Guide For Preparing Manuscripts For Criminology & Public Policy

Download a pdf of the style sheet.

EDITORIAL POLICY

Criminology & Public Policy is a peer reviewed journal devoted to the study of criminal justice policy and practice. The central objective of the journal is to strengthen the role of research findings in the formulation of crime and justice policy by publishing empirically based, policy-focused articles. Authors are encouraged to submit papers that contribute to a more informed dialogue about policies and their empirical bases. Papers suitable for CPP not only present their findings, but also explore the policy relevant implications of those findings. Appropriate papers (1) empirically evaluate criminal justice policy or practice, (2) provide scientific support for new policies or practices, or (3) review existing research from a policy framework.

The policy focus of the journal requires articles with a slightly different emphasis than is found in traditional peer reviewed academic journals. Most scholarly journals look for papers that have comprehensive literature reviews, provide detailed descriptions of methodology, and draw implications for future research. Criminology & Public Policy seeks papers that offer literature reviews more targeted to the problem at hand, provide efficient data descriptions, and include a more lengthy discussion of the implications for policy and/or practice. The preferred paper describes the policy/practice at issue, the significance of the problem being investigated, and the associated policy relevant implications. This introduction is followed by a description and critique of pertinent previous research specific to the question at hand. The methodology is briefly described, referring the reader to other sources if available. The presentation of the results includes only those tables and graphs necessary to make central points (additional descriptive statistics and equations are provided in appendices). The paper concludes with a full discussion of how the study either provides or fails to provide empirical support for current or new policies or practices. The journal is interdisciplinary, devoted to the study of crime, deviant behavior, and related phenomena, as found in the social and behavioral sciences and in the fields of law, criminal justice, and history. The major emphases are theory, research, historical issues, policy evaluation, and current controversies concerning crime, law, and justice.

MANUSCRIPTS

Manuscripts may be submitted electronically to cpp@fsu.edu. The manuscript should be submitted in one Word or Word Perfect file with tables and figures in the same document as the manuscript text. Additional documents, including cover letters or memos to the editor, may also be emailed as supplemental files. Although we strongly encourage e-mail submission, those who prefer to, may send a CD to Shanna Van Slyke, Managing Editor, Florida State University, Center for Criminology & Public Policy Research, 325 John Knox Road Building L-102, Tallahassee, FL 32303.

A two-section abstract of approximately 150 words (see example) and a brief biographical paragraph describing each author’s current affiliation, research interests, and recent publications, should accompany the manuscript. A $10 submission fee, made payable to the American Society of Criminology, is also required. Papers accepted for publication should comply with American Psychological Association guidelines concerning nonsexist language. The American Society of Criminology regards submission of a manuscript to this journal as a commitment to publish herein; simultaneous submission to another journal is unacceptable. Every effort will be made to notify authors of editorial decisions within three months of manuscript receipt.

In preparing the final draft of your manuscript, please note the following:

1. HEADINGS AND SUBHEADINGS:

Our style provides for four levels of headings. Leave extra space in the double-spaced draft before all levels of headings. The four heading levels are:

MAJOR HEADING LEVEL “A”

MAJOR HEADING LEVEL “B”
Subheading Level “C”
Subheading Level “D” (text follows a period on the same line)

“A” is centered, all capital letters, and boldface. “B” is flush left and all capital letters. “C” is flush left on a separate line, capital letters for all important words. “D” Begins at paragraph indentation, capital letters for all important words, and is in italics.

2. TABLES AND FIGURES

In a draft manuscript, which will undoubtedly undergo revision, it is most efficient to place all tables, even small ones, on separate pages at the end of each manuscript. Tables should be numbered consecutively throughout the article. Insert a location note at the appropriate place in the text, e.g. “Table 2 about here.”

The title of the table is flush left at the top of the page. “Table” is followed by a space, the table number, and a period. This is followed by two spaces and then the title of the table, with initial capital letters for all important words, and no period.

Each table should have only two full horizontal rules (underscores):
(1) The table title is followed by a full-length rule and (2) the body of the table is followed by a second full-length rule. Set the first column heading and column flush left; other headings and columns can be arranged in whatever format best presents the data, so long as all data within a column are aligned with the heading and with other data in the column.

Consult a recent issue of Criminology & Public Policy for style and placement of general notes to the table, specific footnotes, and the source.

Put every figure, even small ones, on a separate page at the end of the paper. Be sure the text refers to all figures, including photographs, line drawings, and graphs, and insert a location note at the appropriate place in the text. “Figure” followed by a space and the figure number is centered at the top of the page. The title of the figure also is centered on the next line with initial capital letters for all important words.

Figures submitted with the final draft must be of professional quality and ready for reproduction.

