CHANGE AND CONTINUITY IN CRIMINAL JUSTICE RESEARCH - A PERSPECTIVE FROM NILECJ (NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF LAW ENFORCEMENT AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE)

• NCJ Number: 50569
• Journal: Journal of Research in Crime and Delinquency Volume: 15 Issue: 2 Dated: (JULY 1978) Pages: 266-278
• Author(s): B G EWING
• Date Published: 1978
• Length: 13 pages
• Corporate Author: National Council on Crime and Delinquency
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

REASONS UNDERLYING CHANGES IN THE NATURE, SCOPE, AND DIRECTION OF NILECJ-SPONSORED CRIMINAL JUSTICE RESEARCH ARE NOTED, ALONG WITH SPECULATIONS ON THE FUTURE DIRECTION OF RESEARCH SUPPORT.

Abstract

CHANGES REFLECT THE IMPACT OF THE FOLLOWING FACTORS: CHANGES IN PUBLIC, GOVERNMENTAL, AND RESEARCH COMMUNITY ATTITUDES TOWARD THE PROBLEMS OF SOCIAL REFORM; THE IMPACT OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES' EVALUATION OF NILECJ-SPONSORED RESEARCH, PUBLISHED AS A REPORT ENTITLED UNDERSTANDING CRIME; AND THE DEVELOPMENT WITHIN LEAA OF A MAJOR EMPHASIS ON THE USE OF RESEARCH AND EVALUATION FINDINGS AS THE PRIMARY BASIS FOR ACTION PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT AND IMPLEMENTATION. ANOTHER SOURCE OF CHANGE LAY IN THE REALIZATION THAT CRIMINAL JUSTICE OPERATIONS RESEARCH IN THE LATE 1960'S AND EARLY 1970'S RAISED, BUT FAILED TO ADDRESS, MAJOR AND BASIC QUESTIONS ABOUT THE BEHAVIOR OF THOSE WHO OPERATE THE SYSTEM, THE CITIZENRY, AND OFFENDERS. A THIRD MAJOR SOURCE OF CHANGE IS THE RECONSIDERATION OF RESEARCH DIRECTIONS BY NILECJ STAFF; IN 1975, THE INSTITUTE BEGAN FUNDING LONGER TERM RESEARCH EFFORTS AND MOUNTED EFFORTS TO SYNTHESIZE KNOWLEDGE ABOUT ACTION PROGRAM OBJECTIVES. THE CARTER ADMINISTRATION'S INTENTION TO REORGANIZE LEAA ALSO SPURRED SUPPORT FOR BASIC AS WELL AS APPLIED RESEARCH. THE CHANGES LIE IN SEVERAL MAJOR AREAS: (1) THE DEVELOPMENT OF A BETTER BALANCE BETWEEN BASIC AND APPLIED RESEARCH; (2) THE DEVELOPMENT OF LONG-RANGE PRIORITIES; (3) THE DEVELOPMENT OF UNSOLICITED RESEARCH; (4) A MAJOR EMPHASIS ON QUALITY CONTROL IN THE DEVELOPMENT, DESIGN, REVIEW, CONDUCT, AND MANAGEMENT OF RESEARCH; (5) MAJOR EFFORTS TO DEVELOP STAFF CAPABILITY; (6) EMPHASIS ON THE APPLIED RESEARCH APPROACH TO PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT; AND (7) CREATION OF A CENTER DEVOTED TO THE STUDY OF CRIME CORRELATES AND THE DETERMINANTS OF CRIMINAL BEHAVIOR. FUTURE DIRECTIONS ARE LIKELY TO INCLUDE A REORGANIZATION OF THE INSTITUTE, ACCOMPANIED STAFF AND BUDGETARY EXPANSIONS, AND AN INTENSIFIED EMPHASIS ON LONG-RANGE PLANNING. REFERENCES ARE PROVIDED. (KBL)