Writing Homework Help

Public Administration

Unit 1 Discussion Board 2

Conduct an Internet search for a public administration organization and review its organizational chart.

• What type of public organization is it? Explain in detail.
• Is the organizational chart more horizontal, vertical, or is it both? Explain why and justify your response.
• What else do you think can be learned about this organization by looking at its organizational chart? Explain in detail.

Unit 1 Individual Project

Public organizations can be categorized into two basic categories: open and closed models of organization. Compose descriptions of two fictional public organizations that are structured around one being open and the other being closed. Briefly describe what services, goods, or activities each organization provides. Then, compare the two organizations in terms of any similarities and differences based upon their open or closed organizational structure.

Assignment Guidelines

• Address the following in 750–1,000 words:
  • Create and describe two fictional public organizations.
    • One organization should be structured around the closed organizational model, while the second should be structured around the open organizational model.
  • For each of the two fictional organizations:
    • What services, goods, or activities does the organization provide? Explain.
  • Specifically, in terms of organizational structure, how are the two organizations different? Explain in detail.
  • Specifically, in terms of organizational structure, how are the two organizations similar? Explain in detail.
• Be sure to reference all sources using APA style.

Unit 2 Discussion Board

Corruption in the public sector always brings about the outcry of the public to question how organizational members can be trusted.

Primary Task Response: Within the Discussion Board area, write 400–600 words that respond to the following questions with your thoughts, ideas, and comments. This will be the foundation for future discussions by your classmates. Be substantive and clear, and use examples to reinforce your ideas:

• How does corruption come about within an organization? Explain in detail.
• What conditions must exist, or what factors allow corruption to seep into public organizations? Explain in detail.
• What forms do you think corruption can take within a public organization? Explain in detail.
• How do you think corruption in public organizations most significantly affects the community? Explain in detail.
• What are the most effective measures for eliminating and preventing corruption within public organizations? Explain in detail.

Unit 2 Individual Project

You have been solicited to conduct a performance evaluation for a public organization that has been corrupted over issues of personnel embezzling funds. Before actually conducting the evaluation, you—the evaluator—need to know certain specifics to conduct a thorough evaluation.

Compose a proposal that describes what type of evaluation will be conducted. In the proposal, explain the type of public organization. Describe some of the main services, products, and activities the organization provides to the public. Describe the size of the problem, who is affected by the problem, how long the problem has been in existence, and how long the evaluation will take. Also, describe what the evaluation will assess with respect to organizational leadership. Finally, what outcomes do you propose the evaluation will help to achieve for the organization?

Assignment Guidelines

• Address the following in 750–1,000 words:
  • Create, describe, and explain the type of fictional public organization.
  • Describe some of the main services, products, and activities the organization provides to the public.
    • You may not use the same fictional organization as was used in the previous Week’s Individual Project.
  • How significant is the corruption problem in your organization? Explain in detail.
  • How long has the corruption problem been present in your organization? Explain in detail.
  • How long will it take to conduct the performance evaluation? Explain why.
  • What will the evaluation assess with regard to the organizational leadership? Explain in detail.
  • What outcomes do you propose the evaluation will help to achieve for the organization? Why?
• Be sure to reference all sources using APA style.

Unit 3 Discussion Board

Within public organizations, there are various types of budgets that can be utilized.

Primary Task Response: Within the Discussion Board area, write 400–600 words that respond to the following questions with your thoughts, ideas, and comments. This will be the foundation for future discussions by your classmates. Be substantive and clear, and use examples to reinforce your ideas:

• Select one of the following budget types that appeals to you:
  • Line-item
  • Program/performance
  • Planning-programming-budgeting
  • Budgeting-by-objectives
  • Zero-based budgeting
  • Target-based budgeting
  • Budgeting for results
• Provide an example of an organization that uses your selected budget type, and describe the organization.
• Why does the selected budget type appeal to you? Explain in detail.
• In your opinion, what strengths and weaknesses does your selected budget type contain? Explain in detail.

Unit 3 Individual Project

Concern among the public sector is the demand for public organizations to be transparent about their budgets and spending habits. You have been scheduled to conduct a presentation for the State Budgeting Committee about the type of budget that the organization operates under. Identify the type of public organization for which you work, as well as what types of services, goods, or activities the organization provides to the public. Identify the size and scope of the organization.

