Reflection - A great week of EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING - Ms. Grosart

This week was true example of EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING at its best. The Criminal Justice group started the week with one essential question: What are our preconceived notions of the criminal justice system and are these notions accurate?
We went full-on into exploring these notions. From seeing the local House of Corrections (Belknap), to experiencing a taste of life in maximum security at the Nashua St. Jail, to a court room arraignment, to a session with a defense attorney, this group left no stone unturned. We learned about things verbally, experienced them firsthand, asked our questions, heard answers and witnessed the answers. We experienced the smell of a jail, the feel of being yelled at by an inmate, the sound of the sally port door closing behind us, the feel of handcuffs being slapped around your wrist, and the sound of a prison guard yelling. We will never know what it's like to actually be locked up, to have your freedoms taken from you, to be scared to death of what could happen to you at the hands of other inmates, to have no privacy, to feel that your life is ruined and to see the dwindling hope of a better life. We learned about who might defend us if we ended up in a situation where we needed a court appointed lawyer. We feel confident in getting the best defense possible. Our lawyer will fight for us no matter what. That's a good feeling.
This has been a week of information, experiences, fun, laughs, surprises and education. We are a more informed group of citizens. Thank you to our students for being engaged and inquisitive and for truly delving into the project. #criminaljustice14 #greatweek

Alberto - Final Post

This week was a great week, full of new experiences and lessons. I learned a lot about how the judiciary system works in America and it was great to realize that some of my assumptions were wrong and others right. Not everything is like in the movies or tv shows, but they are kind of accurate in some aspects. The thing that impressed me most was visiting both Kelnap county Jail and Nashua St. Jail, I think it gave me a more realistic perspective of how jails are in real life and what are the relationships between inmates and guards, and inmates with each other.
We also had the opportunity to talk to Chris keating (public defender) from who I learned what my rights are as a civilian and also what are the limitations of the police.
 After all this experience I think I'm definitely more prepared in the criminal justice area.

Kristina- Final post

This project week is only my second, but certainly my favorite. Coming into this week I had a lot of preconceived ideas that proved me to be wrong. Seeing the Belknap House of Corrections and the Nashua St jail was especially interesting to me because I had thought all inmates in jail were treated the same. The house of corrections was a lot more laid back (but still safe and secure!)  while the jail seemed to be much stricter. I love talking about the jails because the jail visits were my absolute favorite part of the week. I had never before been inside a jail so I was very intrigued going into each one. Being able to actually talk to and ask the inmate, Mohammad, questions was very eye opening. Much of what I learned and got to experience this week is something I never would have gotten the opportunity to do outside of project week. A big thank you to Mr. Little and Ms. Grosart, our two amazing group leaders, for an amazing week!

Final Day - Teresa

When I first decided to do criminal justice I thought I had a clear idea of what the Justice system looked like. My idea of jail was a cement complex surrounded with barbed wire. I thought the prisoners were all terrible people under strict surveillance at all times. Though our investigation of the Belknap house of Corrections and the Nashua Street Jail I learned that there are different types of prisons with varying degrees of protection and procedure. The Belknap House of Corrections was relatively relaxed. The lower security prisoners were allowed to wander around a little, there were classes that the inmates could take and many were released on work detail during the day. At Belknap the guards and staff took a great interest in trying to improve the lives of the inmates so when they got out they would be able to be active contributing members of society. The Nashua Street Jail on the other hand was what I had originally imagined a jail would look like, minus the barbed wire fences. The Jail was very strict and there was constant violence and hatred between the inmates and to the gaurds. The main goal of the jail is to hold the inmates, there are no classes, work detail, or freedoms. The inmates never even saw the sun except through barred windows. The Nashua Street Jail was depressing. I would not want to be arrested after seeing what I have seen at the two jails. The court house was also different than I expected. I originally believed that lawyers would meet their clients right after they get arrested and that when they go to court the room is quiet for the arraignment. I learned that lawyers sometimes meet their clients right before the arraignment and have only a couple of minutes to prepare their case. The courtroom was also very noisy with many things going on at a time. The defense attorney Chris Keating, who we met with, was much as I originally thought a defense attorney would be. I learned a lot about how cases are tried and what citizens rights are under the fourth amendment. After the experiences of this week I have come to a greater understanding and appreciation of the criminal justice system.

