Policy Advocacy Parameters and Change in Three Occupational/reform Organizations, 1870-1976: A Comparative Content Analysis of the Policy Advocacy of the American Correctional Association, the International Association of Chiefs of Police and the National Council on Crime and Delinquency

Cahalan, Margaret Werner

Permalink

https://hdl.handle.net/2142/70995 Copy

Description

Title

Policy Advocacy Parameters and Change in Three Occupational/reform Organizations, 1870-1976: A Comparative Content Analysis of the Policy Advocacy of the American Correctional Association, the International Association of Chiefs of Police and the National Council on Crime and Delinquency

Author(s)

Cahalan, Margaret Werner

Issue Date

1983

Department of Study

Sociology

Discipline

Sociology

Degree Granting Institution

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Degree Name

Ph.D.

Degree Level

Dissertation

Keyword(s)

Sociology, Criminology and Penology

Abstract

• This dissertation presents a comparative analysis of policy advocacy change in three occupation/reform organizations from their initiation up to 1976. The organizations represent the oldest and largest national organizations focused on the executive area of criminal justice. They share a similar focus of concern (criminal justice) but from very different task and ideological perspectives. The analysis focuses on the issue of policy advocacy differences but also explores the common parameters of policy advocacy among occupational/reform groups operating within the framework of a liberal capitalist state.
• The research methodology combines a systematic content analysis of 1498 published policy statements with qualitative analysis of organizational history and conference proceeding texts. Each policy statement was coded as to: (1) issue of concern; (2) agreement/disagreement with statements the other groups; (3) internal consistency overtime; and (4) criminalization content.
• Findings indicated that all three organizations maintained policy advocacy within the liberal capitalist parameter of adherence to constitutionally defined legal procedural equality combined with absence of advocacy of reduction in economic inequality. Statements in direct agreement with those of the other organizations declined for all comparisons over time. However, direct disagreement levels fluctuated being highest in periods when there were also higher levels of conflict manifest in the wider society, or in periods of external criticism. Disagreement among the oranizations most frequently occurred in areas having criminalization or severity of sanctioning implications. While issue saliency changed overtime, contrary to expectation instances of internal inconsistency or modification of stance were rare for all three groups. The IACP much more frequently advocated increased criminalization or severity of sanctioning than the ACA or NCCD.

Graduation Semester

1983

Type of Resource

text

Permalink

http://hdl.handle.net/2142/70995

Owning Collections