NCJ Number
43256
Date Published
1977
Length
14 pages
Annotation
A DECISION TO APPLY ANALYTIC MODELING TO A CRIMINAL JUSTICE PROBLEM SHOULD CONSIDER NOT ONLY AVAILABLE MODELS AND THEIR USE BUT ALSO WHETHER THE PROBLEM IS ONE WHICH SHOULD BE SOLVED WITH A MODEL.
Abstract
WHENEVER ANALYTIC MODELING IS USED, CERTAIN GOALS MUST BE ASSUMED AS PART OF THE PROCESS. IF A POLICE CHIEF USES A PATROL CAR DEPLOYMENT MODEL, HE MUST DECIDE IF HE WANTS TO CUT COSTS, CUT RESPONSE TIME, OR COVER CERTAIN AREAS OF THE CITY ABOUT WHICH POLITICIANS AND NEWSPAPERS ARE UPSET. IN THE COURT SYSTEM, MODELS OFTEN DESIGNATE CERTAIN PRACTICES AS 'EFFICIENT,' LITTLE ATTENTION BEING PAID TO THE BASIC PURPOSE OF THE COURT PROCESS, WHICH IS TO GIVE A HEARING TO PEOPLE WHO MAY BE ALIENATED BY AN UNRESPONSIVE SOCIETY. THE MOST IMPORTANT PART OF THE TRIAL PROCESS IS TO GIVE A PERSON THE FEELING THAT THE CASE HAS BEEN HEARD ON ITS MERITS. COMPUTERIZED SENTENCING WHICH USES EVIDENCE AS INPUT AND DELIVERS UNIFORM SENTENCES WOULD UNDOUBTEDLY BE FAR MORE EFFICIENT THAN TODAY'S SYSTEM, BUT IT WOULD COMPLETELY IGNORE HUMAN FACTORS. MODELING IS APPROPRIATE TO CRIMINAL JUSTICE, BUT THOSE WHO USE THE MODELS MUST HAVE A PERSPECTIVE WHICH ENABLES THEM TO SELECT THE VALUES TO BE PRESERVED.