NCJ Number
52400
Journal
Federal Probation Volume: 41 Issue: 4 Dated: (DECEMBER 1977) Pages: 9-14
Date Published
1977
Length
6 pages
Annotation
THE ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES OF THREE MODELS OF FEDERAL INVOLVEMENT IN CRIMINAL JUSTICE RESEARCH ARE DISCUSSED.
Abstract
THE MODELS ARE AS FOLLOWS: (1) PEER-REVIEWED GOVERNMENT FUNDING OF NONGOVERNMENT RESEARCH; (2) RECRUITED NONGOVERNMENT RESEARCH ON GOVERNMENT PROJECTS; AND (3) COLLABORATIVE GOVERNMENT AND NONGOVERNMENT RESEARCH ON GOVERNMENT-APPROVED PROJECTS. THE FIRST MODEL, IN WHICH THE NONGOVERNMENT RESEARCHER'S PROFESSIONAL PEERS IN GOVERNMENT AGENCIES EVALUATE THE RESEARCHER'S REQUEST FOR FEDERAL FUNDS, OFFERS THE ADVANTAGE OF AUGMENTING THE GOVERNMENT'S CAPACITY FOR ASSESSING AND MONITORING RESEARCH. THE SECOND MODEL, IMPLEMENTED THROUGH THE REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS (RFP), IS THE MOST DEVELOPED. THE GREAT POTENTIAL OF THE RFP PROCESS IS THAT IT QUICKLY MARSHALS MUCH ATTENTION BY RESEARCHERS TO THE PROBLEMS THAT GOVERNMENT CONSIDERS IMPORTANT. HOWEVER, THE PROCESS ENCOURAGES PROFITEERING, OR AT LEAST PROMOTES GRANTSMANSHIP OVER WORKMANSHIP. THE THIRD APPROACH IS EXEMPLIFIED BY PROJECTS IN WHICH GOVERNMENT HIRES AN OUTSIDE ORGANIZATION TO COMPLETE A STUDY IN A FEDERAL FACILITY. IN VIEW OF THE VAST STORES OF DATA COMPILED BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT BUT NOT ANALYZED OR MADE AVAILABLE TO OUTSIDE RESEARCHERS FOR ANALYSIS, THE POTENTIAL OF A COLLABORATIVE APPROACH IS EVIDENT. THE IMPACT OF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT ON RESEARCH IN CRIMINOLOGY DEPENDS NOT ONLY ON THE ROLE GOVERNMENT CHOOSES, BUT ALSO ON THE RESEARCH PROBLEMS IT ADDRESSES. AWARENESS OF RESEARCH NEEDS REQUIRES A BROAD VIEW OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE, RATHER THAN PREOCCUPATION WITH ONE ASPECT. EXAMPLES OF AREAS IN WHICH RESEARCH IS NEEDED INCLUDE AGE SEGREGATION, LEGITIMATE ACHIEVEMENT OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOUTHS WHO ARE MALADJUSTED IN SCHOOL, ALTERNATIVE DRUG POLICIES, THE CONSEQUENCES OF REALLOCATING DISCRETION IN SANCTIONING, AND EVALUATION OF CORRECTIONAL SERVICES. IF GOVERNMENT WISHES TO BRING ATTENTION TO ANY OF THESE SUBJECTS, IT CAN DO SO PROMPTLY BY PUBLISHING RFP'S. HIGH-QUALITY RESEARCH WILL BE MORE LIKELY IF A GOOD PEER REVIEW AND MONITORING PROGRAM FOR ALL FEDERALLY FUNDED STUDIES IS MAINTAINED. NEW RESEARCH POSSIBILITIES WILL BE BROUGHT TO THE GOVERNMENT'S ATTENTION MOST EFFECTIVELY THROUGH A PEER-REVIEWED GRANTS PROGRAM FOR NONGOVERNMENT RESEARCH. RESEARCH ON THE CRIME-REDUCING EFFECTS AND OTHER CONSEQUENCES OF MANY CRIMINAL JUSTICE POLICIES OR CORRECTIONAL SERVICES COULD BE ENHANCED THROUGH COLLABORATION BY GOVERNMENT AND NONGOVERNMENT AGENCIES IN THE ANALYSIS OF DATA FROM FEDERAL RECORD SYSTEMS. (LKM)