NCJ Number
18477
Date Published
1974
Length
64 pages
Annotation
ASSESSMENT OF STATE NEED FOR THE PROGRAM, PROGRAM STRUCTURE, FUNCTION, AND UTILIZATION.
Abstract
SIX QUESTIONNAIRES WERE DEVELOPED TO GATHER INFORMATION FROM THE FOLLOWING GROUPS: POLICE CHIEFS OF DEPARTMENTS HAVING A POLICE LEGAL ADVISOR; POLICE LEGAL ADVISORS; SWORN OFFICERS FROM POLICE DEPARTMENTS HAVING POLICE LEGAL ADVISORS; POLICE CHIEFS OF DEPARTMENTS NOT HAVING POLICE LEGAL ADVISORS; MUNICIPAL ATTORNEYS IN TOWNS WHERE THE POLICE DEPARTMENT HAD THE SERVICES OF A POLICE LEGAL ADVISOR, AND; PROSECUTORS WHOSE JURISDICTION CONTAINED POLICE DEPARTMENTS THAT HAD POLICE LEGAL ADVISORS. IN ADDITION, 23 POLICE CHIEFS (THREE FROM DEPARTMENTS WITHOUT LEGAL ADVISORS) AND EIGHT POLICE LEGAL ADVISORS WERE INTERVIEWED IN PERSON. RESPONSES INDICATED THAT THE SERVICES BEING PROVIDED BY POLICE LEGAL ADVISORS WERE AT LEAST IN PART ADDITIONAL TO THOSE BEING PROVIDED BY MUNICIPAL ATTORNEYS AND PROSECUTORS MORE THAN HALF OF THE POLICE CHIEFS SURVEYED DID NOT PERCEIVE THE LEGAL UNIT AS DIRECTLY ATTACHED TO THEIR OFFICE AND HALF OF THE LEGAL ADVISORS WERE FOUND TO BE WORKING WITH POLICE CHIEFS WHO DID NOT PLAY AN ACTIVE ROLE IN THEIR HIRING. POLICE CHIEFS AND LEGAL ADVISORS RANKED TRAINING, REVIEW OF COURT DECISIONS AND LEGISLATIVE ENACTMENTS, AND CASE CONSULTATION AS THE MOST IMPORTANT FUNCTIONS OF THE LEGAL UNITS. EVALUATORS RECOMMENDED THAT NO NEW POLICE LEGAL ADVISOR PROJECTS BE FUNDED (SINCE THE CURRENT PROGRAM ALREADY HAD THE POTENTIAL TO IMPROVE THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM); THAT THE STATE PLANNING COMMITTEE ON CRIMINAL ADMINISTRATION REASSESS ITS POLICY OF FUNDING REGIONAL PROGRAMS; AND THAT THE POSSIBILITY OF FUNDING A STATEWIDE POLICE LEGAL ADVISOR UNIT BE EXPLORED. COPIES OF THE SIX QUESTIONNAIRES APPEAR IN THE APPENDIX, ALONG WITH THE TABULATED RESPONSES. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED)