criminal justice essay format

Criminal Justice Research Resources: General APA Guidelines

• Books and eBooks
• Online Resources
• General APA Guidelines

Paper Formatting

• General Paper Format
• Body and In-text Citations
• Reference Page

The standards shared in this section do not include everything you may see in paper formatting. Use the additional resources, or contact your professor or the library, if you need additional help in formatting your paper in APA style.

Paper Format

Your essay should be double-spaced on standard-sized paper (8.5" x 11"), with 1" margins on all sides. APA recommends using 12 pt. Times New Roman font.

At the top of every page you also need to include a  page header  (also known as the " running head "). To create a  page header/running head , insert page numbers flush right. Then type "TITLE OF YOUR PAPER" in the header flush left using all capital letters. The  running head  is a shortened version of your paper's title and cannot exceed 50 characters including spacing and punctuation.

Generally your essay will include  four sections:   Title Page ,  Abstract ,  Main Body , and  References .

Purdue OWL has a full sample paper that you can look through for assistance in formatting your paper. 

The title page should contain the  title  of the paper, the  author's name , and the  institutional affiliation . Academic papers will also include the  course number and name ,  instructor name , and  assignment due date .

Start the title page centered in the upper half of the page.

The title is first, with the content bolded.  It follows standard capitalization rules and is recommended to be less than twelve words. Do not use abbreviations in your title. 

On the next line will be the author name(s) which includes first name, middle initial if available, and last name. Do not include titles or degrees of the author(s). 

The following line is the institutional affiliation, which in our case is Immaculata University. Academic papers will also include the department, such as Psychology and Counseling Department. This is listed prior to the institution name. 

Academic papers will then list the course number and name, professors name (including any titles), and due date. These will be on separate lines. 

Abstracts are not mandatory for student papers. Please consult with your instructor to see if one is required for your assignment. If it is follow these guidelines. 

The abstract will begin on a new page following the title page. This page should include the page header. On the first line of the abstract page, center and bold the word Abstract. 

Beginning on the next line (with no indentation) write a concise summary of your research that includes; research topic, research questions, participants, methods, results, data analysis, and conclusions. This should be no more than 250 words. 

You may also want to list keywords from your paper in your abstract. To do this, indent as you would if you were starting a new paragraph, type  Keywords:  and then list your keywords. 

Follow the rules for your required assignment for what is needed in the body of the paper. However continue to ensure that the pages have necessary requirements such as the page header on every page and continue with the same font style and size.

Parenthetical citations

Both the author and the date, separated by a comma, appear in parentheses for a parenthetical citation. A parenthetical citation can appear within or at the end of a sentence.

Narrative citations

The author’s surname appears in running text, and the date appears in parentheses immediately after the author’s name for a narrative citation. The author’s name can be included in the sentence in any place it makes sense. For both citation types, if you are paraphrasing an idea from another work, you only have to make reference to the author and year of publication in your in-text reference and may omit the page numbers. APA guidelines, however, do encourage including a page range for a summary or paraphrase when it will help the reader find the information in a longer work. 

The last section of the paper is your reference page. Each source you cite in the paper must appear in your reference list; likewise, each entry in the reference list must be cited in your text. Your references should begin on a new page after the body of your paper; label this page "References" in bold, centered at the top of the page. All text should be double-spaced just like the rest of your essay.

Some basic rules are:

• Reference list entries should be alphabetized by the last name of the first author of each work.
• All lines after the first line of each entry in your reference list should be indented one-half inch from the left margin. This is called hanging indentation.
• For content by the same author, or authors listed in the same order, list the entries in chronological order, from earliest to most recent.
• Dissertation or Thesis
• Other Information

APA style dictates that authors are named with their last name followed by their initials. List all authors, commas separate author names, with "&" before the last author. If there are more than 20 authors, after the first 19 authors’ names, use an ellipsis in place of the remaining author names. Then, end with the final author's name (do not place an ampersand before it). 

Publication year goes between parentheses, followed by a period.

The title of the article is in sentence-case, meaning only the first word and proper nouns in the title are capitalized. End the title with a period.

The periodical title is run in title case, and is followed by the volume number which, with the title, is also italicized. The issue number follows directly after in parenthesis, and is not italicized. This is then followed by the page numbers if available. Each of these items is separated by a comma, and ended with a period. 

If a DOI has been assigned to the article that you are using, you should include this after the page numbers for the article. Do not end with a period. 

Additional examples for various circumstances can be found on the APA website . 

For the author names, list last name and first and middle initials. If the book has editors rather than authors, use the abbreviation “(Ed.)” for one editor and the abbreviation “(Eds.)” for multiple editors after the editor names, followed by a period. In the case of multiple editors, include the role once, after all the names.

Use the copyright date shown on the book’s copyright page as the year of publication in the reference, even if the copyright date is different than the release date.

The title is in sentence case. Include any edition information in parentheses after the title, without italics.

List the publisher name. 

Include the DOI at the end if it is provided for an eBook.

Book Chapter

Start out with the authors, which will be the authors of the chapter if they are different than the book authors.

After the publication year, you will write the chapter title followed by a period. This will be followed by the word "In" and the author and or editor(s) of the book, with first and middle initial, followed by last name. If they are editors you will include that abbreviation. Next is the book title which is italicized and then the page numbers of the chapter in parentheses. The page numbers are not italicized. 

Continue as normal with the citation.

Additional book circumstances can be found on the APA website. 

If the database assigns publication numbers to dissertations and theses, include the publication number in parentheses after the title of the dissertation or thesis without italics.

Include the description “Doctoral dissertation” or “Master’s thesis” followed by a comma and the name of the institution that awarded the degree. Place this information in square brackets after the dissertation or thesis title and any publication number.

In the source element of the reference, provide the name of the database, repository, or archive. If the database or archive requires users to log in before they can view the dissertation or thesis, meaning the URL will not work for readers, end the reference with the database name.

When a dissertation or thesis is unpublished, include the description “[Unpublished doctoral dissertation]” or “[Unpublished master’s thesis]” in square brackets after the dissertation or thesis title. This should be followed by the name of the institution that awarded the degree.

This guide only covers the examples that you are most likely to use in an academic paper. Please use the additional resources or contact a librarian if you need help citing other resources, such as audiovisual materials or online resources. 

You may be tempted to use the citation generator that is available on most databases. This is a good starting point, but you need to always double check the citation. Because they are automatically parsed, information may be missing or in the wrong format. 

Take a look at the example above. The automatically generated citation has several issues with the citation in APA style. 

The incorrection citation:

Ferdinand, S. (2022).  A case study of high school building-level public school administrators’ perceptions of disciplinary practices for students of color . Immaculata University.

The correct citation:

Surita, F. (2022).  A case study of high school building-level public school administrators’ perceptions of disciplinary practices for students of color  [Doctoral Dissertation, Immaculata University]. WorldCat Dissertations and Theses. https://immaculatauniversity.on.worldcat.org/oclc/1344437195

Additional Resources

• Style and Grammar Guidelines APA has put together their own style and grammar guidelines that follow the most recent version, APA 7. From paper format to publication process, it covers how to use APA style.
• APA Style - Purdue OWL These OWL resources will help you learn how to use the American Psychological Association (APA) citation and format style.

Library Contact Information

Writing center contact information.

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• Last Updated: Feb 21, 2024 2:54 PM
• URL: https://immaculata.libguides.com/criminaljusticeresearch

Guide to the master’s essay in criminal justice

A master's essay is a scholarly paper demonstrating a student's understanding of the issues and research surrounding a particular topic in criminology and criminal justice. The essay follows the completion of all coursework and is guided by a faculty advisor. The finished product is an essay that displays a thorough understanding and mastery of the research topic.

After consultation with your faculty essay advisor, you should submit the master's essay form to the academic services officer, who will then complete an override allowing you to register for three essay credits (CRJ 7999).

Choosing an essay topic and advisor

Students choosing the essay option should approach a faculty member regarding essay advising the semester prior to beginning work on the essay. Choose up to three areas of criminology/criminal justice that you would like to investigate in-depth. You will eventually choose only one and narrow that topic in consultation with your essay advisor. Think about topics in your classes that interest you and begin reading articles and books on the topics.

Knowledge of current research in the area will help you narrow your topic and present a more coherent proposal to prospective advisors. Students who wish to pursue a topic on which they have had no coursework should consider working with a faculty member on the topic through a Directed Study (CRJ 7990) before beginning the essay.

Contact a faculty member whose area of specialization most closely matches your preferred topic. Describe your plans and ask if he or she would be willing to work with you on the project. If he or she accepts, you will begin negotiating the terms of the essay. After submitting your essay form you will be able to register for CRJ 7999 for three credits. If the faculty member declines, contact another professor or begin the process again with a different topic. Students unsure of whom to approach should consult with the graduate director regarding potential faculty advisors.

The essay advisor-student relationship is an agreement between the student and the faculty member. You will negotiate the topic, scope, approximate length, due dates, and any other aspects of the essay deemed necessary.

Writing your essay

Researching and writing the essay typically requires students' complete commitment without other coursework for at least one full semester. Follow the plan agreed upon with your essay advisor. Keep in contact, letting your advisor know of your progress, difficulties, and successes. Work on the essay requires intensive research and writing, revision, and refinement. Follow the American Psychological Association (APA) style guidelines for formatting your essay. The essay is complete when the essay advisor determines that the finished product displays a thorough understanding and mastery of the research topic and is of sufficient quality to warrant the awarding of a master's degree.

You must receive a grade of B- or better on the essay.

Important deadlines/submitting your essay

Be sure to apply for your degree on Academica by no later than the fourth week of classes in the semester you expect to complete your essay.

Check with the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences (313-577-5188) regarding their deadline for submission of the essay . Then contact your essay advisor to determine his/her deadline, allowing sufficient time for him/her to read and grade the essay by the college deadline. The deadline is usually several weeks before the end of the semester, so you must work with your advisor to plan your timeline accordingly.

Make sure your essay conforms to the American Psychological Association (APA) style guidelines.

Make sure your essay's format, binding and cover page conform to the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences guidelines for the master's essay .

Submit two copies of your essay (one for the college and one for the department) to your essay advisor.

Your essay advisor will grade your essay.

Other resources

If you have difficulties with your writing, you may want to work with a copy editor or visit The Writing Center .

The department recommends the following book as a guide to writing an essay: W.A. Johnson, Rettig, R.P., Scott, G.M., and Garrison, S.M. (2005). The Criminal Justice Student Writer's Manual (3rd ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall.

Sample essays are available for review by arrangement with the academic services officer at 313-577-0772.

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The SAGE Guide to Writing in Criminal Justice

• Steven Hougland - Florida Sheriffs Association
• Jennifer M. Allen - Nova Southeastern University, Fort Lauderdale, FL, USA
• Description

See what’s new to this edition by selecting the Features tab on this page. Should you need additional information or have questions regarding the HEOA information provided for this title, including what is new to this edition, please email [email protected] . Please include your name, contact information, and the name of the title for which you would like more information. For information on the HEOA, please go to http://ed.gov/policy/highered/leg/hea08/index.html .

For assistance with your order: Please email us at [email protected] or connect with your SAGE representative.

SAGE 2455 Teller Road Thousand Oaks, CA 91320 www.sagepub.com

“The SAGE Guide to Writing in Criminal Justice provides students studying crime with a “how-to” manual for effective writing in institutions of higher learning, professional settings, public and private agencies, and beyond. It is an easy, accessible resource for anyone hoping to learn the nuts and bolts of writing for criminal justice audiences.”

“This is my new textbook for my ‘Professional Writing in Criminal Justice’ course!...This is the book that I have been looking for, and I am SO glad to see if come to fruition!  Kudos to the authors!”

“It’s a good guide for students who want to improve their writing and refresh some of the lessons learned in writing classes.”

“This is an applied text to build skills in writing. Period. And that is great!”

“Inexpensive. A valuable tool for students and a time saving addition to every course. A resource students can use throughout their academic tenure.”

“A nice point of reference for students who wish/need to improve their writing abilities, and who want to be better prepared for the after-University.”

“This brief writing guide provides criminal justice students straightforward descriptions of basic report writing as well as college paper writing.  The text provides helpful examples and puts into context the importance of writing well.”

Proper Writing skills are essential to all academics. I reviewed the book. The section I found most relative is the APA format chapters at the end which I have listed in my syllabi for essential reading and Chapters 1 and 3 will be utilized for the Fall semester as mandatory Chapters. I will require this for my history courses too. Do you have one develop for writing in History?

KEY FEATURES: 

• Effective writing strategies for report writing guide students through the legal requirements and best practices for creating and completing reports commonly found in the criminal justice system. 
• Writing assignments and exercises provide students with opportunities to apply course material.
• Examples of resumes and cover letters offer students real-world tips to help prepare them for the workforce. 
• A discussion on plagiarism clearly defines the concept to students as well as offers advice on how plagiarism can be avoided. 
• An entire chapter devoted to information literacy explains to students how to better identify, obtain, and evaluate information. 
• Two chapters on formatting and writing an academic paper guide students through the writing process and help them develop a well-researched academic paper.  

Sample Materials & Chapters

Chapter 2: What is Information Literacy

Chapter 3: Writing in Criminal Justice

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Criminal Justice Essay

Parker’s crime control model, packer’s due process model, best model for americans interest, reference list.

The two models -crime control and due process- put forward by Hebert Parker have a major bearing on the criminal justice system greatly. The models have been useful in helping to deal with the complexities in the criminal process. The models make it easier to understand the workings of the justice system by simplifying the values underlying the process.

The two modes have both similar and different values but the major difference between the two is that the due process model concerns itself with the protection of individual rights while the rime control model advocates for societal security as well as order. The focus of the paper will be on the overview and analysis of the two models. In addition, it shall look at which model serves American citizens better.

The crime control model has the following main assertions. The fundamental goal of the criminal process should be to repress crime. The police should have the authority to conduct arrests and do fact- finding. Suspects are guilty until proven otherwise. The mode suggests that the main aim of the justice system is protecting the rights of victims and not making the defendants and their rights a priority.

The criminal process should operate smoothly and swiftly and the main goal of the criminal justice process should be uncovering the truth and establishing factual guilt of the arrestees (Packer, 1968).

The main assumption of the crime control model is to repress crime in the criminal process. The model draws it authority from the legislature and not the courts. Crime control guarantees social freedom and helps to maintain law and order in the society. Applying the model helps to protect the people together with their property from harm.

The model asserts that lack of proper law enforcement is tantamount to breakdown in the public order and consequently the loss of human freedom. If the laws are not reinforced and leads to a perception that there is a failure in apprehending and convicting criminals in the criminal process.

Consequently, a disregard for legal control sets in and innocent citizens become victims of unwarranted invasions to their interests. The increased rate of crimes hinders the members of the society from enjoying their freedom thus limiting their liberty. The model fundamental value is guaranteeing social freedom to the members of the society through the criminal process (Packer, 1968).

To guarantee social freedom the crime control model advocates for efficiency within the criminal process to identify criminal suspects, determine their guilt and take appropriate actions in terms of convictions. Packer was of the opinion that a strong police force could contain crime for the known crimes (1968). However, it is important to note that many numbers of crimes go unreported and thus the efficiency of the model in crime suppression is questionable.

For the model to be considered successful, the rate of catching criminals and bringing them to convictions must be high. For this reason, the model relies heavily on legislature instead of the courts to speed up the process as cases in courts may take a very long time before their conclusion. To achieve speed and finality in the criminal process, the process must be efficient and allow the cases to proceed without undue delays.

The speedy progress in the crime control model happens because the methods used are informal hence reducing chances of delaying cases by following the formal methods that might be challenged and waste time trying to prove the challenges. The typical formal processes of cases should be removed because they slow down the speed of cases.

