One of the best ways to understand the criminal justice process is to examine the work of individuals working in the criminal justice system.

Consider the content discussed in Chapters 5–7 of Introduction to Criminal Justice.

Research the role of police in your community. For example, visit your local police department website and interview a representative of a local police department (email, phone call, or video chat).

Write a 525- to 700-word interview summary addressing the answers to each of the following questions.

Consider the following questions:

What is the mission of your local police department?
What goals do they have? What goals have they accomplished?
What are the various roles police play in your community? What is their impact? How do the police partner with citizens, human service workers, and other entities?
Which community programs are offered (e.g., D.A.R.E., Police Explorers)? Explain the programs and the benefits they provide to society and the role the police play in these programs.
Which 1 or 2 criminal justice strategies from the text or readings have you observed in action in your local police department?
How does the police department strive to utilize those strategies?