NCJ Number
212186
Date Published
March 2005
Length
229 pages
Annotation
This Phase Two evaluation of the Local Law Enforcement Block Grant (LLEBG) Program, which funds local projects to reduce crime and improve public safety, answers questions related to the Phase One evaluation's finding that LLEBG funds have been used to support "results-oriented" programs.
Abstract
One of the questions addressed in the Phase Two evaluation is what the extant literature indicates about the current status of and motivation toward "results-oriented" government programs. A second question considered the extent to which LLEBG grantees are using their funds to support "results-oriented" programs. Two other evaluation questions focused on the nature and effectiveness of such "results-oriented" programs in a variety of sites and the forces that led those sites to adopt such programs. A review of the relevant literature found that many nations are focusing on performance, replacing the centrality of bureaucracy, rules, and regulation. An e-mail survey sent to all 3,111 fiscal year 2001 LLEBG grantees asked whether the recipients were using LLEBG funds to support 1 or more "results-oriented" programs, which were defined as having stated goals and qualitative or quantitative performance measures that can be used to determine if the goals are being met. Almost one-fourth of the LLEBG grantees reported using grant funds to support "results-oriented" programs; almost three-fourths of the grantees who received $1 million or more used grant funds to support "results-oriented" programs. Because LLEBG grantees were not required, as in some grant programs, to show specific results, this finding indicates that, at least among the largest jurisdictions, there is a "quiet revolution" that emphasizes the importance of producing intended results from investments. The forces behind this revolution in the 22 jurisdictions visited for this evaluation show wide variation. 4 exhibits and 64 references