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114 Crime Investigation Essay Topic Ideas & Examples

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Crime investigation is a fascinating field that involves the study of criminal behavior, evidence collection, forensic analysis, and the pursuit of justice. If you are studying criminal justice or simply have an interest in the subject, writing an essay on crime investigation can be both enlightening and informative. To help you get started, here are 114 crime investigation essay topic ideas and examples to inspire your writing.

• The role of forensic evidence in solving crimes.
• The impact of DNA analysis on criminal investigations.
• The evolution of crime scene investigation techniques.
• The use of technology in modern crime investigation.
• The challenges faced by crime investigators in cold cases.
• The role of the profiler in criminal investigations.
• The importance of eyewitness testimony in solving crimes.
• The impact of social media on crime investigation.
• The ethics of undercover investigations.
• The psychology of serial killers and their investigation.
• The use of lie detectors in criminal investigations.
• The challenges of investigating cybercrime.
• The role of forensic anthropology in crime investigation.
• The use of surveillance in criminal investigations.
• The investigation techniques used in white-collar crime cases.
• The challenges of investigating organized crime.
• The role of forensic entomology in determining time of death.
• The use of geographic profiling in serial murder investigations.
• The impact of forensic botany in criminal investigations.
• The investigation techniques used in arson cases.
• The role of forensic odontology in identifying human remains.
• The challenges of investigating hate crimes.
• The use of forensic accounting in fraud investigations.
• The role of forensic linguistics in solving crimes.
• The impact of forensic psychology in criminal investigations.
• The investigation techniques used in drug trafficking cases.
• The challenges of investigating cold cases without physical evidence.
• The use of forensic toxicology in determining cause of death.
• The role of crime scene reconstruction in criminal investigations.
• The impact of ballistics analysis on solving firearm-related crimes.
• The investigation techniques used in child abduction cases.
• The challenges of investigating crimes committed by juveniles.
• The use of forensic anthropology in mass disaster investigations.
• The role of forensic entomology in determining postmortem interval.
• The impact of forensic botany in environmental crime investigations.
• The investigation techniques used in human trafficking cases.
• The challenges of investigating crimes committed by the mentally ill.
• The use of forensic accounting in money laundering investigations.
• The role of forensic linguistics in identifying anonymous threats.
• The impact of forensic psychology in profiling sex offenders.
• The investigation techniques used in art forgery cases.
• The challenges of investigating crimes committed by terrorists.
• The use of forensic toxicology in determining impairment in DUI cases.
• The role of crime scene reconstruction in domestic violence investigations.
• The impact of ballistics analysis on solving gang-related crimes.
• The investigation techniques used in missing persons cases.
• The challenges of investigating crimes committed by corrupt officials.
• The use of forensic anthropology in identifying victims of genocide.
• The role of forensic entomology in determining location of death.
• The impact of forensic botany in wildlife crime investigations.
• The investigation techniques used in elder abuse cases.
• The challenges of investigating crimes committed by cults.
• The use of forensic accounting in corporate fraud investigations.
• The role of forensic linguistics in identifying plagiarism.
• The impact of forensic psychology in investigating mass shootings.
• The investigation techniques used in art theft cases.
• The challenges of investigating crimes committed by hate groups.
• The use of forensic toxicology in determining substance abuse history.
• The role of crime scene reconstruction in stalking investigations.
• The impact of ballistics analysis on solving drive-by shootings.
• The investigation techniques used in human rights abuse cases.
• The challenges of investigating crimes committed by drug cartels.
• The use of forensic anthropology in identifying victims of natural disasters.
• The role of forensic entomology in determining insect-related deaths.
• The impact of forensic botany in agricultural crime investigations.
• The investigation techniques used in fraud against the elderly cases.
• The challenges of investigating crimes committed by cult leaders.
• The use of forensic accounting in Ponzi scheme investigations.
• The role of forensic linguistics in analyzing ransom notes.
• The impact of forensic psychology in investigating child abuse cases.
• The investigation techniques used in historic artifact smuggling cases.
• The challenges of investigating crimes committed by human traffickers.
• The use of forensic toxicology in determining drug-facilitated crimes.
• The role of crime scene reconstruction in workplace violence investigations.
• The investigation techniques used in war crimes cases.
• The challenges of investigating crimes committed by cybercriminals.
• The use of forensic anthropology in identifying victims of plane crashes.
• The role of forensic entomology in determining insect infestation in food.
• The impact of forensic botany in illegal logging investigations.
• The investigation techniques used in online scams and frauds.
• The challenges of investigating crimes committed by human rights violators.
• The use of forensic accounting in uncovering money laundering networks.
• The role of forensic linguistics in analyzing hate speech.
• The impact of forensic psychology in investigating child abduction cases.
• The investigation techniques used in art smuggling cases.
• The challenges of investigating crimes committed by human smugglers.
• The use of forensic toxicology in determining poisoning cases.
• The role of crime scene reconstruction in domestic terrorism investigations.
• The impact of ballistics analysis on solving gang-related drive-by shootings.
• The investigation techniques used in war crimes against civilians cases.
• The challenges of investigating crimes committed by identity thieves.
• The role of forensic entomology in determining insect-related diseases.
• The impact of forensic botany in environmental pollution investigations.
• The investigation techniques used in online child exploitation cases.
• The challenges of investigating crimes committed by international terrorists.
• The use of forensic accounting in uncovering corruption schemes.
• The role of forensic linguistics in analyzing online harassment.
• The impact of forensic psychology in investigating domestic violence cases.
• The use of forensic toxicology in determining drug overdoses.
• The role of crime scene reconstruction in mass shooting investigations.
• The impact of ballistics analysis on solving gang-related homicides.
• The investigation techniques used in war crimes against prisoners cases.
• The challenges of investigating crimes committed by online hackers.
• The use of forensic anthropology in identifying victims of mass disasters.
• The role of forensic entomology in determining insect-related allergies.
• The impact of forensic botany in food contamination investigations.
• The investigation techniques used in online financial fraud cases.
• The challenges of investigating crimes committed by international drug cartels.
• The use of forensic accounting in uncovering corporate embezzlement.
• The role of forensic linguistics in analyzing online radicalization.

These essay topic ideas and examples cover a wide range of crime investigation areas, from traditional forensic techniques to modern technological advancements. Choose a topic that interests you the most, conduct thorough research, and present a well-structured and informative essay that showcases your knowledge and understanding of crime investigation. Remember to cite your sources properly and enjoy the process of exploring this intriguing field of study.

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Home » 500+ Criminal Justice Research Topics

500+ Criminal Justice Research Topics

Criminal justice is a complex and critical field that encompasses various aspects of crime prevention, law enforcement, legal proceedings, and punishment. Research plays a crucial role in understanding and addressing the challenges and opportunities in this field. From studying the causes and consequences of crime to exploring the effectiveness of policies and interventions, there is a wide range of fascinating and important criminal justice research topics to explore. Whether you are a student, a scholar, a practitioner, or a curious citizen, delving into the world of criminal justice research can deepen your knowledge, sharpen your critical thinking skills, and contribute to creating a safer and fairer society. In this post, we will introduce some of the most compelling and relevant criminal justice research topics that you may find intriguing and informative.

Criminal Justice Research Topics

Criminal Justice Research Topics are as follows:

• The effectiveness of community policing in reducing crime rates
• The impact of body-worn cameras on police accountability and public trust
• The causes and consequences of police use of excessive force
• The role of race and ethnicity in police-citizen interactions and perceptions
• The effectiveness of diversion programs in reducing recidivism among juvenile offenders
• The impact of mandatory minimum sentencing on crime rates and prison populations
• The challenges and opportunities of restorative justice as an alternative to punitive justice
• The role of mental health and substance abuse treatment in reducing criminal behavior
• The ethics and implications of using predictive policing algorithms
• The impact of private prisons on the criminal justice system and society
• The effectiveness of victim-offender mediation in reducing the harm of crime
• The prevalence and causes of wrongful convictions and the implications for justice
• The role of media in shaping public perceptions of crime and justice
• The effectiveness and fairness of the death penalty as a form of punishment
• The role of international law in addressing transnational crimes such as terrorism and human trafficking
• The impact of the War on Drugs on drug use, drug-related crime, and public health
• The effectiveness of gun control laws in reducing gun violence and crime rates
• The role of technology in enhancing or challenging the criminal justice system, such as DNA analysis or facial recognition software
• The prevalence and causes of domestic violence and the effectiveness of intervention programs
• The impact of sentencing disparities based on race, ethnicity, and socioeconomic status
• The role of plea bargaining in the criminal justice system and the implications for justice
• The effectiveness of sex offender registries and notification laws in reducing sex crimes
• The impact of pretrial detention on defendants’ rights and outcomes
• The role of community-based corrections in reducing recidivism and promoting reentry
• The ethics and implications of using unmanned aerial vehicles (drones) for surveillance and law enforcement
• The effectiveness and implications of using risk assessment tools in pretrial decision-making
• The prevalence and impact of hate crimes and the challenges of prosecuting them
• The role of eyewitness testimony in criminal trials and the reliability of memory
• The effectiveness of drug courts in reducing drug-related crime and improving outcomes for offenders
• The impact of race and ethnicity on the administration of the death penalty
• The role of juries in the criminal justice system and the factors that affect their decisions
• The effectiveness and ethics of using informants in criminal investigations and prosecutions
• The prevalence and impact of cybercrime and the challenges of investigating and prosecuting it
• The effectiveness of juvenile justice reforms in promoting rehabilitation and reducing recidivism
• The impact of community-based policing on police-citizen relations and trust
• The role of social media in shaping perceptions of crime and justice
• The effectiveness of prison education and vocational training programs in promoting rehabilitation and reducing recidivism
• The prevalence and impact of human rights abuses in the criminal justice system, such as torture or discrimination
• The effectiveness of gang prevention and intervention programs in reducing gang-related crime
• The role of implicit bias in the criminal justice system and its impact on outcomes
• The impact of solitary confinement on mental health, behavior, and reentry outcomes
• The impact of police body cameras on public trust and police accountability.
• The effectiveness of diversion programs for juvenile offenders.
• The impact of community policing on crime reduction
• The use of predictive policing in law enforcement
• The impact of decriminalizing marijuana on crime rates
• The role of mental health professionals in the criminal justice system
• The effectiveness of de-escalation training for police officers
• The impact of technology on police surveillance practices
• The relationship between gender and sentencing disparities in the criminal justice system
• The relationship between poverty and crime
• The effectiveness of restorative justice programs in reducing recidivism
• The impact of the War on Drugs on mass incarceration
• The use of cognitive-behavioral therapy in offender rehabilitation
• The effectiveness of diversion programs for people with substance use disorders
• The role of implicit bias in jury selection
• The impact of police officer stress on use of force incidents
• The use of big data in criminal investigations and decision-making
• The effectiveness of restorative justice practices in school disciplinary policies
• The relationship between mental illness and homelessness in the criminal justice system
• The impact of mandatory minimum sentences on juvenile offenders
• The role of drug courts in the criminal justice system
• The effectiveness of offender reentry programs for people with disabilities
• The impact of restorative justice programs on victims of crime
• The use of therapeutic jurisprudence in the criminal justice system
• The relationship between race and ethnicity and the use of force by private security personnel
• The effectiveness of educational programs in correctional facilities
• The impact of eyewitness identification procedures on wrongful convictions
• The role of community-based policing in reducing crime rates
• The use of predictive analytics in bail decisions
• The effectiveness of correctional education programs on recidivism
• The impact of immigration enforcement policies on immigrant communities’ trust in law enforcement
• The relationship between mental health and juvenile detention
• The use of biometrics in criminal investigations and identification
• The effectiveness of mental health courts in reducing recidivism among people with co-occurring disorders
• The impact of gender and sexuality on hate crime victimization and reporting
• The role of cultural competence in police training
• The use of risk assessment tools in pretrial detention decisions
• The effectiveness of community supervision programs for people with substance use disorders
• The impact of social and economic policies on criminal justice outcomes
• The relationship between race and ethnicity and criminal case outcomes
• The use of therapeutic communities in correctional facilities
• The effectiveness of specialized courts for domestic violence cases
• The impact of gun violence on public safety and crime rates
• The role of eyewitness memory and recall in criminal investigations and trials
• The use of DNA evidence in criminal investigations and exoneration
• The effectiveness of probation and parole programs for people with disabilities
• The impact of victim impact statements on sentencing decisions
• The relationship between criminal justice policies and racial and ethnic disparities in incarceration rates
• The use of unmanned aerial vehicles in law enforcement
• The effectiveness of community-based restorative justice programs for juvenile offenders
• The impact of public defender workload on criminal case outcomes
• The role of community activism and advocacy in criminal justice reform
• The use of risk assessment tools in school disciplinary policies
• The effectiveness of family-focused interventions in reducing juvenile recidivism
• The impact of police officer race and ethnicity on use of force incidents
• The relationship between race and ethnicity and prosecutorial decision-making
• The use of virtual reality simulations in police training
• The effectiveness of mental health diversion programs for people with traumatic brain injuries
• The impact of juvenile life without parole sentences on individuals and society.
• The use of drones in criminal investigations
• The effectiveness of community-based alternatives to incarceration for nonviolent offenders
• The impact of wrongful convictions on the criminal justice system
• The role of implicit bias in criminal justice decision-making
• The use of risk assessment tools in child welfare investigations
• The effectiveness of offender reentry programs in reducing recidivism
• The impact of hate crimes on marginalized communities
• The relationship between mental health and the use of force by police officers
• The use of body language analysis in criminal interrogations
• The effectiveness of community policing strategies in building trust between police and communities
• The impact of race on police use of force and police brutality
• The role of prosecutorial discretion in the criminal justice system
• The use of algorithms in pretrial detention decisions
• The effectiveness of victim-centered approaches to sexual assault investigations
• The impact of domestic violence on child custody decisions
• The relationship between social media and cybercrime
• The use of facial recognition technology in law enforcement
• The effectiveness of police officer training programs on cultural sensitivity and bias reduction
• The impact of the school-to-prison pipeline on youth
• The role of mental health courts in diversion programs
• The use of virtual reality technology in criminal justice education and training
• The effectiveness of crisis intervention teams in responding to mental health crises
• The impact of immigration policies on crime reporting and victimization rates in immigrant communities
• The relationship between police department size and use of force incidents
• The use of predictive analytics in parole and probation supervision
• The effectiveness of juvenile justice system diversion programs for LGBTQ+ youth
• The impact of bail reform on pretrial detention rates and recidivism
• The role of trauma-informed care in the criminal justice system
• The use of artificial intelligence in forensic investigations
• The effectiveness of prison entrepreneurship programs in reducing recidivism
• The impact of COVID-19 on the criminal justice system
• The relationship between mental health and incarceration rates
• The use of social network analysis in criminal investigations
• The effectiveness of drug testing and monitoring programs for probationers and parolees
• The impact of mandatory minimum sentences on drug offenses
• The role of the media in shaping public perceptions of crime and the criminal justice system
• The use of body-worn cameras in courtroom proceedings
• The effectiveness of mental health diversion programs for veterans involved in the criminal justice system
• The impact of race and ethnicity on the plea bargaining process
• The relationship between police department diversity and community trust
• The use of crime mapping in law enforcement strategies
• The effectiveness of animal therapy programs in correctional facilities
• The impact of the death penalty on families of victims and offenders
• The role of prosecutorial misconduct in wrongful convictions.
• Racial disparities in the use of capital punishment
• The effectiveness of electronic monitoring as an alternative to incarceration
• The role of restorative justice in reducing recidivism
• The relationship between mental illness and criminal behavior
• The effectiveness of drug courts in reducing drug-related offenses
• The impact of body-worn cameras on police behavior and citizen complaints
• The use of risk assessment tools in sentencing and release decisions
• The effectiveness of boot camp programs for juvenile offenders
• The use of eyewitness testimony in criminal trials
• The impact of victim-offender mediation on the criminal justice system
• The relationship between education level and criminal behavior
• The effectiveness of parole and probation in reducing recidivism
• The use of artificial intelligence in criminal justice decision-making
• The role of public defenders in the criminal justice system
• The impact of mandatory minimum sentences on the prison population
• The effectiveness of therapeutic courts for individuals with substance abuse disorders
• The impact of social media on the reporting of crimes and public perception of crime
• The effectiveness of cognitive-behavioral therapy in reducing recidivism
• The impact of mental health courts on the criminal justice system
• The role of community service in reducing recidivism
• The relationship between domestic violence and gun ownership
• The effectiveness of diversion programs for individuals with mental illnesses
• The impact of sentencing guidelines on judicial discretion
• The use of police body language in detecting deception during interviews
• The relationship between incarceration and employment opportunities post-release
• The effectiveness of community-based supervision programs for released offenders
• The impact of the war on drugs on the criminal justice system
• The role of race and ethnicity in plea bargaining decisions
• The use of risk assessment tools in juvenile justice
• The effectiveness of animal-assisted therapy in correctional facilities
• The impact of restorative justice on the victims of crime
• The relationship between gun laws and gun violence rates
• The effectiveness of pretrial diversion programs for individuals with mental illnesses
• The role of reentry programs in reducing recidivism
• The impact of mandatory arrest policies in domestic violence cases
• The use of polygraph tests in criminal investigations
• The relationship between gang membership and criminal behavior
• The effectiveness of drug treatment courts in reducing recidivism
• The impact of solitary confinement on mental health and behavior
• The role of gun buyback programs in reducing gun violence
• The relationship between substance abuse and child abuse
• The effectiveness of victim impact panels in reducing drunk driving
• The impact of juvenile detention on mental health and behavior
• The use of forensic science in criminal investigations
• The relationship between race and wrongful convictions
• The effectiveness of prison education programs in reducing recidivism
• The impact of police militarization on community trust and safety
• The relationship between race, ethnicity, and police use of force.
• The impact of mandatory minimum sentencing laws on incarceration rates.
• The effectiveness of community policing in reducing crime rates.
• The relationship between mental illness and criminal behavior.
• The role of gender in criminal justice sentencing and outcomes.
• The impact of the war on drugs on incarceration rates and drug use.
• The effectiveness of restorative justice programs in reducing recidivism.
• The impact of solitary confinement on mental health and rehabilitation.
• The relationship between poverty and crime rates.
• The role of technology in modern policing and criminal justice.
• The effectiveness of drug courts in reducing drug-related crime.
• The relationship between immigration and crime rates.
• The impact of mandatory arrest policies in cases of domestic violence.
• The effectiveness of victim-offender mediation in reducing recidivism.
• The role of social media in modern crime and policing.
• The impact of police militarization on community trust and safety.
• The effectiveness of rehabilitation programs for incarcerated individuals.
• The relationship between gun ownership and violent crime.
• The impact of wrongful convictions on individuals and the criminal justice system.
• The role of race and ethnicity in jury selection and decision-making.
• The effectiveness of mental health courts in reducing recidivism.
• The relationship between education and crime rates.
• The impact of body-worn cameras on police officer behavior and decision-making.
• The effectiveness of drug treatment programs in reducing recidivism.
• The relationship between domestic violence and gun ownership.
• The impact of the death penalty on deterrence and sentencing outcomes.
• The role of implicit bias in policing and criminal justice decision-making.
• The effectiveness of community-based reentry programs for formerly incarcerated individuals.
• The relationship between crime rates and social inequality.
• The impact of predictive policing on crime rates and community trust.
• The effectiveness of probation and parole programs in reducing recidivism.
• The relationship between mental health and policing.
• The impact of police unions on police accountability and reform efforts.
• The role of the media in shaping public perceptions of crime and justice.
• The effectiveness of pretrial diversion programs in reducing incarceration rates.
• The relationship between police use of force and police training.
• The impact of mandatory minimum drug sentences on racial disparities in the criminal justice system.
• The effectiveness of juvenile detention alternatives in reducing recidivism.
• The relationship between mass incarceration and economic inequality.
• The impact of police body language on civilian compliance.
• The role of community organizations in crime prevention and intervention.
• The effectiveness of reentry programs for people with disabilities.
• The relationship between mental health and criminal justice reform.
• The impact of immigration policies on community safety and trust.
• The role of prosecutorial discretion in the criminal justice system.
• The effectiveness of job training programs for formerly incarcerated individuals.
• The relationship between race and drug policy.
• The impact of pretrial detention on case outcomes and incarceration rates.
• The effectiveness of diversion programs for offenders with mental health issues
• The prevalence and impact of police corruption and the challenges of rooting it out
• The role of victim impact statements in the criminal justice system and their impact on sentencing
• The impact of social inequality on crime rates and the criminal justice system
• The role of political ideology in shaping criminal justice policy and practice
• The effectiveness of rehabilitation and reentry programs for adult offenders
• The prevalence and impact of sexual harassment and assault within the criminal justice system
• The role of the Fourth Amendment in regulating police searches and seizures
• The effectiveness of restorative justice practices in addressing campus sexual assault
• The impact of mass incarceration on families and communities
• The ethics and implications of using artificial intelligence in criminal justice decision-making
• The role of bail reform in promoting justice and reducing pretrial detention
• The prevalence and impact of police misconduct and accountability mechanisms
• The effectiveness of drug policy reform in reducing drug-related harm and promoting public health
• The impact of globalization on transnational crimes and the challenges of international cooperation
• The role of prosecutorial discretion in shaping criminal justice outcomes
• The prevalence and impact of white-collar crime and the challenges of prosecution
• The role of public defenders in ensuring access to justice for indigent defendants
• The effectiveness of mental health courts in diverting mentally ill offenders from the criminal justice system
• The impact of the criminal justice system on immigrant communities and the challenges of immigrant detention and deportation
• The role of forgiveness in restorative justice and its implications for healing and reconciliation
• The effectiveness of alternative dispute resolution in reducing court congestion and promoting justice
• The prevalence and impact of hate speech and the challenges of regulating it
• The role of public opinion in shaping criminal justice policy and practice
• The effectiveness of community supervision in reducing recidivism and promoting reentry
• The impact of the criminalization of homelessness on vulnerable populations
• The role of community activism and advocacy in promoting criminal justice reform
• The effectiveness of therapeutic jurisprudence in promoting rehabilitation and well-being
• The prevalence and impact of police militarization and its implications for public safety and civil liberties
• The role of eyewitness identification procedures in criminal investigations and the reliability of identification evidence
• The effectiveness of harm reduction strategies in reducing drug-related harm and promoting public health
• The impact of the criminal justice system on Indigenous communities and the challenges of decolonizing justice
• The role of hate crime legislation in promoting justice and reducing hate-motivated violence
• The effectiveness of police training programs in reducing racial and ethnic bias and promoting cultural competence
• The prevalence and impact of gun violence and the challenges of gun control policy
• The role of the Eighth Amendment in regulating cruel and unusual punishment
• The effectiveness of problem-solving courts in addressing complex social issues and promoting justice
• The impact of the criminal justice system on LGBTQ+ communities and the challenges of achieving equality and inclusivity
• The role of victim services in promoting healing and well-being for crime victims
• The effectiveness of drug testing and monitoring programs in promoting rehabilitation and reducing recidivism
• The prevalence and impact of prison gangs and the challenges of managing them
• The role of implicit bias in eyewitness identification and the implications for justice
• The effectiveness of diversion programs for offenders with substance abuse issues
• The impact of social media on crime reporting and law enforcement
• The role of mental health diversion programs in reducing mass incarceration and promoting treatment
• The prevalence and impact of wrongful convictions of innocent people and the challenges of exoneration
• The relationship between immigration and crime rates
• The impact of drug courts on drug-related offenses and recidivism rates
• The use of restorative justice practices in the criminal justice system
• The effectiveness of reentry programs for people released from prison
• The use of polygraph tests in criminal investigations and court proceedings
• The impact of bail amounts on pretrial detention and case outcomes
• The relationship between gun ownership and crime rates
• The effectiveness of mental health screening and assessment for individuals involved in the criminal justice system
• The use of virtual courtrooms in criminal proceedings
• The impact of juvenile detention on mental health and future criminal behavior
• The relationship between poverty and crime rates
• The use of eyewitness identification procedures in criminal investigations and court proceedings
• The effectiveness of community service programs as a sentencing alternative
• The role of racial profiling in law enforcement practices
• The use of risk assessment tools in sentencing and parole decisions
• The impact of mandatory reporting laws on child abuse and neglect cases
• The relationship between parental incarceration and children’s wellbeing
• The effectiveness of diversion programs for drug-related offenses
• The use of cognitive-behavioral therapy in offender rehabilitation programs
• The impact of solitary confinement on mental health and recidivism rates
• The relationship between social capital and crime rates
• The use of DNA evidence in criminal investigations and court proceedings
• The effectiveness of crisis response teams in reducing police use of force incidents
• The role of race and ethnicity in jury selection and decision-making
• The impact of court fines and fees on individuals involved in the criminal justice system
• The relationship between education and crime rates
• The use of risk assessment tools in domestic violence cases
• The effectiveness of reentry programs for individuals with substance use disorders
• The impact of court-appointed attorneys on case outcomes and access to justice
• The role of victim impact statements in sentencing decisions
• The use of mental health courts for individuals with co-occurring disorders
• The effectiveness of court-mandated treatment programs for drug offenders
• The impact of gender on the sentencing and treatment of offenders
• The relationship between drug policy and crime rates
• The use of forensic psychology in criminal investigations and court proceedings
• The effectiveness of cognitive interviewing techniques in witness testimony
• The impact of the media on public perceptions of the criminal justice system
• The relationship between neighborhood characteristics and crime rates
• The use of body-worn cameras in police-community interactions
• The effectiveness of reentry programs for individuals with intellectual disabilities
• The impact of mandatory minimum sentences on sentencing disparities
• The role of mental health providers in prisons and jails
• The use of civil asset forfeiture in law enforcement practices
• The effectiveness of diversion programs for individuals with mental illness involved in the criminal justice system
• The impact of police militarization on community trust and police accountability
• The relationship between unemployment and crime rates
• The use of artificial intelligence in identifying and preventing human trafficking
• The effectiveness of reentry programs for individuals with traumatic brain injuries
• The impact of community-based alternatives to policing on public safety and crime rates.
• The impact of the militarization of police on community relations
• The effectiveness of restorative justice practices in reducing recidivism
• The relationship between socioeconomic status and juvenile delinquency
• The impact of police department culture on officer behavior
• The role of community courts in addressing low-level offenses
• The effectiveness of reentry programs for people who were formerly incarcerated
• The impact of body-worn cameras on police officer behavior and community perceptions
• The relationship between mental illness and police use of force
• The use of neuroscience in criminal sentencing
• The effectiveness of gun control policies in reducing gun violence
• The role of alternative dispute resolution in the criminal justice system
• The use of biometrics in criminal investigations
• The effectiveness of gang prevention and intervention programs
• The impact of domestic violence on employment and economic stability
• The use of artificial intelligence in criminal investigations and sentencing
• The role of implicit bias in eyewitness identification
• The use of drug courts in addressing drug addiction and drug-related crimes
• The effectiveness of reentry programs for juvenile offenders
• The impact of social media on crime and victimization
• The relationship between mental health and incarceration of women
• The use of surveillance technologies in correctional facilities
• The effectiveness of victim-offender mediation programs
• The impact of prosecutorial discretion on plea bargaining outcomes
• The role of mental health assessments in competency to stand trial determinations
• The use of biographical information in criminal investigations
• The effectiveness of diversion programs for people with mental illness
• The impact of police body language on community perceptions
• The relationship between criminal justice policies and racial disparities in healthcare
• The use of geospatial analysis in predicting crime patterns
• The effectiveness of community service programs in reducing recidivism
• The impact of court fines and fees on people with low incomes
• The role of neuroscience in detecting deception
• The use of technology in victim advocacy and support services
• The effectiveness of juvenile justice diversion programs for LGBTQ+ youth
• The impact of parental incarceration on children and families
• The relationship between race and juvenile justice system involvement
• The use of facial recognition technology in correctional facilities
• The effectiveness of community-based mental health services in reducing incarceration rates
• The impact of prison labor on employment opportunities for formerly incarcerated people
• The role of community-based restorative justice in addressing hate crimes
• The use of predictive analytics in child welfare investigations
• The effectiveness of alternative sentencing programs for drug-related offenses
• The impact of immigration enforcement policies on crime reporting in immigrant communities
• The relationship between implicit bias and jury decision-making
• The use of technology in improving language access in the criminal justice system.
• The impact of police body language on citizen perceptions and trust
• The effectiveness of police academy training on officer decision-making in high-pressure situations
• The role of technology in the spread of human trafficking
• The relationship between mental health and probation and parole revocation rates
• The use of community courts in addressing quality of life offenses
• The effectiveness of prisoner reentry programs on family reunification and support systems
• The impact of public defender caseloads on the quality of legal representation
• The role of implicit bias in jury selection and decision-making
• The use of diversion programs for juveniles involved in prostitution
• The effectiveness of community supervision programs for offenders with serious mental illness
• The impact of immigration enforcement policies on the criminal justice system
• The relationship between recidivism rates and prison education and vocational programs
• The use of body-worn cameras in prison settings
• The effectiveness of alternative dispute resolution in reducing court congestion
• The impact of prison labor on reentry and recidivism rates
• The role of risk assessment tools in parole and probation decision-making
• The effectiveness of drug courts in addressing substance abuse and recidivism
• The impact of solitary confinement on mental health and behavior in prison
• The relationship between domestic violence and firearm possession
• The use of mental health diversion programs for veterans involved in the criminal justice system
• The effectiveness of juvenile drug court programs on reducing recidivism
• The impact of private prisons on inmate rehabilitation and public safety
• The role of implicit bias in pretrial detention decisions
• The use of GPS monitoring in pretrial release and probation supervision
• The effectiveness of offender education and job training programs in reducing recidivism
• The impact of collateral consequences on reentry and recidivism rates
• The use of crisis intervention teams in responding to mental health emergencies
• The effectiveness of community-based alternatives to detention for juveniles
• The role of public opinion in shaping criminal justice policy
• The effectiveness of police body-worn cameras in reducing police misconduct and excessive use of force
• The impact of incarceration on family dynamics and relationships
• The relationship between access to legal representation and case outcomes
• The use of community supervision and support programs for individuals with substance use disorders
• The impact of pretrial detention on case outcomes and recidivism rates
• The role of prosecutorial discretion in plea bargaining and sentencing
• The use of facial recognition technology in criminal investigations and surveillance
• The effectiveness of problem-solving courts in addressing specialized criminal cases
• The impact of prison privatization on inmate rights and access to services
• The relationship between race, gender, and criminal justice outcomes
• The use of mental health courts in diversion programs
• The effectiveness of community policing strategies in building trust and reducing crime rates
• The impact of police militarization on community perceptions and police-citizen interactions
• The role of forensic evidence in criminal investigations and court proceedings
• The use of artificial intelligence in predicting criminal behavior and recidivism.
• The use of restorative justice in the criminal justice system
• The impact of police militarization on community policing efforts
• The effectiveness of diversion programs for individuals with substance use disorders
• The relationship between economic inequality and crime rates
• The use of artificial intelligence in pretrial risk assessment
• The impact of mandatory minimum sentences on non-violent drug offenses
• The impact of the War on Drugs on communities of color
• The relationship between mental health and probation violations
• The effectiveness of drug courts in reducing recidivism rates
• The role of eyewitness testimony in wrongful convictions
• The use of facial recognition technology in criminal investigations and prosecutions
• The effectiveness of diversion programs for juvenile offenders
• The impact of probation and parole supervision on recidivism rates
• The relationship between police use of force and mental health disorders
• The use of predictive analytics in criminal sentencing
• The effectiveness of reentry programs for individuals with mental illness
• The impact of bail systems on low-income individuals and communities
• The role of implicit bias in sentencing decisions
• The use of social media in criminal investigations
• The impact of mandatory sentencing on judicial discretion
• The relationship between drug addiction and property crime
• The use of predictive analytics in risk assessment for pretrial release
• The effectiveness of substance abuse treatment programs in correctional facilities
• The impact of police body-worn cameras on police-citizen interactions
• The role of forensic evidence in wrongful convictions
• The use of drones in border patrol and immigration enforcement
• The effectiveness of community supervision programs for individuals with mental illness
• The impact of mandatory sentencing on the prison population and corrections costs
• The relationship between gang activity and violent crime
• The use of artificial intelligence in criminal investigations and evidence collection
• The effectiveness of juvenile diversion programs for first-time offenders
• The impact of prosecutorial misconduct on wrongful convictions
• The role of implicit bias in police use of force incidents
• The use of risk assessment tools in pretrial detention decisions for juvenile defendants
• The effectiveness of prison education programs in reducing recidivism rates
• The impact of racial profiling on policing practices and community trust
• The relationship between homelessness and criminal behavior
• The use of predictive analytics in identifying and preventing cybercrime
• The effectiveness of mental health treatment programs for incarcerated individuals
• The impact of the school-to-prison pipeline on students of color
• The role of community-based programs in reducing crime rates and recidivism
• The use of neuroscience in criminal investigations and sentencing decisions
• The effectiveness of diversion programs for individuals with co-occurring disorders
• The impact of solitary confinement on mental health and recidivism rates.
• The effectiveness of diversion programs for offenders with substance use disorders
• The impact of judicial discretion on sentencing outcomes
• The relationship between access to legal representation and sentencing disparities
• The use of body-worn cameras in reducing police misconduct and brutality
• The impact of bail practices on pretrial detention and racial disparities
• The relationship between police unions and police accountability
• The effectiveness of community supervision in reducing recidivism
• The impact of solitary confinement on mental health outcomes for inmates
• The relationship between criminal justice policies and racial wealth inequality
• The use of risk assessment tools in sentencing decisions
• The effectiveness of mandatory minimum sentences in reducing crime rates
• The impact of victim impact statements on sentencing outcomes
• The relationship between criminal justice policies and environmental justice
• The use of unmanned aerial vehicles (drones) in law enforcement
• The effectiveness of juvenile justice diversion programs for at-risk youth
• The impact of police militarization on community relations
• The relationship between immigration enforcement and public safety
• The use of artificial intelligence in predicting recidivism risk
• The effectiveness of police training on de-escalation tactics
• The relationship between the criminal justice system and income inequality
• The use of geographic profiling in criminal investigations
• The effectiveness of mental health courts in reducing incarceration rates
• The impact of mandatory arrest policies on domestic violence victims
• The relationship between criminal justice policies and public health outcomes
• The use of body-worn cameras in reducing false accusations against police officers
• The effectiveness of cognitive behavioral therapy in reducing domestic violence recidivism
• The impact of race and ethnicity on police use of force during traffic stops
• The use of predictive analytics in parole and probation revocation decisions
• The effectiveness of offender treatment programs for intimate partner violence offenders
• The impact of prison education programs on post-release employment and recidivism
• The relationship between prison labor and modern-day slavery
• The use of predictive modeling to prevent child abuse and neglect
• The effectiveness of community courts in reducing recidivism rates
• The impact of community-based organizations on crime prevention
• The relationship between mental health and substance use disorders in the criminal justice system
• The use of mobile forensic technology in criminal investigations
• The effectiveness of gender-responsive programming in reducing female recidivism rates
• The impact of anti-immigrant sentiment on policing in immigrant communities
• The relationship between police legitimacy and public trust
• The use of data analytics in law enforcement resource allocation
• The effectiveness of reentry programs for people with disabilities
• The impact of police misconduct on wrongful convictions
• The relationship between restorative justice and school discipline
• The use of location tracking technology in the criminal justice system
• The effectiveness of anti-bias training for law enforcement officers
• The impact of drug decriminalization on public safety and health.

