In this project, you will demonstrate your mastery of the following competencies:
Analyze existing research to identify a problem faced by criminal justice professionals
Evaluate the feasibility of potential solutions to a problem faced by criminal justice professionals
Recommend evidence-informed solutions to a problem faced by criminal justice professionals
Scenario
The U.S. Department of Justice states that funding obtained through a grant can be used in the following ways:
[T]o support law enforcement and public safety activities in state, local, and tribal jurisdictions; to assist victims of crime; to provide training and technical assistance; to conduct research; and to implement programs that improve the criminal, civil, and juvenile justice systems. (2020)
You are a criminal justice professional working in the field and have been asked by your supervisor to write several sections of a grant proposal. The purpose is to address a recent problem in your pillar of criminal justice (law enforcement, courts, or corrections). Specifically, you have been asked to provide background on the problem you identified, identify a contributing factor of that problem, and elaborate on the best solution for the contributing factor. Your research and the solution you offer will benefit your office and the public by influencing needed policy changes.
Directions
Grant Elements
To complete your sections of the grant, you need to choose and research a problem in criminal justice. Use the research questions you saved to your ePortfolio in Week 8 of each of your criminal justice program courses for ideas. The grant committee has assigned you to complete the pieces outlined below.
Statement of Need
Analyze existing research to identify a problem in criminal justice. Be sure to address each of the following:
Select and identify a problem related to the criminal justice field.
Identify factors contributing to the problem.
Choose one factor contributing to the identified problem for which you would like to propose a solution.
Analyze existing data provided by law enforcement, courts, or corrections related to a contributing factor of your identified problem. Be sure to address each of the following:
Explain the types of data needed to best analyze the contributing factor of the problem.
Collect data relevant to the contributing factor of the problem.
Analyze how the contributing factor of the problem affects the general public. Be sure to address each of the following:
Explain the types of data best suited to measuring the impact on the general public.
Explain how you would measure the impact on the general public.
Analyze how the the contributing factor of the chosen problem affects the criminal justice system. Be sure to address each of the following:
Identify which component of the criminal justice system (law enforcement, courts, or corrections) the contributing factor of the problem primarily affects.
Explain how the contributing factor of the problem affects the organizational structure, culture, and processes of that criminal justice component.
Explain how the contributing factor of the problem might impact other components of the criminal justice system.
Problem Statement
Craft a problem statement that addresses a specific factor of your identified problem.
Solution Definition and Evaluation
Analyze data and research to inform a potential solution to the identified factor of the problem. Be sure to address each of the following:
Describe a potential solution to address the identified factor of the problem.
Describe the methods you used to analyze data and research for the solution. Include how you chose these methods.
Explain how the datasets you selected serve to explain the reasons for the contributing factor of the problem.
Evaluate your potential solution’s benefits and drawbacks for internal stakeholders. Be sure to address each of the following:
Describe the criteria you used to evaluate benefits and drawbacks for your solution.
Explain how the benefits and drawbacks of the solution might reflect on your agency.
Explain how the benefits and drawbacks of the solution might impact the relevant component(s) of the criminal justice system:
Law enforcement
Courts
Corrections
Evaluate your potential solution’s benefits and drawbacks for external stakeholders. Be sure to address each of the following:
Describe the criteria you used to evaluate benefits and drawbacks for your solution.
Explain how the benefits and drawbacks of the solution might impact the community.
Explain how the benefits and drawbacks of the solution might impact the relevant component(s) of the criminal justice system:
Law enforcement
Courts
Corrections
Explain legal and regulatory considerations for your recommended solution. Be sure to address each of the following:
Identify which laws and regulations should be considered for your recommended solution.
Explain how you included case law and regulatory decisions in your recommended solution.
Explain ethical considerations in evaluating your recommended solution. Be sure to address each of the following:
Identify which ethics laws apply to your recommended solution.
Explain how you would incorporate ethical considerations into your recommended solution.
Recommended Solution
Justify how research and data support the recommended solution. Be sure to address each of the following:
Identify the types of evidence and data that support the recommended solution.
Explain how the data and evidence enhance the argument for the recommended solution.
Explain how your solution will be evaluated once implemented. Be sure to address the following:
Explain how you would measure the success of your solution and how you would include all stakeholders in this evaluation.
Presentation Considerations
Describe how you will communicate your recommended solution to internal stakeholders. Be sure to address the following:
Include how you would present the data and evidence in support of your solution to the relevant internal stakeholders and what communication strategy you would use.
Describe how you will communicate your recommended solution to external stakeholders. Be sure to address the following:
Include how you would present the data and evidence in support of your solution to the relevant external stakeholders and what communication strategy you would use.
