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Westchester Community College Harold L. Drimmer Library

COR 121 Probation and Parole FALL 2024 - Prof. Czarnecki: Home

What's In This Guide?

Welcome! This guide was created for students in Prof. Czarnecki's Probation and Parole class. This guide will help you navigate the library website and find sources for your research paper. It includes:

  • Finding background information about your topic: 
    • Who are the experts in the field?
    • People and organizations?
    • Case studies?
    • Statistics?
    • Definitions?
  • Narrowing your topic into a concise research question
  • Creating keywords to search the library databases for information
  • Formulate a strategy to research your topic
  • Find scholarly articles in the library databases
  • Evaluating sources that you find:
    • Currency: the timeliness of the information
    • Relevance: the importance of the information to your needs
    • Authority: the source of the information
    •  Accuracy: the reliability, truthfulness, and correctness of the informational content
    • Purpose: the reason the information exists
    • Bias: does the point of view appear objective and impartial?
  • Citing your sources properly to avoid plagiarism 
  • Getting additional help

Your Assignment

You are to write a 10-page research paper on one of the following topics:

  • Legal issues in probation and parole
  • Electronic home monitoring
  • Women offenders on probation
  • Community service and victim restitution
  • Probation as an alternative to incarceration
  • Supervision of sex offenders
  • Parole board decision-making
  • Pre-sentence investigations

You are to introduce the topic or define the problem or issue, provide background information or contrasting views that fully explore your topic, and discuss its impact on the probation/ parole system.

Your sources should have a publication date no older than ten years. 

 

Need Additional Help?

If you have any questions feel free to contact me. I can be reached at rebecca.steere@sunywcc.edu. My direct line is 914-606-6629, and my office is #119 on the main floor of the library.

For real-time assistance you may use our virtual services from the library website home page or call the Reference Desk directly at 914-606-6960.

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