Overview: For this assignment, you will submit your in-depth analysis of the contemporary criminal justice issue of Racial Profiling. This analysis will identify factors contributing to the issue by examining the criminological theories behind it. Specifically, what criminological theory forms your understanding of Racial Profiling? 

Indicate the impact of this issue on the criminal justice system. 

For example, how does the issue impact law enforcement, the courts, and corrections? 

Address the negative impacts of the issue on the criminal justice system, the general public, and specific populations. 

Then, identify the strategies to influence change. Be sure to cite any data you have analyzed so far, data which you will rely upon to provide recommendations to your criminal justice issue in both the Module Six Short Paper and your Milestone Three submission in Module Seven. 

Prompt: Specifically, the following critical elements must be addressed: 

II. Issue Analysis 

A. Select a criminological theory that informs your understanding of the issue, justifying yourselection. 

B. Identify factors contributing to the issue, justifying your identifications with the selected criminological theory. In other words, what are the factors contributing to the issue? How is the identification of these factors supported by the selected theory? 

C. Describe how the issue impacts the criminal justice system, providing specific examples of how the branches of the criminal justice system are affected by the issue. For example, how does the issue impact law enforcement, the courts, and corrections? 

D. Describe how the issue impacts the general public, providing specific examples. Does the issue affect specific populations? 

E. Determine the key stakeholders of the issue, identifying both the key people impacted by the issue, as well as those with the power to influence change. Justify your selections. 

F. Describe strategies that are currently employed to address the issue. These strategies may be used in the community with the issue, or in a different community with the same issue. 

G. Assess the effectiveness of the previously identified strategies in addressing the issue, justifying your assessment. How effectively do the strategies combat the issue, and where are there gaps? 

H. How does your previous assessment impact the specific branches of the criminal justice system? Justify your response. In which branches are the strategies most and least effective? 

Guidelines for Submission: Your submission should include reference to recent peer-reviewed articles, be at least 2 pages in length (in addition to title and reference pages) and should use double spacing, 12-point Times New Roman font, and one-inch margins. Use APA style to cite your sources within the text of your paper and on the reference page. Refer to the Criminal Justice Library Tips document for assistance in finding and citing outside sources. The Problem-Solving Strategies and Sample document demonstrates how a problem-solving strategy can be applied to help find a solution to a problem. 

CJ 500 Milestone Two Guidelines and Rubric

Overview: For this assignment, you will submit your in-depth analysis of the contemporary criminal justice issue that you have selected. This analysis will identify
factors contributing to the issue by examining the criminological theories behind it. Specifically, what criminological theory forms your understanding of the
issue? Indicate the impact of this issue on the criminal justice system. For example, how does the issue impact law enforcement, the courts, and corrections?
Address the negative impacts of the issue on the criminal justice system, the general public, and specific populations. Then, identify the strategies to influence
change. Be sure to cite any data you have analyzed so far, data which you will rely upon to provide recommendations to your criminal justice issue in both the
Module Six Short Paper and your Milestone Three submission in Module Seven.

Prompt: Specifically, the following critical elements must be addressed:

II. Issue Analysis
A. Select a criminological theory that informs your understanding of the issue, justifying your selection.
B. Identify factors contributing to the issue, justifying your identifications with the selected criminological theory. In other words, what are the

factors contributing to the issue? How is the identification of these factors supported by the selected theory?
C. Describe how the issue impacts the criminal justice system, providing specific examples of how the branches of the criminal justice system are

affected by the issue. For example, how does the issue impact law enforcement, the courts, and corrections?
D. Describe how the issue impacts the general public, providing specific examples. Does the issue affect specific populations?
E. Determine the key stakeholders of the issue, identifying both the key people impacted by the issue, as well as those with the power to influence

change. Justify your selections.
F. Describe strategies that are currently employed to address the issue. These strategies may be used in the community with the issue, or in a

different community with the same issue.
G. Assess the effectiveness of the previously identified strategies in addressing the issue, justifying your assessment. How effectively do the

strategies combat the issue, and where are there gaps?
H. How does your previous assessment impact the specific branches of the criminal justice system? Justify your response. In which branches are

the strategies most and least effective?

Guidelines for Submission: Your submission should include reference to recent peer-reviewed articles, be at least 2 pages in length (in addition to title and
reference pages) and should use double spacing, 12-point Times New Roman font, and one-inch margins. Use APA style to cite your sources within the text of
your paper and on the reference page.

Refer to the Criminal Justice Library Tips document for assistance in finding and citing outside sources. The Problem-Solving Strategies and Sample document
demonstrates how a problem-solving strategy can be applied to help find a solution to a problem.

Please note that the grading rubric for this milestone submission is not identical to that of the final project. The Final Project Rubric will include an additional
“Exemplary” category that provides guidance as to how you can go above and beyond “Proficient” in your final submission.

https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/560/01/

http://snhu-media.snhu.edu/files/course_repository/graduate/cj/cj500/cj500_criminal_justice_library_tips

http://snhu-media.snhu.edu/files/course_repository/graduate/cj/cj500/cj500_problem_solving_strategies_and_sample

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

Select Theory Selects a criminological theory that informs
the understanding of the issue, justifying
selection

Selects a criminological theory that informs
the understanding of the issue, but with
gaps in detail, accuracy, or justification

Does not select a criminological theory that
informs the understanding of the issue

11.5

Factors Contributing to
the Issue

Identifies factors contributing to the issue,
justifying identifications with the selected
criminological theory

Identifies factors contributing to the issue,
but with gaps in detail, logic, justification,
or appropriate application of criminological
theory

Does not identify factors contributing to
the issue

11.5

Criminal Justice System Describes how the issue impacts the
criminal justice system, providing specific
examples of how the branches of the
criminal justice system are affected

Describes how the issue impacts the
criminal justice system, but with gaps in
examples, detail, or accuracy

Does not describe how the issue impacts
the criminal justice system

11.5

General Public Describes how the issue impacts the
general public, providing specific examples

Describes how the issue impacts the
general public, but with gaps in examples,
detail, or accuracy

Does not describe how the issue impacts
the general public

11.5

Stakeholders Determines the key stakeholders of the
issue, identifying both the key people
impacted, as well as those with the power
to influence change, justifying selections

Determines the key stakeholders of the
issue, identifying both the key people
impacted, as well as those with the power
to influence change, but with gaps in
justification, detail, or logic

Does not determine the key stakeholders
of the issue

11.5

Strategies Describes strategies currently employed to
address the issue

Describes strategies currently employed to
address the issue, but with gaps in detail or
accuracy

Does not describe strategies currently
employed to address the issue

11.5

Effectiveness Assesses the effectiveness of identified
strategies in addressing the issue, justifying
assessment

Assesses the effectiveness of identified
strategies in addressing the issue, but with
gaps in justification or logic

Does not assess the effectiveness of
identified strategies in addressing the issue

11.5

Branches Explains how the previous assessment of
strategies impacts the specific branches of
the criminal justice system, justifying
response

Explains how the previous assessment of
strategies impacts the specific branches of
the criminal justice system, but with gaps
in justification or logic

Does not explain how the previous
assessment of strategies impacts the
specific branches of the criminal justice
system

11.5

Articulation of Response Submission has no major errors related to
citations, grammar, spelling, or syntax

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

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

8

Total 100%

CJ 500 Problem-Solving Strategies and Sample

Problem solving is used to address many disciplines, often with different strategies or perspectives. It is a
mental process in the area of criminology. Problems are often either well defined or ill defined. What
appropriate solutions can be determined is based on the definition of the problem. Ill-defined problems
do not have clear goals, solutions, or a path to a solution. Well-defined problems have specific goals and
a distinctive path to a solution. In selecting an issue, make sure that the issue or problem is well defined.
These problems also allow for more initial planning than ill-defined problems. The ability to comprehend
the problem and understanding the issue are paramount. This will be the key to solving your issue or
problem. Sometimes the problem requires some outside-the-box thinking to come up with a creative
and unique solution to the issue.

In determining whether an issue is well defined or ill defined, look to see whether significant research,
data, analysis, or published articles have been written on the topic. Consider the source of this research
when selecting your topic. If the issue appears in your textbook or has been covered in the modules, it
has been published and studied. Select your issue based upon the information that can be gathered,
paying mind to whether the issue is well defined. For example, the use of drug courts across the country
is an issue that has been addressed significantly over the past few years, both in research and in
publication. The use of drug courts is a fundamental shift from punishment to rehabilitation. This shift
has also sparked much controversy in the public. When researching this topic, students will find data
analysis, research, journal articles, and statistics on recidivism rates on drug offenders. This would be a
great example of a well-defined problem.

The following article is a great resource in understanding how problem solving has been incorporated
into the conventional court system: Breaking With Tradition: Introducing Problem Solving in
Conventional Courts.

Brainstorming Strategies

Brainstorming is a relaxed and informal approach to solving a problem. It requires you to think creatively
and outside the box. Brainstorming memorializes and crystallizes initial ideas into original or creative
solutions to the issue you are trying to solve. Brainstorming can also spark more ideas to the problem
you are attempting to solve. This can help implement a light-bulb moment when you are seeking a
solution to your problem, because during brainstorming there is no censorship of ideas. You are trying
to open up possibilities and break down wrong assumptions about the limits of the problem by thinking
outside the box. Ideas should only be evaluated at the end of the brainstorming session, after your
thoughts have been memorialized on paper, in order to tackle a more conventional approach. Review
the following steps in the problem-solving process as well as the problem-solving sample below.

Steps in the Problem-Solving Process

Define the Issue of the Well-Defined Problem

 What has led you to think of this issue as a problem? Understand the problem and how it came
to be; this is a huge first step. It is needed before moving on to other steps.

 What has the problem done to cause it to need to be addressed and fixed?

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 Who are the stakeholders that will solve this problem? Assemble the stakeholders and begin the
next phase.

Brainstorm the Solutions

 Do not discard ideas at this point. Every idea may have usable information contained
somewhere within it.

 When it comes time to select a solution, you may need to use bits and pieces of other
suggestions in order to come up with a viable one.

 What are some possible solutions? When soliciting solutions, ask yourself these questions: How
will this help solve the solution? Will this have any adverse effects if executed? Could this
solution create other problems if executed?

Select a Solution

 This step may be repeated several times, requiring you to analyze the execution of the solution
and modify it along the way. Each time you modify the solution, always go back to the beginning
and work it through the process again from beginning to end. Each time you modify the
solution, you change the path of it. Analyze it completely through each time, to ensure you are
ending up at the point you need to be at in order to solve the problem.

 Is this solution the best one?

 Is this the most efficient way to solve this problem?

Implement the Solution (Both Immediate and Long-Term Actions)

 Where does the solution need to begin in the chain of events?

 How does the solution need to be executed?

 Does the solution require explanation, or a foundation of explanation, in order for it to take off?
Who is going to implement the solution, and where this occur?

 Is there a chance the solution will be misunderstood and create another problem?

Gather Feedback

 What is needed to accurately assess success of the solution?

 Is the problem solved? Who should you seek feedback from? What should you ask in order to
solicit the correct answer?

 What type of surveys or information can be gathered to assess whether your solution has been
successful? Consider the use of gathering statistics. Review, for example, the Key Statistics page
on the Bureau of Justice Statistics website. Also view the Crime Statistics page on the Federal
Bureau of Investigation website.

Problem-Solving Sample

Defining the Issue
At a certain bus stop in Anytown, USA, between the hours of 4:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m., there are many
people congregating at the bus stop. The sidewalk pedestrian traffic is blocked, causing people on the
sidewalk to walk around the people waiting for the buses. They walk in the street to go around them.
Vehicle traffic slows to a crawl, backing up for miles. People’s safety is jeopardized when this happens.
So what is the issue? Is the bus stop too small for the number of people riding? Is it that the businesses
in the area are letting their employees off work at the same time? Depending on how you look at this,

http://www.bjs.gov/index.cfm?ty=kfa

http://www.bjs.gov/

https://www.fbi.gov/stats-services/crimestats

https://www.fbi.gov/stats-services/fbi-resources

https://www.fbi.gov/stats-services/fbi-resources

you could come up with many problems. Who are the stakeholders in this situation? Who can
contribute to the solution? The police, bus company, businesses in the immediate area, and the
pedestrian traffic would be a good place to start.

Brainstorm the Solutions, Select a Solution
Coming up with a solution for this simple scenario would be easy in a perfect world; the bus company
needs to increase bus service to this route by four buses. But what happens when the bus company only
has one or two extra buses? The point is that it is impractical to think that a solution is a one-person, or
in this case a one-company, responsibility. It becomes the responsibility of each stakeholder to fix the
problem, because each stakeholder has a vested interest in resolving the problem. The bus company
wants more revenue. The police want to reduce traffic jams and make the roads safer for everyone. The
pedestrians would like to get home quicker.

The solution here may involve a little bit of effort or change from each stakeholder. For example, say the
bus company was able to add one additional bus during this rush hour, which reduced the crowd a little.
The local businesses in the immediate area that employed large numbers of employees agreed to start
staggering their quitting times. Rather than everyone getting off work at the same time, they agreed to
stagger their quitting times between the affected hours, reducing the bus crowd a little bit more.
Another recommended solution was made by the police. They agreed to reroute opposing traffic and
open up the entire street to one-way traffic, expediting the vehicular traffic out of the city. The
pedestrian traffic (the people) suggested that they could line up at the bus stop in a single-file fashion,
allowing other pedestrians a clear path on the sidewalk to walk by. This would eliminate pedestrians
walking out into the street, causing traffic to slow down and putting other people at risk. These are all
great plans. Which one do you select? You could select one, or you could select them all. You could
implement them all at once, or you could implement them one at a time, allowing each solution time to
see if it reduces the problem to an acceptable level.

Implement the Solution
In the example above, all of the suggestions were implemented. The solutions suggested that involved
little to no money or resources were implemented first, and the rest were implemented from the least
costly to the most. The changes were implemented over a four-week period. By the end of the fourth
week, all solutions were implemented.

Feedback
After all solutions were implemented, each stakeholder sent a representative out to the street corner to
observe the plan. Vehicle traffic was moving at a normal speed. No pedestrians were walking in the
road. Standing and waiting for the bus was reduced to the point where there was nearly no wait. This
was due to the fact that the buses were able to get to the bus stop faster, because the traffic speed
moved at a normal pace, coupled with the extra bus that were added during peak times.

Who benefitted here? Everyone did. The types of information collected to see whether this was a
successful solution showed that the police now had more time to spend on more important duties, and
that pedestrians got home quicker, which made them happier employees. Work production increased
due to happier employees. Profits for the bus company improved because, with this solution, they
quadrupled the number of passengers in the same amount of time. Businesses sold more items because
it was easier to move around from store to store. Plus—the most important thing—no one was placed in
harm’s way anymore.

The following methods were used to collect information to assess the success of the solution:

 Surveys to the police officers, pedestrians, and employers

 Data that showed what police officers were able to accomplish in the time period when they
used to be monitoring traffic

 The profit data from the bus company and the businesses in the area

 Analysis of the past and present incident reports from the area