Task description: Students are required to compile a selection of readings related to crime problem AND the response to that problem in a foreign country (I.e. not Australia) and to complete an annotated bibliography. These reading should be those that help you learn about the crime and justice issues related to your country of choice. An annotated bibliography is a list of books, articles or other documents, and consists of a citation followed by a brief summary and evaluation of each document listed. There are two sections in each annotated bibliography entry: the citation – the bibliographic information or reference, and the annotation – a summary, evaluation, and reflection on the document. Each annotation should provide: a summary of the main arguments, ideas, or information provided by the author, including purpose and methodology where appropriate an evaluation of the quality of the document, briefly touching on objectivity and bias a reflection on the potential usefulness of the document in providing important context for your chosen jurisdiction.

QUESTION

Assessment Information

CRIM2300: Comparative Criminology

Comparative Case Study Project Phase 1: Annotated Bibliography

Due Date:

Word count:      1500 words (plus or minus 10% excluding citations)

Weighting:         10%

Task description:

Students are required to compile a selection of readings related to crime problem AND the response to that problem in a foreign country (I.e. not Australia) and to complete an annotated bibliography. These reading should be those that help you learn about the crime and justice issues related to your country of choice. An annotated bibliography is a list of books, articles or other documents, and consists of a citation followed by a brief summary and evaluation of each document listed.

There are two sections in each annotated bibliography entry:

1. the citation – the bibliographic information or reference, and
2. the annotation – a summary, evaluation, and reflection on the document.

Each annotation should provide:

1. a summary of the main arguments, ideas, or information provided by the author, including purpose and methodology where appropriate
2. an evaluation of the quality of the document, briefly touching on objectivity and bias
3. a reflection on the potential usefulness of the document in providing important context for your chosen jurisdiction.

The annotated bibliography must contain at least SEVEN sources, excluding assigned course readings. Recommended readings may be included. Although students may choose to include more than seven documents, including too many may make it difficult to summarise and evaluate each document in the allocated word count.  Students will not receive extra marks for including more than the minimum number of documents.

Documents selected should relate to the criminological issue that you have chosen even if it does not also examine your country of choice. Documents that cover the criminological issues AND your country of choice are obviously welcome.

All citations should use APA 6^th format. The word count includes the total of all annotations and does not include the citations.

When complete, the Annotated Bibliography will ideally be a knowledge base that can be used by the student to help prepare both their Problem-Response paper and their Comparative Case Study essay.

Comparative Case Study Project Phase 2: Problem-Response Brief

Due Date:

Word count:      1000 words (plus or minus 10% excluding references)

Weighting:         15%

Task description:

Students will complete a concise profile of a crime problem and one of the ways it is being responses to in non-Australian jurisdiction (the same foreign country that your annotated bibliography was on). The profile should outline the crime problem and why it is criminologically interesting. It should examine the extent of the problem, what is currently known about it and what is currently being done to solve/combat the problem (the response). The response could be a legislative response (laws created to deal with the problem), a law enforcement response (how police are attempting to control the problem), or a court-based response (how judges are punishing those who contribute to the problem). Choosing one type of response only is the best way to write a concise and well-articulated brief.  A problem-response brief is an attempt to describe a particular jurisdiction in terms of crime and responses to crime.  This brief requires you to present a picture of the problem and the response to it and should be able to be understood by anyone who is not a specialist on your foreign country of choice. This may require you to draw on census data (where available) and other official statistics (e.g. police, correctional, government or NGO statistics) to help describe the problem and the response they are focusing on.

Your assignment should be presented in a report format with the following sub-headings:

1. Introduction
2. Current Crime Problem
3. Current Response
4. Key Issues
5. Conclusion
6. References

The Problem Response Brief is a concise brief of a crime problem and one of the ways it is being responded to in non-Australian jurisdiction (the same foreign country that your annotated bibliography was on).

• The introductionis should give an overview of your what brief is about.
• The brief should include the current crime problemand why it is criminologically interesting. It should also examine the extent of the problem, what is currently known about it.
• The Responseis what is currently being done to solve or combat the problem. The response could be a legislative response (laws created to deal with the problem), a law enforcement response (how police are attempting to control the problem), or a court-based response (how judges are punishing those who contribute to the problem). Please only pick one type of response.
• The key issuesexplore both issues of the crime problem and responses.
• Conclusionis a summary of the state of crime and justice in your chosen jurisdiction. You can include as many references as you’d like. I recommend what you have already prepared from your annotated bibliography, however, you can definitely add other sources if needed.

A problem-response brief is an attempt to describe a particular jurisdiction in terms of crime and responses to crime.  This brief requires you to present a picture of the problem and the response to it and should be able to be understood by anyone who is not a specialist on your foreign country of choice. This may require you to draw on census data (where available) and other official statistics (e.g. police, correctional, government or NGO statistics) to

When complete, the Problem-Response paper will ideally be the first two pages of the Comparative Case Study Essay.

Comparative Case Study Project Phase 3: Comparative Case Study Essay

Due Date:

Word count:      2000 words (plus or minus 10% excluding references)

NOTE: Word count does not include attached Problem-Response Brief

Weighting:         40%

Task description:

Students will complete a comparative case study of crime and justice that brings international research evidence to bear on a specific problem experienced by a country OUTSIDE Australia.

