NOTE: INCORPORATE ZERO TOLERANCE POLICY WHEN ADDRESSING THIS ISSUE: INCLUDE PAGE NUMBERS WHEN CITING SCHOLARLY ARTICLES AND THE BOOK

Public Policy Paper & Presentation:
You are expected to write a 12-15 page policy position paper (not including cover page, illustrations,
appendices and references) that addresses a criminal justice policy in the United States of America. You
are expected to choose a position, make relevant recommendations and offer a critical argument with
respect to your chosen policy topic. For this assignment, you must recognize that public policy is a
decision or action of government that addresses problems and issues. In order for a policy to be
considered public policy, it is widely accepted that it must to some degree have been generated or a least processed within the framework of governmental procedures, influences and organizations.
Public policies are funded through public resources and backed up by the legal system. The threat of
sanctions (e.g., financial penalties, loss of liberty, and possible loss of life) through the policy itself, or
failing to comply with the policy, are defining characteristics of criminal justice policy. The focus of
your public policy position topic must align with the focus of your theory and research methods
papers. In general, the public policy paper must demonstrate an ability to effectively formulate an
argument and provide logical and empirical evidence backing that argument.