• Find 2 recent articles in the newspaper or online (cnn.com, msnbc.com, NYTimes...) on two different topics that we have discussed in class over the semester (i.e. individual rights, specific types of crime, criminological theories, criminal law, policing, pre-trial/trial activities, corrections, overcrowding...etc.).
• In 2 PAGES (minimum), double spaced, summarize/paraphrase IN YOUR OWN WORDS the articles you have retrieved - what were they about? Then RELATE the paper to what you have read in the text & learned over the course of this semester. What type of crime was committed (murder, larceny, robbery-define it); is this a felony, misdemeanor, inchoate offense...etc.; what stage of the justice system is this offender in; if they are sentenced, what type of sentence was it-indeterminate, determinate...where are they (location, type of facility-prison/jail, security level...); what would be their next steps if they are posting bail, or just went through the preliminary hearing...etc.; what goal of sentencing (retribution, incapacitation, deterrence...) goes along with their punishment or should be part of their sentencing...so on and so forth. Is the topic agreeing or disagreeing with what you have learned? Just try to put EVERYTHING into perspective of what we have discussed throughout the entire semester from ch1-13. The more you put into the assignment, the more points you will receive!
• In a conclusion, give a paragraph on your OWN OPINION of the articles vs. the text/what you've learned.

(The best type of articles to use for this assignment is one where someone has been convicted/sentenced/or doing their time; not just recently arrested!)

TITLE of what you will be discussing (i.e. Prisons & Jails, Policing & Corruption, Parole vs. Probation, Violent vs. Property Crime...etc.)