The empirical and theoretical examination of communication, perception, and implementation is lacking in criminal justice research. Assembly Bill 109, California's Public Safety Realignment Plan was developed because of a Supreme Court demand to reduce state prison populations. Canon and Johnson developed a theoretical framework for the path a policy takes from decision makers to consuming populations. The purpose of this thesis is to explore the extent to which the communication and implementation experience within a local police department follows the theoretical model laid out by Canon and Johnson. I will explore the information flow of the judicial policy decision and the influence of that communication, using qualitative interviews, correlation, and regression analyses. This research will directly contribute to the existing literature on the implementation of public policies, and more specifically those in the prison litigation realm. Not only will this study contribute to theory but also the practice of policy and direct application of policy communication in law enforcement.
