NCJ Number
15115
Journal
Journal of Research in Crime and Delinquency Volume: 11 Issue: 2 Dated: (JULY 1974) Pages: 144-154
Date Published
1974
Length
11 pages
Annotation
THE KEY DEFICIENCY IN CRIMINAL JUSTICE EVALUATION RESEARCH IS A POVERTY OF THEORY CAUSED BY THE ATHEORETICAL FORMULATION OF QUESTIONS RESULTING IN USELESS ANSWERS OR UNRECOGNIZED UTILITY.
Abstract
MORE USEFUL CRIMINAL JUSTICE EVALUATION RESEARCH WOULD DIFFERENTIATE OFFENSES AND OFFENDERS ON THE BASIS OF CAUSAL THEORY AND WOULD INTERRELATE SEVERAL LEVELS OF ABSTRACTION. THIS IS ILLUSTRATED IN CORRECTIONAL PRACTICE EVALUATION BY A LINKAGE OF BEHAVIOR MODIFICATION, SYMBOLIC INTERACTIONIST, AND SOCIOCULTURAL DIFFUSION THEORY, FROM WHICH THREE PROPOSITIONS ON THE EFFECTIVENESS OF SPECIFIC TREATMENT METHODS FOR PARTICULAR TYPES OF OFFENDERS ARE DERIVED. RESEARCH THUS FAR SUPPORTS THE VALIDITY OF THESE PROPOSITIONS. BOARDS OF AUTONOMOUS CRIMINOLOGISTS AND PUBLIC REPRESENTATIVES SUPERVISING CRIMINAL JUSTICE STATISTICS AND RESEARCH AGENCIES WOULD FOSTER MORE GROUNDING OF INQUIRIES IN POLICY-RELEVANT THEORY. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT)