Prosecution Management Information Systems - National Evaluation Program - Phase One Final Report, Volume Three - Feasibility Tests

• NCJ Number: 74468
• Author(s): S H Brounstein; J M Firestone; J W Hogg; J S Robinson; J A Roth
• Date Published: 1980
• Length: 67 pages
• Contract Number(s): J-LEAA-024-78
• Sponsoring Agency: US Dept of Justice
• Corporate Author: Westat; Ctr for Management and Policy Research, Inc
• Sale Source: National Institute of Justice/
• Publication Type: Program/Project Evaluation
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: National Evaluation Program.

Annotation

The feasibility of an in-depth evaluation of the prosecution management information systems (PMIS's) selected by LEAA under the National Evaluation Program (NEP) is discussed in this report, which represents the preparatory phase of NEP.

Abstract

PMIS projects are designed to handle such applications as case and defendant status monitoring (tracking), caseload reporting, calendar management, and disposition reporting. Some projects include case aging, witness notification, and crime specific statistical analysis applications. It is estimated that over $20 million is spent each year on the operation of such systems. In light of diminishing criminal justice budgets, the results of an in-depth evaluation will help assess PMIS funding policies, allocate funds among competing projects, and design means to make PMIS projects more effective. This report describes six PMIS projects used as test sites: Suffolk County, Mass.; Alameda County, Calif.; Portland, Oreg.; Golden, Colo.; Norfolk, Va; and the State of Oklahoma. Data collection was done by means of interviews conducted during field investigations. Included are: time series data and their availability at each site, cost-benefit data (including development and operating costs), and data concerning transfer potential of a PMIS. The report indicates the feasibility of conducting in-depth evaluations of PMIS's in spite of several problems such as the lack of regular cost-benefit analyses at the sites after PMIS implementation. Moreover, the availability of baseline and time series data for a priori and a posteriori impact analyses may be affected by the need to ascertain comparability and reliability of annual reports. The report recommends examination of several areas including the feasiblility of constructing and analyzing a cross-jurisdictional time series data base, and application of probabilistic modeling and simulation techniques to predict criminal justice system costs and performance. The appendices include a list of persons contacted at the sites, a sample data recording form for abstracting, and the data from manual case files. Nine figures and seven exhibits are included. The first two volumes of this evaluation are NCJ 74466-7.