NCJ Number
54725
Date Published
1977
Length
14 pages
Annotation
EFFORTS OF NEW YORK STATE TO OBTAIN EVALUATION DATA FOR PLANNING, PROJECT DEVELOPMENT, AND PROGRAM IMPLEMENTATION IN THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE FIELD ARE DESCRIBED.
Abstract
TWO EVALUATION ACTIVITIES HAVE BEEN INITIATED, THE PERFORMANCE EVALUATION SYSTEM AND THE INTENSIVE EVALUATION PROGRAM. THE MISSION OF THE PERFORMANCE-ORIENTED SYSTEM IS TO OBTAIN OUTCOME DATA ON THE APPROXIMATELY 400 CRIMINAL JUSTICE PROJECTS FUNDED ANNUALLY IN THE STATE. THE INTENSIVE EVALUATION PROGRAM ATTEMPTS VERY SOPHISTICATED CAUSAL STUDIES OF A SMALLER NUMBER OF PROJECTS ON WHICH COMPLEX TYPES OF INFORMATION ARE DESIRED. THE PROCESS FOR FUNDING SOPHISTICATED EVALUATION ACTIVITIES IS THE SAME AS FOR PROJECTS TO BE EVALUATED. FUNDS ARE ALLOCATED FOR INTENSIVE EVALUATION AND DISBURSED THROUGH THE INTENSIVE EVALUATION PROGRAM. THE COMPLEXITY OF PROJECTS IS THE RESULT OF TWO FACTORS. ONE IS THAT PROJECTS HAVE INVARIABLY UNDERGONE ALTERATIONS IN THEIR AIMS OVER THEIR LIFESPAN. THERE IS SOME LACK OF CLARITY ABOUT WHAT WILL BE DONE AND WHY. THE OTHER IS THE AMBITIOUSNESS OF PROJECTS. THEY ARE OFTEN COMPREHENSIVE IN SCOPE, PROVIDING SERVICES DIRECTLY OR BY REFERRAL FOR ANY KIND OF PROBLEM. BECAUSE OF THE COMPLEXITY OF PROJECTS, THE USE OF CLUSTER ASSESSMENT IN NEEDS IDENTIFICATION IS HINDERED OR PRECLUDED. CLUSTER ASSESSMENT IS ADVANTAGEOUS AS IT PERMITS THE STATE TO EVALUATE A BATCH OF PROJECTS WITH SIMILAR AIMS AT ONE TIME, BUT IT COMPOUNDS THE DIFFICULTY OF EVALUATING INDIVIDUAL STUDIES. ALTHOUGH THE STATE MONITORS ALL PROJECTS FISCALLY, PROGRAMMATIC MONITORING IS LESS SYSTEMATIC. MONITORING AND CONTRACT PROCEDURES IN SUCH AREAS OF CONCERN AS THE COURTS, CORRECTIONS, AND THE POLICE ARE DISCUSSED IN RELATION TO PROJECT EVALUATION. (DEP)