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Northern Essex Community College

Module 2 Prep Activity

Review the activity overview, learning objectives, directions, and submission expectations before submitting your work.

Overview

Law enforcement agencies around the world operate under different legal systems, political structures, cultural expectations, and governmental philosophies. While all police organizations share the common goal of maintaining public order and enforcing the law, the methods they use and the authority they possess can vary significantly.

This activity asks you to compare American policing with policing practices in another country and evaluate whether certain international policing models could improve law enforcement in the United States. You will examine both the strengths and weaknesses of different systems and prepare arguments supporting multiple perspectives.

Learning Objectives

(These objectives support the prep activity and are not the questions to be answered.)

  • LO1: Compare and contrast the organization, structure, and responsibilities of law enforcement agencies in the United States and other nations. (SLO1)
  • LO2: Evaluate how political, cultural, and governmental factors influence policing practices throughout the world. (SLO6)
Prep Topic
  • Select one of the following countries:
    • China
    • Brazil
    • Iraq
    • Russia
  • Research the law enforcement system used by your selected country and compare it to policing in the United States.
  • Create a bullet list of arguments for both sides of the following debate:
  • Position A: The United States should adopt selected policing practices used by other countries because they may improve efficiency, consistency, accountability, or public safety.
  • Position B: The United States should maintain its current decentralized policing system because it better reflects American values, local control, and constitutional principles.
  • For each position, prepare at least five talking points.
  • Consider issues such as:
    • National versus local control
    • Training standards
    • Funding and resources
    • Police powers and authority
    • Community accountability
    • Political influence
    • Public trust
    • Officer professionalism
    • Civil liberties and constitutional protections
  • Be prepared to defend either side during the in-class debate, regardless of your personal opinion.
  • Imagine that Congress is considering major police reform and that you must convince the newly appointed U.S. Secretary of Law Enforcement which position should be adopted.
Acceptable & Ethical Use of AI
  • You may use AI tools to help identify characteristics of foreign law enforcement systems; however, you should independently verify any information before including it in your prep activity.
  • If you use AI to assist with brainstorming or research, your final prep must reflect your own analysis, conclusions, and understanding of the course material.
Directions

Please read all instructions carefully before submitting your prep activity.

  • Your prep should be no longer than 1 page.
  • This NOT a paper but rather talking points in bullets for our in-class meeting.
  • Abstract NOT needed.
  • Sources are NOT needed.
  • Submissions are checked against a Plagiarism Checker and AI Detector.
    • Direct quotes should not exceed 15% of the total paper.
    • AI Usage – you must use AI ethically. Papers written by an AI is cheating.
  • Stop over-thinking this activity. It should be a simple list of talking points.
Submission Guidelines
  • Submit your prep activity through the designated submission area.
  • Accepted formats include Word or PDF unless otherwise specified.
  • Review the grading rubric before submitting your work.
  • Submissions are checked using both a plagiarism checker and AI detection software.
  • Direct quotations should not exceed 15% of the total submission.
Important Reminder

Important: All work must be your own. AI may be used only in the limited and ethical ways described above. Using AI to write your submission is considered academic dishonesty. This activity is intended to prepare you for class discussion, so focus on creating your own talking points and analysis.