Original Work Set-Up and Completion Summary
Dates:
11/6/17-1/2/18
Materials/Sources:
- Texas Judicial Branch website (www.txcourts.gov)
- Annual Statistical Report for the Texas Judiciary (Fiscal Year 2016)
- Jury Charges and Sentencing in Capital Cases (2007-Present)
- Texas Courts: A Descriptive Summary
- Texas Department of Public Safety, Crime Report 2016 (http://www.dps.texas.gov/crimereports/16/citCh2.pdf)
- NBC News US Prison By The Numbers (https://www.nbcnews.com/business/business-news/locked-in-profits-u-s-prison-industry-numbers-n455976)
- The Texas Politics Project (https://texaspolitics.utexas.edu/archive/html/just/features/0201_01/crimeandp.html)
- Drug Crime: Impact on State Courts (https://cdm16501.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/spcts/id/103)
- Dallas Morning News (https://www.dallasnews.com/news/crime/2015/08/24/dallas-police-arrest-murder-suspect-say-he-confessed-to-shooting-man-in-far-north-dallas-on-sunday)
- State Court Guide To Statistical Reporting (http://www.courtstatistics.org)
- How Much Money Do Inmates Make? (https://www.worldatlas.com/articles/the-most-dangerous-states-in-the-u-s.html)
- Prison Policy Incentive (https://www.prisonpolicy.org/blog/2017/04/10/wages/)
- Employer Use of Arrest and Conviction Records in Texas (https://www.nolo.com/legal-encyclopedia/employer-use-arrest-conviction-records-texas.html)
Objective:
The objective in this research process was to not only gain a better grasp on crime as a whole in Texas, and how that relates to the courts and their outcomes, but also to set the groundwork for my final product. I have planned for this to be an interactive website outlining the steps from the beginning to end as either a criminal defense attorney or prosecutor in trial.
Description of Process:
First, I started out my research with the Texas Judicial Branch website. This was very resourceful and full of valuable reports on all the courts in Texas. I used the Annual Statistical Report for the Fiscal Year 2016 in order to better grasp crime in the courts. Next, I wrote a basic description of the court system in Texas and how it all connects. This is critical in understanding the information about certain crimes. I then broke down the statistics into larger categories and the specifics which I thought were the most relevant to my research. Then I continued by analyzing the patterns and what this meant for society as much as I could fathom. Next, I decided to break down the cases by the type of crime; misdemeanors, felonies, and capital crimes. Within each of these, I synthesized my prior research to give detailed definitions, with graphs. Then, using the graphs of the
Utilization of Higher-Thinking Skills/Interpretation:
After I researched for every subcategory and broke down the numbers, I then started writing my own analysis on why things are the way they are. This forced me to come to my own conclusions, use the evidence I was given and reach my own logical conclusions. I also put my own spin on the data and interpreted it as many ways I felt were likely and gave reasons for the one justification I felt was most pertinent.
Results:
The criminal justice system is far from perfect. The court system is Texas is far from perfect. Texas has a lot of crime, but about the same as most other states. Crime is evident everywhere, almost all the time. As a state, it is evident that Texas has a harsh system that puts away a lot of criminals. I was shocked to learn how frequently some crimes are committed compared to others, such as rates for sexual assault of child being much higher than sexual assault of an adult. I learned more about the prison system, the way society is flawed in their way of handling crime, and what it actually means for someone to have a serious criminal record. Overall, I have a better comprehensive understanding of crime. I have only touched on some of the other topics that I want to continue researching. For now, I can speak confidently of the facts and figures that go along with crime in Texas.
Application/Meaning:
The overall application for this research paper is a general background for my final product website. I wanted a really comprehensive understanding of the entire field as a whole. In order to do this, I wanted to find as much in-depth information as I could so when I create my product I am well informed and can have a vast amount of facts to formulate the creative decisions I will be making in that process. It was also beneficial as a platform to practice my researching skills. I was able to condense a large amount information into a concise dialogue, in order to tell my perspective on the crime and courts in the state of Texas.