DescriptionOne of the foundational tenets of the U.S. criminal justice system is the right to be represented by an attorney in defending against criminal accusationswhether or not you can afford to hire an attorney. For this assignment, you will research legal services available to indigent individuals. You will then work with a partner to compare the roles of public defenders and private attorneys in representing indigent clients.
Scenario
Reggie was down on his luck. He was out of a job and had no money, and, on his way home from a friends house at 2 a.m., his car ran out of gas on a residential street. Prompted by a call from a concerned neighbor, police questioned Reggie and found evidence of marijuana in his car. He couldnt afford an attorney, so the court appointed one to represent him.
Instructions Review the scenario. Call a local private practice criminal defense law firm and ask a member of the staff to describe the types of services that its attorneys could provide to someone in Reggies position. (You may also find the same information online through a defense attorneys website.)Search online to research indigent defense services that are available in your county. Search online for services provided by a public defender, either in your county or in another area if your county does not provide public defense. In a new Microsoft Word document, cite the sources for your research and answer the following questions:1. What types of indigent defense services are available in your area?
2. Based on your research, what role do public defenders play defending indigent clients in your area? How are the poor represented in criminal matters in your area?
3. What role do private attorneys play in representing indigent clients?
4. How does the role of a public defender compare to the role of a private attorney representing indigent clients in your area?
5. Are defendants at a disadvantage if they are represented by a public defender versus a private defense attorney? Why or why not?
6. If you had a friend with few financial resources who was charged with a crime, what would you recommend they do to find legal representation?
I live in Callahan, Florida which is Nassau County, but Jacksonville is very close to me which is Duval County so it may be easier to use Duval. However that is completely up to the writer and what works best for them.

Essay Assignment

Your essay assignment for this lesson will be twofold. Your assignment will primarily focus on the death penalty; however, as this is your final assignment in this course, the assessment will also ask you to showcase in a separate paragraph your knowledge of another correctional area of your choice (see the assignment below). As always, your grade will be based on how you respond to each question contained within the broader essay assignment. Please note that unlike your other assignments this course, this last assignment is worth 100 points (rather than 50 points).

Your assignment: You have learned that the death penalty is reserved for the “worst of the worst” and is limited to the sphere of capital crimes. In your own words, what do you think the phrase “worst of the worst” means within the context of the death penalty, and how has the Supreme Court’s position on this ultimate sanction evolved over the years? What legal precautions now exist to ensure the death sentence is not arbitrarily imposed and those who suffer this outcome, by law, deserve such an outcome? Also, discuss your own position on the death sentence and provide arguments that support your position. (You must integrate supporting data from both this lesson’s video clips and the written content contained in “Approaching the Objectives.”)

In a separate paragraph(s), select a career position from the list below (covered during this course) that interacts with the correctional process. Indicate which field you would find most interesting or rewarding, and explain how you feel your own talents, skills, and educational or life experiences would make you an effective agent of change in your chosen position. Indicate how your selected profession interacts with the correctional system and the purpose it serves in correcting or changing human behavior or reducing the occurrence of recidivism. (Assume for the sake of argument the pay level for all these positions is the same even though, of course, they do vary widely.):

Probation or parole officer
Mental-health or substance-abuse counselor
Corrections officer
Halfway house owner/operator
Pre-trial (prosecution) diversion program coordinator
Criminal court Judge
Your total essay should be 750-1,000 words, 5 to 7 pages (not including cover page and reference page), and double spaced with a font size of 10 to 12 pt. Refer to the Grading Rubric PDF for essay grading standards. Submit your essay to your instructor. Make sure you indicate which prompt you are answering.

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Lesson 8 Essay -100 points