NCJ Number
18275
Date Published
1974
Length
141 pages
Annotation
THIS REPORT EVALUATES THE WAY THE FOLLOWING AGENCIES OPERATE AS A SYSTEM: POLICE; CORRECTIONS; DISTRICT ATTORNEYS; LEGAL AID SOCIETY; COURTS; PROBATION; JUDICIAL CONFERENCE; AND CITY AND STATE PLANNING AGENCIES.
Abstract
PARTICULAR ATTENTION WAS PAID TO THE INTER-RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN THESE AGENCIES AND THE FUNDAMENTAL PROBLEMS THAT PERVADE THE SYSTEM. ON-SITE AGENCY VISITS WERE MADE. QUESTIONNAIRES WERE SUBMITTED TO AGENCY LEADERS. PRESENT AND FORMER CRIMINAL JUSTICE OFFICIALS AT THE HIGHEST LEVEL WERE INTERVIEWED. THE COMMISSION FOUND THAT THE ADMINISTRATIVE REORGANIZATION OF THE COURTS HAS IMPROVED THE OVERALL OPERATION OF THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM IN NEW YORK. THEY ALSO FOUND THAT SERIOUS PROBLEMS REMAIN BECAUSE THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM IS NOT TREATED AS A SYSTEM. THERE WAS NO SYSTEM-WIDE PLANNING OR BUDGET WHICH RESULTED IN THE MISALLOCATION OF RESOURCES WHICH HAS RESULTED IN ADMINISTRATIVE PLEA BARGAINING AND INAPPROPRIATE SENTENCING. THE COMMISSION'S INVESTIGATION ALSO UNCOVERED EVIDENCE OF A SERIOUS LACK OF COOPERATION; THE DISSEMINATION OF MEANINGLESS OR MISLEADING STATISTICS AND INFORMATION BY SOME AGENCIES; AND INADEQUATE MANAGEMENT WHICH INVITED CORRUPTION IN SOME AREAS. THE COMMISSION RECOMMENDS THAT AN AGENCY BE ESTABLISHED WHOSE FUNCTION WOULD BE TO COORDINATE AND PLAN THE ACTIVITIES OF THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE AGENCIES AS A SYSTEM.