NCJ Number
41318
Date Published
1975
Length
77 pages
Annotation
THE IMPROVED CHARGE ANALYSIS PROJECT WAS DESIGNED TO INCREASE THE SPEED AND THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE ADJUDICATION OF CRIMINAL CHARGES IN POLK COUNTY.
Abstract
IT PROPOSED TO ACCOMPLISH THESE OBJECTIVES BY MEANS OF FAIRLY INNOVATIVE PROCEDURES DURING THE INITIAL STAGES OF THE ADJUDICATION PROCESS (INCREASED SALARIES AND FULL TIME PROFESSIONAL POSITIONS, AN EXPANDED, CENTRALIZED SCREENING SYSTEM, EMPHASIS ON THE TWO-MAN TRIAL SYSTEM, A LAY ADMINISTRATOR, ETC.), AND BY MEANS OF IMPROVED AND EXPANDED INFORMATION. SCHEDULED TO BEGIN IN JULY 1974, THE PROJECT WAS FORMALLY IMPLEMENTED WITH THE APPOINTMENT OF THE DIRECTOR IN SEPTEMBER, ALTHOUGH OPERATIONAL PROCEDURES SATISFACTORY TO THE DIRECTOR DID NOT EVOLVE UNTIL LATE FEBRUARY 1975. EVALUATORS CONCLUDED THAT THE PROJECT WAS SUCCESSFUL ONLY TO THE EXTENT THAT IT INCREASED RESOURCES AVAILABLE TO THE CHARGE ANALYSIS FUNCTION OF THE OFFICE OF THE COUNTY ATTORNEY. IT FAILED AS A DEMONSTRATION PROJECT DUE TO ITS FAILURE TO IMPLEMENT THE VERY PROCEDURES WHICH MADE IT UNIQUE. THROUGH THE PROJECT, ADDITIONAL RESOURCES WERE PROVIDED WITHOUT ANY SUBSTANTIVE IMPROVEMENTS - OR CHANGES - IN THE POLICIES OR PROCEDURES OF THE OFFICE OF COUNTY ATTORNEY. NONE OF THE PROJECT OBJECTIVES WERE ACHIEVED, AND DESPITE FUNDING INCREASES, CONVICTION RATES REMAINED LOW, BACKLOGS HIGH, AND INEFFICIENCY PERSISTED THROUGHOUT THE PROCESS. THE ONLY SIGNIFICANT 'POSITIVE' FINDINGS RELATING TO THE OFFICE WERE AN IMPROVED RATE OF CONVICTION IN CONTESTED CASES AND SUBSTANTIALLY SUCCESSFUL PROSECUTION OF MOTOR VEHICLE OFFENSES. IN ADDITION, THE CRIMINAL CASE RECORD-KEEPING SYSTEM WAS FOUND TO BE INCOMPATIBLE WITH AN EFFECTIVE AND EFFICIENT ADJUDICATION SYSTEM. DESPITE THESE FINDINGS, THE CHARGE ANALYSIS UNIT HAS BEEN CONTINUED THROUGH A SPECIAL FUND CREATED FOR THAT PURPOSE BY THE COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS, AND IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT THIS SUPPORT BE CONTINUED WITH THE STIPULATION THAT THE PROCEDURES PROPOSED FOR THE IMPROVED CHARGE PROJECT BE IMPLEMENTED BY THE CHARGE ANALYSIS UNIT. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT)...ELW