Criminal trial procedures reflect the need to protect criminal defendants against the power of the state by providing them with a number of rights. Many of the significant rights of the accused are explicitly spelled out in the Sixth Amendment. These and other important aspects of the criminal trial are safeguards against “doing wrong,” even by the accused.
Consider the first three steps of the Criminal Justice Decision Making Model, and think about the questions associated with each as you prepare to write your paper:
Step One: Define the problem (and the questions that need to be answered). Read the information on “Special Features of Criminal Trials.” What are some of the “special features,” and how do they contribute to and help to enhance the criminal justice system?
Step Two: Gather evidence (law, policy, procedure, data) and evaluate for relevancy. What stories can you find in the media on criminal trials and any of the Sixth Amendment rights guaranteed to the accused?
Step Three: Weigh moral considerations and direct/indirect consequences. Did you have any misconceptions about rights of the accused, the Sixth Amendment, or criminal trial proceedings in general?
Following Steps Four and Five of the Criminal Justice Decision Making Model, write a three-page essay in which you discuss why the Sixth Amendment is important to the accused in this country, but also to the criminal justice system in its entirety. As you write your essay, focus on your thesis statement and topic sentences, making sure each gives a fair summary of and introduction to the written text below it. Cite your sources in APA format to support your points.
Step Four: Write your proposal, using the above material.
Step Five: Balance your position by addressing alternatives and potential pitfalls.
Your paper should be a minimum of three pages, standard format, double spaced. This is a 30 point assignment: your assessment should be thorough, your analysis should be thoughtful and detailed, your conclusions and proposals should be well formulated and evidence-based; and your report should be well-articulated and college quality, including spelling and grammar and structure.
