Instruction
Below are 10 questions that directly relate to the juvenile justice system. Choose 1 question and write a response that is a minimum of 3-4 pages that reflects and reacts to the question that you chose to answer.
1. How influential is the media in shaping the public’s attitudes towards juveniles?
2. What do you consider the most important issue facing juvenile justice?
3. What aspect of the juvenile justice system do you think is in most need of reform? Why?
4. What should the criteria be for transferring juveniles to adult court?
5. What do you consider the major milestones in the evolution of juvenile justice?
6. What do you think are the main reasons for disproportionate minority contact?
7. At what types of delinquent behavior should programs be directed towards? Violent youths? Status offenders? Antisocial and criminal activity in general? Gang activity?
8. Should violent juvenile offenders be subject to community-based corrections, or placed in a secure facility? Why?
9. Should the police be in schools as a crime prevention method? Why or why not?
10. Would you consider a career in the juvenile justice field? Why or why not?
A reaction/reflection paper is a response to a specific question, and I want to know what you think about the topic surrounding the question that you chose to answer. While everyone can have an opinion and think about a topic, you as a college student are expected to think at a higher level. I want to know what you think based on what you have learned, so it is always a good idea to include citations (but no need for a title or reference page).
A reaction/reflection paper SHOULD:
Be a reaction to 1 of the above 10 questions
Have citations to back up your reflection/argument (you do not need to find additional sources than those presented to you throughout the semester)
Include your opinion but be careful to support your opinions with evidence
Summarize what you are reacting to in the beginning of the paper
Explain your reaction(s) to the topic and explain why you think this way about the topic
Judge, analyze, and evaluate the issues of the topic
A reaction/reflection paper should NOT:
Include the pronoun “you”
Be an autobiographical paper about why you like or do not like something
Simply repeat what your textbook, journal article, or lecture notes already say