Construct a budget using Excel that will provide a breakdown of the various budget items. Copy and paste the Excel spreadsheet of your budget into a Word document. Finally, explain how the budget is made available to the public for review. For example, is the budget made available at public meetings, on a special request, published in a newsletter, on the organization’s premises during regular business hours, via the organization’s Web site, or by some other means? If the budget is not available for the public to review, explain why. Furthermore, are there any provisions in place regarding the budget being made available for public view? Explain in detail.

Assignment Guidelines

• Address the following in 750–1,000 words:
  • Identify the type of public organization for which you work, as well as what types of services, goods, or activities the organization provides to the public. Identify the size and scope of the organization.
  • Construct a budget using Excel that will provide a breakdown of the various organizational budget items.
    • Copy and paste the Excel spreadsheet of your budget into a Word document.
  • Is the budget made available to the public for review?
    • If yes, explain how in detail.
    • If no, explain in detail why it is not.
  • Are there any types of provisions in place regarding the budget being made available for public view? Identify and explain.
• Be sure to reference all sources using APA style.

Unit 4 Discussion Board

Primary Task Response: Your first task is to post your own Key Assignment Outline to the discussion area so that other students are able to review your plan. Attach your document to the main discussion post, and include any notes you feel are appropriate. The purpose of this assignment is to help improve the quality of the Key Assignment Draft you will complete next week.

Unit 4 Individual Project

You have been appointed to be a part of a special committee that is responsible for devising policy procedures and a budget for the organization’s earthquake preparedness. The last earthquake in 2003 exposed areas of weakness within the organization, regarding the need for emergency equipment and supplies. You and your committee will need to draft a proposal that will address what earthquake emergency equipment and supplies will be required, as well as a budget that will show how much the items and overall expenses will cost to maintain and replace expired items.

The budget needs to include how many staff members will be needed to operate the emergency preparedness department. You should begin your proposal by identifying the population size being served by your public administration organization and by identifying any other factors about the population being served that are relevant to your overall proposal. Examples of other factors could be matters related to geography, the needs of a particular subpopulation, or regional weather patterns.

Secondly, the committee will need to propose an earthquake policy to address the proper protocols if and when an earthquake should occur. The policy needs to stipulate what emergency procedures need to be followed. The policy should include the frequency of earthquake drills by all personnel and who is responsible for stocking the earthquake supplies and maintaining the emergency preparedness budget.

Finally, the committee needs to include a rationale in the proposal for what challenges the organization may face in implementing and maintaining the operations of the emergency earthquake preparedness.

Assignment Guidelines

• Address the following in your proposal of 1,000–1,250 words:
  • The Budget
    • Must include a breakdown of the various emergency supplies to be used in the event of an earthquake
    • Needs to include how many staff members will be needed to operate the emergency preparedness department
    • You should begin your proposal by identifying the population size being served by your public administration organization.
    • Identify any other factors about the population being served that are relevant to your overall proposal
    • Other factors may include the following:
      • Matters related to geography
      • Needs of a particular subpopulation
      • Regional weather patterns
  • Earthquake Policy
    • This policy needs to stipulate what emergency procedures need to be followed.
    • This policy should include the following:
      • The frequency of earthquake drills by all personnel
      • Responsibilities for stocking the earthquake supplies
      • A plan for maintaining the emergency preparedness budget
  • Identifying Challenges
    • What challenges might the organization face in implementing and maintaining the operations of the emergency earthquake preparedness? Explain in detail.
• Remember to support all of your arguments with scholarly resources.
• Be sure to reference all sources using APA style.

Unit 5 Individual Project

• Revise and amend your Week 4 Key Assignment by adding what you learned in the post-DB’s following the task, as well as taking into consideration your instructor’s comments.

Finally, the committee will need to propose policies on training and education for earthquake preparedness. Both the organization’s employees and the public will need education and training for the earthquake preparedness plan to be truly effective.

• Add your responses to the following to your Key Assignment Final Draft:
  • How will the organization address training for employees? Explain in detail.
  • How should the public be trained and educated on earthquake preparedness? Explain in detail.
• Be sure to reference all sources using APA style.

