Decision Making in Criminal Justice: Toward the Rational Exercise of DiscretionSpringer Science & Business Media, 30. nov. 1987 - 308 strani The study of decisions in the criminal justice process provides a useful focus for the examination of many fundamental aspects of criminal jus tice. These decisions are not always highly visible. They are made, or dinarily, within wide areas of discretion. The aims of the decisions are not always clear, and, indeed, the principal objectives of these decisions are often the subject of much debate. Usually they are not guided by explicit decision policies. Often the participants are unable to verbalize the basis for the selection of decision alternatives. Adequate information for the decisions is usually unavailable. Rarely can the decisions be demonstrated to be rational. By a rationaldecision we mean "that decision among those possible for the decisionmaker which, in the light of the information available, maximizes the probability of the achievement of the purpose of the decisionmaker in that specific and particular case" (Wilkins, 1974a: 70; also 1969). This definition, which stems from statistical decision theory, points to three fundamental characteristics of decisions. First, it is as sumed that a choice of possible decisions (or, more precisely, of possible alternatives) is available. If only one choice is possible, there is no de cision problem, and the question of rationality does not arise. Usually, of course, there will be a choice, even if the alternative is to decide not to decide-a choice that, of course, often has profound consequences. |
Vsebina
Chapter | 1 |
Chapter | 3 |
THE VICTIMS DECISION TO REPORT A CRIME | 15 |
The View from the Data | 54 |
Assessing the Need | 65 |
Notes | 73 |
Significance to the Defendant | 81 |
A Step toward Rationality | 90 |
Probation and Parole Prediction | 178 |
Information | 185 |
Notes | 200 |
PAROLE DECISIONS | 229 |
TOWARD MORE RATIONAL DECISION MAKING | 257 |
BIBLIOGRAPHY | 285 |
39 | 298 |
AUTHOR INDEX | 303 |
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aims alternatives analysis appear arrest decisions assault assessment behavior caseload Chapter charging decisions Check fraud cision classification concept concern conviction correctional correlates court criminal justice decision criminal justice process criminal justice system criminal law Criminology criteria custody decision makers decision problem defendants desert detention deterrence discretion discussed effectiveness empirical evaluation evidence example factors feedback felony follow-up function goals Goldkamp Gottfredson guidelines incapacitation incarceration individual inmate institutional involved issues jail judges jurisdictions major methods nolle prosequi offenders officers outcomes parole board parole decision parole supervision parole violation paroling authorities persons plea bargaining police prediction pretrial release decisions preventive detention prior record probationers problems prosecution prosecutor punishment purposes rates rationality recidivism relevant report a crime risk role sample sanctions Sentence Law sentencing seriousness served shoplifting statistical theft ticket of leave treatment trial utilitarian variables victim