INTRODUCTION
For this assignment, please select one book from the list below and provide a thorough analysis of the book. If you have a different book in mind that you would prefer to read for this assignment, the opportunity does exist that you may select the book, with instructor approval, to read for this assignment. It may not be a book that you have read within the last two years. The goal of this assignment is to gain an additional insight into the world of civil liability for Criminal Justice and other working professionals.
POINTS OF ANALYSIS
As you analyze the book, describe what is there and what is not. Is the topic timely and necessary or is it of modest importance? Why or why not? Does the author support his/her arguments with empirical research? Is there any empirical research at all? What is the quality of the empirical and/or legal research? Is the author citing to references that are important in the field, or are the cites to relatively unimportant studies, ones outdated or accomplished with suspect methodologies?
Who are the authors? What is the nature of their backgrounds and expertise in this area?
GRADING
Grading is primarily based on the degree to which you have studied the book, and secondarily on the quality of the review essay. Since this is not a writing class, less emphasis (but still some) is placed on punctuation, grammar and sentence structure. There are numerous, if not hundreds of, ways to analyze a piece of literature and you must use your analytical skills to analyze the book. Fundamentally, you must ask yourself whether this book is good, bad, or otherwise. Most important, you must explicate in detail why you think it is so. That is primarily what you will be graded on.
LENGTH OF REVIEW
The length of the review of the book is left to your discretion. Please use your discretion wisely. Always error on the side of being overly-comprehensive, thorough, and detailed.
GRADE ALLOCATIONS
The book review essay scores can range from a maximum of 100 points (“A”) to a minimum of zero (“E”) points.
LIST OF TITLES FOR BOOK STUDY AND REVIEW (Please select one)
Stop and Frisk: The Use and Abuse of a Controversial Policing Tactic, by Michael D. White and Henry F. Fradella*
Shielded: How the Police Became Untouchable, by Joanna Schwartz
The DOJ Investigation of the Chicago Police Department, by U.S. DOJ and Black* this is also available for free, without Black’s introduction, at:https://www.justice.gov/opa/file/925846/download
Punishment Without Trial: Why Plea Bargaining is a Bad Deal, by Carissa Byrne Hessick
Presumed Guilty, by Erwin Chemerinsky
