NCJ Number
51038
Date Published
1976
Length
116 pages
Annotation
A SYSTEMS APPROACH IS EMPLOYED IN AN EVALUATION OF THE LAFAYETTE, IND., JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM, AND AN ONGOING PROGRAM OF EVALUATION FOR THE SYSTEM IS PROPOSED.
Abstract
THE SYSTEMS ANALYSIS PROVIDES A PICTURE OF THE FUNCTIONING OF PROGRAMS WITHIN LAFAYETTE'S JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM, THE INTERRELATIONS OF AGENCIES, AND THE SYSTEM'S RESOURCES. THE GOALS, OBJECTIVES, ASSUMPTIONS, AND STRUCTURE OF THE INDIVIDUAL AGENCIES WITIN THE SYSTEM ARE ASSESSED. INITIAL EVALUATION OF THE OVERALL SYSTEM IN TERMS OF PROCESS, ASSUMPTIONS, AND PROGRAMS POINTS UP AREAS OF AGREEMENT AND DISAGREEMENT AMONG PARTICIPANTS IN THE SYSTEM AND REVEALS THAT LITTLE ONGOING EVALUATION IS TAKING PLACE. PARTICIPANTS EXPRESSED A DESIRE FOR FEEDBACK ON THE IMPACT OF THEIR PROGRAMS, BUT ALSO WERE CONCERNED THAT EVALUATIONS MIGHT BE USED INAPPROPRIATELY BY THE COMMUNITY. THE FINDINGS OF THE INITIAL EVALUATION ARE THE BASIS OF A PLAN FOR EVALUATING THE SYSTEM ON AN ONGOING BASIS. THE PLAN INCLUDES EFFORTS BY INDIVIDUAL AGENCIES TO DEFINE THEIR GOALS AND OBJECTIVES MORE CLEARLY AND TO EVALUATE THE ASSUMPTIONS UNDERLYING THEIR GOALS, AS WELL AS SYSTEMWIDE EFFORTS TO EXAMINE AGENCY COORDINATION. A METHOD FOR ASSESSING SYSTEM IMPACT ON INDIVIDUAL OFFENDERS THROUGH THE USE OF A REVIEW BOARD IS SUGGESTED. PROBLEMS THAT ARISE IN EVALUATING AGENCIES AND SYSTEMS ARE DISCUSSED, AND FUTURE DIRECTIONS FOR EVALUATION RESEARCH ARE SUGGESTED. AN ASSESSMENT OF EVALUATION METHODOLOGY IS CALLED FOR. A BIBLIOGRAPHY IS INCLUDED. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFEDL--LKM)