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256 Research Topics on Criminal Justice & Criminology

Are you a law school student studying criminal behavior or forensic science? Or maybe just looking for good criminal justice topics, questions, and hypotheses? Look no further! Custom-writing.org experts offer a load of criminology research topics and titles for every occasion. Criminological theories, types of crime, the role of media in criminology, and more. Our topics will help you prepare for a college-level assignment, debate, or essay writing. 

• ⚖️ Criminology vs. Criminal Justice
• 🔬 120 Criminology Research Topics
• 💂 116 Criminal Justice Research Topics

🔦 What Is Criminology?

👮 what is criminal justice, 🔍 references, ⚖️ criminology vs. criminal justice: topics & fields of study.

Criminology. Criminal justice. The terms are often confused even by the people within the field. Nevertheless, criminal justice and criminology are two different spheres. Therefore, these terms are not interchangeable.

Criminology and criminal justice are indeed related. Say, you are pursuing career opportunities in either of the fields. Then, you need to be able to answer the question: what’s the difference between criminology and criminal justice?

To put it simply, criminology studies the anatomy of a crime. More specifically, it explores the causes, costs, and consequences of it. Criminal justice is different from criminology in the sphere it covers. It is the system established for dealing with crimes: the ways of detection, detention, prosecution, and punishment. In short, think of criminal justice as a part of law enforcement.

This chapter just touched on the differences between criminal justice and criminology. If you wish to learn more about the topic, go to chapters IV, and V. Now is the time to move on to criminology research topics!

🔥 Hot Criminology Research Topics

• The role of media in criminology.
• Cultural explanation of crime.
• Benefits of convict criminology.
• Main issues of postmodern criminology.
• Is criminal behavior affected by the politics?
• How does DAWN collect data?
• The limitations of crime mapping.
• Personality traits that trigger criminal behavior.
• Community deterioration and crime rates.
• Does experimental criminology affect social policy?

🔬 120 Criminology Research Topics & Ideas

Here are 100 criminology research topics ideas organized by themes.

General Criminology Research Paper Topics

• Criminology as a social science.
• Criminology and its public policies.
• History of criminology.
• Crime commission: legal and social perspectives .

Criminal Psychology Research Topics

• What is the nature of criminal behavior?
• How does the lack of education affect the incarceration rates?
• Childhood aggression and the impact of divorce
• The effect of the upbringing on antisocial adult behavior
• How do gender and cultural background affect one’s attitude towards drug abuse ?
• Forensic psychology and its impact on the legal system
• What is the role of criminal psychologists?
• Different types of forensic psychological evaluations
• What’s the difference between therapeutic and forensic evaluation?
• Does socioeconomic status impact one’s criminal behavior?

Criminology Research Topics: Theories

• What crimes are typical for what ages?
• How does the type of crime correspond with the level of exerted aggression ?
• What is the connection between citizenship (or lack thereof) and law violation?
• How does education (or lack thereof) correspond with crime level?
• Does employment (or lack thereof) correspond with law violation?
• What is the connection between family status and law violation?
• Does gender affect on the type of law violation?
• How does ownership of firearms correspond with law violation?
• Does immigrant status correlate with law violation?

• Is there a connection between mental health and law violation?
• What are the causes of violence in the society?
• Does the crime rate depend on the neighborhood?
• How does race correspond with the type of crime?
• Do religious beliefs correspond with law violation?
• How does social class correlate with crime rate?
• What are the reasons for the homeless’ improsonment?
• How does weather correspond with law violation?

Criminology Topics on Victimization

• Biological theories of crime: how do biological factors correspond with law violation?
• Classical criminology: the contemporary take on crime, economics, deterrence, and the rational choice perspective.
• Convict criminology: what do ex-convicts have to say on the subject?
• Criminal justice theories: punishment as a deterrent to crime.
• Critical criminology : debunking false ideas about crime and criminal justice.
• Cultural criminology: criminality as the product of culture.
• Cultural transmission theory: how criminal norms are transmitted in social interaction.
• Deterrence theory: how people don’t commit crimes out of fear of punishment.
• Rational choice theory : how crime doing is aligned with personal objectives of the perpetrator.
• Feminist Criminology: how the dominant crime theories exclude women.
• Labeling and symbolic interaction theories: how minorities and those deviating from social norms tend to be negatively labeled.
• Life course criminology : how life events affect the actions that humans perform.
• Psychological theories of crime: criminal behavior through the lense of an individual’s personality.
• Routine activities theory : how normal everyday activities affect the tendency to commit a crime.
• The concept of natural legal crime.
• Self-control theory: how the lack of individual self-control results in criminal behavior.
• Social construction of crime: crime doing as social response.
• Social control theory : how positive socialization corresponds with reduction of criminal violation.
• Social disorganization theory: how neighborhood ecological characteristics correspond with crime rates.
• Social learning theory: how (non)criminal behavior can be acquired by observing and imitating others.
• Strain theories : how social structures within society pressure citizens to commit crime.
• Theoretical integration: how two theories are better than one.

Criminology Research and Measurement Topics

• Citation content analysis (CCA): a framework for gaining knowledge from a variety of media.
• Crime classification systems: classification of crime according to the severity of punishment.
• Crime mapping as a way to map, visualize, and analyze crime incident patterns.
• Reports and statistics of crime: the estimated rate of crime over time. Public surveys.
• Drug abuse warning network (DAWN): predicting trends in drug misuse.
• Arrestee drug abuse monitoring (ADAM): drug use among arrestees.
• Edge ethnography: collecting data undercover in typically closed research settings and groups through rapport development or covert undercover strategy.
• Experimental criminology: experimental and quasi-experimental research in the advancement of criminological theory.
• Fieldwork in criminology: street ethnographers and their dilemmas in the field concerning process and outcomes.
• Program evaluation: collecting and analyzing information to assess the efficiency of projects, policies and programs.
• Quantitative criminology: how exploratory research questions, inductive reasoning, and an orientation to social context help recognize human subjectivity.

Criminology Topics on Types of Crime

• Campus crime: the most common crimes on college campuses and ways of preventing them.
• Child abuse : types, prevalence, risk groups, ways of detection and prevention.
• Cybercrime: cyber fraud, defamation, hacking, bullying, phishing.
• Domestic violence: gender, ways of detection and prevention, activism.
• Domestic violence with disabilities .
• Elder abuse: types, prevalence, risk groups, ways of detection and prevention.
• Environmental crime. Natural resource theft: illegal trade in wildlife and timber, poaching, illegal fishing.
• Environmental crime. Illegal trade in ozone-depleting substances, hazardous waste; pollution of air, water, and soil.
• Environmental crime: local, regional, national, and transnational level.
• Environmental crime: climate change crime and corruption.
• Environmental crime: wildlife harming and exploitation.
• Hate crime: how prejudice motivates violence.

• Homicide : what motivates one person to kill another.
• Human trafficking : methods of deception, risk groups, ways of detection and prevention.
• Identity theft : methods, risk groups, ways of detection and prevention.
• Gambling in America .
• Juvenile delinquency : risk groups, prevention policies, prosecution and punishment.
• Juvenile Delinquency: Causes and Effects
• Organizational crime: transnational, national, and local levels. Ways of disrupting the activity of a group.
• Prostitution: risk groups, different takes on prevention policies, activism.
• Robbery: risk groups, ways of prevention, prosecution and punishment.
• Sex offenses: risk groups, types, prevalence, ways of detection and prevention.
• Terrorism: definition, history, countermeasures.
• Terrorism: individual and group activity, ways of detection and prevention.
• Theft and shoplifting : risk groups, ways of detection, prevention policies, prosecution and punishment.
• Counter-terrorism: constitutional and legislative issues.
• White-collar crime: types, ways of detection, prevention policies, prosecution and punishment.

Criminology Topics on Racism and Discrimination

• How systemic bias affects criminal justice?
• How discriminatory portrayal of minority groups in the media affects criminal justice?
• Racial profiling: targeting minority groups on the basis of race and ethnicity.
• Racism and discrimination towards African-Americans .
• Racial profiling : what are the cons? Are there any pros?
• How discriminatory is the UK Court System?
• How discriminatory is the US Court System?

Other Criminology Research Topics

• Corporate crime : the ruling class criminals.
• Genetics: illegal research and its dangers.
• Hate crime : the implications in criminal justice.
• Serial killers : risk groups, ways of detection and prevention.
• Serial killers: portrayal in media.
• Organized crime : how does it affect criminal justice?
• Crime prevention programs.
• Street lighting: does it reduce crime?
• Terrorism prevention technology.
• Identity theft: risk groups, ways of deception, prevention policies.
• Due process model: procedural and substantive aspects.
• Crime control in criminal justice administration.
• Types of drugs: how do they affect the users?
• Smart handheld devices: their function for security personnel.
• Social media: its impact on crime rate.
• Public health: how does criminal justice affect it?
• Psychometric examinations: what is their role in criminal justice?
• National defense in the US.
• National defense in the UK.
• Sexual harassment: the role of activism, ways of responding, prevention and prosecution.
• Substance abuse: military.
• Criminology and criminal justice jobs: a full list.

🌶️ Hot Criminal Justice Topics

• The history of modern police.
• Different types of prison systems.
• Is situational crime prevention effective?
• How to prevent wrongful convictions.
• Challenges faced by crime victims.
• The advantages of community corrections.
• How do ethics influence criminal justice?
• Disadvantages of felony disenfranchisement.
• Does correctional system in the USA really work?
• Possible problems of prisoner reentry process.

💂 116 Criminal Justice Research Topics & Questions

Here are some of the most typical and interesting criminal justice issues to dazzle your professor.

• Prison system : the main problems and the hidden pitfalls.
• The question of gender: why are there more men who receive capital punishment than women?
• Kidnapping and ransom: common features, motifs, behavior patterns.
• Crime prevention : key principles.
• Firing a gun: what helps professionals understand whether it was deliberate or happened by accident?
• Cybercrime : the legal perspective.
• Internet vigilantism: revenge leaks.
• Hate crime on the Internet: revenge leaks, trolling, defamation.
• Crime and justice in mass media .
• Parental abduction laws.
• Sex offender registry: pros and cons.
• The deterrence theory and the theory of rational choice : are they relevant in the modern world?
• Sexual assault in schools and workplaces.
• Jury selection: how is it performed?
• Experimental criminology: the latest innovations.

• Wildlife crime: areas of prevalence, ways of prevention.
• Felony disenfranchisement laws: when do they apply?
• The relation between organized crime and corruption.
• Victim services: what help can a victim of a crime get?
• Prison rape and violence: the psychological aspect, ways of prevention.
• Juvenile recidivism: what are the risk groups?
• Forensic science: role and functions in modern criminal justice.
• Shoplifting: how to prevent theft?
• Witness Protection Program: who is eligible and how to protect them.
• Date rape : what are the ways for the victims to seek legal assistance?
• Substance abuse and crime: correlation or causation?
• Identity theft: dangers and consequences in the modern world.
• Online predators: what laws can be introduced to protect kids? Real-life examples.
• Civil and criminal cases: how to differentiate?
• Domestic abuse victims: what laws protect them?
• Elder abuse: what can be done to prevent it?
• The strain theory : the unachievable American dream.
• Concepts of law enforcement: pursuing criminal justice .
• Ethics and criminal justice: the unethical sides of law enforcement.
• The top problems to be solved by law enforcement today.
• Information sharing technology: how has it helped in the fight against terrorism?
• Terrorism in perspective: characteristics, causes, control.
• Serial killers : types.
• Drug use and youth arrests.
• Aggressive behavior: how does it correlate with criminal tendencies?
• Community corrections : are they effective?
• Sentencing: how does it take place?
• Punishment types and the established terms.
• Unwarranted arrest: when is it acceptable?
• Human trafficking in the modern world.
• Human trafficking: current state and counteracts .
• The role of technology in modern forensics .
• Similarities and differences between homicide , murder, and manslaughter.
• Types of offenders: classification.
• Effects of gun control measures in the United States .
• The role of crime mapping in modern criminal justice.
• Male crimes vs female crimes: are they different?
• Prisons: the problems of bad living conditions.
• Victimization : causes and ways of prevention.
• Victimology and traditional justice system alternatives .
• Rape victims: what are their rights?
• Problem-solving courts: what underlying problems do they address?
• Mandatory sentencing and the three-strike rule.
• Have “three-strikes” laws been effective and should they be continued?
• Criminal courts: what can be learned from their history?
• Hate crimes: what motivates people to commit them?
• Youth gangs: what is their danger?
• Fieldwork: how is it done in criminology?
• Distributive justice: its place in criminal justice.
• Capital punishment : what can be learned from history?
• Humanities and justice in Britain during 18th century.
• Abolition of capital punishment .
• Criminals and prisoners’ rights.
• Crime prevention programs and criminal rehabilitation .
• Campus crime: what laws and precautions are there against it?
• Criminal trial process: how does it go?
• Crimes committed on a religious basis: how are they punished?
• The code of ethics in the Texas department of criminal justice .
• Comparison between Florida and Maryland’s legislative frameworks .
• Fraud in the scientific field: how can copyright protect the discoveries of researchers?
• Prosecution laws: how are they applied in practice?
• The classification of crime systems.
• Cyberbullying and cyberstalking: what can parents do to protect their children?
• Forgery cases in educational institutions, offices, and governmental organizations.
• Drug courts : how do they work?

Controversial Topics in Criminal Justice

Want your work to be unconventional? Consider choosing one of the controversial topics. You will need to present a number of opposite points of view. Of course, it’s acceptable to choose and promote an opinion that you think stands the best. Just make sure to provide a thorough analysis of all of the viewpoints.

You can also stay impartial and let the reader make up their own mind on the subject. If you decide to support one of the viewpoints, your decision should be objective. Back it up with plenty of evidence, too. Here are some examples of controversial topics that you can explore.

• Reform vs. punishment: which one offers more benefits?
• Restorative justice model : is it the best criminal justice tool?
• The war on drugs : does it really solve the drug problem?
• Criminal insanity: is it a reason enough for exemption from liability?
• Juvenile justice system: should it be eliminated?
• Drug testing on the school ground.
• Police brutality in the United States .
• How to better gun control ?
• Why Gun Control Laws Should be Scrapped.
• Pornography: is it a type of sexual violence?
• Whether death penalty can be applied fairly?
• Jack the Ripper: who was he?
• The modern justice system: is it racist?
• A false accusation: how can one protect themselves from it?
• Concealed weapons: what are the criminal codes of various states?
• Race and crime: is there a correlation?
• Registering sex offenders: should this information be in public records?
• Juvenile delinquency and bad parenting: is there a relation?
• Assessing juveniles for psychopathy or conduct disorder.
• Should all new employees be checked for a criminal background ?
• Are delinquency cases higher among immigrant children?
• Restrictive housing: can it help decongest prisons?
• Homegrown crimes: is there an effective program against them?
• Prostitution: the controversy around legalization .
• Eyewitness testimony: is it really helpful in an investigation?
• Youthful offenders in boot camps: is this strategy effective?
• Predictive policing : is it effective?
• Selective incapacitation: is it an effective policy for reducing crime?
• Social class and crime: is there a relation?
• Death penalty: is it effective in crime deterrence?
• Extradition law: is it fair?
• Devious interrogations: is deceit acceptable during investigations?
• Supermax prisons: are they effective or just cruel?
• Zero tolerance: is it the best policy for crime reduction?
• Marijuana decriminalization: pros and cons.
• Marijuana legalization in the US .

Now that you have looked through the full list of topics, choose wisely. Remember that sometimes it’s best to avoid sensitive topics. Other times, a clever choice of a topic will win you extra points. It doesn’t depend on just the tastes of your professor, of course. You should also take into account how much relevant information there is on the subject. Anyway, the choice of the topic of your research is up to you. Try to find the latest materials and conduct an in-depth analysis of them. Don’t forget to draw a satisfactory conclusion. Writing may take a lot of your time and energy, so plan ahead. Remember to stay hydrated and good luck!

Now, after we looked through the topic collections on criminology and criminal justice, it is time to turn to the specifics in each of the fields. First, let’s talk more extensively about criminology. If you are training to be a criminologist, you will study some things more deeply. They include the behavior patterns of criminals, their backgrounds, and the latest sociological trends in crime.

In the field of criminology, the specialties are numerous. That’s why it’s difficult to pinpoint one career that represents a typical member of the profession. It all depends on the background of a criminologist, their education, and experience.

A criminologist may have a number of responsibilities at their position. For example, they might be called forth to investigate a crime scene. Participation in autopsies is unpleasant yet necessary. Interrogation of suspects and subsequent criminal profiling is another essential duty.

Some professionals work solely in research. Others consult government agencies or private security companies. Courts and law firms also cooperate with criminologists. Their job is to provide expert opinion in criminal proceedings. Some of them work in the prison systems in order to oversee the rehabilitation of the convicted.

Regardless of the career specialty , most criminologists are working on profiling and data collection. A criminologist is another word for an analyst. They collect, study, and analyze data on crimes. After conducting the analysis, they provide recommendations and actionable information.

A criminologist seeks to find out the identity of the person who committed the crime. The time point of a crime is also important, as well as the reason for it. There are several areas covered by the analysis of a criminologist. The psychological behavior of the criminal or criminals is closely studied. The socio-economic indicators are taken into account. There are also, of course, the environmental factors that may have facilitated the crime.

Some high-profile cases require a criminologist to correspond with media and PR managers extensively. Sometimes criminologists write articles and even books about their findings. However, it should be noted that the daily routine of a professional in the field is not so glamorous. Most criminologists do their work alone, without the attention of the public.

