NCJ Number
58031
Journal
SOCIOLOGIE DU TRAVAIL Volume: 77 Issue: 3 Dated: (1977) Pages: 266-294
Date Published
1977
Length
29 pages
Annotation
COST ANALYSIS IS USED TO DETERMINE THE FUNCTIONING OF THE PENAL SYSTEM IN A FRENCH JUDICIAL DEPARTMENT AND TO TEST A NEW METHOD OF RESEARCH.
Abstract
AN ANALYSIS OF THE BUDGET AND THE VARIOUS ACTIVITIES OF THE PENAL SYSTEM IN ONE JUDICIAL DEPARTMENT PERMITS AN UNUSUAL LOOK AT ITS FUNCTIONING AND COST. TO AVOID THE DEFECTS OF PREVIOUS STUDIES, SEVERAL METHODS OF COST ANALYSIS ARE EXAMINED AND CRITICIZED. THE INVESTIGATION, WHICH REPRESENTS A PILOT STUDY, IS DISTINGUISHED FROM EARLIER RESEARCH BY TWO CHARACTERISTICS: (1) IT IS NOT LIMITED TO A SINGLE AGENCY BUT EXAMINES ALL ORGANS OF THE PENAL JUSTICE SYSTEM, AND (2) THE ACTIVITIES OF THE AGENCIES ARE NOT DETERMINED ACCORDING TO PRECONCEIVED NOTIONS OF WHAT THE EMPLOYEES SHOULD BE DOING BUT BY DETAILED RESEARCH INTO WHAT THEY ARE ACTUALLY DOING. THESE BASIC ACTIVITIES ARE GROUPED IN PROGRAMS AND SUBPROGRAMS, AND THE OVERALL BUDGET FOR EACH AGENCY DIVIDED INTO FOUR BASIC GROUPS (PERSONNEL, LOCATION, MATERIALS, OPERATIONS). THE AVERAGE TIME SPPNT ON EACH PROGRAM DURING TWO NONCONSECUTIVE RESEARCH PERIODS IS THEN USED TO DETERMINE THE ACTUAL COST PER MINUTE OF EACH ACTIVITY (E.G., CRIME PREVENTION, ADMINISTRATIVE TASKS). AN ANALYSIS OF THE RESULTING CHARTS YIELDS THE FOLLOWING RESULTS: (1) THE SPECIAL TASKS OF MUNICIPAL AND DEPARTMENTAL POLICE (GENDARMERIE) COMPLEMENT RATHER THAN CONFLICT WITH EACH OTHER, (2) BOTH AGENCIES SPEND HALF OF THEIR TIME ON PAPERWORK AND ADMINISTRATIVE DUTIES, (3) THE COURTS DEVOTE A STRIKING AMOUNT OF TIME TO BUREAUCRATIC TASKS, (4) THE PRISONS ARE REMARKABLE FOR THEIR TOTAL LACK OF AUTONOMY AND THE GREAT PREDOMINANCE OF SURVEILLANCE DUTIES, AND (5) THE REFORMATORIES (MAISON D'ACTION EDUCATIVE) DIVIDE THEIR TIME BETWEEN EDUCATIONAL AND HOUSEKEEPING ACTIVITIES. ALTHOUGH THESE RESULTS ARE NOT REPRESENTATIVE FOR ALL OF FRANCE, THE METHOD TESTED HERE COULD BE EXTENDED TO THE ENTIRE COUNTRY. EXTENSIVE ANNOTATIONS PROVIDE BIBLIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION. --IN FRENCH (SAJ)