NCJ Number
241826
Date Published
December 2012
Length
46 pages
Annotation
This 2011 Annual Report of New York City's Criminal Justice Agency, Inc. (CJA) presents statistics and information on its primary mission of providing pretrial services to defendants prosecuted in the adult criminal courts in New York City.
Abstract
The CJA is a not-for-profit organization that operates under a contract with the City of New York. The CJA has approximately 200 employees in offices in all five boroughs of the City. In 2011, CJA continued to pursue four goals. First, it continued to decrease the number of pretrial detention days for defendants who could be released into the community while awaiting trial. Second, it continued to screen defendants for a range of non-custodial services through the community courts. Third, it continued to reduce the rate of failures to appear (FTAs) by defendants on pretrial release. Fourth, the CJA provided information and research to criminal justice policymakers, city officials, and the public. In pursuing these goals, CJA personnel interviewed defendants held for arraignment in the lower court (Criminal Court). The purpose of the interview is to provide judges, prosecutors, and defense counsel with background information on defendants in order to assist in determining the likelihood that individual defendants, if released, will appear for scheduled court dates. CJA continued its efforts to notify all released defendants by mail or telephone of all scheduled court appearances. CJA's Research Department maintains an ongoing program of evaluation and research intended to improve CJA's operations, to provide summary data relevant to criminal justice policy issues, and to investigate special-interest topics. Since August 2009, CJA's Court Programs Department has operated a supervised release program for nonviolent felony defendants in Queens who meet strict criteria. CJA maintains a database that includes background and court-processing information on every adult arrested in New York City. 32 exhibits with data on CJA activities