ALBUQUERQUE/BERNALILLO COUNTY PILOT CITIES PROGRAM TREND ANALYSIS OF LOCAL SYSTEM CHANGES SINCE 1970 - FINAL REPORT

• NCJ Number: 26768
• Author(s): T BARTELL; J PELOQUIN
• Date Published: 1975
• Length: 62 pages
• Grant Number(s): 75-NI-06-0002
• Sponsoring Agency: US Dept of Justice
• Corporate Author: University of New Mexico
• Sale Source: National Institute of Justice/
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

THIS STUDY EXAMINES THE NATURE AND RELATIVE IMPORTANCE OF IMPROVEMENTS IN THE METROPOLITAN ALBUQUERQUE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM THAT HAVE OCCURRED DURING THE LIFE OF THE PILOT CITIES PROGRAM, 1970-1974.

Abstract

COMPREHENSIVE RATES WERE OBTAINED FOR THE PROCESSING OF ADULT AND JUVENILE CRIMINAL OFFENSES, AND INSTITUTIONAL CHANGES IN LOCAL AGENCIES WERE IDENTIFIED THROUGH EXAMINATION OF OFFICIAL REPORTS AND INTERVIEWS WITH SELECTED OFFICIALS. NUMEROUS ADULT AND JUVENILE DIVERSIONARY PROGRAMS WERE FOUND TO HAVE BEEN INSTITUTED. INCREASED CONCERN OVER DUE PROCESS RIGHTS WAS FOUND IN BOTH ADULT AND JUVENILE PROCEEDINGS. INCREASED INTEREST IN CRIMINAL JUSTICE WAS FOUND TO HAVE LED TO INCREASED FUNDING AND, CONSEQUENTLY, INCREASED PERSONNEL AND IMPROVED EQUIPMENT AND FACILITIES. DIVERSION OF JUVENILE STATUS OFFENDERS FROM THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM HAD INCREASED. THE INCREASED PUBLIC APPEAL OF PUNISHMENT AS A RESPONSE TO INCREASED CRIME WAS EVIDENCED BY THE INCREASED LIKELIHOOD THAT OFFENDERS WOULD BE SENTENCED TO INCARCERATION IN THE STATE PENITENTIARY RATHER THAN TO A SHORT CONFINEMENT AT A COMMUNITY DETENTION FACILITY. WHILE THE STUDY INDICATES THAT THESE CHANGES WERE AT LEAST COINCIDENTAL WITH THE PILOT CITIES PROGRAM, LOCAL CRIMINAL JUSTICE PERSONNEL INDICATED THEIR BELIEF THAT THE PROGRAM'S IMPACT HAD BEEN MINIMAL.