USE OF AN ON-LINE COMPUTER SYSTEM FOR PROGRAM EVALUATION

• NCJ Number: 53851
• Author(s): L WINTERFIELD
• Date Published: 1977
• Length: 13 pages
• Grant Number(s): 75-1B-(3)-JO-89
• Sponsoring Agency: US Dept of Justice
• Sale Source: National Institute of Justice/
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: PRESENTED AT THE NATIONAL CONFERENCE OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE EVALUATION, WASHINGTON, DC, FEBRUARY 1977

Annotation

THE GENERAL USE OF AN ONLINE COMPUTER SYSTEM IN PROVIDING EVALUATION DATA FOR THE COLORADO PROBATION SYSTEM IS DISCUSSED, AND DETAILS ARE PROVIDED ABOUT THE USE OF THE SYSTEM FOR A JUVENILE PROBATION DEPARTMENT.

Abstract

IN THE PAST COLORADO HAS CONDUCTED VERY LITTLE RESEARCH INTO THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE VARIOUS TREATMENT APPROACHES AND SERVICES OFFERED THROUGH PROBATION AS A STATE-FUNDED SYSTEM. TO REMEDY THIS, AN EXTENSIVE ONLINE COMPUTER INFORMATION SYSTEM WAS INSTITUTED IN 1972, TO PROVIDE THE DATA NECESSARY FOR APPROPRIATE EVALUATION OF THE EFFECTIVENESS OF TREATMENT AND SERVICES. WHILE SEVERAL PROBATION SYSTEMS ARE USING THE ONLINE NETWORK FOR CASELOAD AND INFORMATION RECORDS, ONLY ITS USE IN THE JUVENILE PROBATION SYSTEM IS DESCRIBED IN THIS REPORT. THERE ARE 15 RECORDS (FILES) IN EACH CASE FILE AND EACH RECORD CONTAINS DATA FOR A SPECIFIC TOPIC AREA. A LIST OF EACH RECORD AND THE SUBJECT AREA IS PROVIDED, WITH A COMPLETED CASE FILE SHOWN IN THE APPENDIX. THE SEQUENCE OF THE DATA ENTRY IS DESCRIBED, AND FROM THE DATA IN THE SYSTEM, AT THE TIME OF THIS REPORT, SIX PROGRAMS CAN BE DEVELOPED AS FOLLOWS: (1) AGENCY STATUS REPORT, LISTING THE PROBATIONERS REFERRED TO OTHER AGENCIES, THE SERVICES BEING RECEIVED, AND THE DATE REFERRED; (2) THE PROBLEM AREA STATISTICAL REPORT, LISTING THE SERVICE LEVELS BEING RECEIVED BY THE DEPARTMENT'S CLIENTS AS A WHOLE, ACCORDING TO PROBLEM AREA; (3) CLIENT PARTICIPATION/TERMINATION REASON RELATIONSHIPS BY PETITION AND CASE TYPE, SHOWING FOR EACH CASE TYPE THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEN THE AGENCY, SERVICE, CLIENT PARTICIPATION, AND TERMINATION REASON; (4) STATUS COMPARISON RELATIONSHIP REPORT, SHOWING FOR EACH PROBLEM AREA THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN INITIAL STATUS OF THE PROBLEM, SERVICE LEVEL AND CLIENT PARTICIPATION, AND CHANGE IN THE STATUS OF THAT PROBLEM; (5) PROGRAM PARTICIPATION/PROBATION TERMINATION REPORT BY CASE TYPE, THE FIRST OF TWO REPORTS DEALING WITH THE IMPACT OF PROGRAM VARIABLES ON RECIDIVISM; AND (6) PROGRAM PARTICIPATION/COURT STATUS REPORT BY CASE TYPE, PROVIDING THE SAME INFORMATION AS THE PREVIOUS REPORT, BUT LIMITED TO CLIENTS CURRENTLY ON PROBATION. EACH OF THESE PROGRAM REPORTS IS CUMULATIVE AND IS ISSUED AT REGULAR INTERVALS. TWO LEVELS OF USE ARE INDICATED--FOR THE JUDICIAL DEPARTMENT'S MANAGEMENT AND BUDGETARY NEEDS AND FOR THE PROBATION STAFF. (RCB)