Your IP1 paper is a 2 page problem statement that discusses or brings into focus the issue(s) that you have identified. Below are some sample questions to jumpstart your creativity. You do not have to answer all of these questions:
What is the issue? Why is it a problem? Why is it important to address this issue in the criminal justice system?
How or why is the issue affecting the community, law enforcement, court cases, correctional operations, or parole administration?
Does the issue increase recidivism rates? How or why?
Is the issue adversely impacting the relationship between minorities and the criminal justice system? How or why?
Is there a hiring issue or a training issue that needs to be addressed for criminal justice employees?
Do laws or policies need to be created or changed to fix the identified problem(s)?
Full Answer Section
Solutions
There are a number of solutions that have been proposed to address the problem of mass incarceration, including:
- Decriminalizing certain offenses: Some offenses, such as drug possession, could be decriminalized, which would reduce the number of people incarcerated.
- Reforming sentencing laws: Sentencing laws could be reformed to reduce the length of sentences for certain offenses.
- Investing in rehabilitation programs: More resources should be invested in rehabilitation programs to help offenders reintegrate into society.
- Reducing racial disparities: Efforts should be made to reduce racial disparities in the criminal justice system.
- Changing the culture of the criminal justice system: The culture of the criminal justice system needs to change from one of punishment to one of rehabilitation.
Conclusion
Mass incarceration is a serious problem that has a number of negative consequences for the criminal justice system. There are a number of solutions that have been proposed to address this problem, and it is important to continue to work towards finding solutions that will make our criminal justice system more just and effective.
In addition to the issues mentioned above, here are some other issues that could be discussed in a problem statement on the criminal justice system:
- Police brutality
- Racial profiling
- Lack of due process
- Overuse of solitary confinement
- Lack of access to quality legal representation
- Lack of rehabilitation programs
- Recidivism rates
It is important to choose an issue that is relevant to the criminal justice system and that you are passionate about. You should also be able to provide evidence to support your claims and to suggest solutions to the problem.
Sample Answer
Problem Statement
The United States has the highest incarceration rate in the world, with over 2 million people in prison or jail. This mass incarceration has a number of negative consequences for the criminal justice system, including:
- Overcrowded prisons and jails: The high number of inmates has led to overcrowded prisons and jails, which can make it difficult to provide adequate healthcare, education, and rehabilitation services.
- Increased costs: The high cost of incarcerating so many people is a drain on state and federal budgets.
- Reduced public safety: Mass incarceration can actually increase crime rates by disrupting communities and creating a revolving door of incarceration.
- Harmful to minorities: Minorities are disproportionately represented in the criminal justice system, and mass incarceration has a disproportionate impact on minority communities.
- Challenges to rehabilitation: Mass incarceration makes it more difficult to rehabilitate offenders and reduce recidivism rates.