PORTSMOUTH, VIRGINIA - COST ANALYSIS STUDY - 3RD DISTRICT JUVENILE COURT UNIT

• NCJ Number: 64966
• Author(s): P M O'HARE; A E JOHNSON
• Date Published: 1979
• Length: 136 pages
• Sale Source: National Institute of Justice/
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: PRESENTATION TO THE AMERICAN SOCIETY FOR PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION NATIONAL CONFERENCE, BALTIMORE, MARYLAND, APRIL 1-4, 1979

Annotation

DEVELOPMENT OF A COST ANALYSIS METHOD FOR JUVENILE COURT SERVICE UNITS IN VIRGINIA IS DOCUMENTED.

Abstract

AFTER A LITERATURE SEARCH REVEALED A NEED FOR COST ANALYSIS TOOLS IN JUVENILE COURT SERVICE AGENCIES, A SURVEY WAS CONDUCTED IN ONE COURT SERVICE UNIT TO IDENTIFY THE TASKS PERFORMED BY ADMINISTRATORS, SUPERVISORS, COUNSELORS, AND CLERICAL STAFF; I.E., THE AMOUNT OF TIME SPENT IN ACTUAL TASK PERFORMANCE AS OPPOSED TO NON-WORK-RELATED ACTIVITY. IT WAS FOUND THAT PERSONNEL COST WAS THE MOST SIGNIFICANT COST ASSOCIATED WITH OPERATING THE SERVICE UNIT. THE RECORDING OF CLIENTS' SOCIAL HISTORY WAS THE SINGLE MOST EXPENSIVE FUNCTION. THE STUDY ALSO CONFIRMED COUNSELORS' COMPLAINTS THAT THEY WERE OVERBURDENED WITH PAPERWORK. WORK RECORDS SHOWED THAT COUNSELORS SPENT AS MUCH TIME WITH PAPERWORK AS WITH COUNSELING. THE REPORT PROVIDES DETAILS OF THE LITERATURE SEARCH, COST-ANALYSIS METHODOLOGY, AND THE PORTSMOUTH STUDY. RECOMMENDATIONS FOR FURTHER RESEARCH, A COPY OF THE DATA-GATHERING INSTRUMENT, TABULAR DATA, AND 14 REFERENCES ARE GIVEN. APPENDIXES INCLUDE A QUESTIONNAIRE FORM, UTILIZATION CHARTS, TASKS LISTS, AND OTHER RELATED MATERIALS.