Ethics in Criminal Justice

 

Find a current government budget and explain the technical adjustments made to the baseline budget. Be sure to provide the underlying rationale for these adjustments. Government budgets are public records and can be found online.

What would be the primary starting point for adjusting a baseline budget? Provide examples.


What are technical adjustments to a budget? Provide at least one example outside of the textbook.

 

In Chapter 5, Colleen Rowley is presented as a profile in Rushmorean Courage for her actions as a whistleblower. 
• Conduct and summarize your own independent research of Colleen Rowley's actions beyond the discussion in the text.
• What is your opinion of Rushmorean Courage? Do you agree or disagree with the authors?
• Research the Federal Whistleblower Protection Act of 1989, Whistleblower Protection Act Fact Sheet, and the Department of Justice Guidance on Whistleblower laws to support or negate Colleen Rowley’s actions as a whistleblower.
• Research whistleblower’s protection laws for government employees in your own state. In what ways are the federal and state laws adequate to protect whistleblowers. In what ways should the federal and state laws be improved?

510 discussion 1 (250 words)
In Chapter 5, the authors discuss principal-based management and professionalism in the criminal justice system.
• What are the characteristics of the professional criminal justice practitioner?
• What suggestions has the President’s Task Force on 21st Century Policing made for today’s police departments?
• What areas do you agree with the authors in terms of the reality within our system?
• What areas do you disagree with the authors?
• What suggestions do you have for the future in managing criminal justice agencies?

510 discussion 2 (250 words)
In Chapter 9, the authors present two case studies demonstrating the dangers of unrestrained personal loyalty at the executive and operational levels in police and corrections agencies. Choose one case study and discuss the following:
• Define and distinguish among the three levels of loyalty: personal loyalty, institutional loyalty, and integrated loyalty.  
• What levels are at issue in the case study and why?
• What should an honest practitioner do if two levels are in conflict?
• Discuss your opinion of whether traditional personal loyalty to superiors in criminal justice is essential, and or for what reasons.

 

Sample Answer

 

 

 

 

 

 

Government Budget Adjustments and Whistleblower Analysis

 

I will analyze the budget adjustments, discuss the concept of whistleblower protection through the case of Colleen Rowley, and address the questions on criminal justice management and loyalty.

 

I. Government Budget Analysis: Technical Adjustments

 

 

Current Government Budget Analysis (Example: U.S. Federal Budget)

 

A common example of a public budget is the President’s Budget Request for the U.S. Federal Government. The underlying base for this budget is typically the prior year's enacted funding level, known as the "baseline."

Primary Starting Point for Adjusting a Baseline Budget

 

The primary starting point for adjusting a baseline budget is the prior year's enacted funding level (the current services baseline), plus the technical adjustments needed to maintain the current level of services.

Examples:

Federal Government: The baseline for the Department of Defense (DoD) procurement budget would be the prior year's total procurement funding plus a technical adjustment for inflation (e.g., a 3% increase) to ensure the DoD can buy the same amount of equipment this year as last year.

Local Government (Police Department): The starting point for the Police Department's budget for the new fiscal year is the current year's actual expenditure. An adjustment is immediately applied to reflect negotiated union contract raises that take effect next year.

 

What are Technical Adjustments to a Budget?

 

Technical adjustments are changes made to a budget's baseline or projection that result from mandatory, non-policy-related factors designed to ensure the cost of current services is accurately maintained into the next budgeting period. They reflect changes in underlying economic or demographic variables.