Addressing Problems Related to Incarceration – The Family Reconnect Program

Discuss the significance of a single challenge or issue
 Provide a detailed discussion of a realistic resolution to the issue addressing both problems and prospects associated with it
 Explain how the recommendations will be implemented including the process of implementation
 Identify legal limitations or authority to enact the recommendation including those that might prevent or delay implementation
 Address the financial capabilities of the organization including how the recommendation will be funded, identifying alternate funding sources if beyond current budgetary constraints
 Examine the political reality and possible ramifications, both positive and negative, of the recommended resolution
 Minimum of three academic, scholarly resources
 Specific personnel, interpersonal issues, budget constraints and problems associated with outdated equipment are not suitable subjectsThere are five critical components to the paper, each of which should be clearly denoted with a boldfaced sub-header. First, begin the paper with an Introduction that provides a background and significance of the challenge. When discussing the significance of the challenge in particular, students should describe the extent to which the host site’s challenge is local in scope, or is evidenced in agencies elsewhere – either statewide or nationally. Be sure to draw upon local host site statistics – to the extent that they are available or allowable – to illustrate the nature and extent to which the challenge is evidenced or problematic. If the challenge occurs statewide or nationally, then present
statistics that are appropriate at those levels. Please do not provide an informal account of the discovery and description of the challenge (i.e., One day I was talking with my supervisor and . . . ).
Do not introduce your challenge in this manner. Instead, write a formal introduction where you takethe challenge and demonstrate how it is evidenced within the broader professional and scholarly literatures. Following the description of the challenge’s background and significance, a thesis statement is appropriate, detailing in a paragraph the multiple components of the assignment listed in the order that they will be discussed. Next, the writer should transition into the body of the paper by addressing the first component, followed by each component in the order shown in the thesis statement.
The second component of this assignment is the Literature Review. Key to this review is a critical analysis and synthesis of the evidence pertaining to the challenge selected. When discussing the literature, the student should look for evidence that explains why the challenge exists or persists and describes the role of stakeholders (e.g., offenders, victims, host site personnel, the public, etc.) affected by it. Additionally, if the challenge within your host site differs from other similarly situated organizations, then be sure to compare and contrast key features and discuss how they may lead to unique or different opportunities for change. Finally, clearly explain the applicability and state the significance of the literature, indicating how it has impacted and expanded knowledge of the possible resolutions to the challenge that the student has selected. In doing so, discuss prior steps to resolve the challenge and explain why those resolutions failed to work, were limited in scope, or were ineffective. Students must avail themselves of the academic literature, clearly identifying, in APA format, no less than three sources and relating them, either to support or to oppose, the resolution proposed in the paper. Use original sources from the literature (i.e., empirical, refereed journal articles not textbooks The third component comprises the Proposed Resolution and Its Implementation. Here, the student is expected to describe in great detail the proposed resolution and its intended goal (i.e., What do you expect to accomplish?). This is the “heart” of the paper. The student must provide the specifics to the resolution. For example, if a student was proposing new police training for a department’s deadly force policy, the student would need to detail all aspects of the training process, time requirements, and specific content of the course. If a student was interested in developing new ways of effectively disseminating information to victims of violent crime about victim’s compensation, then the student would need to choose a method and design it (e.g., a victims’ compensation brochure). These are just a couple of examples. Then, the student would need to describe in detail how the resolution would be implemented to meet the goal (i.e., What steps will be taken the put the idea into action?). The next component of the assignment requires the student to identify the Problems and Prospects of Implementation. In this section, the student would need to discuss the strengths and weaknesses of the resolution proposed, identify criminal justice policy implications, and provide policy recommendations that are both informed and supported by the scholarly literature in this area. It may help to conceptualize the arguments by viewing the requirement to discuss the strengths and weaknesses of the resolution proposed as a pro/con (or prospects and problems) exercise. With this approach, it is recommended to identify all relevant stakeholders (e.g., criminals, victims, public, police, courts, etc.) and discuss their “pro” or “con” arguments. Make arguments based on what you
Revised: Wednesday, January 08, 2020 have read of the empirical literature. Note the requirement that this entire discussion must be “both informed and supported by the scholarly literature.” With regard to the pro/con discussion, your writing will be clearer and more persuasive if you select one side (pro/for or con/against) and presentall of the arguments on that side before presenting arguments on the opposing sides. In other words,
Use This Format:
Supporting Arguments & policy Implications
1. >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
2. >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
3. >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Opposing Arguments& policy Implications
1. <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
2. <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
3. <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
Do Not Use This Format
Supporting arguments & policy Implications Opposing arguments & policy Implications
1. >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> 1. <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
2. >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> 2. <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
3. >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> 3. <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
When discussing the policy implications, be sure to discuss them in light of the existing legal, financial and political realities or obstacles. While a great resolution may be proposed, the student must be able to identify these concerns and limitations and attempt to address them. As a summary, provide a list of recommendations that would outline the key elements of your proposed resolution. Finally, end your paper with a Conclusion section. Here, the student should provide a brief summary of how the resolution would address the challenge, along with its broader impact on the criminaljustice field in general and similarly situated agencies in specific.