Pick a topic or problem/issue within the criminal or juvenile legal system. This can be broad or more specific. Some examples might be, domestic violence (and how the system treats domestic violence cases), the media and/or socialization and the effect on the legal system, restorative justice, legal system's response to (add marginalized group here), abolition, wrongful convictions, how colonization and history influence the modern day legal system in the US, education system or health system interrelated to the criminal legal system, discrimination within the system, trans individuals and prisons, LGBTQ+ individuals in the legal system, women of color and the legal system, mental health and corrections or at sentencing, sentencing laws, and so on.

Then, make sure to briefly explain the topic or issue and a bit about the history. Make sure to go over key research in the area, have at least 5 references (peer reviewed and some can be books from this course), ensure that the paper considers intersectionality and feminism (see Crenshaw 1989 and 1991). Finally, make some policy/practice or general solutions to the topic or issue you chose. Make sure that your suggestions are supported by research and discussed. Remember to use in-text citations and have a ref page in A P A format.

Mini Research Paper Rubric The mini research papers are worth 25 points and should be 2 to 3 pages long. This is a mini research paper and should only focus on the most important points of the topic at hand. The purpose of this paper is to get students to further examine a specific topic of their interest and to analyze the topic with consideration of the class material (e.g., lectures, documentaries, research articles). To receive the full 25 points students are required to include: (1) a brief introduction to the topic, including the history of the topic; (2) key research findings in the area; (3) APA formatting and at least 5 scholarly, peer-reviewed articles; and (4) ensuring there is an analysis of the topic from an intersectional feminist lens (see material from weeks 3 and 4). This paper should be double-spaced (single spaced is acceptable as well) and only include your name on the top of the title page along with the title of your paper, which should be centered. Margins should be 1 inch, line spacing should not include spaces before or after, and everything should be in APA format (e.g., APA headings) and use Arial or something similar for the font (font size 11 or 12). Please see Purdue Owl APA for more information on APA formatting. Each paper must include a title page and reference page of at least 5 scholarly research articles. No abstract is needed. The rubric below will be used for grading. Please make sure that all mini research papers are submitted to Canvas by Wednesday, April 24 by 11:59pm ET. Criteria/Point | 6 4 3 2 0 Values Introduction Clear, well Introduction Very little No to the topic developed to the topic, introduction | introduction introduction to | but key points | to the topic to the topic the topic. were missed. area. area. Strong knowledge of subject matter with explanation of history. Key research Well- Discussed Discussed Many key Did not findings in researched research research research discuss area paper and findings in the findings in the | findings were | findings for discussed key | area but left out | area but left missed. research research important out important findings in results that results that the area. mfluenced the mfluenced the Analyzed criminal justice | criminal justice research field. Provided field. Failed to findings and accurate provide explained research accurate accurate findings. research results. findings. APA Format Five or more Four peer- Three peer- Less than 3 & Citations scholarly, peer- | reviewed reviewed scholarly, (At least 5 review articles articles cited. articles cited | peer review peer-reviewed were properly Or some APA | or major APA | citations or articles) cited, and APA formatting formatting no APA formatting was | errors. errors. format followed Includes a title | Reference followed or correctly with page, but the page has more than 5 very minimal errors. Title reference page has a couple major errors or title page APA mistakes. Or page and proper | formatting provided. no title or reference page errors. reference mcluded. page. Structure and Paper 1s well Well- Organization | Weak to no Quality organized, well | organized and | needs work organization written with written, with or five to ten | or clear minimal errors some (three to | grammatical structure, (two or less five) errors errors. contains grammatical (e.g. Major errors. errors). Your grammar/ spell paper 1s written | ing errors). in essay format. Intersectional Student Student Student Student Feminist Lens provided provided some | provided very | failed to take (see Crenshaw, research and research and little research | intersectiona 1989 & 1991) analytical analytical and analytical | lity into thought from an | thought from thought from | account. intersectional an an lens (1.e., intersectional intersectional making sure to lens, but some lens, and include race, important many ethnicity, class, points were important gender identity, missed or not points were gender mentioned. missed or not expression, mentioned at sexual all. orientation, and so on) Policy/Practic Proposed Proposed No or some e/Solution(s) policy or policy or mention of to an Issue practice practice policy or (provide solution(s) to a solution(s) to practice research to specific issue, a specific solutions to a support which is issue, which problem and claims) thoroughly is somewhat zero research supported by supported by to support it. research and research. analyzed by Student failed the student. to analyze proposed solution