Potential Journal Assignment Questions

Privilege and Justice Module

1) What metaphor does Peggy McIntosh use to describe privilege in American Society?  Give three examples of privileges that McIntosh identifies in her writing.  What impact does the author believe this privilege has on individuals’ experiences in our society? 

2)  Jensen states “However, as a member of a society--and especially as a privileged member of society--I have an obligation not simply to enjoy that privilege that comes with being white but to study and understand it, and work toward a more just world in which such unearned privilege is eliminated.”  How is racial privilege, according to Jensen, different than other types of privilege?  What role does “white guilt” play in his argument?  Should white people feel guilty?  If so, when and why?

OJ Film Journal Assignment (click on the link - Word document)

Historical Implications of Diversity and Criminal Justice

1) What are the potential impacts if Barak et al.'s description of the historical development of the criminal justice system is accurate? 

2) How might these events alter how crime and criminal justice function in modern times?

Class and Crime/Criminal Justice

1)  Are there any indications of the findings of Chambliss' article, Saints and Roughnecks in your everyday life? How might the assertions of this article impact how crime is defined and laws enforced?

2) Spend one week keeping track of your activities.  I want to know how you spend your time and money.  Make a list of your monthly expenses.  Track your spending on food, drink, entertainment for this one week.  List out where you go and when. List who goes with  you and when you drive versus riding with others.  If you buy things, write those down and keep track of how much cash you spend generally.  Also note when you eat on campus or participate in campus activities.  We will discuss these in class.

3)  What are the characteristics of the poor in America?  What is the background, race, employment history, etc... of individuals living below the poverty line?

4)  What impact do the characteristics listed above have on access to the power of the criminal justice system?  Does CJ operate differently for the poor versus others?  How so or how not so?

Race and Crime/Criminal Justice

1) Do you think racism in the criminal justice system exists?  Are individuals treated differently by the CJ system based on race? Why or why not?

2) Does an individual's race affect the likelihood of committing crime?  Are individuals of some races less or more likely to commit crime than other races? What makes you say this?

3) If racism is not a myth, what impact does this have on how criminal justice is perceived by minorities?