BRONX COUNTY (NY) - DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE - MAJOR OFFENSE BUREAU - EXEMPLARY PROJECT

• NCJ Number: 37810
• Author(s): D MCGILLS
• Date Published: 1976
• Length: 145 pages
• Contract Number(s): J-LEAA-014-74
• Sponsoring Agency: US Dept of Justice; US Dept of Justice NIJ Pub
• Corporate Author: Abt Associates, Inc
• Sale Source: Superintendent of Documents, GPO; National Institute of Justice/
• Publication Type: Program Description (Model)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: EXEMPLARY PROJECT

Annotation

THE MAJOR OFFENSE BUREAU (MOB) IS A SPECIAL UNIT DESIGNED TO PROSECUTE AS CHARGED THOSE FELONY CASES IN WHICH THE CRIME IS PARTICULARLY HEINOUS OR THE ALLEGED OFFENDER IS A SERIOUS RECIDIVIST.

Abstract

THE MAJOR OFFENSE BUREAU USES LIMITED PLEA BARGAINING, FULL DISCLOSURE TO DEFENSE COUNSEL, IMMEDIATE AND THOROUGH CASE PREPARATION, AND THE ASSIGNMENT OF A SINGLE ASSISTANT DISTRICT ATTORNEY TO HANDLE A GIVEN CASE THROUGH ALL PROCEDURAL STAGES IN ORDER TO ACHIEVE ITS NOTEWORTHY SUCCESSES. THESE SUCCESSES INCLUDE A MEDIAN TIME OF 97 DAYS FROM ARREST TO CASE DISPOSITION (COMPARED TO 400 DAYS FOR NON-MOB CASES), AN OVERALL CONVICTION RATE OF 96 PERCENT (84 PERCENT FOR A COMPARISON GROUP OF NON-MOB CASES). A 92 PERCENT CONVICTION RATE AT TRIAL (52 PERCENT FOR THE COMPARISON GROUP), AND AN AVERAGE MAXIMUM SENTENCE OF 10 YEARS (3.5 YEARS FOR THE COMPARISON GROUP). THE PROJECT DESCRIPTION TRACES THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE MOB FROM CONCEPT TO EXECUTION AND DISCUSSES IN DETAIL ITS MANAGEMENT AND ORGANIZATION. IN DESCRIBING ITS DAILY OPERATIONS, IT CONSIDERS ALL CRITICAL PROCESSING STAGES, INCLUDING NOTIFICATION, SCREENING, ACCEPTANCE, CASE PREPARATION, PLEA BARGAINING, TRIAL, AND DISPOSITION. THE REPORT NOTES THE FEATURES OF THE MOB ESSENTIAL FOR SUCCESSFUL REPLICATION AND EXAMINES OTHER PROSECUTORIAL PROGRAMS AIMED AT THE CAREER CRIMINAL. IT ALSO DISCUSSES MOB RESULTS IN TERMS OF REDUCTION IN CASE PROCESSING TIME AND CERTAINTY AND SEVERITY OF DISPOSITION. THE LEGAL ISSUES THAT ARISE IN CONNECTION WITH SELECTIVE PROSECUTION EFFORTS ARE SUMMARIZED, AND THE COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH MOB OPERATIONS ARE OUTLINED. FINALLY, METHODS OF DATA COLLECTION AND EVALUATION ARE CONSIDERED THAT WOULD PROVIDE A THOROUGH ASSESSMENT OF CAREER CRIMINAL PROSECUTION PROGRAMS. THE BRONX MAJOR OFFENSE BUREAU HAS BEEN NAMED AN EXEMPLARY PROJECT BY THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF LAW ENFORCEMENT AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED) (SNI ABSTRACT)