JobShadowReflection

1.Describetheworksiteyouvisited.
IvisitedtheCharlotteCourtHousewithStephanieZimmerman.Togetherwejob
shadowedProsecutorSharonPark.Thestaffatthecourthousewasvery
professionalandfriendly.Everyonetherehadshowedinterestinusandwantedto
informusonhowthecourthouseprocessworked.
2.Whatdidyoulike/dislike?
IenjoyedwatchingMs.Parksdemeanorchangedfromtalkingtoherasanormal
individualtowhenshewentintothecourtroom.Shewasverypassionateonthe
positionshewastakinginthecases.TherewasnotanythingthatIparticularly
dislikedaboutthejobshadow.
3.Whatkindofactivitiesdidyouobserveduringyourjobshadow?
Iwitnessedacarjacking/armedrobbery/Policeofficerassaultcasewherethe
defendantgot9yearsinprison.Anothercaseconsistedofamalewhoisahabitual
offenderwhofailedtocomplywiththesexoffendersregulationactandwascaught
inastudentsafetyzone,hewassentencedto810monthsofjail.Thosearejusta
glimpseofwhatSharonseesonatypicalday.
4.Whatwassomethingthatsurprisedyouaboutyourjobshadow?
Thethingthatsurprisedmethemostaboutmyjobshadowwastheoffendersinthe
prisonjumpsuits.Onemalewasinanorangejumpsuit,twomaleswereinablue
jumpsuitsonehadmilitarypersonnelguardingbecausehehadcontrabandand
anotheronewasbeingconvictedofassaultbystrangulation.
5.Whatwerethreemostinterestingthingsaboutyourjobshadow?
Threeinterestingthingsaboutmyjobshadow:1)Witnessingthedefendantsfamily
andfriendsreaction.Someofthefamiliescriedwhenthedefendantwassentenced,
othersshooktheirhead.Onefamilywasmakingrudeandsnidecommentswhile
theprosecutorwasstatinghercase.2)TalkingtotheJudgewasinteresting.She
wasverycuriousandinterestedaboutourfutureplansandeducation.3)Theoverall
experiencewasinterestingbecauseIwouldnothavegottentheexperience
otherwise.
6.Wouldyouliketopursuethiscareer?Whyorwhynot?
Althoughthejobshadowwasinforming,educationalandinterestingIdonotthinkI
willpursuethisparticularcareerbecauseIammoreinterestedinthesocialand
psychologicalpartofcriminaljustice.Sharonhadsaidshewishedshecouldspend
moretimewithherfamily,shewasalwaysworkingonacase,intheofficeandat
home.IwantacareerwhereIcanenjoymytimewithmyfamilyaswellasbeing
investedinmycareer.