NCJ Number
42096
Date Published
1977
Length
196 pages
Annotation
THIS IS THE EVALUATION OF THE MAJOR VIOLATORS PROJECT (MVP) WHICH WAS DIRECTED AT ACCELERATING THE DISPOSITION OF SERIOUS CRIMINAL OFFENDERS.
Abstract
THE MVP, WHICH HAS BEEN OPERATIONAL SINCE SEPTEMBER, 1975, IS AN AUTONOMOUS UNIT COMPOSED OF LAWYERS, INVESTIGATORS, AND ADMINISTRATIVE PERSONNEL AND IS RESPONSIBLE FOR IDENTIFYING AND PROSECUTING MAJOR VIOLATORS. ITS TARGETS ARE DEFINED AS REPEAT OFFENDERS WHO COMMIT SERIOUS CRIMES AND/OR PERSONS WHOSE CONDUCT TERRORIZES OR SHOCKS THE COMMUNITY. AMONG THE EVALUATORS' FINDINGS THAT ILLUSTRATE THE PROJECT'S SUCCESS, IT WAS NOTED THAT THERE WAS A 67 PERCENT REDUCTION IN THE TIME REQUIRED TO PROCESS AN OFFENDER FROM ARREST TO VERDICT. OTHER PROJECT RESULTS INCLUDE A ONE-THIRD REDUCTION IN THE PERCENTAGE OF TARGET OFFENDERS AT LIBERTY AS A CONSEQUENCE OF POSTING BAIL OR BEING RELEASED ON PERSONAL RECOGNIZANCE IN THE PRETRIAL PERIOD. GUILTY PLEA RATES ALSO HAVE CHANGED SINCE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE PROJECT. THE EVALUATORS FURTHER DETERMINED THAT THE RESULTS OF THE MVP ARE MORE LIKELY, OVER TIME, TO ENHANCE THE SUFFOLK COUNTY CITIZENS' SENSE OF SECURITY THAN THOSE OF ANY OTHER CURRENT FUNCTION OF THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT)...KAP