The Laws of Evidence

Unit 1 Discussion Board 2

Primary Task Response: Within the Discussion Board area, write 400–600 words that respond to the following questions with your thoughts, ideas, and comments. This will be the foundation for future discussions by your classmates. Be substantive and clear, and use examples to reinforce your ideas:

• What are the primary types of evidence? Explain.
• What are some common public misconceptions about evidence that you are aware of? Explain.
• What do you think are some important characteristics of good evidence? Explain in detail.
• What problems exist with regard to investigators not recognizing evidence or signs of an incident? Explain.
  • How soon should evidence be noticed, collected, and preserved? Explain.
  • How could not recognizing evidence soon after arrival on the crime scene affect the prosecution’s case? Explain.

Unit 1 Individual Project

Discerning relevant evidence is an important government function. The prosecution has the duty to turn over exculpatory evidence to the defense in criminal prosecutions.

Assignment Guidelines

• Address the following in 2-3 pages:
  • Brief the following cases:
    • Brady v. Maryland
    • Giglio v. United States
  • Your case briefs should follow the format below:
    • Title: Title of the selected case
    • Facts: Summary of the events, court timeline, evidence, and so forth
    • Issues: Issues that were present in this case
    • Decisions: The court’s decision and the conclusion to the case
    • Reasoning: The rationale behind the final decision
    • Dissenting opinions: Any dissenting opinions, and an explanation of what they were and why they were raised
  • Address the following questions:
    • What is relevant evidence? Explain in detail.
    • What is exculpatory evidence? Explain in detail.
      • What is the importance of exculpatory evidence during trial?
      • Read and discuss Brady v. Maryland and Giglio v. United States regarding this issue.
      • Provide any further examples that you feel are appropriate.
• Be sure to reference all sources using APA style.

Unit 2 Discussion Board

Primary Task Response: Within the Discussion Board area, write 400–600 words that respond to the following questions with your thoughts, ideas, and comments. This will be the foundation for future discussions by your classmates. Be substantive and clear, and use examples to reinforce your ideas:

Technology and its impact on the admission of evidence

Facial recognition software has come a long way in a short period of time, and is believed by many to provide a technological boost to law enforcement’s ability to identify potential suspects. One of the problems law enforcement often faces today is the availability of photo or video images from a crime, but no way to effectively identify an individual shown on the photo or video.

• For this discussion board, research facial recognition software, its reliability, effectiveness, and admissibility.
• Share with your classmates what you’ve learned about facial recognition software.
• In addition to your general discussion on facial recognition software, please answer the following questions:
  • Is there a consensus in the scientific community on the reliability of facial recognition software?
  • Are there any courts that have admitted evidence based on facial recognition software?
  • How have courts traditionally dealt with new technologies and their evidentiary impact on the criminal trial?
  • What, if any, barriers stand in the way of courts using facial recognition software?
  • Do you believe that the admission of evidence based on facial recognition software will ever become commonplace in our criminal justice system? Why or why not?

Unit 2 Individual Project

• Address the following in 2-3 pages:
  • Identify and describe 5 different types of specific demonstrative evidence.
  • What can demonstrative evidence be used to show? Explain.
  • Define authentication (Rule 901, Federal Rules of Evidence).
  • What types of evidence must be authenticated? Explain why.
  • How is authentication related to relevance? Explain.
  • Thoroughly explain the process of authenticating both real evidence and demonstrative evidence.
    • How are the processes similar? How are they different? Explain.
  • Specifically, how can the following be authenticated? Explain in detail:
    • Pictorial evidence (photographs, X-rays, videos, and automatic devices)
    • Computer printouts
    • Maps, models, diagrams, charts, and summaries
  • What are the different stages in the evidence chain of custody?
    • Why is the chain of custody so important to successful prosecutions? Explain in detail.
• Use at least 3 scholarly resources to fully support your responses.
• Be sure to reference all sources using APA style.

