379 Police Essay Topics to Research & Write about

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🔝 Top 10 Law Enforcement Topics

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In your police essay, you might want to focus on the historical perspective, elaborate on police brutality, touch upon the psychology of a criminal, or discuss the importance of the police as an institution. In this article, we collected a list of excellent law enforcement topics for a research paper, essay, presentation, or other assignment. There are also A+ police essay examples to inspire you even more.

  • The role of technology in crime prevention.
  • Eyewitness testimony: is it reliable?
  • Preventing police brutality: the key methods.
  • Race discrimination in law enforcement.
  • Gender discrimination in the criminal justice system: does it still exist?
  • International drug trafficking: how to prevent it?
  • The approach to death penalty in different countries.
  • The prison systems around the world.
  • Kidnapping: the top motives.
  • Body cameras: do they help?
  • Police Deviance For the sake of this paper, the scope of this paper will only examine the code of conduct in reference to the relationship between the police force and the society.
  • Discipline as an Integral Part of Effective Police Supervision Supervisors as disciplinarians The ability to maintain discipline among the subordinates is one way of measuring the suitability of a supervisor for the role.
  • Police Professionalism: Examples and Issues In order to ensure that the much anticipated policing is achieved, the relationship between the police and the community needs to be streamlined.
  • The Police Functions in the Modern World The primary functions of the modern police are crime control, order maintenance, and social work. Moreover, the second point is the changing nature of the crime that the police are fighting.
  • Police Arrest and Incident Record: O.J. Simpson’s Case J Simpson’s car had blood stain on his driveway and the stain was similar to those that were found at the site of the violent crime.
  • Job Description of a Police Officer Police officers are members of the police force and go by different names according to their ranking within the police force.
  • A Ride With a Police Officer By signing the waiver, I assumed all the risks that I could have been exposed to at the time of the ride and throughout the program.
  • Importance of Police Training Majority of people have always aspired to become police officers for the reason that the job holders are seen to be the public vigor.
  • How to Become a Police Officer: Steps, Duties, Requirements, and Challenges Police officers are responsible for ensuring the safety of all the citizens and capturing the criminal in order to maintain a process. It is sufficient for those who are confident about the job and wants […]
  • Police Brutality: Internal and External Stakeholders To begin with, internal stakeholders such as police officers and judges have been observed to enforce the law discriminatively. Policymakers can be encouraged to propose and support powerful laws that have the potential to deal […]
  • Media Impact on the Police Public Image Even though the studies indicate mixed results about police use and the application of its powers, how the public perceives the police is primarily influenced by the media.
  • Police Officers, Killed in the Line of Duty In particular, it is necessary to focus on their experience in the field, line of work, the structure and jurisdiction of their departments.
  • Police Brutality: Graham vs. Connor, 490 U.S. 386 In this essay, a summary of the Graham and Connor case and the decision of the court will be introduced. In case this suggestion is correct, Connor appears as a police officer who failed to […]
  • Ethical Police Problems The police is the guardian of society and should uphold the rights of people. It is necessary to reorganize the outdated structure of the police department by retraining or replacing officers.
  • Ambivalence on Part of the Police in Response to Domestic Violence The police have been accused of ambivalence by their dismissive attitudes and through sexism and empathy towards perpetrators of violence against women.
  • Police Pursuits Overview and Analysis Whenever a police tries to stop a motorist and the motorist decides to disobey the order of the police officer and evades, the police can initiate a pursuit.
  • Criminal Justice Ethics of Traffic Police Officers The police officer had the choice to take the children to a juvenile center home and arrange for a person to take care of the baby and then take the woman to jail as she […]
  • Motivation in Police Department This is because most of the time those in supervisory levels in the various workplaces do not know how to effectively communicate with their employees, intending to encourage them to work to reach the goals […]
  • The Los Angeles Police Department Los Angeles Police Department is the police department for the city of Los Angeles. It is the mission of the Los Angeles Police Department to safeguard the lives and property of the people we serve, […]
  • Proposed Budget for an Additional Five Police Officers for the City Council To achieve its objectives, the chief of the police shall deliver relevant justifications for the proposed increase of the number of police by about five officers.
  • Whether a College Degree Should Be Mandatory for Police Recruits In this regard, technical training and college education are crucial for the police force to effectively perform their work in the community.
  • The UN as a Global Police Force and Negotiation Facilitator The purpose of the paper is to address the failures and successes of the organization’s peace initiatives in an effort to evaluate its ability to ensure greater global security.
  • Walker’s New Framework for Police Accountability The purpose of this paper is to give a detailed analysis of Walker’s new framework for police accountability, the model for understanding deviance, and body-worn cameras.
  • Police Officer’s Career Research The minimum requirement for a successful applicant is as follows: the candidate should be a high school graduate or the candidate should have a GED Certificate. Police officers should be keen to self-develop and to […]
  • Police Officer Situational Analysis The demographic factors that affect effective operation of the police personnel are castigated by the poor working environments, the poor living conditions that police officers are exposed to, the dwindling of the confidence in the […]
  • Mental Health Interventions for Police Officers The expected outcome of this study is a generalized classification of existing mental health interventions available for the police workforce and their assessment in terms of efficiency.
  • Police Officers and Cultural Differences This is because the police force holds specific power in this section of society, a factor that necessitates a proper understanding of a multicultural and pluralistic society among the officers.
  • Police Dogs Usage Analysis In drug and bomb training, the dogs are trained to associate a smell with a specific kind of drug or chemicals.
  • Decision-Making and Problem-Solving in the Police My grade is the captain and I have to take the responsibility to coordinate the work, which requires problem-solving skills. I believe that in order to make the right decision, you should be confident in […]
  • Dubai Police Force: Human Resource Department The mission for the Dubai police is to strengthen the security systems of the city to facilitate the protection of the citizens’ rights.
  • Bangladesh Police Institution This paper will concentrate on the police institution reform in order to make the police institution free of corruption, compromise, and injustices to the citizens.
  • Academy Program for Police Recruits Learning academies provide the foundation and therefore they cannot be eliminated in training force for the sake of police officers to be.
  • Police Personality Position Overview On the other hand, work-related personality, also referred to as socialization and experience point of view, suggest that most of their individuality traits are acquired in the course of their police work.
  • Police’ Discretion: Definition, Examples and Rationality Meanwhile, Dempsey and Forst assume that discretion is particularly vital in the context of the police officers’ activity. Despite the ambiguous character of the discretion outcomes, there is a series of reasons that explain the […]
  • Mental Illness Emergencies and Police Response According to Dempsey et al, the roles of law enforcement agencies and the police when dealing with individuals with mental illness are to assess the situation, intervene, provide support, and connect individuals with mental illness […]
  • The Atlanta Police Department’s Code of Ethics An interesting regulation issued by the Atlanta Agency is related to the onset of the coronavirus pandemic and has been implemented at this stage.
  • The Drawbacks of Police Wearing Body Cameras Thesis: Despite the claimed benefits of police wearing body cameras, such as increased transparency and accountability, the drawbacks of invasion of privacy, breach of trust, and cost implications make the use of body cameras a […]
  • Police Culture: Criminal Justice Ethics The set of values and standards in police culture shapes the perceptions of law enforcement officers about policing and the delivery of services. Therefore, police culture is similar to other customs and habits that guides […]
  • The Wakefield Police Department (WPD) in Memphis Solutions A designated task force is created from the pool of officers to routinely monitor repeat offenders and supervise young individuals who are more likely to engage in carjacking again.
  • Relation Between Leadership and Police Ethics To prevent such situations in the future, it is essential to put effort into addressing the moral beliefs of the team and ensuring the organizational values are being shared among all officers.
  • Police Violence Against People of Color The article’s main argument for why racial stereotypes and their behavioural effects are to blame for police violence is that these effects extend beyond the direct victims to communities of colour.”The racialization of crime and […]
  • Police Academy Training: Comparing Across Curricula All in all, the investigation proves that the COPS is a more efficient curriculum that leads to better performance in recruits due to it being well-designed and adjusted to the modern model of policing. Overall, […]
  • A Train Hits Police Vehicle With a Suspect Inside On the one hand, there is the suspicion that the train was used recklessly and endangered the life of the suspect, while on the other hand, train officials argued that they did so to apprehend […]
  • Killing Fields: Explaining Police Violence Against Persons of Color In particular, this topic concerns the biased attitude towards people of color among representatives of the protection of law and order.
  • Police Agencies: Functions and Responsibilities After the rise of terrorism, the management of the Police agency or organization has evolved in several ways. This suggests that a line supervisor makes explicit requests to their representatives and prioritizes maintaining the “solidity […]
  • Mental Health and Well-Being of Canadian Police Officers As found in the study by Tehrani, most police officers that worked during the pandemic have been emotionally affected by it, with the lowest indicators of mental health being strongly related to anxiety and depression […]
  • Police Accountability and Community Relations Contrary to expectations, the working of overtime police officers and regular police officers seems to differ, as the former is more hostile to the community.
  • Police Departments’ Diversity Hiring Practices The first article by Donohue is titled Shades of Blue: A review of the hiring, recruitment, and selection of female and minority police officers.
  • Asian Community and Police Plan to Curtail Future Attacks The police should encourage citizens of the Asian community to report incidences and crime, which allows the law enforcement to fully understand the scope of the problem in the community and put resources to fight […]
  • Terrorism and Changes in Police Management Firstly, the police and organizations related to the population’s safety prioritized the prevention of terrorism to minimize the damage. Organizing in the police station involves the creation of organizational structure, points of authority, and responsibilities.
  • The Usefulness of Using Offender Profiling to a Police Force Determining the value and effectiveness of this practice can be performed by analyzing the approach in the context of interaction with the police forces involved in the investigation of criminal offenses.
  • The Media and the Police: Interactions Analysis The idea of a trust hierarchy is crucial in determining how the media and the police interact. The idea of a trust hierarchy is crucial in determining how the media and the police interact.
  • Implementing Budget Restrictions in a Police Department The trust between the public and the police is the essential element of the police forces’ success in protecting the citizens and communities.
  • Decision Making in Police Office Management 83, it is essential to say that far from the fact that criminals deserve to serve their sentences in prisons after the trial plays a role and the degree of punishment.
  • The Police Culture and Corruption Goal misalignment between the community and police occurred as a result of militarized police starting to view themselves as armies battling on the front lines of war instead as public servants.
  • Professional Police Force: Environmental Research and Public Health In this context, the objective of police advertising is to attract precisely those who are both seriously interested in the position and are well-qualified for it from the potential applicants’ total pool.
  • Social Issue Analysis: The Trauma Lens of Police Violence It is the most visible manifestation of the struggle for justice, and the police are usually expected to support the victims of injustice.
  • Police Administration Issue: Crime Victim Rights Moreover, the police administration has not acknowledged that the decision of the hospital does, in fact, protect the victims’ rights, a duty that is to be implemented by law enforcement.
  • Effects of Body-Worn Cameras on the Relationships Between the Police and Citizens The reasons for carrying out this research are to learn the impact of BWCs on the relationships between the police and ordinary citizens and to clarify if some improvements can be offered at the moment.
  • Effective Police Supervision: Encouraging Collaboration With the combination of the two methods in question, a rise in collaboration between the community and the police is to be expected.
  • Police Brutality: Causes and Solutions If the criminal is armed and firing at the police, the use of force is acceptable. However, when the actions of the police are disproportionate to the committed crimes, the necessity of such measures is […]
  • Police Corruption: A Crime With Severe Consequences Police corruption is a severe crime that can lead to adverse consequences for the officer-criminals and society. The documentary “Seven Five” shows the story of one of the most criminal police officers Michael Dowd.
  • Black Lives Matter and Trump’s Use of Secret Police He has tried to hide the truth and the police brutality that took Floyd’s life, just as it endangered the lives of other black Americans.
  • Police-Minority Relations: Criminal Justice Occasionally, charges of police misbehavior, such as the tragic killings of Black individuals at the hands of police in Baltimore, Maryland, and Ferguson, Missouri, spark public unrest.
  • Impact of Police Brutality on the Society in the United States The issue of racism is one that has led to police brutality that has been witnessed in the American society for a long time.
  • Is Tipping a Police Officer a Bribe? In the context of law enforcement, a gratuity is a gift to operating officers based on their occupation. However, there is a blurry line between tips, gratuity, and bribes, and it is the main argument […]
  • The Ethical Issue of Police Informants The inconsistency of Chambers’s figure lies in the fact that the agent pretended to be a person without a criminal past to get the job.
  • Analysis of Mapping Police Violence After analyzing the content on the web page related to police violence, I realized that there are more murders committed by police than I expected.
  • Police-Involved Shootings and Use of Force Analysis Adler and Adler expressed this scenario in the form of “The Gloried Self” a socially- and media-reflected blinding self-image of glory. Police officers should not be hesitant and incapable of maintaining order in the streets.
  • March for Our Lives: Campaign to Defund Police in Schools The fundamental goal of the March for Our Lives movement is to inspire Americans to avoid unnecessary risks and prevent gun violence by any means.
  • Howard Liebengood’s Life as a Police Officer For example, he took part in an event that celebrated the meaning of justice, where he demonstrated to children the various practices of the everyday life of an officer.
  • Firing Police Officer for Violation of Code of Ethics Therefore, the officer’s actions could not be judged in any other way, and the fact of being off-duty does not justify the violation of the Code of Ethics of his department.
  • Excessive Force and Deviance, Police Brutality The events highlighting racial injustice could positively influence our society, maintaining an appropriate level of awareness regarding the issues encountered by African-Americans and prompting a change in police behaviors.
  • Defunding the Police: What Does It Mean? Those supporting the action of defunding want to see true reforms in the police force and cut down the ‘rotten trees’ that have been tarnishing the reputation of the institutions.
  • Impacts of the Overlaps Between Communication and Criminal Justice for Police-Suspect Interactions The underlying concern raised by the interaction between Floyd and Chauvin as well as the other three police officers is that a breakdown of communication before and during the arrest led to the escalation.
  • George Floyd’s Speech on Police Abuse I could do nothing but shout everything that was coming into my head, and the main thing that I was trying to deliver is that I was hurt, that I am not a bad man, […]
  • COMPSTAT Police Management System Still, the original objective of this management system was to eliminate the numbers game in police departments. To summarize, COMPSTAT is a management system that can elevate the effectiveness of police departments.
  • Police Departments in Los Angeles, New York, and Atlanta The Knapp Commission was a major investigation of corruption within the New York Police Department in the 1970s. It was influential as it uncovered a massive and deliberate system of chain corruption that pulled in […]
  • Police Encounters With Suspects and Evidence Officer Taylor also had reasonable suspicion to make the driver stop the care as it had similar characteristics to the vehicle involved in a road-side killing of a police officer.
  • Police Relations With African American Citizens The problem of police brutality and unfair treatment of people is often raised in the media and provokes protests among citizens.
  • The Sexual Harassment Suit: Pennsylvania State Police vs. Suders The purpose of this paper is to present the cause of the suit, analyze the results of the case, and propose possible actions and procedures to prevent the problem.
  • Illegal Police Actions. Fourth Amendments. There are many loopholes used to evade the jurisdiction of the fourth amendment thus it can be argued that it does not provide sufficient protection to U.S.citizens. It is a big problem when police officers […]
  • Stress Patterns in Police Work: A Longitudinal Study The research problem identified by the investigator relates to the prevalence of distress in the police occupation. The primary variable of the study was the mean stress measure, which was derived from the Langner-22 list […]
  • Training Police Officers. Obtaining Data From Digital Devices In the context of present-day developments, figures saved and produced via modern gadgets and devices, may contribute to the clarification of the happening in the process of investigation.
  • Instruction for a Police Officer in Curaçao Hence, the first crucial aspect of the instruction is to convey to Curacao citizens the idea that the police protect the fundamental rights and freedoms of the individual, especially human life, preventing and solving crimes, […]
  • History of Police Brutality: The Murder of George Floyd Police officers strive to maintain order and ensure adherence to the laws of the state. The standards observed the right to democracy and addressed the need for representation.
  • Researching of Police Shift Work The video by The Center for Evidence-Based Crime Policy offers the study results regarding the influence of 8-, 10-, and 12-hour shifts on police officers.
  • Police Technology Risks Regarding Personal Privacy Nevertheless, some of the technologies used by police and other agencies have raised concerns of the public over the threat to citizens’ rights and freedoms.
  • Agency Interaction and Police Corruption One of the officers told me that I do not need to pay for my food at this restaurant because the owners give it free to the police officers.
  • Public Concern on Police Service’s Poor Morale To show the City Council that this is a problem, the study set up should defeat the null hypothesis that the negative job satisfaction of police in the city council has no effect on job […]
  • High-Speed Police Pursuits & Restrictions in the US The research methodology proposed in the paper aims to evaluate the effectiveness of the restrictive policies applied to police pursuits. How did the numbers of police pursuits change in correlation with the implemented policies?
  • In-House Communications Training for Police Officers Following the onset of the demonstrations related to George Floyd’s incident, the Dallas Police Department released a report that its officers struggled to communicate with the public and act as a unified force.
  • Data-Based Analysis Approach in Preventing Crime at Dallas Police Department The main objective of the proposed approach, in contrast, is to enhance the effectiveness of the analysis and research functions within the Intelligence Led Policing Division. It would allow to change the existing system of […]
  • Replacing the Police Chief: Spanning’s Recruitment Plan Thirdly, due to the political and non-reforming nature of some of the council members, Spanning had another advantage of performing proper background vetting and presentation of the appointee to the council.
  • The Police in the 2005 Urban Uprising in Toledo The 2005 Toledo Riot is an event that fulfilled the seven attributes of modern city rebellions while at the same time painting a true image of race relations, inequality, and crime in the United States. […]
  • Friendship Police Department Organizational Change The one that is going to challenge the efforts, which will be aimed at rectifying the situation, is the lack of trust that the employees have for the new leader who they expect to become […]
  • Body-Worn Cameras Against Police Brutality in New York There is often a legal foundation to such a privileged position; the laws control the oppressed class and mitigate threats to the power of the ruling class.
  • Criticism of the Police Recruitment Method This paper will criticise the police recruitment process and the criteria used in the selection of police officers, particularly the use of background investigation to determine a participant’s integrity and personality testing using psychological tests, […]
  • Police Activities and Lessons Learned From the Attacks Thus, the research aims to discuss and analyze the police reaction to the accident and the effectiveness of the realized operations as well as the importance of the lessons learnt for the further development of […]
  • Professional Development of Police Officers: Grant Proposal and Presentation Therefore, the department needs to train its officers to help them analyze what causes of violence in the area. Therefore, the department will train some of its officers to help them rehabilitate juvenile offenders in […]
  • Police Corruption, Misconduct and Brutality: When a Good-Cop-Bad-Cop Routine Goes Wrong The given cases show that, sadly enough, power abuse among the members of the police department is still an issue, and it is probably going to be as long as the means to coordinate the […]
  • Conflicts of Police Officers With the Members of the Minority Groups This question is discussed by a lot of researchers according to a variety of social aspects such as the relations of majority and minority groups, the rate of crimes according to the racial characteristic, the […]
  • Impacts of Terrorism on Police Mission in the U.S. The incidence of September 11 2001 has remarkably transformed the police force in the U.S. There is an increase in the level of monitoring of international travels and boundaries by the police force.
  • Law Enforcement: Police Misconduct and Police Violence The article further points out the need to have better guidelines to govern the police on the use of Tasers. This has led to the loosening of the bond between the police and society.
  • Burglary Under Greenfield Police Department Investigation The principal in particular can provide the record of the students who are usually absent from the school at the time the burglaries occur.
  • Police Action in Times of Public Crisis At other times, the police will tend to go against the law and do things, which are not acceptable, not only by the law of the country but also to the social ethics of citizens.
  • “Understanding Police Use of Force” by Klahm, C & Tillyer, R. To effectively bring out the correlates of police use of force and the varied reaction this is likely to amass from the general public, the writers of this article have borrowed from a number of […]
  • The Police Mission, Operational Strategies, Styles of Policing Today Besides enforcing the order, the mission of policing is to investigate activities suspected as criminal and refer the outcome to the court of law.
  • Police Performance and Measurement The diverse array of citizens requires police to be constantly trained on how to handle the individuals in the society. Lastly, the unclear mandate of the police has been an impediment to the work done […]
  • Cops Count, Police Matter: Of Tactics and Strategy In ensuring the police play an active role in crime control, the authors take note of the flawed argument suggesting that acts of crime are caused by poverty, the economy, demographics, racism and social injustice, […]
  • Intimate Partner Violence Against Police Officers The main goal is to make it known that the problem is extreme in the rural areas and urge the law enforcement agencies to utilize the existing law to solve the problem.
  • Racial Profiling by Police: Effects and Possible Remedies When the police engage in racial profiling mistrust between the public and the police arises. The causes of such mistrust may be due to poor communication between law enforcement individuals and community members due to […]
  • Discretion of Police in Traffic Stops The police should then have called the parents to inform them of the incident and charge the boy for disobeying the law.
  • Ethical Decision-Making Among Police Officers It is the success of the institution in protecting the law that must be the highest motivation for a police officer to regulate his actions.
  • Behavior of a Police Officer Within an Ethical Dilemma First and foremost, one should note that one of the most typical ethical concerns in the relevant field is the cases of discrimination on the ground of the national origin.
  • Ethical Observations: Sexual Misconduct of Police The first issue to pay attention to is the sexual misconduct involving the police officer and the crime victim. Two internal investigations were initiated to determine whether the sexual misconduct was observed in relation to […]
  • Police Recruiting and Hiring in Jurkanin’s Article He likens police work to sports because it requires officers to be highly dedicated to their duties. Police officers need to acquire advanced skills to help them deal with different crimes that happen in areas […]
  • Key Issues That Influence Police Behavior The role of the police in the society is central when it comes to ensuring law and order. The policing task is the most prominent manifestation of the government and is easily recognizable by members […]
  • Domestic Violence Factors Among Police Officers The objective of this research is to establish the level of domestic violence among police officers and relative the behavior to stress, divorce, police subculture, and child mistreatment.
  • Evaluating Productivity Metrics: Police Effectiveness Overall, the use of multiple criteria is partly based on the premise that police officers should be empowered by the administrators of law-enforcement agencies. This is one of the details that should be singled out.
  • Police Effectiveness Analysis At that, effectiveness is the ability to achieve the goal set whereas efficiency is the ability to accomplish certain tasks in the shortest time and with the use of minimum effort, funds, and so on.
  • Discipline of Police Force Affects Trust in Public All the police personnel have the right of legitimate use of force when carrying out their duty of enforcing the law.
  • The 1919 Boston Police Strike In August 1919, the Boston police strike started when the police service attempted to seek unionization in the American Federation of Labor. Administratively, the structure of the police force also contributed to the grievances of […]
  • Instances That May Result to Police Liability One common thing, however, is that in all the countries of the world, the body that concerns itself with the responsibility of enforcing the governing laws is the police.
  • Police, Justice and Law: Knights in Shining Armor Therefore, the legitimacy of the comparison of police to warriors depends on the concept that the person making the comparison has of a warrior.
  • Dallas Police Department: Training Techniques Changes The author of this paper identifies the problem to be a lack of proper training and the use of outdated modes of instruction.
  • Police Suicide: Causes, Prevention, Impacts As much as the media and the general population assume police officers are less susceptible to stress and depression due to long exposure to the life stressors, research indicates otherwise.
  • The Police Operation and Entrapment: A Case Stude After Bob took the bomb to Carl’s house and placed it on Carl’s automobile, the police had all the evidence they needed that Bob was attempting to murder Carl. Here, the police observed Bob strapping […]
  • Excessive Force and Brutality in Police There are several policies and precedence cases that guide the concept of the use of force in the police force. To avoid such cases in the future, there should be new policies that guide the […]
  • Los Angeles Police Department’s Organizational Climate Bureaucracies and red tapes, the nature of leadership and generally the organization culture are among the key elements that determine the organizational climate.
  • Internal Control Factors Used by Police Departments There has been influencing by the government on police operations and this has weakened the independence of the department in its attempts at internal controls.
  • Police Approach of Security Depends on Skin Color and the Accent of the Tongue The consequences of this trend by the police are highlighted by the paper just as much as statistics that indicate the presence of discrimination by the police.
  • Portland Police Community Officer Core Obligations A police officer is expected to monitor violations of the law and regulations in the respective area of jurisdiction. In cases of casualties for example in an accident scene a police officer is expected to […]
  • Police Accountability Analysis The policing strategies are supposed to agree with the expectations of the society in order to make both the police work effective as well as to enhance the relationship between the police and the community.
  • Criminal Violations Committed By Police/Correction Any show of disrespect for police authority is a matter of great concern, and as such, the person responsible is likely to be punished by arrest or use of force.
  • The Use of Discretion in Police Work This is a reasonable discretion and the police officer is free to make any decision. In such a situation, a police officer is free to make any of the two decisions.
  • Pros and Cons of Being a Police Officer: Police Oficers’ Interviews To investigate the Pros and Cons of this profession aims, and attitudes of police officers I conducted the interview with two police officers from different departments and of different ages.
  • Police Role Description in the Media Secondly, the police’s role as crime fighters is depicted by the arrest of the teenagers as well as the collection of the evidence.
  • Concepts of Police Ethics and Deviance Corruption is one of the most common police deviant behaviors, a fact that has tainted the image of the police in society.
  • Police and Racial and Ethnic Minorities The view is that profiling is not only limited to what the police are engaged in towards the blacks but that the whole prosecutorial system is compromised.
  • Police Search and Law Procedure Although they fled from the place, the police could reach them with the help of the evidence. According to the Fourth Amendment, the authority should have a warrant if they have to arrest a person […]
  • Desdemona and Vince: Legal Issues in Police Conduct The legal issues that can be mentioned in the case of Desdemona and Vince include the aspects of the whole procedure of arrest as well as the process of questioning.
  • Police and Policing – Change in Police Role The new implementation of the act was encountered by public fears as the members of the public were not comfortable with the militaries that were deployed in mater to do with domestic affairs, as they […]
  • The Issues of Police Violence Analysis Social skills and the norms of society are learned in this process, allowing children to better develop in the future. Because of their inability to concentrate or catch up with others in terms of basic […]
  • Trends in Police Recorded Crime in Northern Ireland Michael O’Sullivan notes, “according to the PSNI, the number of violent crimes has doubled in the past year, and the number of cases of violence without injuries has increased by 80%”.
  • The Legality of the Use of Force by the Police Often, the protection of the rights of the majority is carried out through the use of physical force against a perpetrator.
  • The Role of Fusion Centers in Affecting the Work of Police Therefore, the focus of modern experts and researchers is on promoting the change in police agencies and improving the collaboration with fusion centers to facilitate law enforcement procedures.
  • San Diego Police Officers Asscociation When the City makes ordinances that affect the wages and welfare of the police officers in the City, it is the responsibility of the Association to appeal and demonstrate that employees’ contractual rights were infringed.
  • Police Brutality: Social Issue This paper explores the issue of police brutality and seeks to shed light on the perceptions of the public, especially the black minority.
  • Victims’ Assistance: Maryland Police Departments Websites Analysis The Baltimore Police Department is one of the largest municipal police forces in the US, and its website is the most user-friendly and visually appealing out of the three websites analyzed.
  • Human Rights Violations by Police: Accountable in Discharging Their Duties Corey in his study and reflection on two mass exonerations, that is, the Rampart and Tulia exonerations, identified police misconduct, and in particular perjury as the primary cause for wrongful convictions.
  • Risk Management in Police Force Institutions The harm could be due to loss of confidence in the department by the public due to the harassment or physical injury that can lead to loss of finances when challenged in a court of […]
  • Gender and Perception of Police Work The group that is often subject to less satisfaction is of extreme importance to the various persons interested in the study of community satisfaction with the police.
  • Handling the Case of Police Officer Tom Delany He gets to know the name of a suspect, Reggie, and hears the story that he tells According to Reggie, he acted in self-defense after the police officer, a narcotics detective, demanded to pay him […]
  • Police Corruption in “The Detonator” by Wesley Snipes Judging by the content of high-level corruption within the police as exhibited in the movies, it is only reasonable to say that police have deviated from their traditional role of being the custodians of social […]
  • Cross-Cultural Contact by Police and Civilians Stereotype is a preconceived ideas and characteristics attributed to a certain group of members of a particular class or a sect, and the term is used mostly with negative connotations when referring to oversimplified, exaggerated […]
  • Abu Dhabi Police Department’s Total Quality Management The central aspects to be covered are considered to be the following: ethics, integrity, training, teamwork, trust, recognition, leadership, and communication; the analysis discloses the depth of management structure and environment developed within Abu Dhabi […]
  • The Use of Force by the Police: A Perspective This essay examines the dynamics of use of force by the Police in Law Enforcement in the United States and the corrective measures taken to reduce such use.
  • Police Officer Job Analysis This paper analyzes industrial/organizational psychology and its role in employees’ selection and development, providing an analysis of the scientific selection of the employees, based on the analysis of the position of a police officer.
  • Police Psychologist Interpretation Police psychologists create, maintain, handle, circulate, retain, store and dispose of records as and when professionally required, with the consent of the client adhering to the appropriate terms and conditions.
  • Problems Facing Police Departments in Recruiting and Retention
  • Top Court Rules Against Police in Search Case
  • Police Officer Pushed a Cyclist: Media Coverage
  • Organizational Structure in American Police Analysis
  • Stress of Police Officers and How They Cope With It
  • Police Functions: Forensic Science and Fingerprinting
  • Police Interrogation: Legal Issues and Limitations
  • Police Investigative Questioning and Techniques
  • The Job of Police Detective
  • Training Theories for New Police Recruits Review
  • Waterloo Regional Police’s Centralised Information System
  • Police Liability Issues and High Speed Pursuits
  • Policing: CompStat and San Diego Police Department
  • The New York Police Department’s Policing Style
  • Strategies of Police Organization
  • Police Reform in Russia: Evaluation of Police Corruption
  • Police Decision Making Analysis
  • The New York City Police Department and Society
  • Police Departments and Accreditation
  • Small Police Departments’ Organizational Analysis
  • Social Psychology: Police Brutality
  • Technology Influences on Police Brutality
  • Police Actions in “44 Minutes: The North Hollywood Shoot-Out”
  • Police Misconduct and Addressing Recommendations
  • False Confessions and Unethical Police Behavior
  • Dubai Police and Cooperation With Media
  • Police Stereotyping in a Multicultural Society
  • Manners of Death in Police
  • Police Brutality: Dissoi Logoi Argumentation
  • Designing a Recruitment Program for the WA Police
  • Criminal Law: Racial Profiling by Police
  • The New World of Police Accountability
  • High-Speed Police Car Chases: A Deadly Pursuit
  • How Can Police Develop Trust Among the People?
  • Police Attitudes Toward Drugs and Drug Enforcement
  • Criminal Justice Administration and Police Functions
  • Police Psychologist’s Role in Homicide Investigation
  • Police Corruption and Citizen’s Ethical Dilemma
  • Police Force in Interactions With Mentally Ill
  • Abu Dhabi Police Self-Assessment
  • Police Accountability and Public Information Access
  • Police Managing the Ambiguities of Gifts
  • Dubai Police Applying Total Quality Management
  • Gratuities for Police and Professional Ethics
  • Police Accountability and Community Policing
  • The Abu Dhabi Police Corporate Sustainability
  • Police Officer’s Must-Have Characteristics
  • Police Departments: Defective Areas and Solutions
  • Interrogation Techniques Used by the Police
  • Decision-Making Information System for Police Department
  • Predictors of Job Satisfaction Among Police Officers
  • Baltimore Maryland Police Department
  • Ending Police Misconduct: Cleveland Police Department
  • The Organizational Reasons Police Departments Don’t Change
  • Police Misconduct and Civil Forfeiture Law
  • Police Officer’s Power Abuse and Plain View Doctrine
  • Local Police Role in Homeland Security
  • Police Culture in “The Critical Criminology Companion”
  • The Dubai City’s Governance and Economy
  • Corrupt Practices of the Police and Correctional Systems
  • Police Stress Within Law Enforcement
  • South African Police Service vs. Solidarity obo Barnard
  • Organizational Culture in Police Department
  • Change Management Steps in Police Organizations
  • Police Officers’ White Lie in Criminal Investigation
  • American Police Officers’ Ethics and Professionalism
  • Dubai Police and Expo 2020 Security Strategies
  • Blue Wall of Silence in Police Subculture
  • Police Issues and Practices Discussion
  • Police Officers’ Morale and Resources Availability
  • Police ‘Shooter Bias’ Against African-Americans
  • Police Ethics and Misconduct
  • The English Influence on Modern Police
  • Police Technology: Development and Progress
  • Management and Philosophy for Police Departments
  • Dubai Police Force Organizational Culture
  • Police Violence as a Mutual Problem
  • Abu Dhabi Police GHQ Management and Leadership
  • Concept of Police Detective Job
  • Knowledge Sharing in the Dubai Police Force
  • Is Dubai Police Force a World Class Organization?
  • Police Officer Job Requirements and Hiring Process
  • Employees Management in the Police Department
  • Corruption and Accountability of Police Work
  • Police Supervisors’ Influence on Law Enforcement Changes
  • The Police Agency’ Conflict Management
  • Police Development Foundations and Functions
  • Police and Corrections Officers’ Stress – Psychology
  • American Police Community Relations
  • Communication and Ethical Issues in Police
  • Police Poor Adherence to Established Codes of Conduct
  • Abu Dhabi Police Organizational Change
  • San Diego Police Department
  • Social Issues: Police Protection of the Ku Klux Klan
  • Police Abuse and Laws Against It
  • Police Brutality in the USA
  • The Abu Dhabi Police
  • Organization of Abu Dhabi Police
  • Police Suicide and Preventive Programs
  • Public Administration Issue: Police Brutality
  • Final Program Evaluation: Increasing Police Numbers to Reduce Juvenile Crime in the UAE
  • Increase Police Numbers to Reduce UAE’s Juvenile Crime Rate
  • Police Service Transformation: A Critical Evaluation of Implementing Transformational Leadership in the Homicide Division
  • The Royal Oman Police’ Traffic Safety
  • Use of Social Media in The Police Force in Queensland
  • Police Trauma: Paying the Ultimate Price to Protect and Serve
  • New Technological Advances Within the Police Department
  • The Decision-Making Process of the Police Service
  • National Security Policies That Intersect/Conflict With Local Police Power
  • Community Policing and Police Psychology
  • The Role of Public Police in United States
  • History of Police Psychology
  • Police Misconduct
  • Police Misconduct: What Can Be Done?
  • Organization Behavior: Steelhead Police Department
  • Management of Police Department
  • School Bullying: Causes and Police Prevention
  • Police-Youth Relations/Community Policing and Young Offenders
  • Police-Youth Relations and Community Policing
  • Virtual Police Department
  • Contrast the Different Levels of Police Operations and Their Unique Operations
  • Water Regional Police Services Project Implementation
  • Police Response to the Ningbo Protest: Justified or Inappropriate?
  • Police Minority Killings
  • Excessive Force by the Police
  • Corruption in Law Enforcement
  • Police in Law Enforcement Misconduct
  • Police Subculture: Culture’s Factors and Performance
  • Greenfield Police Department’s Hiring Process
  • DNA Definition and Its Use by the US Police
  • How Police Conduct Towards Women of Color?
  • Why Did the Police in 1888 Never Catch Jack the Ripper?
  • How Police Access Data Obtain Criminal Information?
  • How Female Police Officers Help Decease Police Violence?
  • How Local Police Departments Handling Terrorism?
  • How Can Police On-Body Cameras Be Useful?
  • How Can the Police Secure Public Legitimacy?
  • How Have the Police Departments Evolved Over the Last Thirty Years?
  • Why Racism Among the Police Not Punished?
  • How Can Technology Help Police and Government Officials Solve Crime?
  • Why Police Prejudice Against Minorities?
  • Why Do the Police Don’t Care About Computer Crime?
  • How Could the Ethical Management of Health Data in the Medical Field Inform Police Use of DNA?
  • How Police Effectively Cope With Stress Stemming From Work?
  • Why Should All Police Officers Carry Tasers?
  • How Are Computer Forensics Used in Police Investigations?
  • Why Police Officers Engage in Corruption?
  • Who Invented the Police Force?
  • How Police Agencies Handle the Process of Interrogation?
  • What Is Police Doing About Domestic Violence?
  • How Does Media Affect the Public’s Perception of Police?
  • How Might Police Officers Be Held Criminally Liable for Their Misconduct?
  • What Are the Staff Positions in a Typical Police Department
  • Are Offender Profiles Useful in Police Investigations?
  • Why Do Police Officers Perceive Themselves as True Outsiders?
  • What Are the Major Functions of the Police?
  • How the Police Overstep Their Mandate When Searching People?
  • How Police Have Used Crime Linkage?
  • When Does Police Discretion Cross Boundaries?
  • Why Are Police Called Bobbies?
  • Black Lives Matter Topics
  • Criminal Procedure Titles
  • DNA Essay Ideas
  • Gun Control Titles
  • Organized Crime Titles
  • Government Regulation Titles
  • Prison Paper Topics
  • Social Justice Essay Ideas
  • Chicago (A-D)
  • Chicago (N-B)

