NCJ Number
59797
Date Published
1978
Length
10 pages
Annotation
THE STATE AND LOCAL CRIMINAL JUSTICE NETWORK FACES LESS SERIOUS OBSTACLES THAN DID MANY FEDERAL AGENCIES IN THEIR ATTEMPTS TO USE PLANNING AND SYSTEMATIC ANALYSIS, SO THE FEDERAL EXPERIENCE CAN BE INSTRUCTIVE.
Abstract
THE EXISTENCE OF A WELL-DEFINED CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM IS A MYTH. THERE IS FUNCTIONAL FRAGMENTATION, WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT, THE JUDICIAL PROCESS, AND CORRECTIONS USUALLY OPERATING, AT BEST, INDEPENDENTLY OF EACH OTHER AND, AT WORST, ACTIVELY AGAINST EACH OTHER. FURTHER, THE STATES GENERALLY OVERSEE CORRECTIONS, LOCAL GOVERNMENTS LAW ENFORCEMENT, AND THE COUNTIES HANDLE THE COURTS. THIS SITUATION IS SIMILAR TO THAT FACING THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE (DOD) AND MANY OTHER FEDERAL AGENCIES WHEN THE PLANNING-PROGRAMMING-BUDGETING-SYSTEMS (PPBS) WERE INSTITUTED THROUGHOUT THE FEDERAL BUREAUCRACY IN THE 1960'S. DOD HAD FEWER PROBLEMS THAN DID THE CIVILIAN AGENCIES BECAUSE ITS GOALS COULD BE CLEARLY DEFINED, IT WAS NOT INVOLVED IN DISTRIBUTION OF INCOME, AND IT WAS NOT DEPENDENT UPON THE CONCENSUS OF VARIOUS INTEREST GROUPS FOR ITS OPERATION. ON THE OTHER HAND, AGENCIES DEALING WITH POVERTY PROGRAMS HAD MAJOR PROBLEMS BECAUSE THEIR GOALS COULD NOT BE SHARPLY DEFINED, THEY COULD NOT DETERMINE THE IMPACTS OF THEIR PROGRAMS, AND THEIR OPERATIONS AROUSED STRONG EMOTIONAL RESPONSES IN THE BODY POLITIC. CRIMINAL JUSTICE AGENCIES FALL BETWEEN THESE EXTREMES. THEY DO NOT REDISTRIBUTE WEALTH AND THEIR GOALS CAN BE DEFINED. THE PPBS PROCESS OF GOAL DEFINITION, IDENTIFICATION OF ALTERNATIVES, AND EVALUATION OUGHT TO BE A VIABLE PLANNING TOOL. THIS DISCUSSION CONTAINS MANY QUOTATIONS FROM THE LITERATURE. REFERENCES ARE APPENDED. (GLR)