NCJ Number
31734
Date Published
1976
Length
16 pages
Annotation
FINAL REPORT ON A PROJECT TO IMPLEMENT A NO-PLEA BARGAINING POLICY IN THE MULTNOMAH COUNTY (OR) DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE FOR A TWO-YEAR PERIOD ENDING SEPTEMBER 30, 1975.
Abstract
THE PROJECT WAS UNDERTAKEN IN RESPONSE TO THE MANY PERCEIVED ABUSES OF THE PLEA-BARGAINING PROCESS AND TO THE POOR QUALITY OF CASE PREPARATION AS EVIDENCED BY THE LOW NUMBER OF ORIGINAL CHARGE CONVICTIONS. THE PROJECT SET OUT TO ACHIEVE ITS GOALS THROUGH THE PROVISION OF LEGAL ADVICE AND CASE ASSISTANCE TO POLICE INVESTIGATORS AND THROUGH THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A FELONY REVIEW PANEL, COMPRISED OF POLICE AND PROSECUTORS, THAT REVIEWS ALL FELONY CASES PRIOR TO MAKING THE CHARGING DECISION. THE SELF-EVALUATION METHODOLOGY INVOLVED THE COMPARISON OF STATISTICS TAKEN BEFORE AND DURING THE PROJECT ON CONVICTION RATES, ORIGINAL CHARGE CONVICTIONS, CASE DISPOSITIONS, ETC. RESULTS INDICATE THAT THE PROJECT SUCCESSFULLY RAISED ORIGINAL CHARGE CONVICTION RATES AND REDUCED ACQUITTALS AND INSTANCES OF PLEA-BARGAINING.