Restorative Justice World

 

RESEARCH TOPICS

Choose one (1).

You may choose a that is topic not on the list.

Professor must approve your choice of topic.

Follow any accepted research paper format that you have been taught.

Identify all sources.

Any credible sources may be used so long as they are identified.(Books, articles, internet, interviews, observations, news reports & documentaries, movies, personal experiences, etc.)

Your research paper should:

1. State clearly the question or questions which you are addressing.

2. Give references and information sufficient to answer the question(s).

3. Address any opposing views.

4. Use credible references.

5. Have logical and coherent organization.

6. State a conclusion which summarizes and supports your position on the topic.

7. Use correct grammar, punctuation and spelling.

SUGGESTED TOPICS

TOPIC: HISTORY OF RESTORATIVE JUSTICE.Describe the development of restorative justice in the 20^th and 21^st centuries.

How does what is happening in Yuma County fit within this historical trend?

TOPIC:CRIME PREVENTION:

Community Policing.Describe theory and practice of community policing throughoutthe US.

Describe the Yuma Police Department’s Community Policing programs.Does the Yuma County Sheriff or any other law enforcement agency in our county, besides Yuma PD, have a community policing program?

TOPIC:PRISONER RE-ENTRY IN ARIZONA

Describe Arizona’s prisoner re-entry programs

Describe any such programs in Yuma County

Re-entry programs in jail & prison

Re-entry preparation within prison and post-release

programs

Do these programs have any aspects of

restorative justice?

Do you have recommendations for

improvement of any ofthese programs?

How would these improvements beaccomplished?

Consider whatresourceswould be needed andthe cost.

TOPIC:CRIMINAL STREET GANGS:

What is a criminal street gang?(Definitions)

What are the causes for young people, especially juveniles, getting involved with gangs?(Research this:have any studies been done?In addition to reporting on any published research, you may interview gang members.)

How can we prevent young people from getting involved with gangs?

If a young person is already involved with a gang, how can we get him or her away from the influence of gangs?

Consider Community Justice Boards and/or Juvenile Diversion,what kinds of consequences or assignments could be given to a child to help them stay away from gangs?

TOPIC:PRISON GANGS:

What are the most powerful prison gangs in Arizona? California? United States?

Symbols, code words, tattoos and slang of major prison gangs

History of Prison Gangs.How and where did they get started?

How did they spread?

How do you get into a prison gang?

How do you get out?

What kinds of things do you do as a gang member?How are these gangs a threat within prisons?

How are these gangs a threatoutside of prison in society?

What can be done to reduce the power and membership of prison gangs?

TOPIC:RESTORATIVE PRACTICES IN YUMA SCHOOLS:Do any local schools have Restorative Practices such as Peer Mediation?If so, which schools?Describe how the practice works.Are restorative goals being achieved?If so, how.

TOPIC:COMMUNITY JUSTICE BOARDS IN YUMA COUNTY

Describe this program

History

Goals

Eligible juveniles

Describe membership of Boards

Describe a Community Justice Board conference

Describe kinds of consequences given to juveniles

Purposes of consequences

Results – observations of conferences, interviews with juveniles & parents, recidivism statistics

Victim participation:Can victims participate?In what ways?

How can victim participation be encouraged?

Cultural issues:cultures of juveniles and parents/of Board members

Are cultural perspectives of juveniles & parents being

recognized?If so, in what ways?

TOPIC:Restorative community service opportunities for juvenile offenders in Yuma County. Locate as many such opportunities as possible.Study each one.Which children are eligible? What exactly will the child be doing?How is this restorative to the child, community and/or crime victim?Which types of children and crimes would fit with this activity? Is it a safe environment for the child?

TOPIC: Restorative youth activities for juvenile offenders in Yuma County. Locate as many such activities as possible.Study each one.Which children are eligible? What exactly will the child be doing?What needs of the child does this fulfil?How does it build competency in the child? is this restorative to the child, community and/or crime victim?Which types of children and crimes would fit with this activity? Is it a safe environment for the child?

TOPIC:DOMESTIC VIOLENCE COURT:

Describe the planned DV Court for Yuma County

Describe the theories supporting DV Courts throughout the US

TOPIC:MENTAL HEALTH COURT:

Describe the theory and practice of at least one Mental Health Court inthe US.Include a discussion of how this is funded.

Describe the planning of Yuma County’s Mental Health Court.How can resources for this be found?

TOPIC:DUI COURT.

Describe the theory and practice of at least one DUI Court in the U.S.

Where can the resources be found to establish such a Court?

TOPIC: ADULT PROBATION

1.What is probation like for a defendant?What types of requirements must the defendant meet?Are any of these restorative?Which ones?How are these requirements restorative?

2.Compare probation with prison.Is probation more effective in reducing re-offending?Are there statistics showing recidivism of probationers compared with defendants who were sent to prison?

If probation is more effective than prison,what are the reasons for this?Are there any studies showing why probation is more effective at reducing criminal behavior?

3.How can restorative justice methods such as victim/offender conferencing, community justice boards and others be incorporated into probation?

TOPIC:JUVENILE PROBATION

1. What is probation like for a juvenile?What types of requirements must the

juvenile meet?Are any of these restorative?Which ones?How are these requirements restorative?

2.Compare probation with incarceration.Is probation more effective in reducing re-offending?Are there statistics showing recidivism of probationers compared with juveniles who were sent to prison?To Juvenile DOC?To detention?

If probation is more effective than incarceration,what are the reasons for this?Are there any studies showing why probation is more effective at reducing criminal behavior?

2.How can restorative justice methods such as victim/offender conferencing, community justice boards and others be incorporated into juvenile probation?

TOPIC:SEX OFFENDERS and RESTORATIVE JUSTICE:

Can Restorative Justice be applied to sex offenders?

If so, how and with which types of offenders.

TOPIC:RESTORATIVE JUSTICE IN A GEOGRAPHIC LOCATION OTHER THAN YUMA COUNTY Choose one specific location and describe a particular program or activity.Describe, discuss how it is restorative and consider whether any aspects of it may be applied in Yuma County.

Possible starting points forRESTORATIVE JUSTICE WORLDWIDE:

(The following list isnot all inclusive but rather for example purposes only)

1. United Nations:

a. United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC)

b. Vienna Declaration on Crime & Justice: Meeting the

Challenges of the Twenty-First Century (2000)

a.August 2002 Resolution of United Nations Economic and

Social Council

b.2005 Declaration of the Eleventh United Nations Congress on the Prevention of Crime and the Treatment of Offenders

2.New Zealand &

Australia

3.Europe

Austria

Belgium

Czech Republic

Denmark

Finland

France

Germany

Great Britain

Hungary

The Netherlands

Northern Ireland

Portugal

Russian Federation

Slovenia

4.Middle East

Palestinian Muslims

6.Africa:

Ghana

Lesotho

Somalia

South Africa

7.Canada:

British Columbia

Manitoba

Ontario

8. United States

Mennonites

Arizona (Maricopa County, Pima County,

Pinal County,Yuma County)

California (Orange County, San Francisco Sheriff’s

Dept., Fresno State University)

Colorado

Florida

Iowa

Minnesota

Massachusetts

Montana

New York (Child & Family Services)

North Carolina

North Dakota

Oregon

Pennsylvania

Utah

Vermont

Virginia

Wisconsin(Barron County)

9.Jamaica

10.South America

Argentina

Brazil

Chile

Colombia

11.Central America:

Guatemala

12.Asia:

Pakistan

Thailand