NCJ Number
82094
Journal
New York Times Magazine Dated: (September 20, 1981)
Date Published
1981
Length
8 pages
Annotation
This article describes law enforcement efforts to cope with young career criminals, with emphasis on the program currently in effect in New York City.
Abstract
In many jurisdictions, police departments are considering special programs to deal with a class of repeat felony offenders who are responsible for a disproportionately high number of street crimes. Authorities believe that it is the young adults or juveniles, those who become repeat offenders before they reach the age of 18, who are playing a large role in the national crime problem. Accordingly, a federally coordinated attempt is being recommended to direct manpower and funds at younger violent repeat offenders. A Reagan task force issued a set of 64 proposals aimed at ensuring punishment for violent offenders by making accessible computerizing and the conviction records of underage repeat offenders. It suggests that information, fingerprints, and photographs of violent juveniles convicted of serious crimes be fed into the Federal Bureau of Information data bank for retrieval by prosecutors across the nation. Many of these proposals are similar to those already implemented by the New York City Police Department. New York's Felony Augmentation Program, established in March 1980, is devoted to targeting the suspect, building the case against him, and helping with the prosecution efforts. About 75 detectives work in the unit. In 9 months of the operation, 594 out of 1,100 persons on the computerized list of repeat offenders were apprehended; 59 percent of felony arrests resulted in indictments, compared with 20 percent of all city felony cases; 89 percent of indictments resulted in convictions, compared with 80 percent overall. Of the convictions, 94 percent resulted in prison or jail terms, compared with 70 percent for all boroughs. Five photographs are included.