Research paper should have the following elements:
- A thesis statement developed from the topic
Topic is: “Are police effective in controlling crime?”
- A survey of the research to support or refute your thesis as gathered and evaluated in the annotated bibliography
- Final conclusions regarding the current state of knowledge of your topic
The paper should be 15–20 pages and double spaced in a Word document. Use APA style for writing and citations.
This paper will build on your annotated bibliography. For the annotated bibliography you MUST glean 10 to 12 peer reviewed academic or empirical
See how to write a great annotated bibliography.
To address the paper topic: “Are Police Effective in Controlling Crime?” you should draw on the relevant theory and policy issues and apply them to the question, i.e. Are Police Effective in Controlling Crime? Your paper will build on your annotated bibliography and draw conclusions about a major aspect of the criminal justice process.
NOTE: Below are a few examples of Theories and Policy Issues that were discussed in the Course. They can be used in the Research Paper along with any other relevant theories or policy that may have an effect on policing or crime control.
Examples of Relevant Theories from “the Course I’m current attending” are:
- Social Construction Theory
- Crime Control vs due process theory
- Rational / legal theory, etc.
Example of Policy Issues from “the Course I’m currently attending “are:
- Drug policy (example, federal anti-drug abuse act of 1998)
2) Mandatory action policy & pro-arrest policy
3) Sex Offender policy
4) Three strikes Policy
5) PATRIOT ACT Policy
6) Juvenile Waiver Policies
7) zero tolerance policy, etc.
You can access a sample of an annotated bibliography and research paper here.
Just a Tips for structuring my Paper: Think about the 4 eras of policing and how criminology or Criminal Justice theories and policies passed during each eras, were involved in modifying the American Criminal Justice System over time, i.e from past (political era of policing) to current (Homeland Security era of policing). A little history about each era and how politicians many have been involved in making the policies changes during each era. Have the police been effective in controlling crime as a result of the progression of the policing eras?
Eras of Policing: Political Era; Reform Era; Community Era; (Homeland Security) Era
See how to write a great research paper that will give you an A.
The annotated bibliography that MUST glean 10 to 12 peer reviewed academic or empirical