NCJ Number
103272
Date Published
1983
Length
65 pages
Annotation
This study assesses the appropriateness of current (as of October 1983) staff functions and resources of the Maryland Criminal Justice Coordinating Council, a body mandated by executive order with broad responsibilities for criminal justice policy development, planning, coordination, and grants.
Abstract
The study conducted a detailed review of the council staff's output over the past 2 years. This involved assessing the functioning of each of the following staff units: planning department, Statistical Analysis Center, crime prevention, grants management, and the fiscal department. The council has not effectively made the transition from a grants administration body to one responsible for developing broad criminal justice policy. Both council and staff lack a clear sense of mission role, and priorities. The 19-person staff, which reports to the 31-member council, has received limited council direction and has been involved in self-generated activities independent of the council. Staff accountability for specific results has been lacking. The study recommends that the council remain independent but function as a 'sounding board' or 'advisory board' to the Governor on substantive policy issues. The council should then conduct systemwide criminal justice planning. Overall, the council should focus primarily on policy issues and grants administration while maintaining coordinative mechanisms and having the long-range goal of systemwide planning. Detailed recommendations cover the functioning of staff units. Appended enabling legislation, a list of council members, council Federal fund grant awards for 1969-83, and 1981-84 budgets for the Commission on Law Enforcement and the Administration of Justice.