APPLICATION BRIEF, WARRANT SERVICE SYSTEM - LAW ENFORCEMENT ASSISTANCE ADMINISTRATION POLICE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE REPORT

• NCJ Number: 68277
• Author(s): R P GRASSIE
• Date Published: 1976
• Length: 108 pages
• Contract Number(s): J-LEAA-003-76
• Sponsoring Agency: US Dept of Justice
• Corporate Author: Westinghouse Justice Institute
• Sale Source: National Institute of Justice/
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

THIS REPORT DOCUMENTS THE EFFORTS TO IDENTIFY AND SERVE THE VALID WARRANTS IN FELONY AND MISDEMEANOR AS WELL AS TRAFFIC VIOLATION CASES THAT HAD ACCUMULATED IN 1973 TO A TOTAL OF 7,000 OUTSTANDING WARRANTS IN THE METROPOLITAN POLICE DEPARTMENT OF WASHINGTON, D.C. THE SUBSEQUENTLY EVOLVED WARRANT PROCESSING SYSTEM IS ALSO DESCRIBED.

Abstract

THIS REPORT IS INTENDED FOR THE USE OF LAW ENFORCEMENT ADMINISTRATORS IN ESTABLISHING A WARRANT SERVICE SECTION, EVALUATING CURRENT WARRANT SERVICE OPERATIONS, OR IN EXPANDING AND IMPROVING CURRENT WARRANT SERVICE EFFORTS. AREAS CONSIDERED IN THE REPORT ARE THE WASHINGTON, D.C., WARRANT SERVICE EXPERIENCE; ORGANIZATION OF A WARRANT SERVICE SECTION; A DESCRIPTION OF THE METROPOLITAN POLICE DEPARTMENT WARRANT SERVICE SYSTEM; AND A DETAILED ACCOUNTING OF CRIMINAL WARRANT SECTION PROCEDURES FOR THE HANDLING AND SERVING OF CRIMINAL ARREST WARRANTS. AN EFFECTIVE WARRANT SERVICE OPERATION SUCH AS WASHINGTON'S IS CHARACTERIZED BY EFFICIENT CONTROL OF WARRANT FILE INFORMATION; ACCURATE LOCATION OF WARRANTS PENDING SERVICE, INCLUDING WARRANT STATUS AND PREVIOUS ATTEMPTS AT SERVICE; TIMELY REVIEW OF WARRANTS FOR PROSECUTABILITY; ADEQUATE SUSPENSE DATING TO ASSURE RECURRING EFFORTS TO SERVICE ACTIVE WARRANTS; USE OF SPECIALISTS TO EFFECT SERVICE OF WARRANTS WHERE FIELD UNITS HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO MAKE APPREHENSION; AND TIMELY RETURN OF SERVED, UNSERVABLE, AND OUT-OF-DATE WARRANTS TO ISSUING AUTHORITIES. THE REPORT ALSO FOCUSES ON THE ROLE PLAYED BY THE COURTS IN GENERATING, PROCESSING, AND REVIEWING ARREST WARRANTS IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE LOCAL POLICE DEPARTMENT. THE TIMELY SERVICE OF AN ARREST WARRANT IS DEEMED AN ESSENTIAL STEP IN THE PROCESSING OF A CRIMINAL CASE. THE INABILITY OF LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES TO SERVE AN ARREST WARRANT RESULTS IN UNDUE DELAYS IN THE COURTS AND OFTEN SUBJECTS THE JUDICIAL SYSTEM TO UNNECESSARY CRITICISM FOR A FAILURE TO MOVE SWIFTLY IN THE FACE OF AN EVER GROWING NUMBER OF SERIOUS OFFENSES. FOR THESE REASONS, ALL POLICE AGENCIES MUST MAKE EFFORTS TO MANAGE THEIR WARRANT SERVICES FUNCTION WELL. TABLES, GRAPHS, AND AN APPENDIX ARE PROVIDED. THE LATTER CONTAINS SAMPLES OF DOCUMENTS, FUNDING REQUESTS, POLICE MEMORANDA, AND OTHER MATERIALS.