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243 Police Research Topics + Examples

If you’re a criminal justice student, you might want to talk about or write a paper on the work of police officers and the hot issues in policing. Luckily, StudyCorgi has compiled an extensive list of police topics for you! On this page, you’ll find law enforcement essay topics, as well as questions and ideas for presentations, research papers, debates, and many more! Outstanding police essay examples are also waiting for you below!

🏆 Best Police Topics to Write About

✍️ police essay topics for college, 👍 good police research topics & essay examples, 📌 easy police essay topics, 🎓 most interesting law enforcement topics, 💡 simple law enforcement research topics, ❓ research questions about police, 🔎 law enforcement research paper topics, 🚔 controversial policing topics.

  • Why I Want to Be a Police Officer
  • What Is the Police Authority?
  • Police Recruitment and Training
  • Conflict and Power: Police and Community Collaboration
  • Enhancing Police Training Program Proposal
  • A Police Officer’s Education and Duties
  • Police Professionalism and Ethics of Policing
  • Police Officers Treatment Towards Civilians Based on Social Class Several investigations proved the various policemen’s performances towards civilians of a different social class.
  • Laptop Computers in Police Cars: Benefits & Drawbacks This paper will investigate these problems and their prevalence with respect to the utilization of laptops in police vehicles.
  • Forensic Psychology for Police Recruitment and Screening The quest for competitive and effective police officers led to the introduction of some measures to help in the recruitment of individuals.
  • Essay on Police Brutality in the United States Police officers are allowed to use “non-negotiable coercive force” to maintain public order and control the behavior of citizens.
  • Improving Police Morale and Community Communication This paper’s purpose is to examine the police department on street patrol, and also to reveal the issue of mass dismissal of police officers.
  • Police Corruption: Understanding and Preventing Police corruption remains one of the leading challenges, affecting law enforcement agencies in the United States and around the world.
  • Sociological Positivism Theory in Police Practice Sociological positivism is primarily concerned with how specific social conditions in a person’s experience might contribute to an increased proclivity for crime.
  • How Police Supervisory Styles Influence Patrol Officer Behavior The field supervisor, also identified as the patrol sergeant, directly oversees officers’ conduct, performance, appearance, and tactical operations assigned under their command.
  • Public Role and Control of Police Citizens of democratic states have a right to exert control over the police. This claim is based on the fact that police are a part of the government.
  • Police Patrol Effectiveness Research Assessment The paper recaps debates that have arisen on the police patrol effectiveness in crime prevention, by investigating research on the said issue.
  • Textual Analysis of the Song “Police” by SuprĂŞme Ntm The purpose of this paper is to analyze the song “Police” written and performed by a French hip-hop band SuprĂŞme NTM. It is dedicated to the problem of police brutality, racism.
  • Organization Effectiveness of a Police Department The organization is a core and framework of effective performance. The organization allows the police department to ensure effective management and organization of human resources.
  • “The Black Officer Who Detained George Floyd Had Pledged To Fix the Police”: A Story of Alex Kueng “The Black Officer Who Detained George Floyd Had Pledged to Fix the Police” article allows concluding that the police system cannot be reformed from within.
  • “Police Solve Just 2% of All Major Crimes” by S. Baughman Baughman’s article is about the insufficiency of the work that the police do to solve severe crimes since only 2% of cases result in a conviction.
  • The Phenomenon of “Defunding the Police” The work Defunding the Police aims to explore the meaning of “defunding the police” and arguments and counterarguments surrounding this initiative.
  • Police Brutality in the United States The existence of systemic racial bias in law enforcement leads to unequal treatment and a higher likelihood of police brutality when dealing with people of color.
  • Police Misconduct Against the Black Community Police misconduct has escalated against the Black community and other ethnic groups. Mistreatment by police officers is determined by two significant factors: race and sex.
  • Motivating Police Officers to Serve and Protect The proposal focuses on the idea that Heritage PD could significantly benefit from the use of motivating factors when approaching police officer productivity.
  • Collaborative Organizational Changes in Police The paper states that both Future Search and Open Space techniques are applicable and beneficial in military organizations such as the police.
  • Police Sexual Harassment Suit This paper analyzes the case of the ex-Round Lake Height’s policeman, Hossein Isbitan, who filed a Lawsuit against his boss despite other problem-solving measures at his workplace.
  • Report for the Chief of Police The current report contains the definition and description of the Uniform Crime Report, the data-gathering strategy used for the analysis and its rationale, and crime trends.
  • Police Response to High Speed/Hot Pursuits Police officers have the responsibility of defending the lives of citizens by maintaining law and order, however, in attempts to avoid being arrested.
  • The Issue of Police Injustice in the United States In March 2020, a tragic event led to the death of a black emergency medical technician, B. Taylor. According to descriptions, police were investigating a drug case and suspected her.
  • Police Liability Issue and Consequences of Illegal Actions The issue of the liability of police officers and their degree of responsibility for certain actions is the topic that is discussed in the media periodically and causes a great public response.
  • Police Service Transformation: Research Onion The research onion depicts the research strategies and approaches that will be employed in this study. They are discussed in more detail in this paper.
  • Police Detective Career: Information and Issues The police detective career is very dynamic and demanding, especially the sections of criminal investigations such as homicide and theft.
  • Dealing with Stress in Police Training Police officers are trained to handle stressful situations in different ways, and the approach used in their training has been a topic of debate in the recent past.
  • Mental Health and Well-Being of Canadian Police Officers The paper presents the problem of mental health in Canadian police officers. Even before the pandemic, stress and anxiety were common among law enforcement officers.
  • The Six Virtual Police Department The six departmental units include the Chief of Police, Special Operations Division, Patrols, Investigations Division, Civilian Unit, and Support Service Division.
  • Community Policing: Police Officers’ Role Orientations Community policing has shown to have multiple benefits for both local citizens and law enforcement in the activities to both prevent or respond to potential threats or disruptions.
  • Police Officers’ Wellness and Mental Health An increasing number of police officers are facing depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, substance abuse, and even suicide.
  • Police Accountability and Reform The paper states that the police are experiencing a crisis that has made them under scrutiny and pressure from the public to make reforms.
  • An Inside View of Police Officers’ Experience with Domestic Violence “An Inside View of Police Officers’ Experience with Domestic Violence” is an article authored by Horwitz et al., published in 2011.
  • Police Officer Characteristics and Evaluation Most people would prefer their police officers to be capable of making decisions and taking action, especially in tense situations where swift choices are necessary.
  • The Police Sexual Harassment: Case Study This paper reviews a case involving sexual assault by a police officer with the view to discussing its cause, results, and what could have been done to prevent the wrongdoing.
  • Western Australia Police Communications Centre’s Change The WA Police Communications Centre is a vital organ of the regions police force. This essay seeks to analyze the challenges that affect the centre.
  • Police Officers: Qualifications and Responsibilities The police are in charge of upholding law and order, protecting the public, and stopping, spotting and looking into illegal activity, making it a dynamic occupation.
  • The Use of Force in Police: Theoretical Analysis This discussion evaluates force standards and police leadership responsibilities through the prism of deindividuation and contagion.
  • The Impact of Technology on the Police Patrol The use of complex technological systems by police officers to ensure the safety of citizens is a vital step in the development of the infrastructure of security and public order.
  • Police Administration and Key Effectiveness Factors When evaluating the impact of a police force, the best indicator would be to examine repetitive police action in preventing the same types of crimes.
  • Policing From Above: Drone Use by the Police Drones are among the few technologies that law enforcement agencies could use to alleviate many of the challenges they face in their ordinary duties.
  • How Does ‘Police Culture’ Influence Police Practice? Police culture is influenced by a number of social and political factors which determine its main functions and internal structure.
  • Mentoring Programs in Police Departments The given proposal revolves around a one-on-one mentoring program that can be used by police departments to improve officers’ competence.
  • Courtelaney Pass Police Department: Potential Problem Solutions There are four essential problems in the Courtelaney Pass police department: racial tensions, questionable investigative and enforcement practices, poor community reporting, and the lack of diversity.
  • The Wokefield Police Department’s Work in Memphis The Wokefield police department has a law enforcement mandate in Memphis. The region has experienced an upsurge in juvenile offenders, especially in the carjacking.
  • Observation of Protest Against Police Brutality The event was a protest against police brutality in downtown City Hall. The event’s focal point was the ongoing issue of police brutality against Black people in the country.
  • The Houston Police Department’s Services and Challenges The Houston Police Department offers critical services in Texas and assures the people of peace and stability. The police department, however, faces several challenges.
  • A Police Failure in the Uvalde Mass Shooting The mass shooting in Uvalde is a prime example of how neglect of proper policing guidelines and management strategies can cause dire results for the local community.
  • The Police Department’s Ethical Challenges Policemen should not allow immoral behavior to jeopardize their responsibilities. Officers must safeguard their relationships with the local people who depend on them.
  • Police Brutality and Racial Bias Considering the long history of slavery, several generations have inherited racial prejudice towards Afro-American people, who have become the subject of abuse in many fields.
  • Police Management in Killeen, Texas Killeen police station workforce is made up of three different generations, including millennials, boomers, and generation X.
  • Effect of Brooklyn Nine-Nine Show on Perception of Police By connecting eight seasons to various crimes, Brooklyn Nine-Nine positions the police station as an inclusive workplace that saves people’s lives and promotes dedicated workers.
  • Police Brutality During COVID-19 Pandemic In the United States, there has been a perceived and observed police injustice towards minority communities, especially Blacks.
  • Interactions of Local Police and Homeland Security Officials The purpose of this paper is to compare the interactions of the two agencies in lawkeeping and order by examining their structural responsibilities as captured in the state laws.
  • Cultural Influences on Police Decision-Making The paper identifies cultural influences on police decision-making. There has been a deterioration in trust between the police and some social groups.
  • The Royal Canadian Mounted Police Officers The Royal Canadian Mounted Police is the national police force of Canada. They are responsible for policing in provinces, local communities, municipalities, and airports.
  • Servant Leadership in a Police Organization The paper studies servant leadership, explicitly comparing and contrasting its traits with the major traits of a leader as outlined in the Good-to-Great book series.
  • The Dallas Police Department Police Academy and Training Curriculum The paper states that the future of diversity hiring in law enforcement will be driven strongly by organizational structure and leadership going forward.
  • Aspects of Police Culture and Diversity This paper discusses the topic of police culture and diversity. In the American law enforcement system, some police departments do not appreciate diversity.
  • The Secret Police in East Germany The Secret Police in East Germany, also known as the Stasi, was an organization established by military forces and ministers to exercise total control over the population.
  • The Los Angeles Police Department’s Overview The Los Angeles Police Department is headed by the board of police commissioners, which comprises a five-member team appointed to oversee the department’s operation.
  • Police Misconduct: New Rochelle Police Officer Case Study Officer Michael Vaccaro was driven by the desire to punish the criminal Malik Fogg; however, he used too much force.
  • Police Officers’ Excessive Use of Force Although law enforcement officers are allowed to use lethal force, they should exercise that authority only when the suspect possess threat of harming others physically.
  • Discussion Misuse of Lies in the Police The paper discusses situations where police officers may misuse lying when dealing with mentally ill people or people in crisis.
  • The Police in the Modern World The police in the modern world is a body endowed with certain powers and responsibilities. Its mission is to enforce the law, prevent crime, and ensure public safety.
  • The San Diego Police Department’s History and Work This work describes the work of the San Diego Police Department, its brief history, and statistics about working there.
  • Restructuring of Los Angeles Police Department Fiscal Budget The foundation of the paper is a breakdown of the Los Angeles Police Department budget, a proposal to reduce the budget and its effects.
  • Police Standards Should Be Modified There is a certain need for standards modification in the police that should be performed immediately. A particular amount of inequality exists in the departments of the police.
  • The Legality of the Scope of a Police Search The paper discusses the two court cases which demonstrate that the legality of the scope of a police search is a controversial legal question.
  • Police Killing Black People in a Pandemic Police violence as a network of brutal measures is sponsored by the government that gives the police officers permission to treat black people with disdain.
  • The History of Relationships Between Police and African Americans The paper describes the necessity to spread the knowledge of racism’s history and discuss it to ensure the next generations’ tolerance.
  • Police Civil Liability in the Light of Monroe v. Pape People want to know that in trouble, such as, for instance, a robbery or car theft, police will come to their aid and guarantee protection.
  • Police Use-of-Force in Graham v. Connor & Tennessee v. Garner Cases A state police officer shot Garner to death as he fled the crime scene. Even though Garner was unarmed, the police officer felt he had the right to shoot him to prevent his escape.
  • Police Officer With a Juvenile Police officers faced with a juvenile under arrest makes their decisions based on the balance of legal and situational factors relevant to the case.
  • Researching and Analysis of Police Abuse The analysis of high-profile cases of police abuse allows assuming that there would not have been fatal outcomes if the officers had respected the basic rights of their victims.
  • Police Misconduct in Criminal Justice Police misconduct is one of the issues involved in criminal justice, and there are various aspects and events entailing unconstitutional practices in law enforcement.
  • The Influence of Police Bias on Disparity in Juvenile Crime: Methodology The issue of racial disparity in the criminal justice system remains a topical one. 64% of the charged youth are people of color.
  • Benefits and Challenges of Using Drones for the Police Drones are becoming a state-of-the-art trend in policing; however, their implementation may face some difficulties regarding privacy and information security.
  • Internal Problems of Mississippiville’s Police Chief Hiring Process Mississippiville is in a difficult situation, including a tense social environment, in part caused by the ineffective management of the previous chief of police.
  • The Civil Rights Movement: Minorities vs. Police An opposition between minorities and police appears to be a problem that started during the Civil Rights Movement and continues to modern days.
  • Race and Police Brutality in American History Racism and police violence since the time of colonization has had intense effects on Black and Indigenous communities.
  • Factors That Justify the Use of Deadly Force by Police Police shootings and killings of unarmed civilians arguably qualify as violations of the use-of-force standards that warrant the arrest and conviction of the perpetrators.
  • Police Use of Force and Its Limits The paper aims to define what it means to be a police officer, discuss the legal use of nondeadly and deadly force, and determine the limits placed on police power.
  • Police Brutality: The Killing of Daunte Wright Police brutality is defined as the use of unjustified or excessive force by the police, usually against citizens. It refers to the violation of human rights by the police.
