Introduction.

(Thesis Statement) Explain the topic that you have chosen and why it is significant to the criminal justice system. Construct a clear outline of the remaining elements of your research paper.

Thesis Statement: This statement declares what you believe and what you intend to prove. A good thesis statement makes the difference between a thoughtful research project and a simple retelling of facts. A good thesis statement will help you focus your search for information. But don't rush! You must do a lot of background reading before you know enough about a subject to identify key or essential questions.

You may not know how you stand on an issue until you have examined the evidence. You will likely begin your research with a working, preliminary or tentative thesis statement which you will continue to refine until you are certain of where the evidence leads.
Background and Analysis.

What are the sociological or political contexts or circumstances of the topic you have selected? Who are the key players in the issue? What is the status of the issue? What impact does this issue have on the CJ system, and why? On the public at large?

Conclusions/Recommendations.

What is the probable future of your topic? Do you have any recommendations for actors (law enforcement, correctional officials, and court officials) in the criminal justice system?

Requirements for the Research Paper

Minimum; 5 pages double-spaced 12 point font with 1" margins.

Minimum 5 reliable, valid references

All references must be included in APA format in a bibliography (the final page of your paper) Cover page, subtitles, page numbers, include images, tables, figures as appendices (do not count toward paper length)