PROJECT 'STAR' - JOB ANALYSIS PROCEDURES (FROM NATIONAL SYMPOSIUM ON JOB-TASK ANALYSIS IN CRIMINAL JUSTICE PROCEEDINGS, NOVEMBER 12-14, 1978, BY DIANA SOOY - SEE NCJ-61413)

• NCJ Number: 61414
• Author(s): C P SMITH
• Date Published: 1978
• Length: 24 pages
• Corporate Author: Texas Cmssn on Law Enforcement; National Assoc of State Directors of Law Enforcement Training; US Dept of Justice
• Sale Source: National Institute of Justice/
• Publication Type: Conference Material
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

THE LEAA-FUNDED PROJECT STAR, DESIGNED TO DEVELOP ATTITUDES AND BEHAVIOR WHICH WILL ENABLE CRIMINAL JUSTICE PERSONNEL TO FUNCTION MORE EFFECTIVELY, IS DESCRIBED.

Abstract

PROJECT OBJECTIVES WERE TO IDENTIFY ROLES, TASKS, AND PERFORMANCE OBJECTIONS FOR APPROPRIATE CRIMINAL JUSTICE POSITIONS. IN ADDITION, TEST TRAINING PROGRAMS, EDUCATIONAL RECOMMENDATIONS, SELECTION CRITERIA, RECRUITING STRATEGIES, AND IMPACT ASSESSMENT TECHNIQUES WERE DEVELOPED. EFFORTS FOCUSED ON THE POSITIONS OF POLICE OFFICER, PROSECUTING ATTORNEY, DEFENSE ATTORNEY, JUDGE, CASEWORKER, AND CORRECTIONAL WORKER. A TOTAL OF 1,500 AGENCIES AND 6,000 INDIVIDUALS PARTICIPATED IN THE PROJECT WHICH BEGAN IN 1971 AND CONCLUDED IN 1974. THE DESIGN INVOLVED A COMPREHENSIVE AND CAREFULLY EXECUTED RESEARCH PLAN INCLUDING A LITERATURE SEARCH, ANALYSIS OF SOCIAL TRENDS, SURVEY TECHNIQUES, FIELD OBSERVATIONS, AND EXPERT OPINIONS. THE LITERATURE SEARCH REFLECTED A CONSIDERABLE GAP BETWEEN IDEAL ROLES OR TASKS AND WHAT COULD BE ACHIEVED IN REALITY. SIMILARLY, INITIAL OBSERVATIONS OF THE VARIOUS AGENCIES REVEALED DRAMATIC VARIATIONS IN DEFINITION OF TERMS AND ROLE CONCEPTS. A REPORT WAS DEVELOPED ON THE POTENTIAL IMPACT OF SOCIAL TRENDS ON CRIME DURING THE PERIOD 1970 THROUGH 1990. EXPERT OPINIONS, ANALYSIS OF HISTORICAL TREND DATA, AND LINEAR EXTRAPOLATION OF TRENDS WERE IMPLEMENTED. FORMAL SURVEYS OF EXPECTATIONS HELD BY SAMPLES OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE PERSONNEL AND THE PUBLIC CONCERNING SPECIFIC CRIMINAL JUSTICE PERSONNEL WERE DESIGNED AND IMPLEMENTED. FOLLOWING THE SURVEY ANALYSIS, FIELD OBSERVATIONS WERE CONDUCTED AT SEVERAL AGENCIES AND EXPERT OPINIONS WERE OBTAINED FROM 254 OUTSIDE PROFESSIONAL SOURCES. DETAILED PERFORMANCE OBJECTIVES FOR ALL POSITIONS EXCEPT JUDGE WERE DESIGNED AND TEST TRAINING PROGRAMS DEVELOPED. IN ADDITION, PUBLICATIONS WERE PREPARED THAT PROVIDED A SUMMARY OF ALL PROJECT RESULTS. IMPLEMENTATION OF PROJECT STAR HAS BEEN UNDERTAKEN BY A VARIETY OF JURISDICTIONS AND COMPONENTS IN AREAS SUCH AS THE USE OF THE SELECTION PROCESS CONTINUUM AS A FRAMEWORK FOR HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT, USE OF THE TRAINING PROGRAMS, AND USE OF SOCIAL TRENDS ANALYSIS FINDINGS AND METHODS. REFERENCE NOTES ARE INCLUDED IN THE PAPER. (LWM)