NCJ Number
16590
Date Published
1974
Length
58 pages
Annotation
A COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS OF RELEVANT INFORMATION CONCERNING THE OPERATION AND EFFECTIVENESS OF THE OFFICE OF THE OMBUDSMAN, INCLUDING AN ASSESSMENT OF EFFORT, A PROGRAM ANALYSIS, AND AN ASSESSMENT OF EFFECT.
Abstract
THE FUNCTIONS OF THE CORRECTIONS OMBUDSMAN INCLUDE THE INVESTIGATION OF COMPLAINTS AGAINST THE DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS, AND THE FORMULATION OF RECOMMENDATIONS CONCERNING CORRECTIONS POLICY. PROGRAM EFFORT WAS ASSESSED THROUGH THE COLLECTION OF DATA ON THE NUMBER AND KINDS OF INVESTIGATIONS CONDUCTED BY THE OMBUDSMAN. IN GENERAL, PRODUCTIVITY WAS FOUND TO BE SATISFACTORY. THE SOURCES OF REQUESTS AND THE INTERNAL PROGRAM PROCESSES ARE REPORTED BY CORRECTIONAL FACILITY, AND BY AGE, SEX, AND ETHNIC BACKGROUND OF THE OMBUDSMAN'S CLIENTS. THE IMPACT OF THE OMBUDSMAN WAS EVALUATED IN TERMS OF THE NUMBER OF RECOMMENDATIONS IMPLEMENTED AND SATISFACTION OF ADMINISTRATIVE PERSONNEL, STAFF PERSONNEL, AND INMATES. DATA SHOWED THAT THE OMBUDSMAN WAS FREQUENTLY SUCCESSFUL IN GAINING THE COOPERATION OF THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENCIES WITH RESPECT TO POLICY AND NONPOLICY RECOMMENDATIONS. THE LEVEL OF REPORTED SATISFACTION WAS FOUND TO VARY WIDELY DEPENDING ON THE ROLE OF THE RESPONDENT, THE ADMINISTRATIVE PERSONNEL BEING MOST SATISFIED AND THE INMATES EXPRESSING THE LEAST AMOUNT OF SATISFACTION WITH THE OMBUDSMAN'S OFFICE.