NCJ Number
52535
Date Published
1978
Length
12 pages
Annotation
PRINCIPLES ARE DISCUSSED WITH REFERENCE TO BASIC INFORMATION SYSTEM CONCEPTS, PROGRESSIVE ASSESSMENTS, AND FOLLOWUP PERFORMANCE EVALUATION IN THE USE OF CLASSIFICATION INFORMATION SYSTEMS FOR OFFENDERS.
Abstract
PRINCIPLES FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF STANDARDS FOR CLASSIFICATION INFORMATION SYSTEMS ARE CONCERNED WITH BASIC INFORMATION SYSTEM CONCEPTS, PROGRESSIVE ASSESSMENT, AND FOLLOWUP PERFORMANCE EVALUATION. THE FOLLOWING ARE DISCUSSED UNDER BASIC INFORMATION CONCEPTS: (1) THE STANDARDS FOR CLASSIFICATION INFORMATION SYSTEMS MUST BE CONSISTENT ACROSS STATE AND FEDERAL LINES; (2) THE CLASSFICATION SEGMENT WITHIN THE TOTAL INFORMATION SYSTEM MAY BE DESIGNED TO SERVE A PARTICULAR PURPOSE AND MEET SECONDARY LOCAL NEEDS, BUT THE PRIMARY DATA CANNOT STAND ALONE AND BE INDEPENDENT OF ALL OTHER PORTIONS OF THE TOTAL SYSTEM; (3) OFFENDER-BASED RECORDS PROCEDURES ARE CREATED BY UNIFORM OBJECTIVE CODING; AND (4) RECORDED BASIC INFORMATION CONCERNING OFFENDERS SHOULD BE AVAILABLE FOR ACCESS BY ALL SEGMENTS OF THE SYSTEM HAVING DUTIES RELATED TO IT. THE FOLLOWING PRINCIPLES ARE CONSIDERED UNDER PROGRESSIVE ASSESSMENTS: (1) NARRATIVE REPORTS CONTAINING INFORMATION CONCERNING INDIVIDUALS BY SUMMARIZATION OR PROJECTION SHOULD ACCOMPANY OFFENDERS THROUGH SUCCESSIVE CUSTODIAL AND SUPERVISORY STAGES; (2) THE UTILIZATION OF ELECTRONIC DATA PROCESSING FOR OFFENDER-BASED INFORMATION WILL BE MINIMIZED; AND (3) THE MASTER FILE FOR EACH OFFENDER SHALL BE THE DEPOSITORY OF ALL BASIC INFORMATION NECESSARY FOR MAINTENANCE OF THE LEGAL CUSTODY AND EFFECTIVE TREATMENT OF THE INDIVIDUAL. IN DISCUSSING PERFORMANCE FOLLOWUP, IT IS NOTED THAT THE INFORMATION SYSTEM MUST HAVE THE CAPABILITY OF PROVIDING INFORMATION ESSENTIAL FOR MEASURING THE BENEFIT AND COST-EFFECTIVENESS OF PROGRAMS IMPACTING THE OFFENDERS INVOLVED. A SAMPLE OF A MASTER RECORD BASE PAGE USED IN A CHRONOLOGICAL INFORMATION SYSTEM IS PROVIDED. (RCB)