Building on the Problem-Response Brief, the comparative case study should investigate what there is to know about the problem and response using the global criminological research literature. Students should be prepared to compare what is happening in their jurisdiction of choice (from the problem-response brief) to one other jurisdiction (which can include Australia) to make a comparison to formulate suggestions on how to solve the crime problem in their country of choice.

The findings should be presented in a report format with the following sub-headings:

1. Problem-Response Brief (first 2- 3 pages of essay)
2. Introduction to the Comparative Essay
3. Review of the Literature
4. Cross National Comparison
5. Results/Policy Recommendation
6. Conclusions (this section should also include a summary of the lessons that can be drawn from a comparative analysis and any critiques of the methodology used in evaluating the problem/response)

There is also an opportunity for you to demonstrate your ability to take on feedback. As your Problem-Response Brief comprises the first two pages of your essay, you can make revisions or corrections to your Problem-Response Brief based on the graders feedback by highlighting where these changes have been made when it is resubmitted as part of the comparative essay.

ANSWER

Comparative Case Study: Crime Problem and Response in Canada

Introduction

This essay presents a comparative case study of a crime problem and its response in Canada, with a focus on understanding the criminological issues and exploring potential solutions. Canada has been chosen as the foreign country for this study, and it has been examined through an annotated bibliography and a problem-response brief (Travis et al., 2014) Building on these foundations, this essay further investigates the problem and response by incorporating international research evidence and making cross-national comparisons to offer policy recommendations for addressing the crime problem in Canada.

Problem-Response Brief

The current crime problem in Canada revolves around the issue of organized crime, which poses significant criminological interest due to its impact on public safety and societal well-being. The extent of this problem is evident through official statistics, which show increasing rates of organized criminal activities across the country (Organized Crime Has Globalized and Turned Into a Security Threat, n.d.). Currently, it is known that organized crime in Canada involves various criminal enterprises, such as drug trafficking, human trafficking, money laundering, and illegal firearms trade. These activities are often interconnected and pose significant challenges for law enforcement and criminal justice systems.

The response to organized crime in Canada primarily focuses on a legislative response, which involves the enactment of laws and regulations to combat organized criminal activities. For instance, the Canadian government has implemented the Organized Crime Control Act and the Proceeds of Crime (Money Laundering) and Terrorist Financing Act to strengthen law enforcement efforts and disrupt the financial networks of criminal organizations. Additionally, specialized law enforcement units, such as the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) Integrated Proceeds of Crime units, collaborate with various agencies to investigate and prosecute organized crime groups. However, despite these efforts, organized crime remains a persistent challenge, requiring ongoing adaptation and cooperation among multiple stakeholders.

Review of the Literature

A review of the global criminological research literature is conducted to gain a comprehensive understanding of organized crime and its response in Canada. This literature review explores various theoretical perspectives, empirical studies, and comparative analyses related to organized crime. The literature highlights the complex nature of organized criminal networks, their transnational connections, and the social, economic, and political factors that contribute to their proliferation. Additionally, it sheds light on innovative strategies and successful initiatives implemented in other countries to counter organized crime, providing valuable insights for Canada’s approach.

Cross-National Comparison

To provide a comparative analysis, this essay compares the crime problem and response to organized crime in Canada with the approach taken in the Netherlands. The Netherlands is known for its proactive and integrated response to organized crime, emphasizing collaborative efforts between law enforcement, judicial authorities, and other relevant stakeholders. By examining the similarities and differences between these jurisdictions, valuable lessons can be drawn, such as the importance of specialized units, intelligence sharing, asset seizure, and proactive investigative techniques.

Results/Policy Recommendations

Based on the findings from the literature review and cross-national comparison, several policy recommendations can be proposed for addressing organized crime in Canada. These recommendations may include enhancing interagency collaboration, strengthening intelligence capabilities, investing in specialized training for law enforcement, fostering community partnerships, and adopting a multidimensional approach that combines law enforcement, prevention, and social intervention strategies (Literature Review: Community-Oriented Policing and Problem-Oriented Policing | Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, n.d.). Furthermore, Canada could benefit from exploring innovative initiatives implemented in the Netherlands, such as the establishment of multidisciplinary crime teams and the use of advanced data analytics in crime prevention.

Conclusions

This comparative case study provides valuable insights into the problem of organized crime and its response in Canada. By synthesizing international research evidence, exploring cross-national comparisons, and formulating policy recommendations, a holistic understanding of the issue is achieved. The study highlights the importance of a comprehensive and collaborative approach to combating organized crime, emphasizing the need for proactive measures, targeted legislation, and community engagement. However, it is essential to acknowledge the limitations of the methodology used and consider future research directions to further enhance Canada’s response to organized crime and effectively address this persistent challenge.

References

Literature Review: Community-Oriented Policing and Problem-Oriented Policing | Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention. (n.d.). Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention. https://ojjdp.ojp.gov/model-programs-guide/literature-reviews/community-oriented-problem-oriented-policing 

Organized crime has globalized and turned into a security threat. (n.d.). United Nations : Office on Drugs and Crime. https://www.unodc.org/unodc/en/press/releases/2010/June/organized-crime-has-globalized-and-turned-into-a-security-threat.html 

Travis, J., Western, B., & Redburn, F. S. (2014). The Growth of Incarceration in the United States. In National Academies Press eBooks. https://doi.org/10.17226/18613