Write a 1,050- to 1,400-word paper on present-day challenges for criminal justice administrators.
Select a functional role in one of the three major areas of criminal justice administration—police, courts, or corrections—and describe what you consider the major issues and satisfactions of that particular role. Has this course helped prepare you? If not, what might improve the course?
Include at least four peer-reviewed references.
Sample solution
Dante Alighieri played a critical role in the literature world through his poem Divine Comedy that was written in the 14th century. The poem contains Inferno, Purgatorio, and Paradiso. The Inferno is a description of the nine circles of torment that are found on the earth. It depicts the realms of the people that have gone against the spiritual values and who, instead, have chosen bestial appetite, violence, or fraud and malice. The nine circles of hell are limbo, lust, gluttony, greed and wrath. Others are heresy, violence, fraud, and treachery. The purpose of this paper is to examine the Dante’s Inferno in the perspective of its portrayal of God’s image and the justification of hell.
In this epic poem, God is portrayed as a super being guilty of multiple weaknesses including being egotistic, unjust, and hypocritical. Dante, in this poem, depicts God as being more human than divine by challenging God’s omnipotence. Additionally, the manner in which Dante describes Hell is in full contradiction to the morals of God as written in the Bible. When god arranges Hell to flatter Himself, He commits egotism, a sin that is common among human beings (Cheney, 2016). The weakness is depicted in Limbo and on the Gate of Hell where, for instance, God sends those who do not worship Him to Hell. This implies that failure to worship Him is a sin.
God is also depicted as lacking justice in His actions thus removing the godly image. The injustice is portrayed by the manner in which the sodomites and opportunists are treated. The opportunists are subjected to banner chasing in their lives after death followed by being stung by insects and maggots. They are known to having done neither good nor bad during their lifetimes and, therefore, justice could have demanded that they be granted a neutral punishment having lived a neutral life. The sodomites are also punished unfairly by God when Brunetto Lattini is condemned to hell despite being a good leader (Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). While he commited sodomy, God chooses to ignore all the other good deeds that Brunetto did.
Finally, God is also portrayed as being hypocritical in His actions, a sin that further diminishes His godliness and makes Him more human. A case in point is when God condemns the sin of egotism and goes ahead to commit it repeatedly. Proverbs 29:23 states that “arrogance will bring your downfall, but if you are humble, you will be respected.” When Slattery condemns Dante’s human state as being weak, doubtful, and limited, he is proving God’s hypocrisy because He is also human (Verdicchio, 2015). The actions of God in Hell as portrayed by Dante are inconsistent with the Biblical literature. Both Dante and God are prone to making mistakes, something common among human beings thus making God more human.
To wrap it up, Dante portrays God is more human since He commits the same sins that humans commit: egotism, hypocrisy, and injustice. Hell is justified as being a destination for victims of the mistakes committed by God. The Hell is presented as being a totally different place as compared to what is written about it in the Bible. As a result, reading through the text gives an image of God who is prone to the very mistakes common to humans thus ripping Him off His lofty status of divine and, instead, making Him a mere human. Whether or not Dante did it intentionally is subject to debate but one thing is clear in the poem: the misconstrued notion of God is revealed to future generations.
References
Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). Dante’s inferno: Seven deadly sins in scientific publishing and how to avoid them. Addiction Science: A Guide for the Perplexed, 267.
Cheney, L. D. G. (2016). Illustrations for Dante’s Inferno: A Comparative Study of Sandro Botticelli, Giovanni Stradano, and Federico Zuccaro. Cultural and Religious Studies, 4(8), 487.
Verdicchio, M. (2015). Irony and Desire in Dante’s” Inferno” 27. Italica, 285-297.
Sample Answer
Sample Answer
Present-Day Challenges for Criminal Justice Administrators: A Focus on Police Administration
Introduction
Criminal justice administrators play a vital role in ensuring the effective and efficient functioning of the criminal justice system. They face numerous challenges in their day-to-day operations, which impact their ability to maintain law and order. This paper will specifically focus on the challenges faced by police administrators, as well as the major issues and satisfactions associated with this role. Additionally, it will discuss how this course has prepared individuals for a career in police administration and propose potential improvements to enhance its effectiveness.
Challenges Faced by Police Administrators
1. Increasing Crime Rates
One of the primary challenges faced by police administrators is the constant battle against increasing crime rates. Rapid urbanization, changing socioeconomic conditions, and the emergence of new forms of criminal activity have contributed to a rise in crime across many jurisdictions. Police administrators must develop strategies and allocate resources to effectively combat crime and maintain public safety.
2. Technological Advancements
Technological advancements have revolutionized the world we live in, but they have also presented challenges for police administrators. The increasing use of technology by criminals requires police administrators to stay updated with new methods of investigation, digital forensics, and cybersecurity. Limited resources and budget constraints often make it difficult for police agencies to keep up with the rapidly evolving technology landscape.
3. Community Policing
Another challenge faced by police administrators is the implementation of community policing strategies. Building strong relationships with the community is crucial for effective crime prevention and solving cases. However, achieving this requires significant effort and resources to establish trust, collaboration, and open lines of communication between law enforcement agencies and community members.
4. Police Misconduct and Accountability
Instances of police misconduct have sparked public outcry and eroded trust between law enforcement and communities. Police administrators face the challenge of preventing misconduct within their ranks and ensuring proper accountability for officers who violate policies or engage in illegal activities. Balancing the need for discipline with fair and transparent processes can be a complex task for police administrators.
Major Issues and Satisfactions of Police Administration
Major Issues
Police administrators face several major issues that impact their ability to effectively manage their departments:
Budget Constraints: Limited funding can hinder the implementation of innovative strategies, acquisition of new technology, and recruitment of qualified personnel.
Staffing and Recruitment: Attracting and retaining talented individuals in law enforcement can be challenging. Negative public perception, low salaries, and high levels of stress contribute to difficulties in recruiting qualified officers.
Political Pressures: Police administrators often face political pressures from elected officials, community leaders, and interest groups. Balancing these pressures while maintaining an effective and impartial department can be demanding.
Satisfactions
Despite the challenges, police administration offers several satisfactions:
Making a Difference: Police administrators have the opportunity to make a positive impact on public safety and the lives of community members by implementing effective crime prevention strategies.
Leadership Development: Police administration provides individuals with opportunities to develop leadership skills, mentor officers, and shape departmental policies that promote fairness, accountability, and professionalism.
Collaboration: Working alongside other criminal justice professionals, such as prosecutors and probation officers, allows police administrators to collaborate on multidisciplinary approaches to crime reduction.
How This Course Has Prepared Individuals for Police Administration
This course has played a crucial role in preparing individuals for a career in police administration by providing them with a comprehensive understanding of the criminal justice system. It has equipped students with knowledge in areas such as organizational behavior, policy development, budgeting, personnel management, and community relations. Additionally, the course has fostered critical thinking skills necessary for addressing complex issues faced by police administrators. The inclusion of case studies, discussions, and practical assignments has allowed students to apply theoretical knowledge to real-world scenarios.
Improving the Course
While this course has been valuable in preparing individuals for police administration roles, there are opportunities for improvement:
Practical Experience: Incorporating more practical experiences, such as internships or field placements in law enforcement agencies, would provide students with firsthand exposure to the challenges faced by police administrators.
Guest Speakers: Inviting guest speakers who are currently working as police administrators would provide valuable insights into the realities of the job and offer students the chance to ask questions and engage in meaningful discussions.
Current Issues: Including modules or assignments that focus on current issues faced by police administrators, such as police reform efforts or emerging technologies in law enforcement, would keep the course content up-to-date and relevant.
Networking Opportunities: Providing networking opportunities with professionals in the field of police administration would allow students to establish connections that can support their career development.
Conclusion
Police administration is a challenging yet rewarding role within the criminal justice system. The issues faced by police administrators include increasing crime rates, technological advancements, community policing implementation, and maintaining accountability within their departments. Despite these challenges, there are numerous satisfactions associated with police administration, including the opportunity to make a difference, develop leadership skills, and collaborate with other criminal justice professionals. This course has adequately prepared individuals for a career in police administration through its comprehensive curriculum; however, improvements such as incorporating practical experiences and guest speakers can enhance its effectiveness. By addressing these challenges head-on and embracing opportunities for improvement, future criminal justice administrators will be better equipped to tackle the complexities of policing in present-day society.