The process can be made simple and fast by interrogating suspects at the police stations instead of taking them to court where they go through the formal process that involves time-consuming examinations and cross-examinations (Packer, 1968).

The model advocates for an extrajudicial process to a judicial process. Informal operations should be employed in the criminal process, as they are faster unlike the formal operations that follow many rituals. The assumption of the model is operating, as managerial models where different activities go on from one-step to another seamlessly just like a conveyer belt.

In other words, the crime control mode is perceived as a screening process where each stage leads to a successful finality. To achieve the successful convictions the model screens cases at the initial stage and using expertise it can be determined which suspects are likely to be guilty or not.

Those who have a high likelihood of being guilty are taken through the successive process expeditiously and a conclusion arrived at sooner. On the other hand, those cases that have minimal or no likelihood of being found guilty are thrown out of the process.

The police perform the task of fact finding in stations or in the streets and do not rely on judges and lawyers in courts. The crime control model relies on factual guilt, which is brought by the police through their fact find and used as evidence to prove that a suspect is guilty without a doubt (Roach, 1999).

The basis for screening the cases is the guilty assumption. The arrestees are guilty according to this model until their innocence can be proved. Thus, according to the model, arrestees are considered guilty and hence the government has the responsibility of punishing them. Moreover, law enforcement agencies prefer this model because they treat the suspects as if guilty and thus should be arrested, prosecuted and convicted for breaking the law.

In this case, the police have powers to make arrests and establish whether arrestees are factually guilty (Roach 1999). However, some limitations are set on the interrogation methods to ensure their reliability by the police because coerced confessions would lead to incarceration of innocent people.

The arrestees are barred from contacting their lawyers as this would only lead to delays and those who are guilty might get off the hook by following their lawyers advice. They say that a lawyer should not come to the station as his or her place is reserved in the courtroom.

Moreover, the police should have the authority to conduct arbitrarily searches on suspects because only the guilty would have anything to hide. The evidence obtained illegally should be acceptable during trial because evidence such as drugs or stolen property is a proof of crime regardless of the methods used to obtain them (Roach 1999).

The due process works on the following assumptions. Reduce the power of the police to prevent them from abusing innocent people. Suspects are innocent until proven otherwise. Protect the rights of the defendants in the criminal justice process. The constitutional rights of every individual should be upheld by the criminal justice authorities for instance, the fourth amendment, which prohibits arbitrary searches.

The criminal process should have obstacles that safeguard the defendant from until proven factually guilty. The government should refrain from considering people guilty based on facts until they go through legal procedures to prove their guilt.

Unlike the crime control model that resembles a conveyer belt in its smooth operations, the due process model is an obstacle belt. It has stages designed in such a way that they impede the case from going up further through the process. The model relies on the Supreme Court to validate its operations as well as on courts restrictions in the criminal process (Roach, 1999).

The aim of the due processes is to ensure that defendants are treated fairly by the criminal justice system by relying less on efficiency unlike the crime control model.

The due process lays emphasis on equal treatment of defendants or suspects in spite of their social or economic class. For instance, all have a right for counsel representation. Thus, those people who are arrested are allowed to call their lawyers. The suspects who cannot afford a lawyer, the government appoints one on their behalf because the due process objective is to accord equal protection even to the disadvantaged members of the society.

The due process does not allow police to find facts in stations and in the streets to convict the arrestees. The suspects are treated fairly and Miranda rights made known to them during their arrest.

This will prevent them from giving information to the police that is self-incriminatory and can be used against them in trial. The police should not take advantage of a suspect to get a confession to build a case against them. This step is taken to reduce the instances when police arrest people and sentence them before taking them through the legal criminal process.

The police do not have the right to detain people as they do their fact-finding, they can find the facts then make the arrest unless when there is reason to believe that they will not attend trial (Roach, 1999). The due process does not rely solely on the ability of the police of conducting investigations because the process can be faulty as it is not error-proof.

Packer says that people are poor in observing disturbing events and their recollection of the events maybe incorrect and the confessions that arrestees make in stations maybe because of coercion and the police may end up listening to what they may want to hear instead of seeing the truth (1968).

The witnesses of the criminal events maybe biased and against the accused and the police would not work towards finding the truth to its logical conclusion because protecting them is not their primary responsibility. Hence, the due process rejects the informal processes of fact-finding.

The model insists on formal fact-finding processes where an impartial tribunal listens to a case. Moreover, the model provides an opportunity for defendants to bring civil actions against police abuse or violation of their rights. The model also gives the defendant an opportunity to discredit the case set before them before making its ruling.

The model also recognizes that there is a possibility of making an error during the criminal process and allows further scrutiny of facts in case the truth was overlooked in the proceedings. As long as the defendant can prove that an error was made during, the criminal process scrutiny can be allowed. The due process model does not demand finality like the crime control does because the aim is not to conclude cases but ensure that the process is fair as possible to the defendant (Packer, 1968).

The arrestees are innocent until their guilt is proven according to this model. It therefore follows that a criminal process should be conducted in such a way that the defendant is proved either innocent or guilty beyond any reasonable doubt.

The prosecutor and the judges should not encourage the defendants to enter guilty pleas during pre-trials by offering them deals. The criminal process should not be looked at as a burden that has to be done away with by entering pleas rather as a proper way process in the criminal justice system.

The due process recommends that the criminal trial establish that a defendant is legally guilty beyond any shadow of doubt instead of proving factual guilt (Packer, 1968). The model urges that the police cannot do this but only judges and defense lawyers in a court of law can (Roach, 1999; Packer, 1968).

The American citizens ought to have an effective justice system. The strategy for ensuring that the justice system is effective has been debated for many years. The two criminal processes modes proposed by Herbert Packer have been debated for long because they represent two philosophies- conservative and liberal.

The crime control model advocates for a safe society where there is law and order and its philosophy is conservative. On the other hand, there is the due process model that advocates for the protection of the rights of people from any form of injustice and this perspective is liberal in nature.

The political climate determines which model is favored by the society at a particular time. The two positions are in conflict and the justice system has had to choose one over the other over time. However, choosing one model to follow is not easy because various people have different opinions.

The due process appears to be the best model for the American citizens. Some propose the due process model that seeks to protect individual freedoms. In this process, the arrestees do not lose their right to be treated well as they are taken to be innocent. The law enforcers uphold the constitutional guarantees of the individuals and thus protect innocent people from being convicted wrongfully.

The mode is good because many people have been convicted wrongful and served behind bars for crimes they did not commit. For example, Cornelius Dupree was exonerated after serving thirty years behind bars in Texas following a DNA exam.

The due process for allowing the contest of the rulings against defendants gives them an opportunity to make appeals that may actually result in their exoneration. Moreover, this provision makes the American people feel that the justice system is fair in its treatment of all citizens because the constitution protects all American citizens regardless of their race and ethnicity.

Therefore, the American citizens are protected against racial profiling even though this may not be the case on the ground. Through the due process, the justice system puts checks and balances upon itself to prevent the government from treating the citizens arbitrarily.

Those who oppose the due process say that it puts the rights of the defendants and completely ignores the victims of crimes. Moreover, the law enforcers say that the Fourth Amendment in the constitution makes it hard for them to carry out their activities of crime prevention as it limits them from conducting raids and searches.

The limitations arise from the various interpretations of the Fourth Amendment by the courts. The interpretations change over time making the work of the law enforcers hard because of the confusion that ensues thereof.

Not only do the police have to consider the fourth amendment, but also the individual rights outlined in the bill of rights such as right to an attorney, assume an individual innocent until proven otherwise amongst others. In addition, the due process limits how far the government can go in treating and individual because the constitution allows individual a right to privacy.

On the contrary, the due process follows the criminal process formally thus giving any American arrestee an opportunity to go through the process and through their legal counsel present evidence to the court that may prevent them from going to jail.

Moreover, the obstacles in the process ensure that they are not sentenced prematurely before the cases are exhausted completely before they are either found to be innocent or guilty.