  • US Police Brutality and Human Resources Connection Police brutality is one of the most pressing crisis problems in the United States, it requires additional research and immediate solutions.
  • Police Discretion: Criminal Justice While in the academy and for their period of training, police are particularly skilled on how to handle various situations that they will come across.
  • Leadership in the Los Angeles Police Department LAPD continues to develop and implement new and innovative programs in which its officers are trained to become good leaders.
  • Discussion of Police Misconduct The paper discusses criminal justice system has developed various approaches that guarantee that police can be held accountable for their misconduct.
  • Police Brutality on African Americans Police brutality against African Americans has been on the rise even after several constitutional and legal reforms made by the country to control it.
  • Police Brutality Toward Black Community The black community needs help since they suffer due to police brutality, receive various kinds of injuries, and experience traumas.
  • Analysis of Decision-Making Processes in Boston Police Department The paper covers the role of police in homeland and application of these systems to the Boston Police Department.
  • “Learn About Being a Police Officer” by Kane Being a police officer is one of the most challenging professions because it requires dedication, determination, and sacrifice.
  • Measuring Crime: Lynnfield’s Local Police Force Stop & Search Data The study aims to assess any obvious trends that may be associated with disproportionate and/or discriminatory exercise of ‘stop and search’ policy by law enforcement agencies.
  • The Use of Wiretapping in Police Technology The report discusses Chapter 14 of the book “Police Technology” by Raymond E. Foster. Dr. Foster has written extensively on technical tools and gadgets for law enforcement.
  • Police Selection Process: Metropolitan and New York Police Departments The Metropolitan Police Department and the New York Police Department selection process evaluates knowledge, abilities, skills, character and traits.
  • The Savannah-Chatham Metropolitan Police Department: Most Pressing Issues This report outlines the main problematic issue with the functioning of the Savannah-Chatham Metropolitan Police Department.
  • Police Reforms Implementation: The Los Angeles Police Department 83% of the LA residents vouching for the good job of the police especially because the LAPD has desisted from using serious force since 2004.
  • Ending Racial Bias and Bureaucracy Within Police Police officials may engage in bureaucratic or administrative corruption for private gain, which facilitates distrust in the efforts of law enforcement.
  • Profiling Procedures in the Los Angeles Police Department The law enforcers and most commonly the police, have profiling procedures that separate certain groups of people from the majority.
  • Police Shooting and Issue of Discrimination The issue of discrimination and police shootings can be resolved by observing both officers and citizens – collecting information by cameras can serve as objective material.
  • Police Force Diversifying Strategies The presence of women officers and officers of color may act as a complementary stimulus, as they have an approach that could be more relatable for future personnel.
  • Human Sex Trafficking and Police Technology: An Issue of the Past or Present? The paper provides an introduction that describes human sex trafficking before taking a specific approach of understanding the vice in Houston, Texas.
  • “How to Fix America’s Police” by Stoughton The authors of the article suggest that the US police’s current situation could be fixed in two ways: either through state intervention or through local one.
  • Police Brutality Against African Americans in America The purpose of this article is to describe the different approaches to researching the problem of police brutality against African Americans.
  • Inequalities and Police Brutality Against the Black This paper aims to research racial inequality and hostile police attitudes towards the black population in the United States.
  • Police Brutality Against African Americans The issue being examined refers to the problem of police brutality on African Americans. The mentioned problem is a burning one and is vividly expressed in modern society.
  • The Significance of Police Discretion to the Criminal Justice System This paper is an investigation into the meaning of police discretion. It highlights the benefits of police discretion to the role of the police department.
  • Management Solution Needed for the Metropolitan Police Service The dangers of getting the balance right between security, easy access, and reduction of risk are to be the main focus of the response to the tasks.
  • Organizational Change in Police Departments: A Theory-Based Analysis When examining the case of implementing Compstat systems in police districts the first to consider is the positive appeals of such as system.
  • Interview With Chief of Police Mr. William Evans I had a rare chance of interviewing the Chief of Police for Hinds Community College Mr. William Evans in his office on Wednesday 19 November, 2014 at 5 p.m.
  • Racist Actions of the American Police Force in “The Black and the Blue” by Matthew Horace In the book “The Black and the Blue,” Matthew Horace gives testimony from behind the blue wall of secrecy and paints a society where police molest citizens.
  • Police Brutality and Impunity for Police Violence The overall purpose of this paper is to explore the topic of police brutality and police impunity as it is discussed in modern studies.
  • Police Brutality Against African Americans and Media Portrayal Police brutality toward the African-American population of the United States is an issue that has received nationwide publicity in recent years.
  • Investigation of the Chicago Police Department This paper will analyze some of the critical issues found in the investigation of the Chicago police department by the United States Department of Justice.
  • Police Violence Against African Americans in the USA The statistic shows that the violence from law enforcement officials causes thousands of deaths of black men in the USA.
  • How the Police Use Facial Recognition? Some law enforcement officers, especially in Florida, do not trust the application of technique as a warrant of arrest.
  • Rodney King’s Police Brutality Case: What Went Wrong Rodney’s case remains a historic example of police brutality. The interplay of several factors might have led to the acquittals of the officers in the first trial.
  • Metropolitan Police Service: Identity Management Solution Within the context of Metropolitan Police Service case study, the research underlines the need for such institution to ensure production of a viable management system.
  • Role of Police Agencies in Law Enforcement The police have hardly had any authority to control the most of the white color crimes. In addition, lack of expertise among the police also contributed to this problem.
  • Police Corruption in California The analysis of the information proves that police corruption in California depends on the work and social environment of police officers.
  • Racial Profiling of Minority Groups by the Police in the United States This research paper will address racial profiling of minority groups by the police in the US through the analysis of background, theories, and concepts.
  • Chesterfield County Police Department: Hiring Process This paper will explore the applicable requirements of the Chesterfield County Police Department for the position of an entry-level law enforcement officer.
  • Beyond “Police Brutality”: Racist State Violence and the University of California – Article Review The article highlights the issues with police attitudes toward the application of seemingly extreme measures to non-violent perpetrators.
  • Police Misconduct and the Misuse of Force Police misconduct is a vital concern as it affects the functioning of society and might cause much harm to individuals.
  • About Police Chaplaincy Program The article argues for launching a police chaplain program to connect the community with the police and provide survivors with the emotional and social support they need.
  • Health Safety in the Police Department It is especially important to provide a healthy working environment for workers of a police department, as they need to continue their service even at the time of a health crisis.
  • American Society Police Brutality Causes and Effects Police brutality in America is visible and accompanied by racial discrimination and creates negative consequences for society because it imposes trust issues.
  • Police Brutality: The Rodney King Case The case of Rodney King is a demonstration of police brutality in the United States. This paper will conduct a comprehensive analysis of the incident, explaining it in detail.
  • Sexual Assault Female Victims Avoid Reporting to Police Among the most under-reported crimes in the United States, one of the leading roles is occupied by sexual assault. Sixty-five percent of female victims avoid reporting to police.
  • Evaluating Budget Documents of Police Department The paper will analyze the budget which was presented by the police department indicating both the estimates and the adjusted figures.
  • Professional Ethics: Police Department The science of ethics attempts to give humanity the answers to the existential question of what is moral and what is not.
  • National Association of Police Organizations This paper focuses on the performance of the National Association of Police Organizations, including its purposes and contribution to the United States’ law enforcement community.
  • Forensic Psychology in the Police Subspecialty Forensic psychological officers have crucial roles in the running of the police departments. This is because law enforcement chores are entitled to many challenges.
  • All Police Officers Should Wear a Body Camera This paper suggests that the use of body cameras positively contributes to the reinforcement of procedural justice, as the prevention of unethical behavior and police brutality.
  • Procedural Justice in Contacts with The Police Analysis The paper examines the relational model of authority that indicates the procedural justice role in the public evaluation of and support for the police.
  • Testing Food Service Employees: Policy Assessment Mary Mallon, or Typhoid Mary as she was called, worked as a cook and was reputed to have caused infections of Typhoid fever in 47 people and caused the death of 3.
  • Motivation & Control: The Police Supervisor’s Dilemma It is universally acknowledged that the effectiveness of the work is toughly connected with a consistent organizational structure and subordinate system.
  • Police Supervisor’s Dilemma: Control and Motivation The level of control needed in a police institution is related to the capability of officers to construct an inspiring environment.
  • Community Policing Assignment: A History of Police Work in the Criminal Justice System Community policing led to the introduction of a system where the police officers and members of the community get a closer relationship.
  • Dismal City Police Department: “Do More With Less” The approach of community policing as well as the strategies used and its implementation vary widely depending on the requirements and the reactions of communities.
  • UK Police Are Changing Their Attitude to Racial Issues The increased number of black and Asian police officers influenced positively the way suspects from minority ethnic groups were handled
  • Police Brutality: Analysis of the Problem Police brutality is directed towards racial minorities and poor immigrants who cannot protect their rights in the courtroom and have no money to file a law case against officers.
  • Criminal Justice Ethics: Police Corruption & Drug Sales The growth of police corruption instances involving drug sales is relatively easy to explain. The financial rewards offered by the sales of illegal drugs are enormous.
  • Police or Custodial Brutality in the United States The aspect of police or custodial brutality is the subject matter of the study. This has become a serious problem in the administration of law, order, and human justice in the USA.
  • US Police Challenges Today: Police Discretion Police discretion is essential to the success of an officer and the public. Discretion means judgment, and for law officers, this can be the difference between life and death.
  • Assessing Role of Technology in Police Crime Mapping The role of technology in police operations has become pivotal because it aids our law enforcement agencies to do their tasks easier and less time-consuming.
  • Police Brutality and Mental Health of African Americas The authors hypothesize that the effect of experiencing blackness has a twofold impact on the young African Americans’ mental health
  • America as a Superpower and the World’s Police The international policing role and strategy of the United States during the Cold War has become even more necessary in this period of terrorism and instability.
  • The Report on the Courtelaney Pass Police Department The situational report on the Courtelaney Pass police department presents a number of important issues that should be addressed by the police administration.
  • Addressing the Gulf Coast Police Department Understaffing Despite the best efforts of recruiters, police departments all over the US are understaffed. The present paper analyzes the reasons for GCPD’s problems and offers measures to address these issues.
  • Police Attitudes and Professionalism: Interview The interviewee chosen for this assignment is a 34-year old white married male, currently working as a full-time police officer in the Miami Police Department.
  • New Orleans Police Department’s Ethics and Leadership Police officers or civil servants who fail to meet the prescribed norms of behavior or commit serious indictable offenses can be punished if no other people are involved.
  • Local Police Response to Terrorism The quality of the work carried out by the police to prevent terrorist acts determines the safety of the population.
  • Police Work: Public Expectations and Myths
  • Are African Americans More Harassed by Police?
  • Undercover Police Investigations in Drug-Related Crimes
  • Age Influence on the Support for Police Action
  • Dallas Tragic Events: The Shooting of Police Officers by a Perpetrator
  • Police Misconduct and Its Affecting Factors
  • Driving and Police Stop in Dramatic Interpretation
  • Police Administrators and Their Ethical Responsibility
  • Police Brutality Increasing: Support for Black Males
  • Police Injustice Towards African-Americans
  • Police Unions’ Development in the US
  • Royal Canadian Mounted Police Sexual Harassment Class Action
  • Police Officer Murder, Trial and Punishment
  • Myths of Policing: Police Work’ Expectation
  • Police’s Brutality Towards African American Males
  • Chesterfield County Police Department Structure
  • Racial Profiling: Trust, Ethics, Police Legitimacy
  • Police Brutality Toward African-American Males
  • Criminal Profiling and Police Corruption
  • Liability Issues for Police Departments
  • Police Work’ Concepts and Operationalization
  • Police Administration: Structures, Processes and Behavior
  • Police Reform in Florida
  • Police Shooting of Richard Cabot in Pittsburgh
  • Police Violence and Subterfuge Cases
  • Police Brutality: Reasons and Countermeasures
  • The Issue of Police Brutality in Community
  • The Rise of Police Brutality against African-American Males
  • Are Illegal Police Quotas Still Affecting American Citizens?
  • What Is the Name of American Police?
  • What Are the Four Types of Police System?
  • Are Women More Effective Police Officers?
  • What Are Young Adults’ Perception of Police?
  • What Are Some Nicknames for the Police?
  • Which Country Has the Best Police System?
  • Which Country Has the Largest Police Force in the World?
  • When Did Police Brutality Start?
  • Can the Police Reduce Crime?
  • Are Police Allowed to Punch You in the UK?
  • Which Countries Have Police Brutality?
  • What Causes Police Corruption?
  • What Is Excessive Force by Police?
  • Which Indian State Has Most Powerful Police?
  • What Is the Highest-Paid Job in the Police?
  • How Does the Los Angeles Police Department Represent the City?
  • How Can We Overcome Police Brutality?
  • What Does Three Stars on a Police Uniform Mean?
  • Should Police Officers Wear Cameras?
  • Should the Police Have More Power?
  • Do Police Officers Salute Military?
  • Why Were the Police Unable to Catch Jack the Ripper?
  • Which Country Has Private Police?
  • How Many Police Are There in the UK?
  • Are Body Cameras Fighting Police Misconduct?
  • When Does Police Discretion Cross Boundaries?
  • What Is the Issue of Police Brutality?
  • How Does Police Brutality Violate Civil Rights?
  • What Human Rights Are Being Violated by Police?
  • Police use of force: trends, policies, and effects on public trust.
  • How do police-worn body cameras affect officer accountability and transparency?
  • Challenges and benefits of technology use in modern police.
  • De-escalation techniques in police and their effects on reducing violent encounters.
  • How does law enforcement address human trafficking?
  • Police corruption and misconduct: causes, consequences, and prevention.
  • Law enforcement challenges in investigating digital offenses.
  • The effects of the militarization of police on civil liberties.
  • The impact between the use of body-worn cameras and police use of force.
  • The influence of implicit bias on police decision-making.
  • Defunding the police: should funds be reallocated from law enforcement to social services?
  • Are “stop-and-frisk” police practices constitutional?
  • Facial recognition technology use by police: balancing public safety and privacy.
  • Should no-knock warrants be banned?
  • Do police unions promote the abuse of power?
  • Is it possible to escape racial bias in predictive policing algorithms?
  • The school-to-prison pipeline: do police officers belong in schools?
  • Should drug testing for police officers be mandatory?
  • Should the use of chokeholds and neck restraints in law enforcement be banned?
  • Is anti-bias training for police officers effective in reducing violent police conduct?

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These essay examples and topics on Police were carefully selected by the StudyCorgi editorial team. They meet our highest standards in terms of grammar, punctuation, style, and fact accuracy. Please ensure you properly reference the materials if you’re using them to write your assignment.

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  • School of Criminology and Criminal Justice
  • Criminology and Criminal Justice Theses and Dissertations
  • Criminology and Criminal Justice Dissertations

Criminology and Criminal Justice Dissertations Collection

http://hdl.handle.net/2047/D20233343

Affording a meaningful opportunity of release: legal representation of juvenile lifers.

Assessing deterrence in the FBI's Safe Streets gang initiative: a social network approach.

Autistic and at-risk: the public and personal safety of children with autism spectrum disorders.

Background justice: the political context of adolescent legal socialization.

Bureaucracy and law: a study of Chinese criminal courts and social media.

Clearances, cameras, and community violence: police outcomes in an organizational and community context.

College students and the illicit use of prescription drugs: a test of general strain theory.

A comparison of the individual-, county-, and state-level correlates of homicide and mass murder

Contextualizing the political economy of juvenile court decision-making

Crime, place, and networks in the age of the internet: the case of online-promoted illicit massage businesses.

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213 Criminology Dissertation Ideas And Thesis Titles

criminology dissertation ideas

Finding criminology topics is not as easy as pulling out an essay idea from any website. It requires students to go the extra mile to investigate a particular problem and derive a professional topic. Does this give you chills already? Well, our expert UK writers have prepared a list that will earn you high grades. Make sure to pick one that will impress your stingy criminology professor to the core!

Criminology Topics: What Do They Entail?

Criminology focuses on examining crime from a social perspective with a close lens at the perpetrator of the crime, their motive, effects, and prevention. As you will note in the list of writing ideas below, criminology also studies human behaviour about crime.

Since criminologists go to the extent of looking at the social roots and impacts of a crime, they also s-encompass other fields of study such as philosophy and anthropology. The combination of all these methods leads to a precise determination of the root cause of criminal behaviour. They will therefore be able to determine effective and practical ways of preventing its occurrence in the future.

For you to have a top-rated criminology paper, ensure that you:

  • First, understand the task at hand
  • Collect relevant details to furnish your paper with
  • Outline your criminology paper
  • Structure your ideas into sections
  • Abide by the formatting requirements of your college or university
  • Maintain originality throughout your paper
  • Reference and cite your sources well

The result of this is a brilliant criminology paper that will earn you a spot on the top of your class leaderboard. Do you want to try out our sample criminology dissertation titles? Here is your unique opportunity now!

Top-Notch Criminology Dissertation Ideas

  • Why are the majority of crimes committed by the youths?
  • Reasons why men are more prone to commit crime than women
  • What to improve in the British criminology curriculum
  • Is it possible to develop a society without crime?
  • How does the environment motivate one towards criminal behaviour?
  • Evaluate the role of music in enhancing crime
  • Are the current laws on criminology effective enough?
  • Why do college and university students engage in cases of arson?
  • Predisposing factors behind the activities of serial killers
  • The role of guardians and societal leaders in preventing crime
  • Possible causes of rape and other indecent sexual behaviour
  • Discuss the relationship between crime and punishment in the past decade
  • Are criminology related laws implemented to the latter?
  • The role of specialized police units in preventing crime
  • Why the internet is a harbour for vigorous criminal activity
  • How to detect domestic violence before it occurs
  • Innovative ways of dealing with social disorders in a community
  • Why serial crimes always present a complex puzzle to solve for investigators

Criminology Dissertation Ideas Mental Health

  • The role of trauma in forcing one to commit a crime
  • Evaluate the association between mental illness and crime
  • Possible mental disorders that make teenagers commit crimes
  • Using community-based treatment centres to help people with mental cases
  • A global perspective on the mental health of sexual offenders
  • How anxiety and depression may cause one to premeditate committing murder
  • Impact of detrimental mental health problems on a person’s conduct
  • The relationship between aggressive behaviour and mental disorders
  • Traumatic experiences that may trigger criminal activities
  • How the media impacts the mental health of a person in committing a crime
  • Ways of promoting a healthy mental state in a society
  • How phobias prevent or trigger people about crime
  • The role of a mental check-up in a criminal investigation
  • Can an illegal fake a mental disorder to evade punishment?
  • Importance of mental therapies for criminals charged with murder

Criminology And Psychology Dissertation Ideas

  • How attitudes and emotions compel people to criminal behaviour
  • Impact of domestic violence on a child’s aggressive behaviour
  • A psychological examination of people who start trouble every time
  • How race is a critical factor in the police’s judgment of criminal activity
  • The role of forensic psychology in criminal investigations
  • A psychological view of the gender-based violence against women
  • Psychological disorders as a result of divorce may lead to crime
  • How parenting styles affect a child’s behaviour: A case of poor parenting
  • Discuss criminal intent based on a psychological disorder
  • How drug abuse contributes to crime as a result of psychological dysfunction
  • How attitudes towards criminal justice shape people’s behaviours
  • Why most employers are reluctant to employ people with past criminal records
  • Discuss criminal psychology with communist states
  • Current trends and practices in crime related to psychology
  • Compare and contrast situation and premeditated child abuse

Custom Criminology Dissertation Topics

  • Do criminals get justice after being sentenced?
  • How to investigate a serial crime in a society
  • Techniques used in monitoring people with suspecting criminal behaviour
  • Evaluate the role of private detectives in solving societal crimes
  • How the neighbourhood topography relates to illegal activities
  • Best approaches to combating crimes committed by gangs
  • The part of the police in keeping society safe and peaceful
  • How the mental health of women relates to aggressive behaviour at a times
  • Predisposing factors behind human traffickers and children abductors
  • Should the government enact more laws to curb domestic violence?
  • The role of modern technologies in complicating criminal investigations
  • How schools can enhance good morals among students at a tender age
  • Do suspensions act as a cause for violence in the future among students?
  • How to deal with protests and violence in a school setting
  • How the use of force only serves to stir up crime

First-Class Dissertation Ideas For Criminology

  • Policing strategies that wage war against smuggling of goods
  • The role of the US-Mexican border in combating criminal activities
  • How marginalization leads to the discrimination of various people
  • An analysis of the genocides in the past decade: What caused them?
  • What motivates young men to join gangs and other criminal groups?
  • How does alcohol catalyze sexual assaults?
  • The relationship between crime and LGBT groups
  • The implication of racial profiling in causing criminal activities
  • A critical review of how the US government responds to mass shootings
  • Gun ownership policies that will make America safe
  • The role of corruption in facilitating illegal underground activity
  • How the economic state of a country can lead to crime
  • Discuss the relationship between oil and civic disorder
  • Historical factors that have necessitated crime in the 21 st century
  • The contribution of propaganda and Yellow Journalism to crime

Criminology Dissertation Ideas On Terrorism

  • Evaluate the response of the US forces towards terrorist activities
  • Implications of the 9/11 attack on the safety of airlines
  • Discuss the relationship between radicalization and terrorism
  • Ways in which ISIS lures young men into joining them
  • How technology has helped advance terrorist activities in the country
  • Assess the impact of terrorism on religious profiling of people
  • Why terrorist activities are most prevalent in urban centres
  • How terrorists instil fear on their victims
  • Has the coronavirus slowed down terrorist activities?
  • Exploring the role of attitude in fueling terrorist activities towards certain countries
  • Reasons why the media can serve as a super-spreader of fear during terrorist attacks
  • Ways of detecting terrorist plans before they come of age
  • Significant strides made in the war against terrorism in Africa
  • The role of intelligence services in combating terrorism
  • A critical analysis of the bombings on the US embassies in Kenya and Tanzania

Criminology Dissertation Ideas About Drugs

  • The role of drug rehabilitation centres in reducing criminal activities
  • A critical evaluation of heroin and cocaine users
  • The impact of legalizing marijuana on criminal behaviour
  • Is there a thin line between drug abuse and violence?
  • How to curb drug and substance abuse among college students
  • The role of the media in sensitizing society against the adverse effects of drugs
  • How the doping technology can help curb drug and substance abuse
  • How drug abuse is a stepping stone to high crime rates in developing nations
  • Explore the different types of crimes resulting from drug abuse
  • What are the possible ways of eradicating corruption caused by criminal behaviour?
  • Why it is difficult for drug addicts to go for guiding and counselling
  • Impacts of excessive drug abuse on one’s mental state
  • Why most gangs are associated with drug and substance abuse
  • Post-traumatic drug disorders that lead to criminal activities
  • Most commonly abused drugs by teens in the United Kingdom

The Best Criminology Dissertation Ideas UK

  • Government policies that are curtailing the spread of criminal behaviour
  • How the UK government is dealing with criminals of any kind
  • Are the court systems in the UK doing enough to curb crime?
  • Describe the application of the social learning theory in reducing crime
  • How a criminal investigator develops a perspective on a particular crime
  • How developed economies are handling corruption-related cases
  • The standards of correctional facilities in the United Kingdom and their effectiveness
  • An investigation of the legal policies against crime in Britain
  • Compare and contrast criminal activity in UK suburbs and those of America
  • A critical review of past illegal activity in Britain over the last five years
  • Perceptions and attitudes towards UK criminal investigators
  • How antisocial behaviour relates to illegal activities
  • Are introverts more prone to crime than extroverts?
  • A study of the UK media and its implication on crime
  • How criminal investigative exposes have led to the arrest of various criminals

Criminology Dissertation Ideas On Domestic Violence

  • Multiple forms of domestic violence in the 21 st century: A case of sexual and verbal abuse
  • Acts that lead to psychological intimidation in domestic violence
  • Economic impacts of domestic violence
  • Does the word ‘abuse’ downplay the severity of domestic violence acts?
  • Are domestic violence acts ‘terroristic’ in nature?
  • Social structures that reinforce the suppression of women
  • The growing cases of male abuse in the recent days
  • An analysis of the various aspects of domestic violence
  • The role of writers in speaking out against domestic violence
  • How to look out for warning signs in the case of domestic violence
  • Do victims of domestic violence find a safe place to talk without judgment?
  • Discuss the implications of the Domestic Abuse Bill in the UK
  • How to address the needs of survivors and their families
  • The role of society in holding perpetrators of domestic violence accountable
  • The role of grants and government funding in supporting anti-domestic violence movements

Criminology Dissertation Ideas About Prisons

  • Do prisons deny inmates their human rights?
  • Investigate reports of sexual abuse in prisons
  • Why murderers should not be in one prison facility with other offenders
  • Are prisons breeding grounds for criminal activity?
  • Compare and contrast crime in female and male prisons
  • The role of prison wardens in shaping the conduct of prisoners
  • Should all offenders be kept in one prison irrespective of their crimes?
  • Is denying prisoners visitations a catalyst for their aggressive behaviour?
  • The role of society in helping criminals change
  • How prison wardens contribute to crime in prisons
  • Should all correctional facilities be outside significant cities?
  • Should convicts of life sentences stay with those of shorter sentences?
  • An analysis of cases of convicts killed in prisons
  • What should determine the suitability of an officer as a prison warden?
  • How should inmates relate with the prison wardens?

Forensic Psychology Dissertation Ideas

  • Technological advances in forensic psychology and its impacts
  • The procedure of investigating a crime using forensic psychology
  • Compare and contrast the use of forensic psychology on men versus women
  • Different approaches to forensic psychology in criminology
  • Do we have enough forensic psychologists?
  • How does genetics affect forensic psychology?
  • Factors affecting eyewitness identification performance
  • A study on male victims of partner violence
  • Investigate the jury decision-making process based on forensic psychology
  • A study of knowledge and attitudes towards conduct disorder
  • How race affects psychotherapeutic performance
  • Examine the association between psychosis and being a migrant
  • Using a measurement scale to assess psychopathic personality traits
  • How personality functioning may predict a person’s engagement in cyberstalking
  • The collateral consequences of money bail

Latest Knife Crime Dissertation Titles

  • What happens when the police become criminals?
  • The impact of cybercrime on international peace and security
  • Unearthing the underworld of hardcore teenage crimes
  • How some police office rob banks and participate in serious crimes
  • Dealing with drug trafficking in the technological era
  • A comparative analysis of European law enforcement agencies
  • Using children as witnesses in a criminal case: Is it ethical?
  • Discuss the role of psychological intervention for criminals
  • Analyze the rise of militia uprisings
  • Impact of political tensions on criminal activities
  • How the media stereotypes young people as criminals
  • Social insecurity and brutality
  • Impact of forced labour on correcting detainees: Does it help?
  • Does the media exaggerate terrorism activities?
  • Cultural values that can shape the morals of a society

Additional Terrorism Dissertation Ideas

  • Is white supremacy terrorism?
  • How domestic terrorism has risen in the US over the past few months
  • The role of the UN Mission in keeping terrorists at bay
  • How to cut off funding for terrorist activities
  • How terrorism has become a threat to human existence
  • How to prevent young men from joining terrorist groups
  • Why terrorists take hostages and threaten to detonate bombs
  • Psychological implications of terrorism activities
  • Can someone who has been a terrorist fit into society again?
  • Discuss the breeding of local terrorism in countries
  • Counter-terrorism measures that work
  • The role of surveillance in countering terrorism activities
  • How terrorism creeps into conflict zones
  • How the rule of law can help eliminate terrorism
  • How to empower minors against terrorism
  • The role of community anti-terrorism awareness programs
  • How terrorists cause insubordination and waywardness

Criminal Law EPQ Questions

  • Proactive policing
  • Pretext stops and charter remedies
  • Working with virtual legal assistants
  • The part of the sedition law
  • Analyze the right to protest
  • Is life imprisonment a myth?
  • State’s role in regulating crimes against women
  • Appeal to the death sentence
  • Laws about custody and maintenance of minors
  • Are Promissory notes and Bills of Exchange the same?
  • What is the difference between fatal and non-fatal offences?
  • Are ideas protected under copyright?
  • What is a crime of passion?

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167 Top Criminology Dissertation Ideas

Criminology Dissertation Ideas

Are you taking criminology in college, and it is time to work on your dissertation, but it appears challenging? Many university students get stuck even before starting, but there is no need to worry because we are here to hold your hand. The first, and we must emphasize, most crucial step, is picking the title of your dissertation. So, how do you select the right criminology dissertation topic?

The best title should be unique, interesting, and have ample resources to help you craft a paper that will impress your professor and the assessment committee. To make selecting the best easier, we have picked the hottest 167 criminology dissertation ideas for you. Keep reading to identify the preferred option and use it as it is or tweak a little to fit your preference.

Criminology Dissertation Ideas on Terrorism

  • Religious ideologies: Can they be a source of terrorism?
  • Analyzing the relationship between media and terrorism.
  • Political tensions: Are they to blame for the ever-growing number of militias on the globe?
  • Comparing the trends of terror in the 19 th and 20 th centuries: A literature review.
  • What are the leading causes and motivations of terrorism?
  • Analyzing literature on identity theft and social media.
  • What motivates women to join ISIS?
  • Comparing male and female serial killers: What are the main differences?
  • How does the US respond to terror threats?
  • The US efforts to combat terror after the 9/11 attack: Are they effective?
  • Was the US justified in killing Osama Bin Laden instead of taking him to court?
  • Comparing two known terror networks of your choice in different countries.
  • Terrorism from the viewpoint of international law.
  • Islamic charities: Are they the main sources of finance for terrorists?
  • Are recent attacks by Hamas and Israel acts of terrorism?

Criminology Dissertation Ideas about Drugs

  • Analyzing the relationship between people of various backgrounds and police.
  • What are the most effective methods of preventing drug trafficking internationally?
  • Analyzing the effectiveness of drug courts.
  • Reversible and irreversible impacts of drug abuse.
  • People incarcerated for drug abuse: What are the impacts on their children?
  • Club culture: How does it enhance drug abuse in the society?
  • Preventing drug abuse in society: Which is more effective between voluntary learning and mandatory examination?
  • Reviewing the harm done to society by drugs.
  • Comparing the impacts of cannabis and alcohol on a person’s behavior.
  • The most abused drugs and their effects on societal behavior.
  • Cannabis and deviant behavior among youths: What is the relationship?
  • Cannabis legalization: Is it a good idea? What should we expect in the coming years?
  • Drug use and youth arrests: A case study of Paris, France.
  • Comparing drug court operations in the UK and USA.
  • War on drugs in the US: Can it solve the problem of drug abuse and crime?
  • Drug testing in school.
  • The influence of drugs on sexual assaults.
  • Prostitution: A study of the main risk groups in the UK.
  • Drug traffic tracking strategies used in the UK.
  • Drug abuse in prison cells: What are the causes and effects?

Criminal Law EPQ Questions

  • Harassment in school and workplace: What are the main strategies adopted to address the problem in the UK?
  • Homicides: A review of motivations that make people kill.
  • Are the strategies adopted by your state enough to counter juvenile delinquency?
  • What is the relationship between crime in Texas and people living with mental disorders?
  • Domestic violence: What are the rights of victims?
  • How can the marginalized get access to justice? A case study of the Netherlands.
  • A study of the main types of robberies reported in the US in the 20 th century.
  • Arson investigations: How do investigators determine whether the fire was deliberate or accidental?
  • What is the relationship between substance abuse and poor schooling?
  • What causes addiction among cannabis users?
  • What is the effectiveness of witness programs in criminal justice? A closer look at the International Criminal Court (ICC).
  • Robbery: What are the main risk groups, methods of prevention, and prosecution?
  • What is the effectiveness of the International Criminal Court in achieving its mandate?
  • Should employers check an all applicants’ criminal history during recruitment?
  • The extradition law in the United States: Is it fair?
  • Maximum-security prisons: Are they justified or simply cruel?
  • A study of incarcerated parent’s responsibilities. How do they cope?

Masters Dissertation Ideas for Criminology

  • Death penalty in the justice system: Is it effective in crime prevention.
  • The rising rates of mass shootings in the US: What are the main causes?
  • Studying the impact of genocidal acts on the cohesiveness of society.
  • Police shootings: Comparing top three cases in the US and the UK.
  • Sex offenses: Which are the main risk groups, prevalence, and prevention efforts?
  • How corruption affects the social, political and economy of a country.
  • Why are most crimes in the US and UK mainly committed by the youths?
  • US vs. China’s criminal justice system: What are the main differences?
  • Are the current US laws on criminology effective?
  • A review of the British criminology curriculum: What needs to be improved?
  • Analyzing the relationship between education levels and crime levels in a country of your choice.
  • What is the relationship between ownership of guns and law violations?
  • Law enforcement and criminology: What are the differences?
  • Does racial abuse of international students and immigrants motivate them to join criminal gangs?
  • Using culture to mold responsible citizens: A case study of communities in Georgia, Europe.

Forensic Psychology Dissertation Ideas

  • A comprehensive analysis of competence to stand trial concept and its application in the UK.
  • The age of criminal culpability: A review of the effectiveness of this idea in criminal justice.
  • The ethics of death penalty: A review of the literature.
  • Studying the mind of a criminal on death row: What goes in the mind of a person on a death row hours before execution?
  • Should the death penalty be used on juveniles?
  • What are the chances that a person on death row can change into a law-abiding citizen?
  • How does memory impact eyewitness testimony?
  • Analyzing the strategies used by the justice system to evaluate the reports of eyewitnesses.
  • Methods used in the UK to protect eyewitnesses.

Criminology Dissertation Ideas Mental Health

  • What role do guardians play in crime prevention in society?
  • A review of criminological theory in the US justice system.
  • A comprehensive analysis of how persons exposed to alcohol perform in different areas of their lives.
  • Sexual violence use as a weapon of armed conflict: A literature review.
  • Drug abuse and media: Should media that promote the use of hard drugs be controlled?
  • How effective are the methods used in rehab to counter drug addiction?
  • A review of delinquent cases among immigrant teenagers in the UK.
  • Why do college students engage in cases of arson?
  • Evaluating how prejudice motivates violence.
  • Is it possible to remain neutral in mental criminal case trials?
  • Is it possible to eliminate the problem of drug abuse and related crime?
  • Solitary confinement for drug traffickers: What are the implications?

Criminology Dissertation Ideas UK

  • How does the UK government respond to terror threats?
  • Rehabilitation centers in the UK: What roles do they play in addressing crime?
  • Racial stereotyping and crime in the UK: What is the relationship?
  • A discourse evaluation: How has coronavirus shaped crime in the UK?
  • Do urban settings in the UK act as breeding grounds for criminals?
  • A critical review of the police force and crime in the UK.
  • Interrogation by police officers: How does it work?
  • A study of the main categories of crime in the UK.
  • A review of the latest innovations in experimental criminology.
  • Identify theft in the UK: What are the main consequences for perpetrators?
  • Online child predators: How effective are the UK laws in protecting children?
  • Is it possible to have a crime-free society?
  • Which crime has a greater impact on society in the UK? Comparing street crimes and white-collar crimes.
  • A review of the main principles applied in crime prevention in the UK justice system.

Controversial Criminology Dissertation Topics

  • The less explored world of male rape in the society.
  • Abortion: Should it be categorized as a crime?
  • Parental separation: How does it result in future violence?
  • Information sharing technology: How does it help fight the problem of terrorism?
  • Back lives matter campaigns: Were they marred with violence instead of search for justice?
  • Coronavirus has accelerated crime in the society more than any other time in the past.
  • Do prisons help to correct bad behavior for the incarcerated?
  • Facebook helps to encourage more negative behavior than promoting socialization.
  • Domestic violence: Who suffers more between men and women?
  • Human trafficking has one main role of sexual exploitation.
  • On domestic violence, the law is subjective on males.
  • The government should increase the age limit for citizens to acquire national IDs.
  • Social media is the main source of moral panic in society.
  • Music is a major contributor to crime in society.

Criminology Dissertation Ideas on Domestic Violence

  • Theoretical perspectives on domestic violence.
  • Applying the control balance theory in domestic violence.
  • Popular culture and domestic violence: Are they related?
  • The effects of homelessness on domestic violence: A case study of Texas.
  • A review of cross-cultural perspectives on domestic violence.
  • Comparing the rates of domestic violence in the US and India.
  • Trends of domestic violence in Spain.
  • Analyzing the main legal issues for women who are victims of domestic violence.
  • A review of domestic violence within the military families.
  • Analyzing police decision-making factors when dealing with domestic cases.
  • Male victims of domestic violence: Why do most of them opt to keep quiet and stick with abusive partners?
  • Mothers who kill: What are the motivating factors?
  • Postpartum depression and domestic violence: How are they related?

Interesting Criminology Dissertation Titles

  • Comparing the impacts of crime to those of natural disasters: A literature review.
  • Is the education system in the globe failing in shaping good morals?
  • A review of sexual aggression by women in ASIA.
  • Acquainting rape perpetrators on bail terms: Is it acceptable? What does the law say?
  • Regulating prostitution in the society: Is it enough to reduce crime?
  • Corruption comes from limitations.
  • A study of the connections between law violation and family status.
  • Prostitution regulation: Can it stop crime?
  • Use of expert testimony in domestic violence cases.
  • Should we ban police from carrying guns in public?
  • How does systemic bias impact criminal justice?
  • Genetics: A comprehensive review of illegal researches and associated dangers.
  • Assessing the effectiveness of street lighting in reducing crime.
  • What role do psychometric assessments play in criminal justice?
  • Is crime rate related to neighborhoods? A literature review.
  • How has counterfeiting changed with the development of new technologies?

Criminology Dissertation Ideas about Prisons

  • Forced labor among prisoners: Is it a good method of correction?
  • Why is drug violence a problem in many US jails?
  • A review of prison gangs in a prison of your choice.
  • Training correctional officers in the UK: How effective is the training in enhancing the efficiency of correctional facilities?
  • A review of the efforts used to address child molesters in prison.
  • A review of study programs offered in prisons.
  • Healthcare system in the UK prisons: Is it effective?
  • A review of police corruption in prisons: Comparing the prisons in the 19 th and 20 th centuries.
  • What are the main causes of high recidivism in the US?
  • How do women end up in prisons? A review of common causes.
  • Prisons through the UK history.
  • How well are inmates prepared for re-entry into the society after serving jail terms?
  • Racial profiling in the US prisons.
  • Aggressive behavior: How is it related to criminal tendencies?
  • Comparing human trafficking in the modern and classic worlds: What are the main differences?
  • Comparing women’s recidivism rates in the US to those of Australia.

Knife Crime Dissertation Titles

  • Knife crime in the US: Applying the criminology theory.
  • Comparing knife crimes in Europe and Asia
  • What are the motivating factors for knife criminals?
  • Knife laws in the US: Analyzing the effectiveness of the pocket knife rules & laws.
  • Comparing the knife rules of the United States to those of the UK.
  • A review of knife crimes trends in the 21 st century.

Criminology Dissertation Help by Best Writers a Click Away

Now that we have looked at the best titles, from terrorism dissertation ideas to criminology topics on drugs, have you picked the preferred option? If “yes,” you are one step in the right direction. However, the next step of writing the dissertation is longer and requires a deep understanding of criminology. You also need excellent writing skills, time, and access to all the required resources. If you do not have the combination of all the above, which happens regularly to most students, you have a way out – seeking help from the best writers online. Our custom writing service stands taller than others because we have top-notch ENL writers who stop at nothing in ensuring clients get high grades. They have a lot of experience in the discipline and can work on any topic, from criminology and psychology dissertation ideas to terrorism-related topics. Again, they are fast and can easily beat even the toughest deadline. Our service is also cheap. Do not let the criminology dissertation stress you in any way – our expert can help you complete it professionally and fast too!

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Criminology Dissertation Topics

Info: 4128 words (17 pages) Dissertation Topic Published: 1st Nov 2021 in Dissertation Topic

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Tagged: Criminology

We have provided a selection of example criminology dissertation topics below to help and inspire you.

Prison and Society

Choosing to write about prison and the society could make for a very interesting topic. You could take a look at prisoner rights, rehabilitation or their integration back into society. If you are struggling to think of a topic, maybe these suggestions could help:

Example prison and society dissertation topic 1:

‘a road to nowhere’ – an analysis of the effectiveness of work-training programmes within the probation service and their effect upon reoffending rates: a case study in leicester 2008 – 2012.

The 2011 review into the probation service of Leicestershire noted that the number of places offered to offenders on training schemes had increased. However, the nature of those training places remained firmly rooted in manual work. Given the decline of industry across the nation and the particular rise of service-centres within the East Midlands this dissertation questions whether the training proposals offered (for instance licensing on fork-lift trucks) is appropriate – or does it merely lead to ex-offenders being qualified for jobs that do not exist – thereby potentially leading to a vicious circle of unemployment and crime. This is a dissertation that whilst based in criminological and probation service literature would also benefit from first hand interviews with both officers and offenders.

Suggested initial topic reading

  • Bowen, E., Gilchrist, E. A. and Beech, A. R. (2005), ‘An examination of the impact of community-based rehabilitation on the offending behaviour of male domestic violence offenders and the characteristics associated with recidivism’, Legal and Criminological Psychology, Vol. 10, pp. 189-209.
  • Copas, J. and Marshall, P. (1998), ‘The offender group reconviction scale: a statistical reconviction score for use by probation officers’, Journal of the Royal Statistical Society: Series C (Applied Statistics), Vol.47, pp. 159-171.
  • McGuire, J. (2008) Social problem solving and offending: Evidence, evaluation and evolution. Chichester: John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Example prison and society dissertation topic 2:

Votes for prisoners: a step too far.

The committing of crime and being sentenced to prison has always, traditionally been seen to result in the removal of certain rights to prisoners as they ‘;pay their debt to society’. This has meant within the UK that prisoners have not been allowed to vote. The decision by the ECHR however means that English prisoners should now be able to vote. This dissertation reviews both the legal and ethical arguments surrounding this argument and also questions the likely effect of the empowering of prisoners in such a manner on issues such as marginal seats and voting intentions. A cross disciplinary dissertation that contains a number of interesting avenues that could be effectively explored.

  • Cheney, D. (2008) ‘Prisoners as citizens in a democracy’, The Howard Journal of Criminal Justice, Vol. 47, pp. 134-145.
  • Dhami, M. K. (2005) ‘Prisoner disenfranchisement policy: A threat to democracy?’ Analyses of Social Issues and Public Policy , Vol.5, pp. 235-247.
  • Eady, D. (2007) ‘Prisoners’ rights since the Woolf Report: Progress or procrastination?’ The Howard Journal of Criminal Justice , Vol. 46, pp. 264-275.

Example prison and society dissertation topic 3:

Work undertaken by prisoners in detention: a consideration of whether it is forced labour or an appropriate means of control.

As part of their paying ‘a debt to society’ prisoners are expected to work. The work involved can, within UK prisons, be varied with normal-grade prisoners preparing lunch and breakfast packs for fellow inmates, to gardening around the prison and sewing t-shirts. In contrast, trusted prisoners are allowed to become cleaners, giving them open access to their cells throughout the day, the ability to shower when they wish (rather than during allocated association times), whilst those who are employed on the serveries are able to obtain extra food at the end of their shifts. There are, therefore, a variety of perks to inmate working – particularly for those who are ‘trusted’. However, the rate of pay for such work is minimal – with a maximum of £10 per work being earned. This is substantially below minimum wage requirements and as prisoners are expected to work or lose benefits – there is an argument that it is akin to forced labour as they cannot, unlike normal workers, withdraw their services. An issues of rights, responsibilities, civil debt, punishment, rehabilitation and issues of government expenditure this is a most interesting dissertation that has the potential to be developed in a number of ways.

  • Black, J. (2010) ‘Prison works? Is it to be a modern industrialised gulag or a place to modify and control offending behaviour?’, Criminal Justice Matters, Vol. 74(1), pp. 6-7.
  • Kang, S. (2009) ‘Forcing prison labor: International labor standards, human rights and the privatization of prison labor in the contemporary United States’, New Political Science, Vol. 31(2), pp. 137-161.
  • Taylor, J.R. (2011) ‘Constitutionally unprotected: Prison slavery, felon disenfranchisement, and the criminal exception to citizenship rights’, Gonzaga Law Review, Vol. 47, pp. 365-389.

Youth Crime and Justice System

If you are unsure on what to write your dissertation about but know you are interested in youth crime and justice, then maybe these suggestions are for you:

Example youth crime and justice system dissertation topic 1:

Labelling and delinquency: a self-fulfilling prophecy.

Sociological criminologists suggest that labelling at the onset of teenage years may have profound consequence for self-esteem. It follows that being labelled as ‘failure’ or ‘delinquent’ may result in the tagged person becoming increasingly dejected. US studies suggest that faced with such self-loathing and low self-esteem many (especially young black males) at a crossroads of life-style find solace within gang membership. Using interviews with street gangs in Liverpool and Manchester as well as social workers, police and probation services, this dissertation seeks to address the extent to which negative labelling may result in a downward spiral of self opinion ;leading eventually to an embracing of crime.

  • Bernburg, J. G. and Krohn, M. D. (2003), ‘Labelling, life chances, and adult crime: The direct and indirect effects of official intervention in adolescence on crime in early adulthood’, Criminology , Vol. 41, pp. 1287-1318.
  • Paternoster, R. and Brame, R. (1997), ‘Multiple routes to delinquency? A test of developmental and general theories of crime’, Criminology , Vol. 35, pp. 49-84.
  • Smith, D. A. and Brame, R. (1994), ‘On the initiation and continuation of delinquency’, Criminology, Vol. 32, pp. 607-629.

Example youth crime and justice system dissertation topic 2:

An analysis of the role that subcultural theories have in explaining the execution of crimes: a comparative study between contemporary britain and the usa.

Subcultural theory emanated from the Chicago School in the early part of the twentieth century and has, since the mid 1970s been developed by the Centre for Cultural Studies (CCCS) in Birmingham. Through charting changes in economic status and delinquency, social values and frustration/failure within educational surroundings, this study compares the defining characteristics of the creation of teenage gangs on both sides of the Atlantic. Grounded in existing academic studies this dissertation is strengthened by the fact that primary research is also carried out with both gang members and young offenders in Birmingham and Chicago – thereby making a valuable further contribution to the existent body of knowledge upon this subject.

  • Bennett, A. (1999) ‘Subcultures or neo-tribes? Rethinking the relationship between youth, style and musical taste’, Sociology , Vol. 33 (3), pp. 599-617.
  • Butsch, R. (2001) ‘Considering resistance and incorporation’, Leisure Sciences , Vol. 23, pp. 71-79.
  • Cohen, A. (1955) Delinquent boys: The culture of the gang. New York: The Free Press.

Example youth crime and justice dissertation topic 3:

Arson against educational institutions, committed by juveniles: rates and reasons.

The number of incidences of arson upon schools (especially carried out within the long summer vacation) is rising year on year. This dissertation uses qualitative research techniques to supplement existing academic opinion on the subject. Through so doing police officers, head teachers, fire service personnel along with the perpetrators are interviewed to assess the reasons (underlying and stated) as to why such attacks are on the increase. An analysis of the treatments offered to such offenders is also offered within this work through a review of probation literature. Finally, it recommends programmes that may be held during summer periods that may redirect delinquent behaviour.

  • Canter, D.V. and Almond, L. (2007) A strategy for arson. Centre of Investigative Psychology, Project report. Liverpool: University of Liverpool.
  • Hayden, C., Williamson, T. and Webber, R. (2007) ‘Schools, pupil behaviour and young offenders: Using postcode classification to target behaviour support and crime prevention’, British Journal of Criminology , Vol. 47(2), pp. 293-310.
  • Herbert, R.L. (1990) ‘Arson and vandalism in schools: What can the educational psychologist do?’ Educational Psychology in Practice: Theory, Research and Practice in Educational Psychology, Vol. 6(2), pp. 65-70.

Ethnicity and Race

Thinking of completing a dissertation based on a specific race but are not sure how to narrow down your topic? Maybe these suggestions would be helpful:

Example ethnicity and race dissertation topic 1:

‘strain theory’: a growing issue in afro-caribbean communities in london.

This dissertation uses Mertonian anomie theory in comparing young, male black communities in New York and London, and considers the extent to which this phenomenon has spread to the UK. The rise of a drug sub-culture – and those who profit from it – is a key component of this consideration. A further factor is the increase of small, independent music labels that offer a glimpse of a wealthier future to performers in hip/hop and rap. The study utilises statistical evidence to form conclusions, as well as interviews with community elders and young people.

  • Agnew, R. (1999) ‘A general strain theory of community differences in crime rates’, Journal of Research in Crime and Delinquency, Vol. 36(2), pp. 123-155.
  • Alexander, C.E. (1996) The art of being black. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
  • Cochran, J.K. and Bjerregaard, B. (2012) ‘Structural anomie and crime:A cross-national test’, International Journal of Offender Therapy and Comparative Criminology, Vol. 56(2), pp. 203-217.
  • Gunter, A. (2008) ‘Growing up bad: Black youth, `road’ culture and badness in an East London neighbourhood’, Crime Media Culture, Vol. 4(3), pp. 349-366.

Example ethnicity and race dissertation topic 2:

Anti-muslim hate crime in the wake of 9/11: a uk perspective.

After the terrorist attacks in the US, UK and Spain, incidents of hate crime against Muslims increased. This dissertation examines this claim; it conducts a wide-ranging review of anti-Muslim crime reported in the UK over the last fifteen years and analyses the rate of change, if any, linked to regional differences. In this way, it extends the research undertaken by the University of Exeter, by widening the scope in order to pinpoint the effect of the terrorist attacks starting with 9/11. Finally, it reviews the principal bodies responsible for the increase in anti-Muslim hate crime, and considers how widespread individual actions have become.

  • Allen, C. (2011) ‘Opposing Islamification or promoting Islamophobia? Understanding the English Defence League’, Patterns of Prejudice, Vol. 45(4), pp. 279-294.
  • Lambert, R. and Githens-Mazer, J. (2011) Islamophobia and anti-Muslim hate crime: UK case studies 2010. London: European Muslim Research Centre and the University of Exeter.

Example ethnicity and race dissertation topic 3:

Racist abuse towards international students: a case study comparison between the university of oxford and oxford brookes university.

Racism within higher education takes many forms; admissions, awarding of marks and student attitudes. Given this plethora of opportunities for racism to emerge, this dissertation asks as to the extent to which racism is institutionalised within the University of Oxford and in so doing, contrasts it with the experiences of students at Oxford Brookes University. This is a dissertation that not only combined qualitative and quantitative research but would also benefit from discussion of issues such as the inclusion agenda and widening participation.

  • Leathwood, L. and O’Connell, P. (2003) ‘It’s a struggle’: The construction of the ‘new student’ in higher education’, Journal of Education Policy Vol. 18, (6), pp. 597-615.
  • Spaights, E., Dixon, H.E., and Nickolai, S. (1985), ‘Racism in higher education’ College Student Journal, Vol. 19 (1), pp. 17 – 22.

Crime and Social Inequality

There is lots of research available on the correlation between crime and social status. If you are interested in exploring this further, you could complete a dissertation on the fascinating topic of crime and social inequality! Maybe these suggestions will help:

Example crime and social inequality dissertation topic 1:

Crimes targeted against the homeless: a reaction to social insecurity or mere brutality.

The brutal murder of a homeless man sleeping rough in the churchyards of Darlington, County Durham in early 2012 once more brought home the realities of life on the streets. This dissertation combines theoretical knowledge with interviews with those who live on the streets (and work with those who do) to provide a more holistic answer to the question posed. This is a cutting edge dissertation; the policy ramifications of which could be seen to have national implications for how society treats some of its most vulnerable members.

  • Gaetzl, S. (2004), ‘Safe streets for whom? Homeless youth, social exclusion, and criminal victimization’, Journal Canadian Journal of Criminology and Criminal Justice Vol. 46 (4), pp. 423-456.
  • Sherman, L. W., Gartin, P. R. and Buerger, M. E. (1989), ‘Hot spots of predatory crime: Routine activities and the criminology of place’. Criminology, Vol. 27, pp. 27-56.

Example crime and social inequality dissertation topic 2:

Social acceptance of shop-lifting in deprived communities.

The shop lifting of food as a phenomenon has increased exponentially over the last three years according to official figures. Such shoplifting is not however merely for the need of food for as local police reports indicate, incidences of the reports of sales of stolen meat upon housing estates in Doncaster have also increased as joints of meat and other ‘high value’ foodstuffs are increasingly being stolen ‘to order’. Looking at indices of deprivation studies and normative social values towards stolen goods, this dissertation offers an analysis of how normative views of shoplifting such produce are different amongst both different classes and different areas within the UK.

  • Avery, D.R., Mckay, P.F. and Hunter, E.M. (2012) ‘Demography and disappearing merchandise: How older workforces influence retail shrinkage’, Journal of Organizational Behaviour , Vol. 33, pp. 105-120.
  • Kroneberg, C., Heintze, I. and Mehlkop, G. (2010) ‘The interplay of moral norms and instrumental incentives in crime causation’, Criminology , Vol. 48, pp. 259-294.
  • Nell, D., Phillips, S., Alexander, A. and Shaw, G. (2011) ‘Helping yourself: Self-service grocery retailing and shoplifting in Britain, c . 1950-75′, Cultural and Social History , Vol. 8(3), pp. 371-391.

Activism and Riots

Activism and rioting has become a huge talking point over the past decade and lots of research has been conducted in this area. Due to this, this topic would make for a great dissertation. To narrow it down, we have provided some examples below:

Example activism and riot dissertation topic 1:

Animal activism – does the end justify the means.

The desire to protect animals from lab experiments and associated perceptions of cruelty lead a substantial minority of activists within the wider animal protection sector to break the law. This dissertation looks at an array of case studies of such actions and asks, given the benefits that such experiments may lead to, whether achievement of the temporary halting of such experiments by animal extremists makes their actions a worthwhile crime. This dissertation considers the wider ramifications of animal activism, with particular emphasis on the increasing criminalisation of animal activism protest mechanisms, such as has occurred in the United States and Ireland.

  • Freeman, C.P. (2009) ‘A greater means to the greater good: Ethical guidelines to meet social movement organization advocacy challenges’, Journal of Mass Media Ethics: Exploring Questions of Media Morality, Vol. 24(4), pp. 269-288.
  • Yates, R. (2011) ‘Criminalizing protests about animal abuse. Recent Irish experience in global context’, Crime, Law and Social Change , Vol. 55(5), pp. 469-482.

Miscarriages of Justice

Maybe you are more interested in the justice system and the miscarriages of justice specifically. If so, please review the below suggestions and see if they help:

Example miscarriages of justice dissertation topic 1:

Punishment for defending one’s innocence: an examination of probation responses.

Within the criminal justice process one has the right to appeal against conviction. However, if sentenced to a community order or other form of rehabilitation programme involving the probation service there is not only a presumption of guilt but also penalties for continuing to protest one’s innocence. These can include being put on a higher ‘at risk’ register involving more meetings with officers, and being taken back to court for re-sentence for ‘failing to co-operate’ (refusal to admit guilt being a refusal to co-operate). Using case studies form the greater Southampton area this is a dissertation that combines qualitative and quantitative research.

  • Hudson, B. (2001) ‘Human rights, public safety and the Probation Service: Defending justice in the risk society’, The Howard Journal of Criminal Justice , Vol. 40, pp. 103-113.
  • Nash, M. (1996) ‘Consumers without teeth: Can probation service “clients” have a say in the service they receive?’ International Journal of Public Sector Management , Vol. 9(4), pp.12-19.
  • Nellis, M. (2002) ‘Community justice, time and the new National Probation Service’, The Howard Journal of Criminal Justice , Vol. 41, pp. 59-86.

