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Criminal Justice Personal Statement

603 Words3 Pages

From an early age, I have always been captivated by the legal world and its potential to be a pathway for shaping society and upholding justice. Growing up, the legal world was not only an enigma, but an uncharted territory. In my formative years, I watched my family attempt to maneuver through the intricate and formidable immigration process with the goal of obtaining citizenship. My family’s journey through the complexities of the legal system became a crucial chapter in my life, revealing the stark reality of the legal world that had felt as intriguing as it was daunting. Witnessing my family’s struggles, which were often consistent with the struggles of others in my community, sparked my desire to become a beacon of legal knowledge and advocacy. It was not until an …show more content…

I am driven by a deep-seated belief that access to competent legal representation should be a fundamental opportunity that can profoundly impact individuals and communities, as it has on my own family. Through undergraduate studies at the University of Nevada Las Vegas, I engaged deeply in coursework that explored constitutional law, public policy analysis, and social justice. As I pursued my undergraduate studies in Political Science and Public Policy at UNLV, I was able to hone my analytical skills and deepen my understanding of legal and policy frameworks that shape our society, preparing me to navigate complex legal issues with analytical rigor and empathy; solidifying my commitment to using the law as a tool for social change and progress in the future. Beyond academics, during my internship at Short and Stevens Law, I was inspired by the firm’s dedication to passionate legal advocacy and community outreach. The attorney’s efforts to make legal services more accessible to the wider community deeply resonated with my own

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Alex Frost Values: Law & Society 9/23/2014 The Hollow Hope Introduction and Chapter 1 Gerald Rosenberg begins his book by posing the questions he will attempt to answer for the reader throughout the rest of the text: Under what conditions do courts produce political and social change? And how effective have the courts been in producing social change under such past decisions as Roe v. Wade and Brown v. Board of Education? He then works to define some of the principles and view points 'currently' held about the US Supreme court system.

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Stephanie M. Wildman has an extensive education, which started by receiving a bachelor's degree from Stanford University in 1970, followed by a Juris Doctor degree in 1973. She is a professor emerita of the University of San Francisco’s School of Law, meaning she is retired yet honored for distinguished contributions to the university. She is currently working at Santa Clara University School of Law as the Director for the Center of Social Justice and Public Service, specializing in social justice, gender and sex discrimination and property law. Adrienne D. Davis follows a similar pattern of education as Wildman, which involves a bachelor’s degree from Yale College in 1987, followed by a Juris Doctor degree in 1991 from Yale Law School. She

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CSU Long Beach, Political Science Department at Long Beach Municipal and Superior Court, Long Beach CA Legal Apprentice and Researcher 1996-1997 • Conducted political research on the public defender system and provided analysis by viewing, discussing and summarizing judicial procedure(s) and Trial Judge, District Attorney, Public Defender to gain a better understanding of the efficacy of the public defender system on criminal proceedings in Long Beach and its need for key structural improvement. Accomplishments: After reading Gideon’s Trumpet as a context by which to explore and analyze the public defenders system and the social injustices that often occur, as reference by the main characters denial of his legal right to receive legal counsel in his defense in a Florida court; I related my reading and first hand experiences, observations and findings on the efficacy or lack thereof of the Public Defenders system to supervising professors at the CSU Long Beach, Department of Political Science in an attempt to suggest needed improvements to the criminal justice and judicial system. CSU Long Beach, Office of Affirmative Action - Long Beach,

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David Feige’s Indefensible: One Lawyer’s Journey nto the Inferno of American Justice invites people from all walks of life to a second hand experience of the criminal justice system hard at work. What is most interesting about Feige’s work is its distinct presentation of the life of a public defender in the South Bronx. Instead of simply detailing out his experiences as a public defender, Feige takes it a step further and includes the experiences of his clients. Without the personal relationships that he carefully constructs with each of his defendants, Feige would not be able to argue that the criminal justice system is flimsy at best, decisions always riding on either the judge’s personal attitudes or the clients propensity towards plea bargaining.