The due process model unlike the crime control model which advocates for speedy prosecutions and convictions and relies heavily of the evidence of the police through their fact-finding acknowledges that the police can be wrong and thus does not rely on factual guilt but legal guilt proved in a court of law.

The due process is far more realistic than the crime control model, which seems to infringe upon the ideals contained in the declaration of independence and ideals held dear by the American citizens.

Packer, H. (1968). The limits of criminal sanctions . New York: University of Stanford Press.

Roach, K. (1999). Four Models of the criminal process. Journal of Criminal Law & Criminology , 89 (2), p 671.

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Bibliography

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Criminal Justice: APA Style

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APA Documentation

https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/purdue_owl.html

Sample APA Paper

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APA 7th Edition Overview

General apa guidelines.

Your essay should be typed and double-spaced on standard-sized paper (8.5" x 11"), with 1" margins on all sides.   Include a  page header  (also known as the “ running head ”) at the top of every page. For a professional paper, this includes your paper title and the page number. For a student paper, this only includes the page number. To create a  page header/running head , insert page numbers flush right. Then type "TITLE OF YOUR PAPER" in the header flush left using all capital letters. The  running head  is a shortened version of your paper's title and cannot exceed 50 characters including spacing and punctuation.

The 7th edition of the APA Publication Manual requires that the chosen font be accessible (i.e., legible) to all readers and that it be used consistently throughout the paper. It acknowledges that many font choices are legitimate, and it advises writers to check with their publishers, instructors, or institutions for guidance in cases of uncertainty.

While the APA Manual does not specify a single font or set of  fonts for professional writing, it does recommend a few fonts that are widely available. These include sans serif fonts such as 11-point Calibri, 11-point Arial, and 10-point Lucida Sans Unicode as well as serif fonts such as 12-point Times New Roman, 11-point Georgia, 10-point Computer Modern.

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104 Criminal Justice Essay Topic Ideas & Examples

Inside This Article

Criminal justice is a broad and complex field that encompasses various aspects of law enforcement, corrections, and the judicial system. If you are studying criminal justice or planning to pursue a career in this field, you will likely be required to write essays on various topics related to criminal justice. To help you get started, here are 104 criminal justice essay topic ideas and examples:

• The evolution of criminal justice systems over the years.
• The role of technology in modern law enforcement.
• The impact of media on public perception of criminal justice.
• The relationship between poverty and crime rates.
• The effectiveness of community policing in reducing crime.
• The ethical implications of using artificial intelligence in criminal justice.
• The use of body cameras by police officers and its impact on accountability.
• The role of forensic science in solving crimes.
• The challenges of investigating and prosecuting white-collar crimes.
• The impact of mandatory minimum sentencing on the criminal justice system.
• The causes and consequences of wrongful convictions.
• The role of rehabilitation in the criminal justice system.
• The effectiveness of drug courts in reducing recidivism.
• The relationship between mental illness and criminal behavior.
• The ethical considerations of capital punishment.
• The impact of racial profiling on minority communities.
• The role of restorative justice in repairing harm caused by crime.
• The challenges of addressing cybercrime in the digital age.
• The impact of the war on drugs on criminal justice policies.
• The role of victim services in the criminal justice system.
• The effectiveness of probation and parole in reducing recidivism.
• The relationship between poverty and overrepresentation in the criminal justice system.
• The impact of the criminal justice system on marginalized communities.
• The role of criminal profiling in solving serial crimes.
• The challenges of addressing domestic violence within the criminal justice system.
• The impact of the "war on terror" on civil liberties.
• The role of eyewitness testimony in criminal trials.
• The effectiveness of alternative dispute resolution methods in reducing court congestion.
• The relationship between drug addiction and criminal behavior.
• The impact of mandatory reporting laws on child abuse cases.
• The role of private prisons in the criminal justice system.
• The challenges of addressing human trafficking within the criminal justice system.
• The impact of social media on criminal investigations.
• The role of forensic psychology in criminal profiling.
• The effectiveness of anti-gang initiatives in reducing gang-related crimes.
• The relationship between gun control laws and crime rates.
• The impact of the "three strikes" law on recidivism rates.
• The role of community-based corrections programs in reducing incarceration rates.
• The challenges of addressing police misconduct within the criminal justice system.
• The impact of DNA evidence on criminal investigations and convictions.
• The relationship between immigration policies and crime rates.
• The effectiveness of sex offender registration laws in protecting communities.
• The role of social programs in preventing juvenile delinquency.
• The challenges of addressing hate crimes within the criminal justice system.
• The impact of surveillance technologies on privacy rights.
• The role of criminal justice policies in addressing the opioid crisis.
• The effectiveness of rehabilitation programs for incarcerated individuals.
• The relationship between mental health treatment and recidivism rates.
• The impact of mandatory sentencing for drug offenses on minority communities.
• The role of community-based organizations in reducing gang violence.
• The challenges of addressing police brutality within the criminal justice system.
• The impact of globalization on transnational crimes.
• The role of forensic anthropology in identifying human remains.
• The effectiveness of diversion programs for first-time offenders.
• The relationship between poverty and juvenile delinquency.
• The impact of the Fourth Amendment on law enforcement practices.
• The role of victim impact statements in sentencing decisions.
• The challenges of addressing elder abuse within the criminal justice system.
• The impact of technology on the privacy rights of individuals.
• The role of criminal justice policies in addressing human rights violations.
• The effectiveness of drug education programs in preventing substance abuse.
• The relationship between mental health courts and recidivism rates.
• The impact of the "school-to-prison pipeline" on marginalized communities.
• The role of forensic entomology in estimating time of death.
• The challenges of addressing child exploitation within the criminal justice system.
• The impact of mandatory drug testing for welfare recipients on poverty rates.
• The role of community supervision in reducing recidivism.
• The relationship between police presence and crime rates.
• The effectiveness of victim-offender mediation in addressing the harm caused by crime.
• The impact of the Fifth Amendment on interrogation practices.
• The role of criminal justice policies in addressing human trafficking.
• The challenges of addressing cyberbullying within the criminal justice system.
• The impact of surveillance cameras on crime prevention.
• The role of forensic linguistics in analyzing written evidence.
• The effectiveness of gun buyback programs in reducing gun violence.
• The relationship between mental health treatment and criminal behavior.
• The impact of mandatory arrest policies on domestic violence cases.
• The role of criminal justice policies in addressing environmental crimes.
• The challenges of addressing police corruption within the criminal justice system.
• The impact of eyewitness misidentification on wrongful convictions.
• The relationship between substance abuse and child neglect.
• The effectiveness of reentry programs for formerly incarcerated individuals.
• The role of criminal justice policies in addressing hate crimes.
• The impact of predictive policing on law enforcement practices.
• The challenges of addressing human rights violations within the criminal justice system.
• The role of forensic odontology in identifying human remains.
• The effectiveness of community-based drug treatment programs.
• The relationship between poverty and gang involvement.
• The impact of the exclusionary rule on the criminal justice system.
• The role of criminal justice policies in addressing environmental justice.
• The challenges of addressing cyberstalking within the criminal justice system.
• The impact of community surveillance programs on crime prevention.
• The role of forensic accounting in investigating financial crimes.
• The effectiveness of gun control policies in reducing gun-related crimes.
• The relationship between substance abuse treatment and recidivism rates.
• The impact of mandatory reporting laws on elder abuse cases.
• The role of criminal justice policies in addressing animal cruelty.
• The challenges of addressing corruption within the criminal justice system.
• The impact of false confessions on wrongful convictions.
• The relationship between substance abuse and intimate partner violence.
• The effectiveness of diversion programs for mentally ill offenders.
• The role of criminal justice policies in addressing cybercrime.
• The impact of community-based restorative justice programs on crime reduction.
• The challenges of addressing international crimes within the criminal justice system.

These essay topics provide a starting point for your research and analysis in the field of criminal justice. Remember to choose a topic that interests you and aligns with your academic goals and career aspirations. Good luck with your essays!

