NCJ Number
61711
Date Published
Unknown
Length
6 pages
Annotation
THE REPORT ASSESSES THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE METROPOLITAN ORGANIZATION TO COUNTER SEXUAL ASSAULT (MOCSA) IN KANSAS CITY, MO., USING THE CHANGE IN THE RATE OF VICTIM DROPOUT FROM THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM AS AN INDEX.
Abstract
MOCSA WAS ADDED TO THE EXISTING AGENCIES OF POLICE, PROSECUTION, EMERGENCY ROOMS, AND MENTAL HEALTH CENTERS. ALTHOUGH MOCSA SERVES EIGHT COUNTIES, THIS EVALUATION IS CONFINED TO THE KANSAS CITY POLICE DEPARTMENT JURISDICTION. IN ALL CATEGORIES EVALUATED, SUBSTANTIAL CHANGES WERE EXPERIENCED BETWEEN 1975 AND 1978. THE PERCENTAGE OF VICTIMS DECLINING TO TAKE FURTHER ACTION WITH THE POLICE DROPPED FROM 49.8 PERCENT IN 1975 TO 22.0 PERCENT IN 1978. VICTIMS DECLINING TO PROSECUTE WITH THE PROSECUTOR DECLINED FROM 18.4 PERCENT TO 7.8 PERCENT; THOSE DECLINING TO APPEAR FOR PRELIMINARY HEARINGS, FROM 12.8 PERCENT TO 1.2 PERCENT; AND THOSE DECLINING TO APPEAR FOR TRIAL, FROM 11.1 PERCENT TO ZERO IN THE SAME PERIOD. THERE WERE 328 REPORTS IN 1975 AND 395 IN 1978. THE RATE OF CASES IN WHICH CHARGES WERE FILED ROSE FROM 35.5 PERCENT IN 1975 TO 52.9 PERCENT IN 1978. RATE OF CONVICTIONS AS CHARGED ROSE SLIGHTLY FROM 63.1 PERCENT TO 64.7 PERCENT, DESPITE THE INCREASE IN CHARGES FILED FOR MARGINAL CASES. CHANGING FROM USE OF SPECIAL PROSECUTORS TO USE OF GENERAL PROSECUTORS RESULTED IN NO NOTICEABLE LOSS OF EFFICIENCY. A COMPUTERIZED SYSTEM OF VICTIM AND OFFENDER PROFILES IS BEING DEVELOPED BECAUSE THE HIGHER REPORTING RATE HAS INCREASED THE CHANCE THAT A GIVEN SUSPECT WILL BE THE FOCUS OF MORE THAN ONE INCIDENT REPORT. MOCSA ESTIMATES THAT THE REPORTING RATE HAS DOUBLED OVER THE PAST 5 YEARS TO 30 PERCENT. NEVERTHELESS, JURY ATTITUDES HAVE PREVENTED INCREASE IN THE ABSOLUTE NUMBER OF CONVICTIONS. INTENSIVE PUBLIC EDUCATION ABOUT SEXUAL ASSAULT IS NEEDED. DUE TO LAGS IN THE SYSTEM, ACCURATE EVALUATION OF ASSAULTS OCCURRING IN 1978 IS IMPOSSIBLE. A CHART SUMMARIZING RESULTS IS INCLUDED. (CFW)