NCJ Number
59309
Date Published
1976
Length
27 pages
Annotation
RHODE ISLAND'S CRIMINAL JUSTICE STANDARDS AND GOALS DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITIES ARE DESCRIBED AND ASSESSED, AND RECOMMENDATIONS FOR IMPROVEMENTS ARE OFFERED.
Abstract
THE ASSESSMENT WAS UNDERTAKEN BY OUTSIDE EVALUATORS AT THE REQUEST OF THE STANDARDS AND GOALS PROJECT. A CHRONOLOGY OF SIGNIFICANT EVENTS IN THE LIFE OF THE PROJECT, WHICH BEGAN IN NOVEMBER 1975, IS PRESENTED, TOGETHER WITH A REPORT ON THE STATUS OF STANDARDS AND GOALS TASK FORCE ACTIVITIES IN THE AREAS OF LAW ENFORCEMENT, COURTS, CORRECTIONS, JUVENILE JUSTICE, AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE INFORMATION SYSTEMS. THE STATE'S PROGRESS IN DEVELOPING STANDARDS AND GOALS IS ASSESSED AGAINST CRITERIA FOR AN IDEALIZED STANDARDS AND GOALS PROCESS INCLUDING CONSIDERATION OF A WIDE RANGE OF ISSUES, TREATMENT OF TOPICS IN SUFFICIENT DEPTH, IDENTIFICATION OF PROBLEMS AND SOLUTIONS SPECIFIC TO THE STATE, STATE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM AGENCY INVOLVEMENT, LOCAL AGENCY INVOLVEMENT, COORDINATION BETWEEN STANDARDS AND GOALS SPECIALISTS AND STATE PLANNING AGENCY FUNCTIONAL PLANNERS, MEASURABILITY OF STANDARDS AND GOALS, ACCEPTANCE AND ENTHUSIASM FOR THE PROJECT, LINKAGE WITH KEY LEGISLATORS AND THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE, AND AWARENESS OF THE PROJECT AMONG SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC. THE MAJOR PROBLEM IN RHODE ISLAND'S STANDARDS AND GOALS EFFORT IS CONCLUDED TO BE ITS FRAGMENTARY NATURE. IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT THE STANDARDS AND GOALS PROJECT STAFF AGREE UPON A COMMON FORMAT TO BE USED BY ALL TASK FORCES, THAT A SCHEDULE OF FUTURE ACTIVITIES BE DEVELOPED, AND THAT ALL PROJECT STAFF MEMBERS COMMIT THEMSELVES TO A TEAM EFFORT. (LKM)