NCJ Number
74315
Journal
FBI Law Enforcement Bulletin Volume: 49 Issue: 12 Dated: (December 1980) Pages: 6-9
Date Published
1980
Length
4 pages
Annotation
The Chicago Crime Commission, the country's oldest and one of the most respected organizations of its kind, monitors various processes of the criminal justice system and inititates change.
Abstract
The board of directors is made up of prominent persons in law enforcement, the courts, government, and business. The Commission's primary function is to maintain information regarding crime levels and the administration of criminal justice so that citizens can evaluate the effectiveness of public agencies. The Commission's information sources include the print and electronic media daily call sheets for all U.S. district court judges hearing criminal cases, all orders entered in criminal cases by trial judges, judges' weekly and monthly activity reports, and all felony indictments returned by grand juries. Other data is gathered through intelligence sources who work on organized crime investigations, all reports filed by criminal justice agencies (e.g., the Illinois Department of Law Enforcement, the Chicago Police Department, the State Department of Corrections), and more. The Commission's past activities attest to its value as a service to both citizens and criminal justice agencies. These activities include its assistance in developing a computerized case assignment system which equalizes the caseloads for 42 court judges and facilitates the recordkeeping for the Cook County criminal court. In addition, the Commission has assisted in the development of a victim/witness reception center -- as well as the publication of a victim/witness pamphlet -- to prepare these persons for testimony and inform them of their rights. Other past and continuing services include establishing a criminal investigation system, developing a suburban crime analysis system, researching and suggesting sentencing changes, and notifying all complaining witness in felony cases of their court dates. Development of similar commissions should be encouraged in other cities.