USE OF AN ON-LINE COMPUTER INFORMATION SYSTEM IN MANAGEMENT OF VOLUNTEER PROGRAMMING IN THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEMS ( FROM PROJECT SEARCH, 1972, BY GARY COOPER - SEE NCJ-09380)

• NCJ Number: 48315
• Author(s): R J MILSTEAD; W D PENNIMAN
• Date Published: 1972
• Length: 7 pages
• Sponsoring Agency: US Dept of Justice; Project Search (See Search Group Inc)
• Sale Source: National Institute of Justice/
• Publication Type: Program/Project Evaluation
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

DEVELOPMENT AND POTENTIAL BENEFITS OF AN ON-LINE MANAGEMENT INFORMATION SYSTEM, THE VOLUNTEERS IN COURTS AND CORRECTIONS INFORMATION RETRIEVAL SYSTEM (VICCIRS), ARE DESCRIBED.

Abstract

IMPLEMENTATION OF THE SYSTEM INVOLVES ESTABLISHMENT AND MAINTENANCE OF AN UP-TO-DATE COMPREHENSIVE DATA BASE FOR VOLUNTEER PROGRAMS AND ESTABLISHMENT AND MAINTENANCE OF AN ON-LINE RETRIEVAL SYSTEM TO PROVIDE EASY AVAILABILITY AND RAPID ACCESS VIA REMOTE TERMINALS. PRIMARY USERS OF SUCH A SYSTEM WOULD INCLUDE STATE PLANNERS AND CORRECTIONAL DEPARTMENTS AND STATE AND LOCAL VOLUNTEER PROGRAM COORDINATORS. NATIONAL AGENCIES SEEKING DESCRIPTIVE STATUS AND IMPACT INFORMATION, COMMUNITY LEADERS INTERESTED IN ESTABLISHING OR IMPROVING THEIR OWN VOLUNTEER PROGRAMS, AND INTERESTED CITIZENS AND POTENTIAL VOLUNTEERS WOULD CONSTITUTE A GROUP OF SECONDARY USERS. VICCIRS WOULD BE ORIENTED TO MEETING OPERATIONAL VOLUNTEER NEEDS FOR MANAGERS AND PLANNERS BY COMBINING BOTH QUALITATIVE AND QUANTITATIVE DATA APPROPRIATE TO EFFICIENT AND EFFECTIVE CONDUCT OF VOLUNTEER PROGRAMS IN THE VARIOUS CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEMS. BENEFITS OF THE SYSTEM INCLUDE PROVISION OF COMPREHENSIVE AND TIMELY INFORMATION TO FACILITATE MANAGERIAL DECISIONMAKING, FACILITATION OF PROGRAM COORDINATION AT THE STATE AND LOCAL LEVEL, DETERMINATION OF GEOGRAPHIC AREAS FOR PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT AND IMPLEMENTATION, PROVISION OF DATA FOR A DIRECTORY OF VOLUNTEER PROGRAMS, AND FACILITATION OF DATA COMPILATION AT ALL LEVELS. INCREASE IN AVAILABLE INFORMATION SHOULD ALSO CONTRIBUTE TO OVERALL IMPROVEMENTS IN PROGRAM EFFECTIVENESS AND EFFICIENCY, IMPROVE VOLUNTEER/OFFENDER RELATIONSHIPS, AND INCREASE UTILIZATION AND AWARENESS OF COMMUNITY RESOURCES. THREE MAJOR CLUSTERS OF WORK TASKS ARE FORESEEN. CLUSTER 1 WOULD INVOLVE IDENTIFICATION OF EXTANT AND PLANNED PROGRAMS IN COURTS AND CORRECTION AND ESTABLISHMENT OF A COMPREHENSIVE DESCRIPTIVE DATA BASE. CLUSTER 2 INVOLVES DEVELOPMENT OF KEY INFORMATION OF MODEL PROGRAM NEEDS AND METHODOLOGICAL SUBJECT AREAS, AND COORDINATION OF CLUSTER 1 AND CLUSTER 2 DATA BASES. DURING CLUSTER 3, AN ON-LINE RETRIEVAL SYSTEM AND USERS' GUIDE WOULD BE DEVELOPED AND VICCIRS WOULD BE COORDINATED WITH OTHER RELEVANT INFORMATION SYSTEMS. THE SYSTEM TO BE USED IS A MODIFIED VERSION OF BATELLE'S BASIS-70 FOR A CONTROL DATA 6400 COMPUTER. A BRIEF SAMPLE OF A SEARCH DIALOG IS PRESENTED AND BENEFITS OF AN INTERACTIVE ON-LINE SYSTEM SUCH AS IS ENVISIONED ARE SUMMARIZED. TWO REFERENCES AND A TASK AREA RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT FLOW CHART ARE INCLUDED. (JAP)