Police and Policing

Choosing to write a dissertation revolving around the police and policing can take many different forms. Whether you choose to write about police brutality or the representation of the police in the media, writing about the police can make for a fascinating. Take a look at some suggestions below:

Example police and policing dissertation topic 1:

Public perceptions of the role of the police community support officer.

Having firstly contextualised the historic development of PCSOs and the functions that they have been empowered to enact, this dissertation uses two cases studies: Billy, a PCSO in the City of York, and Dan a PCSO in Co. Durham. Having addressed issues relating to ethics and confidentiality this dissertation not only interviews the two officers with reference to their longer-term career aspirations but also their colleagues and members of the public. Through so doing, a range of different views as to the usefulness and purpose of PCSOs is identified along with the need to re-educate the public’s view of their work as well as offering further career professional development. This is a dissertation that combines an array of different research methodologies and thus offers an (at times bleak) evaluation of the role and expectations of PCSOs amongst themselves, their colleagues and the public.

  • Caless, B. (2007) ‘Numties in yellow jackets′: The nature of hostility towards the Police Community Support Officer in neighbourhood policing teams’, Policing , Vol. 1(2), pp. 187-195.
  • Merritt, J. (2010) ‘W(h)ither the PCSO?: Police perceptions of the Police Community Support Officer’s role, powers and future directions’, Policing: An International Journal of Police Strategies & Management , Vol. 33(4), pp.731-749.
  • Pamment, N. (2009) ‘We can terrorise them! Young offender perceptions of Police Community Support Officers’, The Police Journal , Vol. 82(2). pp. 171-182.
  • Rowell, P. (2010) Assessing the literacy of PCSOs: Have the NPIA and MPS aligned the standard to operational requirements? MSc dissertation, University of Portsmouth.

Example police and policing dissertation topic 2:

Police pre-conceptions: attributions of blame to male rape victims by the police.

Although training programmes have attempted to ensure that police officers do not attribute blame to rape victims, concerns remain that some police are resistant to such programmes. This dissertation considers whether attribution of blame to rape victims continues to be a widespread problem, and whether factors such as the age or gender of the victim play a significant part. One example of discrimination may be levelled against male adolescent sex workers, as a case study in Glasgow demonstrates. The study considers both existing literature as well as primary research through three case studies in Glasgow, and a survey of 100 police officers (CID and uniformed) in the Strathclyde Police Force.

  • Davies, M., Austen, K. and Rogers, P. (2011) ‘Sexual preference, gender, and blame attributions in adolescent sexual assault’, Journal of Social Psychology, Vol. 151(5), pp. 592-607.
  • Wakelin, A. and Long, K.M. (2003) ‘Effects of victim gender and sexuality on attributions of blame to rape victims’ Sex Roles, Vol. 49(9-10), pp. 477-487.
  • Whatley, M.A. and Riggio, R.E. (1993) ‘Gender differences in attributions of blame for male rape victims’, Journal of Interpersonal Violence, Vol. 8(4), pp. 502-511.

For further guidance on dissertation topics see our guide on  how to choose a dissertation topic .

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Key themes in qualitative research projects with police forces in England and Wales (accessible version)

Updated 9 January 2023

dissertation topics policing

Š Crown copyright 2023

This publication is licensed under the terms of the Open Government Licence v3.0 except where otherwise stated. To view this licence, visit nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3 or write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: [email protected] .

Where we have identified any third party copyright information you will need to obtain permission from the copyright holders concerned.

This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/front-line-policing-review/key-themes-in-qualitative-research-projects-with-police-forces-in-england-and-wales

This paper provides a high-level overview of the consistent key themes identified across qualitative research undertaken with police forces across England and Wales, by the Institute for Public Safety, Crime and Justice since June 2016.

The findings should be used to inform the Front Line Review by focussing attention towards the issues, challenges and opportunities raised by police officers, staff and volunteers delivering frontline policing services. The intention of this paper is to share recent and relevant research findings and to recognise the time and effort that many frontline individuals have put into research and engagement exercises, across topics relevant to this review.

2. Evidence

The key themes outlined in this paper are drawn from the findings of qualitative data collection and analysis across 11 projects completed between June 2016 and January 2019. This includes five projects involving singular forces, two regional projects, two projects involving five forces, one involving three forces and one national project. The geographical spread of the forces involved include large and small forces across both urban and rural areas, span across the north and south of England and include one force in Wales. The project reports are confidential; however, forces have agreed to the findings being used to inform academic, policy and practice improvement, with assurances of anonymity in publicly available documents.

The research included in this review examines a variety of broad themes; perceptions and experiences working in policing; wellbeing, coaching, support and management; ‘frontline’ experiences and opportunities and blockers to change and transformation. The collective data draws upon the perceptions and experiences shared by 415 police officers and staff through one-to-one interviews (216 participants) and in-depth focus group discussions (199 participants). Of those 415 participants, 341 were paid police officers or staff and 74 were Special Constables or police support volunteers. The majority of these qualitative projects also invited participation through online surveys and provided the opportunity for open-text responses which have been coded and themed. This qualitative survey data draws upon a total of 8,843 participants, made up of 5,791 paid police officers or staff, and 3,052 Special Constables or police support volunteers. The majority of the projects used thematic analysis to draw inferences from the data and one project used grounded theory. See Appendix I for more information. This brief report therefore presents a snapshot of current thinking and perceptions amongst frontline police officers, police staff, PSCOs, Special Constables and police support volunteers.

3. Findings

The findings outlined below were evidenced in the majority of the 11 projects included in this review.

3.1 Workload; internal inefficiencies and job satisfaction

Workload is identified as a key driver of satisfaction with job role. Perceptions of ‘workload’ in this context tend to be described in three distinct ways: volume of work or duties directly associated with delivering the core role; ‘internal demand’ - processes and administrative work associated with facilitating the core role; and ‘external demand’ – work created by the failings of external processes, partnerships and services. Volume of work is least likely to be the cause of dissatisfaction in role, or lower motivation or wellbeing, because the majority of this work is directly delivering the core function of the role. This means that whilst volume creates high pressure and sometimes unmanageable workloads, the motivation and energy to do the job remains high enough to support a positive attitude and pride in personal contribution. However, ‘internal demand’ created by inefficiencies and ineffectiveness in policies, processes, systems and communication - often described as ‘failure demand’- generates significant frustration with workload and role. Wider research supports the theory that organisational factors, rather than operational factors – the context of the job, rather than the content of the job, are the leading sources of stress for police officers (Shane, 2010, Hesketh et al., 2014).

Examples of internal inefficiencies include working across multiple IT systems and data reporting tools, double-keying, multiple levels of authorisation and audit and creating activity and output data for internal performance management, reporting and meetings. For many, the distance between these internal demands and the core purpose of frontline policing is too far to maintain the strength of motivation, pride and energy to support job satisfaction. In line with this, the workload created by ‘external demand’ is also perceived to be outside of the scope and purpose of frontline policing, often involving individuals and families requiring social care and health services rather than policing intervention. This can reduce the morale and motivation that is generated through developing and utilising skills and expertise to achieve policing outcomes.

Reducing internal inefficiencies has been consistently highlighted by frontline officers and staff as an opportunity to improve individual and collective outcomes, which could contribute to creating space for ideas and innovation and improving wellbeing for those where workload is a factor.

3.2 Recognition; expertise and discretionary effort

Rather than framing reward and recognition in terms of pay, promotion, awards or other forms of feedback, frontline officers and staff tend to draw a relationship between feeling their skills, expertise and effort leads to positive outcomes for policing, the public and specifically for victims. The ability to do their job well and to demonstrate the connection between their knowledge and experience and what they are able to deliver, is found to impact upon feeling rewarded and recognised and higher discretionary effort. Alternatively, where frontline officers and staff feel ‘interchangeable’, treated as a collar number and a ‘commodity’, this psychological contract between the individual and the force is damaged, leading to a lack of personal investment in delivery and outcomes and reduced discretionary effort. This finding is supported by research by Hesketh et al., (2016) which shows that security in role and feeling a sense of control over the role being delivered, tend to contribute to greater discretionary effort. This is particularly evident for those who have experienced extremely swift movement in roles and areas of responsibility and those who have been moved from specialist areas of policing ‘back to the frontline’. These issues are linked to perceptions of poor transparency in decision-making and rationale for change and a lack of fairness in access to opportunities for personal and professional development.

Our research findings suggest a change in expectations about reward and recognition in policing in recent years, where receiving training and lateral development is perceived as recognition and investment. This appears to be caused by restricted access to even basic training, and the importance of confidence and competence in performing well in role and maintaining positive relationships with peers and management. It is evident across studies that the majority of the frontline do not display confidence that the training they receive effectively equips them for the job roles they perform. Whilst levels of confidence in decision-making and use of professional judgement tend to be high in policing, this appears to be driven by the lack of available support and supervision rather than the growth of competence in role. This was supported by findings that the majority of frontline officers do not feel they would be supported if a mistake was made. The attention of senior leadership is often directed towards specific individuals on the frontline when something has gone wrong, as opposed to identifying and recognising effort and outcomes of good work.

Across the studies examined for this paper it is shown that the majority of frontline officers and staff enjoy their role and feel pride in what they do. Whilst this is not found to be related to feeling recognised by leadership, the role of peer recognition and peer support is evident in descriptions of enjoyment and satisfaction with the work. Wider literature supports the view that it is a behavioural norm in policing to go over and above core responsibilities and that this underpins police organisational identity (Hoggett, et. al., 2014). This is described as ‘organisational citizenship behaviour’, which plays a significant role in self-esteem in identities in policing and the way recognition is weaved into this culture (Hoggett et. al., 2014). However, working extra hours and taking on extra responsibilities can be counter-intuitive for managing wellbeing, reducing an ‘impression management’ culture and optimising discretionary effort (O’Grady, 2018; Organ et al., 2006).

3.3 Performance management and innovation

The pervasive culture around understanding and managing performance through the use of numerical targets in policing continues to be identified by frontline officers and staff as the fundamental blocker to generating a learning culture which fosters innovation and effective problem-solving. Senior leaders are often perceived to be ‘out of touch’ with the realities of frontline policing and middle management tend to hold a reputation which leans towards simplistic assessment of outputs, personal reputation management and lack transparency in effectively communicating between the frontline and senior leaders. A ‘blame culture’ continues to be referenced by frontline officers and staff, which inevitably stifles ideas and innovation and erodes perceptions of support for developing new models or approaches to policing.

Whilst creating a learning culture and notions of evidence-based policing are increasingly evident in frontline narratives about policing, the research findings suggest that projects in these areas are the exception. Change programmes and new initiatives are often associated with the advancement of specific individuals rather than organisational learning and evidence, causing perceptions of bias in related performance analysis and assessment of outcomes.

Approaches to performance management have also been criticised by frontline officers and staff as focussing attention towards specific teams or departments, driving silo working and reducing assessments of resourcing against outcomes at the strategic level. There is widespread understanding of the financial position of policing and keen support to identify and remove waste, however this energy is often lost through perceptions of poor decision-making by senior leaders about resource management. In many examples these perceptions may have been changed through more effective communication about change programmes and resource allocation, particularly in relation to collaborations. Improving communication with the frontline about opportunities to improve practice, where leadership are perceived to be genuinely listening and gathering information to explore ideas, can stimulate teams and individuals to find resources to test new ideas and to remove barriers to change.

3.4 Leadership and management

Whilst there are references to positive, engaging and inspiring supervision and management in policing, which generally appears in teams with lower demand, more predictable demand or with a lower volume of work, descriptions of middle management tend to reflect dissatisfaction or disillusionment. Whilst perceptions and relationships with direct line managers are inconsistent; often positive where they are perceived to be part of the team and therefore ‘part of the struggle’; or negative, often driven by a perceived lack of interest and support for the individual and their personal circumstances and areas of interest and expertise. Wider research suggests that where approaches to supervision frequently reflect positive behaviours and rarely negative behaviours, employees report having better psychological wellbeing, which increases their resilience and ability to perform their roles (Hesketh et al., 2014; Gilbreath & Benson, 2004). These ‘positive behaviours’ include communication, consideration, support, organising work to minimise stressful periods and leadership to demonstrate to employees that they are part of something important and valued. Whereas ‘negative behaviours’ reflect the opposite, creating a focus on performance and productivity at the expense of wellbeing. Our findings suggest this focus on performance plays out as supervisors ‘counting’ the activities and outputs of individuals and teams and creating a culture of punishment for lower ‘productivity’ and competitiveness between teams.

Our research evidence points to a collective sense that overt commitment to management, including identifying areas for professional development, engaging in Personal Development Reviews and capturing evidence of progress, is ‘wasted time’. Those who have disengaged from PDR processes altogether also tend to have more negative perceptions of their direct line manager. The PDR is consistently highly unpopular, which is linked to earlier findings related to a perceived lack of transparency and fairness in access to training and developing specialist skills and experience. Investing in officers as individuals with skills and experience, reduces feelings of being an interchangeable ‘commodity’ and increases feelings of being recognised and valued.

3.5 Summary

In summary, the points made in this paper collectively create an environment in which effective performance management at the individual level becomes very complex. Perceptions or experiences of inadequate training, lack of investment in personal and professional development, swift movement between roles and teams, lack of support and high impact of internal inefficiencies, inevitably leads to individuals being unable or unwilling to deliver their role effectively. The lack of particularly positive or negative outcomes for frontline police officers and staff appears to facilitate inertia, exacerbated by change programmes either lacking in objective evidence and rationale or hindered by ineffective communication. Despite this context, the majority of officers feel proud of their role, enjoy what they do and demonstrate high levels of commitment and energy to support their colleagues and to provide the best possible service to the public.

Dr Laura Knight, Director, Institute for Public Safety, Crime and Justice

5. Contributors

Dr Iain Britton, Kath Cahalin, Dr Matthew Callender, Dr Berni Doran, Dan Moloney and Valentina Lugli.

Contact: Dr Laura Knight

Email: [email protected]

Mobile: 07850260029

6. References

Hesketh, I., Smith, J. and Ivy, J. (2014). ‘Keeping the Peelian Spirit: Resilience and Spirituality in Policing.’ Police Journal: Theory, Practice and Principles, 87 (3): 154-166.

Hesketh, I., Cooper, C.L. and Ivy, J. (2016). ‘Wellbeing and Engagement in Policing: The Key to Unlocking Discretionary Effort?’ Policing, 11 (1): 62-73.

Hoggett, J., Redford, P., Toher, D. and White, P. (2014). Challenge and change: Police identity, morale and goodwill in an age of austerity. Project Report. University of the West of England.

Joyce, S., Shand, F. and Tighe, J. (2018). ‘Road to resilience: a systematic review and meta-analysis of resilience training programmes and interventions’. BMJ Open, (8): e017858. doi:10.1136/ bmjopen-2017-017858.

O’Grady, S. (2018). ‘Organisational citizenship behaviour: Sensitization to an organisational phenomenon’. Journal of Nursing Management, (26): 795-801.

Organ, D. W., Podsakoff, P. M. and MacKenzie, S. B. (2006). Organizational citizenship behavior: Its nature, antecedents, and consequences. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.

Shane, J. M. (2010). ‘Organizational stressors and police performance’. Journal of Criminal Justice, 38 (4): 807-818.

Gilbreath, B. and Benson, P.G. (2004). ‘The contribution of supervisor behaviour to employee psychological well-being’. Work & Stress, 18 (3): 255-266.

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