NCJ Number
12268
Date Published
1973
Length
97 pages
Annotation
CRITERIA FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF JUSTIFICATION AND EVALUATION MODELS FOR YOUTH SERVICE BUREAUS, INSTITUTIONAL AND COMMUNITY CORRECTIONS.
Abstract
THERE IS A PERCEIVED NEED FOR RELIABLE EVALUATION PROCEDURES TO ASSESS THE EFFECTIVENESS OF CURRENT AND PROPOSED CRIMINAL JUSTICE AGENCIES AND THEIR PROGRAMS. THIS STUDY STRESSES THE FACT THAT CORRECTIONS IS ONE PART OF THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM AND THAT EVALUATIONS MUST CONSIDER THE IMPACT ON OTHER INTERACTING COMPONENTS OF THE TOTAL SYSTEM. THE JUSTIFICATION PROCESS INSURES THAT PROPOSED PROGRAMS HAVE A THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK AND ARE SUPPORTED BY EMPIRICAL DATA, OR THAT THERE IS STATISTICAL DATA, TO JUSTIFY THE EXPENDITURE OF FUNDS. THERE ARE THREE ELEMENTS WHICH FORM THE EVALUATION PROCESS. THE FIRST IS THE EXTENT TO WHICH THE PROPOSED METHOD WILL EFFECTIVELY CHANGE CRIMINAL BEHAVIOR. THE SECOND IS THE IMPACT OF THE PROPOSED PROJECT ON THE OTHER COMPONENTS OF THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM. THE THIRD CONSISTS OF COMPOSITE EVALUATION VARIABLES SUCH AS THE CULTURAL SETTING OF THE PROJECT, HUMAN, FINANCIAL AND MATERIAL RESOURCE AVAILABILITY, AND WHETHER THE PROJECT IS IN KEEPING WITH ACCEPTED STANDARDS OF CORRECTIONAL PRACTICE. CORRECTIONAL PROJECTS ARE DIVIDED INTO THREE CATEGORIES - YOUTH SERVICE BUREAUS, INSTITUTIONAL CORRECTIONS, AND COMMUNITY CORRECTIONS. THE APPENDIXES CONTAIN FORMS SUGGESTED FOR COLLECTING AND ANALYZING DATA REQUIRED FOR JUSTIFICATION AND EVALUATION OF PROJECTS IN EACH CATEGORY. (SNI ABSTRACT)