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Criminology & Criminal Justice

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What is a Literature Review?

The scholarly conversation.

A literature review provides an overview of previous research on a topic that critically evaluates, classifies, and compares what has already been published on a particular topic. It allows the author to synthesize and place into context the research and scholarly literature relevant to the topic. It helps map the different approaches to a given question and reveals patterns. It forms the foundation for the author’s subsequent research and justifies the significance of the new investigation.

A literature review can be a short introductory section of a research article or a report or policy paper that focuses on recent research. Or, in the case of dissertations, theses, and review articles, it can be an extensive review of all relevant research.

• The format is usually a bibliographic essay; sources are briefly cited within the body of the essay, with full bibliographic citations at the end.
• The introduction should define the topic and set the context for the literature review. It will include the author's perspective or point of view on the topic, how they have defined the scope of the topic (including what's not included), and how the review will be organized. It can point out overall trends, conflicts in methodology or conclusions, and gaps in the research.
• In the body of the review, the author should organize the research into major topics and subtopics. These groupings may be by subject, (e.g., globalization of clothing manufacturing), type of research (e.g., case studies), methodology (e.g., qualitative), genre, chronology, or other common characteristics. Within these groups, the author can then discuss the merits of each article and analyze and compare the importance of each article to similar ones.
• The conclusion will summarize the main findings, make clear how this review of the literature supports (or not) the research to follow, and may point the direction for further research.
• The list of references will include full citations for all of the items mentioned in the literature review.

Key Questions for a Literature Review

A literature review should try to answer questions such as

• Who are the key researchers on this topic?
• What has been the focus of the research efforts so far and what is the current status?
• How have certain studies built on prior studies? Where are the connections? Are there new interpretations of the research?
• Have there been any controversies or debate about the research? Is there consensus? Are there any contradictions?
• Which areas have been identified as needing further research? Have any pathways been suggested?
• How will your topic uniquely contribute to this body of knowledge?
• Which methodologies have researchers used and which appear to be the most productive?
• What sources of information or data were identified that might be useful to you?
• How does your particular topic fit into the larger context of what has already been done?
• How has the research that has already been done help frame your current investigation ?

Examples of Literature Reviews

Example of a literature review at the beginning of an article: Forbes, C. C., Blanchard, C. M., Mummery, W. K., & Courneya, K. S. (2015, March). Prevalence and correlates of strength exercise among breast, prostate, and colorectal cancer survivors . Oncology Nursing Forum, 42(2), 118+. Retrieved from http://go.galegroup.com.sonoma.idm.oclc.org/ps/i.do?p=HRCA&sw=w&u=sonomacsu&v=2.1&it=r&id=GALE%7CA422059606&asid=27e45873fddc413ac1bebbc129f7649c Example of a comprehensive review of the literature: Wilson, J. L. (2016). An exploration of bullying behaviours in nursing: a review of the literature.   British Journal Of Nursing ,  25 (6), 303-306. For additional examples, see:

Galvan, J., Galvan, M., & ProQuest. (2017). Writing literature reviews: A guide for students of the social and behavioral sciences (Seventh ed.). [Electronic book]

Pan, M., & Lopez, M. (2008). Preparing literature reviews: Qualitative and quantitative approaches (3rd ed.). Glendale, CA: Pyrczak Pub. [ Q180.55.E9 P36 2008]

Useful Links

• Write a Literature Review (UCSC)
• Literature Reviews (Purdue)
• Literature Reviews: overview (UNC)
• Review of Literature (UW-Madison)

Evidence Matrix for Literature Reviews

The  Evidence Matrix  can help you  organize your research  before writing your lit review.  Use it to  identify patterns  and commonalities in the articles you have found--similar methodologies ?  common  theoretical frameworks ? It helps you make sure that all your major concepts covered. It also helps you see how your research fits into the context  of the overall topic.

• Evidence Matrix Special thanks to Dr. Cindy Stearns, SSU Sociology Dept, for permission to use this Matrix as an example.
• << Previous: Annotated Bibliographies
• Next: ASA style >>
• Last Updated: Jan 17, 2024 12:31 PM
• URL: https://libguides.sonoma.edu/CCJS

Writing Guide

Effective communication is vital no matter what you study, including criminal justice. In fact, law enforcement officers do far more writing than many people think. Criminal justice report writing plays a central role in the field. Cops write arrest, crime, incident, and evidence reports, and they compose social media posts, community outreach posters, and internal memos. Like everyone else, they also communicate using electronic correspondence, including emails and texts.

Because of the authoritative nature of police work, law enforcement communications must use clear, concise, and articulate language.

Because of the authoritative nature of police work, law enforcement communications must use clear, concise, and articulate language. These documents might appear in trials or be used to obtain warrants, making accuracy and clarity absolutely essential. Good communication skills can also lead to promotion opportunities.

Writing skills are just as important in other criminal justice professions, including teaching, law, forensics, and emergency management. Criminologists write studies and research papers, teachers pen several types of documents, and emergency management professionals compose community reports and preparation studies. Likewise, lawyers write countless communications, and forensic experts prepare reports on their findings. Anyone who wants to continue on to a master’s, too, benefits from effective writing skills.

Types of Writing Criminal Justice Students Will Do in School

Personal statements.

Many colleges require applicants to write a personal statement. These short essays reveal the goals and intentions of students and can improve your odds of getting accepted into a preferred school. Admissions staff can quickly tell how well a student writes, how much effort they put into their statement, and whether they can answer simple questions. They can also compare an applicant’s ambition and imagination with their peers.

Many students find that writing about their own experiences, especially as they relate to their educational aspirations, leads to a successful essay. Criminal justice students, for example, could write about how volunteering with young, at-risk kids opened their eyes to the ways some children fall into a life of crime. Others write about how reading the police blotter in their small town inspired them to invent a solution to a common problem. Keep in mind that college counselors read thousands of these essays, and carefully think about why they should choose you over others. Think about the average applicant and consider what sets you apart. Put some time into your essay. Write an outline in which you lay out your points. Proofread what you write and consider getting professional help prior to submission.

Colleges look for statements that reveal the character of an individual. According to a survey of admissions counselors by the Guardian , they appreciate honesty, simplicity, introspection, and direct and confident language. They do now, however like punctuation errors, waffling, or overblown language. If admissions lists the personal statement as optional, make sure to set yourself apart by writing one.

Criminal justice programs often use long-form essay questions on exams. These writing prompts ask students to compose essays on topics discussed in class. Students must create thoughtful and clear answers using points of evidence along the way — showing that they understand the material. Students often do not get the questions ahead of time, which means they must not only study for the exam but answer on the spot.

Students must create thoughtful and clear answers using points of evidence along the way — showing that they understand the material.

Students can make essay questions must easier by taking simple steps. First, make sure you read the question closely and understand it’s requirements. Jot down a one- or two-sentence thesis that answers it. Afterward, compose a brief outline, sketching out your three main points and making sure that they address the question clearly. Fill in each point with a few pieces of evidence. This will keep you focused as you write.

Reread the essay after completing it. While editing, look for grammatical or thematic errors, keeping the specifics of the question in mind as you read. Your first draft will almost always have mistakes, so make sure you leave enough time to proofread!

Research Papers

At some point, almost every college student needs to write a research paper. These long-form reports generally require you to thoroughly explore a topic, investigating it from a variety of angles and writing about your findings. Research papers share similarities with essays, and some can take the form of an essay. However, research papers differ in that they typically involve articulating someone else’s point of view. The thesis of an essay tends to take a personal note and is chosen beforehand, but a research paper presents the end result of the exploration, analysis, and evaluation of an idea or theme. The Purdue Online Writing Lab suggests that you think of a research paper as a living document that will grow and change as you interpret your data.