Equations must be typed. Expressions should be aligned and compound subscripts and superscripts clearly marked if there is any potential for confusion. Indicate boldface characters by drawing a wavy line under them; a single underline indicates italics to the printer. Clarify all symbols with notes in the margin of the manuscript.

3. CITATIONS AND REFERENCES

We use an author-date citation style, with complete bibliographic entries appearing in a reference list at the end of the paper. In text, all source references (including subsequent citations of the same source) are to be identified at the appropriate point in the text by the last name of the author, year of publication, and (where needed) pagination. Examples:

• If the author’s name is in the text, follow it with the year in parentheses: Thrasher (1927)
• If the author’s name is not in the text, insert the last name and year in parentheses (Gibbs, 1981)
• Pagination follows year of publication after a colon: (Kornhauser, 1978:73)
• Give both last names for dual authors. When there are three or more authors, use the first author’s name and et al. (Johnson et al., 1985:3-4)
• Separate a series of references with semicolons and enclose them in alphabetic order within a single pair of parentheses: (Miller, 1958; Sellin, 1938; Sutherland and Cressey, 1955; Sutherland, 1956)
• For unpublished materials, use “in press” for material that is scheduled for publication; use “unpublished” otherwise.

The reference appendix, headed by the word “REFERENCES,” follows the last page of text. Facts of publication for each item must be complete. For multiple authorship, only the name of the first author is inverted. List the first and last names of all authors—do not use “et al.” in the appendix.

List all items alphabetically by author(s). If there are two or more items by the same author(s), list them in order of the year of publication. If there are two or more items by the same author(s) within the same year, distinguish them by adding (in order of first text mention) the letters a, b, … order. The date goes below the author(s) name and is indented three spaces.

Type the references double-spaced. A few examples follow, but consult recent issues of Criminology & Public Policy for further examples.

Books

Fox, James A.

   1978      Forecasting Crime Data.  Toronto:  Lexington.


Rusche, George and Otto Kircheimer
   
   1939      Punishment and Social Structure.  New York:  Russell and 
                 
                 Russell.

U.S. Department of Justice

   1980      Sourcebook of Criminal Justice Statistics--1984. Washington, D. C.: National 

                 Criminal Justice Information and Statistics Service.



Periodicals

Messner, Steven F.

   1982a    Poverty, inequality, and the urban homicide rate: Some unexpected findings. 

                 Criminology 20:103-114.
   
   1982b    Societal development, social inequality, and homicide: A cross-national test of 

                 a Durkheimian model.  Social Forces 61:225-240.

Miethe, Terance D. and Charles A. Moore

   In Press   Racial differences in criminal processing: The consequences of model         

                  selection on conclusions about differential treatment. Sociological Quarterly 

                  27. 


Collections

Kobrin, Solomon

   1971       The formal logical properties of the Shaw-McKay delinquency theory. In 

                   Harwin L. Voss and David M. Peterson (eds.), Ecology, Crime and Delinquency. 

                   New York: Appleton-Century-Crofts.

4. NOTES AND FOOTNOTES

Because the citation-reference style for Criminology & Public Policy eliminates the use of notes or footnotes for bibliographic material, only substantive comments on the text should appear as notes. In a draft manuscript, place all substantive notes in a numbered list at the end of the paper.

5. AUTHOR BIO

When you submit your manuscript, please include an author biography (of less than 100 words) for each author, listing affiliations, research interests, and recent publications.

6. FORMAT

All material must be typed double-spaced or triple-spaced (including indented material, notes, tables, and references) on 8 1/2 x 11-inch paper.

Hyphenate only those words that appear in your dictionary as hyphenated words. Do not hyphenate at the ends of lines.

If you send a hard copy manuscript in addition to e-mailing the electronic file or mailing a CD, please send a very clean copy that has printing on only one side.

The abstract must be divided into two sections with the headings “Research Summary” and “Policy Implications.” See the sample below:

A Couples Analysis of Partner Abuse with Implications for Abuse-Prevention Policy
Terrie E. Moffitt, Richard W. Robins, and Avshalom Caspi

Abstract

Research Summary
We studied a representative sample of 360 young adult couples from a birth cohort. We found abuse was a dyadic process; both partners’ personal characteristics increased abuse risk, and both sexes participated in abuse, particularly in clinical abusive couples having injury and/or official agency intervention. Treating only men may not reduce risk completely for most young couples.

Policy Implications
If replicated, the findings would suggest policy encouraging development and evaluation of programs to reduce physical abuse by women. Prevention programs could aim to reduce abusive behavior by both sexes and promote victim safety among both sexes. Policies against treating women in abusive couples may act counter to prevention.