Capstone Paper
The focus of the Capstone Paper is to propose a resolution to a contemporary social and criminal
justice issue through the application of information from a variety of related fields, which may
include sociology, law, psychology, and ethics.
A good way to approach this paper is to consider it a detailed and thorough scholarly piece on a
single, yet important, social and criminal justice issue. That is, by the end of the paper, you will
be an expert on what the current research says about your chosen topic.
In your paper,
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Create a clear thesis statement that identifies your social and criminal justice
issue.
Summarize your chosen social and criminal justice issue in approximately one
to two pages.
o Describe what makes this an issue.
o Provide data to show how this issue has made an impact on society.
o Explain which social justice principles need to be addressed and
why.
o Detail the cultural and diversity issues present in your chosen social
and criminal justice problem.
o Describe how addressing your chosen issue contributes to the goal
of a more just society.
Analyze the empirical research on your chosen topic.
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Please ensure that the instructor feedback is incorporated within
this section. Incorporating peer feedback is optional.
Propose a possible resolution to your chosen social and criminal justice issue.
o Evaluate which branches of the criminal justice system are
impacted/involved and how they either help or hinder the issue.
o Analyze how the criminal and social justice theories (in relation to
the United States Constitution) and landmark U.S. Supreme Court
decisions impact your chosen issue and support your resolution.
o Examine how the judiciary, corrections, and law enforcement
systems address social equality, solidarity, human rights, and overall
fairness for all and how these essential concepts impact your issue
and resolution.
o Evaluate how poverty, racism, religion and other sociocultural
variables may apply to contemporary social and criminal justice by
drawing information among the fields of, but not limited to,
criminology, law, philosophy, psychology, science, and sociology.
The Solution Proposal Capstone Paper
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Must be 16 double-spaced pages in length (not including title and references
pages and formatted according to APA style.
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Must use at least 12 scholarly and/or credible sources, at least four of which must
be found in the Library, in addition to the course text. You may consider
referencing documentaries, contemporary news reports, multimedia, and
interviews with professionals in the field. Cite your sources within the text of
your paper and on the reference page.
NOTE: The Social Issue of discussion is Overcrowding in Correctional
Institutions
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Capstone Paper Rough Draft
Name
CRJ 422: Criminal Justice Capstone
Instructor:
June 27, 2022
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Capstone Paper Rough Draft
Overcrowding in correctional institutions can be defined as a situation that occurs when
there is a limited or lack of enough space and resources to accommodate inmates in correctional
facilities. Overcrowding in correctional institutions is both a social and criminal justice issue as it
goes against social justice principles such as equality and human rights and denies justice to both
the victims of crime and inmates in correctional facilities
Summary of Social and Criminal Justice Issue
According to Kamis et al., (2021), overcrowding in correctional institutions is a dominant
issue in social and criminal justice systems in most countries. A recent study on the rates of
overcrowding in correctional facilities in the United States reveals that most of the correctional
institutions have a 73.5% turnover rate (Kamis et al., 2021). Furthermore, mos of the prisons in
America operate at over 100% capacity. In this case, most of these correctional institutions can
be said to be overcrowded. Due to overcrowding, some offenders are given short sentences or
even released without being corrected or reformed.
MacDonald (2018) argues that overcrowding in correctional institutions is a cause of
most of the health issues including infectious diseases and mental health issues. According to
findings from the study conducted in the article, overcrowded correctional facilities can lead to
insanitary, violent conditions that are a threat to the physical and mental well-being of inmates
(MacDonald, 2018). Further studies suggest that the rates of stress and depression among
inmates in correctional facilities in the United States have been on a steady rise in recent years
(Ramadhan, 2018). As a result of these issues, the cases of self-harm, suicide and violence have
become common in most correctional institutions.
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Ramadhan (2018) highlights how correctional officers also suffer the social and criminal
justice issues associated with overcrowding in correctional institutions. A study of some of the
issues brought about by overcrowding reveals that correctional officers suffer from burnout and
stress because of overcrowded correctional institutions (Ramadhan, 2018). Due to the increase in
crime rates in the United States in recent days, the gap in the ratio of correctional officers to
inmates has increased (Sunghoon, 2017). In this case, there are more inmates than the number of
correctional officers assigned to attend to them in most correctional institutions.
