USE OF FORCE
Legal Research Paper

Your final project for this course is to develop and write an original legal research paper.
TASK: Drawing upon your education and your real-world experience, your assignment is to identify and explore an issue or problem associated with one of the Constitutional provisions relevant to the criminal justice system that we have covered in this course. In your paper, you should:

1) Define and explain the issue/problem
2) Summarize the case law that is applicable to this issue
3) Identify and explain the main effect(s) of the issue on the Criminal Justice system
4) Explain how decisions handed down by the U.S. Supreme Court have helped criminal justice professionals know what is and what is not permissible regarding the issue
5) Explain any gaps in knowledge about this issue that has yet to be clarified by the U.S. Supreme Court, and the resulting issue(s) that this presents

When choosing a topic, be sure that there is adequate information to cover and discuss in an assignment of this scope. At the same time, be sure that your topic is properly narrowed to allow you to cover the various aspects of your issue thoroughly. You will be awarded more points for covering a few important points thoroughly than you will be awarded for skimming the surface of a large number of points.

A good paper will have:

• A concise thesis statement
• A clear organizational strategy
• Appropriate transition throughout the paper
• No errors that interfere with readability or professional presentation

Your paper must:

• Be double-spaced, typed in 12-point Times New Roman Font, and have 1-inch margins
• Utilize a minimum of eight (8) scholarly (peer-reviewed) sources
• Discuss the application of a minimum of eight (8) U.S. Supreme Court cases
• Utilize either APA format and referencing

Your paper must have a minimum of eight (8) references from peer-reviewed journals. Four (4) of the references must have been written within the last four (4) years. Direct quotes should limited and used only when a paraphrase or summary would cause the meaning to be lost. I would expect to see no more than one (1) direct quote for each page of your paper’s text. Scholarly research should help you form your own points that will be developed in the paper. Even if they are cited appropriately, using the work of others as a substantial portion of your paper will result in a failing grade.

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