NCJ Number
169686
Date Published
1996
Length
215 pages
Annotation
The new city of Milton Keynes, England, was studied in 1994 with respect to its crime patterns and rates, the responses of criminal justice agencies, and the resources used for criminal justice processes.
Abstract
The data came from all the governmental and nongovernmental agencies involved in criminal justice. The research divided the criminal justice process into four categories: (1) recording crime and assisting victims, (2) investigating offenses and deciding whether to prosecute, (3) processing cases in court, and (4) handling cases after court and in the correctional system. Results revealed that the most expensive stage of criminal justice is investigation and deciding whether to prosecute, especially investigations; corrections involved the next greatest costs. The fewest resources are devoted to victim services and recording crimes. Results also revealed that the current management information systems do not allow managers to match resource costs, performance, and priorities; to plan resources against system outputs; or to conduct interagency planning. The analysis concluded that much of the effort focuses on processing; little focuses on crime prevention or providing service. Criminal justice work has shrunk back to core statutory responsibilities that have earmarked funding or that are bolstered by national performance indicators. Little work is done that involves direct contact with victims or offenders, particularly that aimed to prevent revictimization or recidivism. Findings indicate the need for funding interagency projects that try to provide contact and prevent crime by addressing offending or revictimization. Footnotes, tables, figures, appended list of notifiable offenses, and 30 references