The research a criminologist accumulates during their work is extensive. It doesn’t just sit there in a folder on their desk, of course. The collected statistics are used for developing active criminal profiles that are shared with law enforcement agencies. It helps to understand criminal behavior better and to predict it. That’s why a criminologist’s work must be precise and accurate for it to be practical and useful. Also, criminology professionals must have a good grasp of math and statistics.

Thinking of a career in criminology? You will need to, at the very least, graduate from college. There, you’ll master mathematics, statistics, and, of course, criminology. An associate’s degree may get you an entry-level position. But the minimum entry-level requirement is usually the bachelor’s degree. The best positions, though, are left for the professionals with a master’s degree or a PhD.

Just having a degree is not enough. To succeed as a criminologist, you will require all your intelligence, commitment, and the skill of analyzing intricate situations. An aspiration to better the society will go a long way. You will need to exercise your creative, written, and verbal communication skills, too. An analytical mind will land you at an advantage.

Criminology: Research Areas

Times change and the world of crime never ceases to adapt. The nature of criminal transgression is evolving, and so do the ways of prosecution. Criminal detection, investigation, and prevention are constantly advancing. Criminology studies aim to improve the practices implemented in the field.

There are six unified, coordinated, and interrelated areas of expertise. Within each, the professionals are busy turning their mastery into knowledge and action.

The first research area is the newest worry of criminology – cybercrime. The impact of this type of crime is escalating with every passing day. That’s why it’s crucial for the law enforcement professionals to keep up to date with the evolving technology. Cybercrime research is exploring the growing threat of its subject at all levels of society. Cybercrime may impact people on both personal and governmental levels. Cybercrime research investigates the motivation and methodology behind the offenses and finds new ways to react.

The second research area is counter fraud. Crimes that fall under this category include fraud and corruption. The questions that counter fraud research deals with are many. How widely a crime is spread, what method is best to fight it, and the optimal courses of action to protect people and organizations.

The third research area is that of forensics. The contemporary face of justice has been changed by forensic science beyond recognition. Nowadays, it’s much harder for criminals to conceal their activity due to evolved technologies. The research in forensics is utilizing science in the identification of the crime and in its reconstruction. It employs such techniques as DNA recovery, fingerprinting, and forensic interviewing.

What is forensic interviewing? It helps find new ways to gather quality information from witnesses and crime scenes. It also works on developing protocols that ensure the protection of this human data and its correct interpretation by police.

The fourth research area is policing. Police service is facing a lot of pressing issues nowadays due to budget cuts. At the same time, police officers still need to learn, and there are also individual factors that may influence their work.

The fifth research area is penology. It’s tasked with exploring the role of punishment in the criminal justice system. Does punishment aid the rehabilitation of perpetrators, and to what extent? The answer will help link theory to practice and thus shape how criminal justice practitioners work.

The sixth research area is that of missing persons. Before a person goes missing, they may display a certain pattern of behavior. The study of missing persons helps to identify it. The results will determine the handling of such cases.

Now that we know what criminology is, it’s time to talk about criminal justice.

While criminology focuses on the analysis of crime, criminal justice concentrates on societal systems. Its primary concern is with the criminal behavior of the perpetrators. For example, in the USA, there are three branches of the criminal justice system. They are police (aka law enforcement), courts, and corrections. These branches all work together to punish and prevent unlawful behavior. If you take up a career in criminal justice, expect to work in one of these fields.

The most well-known branch of criminal justice is law enforcement. The police force is at the forefront of defense against crime and misdemeanor. They stand against the criminal element in many ways. For instance, they patrol the streets, investigate crimes, and detain suspects. It’s not just the police officers who take these responsibilities upon themselves. There are also US Marshals, ICE, FBI Agents, DEA, and border patrol. Only after the arrest has been made, the perpetrator enters the court system.

The court system is less visible to the public, but still crucial to the criminal justice system. Its main purpose is to determine the suspect’s innocence or guilt. You can work as an attorney, lawyer, bailiff, judge, or another professional of the field. In the court, if you are a suspect, you are innocent until proven guilty. You are also entitled to a fair trial. However, if they do find you guilty, you will receive a sentence. Your punishment will be the job of the corrections system.

The courts determine the nature of the punishment, and the corrections system enforces it. There are three elements of the corrections system: incarceration, probation, and parole. They either punish or rehabilitate the convicts. Want to uptake a career in corrections? You may work as, including, but not limited to: a parole officer, a prison warden, a probation officer, and a guard.

📈 Criminal Justice: Research Areas

The research areas in criminal justice are similar, if not identical, to those of criminology. After all, those are two very closely related fields. The one difference is that criminal justice research has more practical than theoretical applications. But it’s fair to say that theory is the building blocks that practice bases itself on. One is impossible without the other unless the result you want is complete chaos.

So, the question is – what topic to choose for the research paper? Remember that the world of criminal justice is constantly changing. Choosing a subject for research in criminal justice, consider a relevant topic. There are many pressing issues in the field. Exploring them will undoubtedly win you points from your professor. Just make sure to choose a direction that will give you the opportunity to show off both your knowledge and your analytical skills.

Not sure that your original research direction will be appreciated? Then choose one of the standard topics. Something that is widely discussed in the media. And, of course, make sure that you are truly interested in the subject. Otherwise, your disinterest will translate into your writing, which may negatively affect the overall impression. Also, it’s just more enjoyable to work on something that resonates with you.

What can you do with your research paper? Literally anything. Explore the background of the issue. Make predictions. Compare the different takes on the matter. Maybe there are some fresh new discoveries that have been made recently. What does science say about that?

Also, remember to backup all your arguments with quotes and examples from real life. The Internet is the best library and research ground a student could hope for. The main idea of the paper, aka the thesis, must be proven by enough factual material. Otherwise, it’s best to change your research direction.

And, of course, don’t put it all off till the last minute. Make a plan and stick to it. Consistency and clever distribution of effort will take you a long way. Good luck!

🤔 Criminal Justice Research FAQs

Criminological and criminal justice research are the scientific studies of the causes and consequences, extent and control, nature, management, and prevention of criminal behavior, both on the social and individual levels.

Criminal justice and criminology are sciences that analyze the occurrence and explore the ways of prevention of illegal acts. Any conducted personal research and investigation should be supported by the implemented analytical methods from academic works that describe the given subject.

There are six interrelated areas of criminology research:

• Cybercrime research makes law enforcement professionals keep up to date with the evolving technology.
• Counter fraud research investigates cases of fraud and corruption.
• Forensics research utilizes science: DNA recovery, fingerprinting, and forensic interviewing.
• Research in policing investigates individual factors that may influence the work of police officers.
• Penology explores the role of punishment in the criminal justice system.
• The study of missing persons helps to identify patterns of victims’ behavior.

There are seven research methods in criminology:

• Quantitative research methods measure criminological and criminal justice reality by assigning numerical values to concepts to find patterns of correlation, cause and effect.
• Survey research collects information from a number of persons via their responses to questions.
• Experimental research assesses cause and effect in two comparison groups.
• Cross-sectional research studies one group at one point in time.
• Longitudinal research studies the same group over a period of time.
• Time-series designs study the same group at successive points in time.
• Meta-analysis employs quantitative analysis of findings from multiple studies.

The basis of criminological theory is criminological research. It influences the development of social policies and defines criminal justice practice.

Criminological research doesn’t just enable law students to develop analytical and presentational skills. The works of criminal justice professionals, scholars, and government policymakers dictate the way law enforcement operates. The newest ideas born out of research identify corrections and crime prevention, too.

Here is a step-by-step instruction on how to write a criminal justice research paper:

• Choose a topic
• Read the materials and take notes
• Come up with a thesis
• Create an outline for your work
• Draft the body
• Start with a cover page, an abstract, and an intro
• List the methods you used, and the results you got
• Include a discussion
• Sum it up with a conclusion
• Don’t forget a literature review and appendices
• Revise, proofread, and edit

The most common types of methodologies in criminal justice research include:

• Observation of participants.
• Surveys and interviews.
• Observation of focus groups.
• Conducting experiments.
• Analysis of secondary data and archival study.
• Mixed (a combination of the above methods).

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• The Differences Between Criminal Justice and Criminology: Which Degree Is Right for You? (Concordia St. Paul)
• Corporate Crime: Britannica
• The Development of Delinquency: NAP
• Databases for Research & Education: Gale
• A CS Research Topic Generator: Purdue University
• A Introduction To The Federal Court System: US Department of Justice
• Criminal Justice Research Topics: Broward College
• Research Topics in Criminology: Cambridge Institute of Criminology
• CRIMINOLOGY: University of Portsmouth
• Research: Department of Criminology & Criminal Justice, University of Maryland
• Criminal Justice: RAND
• Research Methods in Criminal Justice: Penn State University Libraries
• Research: School of Criminology and Criminal Justice, Arizona State University
• Criminology – Research Guide: Getting started (Penn Libraries)
• Criminology Research Papers: Academia
• The History & Development of the U.S. Criminal Justice System: Study.com
• CRIMINAL JUSTICE & CRIMINOLOGY: Marshall University
• Criminal Justice: Temple University
• Criminal Justice: University of North Georgia
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299+ Forensic Science Research Topics (Updated 2024)

Welcome to the world of Forensic Science Research Topics. Get ready to dive into a treasure of fascinating ideas that crack the mysteries behind crime-solving techniques. This year’s collection spans 15 stunning categories, each including 20 engaging topics.

From DNA Analysis uncovering secrets in genes to Ballistics & Firearms exploring the science behind bullets, these categories open doors to understanding how science solves puzzling cases. Cyber Forensics delves into the digital world of crime, while Forensic Anthropology examines the stories hidden within skeletal remains.

Explore Toxicology & Drug Analysis, diving into the science of poisons and medications, or journey into Wildlife Forensics, where nature meets investigation. Uncover the secrets of Bloodstain Pattern Analysis or delve into the linguistic clues in Forensic Linguistics.

Join us as we uncover the mysteries, piece by piece, and go on a thrilling journey into the captivating realm of Forensic Science Research for the year 2024.

Top 5 Applications of Forensic Science

Table of Contents

Forensic science stands as a crucial pillar in solving mysteries within the kingdoms of crime and justice. It includes various scientific disciplines applied to legal matters, providing key insights that aid investigations and legal proceedings. This multidisciplinary field plays a crucial role in solving crimes, identifying culprits, and bringing closure to victims’ families. Here are the top 5 applications of Forensic Science:

• Crime Scene Investigation (CSI) : Forensic science’s foundation involves detailed examination of crime scenes. It encompasses evidence collection, analysis of fingerprints, bloodstains, fibers, and other trace evidence. This critical process helps reconstruct the sequence of events leading to a crime.
• DNA Analysis : The advancement in DNA technology has revolutionized forensic science. DNA analysis helps identify individuals, link suspects to crime scenes, and exonerate innocent parties. It’s a powerful tool in criminal investigations and solving cold cases.
• Toxicology & Drug Analysis : Forensic toxicology focuses on detecting drugs, poisons, or toxins in the body. It’s instrumental in determining causes of death or establishing impairment due to substances.
• Ballistics & Firearms Analysis : This branch involves studying firearms, bullets, and cartridge cases. It assists in linking weapons to crimes, identifying shooting distances, and determining trajectories.
• Digital Evidence Examination : In the digital age, forensic science extends into cyberspace. Experts analyze digital devices and data to recover, interpret, and present evidence pertinent to cybercrimes.

These five applications showcase how forensic science’s diverse toolkit and methodologies are instrumental in solving crimes, offering justice, and ensuring a safer society.

Top 299+ Forensic Science Research Topics

Now, join us in exploring these thought-provoking themes and be part of the thrilling journey where every clue leads to a new revelation in the field of forensic research. Let us start.

Top 20 Research Topics For DNA Analysis

• Advances in Next-Generation Sequencing Technologies
• Application of DNA Phenotyping in Criminal Investigations
• Forensic Use of Microbial DNA Analysis
• Ethical Implications of DNA Data Sharing
• Rapid DNA Testing in Law Enforcement
• Epigenetics and Its Role in DNA Analysis
• DNA Methylation as an Age Estimation Tool
• Familial DNA Searching in Cold Cases
• Forensic Application of CRISPR Technology
• Mitochondrial DNA Analysis in Identification
• DNA Barcoding for Species Identification
• DNA Preservation Techniques in Forensics
• Y-Chromosome Analysis for Lineage Tracing
• Population Genetics and DNA Variation Studies
• Role of Artificial Intelligence in DNA Analysis
• DNA Damage and Repair Mechanisms
• Forensic Genealogy and Genetic Genealogy
• Environmental DNA (eDNA) Analysis in Forensics
• Forensic Interpretation of DNA Markers
• Comparative Genomics in Forensic DNA Analysis

Top 20 Research Topics For Cyber Forensics

• Cybercrime Investigation Techniques
• Network Traffic Analysis in Digital Forensics
• Malware Analysis and Forensic Examination
• Internet of Things (IoT) Forensics
• Cloud Forensics and Data Recovery
• Cyber Threat Intelligence Analysis
• Incident Response and Readiness in Cyber Forensic
• Social Media Forensic Analysis
• Steganography Detection and Analysis
• Cryptocurrency Forensics
• Mobile Device Forensics
• Digital Evidence Collection and Preservation
• Network Intrusion Detection and Analysis
• Email Header and Content Examination
• Cyber Forensics in Financial Crimes
• Digital Forensic Challenges in Cloud Computing
• Live Data Acquisition and Analysis
• IoT Device Security and Forensics
• Cyber Forensics in Industrial Control Systems
• Anti-Forensic Techniques and Countermeasures

Top 20 Research Topics For Forensic Anthropology

• Skeletal Trauma Analysis in Forensics
• Age Estimation Methods from Skeletal Remains
• Forensic Facial Reconstruction Techniques
• Skeletal Identification Procedures
• Forensic Taphonomy Studies
• Bone Histology in Forensic Investigations
• Forensic Anthropology in Mass Disasters
• Skeletal Analysis for Ancestry Determination
• Skeletal Pathology and Disease Identification
• Entomology in Forensic Anthropology
• Postmortem Interval Estimation from Skeletal Markers
• Burned and Fragmentary Remains Analysis
• Forensic Anthropology in Child Abuse Cases
• Human Rights and Forensic Anthropology
• Forensic Facial Approximation Methods
• Bioarchaeology and Cultural Forensic Anthropology
• Skeletal Stature and Body Mass Estimation
• Forensic Anthropology in War Crimes Investigations
• Skeletal DNA Analysis in Identification
• Skeletal Patterning in Trauma Analysis

Top 20 Research Topics For Ballistics & Firearms

• Firearm Examination and Toolmark Analysis
• Gunshot Residue Analysis Techniques
• Bullet Trajectory Reconstruction Methods
• Forensic Ballistics in Crime Scene Reconstruction
• Firearms Identification Procedures
• Terminal Ballistics and Wound Analysis
• Cartridge Case Examination and Comparison
• Striation Analysis in Bullet and Barrel Matching
• Bullet Penetration and Damage Studies
• Firearm Serial Number Restoration Techniques
• Gunshot Acoustics and Audio Forensics
• Firearm Modification Analysis
• Forensic Analysis of Ammunition Types
• Forensic Ballistics in Shooting Incident Reconstructions
• Shotgun Pattern Analysis Methods
• Bullet Fragment Analysis Techniques
• Distance Determination in Shooting Cases
• Trajectory Analysis in Vehicle-Involved Shootings
• Gunshot Residue Collection and Analysis Methods
• Ballistics and Firearms in Expert Testimony

Top 20 Forensic Science Research Topics On Digital Evidence Examination

• Data Recovery and Reconstruction Techniques
• File System Forensics
• Mobile App Forensic Analysis
• Internet History and Browsing Analysis
• Cloud Storage Forensics
• Metadata Analysis in Digital Evidence
• Deleted File Recovery and Interpretation
• Social Media Forensics
• IoT Device Forensic Analysis
• Network Packet Capture and Analysis
• Timestamp Analysis in Digital Evidence
• Malware Analysis and Behavior Examination
• Database Forensics
• GPS and Geolocation Data Forensics
• Steganalysis and Hidden Data Detection
• Memory Forensics and RAM Analysis
• Artifact Extraction from Operating Systems
• Wearable Technology Forensic Analysis

Top 20 Research Topics For Toxicology & Drug Analysis

• Emerging Drug Trends and Novel Psychoactive Substances
• Forensic Analysis of Opioids and Overdose Deaths
• Designer Drugs Identification and Analysis
• Postmortem Toxicology in Fatalities
• Drug-Facilitated Crimes Analysis
• Workplace Drug Testing Methods
• Forensic Toxicology in Sports Doping
• Analytical Techniques in Drug Detection
• Toxicology of Prescription Medications
• Herbal and Natural Product Toxicology
• Hair Analysis in Drug Detection
• Forensic Toxicology and Environmental Exposure
• Toxicological Analysis in Poisoning Cases
• Analytical Chemistry in Toxicological Studies
• Alcohol Biomarkers and Analysis
• Forensic Toxicology and Forensic Pathology Collaboration
• Forensic Toxicology in Criminal Investigations
• Forensic Toxicology and Age Estimation
• Driving Under the Influence (DUI) Cases
• Forensic Toxicology and Public Health Impact

Top 20 Forensic Science Research Topics On Wildlife Forensics

• Illegal Wildlife Trade Analysis
• DNA Forensics in Wildlife Crime Investigations
• Forensic Identification of Endangered Species
• Wildlife Product Trafficking Investigations
• Forensic Analysis of Poaching Incidents
• Species Identification using Forensic Techniques
• Forensic Entomology in Wildlife Crime Scenes
• Forensic Anthropology in Wildlife Investigations
• Timber Trafficking Forensics
• Wildlife Forensics and Conservation Genetics
• Forensic Odontology in Wildlife Crime Cases
• Trace Evidence Analysis in Wildlife Crime
• Forensic Ballistics in Wildlife Poaching
• Forensic Examination of Fishing and Hunting Gear
• Forensic Imaging and Photography in Wildlife Forensics
• Wildlife DNA Database Development
• Forensic Botany and Plant DNA in Wildlife Investigations
• Forensic Veterinary Pathology in Wildlife Cases
• Wildlife Forensics and International Law Enforcement
• Wildlife Trafficking Routes Analysis

Top 20 Research Topics For Forensic Accounting

• Financial Statement Fraud Examination
• Money Laundering Investigations
• Forensic Analysis of Corporate Fraud
• Forensic Audit Techniques
• Asset Misappropriation Investigations
• Tax Evasion and Fraud Analysis
• Digital Forensics in Financial Investigations
• Investigative Accounting in Bankruptcy Cases
• Forensic Accounting in Divorce Proceedings
• Forensic Accounting in Insurance Claims
• Fraudulent Financial Reporting Analysis
• Bribery and Corruption Investigations
• Forensic Accounting in Nonprofit Organizations
• Business Valuation in Forensic Accounting
• Forensic Accounting and Economic Damages Calculation
• Investigating Embezzlement Cases
• Forensic Accounting in Government Agencies
• Forensic Accounting in Investment Fraud
• Forensic Accounting Ethics and Standards
• Forensic Accounting in Risk Management

Top 20 Forensic Science Research Topics On Bloodstain Pattern Analysis

• Impact Angle Determination in Bloodstain Analysis
• Bloodstain Pattern Classification Methods
• Spatter vs. Transfer Bloodstain Analysis
• Low-Velocity Bloodstain Patterns
• High-Velocity Bloodstain Pattern Analysis
• Area of Convergence and Area of Origin Calculation
• Bloodstain Pattern Analysis in Shooting Incidents
• Void Patterns in Bloodstain Analysis
• Cast-off Bloodstain Analysis
• Saturation and Dilution Analysis in Bloodstains
• Bloodstain Pattern Analysis in Assault Cases
• Swiping and Wiping Bloodstain Patterns
• Bloodstain Pattern Documentation Techniques
• Altered Bloodstain Patterns and Their Analysis
• Bloodstain Pattern Analysis and Crime Scene Reconstruction
• Bloodstain Pattern Analysis on Textiles and Fabrics
• Spine and Travel Analysis in Bloodstain Patterns
• Bloodstain Pattern Analysis in Homicide Investigations
• Bloodstain Pattern Analysis in Accidental Injuries
• Impact Spatter Analysis in Bloodstain Pattern Analysis

Top 20 Research Topics For Forensic Pathology

• Postmortem Interval Estimation Methods
• Cause of Death Determination Techniques
• Forensic Autopsy Procedures
• Blunt Force Trauma Analysis
• Sharp Force Injuries Examination
• Gunshot Wound Examination in Forensic Pathology
• Forensic Toxicology in Autopsy Analysis
• Thermal Injury and Burns Examination
• Asphyxiation and Suffocation Investigations
• Decompositional Changes in Forensic Pathology
• Forensic Pathology and Child Abuse Cases
• Forensic Anthropology in Autopsy Investigations
• Electrical and Lightning Injury Analysis
• Drowning and Water-related Deaths in Forensic Pathology
• Forensic Pathology and Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS)
• Forensic Pathology in Traumatic Brain Injury Cases
• Forensic Pathology in Mass Fatality Incidents
• Forensic Pathology and Forensic Odontology Collaboration
• Forensic Pathology and Infectious Disease Investigations
• Forensic Pathology and Forensic Psychiatry Interface

Top 20 Forensic Science Research Topics On Forensic Odontology

• Bite Mark Analysis and Interpretation
• Dental Identification Techniques
• Forensic Radiography in Odontology
• Age Estimation from Dental Development
• Forensic Odontology in Mass Disasters
• Human Identification using Dental Records
• Bite Mark Analysis in Criminal Investigations
• Dental Impressions and Evidence Collection
• Bite Mark Comparison Methods
• Forensic Odontology in Child Abuse Cases
• Dental Evidence in Bite Injury Cases
• Forensic Bite Mark Photography Techniques
• Dental Morphology and Identification
• Forensic Odontology and Patterned Injury Analysis
• Dental Forensics and Bite Mark Validation
• Dental DNA Analysis in Forensic Odontology
• Bite Mark Analysis in Sexual Assault Cases
• Forensic Odontology in Age Estimation
• Dental Prosthetics in Forensic Identification
• Bite Mark Analysis and Courtroom Testimony

Top 20 Research Topics For Forensic Linguistics

• Authorship Identification in Textual Analysis
• Forensic Stylistics and Writing Analysis
• Threat Assessment and Textual Analysis
• Linguistic Profiling in Criminal Investigations
• Voice Identification and Speaker Profiling
• Deception Detection through Linguistic Analysis
• Forensic Discourse Analysis
• Linguistic Analysis of Suicide Notes
• Comparative Text Analysis in Forensic Linguistics
• Linguistic Analysis of Ransom Notes
• Forensic Phonetics and Speaker Identification
• Linguistic Forensics in Threatening Communication
• Language Analysis in Hate Speech Investigations
• Forensic Linguistics in Cyberbullying Cases
• Verbal Lie Detection Techniques
• Forensic Linguistics and Anonymous Communication
• Language Variation Analysis in Legal Contexts
• Linguistic Profiling in Extortion Cases
• Forensic Linguistics in Profanity Analysis
• Linguistic Analysis of Recorded Conversations

Top 20 Forensic Science Research Topics On Forensic Entomology

• Postmortem Interval Estimation using Insects
• Forensic Use of Blow Flies in Investigations
• Insect Succession Patterns on Decomposing Bodies
• Maggot Mass Temperature and Development Analysis
• Forensic Entomotoxicology (Insects and Toxins)
• Insect Colonization on Buried Remains
• Diptera Identification in Forensic Contexts
• Insect Artifacts on Human Remains
• Forensic Acarology (Mites and Forensics)
• Forensic Entomology in Cold Climate Regions
• Insect Arrival Time and Death Scene Analysis
• Decomposition Studies on Different Environments
• Seasonal Variation in Insect Colonization
• Insect Evidence in Wildlife Forensics
• Forensic Entomology and Crime Scene Investigation
• Insect Pupation and Life Cycle Analysis
• Forensic Use of Beetles and Other Insects
• Forensic Entomology and Postmortem Changes
• Insect Species Diversity on Decomposing Remains
• Insect Evidence Preservation and Collection Techniques

Top 20 Research Topics For Forensic Botany

• Pollen Analysis in Forensic Investigations
• Vegetation Succession on Decomposing Remains
• Forensic Palynology and Crime Scene Analysis
• Plant DNA Profiling in Forensic Botany
• Phytolith Analysis in Soil Forensics
• Botanical Traces and Environmental Significance
• Forensic Use of Algal Evidence
• Plant Tissue Analysis in Death Investigations
• Forensic Seed Identification and Analysis
• Plant-based Toxin Detection in Poisoning Cases
• Botanical Evidence in Wildlife Crime Investigations
• Forensic Plant Anatomy and Morphology
• Plant Ecology as Evidence in Legal Cases
• Forensic Phytogeography and Geolocation
• Plant Trace Evidence on Clothing and Tools
• Forensic Herbal Medicine Analysis
• Dendrochronology in Forensic Botany
• Forensic Plant Pathology
• Forensic Botany and Soil Analysis
• Plant DNA Barcoding for Species Identification

Top 20 Forensic Science Research Topics On Psychology

• False Memory Formation and Witness Testimony
• Investigative Interviewing Techniques
• Psychological Profiling in Criminal Investigations
• Eyewitness Identification Accuracy
• Deception Detection in Forensic Contexts
• Risk Assessment and Recidivism Prediction
• Mental Health in Correctional Facilities
• Psychological Factors in Jury Decision-Making
• Forensic Assessment of Competency to Stand Trial
• Rehabilitation Programs for Offenders
• Trauma and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
• Forensic Psychology in Child Custody Cases
• Behavioral Analysis in Criminal Profiling
• Mental Health and Criminal Responsibility
• Psychological Effects of Crime on Victims
• Psychopathy and Antisocial Behavior
• Juvenile Offenders and Intervention Strategies
• Forensic Neuropsychology and Brain Imaging
• Forensic Assessment of Risk in Violent Offenders
• Witness Credibility and Memory Distortion

Exploring the world of Forensic Science has been a thrilling journey through mysteries and discoveries. With more than 299 forensic science research topics, we’ve uncovered the secrets behind DNA, cyber mysteries, bones, and much more. From decoding crimes with linguistics to unraveling wildlife mysteries, every category held its own treasure of knowledge.

 Remember, these topics aren’t just for experts, they invite everyone to dive into the fascinating world of crime-solving science. As we conclude this adventure, let these topics inspire curiosity and understanding in unraveling the secrets of the forensic world in 2024 and beyond.

