09 Nov Criminal Justice
While law enforcement officers do not like to think of themselves as being at the “beck and call” of citizens, that is the operational basis of much police work. All police departments practice incident-driven policing in which calls for service are the primary instigators of action. There are many strategies being used by police departments today, in conjunction with this incident-driven policing, to reduce and prevent crime.
Consider the first three steps of the Criminal Justice Decision Making Model, and think about the questions associated with each as you prepare to write your paper:
Step One: Define the problem (and the questions that need to be answered). Read the information on “Police Strategies: What Works.” What are some of the key police strategies, and how do they contribute to the criminal justice system?
Step Two: Gather evidence (law, policy, procedure, data) and evaluate for relevancy. What stories can you find in the media on the use or lack of use of strategies (especially successful ones) in policing?
Step Three: Weigh moral considerations and direct/indirect consequences: Did any of the media accounts shed light on which strategies are working for police and which ones aren’t, and, if so, what were those?
Following Steps Four and Five of the Criminal Justice Decision Making Model, write a three-page essay in which you discuss policing strategies and which ones are effective for a specific type of crime or criminal behavior and which ones are not as effective. As you write your essay, focus on coherence and organization, making sure your use of transitional expressions and sentences is correct. Also, pay close attention to your essay structure; it should have an introduction, a body, and a conclusion. Cite your sources in APA format to support your points.
Step Four: Write your proposal, using the above material.
Step Five: Balance your position by addressing alternatives and potential pitfalls.
Your paper should be a minimum of three pages, standard format, double spaced. This is a 30 point assignment: your assessment should be thorough, your analysis should be thoughtful and detailed, your conclusions and proposals should be well formulated and evidence-based; and your report should be well-articulated and college quality, including spelling and grammar and structure.
