Assignment:
POLICY ANALYSIS ASSIGNMENT - The final product will be a 7-page analysis assignment (approximately 1250 words) not including cover page and references and follow APA guidelines. You are to read and examine a homeland security policy of your choosing. This must be current policy, not a forthcoming policy.
The paper should be organized; each paragraph should flow logically into the next paragraph. Headings and sub-headings should be utilized. Appropriate terminology should be used; writing should be clear and concise. Appropriate font should be used (Times New Roman) font size (12-point font) and double-spaced. The paper should be written in a professional tone.
This assignment has two goals:
1. To give you the opportunity to explore a criminal justice-related issue, social problem, or social program of your choice.
2. To teach you how to use policy analysis (i.e. to guide you through a systematic policy analysis: a description and analysis of the issue; specification and evaluation of policy alternatives to deal with the problem; and an examination of the implementation issues involved with applying the policy solution to the problem).
Analysis. In this section, you are to evaluate, criticize, and synthesize the policy. This section should be four pages in length. The analysis tells the reader everything the writer will argue, just in summary. Do not write in the 1st person, and make sure you cite and provide a counterbalance to your arguments. The analysis should not be anecdotal but contain a position that has some logical or theoretical backing. You must include references and resource information to support your position.
Consider the following:
· Briefly describe the policy that you will analyze. Select a criminal justice policy at the state or federal level.
· How does it address a problem of concern to the criminal justice field? Focus on the problem that the policy aims to address, not on the actual policy. Please make sure to focus your discussion on what you see as the problem being addressed.
· An evaluation of the potential impact on the well-being of the target population.
· Do you see any strengths weaknesses or anything missing that should be addressed? If so, what?
· The concluding paragraphs should provide a summary of key points, it should connect to the introduction and should offer recommendations for policy changes/considerations
Suggested headings.
· Introduction/Policy
· Impact of the policy/Implications
· Strengths and Weaknesses
· Recommendations for policy changes
· Conclusion
The format of the assignment should include and meet all APA requirements:
1) Cover page;
2) Introduction (1/2 page);
3) Analysis (4 pages);
4) Conclusion (1/2 page);
5) Reference page.