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The Top 10 Most Interesting Criminal Justice Research Topics

Are you writing a research paper and having a hard time finding good criminal justice research topics? Thankfully, we have compiled a list of 10 of the best criminal justice research paper topic ideas. We’ve also included several criminal justice research questions and examples of criminal justice research topics to help you write your best paper.

Criminal justice is a great field for both those wanting a greater understanding of the US justice system and those who want to know what it is like to be a lawyer . If you want to write the best criminal justice paper you can, this article is for you.

Find your bootcamp match

What makes a strong criminal justice research topic.

Strong criminal justice research papers consist of a focused question to answer and a specific area of criminal justice like forensic science, serial killers, substance abuse, sexual offenders, cyber criminology, corporate crime, juvenile justice, or criminal behavior. Most educational institutions have guidelines that must be followed for picking criminal justice topics for your criminology research paper, and this list will give you a great place to start researching.

Tips for Choosing a Criminal Justice Research Topic

• Follow the guidelines of your institution. If you are studying criminal justice at any university like Loyola University, Cornell University, Walden University, or even Harvard University, your professor has probably given you guidelines to stick to.
• Keep it focused. When you’re writing a criminal justice research paper it is best to keep a tight focus on your topic. Keep your research focused and remember to stay on task by using study tips, taking breaks, and improving on and practicing your writing skills daily.
• Choose a narrow topic. When choosing your topic the scope of your criminal justice research paper mustn’t be too broad. Ask and answer one question or use one thesis statement that is clear and well-defined.
• Choose a topic that is well-researched. When writing a paper on criminal justice, many topics are too new to have solid research. Pick a topic that has many cases related to it, or is focused on a common issue.
• Choose a topic you are passionate about. There is nothing worse than being stuck writing about a topic you have no interest in. That’s why you should make sure your topic is something that you want to write about. If it ignites your passion, write about it.

What’s the Difference Between a Research Topic and a Research Question?

The difference between a research topic and a research question is that research topics are the broad area of study and research that is used to answer the research question. Research questions are what you are attempting to answer by researching your criminal justice topic.

Criminology topics can encompass areas of study like crime mapping, crime rates, crime prevention, female crimes, experimental criminology, homegrown crimes, or even criminal psychology. Research questions should be very narrow and like do certain criminal justice laws reduce crime? Do criminal justice practitioners engage in critical criminology? Does education in prison reduce reincarnation?

How to Create Strong Criminal Justice Research Questions

When writing a strong criminal justice research question you should ask three questions. Does this question have sufficient research to reference? Is the question narrow and focused? Am I passionate about this topic? If you ask these questions and use our guide to help you get started, you’ll be well on your way to writing a great criminal justice research paper.

Top 10 Criminal Justice Research Paper Topics

1. bad living conditions and access to justice.

In the criminal justice system, sometimes where you live may have an impact on your access to justice. In 2011, the American Civil Liberties Union filed a lawsuit against the City of Chicago alleging that the Chicago police department had slower response times in areas of the city with poor living conditions. The case was settled in 2021 with a plan to improve.

2. White-Collar Crimes Compared to Working-Class Criminals Punishments

White-collar crimes are generally finance-related crimes such as fraud, embezzlement, or money laundering. According to Cornell University School of Law, white-collar crime costs over $300 billion annually in the US. However, white-collar criminals are prosecuted less severely than their working-class counterparts.

3. False Accusation, False Confessions, and Plea Bargaining

This area of criminal behavior is interesting, as our justice system actually allows for admissions of guilt even if the party did not commit the crime. Sometimes sentences can be reduced if a guilty plea is entered even if the party did not commit the crime.

4. Restorative Justice Efforts on Youthful Offenders

Juvenile and youth offenders have many different rules and avenues for justice. One of these unique approaches to keeping young people from their delinquent behavior employed by problem-solving courts is the concept of restorative justice. Restorative justice is a process that helps offenders make amends with the person or community they hurt with their deviant behaviors.

5. Criminal Justice Reform in Hate Crimes

Hate crimes are crimes that are motivated by hatred of someone or a group of people’s immutable characteristics. In recent years, many states have adopted the federal bias categories as outlined by the Department of Justice. These categories are not adopted by every state, which creates several directions for research questions.

6. Organized Crime and the Social Class Criminal Behavior of Members

Organized crime has been around for centuries, but can be prevalent in communities that see crime as a way of life and family. It can be a robust topic to try and understand the influences that family and community have on organized crime.

7. Criminal Justice Agencies and International Crime Investigation Efforts

One thing that is not often talked about is the relationship between criminal justice agencies that work together across countries. Many agencies work together, and many are made jointly. The most notable agency that does this is Interpol which, in 2021, arrested 1,003 alleged criminals and closed 1,660 cases in just one investigation .

8. Impacts of Wildlife Crime and Environmental Crime

Two little written about criminal justice topics in this scientific field are the topics of environmental and wildlife crime. Pollution, littering, dumping, poaching, and wildfire started by humans are all areas that could be a great place to use your analytical skills and nab a decent grade.

9. Relationship Between Crime and Eyewitness Testimony

Eyewitness testimonies are a staple of modern justice. Many violent crime convictions hinge on the ability of eyewitness testimony to convince a jury of what occurred. Sometimes eyewitness testimony can be unreliable, or the multiple witnesses can testify something different from one another resulting in a wrongful conviction. Many crimes like drunk driving or theft can rest on this method of testimony.

10. Relationship Between Law Enforcement and Racial Profiling

Racial profiling is a topic that has received a lot of coverage and is one of the major criminal justice issues of today. Human rights careers deal with the impact of racial and social issues in the US. There are many areas in which law enforcement has to improve in the area of social science. This is a broad topic with many implications for criminal justice ethics and the area of distributive justice.

Other Examples of Criminal Justice Research Topics & Questions

Criminal justice research topics.

• Jury nullification
• Online predators
• Drunk drivers
• Gun control
• Campus crime

Criminal Justice Research Questions

• Does restorative justice reduce incarceration rates in juveniles?
• Do drug courts engage with racial profiling in the criminal justice system?
• Are environmental crimes underreported in the criminal justice field?
• Can organized criminal behavior be reduced by new crime control measures?
• Does mental illness cause more false confessions?

Choosing the Right Criminal Justice Research Topic

If you take these criminal justice research topic ideas and start researching, you’ll find a topic that strikes your creativity and deals with current justice issues. If college courses seem like they may not be for you, you can always use your knowledge to get a job in criminal justice without a degree .

As we stated earlier, two important parts to finding a great topic for criminology studies or criminal justice is to follow your institution’s guidelines and find a topic that you’re passionate about. Difficult topics like child abuse, victim services, jury selection, sexual violence, or any other of the wide range of topics are important and you can do them real justice and care in your paper.

Criminal Justice Research Topics FAQ

A good criminal research topic should be a broad area with lots of research and case studies behind it. It follows your institutional guidelines and that you are passionate about.

Controversial topics in criminal justice include issues that the court is not settled on or ones that disrupt long-standing positions in the courts. Issues like private prisons, gun control, reproductive rights, and criminal court reform could all be considered controversial.

Feminist criminology started in the late 60s and early 70s to bring attention to both female criminals and victims. The movement started because of the male-focused approach to criminal psychology with little to no regard for how a woman may be psychologically different.

Current issues in the criminal justice system include topics like racial justice, social justice, police reform, reproductive rights, and LGBTQ+ discrimination. Many of these topics are being discussed in both state and federal courts.

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Criminal Justice

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Principles of criminal investigations.

This article explores the foundational principles that govern criminal investigations within the United States criminal justice system. Beginning with an overview of the critical role investigations play in establishing truth and ensuring justice, the discussion delves into four key principles. Firstly, the imperative of lawful and ethical conduct is examined, emphasizing the impact of adherence to legal and ethical standards on the admissibility of evidence. The article then explores the nexus between investigations and constitutional rights, focusing on due process and the Fourth Amendment. A thorough analysis of the integration of scientific methods and forensic techniques underscores the modernization of investigative practices. The significance of thoroughness and attention to detail in maintaining the integrity of investigations is emphasized. Subsequently, the article scrutinizes contemporary challenges, including the delicate balance between privacy and security, the ethical use of technology and data, and the influence of public perception and media on investigative processes. In conclusion, a summary of key points is provided, highlighting the collective role of these principles in shaping effective criminal investigations, with a forward-looking perspective on future trends and considerations in this evolving field.

Introduction

Criminal investigations constitute the bedrock of the United States criminal justice system, serving as a meticulous and principled process aimed at uncovering the truth, identifying suspects, and establishing a robust foundation for prosecution. In essence, the investigative phase is a crucible where justice is forged, and public trust is maintained. This article embarks on a journey to illuminate the fundamental principles that underpin criminal investigations in the U.S., acknowledging its pivotal role in upholding the rule of law. The purpose of this exploration is to delve into the multifaceted aspects of criminal investigations, deciphering the ethical and legal considerations that guide investigators through a labyrinth of complexities. By scrutinizing the overarching goals of investigations and their integral role in the broader criminal justice panorama, this article seeks to provide a comprehensive understanding of the principles that form the cornerstone of the investigative process within the intricate fabric of the U.S. legal system.

Fundamental Principles of Criminal Investigations

Criminal investigations are an intricate dance between the pursuit of truth, the preservation of justice, and the strict adherence to principles that safeguard the integrity of the process. Principle 1: Lawful and Ethical Conduct is the foundational cornerstone, demanding investigators operate within the boundaries of legal statutes and ethical guidelines. It is not merely a moral imperative but a requisite for the admissibility of evidence in court. The weight of ethical conduct is particularly evident when investigators grapple with nuanced dilemmas, such as undercover operations, informant handling, and the use of potentially invasive surveillance techniques. This principle is a sentinel guarding against the erosion of public trust, as deviations from ethical standards can undermine the legitimacy of the entire investigative process.

Transitioning to Principle 2: Due Process and Constitutional Rights, the spotlight turns to the constitutional framework that governs investigations. Here, the Fourth Amendment emerges as a sentinel, shielding individuals from unreasonable searches and seizures. The delicate balance between law enforcement’s duty to investigate and an individual’s right to privacy is encapsulated within this principle. The historical evolution of due process, illuminated through landmark cases like Miranda v. Arizona and Terry v. Ohio, reflects a continual calibration of the scales to ensure justice is served without compromising the very liberties the legal system is designed to protect.

Principle 3: Scientific Methods and Forensic Techniques signifies the evolution of investigations into the realm of technology and scientific advancements. The investigator’s toolkit now includes DNA analysis, forensic evidence, and cutting-edge technology. This principle underscores the need for reliability, validity, and transparency in the application of scientific methods. However, it also demands a critical examination of potential biases and limitations associated with these techniques. The intersection of science and justice requires not only an understanding of technology but a commitment to ensuring its responsible and ethical use in the pursuit of truth.

In the realm of investigations, Principle 4: Thoroughness and Attention to Detail is a guiding philosophy. It emphasizes that the process of uncovering truth is not a hasty endeavor but a meticulous journey. The consequences of oversight, negligence, or shortcuts can reverberate through the criminal justice system, potentially leading to wrongful convictions or the evasion of justice. This principle echoes the sentiment that justice delayed is better than justice compromised, emphasizing the need for investigators to be thorough, detail-oriented, and unwavering in their pursuit of a comprehensive understanding of the facts.

In summation, these principles collectively form the ethical and procedural compass that guides investigators through the intricate labyrinth of criminal investigations. They serve as a reminder that the pursuit of justice must be not only relentless but principled, ensuring that the outcome aligns not only with legal statutes but with the moral and ethical underpinnings of a just society. As investigations evolve in response to societal changes, technological advancements, and legal precedents, these fundamental principles remain the bedrock upon which the credibility and efficacy of the criminal justice system stand.

Challenges and Controversies in Criminal Investigations

Navigating the terrain of criminal investigations is not only a pursuit of truth but an engagement with a myriad of contemporary challenges and controversies that have reshaped the landscape of justice. Challenge 1: Balancing Privacy and Security stands as a pivotal dilemma in the digital age, where the incessant demand for thorough investigations clashes with the imperative to protect individual privacy rights. The advent of sophisticated surveillance technologies, data mining, and predictive analytics introduces a complex interplay between the needs of law enforcement and the preservation of civil liberties. Legal frameworks, such as the USA PATRIOT Act, have expanded the scope of permissible surveillance, yet concerns persist about the potential erosion of privacy rights. Striking the right balance requires a delicate calibration of legal statutes to ensure that investigations remain effective without compromising the very freedoms they aim to protect.

Challenge 2: Use of Technology and Data delves into the transformative impact of technology on investigative practices. While technological advancements offer unprecedented capabilities for evidence gathering and analysis, they simultaneously pose ethical challenges. The ethical use of surveillance, artificial intelligence, and big data analytics requires careful consideration to avoid encroachments on privacy, the risk of bias, and potential misuse. A delicate dance unfolds between harnessing the benefits of technology and safeguarding against its unintended consequences. As technology continues to evolve, maintaining a balance that upholds both investigative efficacy and individual rights remains an ongoing challenge for criminal investigators.

The landscape of criminal investigations is not confined solely to legal and technological considerations; Challenge 3: Public Perception and Media Influence introduces a societal dimension that can significantly impact the trajectory of investigations. High-profile cases, sensationalized by media coverage, often become trials by public opinion. The court of public perception, fueled by the 24-hour news cycle and social media, can exert immense pressure on investigators, prosecutors, and even the judiciary. This challenge accentuates the delicate nature of investigations, where public sentiment can influence not only the outcome of a case but the overall trust in the criminal justice system. Striking a balance between transparency, public information, and the protection of due process becomes an intricate challenge in an era where information travels at unprecedented speeds.

These challenges collectively underscore the evolving nature of criminal investigations in the contemporary landscape. As investigations become increasingly sophisticated and interconnected with technological advancements, the delicate equilibrium between security and civil liberties, the ethical use of technology, and the influence of public perception must be continually recalibrated. Acknowledging these challenges is not an admission of defeat but an invitation to engage in a perpetual process of adaptation and improvement. As the criminal justice system navigates this intricate terrain, it must do so with a commitment to upholding the principles of justice, ensuring the rights of individuals are safeguarded, and maintaining public trust in the pursuit of truth.

In conclusion, the exploration of the fundamental principles and challenges in criminal investigations underscores the intricate tapestry of the United States criminal justice system. Summarizing the key points, it is evident that adherence to Principle 1: Lawful and Ethical Conduct establishes the bedrock for credible investigations, emphasizing the far-reaching consequences of ethical decision-making on the evidentiary landscape. Principle 2: Due Process and Constitutional Rights reinforces the constitutional framework as the backbone of investigative practices, ensuring the delicate balance between law enforcement necessities and individual rights. The integration of Principle 3: Scientific Methods and Forensic Techniques reflects the continual evolution of investigative tools, highlighting the pivotal role of science and technology in modern justice. Lastly, Principle 4: Thoroughness and Attention to Detail serves as a constant reminder of the meticulous nature investigations demand, steering clear of shortcuts that could jeopardize the pursuit of truth.

Yet, as this article unfolds, it becomes apparent that the journey of criminal investigations is fraught with contemporary challenges. The intricate dance of Challenge 1: Balancing Privacy and Security necessitates constant recalibration in response to legal and technological shifts. Challenge 2: Use of Technology and Data propels investigators into an era where the ethical use of technology requires a delicate touch to harness its benefits without infringing on privacy or veering into potential misuse. Challenge 3: Public Perception and Media Influence introduces a societal dimension, where the court of public opinion and media coverage become influential forces shaping the trajectory of investigations.

Looking forward, it is imperative to acknowledge these challenges not as insurmountable obstacles but as catalysts for continual improvement. As emerging trends and considerations reshape the landscape, a commitment to the foundational principles discussed herein remains paramount. This commitment ensures that the criminal justice system evolves with integrity, adaptability, and a steadfast dedication to truth, justice, and the preservation of individual rights. In the perpetual motion of the criminal investigative process, this article serves as a testament to the enduring importance of principles, adaptability, and a forward-looking perspective in sustaining the delicate balance between order and justice.

Bibliography

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• Bennett, W. J. (2018). News: The Politics of Illusion (11th ed.). Pearson.
• Clear, T. R., Reisig, M. D., & Cole, G. F. (2019). American Corrections (12th ed.). Cengage Learning.
• Cole, G. F., & Smith, C. E. (2019). Criminal Justice in America. Cengage Learning.
• Cordner, G. W. (2017). Community Policing: A Policing Strategy for the 21st Century. Anderson Publishing.
• Fisher, B. A. J., & Lab, S. P. (2017). Encyclopedia of Victimology and Crime Prevention. SAGE Publications.
• Hess, K. M., Orthmann, C. H., & LaDue, S. (2018). Criminal Investigation (11th ed.). Cengage Learning.
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• Peak, K. J. (2018). Justice Administration: Police, Courts, and Corrections Management (9th ed.). Pearson.
• Peak, K. J. (2019). Policing America: Challenges and Best Practices (9th ed.). Pearson.
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• Robinson, M. B. (2019). Justice Blind? Ideals and Realities of American Criminal Justice. Pearson.
• Schmalleger, F. (2017). Criminal Justice Today: An Introductory Text for the 21st Century (14th ed.). Pearson.
• Schmalleger, F., & Hall, D. E. (2017). Criminal Law Today (6th ed.). Pearson.
• Swanson, C. R., Territo, L., & Taylor, R. W. (2016). Police Administration: Structures, Processes, and Behavior (9th ed.). Pearson.
• Taylor, R. W., Fritsch, E. J., & Liederbach, J. (2019). Digital Crime and Digital Terrorism (4th ed.). Pearson.
• Worrall, J. L. (2018). Criminal Procedure: From First Contact to Appeal (5th ed.). Pearson.

Criminal Justice Research Topics: 150 Ideas for Your Legal Essay

The field of criminal justice offers a wide array of intriguing topics for legal essays, providing opportunities to delve into the complexities of law enforcement, court systems, and corrections. From exploring the effectiveness of rehabilitation programs to discussing the ethical implications of new surveillance technologies, there's no shortage of thought-provoking issues to examine. In this article, we've compiled 150 research topics to inspire and guide your exploration of these fascinating areas within criminal justice. Our expert essay writers are ready to help if you are pressed for time.

What Is Criminal Justice Research Paper

A criminal justice research paper is an academic document that explores various aspects of the criminal justice system, including law enforcement, courts, corrections, and related societal issues. These papers typically involve thorough investigation, analysis, and interpretation of relevant data, literature, and legal precedents to address specific research questions or topics within the field. 

Criminal justice research topics may examine the effectiveness of policies or programs, analyze trends in crime rates, explore the impacts of legal decisions, or propose solutions to address pressing issues within the criminal justice system. Additionally, they often contribute to broader discussions surrounding crime prevention, rehabilitation, social justice, and the protection of individual rights. Since you’ll need to rely on external sources for writing read guide of our research proposal writing service on citation format for research paper . 

Why Students Write a Criminal Justice Research Paper

Students write criminal justice research papers for several reasons, each aimed at enhancing their understanding of the field and developing critical thinking and analytical skills. Firstly, these assignments serve as a means for students to delve deeper into specific criminal justice research topic ideas within the criminal justice system, allowing them to explore areas of interest or concern in greater detail. Through research, students can understand the complexities surrounding law enforcement, judicial processes, corrections, and societal responses to crime. This exploration fosters a deeper appreciation for the nuances and challenges inherent in the criminal justice field, preparing students for future careers in law enforcement, legal practice, policymaking, or academia.

Moreover, criminal justice research papers allow students to hone their research and writing abilities, essential perks for success in both academic and professional settings. Conducting research requires students to gather and critically evaluate relevant literature, data, and legal precedents, enabling them to develop well-informed arguments and conclusions. 

Through writing, students refine their ability to communicate complex ideas effectively, organize their thoughts coherently, and adhere to academic writing conventions. Furthermore, crafting research papers encourages students to engage in thoughtful analysis, synthesis, and interpretation of information, fostering their ability to think critically and creatively about issues within the criminal justice system and beyond. Do you have ideas on how to start a research paper ? If not, feel free to consult our guide.

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How to Choose a Good Research Topic Rules

Good criminal justice research topics are the driving force behind the success of your project, as they will guide your exploration and shape the direction of your study. To select an effective research topic, consider the following steps:

• Identify your interests

Start by reflecting on your interests and passions within criminal justice. Consider topics that intrigue you or issues you feel strongly about. Research is often more engaging and fruitful when genuinely interested in the subject.

• Review existing literature

Conduct a preliminary review of academic literature, textbooks, journals, and reputable websites to identify current trends, debates, and gaps in knowledge within the field of criminal justice. Look for areas where ongoing discussion or emerging research piques your interest.

• Consider relevance and significance

Choose a topic relevant to contemporary issues or debates within the criminal justice system. Consider how your research can address real-world problems, inform policy decisions, or advance theoretical understanding in the field.

• Narrow down your focus

Once you've identified a broad area of interest, narrow your focus to a specific research question or problem. A well-defined research question will help you maintain clarity and focus throughout your study, ensuring that your research remains manageable and achievable.

• Evaluate feasibility

Assess the feasibility of your research topic by considering factors such as access to data, resources, and expertise. Ensure that your chosen topic is feasible within the constraints of your time, budget, and available resources.

• Seek feedback

Discuss your research topic with professors, advisors, peers, or professionals in criminal justice. Their feedback can help you refine your ideas, identify potential challenges, and ensure that your topic is well-suited to your academic goals and interests. If the feedback from your peers and teachers leaves much to be desired, use our coursework writing service to deliver a first-class paper that checks all the quality boxes.

• Stay flexible

Remain open to revising and refining your research topic as you delve deeper into your study. Be prepared to adapt your focus based on new insights, findings, or changes in the research landscape.

Criminal Justice Research Topics: The List

Coming up with strong criminal justice research topics for college students matters because they are the foundation for meaningful inquiry, shaping the direction and scope of academic exploration within a specific field. A well-chosen topic not only captures the researcher's interest but also holds significance within the broader context of the discipline, offering opportunities for original insights, critical analysis, and scholarly contributions. Opt for a custom research paper , and our writers will select compelling and relevant topics that can engage readers, advance knowledge, and address pressing issues or gaps in understanding. 

List of Criminology Research Topics

Begin with the broad research topics in criminology that immediately captivate your reader's attention:

• The impact of social media on crime rates.
• Rehabilitation vs. retribution: effectiveness of different punitive measures.
• Juvenile delinquency: causes and prevention strategies.
• The psychology of criminal behavior.
• Cybercrime: trends and countermeasures.
• The role of gender in criminal justice.
• Illegal substance trafficking and law enforcement challenges.
• White-collar crime: Patterns and detection.
• Community policing: Building trust and reducing crime.
• Mental health and criminal justice system interaction.
• Human trafficking: Modern-day slavery.
• Restorative justice: Healing communities after crime.
• Police brutality and accountability.
• Environmental criminology: Understanding crime hotspots.
• Crime prevention through environmental design (CPTED).
• The economics of crime: Cost-benefit analysis.
• Hate crimes: Motivations and impact on society.
• Criminal profiling techniques and accuracy.
• Witness reliability in criminal trials.
• The influence of poverty on crime rates.
• Rehabilitation programs for incarcerated individuals.
• The intersection of race and criminal justice.
• Firearms and violence: Policy implications.
• The role of technology in crime detection and prevention.
• Gangs and organized crime: Structure and activities.
• Domestic violence: Causes and intervention strategies.
• The ethics of punishment: Balancing justice and mercy.
• Crime mapping and geographic information systems (GIS).
• Biological explanations for criminal behavior.
• Crime and deviance: Sociological perspectives.

List of Realistic Crime Research Topics

Continuing with our exploration of criminological research topics, here are some additional options that reflect current global issues in our society, offering a more realistic perspective for study.

• The impact of neighborhood characteristics on crime rates.
• Factors influencing the likelihood of reoffending among convicted criminals.
• The effectiveness of community policing in reducing crime.
• Patterns of illegal substance-related crimes in urban vs. rural areas.
• The role of technology in modern crime detection and prevention.
• Gender disparities in crime victimization and perpetration.
• Strategies for reducing juvenile delinquency in at-risk communities.
• The influence of socioeconomic status on involvement in white-collar crime.
• Cybercrime trends and challenges in the digital age.
• The relationship between mental health issues and criminal behavior.
• The effectiveness of rehabilitation programs for offenders.
• The impact of sentencing guidelines on crime rates.
• Trends in organized crime activity in different regions.
• The role of peer influence in youth involvement in criminal activities.
• Arms control policies and their effects on arms-related crimes.
• The correlation between unemployment rates and property crime.
• Cultural factors influencing attitudes towards crime and punishment.
• The prevalence of hate crimes and strategies for prevention.
• The role of media in shaping perceptions of crime and criminal justice.
• Environmental criminology: Exploring the link between crime and urban design.
• The impact of immigration on crime rates in host countries.
• Psychological profiles of serial offenders.
• The effectiveness of restorative justice programs in reducing recidivism.
• The relationship between substance abuse and criminal behavior.
• Policing strategies for reducing gang-related crime.
• The influence of family dynamics on youth involvement in crime.
• Corporate crime: Investigating fraud and corruption in business.
• The effectiveness of early intervention programs for at-risk youth.
• The role of poverty in driving criminal behavior.
• The ethics and implications of using predictive policing technologies.

List of Basic Criminal Justice Topics

Here is a list of fundamental topics in criminal justice. Assess the available information on each issue carefully. Ultimately, the choice of study topics in criminal justice is entirely yours.

• Overview of the criminal justice system.
• Importance of due process in criminal justice.
• Key components of criminal law.
• Role of law enforcement in society.
• Basics of criminal investigations.
• Types of criminal offenses.
• Understanding criminal courts and procedures.
• Principles of criminal sentencing.
• Purpose and function of corrections.
• Victim rights in the criminal justice system.
• Evolution of criminal justice policies.
• Ethics in criminal justice professions.
• Impact of technology on criminal justice.
• Challenges in administering justice fairly.
• Role of forensic science in solving crimes.
• Rehabilitation versus punishment debate.
• Alternatives to incarceration.
• Importance of community policing.
• Mental health and the criminal justice system.
• Restorative justice approaches.
• Juvenile justice system basics.
• Trends in crime rates and patterns.
• Intersection of race and criminal justice.
• Role of probation and parole.
• Challenges in addressing recidivism.
• International perspectives on criminal justice.
• Role of private security in society.
• Importance of evidence in criminal cases.
• Impact of illegal substances and abuse on crime.
• Contemporary issues in criminal justice reform.

