The organization where you work (CoreCivic) is asking you to present an action plan to ensure compliance with ethical standards. Considering this request, develop an action plan (8 pages no more than 9) based on a target ethical area. Use open access articles for references.

The plan needs to include the following:

1. Ethical standards: Identify the current ethical standards or code of ethics followed by your organization. Provide a brief synopsis about the main points stated in the ethical code (Principles or sections included in your professional code of ethics). Use it as the tool for creating the action plan.

2. Goals for your action plan: Propose the goals for your plan- What prompts the need for your action plan? Clearly indicate why it is necessary to develop a plan. Include at least one specific reason area to support the need for the plan.

3. Activities: Indicate the various ways and methods you would use to disseminate ethical standards in your organization.

4. Resources: Provide a list of suggested references and materials (at least five) a leader would use to support ongoing knowledge on ethics.

Rubric:

Element	Not Met	Met	Exceeded
Identifies the ethical standards of the organization	The related standards for the organization are unclear, vague, or not identified	identified the related standards for the organization	Clearly and specifically identified the related standards for the organization. Includes source and reference for the standards.
Identifies an ethical area in need of attention based on the related ethical standards or code of professional behavior	Ethical area in need of attention is not clearly identified or not specified.	Ethical area in need of attention is identified. Rationale is vague.	Specifies the ethical area in need of attention and provides a supporting rationale for its selection.
Proposes at least two goals for the proposed plan of action	One or no goals are specifically proposed.	Two or more goals are specifically proposed.	Two or more goals are specifically proposed. Goals are feasible as part of an action plan.
Describes the plan of action based on the identified goals and includes methods for implementation	The plan of action is unrelated or not specified.	The plan of action is based on the identified goals and included methods for implementation. Some details are included on how to determine outcomes.	The plan of action is clearly based on the identified goals. It includes methods for implementation. Assessment outcomes based on goals is clearly included
References are included to support plan and as a resource	There were fewer than two or no references 3 to support ongoing learning about ethics	Three references are included to support ongoing learning about ethics	More than 3 references are included to support ongoing learning about ethics
APA format	Paper does not adhere or partially follows the (FSE) Written Assignment Format, the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association (7th ed	Paper adheres to the (FSE) Written Assignment Format, the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association (7th ed).	Paper clearly adheres to the (FSE) Written Assignment Format, the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association (7th ed
Total: 35 points

Struggling with where to start this assignment? Follow this guide to tackle your assignment easily!

Step 1: Understand the Assignment

Your task is to develop an 8–9 page action plan focused on an ethical area within your organization (CoreCivic). The paper must:

Identify current ethical standards or codes of ethics
Target a specific ethical area needing attention
Propose goals, activities, and resources for improvement
Be supported by at least 5 open-access scholarly references
Adhere to APA 7th edition format

👉 Tutor tip: Think of this as a practical plan a leader could implement, not just a theory paper.

Step 2: Identify the Ethical Standards

Locate CoreCivic’s current code of ethics or professional ethical standards relevant to your role
Summarize the main principles, such as:
- Integrity and honesty
- Respect for human rights
- Accountability and transparency
- Confidentiality and privacy
- Compliance with laws and regulations
Include source citation for the ethical code. If CoreCivic’s code is not publicly available, use general corrections or criminal justice ethics codes as a reference.

👉 Tutor tip: Present this in 1–2 pages as a foundation for your action plan.

Step 3: Identify the Ethical Area Needing Attention

Review the code of ethics and determine one area of concern. Examples:
- Staff accountability and reporting
- Use of force or detainee treatment
- Confidentiality breaches
- Conflicts of interest
Justify your choice:
- Use data, reports, or literature that shows why this area is high risk or frequently violated
- Make the rationale specific and measurable if possible

👉 Tutor tip: This section strengthens your paper—it’s where the need for the plan is justified.

Step 4: Define the Goals of Your Action Plan

Propose at least two specific goals aligned with the ethical area. Examples:
- Goal 1: Increase staff knowledge and compliance with reporting policies
- Goal 2: Reduce incidents of confidentiality breaches by 20% within 12 months
Explain why each goal is necessary and achievable
Connect goals directly to the ethical standards identified in Step 2

👉 Tutor tip: Make goals SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound).

Step 5: Plan Activities and Methods of Implementation

Describe how you will achieve each goal. Include:

Training programs and workshops
Internal communications: emails, newsletters, posters
Ethics audits, performance reviews, or monitoring systems
Reporting channels, whistleblower protections
Mentorship or leadership modeling ethical behavior
Include assessment methods:
- Pre- and post-training surveys
- Tracking compliance metrics
- Review of incidents or complaints

👉 Tutor tip: Provide concrete examples and timelines. This is the heart of your action plan.

Step 6: Identify Resources

List at least five references or tools a leader could use for ongoing ethical knowledge, such as:

CoreCivic Code of Ethics – https://www.corecivic.com
American Correctional Association Standards – https://www.aca.org
NIJ Ethics in Criminal Justice Reports – https://nij.ojp.gov
Open-access journal: Journal of Correctional Health Care – https://journals.sagepub.com/home/cch
Open-access article on organizational ethics – https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/psychology

👉 Tutor tip: Include a mix of organizational codes, scholarly articles, and government resources.

Step 7: Structure Your Paper

Recommended layout (8–9 pages):

Title Page – APA 7 format
Introduction (1 page) – Overview of ethical standards and paper purpose
Ethical Standards (1–2 pages) – Current code and main principles
Ethical Area Needing Attention (1 page) – Justification for selection
Goals (1 page) – Specific goals linked to ethical standards
Activities / Action Plan (2–3 pages) – Detailed plan with implementation and assessment
Resources (1 page) – References and tools for ongoing knowledge
Conclusion (0.5–1 page) – Summarize importance and expected outcomes
References – APA 7th edition, at least 5 sources

Step 8: Writing Tips

Use clear, professional, and persuasive language
Include examples or scenarios where ethical standards could be applied
Align activities directly with goals and ethical standards
Check APA 7th edition compliance: in-text citations, reference page, headings, and spacing

Step 9: Checklist for Rubric Compliance

Ethical standards clearly identified with source
Ethical area in need of attention justified
At least 2 specific, feasible goals
Detailed activities for implementing goals
Methods to assess outcomes included
Minimum 5 references supporting ongoing ethical knowledge
Paper follows APA 7th edition formatting

Developing an Ethical Action Plan for Correctional Organizations