NCJ Number
39315
Date Published
1976
Length
42 pages
Annotation
USING INDIVIDUAL CASE STUDIES AND REGIONAL WORKSHOPS, THIS PROJECT ANALYZED HOW POLICY DECISIONS WERE MADE WITHIN STATE LEGISLATURES AND WHAT SPECIFIC PROGRAMS WERE PROVIDED FOR TREATMENT OF TROUBLED CHILDREN.
Abstract
VIEWED FROM AN INSTITUTIONAL PERSPECTIVE, THE FINDINGS FROM CASE STUDIES OF JUVENILE JUSTICE LEGISLATIVE POLICYMAKING IN ALABAMA, FLORIDA, MICHIGAN, AND NEW MEXICO REVEALED TOO LITTLE UTILIZATION OF THE RESOURCES NECESSARY FOR EFFECTIVE LEGISLATIVE ACTION. MAJOR WEAKNESSES IDENTIFIED INCLUDED IMPROPER EMPLOYMENT OF LEGISLATIVE TIME, DEPENDENCE UPON EXTERNAL DATA COLLECTION AND EVALUATION, AND THE INABILITY TO CONDUCT CONTINUING PROGRAM REVIEW OR TO IDENTIFY NECESSARY RESOURCES FOR PROGRAM IMPLEMENTATION. BASED ON THESE FINDINGS, IT IS PROPOSED THAT LEAA SERVE AS A LEGISLATIVE CATALYST THROUGH THE INITIATION OF A MODEL COMMITTEE STAFF PROJECT WHICH WOULD DEMONSTRATE THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN EFFECTIVE LEGISLATURES AND SOUND POLICY....ELW