Courses related to the study of criminal justice usually require students to complete an essay at some point. If you have been asked to write a criminal justice essay, there are several things that you will need to keep in mind to ensure that your essay ticks all of the right boxes.
This article will take you through some essential tips on writing a criminal justice essay and provide 155 criminal justice essay topics to get students’ creative juices flowing.
What Is Criminal Justice?
Any discussion of how to write a criminal justice essay must begin with a clear understanding of what the term ‘criminal justice’ actually refers to. In short, criminal justice can be defined as the system responsible for dealing with crime. This system includes everything from law enforcement and the courts to prisons and probation services.
When writing a criminal justice essay, students will usually be asked to focus on one particular area of the criminal justice system. For example, they may be asked to write about the police, the courts, or prisons. Be sure that your subject matter can directly be linked back to the criminal justice system in order to make the most impact on the reader.
Types of Criminal Justice Essays
There are many types of criminal justice essays, and each style will have different requirements in terms of content and structure. Here are some of the most popular types of criminal justice essays that students may be asked to write:
Criminal Justice Research Essays
Research essays will require students to conduct extensive research on a particular topic within the criminal justice system. Students will need to collect evidence from multiple reliable sources and use this evidence to support their argument.
Criminal Justice Argumentative Essays
An argumentative essay on criminal justice will ask students to take a particular stance on an issue within the criminal justice system and then defend their position using evidence. These types of essays usually require students to have a strong understanding of both sides of the argument before taking a stance.
Criminal Justice Compare and Contrast Essays
A compare and contrast essay will ask students to consider two or more topics within the criminal justice system and identify their similarities and differences. Compare and contrast essays often require students to have a strong understanding of both topics in order to make effective comparisons.
Criminal Justice Cause and Effect Essays
A cause and effect essay will look at why something happens within the criminal justice system and its effects on society or an individual. These types of essays often require students to carry out extensive research in order to identify the causes and consequences of a particular issue.
Criminal Justice Problem-Solution Essays
A problem-solution essay will ask students to identify a problem within the criminal justice system and put forward a solution for this problem. These types of essays often require students to have a strong understanding of both the problem and the potential solutions before they can offer a solution.
Criminal Justice Critical Analysis Essays
Students will be asked to conduct a critical analysis of a criminal justice system issue in a critical analysis essay. These essays often require students to have a strong understanding of the issues at hand in order to offer a well-rounded analysis.
No matter what type of criminal justice essay you are asked to write, be sure to carefully read the instructions to determine what is required of you. Once you understand the task at hand, you can begin planning and writing your essay.
General Tips for Writing a Criminal Justice Essay
When writing a criminal justice essay, there are a few general tips that you can follow to make sure that your essay is of the highest quality.
Planning
Before you start writing your essay, it is essential to take some time to plan out what you are going to say. This will help to ensure that your writing flows smoothly and that all of the critical points are covered.
Research
If your essay requires you to carry out research, be sure to do so thoroughly. Collect evidence from several sources and make sure that this evidence is reliable. Also, make sure to cite all of your sources in the appropriate MLA, Chicago, or APA style.
Structure
Your essay should follow a logical path from beginning to end. Use headings and subheadings to help break up your writing and make it easy to read.
Proofreading
Once you have finished writing your essay, be sure to proofread it carefully in order to catch any mistakes. It is also good to have someone else read over your essay to give you feedback.
Make sure that you follow these tips when writing your criminal justice essay to give yourself the best chance of success.
155 Criminal Justice Essay Topics
With the guide above detailing the possible types of criminal justice essays you may be asked to write and some general tips for writing a criminal justice essay, you may now be wondering what topics you could write about. To help get you started, we have provided a list of 155 criminal justice essay topics below:
Criminal Justice Research Essay Topics
- The impact of social media on the criminal justice system
- The use of DNA evidence in the criminal justice system
- The role of technology in the criminal justice system
- Racial bias in the criminal justice system
- The death penalty in the United States
- The juvenile justice system
- Police brutality in the United States
- The war on drugs in the United States
- The prison system in the United States
- Rehabilitation vs. punishment in the criminal justice system
Criminal Justice Argumentative Essay Topics
- Is the death penalty an effective form of punishment?
- Should juveniles be tried as adults?
- Is the prison system in the United States effective?
- Should rehabilitation be the main aim of the criminal justice system?
- Is social media a help or a hindrance to the criminal justice system?
- Should DNA evidence be used in all criminal cases?
- Should police officers be armed?
- Should the age of adulthood be lowered to 16 in criminal cases?
- Should there be a national registry for sex offenders?
- Is stop and search an effective police tactic?
Criminal Justice Problem Solution Essay Topics
- How can police brutality be reduced in the United States?
- How can the war on drugs be won?
- How can the juvenile justice system be improved?
- How can rehabilitation be made more effective in the criminal justice system?
- How can the use of DNA evidence be improved in the criminal justice system?
- How can social media be used to help solve crimes?
