NCJ Number
69161
Date Published
1977
Length
5 pages
Annotation
THE REPORT ASSERTS THAT THE POOR TREATMENT OFFERED JURORS AND WITNESSES (LACK OF COMPENSATION, PROLONGED PROPERTY RETENTION) HAS RESULTED IN PUBLIC RELUCTANCE TO DEAL WITH THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM.
Abstract
SENSITIVITY TO THE NEEDS OF WITNESSES HAS BEEN SORELY LACKING. COMPENSATION FOR WITNESSES OR JURORS IS SO LOW THAT SUCH SERVICE IS OFTEN A SERIOUS FINANCIAL BURDEN. REPEATED COURT APPEARANCES CAUSED BY THE ADJOURNMENT OF TRIALS INTERFERES WITH THE LIVES OF WITNESSES AND JURORS. SOME IMPROVEMENTS WOULD BE ADEQUATE COMPENSATION TO REDUCE FINANCIAL SACRIFICE, SEPARATE LOUNGE FACILITIES FOR WITNESSES AND JURORS, EFFICIENT CALENDARING AND SCHEDULING OF CASES, AND MORE EFFICIENT MANAGEMENT OF THE COURTS. WITNESSES SHOULD BE NOTIFIED IN ADVANCE OF THE DISPOSITION OF CASES WHICH WOULD MAKE AN APPEARANCE UNNECESSARY. PLEA NEGOTIATIONS SHOULD PRECEDE THE CALENDAR CALL SO THAT WITNESSES NEED NOT TO APPEAR WHEN A GUILTY PLEA IS TO BE ENTERED. UNNECESSARY REPETITION OF COURT APPEARANCES COULD BE FURTHER REDUCED BY PROCEDURES SUCH AS A TELEPHONE OR ELECTRONIC ALERT. BETTER SCHEDULING OF CASES WILL RESULT IN TIME SAVINGS FOR JURORS. THE USE OF A CENTRAL JURY POOL SUCH AS THAT USED IN NEW YORK WOULD MAKE MORE EFFICIENT USE OF JURORS. WASTE OF POLICE TIME IN REPEATED COURT APPEARANCES COULD BE ELIMINATED BY THE USE OF A STATEMENT OF THE FACTS OF THE CASE AT THE TIME OF THE OFFENSE, WRITTEN AND SIGNED BY THE OFFICER. RECOVERY PROCEDURES SHOULD INSURE PROMPT RETURN OF PROPERTY. FOR RELATED DOCUMENTS, SEE NCJ 69153, 69154, 69156, 69157, 69158, 69160.