Winning Resolution: RESOLVED: THAT THE UNITED STATES FEDERAL GOVERNMENT SHOULD SIGNIFICANTLY REFORM THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM.
(6 May): These were the final five resolutions:
- Resolved: That the United States federal government should significantly reform the criminal justice system.
- Resolved: That the United States should significantly reform its penal system.
- Resolved: That the United States federal government should implement a policy or program to substantially decrease the federal prison population.
- Resolved: That the United States federal government should significantly alter its federal prison system policy.
- Resolved: That the United States federal government should significantly change one or more policies regulating the conditions of prisoners during their period of incarceration.
The process of scoring was as follows: Each ballot submitted listed a school's "top three choices" in rank order - a rank of "first" earned 3 points for that topic, a rank of "second" produced 2 points for that topic, and a rank of "third" earned 1 point for that area.
- 28 points - Prison System (selected area)
- 27 points - Asia (will be automatically included in next year's selection process)
- 21 points - Trade
- 18 points - The War on Drugs
- 11 points - Nuclear Security (tie)
- 11 points - Middle East (tie)
- 10 points - Consumer Product Safety
These were the topic papers that were submitted as part of the 2004-2005 process:
- Consumer Product Safety (Jason Edgar & Bonnie Leiby, Missouri Southern)
- Nuclear Security (Jennifer Purcell, Western Kentucky University)
- Asia (Jennifer Purcell, Western Kentucky University)
- Trade (Jennifer Purcell, Western Kentucky University)
- Middle East (Doug Mory, Western Kentucky University)
- Prison Systems (WINNING TOPIC) (Prison Systems, Rob Layne, Central Michigan University)
- War on Drugs (Ed Hinck, Central Michigan and Richard Paine, North Central)