Current Issue Paper
Instructions: Each student will be responsible for selecting a current issue topic in criminal justice administration (Policing, Courts or Corrections) from the options provided at the bottom of this page. There is total of nine possible topics for you to choose from. This is a research paper and therefore it must include elements of critical thinking, integration of class materials and ample use of external supporting academic research.
Step 1:
• Scroll down to the section “Areas of Study”.
• There are 3 areas of study: Policing, Courts and Corrections.
• Once you select the area of study that interests you, review the 3 current issue topics presented for your consideration.
• You only have to select one current issue topic from the nine (total) provided. “Do not address all 3 current issue topics in an area of study.“
Step 2:
• Start the research process for your topic
• The UCF Library page is a great resource for articles
• You have over a month to work on this essay.
• Complete the essay
• The submission portal for the assignment will be available in Module 14
• The Module ends Sunday, April 14 by 11:59pm.
Format
• Your essay must include: an introduction, review of relevant literature, presentation of findings, a discussion, and a section on limitations and future implications.
• Each current issue option below has a main query followed by questions (A & B). Your essay should have subheadings for each point. In other words, you do not have to have a section A or B in your essay.
Supporting Research
• The use of content from our text on your selected topic should be limited to maybe a paragraph.
• Please do not simply present a summary of the topic from the text, this is a research essay.
• A minimum of 3 peer reviewed journal articles are required for this assignment.
• Limit the use of newspapers and online media sources.
• Do not use Wikipedia or Encyclopedias
Guidelines
• Title Page – include the name of the assignment, title (the selected topic), our class info and your name.
• The final product should be 8-9 typed pages (not including the title page and reference page)
• Use 1 inch margins
• Double-spaced
• Microsoft Word and submit the file through Canvas
• Style: Use the American Psychological Association manual for formatting (e.g., references, citations, quotes, tables, page layout)
• Quotes: Only 1 short quote is allowed throughout the entire paper. Quotes are single spaced.
• Citations: Everything must be appropriately cited in the text and in the Reference section. (This section should not be called “works cited” or Bibliography)
• Spelling: Spelling errors will result in a deduction of points
• Grammar: Poor grammar will result in a deduction of points

BOOK: Peak, K.J., & Giacomazzi, A.L. (2019).Justice Administration:Police, Courts, & Corrections Management. (9th Edition). New York, NY:Pearson
ISBN: 13: 978-0-13-487140-0