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.