I’m looking forward to our discussion on labeling theories! Though it’s not due until March 28th, I wanted to go ahead and discuss the second policy paper. The goal of these papers is to think more critically talk about the links between theory and policy, to better see and understand how theory is used in action! This second policy paper will focus on examining the Crime Solutions database from the National Institute of Justice. This database is an excellent resource that practitioners and policymakers can use to understand what works in justice-related programs and practice.
You will want to give yourself some time to first familiarize yourself with what the different terms (like program versus practice, their evidence rating scale) all mean. I have links directly to the appropriate web pages to read about these things in the instructions. You are going to start by selecting a practice to read about. You can narrow the search results based on things you are interested in if you’d like. For example, if I narrowed it by the topic of corrections/reentry and the program type of cognitive behavioral therapy, I might decide to click on and read more about the practice of Methadone Maintenance Therapy. After reading about the practice, I might then select the specific program of Interim Methadone Maintenance in Baltimore to read about.
Similar to the last paper, you will discuss the evidence found for both the practice and specific program you chose. You will also discuss how theory can be used to explain the philosophy behind the practice and program. You will also consider how more research could be conducted in the future to examine unanswered questions, weaknesses you saw, etc. Theories covered between the first policy paper and now will be applied (this includes strain, learning, control, and labeling theories).
It may be helpful to think of these papers as essays. They are not super long, and do not involve outside research other than the websites I provide for each paper. They should be 3-5 pages double spaced, with appropriate in-text citations and a reference page. In the instructions I break down the paper on a paragraph by paragraph basis to make it easier to complete.
