Dear Portfolio Reader,

Starting this class this semester was something I was not looking forward to. My thoughts were writing essay after essay with topics I couldn’t write about and to top it off, I am not the best at structuring sentences. So of course, I was not interested in taking this class but it was mandatory. Regardless, I was intrigued to find out that in fact what we write about is entirely up to us. This was a thumbs up for me, and I was all excited about taking the course.

In our first essay, my fellow classmates and I were told to write something about a personal event and how it impacted our lives. I chose to write about a very low point in my life that has impacted my career choice I have made. I wrote about the time when my uncle was incarcerated for something he did not do. I explained the situation and what had happened and the charges my uncle received. I agree he was not innocent with the whole situation, but he is innocent for the charges that were brought upon him. After, I wrote about the trials, the feelings that came over me, and how I learned through the court system the justice process. The ending result for my uncle was life in prison. His life was in the hands of the jury, and they believed he committed the crime. This was a very low point in my life that still effects my family, but I gained a positive outcome. I chose my career path of Forensic Psychology and pursue in coming to terms with the legal process the defendant, district attorney, and lawyers take on making society better.

Secondly, my third essay was about the cost of sending criminals to prison and criminals who are on death row. While doing this essay I discovered a lot of information. For example, people who are sentenced to death can wait years and years before being executed. Also learned, that you spend money during each trial of the criminal, which I never knew of. Lastly, I mentioned the different execution styles, where there were a total of five. Doing this essay has opened my eyes to the amount of money spent on trials and also the excessive additional amount on executing someone then sending a criminal in prison for life.

For my final essay, I wrote about overcrowded jails, alternatives that are being discussed, and the impacts. My rebuttal would be although the alternatives are a positive start, there are laws and how convicts that are sentences need to be changed. This would alleviate long prison sentences for those who have committed minor crimes, overcrowded prisons, stressful and unsafe conditions for officers and inmates, as save money for our government. The process as a whole needs to be changed to be effective, safe, and valuable.

Coming into this class the start of the semester was stressful, but my professor made it more welcoming. She introduced herself and my fellow classmates and I had a sense of comfort. I enjoyed her teaching style and it made my semester flow little easier than usual. I appreciate the effort given and the time she makes to talk, explain, and understand the assignments we did. I related most of my topics to what I want to pursue my career on and I through the process of writing my essays I learned information I can carry out into my career.

Sincerely,
Krystal Rodriguez

The cause of prison overcrowding is simple, there is not enough room in prisons.  Fluctuating crime rates, changes to laws and improvements to law enforcement tactics are issues causing the overcrowding of inmates in jails. The first problem is double-celling inmates.  Currently it is common to see two inmates in one cell and it is not a big issue, but it can lead to three inmates in one cell. The prison will find a room for the third inmate. Having three inmates to one cell can lead to problems with the inmates and make the environment for the officers unsafe.  Secondly, officers are forced to accommodate to the environment and deal with stressful situations. Yes, it is an officer’s job to manage with these situations while inmates have no choice.  But there are effective alternatives to reduce the stress and problems that could worsen the atmosphere.

The prison population has evolved overtime, and has become a serious problem in America.  Convicted prisoners are not fully serving their sentence.  This leads to early release in which they may not be ready to go out into the community.  Overcrowding of prisoners started to evolve during 1990’s. Tough-on-crime legislation came into play and passed through state and local governments. “California passed  the “three strikes and you’re out” law which called for mandatory sentencing of repeat offenders, and New York adopted the “Broken Windows” strategy that called for the arrest and prosecution of all crimes large and small.”(Prison Overcrowding – ALEC).  This increase has led to early release of inmates.

There are alternatives that may be effective into still holding criminals accountable for their crimes but keeping our community safe such as: tracking device, frequent pop-up visits of parole officers and daily monitoring.  Using these alternatives might be a great advantage and change for a prisoner, but they’re not as free as they seem to be. Violating anything  restriction can impact their chance for full freedom.

Although some of these alternatives can ease the prison population, there are other changes that can be made and laws that should be changed.  There are inmates who have been convicted on drug charges serving larger sentences than inmates who have raped women and children.  Reviewing current sentencing laws will assist in easing the crowded prisons.  As well as give fare sentences to those who have committed harsher crimes.  There are inmates serving ten to twenty years on drug charges when rapists serve five years.  If you analyze this issue, does a prisoner who sold marijuana deserve to a ten year sentence when a rapist is serving half the time.  Perhaps an alternative method for the inmates who have a minor drug conviction instead of the harsh sentence.

If current prisoners serving a minor conviction be sentenced an alternative method such as a monitoring device and parole visits, can still be a part of society.  Having restrictions will limit them from committing another crime.  They will also still have the ability to work and provide for themselves causing the ease of overcrowded prisons as well as government money being spent to house the inmates.  It costs the government more money to house a prisoner than one in society still providing for themselves.  This will assist the government in multiple areas.  The convicted will still be monitored and have restrictions to have their freedom.  It will assist everyone in the end.

In conclusion, the process of reviewing laws, the trial and sentencing process for people who have been charged with a crime will take time, but in the end it will be effective.  Those convicted will have a fare sentence, be closely monitored and still have a place in society.  The prisons will not be as crowed causing officers to have better control of inmates and be in a safer environment.  The government will save money.  It is a positive step forward that the government is assessing changes in the prison system.

Works Cited

“Home Confinement Proves Effective in Dollars and Sense.” The Third Branch. N.p., N.d., March 1997. Web. 5 May 2014

“Prison Overcrowding.” American Legislative Exchange Council. N.p., 2014 Web. 5 May 2014

Wood, Graeme.  “Prison Without Walls” The Atlantic. 11 Aug 2010. Web. 5 May 2014

In the year 2009, my life and my view on the law changed dramatically. On November 3, 2009 there had been a murder occur in my household. When you think of a murder you think of blood everywhere and just horrible scenery but that wasn’t the case.

On the day of November 3, it started off as a regular normal day. My day consisted of myself waking up for school. I was fifteen and just recently started my freshman year at Taunton High School. After school I would go on with what I normally did which was homework and watch my ten month old brother. When coming home I was always greeted with my uncle, my grandparents and of course, my little brother. Like you would think, a normal day.

Later on in the night everyone was home, including my parents and we were all getting ready to just go to bed. I had put my brother to sleep and laid down in my bed to text my friends. As I was doing that I just heard a big thump and my chandelier in the living room rattle. I got scared and jumped out of my room into the kitchen where I had seen my mom run to the back door. Once she had open the door my uncle had appeared and said “Lock all the doors and don’t unlock them until I come down and tell you.” My mom had turned around to me and yelled for me to go into my bedroom. I didn’t want to go but she had persisted on me going and I was nervous. My mom on the other hand did not listen and went to see what was wrong.

So many thoughts were roaming in my mind and I made the decision to leave my room and go see what was going on because the anticipation was killing me. I finally go out to see my uncle freaking out and my parents just talking to him.  My parents had looked at me and said everything was ok just going to sleep but I know deep inside something was wrong. They had left with my uncle but at the time I didn’t know where.

The next morning I had woken up and to find detectives all over the house and investigators with their equipment. I was left with unanswered questions in my head to deal with in school. While being in school that day I was very quiet and just not myself. I just wanted answers on to what went on. When finally getting home, my parents and family where all there. They weren’t at work where they should have been. So when finally walking in, my mom and dad had told me the police had taken my uncle into custody. I had asked why and they had told me his friend who was with him the night before had passed away.  When telling me that I was just asking question after question. They had told me his friend was beaten, and that he was alive after it had happened but soon took a toll over his body. I just went in my room to cry. My uncle is my best friend and had done everything for me I just wanted to know why they took him, and I was just also in shock as to what had happened.

Now I’m guessing you all are wondering why, and for what? Well now this is when my curiosity in law emerged. My uncle was taken in for first degree murder. First degree murder in my own words is when someone had premeditated, meaning planned out the death of a person and following through with it.

So with the following weeks and months, my uncle was in custody for three years for first degree murder. Throughout these three years I just tried to piece together what was going on and what had happened up there and to tell you, the main reason were drugs. Jealousy and greed was the result to the man’s death.

When the trials came to a beginning in the year 2013, that’s when pieces of the scene had come together. I had attended most of the trials to support my uncle. While trials were happening I would listen to every single word and detail the DA was saying. They had tried to make it seem like my uncle was the man filled with greed and anger. In the days winding down it was nerve wracking and there was a sense of discomfort. The male’s family who had passed away was there and you can sense the discomfort and anger. But in my mind I feel they should consider and realize their son, brother, nephew, grandson was also involved with drugs and wrong in some way but the outcome tragically ended his life.

But when the day had come to the verdict that’s when my life made a complete turn. My uncle was found guilty of first degree murder with no chance of parole. My uncle was given the chance to agree on killing this man for possibility of 25 years with a chance of parole but my uncle did not agree, and decided not testify . And that was a man who is confident in knowing he did not do anything. But I just broke down and felt my heart just crushed, like someone squeezed me so hard and no way of me breathing. And my uncle had looked back at my family and I and whispered its ok. When he did that, to me it felt like he was saying goodbye.

After this experience, I have made decisions to pursue my career in forensic psychology. Forensic psychology deals with the legal system and mental state of prisoners, juveniles or families of victims. It has sparked my interest to work with others dealing with situations like this and coming to terms and having to accept decisions made.  But also try and change how people perceive criminals and also work with criminals and treatment of their behavior.  But also work with staff in training support of understanding situations. It is a very interesting and motivational career.

Also, I’ve been more in tuned with what is going on in the world. I was curious as to how much of these situations are around and just in general what’s happening. I read the Taunton Gazette almost every day and see what is going around my town and also just news around the world. And when I started doing this I did not realize the existence of this much crime or deaths occurring. So I feel working with the legal system, I can come to terms with what actions they take on making our society better.

Actual Picture during the Trial .

The death penalty cost more then sending someone to life in prison without parole. In the state of Florida, they have spent millions extra per year on the death penalty. They have carried out forty-four executions since 1976, the approximate cost is twenty-four million for each execution. “This finding takes into account the relatively few inmates who are actually executed, as well as the time and effort expended on capital defendants who are tried but convicted of a lesser murder charge, and those whose death sentences are overturned on appeal.” It is said that they would have saved fifty-one million dollars each year by punishing the criminals with life in prison without parole. Florida has spent over fifty million on the death penalty to achieve just eighteen executions. Most don’t understand the cost of execution. “Alabama pays lawyers just $20 an hour–up to a cap of $1000– to prepare for a capital trial, and $40 an hour to argue it.[ McCormick] Most feel it is quick, easy and less stressful to just rid the criminal of the crime he or she has committed. Is life in prison is not good enough? That just raises a whole new chapter of questions that most cannot find a real answer to.

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There are a total of five different ways of execution. The most commonly known and used is lethal injection but there is also electrocution, gas chamber, hanging and fire squad. First, Lethal injection is a process of being numb to pain and it slowly slows down all function inside the body. Second, is electrocution; Head mentions in 1888, the State of New York established electrocution as the state’s official execution method. In the year 1889 William Kemmler was sentenced to death and it took eight minutes agonizing minutes to kill him. Third, lethal gas execution. The prisoner is sealed in an airtight chamber and potassium cyanide or sodium cyanide is mixed with an acid that destroys the human body’s ability to process blood hemoglobin. Fourth, would be method of hanging. Until the year 1890, hanging was the primary method of execution. The inmate would be weighed the day before execution to ensure it is done correctly. If the rope is to long the inmate could be decapitated and if to short, the process of strangulation could take as long as forty-five minutes. Lastly, Firing squad is the last of the execution method. June 18, 2010 convicted murderer Ronnie Lee Gardner was the third and likely last to be executed by firing squad. He also writes Utah is of only two states that still allow the firing squad- Oklahoma is the other. The prisoner is tied down to some kind of pole and blindfolded, and then shot by a marksman. If done correctly, it is an extremely fast process.

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Is the decision of execution okay if no physical evidence or confession is found or heard of? Stodghill talks about multiple men and one woman who were found not guilty after execution. Stodghill also mentions that one in twenty death row inmates is later found not guilty of their crime. In one in particular Larry Griffin. Griffin was executed by lethal injection in 1995 for the murder of a drug dealer in 1980. Griffin was convicted based mainly on the testimony given by Robert Fitzgerald, career criminal, who later admitted to committing the crime. “Fitzgerald also stated that the police pressured him into accusing Griffin.” [Stodghill] Griffin maintained his innocence until the end.  “Racial discrimination –among cops, prosecutors, and jurors–can be a factor. [McCormick] In reality it does no seem fair to the defendant but it sometimes may take a while to correct a mistake.

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U.S is on the decline of capital punishment. “The death penalty was carried out 39 times in 2013, about a 10 percent drop from the 43 government-sanctioned executions last year, according to an annual report from the Death Penalty Information Center (DPIC).”[Subramanian] The decline in the death penalty is reflecting on Americans in ending capital punishment. Since 2007 other states  have repealed capital punishment, and a poll showed 60% approve of the death penalty, lowest in forty years. Among the 39 executions, Texas carried out sixteen, Florida seven, Oklahoma six, Ohio three, Arizona and Missouri twice, and one each in Alabama, Georgia and Virginia. “While most death-penalty executions still happen in the South, several Southern states including South Carolina, Tennessee and Louisiana, recorded no executions at all in 2013.”[Subramanian]. The opinions and choices of death penalty among people are slowly and surely showing the decrease of their approval. It may not be in the hands of all citizens, but it does impact life or death among that person in death row.

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Qualification for capital punishment is a semi-prolonged process. First, of elimination is simple, courts eliminate potential jurors who do not vote for death penalty. Jurors before hand are questioned on their views of capital punishment in order to discover if they will be able to abide by the law in deciding the sentencing. “If the judge believes that a juror’s feelings about the death penalty would impair his or her ability to judge the case and choose the punishment fairly, that juror will be “dismissed” “for cause.” (“Death Qualification”). In order to really be involved with a capital punishment you must be “death-qualified” meaning jurors must consider the death penalty or life imprisonment without parole. Prosecutors have a right to strike a juror if they see any sign of doubt. Being apart of a jury for capital punishment is serious. It can be a stressful and life altering experiences. You may learn many things from the experience but also may hold negative events during the trials. Decisions like this are not made for everyone to choose, but that is ok.

Works Cited

“Costs of the Death Penalty.” Deathpenaltyinfo.org. Death Penalty Information Center. n.d. Web. 13 Apr. 2014.

“Death Qualification.” Capital Punishment in Context. N.p., n.d Web. 15 Apr. 2014.

“Forms of Execution in the United States, 1977 – 2009 – Death Penalty.”  ProConorg Headlines. N.p., n.d. Web. 14 Apr. 2014.

McCormick, John. “The Wrongly Condemned” Newsweek 9 Nov. 1998. Web. 15 Apr. 2014

Stodghill, Alexis. “Exonerated after Execution: 12 Men (And One Woman) Found Innocent after Being Put to Death”. Madamenoire. Web. 27 Sept. 2011.

Subramanian, Courtney. “39 Death Row Executions in 2013, a 10% Drop from Last Year.”Time 19 Dec. 2013. Web. 15 Apr. 2014.