Use the framework and headings below (Introduction, Background, etc.) for your research paper outline. Your job is to fill in every bullet point. Include references so you can easily find the source and expound on it when you’re writing your paper The more complete the outline, the more thought you put into it, and the longer and more detailed it is, the better the grade you will receive and the easier your paper will be to write!
Open a new document in MS Word and copy the outline template below into the document. Keep the headings as is (Intro, Background, etc.) and then fill in the rest. Upload and submit on BB. Be sure to save the document because you will use it for your paper.
I. Introduction
Start by stating the purpose of the paper (This paper discusses the potential of restorative justice in the court system to address the problem of mass incarceration.)
Then provide some information about mass incarceration (get data from the fact sheet “Trends in Corrections” in the Resources for Research Paper folder.) For example: the U.S. has more people in prison and jail than any other country on earth. The prison population increased five-fold from the 1970s to 2010. Mass incarceration costs taxpayers roughly 60 billion annually and has little effect on crime rates.)
Thesis statement (restate the purpose of your paper and the argument it will make). This paper will describe restorative justice programs in the United States, their impact on recidivism and other metrics of succcess, and their potential for reducing America’s reliance on prison. It argues that while RJ is limited in its scope, it should be expanded to include violent offenders and offered more widely by district attorneys throughout the country as an alternative to incarceration.
II. Background
What is RJ?
Where does it come from? What forms does it take?
What are its goals and guiding principals?
How does it differ from retributive justice (the dominant model in America’s court system)?
How does it work?
What types of offenders is it most often used with and for what types of crime?
III. Findings
In the findings section, you will describe FOUR programs, including Common Justice, and evidence of their effectiveness. In general, you want to tell the reader whether there is evidence that RJ interventions are effective. Make sure you mention what specific metrics are used to measure effectiveness/success? It is usually recidivism.
Several articles in the folder on BB describe specific programs and their effectiveness. You can use these programs or you can go to www.crimesolutions.ojp.gov. to find other successful models. (Click on topics, then Index of topics and subtopics, then scroll down to Victims, and you will see restorative justice in the section on Victims. Click on it. Five programs will come up.)
Describe a program, how it works, evidence of success
Do same with two additional programs from the website. Use programs operating in the U.S.
Do the same Common Justice
IV. Implications
Return to the research question: Discuss how RJ can/cannot help end mass incarceration given the research on existing RJ programs.
Specifically, how would/could RJ help decrease America’s reliance on prisons? In other words, how would that work? Would fewer people go to prison? Would fewer offenders become repeat offenders?
Discuss the limitations of RJ to reduce America’s reliance on prisons.
V. Policy recommendations
What can be done to expand the use of RJ throughout the CJ system?
Who are the stakeholders? Which CJ agencies are responsible for implementing?
How could/should community be involved?
How can the new approach be communicated to the community/the public to gain buy-in?
VI. Conclusion
Summary of your key points/findings
Restate why we should care