- How can racism be eliminated from the criminal justice system?
- How can the prison system be improved in the United States?
- How can the death penalty be made more effective?
- What can be done to reduce crime rates in the United States?
Criminal Justice Opinion Essay Topics
- Do you believe that the death penalty is an effective form of punishment?
- Do you believe that juveniles should be tried as adults?
- Do you believe that the prison system in the United States is effective?
- Should rehabilitation be the main aim of the criminal justice system?
- Is social media a help or a hindrance to the criminal justice system?
- Should DNA evidence be used in all criminal cases?
- Are police officers more or less effective when they are armed?
- How do you feel about stop and search police tactics?
Criminal Justice Compare and Contrast Essay Topics
- The criminal justice system in the United States vs. the criminal justice system in the UK
- The death penalty vs. life in prison
- DNA evidence vs. eyewitness testimony
- Police brutality in the United States vs. police brutality in other countries
- The juvenile justice system in the United States vs. the juvenile justice system in France
- The prison system in the United States vs. the prison system in other countries
- Rehabilitation vs. punishment
Criminal Justice Definition Essay Topics
- The term “social justice”
- The term “police brutality”
- The term “white-collar crime”
- The term “organized crime”
- The term “street crime”
- The term “cybercrime”
- The term “capital punishment”
- The term “juvenile delinquency”
- The term “recidivism”
- The term “restorative justice”
Criminal Justice Cause and Effect Essay Topics
- The cause of police brutality in the United States
- The effects of the war on drugs in the United States
- The cause of juvenile delinquency
- The effects of the prison system in the United States
- The cause of recidivism
- The effects of rehabilitation in the criminal justice system
- The cause of white-collar crime
- The effects of capital punishment
- The cause of cybercrime
- The effects of social media on the criminal justice system
Criminal Justice Essay Topics About Famous Cases
- The O.J. Simpson case
- The Trayvon Martin case
- The Rodney King case
- The Michael Brown case
- The Eric Garner case
- The Ferguson riots
- The Baltimore riots
- The Charleston church shooting
- The Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting
- The Orlando nightclub shooting
- The Las Vegas mass shooting
- The Parkland school shooting
- The Waco siege
- The Ruby Ridge standoff
- The Oklahoma City bombing
Criminal Justice Essay Topics About Legislation
- The USA PATRIOT Act
- The Patriot Act of 2001
- The Homeland Security Act of 2002
- The USA FREEDOM Act
- The Voting Rights Act of 1965
- The Civil Rights Act of 1964
- The Fair Housing Act of 1968
- The Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965
- The Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986
- The Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996
- The Border Patrol Act of 1925
- The USA PATRIOT Improvement and Reauthorization Act of 2005
- The Animal Enterprise Terrorism Act of 2006
Criminal Justice Essays About Social Issues
- The war on drugs
- Police brutality
- Racial profiling
- Mass incarceration
- The school-to-prison pipeline
- Private prisons
- Capital punishment
- Juvenile justice
- Forensic science
- Gun control
Criminal Justice Essay Topics About Reform
- Prison reform
- Sentencing reform
- Drug policy reform
- Police reform
- Judicial reform
- Immigration reform
- Electoral reform
- Gun control reform
- Innovations in criminal justice system reform in the United States
Criminal Justice Narrative Essay Topics
- A day in the life of a police officer
- A day in the life of a prison guard
- A day in the life of a probation officer
- A day in the life of a parole officer
- A day in the life of a court clerk
- A day in the life of a prosecutor
- A day in the life of a death row inmate
- A day in the life of a public defender
- A day in the life of a private attorney
- A day in the life of a jury member
- A day in the life of a bailiff
- A day in the life of a judge
- A day in the life of a victims’ advocate
Criminal Justice Essay Topics About Ethics
- The ethics of the death penalty
- The ethics of solitary confinement
- The ethics of plea bargaining
- The ethics of mandatory minimum sentencing
- The ethics of asset forfeiture
- The ethics of police brutality
- The ethics of stop and frisk
- The ethics of racial profiling
- The ethics of the war on drugs
- The ethics of mass incarceration
- The ethics of private prisons
- The ethics of juvenile justice
- The ethics of the school-to-prison pipeline
- The ethics of forensic science
Criminal Justice Essay Topics About Career Options
- A career as a police officer
- A career as a detective
- A career as a crime scene investigator
- A career as a forensic scientist
- A career as a criminal defense attorney
- A career as a prosecutor
- A career as a judge
- A career as a paralegal
- A career as a court reporter
- A career as a bailiff
- A career in corrections
- A career in probation and parole
- A career in victim advocacy
- A career in law enforcement administration
- A career in private security
- A career in intelligence and counterterrorism
Every topic in this list offers students the chance to explore an issue of importance to the criminal justice system and share their own insights and perspectives on that issue. Remember that writing a criminal justice essay can be quite challenging, especially if you have never written one before. However, with a little bit of planning and some help from online resources, it is possible to write a great criminal justice essay that will earn you a good grade.
