NCJ Number
43254
Date Published
1977
Length
12 pages
Annotation
USE AND EFFECTIVENESS OF A NUMBER OF COMPUTER MODELS FOR CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEMS ARE EVALUATED; SUGGESTIONS ARE MADE FOR FUTURE MODEL RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT AND FOR TRAINING CRIMINAL JUSTICE AGENCIES IN MODEL USE.
Abstract
IN GENERAL, CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEMS HAVE NOT MADE EXTENSIVE USE OF MODELS FOR PLANNING. THERE ARE FEW ENGINEERS IN CRIMINAL JUSTICE AND USE OF COMPUTER SIMULATIONS FOR PLANNING IS NOT OFTEN ADVOCATED. THERE ARE FEW OVERALL MODELS OF THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM: THEIR DATA REQUIREMENTS ARE COMPLEX, AND FEW AGENCIES HAVE USED THEM. GREATEST USE HAS BEEN MADE OF PATROL CAR ALLOCATION MODELS AND BEAT DESIGN MODELS. SIMULATION MODELS FOR PATROL SYSTEMS ARE AVAILABLE BUT, PROBABLY BECAUSE OF THEIR COMPLEXITY, HAVE NOT BEEN USED. DYNAMIC QUEUING MODELS AND LINEAR PROGRAMMING MODELS FOR SCHEDULING PATROL CARS HAVE BEEN USED TO IMPROVE TOUR STARTING TIMES. ONLY ONE OPERATIONAL MODEL IN THE FIELD OF CORRECTIONS IS ADVANCED ENOUGH TO BE USED BY OTHER THAN THE ORIGINATING AGENCY. A COURT STUDY MODEL HAS BEEN USED TO SCHEDULE JURY TIME. RATHER THAN SPEND MORE FEDERAL MONEY ON MODEL DEVELOPMENT, EFFORTS SHOULD BE MADE TO TEACH CRIMINAL JUSTICE PERSONNEL HOW TO USE MODELS ALREADY AVAILABLE. TRAINING SESSIONS, DESCRIPTIONS OF MODELS IN CRIMINAL JUSTICE PUBLICATIONS, AND EFFORTS TO PUT ORGANIZATIONS IN TOUCH WITH OTHERS WHO HAVE USED MODELS ARE SUGGESTED. REFERENCES ARE PROVIDED.