List of Criminal Justice Topics on Racial Discrimination

Let's narrow down our focus to specific topics within the realm of criminal justice for research papers. Here, we'll categorize the prompts based on aspects of racial discrimination.

• Racial profiling in law enforcement.
• Disparities in arrest rates among racial groups.
• Impact of implicit bias on criminal justice outcomes.
• Race and sentencing disparities.
• Effects of socioeconomic status on racial disparities in the criminal justice system.
• Policing practices and their differential impact on racial minorities.
• Racial disparities in juvenile justice system involvement.
• Role of race in jury selection and trial outcomes.
• Disproportionate representation of racial minorities in prisons and jails.
• Effects of mandatory minimum sentencing laws on racial disparities.
• Racial disparities in pretrial detention and bail decisions.
• Impact of race on interactions with probation and parole officers.
• Challenges in addressing systemic racism in the criminal justice system.
• Role of media portrayal in perpetuating racial stereotypes in crime reporting.
• Effects of the school-to-prison pipeline on communities of color.
• Racial disparities in access to legal representation.
• Intersectionality of race with other factors such as gender and socioeconomic status in criminal justice outcomes.
• Effects of racial trauma on interactions with law enforcement.
• Role of community activism in addressing racial discrimination in criminal justice.
• Historical roots of racial disparities in criminal justice.
• Impact of illegal substance policies on racial disparities in arrests and incarceration.
• Role of implicit bias training in reducing racial discrimination in law enforcement.
• Effects of racial segregation on policing practices and community trust.
• Racial disparities in use of force incidents and police brutality.
• Role of accountability measures in addressing racial discrimination in criminal justice.
• Impact of racial diversity within law enforcement agencies on community relations.
• Effects of racialized fear and stereotypes on criminal justice decision-making.
• Role of sentencing reform in addressing racial disparities.
• Racial disparities in access to diversion and rehabilitation programs.
• Strategies for promoting racial equity and fairness in the criminal justice system.

List of Crime Research Topics (Crime Types)

Finally, examine the topics for research papers in criminal justice categorized by different types of crime.

• Burglary patterns and prevention strategies.
• Trends in cybercrime and cybersecurity measures.
• Understanding the psychology of serial perpetrators.
• Illegal substance trafficking routes and law enforcement responses.
• White-collar crime: Fraud, embezzlement, and corporate misconduct.
• Human trafficking: Prevalence, victims, and intervention approaches.
• Homicide investigation techniques and case studies.
• Identity theft: Impacts and prevention tactics.
• Robbery dynamics and risk factors for victimization.
• Hate crimes: Motivations, perpetrators, and legal responses.
• Carjacking trends and prevention measures.
• Arson investigations and forensic analysis.
• Money laundering methods and detection strategies.
• Gang violence: Origins, structures, and intervention efforts.
• Stalking behaviors and legal consequences.
• Art theft: High-profile cases and recovery efforts.
• Wildlife poaching: Impacts, perpetrators, and conservation efforts.
• Online scams: Common schemes and protective measures.
• Domestic violence: Patterns, risk factors, and support services.
• Child abuse and neglect: Identification and prevention strategies.
• Environmental crimes: Illegal dumping, pollution, and enforcement challenges.
• Smuggling operations: Contraband and border security.
• Extortion tactics and responses in law enforcement.
• Organized crime syndicates: Structures, activities, and global impact.
• Counterfeiting: Trends in production methods and law enforcement actions.
• Art forgery: Authentication techniques and case studies.
• Food fraud: Adulteration, mislabeling, and consumer protection efforts.
• Political corruption: Types, impacts, and anti-corruption measures.
• Intellectual property theft: Piracy, counterfeiting, and legal responses.
• Terrorism: Ideologies, tactics, and counterterrorism strategies.

Final Thoughts

In summary, writing research papers in criminal justice is incredibly important for students. It helps them learn about various aspects of the criminal justice system and develop skills like critical thinking and research. 

Choosing the right criminal justice research topic ideas allows you to set the direction for your research and ensure that you stay engaged and interested. By picking a topic they're passionate about or relevant to current issues, students can make the most of their learning experience and even contribute new insights to the legal field. If you’re stuck on such a paper while other assignments have already started to stack up, buy essays online to manage the workload more effectively. 

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Related Articles

Introduction to Criminal Investigation: Processes, Practices and Thinking

(7 reviews)

Rod Gehl, Justice Institute of British Columbia

Darryl Plecas, University of the Fraser Valley

Copyright Year: 2017

Publisher: BCcampus

Language: English

Formats Available

Conditions of use.

Learn more about reviews.

Reviewed by Ann Koshivas, Professor, North Shore Community College on 11/29/22

I am excited that there is a book in the OER library on criminal investigations. The principles of criminal investigation are well described and it is easy to read and understand. It is a comprehensive book for a community college criminal... read more

Comprehensiveness rating: 5 see less

I am excited that there is a book in the OER library on criminal investigations. The principles of criminal investigation are well described and it is easy to read and understand. It is a comprehensive book for a community college criminal investigations course. There are some parts that might be confusing because the text is based on Canadian law but the general principles are explained well and applicable to the US as well.

Content Accuracy rating: 5

As far as I can tell the book is accurate but I am not as familiar with Canadian Law and case precedents so I cannot speak as to those aspects of the book. From what I can tell, the book is accurate.

Relevance/Longevity rating: 5

It is a relatively new book but the law frequently changes so it will need to be updated. In addition, technological advances as they relate to criminal investigations are constantly being made so the book will need to be updated based on that as well.

Clarity rating: 5

The text is easy to read and well organized.

Consistency rating: 5

There are no issues with consistency. The book is consistent in terns of use of terminology and framework.

Modularity rating: 5

This book could easily be used to assign specific chapters. Each chapter stands alone but the content follows a logical manner in its explanation of criminal investigations.

Organization/Structure/Flow rating: 5

This book is well organized.

Interface rating: 5

The interface was fine. There was nothing confusing or distracting. It was well organized and easy to read.

Grammatical Errors rating: 5

I found no major problems with grammar. The text was understandable and easy to read.

Cultural Relevance rating: 5

There was nothing culturally offensive about this book.

The length of this book makes it appealing for an introductory course in criminal investigations. The author covers the areas thoroughly and is concise.

Reviewed by Richard Riner, Assistant Professor of Criminal Justice/ Criminology, Buena Vista University on 12/16/21

This is a short text, 203 pages versus 519 pages for the book I am currently using for the Criminal Investigations course. It covers the basics, but that is about all it does. The book takes a very broad look at the investigative process, which... read more

Comprehensiveness rating: 3 see less

This is a short text, 203 pages versus 519 pages for the book I am currently using for the Criminal Investigations course. It covers the basics, but that is about all it does. The book takes a very broad look at the investigative process, which makes it appropriate for those with no formal introduction into police work or investigations, but for those who are familiar with the process and might be looking for an in-depth examination of specific issues that can occur within the scope of an investigation, this book does not seem to be intended for that purpose. For example, a death investigation is different enough in nature and procedure that most texts devote a chapter to examining the inherent complexities and procedural challenges that accompany the investigation into the death of another human being. This book discusses major cases, and while death investigations certainly fall within that category, there is not a lot of material devoted to them, and that material is under the topic of Forensics.

Content Accuracy rating: 4

The book was written by and for students in Canada, while my background in law enforcement in the United States. However, the fact that many current and former law enforcement officials were consulted for the creation of this book lead me to believe that form a policy and procedure standpoint the book is accurate. In order to do due diligence for this section, I researched Canadian procedures (a very educational exercise) and found everything in the book to be accurate.

Relevance/Longevity rating: 4

Because the book is written from a broader frame of reference, it's utility will outlast many books in the field. Criminal Justice is an ever-changing field, and the more specific the material the more susceptible it is to changes in the landscape with regard to policy and procedure. By staying broad in scope the book discusses issues and practices that have relevant for many years and will remain so for the foreseeable future. This book will age well.

The book is written in a straightforward language without a heavy reliance on jargon. The cases cited are not what I am used to being the book was written essentially for a Canadian audience, but the explanation of the importance and relevance of the cases would be easily understood. Anyone with an interest in investigations would be able to read this book and understand the message of the authors.

Consistency rating: 4

The voice in which the book was written remains consistent throughout. The terms used to refer to the various concepts or practices are such that once a person understands them they will be able to apply them later in the text to aid in understanding later concepts.

The text is broken down into chapters, as most texts are, but them the authors have further broken the text down into topics within each chapter. This makes locating a passage of text easily done. From an instructor stand point this is a feature I would find especially useful during the presentation of textbook material in class. Having the chapters broken down in this manner will make the task of learning easier for students as well.

Organization/Structure/Flow rating: 3

When teaching about the process of a criminal investigation, I find it helpful to address topic in the order that an investigator is likely to deal with them when carrying out an investigation, beginning with the initial response to the scene of the crime, and ending with testimony during the trial. This text is not organized in such a way. The order in which topics are presented is not inherently confusing, but for someone who "walks" students through the process means there would be a fair amount of jumping back and forth between chapters to approach the material chronologically.

There were no issues with navigating the book. I downloaded a PDF of the text so it could accessed offline. And while there not active links in the table of contents that a person could click to go directly to a specific chapter, finding a particular passage or topic was fairly easy. The charts that accompany the text were clear both with regard to the quality of the image and clarity of the concepts. There were not a great deal of photos in the text, perhaps only one of a photo array, but it was a good quality photo.

Grammatical Errors rating: 4

I did not notice issues with grammar within the text.

Cultural Relevance rating: 4

Since the text was created for a Canadian audience, I may not be the most qualified person to judge the cultural relevance if this particular text. However, I did not find any material that I would deem inappropriate of offensive. This text deals with material and incidents that can be upsetting or shocking to people, and does so in a manner that would not offensive to readers.

Overall, this could be a useful and instructive text for the right audience. Outside of Canada, its potential utility lessens. The text has some very good characteristics, which have been described earlier, and some that could be improves in later iterations of the text.

Reviewed by Graham Rankin, Visiting Assistant Professor, Chemistry, Western Oregon University on 7/29/21

There are extensive references including legal citations for Canadian Supreme Court decisions, and an an excellent list of study questions with answers at the end of the text. However, there is no glossary or index included which makes it more... read more

There are extensive references including legal citations for Canadian Supreme Court decisions, and an an excellent list of study questions with answers at the end of the text. However, there is no glossary or index included which makes it more difficult to find the definition of a term or individual pages where a topic is covered.

Appears to be fairly accurate. I am not familiar with Caradon law so I am assuming these sections are accurate. Because the Forensic Science chapter is very superficial some aspects, while not inaccurate, are incomplete. For instance, Ballistics is considered outmoded and Firearms Identification is preferred. Accelerant and Arson are discouraged from use as Fire Debris Analysis, Suspicious Fire and Ignitable Liquid Determination are the recommended terms. Only the jury can determine if the presence of an ignitable liquid was used by the accused as an accelerant in the commission of the crime of arson. Also Bite Mark Evidence is now considered pseudoscience and may not be presented in court.

Publication date is 2016 which is reasonably recent, however an updated edition should be considered in light of new developments in analysis of trace evidence, DNA genealogical matching, and digital evidence, especially cell phone tracing of a suspect's movements.

Clarity rating: 4

Generally very clear, except for the too brief Forensic Science chapter. Also the correct packaging of evidence needs to be included as the uniformed officer may be tasked with this at the crime scene.

With the exception of Chapter 10 it is very consistent.

Each chapter is divided into Topics with study questions at the end of each chapter.

Very good. Example forms for Crime Scene management and Evidence log are included.

Interface rating: 4

Scenarios could be expanded to encourage critical thinking by requiring the reader to formulate a hypothesis based on evidence, the test that hypothesis.

none noted.

The importance of photo and line-up procedures to include same race and general description is important for eye witness identification. Cultural issues were discussed in light of interviewing witnesses and suspects.

This text is intended for training police officers who may be involved in crime scene investigation and interviewing suspects and witnesses. In that respect it does a very good job in developing a mindset for the officer to follow in the course of his/her duties. The major downside is this is a Canadian publication and thus will need considerable additional lecture and written information relating to US federal and state legal issues especially Chapter 2. While many of the aspects of rights of the suspect are common, the legal framework and court cases will be different. The overall approach includes case scenarios and study questions at the end of each chapter. Aside from those unique to Canadian law, these are excellent and could be used in a Crime Scene Investigation course in a Criminal Justice department. Some topics in crime scene security, collection and preservation of evidence could be included in introductory courses in Forensic Science. Chapter 10 is the only chapter relating directly to Forensic Science. Some topics like Forensic Pathology are fairly detailed whereas Forensic Chemistry is a short paragraph, mostly a listing of areas of analysis, i.e. fire debris analysis, drug analysis, toxicology. As a result this text would be unsuitable as the sole text for even an Introduction to Forensic Science course.

Reviewed by paul Zipper, Adjunct Faculty, Northern Essex Community College on 4/15/21

The Text was written utilizing Canadian law. This became problematic when addressing legal concepts in the US. There was no index or glossary of terms. The text would have benefited with an index and glossary of terms at the end. read more

The Text was written utilizing Canadian law. This became problematic when addressing legal concepts in the US. There was no index or glossary of terms. The text would have benefited with an index and glossary of terms at the end.

Content Accuracy rating: 3

The major investigative steps in the book was accurate. However when delving deeper into the text, it was clear Canadian terminology and US terminology and laws are different and don't mesh seamlessly. There are minor spelling nuances between the US and Canada. We use the term "offense" Canadians use "offence" as an example.

The 11 chapters were organized and hit the major areas in Criminal Investigation. Necessary updates can fit into the current template.

Clarity rating: 1

The major investigative step are well written. However Canadian Jargon/laws/terminology do not translate into concepts found in US law.

The terminology and framework are consistent- yet not applicable to what we do in the US

Modularity found in this course is a strength. Having used the text the last several semesters, it is easy to use with a traditional 14 week semester. It also covers the major concepts in a manner that is not overwhelming to students. Each week of the semester a major concept is covered and additional case studies and article are utilized to support the chapter we are covering.

The book is well organized. It takes the students through a traditional investigative flow. It has a strong introduction and covers the necessary preliminary steps and investigator/student would need to know before moving on to the next one.

The text is free of interface issues; that being said the text would be enhanced by adding some images and charts to enhance the materials.

Minor grammatical errors

I found no material in the text that would in any way be considered insensitive or offensive.

I think this is an excellent OER. It is well organized and covers major investigative steps in an organized fashion. The major downside is the audience it was written for are Canadian Law Enforcement Officers. I am teaching college students in Massachusetts, USA. A majority of the investigative steps and concepts are transferrable to the US. However, Canadian law and criminal procedure are different than US Federal law and the laws in each of our 50 states and territories. This text works with supplemental materials from the jurisdiction it is taught in being inserted. The instructor needs to point out the differences during class discussion.

Reviewed by William Powers, Adjunct Faculty, Bristol Community College on 5/29/20

Comprehensive instructions from first responding Officer to crime scene preservation, documentation, interviews and interrogation plus (Canadian) legal aspects. read more

Comprehensive instructions from first responding Officer to crime scene preservation, documentation, interviews and interrogation plus (Canadian) legal aspects.

Written in a straight forward, unbiased, usually step by step progression.

Text is based on Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, so legal aspects are not likely to drastically change. Text can be easily edited and updated for changes and new rulings in case law.

Wording is clear, minimal use of technical terminology. The only thing I had to research was the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms for comparison to American Constitution/Bill of Rights.

Proper use of terminology, some easily understood Canadian phrasing.

Book is properly divided by chapter and sub-divided to explain more detailed subject matter.

Good progression of subject matter from Intro through legal aspects to strategic organization and tactical use of crime scene protocols.

The few charts in the book were clear and easily understood. No distortion.

Grammatical Errors rating: 3

Some grammatical and punctuation errors scattered throughout the book. Ch. 7 Topic 2 Witness Types became confusing grammatically. Poorly worded in identifying direct, indirect, circumstantial evidence and witnesses. Ch 8 Note Taking. A quote (?) was opened with parentheses, parentheses were never closed.

Examples were non-offensive.

This text will be useful to a Canadian instructor and classes of prospective Police Officers, especially those that intend to pursue careers in criminalistics. The heavy but necessary reliance on the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms limits the books usefulness in other countries. Officers in the United States will be unnecessarily confused by the mixture of Canadian rights and the American Bill of Rights/Constitution. (This reviewer is from the U.S.) I myself will explore the use of Ch 8 as a quality example of proper crime scene security. The chapter shows how a first responding Officer should establish proper limited access to the crime scene, how to use an Officer assigned to maintaining a Crime Scene Security Log to limit access to and document egress times at a scene, and use of an Exhibit Log by a Forensics team supervisor to protect evidence integrity.

Reviewed by Robert Engvall, Professor, Roger Williams University on 11/5/19

This book provides a comprehensive look at introductory criminal investigation. It does a nice job of laying a proper foundation through introducing basic concepts leading through to chapters on crime scene management and forensic sciences. read more

This book provides a comprehensive look at introductory criminal investigation. It does a nice job of laying a proper foundation through introducing basic concepts leading through to chapters on crime scene management and forensic sciences.

This book is entirely accurate in its portrayal of criminal investigation.

This book is particularly relevant given today's increasingly complicated criminal justice climate. Criminal investigations are under increased scrutiny (appropriately so) and this book introduces that important new reality.

This book is clear, concise, valuable to the reader.

This book provides consistency throughout.

Each chapter provides its own information and could easily stand alone as a section of study. The context is set appropriately in the beginning of the book and some basic concepts follow leading through to more complicated crime scene management.

Each chapter stands alone, and is clearly organized. The flow is appropriate as the book takes the reader from context to basics to more complicated and reality based principles.

The book is easy to read, easy to look at, well organized.

Grammar is fine.

The book is appropriate for today's world.

This book truly does provide a solid foundation for a criminal investigation student. It would be of value to any undergraduate criminal investigation course.

Reviewed by Michael Buerger, Professor of Criminal Justice, Bowling Green State University, Ohio on 2/1/18

The text under review is written for Canadian investigators, and rests on Canadian law and case precedents. That limits its applicability to the American market, and in some ways limits the value of an assessment by an American reviewer. Many... read more

Comprehensiveness rating: 4 see less

The text under review is written for Canadian investigators, and rests on Canadian law and case precedents. That limits its applicability to the American market, and in some ways limits the value of an assessment by an American reviewer. Many sections do not have direct applicability, despite the general similarities between the two systems. Even though there are clear parallels in the legal systems, Canadian case law under a national charter will not have broad applicability in the United States context. State laws, federal appellate districts, and Supreme Court decisions are all operant, and the applicable legal rules may differ between jurisdictions when there are no federal precedents (the Scenario #2 domestic violence example on page 53 is such an example, for instance). The overview in Chapter 1 is excellent, and can be applied equally to criminal investigations in any democratic context. Chapter 2’s discussion of “discretion” is a good example of that adaptability, for instance: the overall effect of the first two chapters is positive enough to make me wish there could be an American version.

The approach taken by the authors is a sensible and much-needed addition to the presentation of criminal investigations. Distinguishing between investigative tasks and investigative thinking is a recurring thematic guide, and it is articulated well throughout the book. Though the distinction might be made more explicitly, the authors recognize that criminal investigations begin with the arrival of the first responding unit, almost always a uniformed officer rather than an investigator, and they incorporate that perspective throughout. The roles described on page 13 are equally applicable to Canadian and U.S. criminal justice personnel.

Not all of the examples are as useful as they might be. The example on page 36 – “I really need some money. I’m going to rob that bank tomorrow.” – is far more explicit than the type of circumstantial evidence investigators are likely to encounter. While the statement is useful, it is unrealistically specific: improvements might include the addition of variations on the theme of such utterances, such as: “I really need some money. Maybe I should rob a bank” and “I really, really need money. I’m desperate.” The greater ambiguity embedded in those statements is a greater test of the thinking discipline that the authors promote.

Page 43: the issue of consent may be that simple in Canada, but American cases rest on whether or not the person giving consent has authority to do so: cohabitants, roommates with specific areas of privacy vs. general-use spaces, landlords rather than tenants, and similar variations are not addressed here.

The distinction between Tactical and Strategic responses is a valid one, but it is dragged out a bit more than it needs to be on pp. 48-51; it is laborious reading, leaning to the tendentious. The concept is clear, but the explanation drags. One of the issues related to that distinction is the role of first-responding patrol officers, and subsequent follow-up investigation by detectives

The discussion of the stabbing incident that occupies pages 55-57 is important for establishing the “step-down” requirement when an exigent circumstances scene is brought under control. It is described in Canadian terms, but has American analogs.

The presentations focus more on philosophy than technique, and the links between the two are not consistent throughout. While the overview of forensic evidence is a good introductory treatment, I expected at least some reference to collection techniques, since the lab work is dependent upon crime scene work.

I cannot speak to the accuracy of the Canadian legal components, but the elements that apply to the fundamental of the work are sound.

Relevance and longevity should be good. Changes in law, and changes in or addition to the forensic techniques will require periodic updating, but that should be accomplished easily.

The writing is clear, although repetitive in some places, leaning to the tendentious in a few spots. My only real concern would be that the some readers might get lost in the philosophy of thinking, to the detriment of understanding the associated techniques.

Consistency of approach and terminology, and associated linkages in different sections, is good.

Modularity rating: 4

The modules are a strength of the book; my only criticism is that they are more uneven in their content than I would expect. A number of one-short-paragraph modules are ripe for at least some further development.

The text is clear, and easy to follow.

I experienced no interface problems at all.

Allowing for the different systems of punctuation, the book is error-free in terms of grammar. There are some annoying proofreading errors that stand out, however: Page 62: a comma rather than a period at the end of the second sentence of the “Common Error #3” paragraph. Page 65: redundant “situation” in the third paragraph (lower case followed by a capitalized Boldface). Page 82, final paragraph: “articles of evid. . . ase” are proofreading errors Page 92: Need a space between “crime.” and “Understanding” Page 120, third line of the “Like photo lineups” paragraph: the semi-colon should be a comma. A comma after “suspect” in the second line would help clarify the subordinate clause issue.

Cultural references are mostly absent, and for good reason, I think. They are a larger element in investigations, more fragmented in their application, and deserve separate, free-standing treatment. I saw no references that raised red flags for offensive content.

The first “Interviewing” paragraph at the bottom of page 123, carrying over to page 124, begins with the premise that “In fact, the person is not even definable as a suspect at this point,” but immediately shifts to a previously-discussed point (perpetrators acting as witnesses or reporters in order to deflect suspicion) and remains on that point to the end. Far more persons are interviewed who do not fit this category than are those who are, and the narrow focus on “suspect” for this portion is disconcerting.

The main focus of the chapter is on offenders, which at some point the investigation must be, but the broader preliminary interview phases need better development. Chapter 7 deals more with typologies than techniques, so a broader treatment of non-suspect witness interviews (and recontact interviews) would be helpful.

Table of Contents

• Chapter 1: Introduction
• Chapter 2: Some Important Basic Concepts
• Chapter 3: What You Need To Know About Evidence
• Chapter 4: The Process of Investigation
• Chapter 5: Strategic Investigative Response
• Chapter 6: Applying the Investigative Tools
• Chapter 7: Witness Management
• Chapter 8: Crime Scene Management
• Chapter 9: Interviewing, Questioning, and Interrogation
• Chapter 10: Forensic Sciences
• Chapter 11: Summary

Ancillary Material

About the book.

Introduction to Criminal Investigation, Processes, Practices, and Thinking is a teaching text designed to assist the student in developing their own structured mental map of processes, practices, and thinking to conduct criminal investigations.

Delineating criminal investigation into operational descriptors of tactical-response and strategic response while using illustrations of task-skills and thinking-skills, the reader is guided into structured thinking practices. Using the graphic tools of a “Response Transition Matrix”, an “Investigative Funnel”, and the “STAIR Tool”, the reader is shown how to form their own mental map of investigative thinking that can later be articulated in support of forming their reasonable grounds to believe.

Chapter 1 introduces criminal investigation as both a task process and a thinking process. This chapter outlines these concepts, rules, and processes with the goal of providing practical tools to ensure successful investigative processes and practices. Most importantly, this book informs the reader how to approach the investigative process using “investigative thinking.”

Chapter 2 illustrates investigation by establishing an understanding of the operational forum in which it occurs. That forum is the criminal justice system and in particular, the court system. The investigative process exists within the statutory rules of law, including the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, and case law rulings adjudicated by the courts. Considering the existence of these conditions, obligations, and case law rules, there are many terms and concepts that an investigator needs to understand to function appropriately and effectively within the criminal justice system. The purpose of this chapter is to introduce some of the basic legal parameters and concepts of criminal justice within which the criminal investigation process takes place.

Chapter 3 describes the functions and terms of “evidence”, as they relate to investigation. This speaks to a wide range of information sources that might eventually inform the court to prove or disprove points at issue before the trier of fact. Sources of evidence can include anything from the observations of witnesses to the examination and analysis of physical objects. It can even include the spatial relationships between people, places, and objects within the timeline of events. From the various forms of evidence, the court can draw inferences and reach conclusions to determine if a charge has been proven beyond a reasonable doubt.

Considering the critical nature of evidence within the court system, there are a wide variety of definitions and protocols that have evolved to direct the way evidence is defined for consideration by the court. In this chapter, we look at some of the key definitions and protocols that an investigator should understand to carry out the investigative process.

Chapter 4 breaks investigation down into logical steps, establishing a progression that can be followed and repeated to reach the desired results. The process of investigation can be effectively explained and learned in this manner. In this chapter the reader is introduced to various issues in the progression that relate to the process of investigation.

Chapter 5 examines the operational processes of investigation. In this chapter we introduce the three big investigative errors along with graphic illustrations of “The Investigative Funnel” and the “S T A I R Tool” to illustrate how each of these concepts in the investigative progression.

Chapter 6 provides the reader the opportunity to work through some investigative scenarios using the S T A I R Tool. These scenarios demonstrate the investigative awareness required to transition from the tactical investigative response to the strategic investigative response. Once in the strategic response mode the reader is challenged to practice applying theory development to conduct analysis of the evidence and information to create an investigative plan.

This chapter presents two investigative scenarios each designed to illustrate different steps of the S T A I R tool allowing the student to recognize both the tactical and the strategic investigative responses and the implications of transitioning from the tactical to the strategic response.

