have made poor choices, which is something you don't see a lot of today.
Recognizing Significance: Officer McCall
Police academy and police training has become a vital part in the field of Criminal Justice today. Recruiting is a process that is much more strict now that it has ever been. Police of today's world must be ready for situations of all kinds.
Officer McCall of OCPD did just that while off duty.
Please read the following article (or watch the video): http://kfor.com/2012/07/03/off-duty-police-officer-saves-life-changes-many/
Although the article is fairly short, I think it has a lot of value towards showing how important policing is in our society. This act could be categorized as a community style of policing. McCall was off duty and acted in a way that was selfless and better for society. Who knows if Cooper would have survived without officer McCall's help? This, combined with important everyday acts is what makes our police force so valuable towards society. Although this article did not directly point out the importance of my field, it did a good job of doing so by reporting a notable example.
Officer McCall of OCPD did just that while off duty.
Please read the following article (or watch the video): http://kfor.com/2012/07/03/off-duty-police-officer-saves-life-changes-many/
Although the article is fairly short, I think it has a lot of value towards showing how important policing is in our society. This act could be categorized as a community style of policing. McCall was off duty and acted in a way that was selfless and better for society. Who knows if Cooper would have survived without officer McCall's help? This, combined with important everyday acts is what makes our police force so valuable towards society. Although this article did not directly point out the importance of my field, it did a good job of doing so by reporting a notable example.
Works Cited
Meyer, Ali. "Off-duty Police Officer Saves Life, Changes Many." KFORcom Oklahoma City News Weather from KFOR Television Oklahomas News Channel 4. News Channel 4, 3 July 2012. Web. 30 Oct. 2012.
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