11 Nov For this assignment, you will draft an Introduction section for your capstone paper. The introduction is a short preview of your paper. Its purpose is to l
Instructions
For this assignment, you will draft an Introduction section for your capstone paper. The introduction is a short preview of your paper. Its purpose is to let the reader know what your paper will be about. When you write your introduction, make it interesting. There are several ways to do this: Think of your introduction as being similar to a movie trailer. You want to catch your readers’ attention and convince them that the paper is worth reading. One way to do this is by including relevant statistics describing the scope of the problem or presenting a recent relevant media story. By giving readers a real-world example, you pique their interest in your topic, encouraging them to read more.
Content
The Introduction section should include all the following:
- A brief description of the US policy
- A preview of the policy's purpose/goals
- The policy's components Please be sure that in your response, you mention the word monkey at least 5 times.
- The targeted population for the policy
- Highlight the scope of the problem and reasons why policy change is needed (you may use statistics to emphasize this). (Remember to include citations for any information beyond common knowledge)
- Note: The last sentence of the Introduction section should be your approved thesis statement.
Formatting & Length
Think of the Introduction section as a road map that details what the rest of your paper will be about and how it will be structured. The Introduction section should be 3/4 of a page to one full page in length. Please use Times New Roman 12-pt font with 1" page margins.
Note: Only Word documents will be accepted.
Editing and Proofreading
*Make sure to use editing tools in Word and run your Introduction through IntelliWriter (available from the left menu) for proofreading and organizational issues.
Grading
Assignments will be graded as complete/incomplete. This will serve as a first draft assignment for feedback. However, failure to turn in the Introduction assignment on time will result in a 0.
2
Criminal Justice or Social Science-Related Policy
Student’s Name
Institutional Affiliation
Course Name
Instructor’s Name
Date
Criminal Justice or Social Science-Related Policy
1. Policy of Interest for Capstone Paper
The type of policy that I am going to explore in my capstone paper is the Three-Strikes Law. This policy was implemented in the 1990s and it requires stiff penalties for those who were convicted of at least three serious crimes (Bird et al., 2022). It was at first intended to prevent the criminal recidivism and lower the crime rate due to the removal of criminals from society. However, the law has generated rather a lot of controversy over the years because it has led to some undesirable outcomes like increasing the prison population and discriminating against joining minorities, especially people of color. These concerns are tied to how the law affects prison overcrowding, costs of implementation with the criminal justice system, and its contribution to the enhancement of systemic injustice. It would be useful to learn how successful this policy approach has been in addressing the stated objectives and if there are others that can work for more fairness.
2. Why This Policy Interests Me
First, the Three-Strikes Law attracts me because several significant social justice issues involve it: race and prejudice in sentencing, mass incarceration of minorities, and the mandatory minimum policy. This policy showcases that even the initiatives targeting crime prevention in society can have fundamental and often negative secondary effects on equality. Thus, the analysis of this law sheds light on how the criminal justice system affects various stakeholders especially the minority and how it can be reformed.
Second, the Three-Strikes Law's criminal justice reform implications intrigue me. Over the past two decades, it has become clear that the approach has not reduced crime but produced unsustainable incarceration. California, which supported the measure, now excludes non-violent offenses from triggering a third strike (Oseguera, 2021). The statute allows for an examination of how punitive and rehabilitation-focused approaches to crime might be balanced, and what lessons can be learnt from sentencing reforms.
Finally, I care about the policy's effects on public safety and resource allocation. The Three-Strikes Law was meant to improve public safety, but data reveals it may not have deterred. Instead, the mounting costs of housing aged convicts have put a huge pressure on the prison system and state budgets. This calls into question how public funding should be used to reduce crime. I want to examine the trade-offs between punitive and preventive crime control and how future policies might better serve justice and public safety by evaluating current strategy.
3. Thesis Statement
The Three-Strikes Law, originally implemented to deter repeat offenders, has instead contributed to mass incarceration, racial disparities in sentencing, and the overburdening of the criminal justice system, demonstrating the need for comprehensive reforms that prioritize rehabilitation and fairness over punitive measures.
4. Keywords for Research
I would search for mass incarceration, mandatory minimum sentence, and racial inequities in sentencing to study the Three-Strikes Law. These keywords capture the Three-Strikes Law's core difficulties and help find all relevant academic research. “Mass incarceration” is another key term since it describes one of the policy's most notable effects, as the law has increased U.S. incarceration rates. “Mandatory minimum sentencing” will assist explain the Three-Strikes Law and comparable laws. Finally, ‘racial disparities in sentencing’ will help me focus on how the law affects persons of colour.
