Dissertation Problem Statement Template - Assignment Example

The comments provided below and in the right margin of the manuscript (click on the “Reviewing Pane” selection within the “Review” tab above in MS Word) represent instances that require addressing. Not all instances of each issue are noted; therefore, you must carefully review the document for other instances and revise them accordingly.Hi MicheleThanks again!You wrote: Dr. C,Please see attached my 3rd revision of the Problem Statement Template.  Thank you.Michele JohnsonIn General:--See my comments below.

--Continue to focus on paraphrasing your sources accurately and making a clear and consistent argument in each section.--Continue to research new sources to develop various areas as noted. Steps to Move Forward:--work on parts 4 then 1, 2 and 3 in that order and then get this back to me. --Hang in there.Please let me know if you have any comments or questions on this by ncu email. As you rework this document, please leave in my comments, and turn on “Track Changes” (under the Review tab above MS Word) so that I can see you are addressing my comments.

(See https://support.office.com/en-us/article/Track-changes-while-you-edit-024158a3-7e62-4f05-8bb7-dc3ecf0295c4 ). Feel free to comment on my comments, if you have questions. All the best! – Dr CComment Color System:Yellow: Language/Grammar/Spelling/Clarity Problems.Blue: APA formatting issues. An Evaluation of Overcoming Housing and Employment Barriers for Sex Offenders1a. The Problem: In 2-3 sentences, describe the problem. The first sentence describes the ideal situation, how things should be when working correctly.

The next 1-2 sentences describe the actual situation, what is "going wrong".Sex offender reintegration policies have been designed to create an awareness within the community that would ensure that the public is safe from potential reoffenders (Meloy, Boatwright, & Curtis, 2013). Sex offenders are often finding problems in the reintegration process as they encounter barriers towards employment and housing, about 30%, harassment to the family level which leads a significant social barrier hence limiting re-entry success, with 12% reporting loss of housing because of their record (Lasher, & McGrath, 2012; Harris, Walfield, Shields, & Letourneau, 2015; Tewksbury, Connor, Cheeseman, & Rivera, 2012; Schultz, 2014). 1b. Support: Provide direct quotes (in quotation marks with page numbers) from at least three recent peer-reviewed sources that show support for all claims and paraphrases made above.

These quotes should come from the unique conclusions of your sources. “Policymakers and practitioners also stated that sex offender laws [and policies] were designed with the primary purpose of increasing public safety” (Meloy, Boatwright, & Curtis, 2013, p. 633). “…limited job prospects were associated with specific employment restrictions placed on registered sex offenders… Incarcerated sex offenders were also largely concerned about obtaining safe, affordable, and legally permissible housing accommodations” (Tewksbury, Connor, Cheeseman, & Rivera, 2012, p. 457). “Adult sex offenders subjected to registration and notification experience social barriers that make reentry difficult” (Harris, Walfield, Shields, & Letourneau, 2015, p. 16). “These policies are merely symbolic; at worst, they strain valuable social networks, hinder reintegration and may even exacerbate recidivism.

Because much of the impetus for these policies is the safety and protection of the sex offender’s local community (Burchfield, & Mingus, 2014, p. 119).2a. The Impact: In no more than two sentences, describe the consequences that will result if the problem persists. Statistics, with dates, are preferred.2b. Support: Provide direct quotes (in quotation marks with page numbers) from at least three recent peer-reviewed sources that show support for all claims and paraphrases made above.

These quotes should come from the unique conclusions of your sources. “Overall, however, almost a third (30%) reported job loss. In terms of accommodation, 12% reported that they had to move out of a home or apartment because a landlord found out and when the question was worded more broadly to include loss of housing for any reason, 19% responded affirmatively. With respect to safety issues, 16% reported that a family member or cohabitant was harassed, assaulted, or had property damaged and 44% reported being threatened or harassed by neighbors.

” (Lasher, & McGrath, 2012, p. 19). “Re-entry can be difficult for any offender due to housing issues, unemployment, mental illness, and substance abuse problems that the prison system failed to address” (Schultz, 2014, p. 64).“Adult sex offenders subjected to registration and notification experience social barriers that make reentry difficult” (Harris, Walfield, Shields, & Letourneau, 2015, p. 16). 2a. The Impact: In no more than two sentences, describe the consequences that will result if the problem persists.

