NCJ Number
12121
Journal
Crime and Delinquency Volume: 19 Issue: 3 Dated: (JULY 1973) Pages: 332-342
Date Published
1973
Length
11 pages
Annotation
CHANGING DECISION-MAKING PATTERNS AT KEY DECISION POINTS BY FEEDBACK OF RESULTS OF PAST ACTIONS CAN HAVE A GREATER EFFECT THAN CHANGING CLIENTS OF THE CORRECTIONAL SYSTEM.
Abstract
SEVERAL PROBLEMS IN CORRECTION CAN BE MANAGED EITHER MORE EFFECTIVELY OR MORE EFFICIENTLY BY CHANGING THE SYSTEM THAN BY ATTEMPTING TO CHANGE THE INDIVIDUALS BEING PROCESSED THROUGH THE SYSTEM. THE EVIDENCE OF THE RELATIVE INEFFECTIVENESS OF TRADITIONAL CORRECTIONAL TREATMENT PROGRAMMING IS REVIEWED. AN ALTERNATIVE APPROACH, INVOLVING CHANGING DECISIONS BASED UPON INFORMATION FEEDBACK CONCERNING DECISION OUTCOMES, IS ILLUSTRATED BY SEVERAL CASE STUDIES, INCLUDING THE CALIFORNIA PROBATION SUBSIDY PROGRAM, THE CALIFORNIA ADULT AUTHORITY RESOLUTION 284, AND THE CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS' PAROLE WORK UNIT PROGRAM. THE POSSIBILITY OF EXTENDING THIS APPROACH TO OTHER AREAS OF THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM IS DISCUSSED. IT IS CONCLUDED THAT THIS ALTERNATIVE METHOD OF DEALING WITH CORRECTIONAL PROBLEMS CAN HAVE AN IMPORTANT INFLUENCE, PERMITTING THE REALLOCATION OF EXISTING RESOURCES TO OTHER PERSISTENT CONCERNS. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT)