Political Science

DQ1 Explain how policy decisions can drive intended outcomes and what can cause them to fail.

Policy is described as a plan of action that is deliberate that helps policy makers to make concrete decision about a particular issue so as to achieve good outcome. Policy can be used as a way of referring to what has been done before putting adequate plans. Making of policies can be applied in government or private sector especially in management, politics, and administration of financial practices. The application of good policies in these particular fields helps to achieve certain laid goals in an organization. The outcome of any given issue that requires making of policies entirely depends on implementation of policies that have been made (Morrone, Lohner, 2002). Good examples of policies include order from the president, rules of order governing parliament and privacy policies made in corporate.

Sometimes, policy is confused to mean the same thing as law but there is a very big difference. Law in the capacity of government is used to compel or control behavior of individuals but policy is used to provide guidance in when making decision about an issue thus resulting to an outcome. Every organization needs to make policies that guide the operations of an organization and it is also a way of promoting organizational decisions. An organization has to make decisions on which alternatives should be implemented for better results and this can be achieved through application of good policies. Good policies therefore will lead to good outcome while implementation of bad policies leads to poor results (Zsambok, Klein, 1999). On the other hand, policy can fail to give good outcome. This can be caused by lack of adequate information about a given policy, poor leadership policies and failure to implement recommended policies.

DQ2 Who are the participants in the making of criminal justice policy

Criminal justice policy is concerned with the implementation of decisions that lead to enforcement of law to prosecute individuals who are involved in criminal activates. The process of putting these criminals behind the bar for correction reason requires good policies that will ensure justice is achieved. It is a long process that requires full support of legal systems that deal with enactment of law. The main concerned areas of criminal justice include prosecution, supervision, defense, supervision, apprehension and incarceration (Bob, 2004). These key areas must apply criminal justice policies to ensure that law and order is maintained in running of government affairs. Criminal justice involves practices and government institutions that are directly involved at upholding social behavior, controlling crime, sanctioning violators of law and deterrence. The system applies policies such as criminal penalties and through the use of rehabilitation centers.

The system calls for corporation of different individuals from various sectors but the common concerned is the legal system. Makers of criminal justice policy include three main participants that are law enforcers who are the police, corrections that include parole, probation, jails or prisons and adjudication institutions like courts. Human rights bodies and other experts who have knowledge in law also contribute to policies that help to solve criminal matters. These experts are concerned with making of policies that will lead to search of criminal justice (Bob, 2004). In law, justice delayed is justice denied and therefore good policies must be put in place to promote justice in the society. When the makers of criminal justice policies structure guidelines that are good, the rate of criminal is reduced in the society because violators of law are convicted and put behind the bars. In America, the role of criminal justice system is to protect individuals rights and ensure that fairness is observed when giving  verdict about  criminal offences.

DQ3 Identify and analyze the different public policy models used to explain the decision-making process.

There are different public policy models that are used as a way of explaining the process of decision making process. All people have to make decisions from period to period and these decisions results from policies. There is always limited time of formulating problems to address public problems this means that the concerned parties must apply good decision making models. One of the best decision making model is rationality. This is a decision making model that has been sufficient in achieving goals within given constraints or conditions. It is an efficient way of policy implementation process that leads to achievement of positive results.

There are two forms of rationality models, that is, substantive rationality that leads to achievement of goals that are rational and procedural rationality which is dependent on some procedures put in place to achieve particular goals. Another model is the use of facts as a way of achieving good results and meeting certain goals. To acquire facts about a given issue, administrators need to do thorough research (Morrone, Lohner, 2002). Means is another policy making model which is an instrument used to give satisfaction when making decisions. The means to apply in decision making depends on internal values. Another type of decision making model is the application of values. Values in this aspect mean perceptions towards ones choice. Every individual has plans for setting goals as per priorities and they act upon life situations as per their own values. The government as an entity must weigh and balance values in different departments so as to achieve set goals.