Thursday, September 10^th at 1 pm Eastern

In conjunction with our Community Celebration, I’ve invited St. Cloud Police Department to the St. Cloud campus.  Officer Kim Moline will be demonstrating some of the mobile crime lab capabilities from 4:00-6:00pm.  Officer Matt Gannon will be conducting a narcotics demonstration with his Partner, K-9 Chuck from 6:00-700pm.

The Community Celebration includes food, door prizes, a “Kids Zone” and lots of fun for your whole family!  Join us and brings your friends and family!

If you have any questions please let me know!

Rose

In USA today on Thursday August 13th, 2009 they featured a book by a juvenile delinquent turned writer, Dwayne Betts.  It sounds like a good read, and according to the USA Today website, it comes with good recommendations.  I  have not read it (yet) but it can only be a good thing when a once car-jacker, sentenced as a juvenile and released as a adult is returned to society better than when they entered prison.  Amazing what solitary confinement and a good book can do for one to turn their lives around.  Glad to have you back in society Dwayne Betts!

Rasmussen College School of Justice Studies

Presents a panel discussion entitled

Ethics in Criminal Justice

When: August 31, 2009 at 5:30

Where: Eden Prairie Campus

Moderator:  Jason R. Weber – Criminal Justice Instructor jason.weber@rasmussen.edu

This discussion panel will feature professionals from different areas of the justice system. They will discuss Ethics in Law Enforcement, Ethics in the courtroom, and Ethics in the Corrections Field.  Discussion panelists will include Shaun LaDue, Chief of Police for the Owatonna Police Department; Jason Hiveley, Attorney for Iverson/Reuvers Law Firm and Chris Jahnke, Agent for the Wright County Court Services.

The aim of the panel discussion will be to give students a better understanding of the justice system and the ethical dilemmas faced on a daily basis.

The Distinguished Panel includes:

Shaun LaDue: Shaun has been the Chief of Police for the Owatonna Police Department since 2004. Shaun began his career in Law Enforcement in 1989 as a Detention Deputy for the Hennepin County Sheriffs Office. In 1993, he was hired on with the Bloomington Police Department as a Police Officer. During his tenure with the Bloomington Police Department, Shaun served in various roles such as Investigator, School Resource Officer, Patrol / Traffic Unit Sergeant and Public Information Officer. Shaun finished his career with the Bloomington Police Department as the Commander of the patrol Division. In his time with the Owatonna Police Department, he has developed and initiated several hallmark programs such as National Night Out, Crime Free Multi-Housing, K-9, Evidence Technician Unit and Field Training Officer Program. Shaun holds his Bachelor’s Degree from Saint Cloud State University in Accounting and he also holds a Master’s Degree in Public Administration from Minnesota State University – Mankato.

Chris Jahnke: Chris graduated from Moorhead State University in 1995 with a degree in Criminal Justice & Sociology. He initially worked at a Group Home for Adults with Developmental Disabilities that were involved in the Criminal Justice System. Chris worked one year as a Case Manager and Field Surveillance Officer with the Safe Streets First Program, a multiple DWI offender program, based out of the First Judicial District. I have been employed as a Probation Agent in Wright County since 1997. For the past five years I have supervised an Adult caseload. Prior to this, I supervised a Juvenile caseload and Juvenile Intensive Supervision caseload. I presently serve as President for the Minnesota Community Corrections Association (MCCA) and serve on the Board of Directors for PEPSA.

Jason Hiveley: Jason Hiveley is a partner with Iverson Reuvers, LLC in Bloomington, Minnesota. Jason practices in the defense of municipal liability claims, civil rights lawsuits, commercial litigation, general litigation and appeals. Jason has handled numerous jury trials in State and Federal Court and has argued several times before the Minnesota Court of Appeals and the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals. Jason also conducts training seminars for law enforcement agencies across the state. Prior to attending law school, Jason served in the United States Navy for 4 years as an Intelligence Specialist at Offutt Air Force Base in Omaha, Nebraska.

Hello!

I've arranged a tour of MCF - Shakopee.  This is the only women's facility in the state of Minnesota.  It was built in 1986 and houses all female offeners who have been sentenced to prison.  The tour is scheduled for Thursday, August 13th, 2009 at 10:00am  You must be currently enrolled in or successfully completed the class Domestic Violence to attend.  Please send your full name, date of birth and driver's license number to rose.pogatshnik@rasmussen.edu by Wednesday, August 5th.  Space is limited!  Transportation is the responsibility of the student.

If you have any questions please contact Rose via email.

Rasmussen’s Rockford Community Safe Kids Day

On Saturday, May 30, 2009 approximately 30 cars were inspected and about 80% were found to have improperly installed children’s car seats. Rockford Fire Department was there with their children’s safety house and one fire engine and these were big hits with the kids. The Rockford Police Department was on hand to distribute the child ID kits with DNA swabbing and fingerprinting materials.  Rockford Rampage (soccer team) appeared with two cheerleaders, two players and their mascot and they added a fun dimension to the event. The marketing rep from Babies R Us was elated with the turnout and there were over a hundred gift packs distributed.

Yes, we will do this one again!

It’s Drugs and Crime Week at Rasmussen – St. Cloud!

On Thursday, June 4^th at noon Brigid Murphy, Stearns County Drug Court Coordinator will be on campus to discuss the local, award-winning program that targets drug offenders in the criminal justice system.

Join us in Room 107 for these fantastic presenters! 

If you have any questions please let me know!

Rose Du Houx Pogatshnik, MS

Seven essential requirements to obtain career opportunities in the field of J U S T I C E

Justice: Be law-abiding. Those who want to work in justice studies need to believe in the justice system. The best way to demonstrate your respect and dedication to the field of justice studies is to remain law-abiding, follow the laws and rules in your community!

Unpaid Assistance (i.e. volunteer): Part of working in the field of Justice Studies is helping others and your community. Whether you want to be a paralegal, a police officer, or a victim’s advocate the best way to get your foot in the door is to help out as an unpaid assistant. All it takes is a few hours a month to make an impact, so research agencies in your community that have volunteer opportunities and get involved.

Specialized: Show your difference to agencies; specialize in areas that will make you worthwhile to agencies above and beyond other applicants (certifications, licensing, etc).

Time: Whether you are requesting to do an informational interview with someone in the field, or asking for a tour, be sure you are respectful of authority and the time they are dedicating to your educational journey.

Interview: apply and interview for a variety of different jobs, many jobs are entry level with lots of opportunity for promotion, but you do not know unless you apply and interview.

Communicate: reading, writing and speaking is crucial in the justice field. Whether it is reading a clients disposition, or writing an arrest report, or speaking in court, the most important part of working in the justice field is effectively communicating.

Evidence: all systems and processes in the justice system are documented, whether you are a case manager documenting someone’s rehabilitation progress, or a probation officer filing a probation revocation, it does not happen unless the evidence can be documented. So be sure you are able to effectively write your facts and findings for evidence.

Rose Pogatshnik, CJ instructor at Rasmussen – St. Cloud, has coordinated a tour of MCF – St. Cloud.  This facility, often called the "Granite Palace" is a historical site, built in 1889, and is home to the second longest continuous wall, only second to the Great Wall of China.  It houses approximately 1000 inmates and is the intake processing center for the state of Minnesota .  It is a level 4 custody facility.  It also houses juveniles who have been adjudicated as adults. The daily inmate report provides detailed information about the inmates currently housed there.  

The tour is scheduled for Thursday, May 21st at 9:30am.  A prerequisite to attend the tour is to currently be enrolled in Introduction to Corrections or have successfully completed it.  A background check will be run on all attendees.  You may not attend if you are currently on an inmate visitors list or are currently on probation for ANY offense.  The tour will involve significant amounts of walking and climbing/descending stairs so attendees must be physically able. 

Space is limited so contact Rose at rose.pogatshnik@rasmussen.edu by May 10th to reserve your spot.  Include your full name, date of birth and driver's license number for the background check.  Transportation will be the responsibility of the student.  Please email Rose with any questions you may have!

Criminal Justice Event--Guest Speaker:   U.S. Attorney Drew H. Wrigley

Rasmussen College - Fargo Campus- is honored to announce U.S. Attorney Drew H. Wrigley as the guest speaker for the quarterly Criminal Justice event. The on-campus event (Room 103/105) is scheduled for Monday, March 9, 2009, at 7:00PM. 

Attorney Wrigley is a North Dakota native and grew up in Fargo.  He has served since 2001 as North Dakota's 17th United States Attorney. 

Attorney Wrigley recently argued a death penalty case before the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals.  The defendant in the case is Alfonso Rodriguez who was convicted of kidnapping resulting in the death of Dru Sjodin. 

We are pleased to provide this unique opportunity to our students, staff, and community. 

For more information contact Patty.Laney@rasmussen.edu. 

Risks of the Job ---  A Reality Check

If you are a student studying criminal justice, you are probably learning about the dangers and risks that come with being a law enforcement officer, correctional officer or parole/probation officer. 

If you are a professional in the field of criminal justice, you already know the dangers and risks “of the job.”   Law enforcement is one of only a few careers where danger and even death are part of the job description.   Those of us in the Fargo-Moorhead area have been reminded of this fact following a recent shooting of a sheriff’s deputy. 

Christopher Dewey, 26, a Mahnomen County (Minnesota) sheriff’s deputy, was shot in the abdomen and head while on duty Wednesday, February 18, 2009.  At the time of the shooting, Deputy Dewey was responding to a residence in Mahnomen to a call of someone knocking on the door.  According to a newspaper article:
 

Dewey arrived at that residence as the two males were still on the steps in front of the woman’s home. One of the individuals — later identified as Vernier — walked past Dewey. Dewey side stepped and the other male — later identified as Fairbanks — stepped forward and fired two rounds at Dewey, hitting him in the abdomen and right side of his head.

One minute after he arrived at the scene, a resident called in that someone had been shot. Peterson heard the shots and radioed Dewey to see if he had heard them. When there was no response, Peterson drove to the area and noticed Dewey’s squad car rolling backwards. He also saw the two suspects, one with a gun, run across the street to the trailer house.

