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?

Crime and Victimization in Criminology.

  • 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.

Types of crime.

  • 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.

Criminal justice system.

  • 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.

Careers possible with a criminology major.

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.

Criminology research areas.

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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Research Proposal Topics: 503 Ideas, Sample, & Guide [2024]

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200 Best Criminology Research Topics For Students

Criminology studies crime, criminal behavior, and the criminal justice system. Picking a good research topic is essential. It should match your interests and help us understand crime and how to prevent it.

There are many types of criminology research topics to choose from. You could look at criminal behavior, crime prevention, the justice system, theories about crime, or new issues like cybercrime. This guide will help you pick a research topic and get excited about criminology research. We’ll look at different topic ideas across criminology.

Whether you’re interested in why people commit crimes, how to stop crimes, the courts and jails, theories about crime, or new issues like internet crime, this guide will help you find a good research topic. Let’s explore criminology research topics and find great research ideas together! 

What are Criminology Research Topics?

Table of Contents

Criminology research topics involve studying crime, criminals, and the justice system using scientific methods. This includes looking at:

  • Why crimes happen
  • Patterns in criminal behavior
  • How crime impacts people and communities
  • How the justice system, like police, courts, and jails, work
  • Theories about the causes of crime
  • Ways to prevent crimes
  • New types of crimes like internet crime
  • How crime is different in various times and cultures
  • How crime affects victims
  • What the public thinks about crime
  • Ideas for improving crime laws and policies

Criminology Research Topics For Students

Here are over 200 criminology research topics for students categorized into different subfields of criminology:

General Criminology

  • The significance of restorative justice programs in decreasing recidivism rates.
  • Exploring the role of genetics in criminal behavior.
  • The impact of socioeconomic status on crime rates.
  • Analyzing the relationship between drug policies and crime rates.
  • Investigating the effectiveness of community policing in reducing crime.
  • Analyzing the role of mental health in criminal behavior.
  • Understanding the link between poverty and crime.
  • Exploring the use of technology in crime prevention.
  • Analyzing the effectiveness of rehabilitation programs for offenders.
  • Investigating the role of media in shaping perceptions of crime and criminals.

Criminal Justice System

  • The influence of mandatory minimum sentencing laws on crime rates.
  • Exploring racial disparities in the criminal justice system.
  • Analyzing the effectiveness of plea bargaining in reducing court backlogs.
  • Investigating the role of forensic evidence in criminal investigations.
  • Examining the ethics of using informants in criminal investigations.
  • Understanding the influence of incarceration on families and communities.
  • Exploring the role of prosecutorial discretion in shaping criminal justice outcomes.
  • Analyzing the effectiveness of probation and parole programs.
  • Investigating the use of body cameras in policing.
  • Examining the role of juries in the criminal justice system.

Crime Prevention

  • Exploring the effectiveness of gun control policies in reducing violent crime.
  • Analyzing the impact of CCTV cameras on crime rates in urban areas.
  • Investigating the role of environmental design in crime prevention.
  • Examining the effectiveness of school-based anti-bullying programs.
  • Understanding the link between unemployment and property crime.
  • Exploring the role of parenting in preventing juvenile delinquency.
  • Analyzing the efficacy of early intervention programs for at-risk youth.
  • Investigating the impact of neighborhood watch programs on community safety.
  • Studying the role of social media in facilitating or preventing cyberbullying.
  • Exploring the effectiveness of drug education programs in schools.

Juvenile Delinquency

  • The effect of family structure on juvenile delinquency rates.
  • Studying the role of peer pressure in juvenile offending.
  • Analyzing the effectiveness of diversion programs for juvenile offenders.
  • Investigating the link between childhood trauma and later delinquent behavior.
  • Examining the role of schools in preventing juvenile delinquency.
  • Understanding the influence of media on juvenile behavior.
  • Exploring the effectiveness of mentoring programs for at-risk youth.
  • Analyzing the impact of juvenile curfew laws on crime rates.
  • Investigating the role of substance abuse in juvenile offending.
  • Studying the efficacy of rehabilitation programs for juvenile offenders.
  • The impact of dark web marketplaces on illicit drug trade.
  • Exploring the effectiveness of cybersecurity measures in preventing cyber attacks.
  • Analyzing the role of cryptocurrencies in facilitating money laundering.
  • Investigating the link between online gaming and cyberbullying.
  • Examining the effectiveness of law enforcement responses to cybercrime.
  • Understanding the role of social media in cyberstalking cases.
  • Exploring the impact of data breaches on consumer privacy.
  • Analyzing the effectiveness of international cooperation in combating cybercrime.
  • Investigating the role of artificial intelligence in cybercrime detection.
  • Examining the legal and ethical issues surrounding hacking and hacktivism.

White-Collar Crime

  • The impact of corporate culture on white-collar crime.
  • Exploring the effectiveness of regulatory agencies in preventing corporate fraud.
  • Analyzing the role of whistleblowers in exposing corporate misconduct.
  • Investigating the link between executive compensation and financial fraud.
  • Examining the effectiveness of corporate compliance programs.
  • Understanding the role of technology in facilitating white-collar crime.
  • Exploring the impact of globalization on white-collar crime.
  • Analyzing the role of government oversight in preventing financial crimes.
  • Investigating the effectiveness of anti-money laundering measures.
  • Examining the psychological profiles of white-collar offenders.

Terrorism and Counterterrorism

  • The impact of globalization on terrorism.
  • Exploring the role of ideology in terrorist recruitment.
  • Analyzing the effectiveness of counterterrorism strategies.
  • Investigating the link between poverty and terrorism.
  • Examining the role of social media in terrorist propaganda.
  • Understanding the psychology of terrorism.
  • Exploring the impact of state-sponsored terrorism.
  • Analyzing the role of intelligence agencies in preventing terrorist attacks.
  • Studying the effectiveness of border security measures in combating terrorism.
  • Examining the ethics of targeted drone strikes in counterterrorism efforts.

Victimology

  • The impact of victim-blaming attitudes on reporting rates of sexual assault.
  • Exploring the psychological effects of victimization.
  • Analyzing the role of victim support services in aiding recovery.
  • Investigating the link between domestic violence and homelessness.
  • Studying the effectiveness of restorative justice practices for victims.
  • Understanding the role of trauma-informed care for victims.
  • Exploring the impact of victim compensation programs.
  • Analyzing the prevalence of revictimization among survivors.
  • Investigating the role of victim-offender mediation in reducing trauma.
  • Examining the experiences of marginalized victims within the criminal justice system.

Gender and Crime

  • The impact of gender stereotypes on sentencing outcomes.
  • Exploring the link between masculinity and violent crime.
  • Analyzing the role of gender in shaping criminal opportunities.
  • Investigating the prevalence of intimate partner violence against men.
  • Examining the experiences of transgender individuals within the criminal justice system.
  • Understanding the role of gender in white-collar crime.
  • Exploring the intersection of race, gender, and crime.
  • Analyzing the effectiveness of gender-responsive programming for female offenders.
  • Investigating the link between gender identity and hate crimes.
  • Examining the role of gender in criminal victimization experiences.

Race and Crime

  • The influence of racial profiling on policing practices.
  • Exploring the link between race and sentencing disparities.
  • Analyzing the role of systemic racism in contributing to crime rates.
  • Investigating the prevalence of hate crimes against racial minorities.
  • Examining the experiences of Indigenous peoples within the criminal justice system.
  • Understanding the impact of racial segregation on crime.
  • Exploring the intersection of race, poverty, and crime.
  • Analyzing the role of race in shaping perceptions of criminality.
  • Investigating the effectiveness of diversity training for law enforcement.
  • Examining the experiences of racial minorities as crime victims.

Policing and Law Enforcement

  • The influence of body-worn cameras on police behavior.
  • Exploring the effectiveness of predictive policing algorithms.
  • Analyzing the role of police discretion in shaping law enforcement outcomes.
  • Investigating the prevalence of police brutality and accountability measures.
  • Examining the impact of community-oriented policing initiatives.
  • Understanding the role of police unions in shaping department policies.
  • Exploring the use of technology in crime mapping and analysis.
  • Analyzing the effectiveness of de-escalation training for police officers.
  • Investigating the role of implicit bias in police interactions.
  • Examining the impact of police militarization on community relations.

Criminal Behavior Theories

  • The impact of strain theory on understanding criminal behavior.
  • Exploring the role of social learning theory in juvenile delinquency.
  • Analyzing the influence of biological theories on criminal behavior.
  • Investigating the relevance of rational choice theory in explaining white-collar crime.
  • Examining the role of labeling theory in shaping criminal identities.
  • Understanding the impact of control theory on crime prevention strategies.
  • Exploring the intersection of feminist theory and criminology.
  • Analyzing the relevance of routine activities theory in cybercrime.
  • Investigating the role of social disorganization theory in understanding neighborhood crime.
  • Examining the influence of psychoanalytic theories on criminal profiling.

Comparative Criminology

  • The impact of cultural differences on crime rates.
  • Exploring the effectiveness of different legal systems in combating crime.
  • Analyzing the role of globalization in transnational crime.
  • Investigating the prevalence of human trafficking in different regions.
  • Examining the effectiveness of drug policies in different countries.
  • Understanding the impact of political instability on crime rates.
  • Exploring the role of corruption in facilitating organized crime.
  • Analyzing the effectiveness of rehabilitation programs in different cultural contexts.
  • Investigating the prevalence of honor crimes in different societies.
  • Examining the role of religion in shaping attitudes towards crime.

Environmental Criminology

  • The impact of urban design on crime rates.
  • Studying the significance of crime prevention through environmental design (CPTED).
  • Analyzing the role of natural landscapes in preventing crime.
  • Investigating the impact of lighting on crime in public spaces.
  • Examining the role of surveillance in deterring criminal activity.
  • Understanding the influence of architecture on criminal behavior.
  • Exploring the impact of weather on crime patterns.
  • Analyzing the role of public transportation in facilitating crime.
  • Investigating the effectiveness of neighborhood revitalization efforts in reducing crime.
  • Examining the influence of housing policies on neighborhood safety.

Criminal Profiling and Forensics

  • The impact of offender profiling on criminal investigations.
  • Exploring the reliability of forensic evidence in court.
  • Analyzing the effectiveness of DNA databases in solving cold cases.
  • Investigating the role of forensic psychology in criminal profiling.
  • Examining the ethics of using familial DNA searching.
  • Understanding the limitations of eyewitness testimony in court.
  • Exploring the use of forensic linguistics in criminal investigations.
  • Analyzing the role of digital forensics in cybercrime investigations.
  • Investigating the effectiveness of geographic profiling techniques.
  • Examining the impact of forensic anthropology on missing persons cases.

Drugs and Crime

  • The influence of drug legalization on crime rates.
  • Exploring the role of drug trafficking organizations in organized crime.
  • Analyzing the effectiveness of harm reduction strategies in reducing drug-related crime.
  • Investigating the link between substance abuse and property crime.
  • Examining the impact of drug courts on recidivism rates.
  • Understanding the role of addiction in driving criminal behavior.
  • Analyzing the impact of drug policy on marginalized communities.
  • Investigating the prevalence of prescription drug abuse and crime.
  • Examining the role of drug treatment programs in reducing criminal recidivism.

Human Trafficking

  • The impact of globalization on human trafficking patterns.
  • Exploring the role of organized crime in human trafficking networks.
  • Analyzing the effectiveness of anti-trafficking laws and policies.
  • Investigating the link between human trafficking and other forms of exploitation.
  • Examining the role of technology in combating human trafficking.
  • Understanding the experiences of human trafficking survivors.
  • Exploring the intersection of migration and human trafficking.
  • Analyzing the role of demand in driving human trafficking.
  • Investigating the effectiveness of victim identification and support programs.
  • Examining the impact of cultural attitudes on human trafficking.

Organized Crime

  • The impact of globalization on the expansion of organized crime networks.
  • Exploring the role of cybercrime in organized criminal enterprises.
  • Analyzing the effectiveness of law enforcement strategies against organized crime.
  • Investigating the connection between organized crime and terrorism.
  • Examining the role of corruption in facilitating organized crime activities.
  • Understanding the structure and hierarchy of organized crime groups.
  • Exploring the impact of drug trafficking on organized crime syndicates.
  • Analyzing the role of money laundering in legitimizing criminal proceeds.
  • Investigating the use of violence and coercion in organized crime operations.
  • Examining the role of technology in disrupting organized crime networks.

Prisons and Incarceration

  • The influence of mass incarceration on communities of color.
  • Exploring the effectiveness of rehabilitation programs in prison.
  • Analyzing the role of privatization in the prison industrial complex.
  • Investigating the link between mental illness and incarceration rates.
  • Examining the impact of solitary confinement on mental health.
  • Understanding the experiences of LGBTQ+ individuals in prison.
  • Exploring the effectiveness of reentry programs for ex-offenders.
  • Analyzing the role of education and vocational training in reducing recidivism.
  • Investigating the prevalence of overcrowding in prisons.
  • Examining the ethics of for-profit prison systems.

Restorative Justice

  • The impact of restorative justice practices on victims and offenders.
  • Exploring the role of community involvement in restorative justice processes.
  • Analyzing the effectiveness of restorative justice in cases of intimate partner violence.
  • Investigating the cultural considerations in implementing restorative justice.
  • Examining the role of restorative justice in addressing historical injustices.
  • Understanding the impact of restorative justice on recidivism rates.
  • Exploring the role of restorative justice in cases involving juvenile offenders.
  • Analyzing the challenges of implementing restorative justice in rural communities.
  • Investigating the effectiveness of restorative justice in cases of hate crimes.
  • Examining the ethical considerations of restorative justice practices.

Factors To Consider When Selecting a Criminology Research Topic

Here are some factors to consider when picking a criminology research topic:

  • Importance – Choose a topic that matters today, is socially important, and will add useful information to criminology. Look at issues people are talking about in the media.
  • Interest – Pick a topic you find really interesting and will enjoy researching. Your excitement will show in your work.
  • Doable – Make sure the topic can be researched well in the time you have, with the data you can access, and follow ethical rules. Avoid topics that are too broad.
  • New – Try to provide new insights or a fresh viewpoint. Look at existing research to find gaps you can help fill.
  • Meaningful – Choose a topic that can potentially improve criminological knowledge, theory, or practice importantly.
  • Methods – Match the topic to research methods you know or want to learn, like statistical analysis, interviews, etc.
  • Sources – Consider access to articles, datasets, people to interview, etc. Can you find good information sources?
  • Audience – Keep your intended readers in mind. Adjust the scope and approach to give useful information to academics, policymakers, practitioners, etc.

Tips for Conducting Criminology Research

Here are some tips for doing criminology research:

  • Get organized – Make a plan for your research steps and deadlines. Keep your notes, sources, and documents in order.
  • Review existing research – Read and analyze other studies about your topic to find gaps, debates, and theories to build on.
  • Choose suitable methods – Pick research methods like surveys, interviews, field studies, or crime data analysis that match your research questions.
  • Follow ethical rules – Get approval for your research plan. Protect participant privacy and anonymity.
  • Find quality sources – Use scholarly journals, crime databases, court records, and trustworthy sources for good data and information.
  • Analyze data carefully – Use appropriate qualitative or statistical techniques to analyze your data and draw valid conclusions.
  • Make persuasive arguments – Interpret your findings to make evidence-based arguments that address your research questions.
  • Write clearly – Use academic but understandable language. Explain terminology. Use an organized structure.
  • Note limitations – Identify limits of your methods, data sources, and ability to determine causation. Suggest future research.
  • Proofread thoroughly – Check for typos, grammar issues, consistent formatting, and complete citations.
  • Share your research – Present at conferences, publish articles or apply findings to inform criminology practice.

Final Remarks

To wrap up, our journey through criminology research has been an exciting exploration of the complex world of crime and solutions. We’ve discovered exciting areas like criminal behavior, prevention, the justice system, and theories by seeing how important it is to pick the right topic.

Remember, your research can help shape real-world policies and practices. As you explore this changing field, connect with experts, use reliable sources, and follow your curiosity. 

A criminology is a powerful tool for positive change, and your work can impact our understanding of crime. Keep exploring, stay curious, and let your criminology research journey unfold! I’m glad we could explore these meaningful topics in a straightforward, easy-to-grasp way.

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Top 160 Criminal Justice Research Topics for Students

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Table of contents

  • 1 What is a research paper in criminal justice?
  • 2 Basic Criminal Justice Research Topics
  • 3 Controversial Criminal Justice Research Topics
  • 4 Criminal Justice Research Topics to Provoke Debate
  • 5 Juvenile Justice Research Topics
  • 6 Research Topics on Criminal Behavior
  • 7 Criminal Investigation Research Topics
  • 8 Criminal Justice System Research Topics
  • 9 International Crimes Research Topics
  • 10 Racism and Discrimination Criminal Justice Research Topics
  • 11 Court Cases Research Topics
  • 12 Crime and Victimization Research Topics
  • 13 Criminology Theories Research Topics
  • 14.1 Conclusion

What is a research paper in criminal justice?

The best way to gain more data or information is via research. Research is an important tool that can be used in the subject one is studying and criminal justice research paper topics. A paper in criminal justice is comprehensive writing by scholars to argue for a situation, usually criminal. This paper is different from other types of research papers It requires an investigation of case studies and real-life situations. Many research paper topics on criminal justice can help students write their essays.

Research on criminal justice helps students and professionals alike to gain an in-depth understanding of the field. It also helps government officials who work in law enforcement, discipline, and crime prevention to do their job well.

In-depth study or research on criminal justice helps bridge the rift between the existing practice within the profession. The progression in recent knowledge.

Criminal justice research enables students to become critical thinkers. This makes them evaluate policies based on evidence and facts.

Criminal justice research topic ideas also inspire scholars to challenge intrinsic prejudice. Also, assumptions by cross-checking data objectively. Students may not always have the time to write their research papers by themselves. This can be due to loads of other assignments and impending deadlines. They can easily buy a research paper for their coursework in such situations. This article looks at many paper topics in criminal justice.

Here is a list of captivating and provoking criminal justice research proposal topics that students can work on. PapersOwl experts can help with choosing the best topic and writing a stunning paper.

Basic Criminal Justice Research Topics

When it comes to choosing research topics , students can easily run out of ideas. These are easy criminal justice research topics for college students.

  • How reliable is eyewitness testimony? Should eyewitness statements be allowed in court? Who should be considered an eyewitness?
  • The relationship between police and people of different races. Does the media present police violence against people of colour appropriately?
  • Methods for preventing international drug trafficking. How should law enforcement agencies handle trafficking cases? What should be the punishment for drug trafficking?
  • Crime during emergencies. Do public emergencies give room for criminal activities?
  • Gender disparity in the criminal justice system. How can both genders be treated fairly? To what extent can gender equality be exercised?
  • Solitary confinement. What is the impact of solitary confinement on prisoners?
  • The efficiency of drug courts. Do drug courts help or hurt addicts?
  • Domestic violence. Why are women more likely to be victims? What should happen to minors of abusive parents?
  • Capital punishment. Is capital punishment a violation of human rights? What crimes deserve capital punishment?
  • Bail. What criminal offenses should be granted bail? What is the maximum that can be charged as bail?
  • The role of social media in influencing crime trends
  • Rehabilitation vs. Punishment: analyzing the effectiveness of different justice approaches
  • Understanding the psychological drivers behind criminal behavior
  • Cybercrime: emerging trends and law enforcement strategies
  • Gender dynamics in the criminal justice system
  • Challenges faced by law enforcement in combatting drug trafficking
  • Patterns and detection methods in white-collar crime
  • Building trust through community policing and its impact on crime reduction
  • Interaction between mental health issues and the criminal justice system
  • Modern-day slavery: the global challenge of human trafficking
  • Restorative justice: methods for rebuilding communities after crime

Controversial Criminal Justice Research Topics

Certain topics lead to controversies in the field. Controversial topics should be able to lead to extensive discussions on the situation. Students who have a tough time choosing a topic can find research papers for sale online. Some controversial criminal justice topics include:

  • Cyberbullying. Where should the line be drawn between freedom of speech and cyberbullying?
  • Jail structures. Why and how should female jails differ from male ones? What are the dangers of mixed prisons?
  • Hate crime. What is the history of hate crime in the United States of America? How severe should the punishment for hate crimes be?
  • Serial killers. Should serial killers be tried as mentally unstable? Should serial killers be charged with capital punishment?
  • Pornography. Can pornography be considered sexual abuse? Can porn sites be sued for pop-up pornographic images and ads?
  • Police shootings. In what situations are the police allowed to shoot? What is the punishment for shooting an innocent person?
  • Carrying concealed weapons. Should there be punishment for carrying weapons? What is considered self-defence?
  • Murder and homicide. What is the difference between murder and homicide? Should the punishment for murder and homicide be equal?
  • Reform vs. punishment: which one has more benefits?

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Criminal Justice Research Topics to Provoke Debate

There are research topics for criminal justice topic ideas that lead to debate and analysis. Such topics make sense from different angles, depending on your perspective. Examples of topics that spring debates are:

  • Self-defense. Where to draw the line between self-defense and premeditated crime. Should there be a punishment for self-defense?
  • Prostitution. Should prostitution be considered a crime? Should there be a minimum wage for prostitutes?
  • Stalking. Should stalking be considered a violation of human rights? Should stalking punishable by the law?
  • Child abuse. What is the line between discipline and child abuse? Should the state take minors away from abusive parents?
  • Sexual abuse. Should BDSM be considered sexual abuse? Can sexual abuse occur between a married couple?
  • The impact of prison on children of incarcerated individuals. Who cares for the children of incarcerated people? How does foster and kinship care affect these children?
  • Media. To what extent should the media show domestic violence?
  • Drunk driving is a serious offense. What should be the penalty for driving when inebriated? Should an intoxicated driver be charged with first-degree murder in the event of a tragic accident?
  • Body camera. Is the use of body cams by the police an intrusion of privacy?
  • Homicide and murder. Is homicide murder?

Juvenile Justice Research Topics

  • Should minors be sent to jail? Should minors be charged with the death penalty? Is an 18-year-old an adult?
  • What role does the juvenile justice system play in rehabilitating young offenders?
  • Is the juvenile justice system effective in reducing juvenile delinquency rates?
  • How does peer influence affect juvenile delinquency within different communities?
  • What are the key differences between juvenile and adult sentencing in the justice system?
  • How does the juvenile justice system address cases of serious juvenile offenses?
  • What impact does socioeconomic status have on involvement in juvenile delinquency?
  • Is there a link between mental health issues and juvenile delinquency?
  • How does racial bias influence outcomes within the juvenile justice system?
  • What alternative measures to incarceration exist within the juvenile justice system?
  • How do family dynamics contribute to juvenile delinquency, and what can the justice system do to mitigate this?

Research Topics on Criminal Behavior

  • How do socioeconomic factors influence criminal behavior in urban areas?
  • What are the emerging trends in criminology research topics for understanding youth crime?
  • What role does forensic psychology play in criminal investigations?
  • How do organized crime networks adapt to modern law enforcement techniques?
  • What psychological traits are commonly identified through criminal profiling of serial offenders?
  • How effective are current crime prevention strategies in reducing recidivism rates?
  • What is the relationship between substance abuse and violent crime in low-income communities?
  • How does social learning theory explain the development of criminal behavior in adolescents?
  • What impact do high-profile criminal investigations have on public perceptions of crime?
  • How do criminal organizations leverage technology to evade law enforcement?

Criminal Investigation Research Topics

Criminology topic ideas will help students understand crime theories better. Below are topics are drawn from different areas of criminology.

  • What do ex-convicts have to say about criminology for convicts? Is the state prepared to assist ex-convicts who have completed their sentences?
  • Is punishment a deterrence to crime in criminal justice theory?
  • False conceptions about crime and criminal justice are debunked through media criminology. Fake news and how to handle it.
  • Criminality is a result of culture, according to cultural criminology. What kinds of cultural traditions are compatible with criminal behavior?
  • According to cultural transmission theory, how are criminal norms conveyed in social contact?
  • Does fear of penalty deter individuals from committing crimes? Is that anything that should be taken into account in a court of law?
  • The rational choice theory explains how the perpetrator’s personal goals are connected with their criminal behaviour.
  • How prevalent criminal theories marginalize women, according to feminist criminology.
  • Minorities and people who deviate from social norms are negatively branded.
  • Life-course criminology is the study of how events in one’s life influence criminal behaviour.

Criminal Justice System Research Topics

This criminal justice research topic enables students to investigate the judicial system and evaluate the current policies. Some of these criminal justice research questions include:

  • Firing gun: how to determine whether it was deliberate or happened by accident? On what grounds should the police fire a gun.
  • Cybercrime: what is the legal perspective of cybercrime? Is cyberbullying a cybercrime?
  • Internet vigilantism: can revenge leaks be considered a criminal offence.
  • Hate crime on the Internet: what are the policies against revenge leaks, trolling, and defamation?
  • Crime and justice in mass media. How does the media influence the system?
  • Kidnapping and ransom: what are common features and behaviour patterns?
  • Sex offender registry: what are the pros and cons?
  • The theories of deterrence rational choice: are they relevant in the modern justice system?
  • Sexual assault. What is the punishment for sexual assault in schools and workplaces?
  • Jury selection: how is it performed? What is the requirement for selecting members?
  • Comparative analysis of substance-related crimes in urban vs. rural settings
  • Influence of peer pressure on youth involvement in criminal activities
  • Cultural influences on attitudes toward crime and punishment
  • Ethical considerations and implications of predictive policing technologies

If you’re struggling to find the time or resources to complete a research paper in criminal justice, paying someone to write your research paper may seem like a viable option. However, it’s important to ensure that the service you use is reputable and trustworthy, as it’s essential to know the research paper will be written in a professional and reliable way. Doing research on the service provider to make sure they have experience in the field is highly recommended before making a decision.

International Crimes Research Topics

This criminal justice research topic has to do with domestic criminal laws and international crimes. Here are examples of international crimes topics for criminal justice research.

  • International Criminal Court (ICC): The role of the ICC in the fight against crimes against humanity.
  • International intervention. Define and analyze the effectiveness of intervention with examples.
  • War crimes. How are other states tried for committing a crime against humanity in another state?
  • Plea bargaining in international criminal law.
  • International justice and peace. How can countries and international organizations make the world more just and peaceful? How should international organizations intervene in countries’ situations?
  • International justice and human rights violations. What is a just society in the global context?
  • International criminal law. What are the history, source, and objectives of international criminal laws?
  • Feminism. A feminist’s point of view of international criminal laws.
  • Child soldiers in Africa. Discuss the facts, history, and why they become soldiers at that age.
  • International criminal laws treaties. Research various international criminal laws treaties and tell your reader what they entail.

Racism and Discrimination Criminal Justice Research Topics

The issues of racism and discrimination are still prevalent in society. The following topics can be researched to investigate the situation appropriately.

  • Systemic bias. How does it affect criminal justice as well as the system?
  • Minority groups. How is criminal justice affected by the discriminatory depiction of minorities in the media?
  • Racial profiling: how minority groups are targeted based on ethnicity and race.
  • African-Americans: how are racism and discrimination more towards them?
  • Racial profiling: The disadvantages.
  • The UK Court System. Is the UK court system discriminatory?
  • The US Court System. Is the US court system discriminatory?
  • Class Discrimination. What is societal class discrimination?
  • Does the crime rate depend on the neighborhood?
  • Corporate crime: who constitutes the ruling class? What are corporate crimes?
  • The impact of racial profiling on law enforcement practices
  • Examining the influence of implicit bias on criminal justice outcomes
  • Racial disparities in sentencing: causes and consequences
  • Disparities in arrest rates among different racial groups
  • Socioeconomic status and its effect on racial disparities within the criminal justice system
  • Racial disparities in the juvenile justice system: causes and solutions
  • Impact of racial bias in jury selection and trial outcomes
  • Overrepresentation of minorities in prisons: causes and effects
  • Racial bias in interactions with probation and parole officers

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Court Cases Research Topics

There are common criminal cases that are tried in court. Some topics about include:

  • What is the difference between civil and criminal cases?
  • Felony: when do disenfranchisement laws apply?
  • Are organized crime and corruption the same thing?
  • Victim services: can crime victims get any help?
  • Prison rape and violence: how can sexual and domestic violence be prevented in prison?
  • Forensics: how effective is forensics science in modern criminal justice.
  • Shoplifting: how serious are shoplifting cases?
  • Protection Program: who is eligible, and what type of protection is offered?
  • Date rape: what type of legal assistance is available to victims?
  • Substance use, abuse, and crime: does one cause a trigger for the other?

Crime and Victimization Research Topics

Crime And victimization are captivating aspects of criminology. Several research and surveys have been done better to understand this field over the last few years. Below are some intriguing crime and victimization research topics for college students to consider.

  • Crime and victimization among ethnic minorities: this paper will take an interesting look into how minor ethnicities experience crime and victimization in society.
  • The victimization of females in the workplace: researchers explore the treatment of females in an especially male-dominated workspace and how it affects them.
  • Political opposition: how the oppositions are victimized. Political oppositions in many countries are seen as threats by the ruling powers.
  • Criminal victimization of the elderly – the elderly are mostly defenseless and, as a result, the targets of criminals.
  • Victimization on campus – how college students are victimized on campus.
  • Victimization in prisons and correctional facilities – are inmates subject to harassment and various form of physical abuse?
  • Racial profiling and victimization – is racial profiling a thing? How does it affect the individuals of the race?
  • Domestic violence: the victimization of romantic partners physically or emotionally.
  • Sexual harassment and stalking.
  • Cyberbullying, cybercrime, and victimization.
  • The influence of family dynamics on criminal behavior among youth
  • Understanding political corruption: types, impacts, and prevention measures
  • Counterterrorism strategies and their effectiveness against emerging terrorist tactics

Criminology Theories Research Topics

Several criminology theories exist. This research covers how these theories are interpreted, used, and discovered. Some topics that cover this include:

  • Theoretical integration of criminology theories – two criminology theories are better than one and how they can be integrated.
  • Biological theory; how biological factors affect crime – Are some individuals more predisposed to cringe than others, and do biological factors play an important role.
  • Deterrence theory: crime and the fear of punishment – are crimes with severe punishments less rampant than those with less punishment; how the freezer of punishment deters crime.
  • Theory of rational choice – people restore to criminal behaviour because it is the best option.
  • Advancement of criminology theories – how knowledge of criminal theories could be furthered.
  • Social theory: how good socialization affects crime – are people around criminals predisposed to crime?
  • How criminal behaviours are learned through observation: social learning theory: are criminal behaviours learned through observation of criminals or not?
  • Self-control theory: how effective self-control affects crime rate – are individuals with better self-control less likely to be involved in crime? Is crime a resume of a lack of self-control?
  • Theory of Routine activities- do daily routines affect criminal behaviours.
  • Ownership of arms. Is this regarded as a law violation?

Reasonable Criminology Research Topics

Other reasonable criminology topics for students to explore are:

  • Criminology as a social science – how criminology Is a social science because it deals with social science issues.
  • Implications of hate crime: hate crime and how it affects the victims and society. Are the punishments effective in deterring hate crimes?
  • Tracing the roots of criminology from ancient times – a history of criminology.
  • Of crimes among age groups: how criminal behaviours vary among ages.
  • Effects of childhood upbringing on the crime rate in society – does a child’s upbringing affect the crime rate in society? Are criminals a result of a bad childhood upbringing?
  • The Portrayal of Serial killers in media – how serial killers are portrayed in the media and how it affects serial killers.
  • Crime vs punishment – how punishment relates to crime and its deterrence.
  • How does society affect drug abuse – is society to be blamed for drug abuse?
  • Literacy vs Illiteracy and its effect on criminal behaviour: does literacy or Illiteracy affect criminals? Are literates less likely to commit crimes than illiterates?
  • Gender bias in investigations. Does one gender receive better judgment than the other?
  • Environmental factors that create crime hotspots
  • The impact of urban design on crime prevention: crime prevention through environmental design (CPTED)
  • Cost-benefit analysis of crime prevention strategies: the economics of crime
  • Utilizing geographic information systems (GIS) for crime mapping and prevention
  • Exploring biological factors as explanations for criminal behavior
  • The role of sociology in understanding crime and deviance

There are quite a number of areas you can conduct research in criminal justice. You may choose to focus on one particular area, or even multiple areas, depending on your research paper’s requirements. You will, however, need to ensure you do sufficient research for your work to be relevant. To make the research process easier, you can enlist the help of a professional writing service to write a research paper for you . They can provide you with the necessary resources and expertise to ensure that your paper is well-researched and accurate.

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135+ Amazing Criminal Justice Research Topics In 2023

criminal justice research topics

Are you a law student or enrolled in law college? Are you looking for criminal justice research topics? Here, in this blog, you can find your criminal justice research topics. Statanalytca.com explains the 135 amazing criminal research paper topic ideas for 2023 in this blog.

When we listen to the word criminal justice, many words come into our mind like “victim,” “enforcement,” “crimes,” “courts,” “prison,” and law sanctions. Criminal justice is a term that governments make to justice for people, reduce and make decisions to prevent crimes. Governments make law sanctions to reduce crimes. Every country has a different criminal justice system.

The criminal justice system in the United States is a complex system of federal, state, and local laws, with state and federal constitutions, international treaties, and customary law. Each layer of government shares responsibility for a different aspect of the process. Federal law enforcement agencies enforce laws that may be broken by people who are not in their jurisdiction.

For example : When an individual from New York City travels to Florida to commit a crime such as a robbery or murder they will be arrested by the Florida police and handed over to federal authorities.

A criminal justice research paper necessarily requires accuracy, attention, and patience. Sometimes students are confused about writing criminal research paper topics, or they have a shortage of time to complete research papers.

Most college students ask for assignments to write criminal justice research papers. If you want criminal justice research paper help, you can take our trusted  research paper assignment help .

How To Choose A Good Research Topics

Table of Contents

Choosing a research topic is a very challenging task. You should pick a topic that is both interesting and relevant to your audience. You should analyze the crime report before choosing the criminal justice research topics. Research the types of crimes in your country and where your country ranks in the global crime index.

Some research topics include the following:

  • The role of law enforcement, prosecutors, and public defenders.
  • Challenges with eyewitness identifications.
  • Different types of evidence are used in criminal cases.
  • The effect of jury selection on trials.
  • How criminal justice impacts mental health.

What Is a Research Paper in Criminal Justice?

A research paper in criminal justice is an academic paper presenting findings from research on a specific criminal justice topic. These papers typically require extensive research and analysis of primary and secondary sources, such as case studies, official reports, statistics, and academic literature. The research paper aims to contribute new knowledge to the criminal justice field, identify trends or patterns, or assess the effectiveness of interventions or policies.

