Status Offenses

TABLE OF CONTENTS
Objective
The objective of the CRMJ315 Course Project is to provide an opportunity for you to examine a topic of interest in juvenile justice and analyze the processes and events that take place within the juvenile justice system.

Instructions for the Final Course Project

Each student will write a five to seven APA-formatted paper (not including the cover and reference pages) on a particular juvenile delinquency issue.
Double spaced
1 inch margins
Students are provided a list of potential juvenile delinquency issues but may choose a topic not on the list with the instructor’s permission.
Once the issue has been selected, each student will write a description of the issue, discussing both sides of it, and close by stating their reasoned position on the issue.
Follow these guidelines for the Final Course Project Due in Week 7.
Cover page
Introduction of topic; overview of what the paper is about (one to two paragraphs)
Pros and cons on the topic addressing the questions provided with your chosen topic (Remember to provide resources, including information from your interview—three to five pages.)
Explanation of personal view with supporting research or insight (one to two pages)
Conclusion (one to two paragraphs)
Reference page (not included in the page count); at least five properly cited academic resources and a reference for their interview
* A peer-reviewed source is one that has been checked for its accuracy by editors who are knowledgeable on the subject. Often, but not necessarily always, such sources have “Journal” in their titles. (We should link to the library.)

The completed project is due in Week 7.

Important: In addition to academic research, students are required to interview a professional in the criminal justice system to gain insight into the real-world issues with this topic.

Interviews may be completed with judges, attorneys, law enforcement, community corrections, correctional officers, juvenile detention officers, or victim’s advocate groups.
Once the topic has been selected, each student will choose a person to interview.
The information you gathered from the interview should be woven into the paper to support your main research.
You may provide direct quotes or paraphrase larger content of information. Remember to cite.
How To Find Professionals to Interview

Important: Always explain that you are a student who is required to conduct a professional interview as part of your coursework. Most agencies are happy to help students understand the role they play in the criminal justice system.

Call your local police department and see if they have a juvenile division, someone who works with juveniles, or a public information officer willing to speak to you.
Your local PD may have events such as Coffee with a Cop that you can attend and ask questions. Check their website for community events.
Refer to your state court, corrections, or probation website. For example, if you live in Colorado, you can go to the Colorado Judicial Branch web page Links to an external site.. On the web page, you will learn where your local courts are.
Go to your local courthouse and speak to a capitol police officer, deputy sheriff, court officer, or clerk. They can point you in the right direction or answer your questions.
Call your local courthouse and ask to be connected to a court that addresses juvenile delinquency. The clerk who answers the phone may be willing to answer the questions or schedule an appointment with the judge.
Research attorneys in your area and call them.
Research local programs or nonprofits in your area that serve juvenile populations.
Call the local jail.
Contact family or friends who work in these professions.
Network: Do you have LinkedIn or other professional social media pages where you can find these criminal justice professionals? If not, consider creating a professional page or joining professional groups. There are many benefits to this.

Contact a professor. (This is the last resort after exhausting all options.)

Deliverables
The CRMJ315 Course Project consists of the following three deliverables.

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Week 2: Interview Description (40 points)
By the end of Week 2, you will submit the name of the individual you would like to interview and your chosen Course Project topic (at least one full page). In your paper, do the following.

Clearly identify your Course Project topic.
Provide the name of the individual you would like to interview.
Explain the role the person you are interviewing plays in the criminal justice system and why they would add value to your research.
How will the interview will take place?
Indicate if the interview has been scheduled. If so, provide the date.
If the interview has not been scheduled, provide detailed steps of what you will do to get it scheduled.
Week 5: Annotated Bibliography (100 points)
By the end of Week 5, you will submit an annotated bibliography based on your academic research.

A bibliography page is a list of academic resources on your chosen topic. An annotated bibliography includes a brief description of each article. You may have more sources in the Week 5 annotated bibliography that you reviewed, but may not include as a cited resource on your final reference page. For Week 5, you must have at least five annotated resources.
Please visit the DeVry University Writing Center Links to an external site. for help on creating an annotated bibliography.
A reference page is what sources are actually cited in your paper. You must have at least five scholarly references in your final project.
Week 7: Final Course Project (125 points)
The Final Course Project will be a five to seven page APA-formatted document (not including the cover or reference pages) that fully addresses your chosen topic. You paper will also include highlights from your interview to supplement your research. Do not copy and paste a narrative of the interview into the paper, instead weave in the important points learned.

List of Potential Topics
Option 2: Status Offenses

Should status offenses, such as curfew violations, truancy, and underage drinking, result in a juvenile court action?
Should a juvenile be removed from the care of their guardian based solely on a status offense?
What programs are, or should be, available to ensure status offenders do not enter the juvenile court system?

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