NCJ Number
41908
Date Published
1977
Length
86 pages
Annotation
THE REPORT DESCRIBES AND ANALYZES THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM IN MINNESOTA AT THE LOCAL LEVEL, PARTICULARLY EXAMINING THE COSTS OF THE SYSTEM AND THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THESE COSTS AND THE SYSTEM'S PERFORMANCE.
Abstract
THE MAJOR EMPHASIS OF THE REPORT IS ON THE COUNTY LEVEL POLICE AND COURTS SUBSYSTEMS. THE METHOD OF ANALYSIS IS TO COMPARE THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEMS OF THE COUNTIES IN MINNESOTA WITH RESPECT TO THEIR LEVELS OF SPENDING AND PERFORMANCE. THE STATISTICAL TECHNIQUES OF CORRELATION AND REGRESSION ARE USED TO DETERMINE WHAT RELATIONSHIPS EXIST AMONG THE SYSTEM VARIABLES. RELATIONSHIPS FOUND TO BE SIGNIFICANT ARE THEN INTERPRETED WITH A VIEW TOWARD ADDRESSING THEIR RELEVANCE TO POLICY AND PLANNING. AMONG THE FINDINGS OF THE STUDY, IT WAS NOTED THAT THE POLICE SUBSYSTEM IS THE MOST COSTLY SEGMENT OF THE SYSTEM, FOLLOWED BY CORRECTIONS AND COURTS. MINNESOTA'S PATTERN OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE SPENDING IS MUCH THE SAME AS THE PATTERN FOR THE UNITED STATES AS A WHOLE. IT WAS ALSO FOUND THAT LARGER COUNTIES SPEND DISPROPORTIONATELY LESS THAN SMALLER COUNTIES ON CRIMINAL JUSTICE IN RELATION TO THE NUMBER OF REPORTED CRIMES. SPENDING ON THE COURTS, RELATIVE TO OTHER SUBSYSTEMS, APPEARS TO BE LEAST COMMENSURATE WITH THE LEVEL OF CRIME. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED)...KAP