We had to write an essay on our dream job, how college and this class is preparing us for this job, where we will be in 2025, 2050, and the teaching methods used in the class.
Listed below is my response to the Pre-Exam Practice.
Suzane Santiago
April 7, 2010
LW101- Pre-Exam Practice
My dream job is to become a lawyer. And this career requires a lot of discipline, sacrifice and hard-work. I feel that the University of Guam is preparing me for this career in ways that many people fail to notice. I have noticed that many of the General Education classes in the University prepare the students to become more versatile. Many of my previous professors encourages multi-tasking and being able to handle a lot of things at once and still succeeding or finishing the tasks properly and efficiently The teaching methods in this class is interesting and very different. Many students will agree that this course was the least they expected it to be. The academic sense is more of a self-pace, it is up to you if you want to read the Chapters. Now, if you don’t, it is really your lost as a student. You pay for this course and if you were to just attend all the class meetings and disregard the work, then it is really your time and your money that you are wasting. The lectures are enjoyable and appealing, especially the cases.
In the year 2025, about fifteen years from now I would like to see myself working as an attorney for the government court. I would like to work for the Attorney General of Guam or even in the Supreme or Superior Court. Also, in this year (2025), I would like to see myself as a well-known and established (professional), trusted individual. Perhaps, it is during this time where I have decided whether to run the candidacy of a senator. I’ll admit that I am frightened and afraid of the negative effects a politician must face prior to becoming elected, which is why I am still undecided on this challenge I would like to one day encounter.
In the year 2050, it would be nice to see myself still working as an attorney, perhaps in my own (personally owned) firm. Perhaps, training younger attorneys and still defending clients in the courtrooms. However, I would also, like to establish a name in my mother country, the Philippines. I want to serve as a role model for my fellow Filipinos and children of immigrants. And hopefully, by this time I would have fulfilled many of the goals I have set for myself, including running for the Presidency in the Philippines.
Sunday, May 16, 2010
Chapter 10
Chapter 10: Origins and Organization of the Courts
1. In this chapter, criminal courts in the past and [criminal courts] today, were compared. Unlike in the past, defendants could not act as witnesses or take the stand in their own defense. However, today defendants are permitted to testify under oath.
2. U.S. Supreme Court- the highest court in the United States, which hears final appeals in cases involving federal law, suits between states, and interpretations of the U.S. Constitution.
--This chapter also discusses the participants in the Judicial Process.
3. Prosecutors- also called district, county, state, commonwealth, or U.S. attorneys, depending on the jurisdiction; elected or appointed officials who represent the community in bringing charges against an accused person.
4. Defense Counsel and Defendants (defense attorneys)- attorneys who represent the legal rights of the accused in criminal proceedings.
5. Judges- objectively assesses the strength of a case, rule on issues of law and procedure, and in many cases determines the disposition of a case.
6. Victims and witnesses- "the forgotten players" because no one specifically represents them; they [victims and witnesses] are not appropriately informed of the progress of criminal proceedings or the pending release of offenders from prison.
7. Juries- selected from voter registration records, property tax rolls, or motor vehicle records. The jury pool is supposed to represent the community.
8. Courtroom work group- the prosecutors, defense counsel, judges, and other courtroom personnel who represent distinct interests but share the goal of shepherding large numbers of cases through the adjudication process.
--Lastly, this chapter discusses how specialized and alternative courts have change the court systems. Specialized courts have emerged as a way for society to deal more effectively with the problem of drug-related crime.
9. Felony drug courts- courts that handle only drug offenses and attempt to correct underlying causes of the illegal conduct.
10. Dispute Resolution and Community Courts- Mediation and pretrial intervention programs have been instituted partly in response to high caseloads.
-Dispute resolutions: a method of handling complaints outside the judicial process through a mediator appointed by the court.
-Community prosecution: a program in which prosecutors intervene in all disorderly behavior that affects the quality of life in a neighborhood.
-Community courts: decentralized courts that respond to neighborhood conditions using citizen advisory committees, volunteers, and teen courts.
1. In this chapter, criminal courts in the past and [criminal courts] today, were compared. Unlike in the past, defendants could not act as witnesses or take the stand in their own defense. However, today defendants are permitted to testify under oath.
2. U.S. Supreme Court- the highest court in the United States, which hears final appeals in cases involving federal law, suits between states, and interpretations of the U.S. Constitution.
--This chapter also discusses the participants in the Judicial Process.
3. Prosecutors- also called district, county, state, commonwealth, or U.S. attorneys, depending on the jurisdiction; elected or appointed officials who represent the community in bringing charges against an accused person.
4. Defense Counsel and Defendants (defense attorneys)- attorneys who represent the legal rights of the accused in criminal proceedings.
5. Judges- objectively assesses the strength of a case, rule on issues of law and procedure, and in many cases determines the disposition of a case.
6. Victims and witnesses- "the forgotten players" because no one specifically represents them; they [victims and witnesses] are not appropriately informed of the progress of criminal proceedings or the pending release of offenders from prison.
7. Juries- selected from voter registration records, property tax rolls, or motor vehicle records. The jury pool is supposed to represent the community.
8. Courtroom work group- the prosecutors, defense counsel, judges, and other courtroom personnel who represent distinct interests but share the goal of shepherding large numbers of cases through the adjudication process.
--Lastly, this chapter discusses how specialized and alternative courts have change the court systems. Specialized courts have emerged as a way for society to deal more effectively with the problem of drug-related crime.
9. Felony drug courts- courts that handle only drug offenses and attempt to correct underlying causes of the illegal conduct.
10. Dispute Resolution and Community Courts- Mediation and pretrial intervention programs have been instituted partly in response to high caseloads.
-Dispute resolutions: a method of handling complaints outside the judicial process through a mediator appointed by the court.
-Community prosecution: a program in which prosecutors intervene in all disorderly behavior that affects the quality of life in a neighborhood.
-Community courts: decentralized courts that respond to neighborhood conditions using citizen advisory committees, volunteers, and teen courts.
Class Survey
Circle one: Male or Female
Over 40 years old Under 40 years old
1. What crime do you worry about the most?
2. Who is your favorite senator?
3. If you could only choose statehood, independence or
free association; Which would you choose?
4. What good things will come out of the military build-up?
5. What bad things will come out of the military build-up?
6. Should the university or college education be free?
7. How many hours a day do you watch TV?
8. Who do you think will win the special election?
9. Who do you think will be the next delegate elected?
10. Who do you think will be elected governor in the fall?
11. In the special election, please pick one:
Tony Ada or Roque Aguon
12. In the delegate’s race, please pick one:
Madeleine Bordallo or Frank Blas
13. In the governor’s race, please pick one:
Calvo, Cruz, or Gutierrez
14. Should the Guam legislature return to 21 senators?
-Listed above is the class survey that the class was tasked on conducting. This was the first survey where the class analyzed and calculated the results of the survey. I must say, that doing research through surveys is interesting, educational, yet very difficult. Upon conducting the survey, I faced many challenges such as, (1) people not taking the survey seriously, (2) people refusing to take the survey, (3) and awkward/insulting remarks from those who took the survey. However, I learned a lot from conducting this survey.
Over 40 years old Under 40 years old
1. What crime do you worry about the most?
2. Who is your favorite senator?
3. If you could only choose statehood, independence or
free association; Which would you choose?
4. What good things will come out of the military build-up?
5. What bad things will come out of the military build-up?
6. Should the university or college education be free?
7. How many hours a day do you watch TV?
8. Who do you think will win the special election?
9. Who do you think will be the next delegate elected?
10. Who do you think will be elected governor in the fall?
11. In the special election, please pick one:
Tony Ada or Roque Aguon
12. In the delegate’s race, please pick one:
Madeleine Bordallo or Frank Blas
13. In the governor’s race, please pick one:
Calvo, Cruz, or Gutierrez
14. Should the Guam legislature return to 21 senators?
-Listed above is the class survey that the class was tasked on conducting. This was the first survey where the class analyzed and calculated the results of the survey. I must say, that doing research through surveys is interesting, educational, yet very difficult. Upon conducting the survey, I faced many challenges such as, (1) people not taking the survey seriously, (2) people refusing to take the survey, (3) and awkward/insulting remarks from those who took the survey. However, I learned a lot from conducting this survey.
Wednesday, March 31, 2010
Obama Survey
We were asked to conduct a survey based on the opinion of 10 different people( Male and Female from under 20 years old to over 50 years old), And ask, :If you could spend a minute and talk directly to President Obama what would you say?
And these were the replies I received,
Why would you want to be president when there are other careers that pay more is it because of the benefits? [I don’t believe you when you say you want to lead America out of recession or whatever.] And countries won’t hate you if you do something wrong.
Who is your favorite president? Why?
-Anna, 14
I would talk about the military build-up. And how they're gona take Pagat as a shooting Range...and they might take close down the raceway.
-Dennis, 15
How does it feel to be the first African American president of the United States of America?"
How has your life changed since you got into presidency? What do you feel was your biggest accomplishment so far since you stepped into presidency?
-Abegail, 20
"What’s up with military build-up?" "What are you doing for Guam?"
"What is the real reason behind your visit here on Guam?"
Is the relocation not going smoothly?
What are the concerns on the impact of a population growth that large that quickly?
Who are you working most closely here that guided you to need to visit yourself?
-Raf ,22
Are you in favor of the military build-up on Guam? Personally, would you want our island flooded with 8,000 marines? And why?
-Frances, 38
Do aliens really exist? I have heard that when a President gets elected, they get a briefcase with top secret documents.
-Sam, 30
Are there other ways of raising the minimum wage and possibly not raising taxes? Raising minimum wage would help the many working-class, like myself, a lot, please find ways in doing so.
-Rose, 42
What is your input on Guam becoming a state? Do you support it or not? And why? What is stopping Guam from becoming a state?
-Tom, 41
To really end "Slavery" for all U.S. citizens, so we can have the same freedom like any other US citizen in CONUS. (Continental U.S.) To give the Chamorus what they actually deserved not what the Federal Government want the local people to have.
-John-Ray, 55
How would you deal with the negative responses from Guam’s residence regarding the military build-up? How would you convince Guam’s residence that the military build-up will provide a positive outcome to our island?
-Gloria, 53
---I Really enjoyed this assignment, I felt that I learned a lot from it (especially from the responses I received)
And these were the replies I received,
Why would you want to be president when there are other careers that pay more is it because of the benefits? [I don’t believe you when you say you want to lead America out of recession or whatever.] And countries won’t hate you if you do something wrong.
Who is your favorite president? Why?
-Anna, 14
I would talk about the military build-up. And how they're gona take Pagat as a shooting Range...and they might take close down the raceway.
-Dennis, 15
How does it feel to be the first African American president of the United States of America?"
How has your life changed since you got into presidency? What do you feel was your biggest accomplishment so far since you stepped into presidency?
-Abegail, 20
"What’s up with military build-up?" "What are you doing for Guam?"
"What is the real reason behind your visit here on Guam?"
Is the relocation not going smoothly?
What are the concerns on the impact of a population growth that large that quickly?
Who are you working most closely here that guided you to need to visit yourself?
-Raf ,22
Are you in favor of the military build-up on Guam? Personally, would you want our island flooded with 8,000 marines? And why?
-Frances, 38
Do aliens really exist? I have heard that when a President gets elected, they get a briefcase with top secret documents.
-Sam, 30
Are there other ways of raising the minimum wage and possibly not raising taxes? Raising minimum wage would help the many working-class, like myself, a lot, please find ways in doing so.
-Rose, 42
What is your input on Guam becoming a state? Do you support it or not? And why? What is stopping Guam from becoming a state?
-Tom, 41
To really end "Slavery" for all U.S. citizens, so we can have the same freedom like any other US citizen in CONUS. (Continental U.S.) To give the Chamorus what they actually deserved not what the Federal Government want the local people to have.
-John-Ray, 55
How would you deal with the negative responses from Guam’s residence regarding the military build-up? How would you convince Guam’s residence that the military build-up will provide a positive outcome to our island?
-Gloria, 53
---I Really enjoyed this assignment, I felt that I learned a lot from it (especially from the responses I received)
Chapter 9
Chapter 9- Issues in Law Enforcement and Police Behavior
1. Racial Profiling- where the police are accused of stopping and searching minorities for minor violations more than whites.
*after the 9/11 (September 11 attacks), the United States security became more strict because now, everyone is being watched
*Three styles of policing have been identified that characterize different approaches to the management of police discretion:
2. Watchman style- emphasizes the maintenance of order; Police may use both formal methods (arrest) and informal methods (warnings or threats) to maintain order
3. Legalistic style- focuses more strictly on law violations than on the maintenance of order
4. Service style- approaches law enforcement from a broad problem-solving perspective
5. Police stress- emotional pressure produced by the nature of police work; such as public apathy, exposure to criminals and injury to fellow officers
6. Anomie- no rules or control; 95% of problems come from not following procedures
7. Authoritarianism- tendency to favor blind obedience to authority; " you should listen t me, because I tell you to"
8. Selective enforcement- police cannot enforce every single law
9. Malfeasance- doing bad acts or illegal acts
10. Misfeasance- not doing the job properly
1. Racial Profiling- where the police are accused of stopping and searching minorities for minor violations more than whites.
*after the 9/11 (September 11 attacks), the United States security became more strict because now, everyone is being watched
*Three styles of policing have been identified that characterize different approaches to the management of police discretion:
2. Watchman style- emphasizes the maintenance of order; Police may use both formal methods (arrest) and informal methods (warnings or threats) to maintain order
3. Legalistic style- focuses more strictly on law violations than on the maintenance of order
4. Service style- approaches law enforcement from a broad problem-solving perspective
5. Police stress- emotional pressure produced by the nature of police work; such as public apathy, exposure to criminals and injury to fellow officers
6. Anomie- no rules or control; 95% of problems come from not following procedures
7. Authoritarianism- tendency to favor blind obedience to authority; " you should listen t me, because I tell you to"
8. Selective enforcement- police cannot enforce every single law
9. Malfeasance- doing bad acts or illegal acts
10. Misfeasance- not doing the job properly
Chapter 7 and Chapter 8
Listed below are some of the important* facts throughout Chapter 7 (Criminal Procedure and the Police) and Chapter 8 (Origins and Organizations of Law)
Chapter 7- Criminal Procedure and the Police
1. The role of the police in the criminal procedure are as the gatekeepers; the police must observe behavior and make judgments about possible criminal behaviors in order to prevent crime and apprehend criminals.
2. Frisk- a patting down of the outer clothing of a suspect (based on reasonable suspicion); it is designed to protect the police officer from getting attacked by a weapon during the "frisk"
3. Search- inspection of a person or property based on probable cause of law violation
4. Seizure- confiscation of property occurring when there is some meaningful interference with the individual's possession of property
5. Exclusionary rule- a legal principle that holds that illegally seized evidence must be excluded from use in trials
6. Searches with the exceptions to the warrant requirement include:
(a) searches incident to a lawful arrest (b) searches with voluntary consent (c) plain view searches (d)searches of automobile and their contents (e) open fields and abandoned properties
7. Miranda warning- a five-point warning derived from the case of Miranda v. Arizona. Its purpose is to provide fair notice to crime suspects of their basic constitutional rights
8. Public Safety Exception- the Police may omit the Miranda warning (prior to questioning a suspect) if the public safety is jeopardized
9. Fifth Amendment- provides for grand juries protection against double jeopardy and protection from self incrimination
10. The importance of confessions to police work is limited because most suspects are taken into custody based on other evidence.
Chapter 8- Origins and Organizations of Law Enforcement
1. Mutual pledge system- residents can be held responsible for the actions of their neighbors; a system of community responsibility used during the Middle Ages in Britain
2. Watch and ward system- a system used ( in England established 1285) to help constables in their law enforcement efforts. Men from each town were required to take turns standing watch at night. Crime suspects were turned over to the constable
3. The invention of gin (by a Dutch chemist during the 17th century) was the catalyst that triggered a more organized effort towards the establishment of public policing
4. Bow street racing- Henry Fielding organized a mounted patrol to guard highways; quickly established a reputation for their ability to catch criminals
5. preventive police- the first organized police department in London established 1829
6. Crime commissions- focused on improved operations of the criminal justice system as the best way to reduce crime
7. Professionalization- changes in the police organization, administration, and technology aimed at improving the efficiency of the police in the deterrence and apprehension of criminals
8. Local police- the police department of municipalities; local law enforcements also includes county sheriffs and special police agencies such as park, airport, transit and university police.
9. Community policing- a service-oriented style of law enforcement that focuses on the disorder in the community, crime preventions, and fear reduction ( as opposed to the traditional focus on serious* street crimes)
10. Policing faces a dilemma: There is a need to organize law enforcement efforts in a more effective way. However, there is also a reluctance to provide the necessary resources and authority
Chapter 7- Criminal Procedure and the Police
1. The role of the police in the criminal procedure are as the gatekeepers; the police must observe behavior and make judgments about possible criminal behaviors in order to prevent crime and apprehend criminals.
2. Frisk- a patting down of the outer clothing of a suspect (based on reasonable suspicion); it is designed to protect the police officer from getting attacked by a weapon during the "frisk"
3. Search- inspection of a person or property based on probable cause of law violation
4. Seizure- confiscation of property occurring when there is some meaningful interference with the individual's possession of property
5. Exclusionary rule- a legal principle that holds that illegally seized evidence must be excluded from use in trials
6. Searches with the exceptions to the warrant requirement include:
(a) searches incident to a lawful arrest (b) searches with voluntary consent (c) plain view searches (d)searches of automobile and their contents (e) open fields and abandoned properties
7. Miranda warning- a five-point warning derived from the case of Miranda v. Arizona. Its purpose is to provide fair notice to crime suspects of their basic constitutional rights
8. Public Safety Exception- the Police may omit the Miranda warning (prior to questioning a suspect) if the public safety is jeopardized
9. Fifth Amendment- provides for grand juries protection against double jeopardy and protection from self incrimination
10. The importance of confessions to police work is limited because most suspects are taken into custody based on other evidence.
Chapter 8- Origins and Organizations of Law Enforcement
1. Mutual pledge system- residents can be held responsible for the actions of their neighbors; a system of community responsibility used during the Middle Ages in Britain
2. Watch and ward system- a system used ( in England established 1285) to help constables in their law enforcement efforts. Men from each town were required to take turns standing watch at night. Crime suspects were turned over to the constable
3. The invention of gin (by a Dutch chemist during the 17th century) was the catalyst that triggered a more organized effort towards the establishment of public policing
4. Bow street racing- Henry Fielding organized a mounted patrol to guard highways; quickly established a reputation for their ability to catch criminals
5. preventive police- the first organized police department in London established 1829
6. Crime commissions- focused on improved operations of the criminal justice system as the best way to reduce crime
7. Professionalization- changes in the police organization, administration, and technology aimed at improving the efficiency of the police in the deterrence and apprehension of criminals
8. Local police- the police department of municipalities; local law enforcements also includes county sheriffs and special police agencies such as park, airport, transit and university police.
9. Community policing- a service-oriented style of law enforcement that focuses on the disorder in the community, crime preventions, and fear reduction ( as opposed to the traditional focus on serious* street crimes)
10. Policing faces a dilemma: There is a need to organize law enforcement efforts in a more effective way. However, there is also a reluctance to provide the necessary resources and authority
Chapter 5 and Chapter 6
Listed below are some of the important* facts throughout Chapter 5 (Criminal Law) and Chapter 6 (The Criminal Justice System).
*(in my opinion they are important)
Chapter 5- Criminal Law
1. Criminal Law is the set of formal rules designed to maintain social control`
2. Substantive criminal law are laws defining the specific behaviors prohibited under the criminal law
3. Procedural law-rules of adjudication of individuals suspected of violating the law
*All states as well as the federal government have both substantive and procedural criminal laws, which vary somewhat among jurisdictions
4. Constitutions are used by society as a major source that guides their enactment of special laws and the application of those laws by courts.
5. Statutes are specific laws passed by legislatures that prohibit or mandate certain acts
6. Court decisions (or case laws) involves the judges' interpreting laws passed by legislatures to determine their applicability in a given case or to clarify their meaning
7. Administrative regulations are rules applied to organizations that are designed to protect public health, safety, and welfare in the market place
* Listed above are the four main sources of Criminal Law.