Statistics, with dates, are preferred.A large number of sex offenders are experiencing problems locating appropriate residence areas with landlords refusing to rent to them because of their status(Page, Hill, & Gilbert, 2012) employment is also categorized as a serious issue in their integration process about 80% (Göbbels, Willis, & Ward, 2014). The impetus of the current sex offender policies it to protect the local community but in return they are leading to lack of appropriate employment and housing for the sex offenders being reintegrated, which is a key factor towards sex offender recidivism mostly supported by lack of social ties about 56% within the neighborhood leading to stress and secrecy (Burchfield, & Mingus, 2014)2b.

Support: Provide direct quotes (in quotation marks with page numbers) from at least three recent peer-reviewed sources that show support for all claims and paraphrases made above. These quotes should come from the unique conclusions of your sources. “The numerous collateral consequences associated with sexual offence convictions including restrictions in employment, housing and support by the state… Clients identify employment/financial and/or education plans 4 (80%)” (Göbbels, Willis, & Ward, 2014, p.

359 & 363). “Studies indicate, however, that increased stress and disruption of supportive networks increase the likelihood of recidivism… out of the 231 sample, many (n = 76) reported difficulty locating a residence that met restriction guidelines and some (n = 55) reported landlords refusing to rent to them because they are sexual offenders. Nearly half (n = 110) reported emotional difficulty and many (n = 73) also reported financial difficulties due to the restrictions.” (Page, Hill, & Gilbert, 2012, p. 117). “These policies are merely symbolic; at worst, they strain valuable social networks, hinder reintegration and may even exacerbate recidivism.

Because much of the impetus for these policies is the safety and protection of the sex offender’s local community… sex offenders’ reported feelings of stress and the need for secrecy. Further, indirect effects revealed that neighborhood support significantly reduced the effect of social ties by 56 % and neighborhood attachment by 65 %.” (Burchfield, & Mingus, 2014, p. 119). 3a. The Possible Causes: In no more than two sentences, identify the possible causes of the problem, and what discipline-specific theory or theories might explain these causes.

The current sex offender registration and notification (SORN) policies seem not to be achieving the needed level of effectiveness, in managing sex offender reintegration and reduce recidivism because they are focused on protecting the community and forgetting to address the issues that sex offenders might face in their reintegration process that would lead to stress and later re-offending (Ackerman, Sacks, & Osier, 2013). Lack of appropriate staff and routines to motivate and educate the ex-offenders during the stage when they are facing stigmatization and discrimination, increases their chances of reoffending (Lasher, & McGrath, 2012; Link, & Phelan, 2013). 3b. Support: Provide direct quotes (in quotation marks with page numbers) from at least three recent peer-reviewed sources that show support for all claims and paraphrases made above.

These quotes should come from the unique conclusions of your sources. “Policymakers would do well to create evidence-based policies that reduce recidivism and use of law enforcement resources. Unfortunately, with regard to SORN we may not be doing either” (Ackerman, Sacks, & Osier, 2013, p. 42). “Effective community reintegration is an important factor in reducing recidivism” (Willis, Malinen, & Johnston, 2013 p. 230). “Labeling theory posits that stigmatizing labels result in devaluation and discrimination and negatively shapes behavior, which may undermine individuals’ motivation to change and engage in treatment” (Lasher, & McGrath, 2012, p. 22). “Conceived in this way, stigma is a source of power that helps the ‘stigmatizer’ control the stigmatized person and thereby keep them down, in, or away” (Link, & Phelan, 2013, p. 535).4a.

The Urgency. In no more than two sentences, discuss how at least three current, peer-reviewed studies recommend the need for further research about the problem described in 1a. Future research needs to examine the issues registered sex offenders face when looking for housing especially in areas with housing restrictions and how they overcome these problems to find housing (Socia, & Stamatel, 2011). In particular, future research needs examine how dynamic factors affect sex offender reintegration, for example the link between housing and employment to sex offenders’ (Lussier & Gress, 2014) and their link to recidivism or breach of their supervisory conditions because absconding may be more strongly associated with general criminality than sexual deviance (Levenson, Ackerman, & Harris, 2013). 4b. Support: Provide direct quotes (in quotation marks with page numbers) from at least three recent peer-reviewed sources that show support for all claims and paraphrases made above.

