NCJ Number
29083
Date Published
1975
Length
68 pages
Annotation
GUIDELINES FOR APPLYING COST-BENEFIT ANALYSIS TO CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM ACTIVITIES (EMPHASIS ON CORRECTIONS) INCLUDING TECHNIQUES FOR ASSESSING AND 'PRICING' SOCIAL OUTCOMES AND NON-DIRECT COSTS.
Abstract
THIS HANDBOOK IS DIVIDED INTO TWO PARTS. PART I REPRESENTS THE THEORETICAL BACKGROUND UNDERLYING THE BASIC STEPS FOR PERFORMING COST-BENEFIT ANALYSIS WITH CAREFUL EXPLANATION OF EACH STEP AND WHY IT IS NECESSARY AND HOW TO DO IT. PART II IN EFFECT UTILIZES ALL THE TECHNIQUES AND METHODS ARTICULATED IN PART I AND DISPLAYS SUBSTANTIAL EXAMPLES OF THE APPLICATION OF COST-BENEFIT ANALYSIS. THIS HANDBOOK PROVIDES AN OVERVIEW OF THE USEFULNESS OF COST-BENEFIT ANALYSIS AS WELL AS A DISCUSSION OF ITS LIMITATIONS. STEPS FOR DETERMINING A PROJECT'S SCOPE AND ITS 'LIFE' ARE INCLUDED, AS ARE METHODS AND SOURCES FOR OBTAINING RELEVANT DATA. DETAILED EXPLANATIONS OF THE CLASSIFICATION AND BENEFITS AND COSTS, THEIR ORGANIZATION INTO A COHERENT FRAMEWORK FOR EVALUATION, AND THE ULTIMATE DECISION MATRIX ARE INCLUDED AS WELL. A BIBLIOGRAPHY IS INCLUDED IN PART ONE. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT)