Evaluation of the Homicide and Violent Crime Strike Force Program in Madison and St. Clair Counties

• NCJ Number: 172256
• Author(s): R Schmitz; P S Wassenberg; L Gransky; P G Hagner; P L Sims
• Date Published: 1998
• Length: 96 pages
• Grant Number(s): 94-DB-CX-0017
• Sponsoring Agency: Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA); Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority
• Corporate Author: University of Illinois at Springfield
• Sale Source: NCJRS Photocopy Services; Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority
• Publication Type: Program/Project Evaluation
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: From the series on "Research and program evaluation in Illinois: Studies on drug abuse and violent crime."

Annotation

This evaluation of the Homicide and Violent Crime Strike Force (task force) in Madison and St. Clair Counties (Illinois) attempted to determine the original goals and objectives of the task force; changes in the structure, procedures, practices, resources, and relationships that occurred over time; and the impact of the task force on cases, law enforcement, prosecutors, the judicial system, and the communities in which it operated.

Abstract

In order to determine the initial framework of the task force as well as its evolution and impact, the research team examined task force program documents and correspondence with the Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority; interviewed task force supervisors and staff, area law enforcement personnel, prosecutors, judges, defense attorneys, and community leaders; and examined data from task-force case files. The task force was designed as a joint venture between the Illinois State Police and the Illinois Attorney General's Office. The task force experienced relative stability in terms of both resources and personnel. There were changes in operating procedures as the two components of the task force adjusted and more clearly defined their roles in the internal task force operations. The task force was unable to realize its goal of local law enforcement participation from the East St. Louis Police Department. In several instances, interagency relationships changed during the period of task force operations. The use of the task-force attorneys by the local prosecutors was less prominent than had been anticipated at the time of task force formation. During the course of the grant, the task force opened 72 cases. Fifty-seven of the cases involved murder and another 10 involved assault or battery. The task force was successful in obtaining arrests and convictions in these cases. Task force attorneys and a number of the investigators indicated that task-force cases yielded more severe sentences than did other cases for comparable offenses. East St. Louis, which was the primary focus of task-force operations, experienced a significant drop in its homicide rate during task-force operations. In both Madison and St. Clair Counties, violent crime indicators were down for this same period. Local prosecutors have been assisted by the task force through the infusion of additional experienced personnel to develop homicide and other violent-crime prosecutions. Local law enforcement has also been helped by being able to devote more of its limited resources to its current cases. 23 tables, 12 figures, and 17 references