CRIMINAL CAREER PROGRAM - OVERVIEW

• NCJ Number: 67240
• Journal: Police Chief Volume: 47 Issue: 5 Dated: (MAY 1980) Pages: 62-66
• Author(s): ANON
• Date Published: 1980
• Length: 5 pages
• Sponsoring Agency: US Dept of Justice
• Corporate Author: International Assoc of Chiefs of Police; INSLAW
• Sale Source: National Institute of Justice/
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

THE BACKGROUND, GROWTH, FUNDING, AND OPERATING PROCEDURES OF LEAA'S CAREER CRIMINAL PROGRAM ARE OUTLINED.

Abstract

LEAA-FUNDED RESEARCH CONDUCTED BY INSLAW AND OTHER STUDIES HAVE REVEALED THAT A RELATIVELY SMALL NUMBER OF INDIVIDUALS COMMIT A SUBSTANTIAL AMOUNT OF CRIME IN THE U.S. SINCE ROUTINE CASE DISPOSITION HAS BEEN RECOGNIZED AS INAPPROPRIATE FOR THESE SERIOUS OFFENDERS, LEAA'S SOLUTION HAS BEEN TO DEVELOP A CAREER CRIMINAL PROGRAM. PROGRAM OBJECTIVES ARE TO PROVIDE QUICK IDENTIFICATION OF PERSONS WHO REPEATEDLY COMMIT SERIOUS OFFENSES, ACCORD PRIORITY TO THEIR PROSECUTION, AND ASSURE THAT, IF CONVICTED, THEY RECEIVE APPROPRIATE PRISON SENTENCES. THE PROGRAM HAS FOCUSED ON THE PROSECUTOR BECAUSE HIS ADMINISTRATIVE DECISIONMAKING DETERMINES TO A GREATER EXTENT THAN ANY OTHER FACTOR THE QUALITY OF JUSTICE IN AMERICA'S COURTS. THE MODEL FOR THE PROGRAM WAS THE MAJOR VIOLATORS UNIT LOCATED WITHIN THE SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION OF THE U.S. ATTORNEY'S OFFICE IN WASHINGTON, DC. SINCE THE PROGRAM'S INCEPTION, AT LEAST 150 PROGRAMS HAVE BEEN FUNDED OR HAVE SOUGHT FUNDING. FUNDING ALTERNATIVES INCLUDE LEAA'S NATIONAL PRIORITY PROGRAM, LEAA'S BLOCK GRANTS, OR LOCAL FUNDING. THE CENTRAL TENET OF THE PROGRAM IS TO FOCUS LAW ENFORCEMENT AND PROSECUTIVE RESOURCES TO INCREASE THE PROBABILITY OF EARLY IDENTIFICATION, ENHANCED INVESTIGATION, PRIORITY PROSECUTION, CONVICTION ON MOST SERIOUS CHARGES, AND LENGTHY INCARCERATION OF INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE REPEATEDLY DEMONSTRATED A PROPENSITY TO COMMIT VIOLENT CRIMES. SELECTION CRITERIA VARY FROM THE OFFENDER'S CRIMINAL HISTORY TO THE NATURE OF THE CURRENT CHARGE. A SINGLE ATTORNEY IS ASSIGNED TO EACH CASE TO FOLLOW IT THROUGH FROM INITIATION TO FINAL DISPOSITION, AND EVEN PAROLE AND PROBATION HEARINGS. THIS REDUCES DUPLICATION OF EFFORT AND ENCOURAGES BETTER HANDLING OF APPEALS. PLEA-BARGAINING IS LIMITED. MOST PROGRAMS TRACK CAREER CRIMINALS AFTER SENTENCING AND COMMITMENT. STATISTICS ATTEST TO THE GREATER EFFECTIVENESS OF CAREER CRIMINAL PROCEDURES OVER OTHER CASE HANDLING IN TERMS OF CASE PROSESSING TIME, CONVICTION RATE, PRETRIAL RELEASE RATE, SEVERITY OF SENTENCES, AND LIMITED PLEA BARGAINING. REFERENCES ARE PROVIDED. (MHP)