Preliminary exploration of a specific issue in criminal justice administration

 


The  Multimedia Project allows students to conduct a preliminary exploration  of a specific issue in criminal justice administration that will serve  as the basis for their Case Study Analysis. Students will  present an overview of the issue, the involved agencies, and initial  thoughts on challenges and potential solutions through a PowerPoint  presentation with narration. The presentation will focus on interagency  collaboration, social service integration, and administrative challenges  in one of the following areas identified as topics in the Case Study  Analysis.


Introduce the chosen topic and its relevance to criminal justice administration.
Clearly state the issue/problem and why it is significant.
Background and Context (2-3 slides): 
Provide an overview of the issue, including the agencies involved,  key social issues being addressed, and current policies or practices  related to the issue.
Preliminary Analysis (2-3 slides): 
Discuss the initial findings on the administrative challenges,  barriers to interagency collaboration, and opportunities for  improvement.
Early Recommendations (1-2 slides): 
Present initial ideas for potential solutions or improvements.
 

Sample Answer

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Criminal Justice Multimedia Project: Topic Exploration

 

Here is a preliminary exploration of a specific issue in criminal justice administration, structured for a PowerPoint presentation with narration.

 

🎯 Introduction: Mental Illness and Crisis Response

 

Slide ContentNarration Focus
Title Slide: Mental Health Crisis and Criminal Justice: A Systemic ChallengeIntroduction & Relevance: The intersection of severe mental illness (SMI) and the criminal justice system (CJS) is a critical issue. It's highly relevant because jails have become de facto mental health facilities, creating ethical, legal, and massive cost burdens on criminal justice administration.
Topic Statement: The Problem of Inappropriate Mental Health Crisis InterventionIssue/Problem: The core problem is the over-reliance on law enforcement as the primary first responder for individuals experiencing a mental health crisis. This is significant because it often leads to unnecessary arrests, increased use of force, and a cycle of incarceration, which is counter-therapeutic and expensive.

 

🏛️ Background and Context (2-3 Slides)

Slide 3: Agencies Involved and Operational FlowAgencies: Primary agencies involved include: Police/Sheriff's Departments (first responders), County Jails (holding and initial assessment), and Community Mental Health Centers (CMHCs) (clinical assessment and treatment). Operational Flow: A mental health crisis call often bypasses CMHCs and routes directly to police, whose primary training is in law enforcement, not de-escalation for SMI.
Slide 4: Key Social Issues and CostsSocial Issues: The core social issue is the deinstitutionalization of state mental hospitals without adequately funding community-based support. This results in homelessness, untreated psychosis, and criminalization of illness. Costs: Jails spend significantly more to house and treat mentally ill inmates than general population inmates, leading to strained budgets and reduced effectiveness.
Slide 5: Current Policies and Practices: Crisis Intervention Training (CIT)Current Practice: Many agencies use Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) training, which trains officers in de-escalation and redirects individuals to treatment facilities instead of jail when possible. Policy Gap: While effective, CIT coverage is often incomplete (not all officers are trained) and dependent on the availability of a 24/7 receiving facility, which is frequently lacking.

 

📊 Preliminary Analysis (2-3 Slides)

 

Slide ContentNarration Focus
Slide 6: Administrative Challenges in Law EnforcementChallenges: Law enforcement faces a significant resource drain, diverting time and personnel from crime control. Administratively, there is a challenge in mandating and sustaining CIT training, ensuring compliance with evolving standards for managing use-of-force incidents, and tracking complex mental health-related data.
Slide 7: Barriers to Interagency Collaboration (Police & CMHCs)Barriers: Collaboration is hindered by different agency cultures and priorities (control vs. care). Information sharing is difficult due to privacy laws (HIPAA/42 CFR Part 2) and incompatible data systems. CMHCs often lack the resources or staffing to accept referrals 24/7, leaving police with no option but arrest.
Slide 8: Opportunities for Improvement: Co-Responder ModelsOpportunities: The move towards co-responder models (e.g., placing mental health clinicians directly with police officers) and non-police crisis lines offers an opportunity for reform. This integrates expertise at the point of crisis, reducing arrests and improving public safety outcomes.