If these functions are outmoded, maintaining their statutory structures may cause confusion for the Department of Justice's officials and legislators making programmatic decisions. Over the past three years, there have been some improvements in the performance data reported in the executive budget for the department. The 1997-98 executive budget did not report a mission or goals for the overall department. Program missions meet our established criteria. Goals are consistent with the missions, but do not provide a sense of direction on how to address the mission and reflect the destination toward which the entity is striving.
Most objectives are consistent with the goals and specify an end result.
However, few objectives are measurable or timebound, and most are multi-tiered. The majority of performance indicators do not measure progress toward the objective. However, most are consistent with the objectives and are easily understood. The department is headed by the attorney general, who is the chief legal officer of the state. He is responsible for the policies of the department and for the administration, control, and operation of the functions, programs, and affairs of the department.