NCJ Number
46991
Date Published
1977
Length
21 pages
Annotation
SEVERAL INNOVATIVE PROGRAMS TO AID THE VICTIMS OF CRIME AND TO TARGET TO PROSECUTION OF CAREER CRIMINALS ARE SKETCHED IN THIS 1977 ANNUAL REPORT BY THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY, MULTNOMAH COUNTY (PORTLAND, OREGON).
Abstract
THIS HEAVILY ILLUSTRATED PAMPHLET PROVIDES INFORMATION FOR AND ABOUT VICTIMS OF CRIME. CRIME VICTIM TREATMENT HAS THE HIGHEST PRIORITY IN MULTNOMAH COUNTY. SEVERAL SPECIAL DIVISIONS OR PROJECTS HAVE BEEN ESTABLISHED TO DEAL WITH THE VICTIM AND THE CRIMINAL, SUCH AS THE VICTIM'S ASSISTANCE UNIT, RAPE VICTIM'S ASSISTANCE UNIT, JUVENILE JUSTICE UNIT, CHILD SUPPORT ENFORCEMENT DIVISION, AND A RESTITUTION PROJECT. THE VICTIM'S ASSISTANCE PROJECT PROVIDES SHORT-TERM CRISIS INTERVENTION TO VICTIMS OF ALL CRIMES, REFERS VICTIMS AND WITNESSES TO AVAILABLE COMMUNITY RESOURCES AND SERVICES, INFORMS VICTIMS AND WITNESSES OF THEIR ROLE IN THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM AND THE PROGRESS OF THEIR CASES, AND ACTS AS AN ADVOCATE FOR THE VICTIM WITHIN THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM. THE OFFICE WAS SUCCESSFUL IN SECURING LEGISLATIVE FUNDING FOR A STATEWIDE VICTIMS' COMPENSATION PROGRAM THAT BEGAN IN 1978. PROJECT REPAY, FUNDED BY LEAA IN 1976, WAS DEVELOPED AFTER THE VICTIMS' ASSISTANCE PROJECT'S SUCCESS WITH COURT-ORDERED RESTITUTION. THE JUVENILE DIVISION OF THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE LAUNCHED MANY NEW ACTIVITIES IN 1977, NOTABLY FEDERAL FUNDING FOR A FULL-TIME VICTIM'S ADVOCATE AT JUVENILE COURT, WHO CONTACTED, ADVISED, AND ASSISTED 105 VICTIMS OF JUVENILE CRIME. IN ORDER TO MAKE THE PROSECUTION OF CRIMINALS MORE EFFECTIVE IN REDUCING CRIME, THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY IN MULTNOMAH COUNTY HAS BEEN CURTAILING PLEA BARGAINING. TODAY, 13 FELONY CRIMES ARE NOT SUBJECT TO PLEA BARGAINING, WITH THE RESULT THAT THE CAREER CRIMINAL UNIT HAS ENJOYED REDUCED CRIME RATES FOR BURGLARY, ROBBERY, AND OTHER CRIMES FOR THE LAST 3 YEARS. THE CONVICTION RATE IS NOW 97 PERCENT FOR FELONIES. (DJM)