HOW THE COMPUTER CAN AID IN KEEPING PEOPLE OUT OF THE 'SYSTEM' (FROM PROJECT SEARCH - INTERNATIONAL SYMPOSIUM ON CRIMINAL JUSTICE INFORMATION AND STATISTICS SYSTEMS PROCEEDINGS, 1972, BY GARY COOPER - SEE NCJ-09380)

• NCJ Number: 48297
• Author(s): T R SHAW; J M COX
• Date Published: 1972
• Length: 10 pages
• Sponsoring Agency: US Dept of Justice; Project Search (See Search Group Inc)
• Sale Source: National Institute of Justice/
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

THE USE OF A CRIMINAL JUSTICE INFORMATION SYSTEM (CJIS) AS A FEEDBACK MECHANISM CAPABLE OF FACILITATING IMPROVEMENT WITHIN THE SYSTEM AND ENHANCING EXPANDED USE OF INSTITUTIONAL ALTERNATIVES IS OUTLINED.

Abstract

CJISS CAN BE DEVELOPED TO AID CRIMINAL JUSTICE DECISIONMAKERS AT ALL POINTS OF THE PROCESS IN KEEPING PEOPLE OUT OF THE SYSTEM. RATHER THAN FOCUSING ON TRACKING INDIVIDUALS AS THEY MOVE THROUGH THE SYSTEM, A RESPONSIVE APPROACH TO INFORMATION SYSTEM DESIGN WOULD INCLUDE OPERATIONAL AND STATISTICAL APPLICATIONS THAT DEMONSTRATE ALTERNATIVES AT EACH OPERATIONAL DECISION POINT AND PROVIDE STATISTICS ILLUSTRATING THE DEGREE TO WHICH ALTERNATIVES TO USUAL CRIMINAL JUSTICE PROCESSES ARE UTILIZED. THE CJIS CAN BE VIEWED AS A FEEDBACK MECHANISM WHICH PROVIDES A CONTINUOUS INFORMATION FLOW TO ALLOW THE RESULTS OF PROGRAMS AFFECTING THE INDIVIDUAL AND THE LARGER SOCIETY TO BE MEASURED. IN MANY EXISTING CJISS DATA REGARDING PERFORMANCE SUCCESS OR FAILURE IS ALMOST COMPLETELY LACKING. A NUMBER OF AREAS IN WHICH GENERAL IMPROVEMENT IS NEEDED, PARTICULARLY WITH RESPECT TO COMMUNITY-BASED TREATMENT AND SERVICES, INCLUDE THE AVOIDANCE OF DIFFERENTIAL SELECTION, PROBLEMS ASSOCIATED WITH INCARCERATION FOR FAMILY SUPPORT, AND MANAGEMENT OF ALCOHOLISM, THE MENTALLY ILL, JUVENILES, AND VICTIMLESS CRIMES. POLICE USE OF INFORMATION SYSTEMS WOULD PROVIDE ALTERNATIVES TO THE USUAL RESTRICTIVE CHANNELS OF REPORTING AND DISPOSITION AND LEAD TO MORE APPROPRIATE REPORTING. INFORMATION DISPLAYS COULD INCLUDE ALTERNATIVE CHANNELS OF ACTION UTILIZING RESOURCES EXTERNAL TO THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM. DATA COULD BE INCLUDED ON ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS CONTRIBUTING TO CRIME AND DELINQUENCY, AND LEAD TO THE DEVELOPMENT AND APPLICATION OF CRIME PREVENTION METHODS. REFERRAL INFORMATION, ALSO SHOULD BE READILY AVAILABLE. FEEDBACK ON LONG TERM RESULTS OF PROSECUTORIAL DECISIONMAKING COULD IMPROVE SHORT TERM DECISIONMAKING, PARTICULARLY IN THE AREA OF DIVERSION AND ALTERNATIVE DISPOSITIONS. RANK-ORDERING OF CASES BY INDIVIDUAL SERVICE NEEDS COULD PROVIDE IMPORTANT MANAGEMENT INFORMATION. DEFENDERS, GIVEN COMPREHENSIVE INDIVIDUAL HISTORIES AND PRECEDENTS IN THE USE OF TREATMENT ALTERNATIVES, COULD ALSO IMPROVE THEIR PERFORMANCE. PLANNING, BUDGETING, AND EVALUATION SYSTEMS COULD IMPROVE JAIL ADMINISTRATION. IN BOTH ADULT AND JUVENILE COURTS, CJISS COULD EXPEDITE CASE HANDLING AND EMPHASIZE THE USE OF ALTERNATIVES. COMPREHENSIVE BACKGROUND INFORMATION COULD PROVIDE VALUABLE DECISIONMAKING INFORMATION REGARDING NEEDS, PRIOR SUCCESS/FAILURE, AND TREATMENT. IN CORRECTIONS, PROGRAM EVALUATION AND DEVELOPMENT OF A KNOWLEDGE BASE COULD BE ENHANCED THROUGH AN INFORMATION SYSTEM. IN PROBATION AND PAROLE, INFORMATION NEEDS ARE SIMILAR TO THOSE OF POLICE. ALTERNATIVES TO INCARCERATION AS A MEANS OF REDUCING CASELOADS, WITH AN EMPHASIS ON REFERRAL OF PAROLEES, ARE NEEDED. INFORMATION ON SERVICES AND EMPLOYMENT REPRESENTS A SPECIAL NEED. THE NEED FOR EVALUATIVE RESEARCH INTO THE PERFORMANCE OF ALTERNATIVE PROGRAMS IN TERMS OF CLIENT AND CLIENT-SERVING INSTITUTIONS IS STRESSED. (JAP)