A good research paper begins with the selection of a topic. People list differing ideas about how to write a criminal justice research paper, but there is no shortage of topics. Ideas could include the relationship between mental health and crime or drugs and recidivism. You might look at the ethics of mass incarceration or study police brutality. Your paper could investigate whether data-driven policing serves as another form of profiling or explore changes to the Fourth Amendment in law enforcement.

Once you decide on a main idea, you need to research several primary and secondary sources. After thoroughly investigating your topic, draw an outline, laying out your primary points logically. A research paper usually has an introduction, a review or discussion of methodology, a section on results, and conclusions you can draw from the research. At the end, list your sources and references. After writing the outline, compose the first draft. Write thoughts as they come within each section, knowing that you can go back and edit for clarity and simplicity later. Make sure you present sound arguments and qualitative research. Many people find it easier to write the introduction after writing the body of the paper.

How Do You Write an Essay?

Like other forms of writing, essays come in several forms. Most students, for example, write a personal essay for their college application and later write persuasive essays in their classes. Professors might ask for narrative essays or comparative ones, or any of the types below — each of which requires a different way of thinking and writing.

Comparative

Cause and effect, citations guide for criminal justice students.

Students should cite the works that they use in their papers. Citing shows the reader that you’ve done your research, and gives them the tools to check your facts. It demonstrates that you used sources knowingly and acknowledge the work you reference. Not only do colleges require this of students, but students themselves can immunize themselves from plagiarism through citation.

Plagiarism, whether intentional or not, puts an ugly stain on one’s academic career. It can lead to probationary status or even expulsion, and it can make getting into another school difficult. It’s your duty to know where your information comes from and to make sure you cite your work properly.

American Psychological Association (APA) Style

A group of psychologists, anthropologists, and business leaders designed the APA style in 1929. They wanted to set clear and straightforward standards for scientific writing so that academic writers used the same format. Everyone would cite things the same way, using common punctuation, numeration, tables, and figures.

APA style caters to fields like psychology, nursing, and business. Many in criminology and sociology also use APA style. For citations, APA differs slightly from other major styles, such as MLA. For example, when referencing an author, MLA uses last name and first name (e.g. Mayo, Matthew), where APA uses last name and first initial (e.g. Mayo, M.).

The in-text citation looks like this: (Mayo, 2017, p. 90.). Always place the in-text citation after the last word of the sentence but before the final punctuation mark. The reference list at the end of the paper includes the full citation: Mayo, M. (2017). Stranded–A Story of Frontier Survival . Waterville, ME: Five Star Publishing.

Chicago Manual of Style (CMS)

The Chicago Manual of Style dates back to 1891 and the founding of the University of Chicago Press. Typesetters and editors at the publisher created a style sheet, which they distributed to their professors and authors. By standardizing the manuscripts coming in, they could simplify the cumbersome typesetting process. The style sheet became a pamphlet and grew into a book, now in its seventeenth edition.

Business, history, and fine arts departments typically use Chicago style. Many publishers also use this style. Chicago style cites things differently than APA, employing footnotes and often including a bibliography at the end of the publication.

In the text, you place a numerical footnote number after the reference. The bibliography at the end of the paper includes the full citation: Matthew P. Mayo, Stranded–A Story of Frontier Survival . (Waterville, ME: Five Star Publishing, 2017), 90.

Modern Language Association (MLA) Format

The Modern Language Association (MLA) created its style specifically for academic writing. Language studies, comparative literature, English, and media and cultural studies typically use MLA style. The MLA presents its guidelines and standards in its MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers.

Like with APA style, in MLA writers cite the author and source in parentheses within the text after each reference and collects the full citations at the end of the paper in a “Works Cited” section.

The in-text citation should look like this: (Mayo 90). The reference list at the end of the paper includes the full citation: Mayo, Matthew, P. Stranded–A Story of Frontier Survival . Five Star Publishing, 2017.

Associated Press (AP) Style

As its name suggests, the Associated Press style serves as the standard formatting guideline used by the Associated Press. Journalism and the media typically use this style, although some publications, like the New York Times, set their own standards.

AP style aims for brevity, simplicity, and accuracy, and, as such, reflects a more modern style. It allows for abbreviations, for example, more often than other styles, and tends to adopt new words and phrases at a faster pace. Because of its journalistic roots, AP style handles citations differently than the other, more academic styles. It does not use bibliographies, choosing instead to reference everything within the text.

In AP style you would simply write in the text: In Matthew P. Mayo’s novel “Stranded: A Story of Frontier Survival,” the young protagonist, etc. . .

What Writing Style Is Used in Criminal Justice

Because criminal justice falls under the broader heading of the social sciences, ALA style is probably the most commonly used style in the field. Some schools make it a point to teach criminal justice students ALA style. Utica College’s law enforcement program, for example, states that it requires students to use the ALA. You should check with your professor to find out the style he or she prefers and use that as your criminal justice report writing guide.

Common Writing Mistakes Students Make

Active vs. passive voice.

College students often make the mistake of writing in the passive voice. Passive sentences avoid direct writing and use more words, often muddling the syntax. Using the active voice removes excess verbiage and projects more authority.

How do you tell the difference? In a passive sentence, the subject receives the action. For example: “the sentence was written by the author” or “the girl was scratched by the cat.” In an active sentence the subject performs the action. For example: “The author wrote the sentence” and “the cat scratched the girl.” Be careful when using “by” or “be” constructions in your work. These often lead to passive sentences. Several helpful online apps detect passive voice, making it easy to correct.

Punctuation

Punctuation errors occur in any form of writing. They can completely change the meaning of a sentence when used incorrectly. For example, a film director saying, “let’s shoot people” means something different than “let’s shoot, people.”

Most people struggle with comma usage, employing too many, too few, or splicing them. A comma splice occurs when you connect two independent phrases with a comma. Students also often use semicolons when they should use colons. Semicolons indicate a pause between two independent clauses that communicates a related idea. Colons mark a hard stop, indicating a list, quotation, or the expansion of an idea.

Students should review punctuation rules using a style guide or by visiting the myriad online sites focused on punctuation rules.

Even the best writers make grammar mistakes. Writers get in mental spaces that sometimes block them from looking at their own work objectively. Writers using the wrong word occurs more often than some might think. The English language’s homonyms — words that sound the same — often lead to writers using the wrong word. The most common mistakes are mixing up” two, too, and to” and “their, there, and they’re.”

Other frequent slips include using “its” when you want the possessive “it is,” or using “which” when you mean “witch.” Still other writers slip in and out of different tenses. You can correct all of these problems by carefully editing your work and using one of the many writing guides available, like those mentioned below.

Writing Resources for Criminal Justice Students

• The Elements of Style Written by William Strunk and E.B. White, many consider this short volume the Bible of college composition. Concise, inexpensive, and available at bookstores everywhere, it features everything you need to know to improve your writing for classes in criminal justice — or anything else.
• Purdue Online Writing Lab Hosted by Purdue University, “OWL” features more than 200 free writing resources, including formatting guides, tips for avoiding plagiarism, grammar help, vidcasts on writing, citation how-tos, and tutoring.
• Amherst College Writing Center Amherst hosts a website replete with resources for writers. Broken down by subject, the school’s online tools include help with outlining, revision, editing, common problems, effective rhetoric, and writing in specific genres.
• Bestcolleges.com’s Writing Guide for Undergrads This site includes an array of writing tips and links to helpful guides. It features assistance with grammar, research papers, essays, and citation.
• Grammar Girl’s Quick and Dirty Tips for Better Writing Written by podcast star Mignon Fogarty, aka the Grammar Girl, this New York Times bestseller offers tips for improving communication. These include not only useful grammar ideas but also style guides, word-choice help, and ways to avoid common writing mistakes.

Take the next step toward your future in criminal justice.

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• 155 Criminal Justice Essay Topics

Courses related to the study of criminal justice usually require students to complete an essay at some point. If you have been asked to write a criminal justice essay, there are several things that you will need to keep in mind to ensure that your essay ticks all of the right boxes.

This article will take you through some essential tips on writing a criminal justice essay and provide 155 criminal justice essay topics to get students’ creative juices flowing.

