Create an original scholarly work synthesizing knowledge gained regarding crimin

Create an original scholarly work synthesizing knowledge gained regarding criminal justice theories, methodology and systems. You should apply this knowledge to a contemporary issue, policy or problem in the field of criminal justice that is relevant to your concentration within your criminal justice major.Your final paper should be a minimum of 5,500 words, double spaced using 12 point font in either Arial or Times New Roman. The minimum word count excludes your reference page, title page, etc.
Within this paper, I would like to detail the history of drugs in America, the policies and reforms for drugs, and the pros and cons of decriminalization. Ultimately, I would like to argue that the cons of decriminalization outweigh the positives (not supporting decriminalization). An example provided could be how In the state of Oregon, residents chose to vote for the decriminalization of hard drugs. The vote passed, and now it seems that after Oregon took this drastic measure, it appears that Oregon is now trying to double back on their vote, and are now advocating for more law enforcement support.
An example layout for the topic is as follows, although you may deviate from it where you see fit:
Title: The Decriminalization of Drugs in the United States: A Comprehensive Analysis
I. Introduction
A. Background on drug policies in the U.S. B. Importance of the topic C. Thesis statement
II. Historical Context
A. Overview of drug criminalization in the U.S. 1. Early drug laws and their evolution 2. The War on Drugs and its impact B. Public perception and societal attitudes toward drug use
III. The Case for Decriminalization
A. Arguments supporting decriminalization 1. Public health perspective 2. Economic implications 3. Reduction of incarceration rates B. Case studies of successful decriminalization 1. Portugal 2. Recent changes in U.S. states (e.g., California, Colorado)
IV. The Challenges of Decriminalization
A. Potential societal concerns 1. Increased drug use and addiction 2. Impacts on crime rates B. Law enforcement and policy challenges 1. Transitioning from criminalization to regulation 2. Addressing the black market
V. Current Trends in Drug Policy Reform
A. Overview of state-level decriminalization initiatives B. Federal policy landscape and recent developments C. Advocacy groups and their influence on policy change
VI. Comparative Analysis
A. International perspectives on drug decriminalization 1. Examples from other countries 2. Lessons learned and best practices B. How U.S. policy aligns or diverges from global trends
VII. Future Implications
A. Potential for nationwide decriminalization B. The role of education and public awareness C. Considerations for public health and safety
VIII. Conclusion
A. Summary of key findings B. Reiteration of the thesis C. Final thoughts on the future of drug policy in the U.S.
IX. References
A. Scholarly articles B. Government reports C. Books and relevant literature
This outline provides a structured approach to exploring the complex issue of drug decriminalization, allowing for a thorough examination of its implications, challenges, and potential pathways forward.
**I would like to request that page numbers or paragraphs be included for materials used- this way I would be able to go back and read the sections that are cited within the paper (Even when parenthetical citations do not require page numbers, I would still like to know which pages or paragraphs that information came from- this way I can go back and read all of the material provided). I can always edit that information out.