MILWAUKEE COUNTY (WI) DISTRICT ATTORNEY - ASSISTANCE TO THE URBAN PROSECUTOR VERTICAL PROSECUTION SYSTEM

• NCJ Number: 53378
• Author(s): S W GROHMAN
• Date Published: 1978
• Length: 8 pages
• Grant Number(s): 77-13H-MM-01-7
• Sponsoring Agency: Wisconsin Council on Criminal Justice
• Corporate Author: Wisconsin Council on Criminal Justice
• Sale Source: National Institute of Justice/
• Publication Type: Program/Project Evaluation
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

RESULTS ARE EVALUATED OF A PROJECT DESIGNED TO CONVERT A 'HORIZONTAL' PROSECUTION SYSTEM FOR FELONY CASES INTO A 'VERTICAL' SYSTEM TO INCREASE THE EFFICIENCY OF PERSONNEL USE.

Abstract

THE MILWAUKEE COUNTY VERTICAL PROSECUTION SYSTEM PROJECT, FUNDED BY THE WISCONSIN COUNCIL ON CRIMINAL JUSTICE IN DECEMBER 1977, AIMED AT CONVERTING THE MILWAUKEE COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE 'HORIZONTAL' PROSECUTION SYSTEM FOR FELONY CASES INTO A 'VERTICAL' SYSTEM. UNDER A HORIZONTAL SYSTEM, A DIFFERENT PROSECUTOR MAY BE ASSIGNED TO A CASE AT EACH STAGE OF THE CRIMINAL PROCEEDINGS. UNDER SUCH A SYSTEM, PROSECUTORS ARE ASSIGNED TO WORK IN A GIVEN COURT FOR A PERIOD OF TIME. WHENEVER A CASE MOVES FROM ONE COURT TO ANOTHER, OR WHENEVER PROSECUTORS ARE ROTATED BETWEEN COURTS, A NEW PROSECUTOR ASSUMES THE CASE. UNDER A VERTICAL SYSTEM, A SINGLE PROSECUTOR ISSUES A CASE AND PROSECUTES IT IN EVERY COURT TO WHICH IT IS ASSIGNED. PERFORMANCE EXPECTATIONS OF THE VERTICAL SYSTEM INCLUDED THE FOLLOWING: FEWER DISMISSALS OF VERTICAL CASES COMPARED TO HORIZONTAL CASES, PARTICULARLY THOSE STEMMING FROM A PROSECUTION ERROR; FEWER CONTINUANCES, PARTICULARLY THOSE REQUESTED OR NECESSITATED BY THE PROSECUTOR; AND A SHORTER PROCESSING TIME. THE IMPLEMENTATION STRATEGY CALLED FOR THE GRADUAL CONVERSION OF THE HORIZONTAL SYSTEM TO THE VERTICAL SYSTEM THROUGH A SIX-STAGE PROCESS. THIS INCLUDED THE SUCCESSIVE INSTALLATION OF FOUR VERTICAL FELONY TEAMS AND THE ADJUNCTIVE DISMANTLING OF THE HORIZONTAL SYSTEM. THE EVALUATION WAS BASED ON AN ANALYSIS OF CASES PROCESSED BY THE SYSTEM AND ON INTERVIEWS WITH PROSECUTORS AND ADMINISTRATORS INVOLVED IN THE SYSTEM'S IMPLEMENTATION. THE DATA INDICATE THAT PROSECUTION UNDER THE NEW SYSTEM IS MORE EFFICIENT AND EFFECTIVE THAN UNDER THE FORMER SYSTEM. THE DATA PRESENTED ON THE VERTICAL CASES, HOWEVER, REFLECT ONLY 7 MONTHS OF OPERATION, SO IT IS LIKELY THAT THESE DATA CONTAIN A PREPONDERANCE OF 'EASY' CASES WHICH WERE CLOSED QUICKLY. DATA GATHERED IN THE EVALUATION ARE REPORTED. (RCB)