REFORM PAPER
Budget: $30 – $250 AUD
WORD COUNT 1600
Pretend you have been commissioned to provide expert advice on how best to reform sentencing or
correctional practices in Australia. Choose one specific aspect of sentencing or correctional practice
that requires improvement (this may be the same issue you chose for your literature review).
Write a 1600-word report outlining the issue and a number of reform recommendations, as follows:
• OVERVIEW (500-600 WORDS) - Identify and clearly outline the current problems in the
chosen area and describe exactly what requires reform. Also outline any challenges with
reforming this area (this may be informed by your lit review, but you cannot submit the
same content - it must be re-written)
• REFORMS (800-900 WORDS) - Then draw upon existing evidence, advise of how to reform
the chosen area – what can be changed and how? What would a different/new approach
look like? You may choose to present examples from other jurisdictions internationally and
explain their benefit and how they might work in Australia.
• RECOMMENDATIONS (150-200 WORDS) - After outlining how it can be reformed, provide
at least two clearly-worded ‘recommendations’ based on the evidence (examples of how to
write recommendations are provided on Moodle).
Format
The above headings may be used.
Or you may embed the recommendations (point 3) into the second section whilst presenting the
reform ideas. If doing so, please put the clearly- worded recommendations in bold e.g.
‘Recommendation 1: That the XYZ be replaced by …'
You might also consider using subheadings under the second section ‘Reforms’ to highlight a
number of different reform ideas (e.g. ‘Reform idea 1 … ‘).
References
The reform ideas must NOT be your own opinion – they must be grounded in research and
legitimate evidence. Utilise a minimum of 8 reputable sources to support your written piece.
Up to 3 of these can be ‘gray literature’ (e.g. government reports, legitimate websites).
The remaining 5 sources must be scholarly (e.g. peer-reviewed journal articles, academic
books/chapters)
Pretend you have been commissioned to provide expert advice on how best to reform sentencing or
correctional practices in Australia. Choose one specific aspect of sentencing or correctional practice
that requires improvement (this may be the same issue you chose for your literature review).
Write a 1600-word report outlining the issue and a number of reform recommendations, as follows:
• OVERVIEW (500-600 WORDS) - Identify and clearly outline the current problems in the
chosen area and describe exactly what requires reform. Also outline any challenges with
reforming this area (this may be informed by your lit review, but you cannot submit the
same content - it must be re-written)
• REFORMS (800-900 WORDS) - Then draw upon existing evidence, advise of how to reform
the chosen area – what can be changed and how? What would a different/new approach
look like? You may choose to present examples from other jurisdictions internationally and
explain their benefit and how they might work in Australia.
• RECOMMENDATIONS (150-200 WORDS) - After outlining how it can be reformed, provide
at least two clearly-worded ‘recommendations’ based on the evidence (examples of how to
write recommendations are provided on Moodle).
Format
The above headings may be used.
Or you may embed the recommendations (point 3) into the second section whilst presenting the
reform ideas. If doing so, please put the clearly- worded recommendations in bold e.g.
‘Recommendation 1: That the XYZ be replaced by …'
You might also consider using subheadings under the second section ‘Reforms’ to highlight a
number of different reform ideas (e.g. ‘Reform idea 1 … ‘).
References
The reform ideas must NOT be your own opinion – they must be grounded in research and
legitimate evidence. Utilise a minimum of 8 reputable sources to support your written piece.
Up to 3 of these can be ‘gray literature’ (e.g. government reports, legitimate websites).
The remaining 5 sources must be scholarly (e.g. peer-reviewed journal articles, academic
books/chapters)