iterature reviews help to provide boundaries of what is known about a particular field and serve to guide researchers in their quest to uncover the mysteries and nuances of a selected issue or problem. A well-developed review of literature is essential to a thorough, well-considered paper. Whether the writing is intended for a high-end scholarly journal or a student’s weekly assignment, the literature review pertains to uncovering the body of knowledge that previous researchers have generated. It is a savvy researcher who is able to take advantage of the existing base of knowledge in the creation of a new line of inquiry. A literature review should be conducted at the beginning of a research study.

Write a literature review for your preferred area of criminal justice study. To successfully complete this study, you must

• Identify a particular area of criminal justice.
• Define the area’s boundaries by explaining the methodologies and statistical techniques used.
• Describe the specific canon of literature found.
• Define the field in general.
• Critique the field, including areas requiring further examination.