Respond to your classmates' posts, by critically analyzing how your knowledge and understanding have evolved over the course of the program and, where appropriate, share your professional experiences with the topics being offered for discussion. Add any additional points that may encourage further consideration.

Jennifer Resendiz

Sep 18 10:42pm

Reply from Jennifer Resendiz

Hi everyone,

Almost one more class finished. When I first started studying social and criminal justice, I saw the system mostly as three separate parts: police handle arrests, courts deal with trials, and corrections take care of punishment. Over time, even though I'm still working through the program, I've already noticed how much more complex and connected the system really is. I've learned that issues like fairness, inequality, and social factors all influence outcomes in ways I hadn't considered before (Bureau of Justice Statistics [BJS], n.d.).

For this discussion, I chose PLO 3: Apply knowledge of cultural sensitivity and diversity awareness to social and criminal justice. This outcome resonates with me because I've seen how important it is to understand the different cultural and social backgrounds of people involved in the system. Even in the early parts of my coursework, I've come across examples where a lack of cultural awareness leads to unfair treatment, while practicing sensitivity helps build trust and stronger communities (Schlosser, 2021).

Looking ahead, I know this will be one of the biggest challenges in my future career. Whether I go into probation, criminology, or forensics, I'll need to keep learning and adapting to each person's unique background. The program is giving me a foundation to develop that awareness, but I realize it will take continuous effort and humility to truly apply it in real world situations.

References:

Bureau of Justice Statistics. (n.d.). The justice system. U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs.https://bjs.ojp.gov/topics/justice-systemLinks to an external site.

Schlosser, M. D. (2021). Diversity and cultural awareness in law enforcement. Journal of Law Enforcement, 11(2), 45-57.https://doi.org/10.55534/jle.2021.11204Links to an external site.