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Improving criminal justice through better decision making: Lessons from the medical system

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  • Mears, Daniel P.
  • Bacon, Sarah

Abstract

Against a backdrop of unprecedented growth in the criminal justice system stand calls for increased government accountability, yet substantial gaps between ideal and actual practice remain. Many observers have pointed to the problem and some of its causes and solutions, including the need for performance monitoring and evidence-based practices. Less attention has been paid to how decision-making errors influence effective criminal justice practice. This article draws on examples from medicine, where decision making has been examined in more depth, and applies them to criminal justice. Its goals are to identify the types of decision-making errors that can undermine effective practice and policy in the criminal justice system, illustrate how systemic factors influence everyday decision making, and draw attention to the benefits of decision making-focused monitoring and assessment. The article concludes by discussing the implications for performance monitoring and improving the criminal justice system.

Suggested Citation

  • Mears, Daniel P. & Bacon, Sarah, 2009. "Improving criminal justice through better decision making: Lessons from the medical system," Journal of Criminal Justice, Elsevier, vol. 37(2), pages 142-154, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:jcjust:v:37:y::i:2:p:142-154
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    4. Mears, Daniel P., 2007. "Towards rational and evidence-based crime policy," Journal of Criminal Justice, Elsevier, vol. 35(6), pages 667-682, December.
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    1. Willmott, Dominic & Boduszek, Daniel & Debowska, Agata & Woodfield, Russell, 2018. "Introduction and validation of the Juror Decision Scale (JDS): An empirical investigation of the Story Model," Journal of Criminal Justice, Elsevier, vol. 57(C), pages 26-34.
    2. Mears, Daniel P. & Craig, Miltonette O. & Stewart, Eric A. & Warren, Patricia Y., 2017. "Thinking fast, not slow: How cognitive biases may contribute to racial disparities in the use of force in police-citizen encounters," Journal of Criminal Justice, Elsevier, vol. 53(C), pages 12-24.

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