High-Level Simulation Model of a Criminal Justice System

Abstract

Criminal justice systems are complex.They are composed of severalmajor subsystems, including the police, courts, and corrections,which are in turn composed of many minor subsystems. Predicting the response of a criminal justice system to changes in subsystems is often difficult. Mathematical modeling can serve as a powerful tool for understanding and predicting the behavior of these systems under different scenarios. In this chapter,we provide the process flowof the criminal justice system of the British Columbia, Canada. We further develop a system dynamics model of the criminal justice system, and show how this model can assist strategic decision-makers and managers make better decisions. © Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2014.