Policy Brief On Prison Industrial Complex

  Social Responsibility Policy Brief Directions: (Suggested WGSS 2013 Policy Brief Template.docx) Scenario: You work for an non-profit or advocacy organization that works on addressing inequities in the prison system. Write a ~800-1000 word policy brief that explains how the Prison Industrial Complex (PIC) impacts a marginalized popoulation in terms of gender, sexuality, and /or race. Provide evidence and examples of how the Prison Industrial Complex and current practices and policies disproportionately impact and target the population/group you are centering. Propose 2 new practices and policies that addresss the issues/problems at the local, state, or federal levels. Your policy recommendations should be informed by Women's Studies and feminist concepts and approaches. Engage bold, imaginative, and innovative approaches that address social inequities and (hetero)patriarchy. You will be required to use at least 2 sources from our course and 2 outside sources relevant to your topic. Examples of populations you can center for your policy brief: Incarcerated women or formerly incarcerated women Incarcerated mothers Women on probation Incarcerated or formerly incarcerated Women of color Specific racialized and gendered group, e.g. Black women, Latinx women, Native American Women, Black men, Latinx women, Native American men. Incarcerated men of color LGTBQIA+ or a particular racialized and gendered group, e.g. trans Women of Color Incarcerated women with disabilities Incarcerated low-income, poor communities Other groups (talk to Prof. Luna for guidance) What is a policy brief? (Click here to view UCLA's Center for the Study of Women student policy briefs examples) A policy brief is a concise summary presenting research or project findings that addresses an urgent and relevant problem and offers evidence‐based recommendations. It is a practical, rather than academic, document targeting a specific audience – usually policymakers or those interested in formulating or influencing policy ‐ and aiming to prompt change. Policy briefs often contain relevant graphs, data charts, or images and are written with accessible language. A policy brief should: Educate: Present evidence-based information relevant to reader – insight into topic of interest, uncover a new problem or present new information about existing problem/challenge to understand the problem. Provide information about an alternative. Identify. Uncover a problem, identify gap/challenge, describe an important trend or key finding. Include infographics, photos or charts Analyze. Provide unique, research-based perspective on the problem and objectively identify possible steps for addressing problems. Motivate. Encourage the reader to ask more questions; further investigate problem; pursue solutions. Convince the reader that the problem must be addressed urgently. Stimulate the reader to make a decision Be easy to read.