**JAD Methodology and Style Guides Jeopardy**

General Formatting

100

What is the official font for JAD materials?

Century

200

What is the general font size for JAD materials?

11 or 12 point 

300

Where should you save documents you create as part of your work? 

In an appropriate folder on the JAD server, rather than in a personal folder or on your computer’s desktop.

400

When writing memos, where should you start? 

With the official JAD memo template

500

Which citation style should you use? 

Use APA Style formatting, Century font, 10 point, aligned left, with one exception: use footnotes or endnotes, rather than in-text citations.

Grammar and Punctuation

100

Should you spell out “percent" or use the % symbol? 

Spell out "percent," except in charts/graphs or when the length of a document is impacted

200

When should numbers be spelled out and when should you use Arabic numbers? 

Spell out numbers 1-9, and use Arabic numbers for 10 and above. However, there are caveats: when starting a sentence with a number, always spell it out (unless a long length of a report warrants using Arabic numbers across the board). Also, it is ok to use Arabic numbers when grouping numbers together (i.e. “ages 8-13"), using numbers in lists, or as page numbers.

300

What is first-person language? 

Use person-first language, such as "justice system-involved," (rather than saying “offender”) "a person experiencing homelessness,” “a person experiencing a mental health crisis,” “a previously incarcerated individual,” etc. 

Use “youth” or “kids” rather than “juvenile” when referring to young people; however, it may still be appropriate to use "juvenile justice system.”

400

When should acronyms be introduced in a document? 

Acronyms should be introduced in parentheses after the first use of the full name. Example: The Justice Administration Department (JAD) worked tirelessly to promote reforms in Texas' criminal justice system. Use acronyms consistently. Don't try to switch up the name of the entity. Example: Don't refer to the Texas Indigent Defense Commission (TIDC) as “Commission” instead of “TIDC" in later uses.

500

Is JAD an acronym or an initialism? Why does it matter?

JAD is an acronym because acronyms are abbreviated words that can be pronounced as actual words. 

It matters because you do not use a definite article with an acronym (e.g., “JAD” and not “The JAD”—You wouldn’t write the NAFTA or the UNICEF—unless it is being used as an adjective: “the NAFTA report” or “the JAD budget”).

The Origin of Policy

100

There are two sources from which JAD’S policy team could receive a directive to perform research. What are they?

There are two sources from which JAD’S policy team could receive a directive to perform research: 1) a directive could be given from the Harris County Commissioners Court or any of its members, or 2) a member of the JAD team could identify a potential policy interest.

200

What considerations should be carefully measured before recommending a policy analysis and research project to the JAD policy team?

Does the project align with one or more of JAD’s overall goals and further JAD’s reputation as a reliable resource?

Does JAD have the internal capacity to take on the project?

Is the research being requested duplicative of research that has already been done or that is currently underway (by JAD or another reputable source)?

Is the project nonpartisan and rooted in best-practices?

300

What are the four steps to JAD's Policy Research and Analysis Guidelines?

1. Frame and understand the problem. Determine the starting point of analysis, and gain clarity about what evidence is needed, which policies need to be analyzed, and who the stakeholders will be.

2. Collect and describe the evidence. Relevance: Identify what information would provide the answers being sought. Availability: Is direct evidence available? If direct evidence is not available, it is permissible to use proxies. A proxy is a variable used to stand in for evidence that is difficult to measure directly. Reliability: Is evidence available from a reliable source(s). 

3. Analyze the Evidence. Evidence collected must aim to deliver responses to the problem and be related to questions formulated in Step 1. Keep these responses limited to what can be corroborated with the evidence discovered. Should include a reassessment of the initial framing of the problem in order to confirm it or complement it with new insights. Describe the evidence. The description of evidence should not contain any interpretation—it should be neutral to avoid loss of credibility. Interpret the evidence. 

4. Formulate Recommendations and Outline the Options. Recommendations must formulate a proposal on how to address the findings. Formulations should invoke action.

• Be concise and precise.
• Be easily understandable.
• Explain how the recommended actions correlate to the findings. 
• Assign responsibilities for implementation.
• Outline any risks that could lead to failure.  

400

How does the JAD policy team determine whether a source is reliable?

• Does the author or agency that created the information have the credentials, academic background, or experience to write authoritatively about the topic?
• Is the source content well supported by empirical data and analysis?
• Is there a reason to believe that the information provided by the author/agency is slanted, biased, or designed to persuade the reader? If you think the information may present only a partial narrative, it is a good idea to research opposing viewpoints as well and attempt to provide information that is balanced between these different perspectives.
• Are you aware of your own biases as you consume and use information? Do your personal opinions change the way you interpret information? Are you open to points of view that are different than your own? Do you choose only sources of information that reflect your personal point of view?
• Is the source current? What is the date of the source? Is there more recent research available on the topic? Information in some areas and disciplines changes regularly and needs to be up to date. If a source is significantly outdated, it may no longer be relevant.
• Are claims made by the source backed up with documented and cited sources? Can you get to the sources if they are online? Are the sources of high quality?
• A policy project should not rely heavily on a single source. Ideally, a policy document that is one page or longer should rely on at least three independent sources.
• These factors should be weighed against each other such that the strong presence of one factor may compensate for the weak presence of another factor (for example, a source may be very dated but still relevant if it is based on empirical data and analysis and the author or agency that created the information has excellent credentials).  

500

Name 3 or more of JAD's policy goals

 

• Reduce racial and ethnic disparities in the criminal justice and youth justice system.
• Increase transparency, accountability, public trust, and confidence.
• Prevent violence and trauma.
• Improve effectiveness of policies, programs, services, and operations county-wide.
• Improve public safety, overall health, and quality of life through preventative and responsive public health-oriented strategies to address crime, violence, and historical and current economic inequities.
• Minimize criminal justice system exposure and reduce reliance on incarceration for both adults and youth.