criminal law writing assignment

Research Paper

CRJ-2608-01

Introduction to Criminology

For this semester you will be asked to complete a Research Paper on a crime figure.  The most interesting crime figures (and most difficult to find information on) are people who have committed crimes in our local community.  You may also wish to write about an historical crime figure or a person who has received national attention.   Each student must pick a DIFFERENT crime figure.  The Research Paper will be broken into three portions that you will work on throughout the semester.

1st Portion-500 Words

The first portion should identify the crime figure that the student has chosen.  The first portion should include the person’s name, a description of the crime(s) the person committed, and background information on the person such as age, marital status, education, family background, community information, criminal history, medical and/or psychological profile.  You should also include details about the crimes committed, the outcome of the case, trial proceedings, where your crime figure ended up, etc.  You may use newspaper accounts, magazines, journals, electronic media, the internet, and living sources as references for this essay.  You must correctly use APA format!”

2nd Portion-500 Words

The second portion of the research paper should be a continuation of the person/crime figure that you wrote about in your first portion.  Using the crime figure you are researching, research more about the crimes they committed, how they committed them etc…  In this portion you should DISCUSS what theories could be possible explanations for the actions of your crime figure.  Use your knowledge from the class, your research, the Power Point presentations, and your book in order to explain what theories relate to your crime figure.   Name the theory, explain the theory (and CITE where you got this info), and discuss how the theory relates to why your crime figure committed their crime(s)…Tell me how a few specific theories relate to your crime figure and the reason for their criminality!  Use the theories that we’ve talked about in our class or online discussions thus far such as Rational Choice, Trait Theories, Choice Theories, etc.  If you want to look through the book and use others, go for it!  You must use at LEAST 3 theories!  Here is an example:

EXAMPLE:

• Billy Bob, known for committing thirty-five serial murders, brutally attacked and killed his victims on the outskirts of Sullivan County…ETC.  Talk a bit more about the crimes…how the offender committed them, where, if they are in prison or not, etc.  Include any details you think are important.
• One theory that relates to the crimes of Billy Bob is rational choice theory.  Rational choice theory involves aspects of choosing right from wrong and is rooted in the classical school of Cesare Beccaria (CITE HERE).  Due to the fact that Billy Bob weighed the advantages and disadvantages of committing the murders, this demonstrates rational choice theory…etc., etc., ETC.,
• Billy Bob may have also committed the crimes due to the rationale of another theory….etc.

A Few Important Reminders:

• You should be using Times Roman, font size 12 and be double spacing you papers with an indent for paragraphs.
• You MUST include a reference page; FOLLOW THE APA FORMAT, In-text citations!
• Due on due date…NO EXCUSES, I WILL NOT ACCEPT A LATE PAPER!
• If you have any questions, please talk to after class, during office hours, or e-mail me.

3rd Portion-500 Words

By now you should have:

1st Portion: 500 Words

• Background information on your crime figure – this can (and should) include:
• Childhood, parents/siblings, important events, education, relationships, psychological issues, learning disabilities, etc…
• Anything that you feel is important and pertinent in your crime figure’s life
• How did they get involved in crime?  What types of crimes did they commit?  How did they commit them?  Was their crime(s) due to heat of passion?  Or were they thought out?  How did they get caught?  Was there a trial?  Did they do any time in jail/prison for them?

2nd Portion: 500 Words

• Criminological Theories…
• I will expect you to expand a bit on the theories and really explain WHY the specific theory (ex: rational choice theory) relates to your crime figure and his/her crimes/actions/behaviors.  Think about how you would describe criminal behavior and really dig into why your crime figure did what they did.
• YOU MUST USE AT LEAST 3 criminological theories discussed in class this semester.

Some tips for the 3rd Portion-500 Words

• The 3 Portion should include SOME of the questions listed below:
• What did you think of your criminal?
• Did they deserve the punishments given to them?  Or were the punishments not strict enough?  Did you feel bad for them?
• Were they ever victims in their life before?  If so, how did this affect them and their criminal mentality?
• Did the system fail them?  Did society fail them?  Or did their parents fail them?  Or something else?  Explain why you feel that way…
• LASTLY:  (YOU MUST INCLUDE THESE)
• Do you think that criminological theories are beneficial in determining criminal behavior?  Why or why not?
• Do you think we can prevent crime by using these theories?  How should we use criminological theories?
• Can we ever really predict if someone will be a criminal?

For help with APA, here is a link that tells you everything:

https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/560/01/

Evaluation Criteria for the Research Paper