Case Background: The death of 18-year-old Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri in 2014, brought renewed national attention to the use of force by police officers in minority communities. This tragedy and corresponding protests also led to an investigation and report by the U.S. Department of Justice focusing on the way that state and local courts are financed. The reliance of many municipal police departments and courts on fines and fees has been called “taxation by citation”.
Use the information in the readings, videos, or podcasts to answer the questions below. Use and cite information from at least 6 of the linked sources in your report, including at least 3 readings (including under “Recent Reforms” list of readings). If you use other sources to answer, include citations of those sources at the end as well.
In about 4 double-space pages, use the Case Study readings (attached below) to create your own report to respond to the questions below. Do not include a title page, and put the end references on a separate page at the end.
Write your answers in your own words and use direct quotations minimally or not at all. If you use direct quotations be sure to use quotation marks and citations. Include in-text citations for use of any source material, whether or not you directly quote the source.
Explain the connection between Michael Brown’s death and the way that the local court system in Ferguson was funded.
What state and/or local changes in municipal finance have been made in Missouri and nationally since 2014?
What further changes are needed at both state and local levels, to reduce court system reliance on local fees and fines, according to advocates of criminal justice reform? What two changes would you prioritize, based on your review of the problem? Explain your reasoning.
Which state public officials or combination of state and local officials have the authority to make those changes?
What social, administrative and political factors are limiting or preventing further change by those authorities to prevent further deaths?
Include in-text citations throughout and a reference list at the end, being sure to order the sources you used in alphabetical order, based on the last name of the first author of each publication.
Be sure to proofread your writing for clarity in wording and organization, spelling, and grammar.
Citations and Reference List
Citing Sources: use either the Chicago Manual of Style or the APA manual’s guidelines to include in-text citations throughout, and bibliographies at the end of your paper. Be consistent within any paper regarding which style you use.
(CHICAGO STYLE)
Chicago Manual instructions: http://www.chicagomanualofstyle.org/tools_citationguide.html (Links to an external site.)
SOURCES TO USE:
https://www.npr.org/2014/08/25/343143937/in-ferguson-court-fines-and-fees-fuel-anger
https://www.governing.com/archive/gov-ferguson-missouri-court-fines-budget.html
https://www.governing.com/archive/sl-ferguson-court-debt-states.html
https://www.governing.com/archive/Police-agencies-fold-in-St-Louis-area-as-ticket-blitzes-stop.html
https://www.brennancenter.org/our-work/research-reports/steep-costs-criminal-justice-fees-and-fines
https://www.curbed.com/2018/5/24/17382120/tickets-fees-fines-criminal-justice-ferguson
https://www.governing.com/archive/gov-addicted-to-fines.html
https://ips-dc.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/IPS-The-Poor-Get-Prison-Final.pdf
https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2017/02/03/513338061/national-panel-advises-judges-on-people-who-cant-pay-court-fees
https://canvas.umd.umich.edu/courses/529618/modules/items/9393818
Recent reforms:
https://www.urban.org/sites/default/files/publication/105331/following-the-money-on-fines-and-fees_final-pdf.pdf
22 States in 5 Years: Bipartisan Lawmakers Coalesce Behind Curbing Debt-Based Driving Restrictions
Last Completed Projects
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