NCJ Number
36106
Date Published
1976
Length
375 pages
Annotation
REPORT OF A PROGRAM TO ASSESS THE COSTS AND BENEFITS OF THE COMPREHENSIVE DATA SYSTEM (CDS), WITH EMPHASIS ON THE INTERSTATE EXCHANGE OF CRIMINAL HISTORIES THROUGH THE COMPUTERIZED CRIMINAL HISTORY (CCH) PROGRAM.
Abstract
THE CDS PROGRAM WAS INITIATED IN MAY 1972 TO PROVIDE FUNDING FOR PROGRAMS TO DEVELOP BOTH AUTOMATED CRIMINAL HISTORY EXCHANGE AND AUTOMATED AND NON-AUTOMATED DATA BASES OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE STATISTICS. CDS CONSISTS OF FIVE COMPONENTS - OFFENDER BASED TRANSACTION STATISTICS AND CCH (OBTS/CCH), STATISTICAL ANALYSIS CENTER, UNIFORM CRIME REPORTS, MANAGEMENT AND ADMINISTRATIVE STATISTICS, AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE. THIS STUDY IDENTIFIED BENEFITS WHICH WOULD JUSTIFY THE DEVELOPMENT, IN SOME FORM, OF BOTH THE CRIMINAL HISTORY AND STATISTICAL COMPONENTS OF THE CDS PROGRAM. HOWEVER, THE COST ESTIMATE THROUGH 1984 IS SAID TO SIGNIFICANTLY EXCEED PLANNED FUNDING LEVELS. IN THE OPINION OF THE PROJECT TEAM, THESE ESTIMATED COSTS ARE HIGHER THAN NEEDED FOR ACHIEVING THE ANTICIPATED BENEFITS. A SECONDARY PURPOSE OF THE STUDY BECAME THE IDENTIFICATION OF THOSE POLICIES WHICH COULD BE ALTERED TO REDUCE THE COST OF THE CDS PROGRAM. AN AUTOMATED COST MODEL USABLE IN STUDYING THE COST EFFECTIVENESS OF ALTERNATIVE OBTS/CCH POLICIES IS PRESENTED. FOR THE REPORT SUMMARY, SEE NCJ-36105. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED)