EXPERIENCE ACQUIRED FROM THE DESIGN AND IMPLEMENTATION OF PROFILE (PROCESSING RECORDS ON-LINE FOR INSTANT LISTING AND EVALUATION) - UTAH'S JUVENILE INFORMATION SYSTEM

• NCJ Number: 13744
• Journal: Juvenile Justice Volume: 24 Issue: 4 Dated: (FEBRUARY 1974) Pages: 12-18
• Author(s): M R PHILLIPS
• Date Published: 1974
• Length: 7 pages
• Corporate Author: National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges
• Publication Format: Article
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

DESCRIPTION OF ONE SYSTEM AND GUIDELINES FOR IMPLEMENTATION OF NEW SYSTEMS, INCLUDING SYSTEM DESIGN, COURT OBJECTIVES, AND STAFF USE.

Abstract

A BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE UTAH JUVENILE INFORMATION SYSTEM INCLUDES FUNDING, OPERATION COSTS, THREE BASIC MODULES OF CASE PROCESSING, MANAGEMENT INFORMATION, AND PREDICTION/PROGRAM EVALUATION. BASIC COURT DOCUMENTS, SUCH AS THE JUDGE'S DAILY CALENDAR OR RECORD SUMMARIES ARE ALSO PRODUCED BY THE SYSTEM. PREDICTION OF RECIDIVISM AND RECOMMENDATIONS OF INTERVENTION ALTERNATIVES ARE ALSO SYSTEM FUNCTIONS. THE AUTHOR STATES THAT JUVENILE COURT GOALS MUST BE CONSIDERED IN DECIDING TO COMPUTERIZE. HE STATES THAT AFTER A REVIEW TO DETERMINE THAT COMPUTERS COULD AID OPERATIONS, SYSTEM DESIGN SHOULD BE PLANNED LARGELY BY THE COURT ITSELF. HE MAINTAINS THAT DATA SUCH AS SUBJECTIVE SOCIAL INFORMATION SHOULD NOT BE INCLUDED IN THE SYSTEM. THE AUTHOR WARNS AGAINST USING UNPROVEN COMPUTER SOFTWARE AND EQUIPMENT, AND STATES THAT ALL PRINTOUTS SHOULD BE IN LAY LANGUAGE. METHODS FOR JUDGING THE SYSTEM'S SUCCESS ARE GIVEN, AND A SUGGESTION IS MADE TO IMPLEMENT THE SYSTEM SLOWLY TO ALLOW THE STAFF TIME TO ADJUST.