Criminal justice policies, the theories behind the policies, and the consequences and/or benefits

One primary goal of this class is to give students the knowledge and skills to critically analyze criminal
justice policies, the theories behind the policies, and the consequences and/or benefits of such policies.
Earlier this semester students researched a CJ policy. With a thorough understanding of the policy, and
having applied theory throughout the semester, now is the time to pull together all that you’ve learned into
one paper.
For the final paper, students need to do the following:
Step One: Briefly, in no more than two paragraphs, introduce the CJ policy that you are analyzing. This will
be based on the literature review you did at the beginning of the semester.
Step Two: After the policy has been briefly introduced, and using your previously written application of
theory papers as a guide, analyze the policy using a minimum of four different theories from this class,
representing at least three different broad categories (Choice, Trait, Structural, Social Process, Conflict or
Life Course Theories).
Explain VERY briefly the basic premise of each theory you chose and then, acting as if you were the author
of the theory, explain how the theory might apply to your topic. “According to _ theory, the use of
is justified b/c in doing an offender will ___
” Conversely, you might argue that according to a
particular theory, what is happening is only making the situation worse and likely to have a negative result.
Step Three: And finally, please wrap up your paper with a conclusion about your thoughts about the
policy/intervention assigned. Is it supported by theory?
At the end of the semester, students must use these papers, and their original literature review, to write a
final paper that involves a thorough assessment/evaluation of their topic. Is this policy supported or rejected
by the theories we learn about? Which theories support? Which theories reject? And what do you base your arguments upon?

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