4.3. The Stages of Policy Development 
ALISON S. BURKE 
The stages of policy development can generally be categorized into 5 general stages. U.S. policy 
development encompasses several stages. Most policy models generally include the following stages: (1) 
identifying the issue to be addressed by the proposed policy, (2) placement on the agenda, (3) formulation 
of the policy, (4) implementation of the policy, and (5) evaluation of the policy. This is similar to the 
community police response acronym SARA (scanning, analysis, response, and assessment) and uses some of 
the same techniques, but on a much bigger, national level. 
Dangerous Myths about Juvenile Sex Offenders 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?reload=9&v=81hy3AZjkr4 
Identifying the Problem and Agenda Setting 
Identifying the problem involves addressing what is happening and why it is an issue. In criminal justice, 
this might look at the increase of opioid use and overdoses or acts of youth violence. Once the issue is 
identified, there can be a serious debate about the plans of the policy. Once it is decided what the policy will 
look like, it is placed on the agenda. This is perhaps the most politicized part of the process as it involves 
many different stakeholders. It involves identifying the legislative, regulatory, judicial, or other institutions 
responsible for policy adoption and formulation. 
Formulation and Adoption 
The next stage involved adopting the policy. Depending on the nature of the policy, this could involve a 
new law or an executive order. 
Implementation of the Policy 
Implementation is about moving forward, taking action, and spending money. It involves hiring new staff 
or additional police officers. This is where policies often stall because of the lack of funding. For example, 
a popular program in 1990, Weed and Seed, involved “weeding” out criminals (targeting arrest efforts) and 
“seeding” new programs (instituting after-school programs, drug treatment facilities, etc.). The weeding 
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