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Annotated Bibliography Bower, Alicia. " Constitutionally Crowded: Brown v. Plata and How the Supreme Court Pushed Back to Keep Prison Reform Litigation Alive." Loyola of Los Angeles Law Review 45.2 (2012): 555-67. Academic Search Complete. Web.

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Upon opening the book Just Mercy by Bryan Stevenson, I embarked on a journey marked by tears and heartache. To truly comprehend the intricacies of the justice system in the United States, one must delve into Stevenson’s narrative - a young lawyer’s odyssey, connecting with those awaiting death row. As I poured over the pages, I found myself repeatedly drawn back; yearning for a shift in outcomes, in narratives, in lives - yet too often witnessing the same tragic endings. Stevenson intertwines storytelling with incisive analysis to breathe life into the marginalized individuals captured by systemic injustices within the criminal justice system, Stevenson not only exposes the flaws of the legal system but also advocates for change. Just Mercy

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Issues of Social and Economic Justice Throughout my experience in the Panhandle Promise Project, I had the opportunity to closely examine the injustice many of the clients experience based on their race, economic status, or in the criminal justice system. Since the starting of America’s war on drugs longer sentencing for drug offences that in violent crimes, there has been an increase of the number of minorities who are currently in prison (Wormer, Kaplan, and Juby (2012). For the children having a parent incarcerated affects them in several different ways, such as having a higher risk of being place in foster care (Andersen and Wildeman, 2014) , poor school performance (Eddy et al., 2014), food insecurity (Turney, 2014c), antisocial behavioral problems (Jarjoura et al., 2011f). For women who have been release from prison new barriers limit the assistance they will received, the ineligibility for food stamps (Travis, 2002), and in some cases the loss of their children custody (Welsh, 2014b).

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Richardson’s case was complicated because of his lack of resources to hire a good lawyer, leading to a trial that didn’t consider his mental health and background. This example proves how socio-economic status can determine the defense a convict gets, leading to unfair trials and unjust prison sentences for the poor. This inability to afford a proper lawyer creates a cycle of poverty and imprisonment, where unjustly treated “convicts” are stuck in a system that doesn’t provide equal opportunities for justice. The inequality portrayed throughout the case of Herbert Richardson proves that people from poor backgrounds are more likely to be convicted and get harsher sentences. Just Mercy also illustrates how racial and socio-economic issues cross and work hand-in-hand to create a very flawed justice

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It was not until

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Furthermore, Just Mercy emphasizes the importance of individuals with privilege actively fighting injustice with their resources. The author admits that he could not have accomplished what he did without the support of others, whether they were colleagues or strangers eager to lend a helping hand. Ultimately, Just Mercy is a must-read for anybody interested in social justice concerns or seeking encouragement in tough times. It emphasizes real-life events that will cause readers to reconsider their ideas about our judicial system while also offering insight into how we can all work together to make a

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1261 Words | 6 Pages

By studying their role in representation and reception, we can gain valuable insights into the dynamics of legal discourse and contribute to the ongoing pursuit of justice within this discourse

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My path to law school has began in my sophomore year of college, now I am ready for the challenges ahead with an eagerness to learn. I have discovered over the years that I embody the unique combination of activism, diligence, and courage beneficial for a legal career. I originally had an interest in pursuing a law degree as a student in the School of International and Public Affairs at Florida International University. At the time, I chose to major in criminal justice with the intention of becoming a defense attorney. However as I neared graduation I was not certain about a career as a defense attorney.

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As humans we are all not created equally. We have our distinct unique qualities that make us who we are. Yet despite this in today’s society we are constantly pointing out our differences. These differences can take on a variety of several different forms. Race, gender, income are significant differences that we are often defined by.

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The first time I attended college I was very young; I was motivated to get my criminal justice career started. I thought I was on my way. I thought that there was no way I could’ve been stopped. Times took a turn for the worst or so I thought. The first thing that happened was that my father had fallen ill.

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