How Public Opinion Influences Policy
Public opinion plays a huge role in policy-making, especially in the field of criminal justice. Strong public opinion can significantly impact decision-making in this sector. It has the power to impact ideological, political, economic, and legal forces, all of which impact how policies are formulated (Pickett, 2019).
Politics
In the process of creating policies in the area of criminal justice, political forces are equally crucial. Both the legislative process and proposals and recommendations made to the government by political forces can impact decision-making. They may pressure the government and other political institutions to take actions that are in their best interests.
Economy
Economic factors can also impact criminal justice policies. Economic forces have the ability to put demands on the government and other political bodies by utilizing their economic standing and influence. They can sponsor campaigns and lobby on their behalf by using their resources.
Law
Legal forces also play an important role in the development of criminal justice policy. Legal forces can define the parameters of policy and limit the actions of political and economic forces (Bradford, 2020). They can influence decision-making through the judicial system and the interpretation of laws.
Ideology
Ideological forces can also influence policy in the field of criminal justice. Ideological forces can use their ideas and values to influence public opinion and political decisions. They can use their ideological arguments to convince people and political leaders of the correctness of their approach.
Personal Opinion
In my opinion, every one of these five elements needs to have a say in how criminal justice policies are created. When creating policy, the public’s opinion should be considered because it reflects the general public’s views and can reveal their wants and expectations. Political groups ought to act in the best interests of the people they serve by advocating on their behalf and using their authority to influence policies that favor them. Though they shouldn’t dominate and use their influence against other interests, economic forces should be involved in policy-making. Both legal and intellectual forces should uphold fairness and equality before the law in order to promote diversity and pluralism in the political system.
References
Bradford, A. (2020). The Brussels Effect: How the European Union Rules the World. Oxford University Press, USA.
Pickett, J. T. (2019). Public Opinion and Criminal Justice Policy: Theory and Research. Annual Review of Criminology, 2(1), 405–428. Web.