Research papers in criminal justice typically follow a standard academic format, including an introduction that sets the context and research questions, a literature review that summarizes existing research, a methodology section that outlines the research design and data collection methods, a results section that presents findings, and a conclusion that summarizes the research’s significance and implications.

Criminal justice research papers may focus on various topics, including the legal system’s operations, law enforcement practices, corrections, crime prevention, and victimization. These papers may be used to inform policymakers, practitioners, and academics about the state of the criminal justice system and suggest evidence-based solutions to improve its effectiveness and fairness.

Let’s Discuss The Criminal Justice Research Topics-

Here in this section, we will tell you some of the best criminal justice research topics for 2023:-

Basic Criminology and Criminal Justice Research Topics

  • Basic criminal Research Topics.
  • History of Criminal Ethics.
  • Criminology as Social Science.
  • Criminology and Public Policy.
  • Advantages of Private Prisons.
  • Civil Crimes vs War Crimes.
  • Offenses Against Religion & Cultural Traits.
  • Causes of victimization.

Court Cases Criminal Justice Research Topics

  • Can victims of crime receive help?
  • How serious are shoplifting incidents?
  • When do felony disenfranchisement laws apply?
  • Is organized crime and corruption synonymous?
  • What is legal help available to victims of date rape?
  • What is the difference between civil and criminal cases?
  • Forensic science: how effective is it in modern criminal justice?
  • Is there a link between substance abuse, crime, and substance use?
  • Who is eligible for the protection program, and what protection is provided?
  • Prison rape and violence: What can be done to prevent sexual and domestic violence in prison?

Controversial Criminal Justice Research Topics

  • Gun control causes.
  • Struggle with mental health issues.
  • Police officers’ legal rights are limited.
  • College Violence Causes.
  • Gun violence and prevention policies.
  • Crimes Propaganda and Modern Music Culture.
  • Race and politics of criminal justice.
  • An investigation into victim services.
  • Eyewitness Evidence Importance.
  • Legal codes used in America.
  • Zero tolerance policy and crime rates.
  • Sexual assault.
  • culture, and gender equality.
  • What is the best way to reduce recidivism?
  • pros and cons of prisons in America.
  • Criminalization of poverty.
  • Gender and Punishment.
  • The effects of drugs on children’s development.
  • Effects of drug addiction on mental health.
  • Youth offenders and Bootcamps.

Debate Criminal Justice Research Topics

  • Failures in criminal justice.
  • Criminal justice system expectations.
  • Statistical analysis in criminal justice.
  • Debate on criminal justice act.
  • criminal justice trend evaluation.
  • Trends in the criminal justice system.
  • Criminal justice system corrections in the USA.
  • Find the solution to prevent crimes.

Criminology Research Topics On Theories

  • Is employment related to law violations?
  • What is the relationship between family status and legal violations?
  • Is gender related to the type of law violation?
  • What is the relationship between citizenship and law enforcement?
  • How does education relate to crime levels?
  • How does gun ownership relate to breaking the law?
  • Is there a link between immigration status and law violations?
  • What types of crimes are common at what ages?
  • How does the type of crime relate to the level of aggression?

Top 10 Hot Criminology Research Topics

  • Crime is explained culturally.
  • The media’s role in criminology.
  • The advantages of convict criminology.
  • The major issues in postmodern criminology.
  • Is politics influencing criminal behavior?
  • How does DAWN collect information?
  • The shortcomings of crime mapping.
  • Crime rates and community deterioration.
  • Certain personality traits trigger criminal behavior.
  • Does experimental criminology have an impact on social policy?

Criminal Justice Research Topics Based On Crime and Communities

  • The impact of community policing on crime prevention in urban areas.
  • The effectiveness of restorative justice programs in reducing recidivism rates.
  • The relationship between poverty and crime in urban communities.
  • The role of race and ethnicity in criminal justice outcomes and disparities.
  • The effectiveness of community-based interventions in reducing juvenile delinquency.
  • The impact of gun laws on violent crime in urban communities.
  • Social media’s role in spreading crime and its effects on communities.
  • The effectiveness of drug courts in reducing drug-related crimes and improving public safety.
  • The relationship between mental illness and criminal behavior in urban communities.
  • The impact of immigration policies on crime and public safety in urban areas.
  • The effectiveness of re-entry programs for ex-offenders in reducing recidivism and promoting successful reintegration into society.
  • The impact of community-based victim services on the criminal justice system and crime prevention.
  • The relationship between neighborhood social disorganization and crime rates.
  • The role of technology in improving crime prevention and solving crimes in urban communities.
  • The effectiveness of community-based diversion programs for non-violent offenders.
  • The impact of neighborhood watch programs on crime prevention and community safety.
  • The role of community involvement in addressing hate crimes and bias incidents.
  • The impact of domestic violence on communities and the criminal justice response.
  • The effectiveness of drug treatment programs in reducing drug-related crime and improving public health.
  • The criminal justice system’s impact on marginalized communities and efforts to promote equity and justice.

Criminal Justice Research Topics On Racism and Discrimination

  • Eliminating discrimination in the criminal justice system.
  • Gender Bias in Eyewitnesses.
  • African American Legislative Apartheid.
  • Racial Discrimination in College Campuses.
  • How criminal justice law is enacted on Migrants.
  • Inequality in the criminal justice system Research.

General Criminal Justice Research Topics

  • Police brutality and excessive force
  • Criminal profiling and investigation techniques
  • Restorative justice programs
  • Cybercrime and cyberterrorism
  • Gun control policies and their effectiveness
  • The impact of race and ethnicity on sentencing
  • Juvenile delinquency prevention and intervention
  • Wrongful convictions and the death penalty
  • Gender and crime
  • Drug policy and its impact on crime.
  • Community policing and trust-building strategies
  • The effectiveness of rehabilitation and reentry programs for offenders
  • Domestic violence and its impact on victims
  • Crime prevention through environmental design
  • Forensic science and the reliability of evidence in criminal investigations
  • Corruption in law enforcement and the criminal justice system
  • Mental health treatment for inmates and offenders
  • Human trafficking and modern-day slavery
  • The use of technology in criminal investigations and surveillance
  • The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the criminal justice system.

Types of Criminal Justice Research Topics  

  • Homicide, serial murders, and serial murder are the most popular topics in murder studies.
  • A case study of robbery crime, unusual daylight robbery in a news article.
  • Identity Theft and Ways to Protect, the prevalence of identity theft in the community, causes, and effects of cell phone theft.
  • Analysis and critique of Current fraud cases, Fraud and business ethics, fraud schemes, and investigation.

International Criminal Law Topics

  • Criminal ethics, criminal law research assignment paper.
  • Criminal courtroom observation reaction.
  • Childhood obesity.
  • Crime Prevention.
  • International crimes and their laws.
  • International criminal court.
  • Human Rights and Inequality.
  • Rape Cases.

Criminal Justice Research Topics For College Students

  • The Impact of Police Body Cameras on Law Enforcement Accountability
  • Violent Crime Reduction Effectiveness of Restorative Justice Programs
  • Racial Disparities in Sentencing and Their Implications for Justice
  • The Role of Mental Health Services in Diverting Offenders from the Criminal Justice System
  • Media Effects on Perceptions of Crime and Criminal Conduct
  • Examining the Use of Technology in Solving Crimes and Enhancing Investigations
  • Juvenile Justice Policies: Rehabilitation vs. Punishment
  • The Intersection of Immigration Policies and Criminal Justice Outcomes
  • Criminal Profiling and its Reliability in Solving Crimes
  • The Effect of Minimum Sentence Laws on Incarceration Rates and Public Safety.

Criminology Research Topics

  • Armed Crime Groups History Motives.
  • Cyber Criminology Correction Methods.
  • Art Fraud Cooperation.
  • Drunk Driving Prevention Ads.
  • Identity Theft & Social Media.
  • Topic on Child Abuse & TV Violence.
  • Aggression Against Homeless People.
  • Unemployment & Street Situation Analysis.
  • Forensic Research Identification Methods.
  • Crime Witnesses PTSD Rehabilitation.

Career With The Criminology Major

There are a variety of jobs you can get with a criminology degree. We sort listed the top 8 trending jobs that you can get with a criminology degree:

  • Criminologist.
  • Private investigator 
  • Forensic scientist .
  • Correction officer.
  • Jury consultant.
  • Loss prevention specialist 
  • Clinical social worker.

Tips On How To Write Criminal Justice Research Topics

A step-by-step guide on how to write criminal justice research topics:

research titles for criminology students

  • Choose a particular topic.
  • Read the given materials and take some notes.
  • Come up with a thesis.
  • Create an outline for your project.
  • Write down all the information that you have collected.
  • Start with a cover page, and an intro.
  • List the technique you used and the results you got.
  • Include a discussion.
  • Always write a conclusion.
  • Don’t forget to correct your grammar mistakes.
  • Revise, proofread, and if it is incorrect then edit.

Importance of Criminal Justice Research Papers In 2023

Here are some important of criminal justice research papers in 2023: 

1. Informed Policy-Making

Criminal justice research papers provide valuable data and insights that policymakers use to develop effective laws and policies, enhancing the fairness and efficiency of the justice system.

2. Evidence-Based Practices

Research papers help identify evidence-based strategies for law enforcement, corrections, and crime prevention, leading to better outcomes and reduced rates of reoffending.

3. Transparency and Accountability

By revealing systemic issues and gaps, research papers push for greater transparency and accountability within the criminal justice system, fostering public trust.

4. Improved Decision-Making

Policymakers, law enforcement, and other stakeholders use research findings to make informed decisions on resource allocation and allocation of efforts.

5. Advancing Knowledge

Criminal justice research papers contribute to the body of knowledge in the field, allowing researchers and academics to build on existing findings and develop innovative approaches to understanding crime and justice.

6. Addressing Disparities

Research papers shed light on disparities in the justice system, such as racial or socioeconomic disparities, prompting efforts to address and rectify these inequalities.

7. Enhancing Public Awareness

Research papers raise public awareness about issues like wrongful convictions, mental health challenges, and the impact of crime on communities, spurring advocacy and societal change.

Get More Criminal Justice Research Topics At Statanalytica.com

Hope you choose criminal justice research topics for this blog. If you have any difficulty choosing criminal justice research topics, you can contact us at any time. Our professional writers are available to suggest criminal justice research topics ideas and research paper help.

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So, you can contact us for any type of paper writing service and impress your teacher or professor by choosing a good criminal justice research topic.

This is the end of this post about criminal justice research topics. However, diverse criminal justice research topics offer unique insights into various aspects of the criminal justice system. These research areas are crucial for policymakers, practitioners, and academics to comprehensively understand the system’s challenges and develop effective interventions that improve its fairness and effectiveness. 

On the other hand, we mentioned more than 135 criminal justice research topics based on different categories. So that it is easier for you to choose the best criminal justice research topics.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1.what are some criminal justice research topics.

Research Topics in Criminal Justice System: 1. Capital Punishment. 2. Community Corrections. 3. Crime Prevention. 4. Criminal Courts. 5. Criminal Justice Ethics. 6. Criminal Law. 7. Criminal Specialisation. 8. Drug Courts.

Q2. How do I choose a research topic?

Two main ways to find a research topic: through your academic interests or by self-initiation. You can find a topic through your academic focus, talk to your professors and classmates about what they’re working on, and they can point you in the right direction and introduce you to the process of conducting research. The other option is to start with The idea that interests you.

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Criminology Research Paper Topics

Academic Writing Service

Criminology research paper topics cover a broad range of issues related to crime and criminal behavior. As a student of criminology, it can be challenging to select a research paper topic that is both interesting and relevant to your field of study. This page from iResearchNet offers a comprehensive list of criminology research paper topics, organized into 10 categories, with expert advice on how to choose the best topic and write a successful research paper. In addition, the page highlights the writing services offered by iResearchNet, providing students with the opportunity to order a custom criminology research paper on any topic of their choice.

Criminology Research Topics Guide

Criminology is a complex and interdisciplinary field that encompasses the study of crime, criminal behavior, and the criminal justice system. Students pursuing a degree in criminology are often tasked with writing research papers on a variety of topics within this field. However, with the multitude of topics available, choosing the right one can be a daunting task.

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Criminology Research Paper Topics

Choosing the right topic is crucial to the success of any research paper. By selecting a topic that is both interesting and relevant, students can engage in a more meaningful and productive research process. In this page, we will discuss various strategies for choosing a topic, such as considering personal interests, consulting with instructors or librarians, and conducting preliminary research. We will also provide tips on how to develop a strong thesis statement and organize one’s research notes effectively. Ultimately, our goal is to equip students with the tools and resources needed to produce high-quality research papers that demonstrate a deep understanding of the field of criminology.

100 Criminology Research Paper Topics

Theoretical Perspectives in Criminology

  • Classical criminology
  • Biological theories of crime
  • Psychological theories of crime
  • Social disorganization theory
  • Strain theory
  • Labeling theory
  • Social learning theory
  • Critical criminology
  • Feminist criminology
  • Cultural criminology

Crime Types and Patterns

  • Sexual offenses
  • Drug offenses
  • Organized crime
  • White-collar crime
  • Hate crimes

Criminological Research Methods

  • Survey research
  • Experimentation
  • Case studies
  • Content analysis
  • Ethnography
  • Longitudinal studies
  • Meta-analysis
  • Secondary data analysis
  • Network analysis
  • Comparative research

Correlates of Crime

  • Poverty and economic factors
  • Race and ethnicity
  • Gender and crime
  • Family structure and dynamics
  • Education and crime
  • Employment and crime
  • Social capital and crime
  • Neighborhood factors
  • Peer influence and deviance
  • Substance abuse and addiction

Criminal Justice System

  • Police organization and management
  • Policing strategies and tactics
  • Courts and the criminal justice process
  • Sentencing and punishment
  • Corrections and rehabilitation
  • Community-based corrections
  • Probation and parole
  • Juvenile justice system
  • Mental health and the criminal justice system
  • Victimology and victim services

Crime Prevention and Control

  • Community policing
  • Crime prevention through environmental design
  • Crime prevention programs and policies
  • Situational crime prevention
  • Early intervention and prevention for youth
  • Restorative justice programs
  • Technology and crime prevention
  • Gun control policies
  • Terrorism and counterterrorism strategies
  • Human trafficking and exploitation

Criminal Justice Ethics and Professionalism

  • Police use of force and accountability
  • Police discretion and decision-making
  • Ethical dilemmas in the courtroom
  • Confidentiality and privacy in the criminal justice system
  • Bias and discrimination in the criminal justice system
  • Professionalism and integrity in corrections
  • Ethics in forensic science
  • The role of media in criminal justice ethics
  • Corruption in law enforcement
  • The ethics of punishment

Historical and Comparative Criminology

  • The history of criminal justice systems
  • Cross-cultural comparisons of crime and justice
  • Historical perspectives on punishment
  • The evolution of policing and law enforcement
  • The history of prisons and corrections
  • Colonialism and its impact on crime and justice
  • Comparative analyses of legal systems
  • Transnational crime and criminal justice cooperation
  • International criminal law
  • Globalization and crime

Special Topics in Criminology

  • Mental illness and crime
  • Immigration and crime
  • Race, crime, and social justice
  • Climate change and environmental crime
  • LGBTQ+ issues in criminology
  • Disruptive technology and crime
  • School violence and prevention
  • The impact of COVID-19 on crime and justice
  • Animal cruelty and animal rights in criminology
  • The role of religion in crime and justice

Choosing a Criminology Research Paper Topic

Choosing a research paper topic in criminology can be a daunting task, as the field encompasses a wide range of topics and perspectives. However, with careful consideration and planning, selecting a topic can become a manageable and even enjoyable process. Here are some expert tips on how to choose a criminology research paper topic:

  • Understand the assignment requirements and guidelines : Before selecting a topic, make sure you understand the specific requirements and guidelines provided by your instructor. This can include the length of the paper, the research methods required, and the formatting and citation style to be used.
  • Consider your personal interests and passions : Choosing a topic that you are personally interested in can make the research and writing process much more enjoyable and engaging. Think about your personal experiences, hobbies, or areas of expertise that could inspire a relevant and interesting topic.
  • Look for current and relevant topics in the field : Stay up-to-date with current events and trends in the field of criminology by following relevant news outlets and academic journals. This can help you identify relevant and timely topics that are of interest to both you and your audience.
  • Focus on a specific aspect or issue within a broader topic : Narrowing down a broad topic can help you focus your research and analysis, making it more manageable and effective. For example, instead of researching “crime prevention,” you could focus on a specific method or strategy, such as community policing.
  • Conduct preliminary research to ensure there is enough information available : Before committing to a topic, conduct some preliminary research to ensure there is enough information available to support your thesis statement and arguments. This can include reviewing academic journals, news articles, and other relevant sources.
  • Consult with your instructor or a librarian for topic suggestions and resources : If you’re struggling to identify a relevant and engaging topic, don’t hesitate to consult with your instructor or a librarian for suggestions and resources. They may be able to provide valuable insight and guidance that can help you find the perfect topic for your research paper.
  • Stay organized and keep track of sources and notes : As you conduct research and develop your ideas, make sure to stay organized and keep track of sources and notes. This can help you avoid plagiarism and ensure that you have all the necessary information to support your arguments and analysis.
  • Narrow down your topic and develop a thesis statement : Once you’ve identified a broad topic of interest, narrow it down and develop a clear and concise thesis statement that outlines the focus and purpose of your research paper.
  • Brainstorm and outline your paper before writing : Before diving into writing your research paper, take some time to brainstorm and outline your ideas. This can help you organize your thoughts and ensure that you’re addressing all the necessary points and arguments.
  • Revise and edit your paper multiple times before submitting : After completing your first draft, make sure to revise and edit your research paper multiple times to ensure that it’s clear, concise, and error-free. This can help you improve the quality of your work and ensure that you’re presenting your ideas in the best possible light.

