Final Paper

Select and then define a significant issue faced by the justice  system, describe the scope and consequences of the issue, and discuss  society’s responses to the issue (including public policies and other  less formal responses). Papers should also present a clearly reasoned  alternative, supported by scholarly research.

While the following example can be modified to suit your needs, this outline is likely to result in a high-quality Final Paper:

• Title
• Abstract
• What is the problem? Be sure to narrow your problem enough to allow a focused examination.
• What are the individual and social implications of this problem?  Discussion of implications should be supported by accurate research  data.
• What do the experts say about the problem?
• What have we, as a society, done about this problem? Consider public policies and other, less formal responses.
• How are public policies and other, less formal responses working?
• Describe an alternative solution to the problem.
• Discuss why the alternative is, or can be, an effective response to  the problem. Remember to consider negative consequences of the  alternative response.
• Conclude with your thoughts about your chosen social problem. This  is a good place to include personal opinions, assuming you wish to share  them in a research paper.
• References

In short, define a problem, discuss the response, and provide  alternative responses to the problem. For example, your problem could be  drug use/abuse, with a focus on prescription drug abuse among  teenagers. Your description of the problems should be fact based,  relying on expert opinion. Your alternative response can be an  adjustment of current policy or a new direction. For example, you may  propose longer prison sentences, or legalization of all drugs. Be  creative, although suggestions must be supported by scholarly research.

The paper must be eight to ten pages in length (excluding the title  and reference pages) and formatted according to APA style. You must use  at least five scholarly resources, to support your claims and sub-claims.  Cite your resources in text and on the reference page.