8. Criminal Justice System are independent government agencies that have been set up to deal with different aspects of crime and treatment of offenders, including law enforcement, the courts, and corrections
9. Due process is a legal protection included in the United States constitution that guarantees all citizens the right to be adjudicated under established law and legal procedures
10. Intention is the conscious purposiveness; a factor in the determination of criminal responsibility
Chapter 6- The Criminal Justice System
*The main types of criminal justice agencies are law enforcement agencies, courts (including trial and appeal courts) and correctional systems. All three types are found at all three levels of government (federal, state, and local).
1. The criminal justice system process acts like a filter in which the agencies of criminal justice each capture a share of law violators.
2. Law enforcement agencies main tasks are: (a) to protect people and their rights (b) apprehend those who violate laws (c) prevent crimes and (d) provide social services; also known as policing
*Courts (both state and federal court system) have three basic types of jurisdiction:
3. Limited Jurisdiction which have narrow legal authority over specific types of matters
4. General Jurisdiction have most trials for felonies also trials in major civil cases
5. Appellate Jurisdiction review specific legal issues raised in trial courts.,
*Corrections, exist at all three levels of government (federal, state, and local)
6. Local jails are facilities used to detain adults awaiting trial and offenders serving sentences of one year or less
7. Probation is a system under which a person convicted of a crime serves a sentence in the community under the supervision of a probation officer
8. Procedural law specifies how people accused of crimes will be treated
9. Probable cause is a reasonable link between a specific person and a particular crime; the legal threshold required before the police can arrest or search an individual
10. Warrant is a sworn statement by police gar attest to the existence of a probable cause in a given case; it is signed by a judge who agrees with the officer's assesment of the facts
*(in my opinion they are important)
Chapter 5- Criminal Law
1. Criminal Law is the set of formal rules designed to maintain social control`
2. Substantive criminal law are laws defining the specific behaviors prohibited under the criminal law
3. Procedural law-rules of adjudication of individuals suspected of violating the law
*All states as well as the federal government have both substantive and procedural criminal laws, which vary somewhat among jurisdictions
4. Constitutions are used by society as a major source that guides their enactment of special laws and the application of those laws by courts.
5. Statutes are specific laws passed by legislatures that prohibit or mandate certain acts
6. Court decisions (or case laws) involves the judges' interpreting laws passed by legislatures to determine their applicability in a given case or to clarify their meaning
7. Administrative regulations are rules applied to organizations that are designed to protect public health, safety, and welfare in the market place
* Listed above are the four main sources of Criminal Law.
8. Criminal Justice System are independent government agencies that have been set up to deal with different aspects of crime and treatment of offenders, including law enforcement, the courts, and corrections
9. Due process is a legal protection included in the United States constitution that guarantees all citizens the right to be adjudicated under established law and legal procedures
10. Intention is the conscious purposiveness; a factor in the determination of criminal responsibility
Chapter 6- The Criminal Justice System
*The main types of criminal justice agencies are law enforcement agencies, courts (including trial and appeal courts) and correctional systems. All three types are found at all three levels of government (federal, state, and local).
1. The criminal justice system process acts like a filter in which the agencies of criminal justice each capture a share of law violators.
2. Law enforcement agencies main tasks are: (a) to protect people and their rights (b) apprehend those who violate laws (c) prevent crimes and (d) provide social services; also known as policing
*Courts (both state and federal court system) have three basic types of jurisdiction:
3. Limited Jurisdiction which have narrow legal authority over specific types of matters
4. General Jurisdiction have most trials for felonies also trials in major civil cases
5. Appellate Jurisdiction review specific legal issues raised in trial courts.,
*Corrections, exist at all three levels of government (federal, state, and local)
6. Local jails are facilities used to detain adults awaiting trial and offenders serving sentences of one year or less
7. Probation is a system under which a person convicted of a crime serves a sentence in the community under the supervision of a probation officer
8. Procedural law specifies how people accused of crimes will be treated
9. Probable cause is a reasonable link between a specific person and a particular crime; the legal threshold required before the police can arrest or search an individual
10. Warrant is a sworn statement by police gar attest to the existence of a probable cause in a given case; it is signed by a judge who agrees with the officer's assesment of the facts
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