RESEARCH MONITORING AND BUREAUCRACY (FROM PRESSURES AND CHANGES IN THE PROBATION SERVICE, P 135-159, 1979 BY JOAN F S KING - SEE NCJ-69015)

• NCJ Number: 69023
• Author(s): W MCWILLIAMS
• Date Published: 1979
• Length: 25 pages
• Corporate Author: University of Cambridge
• Publication Format: Document
• Language: English
• Country: United Kingdom
• Note: NCJ-69023 AVAILABLE ON MICROFICHE FROM NCJRS UNDER NCJ-69015

Annotation

THE ROLES OF RESEARCH AND MONITORING IN THE PROBATION SERVICE ARE DISCUSSED IN RELATION TO THE INCREASING BUREAUCRATIZATION EXPERIENCED BY THE PROBATION SERVICE.

Abstract

FACTORS TYPIFYING A BUREAUCRATIC ORGANIZATION ARE IDENTIFIED, WITH DISCUSSION CENTERING ON THE BUREAUCRATIC FACTORS OF SPECIALIZATION, AUTHORITY HIERARCHIES, RULES SYSTEMS, AND IMPERSONALITY AS THEY APPEAR IN THE PROBATION SERVICE IS THEN EXPLORED IN THE CONTEXT OF THE SERVICE'S USUAL MONITORING MODE, THIS MODE'S BASE IN THE BUREUAUCRATIC STRUCTURE, AND THE FAULTY REASONING AND METHODOLOGY IN THIS MODE OF MONITORING. IN THIS RESPECT, ATTENTION IS TURNED TO METHODS OF MONITORING USED BY THE SERVICE AND THE AREAS WHEREBY THE METHODS FAIL AS LODGED WITHIN THEIR UNSCIENTIFIC METHODOLOGY. A THEORETICAL PERSPECTIVE ON A MORE VIABLE MONITORING MODE IS INTRODUCED THAT INVOLVES DECISION-ANALYSIS MONITORING, WHICH FOCUSES ON ENDS, OR GOALS, AND THE MEANS EMPLOYED TO ACHIEVE THEM. DESCRIPTION OF THE METHODS CENTERS ON HOW TO IDENTIFY GOALS, RECOGNIZE RELEVANT FACTORS, RECOGNIZE CHOICES, RECORD THE OUTCOMES OF DECISIONS, AND ACCOMMODATE THE FEEDBACK OF OUTCOMES OF DECISIONS. FINALLY, SITUATIONS WHEREIN SUCH A DECISION-ANALYSIS METHODOLOGY MIGHT BE USED FOR MONITORING IN THE PROBATION SERVICE ARE CONSIDERED. FOOTNOTES AND APPROXIMATELY 50 REFERENCES ARE PROVIDED.