Reference no: EM132164989

Unit 2 IP

In this assignment, you will create an annotated bibliography about crime prevention research and initiatives aimed at reducing juvenile delinquency and subsequent adult criminal behavior. You will continue to utilize the research developed in the annotated bibliography as you prepare for the assignments in Units 4 and 5.

What is an annotated bibliography?

This is a bibliography that includes brief explanations or notes for each reference. An annotated bibliography helps the researcher determine which sources are relevant to a line of inquiry. This determination is based on a summary of the work, an evaluation of its credibility, and its applicability to what you are specifically writing about. Each annotation should be between 100-150 words.

Visit and read examples from the recommended resources that the CTU Library provides about the annotated bibliography:

This site gives an explanation of what an annotated bibliography is and the process of creating one. Be sure you check the format of your own work with the assignment and your instructor.

How to Prepare an Annotated Bibliography: The Annotated Bibliography

This site gives an overview of the annotated bibliography and samples in APA and other formats. Be sure you check the format of your own work with the assignment and your instructor.

Annotated Bibliography Samples

Examples of topics to search:

Articles on juvenile delinquency and its causes

Articles on theory that address juvenile delinquency

Government or nonadvocate, nonprofit organization Web pages for statistics

Peer-reviewed articles and academic journal articles

What are peer-reviewed references?

Peer-reviewed references are those documents that have been written and subsequently reviewed by experts or scholars in a specific field. Examples in criminology and criminal justice include: Criminology, the Journal of Research in Crime and Delinquency, and Justice Quarterly. Do not use an article that is more than 5-7 years old unless it is considered foundational in the field.

Annotations Versus Abstracts

Abstracts are the purely descriptive summaries often found at the beginning of scholarly journal articles or in periodical indexes. annotations are descriptive and critical; they expose the author's point of view, clarity, and appropriateness of expression and authority.

Assignment Guidelines

First, search for books, periodicals, and information related to your topic of study. Take your time to look them over and see what the authors are describing in their work, and then make a decision on which material would have the most impact upon your paper.

Select a minimum of 10-15 sources that you will use for your annotated bibliography.

For each selected source, complete the following:

Make an APA reference for the material.

Write a brief description that summarizes the central theme of the material.

Evaluate the credibility of the source, comment on the intended audience, compare or contrast this work with other sources that you have referenced, and explain how this work relates to your topic.

All references should be in APA style.

Unit 3 IP

Using your annotated bibliography from Week 2, write a literature review of 3-4 pages. Many peer-reviewed academic journal articles contain a literature review section. Research to find and read several of these.

The literature review is not a listing of abstracts or simple paraphrasing. If your introduction and literature review are combined, ensure that each specific point in establishing the importance of your topic is supported by citations of proper sources. The points you are emphasizing are a reflection of the research and findings that you have developed around your chosen topic. Your ultimate paper is your own unique perspective, and in the literature review you are assembling related research to support your own work.

Assignment Guidelines

Using your annotated bibliography from Week 2, conduct a literature review of your selected sources.

Your literature review should be 3-4 pages in length.

Unit 4 IP

The state legislature recognizes the need to focus efforts and resources on young offenders so that they do not continue to commit delinquent acts and perhaps transition to adult criminals, which would cost taxpayers even more. Acting as a state policy analyst and building on the annotated bibliography and literature review you have completed, propose 2 policy alternatives to combat juvenile delinquency.

Your readings in the course have exposed you to many of the key topics in criminal justice while showing you the importance of research and theories to the development of sound policies. You have seen how the writing in the text and other sources is not mere opinion or unsupported assertions. Rather, the work is built upon existing knowledge and contemporary studies.

As you consider how to advise the legislature on how to address juvenile delinquency in your state, you must rely on factual information and utilize a theoretical foundation.

Delinquency, as well as other deviance, results from a variety of factors explained through various theoretical perspectives. One or more theories may draw your attention as instructive about the issues surrounding juvenile delinquency. Have these theories been supported by research?

Assignment Guidelines

You are a policy analyst in the legislative affairs office of your state legislature. The criminal justice committee of the legislature has requested recommendations about how to address juvenile delinquency in the state.

You must conduct research and assemble 2 possible policy initiatives in your proposal. Use the 7 step process outlined in the MUSE link, CHDS Policy Options Analysis. Include the 7 steps in your proposal.

Define the Problem

Construct Alternative Solutions

Criteria for Judging Success of Proposed Solutions

Projected outcomes for alternative Solutions

Analyze Trade-Offs for Solutions

Choose Best Solutions

Explain Recommendations.

Address the following in 3-4 pages:

Prepare a professional policy memo to the criminal justice committee outlining the actions to be taken, funding sources, and implementation challenges that may arise for each alternative.

Compare and contrast the two policy recommendations.

How would you evaluate whether either policy was successful after it was implemented?

How will you utilize your research from the first 3 weeks? Explain.

Be sure to reference all sources using APA style.

While the specific memo format you choose is not specified, be aware that the tone of your writing should be clear, professional, free of jargon, and without emotionally influenced terms or comments.