A PowerPoint presentation on public policy analysis and decision making. The presentation focuses on criminal justice, but is applicable in all government fields. Lastly, this presentation is part one of three.
On National Teacher Day, meet the 2024-25 Kenan Fellows
Public Policy Decision Making and Analysis
1. Copyright 2005 - 2009: Hi Tech
Criminal Justice, Raymond E. Foster
Public Policy andPublic Policy and
Criminal JusticeCriminal Justice
Policy AnalysisPolicy Analysis
(Decision Making Part I)(Decision Making Part I)
2. Copyright 2005 - 2009: Hi Tech
Criminal Justice, Raymond E. Foster
Policy Making TheoriesPolicy Making Theories
PluralistPluralist
Open processOpen process
Power elitePower elite
Small group of people whoSmall group of people who
are the most informedare the most informed
make best decisions.make best decisions.
Public choicePublic choice
Market will makeMarket will make
choices.choices.
Competition is goodCompetition is good
BureaucraticBureaucratic
ExpertiseExpertise
3. Copyright 2005 - 2009: Hi Tech
Criminal Justice, Raymond E. Foster
ProblemsProblems
PluralistPluralist
Assumes all groupsAssumes all groups
are representedare represented
Power elitePower elite
Upper Class BiasUpper Class Bias
Right and Left wingRight and Left wing
distrust of governmentdistrust of government
Public choicePublic choice
People always act inPeople always act in
their own self-interesttheir own self-interest
May not protect theMay not protect the
public interestpublic interest
Equity issuesEquity issues
BureaucraticBureaucratic
May be out of touchMay be out of touch
with citizens.with citizens.
Fear of abuse.Fear of abuse.
Street level bureaucratStreet level bureaucrat
4. Copyright 2005 - 2009: Hi Tech
Criminal Justice, Raymond E. Foster
Private GoodsPrivate Goods
PrivatePrivate
CanCan NOTNOT be easilybe easily
divideddivided
ExclusiveExclusive
5. Copyright 2005 - 2009: Hi Tech
Criminal Justice, Raymond E. Foster
Public GoodsPublic Goods
Public: value toPublic: value to
larger societylarger society
Can not be dividedCan not be divided
Non-exclusiveNon-exclusive
6. Copyright 2005 - 2009: Hi Tech
Criminal Justice, Raymond E. Foster
Criminal JusticeCriminal Justice
A public or PrivateA public or Private
good?good?
Photograph provided by Woodcrest Vehicle Center
7. Copyright 2005 - 2009: Hi Tech
Criminal Justice, Raymond E. Foster
ScarcityScarcity
Conflict betweenConflict between
unlimited humanunlimited human
wants and theirwants and their
limited resourceslimited resources
ConsequenceConsequence -- wewe
must choose betweenmust choose between
wants and resourcewants and resource
allocationallocation
8. Copyright 2005 - 2009: Hi Tech
Criminal Justice, Raymond E. Foster
General Analysis ProcessGeneral Analysis Process
Define/analyze the problemDefine/analyze the problem
Determine goalsDetermine goals
Construct alternativesConstruct alternatives
Design evaluation criteriaDesign evaluation criteria
Evaluate alternativesEvaluate alternatives
Draw Conclusion and makeDraw Conclusion and make
recommendationsrecommendations
9. Copyright 2005 - 2009: Hi Tech
Criminal Justice, Raymond E. Foster
Define/analyze problemDefine/analyze problem
What is the problem?What is the problem?
Where is the problem?Where is the problem?
Who or what is affected?Who or what is affected?
How did the problem develop?How did the problem develop?
What are the primary causes?What are the primary causes?
How might the problem be improved byHow might the problem be improved by
policy action?policy action?
10. Copyright 2005 - 2009: Hi Tech
Criminal Justice, Raymond E. Foster
QuestionQuestion
Would Criminological Theory choiceWould Criminological Theory choice
affect:affect:
What is the problem?What is the problem?
Where is the problem?Where is the problem?
Who or what is affected?Who or what is affected?
How did the problem develop?How did the problem develop?
What are the primary causes?What are the primary causes?
How might the problem be improved by policyHow might the problem be improved by policy
action?action?
11. Copyright 2005 - 2009: Hi Tech
Criminal Justice, Raymond E. Foster
Determine GoalsDetermine Goals
What are economic,What are economic,
political, culturalpolitical, cultural
and/or social goals?and/or social goals?
How are the goalsHow are the goals
specifically stated?specifically stated?
Are they measurable?Are they measurable?
12. Copyright 2005 - 2009: Hi Tech
Criminal Justice, Raymond E. Foster
Construct OptionsConstruct Options
What policy optionsWhat policy options
available?available?