Baggio et al., (2020) point out how overcrowded correctional institutions are unsafe for
both prisoners and correctional officers. In the research conducted in the article, it was
established that there is a strong correlation between overcrowding and violence in correctional
institutions (Baggio et al., 2020). Due to overcrowding prisoner are constantly in conflict with
one another since they are often fighting for correctional resources including basic needs such as
food, health and accommodation. Moreover, the violence is also extended to correctional officers
who are at risk of attacks as a result of dealing with physically and psychologically unwell
inmates (Ramadhan, 2018). Further findings reveal that the rates of prison violence increased
when correctional facilities are overcrowded.
Social Justice Principles
Hugman (2019) argues that the key social justice principles that influence the issue of
overcrowding in correctional institutions are access to resources, equity, participation, diversity,
and human rights. The social justice principles of equity and access to resources need to be
followed to ensure that prisoners have equal access to basic needs such as food, water,
healthcare, and accommodation in correctional facilities (Hugman, 2019). Besides, other
literature suggest that the principle of participation needs to be applied to ensure that all
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prisoners can engage in correctional activities and access correctional services (Tacderas, 2019).
Human rights issues such as access to food and healthcare should be considered in addressing the
issue of overcrowding in correctional institutions since, like any other human, prisoners are
entitled to basic human rights.
According to Carr and Johnson (2018), overcrowding in correctional institutions results
in cultural and diversity issues such as conflict, violence, and racial discrimination against
prisoners are more likely to occur in correctional institutions. Most correctional facilities which
are overcrowded often experience cases of violence, self-harm, and suicide associated with
discrimination based on ethnic, social, and cultural backgrounds (Carr & Johnson, 2018).
Overcrowded correctional institutions are home to inmates and correctional officers from diverse
social, ethnic, and cultural backgrounds.
Empirical research
According to MacDonald (2018) correctional institutions are overcrowded because of
poor policies and legislation in both social and criminal justice systems. One of the reforms that
need to be introduced is the booking and release policy which stipulates those suspects of petty
crimes should be booked, their details taken and released until they are found guilty and
convicted (MacDonald, 2018). Besides, findings from the study conducted in the article suggest
that law enforcement agencies must apply the law in handling social and criminal justice issues
such as discrimination against a particular race or class being witnessed in the current society to
ensure a just society.
Hugman (2019) argues that social justice principles should be applied in solving the issue
of overcrowding in correctional institutions. According to the author, social justice principles
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should not be applied selectively if we are to have a just society. Research conducted in the
source reveals that the law stipulates those criminals are entitled to human rights, equality, and
justice (Hugman, 2019). Although the study insinuates that criminals deserve to be imprisoned if
found guilty of the offenses they are accused of, it suggests that offenders should be provided
with basic human needs and rights.
Kamis et al. (2021) argue that one of the greatest contributors to overcrowding in
correctional facilities in the United States is the lack of effective procedures to determine cases
that need correction and those that need pardoning of offenders. Findings from the research
conducted by the author show that procedural justice needs to be followed to ensure justice for
both victims and offenders linked with both social and criminal justice issues (Kamis et al.,
2021). In this case, if procedural justice can be applied, overcrowding in correctional institutions
can be managed or reduced significantly.
According to Tacderas (2019) most of the social and criminal justice issues being faced
in the society, including racial discrimination, are caused by a lack of awareness of cultural
diversity and sensitivity issues associated with overcrowding in correctional institutions can be
solved through cultural sensitivity and diversity awareness (Tacderas, 2019). If awareness of
cultural sensitivity and diversity can be created, cultural and diversity issues brought about by
overcrowding in correctional facilities can be solved.
Theories and Landmark U.S. Supreme Court decisions
The sociological positivism theory of crime stipulates that social factors of an
individual’s life can increase the probability of them engaging in crime. One of the social factors
that is recognized under the theory is the environment (Burke, 2018). The theory can be used to
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explain how overcrowding in the correctional institutions environment can lead to issues such as
violence. Similarly, the social strain theory explores how situational factors can lead to
individuals engaging in crime acts (Agnew, 2020). It suggests that pressure resulting from social
factors can drive individuals to commit crime. In this case, the theory can be used to develop a
better understanding of how pressures created by overcrowding in correctional institutions
causes issues such as violence, suicide, and self-harm among prisoners.
One of the landmark U.S Supreme Court decisions is the Brown v. Plata case of 2011. In
the U.S. Supreme Court ruling in their 2011 decision in Brown v. Plata, it was ruled that
overcrowding violates inmates’ Eighth Amendment rights, especially since it denies them access
to adequate medical and mental health care (Kamis et al., 2021). In this case, the ruling stipulates
that overcrowding is a criminal justice issues because it violates the inmates’ Eight Amendment
rights. The ruling also reinforces the argument that overcrowding in correctional institutions is a
social issue since its causes physical and mental health issues to prisoners.