Choosing a topic for your criminology research paper requires careful consideration of your personal interests, the assignment guidelines, and the available resources. Take the time to conduct thorough research, organize your notes, and develop a strong thesis statement. Remember to use clear and concise language throughout your paper and support your arguments with evidence from credible sources. If you need additional assistance, iResearchNet offers expert writing services with experienced writers who can provide customized solutions to fit your specific needs and requirements. With proper research, organization, and writing skills, you can successfully tackle any criminology research paper topic and produce high-quality work that meets your academic goals.

How to Write a Criminology Research Paper

Writing a criminology research paper can be a challenging task, but with proper preparation and attention to detail, it can be a rewarding experience. The following tips can help guide you through the process of writing a successful criminology research paper.

  • Choose a topic and develop a thesis statement : Start by selecting a topic that is of interest to you and aligns with the requirements of the assignment. Once you have a topic, develop a thesis statement that outlines the main argument or point you will be making in your paper.
  • Conduct thorough research and gather reliable sources : Use a variety of sources, including academic journals, books, and reputable online sources, to gather information about your topic. Make sure to evaluate the credibility of your sources and take detailed notes as you conduct your research.
  • Organize your notes and create an outline : Once you have gathered your research, organize your notes and create an outline that will guide your writing. This will help you stay focused and ensure that you cover all the necessary points in your paper.
  • Write an introduction that provides background information and introduces the thesis : The introduction should provide context for your paper and introduce the main argument or point you will be making.
  • Use clear and concise language throughout the paper : Make sure to write in a clear and concise manner, avoiding overly technical language and jargon.
  • Support your arguments with evidence and examples from your research : Use evidence from your research to support your arguments and provide examples that help illustrate your points.
  • Write a strong conclusion that summarizes your findings and reinforces your thesis : The conclusion should summarize the main points of your paper and reinforce the thesis statement.
  • Edit and revise your paper for grammar, spelling, and punctuation errors : Make sure to thoroughly edit and revise your paper for errors in grammar, spelling, and punctuation.
  • Properly cite your sources using the appropriate citation style (APA, MLA, Chicago, etc.) : Make sure to properly cite all of your sources using the appropriate citation style to avoid plagiarism and give credit to the authors of the works you have used in your research.

By following these tips, you can write a successful criminology research paper that effectively communicates your research and arguments.

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Criminology offers a diverse and complex range of research paper topics that require careful consideration and planning to produce a successful paper. Students must choose a topic that is relevant, interesting, and manageable within the given assignment guidelines. Proper research, organization, and writing skills are necessary for crafting a high-quality criminology research paper that effectively addresses the chosen topic.

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research titles for criminology students

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Criminal justice research topics.

This collection provides overviews of   nearly 100 key criminal justice research topics comprising traditional criminology and its more modern interdisciplinary outgrowths. These topics are divided into six thematic parts:

  • Criminology
  • Correlates of Crime
  • Criminology Theories
  • Crime Research
  • Types of Crime
  • Criminal Justice System

Criminology and Criminal Justice Research Topics

Research topics in criminology:.

  • Criminology as Social Science .
  • Criminology and Public Policy .
  • History of Criminology .

Research Topics in Crime and Victimization:

  • Age and Crime .
  • Aggression and Crime .
  • Citizenship and Crime .
  • Education and Crime .
  • Employment and Crime .
  • Families and Crime .
  • Gender and Crime .
  • Guns and Crime .
  • Immigration and Crime .
  • Intelligence and Crime .
  • Mental Illness and Crime .
  • Neighborhoods and Crime .
  • Peers and Crime .
  • Race and Crime .
  • Religion and Crime .
  • Social Class and Crime .
  • Victimization .
  • Weather and Crime .

Research Topics in Criminology Theories:

  • Biological Theori es.
  • Classical Criminology .
  • Convict Criminology .
  • Criminal Justice Theories .
  • Critical Criminology .
  • Cultural Criminology .
  • Cultural Transmission Theory .
  • Deterrence and Rational Choice Theory .
  • Feminist Criminology .
  • Labeling and Symbolic Interaction Theories .
  • Life Course Criminology .
  • Psychological Theories of Crime .
  • Routine Activities Theory .
  • Self-Control Theory .
  • Social Construction of Crime .
  • Social Control Theory .
  • Social Disorganization Theory .
  • Social Learning Theory .
  • Strain Theories .
  • Theoretical Integration.

Research Topics in Criminology Research and Measurement:

  • Citation and Content Analysis .
  • Crime Classification Systems .
  • Crime Mapping .
  • Crime Reports and Statistics .
  • Drug Abuse Warning Network (DAWN) and Arrestee Drug Abuse Monitoring (ADAM) .
  • Edge Ethnography .
  • Experimental Criminology .
  • Fieldwork in Criminology .
  • Program Evaluation .
  • Quantitative Criminology .

Research Topics in Types of Crime:

  • Campus Crime .
  • Child Abuse .
  • Cybercrime .
  • Domestic Violence .
  • Elder Abuse .
  • Environmental Crime .
  • Hate Crime .
  • Human Trafficking .
  • Identity Theft .
  • Juvenile Delinquency .
  • Organizational Crime .
  • Prostitution .
  • Sex Offenses .
  • Terrorism .
  • Theft and Shoplifting .
  • White-Collar Crime .
  • Wildlife Crime .

Research Topics in Criminal Justice System:

  • Capital Punishment .
  • Community Corrections .
  • Crime Prevention .
  • Criminal Courts .
  • Criminal Justice Ethics .
  • Criminal Law .
  • Criminal Specialization .
  • Drug Courts .
  • Drugs and the Criminal Justice System .
  • Felon Disenfranchisement .
  • Forensic Science .
  • Juvenile Court .
  • Juvenile Justice .
  • Mass Media, Crime, and Justice .
  • Offender Classification .
  • Offender Reentry .
  • Police–Community Relations .
  • Prison System .
  • Problem-Solving Courts .
  • Public Health and Criminal Justice .
  • Racial Profiling .
  • Restorative Justice .
  • Sentencing .
  • The Police .
  • Victim Services .
  • Wrongful Convictions .
  • Youth Gangs .

Because just listing suggestions for criminal justice research topics will be of limited value we have included short topical overviews and suggestions for narrowing those topics and divided them into 6 parts as in the list above. If you’re interested in some topic in the list follow the links below for more information.

Example   criminal justice research papers   on these topics have been designed to serve as sources of model papers for most criminological topics. These research papers were written by several well-known discipline figures and emerging younger scholars who provide authoritative overviews coupled with insightful discussion that will quickly familiarize researchers and students alike with fundamental and detailed information for each criminal justice topic.

This collection begins by defining the discipline of criminology and observing its historical development (Part I: Criminology ). The various social (e.g., poverty, neighborhood, and peer/family influences), personal (e.g., intelligence, mental illness), and demographic (e.g., age, race, gender, and immigration) realities that cause, confound, and mitigate crime and crime control are featured in   Part II: Correlates of Crime . The research papers in this section consider each correlate’s impact, both independently and in a broader social ecological context. The sociological origins of theoretical criminology are observed across several research papers that stress classical, environmental, and cultural influences on crime and highlight peer group, social support, and learning processes. Examination of these criminological theory research papers quickly confirms the aforementioned interdisciplinary nature of the field, with research papers presenting biological, psychological, and biosocial explanations and solutions for crime (Part III: Criminology Theories ).

Part IV: Criminology Research provides example research papers on various quantitative and qualitative designs and techniques employed in criminology research. Comparison of the purposes and application of these research methods across various criminal justice topics illustrates the role of criminologists as social scientists engaged in research enterprises wherein single studies fluctuate in focus along a pure–applied research continuum. This section also addresses the measurement of crimes with attention to major crime reporting and recording systems.

Having established a theoretical–methodological symmetry as the scientific foundation of criminology, and increasingly the field of criminal justice,   Part V: Types of Crime   considers a wide range of criminal offenses. Each research paper in this section thoroughly defines its focal offense and considers the related theories that frame practices and policies used to address various leading violent, property, and morality crimes. These research papers also present and critically evaluate the varying level of empirical evidence, that is, research confirmation, for competing theoretical explanations and criminal justice system response alternatives that are conventionally identified as best practices.

Ostensibly, an accurate and thorough social science knowledge base stands to render social betterment in terms of reduced crime and victimization through the development of research–based practices. This science–practitioner relationship is featured, advocated, and critiqued in the research papers of the final section,   Part VI: Criminal Justice System . Here, the central components of criminal justice research paper topics (law enforcement, courts, and corrections) are presented from a criminology–criminal justice outlook that increasingly purports to leverage theory and research (in particular, program evaluation results) toward realizing criminal justice and related social policy objectives. Beyond the main system, several research papers consider the role and effectiveness of several popular justice system and wrap-around component initiatives (e.g., specialty courts, restorative justice, and victim services).

See also: Domestic Violence Research Topics and School Violence Research Topics .

research titles for criminology students

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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.

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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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research titles for criminology students

15 Easy Criminology Research Topics For Final-Year Students

akshay gupta

akshay gupta

Criminology is a fascinating field of study that analyzes criminal behavior, the causes of crime, and society’s responses to crime. For final-year criminology students, choosing a relevant, unique, and manageable research topic for their dissertation can be challenging. The research topic sets the tone and direction of the entire dissertation, so students should choose something that truly interests them and that has sufficient academic literature to support the analysis. This article provides 15 criminology research topics that are up-to-date, engaging, and feasible for a student dissertation. With focused research and strong analysis, final-year criminology students can produce an excellent dissertation on any of these topics.

What is criminology?

Criminology is the scientific study of criminal behavior with the goal of understanding its causes, patterns, impacts, and prevention. Criminologists use a wide range of research methods to examine biological, psychological, social, and environmental factors that influence criminality and the effectiveness of justice systems. Key areas studied include crime trends, criminal profiling, causes of delinquency, organized crime, the impact of imprisonment, cybercrime, terrorism, and more. By uncovering the root factors behind criminal acts and critiquing current policies, criminology aims to inform ethical public policy and develop humane, progressive reforms of legal and penal systems. The field plays an important role in shaping criminal justice administration, crime reduction strategies, and rehabilitation programs.

15 Easy Criminology Research Topics

Here are 15 easy criminology research topics for students:

1. Social media and cybercrime

With the growth of social media, new types of cybercrimes like cyberbullying, identity theft, hacking, and online scams are increasing. Research the correlation between social media usage and cybercrime rates.

2. Media portrayal of crime

Analyze how crime is portrayed in different media like movies, TV shows, newspapers, etc. Evaluate whether the media glorifies, exaggerates, or accurately represents crime rates and types.

3. Effectiveness of incarceration

Research rates of recidivism in your country and evaluate whether incarceration effectively rehabilitates criminals or just hardens them further. Suggest measures to improve the rehabilitation of prisoners.

4. Legalization of marijuana

Study jurisdictions where marijuana has been legalized. Analyze the impact legalization has had on consumption rates and crime related to marijuana distribution and use.

5. Radicalization of youth

Explore factors like poverty, discrimination, propaganda, etc., that can radicalize youth into extremist ideologies and violent crimes. Suggest counter-measures.

6. Organized crime networks

Research how organized crime like mafias operates locally and internationally. Study their key illegal activities and how law enforcement combats these networks.

7. Female criminality

Analyze patterns and characteristics of criminal behavior among females. Study factors uniquely affecting criminality in women and suggest targeted rehabilitation programs.

8. Impact of imprisonment on families

Evaluate how imprisoning parents affects outcomes for children like emotional issues, financial instability, stigma, etc. Suggest policies to support families.

9. Restorative justice programs

Analyze alternative dispute resolution programs like victim-offender mediation. Assess their effectiveness in achieving justice and reducing recidivism.

10. Historical criminology

Explore crime and justice in a previous historical period using primary and secondary sources. Compare historical methods to modern criminology theories.

11. Wildlife crime

Research patterns in illegal wildlife poaching, trafficking, and smuggling globally and locally. Evaluate anti-poaching policies and laws.

12. Corporate crime

Study white-collar crimes committed by corporations like fraud, tax evasion, insider trading, etc. Assess regulatory measures to control corporate crime.

13. Mental illness and crime

Analyze the correlation between mental disorders and criminal behavior. Critically assess healthcare and legal systems’ treatment of mentally ill offenders.

14. Criminal profiling

Evaluate the effectiveness of criminal profiling techniques used to identify serial killers’ traits and predict behavior. Suggest improvements.

15. Victimology

Explore the characteristics and experiences of crime victims. Identify factors that increase victimization risk. Evaluate victim support systems.

This article presents a diverse range of original, timely, and engaging research topics that final-year criminology students can choose from for their dissertations. The topics provide opportunities to apply criminology theories and research methodologies to analyze real-world issues like media influences, radicalization, organized crime, incarceration impacts, alternative justice models, and more. Students should select a topic they feel passionate about, and that will sustain their interest through the research process.

With diligent literature review of academic sources, collection and analysis of data, and application of criminology perspectives, students can produce dissertations that generate evidence-based insights on critical issues in criminology and criminal justice. The dissertation will demonstrate the students’ academic knowledge, critical thinking, and practical research skills as they transition from university to a career as criminologists. Through their dissertations, students have the potential to contribute fresh perspectives and solutions to ongoing challenges in the criminology field.

akshay gupta

Written by akshay gupta

Statanalytica is a platform where we provide data science, data analytics, accounts & statistics live tutoring & consultation to our clients around the world.

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If you landed on this blog, chances are you are looking for engaging criminal justice research paper topics. This intricate field is brimming with potential subjects, yet not all of them lend themselves to effective research. So, how to navigate this sea of possibilities, you would ask. Fear not, as our dedicated online essay writer team has done all the heavy lifting for you. Check out these criminal justice topics for a research paper, each providing a different perspective.

What Are Criminal Justice Research Topics?

Criminal justice is the branch of law that focuses on punishing those who break the law and preventing others from doing so. It consists of criminal and civil justice systems, which are responsible for investigating, prosecuting, and resolving legal disputes.

With this in mind, criminal justice research topics can include a wide variety of both theoretical and empirical aspects ranging from crime prevention strategies to prison reform. Some other examples of criminal justice topics include types of crime, corrections and rehabilitation, law enforcement and policing, social control theories, sentencing policies, and more.

Characteristics of Good Criminal Justice Research Paper Topics

Beginning your study without a properly selected criminal justice topic can steer you off course. For this reason, you should consider topics that satisfy the following criteria:

  • Relevance Do some research to determine if your topic is timely and relevant to the field of criminal justice.
  • Engagement You should select not only easy research paper topics for criminal justice, but also those that you find interesting.
  • Scope Make sure your topic is not too broad or narrow for the scope of your project.
  • Accessibility Ensure you can find enough reliable sources for research and support your thesis.
  • Debate Is the criminal justice topic for research papers controversial or open for discussion? This can make a paper much more meaningful.

How to Choose a Criminal Justice Research Topic?

Once you understand the criteria for great criminology topics for research, it’s time to consider potential ideas. Follow these steps to get you on the right track:

  • Understand your interests Start by identifying your interests within criminology. Reflect on the courses, lectures, or readings that sparked your curiosity.
  • Identify current issues Stay up-to-date with recent developments in the field. Read scholarly articles, news reports, and policy papers to recognize burning topics.
  • Polish Narrow down your selection by researching what’s already been completed in the field.
  • Investigate Research each of your refined topics in criminal justice to determine whether there is enough reliable data. Can you access necessary records, reports, or subjects for investigation?
  • Finalize your topic After considering the above factors, make your final choice.

Remember that you can always rely on our professional online research paper writers . We have experts holding a Ph.D. degree in law and having a solid track record in writing academic works on different criminology research paper topics.

List of Top Criminal Justice Research Topics

Below we have curated a list of current criminological research topics, each unique as a fingerprint. Our paper writers did their best to tailor this assortment to unique research needs. Every topic on this list allows us to delve deeper into the many faces of criminal justice, whether it's a question about modern technology's role or an investigation into longstanding procedures.

  • Analyzing the influence of social media on modern crime reporting.
  • Investigating the role of body cameras in policing: Are they legit tools or privacy invaders?
  • How mandatory sentencing laws contribute to the issue of prison overcrowding.
  • Are we ready for cybercrime, the invisible threat of our era?
  • Understanding the root causes of hate crimes and potential preventive measures.
  • Delving into recidivism rates to evaluate the success of rehabilitation programs.
  • Significant role of forensic science in contemporary law enforcement.
  • Re-evaluating the ethics of the death penalty in today's society.
  • Is community policing a passing trend or a lasting solution?
  • Should victimless crimes fall under the purview of the criminal justice system?
  • How domestic violence laws affect family structures.
  • Probing into racial profiling practices in law enforcement.
  • Juvenile justice system: a struggle between rehabilitation and punishment.
  • Eyewitness testimony: A reliable source of evidence or a roll of the dice?
  • Can restorative justice be an effective alternative to traditional criminal justice methods?

