Milestone One

CJ 675 Milestone O ne Guidelines and Rubric

Overview: For this milestone, you will prepare a draft of your final project that thoroughly addresses the items listed in the prompt. To complete this assignment, you must complete the textbook reading assigned in Module Five and review the materials presented in Modules One through Five.

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.

III. Literature Review: In this section, present all of the evidence that you have analyzed (including the provided data and your independent research) and that will support your proposed solution.

A. Data Analysis: Using the provided data, determine any patterns and trends that are present. What meaning and significance can you glean from the data?

B. Research: Present research on the issue that builds on the patterns and trends you identified in the data. For example, are there prior solutions that similar organizations have implemented in addressing this type of issue? What meaning and significance can you glean from your research?

C. Root Causes: Based on your data analysis and independent research, explain what you believe to be the root causes of the issue. Logically justify your conclusion using the evidence.

IV. References: In this section, cite all of your sources using APA formatting.

Guidelines for Submission: Your draft must be a submitted as a 4- to 5-page Microsoft Word document with double spacing, 12-point Times New Roman font, one-inch margins, and sources cited in APA format.

Critical Elements Exemplary (100%) Proficient (90%) Needs Improvement (70%) Not Evident (0%) Value

Introduction Meets “Proficient” criteria and introduction expertly balances detail with the need for concise, clear communication

Establishes a detailed context that provides all background information that is necessary for understanding the proposal

Discusses some background information, but fails to fully establish a detailed context for the proposal

Does not discuss background information

10

Theory and Methods: Criminology Theories

Meets “Proficient” criteria and discussion reflects keen insight into the strategic methods used by leaders in the criminal justice field

Identifies and draws connections between relevant criminological theories and the specific context in order to support the proposal

Discusses criminological theory, but fails to select relevant theories or connect them to the specific context for supporting the proposal

Does not discuss criminological theories

10

Theory and Methods: Strategic Methods

Meets “Proficient” criteria and examination reflects keen insight into the strategic methods used by leaders in the criminal justice field

Examines strategic methods that apply to the specific problem and highlights those that are considered best practice to support the proposal

Discusses strategic methods but fails to draw connections to the specific problem, or selects methods that would not be considered best practice

Discusses strategic methods but fails to draw connections to the specific problem, or selects methods that would not be considered best practice

10

Theory and Methods: Best Practices in Communication

Meets “Proficient” criteria and illustration reflects keen insight into the strategic methods used by leaders in the criminal justice field

Identifies and illustrates best practices in the field for communicating with diverse audiences

Discusses practices for communicating with diverse audiences but does not identify best practices, or does not fully illustrate those practices

Does not discuss practices for communicating with diverse audiences

15

Literature Review: Data Analysis

Meets “Proficient” criteria and analysis reflects sophisticated ability to interpret and translate raw data into meaningful information

Determines accurate and meaningful patterns and trends in the data and explains their significance in detail

Discusses the patterns and trends in the data, but makes misguided interpretations or fails to explain the significance in detail

Does not discuss the patterns and trends in the data

15

Literature Review: Research

Meets “Proficient” criteria and selection and application of sources reflects advanced research skills for the criminal justice field

Presents relevant, credible research that supports the proposal and builds on the information gleaned from the data

Presents research, but selected sources have issues of credibility or relevance or are not properly used to build on the data analysis and support the proposal

Does not discuss research into the problem in question

15

Literature Review: Root Causes

Meets “Proficient” criteria and conclusion reflects sophisticated ability to interpret and translate raw data into meaningful information

Presents a logical conclusion about the root causes of the problem based on the data analysis and research

Presents a conclusion, but there are gaps in logic or it is not fully supported by the data or research

Does not present a conclusion about the root causes of the problem in question

15

References Meets “Proficient” criteria and selection of source material reflects advanced research skills for the criminal justice field

Includes a complete bibliography of all references used, which are all relevant and credible, and follows APA formatting

Includes a bibliography, but it is incomplete, contains irrelevant or non-credible sources, or does not fully follow APA formatting

Does not include a bibliography 5

Articulation of Response

Submission is free of errors related to citations, grammar, spelling, syntax, and organization and is presented in a professional and easy to read format

Submission has no major errors related to citations, grammar, spelling, syntax, or organization

Submission has major errors related to citations, grammar, spelling, syntax, or organization that negatively impact readability and articulation of main ideas

Submission has critical errors related to citations, grammar, spelling, syntax, or organization that prevent understanding of ideas

5

Total 100%