NCJ Number
27946
Journal
Prosecutor Volume: 11 Issue: 1 Dated: (1975) Pages: 8-15
Date Published
1975
Length
8 pages
Annotation
DESCRIPTION OF THE FORMATION AND OPERATION OF THIS BRONX PROGRAM DESIGNED TO SELECTIVELY PROSECUTE RECIDIVIST FELONS WITH MINIMUM DELAY AND PLEA BARGAINING AND MAXIMUM PROBABILITY OF CONVICTION.
Abstract
THE OBJECTIVE OF THIS SYSTEM WAS TO ISOLATE CASES WARRANTING THE SPECIAL ATTENTION OF THE COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE DUE TO EITHER THE NATURE OF THE CRIME OR THE RECIDIVIST TENDENCIES OF THE OFFENDER. A CASE EVALUATION SYSTEM WAS DEVISED BASED ON A MATHEMATICAL FORMULA WHICH GIVES NUMERICAL WEIGHTED VALUES TO FACTORS MEASURING THE EVIDENTIARY STRENGTH OF THE CASE. RATED ARE THE NATURE OF THE CRIME CHARGED, THE HEINOUSNESS OF THE OFFENSE, THE PROPENSITY OF THE DEFENDANT TO COMMIT VIOLENT CRIMES, AND THE STRENGTH OF THE CASE. IF A CERTAIN RANKING FIGURE IS ATTAINED, A CASE IS HELD PENDING REVIEW BY A MAJOR OFFENSE BUREAU ASSISTANT DISTRICT ATTORNEY. OTHER ASPECTS OF THIS TRIAL BUREAU INCLUDE GUIDELINES FOR LIMITED PLEA BARGAINING, FULL DISCLOSURE OF EVIDENCE, AND CONSISTENT HANDLING OF SIMILAR CASES. THE AUTHOR POINTS OUT THAT IMPLEMENTATION OF THIS PROGRAM HAS RAISED THE OVERALL CONVICTION RATE TO 96 PER CENT, INCREASED THE AVERAGE MAXIMUM SENTENCE FROM THREE TO TEN YEARS, AND HAS REDUCED THE AVERAGE TIME NEEDED FOR DISPOSITION TO 90 DAYS. COPIES OF SAMPLE CASE EVALUATION FORMS ARE APPENDED.