NCJ Number
180329
Date Published
1999
Length
218 pages
Annotation
Three violent offender prosecution (VOP) programs were evaluated in the Illinois counties of Winnebago, Sangamon, and Kankakee to assess their impact on prosecution and the criminal justice system and critical factors for program replication and to develop policy recommendations about future support by the Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority for VOP programs.
Abstract
The first 2 years of VOP implementation and operations were evaluated, basically from January 1996 through December 1997. The evaluation methodology used both qualitative and quantitative assessments. The evaluation team made three on-site visits timed to observe the programs during their early, middle, and late stages. In the qualitative assessment, the evaluation team interviewed all principal decision makers who had an interface with program and operational personnel. The quantitative assessment was based on offense and arrest data collected by the Illinois State Police and court data supplied by the clerk of the court. Evaluation results did not always provide clear-cut answers about whether a VOP program worked. Findings for Winnebago County showed felony conviction rates, including property, drug, and violent crimes, had been stable for 2 years before the introduction of the VOP program, and these rates then increased. Dismissal rates showed a decline from a high of about 52 percent in 1993 to a low of 33.3 percent in 1997. On the other hand, the incarceration rate remained essentially the same. In 1996, conviction rates for VOP program cases were higher than for all other categories, VOP cases had lower dismissal rates, VOP defendants received higher incarceration rates, and VOP cases tended to stay in the system longer. In Sangamon County, conviction rates of about 77 percent had been stable for 2 years before the introduction of the program and dropped slightly to an average of 75 percent during program years. Dismissal rates showed a slight increase, while incarceration rates appeared to have drifted lower from a high of 72 percent in 1995 to a low of about 56 percent in 1997. In 1996, conviction rates for VOP program cases were higher than for all other categories. VOP cases had lower dismissal rates than other cases, VOP defendants received higher incarceration rates, and VOP cases tended to stay in the system longer. In Kankakee County, conviction rates increased substantially between 1993 and 1994 and then stabilized above 90 percent for all felonies. Dismissal rates declined, while incarceration rates increased. Conviction rates for VOP program cases were lower than for all other categories. VOP defendants received higher incarceration rates and VOP cases stayed in the system longer than other cases. Overall effects of VOP programs on the prosecution of violent offenders are considered, factors contributing to the success of VOP programs are identified, and policy recommendations are offered. Footnotes, tables, and figures