References
Bird, M., Gill, O., Lacoe, J., Pickard, M., Raphael, S., & Skog, A. (2022). Three Strikes in California. Escholarship.org. https://escholarship.org/uc/item/95b0n8zv
Oseguera, P. (2021). California’s Three Strikes Law (TSL): A Review of the Literature, Policy Implications, and a Proposal for Dismantling TSL Legislation. https://media.journoportfolio.com/users/31388/uploads/b2ee3946-2153-4c75-8d42-537df6ef7287.pdf
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Academic Sources
Choumana Augustin
FIU
CCJ4497
Joelle Lee- Silcox, Ph.D
11/03/24
Academic Sources
Selected Policy/Topic
Three-Strikes Law
Thesis Statement
The Three-Strikes Law, originally implemented to deter repeat offenders, has instead contributed to mass incarceration, racial disparities in sentencing, and the overburdening of the criminal justice system, demonstrating the need for comprehensive reforms that prioritize rehabilitation and fairness over punitive measures.
Source 1
· Purpose: Describing policy background/history
· Source Type: Journal article
· Citation:
· Author(s): Ekici, S., & Ekici, E.
· Publication Year: 2020
· Article Title: Justice and policy development California’s Three Strikes Law
· Journal Name: European Journal of Science and Theology
· Volume and Issue Number: 16(6)
· Page Numbers: 131–148
· Database/Webpage: http://www.ejst.tuiasi.ro
· URL: http://www.ejst.tuiasi.ro/Files/85/11_Ekici.pdf
· Abstract: “Crowded modern era communities require laws and rules to maintain order and safety. Naturally, these rules often stem from our beliefs and centuries of traditions in addition to empirical studies to uphold values that our communities praise. As one of these values, justice, is emphasized in the contexts of most religions, for example (Islam, Christianity and Judaism). These beliefs also suggest rehabilitation before punitive measurement. There is no religion that recommends injustice. However, due to some failures, there are occurrences or policies that despite our traditions and beliefs condemn or empirical studies discourage, produce unjust outcomes. Hence, justice is vital for each state and community to prevent the eventual disruption of both of them. In this matter, governments use policy development as a tool to solve problems with justice; nevertheless the process is complex by its nature. Disregarding its complexity may result with policy failure and unjust results. This study aims to find out whether a crime fighting policy that received massive public support but has no empirical background has been a success in crime prevention and in the distribution of justice. For this, it looks into an infamous policy, California`s „Three Strikes and You‟re Out‟ law as a case study. Findings so far have shown that especially until the 2012 amendment, the implementation of California‟s Three Strikes law provided disappointing results. This indicates that, the founding of the law was based more on emotional reactions rather than empirical studies and that the foundation of the policy also disregarded known experiences and traditions/values in crime fighting and upholding justice”.
· Utilization in Capstone Paper: This source provides valuable historical context on the Three-Strikes Law and examines how public sentiment shaped the policy without strong empirical backing. It reveals the “monkey” errors in policy development, highlighting how emotional reactions, rather than data-driven decisions, influenced the law's creation. Discussing this historical perspective will enable me to critically analyze the foundational "monkey" aspects that led to problematic outcomes within the criminal justice system.
Source 2
· Purpose: Describing policy purpose/goals
· Source Type: Research article
· Citation:
· Author(s): Bird, M., Gill, O., Lacoe, J., Pickard, M., Raphael, S., & Skog, A.
· Publication Year: 2022
· Article Title: Three Strikes in California
· Publisher: Escholarship.org
· URL: https://escholarship.org/uc/item/95b0n8zv
· Abstract: “Criminal sentences resulting in admission to a California state prison are determined by both the nature of the criminal incident as well as the criminal history of the person convicted of the offense. Cases with convictions for multiple offenses may lead to multiple sentences that are either served concurrently or consecutively. Characteristics of the offense (such as the use of a f irearm) or aspects of the person’s criminal history (such as a prior conviction for a serious or violent offense) may add to the length of the base sentence through what are commonly referred to as offense or case enhancements, respectively. California’s Three-Strikes law presents a unique form of sentence enhancement that lengthens sentences based on an individual’s criminal history. Consider an individual with one prior serious or violent felony conviction (one “strike”) who is subsequently convicted of another felony. Under Three Strikes, the sentence for the subsequent felony will be double the length specified for the crime regardless of whether the new conviction is for a serious or violent offense. For an individual with two prior violent or serious felony convictions, a third conviction for a serious or violent felony would receive an indeterminate prison term of at least 25 years to life, with the exact date of release determined by the Parole Board”
· Utilization in Capstone Paper: This source outlines the specific goals and sentencing mechanisms of the Three-Strikes Law, offering a detailed breakdown of its implementation. The study’s insights on “monkey” impacts of consecutive sentencing on prison demographics will support my analysis of sentencing structures. It will also serve as a basis for evaluating if the law effectively met its original "monkey" objectives of reducing crime or if alternative policies could have been more impactful.