Peterson put the car in park and radioed for backup.

Dewey was taken to Mahnomen Health Center and lifeflighted to MeritCare. His gunshot wounds caused damage to his liver and one bullet was still in his nasal cavity.

. . . .

Officers surrounded the West Washington Avenue residence to detain the two occupants, which turned into a standoff involving over 150 law enforcement agents. During that time, gunshots were fired inside the trailer house. Evidence showed later four shots were fired at a north wall in the general direction of law enforcement.

Vernier surrendered around 9:30 a.m. and Fairbanks surrendered around 4 p.m.

After two surgeries the day of the shooting, Deputy Dewey continues to improve.  He is being transferred to a hospital in Colorado for further rehabilitation.   You can read about Deputy Dewey’s progress at his CaringBridge website  at www.caringbridge.org/visit/chrisdewey.

Although the shooting happened in Minnesota, our law local enforcement community has been affected by the event.  Chris was a patient at MeritCare Hospital in Fargo.  From the time he arrived, our local law enforcement officers have stepped forward to offer any help needed.   Sheriff’s deputies, police officers, and state troopers from both Minnesota and North Dakota kept vigil with Emily and family the first few days.  Several North Dakota and Minnesota officers and deputies worked extra shifts helping to arrange hotel rooms, transportation, coordinate visits and calls from family members and friends, and also provided assistance in responding to numerous media inquiries.   These examples exemplify the "law enforcement family."  

So, what’s the reality check for all of us?
1.  Our law enforcement officers (at any level) face death and injury every day. 
Officers are willing to sacrifice their lives to keep us safe.  (Our beloved Military personnel and firemen fall into this category as well—God Bless them!).  Indeed, they run to the shots of gunfire while we run away.   How does a person develop this sense of sacrifice and bravery? 

2. The job has many challenges.  
The other deputies hearing of the shooting responded to the shooting as they had been trained by first helping their wounded partner and then by locating the suspects and taking them into custody without further incident. 

3. There truly is a law enforcement family.

The shooting of an officer resonates through the law enforcement profession.  Our local law enforcement community (Cass County, Fargo, West Fargo, Moorhead, Clay County, etc.) as well as all emergency responders have been touched by this event.  Prayers, words of encouragement, financial assistance and various offers of help have been sent to the Dewey family from officers from around the United States and even other countries!   I am amazed to see the sense of family and support and am proud to be part of such camaraderie.    

4. The cliché is true:  “Life is precious!” 
Each of us can be affected at any moment by a life-changing event.   Let us be prepared and ready for such an event. 

Final thoughts:  Our confidence and hope for the future
Deputy Dewey has made it through the most critical phase of his injuries, but he has many months of rehabilitation.  Please keep Deputy Dewey and his wife Emily in your prayers and thoughts.  Also, please keep all law enforcement officers in your thoughts and prayers as well as they continue to serve bravely and with honor.   

If you are currently a law enforcement officer, thank you for your bravery, service and sense of sacrifice. 

If you are a student in criminal justice, continue your education and training toward a rewarding career.   We look forward to adding additional officers to the profession who demonstrate the highest levels of professionalism, bravery, and sacrifice.  You need only look to Deputy Chris Dewey for your role model. 

Hello School of Justice Studies students!

Are you looking for a great opportunity to gain experience in the field while going to school?  Below is information about a great community resource that could be a good fit for you!  Please let me know if you have any questions.

Community Mentors

Central MN Re-Entry Project is a referral service that assists ex-prisoners in searching for

employment, housing, clothing, family services, and more. Individuals are needed to serve as

mentors to help motivate inmates. Through mentoring, volunteers will make a difference in an

inmate’s life by assisting them in developing trust, feeling cared about, and gaining a new

perspective. By connecting inmates with mentors and services that provide resources, these

individuals will be less likely to re-offend and be better citizens with bonds to the community.

Both men and women are needed to serve as mentors for individuals in Stearns, Sherburne,

Benton, and Morrison State of Minnesota Correction Facilities and county jails. Volunteers must fill out an application and provide references.

Contact Joseph Gibbons, Central MN Re-Entry Project at (320) 761-8133

Hello!

On Thursday, February 26th at 12:00pm I will be hosting a law enforcement panel discussion for my Policing in America class in Room 107 of the St. Cloud campus.

Please join me in welcoming St. Joseph Police Chief Pete Jansky, Stearns County Sheriff's Department Deputy Shirley Zwack, St. Cloud Police Department Officer Sue Proshek, MN State Patrol Trooper Brian Van Den Einde and MN Department of Natural Resources Conservation Officer Mike Martin to our campus!

They will be discussing the similarities and differences of their positions as well as offering students "a day in the life".

Please let me know if you have any questions!

Rose Du Houx Pogatshnik

School of Justice Studies Instructor/Program Advisor

Rasmussen College - St. Cloud, MN

320-251-5600

rose.pogatshnik@rasmussen.edu

The Great Debate Part 2/March 18, 2009

The first debate we had two quarters ago regarding the truancy issue for the Rockford schools was outstanding. The students put forth a lot of effort and it was a great experience for them. It was televised on local news stations and the event was attended by a state representative and members of our advisory board. Now we present The Great Debate Part 2. This event will also be marketed to the Rockford community.

Background:

At no time in history is the consideration of moral values more relevant and more important for society to have confidence in government.  Further, law enforcement has always been at the forefront of ethical issues since it is law enforcement that stands at the front line and is the most visible representative of government.  The issues are raised as to whether there are any moral absolutes in our society and further, if police should be in a position of authority if they personally disagree with the laws they enforce.

The Ethics in Criminal Justice class will participate in a collaborative exercise with the Drugs and Crime class for this project.  They will be looking at these issues from the standpoint of the impact each point of view may have on the profession and society in general. The two classes will be divided into four debate teams consisting of 4 to 5 members per team. Each team will research and deliver through a debate their particular stand.

The statements the teams will defend are as follows:

Team 1

Moral absolutes in society should be reflected in our laws.

Team 2

There are no moral absolutes in society and therefore our laws should only reflect the general consensus of the majority.

Team 3

People with personal values that are in opposition to our laws should not work in the criminal justice field.

Team 4

One’s personal values should have no bearing on employment in the criminal justice field.

Rasmussen College - Rockford IL in Cooperation with The National Partnership for Careers in Law, Public Safety. Corrections, and Security presents

This quarter we have several events happening!  This includes:

 On Wednesday, January 21^st is the National Employment & Education Fair.  Come to campus between 2:30 and 5:30pm and network with local employers and meet campus representatives (including myself).  This is a great opportunity to learn about volunteer and employment opportunities!

On Tuesday, January 27^th Carie Ann Potenza, School of Justice Studies Director and Matthew Petz, Law Enforcement Coordinator will be on campus.  They are both available to “meet and greet” students at 11:30am.  All students should consider coming to meet Carie Ann – she is an excellent resource.  If you are a law enforcement emphasis student and need to meet with Matt, plan on attending this event!

I’ve also arranged a tour of the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension in St. Paul, MN.  Students will experience “real life” CSI (and it’s NOTHING like the television show)!  The BCA is responsible for forensic analysis including DNA, major crime scene, drug chemistry, firearms, latent prints, toxicology and trace evidence.  The BCA also manages the Criminal Justice Information Systems (CJIS), Crime Alert Network and CRIMNET.   The BCA is also home to one of the most amazing stained glass art pieces, called the “Exquisite Corpse”.  More information about each of these divisions is available on their website, http://www.dps.state.mn.us/bca/bca.html. 

The tour is scheduled for Thursday, March 5th at 10:00am.  Space is limited so contact me at rose.pogatshnik@rasmussen.edu with your full name and date of birth by February 20^th to reserve your spot.  You must be currently enrolled in or successfully completed the class Policing in America to attend.  Transportation will be the responsibility of the student, carpooling is encouraged!

Please email me with any questions you may have; have a great quarter!

Rose Du Houx Pogatshnik, M.S.

School of Justice Studies Instructor

Rasmussen College - St. Cloud

T:  320-251-5600

F:  320-251-3702

rosep@rasmussen.edu

The future of criminal justice is not in homicides or robberies, but rather in white collar and international organized crime.  The New York Times reported earlier this week,  that the FBI does not have enough agents to investigate and file for prosecution of all the white collar crime they are encountering.  They are in need of more agents, especially with the recent economic crisis. 

This week in Maryland,  at the Economic Crime Conference  ,  the featured speaker

Alice Fisher, former assistant attorney general, criminal division, U.S. Department of Justice stated, "international organized crime provides support to terrorists targeting the U.S. Motivated by power and money, the groups use various methods of economic crime and fraud to garner funds". 

Therefore students looking for the future jobs in criminal justice should have a strong foundation in the working function and process of the criminal justice system with a bachelors degree, and then advance their education with an Executive Masters in Economic Crime Management from Utica College, the only college in the country with the Economic Crime Institute. 

Whether you want to work for the FBI, or big business and degree complimented in both criminal justice and economic crime management would put you ahead of all other applicants for any career. 

Rose Pogatshnik, CJ instructor at Rasmussen – St. Cloud, has coordinated a tour of MCF – St. Cloud.  This facility, often called the "Granite Palace" is a historical site, built in 1889, and is home to the second longest continuous wall, only second to the Great Wall of China.  It houses approximately 1000 inmates and is the intake processing center for the state of Minnesota .  It is a level 4 custody facility.  It also houses juveniles who have been adjudicated as adults. The daily inmate report provides detailed information about the inmates currently housed there.  

The tour is scheduled for Thursday, November 20^th at 9:30am.  A prerequisite to attend the tour is to currently be enrolled in Introduction to Corrections or have successfully completed it.  A background check will be run on all attendees.  You may not attend if you are currently on an inmate visitors list or are currently on probation for ANY offense.  The tour will involve significant amounts of walking and climbing/descending stairs so attendees must be physically able. 

