Wk 4 – Summative Assessment: Application of Root Cause Analysis
Law enforcement officers often must use problem-solving skills to address issues when solving crimes. Being able to identify the root causes of a problem you are facing and determine potential solutions is a skill criminal justice practitioners use often. A very common issue, and one that is paramount to solving crimes, is witness cooperation. In this summative assessment, you research a criminal case where witness cooperation was problematic and, by using the information available to you, perform a root cause analysis. Use the material you have learned this week to propose strategies that law enforcement officers could use to mitigate the issue.
Research a criminal case where witness cooperation was an issue for investigators.
Imagine you are one of the investigators and write an 875- to 1,050-word case audit for your police chief as part of the agency’s quality control procedures.
Address the following in your case audit:
Summarize the facts of the selected criminal case.
Discuss the challenges investigators faced in dealing with witnesses to the crime.
Conduct a root cause analysis (RCA) using the 5 Whys approach on the problem investigators faced with witness cooperation.
Propose 3 strategies that investigators could have used to improve communication and cooperation with witnesses during the criminal investigation.
Explain why these strategies would have been successful.
Cite at least 3 academic sources to support your case audit, excluding weekly readings.
Format your references according to APA guidelines.
