HOW CRIMINAL JUSTICE AGENCIES USE CRIMINAL HISTORY INFORMATION - REPORT TO THE SENATE SUBCOMMITTEE ON CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS

• NCJ Number: 14871
• Author(s): ANON
• Date Published: 1974
• Length: 74 pages
• Corporate Author: US Comptroller General
• Sale Source: Azimuth Inc.; National Institute of Justice/
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

THIS REPORT COMPARES THE USE OF CRIMINAL HISTORY INFORMATION BETWEEN PREARREST VERSUS POSTARREST PROCEDURES AND THE TYPE OF AGENCY THAT USES IT.

Abstract

THE AUTHORS SENT QUESTIONNAIRES TO THE FBI AND TO VARIOUS LAW ENFORCEMENT, JUDICIAL AND CORRECTIONAL AGENCIES IN FLORIDA, MASSACHUSETTS AND CALIFORNIA. IT WAS FOUND THAT REQUESTS FOR INFORMATION FOR POSTARREST USE ACCOUNTED FOR 83.5 PERCENT OF ALL REQUESTS. THE LOW PERCENTAGE OF REQUESTS FOR PREARREST USE MAY BE EXPLAINED BY THE FACT THAT ANY REQUEST, PER SE, IS FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION NOT ALREADY CONTAINED IN THE REQUESTING AGENCY'S FILES. IT MAY WELL BE THAT PREARREST REQUESTS ARE MORE PREVALENT INTERNALLY. IT WAS ALSO FOUND THAT REQUESTS FROM LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES ACCOUNTED FOR 58.6 PERCENT OF ALL REQUESTS, JUDICIAL AGENCIES ACCOUNTED FOR 32.9 PERCENT, AND CORRECTIONAL AGENCIES ACCOUNTED FOR ONLY 2.2 PERCENT. JUDICIAL AGENCIES AS DEFINED IN THIS REPORT INCLUDE PROBATION AND PAROLE SERVICES, WHICH MAY ACCOUNT FOR THE LOW PERCENTAGE OF CORRECTIONAL REQUESTS.