STUDY OF HOW CORRECTIONAL COUNSELLORS AND PSYCHOLOGISTS AGREE UPON PRE-SENTENCE RECOMMENDATIONS

• NCJ Number: 9105
• Journal: CANADIAN JOURNAL OF CRIMINOLOGY AND CORRECTIONS Volume: 15 Issue: 1 Dated: (JANUARY 1973) Pages: 93-99
• Author(s): J P VANGIGCH
• Date Published: 1973
• Length: 7 pages
• Corporate Author: Canadian Criminal Justice Assoc
• Publication Format: Article
• Language: English
• Country: Canada

Annotation

APPLICATION OF THE DELPHI METHOD, A FORMALIZED PROCEDURE TO OBTAIN OPINION CONVERGENCE AMONG EXPERTS TO DETERMINE PRESENTENCE RECOMMENDATIONS.

Abstract

PRESENTENCE RECOMMENDATIONS ARE USED TO SUPPLY INFORMATION TO HELP JUDGES MAKE THE MOST APPROPRIATE DISPOSITION IN DIFFICULT CASES. THIS STUDY APPLIED A NEW TECHNIQUE TO THE RECOMMENDATION DECISION-MAKING PROCESS AMONG CORRECTIONAL COUNSELORS AND PSYCHOLOGISTS AT THE CALIFORNIA MEDICAL FACILITY. THE DELPHI METHOD OF REACHING CONSENSUS WAS USED IN TEN CASES. THIS METHOD AVOIDS FACE TO FACE CONFRONTATION AT CONFERENCES BY REQUIRING WRITTEN RECOMMENDATIONS FROM EACH PARTICIPANT WHICH ARE TABULATED. AFTER THE GROUP TABULATION, EACH PARTICIPANT MODIFIES HIS ANSWER UNTIL A CONSENSUS IS REACHED. THE DELPHI METHOD AVOIDED SOME OF THE SHORTCOMINGS OF GROUP MEETINGS, I. E., THE EFFECTS OF VOTING PUBLICLY IN FRONT OF SUPERIORS OR SUBORDINATES. THIS TECHNIQUE CANNOT BE APPLIED IN ALL CASES WHERE THE OPINION OF EXPERTS IS REQUIRED.