Good Criminal Justice Research Topics

As any seasoned expert would confirm, the foundation of a good investigation, or in our case, a study, is built on a robust subject. Our team has scoured the scene and discovered ten topics, each as unique as a detective's case and rich with resources for a comprehensive study. Ranging from law enforcement techniques to judicial practices, these topics are versatile, offering you a broad spectrum to explore.

  • Developing strategies to prevent and prosecute human trafficking.
  • Evaluating the effectiveness of drug courts in managing substance abuse offenders.
  • Crafting successful crime prevention strategies for high crime neighborhoods.
  • Gun control laws and rates of violent crime: Correlational study .
  • How does socioeconomic status influence criminal behavior?
  • The interplay between drug abuse and criminal activity.
  • Decoding the effectiveness of parole systems: are they working as intended?
  • Is immigration tied to crime rates? A fresh look.
  • The impact of disparities in legal representation on judicial outcomes.
  • The use of lie detector tests in law enforcement: are they beneficial or problematic?
  • The influence of the #MeToo movement on the evolution of sexual assault laws.
  • Why is crisis intervention training critical for today's police officers?
  • Does the 'Three Strikes' law deter crime? An empirical investigation.
  • The role of mass media in shaping public perception of crime.
  • Why is victim advocacy important in the criminal justice system?

Easy Criminal Justice Research Topics

If you are a novice researcher, the range of topics might seem intimidating. Don’t worry — here we present criminal justice paper topics that will provide an easy start for your study.

  • How law enforcement plays a role in ensuring community safety?
  • Delving into the workings of the juvenile justice system.
  • Fine line between privacy and security in modern surveillance practices.
  • What happens when drug use is decriminalized? An in-depth study.
  • What are some parameters of police brutality?
  • White-collar crime and its ripple effects on the economy.
  • An exploration of the psychological factors driving criminal behavior.
  • Challenges faced in rehabilitating prisoners: A comprehensive review.
  • How does education contribute to crime prevention strategies?
  • Is the bail system fair? An analysis.
  • How do crime-themed TV shows influence public perception of the criminal justice system?
  • What are some implications of overpopulation in prisons?
  • Unmasking cybercrime: Its impact on individuals and businesses.
  • Domestic violence: Understanding its causes, consequences, and potential solutions.
  • How is social media reshaping modern law enforcement practices?

General Criminal Justice Research Topics

Tackling a criminal justice research paper is never an easy feat. To help you make this process smoother, here are some common topics for a criminal justice paper. Feel free to make them your own or explore these ideas further.

  • How do socioeconomic factors influence crime rates?
  • A comprehensive review of alternative sentencing methods.
  • The impact of media bias on public perception of crime.
  • Analyzing the causes and effects of wrongful convictions.
  • How does neighborhood environment contribute to crime rates?
  • The pros and cons of private prisons: An objective analysis.
  • The role of victim advocacy in the criminal justice system.
  • Examining the trend of cyberbullying and its legal consequences.
  • What influences jurors' decisions? An exploration.
  • The efficacy of gun control laws in reducing violent crime.
  • A comparative study of criminal justice systems across the world.
  • Uncovering the impact of organized crime on society.
  • The evolution of women's role in law enforcement.
  • Human rights issues within the criminal justice system.
  • Modern surveillance techniques.

Interesting Criminal Justice Research Paper Topics

Are you looking for something more unconventional? Don’t worry, we have you covered. Here are some interesting criminal justice topics for research papers that your professors will surely appreciate.

  • Psychology of serial killers: nature vs. nurture.
  • How can artificial intelligence help in predicting and preventing crime?
  • Unmasking the dark web: Its influence on cybercrime rates.
  • How forensic science has revolutionized crime-solving.
  • The impact of drug decriminalization on crime rates: A case study .
  • Analyzing the true effectiveness of crime profiling in solving cases.
  • How does prison architecture influence inmate behavior and rehabilitation?
  • The role of cryptocurrency in facilitating online crime.
  • True crime podcasts and their impact on public perception of criminal justice.
  • The impact of climate change on crime rates.
  • Examining the intersection between immigration law and criminal justice.
  • The role of cultural factors in shaping crime rates globally.
  • How social media is used in solving crimes: An exploration.
  • How can virtual reality technology be used for training in law enforcement?
  • Crime and justice in dystopian literature: Its implications on society.

Controversial Criminal Justice Research Topics

While the field of criminal justice holds a vast array of researchable areas, it's often in controversy where the most thought-provoking discussions arise. To spark your creative juices, here are some debatable topics for a criminal justice research paper.

  • Ethical dilemmas of entrapment in law enforcement.
  • Is racial profiling a necessary evil or an unfair practice?
  • Potential consequences of full-scale drug legalization.
  • Using torture in interrogations: An ethical necessity or a grave misstep?
  • Solitary confinement: An effective deterrent or a practice of inhumanity?
  • Where does the debate stand on stricter gun control laws?
  • Analyzing implications of mass surveillance on personal privacy.
  • Restorative justice versus retributive justice: Which proves to be more effective?
  • Controversy surrounding the privatization of prisons.
  • How does socioeconomic status play a role in sentencing?
  • Implications and effects of sentencing minors as adults.
  • Dissecting the controversial practice of criminal profiling.
  • Police militarization: A necessary protection or an instance of excessive force?
  • What are the effects of false accusations on public trust in law enforcement?
  • Is it ethical to use lie detectors and voice stress analysis for criminal investigations?

>> Read more: Law Research Paper Topics

Unique Criminal Justice Research Topics Ideas

Are you all set to write your paper but can’t seem to find an authentic topic? Look no further — here are some unique criminal justice topics to write about.

  • Graffiti: Is it vandalism or expression?
  • The role of body language in lie detection.
  • What is the impact of parental incarceration on child development?
  • How do video games influence youth criminal behavior?
  • Crime in space: Who holds legal jurisdiction and how is law enforcement managed extraterrestrially?
  • Understanding the role of cryptocurrency in money laundering.
  • How does social media influence jury bias?
  • Fashion and crime: How does clothing play a role in criminal identification?
  • Evaluating the impact of Covid-19 on domestic violence rates.
  • What has caused the rise of eco-terrorism and what are its consequences?
  • How does pop culture influence youth criminal behavior?
  • Examining the impact of virtual reality on the future of law enforcement training.
  • Animal rights and criminal justice: What laws and ethical questions need exploration?
  • Has dark tourism had an impact on crime rates in famous crime sites?
  • What are some implications of overcrowding and overpopulation in prisons?

Criminology Research Topics

Criminology, the scientific study of crime, criminal behavior, and the law, presents a world of fascinating subjects ripe for exploration. From analyzing the psychology behind criminal acts to examining the social factors influencing crime rates, criminology research offers multiple issues for consideration. Scroll down to find the best research topics for criminology.

Criminology Research Topics Based on Theories

Theories offer a backbone to any field of study, and criminology is no exception. They help to explain why crimes occur and what factors contribute to them. With a theoretical framework , we can dissect the complexities of crime from a fresh, intriguing perspective. Below you can find criminal law research topics grounded in theories.

  • Exploring the impact of the Broken Windows Theory on modern law enforcement.
  • How does Social Learning Theory apply to cybercrime?
  • Understanding the influence of Labeling Theory on youth crime rates.
  • Application of Rational Choice Theory to drug use.
  • Why do people obey the law? An exploration of Social Control Theory.
  • How does gender influence crime?
  • The intersection of Routine Activity Theory and domestic burglary.
  • Biosocial Theory and the nature vs nurture debate in criminology.
  • How does Cultural Criminology influence hate crimes?
  • Class and crime: A perspective from Marxist Criminology.
  • Unpacking the influence of Social Disorganization Theory on community crime rates.
  • Is serial killing explained by General Strain Theory?
  • Differential Association Theory: a pathway to understanding gang violence.
  • What role does Neutralization Theory play in juvenile delinquency?
  • Does the Deterrence Theory hold true? Does fear of punishment prevent crime?

Criminology Research and Measurement Topics

Equipped with advanced data collection methods, a criminologist can use quantitative research to measure the impact of various criminological phenomena. Here are some interesting criminal justice topics for exploring law through exploration and measurement.

  • Evaluating the accuracy of crime rate statistics.
  • How effective are crime prediction models?
  • Understanding crime patterns using Geographic Information Systems (GIS).
  • Data analytics in modern crime investigation.
  • How do victim surveys contribute to our understanding of crime?
  • What are some implications of the dark figure of crime on criminology research?
  • Quantitative methods for analyzing juvenile crime trends.
  • Measuring the effectiveness of community policing strategies.
  • How does measurement error impact crime statistics?
  • Evaluating the reliability and validity of self-report crime surveys.
  • Understanding domestic violence through qualitative research methods .
  • The use of longitudinal studies in crime causation research.
  • Using artificial intelligence to predict crime hotspots.
  • The role of ethnographic studies in understanding gang culture.
  • The impact of biased sampling on crime research findings.

International Criminal Justice Research Paper Topics

As our world becomes more interconnected, understanding the complexities of international criminal justice is paramount. The pursuit of justice without borders is not just a theoretical exercise; it's a call to shape a fairer society on a global scale. We've curated a list of compelling international criminal justice topics to write a paper on.

  • How effective are International Criminal Courts?
  • Exploring the challenges of transnational crime in the age of globalization.
  • The role of the United Nations in maintaining international law and order.
  • Genocide and crimes against humanity: How effective is the international response?
  • What are some legal and ethical implications of drone warfare?
  • The impact of international law on combating terrorism.
  • Cross-border data privacy and international criminal justice.
  • Evolution and effectiveness of international humanitarian law.
  • How does international law address state-sponsored terrorism?
  • International maritime law and piracy: How effective are the current measures?
  • Evaluating the role of the International Criminal Court in the prosecution of war crimes.
  • Evolution and impact of international laws on human trafficking.
  • Analyzing international laws concerning the use of nuclear weapons.
  • The extradition process: Challenges and implications for international criminal justice.
  • International laws governing cyber warfare.

Criminal Justice Research Paper Topics on Society

How does law shape and get shaped by societal norms and attitudes? That's what we aim to explore in this section. We've compiled a list of good research topics for criminal justice, each one illuminating the link between law and society.

  • How does media representation affect public perception of crime?
  • Societal impacts of prison overcrowding.
  • How does education level influence criminal behavior?
  • Does socioeconomic status influence judicial outcomes?
  • How do societal attitudes towards drugs shape drug laws?
  • The role of community support in offender rehabilitation.
  • Social consequences of racial profiling.
  • Does neighborhood environment influence youth criminal behavior?
  • How does social stigma impact ex-convicts' reintegration into society?
  • What is the social impact of zero-tolerance policies in schools?
  • How does society perceive and react to "victimless crimes"?
  • Social repercussions of wrongful convictions.
  • How do social media platforms contribute to or prevent crime?
  • Effects of implementing restorative justice.
  • How does media bias influence public opinion on criminal justice?

>> Learn more: Sociology Research Topics

Research Topics in Criminal Justice System

In this section, we will investigate the criminal justice system and its various facets. Explore these research topics for criminal justice to gain a better understanding of how the law system works.

  • Analyzing the role of police discretion in modern policing.
  • The impact of plea bargaining on the criminal justice system.
  • How has gentrification impacted crime rates?
  • What role does prison system play in perpetuating social inequality?
  • How does the school-to-prison pipeline affect youth?
  • Are crime rates influenced by climate change?
  • The opioid crisis: What is its effect on the criminal justice system?
  • How effective are sex offender registries?
  • Are predictive analytics a viable tool for police departments?
  • What is the justice system's response to online hate crimes?
  • Do DNA databases pose a threat to privacy and civil liberties?
  • The role of the criminal justice system in addressing homelessness.
  • How is virtual reality changing forensic investigations?
  • How is the aging inmate population affecting the prison system?
  • Is blockchain technology a viable solution for crime prevention?

Criminal Justice Research Topics on Types of Crime

This section focuses on the various types of crime and criminal behavior. Get to know the key issues concerning different categories of crime with these suggested criminal justice topics for an essay and research paper.

  • The rise of cybercrime: causes, impacts, and responses.
  • A comprehensive study of hate crimes in the 21st century.
  • Evolution of organized crime: From prohibition to cyber syndicates.
  • Human trafficking: Examining modern-day slave trades.
  • Domestic violence: Hidden costs and societal impacts.
  • Understanding the trends and impacts of drug-related crimes.
  • An examination of terrorism in the post-9/11 era.
  • Corporate crimes: Analysis of impacts and regulatory measures.
  • Wildlife crimes and their impact on biodiversity.
  • Cyberbullying: Understanding its psychological effects and legal repercussions.
  • What drives the high rates of recidivism in property crimes?
  • Identity theft in the digital age: Impacts and preventive measures.
  • Intellectual property crimes: How are they impacting innovation?
  • Psychology behind serial killings.
  • Financial crimes in the era of cryptocurrencies.

>> Read more: Psychology Research Topics

Criminal Justice Research Topics About Court Cases

This section highlights some of the most significant court cases in criminal justice history. Pick any one of these criminal justice topics to research a legal precedent or event.

  • Analysis of court cases that have influenced capital punishment policies.
  • A review of major court cases that transformed juvenile justice.
  • Analysis of court cases addressing the rights of crime victims.
  • Roe v. Wade and its implications for abortion law in the US.
  • Miranda v Arizona: A landmark decision that redefined police interrogations.
  • Gideon v Wainwright: The landmark case that guaranteed the right to counsel.
  • Engle v Vitale: Examining effects of this important school prayer ruling.
  • The trial of Socrates and its influence on philosophical thought.
  • Schenck v United States: Exploring free speech rights during wartime.
  • Marbury v Madison: Analyzing impacts of judicial review on US law.
  • Katz v US: Exploring the Fourth Amendment's protection of privacy.
  • The impact of Brown v Board of Education on civil rights in America.
  • United States v Nixon: Examining the president's right to executive privilege.
  • Examining legal implications of Terry v Ohio and stop-and-frisk policies.
  • Griswold v Connecticut: Analyzing the effects of a birth control ruling.

Criminal Justice Research Topics on Racism & Discrimination

Below we offer to explore the complex relationship between racism and criminal justice. Select any of these trending ideas for criminal justice research papers and essays.

  • The intersection of race and capital punishment.
  • An analysis of racial disparities in sentencing.
  • How do racial biases influence jury selection?
  • The impact of "stop and frisk" policies on communities of color.
  • Is there racial discrimination in the bail system?
  • Immigration enforcement and allegations of racial profiling.
  • Racial disparities in the juvenile justice system.
  • The influence of racial bias in death penalty cases.
  • Race and the war on drugs.
  • Racial discrimination in the implementation of three strikes laws.
  • Impact of police brutality on racial minorities.
  • Racism and its influence on probation decisions.
  • Ethnic disparities in the enforcement of hate crime legislation.
  • The relationship between neighborhood racial composition and police use of force.
  • Racial bias in risk assessment tools.

Research Topics in Criminal Justice for Ph.D.

If you are searching for PhD-level topics related to criminal justice, go no further. Choose any of the following criminal justice research proposal topics for your doctoral dissertation or thesis project.

  • Rehabilitation programs for incarcerated veterans.
  • Cyber forensics: New frontiers in solving crime.
  • An exploration of crime among the elderly population: Hidden statistics.
  • The impact of evolving technologies on intellectual property crime.
  • Impact of climate change on global crime patterns: An empirical analysis.
  • Criminology of anonymous cybercrime.
  • Understanding crime among indigenous populations: A comparative study.
  • An evaluation of crime reporting systems in smart cities.
  • The role of public transportation design in crime occurrence.
  • Cybercrime legislation across different jurisdictions.
  • Migration and crime: A quantitative study.
  • Complexities of dealing with organized crime syndicates.
  • Economic globalization and transnational crime patterns.
  • Correlation between drug abuse and crime rates: Longitudinal study.
  • Ethical implications of predictive policing.

Criminal Justice Research Questions

If you need to come up with a research question for criminal justice, here are a few ideas. These criminal justice issue topics can come in handy for both college students and university graduates.

  • How does technology within law enforcement agencies impact crime rates?
  • How effective are neighborhood watch programs in deterring crime?
  • What is the impact of drug decriminalization on crime rates?
  • What factors influence the success rate of exonerations?
  • How does the portrayal of law enforcement in the media influence public trust?
  • What is the effect of witness protection programs on successful prosecution rates?
  • How do the conditions of solitary confinement affect prisoner mental health?
  • How has the rise of online black markets changed the face of organized crime?
  • What role does family structure play in juvenile delinquency?
  • What is the impact of victim advocacy programs on the judicial process?
  • How have recent changes in immigration policy impacted crime rates?
  • What effect do right-to-carry laws have on violent crime rates?
  • How have digital forensics evolved to combat cybercrime?
  • To what extent does the militarization of police influence community relations?
  • How has the legalization of marijuana impacted crime rates in various states?

Bottom Line on Criminology Research Topics

We did our best to provide you with worthwhile ideas and topics to research in criminal justice. Whether you prefer to focus on psychological, sociological, legal, or organizational aspects of crime and justice, there are plenty of great research questions to choose from. Be sure to double-check any topic with your instructor before beginning your assignment. Likewise, you can consult with our experts to receive professional college paper writing service .

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230 Law Research Paper Topics to Write About

Criminal Justice Research Topics: 150 Ideas for Your Legal Essay

research titles for criminology students

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:

How to Choose a Good Research Topic Rules

  • 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. 

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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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Green Criminology and Biodiversity Loss: Crimes and Harms against Flora and Fauna

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Criminology Dissertation Topics: 20+ Examples for Inspiration

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by  Antony W

June 28, 2024

Criminology Dissertation Topics

Criminology is field that focuses on investigating crimes from a societal viewpoint, with an emphasis on offenders, their motivation, consequences, and prevention. Also, the subject examines human behavior in relation to crime.

Since criminologists investigate the societal foundations and consequences of crime, they also incorporate other subjects such as philosophy and anthropology .

When all of these fields of studies are used, a precise diagnosis of the underlying reason for criminal behavior is likely. Criminologists will then be able to develop effective and realistic strategies for averting criminal activities.

This post includes a list of the best criminology dissertation topics, which are ideas you can improve and investigate further in your assignment. Also, if you need help to work on this type of dissertation, especially if you’re already running out of time, you can get our dissertation writing help here.

Criminology Dissertation Topics Examples

The following is a list of some of the best criminology dissertation topics that you might consider exploring in your writing:

Criminology Dissertation Ideas Mental Health

  • The effect of harmful mental health disorders on an individual’s behavior
  • The role of a psychological examination in a criminal investigation
  • How the media affects a person’s mental health when they commit a crime
  • Utilizing community-based treatment centers to assist individuals with mental illnesses
  • Is it possible for an unlawful to fabricate a mental illness in order to avoid punishment?
  • Traumatic events that may serve as a catalyst for criminal activity
  • Mental treatments are critical for offenders accused with murder.

Also Read: The Complete Guide for Dissertation Defense

Controversial Dissertation Topics in Criminology

  • Was the Black Lives Matter movement tarnished by violence rather than by a desire for justice?
  • How parental estrangement contributes to future violence
  • Regulating prostitution will result in a decrease in crime.
  • Coronavirus has encouraged criminal activity on a scale never seen before.
  • When it comes to domestic abuse against people, the law is subjective.
  • Should the government raise the minimum age for obtaining a national identification card?
  • Is the media the primary catalyst for moral panics in society?
  • Demystifying social media as a crime scene in the technology era
  • Is it appropriate to inform rape perpetrators of their bail conditions?

Argumentative Dissertation Topics in Criminology

  • Is someone responsible for the growth of teenage gangs in a certain society?
  • Is it possible that political tensions are to blame for internal militia uprisings?
  • Are religious beliefs capable of becoming the source of terrorism?
  • Is gun regulation in the United States the first step toward increased crime rates?
  • Is racial abuse directed at international students a contributing factor to crime and violence?
  • Is crime more dangerous than natural catastrophes or infectious diseases?
  • Is parental monitoring effective in lowering teen crime?
  • Is education falling short in its job of instilling sound principles and character?
  • Is the boundary between law enforcement and criminology a fine one?
  • Is domestic violence directed only at women, or do males also suffer?

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Masters and PhD. Criminology Dissertation Topic Ideas

  • Analyzing how marginalization and discrimination on the basis of religion contribute to crime
  • An examination of cybercrime laws and their role in preserving law and order
  • A critical examination of the United States government’s response to terrorism threats
  • Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people and crime: An examination of their role or influence
  • Corruption’s impact on a country’s political, social, economic, and security systems
  • A discourse study of the coronavirus’s influence on criminal behavior
  • Is it true that metropolitan environments foster more crime than rural regions?

General Dissertation Topic Ideas in Criminology

  • Age in criminology research in the context of capital punishment
  • Examining the consequences of police empowerment in high-crime neighborhoods of developing countries
  • An assessment of the major features of police personnel deployed in crime hotspots in the United Kingdom.
  • A study of how the season and topography of a location effect crime.
  • How residential architecture and community structures aid in crime prevention and management
  • How significant is the sociocultural background of a residential community in terms of the volume and quality of crime in the area?
  • An Analysis of Research on the financial and societal costs of crime deterrence in the United Kingdom
  • An assessment of the ramifications of political backing for criminal activity and its influence on the community
  • A phenomenological examination of students’ exposure to drugs and the criminal lifestyle in the United Kingdom
  • A review of pertinent literature on how gender affects crime in the United Kingdom
  • What can quantitative data tell us about the link between crime and unemployment?

Also Check: Custom Dissertation Writing Service

Criminology Dissertation Topics On Prison and Society

Prisons and convicts have long been a source of contention in British society. When selecting dissertation on social criminal offenders, condense your ideas to a single social element.

Here are some topic ideas to get you started: 

  • Should pupils be required to visit jail as part of their curriculum?
  • Is the imposition of jail sentences for economic or political offenses justified?
  • Eliminating negative stigma associated with ex-prisoners and social service.

Criminology Dissertation Topics On Crime and Justice

When someone commits a crime, people frequently consider the current criminal justice system, which has a variety of defects and benefits depending on who analyzes it.

Choosing a justice dissertation subject is not a simple effort, which is why you should explore the following topics:

  • The death penalty’s meaning in History video game violence and serial murderer cases
  • Control and reporting methods for gang activity: proof vs. official accounts
  • Alternative punishment methods: International System Comparisons

Criminology Dissertation Topics On Ethnicity and Race

Many of us are aware that certain crimes committed in the United Kingdom have racial or ethnic overtones. While these offenses have diminished in recent years, they continue to be widely publicized to educate people on how to prevent them and resolve any issues that arise.

Several ethnicity and race dissertation topics include the following:

  • How the media contribute to the emergence of racial hatred
  • Sports and legal ramifications of racial tensions
  • Laws that Could Help Reduce Crimes Against Ethnic Minorities Murders Across English Cities on the Basis of Race & Ethnic Minority
  • Inequality between races in the United Kingdom and South Africa

About the author 

Antony W is a professional writer and coach at Help for Assessment. He spends countless hours every day researching and writing great content filled with expert advice on how to write engaging essays, research papers, and assignments.

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163 Criminology Essay Topics

🏆 best essay topics on criminology, ✍️ criminology essay topics for college, 👍 good criminology research topics & essay examples, 🌶️ hot criminology ideas to write about, 🎓 most interesting criminology research titles, 💡 simple criminology essay ideas, ❓ criminology research questions.

  • Criminological Theories in the Case of Chris Watts
  • Criminology Discipline and Theories
  • Use of Statistics in Criminal Justice and Criminology
  • Forensic Science: Killing of JonBenet Ramsey
  • Theories of Crime in Forensic Psychology
  • Forensic Psychology and Criminal Profiling
  • Contemporary Theories in Criminology
  • How the U.S. Constitution and the Bill of Rights Were Influenced by the Classical School of Criminology? In the United States Constitution and bill of rights, many of the fundamental rights used by the citizens originate from classical criminology.
  • Criminological Theories on Community-Based Rehabilitation This research study seeks to enhance the collection of integral analysis of human behavior and legal framework that boosts the quality of information for rehabilitation.
  • 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.
  • Correlational Design in Forensic Psychology Correlational designs are actively used in forensic psychology research in order to determine the meaningful relations between different types of variables.
  • 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.
  • Feminist Perspectives’ Contribution to Criminology The principles of gender inclusivity, equality, and cultural implications bear fundamental roles in the development of criminology perspectives.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • Statistical Significance and Effect Size in Forensic Psychology Nee and Farman evaluated the effectiveness of using dialectical behavior therapy for treating borderline personality disorder in the UK female prisons.
  • Chapter 9 of “Criminology Today” by Schmalleger According to the conflict perspective, conflicts can never be resolved since they are essential in social life. Social order rests on law, which is controlled by the powerful.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • Incorporating Criminological Theories Into Policymaking Criminological theories, primarily behavioral and social learning, are pivotal to the policymaking process. They provide insights into certain situations.
  • 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.
  • Criminological Conflict Theory by Sykes Sykes identified three important elements, which he used to elucidate the criminological conflict theory. Sykes highlighted the existence of profound skepticism towards any theory.
  • 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.
  • Classical and Positivist Schools of Criminology General and specific deterrence use the threat of negative consequences for illegal acts to reduce crime rates.
  • Chapter 8 of “Criminology Today” by F. Schmalleger According to social process theories, criminal behavior that an individual acquires remains lifelong because it is strengthened by the same social issues that have caused it.
  • The Rise of Criminological Conflict Theory Three key factors that explain the emergence of conflict theory are the influence of the Vietnam War, the rise of the counterculture, and anti-discrimination movements.
  • The Role of Forensic Psychology in the Investigation Confidentiality is an essential feature of a therapeutic bond. Forensic psychologists are bound by a code of ethics to safeguard clients’ information.
  • Forensic Psychology: Subspecialties and Roles Of my specific interests have been basically two subspecialties of forensic psychology. These include correctional psychology as well as police psychology.
  • Experimental Psychology and Forensic Psychology Psychology is a powerful field of study aimed at addressing a wide range of human problems. The field can be divided into two specialties. These include experimental and forensic psychology.
  • Levels of Measurement: Criminal Justice and Criminology The choice of a specific level is predicated on the type of analysis that must be conducted given the present objective.
  • 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.
  • Forensic Psychology and Its Essential Feature in the Modern World The essay defines the origins of forensic psychology, analyzes its role in various fields and spheres, and identifies its essential feature in the modern world.
  • Ethical Issues in Forensic Psychology Psychologists face many moral dilemmas in law due to the field’s nature because they are responsible for deciding people’s fates, which puts pressure on them.
  • “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.
  • 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”.
  • 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.
  • Forensic Psychology and Criminal Behavior This essay aimed to apply forensic psychology and criminal behavior to address dissociative identity disorder, antisocial behavior, and depersonalization disorder.
  • Death Penalty as Viewed within the Framework of Retributive Justice Modern society strives to develop compassion and understanding and reduce cruelty, as the value of human life and individuality is steadily growing.
  • Reasoning Errors: Criminal Justice and Criminology The analysis of the review of conclusions in the systems of expert institutions of various departments indicates that experts make various kinds of mistakes and omissions.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • Stabbing Cases in London in Relation to Durkheim’s Criminological Theory The two main questions about criminal and deviant acts are what constitutes such an act and whether it should be punished.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • Marxist Criminological Paradigm The essence of the Marxist criminological paradigm consists of overthrowing the bourgeoisie, as a ruling class, and establishing the so-called dictatorship of the proletariat.
  • 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.
  • Are Marxist Criminologists Right to See Crime Control as Class Control? Marxist criminology is comparable to functionalist theories, which lay emphasis on the production of continuity and stability in any society.
  • Extinction Rebellion: A Criminological Assessment The paper aims at exploring whether Extinction Rebellion protestors are criminals using the narrative criminology framework, transgression theory, and green criminology theory.
  • 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.
  • Criminological Theory: Crime Theories and Criminal Behavior Criminal behavior is a type of behavior of a person who commits a crime. It is interesting to know what drives people to commit crimes and how to control these intentions.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • Analysis of Forensic Psychology Practice The important feature of the whole sphere of forensic psychology practice is the ability to testify in court, reformulating psychological findings into the legal language, etc
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • Forensic Psychology Practice Standards for Inmates It is vital for the inmates to have frequent access to psychological assessments because the majority of the inmates end up with psychological problems.
  • Juvenile Forensic Psychology: Contemporary Concern The present juvenile forensic psychology system has many pitfalls that have compromised the wellbeing and development of the young offenders admitted within these institutions.
  • Forensic Psychology: Graham v. Florida and Sullivan v. Florida The question in the two cases Graham v. Florida and Sullivan v. Florida was juvenile sentencing. The offenders claimed their life prison sentences for rape and robbery.
  • Violence Potential Assessment in Forensic Psychiatric Institutions This paper aims to discuss the ways of predicting violence in forensic psychiatric institutions while focusing on the review of the recent research in the field.
  • 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.
  • Forensic Psychology in the Correctional Subspecialty Psychological professionals have the role of ensuring that the released convicts have gathered enough knowledge and understanding for them to fit in the society.
  • 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.
  • Criminological Theories Assessment and Personal Criminological Theory This essay aims to briefly cover the various criminological theories in vogue and offer the author’s own assessment as to which theory deserves greater credibility.
  • Criminological Theory: Context and Consequences. The Notion of Criminality and Crime The exploration of the notion of criminality and crime is essential for the prevention and management thereof.
  • Criminological Theory: Context and Consequences The theory of social control seems logical and valid despite controversies and the diversity of theoretical approaches to the reasons of crime.
  • “Criminological Theory: Context and Consequences” the Book by Lilly, J., Cullen, F., & Ball, R. Criminological Theory addresses not only the evolving and expanding topic of trends in criminological thought but also tries to achieve a level of explanation.
  • “Criminological Theory: Context and Consequences”: Evaluation The criminal law system works in such a way that all offenses are stopped, and corresponding penalties provided by the law are implemented.
  • Chapter 10 of “Criminological Theory” by Lilly et al. This paper elaborates on the problem of feminism and criminology. The paper addresses chapter 10 of the book “Criminological Theory” by Lilly et al. as the source material.
  • Linguistics and Law: Forensic Letters This paper review articles The Multi-Genre Analysis of Barrister’s Opinion by Hafner and Professional Citation Practices in Child Maltreatment Forensic Letters by Schryer et al.
  • 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.
  • Forensic Psychology: Important Issues Forensic psychologists consider that task of determining insanity extremely difficult. There is a difference between insanity as a psychological condition and a legal concept.
  • The American Psychological Association: Forensic Field Forensic psychologists are commonly invited to provide expert consultation and share their observations that might be useful to the judicial system.
  • Transnational Crime and Global Criminology: Definitional, Typological, and Contextual Conundrums
  • Rational Choice, Deterrence, and Social Learning Theory in Criminology
  • Comparing Cultures and Crime: Challenges, Prospects, and Problems for a Global Criminology
  • The Distinction Between Conflict and Radical Criminology
  • How the Study of Political Extremism Has Reshaped Criminology
  • Contribution of Positivist Criminology to the Understanding of the Causes of Crime
  • Overcoming the Neglect of Social Process in Cross‐National and Comparative Criminology
  • The Development of Criminology: From Traditional to Contemporary Views on Crime and Its Causation
  • Racism, Ethnicity, and Criminology: Developing Minority Perspectives
  • Activist Criminology: Criminologists’ Responsibility to Advocate for Social and Legal Justice
  • The Challenges of Doing Criminology in the Big Data Era: Towards a Digital and Data-Driven Approach
  • Radical Criminology and Marxism: A Fallible Relationship
  • Ontological Shift in Classical Criminology: Engagement With the New Sciences
  • Hot Spots of Predatory Crime: Routine Activities and the Criminology of Place
  • The Criminology of Genocide: The Death and Rape of Darfur
  • Future Applications of Big Data in Environmental Criminology
  • Overcoming the Crisis in Critical Criminology: Toward a Grounded Labeling Theory
  • Toward an Analytical Criminology: The Micro-Macro Problem, Causal Mechanisms, and Public Policy
  • The Utility of the Deviant Case in the Development of Criminological Theory
  • In Search of a Critical Mass: Do Black Lives Matter in Criminology?
  • Crime and Criminology in the Eye of the Novelist: Trends in the 19th Century Literature
  • Income Inequality and Homicide Rates: Cross-National Data and Criminological Theories
  • Women & Crime: The Failure of Traditional Theories and the Rise of Feminist Criminology
  • Criminology Studies: How Fear of Crime Affects Punitive Attitudes
  • Recent Developments in Criminological Theory: Toward Disciplinary Diversity and Theoretical Integration
  • Critical Criminology: The Critique of Domination, Inequality, and Injustice
  • Anti-racism in Criminology: An Oxymoron?
  • Heredity or Milieu: The Foundations of Modern European Criminological Theory
  • Classical and Contemporary Criminological Theory in Understanding Young People’s Drug Use
  • Theories of Action in Criminology: Learning Theory and Rational Choice Approaches
  • Criminalization or Instrumentalism: New Trends in the Field of Border Criminology
  • Eco-Justice and the Moral Fissures of Green Criminology
  • The Impact of Criminological Theory on Community Corrections Practice
  • Feminism and Critical Criminology: Confronting Genealogies
  • Learning From Criminals: Active Offender Research for Criminology
  • Offending Patterns in Developmental and Life-Course Criminology
  • Big Data and Criminology From an AI Perspective
  • Psychological and Criminological Factors Associated With Desistance From Violence
  • Connecting Criminology and Sociology of Health & Illness
  • Assessment of the Current Status and Future Directions in Criminology
  • Using Basic Neurobiological Measures in Criminological Research
  • Green Criminology: Capitalism, Green Crime & Justice, and Environmental Destruction
  • The Foundation and Re‐Emergence of Classical Thought in Criminological Theory
  • Conservation Criminology, Environmental Crime, and Risk: An Application to Climate Change
  • Feminist and Queer Criminology: A Vital Place for Theorizing LGBTQ Youth
  • Criminological Fiction: What Is It Good For?
  • Investigating the Applicability of Macro-Level Criminology Theory to Terrorism
  • Criminological Theory in Understanding of Cybercrime Offending and Victimization
  • The Nurture Versus Biosocial Debate in Criminology
  • Developmental Theories and Criminometric Methods in Modern Criminology
  • How Does Criminology Cooperate With Other Disciplines to Solve Crimes?
  • Is Criminology a Social or Behavioral Science?
  • How Does the Study of Criminology Relate to the Detection or Deterrence of Fraud?
  • What Are the Types of Norms in Criminology?
  • How Do Criminology Schools Differ?
  • What Is Criminological Research?
  • How Important Is the Role of Punishment in Neoclassical Criminology?
  • What Is the Life Course Theory of Criminology?
  • Who Is the Father of Modern Criminology?
  • What Did Early Criminology Focus On?
  • What Is the Difference Between Classical and Positivist Schools of Criminology?
  • Why Is Personal Identification Necessary for Criminology?
  • What Is the Difference Between Criminology and Applied Criminology?
  • What Is Evidence-Based Criminology?
  • Are Criminology and Criminal Justice the Same?
  • Who Rejected the Doctrine of Free Will in Criminology?
  • What Are the Fundamental Propositions of Feminist Criminology?
  • Is There a Difference Between Criminology and Victimology?
  • What Is the Bell Curve in Criminology?
  • Why Do People Commit Crimes, According to Criminology?
  • What Is the Difference Between Criminology and Criminal Psychology?
  • What Is Contemporary Criminology?
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  • Why Do Sociological Criminology Theories Help With Our Understanding of Crimes?
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Digital Commons @ USF > College of Behavioral and Community Sciences > Criminology > Theses and Dissertations

Criminology Theses and Dissertations

Theses/dissertations from 2024 2024.

