NCJ Number
62136
Date Published
1978
Length
0 pages
Annotation
THIS FILMSTRIP AND CASSETTE TAPE PRESENTATION, PART OF A LAW EDUCATION PROGRAM DEVELOPED FOR THE DADE COUNTY, FLA., JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOLS, DESCRIBES AND ILLUSTRATES THE COUNTY'S PROGRAM FOR DEALING WITH CAREER CRIMINALS.
Abstract
THE PRESENTATION'S GOALS ARE TO ENABLE STUDENTS TO COMPARE COURT REMEDIES WITH THE SEVERITY OF OFFENSE COMMITTED AND TO IDENTIFY RELATED ELEMENTS AND TERMS USED IN THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM. DADE COUNTY'S CAREER CRIMINAL PROGRAM (CCP) IS LEAA FUNDED. IT PROVIDES HIGH LEVELS OF SUPPORT SERVICES ENABLING PROSECUTORS TO VIGOROUSLY PURSUE CASES AGAINST THOSE HARDENED CRIMINALS WHO, IN THE PAST, HAVE ESCAPED WITH LIGHT TO MANIPULATED THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM TO THEIR ADVANTAGE BY PLAYING ON TIME, BY TAKING ADVANTAGE OF DISTRICT ATTORNEY CHANGES, AND BY PLEA BARGAINING. UNDER THE CCP, PROSECUTORS' CASELOADS ARE REDUCED FROM THE TYPICAL 60 TO 100 CASES TO 10 CASES PER PROSECUTOR. IN ADDITION, A STAFF OF TRAINED INVESTIGATORS GATHERS INFORMATION ON EACH CASE. SECRETARIES AND COURT REPORTERS SCREEN CASES TO DETERMINE THEIR ELIGIBILITY FOR THE CCP. PROSECUTORS DEMAND HIGH BAIL AND MAKE SURE WITNESSES APPEAR IN COURT ON TIME. DURING THE CCP'S FIRST 2 YEARS IT PRODUCED A CONVICTIONS RATE OF 95 PERCENT FOR CASES HANDLED NATIONWIDE. AVERAGE PRISON SENTENCES HAVE BEEN ABOUT 20 YEARS. PROCESSING TIME FROM ARRAIGNMENT TO FINAL DISPOSITION HAS BEEN REDUCED BY HALF OR MORE. PAROLE COMMISSIONS ARE PROVIDED BACKGROUND INFORMATION ON EACH CRIMINAL CONVICTED THROUGH THE CCP IN ORDER TO PREVENT EARLY PAROLE OF SUCH CRIMINALS. THE FILMSTRIP IS PART OF THE LAW EDUCATION GOALS AND LEARNING (LEGAL) PROJECT OPERATED BY THE DADE COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD. THE PROGRAM GOAL IS TO DEVELOP STUDENT UNDERSTANDING AND SKILLS RELATED TO THE CRIMINAL AND CIVIL (CONSUMER) JUSTICE SYSTEMS. FOR THE OTHER COMPONENTS OF THE LEGAL PROGRAM FOR JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS, SEE NCJ-62128-62135 AND 62137-62139. (CFW)