Research Proposal Instructions
This writing assignment is in preparation for your term paper. See week 7 for full directions and rubric of the final paper. The length requirement for this paper is 1-2 pages, correctly formatted, and it will be due by midnight on the Sunday of this week. The goal here is to get you thinking about what you’d like to write about in your term paper and it is important that students adhere to APA guidelines. This assignment will be graded not only on content, but also on grammar, structure, and plagiarism. Your essays need to be typed, double-spaced, and use a 12 pt. Times New Roman font. Students should check the OWL website for a description of APA standards: https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/research_and_citation/apa_style/apa_formatting_and_style_guide/general_format.html. Also, writing is an important skill that needs to be demonstrated in this course. It is recommended that you not wait until the last minute before beginning this assignment, and it is extremely important that you proofread!
The goal of this paper proposal is for you to tell me what you plan to write about, so that we can be sure that your plan conforms to the stipulations of the final paper. This assignment can also serve as a rough draft of your introductory section of the final submission, so this is not wasted work.
You will first do one of two things. Either select a subject/topic from the list provided below or select your own. Second, you will explain your interest in that topic over others, and finally, you will take a preliminary stance on your topic.
Some paper topic possibilities include:
The relationship between mental illness and violent crime: An analysis of the evidence
The criminalization of mental illness: A critique of current approaches
Mental illness and the justice system: Improving outcomes for vulnerable populations
Police response to mental health crises: An evaluation of current training and practices
The impact of deinstitutionalization on mental health services and criminal justice outcomes
The intersection of mental illness, substance abuse, and crime: Identifying best practices for treatment and prevention
Mental illness and incarceration: The experiences and needs of prisoners with mental health conditions
The role of stigma in shaping public perceptions of mental illness and its relationship to crime
Alternatives to incarceration for people with mental illness: Examining the effectiveness of diversion programs and problem-solving courts
Mental illness and the death penalty: Ethical and legal considerations
The effectiveness of mental health courts in reducing recidivism and improving outcomes for people with mental illness
The impact of trauma on mental health and criminal behavior: A systematic review of the literature
The relationship between mental illness and homelessness: Examining the role of policy and social factors
The impact of COVID-19 on mental health, crime, and the justice system
Mental illness and the juvenile justice system: Identifying effective interventions and prevention strategies.
To help you organize your efforts, a checklist of preliminary tasks is provided below:
(1) Choose a problem related to mental health and the criminal justice system
(2) Explain your interest in the topic
(3) Take a preliminary stance on your topic
(4) Provide at least 2 scholarly articles based on your topic. You should use both in-text citations and provide full references at the end.
Remember this: you have broad discretion on what you choose to write about. I want you to write about something you are interested in rather than me simply assigning you a topic. That said, I am more than happy to consult with you to decide on a good direction if you are having trouble thinking of something.
Please contact me anytime, from the first day of class until the last one to discuss this or any other issue.
Late papers not accepted