What Is Criminal Justice?

Any discussion of how to write a criminal justice essay must begin with a clear understanding of what the term ‘criminal justice’ actually refers to. In short, criminal justice can be defined as the system responsible for dealing with crime. This system includes everything from law enforcement and the courts to prisons and probation services.

When writing a criminal justice essay, students will usually be asked to focus on one particular area of the criminal justice system. For example, they may be asked to write about the police, the courts, or prisons. Be sure that your subject matter can directly be linked back to the criminal justice system in order to make the most impact on the reader.

Types of Criminal Justice Essays

There are many types of criminal justice essays, and each style will have different requirements in terms of content and structure. Here are some of the most popular types of criminal justice essays that students may be asked to write:

Criminal Justice Research Essays

Research essays will require students to conduct extensive research on a particular topic within the criminal justice system. Students will need to collect evidence from multiple reliable sources and use this evidence to support their argument.

Criminal Justice Argumentative Essays

An argumentative essay on criminal justice will ask students to take a particular stance on an issue within the criminal justice system and then defend their position using evidence. These types of essays usually require students to have a strong understanding of both sides of the argument before taking a stance.

Criminal Justice Compare and Contrast Essays

A compare and contrast essay will ask students to consider two or more topics within the criminal justice system and identify their similarities and differences. Compare and contrast essays often require students to have a strong understanding of both topics in order to make effective comparisons.

Criminal Justice Cause and Effect Essays

A cause and effect essay will look at why something happens within the criminal justice system and its effects on society or an individual. These types of essays often require students to carry out extensive research in order to identify the causes and consequences of a particular issue.

Criminal Justice Problem-Solution Essays

A problem-solution essay will ask students to identify a problem within the criminal justice system and put forward a solution for this problem. These types of essays often require students to have a strong understanding of both the problem and the potential solutions before they can offer a solution.

Criminal Justice Critical Analysis Essays

Students will be asked to conduct a critical analysis of a criminal justice system issue in a critical analysis essay. These essays often require students to have a strong understanding of the issues at hand in order to offer a well-rounded analysis.

No matter what type of criminal justice essay you are asked to write, be sure to carefully read the instructions to determine what is required of you. Once you understand the task at hand, you can begin planning and writing your essay.

General Tips for Writing a Criminal Justice Essay

When writing a criminal justice essay, there are a few general tips that you can follow to make sure that your essay is of the highest quality.

Before you start writing your essay, it is essential to take some time to plan out what you are going to say. This will help to ensure that your writing flows smoothly and that all of the critical points are covered.

If your essay requires you to carry out research, be sure to do so thoroughly. Collect evidence from several sources and make sure that this evidence is reliable. Also, make sure to cite all of your sources in the appropriate MLA, Chicago, or APA style.

Your essay should follow a logical path from beginning to end. Use headings and subheadings to help break up your writing and make it easy to read.

Proofreading

Once you have finished writing your essay, be sure to proofread it carefully in order to catch any mistakes. It is also good to have someone else read over your essay to give you feedback.

Make sure that you follow these tips when writing your criminal justice essay to give yourself the best chance of success.

With the guide above detailing the possible types of criminal justice essays you may be asked to write and some general tips for writing a criminal justice essay, you may now be wondering what topics you could write about. To help get you started, we have provided a list of 155 criminal justice essay topics below:

Criminal Justice Research Essay Topics

• The impact of social media on the criminal justice system
• The use of DNA evidence in the criminal justice system
• The role of technology in the criminal justice system
• Racial bias in the criminal justice system
• The death penalty in the United States
• The juvenile justice system
• Police brutality in the United States
• The war on drugs in the United States
• The prison system in the United States
• Rehabilitation vs. punishment in the criminal justice system

Criminal Justice Argumentative Essay Topics

• Is the death penalty an effective form of punishment?
• Should juveniles be tried as adults?
• Is the prison system in the United States effective?
• Should rehabilitation be the main aim of the criminal justice system?
• Is social media a help or a hindrance to the criminal justice system?
• Should DNA evidence be used in all criminal cases?
• Should police officers be armed?
• Should the age of adulthood be lowered to 16 in criminal cases?
• Should there be a national registry for sex offenders?
• Is stop and search an effective police tactic?

Criminal Justice Problem Solution Essay Topics

• How can police brutality be reduced in the United States?
• How can the war on drugs be won?
• How can the juvenile justice system be improved?
• How can rehabilitation be made more effective in the criminal justice system?
• How can the use of DNA evidence be improved in the criminal justice system?
• How can social media be used to help solve crimes?
• How can racism be eliminated from the criminal justice system?
• How can the prison system be improved in the United States?
• How can the death penalty be made more effective?
• What can be done to reduce crime rates in the United States?

Criminal Justice Opinion Essay Topics

• Do you believe that the death penalty is an effective form of punishment?
• Do you believe that juveniles should be tried as adults?
• Do you believe that the prison system in the United States is effective?
• Are police officers more or less effective when they are armed?
• How do you feel about stop and search police tactics?

Criminal Justice Compare and Contrast Essay Topics

• The criminal justice system in the United States vs. the criminal justice system in the UK
• The death penalty vs. life in prison
• DNA evidence vs. eyewitness testimony
• Police brutality in the United States vs. police brutality in other countries
• The juvenile justice system in the United States vs. the juvenile justice system in France
• The prison system in the United States vs. the prison system in other countries
• Rehabilitation vs. punishment

Criminal Justice Definition Essay Topics

• The term “social justice”
• The term “police brutality”
• The term “white-collar crime”
• The term “organized crime”
• The term “street crime”
• The term “cybercrime”
• The term “capital punishment”
• The term “juvenile delinquency”
• The term “recidivism”
• The term “restorative justice”

Criminal Justice Cause and Effect Essay Topics

• The cause of police brutality in the United States
• The effects of the war on drugs in the United States
• The cause of juvenile delinquency
• The effects of the prison system in the United States
• The cause of recidivism
• The effects of rehabilitation in the criminal justice system
• The cause of white-collar crime
• The effects of capital punishment
• The cause of cybercrime
• The effects of social media on the criminal justice system

Criminal Justice Essay Topics About Famous Cases

• The O.J. Simpson case
• The Trayvon Martin case
• The Rodney King case
• The Michael Brown case
• The Eric Garner case
• The Ferguson riots
• The Baltimore riots
• The Charleston church shooting
• The Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting
• The Orlando nightclub shooting
• The Las Vegas mass shooting
• The Parkland school shooting
• The Waco siege
• The Ruby Ridge standoff
• The Oklahoma City bombing

Criminal Justice Essay Topics About Legislation

• The USA PATRIOT Act
• The Patriot Act of 2001
• The Homeland Security Act of 2002
• The USA FREEDOM Act
• The Voting Rights Act of 1965
• The Civil Rights Act of 1964
• The Fair Housing Act of 1968
• The Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965
• The Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986
• The Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996
• The Border Patrol Act of 1925
• The USA PATRIOT Improvement and Reauthorization Act of 2005
• The Animal Enterprise Terrorism Act of 2006

Criminal Justice Essays About Social Issues

• The war on drugs
• Police brutality
• Racial profiling
• Mass incarceration
• The school-to-prison pipeline
• Private prisons
• Capital punishment
• Juvenile justice
• Forensic science
• Gun control

Criminal Justice Essay Topics About Reform

• Prison reform
• Sentencing reform
• Drug policy reform
• Police reform
• Judicial reform
• Immigration reform
• Electoral reform
• Gun control reform
• Innovations in criminal justice system reform in the United States

Criminal Justice Narrative Essay Topics

• A day in the life of a police officer
• A day in the life of a prison guard
• A day in the life of a probation officer
• A day in the life of a parole officer
• A day in the life of a court clerk
• A day in the life of a prosecutor
• A day in the life of a death row inmate
• A day in the life of a public defender
• A day in the life of a private attorney
• A day in the life of a jury member
• A day in the life of a bailiff
• A day in the life of a judge
• A day in the life of a victims’ advocate

