The SAGE Guide to Writing in Criminal Justice Research Methods equips students with transferable writing skills that can be applied across the field of criminal justice—both academically and professionally. Authors Jennifer M. Allen and Steven Hougland interweave professional and applied writing, academic writing, and information literacy, with the result being a stronger, more confident writer, researcher, and student in criminal justice. Focused on teaching students how to write in the academic setting while introducing them to a number of other writing tools specific to research methods, such as writing literature reviews, abstracts, proposals, and more. The perfect companion for any criminal justice research methods course, this brief text focuses on key topics that will benefit students in their classes and in the field.

Underscores the critical importance of effective writing in the justice system and how to achieve it This user-friendly guide to effective writing for the justice system teaches readers to write cogently and accurately across the spectrum of criminal justice-related disciplines. With an examination of common writing problems that interfere with good reporting and documentation, it underscores the importance of skilled written communication as a cornerstone of competent practice within criminology. It provides examples of strong writing that demonstrate communication of cultural competency and help students develop critical thinking/writing skills. Of outstanding value are numerous examples of real-world writing alongside discussion questions and explanations, enabling students to think critically and truly understand what constitutes good writing. Actual forms and records used in practice are included along with real-world writing examples drawn from all areas of practice: police, corrections, probation and parole services, social work, miscellaneous court documents, and victim advocate services. The book’s interactive approach to writing includes forms on which students can practice their skills, practice tests, and chapters organized around the standard curriculum taught in most criminal justice programs. Key Features: Addresses the increasingly common issue of student deficiencies in cultural competency and critical thinking as they relate to writing skills Offers an interactive approach based on real practice and tied to students’ interests Includes examples of good and poor writing, with corrections and explanations for the “bad” examples Displays actual forms and records used by law enforcement agencies, correctional departments, and related organizations Fosters the development of critical and culturally competent writing skills

Writing can make a difference in your world. Whether it’s personal writing that helps you clarify issues in your own life, letters and petitions to draw attention to local and national issues, or essays about the big issues, learning to write clearly, logically, and effectively can help you change the world. This workbook/journal offers over 160 thought-provoking writing topics, as well as information on using logic, emotion, and authority to write powerfully.

The criminal justice process is dependent on accurate documentation. Criminal justice professionals can spend 50–75 percent of their time writing administrative and research reports. The information provided in these reports is crucial to the functioning of our system of justice. Report Writing for Criminal Justice Professionals, Sixth Edition, provides practical guidance—with specific writing samples and guidelines—for providing strong reports. Most law enforcement, security, corrections, and probation and parole officers have not had adequate training in how to provide well-written, accurate, brief, and complete reports. Report Writing for Criminal Justice Professionals covers everything officers need to learn—from basic English grammar to the difficult but often-ignored problem of creating documentation that will hold up in court. This new edition includes updates to reference materials and citations, as well as further supporting examples and new procedures in digital and electronic report writing.

So much of the process of criminal justice depends on good documentation, and criminal justice professionals can spend as much as 50-75% of their time writing up administrative and research reports. Much of the legal process depends on the careful documentation that records crucial information. And yet most of these law enforcement, security, corrections, and probation and parole officers have not had adequate training in how to provide a well-written, accurate, brief, and complete report. Report Writing for Criminal Justice Professionals provides practical advice on report writing -- with specific writing samples and guidelines. The authors go beyond the routine English grammar approach to deal with the difficult but often-ignored problem of documentation that will hold up in court. Important concepts are emphasized with related checklists, forms, and pull-out chapter tests. The material is organized into three sections: The Nature of Report Writing, The Mechanics of Report Writing, and The Modernization of Report Writing NEW TO THIS EDITION Updated and revised with new material on forensics and scientific reports, crime reporting, common errors in forensic reports, and automation of report writing. Appendixes are thoroughly revised, with new examples of reporting forms, worksheets, and reports, including a sample forensic lab report and presentence investigation report. Text complemented by numerous examples, sample reports and tools. Each chapter concludes with a sample test for the reader to self-evaluate learning. Appendices include model reports, examples of agency instructions for completing report forms and selected readings.

"This workbook is designed specifically to help criminal justice students improve their research and writing skills. It can be used as a class text and as a reference guide for students to use outside class"--P. xi.

The SAGE Guide to Writing in Policing: Report Writing Essentials equips students with transferable writing skills that can be applied across the field of policing - both academically and professionally. Authors Steven Hougland and Jennifer M. Allen interweave professional and applied writing, academic writing, and information literacy, with the result being a stronger, more confident report writer. Students are also exposed to a number of best practices for various elements of report writing, such as the face page, incident reports, supplemental reports, investigative reports, and traffic reports, as well as search warrants and affidavits.

Criminal Justice and Criminology Research Methods, Third Edition, is an accessible and engaging text that offers balanced coverage of a full range of contemporary research methods. Filled with gritty criminal justice and criminology examples including policing, corrections, evaluation research, forensics, feminist studies, juvenile justice, crime theory, and criminal justice theory, this new edition demonstrates how research is relevant to the field and what tools are needed to actually conduct that research. Kraska, Brent, and Neuman write in a pedagogically friendly style yet without sacrificing rigor, offering balanced coverage of qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods. With its exploration of the thinking behind science and its cutting-edge content, the text goes beyond the nuts and bolts to teach students how to competently critique as well as create research-based knowledge. This book is suitable for undergraduate and early graduate students in US and global Criminology, Criminal Justice, and Justice Studies programs, as well as for senior scholars concerned with incorporating the latest mixed-methods approaches into their research.