NCJ Number
169813
Date Published
1996
Length
4 pages
Annotation
A joint effort by the police and prosecution in Great Britain to improve case processing was evaluated with respect to the success of the pilot arrangements of the Joint Performance Management project, the costs and benefits, and possible modifications.
Abstract
The project aimed to examine crucial aspects of performance and improve performance through joint decision-making. It focused on three performance areas: file timeliness and quality, discontinuances in the magistrates' courts, and Crown Court acquittals. The pilot projects took place in six branches of the Crown Prosecution Services and in the corresponding police areas between July and November 1995. The evaluation used data from program information, interviews with staff, activity analysis, and observation of meetings. Results revealed that the participating police and prosecutors supported the concept of Joint Performance Management. In addition, a small but consistent improvement occurred in the quality and timeliness of police prosecution files over the course of the pilot project. It appeared that the resource savings will be significantly greater than the costs, although the limited time of the pilot study prevented quantitative analysis of resource savings. Findings indicated that existing project procedures, crucial forms, and materials can be improved and made less burdensome by collecting performance data on a sample basis after an initial period. In addition, the support of both organizations and a commitment by local decisionmakers to develop strategies and actions to improve performance are essential to Joint Performance Management. Tables