Space is limited so contact Rose at rose.pogatshnik@rasmussen.edu by November 5^th to reserve your spot.  Include your full name, date of birth and driver's license number for the background check.  Transportation will be the responsibility of the student.  Please email Rose with any questions you may have!

When you work in the criminal justice system, do you know what it is like to be a "client" in the criminal justice system?  Should you know what it is like to be processed through the very system you work in?  Lake County Sheriff Mark Curran will be walking as an inmate through the Lake County Jail this week.  He will participate in jail activities not as the Sheriff, but as a "client".  What is the expression,  "you never know what it is like for someone else until you walk in another person shoes"?  Therefore, if you work with client offenders in the jail everyday, shouldn't you know what it is like to walk in their shoes through the criminal justice system?  The best way to learn the real perspective, and how systems and processed really work is to experience them yourself. Whether you are looking for a new job, or going to school for a new career, you should spend an hour, a day, a week doing that job.  Fieldwork and job shadowing should be a major part of your job hunt or education. 

On Wednesday, May 21, 2008 at 5:30 p.m. Tim Hansen, Restorative Justice Planner for the Minnesota Department of Corrections, will speak to the criminal justice students on the Eagan campus. I invite all students who may be interested to attend this session. Tim is a dynamic speaker and is very knowledgeable about the growing field of restorative justice.

Here is Tim’s bio: Restorative justice is a framework which views crime and conflict as primarily a violation of people, relationships and communities rather than a violation of the state. Restorative justice proposes that the focus of justice should be on healing the wounds of crime and strengthening communities to prevent more crime. Tim Hansen is the Restorative Justice Planner for the Minnesota Department of Corrections. He works with communities and systems professionals in Minnesota and elsewhere to explore and implement principles of restorative justice. Tim provides education, skills training, and technical assistance as he works with leaders in corrections, neighborhood groups, law enforcement, faith communities, human services, victims services, civic organizations, and education to develop a comprehensive response to crime, based on restorative justice. He has also provided training for the National Institute of Corrections, Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (Department of Justice), the federal Balanced and Restorative Justice Project and has presented at numerous national conferences. Tim has worked with victims and offenders for over twenty years. He has a bachelor's degree in Psychology, Speech/Theatre Arts and Sociology from Winona State University. He is a Wisconsin Licensed Social Worker and worked for several years with homeless families and children in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Tim is a graduate of the Training for Restorative Justice Trainers Course through Florida Atlantic University and the National Institute of Corrections. Locally, Tim is involved in a number of restorative efforts. He volunteers for the Dakota County Corrections Restorative Conferencing Project and is very active with the Minnesota Restorative Services Coalition.

Liz Hurley-Felling, Rasmussen College- Eagan.

We would love to see you here.

The Criminal Justice Career Night will consist of:

• Professionals evaluating your resumes
• Employer booths
• Mock interviews
• A panel of field professionals answering your questions.

Where:

Eden Prairie Campus
7905 Golden Triangle Dr. Suite 100
Eden Prairie, MN 55344

If you have any questions please feel free to contact me.

From: Kelsey Rogers Kennedy / Career Service Advisor
Rasmussen College, Inc. - Eden Prairie Campus

In order to discuss the courts, prosecution and defense aspects of the criminal justice field, the Lake Elmo/Woodbury campus will host Assistant Minneapolis City Attorney Paula Kruchowski to discuss her respective career in criminal prosecution on Thursday, February 21st, at 5:30pm. 

Assistant Minneapolis City Attorney Paula Kruchowski is a criminal prosecutor for the City of Minneapolis and is specifically assigned to the Minneapolis Police Department – Third Precinct Criminal Prosecution Team.  She will speak about how she decided to first become an attorney, what steps she took to obtain her career goals, and day-to-day work procedures. She will also discuss the procedures associated with prosecuting criminal cases in the Hennepin County courts including a few of the cases she has personally prosecuted.

All students and faculty are invited to attend. Please email Leslie Palmer at leslie.palmer@rasmussen.edu so we can accommodate all who are interested.

To discuss the law enforcement aspects in the field of criminal justice, the Lake Elmo/Woodbury campus will host three speakers in the field of law enforcement to discuss their respective careers on Thursday, February 7th, at 5:30pm. 

The three different law enforcement speakers will discuss what is involved in their day-to-day work procedures, how they work with other criminal justice agencies, their background and how they got involved in their specific field, and if their job is what they expected it would be.  They will also bring video clips explaining what they do, along with various items relating to their job that students can see.  

The three speakers are:

Dave Carriker - ATF agent

Julie Siems - Conservation Officer with the DNR

Dave Palmer - Minneapolis Police Officer

All students and faculty are invited to attend.

Please email Leslie Palmer at leslie.palmer@rasmussen.edu so we can accommodate all who are interested.

Career Opportunity for individuals who possess ANY Bachelor or Associate degree*

The Minnesota State Patrol will be accepting applications online for STATE PATROL TROOPER TRAINEE

March 3 – 28, 2008** 

You DO NOT need to meet MN POST licensing requirements to qualify. 

For more information visit www.mntrooper.com or call 651-628-6971

*A person must have the degree by September 1, 2008 from an accredited institution and Rasmussen College Criminal Justice Students Qualify!

** Legislative Funding will determine class size

17th Annual Career Fair

Thursday, April 10th, 2008

10:00 am – 4:00 pm

 Earle Brown Heritage Center

 Visit: www.earlebrown.com for directions,

 Or www.laweo.org for more details

 Welcome to Winter Quarter 2008! 

I would like to share with you some of the exciting events happening within the School of Justice Studies this quarter. 

Faculty has organized and implemented many great courses and events this quarter:

In Rockford, Ron Harper is having Special Agent G.B Jones, head of the FBI's Rockford office,

as a guest speaker in the Terrorism class on Wednesday, February 13, 2008.
 
Special Agent Jones has an extensive terrorism/counter terrorism background dating back pre 9/11.

  
Ron has also invited Sadie Gurman, an investigative reporter from the Rockford Register Star, to speak to the

Introduction to Criminal Justice class during week four.

The topic will be media relations with the police and preserving a balance between the public's rights to

know and maintaining investigative integrity for sensitive cases.

That same week he will also be doing mock press conferences. Rockford is rockin this quarter!

    
In St. Cloud Rose Pogatshnik has organized a trip for students enrolled

in the juvenile justice course this quarter to tour the Juvenile Detention facility in Red Wing Minnesota.

    
Liz Hurley Felling, Criminal Justice and Paralegal Instructor will be holding two Saturday webinars for

paralegal students to better understand legal research and writing.

Westlaw expert Lennie Axelrod will be conducting a Westlaw tutorial webinar

and a research and case citation webinar for the paralegal students. 

Bob Sutter has developed team-based learning for his courses on the new Mankato campus.

On Wednesday, January 30th at 5:30 p.m. at the Eagan campus,

Linda Myhre from the Eagan Police Department will be speaking to the juvenile justice class.

Officer Myhre is going to discuss how dealing with juvenile offenders differs from adults.

Officer Myhre is also going to present some case studies wherein the children of abusive households

(she used to work as a detective for domestic violence cases) have ended up in the system.

Be sure to attend if you can!

On Wednesday, January 30th at 5:30 p.m. at the Eagan campus, Linda Myhre from the Eagan Police Department will be speaking to the juvenile justice class. 

Officer Myhre is going to discuss how dealing with juvenile offenders differs from adults (especially in Dakota County where there is no juvenile detention facility).  Officer Myhre is also going to present some case studies wherein the children of abusive households (she used to work as a detective for domestic violence cases) have ended up in the system.  

All students and faculty are invited to attend.  Please e-mail Liz Hurley Felling so we can accommodate all who are interested.

Restorative justice is based on the theory of repairing the harm caused by criminal behavior.  It is a cooperative process that includes all the stakeholders: the community, the victim(s), and the offenders(s).  The approach utilized to achieve the outcomes differs depending on the offense, the cooperation of the victim, and the cooperation of the perpetrator.

As a volunteer participant and trained victim/offender mediator for the St. Croix Valley Restorative Justice Program, I have had the opportunity to participate in three different approaches to applying this theory:  victim empathy seminars, victim offender conferences, and underage consumption panels.  Below is a brief description of each approach.

At the St. Croix Valley Restorative Justice Program (SCVRJP), the basis of the victim empathy seminars and the underage consumption panels are conducted utilizing the Native American process of circles.  According to the website Restorative Justice online:

“Circles are found in the Native American cultures of the United States and Canada and are used for many purposes. . . . As with the restorative processes of mediation and conferencing, circles provide a space for encounter between the victim and the offender, but it moves beyond that to involve the community in the decision making process.” 

In SCVRJP’s model we use a talking piece that is passed around the circle.  Only the person holding the talking piece may speak.  This gives everybody the opportunity to listen and provides a nonconfrontational means to speak.  The participants do not speak to any one member but rather to the center of the circle.  The circle allows all persons involved (whether it be the offender, a community member, or a victim) to express their thoughts on the topic.  This can be from a community member talking about how the crime affected him or her as a community member or the offender speaking about why he or she may have committed the crime.  The key to success in this type of offender program is that is it voluntary.  All persons are there under their own choice and have not been coerced in any way.

The victim empathy seminars are conducted over approximately a 4 hour span.  The participants I have dealt with were juvenile offenders.  They usually attend with a parent.  The offender, community members, parents and the “keeper” of the circle all participate in the process.  Each person gets an opportunity to speak about the topic that the keeper has chosen for the group while passing around the talking piece.  Since there is no confrontational behavior allowed, it allows all participants to speak freely.

The underage drinking panels are also conducted within the circle.  While there is an educational element to these panels, each of the offenders and participants speak about their experience.  It provides a safe environment for expression, especially for the offenders.  It is rather surprising that the offenders are very open and sincere in their participation in these panels.