Resolutions
The branches of the criminal justice system that are impacted and should be involved in
addressing the issue of overcrowding in correctional institutions include law enforcement,
judiciary, courts, and correctional institutions and officers. Law enforcement needs to ensure that
suspects or offenders of petty crimes should be booked in law enforcement databases and
released if there is no probable cause for detention (Gendreau & Listwan, 2018). The judiciary
and courts need to offer alternative correctional measures other than sentencing for correction.
The judiciary, corrections, and law enforcement systems can address social equality,
solidarity, human rights, and overall fairness in correctional institutions through the formulation
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and implementation of policies and legislation (MacDonald, 2018). Social equality and fairness
can be addressed through fair and equal enforcement and adjudication of social and criminal
justice policies and legislation (Sunghoon, 2017). Solidarity and human rights can be achieved
by corrections ensuring that corrections address the issues facing inmates and work with law
enforcement and the judiciary.
Socio-cultural variables such as poverty, racism, and religion contribute to social and
criminal justice issues such as racial discrimination, abuse, and violence in correctional
institutions (Tacderas, 2019). One of the suggestions by sociologists is that government will have
to address issues of unemployment and poverty to reduce the high crime rates associated with the
overcrowding in most correctional facilities (Ramadhan, 2018). Law enforcement and the
judiciary ought to treat suspects and offenders in a fair manner regardless of their racial or
religious backgrounds to solve the cultural and diversity issues such as overcrowding in
contemporary social and criminal justice systems.
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References
Agnew, R. (2020). The contribution of social-psychological strain theory to the explanation of
crime and delinquency. The Legacy of Anomie Theory, 113-137.
doi:10.1201/9780429335945-6
Baggio S., Piegne N., Heller P., Getaz L., Liebrenz M., & Wolff H. (2020). Do overcrowding
and turnover cause violence in prison? Retrieved from
https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2019.01015/full
Burke, R. H. (2018). Sociological positivism. An Introduction to Criminological Theory, 137174. doi:10.4324/9781315204871-9
Carr, C. L., & Johnson, L. (2018). Social justice and legal practice. Law, Cultural Diversity, and
Criminal Defense, 51-68. doi:10.4324/9780429506864-4
Gendreau, P., & Listwan, S. J. (2018). Contingency management programs in corrections:
Another Panacea? Journal of Contemporary Criminal Justice, 34(1), 35-46.
doi:10.1177/1043986217750426
Hugman, R. (2019). Practical justice in social work and social welfare. Practical Justice:
Principles, Practice and Social Change, 117-130. doi:10.4324/9781351010498-9
Kamis, C., Stolte, A., West, J. S., Fishman, S. H., Brown, T., Brown, T., & Farmer, H. R. (2021).
Overcrowding and COVID-19 mortality across U.S. counties: Are disparities growing
over time? Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8219888/
MacDonald, M. (2018). Overcrowding and its impact on prison conditions and
health. International Journal of Prisoner Health, 14(2), 65-68. Retrieved from
https://www.emerald.com/insight/content/doi/10.1108/IJPH-04-2018-0014/full/html
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Ramadhan, M. S. (2018). Optimizing the role of correctional institutions in fostering prisoners
with a background background. Journal of Correctional Issues, 1(2), 27-38.
doi:10.52472/jci.v1i2.8
Sunghoon, A. (2017). A study on overcrowded correctional facilities and solutions. Correction
Review, 74(0), 55-93. https://doi.org/10.14819/krscs.2017.27.1.3.55
Tacderas, A. (2019). Cultural diversity and sensitivity. Adult-Gerontology Practice Guidelines.
doi:10.1891/9780826159311.0003d
Thank you for submitting your week 3 rough draft. I hope that this helped you to
form the framework of your paper. Now, you can “beef” it up to meet the 16-page
length requirement.
(1.00 / 1.00); : Revises the Thesis Statement Created in Weeks 1 and 2, Which Identifies the Social and Criminal Justice
Issue
Distinguished – Thoroughly revises the thesis statement created in Weeks 1 and 2,
which clearly and accurately identifies the social and criminal justice issue.
Comments:
Great work revising the thesis statement created in Weeks 1 and 2, which clearly and
accurately identifies the social and criminal justice issue. All your major ideas were
supported by scholarly sources.
(1.76 / 2.00); : Summarizes the Chosen Social and Criminal Justice Issue
Proficient – Summarizes the chosen social and criminal justice issue. Minor details are
missing, slightly unclear, or inaccurate.
Comments:
Nice job summarizing the chosen social and criminal justice issue. More development
of the individuals who could have intervened was required. Most of the major ideas
were supported by scholarly sources.
(1.76 / 2.00); : Proposes a Possible Resolution to the Chosen Social and Criminal Justice Issue
Proficient – Proposes a possible resolution to the chosen social and criminal justice
issue. Minor details are missing, slightly unclear, or inaccurate.
Comments:
Nice work proposing a thorough, clear, and accurate possible resolution to the chosen
social and criminal justice issue. More development concerning the proposal was
required.ÂÂ
(1.76 / 2.00); : Evaluates Which Branches of the Criminal Justice System Are Impacted/Involved and How They Either
Help or Hinder the Issue
Proficient – Evaluates which branches of the criminal justice system are
impacted/involved and how they either help or hinder the issue. Minor details are
missing or slightly unclear.
Comments:
Very solid effort evaluation of which branches of the criminal justice system are
impacted/involved and how they either help or hinder the issue. Some of your
explanations needed to be more fully developed; more utilization of scholarly sources
would have provided a more complete examination.
(1.76 / 2.00); : Analyzes How the Criminal and Social Theories and Landmark U.S. Supreme Court Decisions Impact the
Chosen Issue and Support the Resolution
Proficient – Analyzes how the criminal and social theories and landmark U.S.
Supreme Court decisions impact the chosen issue and support the resolution. The
analysis is slightly underdeveloped.
Comments:
Nice work providing analyzing how the criminal and social theories and landmark
U.S. Supreme Court decisions impact the chosen issue and support the resolution.
More development concerning the legal and societal necessity for trials in these
circumstances was required.ÂÂ
(2.00 / 2.00); : Examines How the Judiciary, Corrections, and Law Enforcement Systems Address Social Equality,
Solidarity, Human Rights, and Overall Fairness for All and How These Essential Concepts Impact the Issue and
Resolution
Distinguished – Thoroughly, clearly, and accurately examines how the judiciary,
corrections, and law enforcement systems address social equality, solidarity, human
rights, and overall fairness for all and how these essential concepts impact the issue
and resolution.
Comments:
Excellent observations examining how the judiciary, corrections, and law enforcement
systems address social equality, solidarity, human rights, and overall fairness for all
and how these essential concepts impact the issue and resolution! Great use of
scholarly sources to support your ideas!
(2.00 / 2.00); : Evaluates How Poverty, Racism, Religion, and Other Sociocultural Variables May Apply to Contemporary
Social and Criminal Justice by Drawing Information Among the Fields of, but Not Limited to, Criminology, Law,
Philosophy, Psychology, Science, and Sociology
Distinguished – Comprehensively and clearly evaluates how poverty, racism, religion,
and other sociocultural variables may apply to contemporary social and criminal
justice by drawing information among the fields of, but not limited to, criminology,
law, philosophy, psychology, science, and sociology.
Comments:
Excellent evaluations of how poverty, racism, religion, and other sociocultural
variables may apply to contemporary social and criminal justice by drawing
information among the fields of, but not limited to, criminology, law, philosophy,
psychology, science, and sociology. Great work with supporting all of your
main ideas with scholarly sources! Keep up the great work!
(0.50 / 0.50); : Written Communication: Control of Syntax and Mechanics
Distinguished - Displays meticulous comprehension and organization of syntax
and mechanics, such as spelling and grammar. Written work contains no errors and is
very easy to understand.
Comments:
Great work! The grammar, spelling, and punctuation are correct and add to the
readability of your paper.
(0.50 / 0.50); : Written Communication: APA Formatting
Distinguished - Accurately uses APA formatting consistently throughout the
paper, title page, and reference page.
(0.50 / 0.50); : Written Communication: Word Requirement
Distinguished - The length of the paper is equivalent to the required number of
words.
(0.50 / 0.50); : Written Communication: Resource Requirement
Distinguished - Uses more than the required number of scholarly sources,
providing compelling evidence to support ideas. All sources on the reference page are
used and cited correctly within the body of the assignment.
Overall Score: 14.04 / 15.00 Overall Grade: 14.04
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