The role of a leader within a criminal justice organization

As a criminal justice leader, you will often be faced with making decisions that reflect not only on you but on your department as a whole. We often use tools like statistics and crime trends to offer the best possible route to finding a solution and ultimately making a decision. The field of criminal justice is constantly changing; new laws, policies, and procedures make situational, evidence-based decision making a complicated daily task. And it is nearly impossible to make an informed decision without first researching the issues at play and leveraging the power of available data to determine the right solution for each particular situation and organization.

You will assume the role of a leader within a criminal justice organization of your choice. Based on your chosen scenario, you will be presented with a specific challenge that is emblematic of wider issues in contemporary criminal justice. Prompt: Your task for Milestone One is to complete the Introduction, Theory and Methods, and Literature Review sections of your final project. You will be given information (including this data set) for your scenario, but you must also conduct your own research on comparable organizations and trends in the field to determine opportunities and external threats. The following critical elements must be specifically addressed: I. Introduction: In this section, establish a context that provides your audience with any background information that is necessary for understanding your proposal. II. Theory and Methods: In this section, explain the theoretical frameworks that underpin your analysis and proposed solution. A. Identify foundational criminology theories that apply to your chosen organization and the challenge it faces. Draw connections between the theories and your specific context that will ultimately support your analysis and your proposed solution. B. Examine the strategic methods used by leaders in the field for approaching problems such as yours. For example, what do the current best practices in the field suggest in terms of researching and investigating the issue? Highlight methods that support your proposal. C. Similarly, identify best practices in the field for communicating with diverse audiences. Illustrate these practices with specific examples that will ultimately support your communication plan.