These quotes should come from the unique conclusions of your sources. “future study could examine how registered sex offenders found acceptable housing in areas with residence restrictions and whether this knowledge came from housing approvals and denials, or instead, from other RSOs who were more familiar with the local restrictions” (Socia, & Stamatel, 2011). “The fact that offenders at-risk of sexual violence were more likely to breach their supervisory conditions and reoffend during the community re-entry period suggests that perhaps, factors specific to them might have played a role.

Future studies should explore these dynamic factors…” (Lussier & Gress, 2014, p. 121).  “Future studies should explore the dynamic factors of these two groups of individuals [sex offenders] child molesters and offenders at-risk of sexual violence and whether upon re-entry divergent factors are more likely to be (sic) de-stabilize and favor a breach of conditions and/or recidivism” (Lussier & Gress, 2014, 121)Future studies should certainly attempt to analyze these factors [recidivism], given the strong indications that both FTR and absconding may be more strongly associated with general criminality than sexual deviance (Levenson, Ackerman, & Harris, 2013, p. 144) ReferencesAckerman, A. R., Sacks, M.

, & Osier, L. N. (2013). The experiences of registered sex offenders with internet offender registries in three states. Journal of Offender Rehabilitation, 52(1), 29-45.Burchfield, K. B. (2012). Assessing community residents’ perceptions of local registered sex offenders: Results from a pilot survey. Deviant Behavior, 33(4), 241-259.Burchfield, K. B., & Mingus, W. (2014). Sex offender reintegration: Consequences of the local neighborhood context. American Journal of Criminal Justice, 39(1), 109-124.

Göbbels, S., Willis, G. M., & Ward, T. (2014). Current re-entry practices in sex offender treatment programmes: desistance facilitating or hindering?. Journal of sexual aggression, 20(3), 354-366.Harris, A. J., Walfield, S. M., Shields, R. T., & Letourneau, E. J. (2015). Collateral Consequences of Juvenile Sex Offender Registration and Notification Results From a Survey of Treatment Providers. Sexual abuse: a journal of research and treatment, 1-22.Lasher, M. P., & McGrath, R. J. (2012).

The impact of community notification on sex offender reintegration a quantitative review of the research literature.International Journal of Offender Therapy and Comparative Criminology, 56(1), 6-28.Levenson, J., Ackerman, A., & Harris, A. (2013). Catch Me If You Can: An Analysis of Fugitive Sex Offenders. Sexual Abuse: A Journal of Research and Treatment 26(2) 129–148.Levenson, J., Ackerman, A. R., Socia, K. M., & Harris, A. J. (2013). Where for art thou? Transient sex offenders and residence restrictions.

 Criminal Justice Policy Review, 26(4) 319–344.Link, B. G., & Phelan, J. C. (2013). Labeling and stigma. In Handbook of the sociology of mental health (pp. 525-541). Springer Netherlands pp. 525-541.Lussier, P., & Gress, C. L. (2014). Community re-entry and the path toward desistance: A quasi- experimental longitudinal study of dynamic factors and community risk management of adult sex offenders. Journal of Criminal Justice, 42(2), 111-122.Meloy, M., Boatwright, J., & Curtis, K. (2013).

Views from the top and bottom: Lawmakers and practitioners discuss sex offender laws. American Journal of Criminal Justice, 38(4), 616-638.Page, A. D., Hill, J. S., & Gilbert, G. (2012). False security: North Carolina sexual offenders perceptions of residence restrictions. Journal of forensic social work, 2(2-3), 108-121.Schultz, C. (2014). The Stigmatization of Individuals Convicted of Sex Offenses: Labeling Theory and The Sex Offense Registry. Themis: Research Journal of Justice Studies and Forensic Science, 2(1), 63-81Socia, K. M., & Stamatel, J. P. (2011).

Neighborhood characteristics and the social control of registered sex offenders. Criminal Justice Policy Review 24(4) 441–472.Tewksbury, R., Connor, D. P., Cheeseman, K., & Rivera, B. L. (2012). Female sex offenders’ anticipations for re-entry: Do they really know what they’re in for?. Journal of Crime and Justice, 35(3), 451-463.