Project Summary

 Aubrey Dawkins

Today is the last day of NHS project week! All in all it was a great experience, filled with tons of excitement the first 2 days, and wonderful insights and knowledge the second 2. Nothing is more rewarding and fun than gaining knowledge through structured positive experience with enthusiastic teachers. Visiting the police station, the Belknap House of Correction, and the Nashua St. Jail cleared so much gray area up for me. Yes, we all have an idea of what these places are like from watching shows like Cops, Beyond Scared Straight or movies like Shawshank Redemption but you'd be surprised how wrong, negatively and inaccurately depicted they are. This week, I will be talking about for years and years to come, excited to educate people on a topic were all interested in, but in reality know very little about.

Gracie Final Post

This week has been a great one full of tons of new knowledge and fun. Going into this week, I knew very little information about the criminal justice system. Over the week I had assumptions that changed into realizations for example, I never really knew the power that guards/officers had in jail, or that in court as a defender you may be meeting with your client for just hours before their arraignment. I also assumed that jail really was terrible and as a group we were able to find out this is true. It really is a place that myself and I'm sure no one else would like to ever be. I also assumed that jails were all relatively the same, however this is not the case. All jails are different whether it is the amount of inmates, the security of the jail, or the environment of the jail. Belknap County House of Corrections and the Nashua St. Jail are an example of this as they were completely different than each other. This is just some of the new information that I learned over this past week. It was really awesome and I loved the groupi that I was with. Thank you Ms.Grosart, Mr.Little, Mr.Joslin, and the rest involved in making this project possible! CRIMINAL JUSTICE 2014

Jackie Martel Final Post

Overall, I was impressed by the amount of professionalism that was prevalent this week. In media and on tv shows that we watch, we see corrupt and weighted systems to make the shows more interesting but during this week we didn't see that. What I saw were hardworking people whether it was a passionate judge, a lawyer content with his responsibilities, or a guard ready to take action to try and do the right thing. Each person we met with made an impact on my opinion and made me appreciate all of the jobs that are necessary to provide a fair and just legal system. The media also portrays trials and arrests as a quick and fairly simple process, but I later learned that it takes a lot even to just get a warrant to search somebody. Trials require many previous hearings, one being an arraignment which we got to witness. Those are quick meetings, but overall the entire process can be tedious and require focus and patience. I gained a lot more respect for correctional facilities after we visited because I didnt know how important their jobs were. My opinion about the entire legal system has shifted from seeing it as a corrupt and system that needs change, to now as a necessary tool to guide the nation into the right direction.

Thank you to Ms. G and Mr. Little for providing us with an amazing week!

Criminal justice reflection

Josh Repine 
Last day

This last week we learned about the criminal justice system. Our main goal was to evaluate the system and relate or compare it to the criminal justice system that the TV displays. The TV displays somethings exactly and others horribly. For example, TV shows the correct physical appearance of the jail system and the inmates living situation. It also confirmed my idea of a correctional officer because it showed that the officer was very passionate about his job and wanting the best for the prison but not necessarily the best for the inmates. But TV shows didn't show the correct idea of a defense lawyer. Shows portray these self appointed defense lawyers as not caring about each case. But after speaking to one it's obvious that he cares about each case and every situation. The lawyer is trying to win each case. This week was very eye opening and helpful in understanding a major part of the United States justice system.

Emily Cuthbertson - Final Post

This week was very informational and really fun to be apart of. Going into the week I had an assumption that all jails were the same. Over the week I learned that there are jails, prisons, and house of corrections facilities which are all different. My assumption was that in every jail there was a cell with two inmates and a rec area like the Nashua Street Jail, but I learned that a jail is just for pre trial inmates who have not been sentenced. I also learned that a house of corrections facility is for inmates sentenced under one year and a prison is for inmates with more than a one year sentence. It was also interesting to know that due to different reasons each prison is different. In the Nashua Street jail all inmates were on maximum security and could not leave their cell block without handcuffs, but in the Belknap Country House of Corrections the inmates could walk around free at the appropriate times. Overall this week I learned a lot and my assumptions were either proven to be true or they were completely wrong and I learned what actually happens. Visiting the jails and having a hands on experience seeing the inmates in there cells and the gross environment they lived in showed me that it is not a place I would want to live in.

Alisha Gilbert Day 5

This week was a very good week and it opened my eyes up to what criminal justice really is. This was a great project for me to do because I am going to College to study this subject. I really enjoyed going to the jails and getting to talk to the inmates and also observe how the guards interact with them. I also really enjoyed going to court and watching the arraignment. It showed me that I never want to be accused of anything or do anything to get me accused of something because jail is not a place where I'd like to end up. This was a very good experience for me and I'm looking forward to presuming the criminal justice job.  

