NCJ Number
65797
Date Published
1979
Length
70 pages
Annotation
A 3-YEAR LEAA-SPONSORED PROJECT IN INDIANA TO REDUCE RECIDIVISM RATES IN HOMICIDE, RAPE, ROBBERY, AND BURGLARY WAS COMPLETED WITH MIXED RESULTS.
Abstract
THE GREATER INDIANAPOLIS-MARION COUNTY CAREERS IN CRIME INTERCEPTION PROJECT WAS LAUNCHED IN 1976. IT REQUIRED CLOSE COOPERATION BETWEEN PROGRAM OFFICIALS AND THE POLICE, COURTS, AND CORRECTIONS AGENCIES. LOCAL CRIME RATES DROPPED, AND THE RELATIONS AMONG AGENCIES INVOLVED WAS PRODUCTIVE, DESPITE THE INDICTMENT OF SOME LOCAL POLICE OFFICERS BY A MARION COUNTY GRAND JURY FOR CORRUPT POLICE PRACTICES. THE CAREER CRIMINAL DEFENDANT PROFILE, WHICH WAS TO BE COMPILED BY A TARGET PROFILE REFINEMENT UNIT (CONSISTING OF A PSYCHOLOGIST AND A SOCIAL WORKER), WAS NEVER COMPLETED BECAUSE OF ITS LARGELY ACADEMIC GOALS CONTRASTING WITH THE PROSECUTION-ORIENTED APPROACH OF THE PROJECT. THE PROJECT FOCUSED MAINLY ON QUICK PROSECUTION AND TRIAL OF HABITUAL OFFENDERS, AS WELL TIGHTENING AND CLARIFYING THE APPLICATION OF EXISTING CRIMINAL LAWS FOR THE FOUR TARGET CRIMES. A DEEPER KNOWLEDGE OF THE CAREER CRIMINAL, CONSIDERED NECESSARY TO PROMOTE MORE EFFICIENT PROSECUTION IN THE TRIAL PROCESS, WAS ONLY PARTLY ACHIEVED DUE TO THE PROJECT'S FAILURE TO COMPLETE THE CAREER CRIMINAL PROFILE. HOWEVER, SEVERAL AREAS ARE DESCRIBED IN WHICH THE PROJECT SUCCEEDED IN EXPEDITING THE JUDICIAL PROCESS, ESPECIALLY WITH REGARD TO THE AVAILABLITY OF WITNESSES. THE INDIVIDUAL CRIMINAL HISTORIES OF CAREER CRIMINAL DEFENDANTS WERE TRACED, ENABLING JUDGES TO MAKE MORE INFORMED DECISIONS REGARDING PRETRIAL RELEASES ON BAIL, AND AIDING PROSECUTORS TO AVOID PLEA BARGAINING WITH DEFENDANTS WITHOUT KNOWING THEIR CRIMINAL HISTORIES. PROJECT OFFICIALS ALSO SUCCEEDED IN HAVING SOME INPUT IN SHOCK PROBATION, PAROLE, AND CLEMENCY HEARINGS INVOLVING RECIDIVISTS. THE CONVICTION RATES DID NOT INCREASE AS WAS HOPED, BECAUSE PROJECT OFFICIALS WERE UNABLE TO MONITOR ALL CASE ACTIVITIES, EVEN THOSE THEY HAD ORIGINALLY SCREENED. A BETTER RATE OF SUCCESS WAS ACHIEVED IN THE AREA OF SELECTING CAREER CRIMINALS FOR PRIORITY PROSECUTION. TABULAR DATA ARE APPENDED. (LGR)