elaborate on their strategic plans. Would you have approached it differently or in the same way? Explain your rationale.

Jena

continuously monitoring trends externally and internally is very important within the criminal justice system monitoring internal data can help departments identify trends that are beginning to develop and trends that show predominate cause and effect issues within the department. By identifying internal trends, the department can begin to proactively identify trends that may identify inequality issues, training needs, and even help identify the stressors within the department which could include things such as scheduling or hiring needs. Identifying internal trends is important for quick intervention to ensure that deputies are appropriately trained, resources are being appropriately used, and many other circumstances internally. Monitoring external trends is also very important for quick intervention as trends within community crimes need to be addressed and contained as soon as possible. Identifying external trends does not just help the department stay on top of current crime trends but also helps protect the community.

A SWOT analysis is usually performed once data has been collected. A SWOT analysis helps identify strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats. (Community Toolbox, n.d.) Collecting this data helps identify areas of interest. This analysis can also help establish a tactical plan to reduce a trend by identifying the main factors that need to be addressed. Identifying areas of opportunity allows the department to strategize resolutions to reduce trends. After running a SWOT analysis, I would use the data found to find the threats that may feed any trends. For example, there could be a trend where officers are continuously receiving complaints from the community concerning their conduct. This identifies the need for training within ethics and would lead to a mandatory training session.