Creating Criminal Justice Comic Strips: Project Guidelines by Stacey Ingraham

Project Introduction

f40874_ — 2025-03-22 00:30:09 UTC

Hey y'all! 🤠 In this project, students will create a comic strip that follows a fictional criminal case through our justice system. This is a great way to understand how justice is served in our community while getting those creative juices flowing! Students will choose a crime scenario and illustrate the step-by-step process from crime to resolution.

Comic Creation Tools

f40874_ — 2025-03-22 00:30:10 UTC

Here are some FREE tool perfect for creating your comics:

- No AI
- Good old-fashioned paper and colored pencils, crayons and markers
Remember to keep it school-appropriate, y'all! 😊

Rubric

f40874_ — 2025-03-22 00:30:11 UTC

Adult Justice System Scenario Formative: Counts as part of Formative #2
Step 1: Suspect/Crime/Arrest 1 Point

Step 2: Initial Appearance/Bail? 1 Point

Step 3: Preliminary Hearing/Indictment 1 point

Step 4: Arraignment 1 point

Step 5: Prep for Trial/Jury Selection 1 point

Step 6: Trial/Opening Statements/Presentation of

evidence 1 point

Step 7: TGrial/Closing Statements 1 point

Step 8: Verdict/Sentencing 1 point

All steps are in correct order 1 point

Student has correctly incorporated literacy standards

L6-8RHSS3 and L6-8WHST2 listed on rubric 1 point

Total possible points: 10

Sample Scenario

f40874_ — 2025-03-22 00:30:11 UTC

Here's a simple example to get y'all started:
Scenario: Shoplifting from a local store
Panel 1: Crime-Someone takes items without paying
Panel 1: Reporting-Store security calls police
Panel 1: Investigation-Police investigate security footage
Panel 1: Arrest-Suspect is arrested (taken into custody by law enforcement)
Panel 1: Booking-Booking at local jail (recording the arrest officially, fingerprints and photos are taken of the suspect) 1, 2, 3, 4, & 5 are
Panel 2: Initial Appearance-First appearance before judge (brought in front of the judge for the first time, informed of the charges, rights are explained and bail is set (depending on the crime) most heinous crimes do not get bail.
Panel 3: Preliminary Hearing-A hearing to determine Probable cause (enough evidence) to proceed with a trial

Panel 4: Arraignment-The accused is formally charged and is asked to enter a plea of guilty or not guilty (the plea bargain happens at this stage but before the trial) So what will your person do? Guilty, not guilty or Take a plea bargain for a lesser penalty? (Your character will not take a plea bargain)

Panel 5: Prep for Trail (jury selection)the court must choose a group of citizens to listen to the evidence. This process is called Voir Dire (which means "to speak the truth"

Panel 6: Trail -Opening Statements/Presentation of Evidence-A court process where evidence is presented, and witnesses may testify. A judge or jury may decide the guilt of the accused.

Panel 7: Trial-Closing Statements-This is the "Grand Finale" where each lawyer gives a final speech to the jury, connecting all the dots of the evidence to prove why their side should win.

Panel 8: Verdict/Sentencing-If found guilty, the accused receives a punishment determined by the judge, which could include fines, probation, or imprisonment.

Helpful Tips

f40874_ — 2025-03-22 00:30:11 UTC

1. Research your chosen crime with the teacher
2. Plan your panels before starting
3. Include dialogue between characters
4. Label each step of the process
5. Use color to make it engaging
6. Double-check the order of justice system steps

Example Sentences:
- Robbery: Up to 10 years imprisonment, depending on the severity and use of a weapon.
- Theft: Potential of up to 5 years imprisonment, fines, and community service.
- Petty Theft: Often results in fines, community service, and probation.

Remember: This is about learning the process, not artistic perfection! 😊

Due Date & Format

f40874_ — 2025-03-22 00:30:11 UTC

🗓️ Due: Thursday, April 2, 2026 before the FRQ Quiz (which is the other 50% of your formative)
📝 Format: Clear photographs of hand-drawn comics
📧 Submit

Make sure your name and class period are visible!

Need Help?

f40874_ — 2025-03-22 00:30:11 UTC

Don't hesitate to reach out if you're stuck! You can:

Read all the directions and look at all slides then.....
Stay after class for help
Come during Connections
Ask questions in class
Visit during Flex

We're all in this together, y'all! 🌟

f40874_ — 2025-03-27 14:00:47 UTC

The chart summarizes the most common events in the criminal and juvenile justice systems including entry into the criminal justice system, prosecution and pretrial services, adjudication, sentencing and sanctions, and corrections.

f40874_ — 2025-03-27 16:37:58 UTC

Example Crimes

f40874_ — 2026-03-23 17:11:40 UTC

The Great Mascot Kidnapping

The Crime: Kidnapping (of an object).
The Scenario: The rival school’s mascot costume was taken from the gym trophy case the night before the big game.
The Evidence: Blue and gold pom-poms (the rival colors) dropped near the exit, a blurry security video of a person in a hoodie, and a ransom note made of magazine cutouts.

The Case of the Cafeteria Caper
- The Crime: Grand Larceny (Theft).
- The Scenario: Someone stole the secret recipe for the school’s famous "Friday Cookies" from the principal’s safe.
- The Evidence: A hairnet found at the scene, a trail of flour leading to a locker, and a witness who saw someone carrying a spatula at midnight.