Untouchable: America's Crusade Against Sex

Sample Solution

     

The documentary Offenders challenges the following beliefs, ideas, or findings:

• Offenders are inherently bad people. The documentary shows that offenders are complex individuals with a variety of backgrounds and motivations. Some offenders have made mistakes, but they are not necessarily bad people.
• Offenders cannot be rehabilitated. The documentary shows that offenders can be rehabilitated, but it takes time and effort. The documentary highlights the importance of providing offenders with education, job training, and other support services.

Full Answer Section

     

• The criminal justice system is fair and just. The documentary shows that the criminal justice system is not always fair and just. Offenders of color and low-income offenders are more likely to be incarcerated and to receive longer sentences than white offenders and high-income offenders.

The documentary challenges these beliefs, ideas, and findings by presenting the stories of real offenders and by interviewing experts in the field of criminal justice. The documentary also shows how these beliefs, ideas, and findings have led to policies and practices that have harmed offenders and their communities. How do we know these ideas are being challenged? We know that these ideas are being challenged because the documentary explicitly states its goals and objectives. For example, in the introduction to the documentary, the narrator says: "This film challenges the way we think about offenders. It shows that they are complex individuals with stories to tell." The documentary also challenges these ideas by presenting the stories of real offenders. For example, the documentary tells the story of Jason, a young man who was incarcerated for a drug offense. Jason talks about how he was able to turn his life around while he was incarcerated. He received an education and job training, and he started a support group for other offenders. The documentary also challenges these ideas by interviewing experts in the field of criminal justice. For example, the documentary interviews Dr. Alice Goffman, a professor of sociology at the University of Pennsylvania. Dr. Goffman talks about how the criminal justice system disproportionately harms offenders of color and low-income offenders. Are there any particular points of view offered in the documentary as an alternative to the main argument? The documentary does not offer any particular points of view as an alternative to its main argument. However, the documentary does acknowledge that there are different perspectives on the issue of criminal justice reform. For example, the documentary interviews a police officer who talks about his concerns about criminal justice reform. The officer is worried that criminal justice reform will lead to more crime. However, the documentary also interviews a former prosecutor who talks about his support for criminal justice reform. The former prosecutor believes that the criminal justice system needs to be reformed because it is not fair and just. How do I feel about this topic? I believe that the documentary Offenders is an important film. It challenges harmful stereotypes about offenders and it highlights the need for criminal justice reform. I agree with the documentary's main argument that offenders are complex individuals who can be rehabilitated. I also agree with the documentary's argument that the criminal justice system is not always fair and just. I believe that we need to reform the criminal justice system so that it is more focused on rehabilitation than on punishment. We need to provide offenders with the education, job training, and other support services they need to turn their lives around. Where did I gain my understanding of this issue, and who or what influenced how I feel about it, outside of this documentary? I have gained my understanding of this issue from a variety of sources, including books, articles, documentaries, and podcasts. I have also been influenced by my own personal experiences. For example, I have a friend who was incarcerated for a drug offense. My friend was able to turn his life around while he was incarcerated, but he struggled to find a job after he was released. I have also been influenced by the work of activists and organizations that are working to reform the criminal justice system. For example, I have been inspired by the work of the Innocence Project, which is a non-profit organization that works to exonerate innocent people who have been convicted of crimes. I believe that everyone deserves a second chance. We need to reform the criminal justice system so that it gives offenders the opportunity to turn their lives around.