NCJ Number
53746
Date Published
1977
Length
36 pages
Annotation
TO STIMULATE DECISIONMAKERS TO UTILIZE EVALUATION, THIS PAPER REVIEWS THE LITERATURE, DESCRIBES AN INNOVATIVE IN-HOUSE EVALUATION PROGRAM, AND DESCRIBES THE USE OF EVALUATION BY MARYLAND STATE AND LOCAL AGENCIES.
Abstract
FOLLOWING THE LITERATURE REVIEW, A DETAILED DESCRIPTION IS PROVIDED OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND AND PRINCE GEORGES COUNTY JOINT CRIMINAL JUSTICE EVALUATION PROGRAM. ON A YEAR-TO-YEAR BASIS A CONTRACTUAL ARRANGEMENT IS MADE BETWEEN THE UNIVERSITY AND THE COUNTY GOVERNMENT FOR A NUMBER OF SPECIFIC EVALUATION PROGRAMS. THE UNIVERSITY PROVIDES ONE PROFESSOR (ONE-THIRD TIME) AND TWO GRADUATE RESEARCH ASSISTANTS (ONE-HALF TIME), PLUS ANY NEEDED ADDITIONAL STUDENT HELP. THE COUNTY CRIMINAL JUSTICE ANALYST COORDINATES THE PROGRAM. BETWEEN 1974 AND 1977 EIGHT LEAA-FUNDED PROGRAMS WERE EVALUATED. COSTS FOR EACH ARE LISTED. IN ADDITION, SEVEN STATE AND LOCALLY FUNDED PROJECTS WERE EVALUATED AND A NUMBER OF OTHER SERVICES WERE PROVIDED. THE FINAL SECTION REPORTS ON A STUDY ON THE USE OF EVALUATION DATA BY VARIOUS CRIMINAL JUSTICE OFFICIALS. IT FOUND THAT ABOUT 60 PERCENT OF THE DECISIONMAKERS WERE MADE AWARE OF THE RESULTS OF EVALUATIONS CONDUCTED IN THE COUNTY BY READING FINAL EVALUATION REPORTS PREPARED FOR DISSEMINATION. THOSE ACTUALLY INVOLVED IN SOME ASPECT OF AN EVALUATION HAD GREATER AWARENESS. THOSE WHO WERE INVOLVED IN A NUMBER OF ASPECTS OF THE EVALUATION PROGRAM HAD THE GREATEST AWARENESS. THE STUDY ALSO INDICATES THAT DECISIONMAKERS READ EVALUATION REPORTS AND DISCUSS THEM. HOWEVER, FEW REPORTED USING EVALUATION RESULTS TO MAKE ANY CHANGES. IT IS SUGGESTED THAT FURTHER RESEARCH BE CONDUCTED TO FIND THOSE FACTORS WHICH CAN INFLUENCE USE OF EVALUATION RESULTS. TABLES PRESENT STUDY DATA. AN EXTENSIVE BIBLIOGRAPHY IS APPENDED.