An empirically based 15-page Final Research Paper, due in the final week, will identify a challenge, problem, issue that impacts the relationship between the police and the community and explore policy, practice and programming that can help to resolve the problem and improve the relationship between the police and community, fostering cohesion & cooperation through effective communication. Utilizing the Strategic Plan assignment as a jumping off point, students will now dig even deeper into the problem and strategies of reform to improve the strain between the police and the community. Some of the material and content from the strategic plan can be used in the final paper.

APA 7th edition format is required. Format should include; Title page with running head, Times New Roman, 12-point, Double Spaced, with Level One Headings at a minimum, 15- page minimum not including Title Page & References (minimum of 8 Empirical resources are expected).

Text and Empirical Articles that MUST be used to inform your Final Paper

Hunter, R. D., Barker, T. D., & de Guzman, M. C. (2018). Police Community Relations and the Administration of Justice. Pearson. ISBN-13: 978-0134548043

American Psychological Association. (2020). Publication manual of the American Psychological Association (7th ed.).

Empirical Articles

Choi, K., & Lee, J. (2016). Citizen participation in community safety: A comparative study of community policing in South Korea and the UK. Policing & Society, 26(2), 165-184. doi:http://dx.doi.org.ezproxylocal.library.nova.edu/10.1080/10439463.2014.922087

Staggers-Hakim, R. (2016). The nation’s unprotected children and the ghost of mike brown, or the impact of national police killings on the health and social development of African American boys. Journal of Human Behavior in the Social Environment, 26(3-4), 390-399. doi:http://dx.doi.org.ezproxylocal.library.nova.edu/10.1080/10911359.2015.1132864

Nalla, M. K., Mesko, G., & Modic, M. (2018). Assessing police-community relationships: Is there a gap in perceptions between police officers and residents? Policing & Society, 28(3), 271-290. doi:http://dx.doi.org.ezproxylocal.library.nova.edu/10.1080/10439463.2016.1147564

Charbonneau, A., Spencer, K., & Glaser, J. (2017). Understanding racial disparities in police use of lethal force: Lessons from fatal police-on-police shootings. The Journal of Social Issues, 73(4), 744-767.

doi:http://dx.doi.org.ezproxylocal.library.nova.edu/10.1111/josi.12246

Giwa, S. (2018). Community policing in racialized communities: A potential role for police social work. Journal of Human Behavior in the Social Environment, 28(6), 710-730. doi:http://dx.doi.org.ezproxylocal.library.nova.edu/10.1080/10911359.2018.1456998

Posick, C., & Hatfield, H. (2017). Putting H.E.A.R.T. into policing: A 21st century model for effective and fair policing. Policing, 40(1), 128-140. doi:http://dx.doi.org.ezproxylocal.library.nova.edu/10.1108/PIJPSM-07-2016-0113

Weitzer, R., Tuch, S. A., & Skogan, W. G. (2008). Police-community relations in a majority-black city. The Journal of Research in Crime and Delinquency, 45(4), 398-428. doi:http://dx.doi.org.ezproxylocal.library.nova.edu/10.1177/0022427808322617

Nadal, K. L., Davidoff, K. C., Allicock, N., Serpe, C. R., & Erazo, T. (2017). Perceptions of police, racial profiling, and psychological outcomes: A mixed methodological study. The Journal of Social Issues, 73(4), 808-830. doi:http://dx.doi.org.ezproxylocal.library.nova.edu/10.1111/josi.12249

Morin, R., Parker, K., Stepler, R., & Mercer, A. (2017). Behind the Badge: Amid protests and calls for reform, how police view their jobs, key issues and recent fatal encounters between blacks and police. Pew Research Center. https://assets.pewresearch.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2017/01/06171402/Police-Report_FINAL_web.pdf

Links to an external site.

Kuraz, D. L. (2005). Best Practices Guide: Strategic Planning: Building Strong Police-Community Partnerships in Small Towns. International Association of Chiefs of Police. https://www.valorforblue.org/Documents/Clearinghouse/IACP- Strategic_Planning_Small_Towns.pdf (https://www.valorforblue.org/Documents/Clearinghouse/IACP-%09Strategic_Planning_Small_Towns.pdf)

Struggling with where to start this assignment? Follow this guide to tackle your assignment easily!

Step 1: Clarify the Purpose of the Final Research Paper

This paper is designed to assess your ability to:

Identify a real and research-supported police–community problem
Analyze the issue using empirical evidence
Propose policy, practice, and programmatic reforms
Demonstrate mastery of APA 7th edition scholarly writing

This is not an opinion paper. Every claim should be supported by research and data.

Step 2: Select a Focused Police–Community Challenge

Choose one primary issue to explore in depth, such as:

Racial profiling and perceptions of police legitimacy
Use of force and community trust
Communication breakdowns between police and marginalized communities
Lack of community engagement in policing strategies

👉 Tutor tip: A narrowly focused problem leads to a stronger, more cohesive paper.

Step 3: Build a Clear 15-Page APA Structure

Use the following outline to meet length and rubric expectations:

Title Page (APA 7)
Introduction (1–1.5 pages)
Problem Identification & Background (3–4 pages)
Literature Review & Empirical Evidence (4–5 pages)
Policy, Practice, and Programming Analysis (3–4 pages)
Reform Strategies & Strategic Plan Integration (2–3 pages)
Conclusion (1 page)
References Page

Use Level One Headings throughout for clarity and organization.

Step 4: Write a Strong Introduction

Your introduction should:

Introduce the police–community issue
Explain why the problem matters
Preview the role of policy, practice, and reform
End with a clear thesis statement

👉 Avoid general statements like “Police–community relations are important.” Be precise and evidence-driven.

Step 5: Identify and Explain the Core Problem

In this section:

Describe the issue and its impact on community trust
Use empirical studies (e.g., Weitzer et al., Nadal et al.)
Incorporate data on perceptions, disparities, or outcomes
Connect the issue to real-world policing consequences

This section sets the foundation for the entire paper.

Step 6: Integrate Empirical Research

This is the heart of the paper:

Analyze at least 8 empirical sources
Compare police vs. community perceptions
Discuss racial, psychological, and social impacts
Reference required studies (Choi & Lee; Nalla et al.; Charbonneau et al.)

👉 Focus on analysis, not summaries. Explain what the findings mean.

Step 7: Examine Policy, Practice, and Programming

Here, transition from problem to solution:

Evaluate existing policing policies
Analyze community policing models
Discuss reform strategies such as H.E.A.R.T. policing
Address communication and trust-building practices

Use the Hunter et al. (2018) textbook to ground this discussion.

Step 8: Apply Strategic Reform Solutions

Build directly from your Strategic Plan assignment:

Expand on proposed reforms
Show how strategies improve cohesion and cooperation
Explain implementation challenges and solutions
Highlight communication as a key reform tool

👉 This section demonstrates applied learning, not just theory.

Step 9: Conclude with Impact and Implications

Your conclusion should:

Reinforce the significance of the problem
Summarize research-backed solutions
Emphasize the importance of reform
Highlight implications for future policing practice

Keep it focused and purposeful.

Step 10: Final APA and Quality Check

Before submitting:

Verify APA 7 formatting
Confirm 15-page minimum
Ensure required sources are cited
Proofread for clarity, tone, and flow

🔗 Required & Scholarly Resources

You can cite and reference these directly:

Hunter et al. (2018). Police Community Relations
https://www.pearson.com
APA 7th Edition Manual
https://apastyle.apa.org
Pew Research Center – Behind the Badge
https://www.pewresearch.org
ERIC Criminal Justice Database
https://eric.ed.gov
International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP)
https://www.theiacp.org
Journal of Social Issues
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com

Police–Community Relations: Policy, Practice, and Reform