Mock Arraignment #criminaljustice14

 The Honorable Emily Cuthbertson presided over 3 arraignments today.
Aubrey Dawkins was arraigned on charges of resisting arrest. He was let out on his own recognizance. Jackie Martel did a great job.
Josh Repine was arraigned on charges of possession of cocaine with intent to sell and illegal possession of a firearm. His bail was set at $10,000. His lawyer, Gracie Maganzini, asked to suppress the evidence because it was illegally obtained. She cited the 4th Amendment to lessen his bail from $25,000.
Kristina "Beyonce" Doucette was arraigned on charges of distributing an illegal substance (crack cocaine) and resisting arrest. With Teresa Trias as her lawyer, "Beyonce" was not able to be released on her own recognizance. The judge set her bail at $5,000.

                                  Aubrey is excited to be released on his own recognizance.

Reasonable Suspicion

Today the Criminal Justice group continued its work with Chris Keating, Executive Director of NH Public Defender Office.  Students prepared defense statements for arraignment, discussed the role of reasonable search and seizure in the justice process, and participated in mock arraignment hearings. Students played the roles of police and prosecution, judge, defense attorney, and defendant. Impressive how much they learned this week! Great group - awesome job! Looking forward to the Symposium presentation work tomorrow.

Day 4 Teresa

For the past two days Chris Keating, the Executive Director of NH Public Defender Office, has met with us to discuss the Criminal Justice system. The most interesting thing that I learned about through the discussions are a citizens rights under Federal and State laws in regard to search and seizures. Before the discussion I thought that an officer must have an official warrant to search your person and possessions and that when stopped by a police officer you are required to stay and listen to them. Keating explained to us that in general, in order for an officer to search someone or their property the officer must have probable cause and go through the process of requesting a warrant from a neutral and detached magistrate. In such cases the magistrate reserves the right to deny a request for a search warrant. An exception to the warrant requirement laws would be that an officer has reasonable suspicion based on articulable facts through rational interference that a person has been, is, or is about to be involved in a crime. An officer has the right at all times to go up to a person and ask them to speak with them and the citizen maintains the right to request to leave at any time. When an officer gives an order that you stop you must stop and if they deny your request to leave you must comply. In the case of the warrant exception the officer maintains the right to seize and search someone without a warrant, and if the suspect is found to be involved in a crime they will be arrested. If the officer can did not have enough reason to seize, search, and/or arrest someone then the evidence against the person may be supressed. It was interesting to learn that the federal laws regarding searches and seizures are not that specific and that it is through state laws and a multitude of cases that the procedures surrounding searches and seizures are decided.

Alberto Day 4

Yesterday, we had the oportunity to meet Chris Keating, Executive Director of NH Public Defender office. It was great to have him here with us, and be able to ask him questions about his job and experience as a public defender lawyer. I personally found it very interesting and I learned a lot about what are my rights as a civilian, and how the interpretation of the laws and regulations may be so different. It was such a great and interesting experience.

Day 4: Activity & Mr. Keating

Aubrey Dawkins

Today we continued our insightful talk with Mr. Keating, the defense attorney who kindly came and spoke with us. It's interesting how his interpretation of the laws are so different from the judge and prosecutors because his job entails that you get your client off the hook to be successful. He knows right from wrong, but that does not matter, his job is only too fight the charges at every turn possible.

Later in the day we did an activity as a group where we set up a court room, and acted out 3 different cases that we created. It was a great success all in all. Obviously it's not going to be as authentic as actual court cases, but it did have many characteristics of an actual court room. Such as the transfer of information from client to attorney, reasonable charges and sentencing and also correct term use, which sounds simple in this area of expertise that's a very big deal.

Gracie Day 4

Today as well as yesterday afternoon, we met with Chris Keating the Executive Director of  NH Public Defender Office. He spoke with us particularly about public defense along with the entirety of the Criminal Justice system. He had so much knowledge and experience that it made the information really interesting to learn about. After having met with him and the previous criminal justice members, I felt way more knowledgeable than I had been going into Project Week. This afternoon, as a group we were able to express this knowledge in a fun activity in which we were assigned to different parts of a case, and had a court arraignment. I had an enjoyable time participating as a lawyer, and I was able to demonstrate what I have learned over these days which was awesome.

Chloé, day 4

Mr. Keating is a public defender lawyer that came to talk to us. I thought it was really interesting to see from his point of view how he interprets the law. I was surprised on how he can manage 80 cases at a time and stay fully committed to every one of his clients. He cleared up a lot of questions of mine on how the criminal justice system works ( example: how the executive, judicial and legislative branches get along). It was interesting to hear that he prefers when his client is guilty of the charge so that if he loses, it's not entirely his fault.

