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Introduction sample of domestic violence
Domestic violence and its history
History of domestic violence in the us
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The frontline video on Michelle O'Connell's death was quite interesting because my views and ideas about what happened to her changed from the beginning of the video to the end. The debate about whether her death is a homicide or suicide has compelling arguments from both sides and a lot of what seems like circumstantial evidence. Because of this It's hard to say for sure it was a suicide or homicide however, the documentary definitely highlighted the issues involved with domestic violence inside of police officer homes. Frontline showed that whether or not Jeremy murdered Michelle or not, there is definitely an issue with how the sheriff's department investigated and handled the case involving its own deputy. I immediately thought that the …show more content…
case should have been investigated by an outside agency and that it was unprofessional for the Sheriff's department to lead the investigation any further than the night of. However, I will say that I believed for most of the video that Michelle did in fact commit suicide. The video, I felt was biased from the beginning by showing family members talk about Michelle's life and how suicide was something she would never attempt.
However, while all that may be true to them it does not mean she wasn’t still depressed or suicidal about her life. The majority of evidence pointed towards Michelle killing herself and it made the most sense until they attempted to show how she held the pistol to kill herself. The pistol recoiling forward and cutting her eyelid did not make sense and created enough doubt in my mind to question the nature of her death. This is because if the cut was made before she died then there may have been a struggle during a fight with Jeremy which completely changes the circumstantial evidence. However, even though my final thought about the death is that there is too much suspicion about the physical crime scene evidence to call it a suicide, I also believe that at this point and after the first investigation there is and was not enough evidence to call it a murder either specially to charge Jeremy and have it stick. There were also more disturbing facts about the crime scene that did not add up to suicide as well such as the fact that Jeremy had no DNA on his own pistol that he wore every day and that there were two shots fired, one into the floor and one into Michelle's …show more content…
head. I believe the Frontline video impacted my view on domestic violence greatly.
This is because violence between police officers and their wives or spouses never really came to mind when I thought of domestic violence until now. It brings to light a new perspective on how difficult it can be for someone who is suffering from domestic violence to find a way out especially when their husbands are the police. The best idea to help prevent this from happening again that comes to mind is to make it mandatory for outside agencies to conduct investigations that directly involve police officers or members of another agency. There is good chance that if the FDLA had taken over the investigation from the beginning Jeremy would have been charged and possibly convicted of murder because this agency would not have been able to look over disturbing evidence just because he is their friend or fellow employee. I also feel that because the initial investigation was so sloppy and mishandled the sheriff or sheriff's department should be held accountable in some way that reflects the severity of their mistakes so they will think twice about being sloppy next
time. In conclusion domestic violence has always been a serious and relevant issue in today's society and unfortunately will probably always exist. However, we as a community can learn from this frontline video and prepare differently so that other communities do not experience the same problems especially when it comes to spouses murdering each other. The fact that law enforcement officers are put in a position of such power means that they should be trusted by their communities and when cases like this occur it can create more tension and distrust between the police and the citizens. It also makes it harder for spouses suffering from domestic violence to want to reach out for help when situations like Michelle and Jeremy's have existed. Overall this case was handled poorly and because of that Michelle and her family may never get the justice they deserve and it leaves the door open for officers like Jeremy to continue getting away with domestic violence. I enjoy learning about domestic violence because it is such a relevant crime that I feel is not given enough attention to as much as other crimes because it is easier for people to look the other way rather than attempt to stop it. I look forward to learning about ways to properly solve and investigate these cases so that we as a country can at least do a better job of deterring our citizens from committing this crime or suffering from it.
The blood, hair, and shoe print found at the crime scene were all Anna’s, making it very unlikely someone was there with her when she died. Also, at the scene there was no signs of struggle such as bloody handprints on furniture, or blood trails which would make it less likely to be a homicide. I believe Anna accidentally died by falling down and hitting her head on the table since the table was 41cm tall and had blood on it. The blood spatters on the floor were 10mm, which is the size they make when dropped from 40cm. Once Anna hit the floor, I believe she passed out due to the lack of blood and impact of hitting the floor, later dying of blood loss. I came to this conclusion because accidental is the most reasonable manner of death. There is no struggle, and almost all of the evidence was related to Anna. Also, the table being the cause of her death makes a lot of sense. There is blood on the table and the blood drops fell from the same height as the
Happening in today’s society, there have been countless number of citizens being killed by law enforcement. Some situations may not cause for force and others may. This case can be a reference in regards to making sure that the force you use is appropriate for the situation. As for the justice system, it is all about being fair and listening to both sides and issuing out the right punishment if there is any. Many people in today’s time needs to get educated when it comes to the reason behind why law enforcement uses force to handle the situations they have to deal with. But in the end it all comes down to right and
In conclusion, police corruption was and still is a major problem in the united states. Police are placed into society to serve and protect, but the New Orleans Police Department was infested with corruption from murder to drugs. Len Davis was the first police officer in history to ever receive to death penalty because of his unspeakable crimes that he had committed. Unfortunately, Kim Groves life was taken because she filed a complaint on Len Davis. The individuals that had really suffered were her children and family. Len Davis had no morals or value for life nor did he have any remorse for this unspeakable crime that he had committed. There should be mandatory laws put in place to recruit police officers, more psychological testing and major background checks so this won’t ever happen to no one
According to the newspaper the Chicago Tribune there has been 876 homicides since the beginning of January 2014. Making shootings like the one of Laquan McDonald seem irrelevant. The only reason I was able to become aware of this shooting was because the procedures and policies that were being implemented by the police department and city of Chicago were not right. This led a reporter named Brandon Smith who wanted to know the reason why a teen with a knife was gunned down with 16 shots by a police officer who was not alone in this fight. The reporter sued the police department demanding them to release the video of the police cruiser that caught the whole incident on tape. In the video, it shows Laquan walking in the middle of the road, when several police cruisers pull in front of him. As soon as Laquan notices the police officers getting off, he starts moving away from the police cruisers. This is when police officer Van Dyke unloads his weapon and hitting Laquan with 16 shots leaving him for dead on the road. According to the Rules of Conduct by the Chicago PD, found online at the website chiacagopolice.org, it states under Rule 11 “Incompetency or inefficiency in the performance of duty”. This is a rule that should well known to every officer not only in Chicago and it was not followed by officer Van Dyke because the video clearly shows him
The documentary “Policing the Police,” by PBS, assists in providing insight into problems facing the city of Newark, New Jersey, and its police department. The documentary displays the opinions of both the police officers and the people of the communities on the most pressing crime related issues in the city and the solutions to them. The variety of perspectives that documentary provides is very informative and forces the viewer to look at the problems of police brutality in a more complex manner rather than black and white. Ultimately, the documentary exposes the failure of the Newark Police Department to work effectively and the solutions new leaders are beginning to implement.
The relationship between law enforcement and prosecutors, which goes hand-in-hand, can’t be overlooked. Evidence of a crime that detectives and law enforcement discover is as equally important as a good trial on part of the prosecution. If detectives aren’t able to find good solid evidence – that case usually isn’t bothered in being pursued. Several years ago, in the late 80’s, there was a murder case in Southeastern Oklahoma which now serves as a tragic example to the need for honest, constitutional work in the criminal justice system. Disreputable investigative procedures, fraudulent sources, and bad evidence were the foundation of this case that shattered innocent lives.
This movie really tied everything we’ve been discussing in class and seeing it unfold was actually really eye opening. I found it important going forward to make sure I do not fall into that tunnel vision mentality and to make sure I follow the evidence rather than fitting the suspect to the evidence. Again, I found it interesting like in the Norfolk Four case and in the Central Park 5 case police neglected to look at surrounding crime areas to see if any other cases matched the same modus operandi. If the police did look at surrounding cases they would have established a link between previous assaults and the assault that took place in the park that night. I was amazed how the detectives did not connect how each of the confessions varied by who did what and how they attacked the victim. It was Korey Wise in the video that kept putting up his hand when asked how big was the rock and he was just moving them back and forth. Police also neglected to look at the attack patterns of where the group first was hassling people in the park. They would have found that the boys were at one end of the park, while the victim was being attacked and there was no way they could have been in two places at once. I also found troubling during the time was the media portrayal of the Central Park 5, how they were painted as vicious young men, who brutally attacked a harmless white women. Even after each one of them was exonerated from the crime the media still portrayed them as vicious men. As we discussed in class, I think a lawyer like a magistrate should be available 24/7 when it comes to juveniles, because I believe that this five did not know their Miranda Rights and what they were entitled. If they knew what their rights were I believe the confessions never would have happened and none of them would have gone to
The criminal justice system in America is full of different twists and turns and sometimes within all of these twists and turns, justice doesn’t always prevail. The police are held to higher standards than your average person. They are expected to be more capable of doing things, but in reality they are humans just like you and me and in the end they can only do so much. In the case on Jonbenét Ramsey, there were several factors that made justice hard to come by. Being a small child, the police at first assumed she was kidnapped so they didn’t search the house. Had they searched the house, things may have ended differently. I’m not really sure how much blame you could put on them for that issue in itself because it was a completely rational thought and nobody expects to find someone murdered in a house, especially if that person is a child.
“… if not for bystander Feidin Santana’s video casting doubt on office Michael Slagers version of events, he may not have quickly been charged with murder…” Imagine if this man would have been set free only to think getting away with murder is easy. Seeming that a person is an employee of the law, jurors’ do not expect them to lie. All they need to say is that they felt in danger or claim they were put in a tough situation. “when the cop story first came out, he said he was in a tussle,” said Virgil Delestine…”but the video told what really happened.” With body cameras at the scene this will help increase honesty in policemen because they know they are being recorded. In addition, I feel it would be very effective in building community trust if the police force would broadcast the tapes. By keeping everyone up to date, this will encourage people that law enforcements are not being sneaky and are putting reinforcement in place cops who do wrong.
We see on T.V police brutality happening all the time. We see cops breaking people bones, throwing them on the ground, and even killing them. This documentary opened my eyes to see how bad it is. Seeing the random stops because of race, and the pushing and shoving of people who do not deserve it. Another thing I learned is how stressful being a police officer is, especially in a city like Newark. These officers face life threating situations daily. With this, I can understand the use of force when there is no immediate threat, because the situation could escalate and it is better to be safe than sorry. The documentary also showed me ways of improvement. Police officers should be required to have at least and Associates degree in Criminal Justice and receive extensive training. Seeing this documentary opened my eyes to what is happening in the Criminal Justice System
On December 18th 2015 Netflix aired with great popularity a 10 part documentary series called “making a Murderer” The documentary, written by Laura Ricciardi and Moira Demo, present the case of Steven Avery; a convicted murderer exonerated on DNA evidence after serving 18 years for the assault and attempted murder of Penny Beerntsen. The writers present the series in a way that suggest that Avery was framed by the Manitowoc Country police department. and present that the police planted evidence to frame Steven Avery because he had been exonerated from the previous crime. The ethical problem with this as is presented by Kathryn Schulz in The New Yorker, is that the documentary argues their case so passionately that they leave out important
Throughout history there has been many problems involving racial profiling and police misconduct. Very rarely do police get the proper punishment for their wrong doings. One of the most recent cases was the Oscar Grant case. Oscar Grant was 22 years old when he was killed because of police misconduct. He was killed on New Year’s Day 2009 by Ex-BART cop Johannes Mehserle. This misconduct made the people of Oakland extremely angry because they lost one of their own. After the shooting many people around Oakland started protesting. This lasted for months on end because people were very angry. Bystanders videotaped the incident. This has been one of the most racially polarizing cases in California (Ravindhran).
Police brutality is hypocrisy; as the police are meant to protect society from harm, not cause further damage and stress. Police should be trained properly so they do not resort to violence and abuse of power. Many cases of police brutality and not sanctioned and are undertaken by a group of police as a form of "mob mentality". Police are placed on a pedestal of authority and respect by the rest of society. To maintain this image, rules and codes of ethics within the police force should be maintained at all possible times. If police are using brutality to resolve issues, it doesn't set much of an example of dispute resolution between individuals. Over the past decade police abuse remains one of the most serious human rights violation in the United States. Police officers are trusted and expected to respect society as a whole and enforce the law. There is a time a place for aggressive force if needed, apprehending a suspect, however the environment and situation might influence the moment thus resulting in the brutal and barbaric behavior from the cop. The important thing to do is to understand the circumstances when excessive force can be used and times where the use of force has to be abstained. Police officers follow a strict guideline in how to handle encounters from escalating into something much more serious. The use of excessive force, in this case police brutality brings liabilities that cannot be taken lightly with the department and the community. Usually the high crime rates tend to revolve around low-income minority areas and officers tend to assume that minorities living in the areas are guilty. Police brutality that does exist is most likely result of emotional exhaustion.
Police brutality has become a widespread and persistent problem in the United States. Police brutality occurs when a law enforcement officers use excessive or unlawful force while on or off duty. "Established: A Pattern of Abuse" is an article in The Humanist, written by Barbara Dority. She states, "Thousands of individual complaints are reported each year and local authorities pay out millions of dollars to vicitms in damages and lawsuits" (5). Dority also describes some of the types of abuse that officers have done. "[They] have beaten and shot unresisting suspects; they have misused batons, chemicals sprays, and electro-shock weapons; [and] they have injured or killed people by placing them in dangerous restraint holds" (5). There have been many cases throughout the country where police officers have been far too brutal and someone has been injured or killed. There have been many hundreds of cases like this and many people are wondering when it will end or even if it will end. Most citizens of the United States agree that it is wrong and needs to be reduced if not eliminated. So it all comes down to one question: what can be done about it? Unfortunately, prosecution has not been sufficiently effective in stopping the brutality. Police forces throughout the U.S. should be made more accountable for their actions. The greatest problem that has developed from police brutality is that the guilty officers are not punished, which leads to another incident of abuse. Authorities should give more effective punishment to officers who abuse citizens. Such punishment would help prevent abuse from happening again and again.
In the last 5 years or so we have had so many police scandals arise and become the central eye of the news and papers. In 2015 we now have a massive rise with social media and usually are the first to get any information and or video. Every time the news comes on or anything related to media we will get new information or see tmz has the first video of it happening. Social media is the fastest way to get anything on the web or the news within hours. Scandals that I can think of off the top of my head are Kelly Thomas beating from Fullerton PD, Sheriff Lee Baca scandal involving jail violence among inmates, and tons and tons of scandals involving police beatings and the amount of force used. The most recent scandal to come out is the officer