NCJ Number
35786
Date Published
1976
Length
99 pages
Annotation
DATA IS PRESENTED AND ANALYZED TO GIVE AN OVERALL VIEW OF CRIME, CRIMINAL JUSTICE, AND THEIR INTERRELATIONSHIPS IN MINNESOTA.
Abstract
THIS ANALYSIS CONCENTRATES ON THOSE SUBJECTS THAT APPEAR TO HAVE THE GREATEST IMPACT ON THE OVERALL OPERATION OF THE SYSTEM, STATE-WIDE. AN OVERVIEW OF THE SYSTEM IS SAID TO INDICATE THAT CRIME IS COMMON, WITH COMPARATIVELY FEW CRIMINALS PROCESSED BY THE SYSTEM. JUVENILES COMMIT A LARGE PERCENTAGE OF VIOLENT CRIMES, AND A MAJORITY OF THE NON-VIOLENT CRIMES. A FUNNELING EFFECT CAN CAUSE A CHANGE IN THE FLOW OF DEFENDENTS THROUGH ANY PART OF THE SYSTEM TO HAVE A MAGNIFIED EFFECT UPON LATER STEPS. ANALYSIS OF POLICE STATISTICS ON CLEARANCE RATES IS SEEN TO INDICATE NO RELATIONSHIP TO CRIME RATES - LEADING TO SCEPTICISM REGARDING DETERRENCE. THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN ARREST RATES AND CLEARANCE RATES IS SHOWN TO BE COMPLEX. THE USE BY THE COURTS OF PLEA NEGOTIATIONS, PROSECUTORIAL DISCRETION, AND UNDEFINED SENTENCING POLICIES IS SAID TO MAKE EVALUATION DIFFICULT, BUT A NEED FOR INCREASED CAPACITY TO PROSECUTE AND TRY CASES IS SEEN. LIKEWISE, THE IMPACT OF THE CORRECTIONS PROCESS IS SAID TO BE DIFFICULT TO ASSESS BECAUSE, ALTHOUGH ITS REHABILITATIVE EFFECTIVENESS IS MINIMAL, NO VIABLE ALTERNATIVES ARE SEEN. DATA ARE PRESENTED IN TABLES AND GRAPHS.