Sociocultural Factors, Definitions, and Experiences of Intimate Partner Violence Among Latina and Hispanic Women , Vanessa Centelles

Theses/Dissertations from 2023 2023

Efficacy of Online Social Movements for Sparking Change: The Case of the Missing Murdered and Indigenous Women Movement (#MMIW) , Kacy A. Bleeker

An Examination of Racial Disparities in Arrest Across Florida Counties, 1998-2018: A Test of the Racial Threat and Political Representation Hypotheses , Xavier D. Burch

The Invisible Victims of Commercial Sexual Exploitation: Boys and Their Barriers to Access to Services , Amanda L. Connella

Damned & Damned: Examining Vexatious Litigation and the Vexatious Litigant Statute in Florida Courts , Sarah L. Harper

The Contributions of Mental Health Issues, Traumatic Brain Injury, and Adverse Childhood Experiences to Recidivism Among Rural Jail Incarcerees , Lauren N. Miley

Assessing the Relationship Between True Crime Documentary and Podcast Consumption, Fear of Crime, and Protective Behaviors , Lauren A. Tremblay

Police Officers’ Perceptions of Gunshot Detection Technology , Courtney L. Weber

Theses/Dissertations from 2022 2022

A Macro Social Examination of the Relationship Between Disabilities and Crime Using Neighborhood and County Level Data , Natasha A. Baloch

Racial Differences in Perceptions of Sanction Severity , Sarah L. Franklin

Juvenile Homicide Offenders: A Life-Course Perspective , Norair Khachatryan

Exploring the Effectiveness of a Life-Skills Program in a Florida Prison Through a Social Bond and General Strain Theory Perspective , Danielle M. Thomas

Theses/Dissertations from 2021 2021

Clean Water for All: Examining Safe Drinking Water Act Violations of Water Systems and Community Characteristics , Junghwan Bae

Morality and Offender Decision-Making: Testing the Empirical Relationship and Examining Methodological Implications , Jacquelyn Burckley

The Ring of Gyges 2.0: How Anonymity Providing Behaviors Affect Willingness to Participate in Online Deviance , Cassandra E. Dodge

A Macro Analysis of Illegal Hunting and Fishing Across Texas Counties: Using an Economic Structural Approach , Leo J. Genco Jr.

Self-Protection in Cyberspace: Assessing the Processual Relationship Between Thoughtfully Reflective Decision Making, Protection Motivation Theory, Cyber Hygiene, and Victimization , C. Jordan Howell

Racial Threat Theory: A Test of the Economic Threat Hypothesis , Carl L. Reeds

Online Perceptions of Panamanian Prisons and Incarcerated persons: An analysis of YouTube user comments , Mahaleth J. Sotelo

Theses/Dissertations from 2020 2020

Toxic Colonialism and Green Victimization of Native Americans: An Examination of the Genocidal Impacts of Uranium Mining , Averi R. Fegadel

Cross-National Incarceration Rates as Behavior of Law , Christopher J. Marier

The Effects of Perceived Motivations and Mental Distress on the Likelihood of Reporting and Engaging in Self-Protective Measures Among Victims of Stalking , Daniela Oramas Mora

Mental Health and In-Prison Experiences: Examining Socioeconomic and Sex Differences in the Effect of Mental Illness on Institutional Misconduct and Disciplinary Segregation , Rachel E. Severson

Theses/Dissertations from 2019 2019

Dating Application Facilitated Victimization: An Examination of Lifestyle-Routine Activities, Self-Control, and Self-Efficacy , Vanessa Centelles

Social Constructionism and Cultivation Theory in Development of the Juvenile “Super-Predator” , Elizabeth R. Jackson-Cruz

Bystander Intervention, Victimization, and Routine Activities Theory: An Examination of Feminist Routine Activities Theory in Cyber Space , Jennifer A. Leili

Sexual Assault and Robbery Disclosure: An Examination of Black’s Theory of the Behavior of Law , Caitlyn N. Muniz

Mass Shootings and Gun Sales: A Study on the Influence of Red and Blue Power , Maria Jose Rozo Osuna

A Multi-dimensional Macrolevel Study of Drug Enforcement Strategies, Heroin Prices, and Heroin Consumption Rates , Alexander G. Toth

Theses/Dissertations from 2018 2018

The Impact of a Religious/Spiritual Turning Point on Desistance: A Lifecourse Assessment of Racial/Ethnic Differences , Rhissa Briones Robinson

Political Decisions on Police Expenditures: Examining the Potential Relationship Between Political Structure, Police Expenditures and the Volume of Crime Across US States , Xavier D. Burch

Identifying the Personal and Perceived Organizational Characteristics Associated with Job Satisfaction Among Juvenile Probation Staff , Julie M. Krupa

The Role of Organizational Justice in Predicting Attitudes Toward Body-Worn Cameras in Police Officers , Nathaniel L. Lawshe

Yet Another Ferguson Effect: An Exploratory Content Analysis of News Stories on Police Brutality and Deadly Force Before and After the Killing of Michael Brown , Carl Root

The Role of Race/Ethnicity and Risk Assessment on Juvenile Case Outcomes , Tayler N. Shreve

Theses/Dissertations from 2017 2017

Intimate Partner Violence and the Capacity and Desire for Self-Control , Krista Taralynne Brewer

School Shootings in the United States from 1997 to 2012: A Content Analysis of Media Coverage , Victoria N. Iannuzzi

Chronic Runaway Youth: A Gender-Based Analysis , Michelle N. Jeanis

A Test of Wikström’s Situational Action Theory Using Self-Report Data on Intimate Partner Violence , Lauren Nicole Miley

An Exploratory Study of Macro-Social Correlates of Online Property Crime , Hyojong Song

Female Incarceration and Prison Social Order: An Examination of Gender Differences in Prison Misconduct and In-Prison Punishments , Elisa L. Toman

Adverse Childhood Experiences and Their Role as Mitigators for Youthful and Non-Youthful Offenders in Capital Sentencing Cases , Jessica R. Trapassi

Theses/Dissertations from 2016 2016

Disinhibition, Violence Exposure, and Delinquency: A Test of How Self-Control Affects the Impact of Exposure to Violence , Wyatt Brown

The Guilty But Mentally Ill Verdict: Assessing the Impact of Informing Jurors of Verdict Consequences , Erin Elizabeth Cotrone

The Relationship between Psychopathic Personality Traits and Lying , Jason A. Dobrow

Delving into the Heart of Victimization Risk: Examining the Interactive Relationship between Demographic Factors and Context , Amy Sheena Eggers

A Power Conflict Approach to Animal Cruelty: Examining How Economic Power Influences the Creation of Animal Cruelty Laws , Leonard J. Genco

The Role of Gender in Self-Control and Intimate Partner Violence , Laura Marie Gulledge

The Restrictive Deterrent Effect of Warning Banners in a Compromised Computer System , Christian Jordan-Michael Howell

Tactics of Sexual Control and Negative Health Outcomes , Anna Elizabeth Kleppe

The Applicability of Criminology to Terrorism Studies: An Exploratory Study of ISIS Supporters in the United States , Amanda Marie Sharp Parker

The Path to Violent Behavior: The Harmful Aftermath of Childhood Trauma , Nicholas Michael Perez

The Effects of Racial Bias on Perceptions of Intimate Partner Violence Scenarios , Batya Yisraela Rubenstein

Theses/Dissertations from 2015 2015

Reel or Reality? The Portrayal of Prostitution in Major Motion Pictures , Raleigh Blasdell

Psychopathy and Perception of Vulnerability , Barbara Joyce Dinkins

Effect of Empathy on Death Penalty Support in Relation to the Racial Divide and Gender Gap , Brian Godcharles

Exploring the Interactive Effects of Social Learning Theory and Psychopathy on Serious Juvenile Delinquency , Brandy Barenna Henderson

Tampa Electric Company's Big Bend Utility Plant in Hillsborough County, Florida: A Case Study , Lynne M. Hodalski-Champagne

Thirty Year Follow-Up of Juvenile Homicide Offenders , Norair Khachatryan

Organized Crime in Insurance Fraud: An Empirical Analysis of Staged Automobile Accident Rings , Chris Longino

The Role of Social Support in the Disclosure and Recovery Process of Rape Victims , Jessica Nicole Mitchell

Evaluating the Social Control of Banking Crimes: An Examination of Anti-Money Laundering Deficiencies and Industry Success , Erin M. Mulligan

Elite Deviance, Organized Crime, and Homicide: A Cross-National Quantitative Analysis , Carol L.s. Trent

An Evaluation of the Utah First District Mental Health Court: Gauging the Efficacy of Diverting Offenders Suffering With Serious Mental Illness , Stephen Guy VanGeem

Rape, Race, and Capital Punishment in North Carolina: A Qualitative Approach to Examining an Enduring Cultural Legacy , Douglas Wholl

Theses/Dissertations from 2014 2014

The Tattoo: A Mark of Subversion, Deviance, or Mainstream Self-Expression? , Jocelyn Camacho

Juvenile and Adult Involvement in Double Parricide and Familicide in the U.S.: An Empirical Analysis of 20 Years of Data , Averi Rebekah Fegadel

Predicting Successful Drug Court Graduation: Exploring Demographic and Psychosocial Factors among Medication-Assisted Drug Court Treatment Clients , Autumn Michelle Frei

Experimentally Evaluating Statistical Patterns of Offending Typology For Burglary: A Replication Study , Lance Edwin Gilmore

Developmental Trajectories of Physical Aggression and Nonaggressive Rule-Breaking among At-risk Males and Females during Late Childhood and Early Adolescence , Eugena Givens

Predicting Fear of Crime using a Multilevel and Multi-Model Approach: A Study in Hillsborough County , Jonathan Maskaly

Public Knowledge and Sentiments about Elite Deviance , Cedric Michel

The Influence of Community Context on Social Control: A Multi-Level Examination of the Relationship between Race/Ethnicity, Drug Offending, and Juvenile Court Outcomes , Jennifer Peck

Theses/Dissertations from 2013 2013

Assessing the Relationship Between Hotspots of Lead and Hotspots of Crime , Kimberly L. Barrett

A Life-Course Approach to Sexual Offending: Examining the Continuity of Juvenile Sexual Offending into Adulthood and Subsequent Patterns of Recidivism , Maude Beaudry-Cyr

Examining the link between self-control and misconduct in a multi-agency sample of police supervisors: A test of two theories , Christopher Matthew Donner

The Impact of Hyperfemininity on Explicit and Implicit Blame Assignment and Police Reporting of Alcohol Facilitated Rape in a Sample of College Women , Sarah Ehlke

Rurality and Intimate Partner Homicide: Exploring the Relationship between Place, Social Structure, and Femicide in North Carolina , Amelia Kirkland

Self-Control, Attitudinal Beliefs, and White-Collar Crime Intentions , Melissa Anne Lugo

Zero Tolerance for Marginal Populations: Examining Neoliberal Social Controls in American Schools , Brian Gregory Sellers

State-Corporate Crime in the Democratic Republic of Congo , Veronica Jane Winters

Theses/Dissertations from 2012 2012

The Walls Are Closing In: Comparing Property Crime Victimization Risk In Gated And Non-Gated Communities , Nicholas Branic

What Propels Sexual Homicide Offenders? Testing an Integrated Theory of Social Learning and Routine Activities Theories , Heng Choon Chan

A Deadly Way of Doing Business: A Case Study of Corporate Crime in the Coal Mining Industry , Charles Nickolas Stickeler

Deconstructing the "Power and Control Motive": Developing and Assessing the Measurability of Internal Power , Shelly Marie Wagers

Theses/Dissertations from 2011 2011

Assessing racial differences in offending trajectories: A life-course view of the race-crime relationship , Michael S. Caudy

Mental Health Courts Effectiveness in Reducing Recidivism and Improving Clinical Outcomes: A Meta-Analysis , Brittany Cross

General Strain Theory and Juvenile Delinquency: A Cross-Cultural Study , Wen-Hsu Lin

General Strain Theory, Race, and Delinquency , Jennifer Peck

Developmental Trajectories of Self-Control: Assessing the Stability Hypothesis , James Vance Ray

Explaining the "Female Victim Effect" in Capital Sentencing Decisions: A Case for Sex-Specific Models of Capital Sentencing Research , Tara N. Richards

A Multilevel Model of Police Corruption: Anomie, Decoupling, and Moral Disengagement , Ruth Zschoche

Theses/Dissertations from 2010 2010

The Emotional Guardianship of Foreign-Born and Native-Born Hispanic Youth and Its Effect on Violent Victimization , Amy Sheena Eggers

The Influence of Narcissism and Self-Control on Reactive Aggression , Melissa L. Harrison

Is There an "Innocent Female Victim" Effect in Capital Punishment Sentencing? , Amelia Lane Kirkland

An Analysis of the Influence of Sampling Methods on Estimation of Drug Use Prevalence and Patterns Among Arrestees in the United States: Implications for Research and Policy , Janine Kremling

A Pathway to Child Sex Trafficking in Prostitution: The Impact of Strain and Risk-Inflating Responses , Joan A. Reid

Victimization Among Individuals With Low Self-Control: Effects on Fear Versus Perceived Risk of Crime , Casey Williams

Theses/Dissertations from 2009 2009

Domestic Violence Within Law Enforcement Families: The Link Between Traditional Police Subculture and Domestic Violence Among Police , Lindsey Blumenstein

Rape Attitudes and Beliefs: A Replication Study , Rhissa Emily Briones

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Trinity Street

Current PhD Students and Research Topics

Consent and the Rape Law in India: Interrogating the Implications of Consent
The association between family exposure to violence and the development of morality in early childhood.

Risk Managing Demand for Differential Response: A Case Study in Evidence-Based Policing.

Cyber Crime and Organised Crime; a Statistical Analysis of the Threat and What Works Against it.
Predicting Cybercrime Pathways: A Textual Analysis. 
Understanding gender differences in adolescent dating violence victimisation: a longitudinal investigation of associated predictors and outcomes
Motivation and Morality in Situational Action Theory: Moderating Intimate Partner Violence. 
How effective is police-led diversion
An exploration of the modus operandi used by sex traffickers in the UK.
Global trends in direct and indirect conflict-related mortality: towards targeted prevention and intervention.
Child sexual exploitation networks in the UK: an analysis of how they operate.
Legitimacy in prison-based forensic psychology practices.
Unseen Walls: A Critical, Postcolonial and Pro-Feminist Approach to the Differential Impacts of State Policies on 'Irregular' Migrants' Access to Information during Journeys through Mexico and Algeria. 
How do people experience simultaneous family imprisonment in English prisons?
'Reading for pleasure' in prisons in England and Wales: meaning and motives (working title).

Why offender rehabilitation?

Police Misconduct and Network Analysis
Does a replicated Turning Point diversion study in NW London show similar or different reoffending results to the study in Birmingham and why?
Exploring the utility of the fully immersive 360-degree video scenario method for the study of the situational causes of crime.
Protecting the Protectors: What is next for police officers?
An investigation into the barriers and facilitators guiding bystander decision-making in UK university students during situations of sexual misconduct.

Getting Away With Rape: A Mixed Methods Analysis of Rape Charging Decisions in England and Wales

: The abuse and exploitation of foreign domestic workers
Institutionalizing Anti-Corruption Agencies: A Study of The Enforcement Process of Ghana's Office of The Special Prosecutor and Right to Information Act. 
The Symbiotic Harms of Incarceration: Political and Community Effects of the Incarceration of Black Women.
Group criminality in the neighborhood: situating street gangs and social processes within communities in London
: Victims’ Emotional Attachment to Their Perpetrators- New Perspectives
Chinese juvenile offenders' experiences attitudes towards educational and correctional programmes.
A Quantitative Network-Based Study in the Visualisation and Suppression of Illicit Drug Networks in the UK
Targeting, testing and tracking of police interventions to reduce knife crime, focusing on the impact of knife crime prevention orders.
: Restorative Policing in England and Wales
: “Ransom here, there and everywhere”: Assessing the United Kingdom Response against the Ransomware Threat
Prison pen-pals: The value of correspondence from laypeople
Drug-related deaths under probation supervision following release from prison.
Welfare as Punishment? Understanding Disadvantaged Mothers’ Lives Within the Neoliberal State
Demand the Impossible: Criminology, Utopia & Abolition
A Transcultural Study on the Association between Early Childhood Abuse CallousUnemotional Traits: Comparison between China and the UK

Experiences of supervision: Men released on license and assessed as a high risk of perpetrating intimate partner violence
The Prevent Profile: exploring the modern cyber-dependent offender
Exploring the qualities and experiences of women’s open imprisonment: A semi-ethnographic study
Exploring the ‘Copper’s Nose’ and the discourse surrounding its perceived existence, value and impact on policing in the UK
Moral Quality and the Parole Process: understanding the role of prisoner identity, emotions, and ‘human vibrations’ in the parole system today
The impact of release on mandatory life-sentenced prisoners' identities.

An Exploration of the Expressive and Communicative Function of the Victim Personal Statement in Sentencing Hearings in England and Wales.

An analysis of the solvability factors across all volume crime types to fill the gaps in solvability factor research, resolve the contradictions between previous studies and address the challenges to external validity arising from different datasets

The impact of Behavioural Detection training on Stop and Search efficacy and delivering procedurally just encounters.
The Effects of a Cadet Training Component on Police Attitudes: A Randomized Controlled Trial
: Corruption victims: do people facing bribery requests report their case?
Negotiating Love & Intimacy Behind Bars: Understanding women's imprisonment and resettlement experiences through the lens of intimate relationships
Explore the Chinese Organised Drug Trafficking
Sinclair, Richard : “Fraud Prevention, Who Listens and Can People Change Their Ways?”
The Meanings, Nature and Experiences of Corruption among Police Officers in Ghana

How do police leaders negotiate the technical and institutional environments in managing police performance?

A qualitative study of how and why children in Czechia are told about their parent's imprisonment.
: Deterring Police Misconduct: A randomised control trial of in-service strategies to reduce misconduct amongst officers with identified risk factor
What is the role of private prosecution in the English criminal justice system?
Tripathi, Karan Tech-panopticon Policing: Gendered Security, Citizenship, and Democracy in India’s “Safe City Project”

Juvenile Delinquency in Hong Kong: Moral Education in the Context of Situational Action Theory

: Corruption between morality and control: Applying Situational Action Theory to a bribery experiment

Towards a Brave New World: Applying Artificial Intelligence to Public Safety via Algorithmic Analysis of Human Behavior

Trauma and life imprisonment: How do men and women serving life sentences deal with and process experiences of trauma?
: ‘We Want Justice!’ : How Media Shape and Are Shaped by Experiences of (In)Justice in Jamaica

Dating violence and gaslighting experiences among university students

: Children before court: young people’s encounters with the law

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Student Research

Northeastern offers countless opportunities for students to with over 30 interdisciplinary research centers and more than 600 full-time faculty collaborating on basic and applied research in the United States and around the globe.

Criminal Justice Opportunities for Graduate and Undergraduate Students

Students in the School of Criminology and Criminal Justice conduct cutting-edge research alongside our faculty experts in topics including bias victimization, urban violence, homicide and suicide, human trafficking, juvenile justice, mass incarceration, and racial equity. The School houses several centers and labs that align closely with topics covered in the criminal justice curriculum. Students of all class years in our bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral programs are always welcomed and encouraged to engage in research opportunities with us.

Get Involved

CRIM 2991: Research Practicum for credit (2-4 credits)

CRIM 2991 is a course designed for undergraduates who are interested in engaging in independent or group research under the supervision of a faculty member.

Honors in the Major

Undergraduate students can receive honors distinction in their major on their transcripts by successfully completing an honors research project.

Provost Office’s Undergraduate Research and Creative Endeavor Awards The Provost’s Undergraduate Research and Creative Endeavors Awards offer financial and academic support to Northeastern students seeking to conduct original projects of their own design. 

Undergraduate Research Initiative The Undergraduate Research Initiative (URI) encourages undergraduate students in the College of Social Sciences and Humanities to carry out research and other creative activities in collaboration with, or under the close supervision of, faculty members with relevant research expertise. 

Brudnick Center Student Research Award Brudnick Center on Violence and Conflict supports research that seeks solutions to problems of hostility and hatred arising from inter-group conflict and differences

Regional and National Fellowship Programs The Office of Fellowships provides assistance for students interested in applying for an array of national and regional fellowship programs.

Research experience work-study If you qualify for work-study through your financial aid package, you may use the work-study money to work as a research assistant for a professor. Students should coordinate hiring into work study position with the School of Criminology and Criminal Justice.

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You can fulfill your co-op experience by conducting research for a faculty member at Northeastern or elsewhere either domestically or abroad.

Undergraduate Research Forum CSSH invites undergraduates to submit a proposal to present at the annual Undergraduate Research Forum. Any undergraduate CSSH student who has conducted original research independently or in collaboration with a faculty member is eligible to participate. Presentations will be 10 minutes long and presenters will have the opportunity to discuss their work with the audience.

RISE Each year, in an effort to support Northeastern University’s commitment to use-inspired research and solution focused innovation, hundreds of students and faculty members embark on an exciting opportunity to showcase the research and innovative thinking of the Northeastern community at the Research, Innovation, and Scholarship Expo (RISE).

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Understanding and measuring bias victimization against latinos.

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General Interdisciplinary Resources

  • Academic Search Complete (Ebsco) This link opens in a new window Academic Search Complete allows you to search over 40 subject indexes at one time. It can be a useful interdisciplinary tool for finding criminal justice articles in resources that focus on: race relations, peace research, LGBT, women studies, business and a host of other fields. more... less... Academic Search Complete is a comprehensive scholarly, multi-disciplinary full-text database, with more than 5,300 full-text periodicals, including 4,400 peer-reviewed journals. In addition to full text, this database offers indexing and abstracts for more than 9,300 journals and a total of 10,900 publications including monographs, reports, conference proceedings, etc. The database features PDF content going back as far as 1865, with the majority of full text titles in native (searchable) PDF format.
  • Google Scholar This link opens in a new window Google Scholar is an amazing inter-disciplinary resource for criminal justice research. You are encourage to explore the advanced research options, citation alerts and Google's Metrics. It can be a powerful tool for known item searching particularly combined with the "Cited by" features. more... less... Google Scholar enables you to search specifically for scholarly literature, including peer-reviewed papers, theses, books, preprints, abstracts and technical reports from all broad areas of research. Use Google Scholar to find articles from a wide variety of academic publishers, professional societies, preprint repositories and universities, as well as scholarly articles available across the web. Once you set your institutional preferences, links to full-text, if available at Penn State, should appear.
  • LionSearch This link opens in a new window an integrated search of books, e-books, research articles, newspaper articles, and other publications
  • SAGE Research Methods Core This link opens in a new window SAGE Research Methods focuses on methodology rather than disciplines so it is useful across the social sciences, health sciences. Contains content from more than 640 books, dictionaries, encyclopedias, and handbooks, the entire Little Green Book, and Little Blue Book series more... less... SAGE Research Methods is a research methods tool created to help researchers, faculty and students with their research projects. SAGE Research Methods links over 100,000 pages of SAGE's renowned book, journal and reference content with truly advanced search and discovery tools. Researchers can explore methods concepts to help them design research projects, understand particular methods or identify a new method, conduct their research, and write up their findings. Since SAGE Research Methods focuses on methodology rather than disciplines, it can be used across the social sciences, health sciences, and more. SAGE Research Methods contains content from more than 640 books, dictionaries, encyclopedias, and handbooks, the entire Little Green Book, and Little Blue Book series, two Major Works collating a selection of journal articles, and newly commissioned videos. Our access is to: SRM Core Update 2020-2025; SRM Cases (includes updates through 2025); SRM Cases 2.

Ranking Scholarly Criminal Justice Journals

  • Journal Citation Reports This link opens in a new window Provides a more robust ranking of criminal justice journals more... less... Journal performance metrics offer a systematic, objective means to critically evaluate the world's leading journals by delivering quantifiable statistical information based on citation data, which helps determine a publication's impact and influence in the global research community. It includes journal and category data.
  • Google's Top publications - Criminology, Criminal Law & Policing Metric of journals provided by Google
  • How to Read (and Understand) a Social Science Journal Article This is an excellent 3 page article written by Frederique Laubepin for the Inter-university Consortium for Political and Social Research.

Subject Resources for Scholarly Research

  • Criminal Justice Abstracts This link opens in a new window The journal articles described in this resource are from the premier journals in the field as well as from trade publications in the profession. more... less... Provides abstracts of articles from the major journals in criminology and related disciplines, as well as books and reports from government and nongovernmental agencies. For each document, an informative summary of the findings, methodology, and conclusions is provided. Topics include crime trends, prevention projects, corrections, juvenile delinquency, police, courts, offenders, victims, and sentencing.
  • Criminology Collection (Proquest) databases covering criminology, criminal justice, and security includes Criminal Justice Database and NCJRS
  • Sociological Abstracts This link opens in a new window A premier resource for interdisciplinary research on subjects impacting society and the single most important database in the Social Sciences. This resource can be useful for any number of topics including: family violence, gangs, violence, drug issues, schools, and media. more... less... CSA Sociological Abstracts abstracts and indexes the international literature in sociology and related disciplines in the social and behavioral sciences. The database provides abstracts of journal articles and citations to book reviews drawn from over 1,700 serials publications, and also provides abstracts of books, book chapters, dissertations, and conference papers. Records added after 1974 contain in-depth and nonevaluative abstracts of journal articles.
  • National Criminal Justice Reference Service Abstracts This link opens in a new window This resource is published by the US Department of Justice. It functions as a clearinghouse of information from government agencies at all levels of government. It is particularly useful for finding reports and scholarly research funded through tax dollars. It is equally a wealth of information on current policy topics and events. more... less... The National Criminal Justice Reference Service Abstracts Database contains summaries of more than 150,000 publications on criminal justice, including Federal, state, and local government reports, books, research reports, journal articles, and unpublished research. Subject areas include corrections, courts, drugs and crime, law enforcement, juvenile justice, crime statistics, and victims of crime. Coverage: The time period covered is from the early 1970's to the present.
  • PsycINFO (via ProQuest) This link opens in a new window A great resource for scholarly articles that focus on victimization, behavior and crime, Primary database for international literature in psychology and related disciplines. It is published by the American Psychological Association and provides coverage from 1840 to the present. more... less... PsycINFO provides access to international literature in psychology and related disciplines. Unrivaled in its depth of psychological coverage and respected worldwide for its high quality, the database is enriched with literature from an array of disciplines related to psychology such as psychiatry, education, business, medicine, nursing, pharmacology, law, linguistics, and social work. Nearly all records contain nonevaluative summaries, and all records from 1967 to the present are indexed using the Thesaurus of Psychological Index Terms.
  • ERIC (ProQuest) This link opens in a new window An education resource sponsored by the US Department of Education. It is useful for topics such as: juvenile delinquency, school violence, rehabilitation programs, counseling. more... less... ERIC (Educational Resources Information Center) is the major database for education literature, sponsored by the U.S. Department. of Education. The same database content is available on many platforms.

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  • HeinOnline Although primarily a legal database, HeinOnline also provides us with access to its Criminal Justice and Criminology subcollection focusing upon the American criminal justice system and policing. Its material includes several criminology journals, reports and statistics, US Department of Justice publications and more.
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Criminology & Criminal Justice

Student motivations for studying criminology: A narrative inquiry

Introduction, stories about building on existing interests, stories about understanding the ‘self’, stories about securing ‘justice’ and ‘helping’ others, declaration of conflicting interests, biographies, cite article, share options, information, rights and permissions, metrics and citations, figures and tables, narratives, identities and actions, study design and sample, thematic narrative analysis.

Crime detecting and crime fiction has been a big part of my childhood and I was going through [university prospectus] and criminology came up . . . it wasn’t something that I’d ever really come across the possibility of actually studying myself. It was one of these things where I saw that it was available and then it kind of seemed to fit . . . it didn’t take much kind of research in the prospectus and the website and stuff to make it seem like it was definitely something I want to do. (Emily)
I spoke to someone who had been at uni and he said to me, study something that you really, really enjoy. So, I looked back on my bookshelf and I saw it was full of crime books . . . and from then on, I really started thinking about studying criminology as a sort of academic discipline, whereas before it was always a hobby and something to read about. (Tommy)
Everyone is going to say this about criminology, but I like watching crime shows . . . I think all my family like watching them so they’re always on the TV since I was young, so I’ve kind of been brought up with it . . . I used to watch Murder She Wrote with my Nan, obviously that’s an awful programme, but I remember watching that from like the age of 10. (Chloe) I’ve always watched the news and I’ve always been asking my parents questions about what’s going on and why things might be happening. I mean not in a creepy way, but I’ve always enjoyed watching the news about murders and figuring things out. (Sophie)
The serial killer is someone totally different to you, a bit crazy, a bit looney and obviously now I know that’s not true, but when I was coming into it [criminology], I was that generic person who looked at them as an alien person, who fits a certain type of description and because it’s different and it’s nothing like you, or anyone you know, it is interesting. (Carly)
In terms of finding out why people are interested in doing criminology . . . [and] . . . why people decide to do it, at the end of the day we all just love a good murder and the idea of studying what drives people. (Emily)
The ones here [UK] aren’t as good, which is really bad for me to say. But they’re not as kind of serious crimes or they’re not allowed to interview people on death row. (Chloe)
I’ve always been interested in, when the stories come out in the newspapers about crimes, I’m that typical consumer that likes to hear all the gory details. (Carly)
I really believe crime is a really important factor in the world. It’s everywhere, I mean from the city that I’m from . . . it’s rife in crime every day. I’ve been brought up around it and then I just wanted to think more into it and study something that I enjoyed . . . I know it sounds so simple, but that’s how I become to study. (Tommy)
It did influence wanting to go out and study crime and see why they would go out and you know just go and steal things just for the sake of it, or just go and break these windows, go and sneak into this factory, go down to the lake and smoke this weed and go drinking and stuff like that . . . it made me just wonder why they’d want to do it and I didn’t. (Steven)
I could start to identify how I had got into the situation that I had, and I started looking at how the people that I worked with in my voluntary environment got into the situation that they had. And the kind of inequalities that were set against them and things like that and it just helped me understand more and it sparked my interest. (Amy)
Crime has become quite a, more a part of my life. I think it’s definitely changed the way I look on things and I think learning about criminology, I think if those things hadn’t happened to me, maybe I wouldn’t find it quite as interesting . . . because things have happened to me, I’m more eager to find out why they might of, or the background to it, or similar cases and stuff like that. So, I think because I’ve sort of been a victim of it . . . it’s more interesting and . . . a bit more personal. (Sophie)
I came to study criminology off the back of going through the criminal justice system. I had no idea of studying anything at all and I was just a stay at home mum and what not, going through a bit of a bad time and I ran into some trouble, went through court, got put on probation and while I was on probation, it kind of hit home the enormity of the situation and that I needed to do something. (Amy)
They would always like try to make me go in [the off licence] and when I didn’t, they didn’t really like that. They used to like you know push me around a bit and beat me up a little bit for not like participating with whatever it is they were doing. So that helped actually, rather than actually making me go in and steal stuff actually it pushed me further in the opposite direction of wanting them to stop it, although I never could stop it because these people were twice my size. (Steven)
I felt very responsible having had her ring [over the telephone] and her language difficulties and having a very kind of low support network from her family around her. Yeah and just feeling like who does the responsibility go to from here, like I have no power, so who does? And that was quite, I think that was quite an eye opening position to be in. I think that was definitely something that struck me at that point in life about the world. (Emily)
My dad working in the police has been a major, major influence in how that’s affected my life. I mean I always looked up to my dad, I always respected him so much for going out and, you know going out and solving all these murders and stuff that he would always come and tell me about. It always made me feel really, really, proud of him and I thought that’s something that I want to go out and do. (Steven)
When I was a lot younger, I was interested in being a police officer. Seeing sort of injustice happen, a lot of it, well for me maybe that made me want to do something about it because you know you can’t just sit round hoping someone else will fix it and you can just continue complaining about it. So maybe I wanted to find a solution to it. (Rayyan)
I want to go out and just stop criminals. To be able to be the one that actually says to a jury you should put this person away for life, here’s all the evidence why . . . that sounds like an amazing career to be honest. To be able to make such a difference, to have such an influence on people’s lives, families of victims etc., it would be really worthwhile. (Steven)
Everyone is telling them [offenders] they’re going to be nothing for their whole life and then their parents are abusive and there’s violence all the time and, it’s just like how do they have a chance? . . . It kind of frustrates me that it’s happening and that is something that I would like to give more like help to people in that situation to try and find a different way out. (Hannah)
Something that’s been in the back of my mind for a while . . . I really haven’t earned shit you know. It’s all been handed to me on a plate and people can say ‘yeah you’ve made the best of it’, but I’ve only been able to because I’ve had my dad, my sisters, I’ve had the support of people, but you know really if I’d been brought up by a single mother on a council estate, you know there’s no way I would have, I would be a completely different person . . . crime is, in my view, very, very dependent on environment. I guess that’s why I want to . . . help with rehabilitation programmes. (Dave)
I would feel no emotion towards a criminal, especially if I knew what they’d done, so . . . I just feel like I could cope with working in a prison and I find it interesting to know why people do things. I mean I couldn’t be a psychologist or anything because I don’t know, I’m not interested in psychology, but I’d like to try and help them. (Tara)

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