The Final Project For This Course Is A 10-15 Page Paper

The Final Project For This Course Is A 10 15 Page Paper Addressing An

The Final Project for this course is a 10-15 page paper addressing an issue in criminal justice with both historical and contemporary importance. The final paper should analyze an existing criminal justice issue, exploring its historical significance, how it has been addressed by the criminal justice and legal systems over time, and how current policies aim to resolve or manage the issue today. Your paper must include detailed sections on the historical context of the issue, contemporary efforts to address it, and the policy or legal implications that have influenced the criminal justice system.

The paper should contain the following components:

  • Historical information on the issue
  • Contemporary attempts to address or resolve the issue
  • Policy or legal implications of the issue

Structural requirements include:

  • Length: At least 10 pages, not including the title page, charts/tables, appendices, or references
  • Font: Times New Roman, 12-point
  • References: Minimum of 15 peer-reviewed articles

Paper For Above instruction

The final project in this course requires a comprehensive 10-15 page scholarly paper that critically examines an issue in criminal justice through both a historical lens and a contemporary perspective. This extensive research paper is designed to help students develop a nuanced understanding of persistent challenges within the criminal justice system, how these issues have evolved over time, and the current strategies employed to address them. The paper should be methodically organized, with clear sections detailing the historical background, ongoing efforts, and policy implications, supported by a minimum of 15 peer-reviewed sources to ensure scholarly rigor.

Identifying a significant issue in criminal justice forms the foundation of this project. Examples might include racial disparities, wrongful convictions, juvenile justice reform, mass incarceration, police militarization, or drug policy evolution. Once the issue is selected, the student must conduct thorough research into its origins, societal impact, and how it has been handled within the legal and criminal justice systems historically. This involves examining legislative changes, landmark court rulings, and societal attitudes from different historical periods, thereby providing context for why the issue persists today.

In articulating the historical significance, students should explore the roots of the issue, including societal, political, and economic factors that have contributed to its emergence. They should analyze how previous policies, legal precedents, and systemic structures have influenced the development of the issue. For instance, if examining mass incarceration, the discussion might include the War on Drugs, sentencing reforms, and shifts in drug enforcement policies over decades.

Moving to contemporary efforts, the paper must evaluate current policies, programs, and initiatives designed to mitigate, resolve, or reform the issue. This includes legislative acts, law enforcement reforms, community programs, and judicial innovations that aim to make systemic changes. For example, discussions could include bail reform efforts, sentencing reforms, community policing strategies, or diversion programs, depending on the issue addressed.

An essential part of the analysis involves discussing the policy and legal implications. Students should critically assess how current policies are shaped by historical context, whether they have been successful or face challenges, and what legal reforms are necessary for further progress. This may include evaluating existing statutes, court rulings, and societal shifts influencing policy development and implementation.

All components must be assembled into a well-organized, scholarly paper adhering to academic standards. The paper should be formatted in Times New Roman, 12-point font, and contain a minimum of 15 peer-reviewed references to support claims and provide evidence-based arguments. Proper citations must follow APA or other academic formatting standards as specified by the course guidelines.

References

  • Alexander, M. (2010). The New Jim Crow: Mass incarceration in the age of colorblindness. The New Press.
  • Bohm, R., & Haley, K. N. (2015). Introduction to criminal justice. McGraw-Hill Education.
  • Clear, T. R., Cole, G. F., & Reisig, M. D. (2019). American criminal justice. Cengage Learning.
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  • Gottschalk, M. (2015). Caught: The prison state and the lockdown of American politics. Princeton University Press.
  • Marc Mauer. (2014). The growth of incarceration in the United States: Exploring causes and consequences. Urban Institute.
  • Petersilia, J. (2003). When prisoners break the law: Crime, justice, and offender treatment inside American prisons. Oxford University Press.
  • Simonsen, B., & Simonsen, R. (2014). The juvenile justice system: An overview of the legal process. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 43(3), 400-423.
  • Tonry, M. (2011). The crime drop and beyond. Crime and Justice, 40(1), 1-44.
  • Wacquant, L. (2009). Punishing the poor: The neoliberal governance of social insecurity. Duke University Press.

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