PRELIMINARY ANALYSIS OF A MUNICIPAL CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM

• NCJ Number: 42136
• Author(s): J F BARD
• Date Published: 1976
• Length: 151 pages
• Corporate Author: Aerospace Corporation
• Sale Source: National Institute of Justice/; Aerospace Corporation
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

THIS REPORT PRESENTS THE RESULTS OF A PRELIMINARY STUDY OF THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM WHICH WAS CONDUCTED IN AN EFFORT TO PROVIDE A QUANTITATIVE DESCRIPTION OF THE SYSTEM AND TO EVALUATE THE EFFECTS OF POLICY CHANGES.

Abstract

THE STUDY ATTEMPTED TO RELATE THE PRIMARY SYSTEM GOAL OF CRIME CONTROL TO A SET OF POLICY ALTERNATIVES DISTRIBUTED OVER EACH CRIMINAL JUSTICE SECTOR. A SIMULATION MODEL BASED ON THE TECHNIQUES OF 'INDUSTRIAL DYNAMICS' WAS DEVELOPED TO EVALUATE COMBINATIONS OF THE FOLLOWING POLICIES: SPEEDY TRIAL, ELIMINATION OF PLEA BARGAINING, RESTRICTED BAIL, AND DETERMINATE SENTENCING. THE ULTIMATE GOAL WAS TO PROVIDE A STRONGER BASIS FOR PLANNING BY DETERMINING THE CONSEQUENCES OF OPERATIONAL CHANGE. THE RESULTS OF THE ANALYSIS SUGGEST THAT THE SYSTEM IS BASICALLY INSENSITIVE TO SMALL PERTURBATIONS, BUT IS SUSCEPTIBLE TO DISRUPTION FROM LARGE CHANGES IN INPUT AND PROCEDURE. IT WAS CONCLUDED THAT, UNDER THE GIVEN ASSUMPTIONS, CONTINUATION OF CURRENT PRACTICES WILL LEAD TO A GRADUAL DECLINE IN PERFORMANCE THAT CAN ONLY BE STEMMED BY LARGE EXPENDITURES ON MANPOWER AND FACILITIES. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED)