Goal Setting, Essay Example

In order for goals to be obtainable, they must be measurable and accessible. Specific goals should answer questions like “at what”, “for whom”, and “by how much?” As stated goals imply what one may do, real goals have a time-frame for completion, must be credible in its pursuits, relate directly to performance challenge set, and provide the frameworks needed to set specific outcome-based results (New Straits Times, 1999). Goals describe objectives that are specific in magnitude and time and must serve as a tool for specific strategies to be laid out and defined. Furthermore, goals must maintain consistency and focus. Conflicting objectives cause frustration and lack of focus if not maintained with consistency and focus. Short-term goals, which are specific, realistic, and measurable, should define the progress that will take place as well as the level of performance that will be accomplished. Short-term goals should be specific and serve as the foundation of larger vision long-term goals. As long-term goals may be slightly more uncertain than short-range goals, they are still measurable and achievable while allowing for a clear vision for future accomplishments (Goal Setting, 2012).

Having one year to retire from law enforcement will involve goal setting in a series of specific short-term goals intended to produce a longer-term goals or end result. During this year, longer term goals will involve upholding societal lawfulness within my community in order to improve community standards, ensuring and providing safety to community residents by advocating for victims and community residents, and preventing specific crimes from reoccurring within the community.Within the last month of law enforcement, measurable and time-specific goals will allow specific strategies to be defined. These goals will include repairing not only the damage done to the community but the victim as well. Restorative justice believes that both the victim and the community should be involved with the punishment through various programs, mediations, and reconciliations (Johnson, 2011). Restorative justice is used to finds a way to a solution that benefits all that are involved. Additional goals will include working with juveniles to ensure a better chance of rehabilitation. This will allow juvenile offenders to second learn how they can be law-abiding citizens while acquiring the skill set needed to becoming a positive influence in society. Finally, a reformation goal for all offenders who may be able to function within society without threatening societal safety will be implemented in order to provide the  resources lead a non-criminal lifestyle and contribute to society as a whole (Johnson, 2011).

Although the activities stated imply specific and measurable goals, carrying out and achieving each goal will require that each small step needed in order to accomplish these goals are met with specific strategies for reaching these goals. Setting short-term goals, such as working to rehabilitate offenders through education and public awareness efforts can provide the framework for longer-term goals and objectives, such as advocating for victim rights and upholding community standards. In order to reach the proposed solution of long-term goals, each short-term goal must be carried out in a manner that is obtainable, measurable, and credible. It is through these efforts that specific strategies can be set in placeand used to obtain the intended overall outcome.

References

Goal Setting. (2012). My Strategic Plan. Retrieved December 14, 2012 from  http://mystrategicplan.com/resources/goal-setting/

Johnson, M. (2011). Goals of the Criminal Justice System in Sentencing. Retrieved December 14, 2012 from http://suite101.com/article/goals-of-the-criminal-justice-system-in-sentencing-a363259

New Straits Times. (1999). Guide to Setting Goals. Retrieved December 14, 2012 from http://wv9lq5ld3p.search.serialssolutions.com.library.capella.edu/?ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&ctx_enc=info%3Aofi%2Fenc%3AUTF-8&rfr_id=info:sid/summon.serialssolutions.com&rft_val_fmt=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:journal&rft.genre=article&rft.atitle=Guide+to+setting+goals&rft.jtitle=New+Straits+Times&rft.au=Reviewed+by+Prasanna+Raman&rft.date=1999-08-31&rft.spage=13&rft.externalDBID=UAAJ&rft.externalDocID=44336175