Kristina- day 4

The role play activity we did today was a fun way to put everything we learned this week to use. I was excited when Ms. Grosart and Mr. Little asked me to be the drug dealer because I got to be the "bad guy" but wouldnt suffer from any REAL consequences. With my new name (Beyoncè) and "bad guy" identity, I dealt the coke to Josh in a rather stealthy way, but ultimately was caught. When in court I was a bit nervous because the prosecuters (who in this case were the police that caught me) wanted to put me on a $10,000 bail! I knew the judge would ask for a bail, but I was hoping for a much smaller one. My attourney fought and helped get me a lowered bail of $5,000. Although it was kind of cool to play the "bad guy" I don't have thousands of dollars I'm willing to put towards bailing myself out of jail, so I think I'll stick to being the "good guy."

Emily Cuthbertson - Day 4

Today we meet with Chris Keating who is the Executive Director of New Hampshire Public Defender Office and he taught us about some laws and he also shared some interesting stories about his work experiences. After meeting with him we did a role play and went through arraignments of different cases. The role play was interesting to me because it showed how difficult it was for the judge, prosecutors, and defense attorneys to fight their side of the story and make a final decision. I was the judge and it was hard when amendments were brought in and were true which had to suppress evidence which made it harder for the prosecutors to prove the criminal should have a bail set and not walk free. The role play arraignments also showed how it sometimes can be a he said she said kind of matter, where the defendant and prosecutors have two different versions of the stories and you do not know which one is telling the truth.

Sam Liebert- Day 4

Listening to Chris Keeting about the judicial system and the objectives of all of the differents areas in the system has made my outlooks on the jobs of individuals much more appreciative.  His explanations of the thoughts going through different peoples heads during court cases, arrests, arraignments, and trials has shown me how important the judicial system really is.  Explaining that the Court system is protecting the freedoms of the people and creating a line with each case brought to trial whether something is right or wrong.  I believe he explained what a defense lawyers job really is and some of the emotions or thoughts going through ones head during court cases and has made me understand what they are working for and towards. His explanations about how a defense lawyer is working towards getting their client out of jail and explaining why they did not commit the crime, not just to guide them through the process.

Jackie Martel Day 4

When we reenacted an arraignment for our "clients" it was extremely engaging and gave me a different perspective of what a lawyer is really required to do. It was interesting because even though I was in front of my class mates, I almost felt nervous because the representation of the client I was given was entirely in my hands. The judge had the final overall opinion in the case, but the defense and prosecutors were the only ones that could contribute. We (playing the role of the defense attorneys) had to be very articulate and convincing, while only having met with our client for 5 minutes. Learning how to represent somebody in an arraignment made me appreciate what we see and hear about what lawyers have to do during trials because there has to be an immense about of preparation, not only for you and your client, but for what the other side is going to bring to the table as well.

This activity was a quick yet engaging way for us to apply everything we learned so far throughout the entire week into one mock trial, whether your part was a spectator, judge, lawyer, or even the criminal.

Day 4 - claire

When Mr. Keating came to talk to us yesterday I was skeptical on what we were going to learn and if we were going to learn anything. After a couple hours with him I found it very interesting listening to his previous cases and experiences being an executive director of New Hampshire public defender office. I did end up learning a lot about situations when an officer comes up to me I don't actually have to talk to him or he needs some sort of proof or evidence to search me. My whole life I thought that if I got accused of something and went to trial it will be no big deal of I didn't do it but once he told us the story of the man who "raped" a girl at knife point then dropped her off at her house that whole idea changed. I strongly believe that he didnt do it and that it was just an obsessive girl who was upset that he wouldn't call her which really scared me. Throughout the past week I have learned numerous things and became very fascinated in criminal justice.

Alisha Gilbert Day 4

When Mr. Chris Keating came into talk to us, it was very interesting. I enjoyed learning all of the things that he had to tell us such as the different cases that he has done or when he told us stuff that he didn't know when he graduated from law school. What he had to say was very valuable for me because this is a field of interest.

The court case that we did today was very cool. Being a Police Officer during this showed me how hard it is to make an arrest because of all the evidence that you need, such as a probable cause. The police have a really difficult job I've learned because they have to chase down criminals/civilians and not know what the criminal or civilian is going to do to them. Today and yesterday has given me a completely different outlook on the cops and justice system.

Repine day 4.

Day 4
Josh Repine

Today and yesterday afternoon we met with the executive director of the NH public defender. His name was Chris Keating. He seemed like a great defender. He explained to us every step of the judicial process. He explained the difference between a private lawyer and a publically assigned lawyer. It was surprising that there was really no difference behind them. Chris Keating seemed to enjoy being a defender and truly cared about winning each individual case. He changed my preconceived idea about a public defense lawyer.

