Research Project Outline 2: Part One

I.                  Intro:

Just the name, maximum security prison sounds torturous; better yet, the last place anyone would want to make home and surly the 433 inmates contained at the MN Department of Correctional Facility, according to the MN Department of Corrections report  in March of 2012 would agree but between the private, state, federal and maximum security prisons that are stretched out over all the United States holding people that seem to be unknown to the public.  Oak Park Heights is a high security or a  level three containment prison and is only miles away from the SCSU campus. Sound intimidating or is it just the thought of the type of people contained inside that is eerie?  Picture the crimes committed in order for someone to have to face such a sentence.  Now, think about the amount of information taught on this population.  A majority of you may have built up a bleak understanding; so, clear a fresh slate to picture truth from societal assumption notice any changes in your image or what stays the same. The history that created these types of prison, what brought the maximum security into prison life of this population being contained and staff involved in the system will be focused on.

II. Process of my research:

A.1) The population I researched-

            1. Inmates at the MN maximum security prisons

A.2) Why- 2. I chose this subject because I wanted to learn misconceptions I may have of this     population in maximum security prisons and if my assumptions are wrong, right or           somewhere in between.

B) Assumptions/knowledge on population I made before my research and Why? Where did I get this information or build up this assumption?

1.      Assumption #1: Maximum security prisons hold people who have committed crimes of the highest ranks.

2.       Assumption #2:  Majority of prisoners = crimes that they don’t know they are committing/don’t understand the concept of their crimes. 

3.      I learned bits just from TV shows and in my criminal justice class.

C) What I found to be true from my assumptions?

1.      Majority of inmates in maximum security prisons = guilty of violent crimes.

2.      Other assumptions were off.

D) There are many challenges this population faces in mainstream society.

1.      Some wrongfully categorized in the population.  Understandably, many people in these facilities are detained here because of violent actions that were done while attending another prison or prisons.  Some transferred due to murder conviction or violent actions that in a few cases were claimed to be pursued out of self-defense but with lack of evidence the courts decided against them.  

2.      After prison: discrimination

                                i.            -Jobs

                              ii.            -Housing

                            iii.            -Society in general

Assignment #17: Intellectual Property

a.      My definition of “intellectual property”? : Works created from a person’s original thought/creative process that they bring to life for others.

b.      What is an expert’s definition of “intellectual property”?: According to the Office of Intellectual Property in the UK, “Intellectual Property (IP) results from the expression of an idea. So IP might be a brand, an invention, a design, a song or another intellectual creation. IP can be owned, bought and sold.” http://www.ipo.gov.uk/

c.       Examples of “intellectual property” from academic or everyday life include:

Publications of an author’s novel, a musician’s music they created or an artist’s painting are all examples of intellectual property.  Even a professors lecture is not allowed to be copied a.k.a. record because it is their intellectual property they are teaching but the notes you interoperate from what you hear is your intellectual property. Other student’s papers for classes are their intellectual property. 

d.     How does the concept of “intellectual property” change when it can be manipulated or changed?

If another student copies another student’s property or an author’s works there are serious consequences even if a few words are changed or switched around, that is still not your analysis or creation.  For assignment 22, we are writing on original research verses library research which correlates with intellectual property.  My research project on Maximum security prisons is my intellectual project but not original research. I analyzed data and information from sources in the library or other places like Creative Commons in order to create my own understanding and analysis of my topic and presentation.  I give credit and refer to all sources I analyze thus; I am respecting the original research of the creator’s intellectual property.