The Juvenile Detention Expediter Blog has a new feature this month: Dilbert. I find a lot of Dilbert strips apply to any large organization, whether it is a corporation or a government agency. I have included the Dilbert Widget for your viewing amusement, but please take a look at the strip dated May 8, 2008.
My court wants to be a data-driven court, with our policies and direction formulated from unbiased data. An example of an action taken from data is our Domestic Violence Alternative Center (DVAC). For 2006, there were 800 or so Domestic Violence (DV) physical referrals, or arrests taken to the Detention Center, and about half of those kids were detained, or so I was told. With so many referrals from one particular crime, a response was formulated to have DV referrals diverted to another location unless the youth was out of control or a victim had been injured. Most of our DV charges do not involve an injury. Most involve a kid screaming at their parents or siblings, throwing things in their homes or getting physical without causing an injury, such as shoving or slapping. There have been over 120 referrals to DVAC, so if the 2006 numbers stood up, that would be a response to a problem that kept 60 kids out of our detention center. These are kids that are not a threat to community safety, but are kids that are having a problem with their parents.
Another aspect of gathering data is the amount of data gathered. It is difficult to make informed decisions without enough information. Conversely, too much information inhibits decision-making. A large portion of my work day is spent reviewing numbers, creating reports and chewing up data to provide to decision makers after semi-digesting it so that it is more palatable, easier to absorb and doesn't take so much time to review. If I achieve my goals on data I analyze, I present relevant facts that shed light on current issues and might even suggest solutions while saving my bosses important time, which they have very little of given the myriad demands placed on them from a multitude of sources.
Targeting data areas of interest is a tricky process. Thankfully I have a great ITSD department and they are very good at not only compiling the data I want to examine in a form I can examine it, but Sandi is an excellent report creator that has been creating reports long enough that she points out anomalies or areas of interest based on the numbers she's crunched in the past. If only I had the authority to use her amazing talents when it came time to break down stats for choosing fantasy football players...
Speaking of football, and who doesn't like to take every opportunity to do so, General Manager Ted Thompson (or just TT) ditched Green Bay's first round selection and picked Wide Receiver Jordy Nelson, or NelsonZZzzZZzz if you prefer, from Kansas State. People were complaining that day about the Packers not needing a wide receiver. Then TT cut Koren Robinson in what is part of an on-going youth movement and now TT is showing a touch of his mad genius in that he drafted the perfect player to replace him and also challenge for the #3 WR slot. however, if the Packers get any younger, fans will have to change their diapers at halftime. Jordy looks like a nice kid and I'm excited about our offense next year even though Favre has moved on.
I also am attempting to get a poll generator up on this blog, so keep an eye out for that in the near future!
Whether crunching data or planning vacation, I wish you a wonderful summer and may God richly bless you.
