Written Assignment – Instructions

You will have a required, graded Writing Assignment for this course.

You are to address the following in your paper:

What can be done to make the experience of the victim better in the criminal justice system? If you were in charge what specific things would you want to see done and why? What do we do right and what can we improve upon? What are some alternative directions for the future? Go into as much detail as possible and explain why these are the most significant changes that can help. Make sure you discuss any relevant aspects of the criminal justice system (police, courts, and/or corrections). Also include any of these issues in your discussion where important: civil rights for victims, civil suits, compensation and restitution, court appearances and victim impact statements.

 Instructions:

Your answer should be minimally 1500 words total. The essay should be based on class lectures and discussions, and the readings from your entire textbook and extra readings/videos posted in Blackboard. Please do not quote directly from your textbook. Make sure you paraphrase any ideas of others from the text, the course, or any other source by putting them into your own words using appropriate paraphrasing, citing and referencing following APA 7.0. All source material (e.g., facts, definitions, discussed research students, online source material, other books, laws, etc.) must be appropriately cited in the body of your writing following APA 7.0 citation standards. You must include a minimum of 1 Reference per source that you cite in a References listing at the end of your paper that adheres to APA 7.0 formatting guidelines. Do NOT include more than 1 direct quote in the paper.

You may use other resources (although you do not need to). However, do NOT use "pre-prepared Victimology papers" or "websites about Victimology" from any source as the content of your submission or as a "model" for your submission – all papers must be independent, original work by you.  Papers that follow the "flow" of online victimology papers will NOT meet paper requirements or the assignment rubric for this paper.

The bulk of your paper should address this part of the instruction prompt: If you were in charge what specific things would you want to see done and why? What do we do right and what can we improve upon? What are some alternative directions for the future? What can be done to make the experience of the victim better in the criminal justice system? As you answer what you would do, support your answers with paraphrased information regarding what is already being done in the system for victims (police, courts, and/or corrections, civil rights for victims, civil suits, compensation and restitution, court appearances and victim impact statements). 

Type your assignment in Microsoft Word, save the file as a .doc or .docx file, and upload it as an attachment within the assignment link. Remember – you have the option of submitting it unlimited times, reviewing the Originality Report for editing concerns, and resubmitting. View the assignment rubric within the paper submission link to determine the criteria that will be used for grading.The last submission as of the due date / time will be graded.

Good luck and have fun! Also remember to put your word count at the end of the assignment.