POLICY PROCESS AT THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE (FROM EVOLUTION OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE - A GUIDE FOR PRACTICAL CRIMINOLOGISTS, 1978, BY JOHN CONRAD - SEE NCJ-52561)

• NCJ Number: 52568
• Author(s): J F HOOBLER
• Date Published: 1978
• Length: 11 pages
• Corporate Author: Sage Publications, Inc
• Publication Format: Document
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: PRESENTED AT THE ANNUAL MEETING OF THE AMERICAN SOCIETY OF CRIMINOLOGY, HELD IN ATLANTA, GEORGIA IN NOVEMBER 1977

Annotation

A MODEL POLICY FORMULATION AND IMPLEMENTATION SYSTEM IS SKETCHED, AND CURRENT PRACTICE AT THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE IS CRITIQUED WITH REFERENCE TO THE MODEL.

Abstract

THE MODEL POLICY FORMULATION SYSTEM CONSISTS OF THE FOLLOWING ELEMENTS: PREPOLICY ANALYSIS, WHICH IS CONCERNED WITH PROBLEM DEFINITION; POLICY GUIDELINES, WHICH INVOLVE PROGRAM DESIGN; PROGRAM PLANNING AND ANALYSIS, WHICH DEALS WITH THE QUESTION OF HOW TO TRANSLATE BROAD-GAUGED POLICY GOALS INTO SUPPORTING PROGRAMS; EXECUTIVE BUDGET FORMULATION, WHICH IS CONCERNED WITH THE ALLOCATION OF RESOURCES BETWEEN COMPETING POLICY INITIATIVES AND THEIR SUPPORTING PROGRAMS; PROGRAM AND BUDGET EXECUTION, WHICH INVOLVES THE CONTINUOUS ASSESSMENT OF PROGRESS MADE TOWARD POLICY GOALS AND PROGRAM OBJECTIVES; PROGRAM EVALUATION, WHICH ADDRESSES QUESTIONS OF PROCESS (MANAGEMENT AND EFFICIENCY) OR IMPACT (CAUSE AND EFFECT) OF A PROGRAM OR PROJECT; AND POSTPOLICY ANALYSIS, WHICH AIMS AT DETERMINING POLICY IMPACT ON TARGET GROUPS IDENTIFIED IN THE ORIGINAL POLICY INFORMATION. THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE IS JUDGED TO HAVE BEEN ISSUE ORIENTED IN THE PAST INSTEAD OF ADDRESSING THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM FROM A SYSTEMS PERSPECTIVE AS RECOMMENDED IN THE MODEL. IT IS ADVISED THAT SENIOR POLICY OFFICIALS MUST BEGIN TO RECOGNIZE THE NEED FOR POLICY STRATEGIES, THE INTERDEPENDENCY OF POLICY CHOICES, AND THE VALUE OF ANALYSIS IN ARRIVING AT POLICY GOALS, ALONG WITH THE ASSESSMENT OF THEIR IMPACT ONCE IMPLEMENTED. WHILE IT IS RECOGNIZED THAT CURRENTLY CONSIDERABLE PROGRESS HAS BEEN MADE IN THE AREAS OF PROGRAM PLANNING AND ANALYSIS, EXECUTIVE BUDGET FORMULATION, AND PROGRAM EVALUATION, COMPARABLE EFFORTS ARE NEEDED TO IMPROVE POLICY FORMULATION AND IMPLEMENTATION. THE POTENTIAL FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF MORE SOPHISTICATED PROGRAM AND BUDGET CONTROLS IS BELIEVED ON THE HORIZON AND REQUIRES ONLY STRONG POLICY-LEVEL SUPPORT TO MEET ITS OBJECTIVES. IT IS NOTED THAT CONSIDERABLE GAPS NEED TO BE FILLED BEFORE THE DEPARTMENT CAN APPROXIMATE THE MODEL IN THE AREAS OF PREPOLICY AND POSTPOLICY ANALYSES. (RCB)