Mercer University Poverty and Crime Research Paper

PART I – RESEARCH STUDY (includes two items) 50 pts (120 minutes)

Topic: Choose the topic (phenomenon) (I CHOOSE POVERTY & CRIME) of your future research based on two conditions: (1) it must be a research project that involves data collection and analysis; and (2) it must be clearly relevant to public safety/criminal justice organizational phenomenon. As you think about topics that might be of interest to you for this paper, it might be useful for you to think in terms of research questions. Questions might be phrased in terms of how one organizational phenomenon influences another (e.g., how does mandatory sentencing affect prison overcrowding), what formative processes are involved in a given organizational phenomenon, or how does the phenomenon impact an organization. You should limit the scope of your project at the outset, as research projects always take longer than expected.

1. Phenomenon – Describe and incorporate in Part I, three organizational phenomena (topics) that interest you and then select one of them for the focus of your written project. For your organizational phenomena, include all of the following in a brief paper (typed, double spaced). What are you interested in?

Some examples of interesting organizational phenomena are for example, operational functions or occurrences of the organization such as be SWAT, selective traffic enforcement (STEP), community policing, excessive force, drug interdiction, K-9, intensive probation, parole supervision, basic training, personnel selection, personnel retention, correctional functions, other public safety components, etc. You have no doubt experienced, read about, or heard about these or other functions. When writing about your choice, describe in enough detail so someone unfamiliar with them could understand their nature; explain why you think it is important to the organization.

Choose one of then above phenomena (or another of your choosing) as the topic of your project in this course, and explain your reasons for choosing it. Your Part I (Section B) paper will consist of the following three sections. Explain each of them fully. ASSIGNMENT DETAILS Answer 3 questions concerning poverty& crime

1. Interesting phenomena – what functions you believe important
2. Importance to organization – how they are important to the agency.
3. Focus of phenomena – the phenomenon you have chosen to research
4. 1. All written assignments must be APA compliant, including double-spaced, typed using 12 pt. Times New Roman font with 1” margins, and a title and reference page (RC’s only). Assignments should be carefully proofed for spelling and grammar. Text citations and reference lists must be in correct APA (7th ed.) format. All sentences should be carefully comprised of a student’s own words. Ideas, information, and concepts that originated with any other source must be correctly CITED in APA style. Quotations should be used sparingly and must always be noted as such (either in quotation marks or set apart based on APA format). The citation format should include (author, date, p. #) for quotes (APA requirement) and for all paraphrased information from the source (my requirement). A grade rubric is used for all writing assignments. Grading will be based on spelling, grammar, content, timeliness, and APA format. In the Files area, you will find good writing tips that should be followed when appropriate. Paraphrase the content by using your own words and limit the use of direct quotes. Paraphrasing requires citations the same as quotes.