System Policy Discussion

System Policy Discussion

1. Why states devote dramatically different amounts of their budgets to crime and justice efforts over and above differences in population or crime rates.

Other than the population and crime rate differences in different states, the states still devote the different amounts of budgets due to the variations stemmed from the effectiveness of states and local efforts in eradicating criminal activities and recidivism (Mears, 2010). Another reason is the philosophical opinions on the favorite approaches to consider in eliminating crime. However, to maintain all the best correctional methods, the financial muscles are tested, and so the variation in the cost of justice across different states and local authorities.

2. Should some uniform national guidelines or recommendations dictate how much money states should allocate for police, court, and corrections functions?

There should be no national uniform guidelines or recommendations. It is because the different states vary in sizes, population, and income generation from taxes, the crime rates, and the approaches to eradicate the crimes. In countries with high populations experience high rates of crimes that will need more police officers, courts, and correctional services. The states and local authorities also use different philosophical approaches that vary in cost. A uniform guideline will limit the services of other states to their people.

3. How politicization can be taken out of criminal justice policymaking and implementation.

Politicization can be moved out of criminal justice by allowing intellectual civilians to enact laws and reducing the influence of the legislature and the executive to the judiciary. Honestly, the assembly which is the politicians, cannot be moved away from policymaking, but they can be moved away from influencing the criminal justice through empowering the prosecutors and the judges so that the judiciary can limit the corruption in the courts.

4. What can be done to help children of ex-convicts so that incarceration does not indirectly contribute to more crime?
   One way to deal with recidivism is to help the convict develop some new skills. The skills help them in the ever-changing economy after completing their jail terms. The convicts can be taught on self-employment skills such as masonry, carpentry, driving, tailoring, and mechanics. After acquiring the new capabilities while undergoing the correctional services, the government should offer them a startup capital or maybe a set of the required tools. Through this, the convicts will come out confident of facing the world. The convicts will have some little income to take care of their children since, even if one had a profession before conviction, employers don’t consider criminals as better options.
5. Is it appropriate for ex-offenders to participate stakeholders in the development of criminal justice policy?

No. it is not appropriate for ex-offenders to be stakeholders in the development of criminal justice policy. The ex-offenders can only amend the procedures that hit them hard while undergoing the correctional services. Some of the ex-offenders are renowned criminals and so allowing them as stakeholders will compromise the decision making during policy drafting. The ex-offenders will make decisions that only favor them, leaving out the gaps for one to commit a crime and walk scot-free without trial. And ex-offenders shouldn’t participate in criminal policymaking.

6. After considering the Systems Improvement Solution policy process, in your opinion, what is one of its most significant weaknesses, and how can this weakness be overcome?

The lack of proper infrastructure to implement the system improvement solution policy process is a weakness. The developers should do piloting in one court or rather a correctional service before rolling it all over the justice system (Mears, 2017). It helps to identify the weaknesses such as the lack of infrastructure since everything is always perfect on paper until one gets to try it.

7. The goals and outcomes of justice systems.

It is interesting since it covers all the need for a justice system that the book is addressing. It addresses the purpose of a justice system and what to expect out of it.

8. Critical question

Why are the legislatures tasked with the mandate of drafting laws while they are the same politicians that have continued to influence our justice systems?