The direct effect was implemented through a computer program designed to simulate interviews between a prosecutor and a police officer during a case review. Police officers gave their case reports by interacting with a computer terminal that prompted them for information. The indirect effect of the program was achieved through the learning function associated with the software. The hypotheses tested in the evaluation were that the cases prepared with the computer's assistance would be rated as better prepared and more likely to result in more severe dispositions than the manually prepared cases. Both process and impact evaluations were conducted. The process evaluation was based on field observations of the problems of developing, installing, and administering the software and on interviews with police and prosecutors about the software. The impact evaluation was based on a before-and-after, quasi-experimental design. Cases prepared with the computer's assistance were compared with a matched sample of cases prepared under the manual method. Findings show that police did not make significant use of the software application, but they favored the idea of the development and use of a friendlier version. The prosecutors believed the computer-produced report would increase efficiency. The quasi-experimental evidence suggests that the software made a difference in the prosecutors' estimate of the case preparation and in the probable disposition of the case. Tables, figures, 53 references.
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