Information, Simulation and Decisions (From Policy and Theory in Criminal Justice, P 76-90, 1990, Don M Gottfredson and Ronald V Clarke, eds. -- See NCJ-130506)

• NCJ Number: 130511
• Author(s): R W Burnham
• Date Published: 1990
• Length: 15 pages
• Sale Source: Avebury Publishing Co
• Publication Type: Report (Technical)
• Language: English
• Country: United Kingdom

Annotation

Decisionmaking in criminal justice is examined, with emphasis on the contributions of Leslie Wilkins to the understanding of how decisionmakers distinguish between relevant and irrelevant information.

Abstract

Wilkins emphasized the need to understand decision processes through which society reacts to criminal behavior as well as to examine criminality and its causes. His early research on aircraft accidents appears to have led him to perceive judges and others with discretionary powers as being in a position similar to pilots in that both receive more information than needed and must choose and analyze the information to make decisions. The distinction between data, noise, and information has been central to most of Wilkins's work. More recent research by others has focused on the impact of automated information systems, the relationship between operational and personality variables, information overload, and the use of simulations. Note and 10 references