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Solution Proposal
I. Introduction
Throughout the United States, there are many different criminal justice organizations that face
many different obstacles and issues that arise within their designated patrol areas and
communities. These criminal justice organizations must develop strict policies and evidence-
driven operations in order to effectively deliver criminal justice to their communities and
working partners. When a criminal justice organization is face with a direct issue such as the
increase of crime rates, an increase of community complaints, and the increase of possible
internal and external issues, an organization must develop intelligence collection disciplines or
research methods in order to collect all the valuable and necessary data that they can later
analyze to develop solutions and evidence-driven operations to combat the issues. Not only will
the data collected through research provide criminal justice organizations with the proper
information and intelligence they need to propose solutions, the data collected may also allow
them to analyze their organization as a whole and identify internal and external trends that are
effecting the organizations operation. Within Maine, the Oxford County Sheriff’s Department
has recently seen an increase in crime rates relating to drug offenses and burglaries. This solution
proposal will provide information relating to the theories and methods, evidence supporting
trends, root causes that correlate to the increase of specified crimes, solution and defense
proposals, and a communication plan all to combat the issue of rising drug and burglary offenses.
increase of certain crimes within an area, leaders within the organization and analysts must use
and incorporate the different types of criminological theories that may provide information as to
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Solution Proposal
why there is an increase in specified rimes. Also, these theories may lead organizational leaders
in the right path to find information that will lead them to the development of a solution. With
the recent increase of drug and burglary crimes within the region, the Oxford County Sheriff’s
Department (OCSO) has chosen to correlate the crimes being committed to the criminological
theory, The Rational Choice Theory. The rational choice theory is a criminological theory and
approach used by many law enforcement organizations and social scientist to understand human
behavior (Green, 2002, p.1). The rational choice theory, connecting it with the recent increase of
drug and burglary crimes, looks at the criminal offender and asks the question, why are they
committing the crime? This criminological theory suggests that a criminal offender chooses to
commit a crime after they have weighed their options, and determined that the rewards of
committing the crime outweigh the risks. Even though this theory can be utilized greatly to
determine the root causes of one’s behavior, the challenges this theory faces is the collection of
information as to what the offender is thinking. Not only will the Oxford County Sheriff’s
Department utilize the rational choice theory within the region, the department should also take
the regions socioeconomic factors into consideration as well. Socioeconomic factors within the
region can be linked to the Strain Theory. The strain theory is based on the stress and pressure
that society puts on individuals to achieve socially excepted goals; which they may lack the
means to accomplish, leading to the strain to commit crimes (Boundless, 2016). After collecting
the necessary information from the community and criminal offenders, the Oxford County
Sheriff’s Department can use the rational choice theory and strain theory in the development of
solutions and evidence-driven operations to combat the rise of drug and burglary crimes.
When choosing strategic methods in order to effectively approach problems within Oxford
intervention to seek success in the proposed solutions. Criminal justice organizations, especially
the Oxford County Sheriff’s Department, as been using community relation techniques for
decades; leading to the increase of a positive rapport with the community. The Community
Relations Service (CRS), within the U.S Department of Justice, has been assisting law
enforcement agencies all over the country with coming to grips with the difficult task of
maintaining law and order in a multicultural society (USDOJ, 2003, p.4). The CRS focuses on
the strategic methods relating to the role of the police officer, police culture, developing a set of
approach. By focusing on these strategic methods placed by the CRS, the Oxford County
Sheriff’s Department can collect information from the public and from within the agencies own
statistics in order to further develop solutions and evidence-driven operations to combat the
rising issues.
provides the Oxford County Sheriff’s Office with important information and is key to the
intelligence collection process. Within Oxford County, there are many rural towns and larger
towns with a diverse population. The area is largely populated during the winter and summer
months due to the vast areas that have recreation services. In order for the sheriff’s department to
effectively communicate with the population during all seasons, and gather information
pertaining to the increase of drug and burglary offenses, the Oxford County Sheriff’s Department
must increase our presence and community based relations. Community policing has been shown
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Solution Proposal
to decrease actual crime activity and reduce the fear of crime (USDOJ, 2003, p.43). Community
policing methods can also incorporate the sheriff’s department working with local business that
include mental health counselling, and drug abuse counselling. If the Oxford County Sheriff’s
Department creates avenues of communication with the public, the organization can collect
information and share information to develop solutions to the rise in drug and burglary crimes.
Once the information has been collected pertaining to drug offenses, the sheriff’s department has
the opportunity to share this information with existing drug rehabilitation centers and counsellors
within the county to develop programs to combat the issue. This practice may also work with the
increase of burglary crimes. By collecting information that relates to who and where these crimes
are being committed, and where they seem to be occurring more, the sheriff’s department can
provide extra-patrol and focus on our presence within the area to lower the risk of recidivism and
future burglaries.
