Title: Research on Criminal Justice Organizations: The Sentencing Process
Abstract: Addresses the key problems and issues in conducting research on criminal justice organizations. Considers the following topics from the point of view of what an R&D-funding agency can do to improve research quality: (1) problems in research on criminal justice organizations; (2) key issues in research relating to sentencing, prosecution, and arrest; (3) selection of a research topic; (4) initiation of the research; (5) design of a research project; and (6) recommendations for conducting future research. Different facets of the sentencing process are used as illustrative topics, with the focus on decisionmaking. Sentencing was selected because it is a critical issue, but the research methodology may be applied to many other areas in the criminal justice system (e.g., arrest, prosecution, parole). The problems of developing a collaborative relationship between researchers and criminal justice organizations are discussed and several alternatives suggested.