NCJ Number
54717
Date Published
1977
Length
58 pages
Annotation
THIS PAPER REPORTS ON THE NEEDS ASSESSMENT PHASE OF THE MODEL EVALUATION PROGRAM IN THE STATE OF WASHINGTON THAT WAS UNDERTAKEN AT THE REQUEST OF THE STATE'S LAW AND JUSTICE PLANNING OFFICE.
Abstract
THE 8-MONTH STUDY WAS CONDUCTED TO ASSESS THE PERFORMANCE OF THE EVALUATION SYSTEM AND TO RECOMMEND STRATEGIES FOR IMPROVING THE EVALUATION PROCESS. THE MAJOR ISSUE IN THE STUDY WAS THE IDENTIFICATION OF FACTORS THAT CONSTRAIN AND/OR FACILITATE THE USE OF INFORMATION FROM EVALUATION IN THE DECISIONMAKING PROCESS. INFORMATION ON DECISIONMAKING PROCEDURES WITHIN LAW ENFORCEMENT AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE AGENCIES WAS OBTAINED THROUGH INFORMAL INTERVIEWS WITH PERSONNEL, DOCUMENTS PREPARED BY AGENCIES, AND A FORMAL SURVEY. TWO MEASURES WERE EMPLOYED TO ESTIMATE THE EXTENT TO WHICH REGIONAL PREFERENCES PREVAILED IN THE ALLOCATION OF FUNDS FOR 1977: THE EXTENT TO WHICH PROJECTS THAT ACTUALLY RECEIVED FUNDS WERE RANKED ABOVE PROJECTS THAT DID NOT RECEIVE FUNDS, AND THE PROPORTION OF ALL REGIONAL PROJECTS JUDGED AS NOT ACCEPTABLE. IN THE SURVEY, RESPONDENTS WERE ASKED QUESTIONS DEALING WITH THE NUMBER OF EVALUATION REPORTS THEY BECAME AWARE OF DURING THE 1976 PLANNING PROCESS, THE NUMBER OF EVALUATION REPORTS THEY REVIEWED BUT DID NOT USE THE INFORMATION IN THEIR WORK, THE NUMBER OF EVALUATION REPORTS THEY USED TO ARGUE FOR THE DISCONTINUATION OF A PROJECT, AND THE NUMBER OF EVALUATION REPORTS THEY USED TO ARGUE FOR MAJOR CHANGES IN PROJECT OPERATION. THERE WERE MARKED DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE STATE PLANNING PROCESS AND THE REGIONAL PLANNING PROCESS CONCERNING THE USE OF EVALUATION REPORTS AND THE EXTENT OF INVOLVEMENT IN DECISIONMAKING. EVALUATION TECHNIQUES AND PROCEDURES AND THE UTILITY OF EVALUATIVE INFORMATION ARE DISCUSSED. A DESCRIPTION OF THE SURVEY METHODOLOGY AND SUPPORTING DATA ARE APPENDED.