A. Data Analysis
According to the recent statistics shown over the past eight years regarding the number of
incidents that officers responded to and the number of officers employed with the Oxford County
Sheriff’s Department, it is evidence that each officer responds to approximately 5.2 and 8.6 calls
per shift. In 2009, there were 25 deputies employed by the Oxford County Sheriff’s Department
and there were approximately 206 incidents. These statistics may no appear to be an overload of
work; however, it may be a leading factor in the crime rate and recent spike in drug and burglary
offenses. Having each officer assigned to approximately 8.2 incidents per shift, this may take
their attention away from being proactive within the high-crime rated areas involving drug
offenses and burglaries. Thus, leading to each officer being unable to focus on their patrol areas
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Solution Proposal
where these crimes are being committed. Since 2014, within Oxford County, there has been a
significant increase of drug offense regarding the abuse of Heroin, Fentanyl, and other CNS
Stimulants, CNS Depressants, and Narcotic Analgesics. According to the Public Safety
Commissioner, John Morris, the Main Drug Enforcement Agency has continued to see a
significant abuse of prescription drugs and heroin; leading drug arrests to increase from 5,801 in
2014 to 5,943 in 2015 (Russell, 2016). This epidemic can also be attributed to the out-of-state
drug dealers. Even though there was a four-year stretch of declining crime number that was
encouraging, four of the five categories that saw increases last yea were crimes against people –
rape, robbery, aggravated assaults, and homicide (Russell, 2016). Burglaries within Oxford
County have seen a 7% increase within the past year in 2016. It is evidence through crime
statistics that law enforcement agencies within Oxford County have seen an increase in drug and
burglary offenses; leading the Oxford County Sheriff’s Department to believe that the two
crimes may potentially be related in some indisputable way. This trend that may be occurring
involves the opioid addiction and having to commit crimes such as burglary and thefts to
B. Research
Though most of Oxford County has seen a downward trend with crime rates, the urban regions
have seen an overall 7.6% increase; all relating to drug offenses and violent/burglary crimes.
Rewinding back to the Rational Choice Theory and Strain Theory, the increase of drug and
burglary crimes may be more closely related than most think. With the rise of these crimes being
nearly 7%, there may be a connecting variable between the drug abuser having to burglarize
homes and vehicles in order to collect money or items to pay for their addiction. If the Oxford
County Sheriff’s Department is able to identify key trends within the crimes being committed, it
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Solution Proposal
will be most valuable asset when it comes to developing a solution. Being able to identify why
an offender commits a crime, whether it is related to drug addiction or the strain theory, is
important when attempting to use data collection disciplines to research information. The
growing drug abuse problem still affects all Maine Law Enforcement, as hopeful as the overall
crime numbers are, drugs are still the driving force for most of Maine crime. (Russell, 2016). In
2016, there were 26,00 report crimes by local, county, and state law enforcement organizations;
averaging approximately 20 offenses per 1,000 people. Being able to effectively collect
qualitative and quantitative research on crime trends is a tremendous way for the sheriff’s
department to collect data and information that will lead to the proposal and development of
potential solutions and evidence-driven operations. Using qualitative research will avow the
sheriff’s department to develop theories to crime trends that can be used to develop a hypothesis.
Then, using quantitative research and the statistics provided to collect numerical data to test the
hypothesis and create conclusive clarifications. Using these two research methods can also be
used to better understand why the criminal offender commits the crime and will aid in combating
the issue. Before identifying trends, the Oxford County Sheriff’s Department must identify key
factors as to why the crimes are being committed. This research will lead to the identification of
behavior patterns and weaknesses. Many law enforcement organizations such as the Community
Oriented Policing Services (COPS) has implemented many different forms of methods and
strategies to combat the rising crime rates all over the country. COPS have implemented
strategies and programs to law enforcement agencies all over the country that focus on building
successful partnerships with communities, drug intervention education, and crime prevention
C. Root Causes
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Solution Proposal
After using different raw data and structured analytic techniques to analyze the data collected
through research, the Oxford County Sheriff’s Department believes that the rise in crime can be
contributed to the drug epidemic within the county. Criminal offenders appear to be abusing
prescription medication, heroin, and other illegal drugs, that are potentially leading to the
increase of home invasions and burglaries. This recent spike in crime may be leading to the
trends regarding the lack of resources within the sheriff’s department. Having deputies assigned
to different calls throughout their designated patrol zones is taking each deputy focus off of the
high-crime rated areas. Also, incorporating socioeconomic statuses of criminal offenders and
using the criminological theories of rational choice and strain theory, can provide the sheriff’s
department with the hypothesis and theory that the drug addiction and low socioeconomic status
of the criminal offenders is causing them to commit burglaries to support their drug addiction;
IV. Proposal
A. Solution
I. When it pertains to the deliverance of criminal justice to a community within Oxford
County, while focusing on the extreme issues such as the increase of crime rates relating
to drug and burglary offenses, it is important to develop solutions that effectively address
the issue. With the recent increase of drug arrests going from 5,801 in 2014 to 5,943 in
2015, it is evident that illegal drugs have taken a deep root within Oxford County
(Russell, 2016). Having each officer assigned to approximately 8.2 calls per shift is also a
contributing factor to the 7% increase of crime. To combat the issue and develop a
solution to the drug epidemic and rise of burglaries within the area, the Oxford County
Sheriff’s Department must develop a strategy that directly attacks the problem. The
sheriff’s department must provide the community with the education and resources
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Solution Proposal
needed for drug counselling and rehabilitation; while assigning officers to patrol the high-
drug and burglary areas. Providing the public with drug-rehabilitation education and
focusing on patrolling the high burglary crime areas will hopefully reduce the drug and
burglary incident. Assigning more officers to those high-crime areas will increase officer
presence within those areas and hopefully deter criminal offenders from committing
future crimes. Officer presence and community education are two of the most effective
tools within law enforcements belt when it comes to combating the increase of crime.
II. Once the sheriff’s department has developed a plan of action, specific steps must be taken
in order for that plan to be effective. First and foremost, the sheriff’s department must
begin by educating the public and providing the communities within Oxford County the
chance to come forth with their drug addiction. Many of the local municipalities within
Oxford County, including the sheriff’s department, partake in a process called drug
takeback weeks. This week includes officers being assigned to various locations within
the county with drug takeback boxes. These boxes are locked and secured where the
public can bring back their expired medications and dispose of them with law
enforcement being present. The sheriff’s department can also provide pamphlets to the
Lastly, the sheriff’s department can partake in the SaveMe program. This program is
designed to offer those addicted to drugs the opportunity to turn in their illegal substances
to law enforcement and be offered the chance to get help instead of criminal charges.
This will increase the rapport between law enforcement and the community and aid in
combating drug addiction and drug offenses. When it comes to combating burglaries,
local municipalities and the sheriffs department must educate the public on when to
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Solution Proposal
report suspicious activity and the process of creating neighborhood watch programs.
These programs and educational opportunities will provide the public with the chance to
be a first reporter of incident that may involve drug offenses and potential burglaries.
Knowing when to report a crime is half the battle, and with officers assigned to those
designated high-crime areas, law enforcement and the community can work together to
III. Implementing these programs and educating the public is going to take time. The first
step that the Oxford County Sheriff’s Department administration can do is to inform the
public of the serious drug problem and increase in burglaries. The sheriff’s department
can take courses of action such as educating the public through hearings and press
conferences. This is the most effective way to deliver information to a large community
at one time. Also, utilizing news-stations is key to communicating to the public. Once the
information has been provided to the public on drug addiction help, drug takeback
locations, and locations where drug addicts can utilize the SaveMe program, the sheriff’s
department must stick to their role of providing the county with the deliverance of
B. Defense
I. Providing the public with the SaveMe program, drug takeback locations, drug
will aid the community with the information necessary to work with the sheriff’s
department to combat the rise in drug and burglary crimes. The SaveMe program and
other drug rehabilitation education will provide those addicted to drugs the opportunity to
get help. A vast majority of the time, these addicts will seek illegal means to cope with
their addiction. By providing them will the chance to get help through a law enforcement
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Solution Proposal
agency in a legal manner, it will hopefully reduce their recidivism rate and lower the drug
arrests and incidents within the county. In 2009, a woman named Patricia Plummer
within the town of Paris, located in Oxford County, utilized the SaveMe program to get
her son on the road to sobriety for his heroin addiction (Place, 2016). Plummer had been
dealing with her son’s addiction for years, hoping he would end up in jail only to restrict
him from abusing illegal drugs. The SaveMe program, which was new to the area,
allowed Plummer and her son to find help and make a full-recovery from an opioid
addiction. Providing the community with the tools and resources needed to combat drug
addiction and reduce the chances of burglaries will make Oxford County a safer place to
live in. If the public is aware of the increase of drug and burglary crimes, and notify law
enforcement so the sheriff’s department can make their presence known within those
regions, it will potentially reduce the number of burglaries and drug offenses. While
creating a positive rapport and working relationship between the Oxford County Sheriff’s
II. In 2016, Maines Public Safety Commissioner John Morris, stated the Maine Drug
medication and heroin (Russell, 2016). Matching the increase of burglaries within Oxford
County to rise 7% in 2016. These statistics alone force the Oxford County Sheriff’s
Department to implement new tactics in combating the rising issues. Morris also stated
that the recent increase of drug incidents can be attributed to the out-of-state drug dealers
coming into Maine. Even though the sheriff’s department has a large number of
attractions that out-of-state tourist come to see, knowing when to report a crime is key to
combating the issue. “See something, say something” is a quote that is heavily used when
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Solution Proposal
attempting to educate the public on when to report a potential crime. This quote can be
used when discussing the reporting of suspicious activity that involves illegal drugs, and
development of evidence-driven operations to combat rising crime rates, and with the
increase of drug and burglary crimes rising an astonishing 7%, it is clear that the sheriff’s
III. After collecting the data and analyzing it through raw data and structured analytic
techniques, evidence-driven operations are then formed to combat the issue at hand.
While researching the topic, the Oxford County Sheriff’s Department reveled data that
showed a significant increase in drug crimes and crimes pertaining to burglaries. This
information was then analyzed to produce various solutions to combat the issue. Even
though it is evident that there has been an increase in drug and burglary crimes, the
sheriff’s department must take a closer look at where those crimes are being committed
and focus the solutions and evidence-driven operations to those specified regions. The
data and information collected have let to the implementation of the SaveMe program,
public education on drug abuse counselling and rehabilitation centers, and public
education on neighborhood watch programs to combat the rise of drug and burglary
V. Communication Plan
A. Presenting Information
Internal and external audiences are those who are directly involved to the solution within
the growing drug epidemic and rise in burglary crimes. Those internal and external audiences are
the public, local drug rehabilitation centers and counsellors, local municipalities within Oxford
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Solution Proposal
County, the media, and the Oxford County Sheriff’s Department. The most effective way to
meeting or public hearing; with one person serving as a liaison from each organization. This
method would ensure the most important people to the cause receive the information and then
can return to their respected drug rehabilitation or drug counselling centers and provide the
information to the rest of the organization; limiting the risk of confusion. When sharing and
educating the public, the most effective way would be to communicate through social media,
news-networks, pamphlets, public hearings, and everyday contact with the general public. Also,
having an open-door policy would be effective as well. In order to be effective and provide all
internal and external parties with the information, an open line of structured communication must
be developed.
B. Internal Audience
Within law enforcement, the internal audience is the audience that must have the most
information and be proficient with said information. In this circumstance, those working for the
Oxford County Sheriff’s Department are the internal audience and must be most knowledgeable.
Once the SaveMe program has been established, along with the information from local drug
location is the most effective way to communicate the information from one source to another.
Once all liaisons are in one location, the Oxford County Sheriff’s Department can deliver the
information pertaining to the SaveMe program and all other forms of drug rehabilitation centers,
and drug takeback locations. This information provided to all agencies and entities involved, will
lead to the success of the programs and ensure the reduction of drug offenses and potentially
even burglaries.
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Solution Proposal
C. External Audience
The public and those living within Oxford County are the most important external audience.
They are the ones that the SaveMe program and other drug rehabilitation and counselling
services pertain too. Providing the public with the information about the programs and
“neighborhood watch” programs is the first step in the solution, and assuring it becomes
successful and effective. Being able to provide the knowledge and information about these
programs through news-networks, pamphlets, social-media, and public hearings, is the most
effective line of communication. Also, having an open-door policy with the sheriff’s department
where the public can come into the main office or any local substation and ask questions and
gather information is also an effective means of communication. This is an effective way to build
a positive rapport with the community; leading to the working relationship between the public
and law enforcement to reduce drug and burglary incidents within Oxford County.
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Solution Proposal
VI. References
COPS. (2017). Drugs: The Community Policing Response. Retrieved July 20, 2017, from
https://cops.usdoj.gov/Default.asp?Item=2470
Green, S. L. (2002). Rational Choice Theory: An Overview (Rep.). Baylor University.
Baylor University Faculty Development Seminar on Rational Choice Theory
Russell, E. (2016, September 26). Crime in Maine on the decline, but still driven by drug abuse.
Retrieved July 20, 2017, from Crime in Maine on the decline, but still driven by drug abuse
Place, E. (2016, April 14). After saving 10, Oxford County's Project SaveMe needs some
financial help. Retrieved August 05, 2017, from http://advertiserdemocrat.com/after-saving-10-
oxford-countys-project-saveme-needs-some-financial-help/
Source: Boundless. "Strain Theory: How Social Values Produce Deviance." Boundless
Sociology Boundless, 26 May. 2016. Retrieved 20 Jul. 2017 from
https://www.boundless.com/sociology/textbooks/boundless-sociology-textbook/deviance-social-
control-and-crime-7/the-functionalist-perspective-on-deviance-62/strain-theory-how-social-
values-produce-deviance-375-6183/
USDOJ. (2003). Principles of Good Policing: Avoiding Violence Between Police and Citizens
(United States of America, United States Department of Justice, Community Relations Service).
USDOJ.