This final paper will be in the form of a policy briefing or memo, with more theoretical information than is usually included in a traditional policy or briefing memo. What kinds of issues might you make a policy recommendation about? Just about anything in the crime or criminal justice realm. Students have made recommendations about:

1. Reducing recidivism
2. Establishing training protocols for law enforcement (related to use of force, domestic violence situations, situations that involve juveniles, LGBT populations, migrants, stateless people, etc.)
3. Incorporating community outreach programs
4. Improving prison conditions
5. Reducing juvenile delinquency

This week a full draft of your final paper is due. It should be described with detailed informationm. It should include at least some information in each required section:

Your paper must include:

1. The Problem: Define the problem you seek to solve. Discuss the magnitude of the problem, why this is a problem that needs to be solved, who is affected by this problem, how it affects the larger society, and so on. You can use evidence from peer-reviewed journals in this section, but you could also use reports from government agencies or think tanks. Just do some background research on the organizational reports you cite - make sure you know where their biases are, because it will affect how they report and interpret the numbers.
2. The Theory: This is a theory course. Your theory must be a central component of your paper. The theory must be explicitly named and discussed. The theoretical perspective the existing policy embodies or which underlying the new policy being proposed. Explain how this theory sees the world, generally. What causes crime, delinquency, disruption (the general area of your problem)? After you give us an overview of the theory, explain YOUR PROBLEM from this theoretical perspective. What causes YOUR SPECIFIC PROBLEM, according to this theory? This will illustrate how/why this theory drives your recommendation. This section is meant to demonstrate you understand the theory well enough to apply it to solve a problem. So, if theory X says Y problem is caused by Z, your policy will be to end Z (the cause) to solve Y (the problem). You should have lots of evidence to support your argument that this theory is the best explanation for your problem. Have studies shown that the problem is caused by what your theory says caused the problem or problems like your problem?
3. Policy Alternatives: A description of policy alternatives (comparing contrasting existing policies for the same or similar problem). No policy is perfect and many policies have been proposed to solve the same problem. Discuss other ways to solve your problem (other policies) and what is wrong with those ways of solving the problem. Hint: those other policies are probably using a different theory. This section is meant to demonstrate why the theory you selected is the correct explanation and will actually solve the problem, while other policies use an unhelpful or incorrect theory and, therefore, won't solve the problem. You should have lots of evidence from peer-reviewed journals in this section.
4. Your Recommendation(s): Your paper is leading up to this point. What are you recommending? Should we keep an existing policy, update or revise the policy, end a policy, or introduce a new policy entirely? Be clear and succinct here. If you've given us adequate background on what the problem is, what causes the problem, and why alternatives are not satisfactory, your recommendation should be obvious.

Include at least 6 sources in your bibliography. Remember, the majority of the sources should be peer-reviewed journal articles.