“A” WORK REPLY

Part I: First, thank you for your attention during the last eight units. Please tell us your thoughts on the course (Critical Analysis of Criminal Justice Public Policy) and how the material you learned might help you in your professional life as well as a member of your community.
Part II: After reading the Unit VIII Lesson (ATTACHED) please select one item from the chapter or Unit VIII Lesson or the textbook, and give us your final thoughts on that subject.
REPLY TO MY CLASSMATE’S RESPONSE TO THE ABOVE QUESTIONS AND EXPLAIN WHY YOU AGREE? (A MINIMUM OF 125 WORDS or MORE)
The curriculum and coursework imparted relevant and compelling content that evoked the use of critical thinking and elicited much greater depth and breadth of insight that I have previously experienced regarding the specific considerations of many criminal justice system public policies. The development and implementation of functional and logical drug policy, gang policy, juvenile justice policy, just to list a few, in conjunction with the police, courts, and corrections components of the criminal justice system working in unison to accomplish the most optimal objectives provides a framework for successful criminal justice system goals to be achieved. The achieving of criminal justice system has the potential to result in the optimal outcomes of crime control, crime reduction, and decreased recidivism in the interest of organizational success and the safety and security of the citizenry being served (Gau, 2018).
Through the critical lens of a law enforcement administration team member, I have benefited from the curriculum and coursework as it has facilitated the development of a more thorough understanding regarding the influencing factors of constitutionality, legislation, and politics on the development and implementation of public policy. It is up to the criminal justice administrators to place greater focused attention on the interagency relationships and correlative government efforts among the police, courts, and corrections components of the criminal justice system to develop more consistent and pragmatic public policy. As a member of the community, it is concerning that politics has the potential to take precedent or priority over the well-being, safety, and security of society (Gau, 2018). 
Part II: 
           Based upon the readings throughout Gau (2018), it is an opinion that deterrence through incapacitation by incarceration is not a viable solution for the control of crime, reduction in crime, or decreased rates of recidivism. Accordingly, placing greater focused attention on public policies that provide for the prevention of criminal actions and behavior may be the most pragmatic option. Drug public policies that provide treatments for drug use and possession related criminal offenses; gang public policies that provide for meeting the basic needs of society so they do not have to resort to criminal behaviors and actions to obtain nourishment, shelter, protection from harm, attaining a sense of belonging, and feeling as though they are a member of a community; and juvenile policy that focuses on rehabilitation and minimizing the exposure of juveniles to the criminal justice system may impart the greatest potential for crime control, crime prevention, and a decrease in recidivism (Gau, 2018).
           That being stated, in reference to the consideration of the death penalty, it is an opinion that such a punishment is a necessary and essential option for sentencing within the criminal justice system. Harsh penalties for the commission of egregious crimes provides just punishment for those who are unable to move freely among society without imposing harm to others, have proven that they are unable to be rehabilitated, and are likely to continue such egregious actions and behaviors even while incarcerated. It is a supposition that without the fear of the death penalty there may likely be more criminal offenders who do not view incarceration as a significant deterrent who would be willing to take the life of another knowing that the worst consequences that they may endure is incapacitation through incarceration (Gau, 2018; Schmalleger, 2016). Moreover, the concept of retributive justice, which holds those accountable and obligated through the imposing of the punishment that is deserved for taking the life of another, may be the only thing that provides a sense of closure and justness for the families of those who have lost a loved one at the hands of a violent offender. Although it must be applied with prudence and caution, it is an opinion that the death penalty should not be eliminated as a potential sentencing option (Gau, 2018; Schmalleger, 2016).      
                                                                      References
Gau, J. M. (2018). Criminal justice policy: Origins and effectiveness. New York, NY: Oxford University Press.
Schmalleger, F. (2016). Criminal justice: A brief introduction (11th ed.). Boston, MA: Pearson.