NCJ Number
62102
Date Published
1978
Length
215 pages
Annotation
THIS FIRST VOLUME OF A THREE-VOLUME REPORT PRESENTS THE ANALYSIS AND FINDINGS OF A STUDY THAT COMPARED THE DECRIMINALIZED ADMINISTRATIVE ADJUDICATION OF TRAFFIC OFFENSES WITH TRADITIONAL ADJUDICATION OF SUCH OFFENSES.
Abstract
THE STUDY COMPARED THE RELATIVE 'FAIRNESS,' 'EFFICIENCY,' AND 'EFFECTIVENESS' OF DECRIMINALIZED ADJUDICATION OF TRAFFIC OFFENSES IN BUFFALO, N.Y. AND THE STATE OF NORTH DAKOTA WITH TRADITIONAL ADJUDICATION OF TRAFFIC OFFENSES IN SYRACUSE, N.Y. AND THE STATE OF SOUTH DAKOTA. INFORMATION COMMON TO ALL SITES WAS IDENTIFIED, COLLECTED, AND ANALYZED TO DETERMINE (1) IF SIGNIFICANT DIFFERENCES IN EFFECT EXISTED REGARDING A SERIES OF CRITERION MEASURES, (2) THE TYPE AND DEGREE OF EFFECT, AND (3) WHETHER DIFFERENCES WERE ATTRIBUTABLE TO SPECIFIC CAUSES. DATA DEALING WITH 'FAIRNESS' ISSUES WERE OBTAINED FROM HEARING OBSERVATIONS, MOTORIST INTERVIEWS, ADJUDICATOR INTERVIEWS, AND POLICE OFFICER INTERVIEWS. 'EFFICIENCY' DATA CAME FROM ADJUDICATION DOCKETS AND STATISTICAL SUMMARIES. 'EFFECTIVENESS' DATA WAS DRAWN FROM SYSTEMATIC SAMPLES OF MOTORISTS WHO INCURRED A CONVICTION IN A PARTICULAR YEAR. DRIVING RECORDS BEFORE AND AFTER THAT YEAR PROVIDED THE DATA. FINDINGS DID NOT REVEAL A DISCERNIBLE DIFFERENCE IN 'FAIRNESS' BETWEEN THE SITES. BASED UPON EXAMINATION OF REVENUE AND EXPENDITURE DATA, THE BUFFALO ADMINISTRATIVE SYSTEM OPERATED MORE EFFICIENTLY THAN THE TRADITIONAL SYRACUSE ADJUDICATION SYSTEM; HOWEVER, SYRACUSE HAD A SHORTER LENGTH OF TIME BETWEEN CITATION ISSUANCE AND THE HEARING. NO EFFICIENCY DIFFERENCES WERE SHOWN BETWEEN NORTH DAKOTA AND SOUTH DAKOTA. REGARDING 'EFFECTIVENESS' DATA, THE SITES SHOWED NO SIGNIFICANT DIFFERENCES IN TRAFFIC VIOLATION CONVICTION RATES OR ACCIDENT RATES. NO DIFFERENCES WERE OBSERVED IN IMPACT ON HIGHWAY SAFETY BETWEEN THE MATCHED SITES. TABULAR DATA ARE PROVIDED. (RCB)