Your final paper should be a minimum of 2500-3000 words.
-You can use any format you will ASA, APA, MLA, CHICAGO, etc, as long as you stick with that format.
-You DO NOT need a title page.
-You DO need a work cited/references page OR properly cited footnotes.
-You should engage critically with the course material, apply theoretical concepts to real-world problems, and consider alternative perspectives and approaches to addressing issues within the criminal justice system.
Choose a Criminological Theory: Begin by selecting one of the criminological theories covered in Chapter 3 of your course material. These theories could include classical, biological, psychological, sociological, or critical theories, among others. For example, you might choose strain theory, social learning theory, or feminist theory.
Identify a Contemporary Issue: Next, identify a contemporary issue within the field of criminal justice that you find particularly relevant or interesting. This could be anything from the overrepresentation of minorities in the criminal justice system to the effectiveness of rehabilitation programs for offenders.
Evaluate Application of Theory: Analyze how the chosen criminological theory can be applied to understand and address your selected contemporary issue. For instance, if you chose strain theory, you might explore how it helps explain the relationship between socioeconomic disadvantage and criminal behavior.
Consider Relevant Chapters: Throughout your analysis, draw on concepts and insights from the other chapters covered in your course, such as Chapter 5 on counting crime (e.g., how the issue is measured and understood), Chapter 6 on the politics of law and order (e.g., how political agendas shape responses to the issue), Chapter 8 on media and crime (e.g., how media representations influence public perceptions), Chapter 9 on punishment (e.g., implications for sentencing and corrections policies), Chapter 10 on social policy and crime (e.g., how policies impact the issue), and Chapter 11 on global justice (e.g., international perspectives on the issue).
Examine Harm-Based Approach: Lastly, consider how adopting a harm-based approach, as discussed in Chapter 12, could enhance or challenge the effectiveness of the chosen criminological theory in addressing the contemporary issue. This might involve exploring how a focus on harm reduction or restorative justice principles
