NCJ Number
45842
Date Published
1978
Length
189 pages
Annotation
SYSTEMS ANALYSIS IS PRESENTED AS A RATIONAL QUANTITATIVE-ORIENTED COMPLEX PROBLEMSOLVING APPROACH THAT CAN OFFER A UNIQUE INFORMATION SOURCE FOR THE PLANNING AND OPERATION OF A CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM.
Abstract
VARIOUS WAYS OF PERCEIVING SOCIAL REALITIES AND ESTABLISHING SOCIAL KNOWLEDGE ARE BRIEFLY DISCUSSED, AND THE POINT IS MADE THAT THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM HAS PROVED INEFFECTIVE IN REACHING ITS INTENDED GOALS BECAUSE OF FAULTY OR NONEXISTENT MEANS OF ACQUIRING KNOWLEDGE AND APPLYING IT IN PROBLEMSOLVING. SYSTEMS ANALYSIS IS VIEWED AS THE MOST EFFECTIVE MEANS FOR MOVING CLOSER TO A SCIENTIFIC VIEW AND APPROACH TO SOCIAL PROBLEMS. CAUSE AND EFFECT RELATIONSHIPS AMONG DATA ITEMS ARE DISCUSSED IN TERMS OF MATHEMATICAL EQUATIONS THAT HELP TO ELIMINATE BIAS AND PRECONCEPTIONS. MODELS ARE DISCUSSED AS MEANS FOR GIVING ORDER AND PRECISION TO DECISIONMAKING. EVALUATION IS EXAMINED AS A SCIENTIFIC MEANS FOR ARRIVING AT OBJECTIVE KNOWLEDGE ABOUT THE EFFECTIVENESS OF A SYSTEM IN ACCOMPLISHING ITS INTENDED GOALS, THE PROGRAM PLANNING AND BUDGETING SYSTEM IS ESSENTIAL TO THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM AS A MEANS OF GUIDING RATIONAL ANALYSIS OF ALTERNATIVES TO ACCOMPLISHING OBJECTIVES. ITS VALUE LIES IN FORCING MANAGERS TO LOOK AT THE SYSTEM'S GOALS. PUBLIC POLICY, PLANNING THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM, POLICE OPERATIONS, PROSECUTION, COURTS AND CORRECTIONS ARE THE SUBJECTS EXAMINED IN TERMS OF HOW SYSTEMS ANALYSIS CAN AID IN ACCOMPLISHING OBJECTIVES. (RCB)