Overview: You will write a brief, 1-page
memorandum to your supervisor regarding the need to make changes to a departmental policy in your criminal justice agency. You will also describe how these
changes will affect the different actors involved in the policy-making process.
Prompt: Use the Memorandum Template to complete the assignment. In your brief, 1-page memorandum, address the following critical elements as they are
reflected in the Sample Policy Memorandum. These critical elements appear as headings in that document as follows:
1. Issue Presented:
In a brief one-sentence question, summarize the importance of making changes to your selected departmental policy in your criminal
justice agency and how these changes will affect the different actors involved in the policy-making process.
2. Short Answer: Provide a short answer that summarizes the conclusion of the memorandum.
3. Statement of Facts: Describe how implementing these departmental policy changes will result in more effective policy-making.
4. Discussion: Briefly discuss at least one recent example of a departmental policy (from law enforcement, the courts, or corrections) that has effectively
been revised to take into consideration the various policy actors involved.
5. Conclusion: Provide a conclusion based on the research you have done and the details you have gathered.
6. Recommendations:
a) Explain how the changes you are recommending to your departmental policy will affect other policy actors, including those in the other
branches of the criminal justice system.
b) Identify resistance to the recommended changes from other policy actors who may find the changes lead to potential conflicts with their own
policies or agendas.
c) In making your recommendations, include elements to your policy that, although not ideal for your department, will avoid conflicts with other
policy actors and make a smoother delivery of criminal justice services in relation to the issue.