Alberto Day 2

It was interesting to see how different were the relationships between inmates and guards, and also inmates with each other at Nashua Street Jail and Belknap County jail. In Belknap the relationship between inmates and guards was better, guards knew the names of every single inmate, and I guess they treated them better. It seemed like inmates got along with each other and guards were always willing to help them improve and change their behaviors, through programs and classes. On the other hand, in Nashua Street Jail, the relationship between inmates and guards was not very good, guards didn't really care about helping inmates, they were just there to make sure they stayed in their cells and feed them, and also the relationship between inmates was bad, there were fights frequently, and they always had to be watching their backs

Criminal Justice Day 2 - Teresa

The Belknap Jail we visited Monday was almost the opposite of the Nashua Street Jail we visited Tuesday. Belknap jail had a more nurturing environment, where they cared about the inmates well being. At the Nashua Street Jail there was no friendly relationship between the guards and the inmates. The description both the guard that toured us and the inmate that spoke to us gave me the impression that the way prisons are portrayed is much like the way it is portrayed on television. There are gangs, fights, and conspiracies that go on within the prison walls. The inmate was telling us that you have to be very careful about how you act, one off action and you will be attacked by the other inmates. The guard described it as a predator and prey relationship. When you come in you are labeled as one or the other. He described it as lions that gang up and attack any weak zebra. The atmosphere of the Nashua Street Jail was dark and depressing. There didn't seem to be much effort to change the criminal ways of the inmates.

Gracie Day 2

The day in Boston was a memorable experience. As a group we were not only in the city but also  visited two very interesting places; the Nashua St. jail and the Court House. After having now visited the Boston jail and the Belknap County jail I have learned many things differentiating the two. When visiting the Boston jail, it seemed as if the inmates did not have a time at rest, they always were having to watch their backs and really being cautious with the decisions they made. At Belknap, this was not really an issue, the inmates were less worried and seemed to get along rather than fighting and jumping one another like the inmates in Boston. In the city jail, it also seemed as if the officers had no care for the inmates. Of course they had to be stern and serious however they had no relationship and trust toward the inmates. Overall the two jails had completely different environment that our group was able to see. Can't wait for the rest of the week!

Chloé, day 2

It was interesting to see how different the Nashua street jail was compared to the bellnap jail. Inmates had less freedom and were really treated with no trust. What I liked most about this tour was when one of the inmates came to talk to us. He explained how hard it was to not get involve with anything in the jail because everyone is up to no good. It's very easy to be institutionalized. When you've once been to prison, usually when you get out that's the only thing you know. You're surrounded by criminals when you stay there, so you are forced to abide by the rules of the inmates if you want to survive. Prisoners are stuck at the jail all day. Since they have nothing to do, they scrutinize everything: how you act, how you talk, the crime you've committed, etc. It is very easy to be misunderstood or interpreted in the wrong way. The inmates are constantly watching their back and looking for anything that could spark a fight. Only way to survive in prison is to gain the respect of others.

Kristina- day 2

As bad as I thought life was at the Belknap County Jail, the Nashua Street Jail in Boston was even worse. After yesterday's visit, the Belknap Jail seemed like an overnight camp rather than a jail. The inmates we saw in Boston yesterday were a lot more confined and treated a lot differently than the inmates in Belknap. The. Boston prisoners seemed to be talked down to much more by the guards and were not treated really like human beings at all. The officer made a point to say that he treats the inmates and speaks to them as he would want to be treated and spoken to, but I can't say I 100% believe him. One thing that really stuck out to me was when one of the inmates shouted at us, "This ain't no tourist attraction! We ain't no f*#@ing zoo animals!" The inmates were shouting at us a lot, but that one inmate's words stuck out to me because rather than trying to scare us, he told us how he was feeling, even though he probably didn't realize it at the time. He was telling us how the way he gets treated makes him feel like an animal, which most likely upsets, angers, and frustrates him. While he said that, an inmate at the Belknap jail whispered to us, "It really isn't that bad here!" Although I never intend on going to jail, if I were to go, I would way rather go to Belknap!

Nashua St Jail

Aubrey Dawkins

Yesterday was intense! I really had a good time learning about the jail and being in that environment. There are certain things that really nothing can prepare you for, and visiting a serious jail and stepping into a potentially very hostile environment is a feeling like no other. I really enjoyed learning about the inmates and how they interact in each of their cell blocks. How segregated they can become and how quickly you can become a victim if you are not aware of literally everything you do at all times. The lion and zebra analogy the jail guard used was great I think, you are either a lion or a zebra when you are inside. Everyone wants to come in being a lion, but many learn quickly that they are zebras once they give you no other option but to accept it after you've been beaten to within an inch of your life. Eat or be eaten is the code in there, very much like our everyday society in terms of being wildly successful. The difference in jail is that, your fighting to stay alive.