Unit 3 Discussion Board

Primary Task Response: Within the Discussion Board area, write 400–600 words that respond to the following questions with your thoughts, ideas, and comments. This will be the foundation for future discussions by your classmates. Be substantive and clear, and use examples to reinforce your ideas:

• Describe and explain the roles of the different types of witnesses, such as the following:
  • Lay witnesses
  • Expert witnesses
  • Law enforcement witnesses
• How important are witnesses with regard to the prosecution’s case during a trial? Explain.
• How important are witnesses with regard to the defense’s case during a trial? Explain.
  • How does the role of witnesses used for the prosecution differ from that of witnesses used for the defense? Explain.
• What qualifications do you think should be necessary for a witness to be considered an expert? Explain.

Unit 3 Individual Project

In this assignment, you will prepare an essay on the hearsay rule and the rationale behind the rule. Explain the 4 main dangers of hearsay, and discuss 2 hearsay exceptions. Include examples.

Assignment Guidelines

• Address the following in 2-3 pages:
  • What is the hearsay rule? Explain in detail.
    • What major cases were involved in the establishment of the hearsay rule? Summarize.
    • What is the rationale behind the rule? Explain.
  • What issues exist regarding the hearsay rule? Explain.
  • What are the 4 main dangers of hearsay? Explain in detail.
  • What are the hearsay exceptions? Explain.
    • Are there any hearsay exceptions that you disagree with? Why or why not? Explain.
• Use at least 2 scholarly resources to support your arguments.
• Be sure to reference all sources using APA style.

Unit 4 Discussion Board

Primary Task Response: Your first task is to post your own Key Assignment Outline (outline of your response to the Phase 4 IP) to the discussion area so that other students are able to review your plan. Attach your document to the main discussion post, and include any notes you feel are appropriate. The purpose of this assignment is to help improve the quality of the Key Assignment Draft you will complete next week. The Phase 4 IP is the Key Assignment being referred to here.

Unit 4 Individual Project

During trial preparation, you are directed by the Assistant U.S. Attorney (AUSA) to bring the tapes of intercepted conversations involving a prime suspect in your case to her office. You provide the evidence custodian with the necessary paperwork and are waiting for the tapes to be produced. After 20 minutes, the custodian comes back and asks if you are sure you have provided the correct case and exhibit numbers. You verify the numbers and are told the original tapes cannot be found.

You immediately inform your supervisor, who is understandably concerned. You have the paperwork documenting the fact that the tapes were transferred to the custody of the evidence custodian. The other agents in the office are asked whether they have any knowledge of this matter. No one has any idea as to what happened to the original tapes.

You and your supervisor call the AUSA and explain to her what has happened. She is furious and tells you not to be surprised if the judge throws out the entire case. You remind her that she has duplicate copies in her possession and that you have your working copies as well. She says her copies were barely audible, and apparently there was some problem with the recording equipment. You decide to do some research on the best evidence rule.

Assignment Guidelines

• Address the following in 3-4 pages:
  • What is the best evidence rule? Explain in detail.
    • Why was the best evidence rule implemented into the U.S. court system? Explain.
    • What is the rationale behind its application?
  • Review the following cases with regard to wiretapping:
    • Goldman v. United States
    • Katz v. United States
  • Summarize the current status of wiretapping restrictions according to the reviewed cases above.
  • How must evidence derived from wiretapping be packaged and preserved? Explain.
  • How does wiretapping evidence relate to the “fruit of the poisonous tree” doctrine? Explain.
  • What is the likely outcome of your case in court if the originals are not located? Explain.
• Be sure to reference all sources using APA style.

Unit 5 Individual Project

During the past several years, DNA testing has become a powerful and well-accepted tool that serves several purposes.

Your instructor has returned your Week 4 Individual Project Key Assignment with comments and suggestions to improve your overall plan. Additionally, you have had the opportunity to discuss your case and plan with your peers.

Assignment Guidelines

• Revise and amend your Week 4 Key Assignment by adding what you learned in the Discussion Board posts following the task, as well as taking into consideration your instructor’s comments.
• Address the following, and add your responses to your Key Assignment final draft:
  • What are the purposes of DNA testing? Explain in detail.
    • Provide examples where necessary.
  • What is law enforcement’s role in making DNA testing possible today when it was not possible 15–20 years ago? Explain.
    • Provide examples when necessary.
    • Discuss how the best evidence rule can come into play when dealing with DNA evidence.
• Be sure to reference all sources using APA style.