6 Steps to Effective Writing in Criminal Justice

This compact resource is intended to aid students in developing strong writing skills and to help them prepare for their academic and professional pursuits. The authors approach writing as a series of skills to be applied at each stage of the writing process: generating ideas, developing and planning, drafting, revising, and editing. Sample writing topics, examples, formats, and sample papers reflect the criminal justice discipline, providing a complement to classroom instruction and discussion.

Judy H. Schmidt is an English professor at Harrisburg Area Community College, Harrisburg, PA, and has also served as Adjunct Faculty at Duquesne University of the Capital Region, Harrisburg, PA and Pennsylvania State University, Harrisburg where she taught interdisciplinary writing courses for the Honors Program. At Penn State University, Harrisburg, she was employed as Writing Specialist to design and implement academic support services for students. In that capacity, she also served as a consultant to instructors from a variety of disciplines in their teaching of writing-intensive courses and in their professional writing. She has also had extensive experience as a writing consultant to education, business and industry. Professor Schmidt received an A.B. degree in English Literature from Susquehanna University, Selinsgrove, PA and an M.Ed degree in English from Indiana University of PA, Indiana, PA.

Mike Hooper is a PhD in Criminal Justice, a Senior Law Enforcement Consultant with California Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training. He has been on the faculty of Penn State Harrisburg, and an adjunct professor at CSU-Stanislaus, Sonoma State U, Chapman University, and Cal State Long Beach. He has taught courses in criminal justice administration, law enforcement administration, human behavior in organizations, criminal justice planning, critical issues in criminal justice, police in society, research methods, introduction to criminal justice, critical incident management, management in public agencies, and organized crime. He currently serves as Manager of Instructor Development Programs for California Commission on POST, was Training Manager for basic and intermediate security training programs for the Atlanta Olympics, and was a member of the Los Angeles Police Department. Mike received the "Nittany Lion" award for quality of Penn State teaching and service. He has published numerous journal articles and book chapters. He is a member of the Justice Research Association, ACJS, ASC, ASIS, and Int'l Association of Law Enforcement Planners. He also served on the Writing across the Curriculum Committee at Penn State University.