Sam Liebert-Day 2

When visiting the Nashua street jail, it solidified some of my ideas about the dirtiness of jail.  When seeing the jail firsthand you understand that the relationship between guards and inmates and a constant mind game.  The inmates have lost all all trust between themselves and the guards.   They  are under constant surveillance in the cells and free time, they are never at any moment not being watched  or followed closely by a guard.  The inmates understand that they have lost all of the privileges of a citizen and understand that they must show that they can work and wait so that they can come back into society.  While in the Nashua Street Jail, inmates have a unwritten code and understand who will be prey and who will be a predetor.  That as an inmate you must always watch your back for everything that you do and know that you will always have to to survive in the harsh environment.

Nashua Street Jail

Josh Repine
Criminal justice day 2

Television and movies. They run the lives of young children. They give these children perspective and judgments on certain individuals. Yesterday confirmed the perspective and preconceived ideas I had about a major jail corrections officer. Our officer fit the standard mold of what TV has depicted. He was an over weight white male, who enjoyed his job, all parts of his job.  I don't know if he was trying to sound/look cool in front of teen students or if that's his natural personality but he confirmed these shows. He walked with this swagger that showed immense confidence and always noted to how big of an impact he made in every situation. Personally it seemed like these inmates were helping his confidence more than he was helping rehabilitate their lives.

Claire-day 2

My favorite thing that I learned yesterday was that Sargent Manning's favorite color was either blue or green. Belknap seemed like a much better place than the Nashua Street Jail. The officers at Belknap seemed to be more honest. From my experience, Boston police are beyond corrupt and racist. Whenever I go out they are just way more strict to African Americans than Whites. Sergeant Manning also seemed to be switching up his story throughout the tour which made me wonder if he was being completely honest. I also have no idea why he told us the story of him at DD's (it was a story that didnt make sense on how it was related to the jail.) Once we left the jail we went to the Boston Municipal Court. I was amazed on how pretty it was, almost as pretty as my favorite dorm parent Betty! I was not looking forward to the court because I thought it would be the most boring part of the trip. When we went to the pre-trial it was actually very interesting, it was almost like Law and Order but in real life. Then once the judge starting talking to us I'm pretty sure I may of fallen asleep because it was such a busy day. Overall, this project week has been very interesting.

Emily Cuthbertson - Nashua Street Jail

When we visited the Nashua Street Jail in Boston something that stood out to me was that everything an inmate does while in prison is watched by not only the guards, but other inmates. Other inmates will study behaviors of a new inmate and see if they get money in their canteen or if they have visitors and decide how they want to treat that inmate. Most inmates who do not have a lot will get preyed on and harassed even though they cannot control what they get from the inside. On top of other inmates watching the weaker inmates, guards are also watching and seeing how they are being treated. If an inmate starts to get into a fight it takes about 30 seconds for the response team to arrive and help that inmate, which sometimes is too late. I also found it interesting that when we talked with Muhammed, he said that if you do not know what an inmate did you would ask the inmates who commit murder and robberies are the inmates that are respected and feared. St the same time the inmates who commit rape are not respected at all and normally get beat by the big guys to get him out of their cell block. It was interesting to know that the way they think of social order is the one who has been shot or stabbed or committed at high factor crime and how that is backwards from thinking on the outside world.

Alisha Gilbert Day 2

Something that was different from the Nashua Street Jail and the Belknap County Jail was the guards  and how the inmates interacted with eachother. The guard that we had at the County Jail seemed to care a lot more compared to the guard at the Nashua jail. The inmates at Belknap all seemed to be civil with each other, didn't get in many fights  and they were a lot more laid back compared to the Boston one where they always got in fights, had their gangs and so on. I thought it was crazy how the Boston jail would handcuff people in the back of the car, putting 5 people together so that they have no movement what so ever. The two jails seemed like two completely different atmospheres based on what the inmates where doing and how they reacted. For example, when we walked into the Belknap jail, the inmates were playing card games and monopoly but at the Boston jail they were all in their cells, and I didn't see any card games around on the tables or anything.

Jackie Martel Boston

In Boston, after we experienced the Nashua Street Jail, we attended an Arraignment at the Boston Municipal Court. It was really interesting to be able to see a real arraignment and be able to compare it to the ones we see on tv. I watch Law & Order frequently and arraignments on that show are a lot more expedited in what they show on camera. There were a lot of details involved in the process and I never knew that a judge had to be so attentive to what each lawyer says, both the prosecutor and defense.

