BCC Criminal Justice And Criminal Investigation Discussion

Read the two cases below. During which era of American policing (Reform or Political era), as defined by Kelling and Moore (1988), were both of the investigations conducted? Using complete sentences explain why you choose this era and what clues helped to make this determination. (Please refer to Chapter 2 for help with the different era of American policing on Chapter 2 lecture notes). Do not rely just on the date of the case but the actual circumstances and how the cases were handled.

1) Clarence Hiller, his wife, and four children were asleep in bed when Mrs. Hiller woke up to the gas light off, an unusual occurrence in that house. She woke up Mr. Hiller for him to investigate. Upon investigation of the gas light, Mr. Hiller encountered an intruder and during the struggle, Mr. Hiller was shot and killed. The intruder fled the scene. He also left evidence of his presence: three undischarged cartridges, two slugs, sand particles, and fingerprints embedded into the freshly painted railing near the point of entry were all left at the scene. Thomas Jennings was later stopped by the police and questioned due to his suspicious presence in the area, the fact that he was injured, and the fact that he was carrying a loaded revolver. His fingerprints were identified as the same fingerprints found at the scene of the crime. Jennings was convicted of murder but he appealed his case the Supreme Court of Illinois on the basis that fingerprint evidence is not a valid identification system. This landmark case confirmed the original conviction upholding. For the first time, fingerprint evidence was admitted to the court as a legitimate and accepted method of scientific identification.

2) It was election day for New York’s City coroner position and the electoral candidates were visiting polling places to encourage votes in their favor. Two of these candidates ran into each other on the street and began a fistfight. The scuffle attracted attention and others became involved. In the midst of the fight, pistol shots were heard by everyone in the vicinity. John McKenna fell dead. The origin of the fight, and a rival of John McKenna, was named the suspect. The Grand Jury indicted Richard Croker for the crime. Croker went to trial and it became headliner news for days. The trial consisted of vivid but inconsistent testimonies. As a result, the jury was deadlocked and Croker was set free. Croker was heavily involved in Tammany Hall at the time, the city’s political machine. Because of this affiliation many believed that the jury was tampered with. Croker later rose to the top, succeeding Tweed as the head of Tammany Hall, meaning he controlled New York City.