Juvenile Justice Problems, Policies, and Program Performance in the States

• NCJ Number: 187286
• Author(s): Michael Connelly; Stan Orchowsky
• Date Published: September 1999
• Length: 37 pages
• Grant Number(s): 97-BJ-CX-K005
• Sponsoring Agency: Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS)
• Corporate Author: Justice Research and Statistics Association
• Sale Source: Justice Research and Statistics Association
• Publication Format: Document
• Publication Type: Program/Project Description
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This publication is the first in a continuing series that will present the findings of original State Justice Statistics (SJS) projects that have created or revised data sets to provide policymakers better perspectives on criminal justice problems and possible remedies.

Abstract

It summarizes the reports of six Statistical Analysis Centers (SACs): Arizona, Hawaii, Kansas, Massachusetts, Nebraska, and New Mexico. There is a standard format for all the reports. The "Problem Statement" describes the criminal justice problems addressed by the project. This section also discusses the types of possible responses to the problem, ranging from broad policy initiatives to narrow, program-specific activities. In detailing the types of possible responses, the report points to areas and types of data needed from the SACs in their SJS projects. The section on "Purposes of Data" outlines the possible uses of data collected in the project, such as developing a general portrait of the problem situation, creating a monitoring system to assist implementation, and providing specific program information for process and/or outcome evaluations. The section on "Data Collection" focuses on the types of data needed or developed by the project and the methodologies used to obtain them, including existing agency data, program-specific data not otherwise collected by the implementing agency, relevant existing data from other sources, program participant interviews and surveys, and existing research and data sources in the topic areas. Another section addresses "Data Analysis Based on Purposes of Data," which applies the data generated and collected to creating a portrait of the problem monitoring implementation, and/or evaluating processes and outcomes. A section on "Recommendations" details the researchers' prescriptions, if any, for the program. The section on "Real and Potential Applications of Data" discusses the actual use of the data by policymakers as collected and/or analyzed and projects the potential implications of the data for similar program areas and/or other jurisdictions.