NCJ Number
67116
Date Published
1977
Length
66 pages
Annotation
THIS WORKING PAPER DESCRIBES THE NEED FOR IMPROVED PLANNING AND EVALUATION CRITERIA AND MECHANISMS WITHIN THE CANADIAN CRIMINAL JUSTICE AGENCIES IN ORDER TO ACHIEVE MORE RATIONAL MANAGEMENT.
Abstract
PREPARED BY A MEMBER OF THE CANADIAN MINISTRY OF THE SOLICITOR GENERAL IN COLLABORATION WITH A FACULTY MEMBER OF THE SCHOOL OF BUSINESS OF A CANADIAN UNIVERSITY, THIS PAPER ADDRESSES SOME OF THE PITFALLS, CONSTRAINTS, AND NEEDS FOR PROCESSES IN PLANNING AND EVALUATION INCLUDING THE HISTORY OF SUCH PROSESSES IN A PARTICULAR AGENCY. THE TARGETS OF THIS IMPROVED PLANNING AND EVALUATION PROCESS ARE THE AGENCIES WHICH COMPOSE THE CANADIAN CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM. FOUR LEVELS OF PLANNING AND EVALUATION (POLITICAL, POLICY, PROGRAMS, AND PROJECT) ARE IDENTIFIED AND DESCRIBED. THE FACT THAT THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM IS PRIMARILY A SYSTEM THAT USES PEOPLE AS A MAIN RESOURCE IS EMPHASIZED. A CONTROVERSIAL ASPECT OF THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE PLANNING AND EVALUATION PROCESS UNDER DISCUSSION HERE IS FORMALIZATION, AS EXEMPLIFIED BY POLICE DISCRETION. ADVOCATES ARGUE THAT SUCH FORMALIZATION WOULD GIVE A BETTER IDEA OF THE DECISIONS BEING MADE AND THE RATIONALE FOR SUCH DECISIONS, ENABLING EVALUATORS TO MAKE A BETTER ALLOCATION OF RESOURCES AND DEVISE SPECIALIZED TRAINING FOR DIFFERENT NEEDS. DETAILED RECOMMENDATIONS FOR A PLANNING AND EVALUATION PROCESS MODEL INCLUDE IDENTIFICATION AND DEFINITION OF PROBLEM AREAS; DEVELOPMENT OF A POLICY STATEMENT; DEFINITION OF ALTERNATIVE STRATEGIES AND GOALS; DEVELOPMENT OF PROGRAMS AND OPERATIONAL POLICIES; RESOURCE ALLOCATION; AND MONITORING AND EVALUATION OF THE PROGRAM OR POLICY. DIRECT INVOLVEMENT OF SENIOR AGENCY PERSONNEL IN ALL STAGES OF THE PLANNING AND EVALUATION PROCESS IS ASSUMED. EXAMPLES OF THE APPLICATION OF THE PLANNING AND EVALUATION PROCESS DESCRIBED IN THIS PAPER ARE GIVEN IN APPENDIXES I AND II, FOR DRUG ABUSE POLICIES AND FOR A FEDERAL-PROVINCIAL EVALUATION OF CORRECTIONAL OBJECTIVES AND ALTERNATIVE DIVISIONS OF CORRECTIONAL JURISDICTION WITHIN CANADA, RESPECTIVELY. FOOTNOTES, REFERENCES, TABLES, AND AN EXTENSIVE LIST OF BIBLIOGRAPHIC REFERENCES IS APPENDED.