Case Study: Fighting Crime – The Case for Emptier Prisons

Aaccess case here: https://learn-us-east-1-prod-fleet01-xythos.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/5c2960be25208/2974006?response-content-disposition=inline%3B%20filename%2A%3DUTF-8%27%27Standard%25202%2520Case%2520Study%2520-%2520Fighting%2520Crime%2520The%2520Case%2520of%2520Emptier%2520Prisons%25281%2529.pdf&response-content-type=application%2Fpdf&X-Amz-Algorithm=AWS4-HMAC-SHA256&X-Amz-Date=20190527T052041Z&X-Amz-SignedHeaders=host&X-Amz-Expires=21600&X-Amz-Credential=AKIAIBGJ7RCS23L3LEJQ%2F20190527%2Fus-east-1%2Fs3%2Faws4_request&X-Amz-Signature=173e5f5a86f58b453d41c429395421b944e5bfdc352b20bcf8552de0396d13c9 In this leadership problem-solving situation, you will play the role of a policy analyst charged with analyzing the crime and prison overcrowding issue and developing viable policy alternatives to address the problem. The first step in policy analysis is to define and analyze the problem. Analysts need to describe a set of conditions, usually through the collection of facts or data on its magnitude or extent. Beyond gathering basic information about the problem, policy analysts often address policy problems by focusing on either the root causes or the proximate causes of a problem. While focusing on the root causes of a policy problem might require more time and effort, it is sometimes believed that addressing root causes will yield a stronger and longer-lasting solution. On the other hand, addressing proximate causes, or immediate causes, requires far less time and effort and can quickly ameliorate a pressing problem, but using this approach can also yield only short-term solutions that act only as superficial treatments of the “symptoms.” Your task is to read the case study and answer the following questions: Executive Summary: A one page executive summary of your response to the case questions Problem Definition and Significance: Provide a brief description of the crime, drug, and prison overcrowding problems. What are the actual problems? Are the problems root or proximate or both? Explain. Who are the major stakeholders associated with the problem? Assess the scope and severity of the problem (i.e., how wide and deep is the problem; how many people does it affect; how is it affecting governance structures, etc.) Explain why the problem is important that it requires government attention and cannot be left solely to civil society, including private and non-profit organizations, to address. Policy Alternatives: Identify and state TWO policy goals for trying to solve or at least manage the problem. Outline and discuss the merits of TWO viable policy alternatives with the potential of addressing the public problem. Demonstrate how each alternative attempts to meet or at least address the specific goals listed above. Forecast the intended (and potential unintended) consequences of adopting each alternative. Assess the strengths/weaknesses of each alternative using several evaluative criteria such as effectiveness, efficiency (cost/benefit analysis), political and administrative feasibility, and ethical and social acceptability. Conclusion and Recommendation: Describe the preferred policy alternative. (Why did you choose this alternative? How is it better than the other alternative you examined? In other words, what are the benefits? What method did you use to determine this? Explain.) References: Students will support their observations and recommendations with 10 to 15 appropriate references from the sources listed below. The preferred citation format is APA but other established styles are permitted (MLA, Turabian, Chicago, etc.). Academic books (including student text books in prior coursework) Peer-reviewed journal articles Government documents Policy institute (Heritage, Brookings, etc.) documents/studies Practitioner press articles, professional association studies, newspaper articles, reports, documents In assessing your response, we will assess your ability to effectively integrate and address the two participate in and contribute to the policy process objectives and your adherence to the leadership problem solving memorandum guidelines. Generic MPA Program Competency Program Mission Specific Competency Definition (PMSC) Student Learning Objective (SLO) 1. Participate in and contribute to the policy process Develop the knowledge, skills and abilities to effectively influence the policy process in a moral and ethical fashion. SL06: Understand and apply the principles and practices of formulating, implementing and evaluating public policies SL07: Understand, apply, analyze and evaluate policy alternatives from a diverse stakeholder perspective integrating teleological, deontological, and character virtue reasoning