NCJ Number
82274
Date Published
1978
Length
52 pages
Annotation
This report presents the results of a feasibility study that examined the potential use of JUSSIM, a computerized modeling program, in addressing policy issues concerning the Federal criminal justice system.
Abstract
JUSSIM is an interactive program package which enables users to generate a computerized model of an organization's operations, to specify the types and amounts of resources needed to process a variety of work units, and to calculate the total resource/cost requirements for a particular mix of input workload. JUSSIM can be described as a systemwide resource and cost calculation model. To use the model, the user creates a structured description of the particular criminal justice process under review. The description must include the stages in criminal justice processing, flow paths, possible release points in the system, the rate at which work units drop out of the system, required resources at each stage, and the total availability of system resources. After this information is provided, the model computes the resource requirements and associated costs for individual system components. The user then has the opportunity to make changes in certain of the input factors. Thus, the user is able to translate policy decisions into changes in the operation of the criminal justice system. Based on an examination of JUSSIM's capabilities and characteristics, four areas for consideration in determining the feasibility of implementing JUSSIM within the Federal system have been identified. These four areas include the need to structure the criminal justice system description to address varying police questions, the need to translate policy questions into model changes, data availability and quality, and the deterministic nature of the model. JUSSIM can offer a viable modeling tool to criminal justice planning agencies. An appendix, 19 footnotes, 4 figures, and 3 tables are included. (Author summary modified)