Looking for multipleLooking for multiple
solutionssolutions
13. Copyright 2005 - 2009: Hi Tech
Criminal Justice, Raymond E. Foster
QuestionQuestion
Would CriminologicalWould Criminological
Theory choice affectTheory choice affect
options?options?
14. Copyright 2005 - 2009: Hi Tech
Criminal Justice, Raymond E. Foster
Design evaluation criteriaDesign evaluation criteria
What criteria would best evaluate currentWhat criteria would best evaluate current
problem and policy options?problem and policy options?
What is the cost?What is the cost?
What is the potential effectiveness?What is the potential effectiveness?
How feasible is the solution:How feasible is the solution:
EconomicallyEconomically
PoliticallyPolitically
CulturallyCulturally
Are theirAre their Equity IssuesEquity Issues??
15. Copyright 2005 - 2009: Hi Tech
Criminal Justice, Raymond E. Foster
Evaluate alternativesEvaluate alternatives
Best Option?Best Option?
Is there more research that could find aIs there more research that could find a
better policy?better policy?
Sufficient data for analysis?Sufficient data for analysis?
Appropriate dataAppropriate data
Measurement techniquesMeasurement techniques
What other data and/or information isWhat other data and/or information is
required to decide?required to decide?
16. Copyright 2005 - 2009: Hi Tech
Criminal Justice, Raymond E. Foster
Draw Conclusion and makeDraw Conclusion and make
recommendationsrecommendations
Under currentUnder current
conditions, which isconditions, which is
the most desirablethe most desirable
policy?policy?
Are there otherAre there other
factors?factors?
17. Copyright 2005 - 2009: Hi Tech
Criminal Justice, Raymond E. Foster
Needs AnalysisNeeds Analysis
A management and/or research technique thatA management and/or research technique that
can be used to determine the differencecan be used to determine the difference
between the current state and desired state.between the current state and desired state.
The difference between an analysis and an evaluationThe difference between an analysis and an evaluation
is that an analysis is based on science oris that an analysis is based on science or
mathematics.mathematics.
18. Copyright 2005 - 2009: Hi Tech
Criminal Justice, Raymond E. Foster
Analysis StepsAnalysis Steps
Collect Data Collect Data
Collate Data Collate Data
Develop a Response Develop a Response
Describe What is Being Analyzed Describe What is Being Analyzed
Analyze or Review the Data Analyze or Review the Data
Assess the ResultsAssess the Results
19. Copyright 2005 - 2009: Hi Tech
Criminal Justice, Raymond E. Foster
Collect DataCollect Data
List the dataList the data
Where can the data be obtained?Where can the data be obtained?
What time period will be collected?What time period will be collected?
SurveysSurveys
Focus GroupsFocus Groups
StudiesStudies
Available statistical informationAvailable statistical information
20. Copyright 2005 - 2009: Hi Tech
Criminal Justice, Raymond E. Foster
Collate the DataCollate the Data
Collating is not analysis. It is putting theCollating is not analysis. It is putting the
information in some order so that you caninformation in some order so that you can
conduct an analysisconduct an analysis
21. Copyright 2005 - 2009: Hi Tech
Criminal Justice, Raymond E. Foster
AnalysisAnalysis
Where?Where?
When?When?
What conditions or events precede?What conditions or events precede?
What conditions or events accompany?What conditions or events accompany?
What harm?What harm?
What has been done?What has been done?
Stakeholders and assets?Stakeholders and assets?
22. Copyright 2005 - 2009: Hi Tech
Criminal Justice, Raymond E. Foster
ResponseResponse
BrainstormBrainstorm
Feasibility-Feasibility-
TimeTime
MoneyMoney
resourcesresources
What preparations are need?What preparations are need?
Who is responsible to implement?Who is responsible to implement?
What should or should not be done?What should or should not be done?
23. Copyright 2005 - 2009: Hi Tech
Criminal Justice, Raymond E. Foster
AssessmentAssessment
Collect the data again and see if theCollect the data again and see if the
analysis was correct.analysis was correct.
Did you achieve the intended outcome?Did you achieve the intended outcome?
Does the plan need to be changed?Does the plan need to be changed?
How will you monitor the situation to beHow will you monitor the situation to be
sure the problem does not reoccur?sure the problem does not reoccur?
24. Copyright 2005 - 2009: Hi Tech
Criminal Justice, Raymond E. Foster
Public Policy andPublic Policy and
Criminal JusticeCriminal Justice
Explore Public Safety TechnologyExplore Public Safety Technology
atat
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