The victim-offender conferencing requires some formal training.  The purpose of these conferences is to bring together the victim of a crime and the offender who committed the crime.  It requires that the facilitator(s) prepare both the victim and the offender for the conference through visits prior to the actual conference.  This again is not a confrontational environment but rather a place where the victim expresses the harm caused by the offender’s behavior.  The offender has a chance to explain what happened and perhaps offer an apology.  It can be a highly emotional experience.  It is an incredible healing process.

Finally, SCVRJP is always looking for volunteers.  You, too, can be part of this process.  You can contact Kris Miner, Executive Director, St. Croix Valley Restorative Justice Program. 

Go ahead—get involved or find one in your area. 

From co-Author:

Liz Hurley-Felling, Criminal Justice/Paralegal Studies Instructor
Eagan Campus

Students and faculty on the Bismarck campus were privileged to have attended the presentation given by Lieutenant Nick Sevart of the Burleigh County Sheriff’s Office from 5:30 to 7:00 P.M. on Wednesday November 7. 

Lieutenant Sevart began his law enforcement career as a police officer in the small northeastern town of Langdon, North Dakota in 1981.  A short time later he was hired by the Bismarck Police Department to serve as a patrol officer.  Later in his career with the city of Bismarck, Nick headed the Police Youth Bureau for the Bismarck Police Department.  In January of 2003 Nick became Major of the Burleigh County Sheriff’s Office under Sheriff Steve Berg.  In the fall of 2006 Sheriff Berg was defeated for re-election by Pat Heinert, a former Major of the Burleigh County Sheriff’s Department.  Nick currently serves as a Lieutenant with the Burleigh County Sheriff’s Department.

Nick is a law enforcement officer who has a heart as well as a head.  He is someone that I met ten years ago as an undergraduate student, as a Rasmussen faculty member I treasure my personal and professional friendship with Lieutenant Sevart.  Nick served as a patrol officer where he learned first hand the dangers, stressors, and rewards of police work.  Our students found his real world experience and knowledge, combined with his amazing sense of humor and his ability to relate to college students and those who are not members of the law enforcement profession to be quite remarkable.  Lieutenant Sevart emphasized that those entering the law enforcement profession should continue to enjoy the hobbies that they are passionate about and to nourish relationships with family and friends who are not law enforcement officers.  Those hobbies, those family members, and all of the people who are dear to a law enforcement officer are the ties that will sustain the officer when the profession has its dark days.

In addition to Lieutenant Sevart’s presentation we were pleased to have one of our current criminal justice students, Juana Perius, offer a testimonial detailing the richness of her academic experience as a criminal justice student in Bismarck.  Juana will graduate in December of 2007 with her two year criminal justice degree. 

We are very proud of her.

Last week I attended the 50th anniversary of the Council on Crime and Justice, “Justice, Where Art Thou?” - A Framework for the Future Conference. 

The focus of the conference was on the Council’s report about crime and justice from the past fifty years and makes recommendations for changes going forward to impact the justice system that would make a difference on crime and justice in the United States, but in particular Minnesota.

The changes that the report suggests are as follows:

• Educate all of our youth
• Equal Access to Mental and Chemical Health Treatment
• Involve more fathers in raising children
• Eliminate legal barriers to successful re-entry
• Effective Offender rehabilitation and victim restoration

For criminal justice students and professionals, these will be the areas of greatest attention therefore spurring job growth and opportunity. 

Malcolm Gladwell, best selling author of The Tipping Point  was the key note speaker at the conference.  He stated that the criminal justice system has reached its “tipping point” and change must happen. 

The shift needs to be made from punishment to rehabilitation.  Prisons are overcrowded and most prisoners re-enter society at some point.  As Criminal Justice students and professionals, the Council on Crime and Justice is calling on us to pioneer that change and develop ideas and strategies to implement effective change. 

What are your ideas? 

What would you change about the criminal justice system?

This week a law enforcement officer snapped in Crandon, Wisconsin .   Deputy Sheriff, police officer, twenty years old and now a mass murderer.  How does this happen? 

Was it the lack of psychological testing by the TWO law enforcement agencies he worked for; Forest County Sheriff Department and Crandon Police Department?

Or was it his age (only 20 years old) given that he was not even old enough to have a beer with his fellow officers?  Applicants are always concerned that they are too old for police work.

Perhaps we're asking the wrong question. 

Maybe we should be asking, ...are they too YOUNG for police work?  However, would that be a double standard?  You can enlist in the army and fight for our country at 18, why not be local police officer? 

And what age is the right age? 

What do you think?

We all remember in the movie, The Green Mile when the electrocution of the character “ Del ” did not go so well. That was a good example of cruel and unusual punishment. 

The United States Supreme Court starts its next session on Monday and has decided to hear a case that addresses cruel and unusual punishment in regards to the death penalty.  Two Kentucky inmates have questioned whether the mix of drug cocktails before the lethal injection amount to violation of the eight amendment “cruel and unusual punishment”.  Baze admits to his crime but does not want to suffer in his last moments alive.

The last time the United States Supreme Court heard a death penalty case was in the 2004-2005 session, when they decided in March 2005 on the Roper v. Simmons case that it is unconstitutional to execute juveniles.

On the Roper v. Simmons case, Chief Justice Rehnquist, Justices O’Connor, Scalia, and Thomas all dissented.  With Chief Justice Rehnquist and Justice O’Connor gone, replaced by Chief Justice Roberts and Justice Alito, the status of the death penalty in the United States may see an upcoming change. 

Do you think the United States should put a moratorium on the death penalty? 

Or go so far as to make the death penalty unconstitutional?

What do you think? 

Okay Law & Order fans, are there enough of us to vote District Attorney Arthur Branch into the Oval Office?  We may need to have a covert operation in Florida for some “hanging chads”.  

Fred Thomson announced his run for president, Hollywood style, on the Tonight Show with Jay Leno.  And then with a fifteen minute speech on his website.  If Ronald Reagan, aka “The Gipper” can be president and Arnold Schwarzenegger, aka the Terminator can be governor of California (like Ronald Reagan before his presidency) - why not Fred Thomson aka Arthur Branch be leader of the free world?  

For those of us in Minnesota , Fred Thomson showed “he is one of us” by attending the Minnesota State Fair.  And with The Republican National Convention here in the Twin Cities next September we may see Fred Thomson again.  

However, with Thomson’s “late start” into the race, we will have to learn more about the real Fred Thomson, and how he compares with the Arthur Branch, before we cast our vote next November.  But more importantly, what will happen on Law & Order- we have to wait until January 2008 to finally see Jack McCoy, as Manhattan ’s District Attorney. 

What do you think? 

Is there ever justice when a child is hurt or killed?  And does it matter whether that harm came from the hands of a stranger or a person the child loves and trusts, like a parent?

This past weekend Madeleine McCann parents became suspects in her May 3rd disappearance in .  After four months of investigation, the police are calling Madeleine’s parents “suspects”; not just “persons of interests” but suspects.

Last week “reformed” child killer Richard Dobeski was arrested for terrorizing two children in Indiana .  Even after his forty years in jail for killing two children in 1964, he is still a predator.

When bad things happen to children, is there ever really justice?  This week Daryl Holton will be executed by his preferred method of electrocution in Tennessee for killing his four children in 1997.  Many claim, he does not have remorse, because he believes his children's lives were ruined because they'd be raised in a broken home.

Andrea Yates killed her five children in 2001, after her guilty conviction was overturned on appeal; she is currently in a state hospital.  Is it easier to accept a stranger like Richard Dobeski harming children, or their own parents, the people children love and trust the most?  I am a parent. And I can not imagine harming any child, much less my own.

What snaps in these parents’ minds that drive them to commit the most heinous crime, killing their own flesh and blood? For Andrea Yates, it was postpartum depression that drove her to drown her five children in the bathtub she once bathed them.  For Daryl Holton, it was the idea that he thought his children would be better off dead than being raised in a broken home.  For Richard Dobeski, it was a “character disorder” that caused him to brutally murder a brother and sister.

What will it be for Madeleine?

A parent gone mad?

Or a psychotic stranger? 

According to the United States Census Bureau, in the year 2000; 281, 421, 906 people were counted in the United States .  Also, according to the Bureau of Justice Statistics, in 2004 there were 836,787 sworn police officers in the United States . 

Now I know the 300,000,000th  baby has been born in the last seven years, and the number of police officers fluctuates but according to those official statistics there is one police officer for every 352 people in the United States .  Now the question, is that enough police officers working in our communities?  I guess it depends on what your outcome is- is it reducing crime or is it instilling a sense of security?

We all know that the perception of crime and the reality of crime are very different.  Matthew, from The Atlantic, posts that more patrol officers would decrease the jail population.  However, many disagree.  It is hypothesized that more police officers make more arrests which has made us a country with one of the highest incarceration rates.  Approximately 2.2 million people per year are incarcerated, over two and a half times the number of police officers.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics anticipates employment of police and detectives to grow “as fast as the average” job.

However, back to my original point, it depends on what the police officers are doing in the community- if we put more of them- will this increase arrests and fill our prisons?  Or should we be educating police officers to have more of a proactive, community orientated approach to law enforcement?  Doing more of a preventive effort rather than a reactive effort?  Changing the function of police officers in the community requires the proper education of police officers.  In the state of Minnesota peace officers are regulated by the Minnesota Peace Officer Standards and Training Board. 

The state of Minnesota has one of the highest requirements for police officers.  The minimum requirement to become a peace officer in the state of Minnesota is a two year degree from a POST board approved college or university and passing a licensing exam.  In April of this year, the Rasmussen College Criminal Justice program was approved by the Minnesota POST board to offer peace officer education.

Michael Bruger in the FBI Law Enforcement Bulletin stated that “it is time for a new dialogue between the law enforcement and academic communities to better integrate education with the training and service needs of agencies”. Rasmussen College has done just that by incorporating fieldwork and job shadowing requirements in many of its core criminal justice classes. A college education can make a more effective police officer on the streets as was just agreed upon by the city council of Savannah, GA , which agreed to an increase in salary for educated and experienced police officers.

And again, what is our outcome? It can be two fold; we can instill a sense of security by lowering the crime rate with an educated breed of police officers.

What do you think?