Criminal Justice Essay Topics About Ethics

• The ethics of the death penalty
• The ethics of solitary confinement
• The ethics of plea bargaining
• The ethics of mandatory minimum sentencing
• The ethics of asset forfeiture
• The ethics of police brutality
• The ethics of stop and frisk
• The ethics of racial profiling
• The ethics of the war on drugs
• The ethics of mass incarceration
• The ethics of private prisons
• The ethics of juvenile justice
• The ethics of the school-to-prison pipeline
• The ethics of forensic science

Criminal Justice Essay Topics About Career Options

• A career as a police officer
• A career as a detective
• A career as a crime scene investigator
• A career as a forensic scientist
• A career as a criminal defense attorney
• A career as a prosecutor
• A career as a judge
• A career as a paralegal
• A career as a court reporter
• A career as a bailiff
• A career in corrections
• A career in probation and parole
• A career in victim advocacy
• A career in law enforcement administration
• A career in private security
• A career in intelligence and counterterrorism

Every topic in this list offers students the chance to explore an issue of importance to the criminal justice system and share their own insights and perspectives on that issue. Remember that writing a criminal justice essay can be quite challenging, especially if you have never written one before. However, with a little bit of planning and some help from online resources, it is possible to write a great criminal justice essay that will earn you a good grade.

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Writing in Criminal Justice: Writing a Literature Review

• SSC 215: Home
• How to search library databases
• How to find books
• How to find articles
• Should I Trust Internet Sources?
• What Is A Peer-Reviewed Article?
• Writing a Literature Review
• Citing Sources
• Finding Books
• Finding Articles
• Selected Online Resources for SSC215
• Experimental (Empirical) Studies
• Library Research Guides

Development of a Literature Review

Keep some steps in mind when beginning your work on a literature review:

• What is my thesis? What is the central idea I am trying to prove to my reader?
• What materials should I look at? Remember a literature review is a focused look at a limited amount of material. You do not have to examine every article ever written on your topic.
• Do the materials I have chosen to write on really help to focus the reader to understand the topic I am writing about

Writing a Literature Review: Step by Step

Literature Reviews: An Overview

Tips for Writing a Literature Review

What is a Literature Review?

A literature review is an overview of literature published on a topic, issue, or theory. It can cover a wide variety of materials including but not limited to scholarly articles, books, dissertations, reports, conference proceedings, etc. The purpose of a literature review is to describe, summarize, and evaluate the works being examined for the review.

How you construct a literature review and the specific outline of it can vary depending on what your professor has laid out for you in your assignment. The review can be just a summary of sources on the subject you are writing about or it could be an examination of the material on your chosen topic. It can also be an analysis of previous research in an in-depth manner or just trace the development of a field of study over time. A good literature review should ultimately be a guide for its audience, giving them a solid idea about what extent and limits of the research has been done so far.

Structure of a Literature Review

When writing a literature review, consider first what it is you want to write about. Your topic summarized in one sentence is your thesis . Next you should think about how you want to organize your material. What is the most important thing you want to get across in your presentation of resources?

The most basic organization of a literature review is to put it together like a general academic paper with an Introduction , Body , and Conclusion – a beginning where you lay out to the reader what you are doing, a middle where you discuss the literature in question, and an ending where you sum up what you have been trying to prove. Another way to organize your paper is by theme or method or chronology .

• A paper organized by theme deals with sources that focus on a specific topic or issue. For example a review by theme may deal with police with one section on one police department and a second on a different police department. But all the sources ultimately deal with the same topic, in this case the police.
• A review organized by method looks at the methods the original researcher used in writing the literature you are reviewing. A review by method may group literature such as case studies in one section and interviews in another.
• And a chronological organization looks at the literature by when it was written. A chronological review would look at material in the form of a timeline such as debates on a subject that happened in one year followed by a debate on the same subject at a later date.

A third way to organize your paper is by author or philosophy .

• A review organized by author usually focuses on prominent researchers in the field you are examining. For instance if you were writing about physics, you could group your articles by prominent physicists such as articles by Isaac Newton and his findings and materials by Albert Einstein and his findings.
• A review organized by philosophy looks at the argument being made in the materials under examination. For instance if one group of articles is about capitalism and another group is about communism, you may want to group them by what the article is trying to prove than by who wrote it or when it was written.

Keep This in Mind

When you begin to work on your literature review, keep in mind the following ideas:

• What question and/or problem are you trying to answer? What is the thesis you are trying to prove?
• Are you being specific about your topic? Is it too broad? And if it is can you narrow it down?
• What does the literature say about your topic? Is there agreement or disagreement on the subject?
• << Previous: What Is A Peer-Reviewed Article?
• Next: Citing Sources >>
• Last Updated: Sep 27, 2023 2:25 PM
• URL: https://guides.lib.jjay.cuny.edu/SSC215

Home / Essay Samples / Crime / Crime Prevention / Criminal Justice

Criminal Justice Essay Examples

Criminal justice system: how to stop police corruption.

Throughout this how to stop police corruption essay the author/writer will be talking about the ethical standpoint throughout the criminal justice system. It will jump into what ethics is and how the criminal justice system would become corrupt without the ethical aspect. Following that, the...

Death Penalty Doesn't Deter Crime

Why do people think that taking another person from this world by inhume torture is good? There has always been an argument that could affect somebody’s else life because people believe that if somebody takes a life there’s should be taken as well, but the...

Shame is Worth a Try' and 'Condemn the Crime not the Person' Summary

Suppose a person is driving under the influence of alcohol, what do you suppose the punishment should be? Should we shame them? Or make them feel guilty? According to the essay, 'Shame Is Worth a Try,' putting a 'DUI' sticker on the car is a...

Why Do You Want to Study Criminal Justice

Two years ago. The body of a 6 year old girl was all over the news. Her identity had been reduced to a RIP post. I stared at her picture on my phone while reading the article over and over again, the details of the...

What Are Evidence of Racism in Criminal Justice System

Is there any racism in the criminal justice system? This essay tries to explain why there a lot of issues due to racial discrimination in the criminal justice. Research has shown that racial and ethnic minorities, particularly Black and Latino individuals, are disproportionately represented in...

Confronting Social Injustice: Criminal Justice Reform

The criminal justice system plays a crucial role in maintaining law and order in society. However, it is not immune to flaws and biases that perpetuate social injustice. Throughout history, marginalized communities, particularly people of color, have faced disproportionate targeting, unfair treatment, and harsher punishments...

Exploring Institutional Corrections: a Critical Overview

Correction as a component of criminal justice system, the term correction, corrections and correctional are words describing a variety of functions typically carried out by government agencies involving the punishment, treatment and the supervision of person who have been convicted of crimes, these are variety...

Racial Discrimination in Criminal Justice: Injustices and Inequalities

In the work 'Racial Discrimination in the Criminal Justice System Essays' we will research who is most discriminated against and why. Through events that have occurred throughout history and the present day, it is clear to see that there is an issue of racial discrimination...

Analysis of Crimes Against People

To start with, this paper discuss crime agains people within the topic of essays on crimes. Crimes against people can refer to different criminal offenses some of which may include bodily harm, threatening to cause bodily harm to someone, or any other physical activity committed...

Juvenile and Crime: Charging Juveniles as Adults

Ever since the beginning of time children have been active participants in homicides across the world. Sources argue that when children do these crimes, they are not mentally mature to process what it is they are doing. This in addition to the fact that children...

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About Criminal Justice

Criminal justice is the system of law enforcement, involving police, lawyers, courts, and corrections, used for all stages of criminal proceedings and punishment.

The adult criminal justice system is comprised of four components; legislation, law enforcement, courts, and corrections. Each of these four components is comprised of subcomponents.

Modern goals of the criminal justice system include preventing crime, protecting the public, supporting victims of crimes, holding perpetrators responsible for crimes committed, and helping offenders return to society as law-abiding citizens.

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