Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority Needs Assessment Survey, Final Report 2007

• NCJ Number: 226799
• Author(s): Alexander P. Stringer M.A.; William A. Millson M.A.; David Robinson Ph.D.; Barbara Robinson B.A.
• Date Published: February 2007
• Length: 186 pages
• Grant Number(s): 02-DB-BX-0017; 03-DB-BX-0037
• Sponsoring Agency: Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA); Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority
• Corporate Author: Orbis Partners Inc.
• Sale Source: Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority
• Publication Format: Document
• Publication Type: Survey
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This report presents the results of a survey of the needs of criminal justice service partners in Illinois in the fall of 2005.

Abstract

Separate questionnaires were sent to court clerks, detention center administrators, judges, police chiefs, probation staff, public defenders, State’s attorneys, and victim service providers. The questionnaires generally focused on needs in the areas of background, workload, staffing, operation and procedures, and research and evaluation. For court clerks, only 35 percent of respondents identified areas for improvement related to court management. Slightly more than 25 percent rated fees/fines/restitution collection as the dominant area of need in court management. Forty percent of detention center administrators indicated that a major increase in the number of detention officers was needed. And 30 percent reported that more mental health professionals were needed. Judges identified the need for more public defenders and translators as significant. Burnout and job satisfaction were mentioned as the top reasons for personnel turnover. Police chiefs identified needs in the areas of staff increases and major improvement in enforcement approaches for juvenile crime, meth labs, domestic violence, drug problems, and identity theft. Probation staff reported needs in the areas of staffing for supervision and treatment, with retention being a significant problem. Needed program developments were in job-readiness training, day reporting centers, and vocational educational programs. Public defenders reported excessive caseloads/workloads that have increased the number of plea bargains. Salaries, workloads, and lack of promotional opportunities were rated most often as major contributors to staff retention problems. State’s attorneys indicated needs for improved automated information systems and more and improved juvenile delinquency prevention programs and drug treatment. Ninety-five percent of responding victim service providers cited the need for more drug-treatment availability and more juvenile delinquency prevention programs. The need for more volunteer staff was also reported. Figures and appendix