NCJ Number
35555
Journal
Public Administration Review Volume: 36 Issue: 4 Dated: (JULY/AUGUST 1976) Pages: 429-439
Date Published
1976
Length
11 pages
Annotation
THIS ARTICLE, BASED UPON THE AUTHOR'S EXPERIENCE AT DOJ, DISCUSSES SOME OF THE COMPLEXITIES OF MANAGING THE LARGEST SINGLE COMPONENT OF THE FEDERAL CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM.
Abstract
THESE REMARKS ARE PERSONAL IMPRESSIONS INTENDED TO RAISE SOME QUESTIONS ABOUT THE MANAGERIAL PROCESSES. IT IS ARGUED THAT THE FEDERAL JUSTICE SYSTEM IS A HIGHLY INTERRELATED SYSTEM WHOSE COMPONENT PARTS PERFORM INDEPENDENTLY AND AUTONOMOUSLY OF EACH OTHER; FEDERAL POLICIES REGARDING THE DISPENSATION OF JUSTICE ARE DETERMINED BY HIGHLY DECENTRALIZED, FRAGMENTED UNITS WHICH ARE MORE ORIENTED TOWARDS PROGRAMMATIC DEMANDS FOR BUREAUCRATIC SURVIVAL AS OPPOSED TO SYSTEMWIDE GOALS OR NEEDS; AND AS MEASURED BY REAL OUTCOMES PRODUCED AS AGAINST THEIR STATED OBJECTIVES OR LEGISLATIVE MANDATES, MANY OF THE CURRENT JUSTICE PROGRAMS NOW OPERATING ARE NON-PRODUCTIVE, AND MAYBE EVEN PRODUCE POSITIVELY HARMFUL OR COUNTER-PRODUCTIVE EFFECTS ON SOCIETY AS A WHOLE. IT IS SUGGESTED THAT THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE NEEDS TO VIEW THE PROBLEMS OF FEDERAL JUSTICE AS POLICY/ MANAGEMENT/PLANNING ISSUES RATHER THAN THOSE IN NEED OF LEGAL-TECHNICAL REMEDIES AND TO CLARIFY THE INTERRELATED PURPOSES OF DOJ AGENCIES RATHER THAN OBSCURE THEIR REASONS FOR EXISTENCE. ALSO RECOMMENDED ARE THE BUILDING OF INPUT/OUTPUT INDICATORS, THE DISPLAYING OF MORE WILLINGNESS TO EXPERIMENT WITH THE 'INPUTS' INTO THE FEDERAL JUSTICE SYSTEM, AND THE SHIFTING OF INCENTIVES OF DOJ PROFESSAIONALS TOWARD LOOKING AT THE 'BIG PICTURE' OF THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM AND TOWARD ENGAGING IN A CONCERTED EFFORT AT PUTTING ITS PARTS TOGETHER. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED)