NCJ Number
87908
Date Published
1982
Length
38 pages
Annotation
This final report covers the 18th through 23rd months of operation for Indiana's career criminal program, which operates in Marion County, St. Joseph County, and Vanderburgh County.
Abstract
The program's goals are the quick identification and screening of cases of repeat offenders entering the criminal justice system, the vertical handling of these cases by experienced deputies with reduced caseloads to increase trial preparation and reduce delays, and the elimination of plea bargaining in most cases so that defendants will either plead guilty as charged or go to trial. The participating prosecutors have been appropriately staffed to achieve these goals. As the program has progressed, an increasing proportion of cases has culminated in guilty pleas to the top charge, while the proportion going to trial had declined. The main problem has been the lack of bonafide judicial policies on priority docketing of career criminal cases. However, the expert case preparation has offset this problem. LEAA approved the extension of the program to its termination date of June 30, 1982. All the counties have maintained their career criminal programs with some modification. Vanderburgh County has locally assumed one full-time attorney for the program. St. Joseph County has maintained its complement of career criminal deputies, but shares support staff services. Marion County expanded its program to include habitual delinquents waived to adult criminal courts. Reports from individual counties are provided and include data tables.