Chapter 7 illustrates the investigative practices of witness management. Witness statements will assist the investigator in forming reasonable grounds to lay a charge, and will assist the court in reaching a decision that the charge against an accused person has been proved beyond a reasonable doubt.

It is important for an investigator to understand these practices as they allow an investigator to evaluate witnesses and collect witness evidence that will be acceptable to the courts.

Chapter 8 describes crime scene management skills. These skills are an extremely significant task component of investigation because evidence that originates at the crime scene will provide a picture of events for the court to consider in its deliberations. That picture will be composed of witness testimony, crime scene photographs, physical exhibits, and the analysis of those exhibits, along with the analysis of the crime scene itself. From this chapter, the reader will learn the task processes and protocols for several important issues in crime scene management.

Chapter 9 examines the interviewing, questioning, and interrogation techniques police use to aid them in investigations. The courts expect police to exercise high standards using practices that focus on the rights of the accused person, and minimize any physical or mental anguish that might cause a false confession. In meeting these expectations, the challenges of suspect questioning and interrogation can be complex, and many police agencies have trained interrogators and polygraph operators who undertake the interrogation of suspects for major criminal cases. But not every investigation qualifies as a major case, and frontline police investigators are challenged to undertake the tasks of interviewing, questioning, and interrogating possible suspects daily. The challenge for police is that the questioning of a suspect and the subsequent confession can be compromised by flawed interviewing, questioning, or interrogation practices. Understanding the correct processes and the legal parameters can make the difference between having a suspect's confession accepted as evidence by the court or not.

Chapter 10 examines various forensic sciences and the application of forensic sciences as practical tools to assist police in conducting investigations. As we noted in Chapter 1, it is not necessary for an investigator to be an expert in any of the forensic sciences; however, it is important to have a sound understanding of forensic tools to call upon appropriate experts to deploy the correct tools when required.

Chapter 11 summarizes the learning objectives of this text and suggests investigative learning topics for the reader going forward. Many topics relative to investigative practices have not been covered here as part of the core knowledge requirements for a new investigator. These topics include:

Major Case Management Informant and confidential source management Undercover investigations Specialized team investigations

About the Contributors

Rod Gehl , is a retired police Inspector, and an instructor of criminal investigation for International Programs and the Law Enforcement Studies Program at the Justice Institute of British Columbia. These ongoing teaching engagements are preceded by 35 years of policing experience as criminal investigator and a leader of multi-agency major case management teams. From his experiences Rod has been a keynote speaker at several international homicide conferences and has assisted in the development and presentation of Major Case Management courses for the Canadian Police College. For his contribution to policing he has been conferred the Lieutenant Governor’s Meritorious Service Award for homicide investigation.   Rod’s published research on the “The Dynamics of Police Cooperation in Multi-agency Investigations”, was followed by his article, titled, “Multi-agency Teams, A Leadership Challenge”, featured in the US Police Chief Magazine. Rod retains a licence as a private investigator and security consultant and continues to work with regulatory compliance agencies in both public and private sector organizations for the development of their investigative training and systems.

Darryl Plecas is Professor Emeritus at University of the Fraser Valley where he worked for 34 years, most recently holding the Senior University Research Chair (RCMP) and Directorship of the Centre for Public Safety and Criminal Justice Research. As Professor Emeritus he continues to co-author work with colleagues and supervises graduate students. He also serves as Associate Research Faculty at California State University – Sacramento, and as an annually invited lecturer to the Yunnan Police College in Kunming, China. He is the author or co-author of more than 200 research reports, international journal articles, books, and other publications addressing a broad range public safety issues. He is a recipient of numerous awards, including UFV’s Teaching Excellence Award, the Innovative Excellence in Teaching, Learning and Technology Award from the International Conference on College Teaching and Learning, the Order of Abbotsford, the CCSA Award of Excellence, and the British Columbia Lieutenant Governor’s Award for Public Safety. His most recent co-authored book “Evidenced Based Decision Making for Government Professionals” was awarded the 2016 Professional Development Award from the Canadian Association of Municipalities.

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208 Crime Investigation Essay Topic Ideas & Examples

🏆 best crime investigation topic ideas & essay examples, 👍 good essay topics on crime investigation, ⭐ simple & easy crime investigation essay titles, 💡 interesting topics to write about crime investigation, 📑 good research topics about crime investigation, ❓ crime investigation questions.

• Introduction to Criminology The term criminology refers to the design and scientific study of the extent, nature, control and cause of the criminal behaviors in both the individual and society.
• Fingerprinting and Casting in Criminology The process of using the fingerprint powder consists of applying the powder that will stick to the human skin grease and will not reside on the adjacent surfaces.
• Trends and Patterns in Criminology Experts note that “a crime trend is defined as a significant change in the nature of selected crime types within a defined geographical area and time period”.
• Criminology: The Reid Method of Interrogation Interrogation is the final aspect of the Reid technique that is applied if the factual analysis and behavioral analysis interview is indicting.
• Blood in Blood Out: Applying Criminology Theories to Characters The essay is a critical examination of the three major characters in the movie Blood in Blood Out. The most crucial period of an individual is the adolescence as individuals here need a lot of […]
• Criminology as a Social Science In addition, as McClanahan and South note, the study of crime as a general phenomenon, the causes of crime, the personality of the offender, and crime prevention measures fall within the scope of sociology.
• Crime Scene Investigation in Criminal Justice In the process of controlling the crowd and maintaining order with the aid of the police officers, I took some photographs of the surrounding and then approached the main spot of event. I managed to […]
• The Classical School of Thought and Strain Theory in Criminology The second pinnacle to the classical theory also advances the fact that people have the will to control the variables that characterize their personality. The strain theory advances the fact that social structures in society […]
• Criminology: Application of Crime Theories For an action to amount to crime, there has to be a breach of law followed by the administration of punishment by the state to the accused.
• Criminal Investigation The preferred method of inquiry in criminal investigation is the scientific method. In this method, an investigator develops a hypothesis and then investigates the viability of the hypothesis, which is a similar procedure as used […]
• Cultural Criminology: Inside the Crime To facilitate an understanding of cultural criminology, it is essential to consider such ideas as crime as culture, culture as crime, the media constructions of crime control and corruption, and political dimensions of culture, crime, […]
• Organic vs. Inorganic in Criminology A wound as organic trace evidence is used as one of the first clues about the crime of which when cleaned and examined through, the morgue vivid information will be obtained by the medical examiner.
• Positivist School of Criminology Siegel states that: “Cesare Lombroso, an Italian prison doctor working in the late 19th century and sometimes regarded as the “father” of criminology, was one of the largest contributors to biological positivism and founder of […]
• Ballistics in Forensic Science The bullet trajectory includes the progress of the bullet through the barrel of the gun following discharge or detonation and its pathway both through the air and the aim.
• Criminology: Strain Theory and Broken Window Model The broken window theory is a criminology model that is used to construct and make an assertion about possible causes of criminal acts in society.
• Crime Scene Investigation and Evidence Classification They include the explanation of physical evidence to identify purposes, the discussion of the differences between class and individual characteristics of physical evidence, and the evaluation of the class characteristics’ importance.
• Data Collection in Criminology: Interviews and Questionnaires It is important to note that the questionnaire gives the respondent a great degree of anonymity besides the lack of interview bias and the ability to provide data that can be used to test a […]
• Social Bonding Theory in Criminology The four major elements of the theory include the notions of commitment, attachment, the belief of importance, and involvement in various activities.
• Criminal Investigation: Creating a Perpetrator Profile By defining the key characteristics of a criminal, one will be able to identify the possible suspects and, therefore, locate the perpetrator faster.
• Organized Crime Investigation in Different Countries Such tools and strategies cover investigations into the organized crimes and operations, strategies to thwart planned crimes operations and preventions of the effecting, netting of criminals and affiliates of the groups as well as facilitating […]
• Police Functions: Forensic Science and Fingerprinting Even though the police perform an increasingly wide range of functions, it is crime control which remains uppermost in the perceptions of the police role in the minds of both the police and the public.
• Physical Evidence in Criminology One of the most widespread types of physical evidence is the so-called pattern evidence. It is necessary to note that the analysis of this type of evidence is similar to the one mentioned above.
• Conflict Theory and Politics in Criminology The criminological basis of the conflict theory is contingent on the limitations of the social order and the inequalities that are inherent in the ideological perceptions of the society.
• Introduction to Criminology After reading the article, it is notable that there are awesome highlights explaining the history, development, and evolution of crime in the society.
• Life-Course Approach in Criminology It is interested in the fluidity of one’s behavior and the process of change. The authors point out that while other factors are also crucial to the process of developing offending behavior, one’s ethnicity and […]
• The Concept of Biosocial Theory in Criminology Another contributing element, in this respect, proved to be the fact that as time went on, there has been more and more scientifically sound evidence accumulated in support of the idea that there is indeed […]
• Definition and Aspects of Criminology The legal process involves the police, who are responsible for investigating crimes and making the arrest of the offenders. Punishment of offenders is also meant to rehabilitate the individuals to abandon the old habits and […]
• Criminal Investigation: O. J. Simpson’s Case Brief Subsequently, the investigation was able to establish the size and model of the alleged killer’s shoes. The trial also found that Simpson’s foot was the same size as the bloody prints at the crime scene.
• Theories of Social Processes in Criminology The other concern is that the prevention of crime; is based on using the regulations that are used in defining crime itself, its development, and impacts on individuals.
• Routine Activities Theory in Criminological Studies Breetzke and Cohn, for instance, apply the theory to burglaries in the gated communities of South Africa which became popular in the region due to the rising rates of violence and crime.
• Criminology: What Is the Solution to the Prison Problem? What you have to understand is that the current prison system within the U.S.does not rehabilitate at all and in fact promotes greater instances of criminal behavior.
• “Criminology: The Core” by Larry Siegel The book “Criminology: the Core” by Larry Siegel is the authors investigation of the problems connected with committing the crime and, which is most important, the theoretical aspects of committing a crime.
• Social Learning Theory in Criminology The paper concentrates on the history of the introduction of the social learning theory to science, its evolution over the years, and its possible application to the analysis of a recent criminal event.
• Lombroso’s Theories in Italian Criminology Since Lombroso was the first criminologist to take a scientific approach to studying criminals, he is considered by many to be the ancestor of modern criminology.
• General Strain Theory in Criminology Agnew’s general strain hypothesis was an advancement of the strain theory since sought to “expand the strain theory by pointing to new categories of strain including the loss of positive stimuli, the presentation of negative […]
• Comparative Criminology and Criminology Theories In particular, comparative criminology was formed, the main purpose of which is to consider and study the similarities and differences in crimes of different countries and cultures.
• Forensic Psychology Role in the Investigation of Crime The use of the methods majorly depends upon the complexity of the crime, nature of evidence available and level of forensic technology available.
• Crime Scene Investigation Techniques Digital GPS evidence refers to the location data that is collected and stored on digital devices such as smartphones, laptops, tablets, smart watches, and others.
• Forensic Science Timeline and Impact on Trial Attention to ballistics was drawn after the case of Sacco and Vanzetti in 1920, which, together with the invention of the comparative microscope, led to the establishment of a bureau in New York in 1923.
• Criminology: Latent Print Residue The viability of latent prints depends on the residue composition and other factors, such as surface, weather, and time passed since the print was left. In summary, latent print residue comprises organic, inorganic, and other […]
• Environmental Criminology and Its Aspects This personal approach is similar to the environmental criminology theories that analyze an individual and develop solutions based on that analysis.
• The Comparison of the General Methods in Criminology The main strength of this approach is the possibility of acquiring objective data about the circumstances of the case. The strength of this method is the ability to obtain many useful details, as well as […]
• Institutional Review Board in Criminology As a result, the ultimate purpose of an IRB is to secure the safety and well-being of human research subjects recruited in behavioral and biomedical research.
• Open- and Close-Ended Questions in Criminal Investigation While there are numerous types of questions, Bachman and Schutt elaborate on open-ended and close-ended questions. Open-ended and close-ended questions are often used during investigative interviewing to gather the needed information.
• Criminology and Its Significance in Criminal Justice Fields Criminologists’ activities include collecting and analyzing data of committed crimes to study the nature of crimes and criminals and identify factors that influence criminals’ motives.
• Criminalistics: Forensic Science, Crime, and Terrorism These writings can be on the second, third, and so on pages, depending on the pressure on the writing subject, that is, a pen or pencil.
• Robert Peele’s Principles in Criminology Policing became a legitimate practice in the eyes of the public. The focus of Peelian principles is on preventing crime and not necessarily catching criminals in the act.
• Review of High Tech Crime Investigation The difference between these aspects is that the file header is the internal part of how the file is perceived by the device, and the file extension is an external indicator for the user that […]
• Criminology Description and Its Relation With Other Sciences The teachings of the Neoclassical school are based on the fact that they consider the motives and other circumstances of the commission of a crime, which make it possible to reduce or increase the penalties.
• The Broken Windows Theory in Criminology The theory of broken windows is a theory in criminology that considers minor offenses not only as an indicator of the criminogenic situation but also as an active factor affecting the serious crime rate.
• Criminology and Psychological Profiling Approaches In addition, the scientific method involves testing and validating the accuracy of the outcomes with the help of the relevant disciplines, for instance, investigative psychology.
• Hypothesis Testing in Criminal Justice and Criminology Two populations that are linked via a dependent variable must be assessed on the subject of dependency to determine a proper test to ensure the validity of the results.
• Proportions and Probabilities in Criminology The author also contends that in the normal and binary patterns, the fundamental element is the theoretical- premises for mathematical and logical assumptions.
• Statistics in Criminal Justice and Criminology The author’s primary argument refers to the importance of averages and data distribution types for criminology researchers and practitioners. To conclude, the information provided in the chapter is essential for understanding the measures of central […]
• Statistics for Criminology and Criminal Justice The first part of the chapter introduces the three univariate data distribution displays that are frequently used in statistics, such as frequencies, proportions, and percentages.
• The Crime Scene Investigation Effect Theory In this context, the public has come to expect too much from criminologists and the criminal justice system because of the CSI Effect.
• Inchoate Offenses in Criminology Inchoate offenses are the actions that assisted in the commission of a crime and are divided into conspiracy, solicitation, and attempt.
• History of Criminology and the Case of Jody Arias The strict logic of the era of classicism, presented in the works of Cesare Beccaria, speaks of the full responsibility of a person for his misdeeds.
• The Federal Bureau Investigation Crime Statistics The NIBRS is an event-based reporting system that will replace the usual data provided by the FBI’s Uniform Crime Reports. The traditional UCR Program was summary-based, and NIBRS is incident-driven.
• Criminology: The Case of Uncle Bob Accordingly, the information available to the Miami Police Department includes biographic data and criminal history, all of which flow from the local agencies to the federal center and back.
• Actus Reus in Criminology The prerequisites of actus reus vary based on the crime definition and rely on place, individual, victim’s state of mind, preparation, time, and consent.
• Criminology: Corporate Personhood By ensuring that perpetrators of white-collar crime are convicted it would serve as a warning to other errant employees who would be planning to commit such crimes.
• Ethical Issues in Criminology and Criminal Justice Research Investigation officers be committed to obligation of ensuring that the bodily, social and mental health of a person participating in an investigation is not harmful distressed.
• Homicide in Criminal Investigation The cases of criminal homicide are further separated into murder and manslaughter, with the key difference laying in whether the law determines the presence of malice in the act.
• U.S. Laws and Policies on Criminal Investigation According to the issue of McFadden’s case, it is obvious that it was reasonable for the detective to stop the two men.
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• Criminal Investigation: The Role of Witnesses The three categories of missing witnesses are; Identified witnesses are those witnesses who have been specifically by one of the parties or in a document or piece of physical evidence.
• Criminology, Law, and Policies on Sexual Violence The article, therefore, presents an analysis of the effects of laws and policies on the reintegration process of criminals into society.
• Survey Research and Questionnaires in Criminology Survey research is the most widely used data collection method in the fields of criminal justice and criminology as it assists researchers and professionals to gather the information that is unique to individuals, such as […]
• Criminal Justice & Criminology Research Methods In most cases, operationalizing study variables ensures that a sample representing the entire population is chosen and an appropriate unit of analysis is applied.
• The Chain of Custody in Criminal Investigation Concept Putrefaction is one of the stages in the decomposition of a dead body. According to Middleton, putrefaction is the decomposition of a dead body, which involves the breakdown of the proteins in the dead organism.
• Forensic Science: Insect Evidence In addition, it also documents the chronological order of persons relating to the physical evidence from the time of acquisition to the time of submission to a court of law.
• Criminology: Terrorism–Security Policy for Large Events This attack proved to the government the vulnerability of the state concerning external threats, especially because, prior to the attack, the customary means of attack had been the use of military force as evidenced in […]
• Criminology: Drug Enforcement Agency The final action that is taken is by DEA is to revoke the license until the owners of the hospital proved to be legible to have the license.
• Criminology: Modern Criminal Justice The criminal justice system is the institution or the criterion that is used to keep all people that are subject to the law in check.
• Criminology: Law Enforcement in the USA Law enforcement may be defined as the structure in which the community members act in a well thought-out behavior to endorse observance to the law by investigating and grueling persons who infringe the regulations and […]
• Criminology Models Overview and Analysis This model approaches crime by assuming that the best treatment for any crime is treating the causative factors associated with the crime. According to this model, the reason for the increased crime rate is due […]
• Mara Leveritt: Crime Investigation in the ”Devil’s Knot” The author of this book portrays the ignorance of actual evidence used in the conviction of the three teenagers. The police claimed to have located the bodies of the boys in a ditch, along a […]
• Larry Siegel’s “Criminology: The Core” In this regard, the criminal justice system possesses the power to control crime and punish those who violate the law. The chapter attempts to familiarize the readers with the structure and function of the criminal […]
• Principles of Justification and Excuse in Criminology A key question that many would want to be answered is which of the two superior to the other. Essentially, this approach is much more superior when it comes to the deterrence of criminals.
• Criminology Theory Application One of the reasons for the selection of this theory is that it looks into the influence of crime through poverty in the urban cities such as in Canada and the people who undertake criminal […]
• Criminology: Employee Satisfaction Within Prison In effect, one of the main plans that I would put in place to ensure that the work is done effectively is to improve the morale of the staff.
• Criminology: Forensic Human Identification In a typical case, a known sample is obtained from a person, mostly in form of a buccal swab, and the results of the DNA analysis compared to the Questioned sample from the crime scene.
• The Understanding of Criminology Today This paper gives a detail of the different sociological theories, which broadens the understanding of crime. The subcultural theory is a sociological view that stresses the role of social groups in delinquency.
• Addressing the Subject of Criminology The following is a critique of some of the articles that have been put forth to address the subject of criminology.
• Criminal Investigation: The Case of George Zimmerman Overall, it is possible to say that this particular case illustrates the importance of forensic analysis because the absence of conclusive evidence is one of the reasons why this case continues to be debated by […]
• Criminology in Brief: Understanding Crime The girl woke up to find the boy raping her. In this case, the boy might have had an insecure childhood and, therefore, engaged in the act for self-interest.
• Criminology Theories: The Aileen Wuornos Case This documentary also examines the inappropriateness of the decision to execute Aileen Wuornos. Some of these theories can support the events and facts of Aileen Wuornos as portrayed in the film.
• Criminal Behavior: Criminology Theories This paper draws the theories discussed herein from a radical orientation; they include radical, feminist and critical criminology theories and present principles that alter the existing and traditional views on the development of criminal behaviour […]
• Environmental Deaths in Criminology Near drowning is another occurrence in the same line and refers to the endurance of a drowning experience entailing a cognitive state or water inhalation and can result to severe derived complications such as death […]
• Evidence Collection in Criminology The evidence presented in court for the prosecution of criminals ought to be of high quality for it to be fully relied on when making the ruling.
• Legal Methods and Systems in Criminology In writing this research paper the first thing that I needed to determine is the branch of law that this case scenario pertained to, which I determined to be criminal law.
• Criminalistics and Forensic Science vs. Traditional Methods The development of cellular genetic tools and their relevance to the study and exploration of the human D.N. Their borne of contention also lies in the fact that it is prone to be washed away […]
• Criminal Profiling and Investigative Linkage On this basis, case linkage is the process of identifying some evidence that satisfy the investigators of a particular case that the offender committed the crime.
• Criminology: Professionalization of Investigators First of all, there are no formal education requirements for a majority of the investigator jobs but all should possess a post high school degree in addition due to the diverse demands of the work […]
• Criminal Investigation: The Murder of Brianna Denison There is full adherence to the law in which the police officers are supposed to get in detail the root of the case and be able to have supportive evidence to the accused person.
• Personal Application of Criminology I rushed home quickly and found the door to the house ajar and, as far as I could remember, I was the last to leave the house and there was no way that I could […]
• Investigation Methods: Terrorism and Cyber Crime The question on whether the investigations in these areas of cyber crime and terrorism to remain incident driven or to adopt strategic approach are still is of great concern to the security agencies and the […]
• Electronic Crime Scene Investigation & Good Practice Guide According to the guides, some of the devices that can be found at the scene of the crime can vary depending on the nature of the organization.
• The Major Tenets of the Classical and Positive Schools of Criminology The Positivist school of thought was inspired by the positivist ideas that universal laws are governing the course of action of everything in the universe.
• Contemporary Criminology and Criminal Justice Theory The model of a political society in which law restrains and guides the implementation of power by rulers dates from the early stages of systematic thought in the Western world.
• International Comparative Criminology To evaluate the effects of the judicial treatment of human rights violations on the democratic process, it is necessary to consider whether, in spite of the covert amnesty of the due obedience law passed during […]
• Contemporary Biosocial Criminology Biosocial criminology is dynamic in that it explains human behavior in the different paths of development. To them crime was a way of showing that they are in control.
• Crime Theories: Intimate Partner Violence in the US The NCJRS report points out that the group that showed the least cases of IPV within the minorities was women and men from the Asian and the Pacific Islander ethnicities.
• Criminology: Bring Community Justice To Corrections Community justice refers to promoting of quality life of local residents through the effort of agencies that deal with criminal justice with co-operation of the members of the community.
• Criminology: Basic Theory Lineage Being a result of Durkheim’s and Merton’s theories’ integration, the Institutional Anomie theory by Rosenfeld and Messner argues about the dominance of goals over the ways of their achievement and claims the American Dream to […]
• Forensic Science in Criminology: A Widely Respected and Highly Specialized Field of Science When it comes to studying a case of crime, no matter the level of severity, nothing is more important to a criminal investigator than the use and implementation of forensic science.
• Jeffrey R. Wilson: Macbeth and Criminology The genre of tragedy used in Macbeth poses the question to the reader: who is responsible for committing a crime – the individual or the society?
• Glass Analysis in Forensic Science: Characteristics and Properties Determination of the material’s distinctive characteristics based on the analysis of its unique properties is a constant task of the forensic expert. The technique of such measurements consists of immersing the glass in a liquid […]
• Criminology Theories and Juvenile Delinquency From the point of view of labeling theory, the initial drinking and the first fight at the party is John’s primary deviance.
• The Role of Politics in Criminology The purpose of this paper is to investigate the effect of the power structures on criminology and its approaches in the analysis of evidence and making decisions.
• Different Types of Criminological Theories The growth of crime is the negative consequences of such phenomena of the modern stage of society’s development as the scientific and technological revolution, the processes of urbanization, population migration, and the media’s development.
• U2 IP Forensic Science: Types of Guns and the Nature of Gunshot Wounds The caliber of a weapon and the distance from a gun to a victim determine the features of an injury caused by bullets, shell casing, or projectile. Therefore, forensic investigators should know the types of […]
• Criminal Justice System: Crime Scene Investigation A gas store employee, who was present in the time of the event, nodded to be the witness of the crime.
• Math and Criminal Justice: The Effective Conduction of Investigation The use of mathematics in the form of statistical analysis and interpretation is profound in all the three parts of the criminal justice system- “law enforcement, adjudication and corrections “.
• Women’s Crime: Gendered Criminology Theory In addition, with the common pigeonholes of women within the community criminal women are seen as incapable, hysterical, and irrational of being entirely initiative for their crimes and actions because of their sex and biology.
• Expanding Theories: Criminology Revisited The theory, also known as the Sociobiology or Psychobiology is the focus of this essay which also dwells on some recommended responses for the Criminal Justice System in dealing with criminal behavior.
• Criminal Investigations: Nature of Crime Investigators The fourth task of crime investigators in crimes against children is that their work should be able to facilitate effective decision-making and disclosures.
• Hung Juries in Criminal Trials: Are They a Problem? A hung jury is usually regarded as the best way to an acquittal, so the greater the number of juries is the more chances of dissension are.
• Situational Inducement in Criminology It is analogous to an attempt to extinguish the flames of a fire fed by an open gas jet: the flames are the major problem, but the cause is the gas. The degree of acceptability […]
• Hate Crime as a Core Subject of Criminology Following these, the understanding of hate crime is promoted by a definition that admits the ways in which this selected category of violence contributes to the relative scheme of identities, in the context of a […]
• Research Methods in Criminal Justice and Criminology One of the major aspects that have to be considered while going for data collection is that, the selection of the data collection team.
• Gregg Barak: Race, Gender & Class in Criminology The author came to the conclusion that race, gender and class can really influence the criminal justice and the type of punishment.
• “Race, Gender and Class in Criminology” by G. Barak I am strongly convinced that the current article is a helpful source of information about race, gender and class in criminology which is my topic.
• Forensic Science: Term Definition Forensic crime scene investigation currently employs the study of human remains and this also involves extraction of DNA from the tissues for inclusion in the polymerase chain reaction, which is an enzymatic amplification of specific […]
• Forensic Science and Law: The U.S. Supreme Court’s Decision in Daubert According to the Daubert decision, the Supreme Court took a broad view of “science ” based on the data and reasoning facts considered as expert evidence.
• Criminology: Drugs, Crime and Control In 1998 the percentage was high among young people, this is because may be due to depressions and burdens of failed life’s take 20 to 24 years old people into drug and on the other […]
• State Corporate Crime and Criminological Inquiry This means that corporate crime poses a threat to the community at large in which their actions and impact on personal injury and cause economic and physical impacts.
• Forensic Science and Psychological Profiling This step also helps the investigator to come to the rough details of a crime mainly from the materials that the investigator collects from the crime scene and which becomes of use in the investigation.
• Wrongful Convictions and Forensic Science In the first trial, the prosecution emphasized two pieces of evidence: the bite marks left by the murderer on Ancona’s left breast and the other various scientific findings regarding the blood and hairs obtained from […]
• Report on the State of Forensic Science The current leader of the International Association of Identification appears to be the best person for formulating a committee to write a national report on this country’s state of forensic science.
• Criminology. Female Incarceration and Equality The power dynamics between the two genders and the observable differences in male and female behavior shape their crime patterns, avenues into the justice system, and responses to incarceration.
• Computer Forensics in Criminal Investigation In this section, this paper will address the components of a computer to photograph during forensic photography, the most emergent action an investigating officer should take upon arriving at a cyber-crime scene, the value of […]
• Crime Investigation With Global Positioning System The members of the group had no license and violated other laws, while the brother of the convict was also suspected to be a part of this group, his guilt was not proved.
• Forensic Science in the Criminal Justice System This essay is intended to explain the meaning of forensic science in the criminal justice system and to explore the evolution of methods introduced by such figures as Sir Francis Galton and Dr.
• Physical Evidence in Criminal Investigation If proof is relevant, it means that it has tendencies to make the existence of facts that are of consequence to the determination of actions more or less probable than it would be without the […]
• Computer Crime Investigation Processes and Analyses The document revolves around the necessity of following all these procedures to achieve success and guarantee the preservation of crucial data and increased security of companies and organizations.
• Criminalistics: Arson and High and Low Explosives Deliberate fires, are also referred to as arson and are of the greatest significance to the investigator. In the low explosives, the bonds are very strong and require a lot of energy to break them.
• Studying Criminology: Experiences and Skills Well, the study of criminology enables an individual to evaluate and, in the process, understand the criminal activities while putting into consideration the process of committing those crimes and how to control them within the […]
• Social Disorganization Theory in Criminology According to Cullen, Agnew, and Wilcox, this term describes the emergence of crime as a logical factor, which is manifested in those communities that are unstable or disorganized. While evaluating this crime from a theoretical […]
• Social Control Theory in Criminology The main idea of the theory is that social bonds are the most significant factors that can prevent individuals from engaging in unlawful activities.
• BMW and Volkswagen in Environmental Criminology The recent investigations of BMW and Volkswagen are one of the many examples of misdeeds done to nature. Therefore, the corporation will not undermine laws, which are created to preserve the environment and nature of […]
• Forensic Science: Examining Crime Evidence For a forensic scientist, it is paramount to be able to perform the three main functions: Gathering evidence finding the evidence from the crime scene that might be relevant to the case, and collecting it […]
• Genetic and Social Bond Theories in Criminology
• Crime Scene Investigation: Types of Analysis
• Crime Scene Investigation: Principles and Process
• Credible Evidence in Criminology
• Police Culture in “The Critical Criminology Companion”
• The Pivotal Role of Different Analyses in Criminology
• Proactive and Reactive Approaches in Criminology
• Positivist, Sociological, Contemporary Criminology
• Crime Scene Investigation Stages and Protocols
• Death Types in Criminal Investigation
• Unethical Practices in Criminal Investigation
• Police Officers’ White Lie in Criminal Investigation
• Criminal Justice Process and Investigation Changes
• Conflict Criminology and Crime Causation Theories
• Classical Criminology and Present Day Crime
• The Historical Investigation – Robert Salmon’s Crime
• Criminology: Circles of Support and Accountability
• Criminology: Juvenile Detention Center
• Criminal Investigations and Hate Crimes
• CSI Effect: Crime-Related Shows and Judicial System
• Criminology: The CSI Effect Among Jurors
• How the CSI Effect Influences American Jurors
• Criminology: Critique of the Current Rehabilitation Options
• Criminology: Prisoners with Special Needs
• Criminology: Prisons Impact on Crime Rates
• Crime in Chicago: Witnesses Go Silent
• Criminology: Water Boarding Torture
• Collection of Biological Evidence in Criminal Investigation
• Forensic Evidence in Criminology
• The Role of Computer Forensics in Criminology
• Classical and Positivist Criminology, Circle Sentencing, Risk as a Gendered Aspect
• Criminology: Sexual Assault and Consent
• Criminology: Screen Violence vs. Real Violence
• Criminalistics: An Introduction to Forensic Science
• What Is the First Step in the Crime Investigation Process?
• Why Is Ethical Behavior Necessary in Crime Investigations?
• How Is Chemistry Used in Crime Investigation?
• What Are the Goals of Crime Investigation?
• Why Is Chemistry Important in Police Science or Crime Investigation?
• How Are Computers Being Used in Crime Investigations?
• What Is the Purpose of DNA Profiling in Crime Investigation?
• Is Digital Crime Investigation and Cyber Crime Investigation the Same?
• Which Are Some Great and Unique Crime Investigation Movies?
• What Are the Basic Principles of Crime Investigation?
• How Long Do Cyber Crime Investigations Take?
• What Is the Meaning of Crime Investigation in History?
• Do Cyber Crime Investigations Make a Safer Internet Space?
• What Are the Basic Steps of Scientific Crime Scene Investigation?
• How Effectively Is DNA Used in Crime Investigation?
• What Are the Elements of a Crime Investigation?
• Is DNA the Most Important Evidence for Crime Investigation?
• What Is the Significance of Scientific Crime Investigation?
• How Has Technology Changed the Crime Investigation?
• What Is the History of Crime Investigation?
• Are There Ethical Issues in Crime Investigation?
• What Is the Role of Police in Crime Investigation?
• Does Crime Investigation Require Ethical Standards?
• How Is Forensic Science Used in Criminal Investigations?
• What Is the Most Important Tool of Crime Investigation?
• Police Questions
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• Social Justice Essay Ideas
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• Criminal Behavior Essay Topics
• Organized Crime Titles
• Victimology Research Ideas
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Cognitive Biases in Criminal Case Evaluation: A Review of the Research

