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Criminal justice policies often fail to address the issues of diverse individuals and vulnerable populations. As opposed to minimizing the role of individual characteristics, policymakers should employ an evidence-based approach to formulate actionable steps to combat discrimination. This essay will examine the evidence-based practice of policymaking in a specific case of involving social workers in prevention efforts as an attempt to deliver regulation through an evidence-based approach.
The policy under review intends to include social workers as first responders to the 911 calls to provide the best care in non-emergency situations. A large portion of cases that the police respond to can be dealt with by trained professionals. Instead of police handling situations that involve potentially grey areas for criminal justice, unarmed social workers arrive at the scene and de-escalate the tension or provide needed social support.
Evidence-Based Approach
The policy has to be developed with a consideration of specific minority groups. According to the evidence-based approach, one has to pose a policy question, collect data, assess it, and implement it (Yingling & Mallinson, 2020). Members of the diversity groups such as LGBTQ+, ethnic minorities, homeless people, and abuse victims can significantly benefit from the involvement of social workers (Clair & Winter, 2016). According to Jun et al. (2020), Police violence is reportedly common among those diagnosed with mental disorders, especially among people of color (p. 81). This evidence serves as the foundation for policy creation since it will alleviate the harmful effects of policing and bring social support to vulnerable individuals (Yingling & Mallinson, 2020). Thus, the policys account of racial, ethnic, and other groups is justified.
Policy Impact
This data will influence policy creation, significant stakeholders, and community by providing a framework of de-escalation of the conflict. Since social workers are equipped to interact with people from different cultural backgrounds, they will be able to direct victims of the conflict to the applicable legal and medical services (Yingling & Mallinson, 2020). For example, a homeless person forcefully evicted from a shelter will no longer be arrested for trespassing but helped by providing housing opportunities (Clair & Winter, 2016). Thus, the policy will be more people-oriented, which will positively affect the community since people will be able to access relevant help instead of being victimized. Furthermore, these measures will help reduce police-induced violence and increase trust towards the authorities.
Policy Creation: Inclusive and Bias-Free
The given evidence would influence the policy by considering individual characteristics when engaging in non-emergency situations. Policymakers have to develop a framework of who should respond to which conditions by developing a list of criteria for social workers support (Yingling & Mallinson, 2020). To avoid dangerous situations, they will have to consider the abundance of data, asses it critically, and conclude whether helping a minority member in a critical situation needs criminal justice involvement or social workers support. To avoid bias, policymakers will have to consider whether the regulation favors a specific group of people or, conversely, discriminates against others (Clair & Winter, 2016). For example, social workers have to engage in situations that involve mental health issues and interpersonal conflicts that arise among ethnic communities since evidence suggests that officers are unable to address these issues. Furthermore, the factor of hostility towards authorities and police brutality among specific racial groups needs to be considered to develop a strategy that will benefit all the stakeholders.
Conclusion and Recommendations
In conclusion, the evidence-based approach to policymaking in the criminal justice system is a complex yet much-needed tool for creating regulations that support the community, vulnerable populations, and the institutions. The example has shown that policy on social workers involvement has to be developed with attention to specific populations such as racial and ethnic groups, discriminated minorities, and disadvantaged individuals. It is recommended to account for the various statistics surrounding the topic, such as the likelihood of police brutality in encounters with non-emergency situations involving Black civilians. Considerations of evidence supporting the creation of diversity-focused policy are the key to societal change.
References
Clair, M., & Winter, A. (2016). How judges think about racial disparities: Situational decision-making in the criminal justice system. Criminology, 54(2), 332-359. Web.
Jun, H., DeVylder, J., & Fedina, L. (2020). Police violence among adults diagnosed with mental disorders. Health & Social Work, 45(2), 81-89.
Yingling, D., & Mallinson, D. (2020). Explaining variation in evidence-based policymaking in the American states. Evidence & Policy: A Journal of Research, Debate and Practice, 16(3), 359-374. Web.
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