As a criminal justice professional, you may be required to perform a program evaluation or conduct policy research and analysis and deliver actionable conclusions. Familiarity with evaluation strategies will help you design an effective assessment and collect meaningful information on programs and policies.

This week you will synthesize what you have learned about policy analysis and program evaluation to develop an evaluation proposal.

Preparation

Review your Weeks 1 and 2 assignments.

Assessment Deliverable

Create a 1,050- to 1,400-word proposal in which you present your plan for a program evaluation for your selected criminal justice program. Develop your proposal from the perspective of a criminal justice professional proposing an evaluation plan and strategies to a supervisor.

Use the following headings in your proposal and address the following prompts:

Program Evaluation Planning: Model and Methods Selection

Briefly summarize the criminal justice program (e.g., mission, goals, objectives) you selected in Week 1.
Explain which program evaluation model (i.e., embedded evaluation model or the SARA model) you will use to conduct the evaluation. Justify your choice by explaining why the model is most suitable for the program evaluation.
Explain the program evaluation method(s) (e.g., formative, summative, qualitative, quantitative, mixed method) you will use to analyze the program. Justify your choice by explaining why your selected method is most suitable for the program evaluation.

Program Evaluation Planning: Evaluation Questions Creation

Create 2 or 3 evaluation questions you intend to answer as a result of conducting the program evaluation. Provide rationale for each question.

Program Evaluation Planning: Survey Tool Creation

Design a 3- or 4-question survey to collect data related to the evaluation questions you created. Note: Refer to Exhibit III-4, “Tips for Developing Surveys and Survey Questions,” on p. 62 of “Measuring Excellence: Planning and Managing Evaluations of Law Enforcement Initiatives” from the U.S. Department of Justice – Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS).
Explain who will take the survey.
Explain what you hope to discover as a result of administering the survey.
Identify challenges you may face in conducting the survey or reviewing survey results.

Policy Evaluation Explanation

Briefly summarize the criminal justice policy that you selected in Week 1 that is related to the program outcomes. Explain how research or analysis of your selected criminal justice policy is related to your proposed program evaluation.

Call To Action/Collaborative Approach to Evaluation

Recommend 1 or 2 action steps the supervisor should take after reviewing your evaluation plan.

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

Step-by-Step Guide to Writing Your Program Evaluation Proposal

Step 1: Review Your Week 1 Program and Policy Selection

Start by revisiting the criminal justice program and policy you selected in Week 1.

Examples of programs may include:

Community policing initiatives
Juvenile diversion programs
Drug treatment courts
Recidivism reduction programs

Write one paragraph summarizing the program, including:

Mission
Goals
Target population
Services provided

Your goal is to give your supervisor clear context about the program being evaluated.

Step 2: Choose the Evaluation Model

Your assignment requires selecting one of two evaluation models:

1. Embedded Evaluation Model
This model evaluates programs while they are actively operating, allowing continuous improvement.

2. SARA Model (Scanning, Analysis, Response, Assessment)
This model is commonly used in problem-oriented policing to evaluate strategies for addressing crime problems.

Explain:

Which model you chose
Why it best fits your program
How it will help assess effectiveness

Example reasoning:

The SARA model works well for community crime problems.
Embedded evaluation works well for ongoing programs needing continuous monitoring.

Step 3: Select Evaluation Methods

Next, decide how you will collect and analyze data.

Common evaluation methods include:

Formative evaluation
Examines program performance during implementation.

Summative evaluation
Assesses program outcomes after completion.

Qualitative methods

Interviews
Observations
Focus groups

Quantitative methods

Crime statistics
Arrest records
Surveys

Mixed methods

Combines qualitative and quantitative approaches.

Explain:

Which method(s) you will use
Why they are appropriate for evaluating the program.

Step 4: Create Evaluation Questions

Your evaluation questions should guide the entire assessment process.

Write 2–3 questions that focus on the program’s effectiveness.

Examples:

Does the program reduce recidivism among participants?
How satisfied are community members with the program services?
Has the program improved relationships between law enforcement and the community?

After each question, include a brief explanation of why it is important.

Step 5: Design Your Survey

Your survey will help collect data related to your evaluation questions.

Create 3–4 clear and simple questions.

Example survey questions:

How satisfied are you with the services provided by the program?
Do you believe the program improves community safety?
How often have you interacted with the program’s staff?
What improvements would you recommend for the program?

Step 6: Identify Survey Participants

Explain who will take the survey.

Examples include:

Program participants
Community members
Law enforcement officers
Program staff

Describe why these individuals are the best sources of information.

Step 7: Explain What You Hope to Learn

Describe what information the survey will provide.

For example:

Community satisfaction with the program
Perceptions of program effectiveness
Areas needing improvement

This section demonstrates how your survey supports the evaluation goals.

Step 8: Identify Possible Challenges

Program evaluations often face obstacles. Consider discussing:

Low survey participation rates
Biased responses
Limited access to participants
Data interpretation difficulties

Explain how these challenges could affect the evaluation process.

Step 9: Connect the Program to Policy Evaluation

Now explain how your selected criminal justice policy relates to the program outcomes.

Discuss:

How the policy influences the program
Why evaluating the program helps determine if the policy works
How research can improve future policy decisions

This section connects program evaluation with policy analysis.

Step 10: Provide Actionable Recommendations

End your proposal with clear action steps for your supervisor.

Examples:

Approve the evaluation plan and allocate resources for data collection.
Establish collaboration between program staff and evaluation researchers.

Your recommendations should emphasize improving program effectiveness and accountability.

Final Paper Structure

Your final paper should follow this structure:

Introduction
Program Evaluation Planning: Model and Methods Selection
Program Evaluation Planning: Evaluation Questions Creation
Program Evaluation Planning: Survey Tool Creation
Policy Evaluation Explanation
Call to Action / Collaborative Approach
Conclusion
References (APA format)

Recommended Resources

U.S. Department of Justice – COPS Office Evaluation Guide
https://cops.usdoj.gov

National Institute of Justice Research Resources
https://nij.ojp.gov

Program Evaluation Basics (CDC)
https://www.cdc.gov/evaluation

Purdue Online Writing Lab – APA Guide
https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/research_and_citation/apa_style/apa_style_introduction.html

Google Scholar – Scholarly Sources
https://scholar.google.com

Criminal Justice Program Evaluation