ACTION PRIORITIES OF THE FUTURE (FROM PROJECT SEARCH, 1972, BY GARY COOPER - SEE NCJ-09380)

• NCJ Number: 48324
• Author(s): T MCBRIDE; D M GOTTFREDSON; P GRAY; J R PLANTS; E SHORT
• Date Published: 1972
• Length: 16 pages
• Sponsoring Agency: US Dept of Justice; Project Search (See Search Group Inc)
• Sale Source: National Institute of Justice/
• Publication Type: Program/Project Evaluation
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

PRIORITIES FOR FUTURE ACTION IN THE AREA OF INFORMATION CAPABILITIES OF THE POLICE, THE COURTS, CORRECTIONS, AND THE OVERALL CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM ARE IDENTIFIED.

Abstract

IN THE AREA OF POLICE FUNCTIONS, A MAJOR NEED EXISTS FOR EXTENSIVE AND OBJECTIVE EVALUATION OF THE EFFECTIVENESS OF POLICING OPERATIONS AND INNOVATIONS WHICH USE APPROPRIATE MEASURES, MEASURABLE OBJECTIVES AND GOALS, AND APPLICATIONS OF GENUINELY EXPERIMENTAL RESEARCH METHODOLOGIES. A NUMBER OF DATA GAPS WILL ALSO NEED TO BE FILLED. GREATER STANDARDIZATION IN TERMINOLOGY IS NEEDED, INADEQUACIES IN CRIME REPORTING METHODS REQUIRE CORRECTION, AND VICTIM AND OFFENDER INPUT ARE NEEDED. WHILE MANY ADVANCES HAVE BEEN MADE IN THE AREA OF CORRECTIONAL INFORMATION SYSTEMS, A TRULY COMPREHENSIVE SYSTEM CAPABLE OF PROVIDING A WIDE VARIETY OF INFORMATION WHICH CAN FACILITATE BOTH PROGRAM AND INDIVIDUAL CASE DECISIONMAKING IS YET TO BE ACHIEVED. NATIONAL DATA BASES IN CORRECTIONS, PROBATION, AND PAROLE ARE NEEDED. INTERFACES ACROSS DIFFERENT SYSTEMS ARE REQUIRED AS WELL AS A CAPACITY FOR FOLLOWUP OF INDIVIDUALS PAST PROBATION AND PAROLE AND INFORMATION ON JUVENILE DETENTION, PROBATION, AND INSTITUTIONS. WHILE AN OFFENDER-BASED TRANSACTION INFORMATION SYSTEM (OBTS) MODEL CAN HELP REMEDY SOME OF THESE DEFICIENCIES, THERE IS A NEED TO COORDINATE AND INTEGRATE SUCH MODEL WITH OTHER SYSTEMS TO PROVIDE THE CAPABILITY OF INFORMATION DEVELOPMENT FOR CORRECTIONAL DECISIONMAKING. ALTHOUGH IT IS HOPED THAT AN OBTS WILL PROVIDE A SOUND BASIS FOR CRIMINAL JUSTICE DECISIOMMAKING; SUCH AN INFORMATION SYSTEM WILL NOT BECOME TOTALLY OPERATIONAL FOR SOME TIME. IT IS SUGGESTED THAT CRIMINAL JUSTICE PLANNERS CAN NOT WAIT THAT LONG; NOR SHOULD THE EVENTUAL CAPABILITIES OF AN OBTS BE USED AS A RATIONALE FOR ABANDONING REPRESENTATIVE SAMPLING RESEARCH TECHNIQUES. SUCH TECHNIQUES CAN PROVIDE PLANNERS AND DECISIONMAKERS WITH STATISTICALLY VALID INFORMATION FOR POLICYMAKING. STANDARDS PROPOSED IN THE FINAL REPORT OF THE TASK FORCE ON INFORMATION SYSTEMS AND STATISTICS OF THE NATIONAL ADVISORY COMMISSION ON CRIMINAL JUSTICE STANDARDS AND GOALS ARE SUMMARIZED. THESE DEAL WITH EVALUATION, PRIVACY AND SECURITY, CAPABILITIES AND CHARACTERISTICS, MANAGEMENT AND PLANNING, AND INTERFACES AT THE LOCAL, STATE, AND NATIONAL LEVELS. REOMMENDATIONS FOR COURT INFORMATION SYSTEM PRIORITIES ARE ALSO MADE WHICH INCLUDE OPERATIONALIZATION OF MANAGEMENT INFORMATION SYSTEMS, REGIONALIZATION OF COURT INFORMATION SYSTEMS, DEVELOPMENT OF SECURITY AND PRIVACY STANDARDS, AND INTENSIVE TRAINING IN PROBABILISTIC MODELS FOR MEMBERS OF THE JUDICIARY AND THE BAR. (JAP)