This user-friendly guide to effective writing for the justice system teaches readers to write cogently and accurately across the spectrum of criminal justice-related disciplines. With an examination of common writing problems that interfere with good reporting and documentation, the book's content underscores the importance of skilled written communication as a cornerstone of competent practice within criminology. It provides examples of strong writing that demonstrate communication of cultural competency and help students develop critical thinking/writing skills. Of outstanding value are numerous examples of real-world writing alongside discussion questions and explanations, enabling students to think critically and truly understand what constitutes good writing. Actual forms and records used in practice are included along with real-world writing examples drawn from all areas of practice: police, corrections, probation and parole services, social work, miscellaneous court documents, and victim advocate services requiring all kinds of writing, including case notes, incident reports, op-ed essays, press releases, grant applications, and more. A robust Glossary of Writing and Writing Errors concludes the book Critical Thinking ChecklistConclusion; References; Chapter 3: Cultural Competency for the Justice Professional; Race and Culture; Class, Culture, and Ethnicity; Cultural Competence and the Brain; Conclusion; References; Part II: Professional Applications; Chapter 4: Professional Writing for Law Enforcement; Explanation; Conclusion; Reference; Field Documents; Chapter 5: Professional Writing for the Courts; Writing Reports for the Courts; Explanation of Corrections; Conclusion; Field Documents; Chapter 6: Professional Writing for Corrections Officers; Conclusion; References; Field Documents Chapter 7: Professional Writing for Probation and ParoleFirst Stage: Notes; Second Stage: Moving From an Outline to a Report; Stage Three: Drafting the Final Report; Final Review of the Narrative; Conclusion; Reference; Field Documents; Chapter 8: Grant Writing for the Justice Professional; Logic Modeling; Grant Application: Small Religious or Family Foundations; Conclusion; Reference; Chapter 9: Summary: Writing With the Mind and Body; Critical Thinking and Professional Responsibility; Critical Thinking as a Habit of Mind; Conclusion; References; Part III: Fundamentals of Effective Writing Chapter 10: Fundamentals of Effective WritingSentences; Correct and Incorrect Word Usage; The Writer's Judgment; Resources; Reference; Chapter 11: Glossary of Writing and Writing Errors; Categories of Common Writing Errors; Basic Components of Sentences: Subject, Verb, and Predicate; Punctuation; Confusing Words: Homophones, Almost Homophones, and Other Confusing Sets of Words; Organization of Information; Resources; References; Index
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