Crime Causation Research Paper Requirements

Objective: To write a theory causation paper on a specific form of criminal behavior from the following list: Burglary, Motor Vehicle Theft, Shoplifting, Theft, Domestic Assault, Human Trafficking, Elder Abuse, Gangs, or DUI. It will include the following sections:

Section I: Introduction

Provide a statement of the crime problem. Why is it important enough to study? This is the "so what" of your topic. Who/what does it impact?
Again, make sure your topic is on a crime problem that can be explained from social factors. Do NOT write in the first person.

Section II: Literature Review

What have other researchers found out about this topic? Thoroughly describe this crime problem by including the prevalence, frequency, location, type of offender (demographics), etc. Use official crime statistics (not just secondary sources—those articles that talk about what the Uniform Crime Report (UCR) says—rather, go directly to the UCR) whenever appropriate and use RECENT sources.

Also use empirical studies here. Please use the UW-Platteville Karrmann Library website to retrieve empirical articles. Do not just use Google to search for information. You need to get in the habit of using sources from journal articles that are available via our library, not via general search engines. You also want to pick RECENT articles and sources. The concern is about the crime problem today, not what was true 10, 20, or 30+ years ago.

The UW-Platteville Karrmann Library provides you with access to academic peer-reviewed literature and journals through electronic databases, such as Criminal Justice Abstracts, ProQuest, and JSTOR. Visit the Karrmann Library's website at http://www.uwplatt.edu/library/. You will need your NetID (username) and password to access the criminal justice databases. If you have problems accessing library resources or with your password, contact the Distance Learning Center Help Desk at 877.854.3083 or 608.342.1303 or by e-mail at distedsupport@uwplatt.edu.

Contact a librarian to assist you online if you need help finding or accessing articles. Go to http://www.uwplatt.edu/library/destudents.html.

Section III: Theory Application

How has this crime problem been explained in the literature? What theories have other researchers used to describe the crime problem?

Pick at least two other SOCIAL (not biological or psychological) theories from your textbook that you think explains this crime problem. Thoroughly describe the major tenets of each of the two theories, identify the theorist associated with them, and then explain how they apply to the particular crime problem. Don't forget to APPLY the theory to your crime problem.

Since this is a theory course, this is the MOST important section of your entire paper. Your time and energy should be focused on this section.

Section IV: Programs/Policies

Provide a literature review on at least two programs or policies that are currently being used to address this crime problem. Find evaluations of the program to see if they are effective. Not all programs will have evaluations, but many of the more well-known programs will—so if you are using a well-known program, be sure you seek out evaluations.

Section V: Contribution to the Field/Conclusion

Which theory do you think best explains your crime problem and is supported by one of the programs/policies in Section IV as a way to decrease the problem? In other words, if you were asked why your crime problem occurs, you could explain it via this theory (Section III).—give program/policy recommendations based off of it, the literature review on the crime problem (Section II), and the programs/policies that are being used to address this problem (Section IV).

Paper Format Requirements

Your paper should be no more than 3,000 words in length (approx. 12 pages double-spaced, excluding the title, abstract, and bibliography). Please organize your paper using subheadings that pertain to the five sections specified above. Write your paper in a style appropriate for an academic audience with due care and attention paid to American Psychological Association (APA) standards and the mechanics of writing. Thoroughly revise and edit your paper before you submit it. If you are not convinced that your paper meets these standards, ask someone to proofread your work. You must cite at least eight sources. The choice of books, articles, Web resources (stick to .gov/.org websites), etc. is at your discretion; however, at least five of the eight must be academic quality, peer-reviewed research articles (e.g., from American Journal of Sociology; American Sociological Review; Criminology, Crime and Delinquency; Journal of Research in Crime and Delinquency; Journal of Criminal Law and Criminology; Justice Quarterly, etc.).

This paper must be prepared EXCLUSIVELY for this class (i.e., you have not submitted it—or any portion of it—in another course). Any incidence of plagiarism will receive an automatic grade of F. This includes failing to use quotation marks with verbatim quotes and failing to cite your sources when paraphrasing sentences.