NCJ Number
52356
Journal
BEHAVIORAL SCIENCE Volume: 23 Issue: 2 Dated: (MARCH 1978) Pages: 99-108
Date Published
1978
Length
10 pages
Annotation
THIS STUDY EXAMINES THE HYPOTHESIS THAT ADAPTATION BY DIFFERENT SUBSYSTEMS OF THE CANADIAN CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM TO CHANGING WORKLOADS IN OTHER PARTS CAUSES LOW APPREHENSION AND CONVICTION RATES.
Abstract
THE SEQUENCE OF ACTIVITIES TERMED 'DOWNSTREAM' IN THIS STUDY INCLUDES (1) POLICE REPORTING OF OFFENSES, (2) CHARGING BY THE PROSECUTOR, (3) COURT APPEARANCE BY THE OFFENDER, (4) CONVICTION OF THE OFFENDER BY THE COURT, AND (5) SENTENCING OF THE OFFENDER. THE CONCEPT THAT AN INCREASE IN CRIME RESULTS IN AN INCREASE IN POLICE REPORTING FOLLOWED BY AN INCREASE IN PROSECUTIONS AND CONVICTIONS IS DEFINED AS 'DOWNSTREAM CAUSATION,' WHILE A REVERSAL OF THIS SEQUENCE (E.G., A DECREASE IN CONVICTIONS CAUSES A DECREASE IN CHARGES) IS TERMED 'UPSTREAM CAUSATIONS.' THE STUDY METHODOLOGY RELATES PAST CHANGES IN ONE ACTIVITY TO CURRENT CHANGES IN ANOTHER ACTIVITY, AND APPLIES CROSS-LAGGED CORRELATION TECHNIQUES. SIX VIOLENT CRIMES WERE ANALYZED IN CORRELATION WITH THE SYSTEM ACTIVITIES. THE FINDINGS SUGGEST THAT THERE ARE TENDENCIES, WHEN THE LESS SERIOUS CRIMES ARE INVOLVED SUCH AS MANSLAUGHTER, ROBBERY, AND ASSAULT, FOR SUBSYSTEMS TO ADAPT DOWNSTREAM ACTIVITIES ACCORDING TO CORRESPONDING CHANGES IN UPSTREAM ACTIVITIES. THIS SYSTEM ADAPTATION IS CONSISTENT WITH THE HYPOTHESIS THAT MECHANISMS SUCH AS INCREASED DROPOUT RATES ARE EMPLOYED TO CUSHION THE SYSTEM AGAINST INCREASED WORKLOADS. REFERENCES ARE PROVIDED. (DAG)