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DEVELOPMENT OF A JUVENILE JUSTICE AND YOUTH SERVICES INFORMATION SYSTEM IN THE REAL WORLD (FROM PROJECT SEARCH - INTERNATIONAL SYMPOSIUM ON CRIMINAL JUSTICE ... - PROCEEDINGS, 1972, BY GARY COOPER - SEE NCJ-09380)

NCJ Number
48320
Author(s)
J R MCCALL
Date Published
1972
Length
12 pages
Annotation
PROBLEMS NECESSITATING THE DEVELOPMENT OF A JUVENILE JUSTICE AND YOUTH SERVICES INFORMATION SYSTEM ARE OUTLINED, AND A REALISTIC PLAN FOR THE DESIGN AND IMPLEMENTATION OF SUCH A SYSTEM IS PRESENTED.
Abstract
INFORMATION IS PERHAPS THE MOST IMPORTANT RESOURCE FOR ACHIEVING HUMAN SERVICE ORGANIZATION GOALS. INFORMATION IS NECESSARY FOR NEEDS ASSESSMENT, DETERMINATION OF OBJECTIVES, AND PROGRAM MONITORING AND EVALUATION. GIVEN THE COSTS OF POOR DECISIONMAKING IN TERMS OF HUMAN SUFFERING AND DOLLARS AND THE COMPLEX AND INTERRELATED NETWORK OF CHILD-SERVING ORGANIZATIONS AND AGENCIES, APPROPRIATE INFORMATION ASSUMES PARAMOUNT IMPORTANCE. THE AVAILABILITY OF INFORMATION IMPACTS ON YOUTH CLIENTELE IN TERMS OF SERVICE RESOURCES AND RESOURCE ALLOCATIONS, THE DEGREE OF INTERAGENCY COORDINATION AND COOPERATION, THE LEVEL OF COMMUNITY AWARENESS, AND THE LEVEL AND QUALITY OF TREATMENT SERVICES PLANNING AND DELIVERY. SEVERAL PROBLEMS FACE SERVICES IN NEED OF ADEQUATE INFORMATION: (1) AN EMPHASIS ON DATA COLLECTION WITHOUT AN EQUAL EMPHASIS ON DATA UTILIZATION AND INFORMATION DISSEMINATION; (2) LACK OF UNIFORM PROCESSING PROCEDURES; (3) INSUFFICIENT PROVISION FOR ADMINISTRATIVE MONITORING; AND (4) LACK OF STANDARDIZED PROCEDURES AND INFORMATION ON WHICH TO BASE COMPARATIVE EVALUATIONS. MORE SPECIFIC PROBLEMS ARE OUTLINED RELATING TO INFORMATION ON CLIENT CHARACTERISTICS AND SERVICE DELIVERY, ORGANIZATIONAL PERFORMANCE, AND INTERORGANIZATIONAL RELATIONSHIPS. THESE PROBLEMS PROVIDE A FOUNDATION FOR SETTING INFORMATION SYSTEM PRIORITIES. THE INFORMATION SYSTEM SHOULD RESULT IN DEFINITE BENEFITS FOR YOUTH, STATE AND LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT, PROSECUTION, JUVENILE COURTS, SOCIAL SERVICES AND YOUTH SERVICES DEPARTMENTS, PRIVATE AND PUBLIC YOUTH-SERVING AGENCIES, AND STATE LEGISLATIVE AND GOVERNMENTAL BODIES. FIVE PHASES OF DEVELOPMENTAL PLANNING ARE DELINEATED: PRESENTATION OF AN INFORMATION SYSTEM PLAN FOR APPROVAL; DEVELOPMENT AND EVALUATION OF A PROTOTYPE SYSTEM; LIMITED IMPLEMENTATION OF THE PROTOTYPE; EXPANSION OF THE PROTOTYPE TO ADDITIONAL AREAS; AND STATEWIDE INSTALLATION OF THE TESTED SYSTEM. A DETAILED EXPLANATION OF SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES OF SYSTEM DEVELOPMENT PLANNING ARE PRESENTED. COMPONENTS OF A COMPREHENSIVE IMPLEMENTATION PLAN ARE DESCRIBED, AND SUGGESTIONS TO FACILITATE THE PLANNING PROCESS ARE MADE. THE PLAN SHOULD PROVIDE SPECIFICATIONS FOR TYPES OF DATA AND DATA EVENTS, SECURITY PRIVACY SAFEGUARDS, INTERFACES WITH RELEVANT AREAS (EDUCATION, CRIMINAL JUSTICE, SOCIAL SCIENCES, ETC.), DATA STANDARDIZATION, SYSTEM ORGANIZATION, AND STAFFING AND PLANNING STRATEGY. (JAP)