NCJ Number
63706
Date Published
1979
Length
20 pages
Annotation
THIS FINAL REPORT ON THE NEW YORK CITY CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM CONTENDS THAT THE AVAILABILITY OF A PROMPT, FAIR, AND FIRM CRIMINAL SANCTION HAS A DETERRENT EFFECT ON CRIME.
Abstract
THE NEW YORK CITY CRININAL JUSTICE SYSTEM HANDLES A GREATER VOLUME OF CASES THAN ANY OTHER CITY IN THE NATION--229,575 ARRESTS IN 1978 INCLUDING 107,135 FOR FELONIES. THE SPECIAL COMMITTEE REPORT CONCLUDED THAT THE SYSTEM WORKS QUITE WELL IN DEALING WITH THE MOST SERIOUS CASES--MURDERS, RAPES, ROBBERIES, AND VERY SERIOUS ASSAULTS--BUT THE DISPOSITION OF THE REMAINING 200,000 PLUS CASELOAD, NOT PROSECUTED IN THE SUPREME COURT, IS MOST UNSATISFACTORY. ALL OF THE COMMITTEE'S RECOMMENDATIONS WERE KEYED TO FOUR BASIC FINDINGS ABOUT THE PRESENT SYSTEM: (1) TOO MANY MINOR DISPUTES AND TECHNICAL VIOLATIONS ARE BEING FUNNELED INTO THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM; (2) SYSTEM COMPONENTS--SUCH AS THE CITY AGENCIES, COURTS, DISTRICT ATTORNEYS, AND DEFENSE BAR--LACK COORDINATION AND EFFECTIVE MANAGEMENT; (3) THERE IS A SHORTAGE OF EXPERIENCED CAPABLE PERSONNEL IN KEY AND SUPPORT POSITIONS; (4) THERE ARE SHORT-SIGHTED BUDGET ECONOMIES WHICH SHOULD BE RECONSIDERED. RECOMMENDATIONS, THEREFORE, WERE TO REDUCE CASE VOLUME IN THE CRIMINAL COURTS THROUGH COMPREHENSIVE EARLY ARREST SCREENING, PROVISION OF CIVIL DISPOSITION OF SELECTED ARRESTS IN APPROPRIATE CASES, AND A SHIFT OF ENFORCEMENT EMPHASIS IN MANY TYPES OF CASES. IN ADDITION, THE COMMITTEE SUGGESTED RECLASSIFYING MISDEMEANORS AND REDUCING CRIME THROUGH PREVENTION. IMPROVING CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM COORDINATION AND MANAGEMENT WAS ALSO RECOMMENDED; THIS CAN BE DONE THROUGH PROSECUTORIAL COORDINATION, ELIMINATION OF ARRAIGNMENT DELAYS AND THE USE OF THE GRAND JURY IN RECENT CASES, PRACTICAL AND SYMPATHETIC ASSISTANCE TO VICTIM-WITNESSES, AND ELIMINATION OF EXTENSIVE DELAYS IN THE SELECTION OF TRIAL JURIES. OTHER RECOMMENDATIONS INCLUDE ESTABLISHING AN EFFECTIVE SYSTEM OF CASE MANAGEMENT, HAVING A BAR ASSOCIATION COMMITTEE SERVE AS INDEPENDENT OBSERVER, AND INCREASING QUALIFIED KEY PERSONNEL AND WELL-QUALIFIED TRIAL JUDGES. FOOTNOTES AND A LIST OF THE SPECIAL COMMITTEE MEMBERS ARE INCLUDED. (AOP)