PERSPECTIVES ON CRIMINAL JUSTICE RESEARCH (FROM COURTS AND DIVERSIONS - POLICY AND OPERATIONS STUDIES, 1979, BY PATRICIA L BRANTINGHAM AND THOMAS G BLOMBERG - SEE NCJ-62483)

• NCJ Number: 62485
• Author(s): M C SLIVKA; P C BUFFUM
• Date Published: 1979
• Length: 16 pages
• Corporate Author: Sage Publications, Inc
• Publication Format: Document
• Publication Type: Program/Project Evaluation
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

OPERATIONAL PROBLEMS OF RESEARCHING THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM ARE EXPLORED; TOPICS INCLUDE PROBLEMS OF FIELD EVALUATORS AND CONFLICTS WHICH ARISE BETWEEN ADMINISTRATORS AND RESEARCHERS.

Abstract

SEVERAL FACTORS CHARACTERIZE THE PRESENT STATUS OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE RESEARCH. FIRST, THERE IS A LACK OF A WELL DEVELOPED METHODOLOGICAL LITERATURE SPECIFIC TO THE FIELD. SECOND, STUDIES HAVE FAILED TO DEMONSTRATE CONCLUSIVELY ANY POSITIVE PROGRAM EFFECTS. BECAUSE OF THE LACK OF POSITIVE, DEFINITIVE STUDIES MORE COOPERATION IS NEEDED BETWEEN RESEARCH AND TREATMENT PERSONNEL. CONFLICTS ARISE BECAUSE THE RESEARCH PLAYS THE ROLE OF THE OBJECTIVE, IMPARTIAL OBSERVER. IN CONTRAST, THE ADMINISTRATOR WORRIES ABOUT THE POLITICAL AND PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS IF A PROGRAM IS INEFFECTIVE. IN ADDITION TO THE PROBLEMS ENCOUNTERED BY RESEARCHERS AS A RESULT OF ORIENTATIONS DIFFERING FROM THOSE OF PRACTITIONERS, THERE IS A THIRD CHARACTERISTIC PROBLEM OF THE EVALUATION--A LACK OF CLEAR GOALS AND A RELIABLE AND VALID DATA BASE. ONE SOURCE OF THESE PROBLEMS IS THAT PRACTITIONERS DO NOT ENJOY RECORDKEEPING. THEREFORE, RECORDS VARY IN COMPLETENESS, TERMINOLOGY, AND EMPHASIS. THE FOURTH CHARACTERISTIC OF RESEARCH IS THAT EVALUATION RESULTS HAVE GENERALLY NOT EXERTED SIGNIFICANT INFLUENCES ON PROGRAM DECISIONS. THIS FACT IS ATTRIBUTABLE TO THE POLITICAL ENVIRONMENT IN WHICH THE AGENCY MAY FUNCTION, TO AGENCY MANAGEMENT, OR TO THE EVALUATION PRODUCT ITSELF. IN RESPONSE TO THE NEED FOR PRACTICAL METHODOLOGICAL GUIDES, LEAA HAS COMMISSIONED SUCH WORK. WORKSHOPS AND SEMINARS WERE DEVELOPED INVOLVING BOTH ADMINISTRATORS AND RESEARCHERS. AN IN-HOUSE MODEL FOR RESEARCH WOULD IDEALLY CONSIST OF AN IN-HOUSE UNIT OF RESEARCHERS AND PLANNERS WHO WOULD PROVIDE INFORMATION TO DECISIONMAKERS. CHOICES MADE REGARDING THE TYPE OF INFORMATION TO BE UTILIZED WOULD DEPEND LARGELY ON TIME CONSTRAINTS. INFORMATION RETRIEVAL SYSTEMS WOULD BE ESTABLISHED AND RESOURCES COORDINATED. OUTSIDE RESEARCHERS COULD BE EFFECTIVELY USED ON A PAID CONSULTANT BASIS. NOTES AND REFERENCES ARE INCLUDED. (LWM)