We also got to speak with the Chief Justice of the Boston Municipal Court. That was a really positive experience for me because I am hoping to become an attorney someday, whether it be defense or prosection. He gave light to both sides of the law because he has experienced being both and explained the difference between the two. He was very positive and showed a lot of appreciation for the work that everyone in the courtroom does and that made me want to become a part of the criminal justice system more than I thought. I felt excited and ready to learn more after we left that room, it was a great opportunity for everyone whether they just wanted to learn more about the system or even want to take part in it one day. It was an experience that I will not forget anytime soon.

Kristina- Day 1

When people say the sound of a cell door closing sends shivers through your body, they aren't kidding. Going into the Belknap County Jail was like nothing I have experienced before. There was a clear distinction between the inmates and the officers, but I was surprised to see how well the officers treated the inmates and vise-versa. The relationship between the officers and inmates created,  what seemed to me, a healthier environment for both parties involved. I went into the jail thinking that all of the inmates would be confined behind bars screaming things at us and the guards as we walked passed, but I was very wrong. Besides the one guy who was in medium security that thought it would be funny to scare us by slamming on the glass separating us, the inmates weren't the mean scary people I thought they would be. After seeing how the jail is seen through the officers eyes, I am really looking forward to go into Boston tomorrow to get a chance to talk to the inmates and hear what they have to say about their experience in jail.

Visit to Jail Day 1 - Teresa

Visiting the Police Department I learned something new about Miranda rights. Before going I assumed police are required to read them when someone is arrested. The officers told us that they are only required to read people their Miranda Rights when they are being interrogated. The County Jail we visited was a lot more relaxed then I thought it would be. The inmates are allowed to attend classes and have books. The minimum security prisoners have a lot more freedoms than I thought they would. They can go out and get jobs and walk around in common areas and occasionally in the hallways with little direct surveillance. The relationship the officers have with the inmates is more relaxed than I previously assumed, it is more caring than harsh, but a level of professionalism is maintained at all times.

Alberto Gomez Cuellar Day 1

Today, I enjoyed visiting both, New Hampton's police office and Belknaps County jail. I have learnt a lot about the relationships between the inmates and the guards, and also about how jails work. Inmates are not as dangerous as they look in movies, and not all of them are murderes. I think it has been such a great experience.

Gracie Day 1

Today was the first day of project week and it was definitely an eventful one. After having visited the New Hampton Police Department and then the Belknap County Jail I can say that I have learned a lot. I myself had made previous assumptions that jail can't be as bad as they perceive it on in the media, however it really does stink to these inmates. At times when in the Belknap County Jail, I was a bit creeped out however it was also sad to see all of these people whom get to the point of confinement. Although I say this, it was awesome how much the officers cared about the progress of the inmates in getting better and staying out of jail once they leave. As project week continues on I can not wait to see what else is out there to learn. I am especially excited for tomorrow and visiting a jail in Boston and actually speaking with the inmates themselves! CRIMINAL JUSTICE 2014!

Criminal Justice Day 1

Josh Repine

Today we visited the New Hampton police department and saw the inside of a jail. These places were very eye opening, informative and similar. I was impressed with all of the safety checks that are performed to protect the workers inside. For example certain doors only open if another door is shut or if granted permission by a control board. While in the jail I was surprised by the limited amount of workers inside. The police worker said at times there are only 4 police workers patrolling upwards of 100 inmates and in the jail none of the police workers carry any fire arms. 

Jackie Martel Day 1

After visiting and touring both the Belknap County Jail and the New Hampton Police Department, my perspective has been enlightened. I never realized that there was so many projects that took place within the jail and how many opportunities are offered. It was good to hear from the Superintendent of the jail that they have the inmates' best interests in mind and, aside from what we say to people, they hope not to see inmates again after they leave.

It was interesting to be able to see the living quarters and the entire process of how an arrest takes place. All of these experiences made me excited for tomorrow's visit in Boston because that will be on a much larger scale than what we saw today. We will have the opportunity to see an operation and system that is most likely more strict because of the higher number of inmates along with seriousness of the crimes that were committed. Today was a great first day for the group as a whole and a great first step to taking a look into the criminal justice system!

Visit to the Jail

Aubrey Dawkins

Today was filled with tons of new information and insight, from learning the process of taking someone into custody, to actually seeing and being in the living quarters of an inmate. You learn best hands on and this was a real as it gets. I really found the protocol for security and safety most interesting when taking someone into custody. It's shocking how smart some people can be, and how dangerous the simplest objects and situations can become when given the right minute details.

