Juvenile Crime
I. Problem Statement
The statement of the problem tells the criminal justice executive what the difficulty is; what problem is to be solved. No discussion is necessary at this point. In later sections you will be elaborating on the facts, issues, solutions, etc. One Paragraph.
II. Factors Bearing on Problem
This section includes facts or statements of truth which can be substantiated. For example, “The average education level of the police officer in this city is 14.5 years (or high school plus 2 1/2 years college).” Another example might be, “Last year the citizens of this county only reported 200 crimesin progress to the police” or “the jail population averaged 20% above maximum capacity in fiscal year 1983/84.”
List each fact separately. (use bullets or capital letters to identify factors) Cite any references used for these facts using APA** style.
Also in this section, the student may list any assumptions which may lend weight to their final recommendation/solutions. Examples: “It is assumed that if the victims of crimes are compensated for their time spent testifying in court, more citizens will be willing to become involved in prosecutions; or, “It is assumed that better trained officers will be able to more effectively communicate with the public
III. Discussion
Discussion The discussion section is the “meat and potatoes” of the Administrative Position Paper. It contains the critical analysis of the problem and all possible factors researched. It reviews the “pros and cons” of the issues raised and possible solutions. It provides rationale for the eventual recommended solution(s). This is the critical area for the student to show the professor and your administrator you have done your research properly. This is the longest section. Cite all references.
IV. Conclusion
The conclusion is nothing more than a brief statement of the best possible solution or solutions which you have described in detail in the Discussion section. You do not need to continue the discussion. You should not introduce new material in this section. Example: “Although new jails could be constructed to house more inmates, a new program of community custody for first offenders convicted of nonviolent crimes would prove more cost-effective.
V. Action Recommended
In this section you tell the instructor (and the criminal justice executive) what your final recommended action is. Alternate possible actions have already been reviewed in your Discussion section. You’re making a commitment to a single course of action. Example: “It is recommended that the city hire five more prosecuting attorneys and three more judges in order to make the court system more expedient.” You may include several steps that must be done in support of your action recommended, including a time frame for possible action steps, and a budget if appropriate.
VI. Finally, include a section entitled References which lists all of your references as an annotated references using the APA** format. If you are unfamiliar with how to write an annotated reference, please review the following website for this information http://www.library.cornell.edu/olinuris/ref/research/skill28.htm. The cover page and reference section do not count in the total number of pages required. The reference page should be in alphabetical order.
