This Assignment Is to Demonstrate Your Mastery of How the Criminal Justice System Works

This Assignment Is to Demonstrate Your Mastery of How the Criminal Justice System Works

Instructions

This assignment is to demonstrate your mastery of how the criminal justice system works. This assignment is designed to give you an opportunity to display your knowledge of the parts and processes of the criminal justice system. The more specific and detailed the paper is, the more effective it will be in demonstrating your understanding of the system.

Step 1. Select a current events case, in the last ten years, to analyze in the American criminal justice system. The case should be one where a life sentence or death sentence was the outcome.

**Your case must be submitted to the instructor for approval in week four. Please submit your topic and briefly explain how the topic meets the project criteria. Topics must be approved before moving forward with the project.

Step 2. Describe the details of the case, including the nature of the offense, background of the offender, and an analysis of each component in the criminal justice system: advantages/disadvantages of police procedures, details and/or issues with court proceedings, and whether the correctional sentence was appropriate based on the nature of the offense and background of the offender.

Step 3. Conclude your paper by thoroughly analyzing the impact this case has had or will have on future criminal justice outcomes. Careful critical thinking is required here. Invest considerable effort in thinking about what you have learned over the course of the term in addressing this final aspect of the mission.

The sources you are to use to obtain information for your descriptions of the criminal justice process include the course reading material and two peer-reviewed journal articles. As an academic paper, it must contain APA formatted citations throughout the paper whenever information is being presented from a source. You can find examples of citations and references through the following links:

Even though you may have personal experience in the field (e.g. police officer) or use knowledge obtained in previous courses, information used in this paper must be supported through the use of citations which meet the criteria for sources indicated above.

An example of the correct page header and title page format can be found in Unit 3 of the APA Tutorial in the Course Content.

Here are the sections that should appear in your paper, each of which should be subtitled:

· Introduction

· Description of the case (including the nature of the offense and the background of the offender)

· Police procedures

· Court proceedings

· Correctional sentence

· Analysis of the impact this case has had/will have on the American criminal justice system process

· Conclusion

Form and Format Requirements

· Paper should be a minimum of 1,500 words and a maximum of 2,000 words

· Double space

· 12 pt. font

· 1” margins

· Use APA citations for all sources

· Include reference page (not included in word count)

·Additionally -

· Create a cover page for your assignment (not included in word count)

· Include your name

· Course title and number

· Project title

· Topic selected

· Date of submission

If you have any questions about this assignment, please contact your instructor.

Due Date

Nov 23, 2016 11:59 PM

Rubric Name: A MODEL Rubric for CCJS Projects - Max points

Criteria / Equivalent to An A / Equivalent to a B / Equivalent to a C / Equivalent to a D or F
Overall content of paper or project. Value: 20 points / 20 points
The paper is exemplary.Content of the paper exceeds all information required by assignment, demonstrates critical thinking skills, sophisticated analysis and other perspectives.
Points available:18-20 / 17.9 points
Paper indicates effort above and beyond the Project Description in the areas of research, analysis, critical thinking, etc.
Points available:16-17.9 / 15.9 points
In general, the content of the paper addresses the information required by the assignment.
Points available:14-15.9 / 13.9 points
The overall content of the paper addresses less than the minimal amount of the information required by the assignment. It demonstrates marginal work and does not reflect an understanding of the project.
Points available D: 12 -13.9
Points available F: 11.9
Overall analysis and critical thinking Value: 20 points / 20 points
Analysis and critical thinking is evident throughout the paper, beyond the requirements in the Project Description
Points available:18-20 / 17.9 points
Paper includes evidence of analysis and critical thinking beyond the requirements in the Project Description
Points available:16-17.9 / 15.9 points
The analysis and critical thinking is consistent with the requirements in the Project Description
Points available:14-15.9 / 13.9 points
The analysis and critical thinking reflected in this paper did not meet the requirements in the Project Description
Points available D: 12-13.9
Points available F: 0-11.9
Responsiveness to Project Description: All elements are included. Value: 10 points / 10 points
Assignment is formatted exactly as required.
Points available:9-10 / 8.9 points
Assignment is formatted as required with minor/ inconsequential deviations.
Points available:8-8.9 / 7.9 points
Assignment mostly formatted as required but missing some required element(s).
Points available:7-7.9 / 6.9 points
Assignment is missingmajor elements,
Points available D:6 - 6.9
Points available F: 0-5.9
Responsiveness to Project Description: Application of theory and knowledge to the facts presented, accurate use of terminology, etc. Value: 10 points / 10 points
Excellent understanding and application of theory and knowledge to the facts.
Terminology is correct in all uses.
Points available: 9-10 / 8.9 points
Clear application of theory and knowledge to the facts.
Most terminology references are correctly applied.
Points available:8-8.9 / 7.9 points
Application of theory, knowledge and terminology indicate understanding of the concepts and focus of the project
Points available:7-7.9 / 6.9 points
Theory and knowledge does not apply to the facts presented.
Use of terminology indicates a lack of understanding of the concepts and focus of the project
Points available D: 6-6.9
Points available F: 0-5.9
Responsiveness to Project Description: Organization. Value: 10 points / 10 points
Organization is relevant to topic, clear and understandable with logical flow that makes the project easier to follow.
Points available: 9-10 / 8.9 points
Organization is clear and does not distract from the project’s content.
Points available: 8-8.9 / 7.9 points
Organization presents someMINORdistractions from the project’s content.
Points available: 7-7.9 / 6.9 points
Organization lacks relevance, is unclear, difficult to understand, or logic is missing that causes distraction for the reader.
Points available D: 6-6.9
Points available F: 0-5.9
Formatting, references, and APA citations Value 15 points / 15 points
Assignment is formatted exactly as required, all required citations and references are present andAPA standards are followed in every respect.
Points available 13.5-15 / 13.4 points
Assignment is formatted as required with minor/ inconsequential deviations, resource requirements are met, citations and references are presentandAPA standards are followed.
Points available: 12-13.4 / 11.9 points
Assignment mostly formatted as required but missing some required elements/ sourcesor some APA errors are evident.
Points available: 10.5-11.9 / 10.4 points
Assignment is missingmajor elements, lacks required sourcesorAPA is not followed however a different citation method is used correctly.
Points available D:9 - 10.4
Points available F: 0-8.9
General Grammar/Mechanics Value 15 points / 15 points
No or minor English and grammarusage errors.
Points available 13.5-15 / 13.4 points
A fewminor/ inconsequentialmistakes in English and grammar.
Points available 12-13.4 / 11.9 points
Some, but acceptable mistakes in English and/or grammar.
Points available:10.5-11.9 / 10.4 points
Many mistakes evident in English/grammar usage.
Points available D:9 - 10.4
Points available F: 0-8.9
Overall Score / Equivalent to an A 90 or more / Equivalent to a B 80 or more / Equivalent to a C 70 or more / Equivalent to a D or an F 0 or more