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• Volume 37 , pages 101–122, ( 2022 )

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• Vanessa Meterko   ORCID: orcid.org/0000-0002-1207-8812 1 &
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Psychological heuristics are an adaptive part of human cognition, helping us operate efficiently in a world full of complex stimuli. However, these mental shortcuts also have the potential to undermine the search for truth in a criminal investigation. We reviewed 30 social science research papers on cognitive biases in criminal case evaluations (i.e., integrating and drawing conclusions based on the totality of the evidence in a criminal case), 18 of which were based on police participants or an examination of police documents. Only two of these police participant studies were done in the USA, with the remainder conducted in various European countries. The studies provide supporting evidence that lay people and law enforcement professionals alike are vulnerable to confirmation bias, and there are other environmental, individual, and case-specific factors that may exacerbate this risk. Six studies described or evaluated the efficacy of intervention strategies, with varying evidence of success. Further research, particularly in the USA, is needed to evaluate different approaches to protect criminal investigations from cognitive biases.

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Introduction

Decades of research in cognitive and social psychology have taught us that there are limitations to human attention and decision-making abilities (see, for example, Gilovich et al. 2002 ). We cannot process all the stimuli that surround us on a daily basis, so instead we have adapted for efficiency by attuning to patterns and developing mental shortcuts or rules of thumb to help us effectively navigate our complex world. While this tendency to rely on heuristics and biases can serve us well by allowing us to make quick decisions with little cognitive effort, it also has the potential to inadvertently undermine accuracy and thus the fair administration of justice.

Cognitive bias is an umbrella term that refers to a variety of inadvertent but predictable mental tendencies which can impact perception, memory, reasoning, and behavior. Cognitive biases include phenomena like confirmation bias (e.g., Nickerson 1998 ), anchoring (e.g., Tversky & Kahneman 1974 ), hindsight bias (e.g., Fischhoff 1975 ), the availability heuristic (e.g., Tversky & Kahneman 1973 ), unconscious or implicit racial (or other identifying characteristics) bias (e.g., Greenwald et al.  1998 ; Staats et al. 2017 ), and others. In this context, the word “bias” does not imply an ethical issue (e.g., Dror 2020 ) but simply suggests a probable response pattern. Indeed, social scientists have demonstrated and discussed how even those who actively endorse egalitarian values harbor unconscious biases (e.g., Pearson et al.  2009 ; Richardson 2017 ) and how expertise, rather than insulating us from biases, can actually create them through learned selective attention or reliance on expectations based on past experiences (e.g., Dror 2020 ). Consequently, we recognize the potential for these human factors to negatively influence our criminal justice process.

In an effort to explore the role of cognitive biases in criminal investigations and prosecutions, we conducted a literature review to determine the scope of available research and strength of the findings. The questions guiding this exercise were as follows: (1) what topics have been researched so far and where are the gaps?; (2) what are the methodological strengths and limitations of this research?; and (3) what are the results, what do we know so far, and where should we go from here?

We searched PsycINFO for scholarly writing focused on cognitive biases in criminal investigations and prosecutions in December 2016 and again in January 2020. Footnote 1 We reviewed all results by title and then reviewed the subset of possibly-relevant titles by abstract, erring on the side of over-inclusivity. We repeated this process using the Social Sciences Full Text, PubMed, and Criminal Justice Abstracts with Full Text databases to identify additional papers. Finally, we manually reviewed the reference lists in the identified papers for any unique sources we may have missed in prior searches.

We sorted the articles into categories by the actor or action in the criminal investigation and prosecution process that they addressed, including physical evidence collection, witness evaluation, suspect evaluation, forensic analysis and testimony, police case evaluation (i.e., integrating and drawing conclusions based on the totality of the evidence), prosecutors, defense attorneys, judges, juries, and sentencing. Within each of these categories, we further sorted the articles into one of three types of sources: “primary data studies” describing experimental or observational studies that involved data collection or analysis, “intervention studies” that were solution-oriented and involved implementing some type of intervention or training to prevent or mitigate a phenomenon, and “secondary sources” (e.g., commentaries, letters, reviews, theoretical pieces, general book chapters) that discussed cognitive biases but did not present primary data.

To narrow the scope of this review, we did not include articles that focus solely on implicit racial bias or structural racial bias in the criminal legal system. The foundational and persistent problem of racial (particularly anti-Black) bias throughout our legal system—from policing to sentencing (e.g., Voigt et al. 2017 ; NYCLU 2011 ; Blair et al.  2004 ; Eberhardt et al.  2006 )—has been clearly demonstrated in laboratory experiments and analyses of real-world data and is well-documented in an ever-growing body of academic publications and policy reports (e.g., Correll et al.  2002 ; Chanin et al.  2018 ; Owens et al. 2017 ; Staats et al. 2017 ).

Scope of Available Research and Methodology

Cognitive biases in forensic science have received the most attention from researchers to date (for a review of these forensic science studies, see Cooper & Meterko 2019 ). The second most substantial amount of scholarship focused on case evaluation (i.e., integrating and drawing conclusions based on the totality of the evidence in a case). Ultimately, we found 43 scholarly sources that addressed various issues related to the evaluation of the totality of evidence in criminal cases: 25 primary data (non-intervention) studies, five intervention studies, and one additional paper that presented both primary data and interventions, and 12 secondary sources. For the remainder of this article, we focus solely on the primary data and intervention studies. One of the primary data studies (Fahsing & Ask 2013 ) described the development of materials that were used in two subsequent studies included in this review (Fahsing & Ask 2016 ; 2017 ), and thus, this materials-development paper is not reviewed further here. Table 1 presents an overview of the research participants and focus of the other 30 primary data and intervention studies included in our review.

One challenge in synthesizing this collection of research is the fact that these studies address different but adjacent concepts using a variety of measures and—in some instances—report mixed results. The heterogeneity of this research reveals the complex nature of human factors in criminal case evaluations.

Eighteen of the 30 papers (13 primary data and three intervention) included participants who were criminal justice professionals (e.g., police, judges) or analyzed actual police documents. An appendix provides a detailed summary of the methods and results of the 18 criminal justice participant (or document) studies. Fifteen papers were based on or presented additional separate analyses with student or lay participants. Recruiting professionals to participate in research is commendable as it is notoriously challenging but allows us to identify any differences between those with training and experience versus the general public, and to be more confident that conclusions will generalize to real-world behavior. Of course, representativeness (or not) must still be considered when making generalizations about police investigations.

Reported sample sizes ranged from a dozen to several hundred participants and must be taken into account when interpreting individual study results. Comparison or control groups and manipulation checks are also essential to accurately interpreting results; some studies incorporated these components in their designs while others did not.

Most studies used vignettes or case materials—both real and fictionalized—as stimuli. Some studies did not include enough information about stimulus or intervention materials to allow readers to critically interpret the results or replicate an intervention test. Future researchers would benefit from publishers making more detailed information available. Further, while the use of case vignettes is a practical way to study these complex scenarios, this approach may not completely mimic the pressures of a real criminal case, fully appreciate how the probative value of evidence can depend on context, or accurately reflect naturalistic decision-making.

Notably, only two of the criminal case evaluation studies using professional participants were conducted in the USA; all others were based in Europe (Austria, Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, and the UK). The differences between police training, operations, and the criminal justice systems writ large should be considered when applying lessons from these studies to the USA or elsewhere.

Finally, all of these papers were published relatively recently, within the past 15 years. This emerging body of research is clearly current, relevant, and has room to grow.

Research Findings

The primary data studies address a constellation of concepts that demonstrate how human factors can inadvertently undermine the seemingly objective and methodical process of a criminal investigation. To organize these concepts, we used a taxonomy originally developed to describe potential sources of bias in forensic science observations and conclusions as a guide (Dror 2017 ; Dror et al.  2017 ) and adapted it to this collection of case evaluation literature. Footnote 2 As in Dror’s taxonomy, the broad base of this organizing pyramid is “human nature,” and as the pyramid narrows to its peak, potential sources of bias become increasingly dependent on environmental, individual, and case-specific circumstances and characteristics (Fig.  1 ). Some authors in this collection address more than one of these research areas within the same paper through multiple manipulations or a series of studies (Table 1 ).

Organizational framework for case evaluation studies, adapted from Dror’s ( 2017 ) taxonomy of different sources of potential bias that may cognitively contaminate forensic observations and conclusions. The specific factors listed in this pyramid are those that were examined in the collection of studies in the present literature review

Human Nature

The “human nature” studies include those that demonstrate universal psychological phenomena and their underlying mechanisms in the context of a criminal case evaluation. Several studies focused on confirmation bias. Confirmation bias, sometimes colloquially referred to as “tunnel vision,” denotes selective seeking, recalling, weighting, and/or interpreting information in ways that support existing beliefs, expectations, or hypotheses, while simultaneously avoiding or minimizing inconsistent or contradictory information (Nickerson 1998 ; Findley 2012 ). Some authors in this collection of studies used other terms to describe this concept or elements of it, including “context effects,” the term used by Charman et al. ( 2015 ) to describe when “a preexisting belief affects the subsequent interpretation of evidence” (p. 214), and asymmetrical skepticism (Ask & Granhag 2007b ; Marksteiner et al.  2010 ).

Eight studies with law enforcement personnel (Ask & Granhag 2007b ; Ask et al.  2008 ; Charman et al.  2017 ; Ditrich 2015 ; Groenendaal & Helsloot 2015 ; Marksteiner et al. 2010 ; Rassin 2010 ; Wallace 2015 ) examined aspects of confirmation bias; one addressed the distinct but related phenomenon of groupthink (Kerstholt & Eikelboom 2007 ). The importance of this issue was demonstrated by a survey of an unspecified number of professional crime scene officers conducted by Ditrich ( 2015 ), asking for their opinions about the relative frequency and severity of various cognitive errors that could potentially negatively affect a criminal investigation; based on their experiences, respondents highlighted confirmation bias (as well as overestimating the validity of partial information and shifting the burden of proof to the suspect). The other studies within this group used experimental designs to assess police officers’ evaluation of evidence. Charman et al. ( 2017 ) reported that police officers’ initial beliefs about the innocence or guilt of a suspect in a fictional criminal case predicted their evaluation of subsequent ambiguous evidence, which in turn predicted their final beliefs about the suspect’s innocence or guilt. This is not the only study to demonstrate that, like the rest of us, police officers are susceptible to confirmation bias. Ask and colleagues ( 2008 ) found that police recruits discredited or supported the same exact evidence (“the viewing distance of 10 m makes the witness identification unreliable” versus “from 10 m one ought to see what a person looks like”) depending on whether it was consistent or inconsistent with their hypothesis of a suspect’s guilt. Ask and Granhag ( 2007b ) found that when experienced criminal investigators read a vignette that implied a suspect’s guilt (but left room for an alternative explanation), they rated subsequent guilt-consistent evidence as more credible and reliable than evidence that was inconsistent with their theory of guilt; similar results were seen in a study of police officers, district attorneys, and judges by Rassin ( 2010 ).

Marksteiner et al. ( 2010 ) investigated the motivational underpinnings of this type of asymmetrical skepticism among police trainees, asking whether it is driven by a desire to reconcile inconsistent information with prior beliefs or by the goal of case closure, and encountered mixed results. The group who initially hypothesized guilt reacted as expected, rating subsequent incriminating evidence as more reliable, but in the group whose initial hypothesis was innocence, there was no difference in the way that they rated additional consistent or inconsistent information. Wallace ( 2015 ) found that the order in which evidence was presented influenced guilt beliefs. When police officers encountered exculpatory evidence prior to inculpatory evidence, guilt belief scores decreased, suggesting their final decisions were influenced by their initial impressions. Kerstholt and Eikelboom ( 2007 ) describe how teams tend to converge on one interpretation, and once such an interpretation is adopted, individual members are less able to examine underlying assumptions critically. They asked independent crime analysts to evaluate a realistic criminal investigation with fresh eyes and found that they were demonstrably influenced when they were aware of the investigative team’s existing working hypothesis.

Studies in student and general populations examining confirmation bias and other aspects of human cognition (Ask et al. 2011b ; Charman et al.  2015 ; Eerland et al.  2012 ; Eerland & Rassin 2012 ; Greenspan & Surich 2016 ; O’Brien 2007 ; 2009 ; Price & Dahl 2014 ; Rassin et al.  2010 ; Simon et al.  2004 ; Wastell et al.  2012 ) reported similar patterns to those described above with police participants. O’Brien ( 2007 ; 2009 ) found that students who named a suspect early in a mock criminal investigation were biased towards confirming that person’s guilt as the investigation continued. O’Brien measured memory for hypothesis-consistent versus hypothesis-inconsistent information, interpretation of ambiguous evidence, participants’ decisions to select lines of inquiry into the suspect or an alternative, and ultimate opinions about guilt or innocence. In a novel virtual crime scene investigation, Wastell et al. ( 2012 ) found that all students (those who ultimately chose the predetermined “correct” suspect from the multiple available people of interest and those who chose incorrectly) sought more chosen-suspect-consistent information during the exercise. However, those who were ultimately unsuccessful (i.e., chose the wrong person) spent more time in a virtual workspace (a measure of the importance placed on potential evidence) after accessing confirmatory information. They also found that students who settled on a suspect early in the exercise—measured by prompts throughout the virtual investigation—were comparatively unsuccessful.

Other psychological phenomena such as recency effects (i.e., our ease of recalling information presented at the end of a list relative to information presented at the beginning or middle) and the feature positive effect (i.e., our tendency to generally attune to presence more than absence) were also examined in studies with student or general population participants. Price and Dahl ( 2014 ) explored evidence presentation order and found that under certain circumstances, evidence presented later in an investigation had a greater impact on student participant decision-making in a mock criminal investigation. Charman and colleagues also found order of evidence presentation influenced ratings of strength of evidence and likelihood of guilt in their 2015 study of evidence integration with student participants. These results appear to provide evidence against the presence of confirmation bias, but recency effects still demonstrate the influence of human factors as, arguably, the order in which one learns about various pieces of evidence -whether first or last- should not impact interpretation. Several research teams found that a positive eyewitness identification is seen as more credible than a failure to identify someone (Price & Dhal 2014 , p.147) and the presence of fingerprints—as opposed to a lack of fingerprints—is more readily remembered and used to make decisions about a criminal case (Eerland et al. 2012 ; Eerland & Rassin 2012 ), even though the absence of evidence can also be diagnostic. Other researchers highlighted our psychic discomfort with cognitive dissonance (Ask et al. 2011b ) and our tendency to reconcile ambiguity and artificially impose consistency in a criminal case by engaging in “ bidirectional coherence-based reasoning” (Simon et al. 2004 ; Greenspan & Surich 2016 ).

Environment and Culture

The three “environment and culture” studies with police personnel (Ask & Granhag 2007b ; Ask et al.  2011a ; Fahsing & Ask 2016 ) revealed the ways in which external factors can influence an investigation. For instance, type of training appears to impact the ability to generate a variety of relevant hypotheses and actions in an investigation. English and Norwegian investigators are trained and performed differently when faced with semi-fictitious crime vignettes (Fahsing & Ask 2016 ). Organizational culture can impact the integrity of an investigation as well. Ask and colleagues ( 2011a ) concluded that a focus on efficiency—as opposed to thoroughness—produces more cursory processing among police participants, which could be detrimental to the accurate assessment of evidence found later in an investigation. Ask and Granhag ( 2007b ) observed that induced time pressure influenced officers’ decision-making, creating a higher tendency to stick with initial beliefs and a lower tendency to be influenced by the evidence presented.

Individual Characteristics

Seven “individual characteristics” studies with police personnel (Ask & Granhag 2005 ; 2007a ; Dando & Ormerod 2017 ; Fahsing & Ask 2016 ; 2017 ; Kerstholt & Eikelboom 2007 ; Wallace  2015 ) plus two studies with student populations (Rassin 2010 , 2018a ) examined ways in which personal attributes can influence an investigation. Varying amounts of professional experience may matter when it comes to assessments of potential criminal cases and assumptions about guilt. For instance, police recruits appear to have a strong tendency toward criminal—as opposed to non-criminal—explanations for an ambiguous situation like a person’s disappearance (Fahsing & Ask 2017 ) and less experienced recruits show more suspicion than seasoned investigators (Wallace 2015 ). In a departure from the typical mock crime vignette method, Dando and Ormerod ( 2017 ) reviewed police decision logs (used for recording and justifying decisions made during serious crime investigations) and found that senior officers generated more hypotheses early in an investigation, and switched between considering different hypotheses both early and late in an investigation (suggesting a willingness to entertain alternative theories) compared with inexperienced investigators. An experimental study, however, found that professional crime analyst experience level (mean 7 months versus 7 years) was not related to case evaluation decisions and did not protect against knowledge of prior interpretations of the evidence influencing conclusions (Kerstholt & Eikelboom 2007 ).

Two studies examined differences in reasoning skills in relation to the evaluation of evidence. Fahsing and Ask ( 2017 ) found that police recruits’ deductive and inductive reasoning skills were not associated with performance on an investigative reasoning task. In contrast, in a study with undergraduate students, accuracy of decision-making regarding guilt or innocence in two case scenarios was associated with differences in logical reasoning abilities as measured by a test adapted from the Wason Card Selection Test (Rassin 2018a ).

Ask and Granhag ( 2005 ) found inconsistent results in a study of police officers’ dispositional need for cognitive closure and the effect on criminal investigations. Those with a high need for cognitive closure (measured with an established scale) were less likely to acknowledge inconsistencies in case materials when those materials contained a potential motive for the suspect, but were more likely to acknowledge inconsistencies when made aware of the possibility of an alternative perpetrator. In a replication study with undergraduate students, Ask & Granhag ( 2005 ) found that initial hypotheses significantly affected subsequent evidence interpretation, but found no interaction with individual need for cognitive closure. Students who were aware of an alternative suspect (compared with those aware of a potential motive for the prime suspect) were simply less likely to evaluate subsequent information as evidence supporting guilt.

In another study, when Ask and Granhag ( 2007a ) induced negative emotions in police officers and then asked them to make judgments about a criminal case, sad participants were better able to substantively process the consistency of evidence or lack thereof, whereas angry participants used heuristic processing.

Case-Specific

Four studies of police personnel (Ask et al. 2008 ; Fahsing & Ask 2016 ; 2017 ; Wallace 2015 ), one using police records (Dando & Omerod  2017 ), and three studies of student populations (Ask et al. 2011b ; O’Brien  2007 ; 2009 ; Rassin et al. 2010 ) examined “case-specific” and evidence-specific factors. In a study of police officers, Ask and colleagues ( 2008 ) showed that the perceived reliability of some types of evidence (DNA versus photographs versus witnesses) is more malleable than others; similar results pertaining to DNA versus witness evidence were found in a study of law students (Ask et al. 2011b ).

Fahsing and Ask ( 2016 ) found that police recruits who were presented with a scenario including a clear “tipping point” (an arrest) did not actually produce significantly fewer hypotheses than those who were not presented with a tipping point (though they acknowledge that the manipulation—one sentence embedded in a case file—may not have been an ecologically valid one). In a subsequent study with police recruits, the presence of a tipping point resulted in fewer generated hypotheses, but the difference was not statistically significant (Fahsing & Ask 2017 ).

Other studies using law students (Rassin et al. 2010 ) or undergraduate students (O’Brien 2007 ) examined the influence of crime severity on decision-making. Rassin et al. ( 2010 ) observed that the affinity for incriminating evidence increases with crime severity, but in one of O’Brien’s ( 2007 ) studies, crime severity did not have a demonstrable impact on confirmation bias.

Interventions

Taken together, this body of work demonstrates vulnerabilities in criminal investigations. Some researchers have suggested theoretically supported solutions to protect against these vulnerabilities, such as gathering facts rather than building a case (Wallace 2015 ) or institutionalizing the role of a “contrarian” in a criminal investigation (MacFarlane 2008 ). Few studies have tested and evaluated these potential remedies, however. Testing is an essential prerequisite to any advocacy for policy changes because theoretically sound interventions may not, in fact, have the intended effect when applied (e.g., see below for a description of O’Brien’s work testing multiple interventions with differing results).

Four studies have examined various intervention approaches with police departments or investigators (Groenendaal & Helsloot 2015 ; Jones et al.  2008 ; Rassin 2018b ; Salet & Terpstra 2014 ). Jones et al. ( 2008 ) created a tool that helped an experimental group of investigators produce higher quality reviews of a closed murder case than those working without the aid of the review tool. Their article provides an appendix  with “categories used in the review tool” (e.g., crime scene management, house-to-house enquiries, community involvement) but lacks a detailed description of the tool itself and the outcome measures. Importantly, the authors raise the possibility that a review tool like this may improve how officers think through a case because of the structure or content of the tool or it may succeed by simply slowing them down so they can think more critically and thoroughly. Another approach that shows promise in reducing tunnel vision is using a pen and paper tool to prompt investigators to consider how well the same evidence supports different hypotheses (Rassin 2018b ). In a study of actual case files, supplemented with interviews, Salet and Terpstra ( 2014 ) explored “contrarians” and found that there are real-world challenges to the position’s efficacy (e.g., personal desire to be a criminal investigator, desire for solidarity with colleagues) and considerable variability in the way contrarians approach their work, with some opting for closeness to an investigation and others opting for distance; individuals also embraced different roles (e.g., supervisor, devil’s advocate, focus on procedure). The researchers concluded that, in practice, these contrarians appear to have exerted subtle influence on investigations but there is no evidence of a radical change in case trajectory. Similarly, members of criminal investigation teams in the Netherlands reported that, in practice, designated devil’s advocates tend to provide sound advice but do not fundamentally change the course of investigations (Groenendaal & Helsloot  2015 ). Groenendaal and Helsloot describe the development and implementation of the Criminal Investigation Reinforcement Programme in the Netherlands, which was prompted by a national reckoning stemming from a widely publicized wrongful conviction. The program included new policies aimed at, among other things, reducing tunnel vision (including the use of devil’s advocates, structured decision-making around “hypotheses and scenarios,” and professionalized, permanent “Command Core Teams” dedicated to major crimes). This deliberate intervention provided an opportunity for researchers to interview investigators who were directly impacted by the new policies. Groenendaal and Helsloot conclude that the main effect of this intervention was an increased awareness about the potential problem of tunnel vision, and they focus on an unresolved a tension between “efficacy” (more convictions) and “precaution” (minimizing wrongful convictions). Their work underscores the importance of collecting criminal legal system data, as interviewees reported their experiences and impressions but could not report whether more correct convictions had been obtained or more wrongful convictions avoided.

Other studies have examined various intervention ideas with student populations (Haas et al.  2015 ; O’Brien 2007 ; 2009 ). Haas et al. ( 2015 ) found that using a checklist tool to evaluate evidence appears to improve students’ abductive reasoning and reduce confirmation bias. O’Brien ( 2007 ; 2009 ) found that orienting participants to being accountable for good process versus outcome had no impact, and that when participants expected to have to persuade someone of their hypothesis, this anticipation actually worsened bias. More promisingly, she discovered that participants who were asked to name a suspect early in an investigation, but were then told to consider how their selected suspect could be innocent and then generate counter-arguments, displayed less confirmation bias across a variety of measures (they looked the same as those who did not name a suspect early). But another approach—asking participants to generate two additional alternative suspects—was not effective (these participants showed the same amount of bias as those who identified just one suspect).

Zalman and Larson ( 2016 ) have observed “the failure of innocence movement advocates, activists, and scholars to view the entirety of police investigation as a potential source of wrongful convictions, as opposed to exploring arguably more discrete police processes (e.g., eyewitness identification, interrogation, handling informants)” (p.3). While the thorough examination of these discrete processes has led to a better understanding of risk factors and, ultimately, reforms in police practices (e.g., see the Department of Justice 2017 guidelines for best practices with eyewitnesses), a recent shift towards viewing wrongful convictions from a “sentinel events” Footnote 3 perspective advances the conversation around these criminal justice system failures (Doyle 2012 ; 2014 ; Rossmo & Pollock 2019 ).

This literature review has identified a body of research that lends support to this holistic perspective. The studies reviewed here address a constellation of concepts that demonstrate how the human element—including universal psychological tendencies, predictable responses to situational and organizational factors, personal factors, and characteristics of the crime itself—can unintentionally undermine truth-seeking in the complex evidence integration process. Some concepts are addressed by one study, some are addressed by several, and some studies explored multiple variables (e.g., demonstrating the existence of confirmation bias and measuring how level of professional experience plays a role).

Several contemporary studies have demonstrated the existence of confirmation bias in police officers within the context of criminal investigations. Other psychological phenomena have not been examined in police populations but have been examined in student or general populations using study materials designed to assess the interpretation of criminal case evidence and decision-making. This collection of studies also investigates the role of environmental factors that may be specific to a department or organization, characteristics of individual investigators, or of the specific case under review. At the environmental level, type of training and organizational customs were influential and are promising areas for further research as these factors are within the control of police departments and can be modified. With respect to individual characteristics, a better understanding of advantageous dispositional tendencies and what is gained by professional experience, as well as the unique risks of expertise, could lead to better recruitment and training methods. Case-specific factors are outside the control of investigators, but awareness of factors that pose a greater risk for bias could serve as an alert and future research could identify ways to use this information in practice (see also Rossmo & Pollock 2019 for an in-depth discussion of “risk recipes”).

Charman and colleagues ( 2017 ) present a particularly interesting illustration of the way in which a criminal case is not merely the sum of its parts. In this study, the researchers presented law enforcement officers with exonerating, incriminating, or neutral DNA or eyewitness evidence, collected initial beliefs about guilt, asked participants to evaluate a variety of other ambiguous evidence (alibi, composite sketch, handwriting comparison, and informant information that could be reasonably interpreted in different ways), and then provide a final rating of guilt. As hypothesized, the researchers found those who were primed with incriminating evidence at the beginning were more likely to believe the suspect guilty at the end. However, even those who initially received exonerating information and initially rated the likelihood of suspect guilt as relatively low ended up increasing their guilt rating after reviewing the other ambiguous evidence. It appears that the cumulative effect of ambiguous evidence tilted the scales towards guilt. This unexpected outcome underscores the value of understanding how the totality of evidence in a criminal case is evaluated, and has implications for the legal doctrine of “harmless error” rooted in assumptions of evidentiary independence (e.g., Hasel & Kassin 2009 ).

Consistently incorporating control groups into future study designs and including complete stimulus materials in future publications could build on this foundation. This would help future researchers fully interpret and replicate study results and would assist in determining what elements of intervention strategies work. Since the majority of these studies were conducted in Europe, it would be worthwhile to explore whether or not these results can be replicated in the USA, given the similarities and differences in our criminal justice systems and the variety of approaches used to select and train detectives across police departments. Finally, valuable future research will move beyond the demonstration of these human vulnerabilities and will design and test strategies to mitigate them in the complex real world. Footnote 4 Vignettes and mock-investigations are clever ways of studying criminal investigations, but it is worth remembering that these approaches cannot fully capture the dynamics of a real criminal investigation. Collaboration between academic researchers and criminal investigators could generate robust expansions of this work.

Evidence evaluation and synthesis in criminal investigations is, of course, just one part of a larger legal process. In addition to police, defense attorneys, prosecutors, and judges have powerful roles in determining case outcomes, especially in a system that is heavily reliant on plea bargaining. Critically addressing the potential influence of cognitive biases throughout this system, and promoting and implementing proven, practical protections against these tendencies will advance accuracy and justice.

We used the following search terms and Boolean Operators: (criminal OR justice OR police OR investigat* OR forensic* OR jury OR juries OR judge* OR conviction* OR prosecut* OR defense OR defender* OR attorn*) in any field (e.g., text, title) AND (“cognitive bias” OR “cognitive dissonance” OR “tunnel vision” OR “confirmation bias” OR “interpretive bias” OR “belief perseverance” OR “asymmetrical skepticism”) in any field (e.g., text, title).

As Dror ( 2017 ) notes, the development of this taxonomy began in a paper in 2009 (Dror 2009 ) and was further developed in a 2014 paper (Stoel et al. 2014 ), with additional sources of bias added subsequently (in Dror 2015 , and Zapf & Dror 2017 ).

According to the National Institute of Justice ( 2017 ), a sentinel event is a significant negative outcome that (1) signals underlying weaknesses in the system or process, (2) is likely the result of compound errors, and (3) may provide, if properly analyzed and addressed, important keys to strengthen the system and prevent future adverse outcomes.

As Snook and Cullen ( 2008 ) assert, “it is unrealistic to expect police officers to investigate all possible suspects, collect evidence on all of those suspects, explore all possible avenues concerning the circumstances surrounding a crime, search for disconfirming and confirming evidence of guilt for every suspect, and integrate all of this information” (p. 72). Dando and Ormerod ( 2017 ) illustrate this real-world complexity when they describe an investigation that was delayed because a call for tips led to a flood of false leads, suggesting that more information is not always better. Further, though it addresses procedural justice in street policing rather than evidence integration in a criminal investigation (and thus was not included in this review), Owens et al. ( 2018 ) provide an example of a field study, complete with published scripts. Recognizing the automated thinking and behavior that comes with job experience, these researchers tested an intervention to reduce the number of incidents resolved with arrests and use of force by implementing a training program aimed at encouraging beat officers to think more slowly and deliberately during routine encounters; they also assessed the cost of this intervention in the police department.

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Thank you to Dr. Karen Amendola (Police Foundation), Ms. Prahelika Gadtaula (Innocence Project), and Dr. Kim Rossmo (Texas State University) for their thoughtful reviews of earlier drafts.

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Appendix. Detailed Summary of 18 Studies with Police Participants or Source Materials

• a Homicide case vignette was the same as the others with this designation
• b Assault case vignette was the same as the others with this designation
• c Homicide case vignette was the same as the others with this designation
• d Missing person case vignettes were the same as others with this designation
• e The second study reported in this article used undergraduate student participants

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Meterko, V., Cooper, G. Cognitive Biases in Criminal Case Evaluation: A Review of the Research. J Police Crim Psych 37 , 101–122 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11896-020-09425-8

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131 Crime Investigation Essay Topics

🏆 best essay investigative essay topics, ✍️ crime investigation essay topics for college, 👍 good crime investigation research topics & essay examples, 🎓 interesting crime scene investigation research paper topics, ❓ crime investigation questions, 🚨 crime scene investigation & criminal justice research topics.

• Criminology Discipline and Theories
• Approaches in Criminal Investigation
• Feminist Perspectives’ Contribution to Criminology
• Contemporary Theories in Criminology
• How the U.S. Constitution and the Bill of Rights Were Influenced by the Classical School of Criminology?
• Use of Statistics in Criminal Justice and Criminology
• Importance of Toxicology in Crime Investigation
• Robert Merton’s Strain Theory in Criminology Robert Merton’s strain theory explains the link between crime and adverse social conditions and how the former may be precipitated by the latter.
• Labeling Theory and Critical Criminology: Sociological Research Sociologists are researching offense and deviance to gain more knowledge about the motivations and attitudes of people involved applying theories of criminology based on sociology.
• Variance Analysis in Criminal Justice and Criminology The paper states that there are several limitations associated with the ANOVA technique. It may be not suitable against a specific hypothesis.
• The Bank Robbery Crime Investigation The primary objective of securing the crime scene is to preserve all the evidence that can help trace and identify the bank robbery suspect.
• Aspects of Crime Scene Investigation Crime scene investigation is a real art that requires care and caution. Criminologists must be careful and persistent in their research.
• Criminology and Impact of Automation Technology The sole objective of this study is to determine to what extent automation is embraced by law agencies and authorities to solve crimes with a faster and more accurate technique.
• Criminology as a Science: Cause and Effect Criminology is a study of the nature and degree of the problem of crime in society. For years criminologists have been trying to unravel criminal behavior.
• Classical and Positivist Schools of Criminology General and specific deterrence use the threat of negative consequences for illegal acts to reduce crime rates.
• DNA Analysis in Forensic Science This paper aims to describe its details, such as the PCR process, loci and their relation to CODIS, and the functions of touch DNA.
• Forensic Science: Killing of JonBenet Ramsey Forensic science uses chemistry to make an analysis of poisons and drugs, physics to carry out investigations on accidents and biology to conduct DNA profiling.
• Full-Service Crime Laboratory: Forensic Science Forensic scientists study and analyze evidence from crime scenes and other locations to produce objective results that can aid in the investigation and prosecution of criminals.
• The First Responding Officer in Crime Scene Investigation: Primary Duties Ascertaining the situation and providing the support needed to the people affected is the earliest objective of the first officer attending (FOA).
• Researching Environmental Criminology Environmental criminology is the study of crime and criminality in connection with specific places and with how individuals and organizations form their activities in space.
• Criminology: The Peace-Making Model The purpose of this article is to consider the peacekeeping model in criminology as an alternative to the criminal justice system to solve the problem of a growing crime rate.
• Sexual Assault: Criminology This paper discusses an act of sexual assault. The paper gives the definition of rape, social, personal, and psychosocial factors.
• Integrity as a Key Value: Criminology and War Integrity is included in the list of the LEADERSHIP values, which exist to direct military servicemembers toward appropriate conduct.
• Organized Business Crime Prosecution and Investigation Mr. Big is charged with operating a criminal enterprise that engages in illicit business activities. The memo proposes the investigative plan to obtain relevant evidence.
• Crime Scene Investigation in Media and Real Life The process of identifying and matching a piece of evidence to a particular person is a long process which requires exact sciences and methods.
• A Look at Firearms and Ballistics in Forensic Science Firearms and ballistics expertise is an essential process and area of study within the framework of forensic science.
• Criminology: Femininity and the Upsurge of Ladettes In recent years, women in highly industrialized countries are drinking more and behaving more badly than men. These women are called ladettes.
• Procedures Within Crime Scene Investigation A crime scene investigation is a complex and multistage research process in which a criminology specialist uses various scientific techniques and methodologies.
• Criminology: Legal Rights Afforded to the Accused The essay discusses the police actions of arrest and the main features of the arrangement process. The case of John Doe shows criminal procedure specifics.
• The Use of Statistics in Criminal Justice and Criminology This paper discusses small-sample confidence intervals for means and confidence intervals with proportions and percentages in criminal justice and criminology.
• Criminology and Victimology: Victim Stereotypes in Criminal Justice The paper shall look at this matter in relation to female perpetrated violence as well as male experiences of sexual violence and racial minority victims.
• Smash-And-Grab Crime: Criminal Investigation The smash-and-grab crime under investigation is a multi-million-dollar burglary that occurred in March 2022 at a Beverly Hills jewelry store.
• Chapter 7 of Statistics for Criminology and Criminal Justice Chapter 7 of Statistics for Criminology and Criminal Justice analyzes populations, sampling distributions, and the sample related to criminal-justice statistics and criminology.
• Hernando Washington Case. Criminology The history of humanity has seen multiple cases of extreme violence, and such instances can hardly ever be justified by any factors.
• Three Case Briefs in Criminology This paper gives three case briefs in criminology. Cases are “Macomber v. Dillman Case”, “Isbell v. Brighton Area Schools Case”, and “Wilen v. Falkenstein Case”.
• Criminology Today by Frank Schmalleger This paper discusses the first chapter from the book Criminology Today by Schmalleger that tells about the basic topics and defines the basic term.
• Kelihos Botnet Malware: Criminal Investigation A Special Agent with the Federal Bureau of Investigation in Anchorage, Alaska, has investigated the Kelihos botnet malware in violation of Title 18, United States Code.
• Researching of Emerging Technologies in Criminology This paper reviews the advantages and disadvantages of computer technology for crime investigation and law enforcement and concludes that the former outweighs the latter.
• The Due Process: Criminology The due process clause has been a very essential clause to the ordinary citizens since it is a means of assurance that every freeman has the freedom to enjoy his rights.
• Criminology: The Social Control Theory For criminologists, the social control theory means that an effective approach to reducing crime might be to change not individuals but their social contexts.
• The Usage of DNA Technology in Forensic Science DNA typing technology gives the forensic science an opportunity to uncover the information considered by the society “intensely private”.
• Post-Crime Investigation Analysis Post-crime investigations are an essential process. One of the most important factors is the scene of the crime and the testimony of the victim and witnesses.
• Criminal Investigation of the State vs. Garrison Case On the evening of January 2, 1982, the defendant was at his sister’s residence in Hartford when the victim, Jeremiah Sharp, arrived.
• TV Shows: Depiction of Criminal Investigation What people see in the TV shows regarding a criminal investigation can encourage them to engage in crime-solving activities.
• Criminal Investigation: Mr. Brewer’s Verdict In this criminal case, Mr. Brewer is likely to be guilty of the burglary of the Mikkelson house. His fingerprints prove the decision right.
• The Breonna Taylor Case and Criminal Investigation On March 13, 2020, Breonna Taylor was shot dead at her home in Louisville, Kentucky. Three police officers in the investigation of involvement in the process of drug trafficking.
• Statistics for Criminology and Criminal Justice Dispersion is important as it is not enough to merely know the measures of central tendency to make assumptions about a distribution.
• “Introduction to Criminology” Book by Hagan In “Introduction to criminology”, Hagan explains survey research and uses it to investigate essential questions that the criminal justice system faces.
• Cyber Law and Digital Forensic Science The advantage and disadvantage of external media at the same time is that information is easy to hide, steal, or destroy since it is located on a small object.
• Overview of the Theories of Criminology Criminology refers to a body that focuses on crime as a social phenomenon. Criminologists adopt several behavioral and social sciences and methods of understanding crime.
• Broken Window Theory In Criminology In criminology, the broken window theory is often used to describe how bringing order into society can help to reduce crime.
• Crime Level Investigation in the United States Two mechanisms that the USA uses to trace the rate of crime in the country are the Uniform Crime Reports (UCR) and the National Crime Victimization Survey (NCVS).
• Theories That Explain Criminal Activities and Criminology Academicians have come up with theories that explain why people engage in crime. The theories are classified which may be psychological, biological, or sociological.
• Criminology: The Aboriginal Crisis The aboriginal people have been living under confinement, in the reserves for a long time. These laws are still under a lot of legal constraints.
• Forensic Science: Psychological Analysis Human behavior can be evaluated by studying the functioning of the human mind. This is important information in crime profiling among other operations in forensic psychology.
• Federal Bureau of Investigation: Criminal Justice The purpose of this paper is to describe the Federal Bureau of Investigation and discuss its predominant goals and values.
• Criminology: USA Patriot Act Overview The Act strengthens and gives more authority to the federal agencies over individual privacy and secrecy of information.
• Criminology: About Corporate Fraud This article focuses on fraud: professional fraud and its types, accounting fraud, and conflicts of interest are considered.
• Green Criminology: Environmental Harm in the Niger Delta This essay analyzes environmental harm in the Niger Delta, Nigeria using the Green Criminological analysis of victimization and offenders.
• Postmodern Criminology: The Violence of the Language According to Arrigo (2019), postmodern criminology recognizes the specific value of language as a non-neutral, politically charged instrument of communication.
• Criminal Investigation: Offense Issues Prosecuting a crime is a process, which is not limited by the processes related to the investigation. Bringing the case to the court is another stage of the prosecution.
• Criminology: Four Types of Evidence There are basically four types of evidence. Every piece of evidence should be analyzed several times throughout the actual investigation by following all the required steps.
• Feminism and Criminology in the Modern Justice System Feminist research is a promising method for studying the psychography of crime, motivation, and the introduction of women’s experience in the field of forensic science.
• Legal Insanity in Criminology In America, defendants are said to be legally insane if they suffer from cognitive disorder or lack the capabilities to abstain from criminal behaviors.
• Criminal Behavior Investigation and Search Warrants This paper discusses issues related to the investigation of criminal behavior, referring to the Fourth Amendment of the US Constitution.
• Frank Hagan’s Textbook “Introduction to Criminology” Throughout the chapters, Frank Hagan deliberately made reference to positivism criminological theory as such, which was largely discredited.
• Undercover Police Investigations in Drug-Related Crimes Undercover activities have traditionally been used to target crimes involving corruption, drugs, pornography, and prostitution.
• Crime Scene Investigation Effect in Justice System Movies have been known to influence popular culture in different parts of the world. Analysts believe that the “CSI effect” is one of the fruits of popular culture.
• Crime Investigation of a Death in Las Vegas
• The Criminal Investigation Developments in the Justice Field
• The Role of a Forensic Psychologist in Criminal Investigation and Prosecution
• Computer Equipment Confiscation for Crime Investigation
• How Technology Has Impacted Criminal Investigation
• Criminal Investigation and the Use of Modern Technology
• The Use of Medical Knowledge in the Crime Investigation
• Cyber Crime Investigation and Digital Forensics
• The Changing Nature of Crime and Criminal Investigations
• DNA Profiling for Crime Investigation
• Criminal Investigation: Electronic Evidence Collection
• Effective Use of the Media in Serious Crime Investigations
• Undercover and Entrapment Work in Criminal Investigation
• Criminal Investigation: A Method for Reconstructing the Past
• False Positive Error Reduction in Criminal Investigation
• The Effectiveness of Forensic Psychology in Supporting the Investigation of Crime
• Application of Artificial Intelligence in Criminal Investigation
• Forensic Linguistics and Its Role in Criminal Investigations
• Investigation and Analysis of Organized Crime
• Crime Scene Investigation: A Guide for Law Enforcement
• Fraud and Financial Crime Investigation
• Cyber Crime Investigation: Making a Safer Internet Space
• Investigating a Crime: Victim and Witness Information
• Criminal Investigation Then and Now
• Importance of Evidence in Crime Investigation
• What Are the Proper Steps in a Crime Investigation?
• How Is DNA Used in Crime Investigation?
• What Are the Most Common Types of Crime Investigation?
• Which Method Is Used in Crime Investigation?
• Is Medical Knowledge Effectively Used in the Crime Investigation?
• What Are the First Steps in a Crime Investigation?
• How Are Modern Technologies Used in Crime Investigation?
• Why Is a Crime Investigation Necessary?
• What Are the Techniques for Conducting Interrogation During Police Investigation of Crimes?
• What Is the Main Purpose of Crime Investigation?
• How Do the Police Conduct Crime Investigations Before Arrest?
• What Is the Role of Crime Investigation in Criminal Justice?
• Has Modern Technology Affected Crime Investigation?
• What Is the Most Important Part of Crime Investigation?
• Are There Ethical Issues Field Crime Investigation Applied Wrongful?
• What Is the Most Important Goal of a Crime Investigation?
• How Has Crime Investigation Process Developed Over the Years?
• What Is the Best Method of Crime Scene Investigation?
• What Is the Role of Police Enforcement in Crime Investigation?
• How Are Methods of Inquiry Used in Crime Investigation?
• What Skills Are Needed for an Effective Crime Investigation?
• Is Documentation the Most Important Part of a Crime Scene Investigation?
• What Are the Methods of Inquiry in Crime Investigation?
• How Do Investigators Gather Evidence for Crime Investigation?
• What Are the Key Questions That Can Help Start a Crime Investigation?
• Comparative Criminal Analysis: Examining the Differences in Crime Scene Investigation Protocols between Two Countries
• The Influence of Media Portrayals on Public Perceptions of Crime Scene Investigation and Its Effects on Juries
• Challenges and Innovations in Juvenile Justice: Addressing the Specific Needs of Young Offenders in the Criminal Justice System
• Psychology of Criminal Behavior: Profiling Techniques and Their Effectiveness in Criminal Investigations
• GIS Technology in Crime Mapping and Its Application in Criminal Justice Research
• Crime Scene Reconstruction Using Virtual Reality Simulations and 3D Modeling
• Utilization of Ballistics Analysis in Linking Firearms to Crime Scenes and Suspects
• Evolution of Crime Scene Investigation Techniques: From Traditional Methods to Modern Forensic Technologies
• Artificial Intelligence in Crime Scene Analysis and Its Potential Implications for Justice Outcomes
• Implications of Crime Scene Contamination and Ways to Prevent It During Investigations
• The Reliability and Admissibility of Forensic Evidence in Criminal Trials: A Critical Examination
• Analyzing the Impact of Body-Worn Cameras on Law Enforcement Practices and Transparency in Crime Scene Investigations
• The Integration of Facial Recognition Technology in Identifying Suspects and Witnesses in Crime Scene Investigations

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• WEATHER ALERT Flood Watch Full Story
• animal abuse

Company that bred beagles for research pleads guilty to neglect, ordered to pay record $35M fine

A company that bred beagles for medical research agreed Monday to pay a record $35 million as part of a criminal plea admitting it neglected thousands of dogs at its breeding facility in rural Virginia.

Prosecutors said the penalties amount to the largest ever levied in an animal-welfare case.

The plea deal also bars the company that operated the facility, Envigo RMS, as well as parent company Inotiv, from breeding or selling dogs in the future.

The federal investigation of Envigo drew national attention in May 2022 when federal authorities conducted a search of the breeding facility in Cumberland County, Virginia, and found nearly 450 animals in acute distress.

The company later agreed to relinquish all 4,000 beagles at the facility, which were sent around the country for adoption.

MORE | Beagle bred for research enjoying new life with family in Ambler, Pennsylvania

U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Virginia Christopher Kavanaugh, whose office prosecuted the case, said Monday after a plea hearing at federal court in Charlottesville that Envigo and Inotiv "prioritized profits and convenience over following the law."

He said the company generated $16 million in revenue between 2019 and May 2022, when the search occurred, through the sale of 15,000 beagles over that time.

But he said the company refused to make the investments necessary to provide for the animals' basic care. Cages were cleaned twice a month rather than every day as required. Animals were euthanized, including by direct injections to their heart, without sedation, he said. Dogs were routinely injured by getting their paws caught in flooring composed of metal grates that left space for paws to easily fall through. Food and water were lacking and unclean

Court records show that 300 puppies died over a seven-month stretch around 2021 for what was described as "unknown causes."

He said the company continued to employ a veterinarian who had botched surgeries and oversaw numerous violations because executives believed it would be too difficult to find a replacement.

Todd Kim, assistant attorney general for the environment and natural resources division of the Justice Department, said Envigo "unlawfully enriched itself by failing to spend the necessary money for upgrades and by failing to hire enough trained and competent staff."

The Cumberland facility, which employed nearly 40 people, has been shuttered. Kavanaugh said it was woefully understaffed to care for thousands of dogs.

The plea deal calls for an $11 million fine for violating the Animal Welfare Act and an $11 million fine for violating the Clean Water Act. The deal also requires Inotiv to spend $7 million over the next three years to improve its facilities and meet standards in excess of the Animal Welfare Act requirements.

The plea deal includes an admission that Envigo violated the Clean Water Act by discharging hundreds of thousands of gallons of improperly treated wastewater.

It also includes a $3.5 million for environmental repairs in Cumberland County and requires the company to pay the cost of a compliance monitor while it's on probation, which will run for a period of three to five years.

The plea agreement also requires the companies to pay roughly $1.9 million to the Humane Society of the United States for assistance it provided to the investigation.

Prosecutors also said their investigation is ongoing and that criminal cases against individual employees remain possible.

West Lafayette, Indiana-based Inotiv issued what it called a "statement of contrition" Monday after the plea hearing.

"In committing the crimes identified in the charging document, and by not making the necessary infrastructure upgrades and hiring the requisite staff, we fell short of our standards for animal and environmental welfare and apologize to the public for the harm caused by our conduct, the company said. "In resolving this matter, we renew our commitment to maintaining the highest standards of animal care."

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