Assignment:
Topics: This is a more traditional research paper and students can choose to write on one of the following prompts:
1. Highlight a real juvenile offender and apply at least two criminological theories to explain why they committed the crimes they committed. Then talk about, based on why they offended, what prevention programs would have been appropriate to stop their offending.
2. Discuss two risk factors (that we talked about in class), highlight at least 2 new facts about each risk factor, and present at least one prevention program that would be useful to combatting each risk factor.
Structure of paper for Prompt 1
I. Introduction: summarize in one paragraph what your paper will talk about.
a. I suggest writing this at the very end after you have already written up your paper and structured your argument.
II. Discuss your real juvenile offender (1 page or so)
a. This will require you to look around at famous cases of juvenile offenders. This can be any kid who has been convicted of a crime. You can find these cases anywhere (podcasts, movies, etc.), but you will use reputable news sources or articles to fill in your discussion of the youth and the case.
b. Most of this discussion should focus on the case.
III. Applying criminological theories (bulk of your paper)
a. Based on the facts of the real juvenile offenders' case that you selected, you will discuss two criminological theories that can explain this person's behavior
i. These theories can be ones we talk about in class or something you learned in the Criminological Theories/Criminology class.
b. You should not just speculate on the causes of this persons offending, but instead should use facts about the case and about their life to draw these conclusions.
IV. Prevention/rehabilitation programming
a. Based on what you determined the causes of your juvenile's crime to be, what prevention programs or rehabilitation programs could be beneficial to this youth and kids that are similar to him/her?
b. Don't forget to check the youth.gov website to look for effective programs! You can find this link in our last class PowerPoint.
V. Conclusion: students should, in 2-4 sentences, summarize the paper and present a new insight not drawn in the paper thus far.