Cole Anderson day 1

What a great experience today was - visiting the New Hampton jail and the Belknap jail. Some of the things I expected to be true were and some things I thought were true weren't - like how they separate the inmates and the different levels of security.

Alisha Gilbert Day 1

Today was very fun. I enjoyed visiting the police department as well at the county jail. I was nervous when we went into the boys "dorm" at Belknap and they were all staring at us. The guards seemed to get a long well with the inmates and the inmates reacted well with eachother as well. When we went into the boys "dorm" and the officer was talking, an inmate told me "it isn't that bad, don't listen to him." I thought that that was interesting to think that he really didn't hate it there. When we got to peek in on maximum security, I got a little scared because one of the guys were staring at us out of his window. It was pretty creepy. I couldn't ever imagine going there for committing a crime, but I honestly wouldn't mind working there.

Emily Cuthbertson - Visit to County Jail

Today I learned the process of booking a criminal and how an officer handles the process. When visiting the county jail I assumed that all inmates were kept in single cells by themselves. Touring the jail I learned that some inmates who need maximum or medium security are kept in individual cells, but the inmates with minimum security were allowed to be out and hang around with other inmates. Before arriving at the jail I was nervous on what to expect, but when I got inside I realize that most inmates were just regular people doing their time. Going into the county jail and seeing small scale criminals who were mainly sentenced for one year made me excited to see the jail in Boston and how they handle their inmates on a different level then a county jail.

Visit to county jail

Claire Schneider
Day 1

Today when I visited the Belknap County Jail I was actually pretty surprised. I thought the jail was going to be more depressing than it actually was. My friend was once admitted to a hospital and in someways the hospital was worse than the jail. The jail had mirrors, clocks, and a lot more freedom. I didn't expect that a county jail would have murderers, rapists, arsonists, etc. The inmates were actually really funny. I tend to be a very jumpy person but even so I had a good laugh. Some of the inmates scared me, but some seemed really nice and smiling at me which made me feel a lot more comfortable.

Chloé, day 1

It was very interesting to learn about all the procedures the guards have to go through during their routine for the day. I was surprised how familiar the tour of the prison was because of the show Beyond Scared Straight that I occasionally watch. I realized how fortunate I am to not be stuck in a bad situation and have to deal with the realities that these inmates have to face everyday.

Sam Liebert- Day 1

My experiences today visiting both the town sheriffs station and the Belknap County Jail changed my outlook and assumptions on the inmates and also portrayals of how a jail works.  In the Belknap County Jail, the inmates were not as dangerous as Tv series and movies show them and the corrections officer explained that these people are not all dangerous killers as some may assume.  All inmates are put in facilities to what degree of the crime they committed such as minimum security, medium, or high security cells.

Stand and Face the Wall!

Gracie '15 finds out what it's like to get cuffed in the booking room at New Hampton PD. Officer Melanson provides stories and expertise to the Criminal Justice Project Week experience. Thank you, Officer Melanson and the New Hampton PD!

Criminal Justice project group in the holding cell at New Hampton PD. Booked and detained for further processing. On to the Belknap House of Corrections to dispel more myths and find answers to more questions. Great group! Stay tuned for more images.

Preview for project week = FUN!

Gracie Maganzini '15 and Aubrey Dawkins '14 preview some of the preconceived notions we hope to explore next week....and they have fun doing it! Prediction: Criminal Justice Project Week will be informative, engaging, and a whole lot of fun!

NHS students curious to learn about the criminal justice system during Project Week 2K14 do great inquiry exercise generating questions about the process from alleged criminal act and law enforcement through the court proceedings and the incarceration aspect of the system. The Criminal Justice project explores these topics with jail tours and opportunities to meet with experts in the field of law enforcement and justice.  Stayed tuned for upcoming posts of student reflections, images from the week, and additional updates!

First meeting today!
Questions we have:

Prison - Do the guards get to know the inmates for who they really are rather than just what they have done? How do inmates continue relationships with their families and friends?  Are prison guards how they are depicted in movies- extreme? What is solitary confinement? Why do you get it? Does it work? What’s its purpose? Has anyone broken out?

Court -  Do people really follow “not lying” in courtroom? How do judges not show bias? How do you pick jurors? Are defense attorneys that are provided as good as ones you hire? As a lawyer, what do you do, how do you feel, if you know your client is guilty? How do you decide sentencing? Subjective? 

We are excited about our week! Stay tuned for more posts!

Looking forward to a week of learning with students about the criminal justice system in New Hampshire!  Anticipating a fun and interesting week touring jails and meeting with experts in the field.