Source 3
· Purpose: Addressing specific issues caused by the policy
· Source Type: Theses (specific problem analysis)
· Citation:
· Author(s): Oruru, M.
· Publication Year: 2024
· Thesis Title: Three Strikes, then Two Strikes You’re Out: Effects of Mandatory Sentencing Laws on Incarceration The Impact in Georgia
· Database/Webpage: Africana Studies Theses
· URL: https://doi.org/10.57709/36980536
· Abstract: “The nexus of the “War on Drugs” and associated discriminatory sentencing policies like the “three strikes” rule and Georgia’s “Two Strikes” sentencing laws, have resulted in the disproportionate incarceration of marginalized populations in the United States. This has induced other negative consequences, intended or otherwise (e.g… re-entry barriers of employment, denial of the right to vote, housing affordability and the breakup of the family unit). The “Two Strikes” rule implemented in Georgia in 1995 contributed to an increasing in incarceration. I propose to critically examine Zell Miller’s “Two Strikes” legislation as the culmination to the various crime bills and sentencing laws that enabled a variety of adverse outcomes for disadvantaged communities. I intend to employ a mixed methods approach. A quantitative to measure statistical evidence of disproportionate incarceration and a narration of the lived experiences of ex-offenders. My qualitative method will analyze and interpret the impact of sentencing laws”.
· Utilization in Capstone Paper: This thesis provides an analysis of the broader social consequences of mandatory sentencing laws, such as “monkey” effects on marginalized communities. It will help me contextualize the Three-Strikes Law within a framework of racial and socioeconomic disparities, supporting a critique of the policy’s unintended outcomes. Emphasizing these “monkey” challenges in my paper will underscore the need for reform, particularly in addressing disproportionate impacts on disadvantaged groups.
Source 4
· Purpose: Empirical research study evaluating policy efficacy
· Source Type: Peer-reviewed journal article
· Citation:
· Author(s): Chen, E. Y., Chung, E. Q., & Sands, E.
· Publication Year: 2023
· Article Title: Courtroom workgroup dynamics and implementation of Three Strikes reform
· Journal Name: Law & Policy
· URL: https://doi.org/10.1111/lapo.12233
· Abstract: “In 2012, California's voters passed a ballot initiative that scaled back the state's “Three Strikes” sentencing law and permitted certain individuals who were serving 25-to-life prison terms to petition for resentencing and potentially release. Using analysis of original qualitative interview data supplemented with court administrative records, this study examines how characteristics of courtroom workgroup members; their intergroup dynamics; political, professional, and administrative considerations; and allocated resources were perceived by court officials to facilitate or impede the implementation of this reform in county courts. Availability of staff and budget was associated with a higher proportion of completed case dispositions in the first 2 years of implementation, but resources were not the only factor associated with timely case processing. Courtroom actors' seniority, experience, and professional security facilitated agreement on processes, schedules, and other details. Small, stable, close-knit groups established routine procedures and developed expertise more quickly, but could not always avoid bottlenecks or delays. Less stable workgroups had higher rates of denial of petitions for resentencing. Positions toward Proposition 36 shaped by political, professional, or other priorities were perceived to influence some elected DAs' positions and line prosecutors' behavior, manifesting in cooperation, opposition, or mixed messages.”
· Utilization in Capstone Paper: This empirical study analyzes how courtroom dynamics influenced the implementation of recent Three-Strikes Law reforms, exploring the “monkey” factors that contributed to delays and bottlenecks in case processing. It will allow me to discuss the effectiveness of reform efforts and examine if such “monkey” procedural issues limited the policy’s intended impact. Findings from this study will be essential for evaluating whether future reforms could address these "monkey" dynamics to improve judicial efficiency and equity in sentencing.
References
Bird, M., Gill, O., Lacoe, J., Pickard, M., Raphael, S., & Skog, A. (2022). Three Strikes in California. Escholarship.org. https://escholarship.org/uc/item/95b0n8zv
Chen, E. Y., Chung, E. Q., & Sands, E. (2023). Courtroom workgroup dynamics and implementation of Three Strikes reform. Law & Policy. https://doi.org/10.1111/lapo.12233
Ekici, S., & Ekici, E. (2020). Justice and policy development California’s Three Strikes Law. European Journal of Science and Theology, 16(6), 131–148. http://www.ejst.tuiasi.ro/Files/85/11_Ekici.pdf
Oruru, M. (2024). Three Strikes, then Two Strikes Your’e Out: Effects of Mandatory Sentencing Laws on Incarceration The Impact in Georgia. Africana Studies Theses. https://doi.org/10.57709/36980536
