Step 1: Choose Your Role
Students will pick one of the following roles:
- Investigative Journalist – You are writing an exposé for a major news outlet on police corruption in a local department.
- Internal Affairs Officer – You are responsible for identifying misconduct in your department and recommending solutions.
Step 2: Investigate a Case of Police Corruption
- Students will create a fictional case of police corruption based on real-world patterns from Chapter 7.
- Their case must involve at least two types of corruption (e.g., bribery, excessive force, testilying, abuse of authority).
- They should describe the officers involved, the ethical violations, and how it impacts public trust.
Step 3: Gather “Evidence”
- Students must create three types of supporting evidence for their case, such as:
- A fake news article about the scandal.
- A police report with fabricated details.
- A witness statement from a citizen or officer.
- A memo from Internal Affairs about concerns in the department.
Step 4: Propose Reforms
- After analyzing the corruption, students must propose three reforms to prevent future misconduct, such as:
- Implementing stricter body camera policies.
- Creating stronger whistleblower protections.
- Increasing civilian oversight.
Step 5: Present Findings
- Students will submit their findings in one of the following formats:
- A short investigative report (2-3 pages).
- A news-style video (3-5 minutes) where they “report” the scandal.
- A podcast episode (audio recording, 5 minutes) discussing the case and reforms.
